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CONTENTS //
OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 • VOLUME 28 • NUMBER 28
A FAINT HINT OF JUSTICE
55
11 MAIL CITIZEN MAMA FIGHTIN’ WORDS NEWS
5 6 7 8
BEST OF JAX OUR PICKS MUSIC THE KNIFE
11 46 48 54
MOVIES MAGIC LANTERNS ARTS DINING
48 55 57 59 62
BITE-SIZED ASTROLOGY I SAW U BACKPAGE
65 66 68 71
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EDITORIAL
EDITOR • Jeffrey C. Billman jbillman@folioweekly.com / ext. 115 SENIOR EDITOR • Marlene Dryden mdryden@folioweekly.com / ext. 131 A&E EDITOR • Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com / ext. 128 WRITERS-AT-LARGE Susan Cooper Eastman seastman@folioweekly.com Derek Kinner dkinner@folioweekly.com CARTOONIST • Tom Tomorrow CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rob Brezsny, Daniel A. Brown, John E. Citrone, Julie Delegal, AG Gancarski, Nicholas Garnett, Claire Goforth, Dan Hudak, Shelton Hull, MaryAnn Johanson, Amanda Long, Heather Lovejoy, Nick McGregor, Cameron Meier, Jeff Meyers, Kara Pound, Merl Reagle, Scott Renshaw, Carley Robinson, Chuck Shepherd, Melody Taylor and Abigail Wright
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Folio Weekly is published every Wednesday throughout Northeast Florida. It contains opinions of contributing writers that are not necessarily the opinion of this publication. Folio Weekly welcomes both editorial and photographic contributions. Calendar information must be received two weeks in advance of event date. Copyright © Folio Publishing, Inc. 2014. All rights reserved. Advertising rates and information are available on request. An advertiser purchases right of publication only. One free issue copy per person. Additional copies and back issues are $1 each at the office or $4 by U.S. mail, based on availability. First Class mail subscriptions are $48 for 13 weeks, $96 for 26 weeks and $189 for 52 weeks. Please recycle Folio Weekly. Folio Weekly is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks. 27,000 press run. Audited weekly readership 105,315.
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EDITOR’S NOTE There are times when it’s hard not to be cynical about our criminal justice system — not when we have the highest incarceration rates in the civilized world; not when we lock up people for things as stupid and pointless as drug possession, or when the state’s sheriffs are rallying all their authoritarian muscle against an innocuous medical marijuana amendment (because God knows that prison pipeline needs constant nurturing); not when cops or self-appointed neighborhood watchmen can gun down unarmed black teenagers on the street and be held up in some corners of the world as heroes. I felt that way — cynical — after the first Michael Dunn jury hung on the murder charge. Sure, Dunn was convicted on other counts, and those other counts all but ensured that he would spend the rest of his natural life behind bars, where, if there is a god in this universe, he will get to listen to loud thug music the rest of his miserable days. But it didn’t feel like justice for Jordan Davis; it felt as if his death didn’t matter, as if it didn’t matter that Dunn killed him and then drove away, drove back to his hotel room, walked the dog, had a drink, ordered pizza, took a nap, no big deal. It was as if some members of the jury believed, by virtue of the fact that Jordan was black and Dunn said so, that Jordan had an imaginary gun that nobody else ever saw or found, and that if Davis had just done what Dunn told him to do, none of this would have happened. That anybody — anybody — bought that bullshit, in the year 2014, made me sick to my stomach. I was cynical, too, when I read last year The New York Times’ absolutely devastating deconstruction of the St. Johns County Sheriff ’s Office’s half-assed police work in the death of Michelle O’Connell, who supposedly shot herself with the gun belonging to her boyfriend, Deputy Jeremy Banks [Editor’s Note, “Bring on the Inquest,” Jeffrey C. Billman, Sept. 10]. The cops have, predictably enough, closed ranks behind their man, insisting — despite the mounting troubling questions — that the shoddy police investigation was good enough, nothing to see here, move along now. For years, the O’Connell family waged battles in the media, trying to convince the district attorney or the sheriff or the governor or somebody, anybody, to reopen the investigation, to look at the case one more time, but kept running into the thick brick wall of the thin blue line. And then this week happened. Last Tuesday morning, Sept. 30, Gov. Rick Scott ordered the investigation reopened and handed it off to Jeff Ashton, the Central Florida prosecutor and now Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney best known for losing the Casey Anthony trial. Perhaps he was hoping to score some electionseason political points, or maybe he actually sees something amiss in the SJSO, or maybe he just wants to cover his ass, but either way, the governor did the right thing, and some hint of justice prevailed. So, too, did justice finally prevail for Jordan Davis. That victory was mostly moral — Dunn will die in prison either way — and there were murmurings that it was also pyrrhic, not worth the cost to taxpayers of trying him again. They were wrong. Jordan’s family deserved that verdict. And the rest of us deserved some reprieve, however brief, from the cynicism. Jeffrey C. Billman twitter/jeffreybillman jbillman@folioweekly.com
Ander Crenshaw Is the Problem
Congress voted to reduce the amount of payments to Medicare recipients. Did Ander Crenshaw join with Congress and vote to reduce Medicare benefits? Ask him. He won’t answer you. Crenshaw’s desire to get re-elected supersedes the country’s need for ample military readiness. He has vigorously promoted the exorbitant spending of taxpayers’ money in order to buy votes. Did you know that the federal government spends more for the U.S. military than the next 13 highest-spending countries combined? Even if there was a 60 percent reduction in spending, the United States’ spending would still be more than the spending of Russia and China combined! These facts are from the federal government’s Office of Budget Management. They may be understated, and likely are understated, because the actual amounts of, and uses for, military spending are not known. This squandering of the people’s money on unnecessary armament is caused by the military-industrial complex, which President Eisenhower warned us against [Guest Column, “Gearing Up for (More) War,” David Jaffee, Sept. 17], and of which Ander Crenshaw is an eminent specimen. Dan Althoff
Your Civic Duty
The other day, six of us were sitting around enjoying a late night meal, and my friend said, “I’m voting for Rick Scott,” and then rattled off his reasons behind his opinion, reasons which showed he’d given his opinion some thought and was offering a serious person’s serious thoughts. This friend texted me the next day and said, “Oh man, I’m so rude, I didn’t know you were supporting Charlie Crist when I made those comments.” I wrote back: “Dude. I love that you have given the governor’s race serious thought. I celebrate that you are a politically intelligent citizen. I love that you want to participate in an election about 30 days from now. Keep it up!” This friend of mine thought for a moment that he was committing high treason against me because he’d voiced an opinion, a considered opinion, about a political question. This is what the red versus blue, MSNBC versus Fox News, Sean Hannity versus Rachel Maddow world of big advertising and consultant-driven media has conditioned us into. My response to him was my off-the-cuff way of telling him that, far from treason, he had committed an act of high patriotism in sharing his thoughts about a voter’s choice of candidates to be our state’s leader. This governor’s race we are invited to vote on matters, big time. It is a negative race. There is almost no cable television show I can watch with my kids right now that doesn’t feature a negative ad about either of the two major candidates. And yet the race matters. Four Florida Supreme Court selections. The
veto power. Influence over so many aspects of our daily lives — in regulatory matters like utilities or insurance, in matters of public education, in policy and funding for natural things like the St. Johns River and man-made things like our port and the Cecil Commerce Center. To be governor in Florida is to hold significant power that reaches the everyday lives of Floridians. In the Great American Peninsula, Florida’s governors — a group that includes Bob Graham, Bob Martinez, Lawton Chiles, Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist and Rick Scott — influence our lives, for better or worse, far more than any of our members of Congress, or our state Legislature, or our local officials. And we get to pick this person of authority and reach only twice each decade. And we have such a pretty, funny, quirky and delicate home here in Florida. In all of history, this magic shelf of grassy limestone that sticks down into a shallow, warm and welcoming sea has been covered by us, American Floridians blessed with self-selection of leaders, for only a short time. We’ve got an example to set. We’ve got a privilege to exercise. Above all, we have Florida, a home, to take care of. Taking care of our home means voting in the voting booths offered by the Supervisor of Elections on Tuesday, Nov. 4, or casting a valid early vote by absentee ballot placed in the mail. Taking care of our home means not making excuses about being too busy, and not making the cynic’s excuse of saying that the whole process is not worth it because it is shallow or broken or rigged. And no jokes with write-in candidates. The time has long since passed where it was forgivable for Floridians to tweak the election system’s nose with a little playful subversion. For Florida to function as a place we can share as a home, we need the voters to vote. All of them. So, be like my friend, and in the coming month, make or reaffirm a decision on who should be governor, and then be a great Floridian, and cast that decision as a vote on the first Tuesday in November. Michael Cavendish
Who You Callin’ Hippies?
[Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers] probably rock out and are awesome [Our Picks, Sept. 24]. The writer’s description of them as hippies bothers me a little. This post-modern retro-oriented new generation needs to write its own cultural identity. Hipsters were urban beatnik types who listened to jazz in the 1950s. The bearded dudes with Clark Kent glasses in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, are not that. Hippies went to Woodstock, got wasted listening to Hendrix in 1969. This electronic high-tech age needs to find its own zeitgeist. Robert Maxey-Billings, via Facebook If you would like to respond to something that appeared in the pages of Folio Weekly, please send an email with your address and phone number (for verification purposes only) to mail@folioweekly.com.
OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 5
CITIZEN MAMA
WOLF AT THE DOOR What happens when a school board member is financially tied to those who want to privatize public education?
D
uval County School Board member Jason Fischer is a nice young man. But in politics, I’ve learned, it’s the nice young men you have to watch. His most recent actions reveal that he’s a foot soldier in the war on public education — for the wrong side. And his bread may be getting buttered by lieutenants in the Jeb Bush-brand school-privatization movement — the same ones affiliated with his employer, Uretek Holdings. Fischer’s recent activities put him squarely in the camp that has been systematically destroying Florida’s public schools for more than a decade. Fischer has come out strongly against the lawsuit filed by the Florida School Boards Association, which questions the constitutionality of Florida’s private school voucher program. He not only published a guest editorial in the Times-Union, but asked his fellow public school board members to pass a resolution condemning the suit against private school funding. By way of background, voucher funding now drains state coffers by more than $300 million every year. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti is on record stating that privatization — voucher schools, charter schools, etc. — could Jason Fischer siphon away up to $70 million from Duval County alone next year. The FSBA’s lawsuit — backed by the FEA, the NAACP, the Florida PTA, the League of Women Voters and other education advocates — is asking a Leon County judge to declare the tax credit voucher program unconstitutional on two grounds. Plaintiffs say that by permitting corporations to pay their taxes to Step Up for Students instead of to the Florida treasury, the program creates a separate, shadow school system. The Florida Constitution, however, calls for a single “high-quality,” “uniform” public school system. The document also forbids aid to religious institutions, and the majority of schools funded by Step Up are private, religious schools. The response to the lawsuit from voucher supporters is, essentially, “You’re picking on poor kids who need to have ‘choice,’ you big meanies.” About 70,000 low-income children use the program statewide. This year, however, the Legislature expanded voucher eligibility to include middle-income children, and did it in the most underhanded way imaginable. After prior
6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
efforts to pass it failed due to citizen outrage, lawmakers tacked the expansion — in the form of a 141-page “amendment” — onto a tangentially related bill at the last possible minute. On Sept. 24, a judge dismissed a separate lawsuit regarding the Trojan horse procedure by which the voucher scheme was passed. The substantive FSBA lawsuit, challenging the very existence of the voucher program, remains ongoing. Back to Fischer, who on Sept. 16 introduced a resolution opposing that lawsuit. It turns out he may have a conflict of interest. Since July 2013, he’s been employed by Uretek Holdings, a “foundations stabilization company” (think engineering, not philanthropy) that lists none other than voucher-program founder John Kirtley as its director. The company’s chairman and CEO, Kathleen Shanahan, served as chief of staff for former governor Jeb Bush, as well as for then-Vice President-elect Dick Cheney. Floridians know Shanahan from her days as a member and chairman of the Florida Board of Education. To say that Fischer has ties to high-profile privatization proponents, and that those ties might influence his opinion on local board matters, would be an understatement. In a phone interview, Fischer flatly denied any potential conflict of interest. “My position as an engineer and as a business developer for Uretek Holdings is completely separate from my work as an elected public official,” he says. His support for the private school voucher program, he contends, “pre-dates my job.” He says that he does not report to Kirtley, and that Kirtley had nothing to do with his hiring. He reports, instead, to Shanahan, but says that shouldn’t matter. When it comes to his work on the school board, Fischer says, “I operate independently. I don’t take instructions from anyone.” Not even the people who sign his paycheck. Fischer’s resolution proposal followed an interesting event that occurred earlier the same week, during a meeting of the Duval County Republican Executive Committee. The body passed its own resolution condemning the FSBA lawsuit, and called for all registered Republicans to do the same. Who introduced the resolution?
REC member Jason Fischer. According to the pro-privatization RedefinEd blog, Duval GOP chairman Rick Hartley vowed to keep track of which school board members vote against privatization: “We will record the votes. And when they vote against the children, it will help us get rid of some of the sitting members.” The move is interesting, because the edreform crowd, which for years has claimed bipartisan support, seems to be OK outing themselves as a right-wing group in Florida. If Hartley’s bit about getting rid of some sitting members sounds like a threat to you, you’re hearing him right. And his isn’t the only threat. Kirtley, who’s also chairman of The Florida Federation For Children, an electioneering organization that promotes privatization, has put his considerable riches where his mouth is. FFC helped unseat a pair of two-term incumbent school board members from two counties because they don’t support vouchers: Karen DisneyBrombach, new FSBA president from Indian County, and FSBA’s president-elect, Diane Smith, from Volusia County, were both defeated by political newcomers. Local choice money didn’t work against the incumbent school board member who won the Duval County District 4 seat in August. Paula Wright overcame the Republican, proprivatization dollars that fueled her opponent, Darryl Willie, whose campaign contribution list featured some heavy-hitting privateers: three Chartrands and a Baker, to start. Both families have vested interests in charter schools here. Despite raising more than $55,000 with support from the noblesse-oblige set that populates the Jacksonville Civic Council and other organizations, Willie couldn’t beat Wright, who raised less than $37,000. By the way, guess who just wrote a letter to each Duval County School Board member encouraging them to support Fischer’s promotion of state-funded private schools? That would be Gary Chartrand, chairman of the Florida Board of Education. Julie Delegal mail@folioweekly.com Billee Bussard contributed to this column, a version of which appeared on Context Florida. In the interests of disclosure, the author has donated to the campaigns of Charlie Crist and school board candidate Scott Shine.
FIGHTIN’ WORDS
GENTRIFY OR DIE
Fear and loathing in Murray Hill, a neighborhood that’s now at a crossroads
I
n terms of Jacksonville’s 21st-century gentrification efforts, the small area of Murray Hill has always been considered a neighborhood that seemed like it could go either way. To its south lies Avondale, with its manicured lawns, its sprinklers that come on twice a day, where you rarely, if ever, hear cars booming bass as they rattle down residential streets. To the north and west of Avondale, a different story — flanked on the west by the war zone that is Cassat Avenue, with its streetwalkers even during the afternoon rush hour, and the infamous Eureka Gardens nearby. Not too far north, the equally infamous Operation Ceasefire zone, in which it seems no amount of policing is enough. You can get a small mid-century house for a song up there, if you drive around and look for the hand-lettered signs on street corners, and can afford to pay Cash Only. But if you did have that kind of cash, you’d probably want to live somewhere else. Being positioned where it is, Murray Hill has long served as a canary in the coalmine to savvy local observers of urban renewal. Of late, we’ve seen encouraging signs in the commercial strip at the corner of U.S. 17 and Edgewood. Maple Street Biscuit Co. went in there a couple months ago, and does great business. Bold Bean wasn’t far behind. If you want gentrification — and it beats the alternative for the neighborhood’s property owners — those two establishments signal potential for the kind of development we’ve seen in Avondale and on King Street in Riverside. Murray Hill, very possibly, could at some point soon be considered a destination, not a fallback option for renters. And yet, issues still abound. There are reports, for instance, that the Fat Kat Lounge is poised to reopen. The club closed earlier this year after a gunman killed one and injured four, and, as First Coast News reported earlier this year, neighbors’ complaints about the club, dating back all the way to 1992, are legion. Clubs have come and gone in that space
— house, goth and, most recently, dirty South hip-hop, the permutation that brought the most problems. Last winter, as Fat Kat drew its biggest crowds, driving down that part of Edgewood was always an adventure, as Fat Kat patrons brimmed out into the road at all hours of night. After the shooting and the ensuing publicity, those crowds went away, the club soon locked its doors. The neighborhood was glad to see it go. Despite the manager’s promises at the time that it was gone for good, Action News reported last month that Fat Kat plans to relaunch under a different name, which means nearby businesses will want to ensure their insurance premiums are paid up. Hiphop hooray. In unrelated news, the neighborhood has seen graffiti recently — the kind of tagging that makes the news. Murray Hill Presbyterian Church was festooned with satanic tags — the veritable greatest hits: “666,” “Helter Skelter” and “Worship the Devil,” along with the requisite swastikas — on a recent Friday morning. A nearby pizza place got hit, too, as did another building, with a “Praise Allah” tag. Such ecumenism from a can of spray paint and the most cliché-happy graffiti artist I’ve heard of this decade. For Murray Hill to grow in the way neighborhood partisans want, they’re going to need real gentrification. It will be on a blockby-block basis, and there may be missteps, but it won’t happen without the neighborhood accepting no alternatives. Taking a stand against the reopening of the Fat Kat would be a good start, and so too might starting up a real Neighborhood Watch program. Community standards ultimately have to be imposed by those who live there, and Murray Hill seems ambiguous on this front. The people in the area need to remove all doubt in the eyes of potential malefactors. AG Gancarski twitter/aggancarski mail@folioweekly.com
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NEWS The JAG-OFF THE ARROW POINTS UP: WEEK 5, JAGS VS. STEELERS
Another week for our beloved Jaguars, another loss. For the first time in a while, though, the Jags were in the game into the fourth quarter — an unavoidable contrast from the coda of the Chad Henne era, just two short weeks ago. For a lot of Jags fans, that was probably enough — an exhibition of workmanlike competence on both sides of the ball that we haven’t seen in these parts since the days of David Garrard and Jack Del Rio. We can pick apart the plays that led to the L. That pick-six Blake Bortles threw early in the fourth quarter didn’t help, and it was easy to see coming, as Bortles likes that short, quick out pattern and he likes to throw it to Allen Hurns. Another decision that likewise didn’t help happened a few minutes later, when the Jags punted on fourth and one at midfield. Bortles and Coach Gus Bradley said all the right things in the post-game pressers. Bradley said, correctly, that “the arrow is up,” that the team “did better in all three phases of the game,” pointing to the Jags’ four sacks on Roethlisberger, along with a forced fumble. And Bortles was, as ever, a class act, crediting Henne with mentoring him, deflecting blame from Hurns for the backbreaking interception, and saying — surprisingly, since they totaled a meager 52 yards — that the “running backs all did a good job.” It’s easy enough, at 0-5, to take the view that a loss is a loss is a loss. But longtime Jags fans may be reassured by the poise Bortles exhibits both on and off the field. He lacks the thin skin of the departed Blaine Gabbert, remembered best for yelling “whoa there motherfucker” after getting chased out of bounds a couple of years ago, and for blocking his multitude of critics on Twitter. It’s telling that, even with a fanbase that still rocks the throwback Matt Jones jerseys, there’s no retroactive love for Gabbert, who’s as forgotten as George LeMieux’s tenure in the U.S. Senate. Even at 0-5, it seems inevitable this team will find a way to win this year. And locals should hope so. Seeing the herds of Steelers fans waddling up to EverBank from their cars, in their Roethlisberger, Polamalu and Heath Miller jerseys, should appall the locals — that is, if they understand the inextricable yoking of civic identity and team identity. We all know that these road fans who come to EverBank aren’t any more from Pittsburgh, in more cases than not, than they are from here. They are bandwagon jumpers, looking for some identity to appropriate as their own. Sure, their money spends just like anyone else’s, and even if they never buy Jags gear, it’s no skin off Shad Khan’s nose. But the thing is — with them and with all road fans — they just look so damned comfortable coming into the Jags’ house and thumbing their noses at the local heroes. Winning, when and if it happens, will change that. The irony is that the swaggering home field advantage that seems so distant for the Jags is really only a deep run in the playoffs away.
AG Gancarski twitter/aggancarski mail@folioweekly.com
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GIVING BACK TO THE
BUSINESS UNF prof and national security expert Nancy Soderberg on pushing students toward public service, ISIS, and why Obama can’t catch a break Nancy Soderberg
T
ravel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness,” wrote Mark Twain, “and many of our people need it sorely on those accounts.” His words, written nearly 150 years ago, are inscribed on the statue standing outside Building 51 on the University of North Florida’s campus. Inside, working from an office on the second floor, author and Ambassador Nancy Soderberg is putting America’s greatest writer’s words into practice, one student at a time. After traveling a career path that took her from Vanderbilt University to the office of Sen. Ted Kennedy to the Clinton Administration transition team to the National Security Council and beyond, Soderberg, 55, has been a Distinguished Visiting Professor at UNF since 2007. In those seven years, she has developed a reputation approaching rock-star status on campus, as students clamor for precious spots in the two classes she teaches each semester. Her walls and bookshelves are adorned with mementos from 30 years spent in public service (including a Folio Weekly cover, published four years ago). Her alumni are more like acolytes, and they can be found everywhere from local political operations to classrooms in Istanbul, and everywhere they exhibit the same kind of fierce loyalty that Soderberg shows to her own mentors. She and her students are holding a silent auction in UNF’s University Center on Oct. 14 to raise money to fund the excursion she leads to the nation’s capital every semester. (This fall’s group of about 20 students will go to Washington in November.) Items donated are tax-deductible through the UNF Foundation in conjunction with the World Affairs Council. During a break between classes, Soderberg sat down with Folio Weekly to discuss the program, her career and the very serious challenges facing today’s diplomats, many of whom she knows quite well. Folio Weekly: Tell me about your Public Service Leadership Program. Nancy Soderberg: I’m trying to institutionalize a feeder program for UNF students into various public service jobs — whether it’s nonprofits, foundations, government — here in Jacksonville but also globally. The way I developed it is to have students participate in two of my classes; one is called Global Issues, and the other is Real World Policy. How does the program work? Real World Policy students role-play the National Security Council, which shows how
government officials are struggling with very difficult situations. They survey the world’s issues, pick one topic where they’d like to change U.S. policy, write a paper on it, and we take it up to Washington to present it. And that’s what’s instrumental in changing their expectations of what they can do, because UNF students think that you have to have money or connections to make a career in Congress or the State Department, when in fact it’s the opposite. They like diversity, and UNF students haven’t had life handed to them on a silver platter, which makes them stand out. Another thing we do is get them internships. Between the school and what I’ve raised in the community, we’ve so far been able to fund every student who’s gotten an internship, and that’s what really changes their lives. We’ve had students in the State Department, at embassies like Paris, Moscow and Lima. We’ve had them working in Washington; we’ve had them working in the Congress for Sen. [Bill] Nelson and Sen. [Marco] Rubio; locally here for members of Congress; for nonprofit groups that do conflict prevention, genocide prevention, environmental things; we’ve had them working for lobbyists in the business world. And it really is great. Right now I’m trying to set up a network of the former students here, a lot of whom have jobs now in the public-policy world. As a student, what instructors served that role in your life? Madeleine Albright. I went to Georgetown thinking I was going to do development in Africa for grad school, and this one pushy professor kept saying, “You should go into politics!” So I started volunteering on a presidential campaign [Mondale 1984]; she arranged that. I had no idea she was involved in politics. I thought she was like every other professor: nerdy, no life, head stuck in a book. We tag-teamed each other through a number of campaigns, including Bill Clinton’s in 1992, and then she went to the U.N. and I went to the White House. What’s your take on the ISIS situation? Obama doesn’t get a break! [Laughs.] The poor guy — he’s got a very full inbox, much of which will be left to his successor. The strategy with Iraq and Syria, you have to confront the ISIL threat. We are the No. 1 superpower — we’re the only superpower, but that means we are the ones with the target on our back, every time there are failed states or bad guys who show up and threaten us. President Obama has rightly tried
to explain to the world why we have to galvanize an opposition to it, and I think he has the strategy correct in Iraq, [in] that you have to do airstrikes, coupled with a ground force, which doesn’t have to be [just] the U.S., but it does have to be the Iraqis and the Kurds, and they’re capable of doing that. The tougher piece is Syria, because the only ground force that’s effective in Syria is the Syrians. We want the government to leave, don’t want to work with them, [we’re] trying to arm an opposition group with only $500 million, and that’s going to take years, and they’re not going to be ready anytime soon. I don’t see any other way toward success without cooperating with the ground troops there, and I think it’s going to take us a while before we get there. Do we have quality allies in that region we can trust to run things effectively after we’ve gone through the process of removing ISIS? No. We’re going to have to stay involved until it’s done. So, a generational conflict? I don’t think so. ISIL is a deadly but small group of between 20,000 and 30,000 fanatics who’ve been lured into some utopian form of life that doesn’t exist, and as it gets degraded, I think it will start to disintegrate. And you have to have both Iraq and Syria retake their territorial integrity, take back the oilfields. You’re never gonna defeat all the crazies in the world, but you can degrade their capability, in terms of attacking us and our allies. Was there anything that Washington could have done six months ago? Yes. They could’ve had a much more honest assessment of what was going on, on the ground. There’ll be a lot of reports on this, I’m sure, but mostly what they’re likely to conclude — my guess, having seen this numerous times — is they believe their own rhetoric and success. And so it became inconceivable that the Iraqi army, which they’d spent 10 years building up, would cut and run at the threat of an ISIS. You ran for State Senate in 2012. Would you ever consider trying politics again? I loved it. What I found was that the partisan politics in Northeast Florida are really hard to get out of. They didn’t really look at me or [State Sen. Aaron Bean]; they just looked at the party, and voted accordingly, and there were a lot more Republicans in the district. But I absolutely loved it. I’d love to do it again. Shelton Hull mail@folioweekly.com
EVENTS
HOME OF JACKSONVILLE’S PREMIER CULTURAL EXPERIENCE NAOMI SHELTON
J. DASH
BETTYE LAVETTE
MAYSA
LEELA JAMES
OCT 10
Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens
OCT 21
Fine Art of Jazz: Tribute to Count Basie
OCT 24
The Ritz 15th Anniversary Celebration Featuring J. Dash & Friends
OCT 25
The Ritz 15th Anniversary Celebration Featuring Bettye Lavette
NOV 1
JAZZ JAMM: Maysa
NOV 7
Amateur Night
NOV 9
Leela James in Concert
NOV 14
Clarence Carter in Concert
NOV 18
Fine Art of Jazz: Tribute to Charlie Parker
NOV 21
Amateur Night: Semi-Finals
NOV 22
Otis Clay in Concert
DEC 5
Amateur Night: Finals
DEC 6
JAZZ JAMM: Urban Jazz Coalition Featuring Marcus Anderson
DEC 12
Black Violin in Concert
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IN THE MUSEUM: The Fine Art of Jazz: Photographs by Dan White Opens Sept. 11, 2014
MUSEUM HOURS: Tues-Fri 10 am - 4 pm, Sat 10 am - 2 pm ADMISSION: Adults- $8 Children, Students, and Seniors- $5 TICKETS AT WWW.TICKETMASTER.COM
CALL THE TOM BUSH FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS BOX OFFICE LOCATED AT THE RITZ THEATRE AND MUSEUM 904.807.2010 OR VISIT WWW.RITZJACKSONVILLE.COM • 829 N. DAVIS STREET, JACKSONVILLE, FL
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OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9
10 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
“Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like,
your opinion, man.” Often imitated, never duplicated — the original is still the best. Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax is the real deal, your quintessential guide to the very best stuff throughout Northeast Florida, as judged by you, the thousands upon thousands of readers who voted in more than 160 categories. From politicians to celebrities, arts to entertainment, restaurants to bars, shops to services, this is your source for, well, everything you need to know about making the most of life on the First Coast, and we’re proud to be the ones to bring it to you. Now you, being a clever and discerning reader, will likely notice something of a theme throughout these pages. This theme will go unspoken so as not to offend the copyright gods (and their lawyers). But we would like to take a moment to thank our friend and cover model Chaz Bäck, who is mostly certainly a righteous Dude.
Abide,
Jeffrey C. Billman, editor BEST OF JAX written by Jeffrey C. Billman, Daniel A. Brown, Marlene Dryden, Claire Goforth, Janet Harper, Derek Kinner, Kara Pound, Caron Streibich and Shan Stumpf. Photography by Dennis Ho. Photo illustrations by Shan Stumpf and Dennis Ho. Bowling ball and pins provided by Latitude 360. OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 11
“This aggression will not stand, man.”
LOCAL COLOR LOCAL HERO Shad Khan Shad Khan is an amazing man, if only because you people keep voting him Local Hero in our Best of Jax readers’ poll (third year in a row!) even though the football team he owns sucks so very, very much, and has for so very, very long. Of course, there’s much more to Shad Khan than Jaguars owner. He’s invested millions of dollars into local entrepreneurs through One Spark, and is currently eyeing a potentially game-changing redevelopment of The Shipyards property. He also delivered what has to be the quote of the year on the city’s slow-plodding progress: “A homeless guy in Detroit has more mojo than a millionaire in Jacksonville.” Oh, and not for nothing, he is also far and away the possessor of the city’s best ’stache. FINALISTS: Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department, Tim Tebow
LOCAL ZERO/ BEST LOCAL WACKO U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown There are few politicians who get people’s dander up the way Corrine Brown does, both Republicans (who gleefully point out anytime she sounds less than literate, which is often) and Democrats (who roll their eyes and look away and pretend not to know her given same) — at least, few politicians who, thanks to a ridiculous gerrymander of a congressional district, never really have to worry about reelection. Brown is 12 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
understandably protective of her district, which is rather protective of her; earlier this year, after a judge ruled its composition unconstitutional, she cried racism and sided with the Republicans who drew it — specifically to pack as many black voters as humanly possible into her district, thus draining them from other districts and giving surrounding Republicans an edge — issuing a blistering statement condemning the ruling. Then, after the judge approved new boundaries that only marginally altered the old ones, she complained again, even though, let’s be honest, it’s not like she’s going to lose. LOCAL ZERO FINALISTS: State Attorney Angela Corey, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown BEST LOCAL WACKO FINALISTS: Andy Johnson, Denise Lee
BEST THING TO HAPPEN IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA IN 2014 EverBank Field Scoreboards If you buy into the adage “go big or go home” — and, judging by the voting tallies, you do — then you’re probably quite thrilled about the two new videoboards adorning EverBank Field, which came as part of a $63 million renovation paid for primarily by tourism taxes. They are the biggest such screens in the world, bigger than the one Jerry Jones built in Dallas, bigger than a freakin’ jumbo jet, as the billboards told us. If only they somehow translated to on-thefield success. FINALISTS: One Spark, Shad Khan
WORST THING TO HAPPEN IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA IN 2014
BEST REASON TO HATE NORTHEAST FLORIDA
Crime There was a period there, back in the spring, when you couldn’t turn on the evening news or look at the paper without seeing crime scene tape and victims’ sobbing family members and grim-faced cops relaying the details of the latest gun-related fatality. In April alone, the city of Jacksonville saw 33 shootings, seven of them fatal, most of them related to the city’s drug trade. The Jacksonville Sheriff ’s Office has responded with something it calls Operation Ceasefire, an army of officers descending on 18,000 homes in troubled Northwest Jacksonville neighborhoods. Crime went down in that area — a little. FINALISTS: EverBank Field Scoreboards, Bridge Closings
The Weather It’s summer and it’s hot as hell, so hot that stepping outside feels like walking head-first into a blast furnace, so humid your clothes cling to your body and sweat pours down your face. Or maybe it’s the fall, and it rains every day for a week, the slow, constant, depressing, ever-present drizzle punctuated by bouts of driving downpours that inevitably cause I-95 to grind to a halt. Or maybe it’s the winter, when it just gets too damn cold and windy (we live in Florida for a reason, Mother Nature). Or maybe it’s spring … well, we can’t really find much to complain about in the spring, but still, that’s only three months. Long story short: You don’t like the weather, and we don’t blame you. FINALISTS: Crime, Traffic
BEST REASON TO LOVE NORTHEAST FLORIDA
BEST LOCAL COLUMNIST/ WORST LOCAL COLUMNIST
Beaches There are, for our money, few better ways to pass a sunny Saturday afternoon than on one of the many gorgeous beaches in Northeast Florida, lying on a really big towel, working on your tan, soaking in the rays, reading a trashy novel. The cool breeze coming off the water, the hint of salt in the air, the blue, cloudless sky above — what else could you possibly want? FINALISTS: Weather, People
Ron Littlepage Ron Littlepage has been opining for The Florida Times-Union for 25 years, and for 25 years, depending on your perspective, which apparently varies, he’s been either incisive or ignorant, a necessary thorn in the side of the powers that be or a bloviating blowhard who doesn’t let the facts get in the way of a good column. But as both Northeast Florida’s Best and Worst Local Columnist, as judged by you, dear readers, Littlepage has made himself someone you love, or
BEST OF JAX 2014 someone you love to hate. But either way, you read him. BEST LOCAL COLUMNIST FINALISTS: Mark Woods, Jeffrey C. Billman WORST LOCAL COLUMNIST FINALISTS: Gene Frenette, Jeffrey C. Billman
BEST LOCAL USE OF PUBLIC MONEY Public Libraries OK, well, the general public (at least the general public in Duval County) didn’t love the libraries enough to support a straw ballot in August that would have asked the Legislature to allow another referendum to create an independent library board with its own taxing authority — thereby removing the libraries from the whims of the local politicians who, since 2005, have cut the library budget by more than 40 percent (!) — but Folio Weekly readers are an educated, literate lot who recognize the value these institutions have in our community, and who helped convince the Jacksonville City Council to back off making even more cuts to our underfunded library system earlier this year. (Pat yourselves on the back, guys.) FINALISTS: Parks, One Spark
BEST LOCAL WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY Duval County Courthouse It’s been more than two years since the Duval County Courthouse, that problemplagued $350 million behemoth spawned by the Better Jacksonville Plan, opened its doors, but it hasn’t become any more popular with age. For the second straight year, you’ve named it the Best Local Waste of Public Money, and it seems quite unlikely you’ll be willing to let it go anytime soon. FINALISTS: EverBank Scoreboards, Automated Skyway Express
BEST LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST Lisa Rinaman, St. Johns Riverkeeper This is the third straight year the St. Johns Riverkeeper has taken the prize as Best Environmental Activist, and Lisa Rinamin continues to deserve each and every accolade thrown her way. A tireless, fearless advocate for the St. Johns River, Rinamin fights day and night to right decades-old wrongs and educate the public on the many toxins and pollutants that imperil the river’s health. The St. Johns is a local treasure, and so too is its protector. FINALISTS: Barbara Tidwell, Cindy Mosely
BEST LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ABOMINATION Paper Mills Back in the ’70s and ’80s, Jacksonville was famous, or maybe infamous, for the rotten-egg smell that greeted travelers driving through the city on Interstate 95, caused by a paper mill near the thoroughfare. Residents got so used to it they rarely noticed after a while, but were constantly reminded by visitors. Times have changed, and there are only occasional incidents of that nauseous odor. Paper mills on Amelia Island also had the same problem, and they also released airborne byproducts that sometimes left vehicles covered in soot-like film. But times have changed there as well, and those emissions have been vastly reduced. Still, Folio Weekly readers apparently do not forget. FINALISTS: St. Johns River Pollution, St. Johns River Dredging
BEST LOCAL SCANDAL Public Defender Matt Shirk Accusations involving power, sex and mismanagement add up to a pretty good scandal, and the controversy surrounding Fourth Judicial Circuit Public Defender Matt Shirk’s alleged shenanigans has all of those. Shirk is accused of numerous indiscretions, including having an, um, unusually close relationship with one of his employees and asking another female employee to shower with him. (That’s normal, right?) Shirk is the subject of a grand jury investigation. His wife of 10 years recently filed for divorce. FINALISTS: WTLV-Channel 12 meteorologist Tim Deegan, Mayor Alvin Brown
HOTTEST LOCAL CELEBRITY Tim Tebow Te-bow! Te-bow! Te-bow! Might not be what Jags fans are cheering this year, but Tim Tebow, Jax native son, college football legend, best-selling author, Heisman Trophy winner (the first sophomore to ever win the award), relentless do-gooder and ESPN college football analyst, doesn’t seem to mind, topping our list this year as the hottest local celebrity. With deeds so impressive that last year Gov. Rick Scott named the 27-year-old a Great Floridian, it’s easy to see why our readers just can’t get enough Tebow. FINALISTS: Ashley Greene, Shad Khan
BEST LOCAL RIGHTEOUS CRUSADER Jesse Wilson Jacksonville native Jesse Wilson is one busy man. Wilson works in child welfare for Family Support Services of North Florida, has helped create Downtown advocacy events such as #WELOVEJAX, and is currently running for Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 3. He’s also a tireless advocate on behalf of children in the Florida foster care system. On top of everything else, the 26-year-old is a father, avid Jaguars fan and host of Boomerang, a new local television show on MeeMee TV JAX 18.1. It’s no wonder Wilson was named Best Local Righteous Crusader. FINALISTS: Tim Tebow, Ken Amaro
BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY BEST LOCAL RADIO SHOW Melissa Ross, First Coast Connect If you have the slightest interest in Northeast Florida public affairs, then Melissa Ross’ morning program on 89.9 WJCT-FM, First Coast Connect, Monday through Friday from 9 to 10 a.m., is indispensable listening. Whether she’s grilling Alvin Brown over his refusal to endorse the human rights ordinance or pressing City Council members on budgetary specifics or touting any number of arts and entertainment events across the area, Ross has an easy way about her, a friendliness and plain-spokenness that gets people to open up when they otherwise might not. She is a hell of an interviewer, always engaging, always knowledgeable, always eliciting the very best from her guests. BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY FINALISTS: Mark Kaye, Robbie Rose BEST LOCAL RADIO SHOW FINALISTS: The Drill, The Big Show
OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 13
BEST OF JAX 2014 BEST LOCAL SPORTS RADIO PERSONALITY Dan Hicken Dan Hicken, along with co-host Jeff Prosser, helps Northeast Florida sports fans stay ahead of the curve from 6 to 10 a.m. on 92.5 FM and 1010XL’s The Drill (formerly known as Sports Final Radio). Known for insightful analysis and commentary about sports, sports and more sports, Hicken tells it like it is with a style that’s charming, honest and highly entertaining. You’ll find yourself nodding, singing, laughing, learning and listening in the driveway until it’s hot enough to cook an egg on the dashboard. YOU KNOW IT! FINALISTS: Sam Kouvaris, Cole Pepper
@cityofjax has amassed nearly 16,000 followers who rely on the account to stay abreast of things like press releases from the mayor’s office. FINALISTS: @jax_justin, @jaxmayorbrown
BEST LOCAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT IgersJax More than 14,000 people follow the IgersJax (that’s short for Instagrammers Jacksonville) account, which features everything from scenic skylines to artsy graffiti inside abandoned buildings to cuddly puppies. Photos are shared from residents of the First Coast and show off what makes our region thrive and shine. FINALISTS: 904happyhour, OnlyInDuval
BEST LOCAL RADIO STATION
BEST LOCAL TV NEWSCAST/ BEST LOCAL NEWS WEBSITE WJXT, news4jax.com Constantly topping the ratings for decades, News4Jax is the 800-pound gorilla in the local TV news market, and the outlet Folio Weekly readers have deemed the best around. With a staff that includes numerous longtime familiar anchors like Tom Wills, Rob Sweeting, Mary Baer and Sam Kouvaris, it’s a tough act to beat. The station also has been focusing on a lot of investigative reporting and heavy weather coverage led by meteorologist John Gaughan. BEST LOCAL TV NEWSCAST FINALISTS: First Coast News, Action News BEST LOCAL NEWS WEBSITE FINALISTS: FirstCoastNews.com, Jacksonville.com
with the requisite traffic (Ashley Mitchem) and weather (meteorologist Richard Nunn). Staci Spanos, a Jacksonville news fixture since the late ’90s, produces special reports and other material to round out the morning editions. FINALIST: First Coast News’ Good Morning Jacksonville
BEST LOCAL TV WEATHER FORECASTER Tim Deegan As the chief meteorologist for First Coast News, the loveable and oh-so-orange Tim Deegan has amassed quite the following throughout Northeast Florida. Whether he’s reporting on the latest storm surge, recapping a wildfire or just wishing us all a sunny and happy
The Promise Are you looking for some spirituality with your rush hour commute? You’re in luck. According to Folio Weekly readers, The Promise offers the best local bumper-to-bumper radio entertainment. What was once 88.1 on the FM dial has since moved to 91.7 Jacksonville and 91.9 St. Augustine. The Promise, a Christian radio station based in Jacksonville and founded in 1984, offers everything from Merry Rachel’s lunchtime request show to the drive home with Roger, with some contemporary Christian music and gospel tunes peppered in between. FINALISTS: 1010 XL Sports, 95.1 WAPE-FM
BEST LOCAL BLOG The Specktator A professional writer for 20 years, Kerry Speckman is the brains behind The Specktator, a local blog examining everything Jacksonville. From little-known connections between actor Robin Williams and The River City to local politics and the public school system, her twisted commentary has become a media mainstay. (And her campaign to get Mayor Alvin Brown to take a selfie with her made us chuckle.) Speckman, who’s written onand-off for Folio Weekly for the past two years, says of her win, “When I first started blogging seven years ago, I did it for my own amusement. But now realizing that there are people out there who also appreciate my quirky thoughts and observations is pretty — for lack of a better word — spectacular.” FINALISTS: metrojacksonville.com, udontknowjax.com
BEST LOCAL FACEBOOK PACE Jax Truckies In two-and-a-half years, Jax Truckies has gone from the newest kid on the Face-block to a formidable force in the local scheme of lunch. As the food truck following grows, so does our appetite for the Jax Truckies Facebook page, which provides locations of trucks and events on the daily for the food truck aficionados of Northeast Florida. It’s the grownup version of the ice cream truck. There may not be annoying music playing, but we hear your siren song, Jax Truckies, loud and clear. FINALISTS: 904 Happy Hour, Jacksonville Sheriff ’s Office
BEST LOCAL TWITTER ACCOUNT @cityofjax It says something about the denizens of Northeast Florida that the city of Jacksonville’s official propaganda outlet, er, Twitter account, was rated the best in the entire region. (What that is we’ll leave to you to decide.) In any event, 14 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST: ST. JOHNS RIVERKEEPER LISA RINAMAN
BEST LOCAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Ken Amaro (First Coast News) This is Ken Amaro’s 11th trip to the winner’s circle, having been picked yet again by Folio Weekly readers as the area’s best investigative reporter. His allure lies in his almost-daily fight for regular people in tough situations, which a lot of folks can relate to. He often goes to bat for those who have been wronged by businesses, contractors or other entities. Kudos, Ken, for standing up for the little guy. FINALISTS: Jim Piggott (WJXT), Vic Micolucci (WJXT)
BEST LOCAL TV SPORTS ANCHOR Sam Kouvaris (WJXT) Has there ever been a time when Sam Kouvaris wasn’t on Channel 4 dishing out the daily sports news? He’s expanded to covering the Jaguars, even doing announcing during their games and hosting a weekly talk show. Kouvaris is one of the most familiar living room fixtures in Northeast Florida and keeps on plugging away, showing no lack of enthusiasm. Folio Weekly readers haven’t missed that. FINALISTS: Dan Hicken (WJAX), Chris Porter (First Coast News)
BEST LOCAL TV ANCHOR Bruce Hamilton (News4Jax) As co-anchor of The Morning Show on WJXT-TV 4, that Bruce Hamilton could not be any more full of spunk and charisma. He’s also pretty easy on the eyes, if you don’t mind us saying. Hamilton got his start while in high school in Philadelphia, working for a local radio station. Today, he’s an Emmy Award winner who’s in his element hobnobbing with former Jags great Marcus Stroud or on-air surrounded by Miss Florida contestants. Whatever the daily beat, Hamilton’s proved he has longevity and a pretty large pool of adoring fans. FINALISTS: Shannon Ogden (First Coast News), Donna Deegan (First Coast News)
BEST LOCAL TV MORNING SHOW WJXT TV-4 The Morning Show Tune in to Channel 4’s The Morning Show and you’ll just about always see someone cutting up — unless there is serious news, in which case they effortlessly switch gears and work hard to bring viewers the latest information. That diversity has not gone unnoticed by Folio Weekly readers, who picked the show as the best pick-me-up and a.m. news provider. Anchors Bruce Hamilton and Nikki Kimbleton lead viewers through the morning reports, along
weekend, Deegan is the best. He’s a hard worker — bringing us the weather every weeknight at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and again at 11 p.m. (He’s also an avid surfer, marathoner and skygazer, and we’re guessing he doesn’t sleep much.) Who says they’re not looking forward to a Category 4? More Tim Deegan, please. FINALISTS: Richard Nunn (News4Jax), Mike Buresh (Action News)
BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT First Coast No More Homeless Pets In 2002, when First Coast No More Homeless Pets got started, some 23,000 animals were being euthanized in Northeast Florida each and every year. Today, that number is down by nearly 90 percent, and FCNMHP is leading the charge to make Duval a nokill county. They focus both on keeping dogs and cats from entering shelters — notably, by operating the country’s largest spay and neuter clinic (more than 25,000 surgeries a year!) — and helping find shelter animals forever homes. If our greatness, to paraphrase Gandhi, can be judged by how we treat our animals, FCNMHP is making the First Coast just a little greater every day. FINALISTS: Wounded Warrior Project, Family Support Services of North Florida
With your votes, you’ve inspired more passion in our ght. Thank you, Jacksonville!
FloridaJustice.com
904.444.4444 OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 15
BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD: RIVERSIDE
BEST LOCAL VOLUNTEER EFFORT HabiJax Since March 1988, Habitat for Humanity Jacksonville (better known as HabiJax) has helped more than 1,900 local families realize their dream of homeownership. Theirs is a simple mission: to bring people together by building homes. HabiJax is also one of the area’s most popular volunteer efforts and considered in the top tier of successful Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the U.S. FINALISTS: Jacksonville Humane Society, Jax Mud Fest
BEST LOCAL COLLEGE University of North Florida Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” In Northeast Florida, the University of North Florida is the best place for such warriors to acquire and hone their weapons of change and progress, according to Folio Weekly readers. In the 42 years since the school first admitted students, UNF has grown into a vibrant, diverse, academically rigorous institution with an active and growing influence on the region through the thousands of Osprey alumni who make the city brighter and more enlightened every year. FINALISTS: Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville University
BEST LOCAL TEACHER Karen Holsey (Edward White High School) Molding young minds is not for the faint of heart — especially if you’re teaching geometry to a bunch of high school students. But it’s rewarding, and for teacher Karen Holsey, it’s clearly a skill at which she excels. Holsey recently transitioned from her post at Northside’s Raines High School to start the new school year off at Westside’s Ed White High School. FINALIST: Shirley Sacks (Stanton College Preparatory School)
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD Riverside 16 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
With its older mansions mixed with stylish smaller homes, and the neighborhood’s historic values that keep its Southern charm, Riverside features numerous attractions, including sprawling parks, great restaurants, bars and cafés, as well as a plethora of boutiques, shops and riverfront access. Five Points, within Riverside, is Jacksonville’s undisputed hipster mecca, and the ’hood doubles as the city’s most LGBT-friendly area, too. Willow Branch Park might be its crown jewel, with sprawling acres of lush grass and oak trees, a creek that runs from one side to the other, a playground, sports field and library. FINALISTS: Avondale, San Marco
BEST STAYCATION St. Augustine There’s something about The Ancient City, something charming, something historic, something artsy, something quaint — actually, lot of somethings, somethings that keep us coming back time and time again, to eat and drink, to shop and hang out on the white-sand beach, to walk around and bask in the history. And we’re not alone. Folio Weekly readers love them some St. Augustine, and we think they’re onto something. FINALISTS: Amelia Island, One Ocean
BEST LOCAL TREND Food Trucks If you prefer your edibles hawked from a moving entity, you’re in luck. Northeast Florida has dozens upon dozens of excellent food trucks to whet your appetite. Check out The Happy Grilled Cheese (which won honors for Best Food Truck), a Jacksonville-based truckie specializing in (you guessed it!) gourmet grilled cheese. There’s also 5 Loaves 2 Fish, a mobile kitchen that uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients for its ever-changing menu items. And don’t forget Dirty Birds Wings On The Fly, a St. Augustine-based truck serving some 34 flavors of wings as well as sweet tater tots and chopped chicken sandwiches. So when will this food truck craze die down? Our vote is for never. FINALISTS: Breweries, Art Walk
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“That rug really tied the room together.” BEST GALLERY/BEST MUSEUM The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Located on the St. Johns River, The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens combines a bucolic setting, history and engaging artwork. The Cummer is equally renowned for its permanent collection of nearly 5,000 works and regular exhibits of contemporary art that celebrate both international and regional artists. This Northeast Florida institution is well-served by a staff with a perceptive vision and a strong sense of community. The museum offers educational and inclusive programs that foster an awareness of, and appreciation for, the arts in its many and magnificent forms. Current exhibits include A Commemoration of the Civil Rights Movement: Photography of the High Museum of Art and 450 Years of French History in Florida. BEST GALLERY FINALISTS: Southlight Gallery, CoRK Arts District BEST MUSEUM FINALISTS: Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, Museum of Science & History
BEST COMMUNITY THEATER GROUP Players By the Sea Local theater lovers chose this Northeast Florida institution for the best in area stage productions. In continuous operation since 1966, Players By the Sea has been a longestablished force in the area theatrical scene, presenting both well-known and cutting-edge 18 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST GALLERY/BEST MUSEUM: THE CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS
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BEST OF JAX 2014 dramatic, comedic and musical works, as well as fostering future local talent with educational programs. This current season includes Andrew Lloyd Webber’s holy hippie musical Jesus Christ Superstar, the edgy The Red Line and A Lesson Before Dying. FINALISTS: Theatre Jax, The 5 & Dime
BEST THEATER PRODUCTION OF 2014 Rent Loosely based on Puccini’s La Bohème, the multiple-award-winning musical Rent chronicles the lives of bohemians living in Manhattan’s gritty but vibrant East Village, dealing with the ever-present specter of HIV/ AIDS. Written by Jonathan Larson, the story and music of this international hit have made it a milestone in contemporary theater. Players By the Sea staged the much-loved work this past July to appreciative crowds, on the strength of solid direction and a worthy cast that included Elias Hionides, Rachel Romo, Joseph Lorenzo Sykes-Burns and Jordan Leggett. FINALISTS: Les Miserables, Angels in America
BEST ART EXHIBIT OF 2014/ BEST LOCAL ARTIST Shaun Thurston at MOCAJax, Shaun Thurston In the past year, the inventive work of painter/muralist Shaun Thurston earned a greater audience, and rightfully so. Known for his imaginative use of flora and fauna on both studio pieces and large-scale mural work, Thurston has the skills of an astute technician and the visionary savvy of a kind of neo-surrealist. The culmination of a series of “anonymous” paintings featuring crystallike shapes that peppered the city, Thurston’s Project Atrium piece was a zenith stroke of the artist’s talents, the tasteful curatorial choices by MOCA, and an influx of money from One Spark’s crowdfunding concept. BEST ART EXHIBIT FINALISTS: The New York Times Magazine Photographs at MOCA, GAAM BEST LOCAL ARTIST FINALISTS: Jim Draper, Chip Southworth
BEST ART WALK Downtown Jacksonville Art Walk Let’s face it: Downtown Jacksonville doesn’t always facilitate a happening nightlife. But events like the Jacksonville Downtown Art Walk, which takes place every first Wednesday each month, have become a big draw. See the artists and craftspeople showing off their wares in Hemming Park, visit MOCA (which usually has an event going on that night), and galleryhop and eat your way through the streets from 5 to 9 p.m. Afterward, stick around for music and drinking in various venues capitalizing on the crowd. Just don’t blame us for your Thursday morning hangover. FINALISTS: Jax Beach Art Walk, First Friday St. Augustine
BEST MOVIE THEATER Cinemark Tinseltown When it comes to digging the latest offerings on the big screen, Folio Weekly readers like their movie experiences presented in a big way. Located on Jacksonville’s Southside, Cinemark Tinseltown offers film fans 20 screening areas with comfortable stadium-style seating so your view is never obstructed by someone’s questionable hairstyle decision. State-of-the-art 20 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST ARTIST: SHAUN THURSTON sound and IMAX 3D technology ensure you experience the newest Hollywood blockbusters in all their glitzy glory, and of course the snack bars offer the necessary wide selection of sweet and savory snacks. FINALISTS: Sun-Ray Cinema, San Marco Theatre
BEST GENTLEMEN’S CLUB The Gold Club While it surely sets feminism back a hundred years, the strip, uh, gentlemen’s club is still a certain destination for folks looking for a night of adults-only entertainment. Open seven days a week, this nightspot is ideal for your next bachelor/bachelorette, graduation, work promotion or divorce party. Three stages feature a bevy of beauties, and full bars pour all of your favorite libations. What’s more, the Gold Club has a full kitchen and steakhousestyle fare, and every Sunday night is a footballthemed party devoted to the Jags. Not that you’re going to watch the game. FINALISTS: Wacko’s, Silver Fox
BEST OUTDOOR FESTIVAL The Jacksonville Jazz Festival This annual favorite takes top honors with readers who dig their music while enjoying a sunny (or rainy) day outside. The second-largest jazz festival in the United States, this decadesold event draws thousands of fans to our area for a four-day celebration of a variety of local, up-and-coming and legendary jazz performers. This year’s fest included performances by Al Jarreau, Boney James, Average White Band, and area favorites Linda Cole & The Joshua Bowlus Quartet and Tropic of Cancer. Late-night music lovers had a chance to hear even more sounds
with the well-received Jazz After Dark, which featured an array of different performers at various clubs Downtown. FINALISTS: One Spark, Welcome to Rockville
BEST CONCERT OF 2014 Florida Country Superfest Here at the border of Florida and Georgia, country is king, and the best get-together for Folio Weekly readers this year was the Florida Country Superfest at EverBank Field, held in mid-June. Our readers and country music fans from all over Northeast Florida and South Georgia crammed onto the field and into the stands throughout the two-day event, which featured performances by Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church and many others. FINALISTS: Dave Matthews Band, Carrie Underwood
BEST NEW LOCAL MUSICIAN/BAND Stayne Thee Angel These aggro Jax rockers won the hearts and ears of Folio Weekly readers with their hardhitting blend of neometal and melodic hardrock stylings. The five-piece line-up has opened for such national headliners as Mushroomhead and Drowning Pool (to name two) and boasts a local following of headbangers on the strength of their gigs at area venues and festivals. FINALISTS: Flagship Romance, Fjord Explorer
BEST DJ Gordo (The Shim Sham Room) On the dance floor, the DJs are king.
Whether they’re mixing up deep cuts, oldschool hip-hop, house or — our favorite — Swedish reggae, savvy mixologists need to have the hard-earned, funky skills that make the difference between tearing the roof off the sucka and turning the club into a wallflower convention. Folio Weekly readers have crowned DJ Gordo as the best spin doctor in Northeast Florida for his mad skills at Jacksonville Beach’s The Shim Sham Room. FINALISTS: Nick Fresh (Dos Gatos), Wes Reed (Loft)
BEST KARAOKE PLACE Austin Karaoke The crowd is quite possibly drunk, the spotlight is in your eyes, and the mic is in your hand. No, this isn’t the reception at Grandma Snert’s third wedding — it’s no-holds-barred Karaoke at Austin’s! Tap into that inner rocker, rapper or honky-tonk hero in Austin’s nine private rooms that feature boss sound systems in a classy setting. Austin Karaoke can accommodate anywhere from three to 30 fans of sing-alongs comfortably. To add to this superstar treatment, the venue features a food menu, allows BYOB and keeps their song lists updated with all of the current hits in more than a half-dozen languages. FINALISTS: Monkey’s Uncle Tavern, Ginger’s Place
BEST OPEN MIC NIGHT Underbelly Traversing the stage during an open mic night can combine dedication, preparation and, at times, felony intoxication. It takes a certain type to have the innate, amateur-level skills to lead the in-house band and hold a bar
full of drunk people hostage with an extended and agonizing rendition of Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Folio Weekly readers choose Underbelly as the place to let their musical star shine — even though the live music venue hosts these nights, shall we say, infrequently — and since there’s no cover, that means no refunds on enjoying the locals delivering their own weird and shaky versions of their favorite ditties. FINALISTS: rain dogs., Three Layers Coffee House
BEST COMEDY CLUB The Comedy Zone Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and possiblemood-disorder sufferer Robert Frost once remarked, “If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.” Old Bob could have surely kept his sanity in check if he’d spent an evening laughing his ass off at Northeast Florida’s oldest comedy club. The Comedy Zone has been providing “laugh therapy” to locals for decades with weekly performances featuring renowned and up-and-coming mirth merchants, while also offering workshops for wannabe wisecrackers. Upcoming comics include Iliza Shlesinger, Wendy Liebman, David Alan Grier and local legend Grandma Lee. FINALISTS: The Comedy Club of Jacksonville, Latitude 360
BEST LIVE MUSIC CLUB Freebird Live When it comes to experiencing live music, the right venue can make the difference between an emotionally charged, life-altering night and a lifelong resentment against organized sound in general. Located on the main drag in Jacksonville Beach, Freebird Live boasts a decade-plus of providing locals with high-quality touring acts while also being a crucial starting stage for countless local bands. Featuring a schedule that represents every possible genre (with a heavy emphasis on the reggae and jam band tip), upcoming concerts include roots rockers Devil Makes Three, British singer-songwriter Charli XCX and Norse metalheads Amon Amarth. FINALISTS: Underbelly, Mavericks
BEST PLACE TO ATTEND A CONCERT The Florida Theatre If you’ve seen a show at The Florida Theatre, there’s really no reason to read on: You get why the venerable almost-90-year-old venue is considered the cream of the local crop. Established in 1927, The Florida Theatre in Downtown Jacksonville hosts some 200 events in a given year, including killer concerts from the likes of Merle Haggard, Bonnie Raitt, BB King, Iron & Wine and Alice Cooper, to name just a very few, all with beautiful acoustics and a first-rate sound system. The venue, which has room for 1,900 concertgoers, has history on its side: It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and even lent its stage to Elvis Presley’s 1956 performance — his first indoor headlining concert, where a local judge sat among the screaming bobbysoxers to ensure the King wouldn’t over-swivel. FINALISTS: St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Veterans Memorial Arena
BEST DANCE CLUB the Loft Party people from all over Jax head to King Street to get their groove thing going to a good OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 21
BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST PLACE TO ATTEND A CONCERT: THE FLORIDA THEATRE
mix of top 40, hip-hop, indie-pop and soul. Named after its second-floor bar and lounge loft space that overlooks the dance floor, the Loft, along with its sister bars The Garage and Rogue, draws huge weekend crowds of young bar-hopping hopefuls looking to hook up, hang out and have a good time. If you’re seeking a club packed to the rafters with hot young revelers, it’s worth the wait in line. FINALISTS: Suite, Mavericks
BEST GAY/LESBIAN CLUB Metro Entertainment Complex A lot has changed since this Riverside staple opened more than 20 years ago. Once one of the few gay clubs in Florida, this reformed warehouse remains one of the largest LGBT venues in Florida, a giant complex housing seven distinct entertainment rooms, including a pool room, martini lounge, massive dance floor and lesbian club. It’s also the best spot in Jax to catch a world-class drag show, with a dedicated theater-style performance space and some of the best talent in the Southeast. FINALISTS: Bo’s Coral Reef, Park Place
BEST NEW CLUB The Tavern on 1st Street The Tavern on 1st Street prides itself on being a place where the drinks are strong and the faces are friendly, but there’s more to it than that. First, The Tavern (as it’s known by locals) is open until 2 a.m. every damn night of the week. Second, there are some spectacular drink specials, such as Monday all-day happy hour and Sunday’s $2 Bud Light drafts. And finally … corn hole, dancing, live music, pool tables, DJs and anything else you could want on a Friday night. No wonder this Jax Beach newbie has so quickly risen to the top of the heap. FINALISTS: Ocean Grill, Voodoo Lounge, The Volstead 22 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST LOCAL COMEDIAN Brian Thomas Local comedian Brian Thomas describes his humor as “sarcastic with a smattering of silliness.” And if you’re a fan of laughing, you’ve probably come across Thomas’ work at The Comedy Zone or one of his gigs at Jackie Knight’s Comedy Club in St. Augustine. That is, unless he’s touring around at the many venues throughout the Southeast. “I talk about my size, living with my folks and grandmother, dating and some of my observations as I become more mature,” he says. “Though I fight that.” FINALISTS: Jim Thomas, Mark Alan
BEST LOCAL ACTOR/ACTRESS Daniel N. Austin Daniel N. Austin caught the acting bug young — starring in his preschool’s production of The Man With Many Hats. Today, the California native and Jacksonville resident is one of the most easily recognizable local actors, with performances at Players By the Sea, Theatre Jacksonville and The 5 & Dime. One of his more recent roles was Prior Walter, a character dying of AIDS in the controversial play Angels in America, in which he had a fully nude scene. “I love entertaining, telling stories and creating,” Austin explains. “It’s what gets me out of bed in the morning and what I dream about at night.” FINALISTS: Angela Robinson, Ashley Greene
BEST LOCAL AUTHOR Alan Parker This former art director published a “heavily illustrated 48-page book” called Daydream Believer, described as a help book for those with ADHD, which Parker regards as a blessing rather than a curse. We concur. FINALISTS: Bill Reynolds, Ben Walker
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SPORTS & OUTDOORS
“This is not ’Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.” BEST BOWLING ALLEY Beach Bowl Tracing its roots to Ancient Egypt, today the sport of bowling — the sport of kings, screw golf — is played by an estimated 95 million people in more than 90 countries worldwide. That’s a whole lotta gutterballs! And whether you enjoy playing this family-friendly game or just like wearing some different shows for a couple of hours (and who doesn’t?), locals pick Beach Bowl as their one spot to knock down some 10-pins. In business for more than 50 years, this Jax Beach landmark features adult and youth leagues, Cosmic Bowling, a pro shop, game room, food and a full service lounge, and is the perfect spot for your kid’s next birthday party. As a wise man once said, “Let’s go bowling.” FINALIST: Latitude 360
BEST VIEW Casa Marina Rooftop American abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher once said, “It’s easier to go down a hill than up it, but the view is much better at the top.” And so is the case of the rooftop view at Casa Marina. For nearly a century, the Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant (established 1925) has remained one of Jacksonville Beach’s grandest and most alluring oceanfront destinations. Today, it’s the perfect place to grab a drink in the restaurant’s Penthouse Lounge and claim your own square of roof for eye-opening panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the towns along the coast. FINALISTS: Jacksonville Beach Pier, The Jacksonville Landing
BEST BEACH Jacksonville Beach Boasting miles of scenic shoreline, the coastal destination of Jax Beach wins top prize from Folio Weekly readers for Best Beach. Locals, townies and tourists all enjoy a day in the sun and sand while hanging at the pier, catching some rays or cooling off with a dip in the ocean. Beachside happenings like surf competitions, sporting events, music festivals and various family-friendly activities draw thousands of visitors each year; what’s more, residents have the patience and tolerance to put up with the invading hordes. 24 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST SURF SHOP: SUNRISE SURF SHOP
BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST BIKE SHOP: OPEN ROAD BICYCLES FINALISTS: Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach
BEST FISHING SPOT Jacksonville Beach Pier If it swims in salt water, odds are it’s been caught at the Jacksonville Beach Pier. Folio Weekly readers voted the pier the best for good reason — it’s your best bet to catch something, anything. Fishing off the rebuilt pier, which was partly destroyed several years ago by wind and waves from a passing hurricane, is cheap, just $4 a day to fish, and the pier offers many amenities, including a bait shop and fish-cleaning tables, not to mention absolutely resplendent people-watching. FINALISTS: The Jetties, Browns Creek
BEST SURF SPOT Jacksonville Beach Pier Northeast Florida surfers know that the best consistent break on the First Coast is next to the Jax Beach Pier. Through the years, there have been conflicts between fishermen trying to cast out and surfers trying to avoid the hooks and weights, but of late they seem to have come to an accord. The ocean bottom around the pier helps make waves cleaner with longer faces, so it’s definitely a great spot to paddle out during a big, or even a small, swell. FINALISTS: Poles at Hanna Park, Jacksonville Beach
BEST SURF SHOP Sunrise Surf Shop Since 1976, this beaches surf shrine has been providing area surfers of all skill levels with the best variety of quality surfboards (and skateboards), and an array of accessories and fashionable beachwear. Folio Weekly readers know that Sunrise Surf Shop backs up its house motto, “Surf & Skate With The Best,” with a staff that knows how to suit up both the amateur and seasoned pro with great gear to fit every budget. The shop is also known for sponsoring boss surfing competitions and hailed for its altruistic side, which includes clothing drives and surf camps for children with autism. FINALISTS: Aqua East, Jax Beach Surf Shop
BEST PLACE TO BIKE Baldwin Trails Formally known as Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail, Baldwin Trails is a multi-use path that extends from Northwest Jacksonville to the town of Baldwin. It’s a pretty gnarly place to bike
throughout its 15 miles of paved path, whether you’re still rocking the training wheels or ready to try out your new Yeti SB-95 Carbon Pro XTR. The trail is also a habitat for everything from turkeys to alligators to hawks to wood storks. Oh, and beware the coral snakes. FINALISTS: Hanna Park, Riverside
BEST BIKE SHOP Open Road Bicycles With six locations peppered throughout two counties, it’s no surprise that Open Road Bicycles is the go-to place for Northeast Florida’s cycling needs. Whether you’re looking for a new Shiv for the upcoming triathlon, just need a tune-up for your sick Bianchi road bike, or prefer the laidback vibe of a Jamis Earth Cruiser, Open Road’s got something for everyone. Or, if you’re simply seeking camaraderie for the open road, check out the almost daily group rides leaving from the San Marco location. FINALISTS: ZenCog Bicycle Co., Champion Cycling
BEST SKATE SHOP The SB Skate Co. (formerly Skate Bomb) Hit the deck! Skateboarding might not be a crime, but there’s no excuse to have shabby, lame-ass gear. Once again, this shop won our readers’ hearts as the premier place to score the dankest skateboards and skate accessories. Featuring a veritable arsenal of decks, inline and roller skates, and various street-ready paraphernalia, The SB Skate Co. has enough skating schwag to keep the most discerning shredder stocked up. Reasonable prices, a knowledgeable and friendly staff (who skate themselves, man!), and two locations make The SB Skate Co. Folio Weekly readers’ onestop skate shop. FINALISTS: Kona SK8 Shop, Sunrise Surf Shop
BEST DIVE SHOP Scuba Tiger Scuba Tiger makes no bones about it: They leave other dive shops in their wake, and Folio Weekly readers agree. Located on Wells Road in Orange Park, Scuba Tiger offers four-part open water diving classes and, of course, all the equipment you’ll need to submerge and enjoy the beauty beneath the surface. FINALISTS: Atlantic Pro Divers, Aqua East OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25
“Uh, I’m just gonna go find a cash machine.”
SHOPPING HEALTH & BEAUTY BEST B&B ON AMELIA ISLAND Elizabeth Pointe Lodge Luxurious beds, breakfast and the beach. What more could you ask for when planning a vacation? Elizabeth Pointe Lodge offers it all, as well as a round-the-house porch for relaxing with a book, drink and ocean view. Throw in free wine and hors d’oeuvres in the early evening and a chance to mingle with other guests, and you have a fantasy getaway worthy of our readers’ Best B&B honors. And there are many nearby boutiques, historical landmarks and fine-dining establishments, if you feel the need to venture out, though you might not. FINALISTS: The Fairbanks House, The Addison on Amelia Island
BEST B&B IN JACKSONVILLE Riverdale Inn This historic inn got its start as one of several mansions built along Riverside Avenue in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and is one of the last still standing today. When it was restored to its former glory and converted to an inn only a decade ago, many of the original fixtures were preserved, including the wood flooring and grand marble fireplaces. Each of the inn’s 10 rooms, some quaint, some spacious, have their own unique style, and were designed with individual architectural touches. The inn also features a large dining room where you can enjoy a continental breakfast with Southern flair and an afternoon tea, as well as a comfy 26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST B&B ON AMELIA ISLAND: ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE
Fresh food. Aged steaks.
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S..c. 1968.
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VT U 1511 Pv Av. Jv, L 32205
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BEST OF JAX 2014 contort like circus performers, beginners who just want a little kiss from the bliss, multiple sclerosis patients and Wounded Warriors. With classes starting as early at 6 a.m. and as late as 7:15 p.m., Big Fish makes sure anyone can fit some Namaste into their day. FINALISTS: Bikram, M Body Yoga
BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE Grassroots Natural Market “If you ignore your health, it will go away,” threatens some social media meme. Yet there is truth in this particular coercion, and Folio Weekly readers make sure that they’re getting the healthiest food items by shopping at Grassroots. Located in Riverside, this neighborhood favorite features healthful and organic produce, veggie fare and meats. The store deals with more than three-dozen area vendors to keep its business local and ensure the freshest products. What’s more, the 4,500-square-foot market has a great juice bar and deli, a killer selection of beer and wine, and a wide array of health and beauty products. FINALISTS: Native Sun, Whole Foods Market
BEST E-CIG/VAPOR STORE
BEST BOOKSTORE: CHAMBLIN’S bar and lounge. FINALISTS: The Jenks House Bed and Breakfast, Fig Tree House
BEST B&B IN ST. AUGUSTINE St. George Inn Nestled along the pedestrian-only St. George Street in The Ancient City, St. George Inn is a refuge from the overhead fluorescent and market-report décor of its chain hotel competition. With 25 rooms and suites, many overlooking local attractions like Castillo de San Marcos, the City Gate and the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, the inn has plenty of space and modern appointments to make for a relaxing, pampered stay for a weekend or a month. Check your stress at the front desk, unpack your worries and decompress in style. FINALISTS: Casablanca Inn, St. Francis Inn
BEST BOOKSTORE Chamblin’s Uptown and Chamblin Bookmine It’s heartwarming to see a local bookstore still making it in the villainous shadow of Amazon’s Orwellian-robot silhouette. Chamblin’s tall shelves have been a resource for book hounds since the Ford Administration, specializing in new, used and rare volumes you just don’t see everywhere. For those who have moved past print into the digital age, there’s a great little café at the Uptown location where you can surf the interwebs and read the latest David Sedaris brain-droppings on your tablet. There’s nothing like a fresh, hot cup of irony. FINALISTS: Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million
BEST CLOTHING STORE Grease Rags Greasers and punks haven’t had an easy time finding rad duds in Jax in the past few 28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
years, outside of maybe a rare cool find at a mall chain store or a very limited selection at a head shop or record store. Since opening Downtown a year ago, though, this little alternative clothing store that could has thrived on its reputation for carrying a unique collection of alt apparel, including rockabilly, retro and punk styles of clothing and accessories for guys and gals. Despite its somewhat awkward location (it’s one of the few clothing stores operating Downtown), the store has attracted a large, loyal fan base of customers from all over Northeast Florida and South Georgia to its digs next to the Main Library. FINALISTS: Dillard’s, Wolfgang
BEST VINTAGE/CONSIGNMENT/ THRIFT STORE Fifi’s Fine Resale Apparel Looking wealthy ain’t cheap, but upscale consignment stores give the rest of us a chance to own name-brand bags and designer duds on the low-low without anyone the wiser. Fifi’s has cornered the market in upscale consignment in a wide swath of the First Coast, with its four locations in Ponte Vedra Beach, San Marco, Intracoastal West and Mandarin — spacious stores full of high-end designer clothing, men’s styles, fun vintage finds, accessories and preloved wedding dresses. Bonus: Shop used and you can pat yourself on the back for saving green and living green. FINALISTS: Eco Relics, Goodwill
BEST HEALTH CLUB/GYM Bailey’s Health & Fitness Featuring 15 locations in Northeast Florida, Bailey’s keeps Folio Weekly readers fit and trim with a variety of top-gear workout equipment and gym amenities. Spin your way into cardio health with an indoor cycling class, bow up on those weights, or chill out after a workout in
Bailey’s spa or sauna rooms. Knowing that the key to fitness is more than lunges and crunches, Bailey’s also offers newbies informative orientation classes so you can get in shape safely while avoiding injury. FINALISTS: YMCA, Planet Fitness
BEST YOGA STUDIO Big Fish Power Yoga If they weren’t so zenned out, the crew at Big Fish Power Yoga might get a little gloat-y over making the Best of Jax list again this year. Owner Mary Lyn Jenkins’ Baptiste-inspired studio offers classes for every variety of aspiring yogi: lean sweating machines who want to
New Leaf Vapor Co. The first time we saw an e-cig, we thought they looked like an ’80s conception of what future vice would look like, sort of like the way the kids in Back to the Future II wore their clothes inside out. But then we saw our friends ditch cancer sticks in favor of these newfangled contraptions, and we figured maybe they were onto something. At New Leaf Vapor Co., the friendly staff will help guide you through a dizzying array of options — flavors, nicotine levels, chargers, batteries, filters, etc. — and help you find the e-cig that works best for you. FINALISTS: Black Hat, Real Vapors
BEST DANCE STUDIO Dance Trance Founded in 1994 by Jacksonville residents Jay and Beth Handline, Dance Trance now boasts more than 50 locations around the world. Locally, there are DT studios from Neptune Beach to San Marco to Fernandina Beach. A dance-fitness program, Dance Trance is a choreographed workout program for different skill levels and ages, set to original music —
BEST E-CIG/VAPOR STORE: NEW LEAF VAPOR CO.
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BEST OF JAX 2014 jazz, funk, Latin, reggae, street, hip-hop, house, pop, rock, whatever gets you moving. FINALISTS: Nancy Dance, Studio K
BEST RECORD OR MUSIC STORE Deep Search Records While the influx of file-sharing and available online downloads has put a dent in the independent record store industry, Riverside’s Deep Search Records is a testament to the personal flavor provided only by a neighborhood record joint. Specializing in new and used vinyl, this 5 Points favorite offers stacks of wax, with genres ranging from noise and reggae to free jazz and indie rock. A friendly and highly knowledgeable staff ensures that you can fulfill Cousin Bubba’s birthday wish for those Sun Ra and Sufjan Stevens platters he’s been crowing about. FINALISTS: George’s Music, Young, Loud & Snotty
BEST TATTOO STUDIO Inksmith & Rogers Now in its 30th year, Inksmith & Rogers has been beautifying the hides of locals and visitors with the best in tattoo work that combines history, creative talent and, just as important, surgical-quality hygiene standards. Locals have the choice of five locations to visit and more than a dozen top-notch artists to choose from, each of whom has the wherewithal and imagination to turn your pale, flabby epidermis into a veritable work of art! Free Folio Weekly tattoo suggestion? Adorn your back with a giant wide-mouthed bass bearing the inscription “Twerkin’ On It!” C’mon! Live a little! FINALISTS: Black Hive Tattoo, 8th Day Tattoo
BEST LIQUOR STORE ABC Fine Wine & Spirits There are two main things you look for in a liquor store: selection and simplicity. You want to get in, find what you’re looking for, and get out and get to it. ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, with locations throughout Northeast Florida, has you covered and then some — the “and then some” being knowledgeable, friendly service — which has made ABC the reigning Best Liquor
BEST RECORD OR MUSIC STORE: DEEP SEARCH RECORDS champion for 12 years running. FINALISTS: Total Wine & More, Riverside Liquors & Village Wine Shop
BEST WINE STORE Total Wine & More You can, quite literally, get lost in the seemingly endless maze that is Total Wine & More’s wine selection. (We have.) Over here, the Spanish wines, over there the Argentinians. Oh, hey, there’s a French red, and, look, a Napa chardonnay. And on (and on) it goes; no matter what style of wine you’re after, or where it came
from, there’s a good chance that Total Wine has it. And if you’re not sure, they’ll be happy to help you find one to suit any occasion, or just to experiment. (We do.) FINALISTS: Riverside Liquors & Village Wine Shop, W90+
BEST FARMERS MARKET Riverside Arts Market Saturdays under the bridge are made for loading up on fresh produce, homemade beef jerky, honey, cheese curds, kettle corn and locally made ice cream while listening to live music, walking your dog, and chowing down on Filipino pancit and lumpia at this Riverside destination beneath the Fuller Warren Bridge. With myriad arrays of jewelry, clothing, crafts and specialty food items from which to choose, RAM is truly a family affair. FINALISTS: Jacksonville Farmers Market (Beaver Street), Freshfields Farm
BEST HAIR SALON Hawthorn Salon When owners Jim Stracke and Lea Laskowitz started Hawthorn Salon in 5 Points, their vision was to offer high-quality services in a relaxed and fun environment. Clearly, they’ve succeeded. Open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, Hawthorn has become the essential place to get your coif cut and mane moussed. And they give you a cold beer while you get your hair cut. FINALISTS: Cortello Salon, Theresa and Co. Hair Salon
BEST HAIRSTYLIST
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Brooke Travis (Theresa and Co. Hair Salon) A hairstylist with more than eight years’ experience, Brooke Travis at Theresa and Co. Hair Salon in Argyle is a popular go-to for
most anything hair-related. The salon, a relative newcomer to the local beauty industry, offers everything from wash and styles to manicures and pedicures to massages. “I enjoy making people feel better about themselves by giving them a great cut, color and extra confidence,” Travis says. “I also love always being a listening ear!” FINALISTS: Carolina Sherman (Cut-N-Edge Salon), Ron Nepa (Ron’s at Arcadia Place)
BEST LAWYER John M. Phillips This year marks the fourth in a row that John Phillips has been your choice for Best Lawyer. Maybe it’s because he effusively campaigns for your vote on Facebook and Twitter; maybe it’s because of his work on behalf of Jordan Davis’ family and in other high-profile cases; or maybe it’s because Phillips is a smart and principled champion of righteous causes — and for a lawyer, he’s kind of a cool guy, too. FINALISTS: Nick James, Bill Sheppard
BEST DOCTOR Dr. Loren Z. Clayman (Dr. Clayman’s Plastic Surgery Center) Board-certified in otolaryngology (that’s a big word for ear, nose and throat docs), head and neck surgery, and plastic surgery, Dr. Loren Z. Clayman specializes in breast enhancement, facelifts, tummy tucks and a laundry list of other surgical procedures. He’s the founder of Dr. Clayman’s Plastic Surgery Center, next to St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Riverside, as well as past president of the Jacksonville Society of Plastic Surgeons. Clayman completed his undergrad work at Harvard and earned his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. Now that’s an impressive résumé. FINALISTS: Arpitha Ketty (Baptist Ponte Vedra Beach), Bonnie White (Ponte Vedra Medical Center)
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BEST OF JAX 2014 BEST PLASTIC SURGEON Dr. Mark A. Clayman (Dr. Clayman’s Plastic Surgery Center) Now that Joan Rivers has passed on, there’s plenty of plastic surgery to go around. So if you’re in the market for a nose job, boob job or any other job, Dr. Mark A. Clayman is pretty handy with the knife. Dr. Clayman earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, graduated from Jefferson Medical College and completed his surgical and plastic surgery training at the University of Florida. Today, Dr. Clayman’s part of Dr. Clayman’s Plastic Surgery Center, where he also specializes in breast reduction, nasal reconstruction and facial trauma. FINALISTS: Dr. Hollie J. Hickman (Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery), Dr. Lewis J. Obi (Jacksonville Plastic Surgery & Medspa)
BEST NURSE OR PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT Brianne Pla Pitts, ARNP Brianne Pla Pitts knows a thing or two about the circulatory system. As a board-certified nurse practitioner at Ellison Vein Institute, located at Baptist Hospital Downtown, Pitts
works one-on-one with her patients in the treatment of varicose veins and venous disorders. Pitts received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Florida State University and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Florida, and has extensive experience in sclerotherapy, endovenous procedures, ambulatory phlebectomy, sonography and management of venous disorders. FINALISTS: Jennifer Solano (Clayman & Associates), Tina Campla (Clayman & Associates)
BEST HOSPITAL Baptist Health When our readers are seeking the best in medical attention and overall healthcare, they look no further than Baptist Health. With six main locations in Northeast Florida, including the heart center and Wolfson Children’s Hospital, and more than a dozen outpatient centers, Baptist offers local residents stateof-the-art medical care delivered by a highly trained and reputable staff. Whether you need emergency or primary care, health screenings, surgery or (like the entire staff of this esteemed publication) extensive mental health care, this
BEST HOSPITAL: BAPTIST HEALTH
BEST JEWELRY STORE: UNDERWOOD’S JEWELERS 32 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
area landmark is the place to go for the best in all-around medical knowhow. FINALISTS: St. Vincent’s, Mayo Clinic
BEST DAY SPA Dr. Clayman’s Miracle Spa Located in Riverside, Dr. Clayman’s Miracle Spa offers a total hodgepodge of spa services. Sure, there are the standards — facials, massages, manicures and pedicures — but staff members pride themselves on staying up-to-date on cutting-edge treatments such as chemical peels, endermologie (cell stimulation) and something called the Hyperbaric 02 Chamber. Check out one of the many spa packages, too, including the Fabulous Escape, Pamper Me Monthly and Make Over Magic. FINALISTS: Ponte Vedra Inn, One Ocean
159 PALENCIA VILLAGE DR., ST. AUGUSTINE (904) 808-1818 | PACIFICASIANBISTRO.COM
BEST VETERINARIAN Saint Francis Animal Hospital Founded in 2003 by Susan Shelton, DVM, Saint Francis Animal Hospital offers emergency care, surgery, dentistry, vaccinations and routine check-ups for Northeast Florida’s beloved pets. The not-for-profit animal hospital was named for Saint Francis of Assisi, an Italian Catholic friar known as the patron saint of animals, and provides affordable veterinary care seven days a week. Check out the office’s “Healthy Pet Happy Hour,” reasonably priced vaccination packages for cats and dogs, and its annual fundraising events like the Chariots of Fur. FINALISTS: Will Daniels (Beaches Animal Hospital), Greg Bennett (San Juan Animal Hospital)
BEST PLACE TO BUY A CAR Tom Bush Family Maybe the radiator blew in your 1997 cherry-red Geo Tracker, or your grandmother’s Chrysler LeBaron convertible hand-me-down finally bit the dust. Either way, the Tom Bush Family of Dealerships on Atlantic Boulevard is Jacksonville’s go-to when trading in the jalopy for a sweet new set of wheels. From BMW and Volkswagen to Mazda and MINI, the Bush Family has been wheelin’ and dealin’ since 1970. Not in the market for a new car? That’s cool. Tom Bush also offers a certified collision center and online parts store so you can fix up your current ride. FINALISTS: Carmax, Autoline Mayport
BEST JEWELRY STORE Underwood’s Jewelers With more than eight decades serving Northeast Florida’s fine jewelry needs, it’s no surprise that Underwood’s has once again been chosen as the favorite place to score some bling (Seriously. Underwood’s has taken this prize every one of the 15 years Folio Weekly readers have voted on it.) Founded in 1928 by Herbert F. Underwood, Underwood’s started as a diamond and watch store in Palatka. Today, with locations in San Marco, Ponte Vedra Beach, Avondale and The Avenues Mall, Underwood’s hawks everything from Raymond Weil watches to the Ritani Collection of diamond rings. In the market for a classic 18-karat white gold semi-mount with a brilliant cushion-shaped diamond halo? Underwood’s has got you covered. FINALISTS: Beard’s Jewelry, Faith Jewelers
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“It’s good knowin’ he’s out there. The Dude. Takin’ ’er easy for all us sinners.”
FOOD & DRINK BEST RESTAURANT IN JACKSONVILLE/ BEST SLOW FOOD RESTAURANT/ BEST RESTAURANT TO IMPRESS A DATE/ BEST WINE LIST Restaurant Orsay Jacksonville is blessed with a surfeit of excellent date-night-worthy restaurants, but one sits at the top of the heap, at least in the eyes of Folio Weekly readers, and with good reason: Restaurant Orsay offers smart, inventive dishes in a setting that works just as well for wine-and-dine business meetings as nights out with your best gal (we’ve done both). There’s an extensive, impressive wine list, solid cocktail offerings and a killer dessert menu, but what really makes Orsay stand head and shoulders above its peers is its commitment to fresh, local ingredients and farm-to-table quality that shines through in every single entrée. BEST RESTAURANT IN JACKSONVILLE/ RESTAURANT TO IMPRESS A DATE FINALISTS: Black Sheep, Ruth’s Chris Steak House BEST SLOW FOOD FINALISTS: Black Sheep, Corner Taco BEST WINE LIST FINALISTS: Ovinte, Wine Cellar 34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST CHEF: TOM GRAY (MOXIE KITCHEN + COCKTAILS)
BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST RESTAURANT/BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR ON AMELIA ISLAND: SALTY PELICAN BAR & GRILL
BEST RESTAURANT IN ORANGE PARK/FLEMING ISLAND BEST PIZZA IN ORANGE PARK/ FLEMING ISLAND BEST PIZZA IN JACKSONVILLE/ BEST TRIVIA NIGHT Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers According to some of those cranks we call historians, Italians may have allegedly invented pizza, but clearly pizza is an American food group. While those boring Italian purists prefer the Margherita or the Marina — yawn — the crust wunderkinds and topping virtuosos at Mellow Mushroom are constantly inventing new ways to enjoy this breakfast, lunch and dinner treat. Take a bite of the Red Skin Potato Pie, Thai Dye or Mellowterranean and you’ll see that purity, clearly, is highly overrated. Offering more than just pizza — salads, calzones, hoagies, etc. — the Atlantabased chain celebrates its 40th delectable anniversary this year. If the pies and other eats aren’t convincing enough — and they are, trust us — our readers also voted MM’s trivia night, a righteous, beer-soaked celebration of geek knowledge, the best around. BEST RESTAURANT IN ORANGE PARK/ FLEMING ISLAND FINALISTS: Brewer’s Pizza, Hurricane Grill & Wings BEST PIZZA IN ORANGE PARK/FLEMING ISLAND FINALISTS: Brewer’s Pizza, Renna’s Pizza BEST RESTAURANT IN JACKSONVILLE FINALISTS: Moon River Pizza, Al’s Pizza BEST TRIVIA NIGHT FINALISTS: Dick’s Wings & Grill, Mangia! La Pizza Italian Bistro & Bar
BEST RESTAURANT ON AMELIA ISLAND/ BEST NEIGHBORHOOD
BAR ON AMELIA ISLAND Salty Pelican Bar & Grill Some restaurants just have that ish on lock. Salty Pelican is one of them. Attracting a diverse crowd of locals, seafarers, tourists and tarts, it’s the kind of place where you stop in for a drink, a snack and a sunset view of the river, wind up ordering dinner — more oysters! Sweet potato fries all around! — and staying ’til the closing bell rings. Or was that ringing only in your ears? You may not remember why or when you came, but you’ll be glad you did. BEST RESTAURANT ON AMELIA ISLAND FINALISTS: Salt at The Ritz-Carlton, 29 South BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR ON AMELIA ISLAND FINALISTS: Green Turtle Tavern, The Palace Saloon
BEST RESTAURANT IN ST. AUGUSTINE Columbia Restaurant Columbia Restaurant, which got its start in Tampa’s Ybor City, has been serving traditional Spanish and Cuban fare in Florida for more than 100 years, and in its St. Augustine location for more than 30. Its location on downtown St. Augustine’s bustling St. George Street is almost always packed, especially on weekends when the weather is nice and tourist season is in full swing. The food and service are both excellent, but the atmosphere is what really puts this place at the top of the list. Dining at any table in Columbia Restaurant is a real treat, from the main dining room to the moody wine cellar to the enclosed palm-tree-filled patio. FINALISTS: Cap’s on the Water, The Floridian
BEST RESTAURANT WHEN YOU’RE PAYING
TacoLu Baja Mexicana Cheap is good. Cheap and good is better. And if you’re treating but still want to impress, TacoLu Baja Mexicana is your spot. Festive, high-energy, affordable and, above all else, very tasty, TacoLu is where the locals go for a great night out. Pro tip: The shrimp and scallop tacos are to die for. There’s a great tequila selection, too, if you’re into that sort of thing (and you are). FINALISTS: Hawkers Asian Street Fare, Chomp Chomp
BEST RESTAURANT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS PAYING BEST STEAK Ruth’s Chris Steak House Founded in 1965 by Ruth Fertel, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is a high-end chain boasting two Northeast Florida locations in Ponte Vedra Beach and riverfront in Downtown Jacksonville (inside the Crowne Plaza Hotel). Whether you’re in the mood for a petite filet, a thick T-bone or a New York strip, these guys know how to grill a mean slab of beef. There are also some pretty tasty sides, like tempura onion rings, sweet potato casserole and broccoli au gratin. BEST RESTAURANT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS PAYING FINALISTS: Restaurant Orsay, Capital Grille BEST STEAK FINALISTS: Capital Grille, Longhorn Steakhouse
BEST CHEF Tom Gray (Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails) Even after earning national acclaim with two James Beard nominations, being recognized as the best chef in Jacksonville by the community he serves is perhaps Tom Gray’s most humbling honor. Moxie’s menu offers sophisticated twists on familiar flavors OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
BEST OF JAX 2014 BEST BURGER IN ORANGE PARK/FLEMING ISLAND
BEST WINGS: DICKS’S WINGS & GRILL
Five Guys Burgers and Fries Others can imitate, but there’s only one Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Voted Best Burger in Orange Park/Fleming Island, Five Guys serves ’em up hot, fresh and made-to-order with your choice of yummy toppings. It’s the kind of burger that makes long-married couples fall in love all over again, the burger of which angels trumpet and choirs sing. Never frozen, always juicy, with more than 250,000 possible topping combinations, if you’re in the mood for a honking good hunk of meat, Five Guys is the way to go. FINALISTS: Ted’s Montana Grill, The Loop Pizza Grill
BEST BURGER IN ST. AUGUSTINE Cruisers Grill The origin of the hamburger is steeped in mystery and intrigue. The only thing that’s clear is that after more than a century — experts can at least agree that the American fave dates back to the turn of the 20th century — the hamburger still dominates all things sandwich. When St. Augustinians crave America’s favorite meat-and-bread medley, their taste buds lead them to Cruisers Grill. Make it a showstopper with cheddar fries and a malt milkshake. Calories don’t count that close to the beach. FINALISTS: Ice Plant Bar, Gas Full Service Restaurant
BEST ALL YOU CAN EAT
found throughout the Southeast. The best seat in the house at Moxie is the chef ’s table, where you can watch Gray as he delightfully conducts a symphony of culinary harmony. Watching the smile on his face as each beautifully plated dish leaves his hand, it’s easy to see why Folio Weekly readers adore his genius. FINALISTS: Dennis Chan (Blue Bamboo), Josh Agan (Flying Iguana)
fried rice options, plus soups and skewers. Don’t miss the awesome roti canai to start — a bowl of spicy curry dipping sauce and the most buttery, pillowy warm flatbreads known to man. BEST NEW RESTAURANT FINALISTS: Flying Iguana, Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT FINALISTS: Mr. Chan, P.F. Chang’s
BEST SERVER Destiney Cassano (Charlie’s Diner) There’s nothing quite like grabbing some grub at a greasy spoon. That is, unless your chili cheeseburger is served with the warmth and smile of a good waitress. In steps Destiney Cassano, a server and manager at Charlie’s Diner on Philips Highway. Open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch, Charlie’s is a relative newcomer to the diner circuit, having just opened this past summer. But it’s quickly gaining momentum. From Charlie’s countryfried steak with gravy to an extensive omelet menu and the popular Country Boy Breakfast, Cassano and the rest of the staff offer traditional diner edibles with a Southern flair — all with a larger-than-life smile. FINALISTS: Ryan Young (Metro Diner), Jennifer Williams (What’s Cookin’)
T-Ray’s Burger Station Who would have thought a gas station would be the site of some of the most delicious hamburgers in Fernandina Beach? A whole lot of people, right from the beginning, in 1998. T-Ray Mullis, the son of the gas station’s owner, went to work for his father, but secretly wanted to do something else — make great food. T-Ray’s initially served only takeout, and people flocked in as word spread about how good his burgers were. T-Ray then built a small eat-in restaurant connected to the gas station. The motto was “EAT HERE AND GET GAS.” The station is still there, but it’s now a full restaurant. And 16 years later, people still flock there for food, giving T-Ray’s the biggest thumbs-up for burgers on Amelia Island. FINALISTS: Tasty’s Fresh Burgers & Fries, Salty Pelican Bar & Grill
BEST NEW RESTAURANT/ BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
BEST BURGER I N JACKSONVILLE
Hawkers Asian Street Fare Until recently, 5 Points lacked a hip Asian spot. Hawkers fills that void fabulously. Reasonably priced, sharable small plates like roast duck, cod fillet with black bean sauce and wok-fired lettuce meet a great sake and craft beer selection, addictive noodle bowls, and an assortment of
MShack The Medure brothers may have begun their Jacksonville festivus in fine dining, but with MShack, they’ve made their mark on the mouth-breathing masses. With three delicious locations serving classic combinations like the “M” Burger (American cheese, lettuce, tomato,
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BEST BURGER ON AMELIA ISLAND
pickle and shack sauce) alongside whimsical amalgamations like the Portobello Truffle Burger (smoked gouda, bacon, truffle-flavored portobello mushroom and sherry glaze), the dynamic restaurateur duo offers a little sumpin’-sumpin’ for all, from chubby checkers (Insanity Challenged) to vegetarians (Veggie Burger) to those freaks who toss tires around warehouses (Cross Fit Burger). FINALISTS: Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Cruisers Grill
Arden’s Kafé & Katering Nestled in a little Westside strip mall that is too easily overlooked, Arden’s Kafe’s buffet is the place to consume mass quantities. Your cholesterol may not like it, but your taste buds surely will: chicken wings, pork chops, homemade mac ’n’ cheese, liver and onions, biscuits and cornbread, seafood gumbo — on and on, and that’s not even counting the Saturday morning breakfast buffet, which is similarly sublime and food-coma-inducing. Think corned beef hash, country-fried steak, ham, grits, biscuits — a gluttonous orgy of the very best kind. FINALISTS: Sweet Tomatoes, Fuji Sushi
BEST BURGER ON AMELIA ISLAND: T-RAY’S BURGER STATION
BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST NEW RESTAURANT/ BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT: HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE BEST BAGEL Bagel Love Jacksonville isn’t the first city that comes to mind when you think of bagels, but Bagel Love in Avondale has you covered when it comes to the boiled-and-then-baked kosher specialty. Sweet or savory bagel variations such as spinach garlic and cinnamon crunch accompany classic standbys like pumpernickel and egg. Together with a wide variety of spreads, including pesto and Nutella, the mindboggling array of possible flavor combinations is truly overwhelming. Oy vey! OK. Enough. We’re keeping it real with an untoasted salt bagel with lox and a cream cheese spread. FINALISTS: Panera Bread, Bagel World
BEST BARBECUE Mojo The delightful smell emanating from the pit at any one of the five Mojo locations around Northeast Florida entices pork-crazed disciples of barbecue from far and wide. Mojo focuses on Southern cooking, and has a menu chockfull of a wide cross-section of barbecue styles. For those with big appetites, the Big Mojo platter includes a sampling of ribs, chicken, brisket, sausage and pulled pork. Order the Kansas City Burnt Ends as an appetizer. This glorious dish of juicy smoked brisket is so sinfully delicious that our City Council might try to outlaw it. FINALISTS: Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q, 4 Rivers Smokehouse
BEST BURRITO Burrito Gallery Whether wet or dry, loaded with veggies or filled with seasoned meat, you can’t beat a burrito to wrap up even the most intense hunger pangs. When it comes to this tubular taste sensation, Folio Weekly readers know that Burrito Gallery supplies the goods and then some. Featuring a Downtown and beaches
location (and a forthcoming two-story spot in Riverside), BG combines a laid-back atmosphere, cool local art on the walls, and a great selection of items like burritos, tacos, wraps and salads. FINALISTS: Lola’s, Chipotle
BEST CHICKEN WINGS Dick’s Wings & Grill With its rustic NASCAR theme, ice-cold beer and numerous flatscreens playing the big game, Dick’s Wings & Grill is Folio Weekly readers’ favorite joint for wings. It makes sense. The Americana eatery, whose tagline is “Our wings are HOT!,” offers 365 flavor and spice combinations of wings (check out the Cajun Ranch and Caribbean Jerk) as well as salads, flatbreads and burgers. And with a brand new storefront off U.S. 1 in St. Augustine, Dick’s now boasts more than a dozen locations in the area. You may now proceed with the chicken dance. FINALISTS: Hurricane Grill & Wings, Buffalo Wild Wings
BEST COFFEEHOUSE Bold Bean Coffee Roasters The folks at Bold Bean don’t think about coffee the way you do. It’s not just a pick-meup, not just part of the morning routine. It’s an art form, worthy of care and attention to detail, artisanal in every sense of the word. And the coffee — skip the cream and sugar, and take the pour-over if you’ve got time — speaks for itself, with fresh-roasted, organic beans brewed in a variety of methods, including French press and Chemex. Or if that doesn’t convince you, consider this: Bold Bean’s been open almost three years, and has racked up three Best of Jax awards. FINALISTS: Starbucks, Lillie’s Coffee Bar OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 37
BEST OF JAX 2014 BEST DESSERT Biscottis Dessert and Biscottis are one and the same. Whether you’re hungry or not, there’s always room in your stomach for a towering slice of Oreo mousse cake or a ramekin of silky crème brûlée or the signature warmed bread pudding (don’t forget the scoop of ice cream on top!) at this Avondale eatery. With at least a dozen varieties of sweet oversized treats available daily, there’s surely something to please all palates. Sharing is not required. FINALISTS: Cheesecake Factory, bb’s restaurant and bar
BEST FROZEN YOGURT sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt If you’re looking for a little religion mixed with your frozen dessert treats, head to one of the three sweetFrog franchise locations in Northeast Florida (Ponte Vedra Beach, Baymeadows and San Jose). According to sweetFrog’s website, the Frog stands for “Fully Rely On God.” If the Almighty isn’t your thing, you can still chow down on one of thousands of fro-yo combos, like nonfat angel food cake frozen yogurt topped with fresh kiwi chunks or maple bacon donut drizzled in marshmallow sauce. With so many tasty offerings, WWJD? FINALISTS: Yobe Frozen Yogurt, myMochi Frozen Yogurt
BEST HOT DOG Hot Dog Hut Honoring the Teutonic-tinged roots of the Bavarian-born bratwurst — including such link-shaped ancestors as the Wiener, the Blutwurst and the Schwarzwurst — when locals want to “follow the wieners” (oh, the puns) they head to Jacksonville Beach’s Hot Dog Hut. This repeat winner and fan favorite in our Best of Jax readers’ poll offers more than a dozen flavorful frankfurter specialty dishes, including the pepper-and-onion-slathered Arizona Dog, the tangy Onion Sauce Dog and the classic Slaw Dog. In addition to these savory delights, this neighborhood fave serves up spicy sausages, an extensive sandwich menu, kid-sized portions and gut-pleasing
BEST SUB: ANGIE’S SUBS sides like fries and onion rings. FINALISTS: Orange Tree Hot Dogs, Sonic Drive-in
BEST SEAFOOD Salt Life Food Shack And here we thought those Salt Life stickers on the backs of cars had something to do with ocean living. Well, maybe they do, but according to our readers, there should also be a sticker for Salt Life Food Shack (locations in
BEST SUSHI: KAZU JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine), which they voted the best seafood restaurant in all of Northeast Florida. The restaurants offer appetizers, sushi, a raw bar, seafood entrées and fish tacos (and chicken and steak tacos, too, but those are unnecessary). Do yourself a favor and check out the Beach Boil — shrimp, crab legs, sausage, corn, onions and potatoes, all boiled together. You can thank us later. FINALISTS: Singleton’s Seafood Shack, North Beach Fish Camp
BEST SMOOTHIE Tropical Smoothie Suck it up! What started out as a drink for health nuts has become the ultimate beverage for folks looking for a healthy, delicious and cool way to satisfy their jones for a nutritional food fix. With more than a dozen locations in Northeast Florida, Tropical Smoothie reigns supreme. Stay fit and trim with one of their low-fat selections, flex those pecs with a Muscle Blaster, or get a caffeine boost with the Mocha Madness. Tropical Smoothie also has a great selection of wraps, sandwiches, plenty of veggie options and a kids’ menu. FINALISTS: Smoothie King, Pulp
BEST SOUP Panera Bread Perfect as a meal or side, soup is one of the oldest known dishes, tracing its savory origins back to 20,000 B.C. For flavor and variety, Folio Weekly readers tout Panera Bread as the premier place to satisfy their cravings for a warm bowl or cup of this universal mealtime favorite and ultimate comfort food. Offering daily specials like Bistro French Onion, LowFat All-Natural Chicken Noodle, New England 38 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
Clam Chowder and tasty veggie options, Panera also quells your carb cravings with its popular soup-and-bread bowl. FINALISTS: Soup’s On, Sweet Tomatoes
BEST SUB Angie’s Subs It looks like just another sub shop, but the crowds at Angie’s in Jax Beach immediately disavow you of that notion. Angie’s has too many varieties (The Peruvian!) of subs to mention here, but if you’ve never been, ask around, and you’ll soon learn that everything is delicious. There’s a reason Folio Weekly readers have granted Angie’s Best Sub honors two years in a row. FINALISTS: Firehouse Subs, Publix, Larry’s Giant Subs
BEST SUSHI Kazu Japanese Restaurant If you dream of uni, bluefin tuna, tilefish, sea bream and live scallops, you’ll be happy to know they arrive often to this Mandarin stripmall spot, because here, freshness is king. Enjoy a lengthy sushi menu in this modern eatery, which is a perfect location to kick back and enjoy a plate of colorful raw sashimi with rice and a cold bottle of Sapporo. There are oodles of standard and specialty rolls, including the Spicy Scallop Roll with fresh scallop, avocado and tobiko and a spicy sauce. And feel free to request brown rice instead of white. FINALISTS: Fuji Sushi, Crazy Sushi
BEST TAPAS 13 Gypsies Where else can you find curried cauliflower, chorizo with honey-sautéed pears and spiced
BEST OF JAX 2014 dates, crêpes stuffed with Black Forest ham and melted Swiss, and shrimp piri-piri with Portuguese ginger and a lemony sauce? With an ever-changing, perfectly cooked risotto of the day, it’s evident that Chef Howard Kirk lets his creativity run wild in the kitchen. With just a handful of tables, reservations are a must at this Riverside gem. Save room for the spongy, sweet très leches cake for dessert. FINALISTS: Tapa That, Ovinte
BEST MICROBREWERY Intuition Ale Works Intuition makes some damn fine beers — the I-10 IPA is a particular favorite, as is the King Street Stout — which is why our readers named it Best Microbrewery, a well-deserved honor. But we’d like to take a second to recognize Intuition for the service it performed earlier this year on behalf of all Florida beer-lovers lobbying against odious legislation proffered in the state Legislature that would have, in essence, restricted craft breweries into oblivion at the behest of Big Beer. Intuition led the fight, and the status quo prevailed in Tallahassee — and for that alone, they deserve kudos, and our gratitude. Cheers to you, Intuition. FINALISTS: Bold City Brewery, Aardwolf Brewery
BEST PUB OR BREWPUB Engine 15 Brewing Co. It’s five o’clock somewhere, and if you’re in the mood for some sudsy refreshment — and really, when are you not? — Engine 15 in Jax Beach gives you tons and tons of options to quench your thirst. Drawing both on Engine 15’s extensive line of hopsy concoctions and the best offerings from other brewers all over, the Beach Boulevard pub has something for every beer drinker. Whether you’re after a stiff-andbiting double IPA or an alcohol-heavy barley wine, Engine 15 most likely has what you seek, served in a friendly casual atmosphere. FINALISTS: Lynch’s Irish Pub, Culhane’s Irish Pub
BEST BAR FOOD/BEST SELECTION/ BEST LATE-NIGHT SPOT
BEER
Kickbacks Gastropub Some bars get into the food business to keep their clientele from wandering out the door for Taco Bell or, cringe, Krystal, when the drunchies kick in (that’s drunk munchies, kiddos). Not Kickbacks Gastropub. They’re in the food business just as much as they’re in the drinks business: all the way, baby. Kickbacks’ vast and ever-changing beer selection is guaranteed to dazzle the gustatory perception of man, woman or beast (read: PBR drinkers). Open a dizzying 20 hours a day, Kickbacks is well worth surfing the hipster wave that crashes on its doorstep. And the recent addition of the Goozlepipe & Guttyworks dining area, as well as the dozens and dozens of new menu items that are rolling out in the weeks ahead, offer even more reasons to stop in. BEST BAR FOOD FINALISTS: The Garage, Engine 15 BEST BEER SELECTION FINALISTS: Engine 15, World of Beer BEST LATE-NIGHT SPOT FINALISTS: Mellow Mushroom, The Garage
BEST HAPPY HOUR European Street Café Getting your drink on can be an expensive habit, especially when you have a hankering for a quality beer (or five.) That’s where Germanstyle bistro European Street Café comes in. Drafts are two-for-one, bottles are $1.50, and wine is $1 off per glass from 2-7 p.m. every day. Even better: They manage to score hardto-find kegs issued from The Fatherland and have a nice selection of microbrews. Eat some sausages, beer cheese soup or pretzels to sop up the alcohol. FINALISTS: Pele’s Wood Fire, Restaurant Orsay
BEST PUB OR BREWPUB: ENGINE 15 OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 39
BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR IN ST. AUGUSTINE: SCARLETT O’HARA’S BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR IN JACKSONVILLE
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Pete’s Bar OK, well, it’s not exactly in Jacksonville proper, but the ages-old watering hole in Neptune Beach is nonetheless famous and revered throughout Duval. (And beyond: John Grisham mentioned it in a best-selling novel.) Pete’s, a bar that has been around since before you were born, this year reclaimed the crown it owned solid from 1998 to 2010 from the bar scene’s young whippersnappers. It’s a stand-by, a must-visit, a watering hole of the best kind, a place that stands out in an area rife with bars and lounges, a dive, yes, but a cozy one. And
that’s why you still love it after all these years. FINALISTS: rain dogs., Kickbacks Gastropub
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR IN ST. AUGUSTINE Scarlett O’Hara’s Folks just can’t get enough of Miss Scarlett. This year, Scarlett O’Hara’s tops our readers’ list as the best damn watering hole in St. Augustine for the eighth time. The iconic spot crams three distinct bar vibes into one address: a chill outdoor bar where sports fans congregate to cheer and swill beer, a club-kid zone inside for twerking and buying shots of Fireball for that
Team Trivia @ 7:30p 60¢ Wings Late Night Happy Hour 10pm-Close Half Price Pizza $2.50 Coronas $4.50 Loaded Coronas
fri
Team Trivia @ 6:3-pm $5 Pitchers of Long Islands and Margaritas 7pm-Midnight
sat
$5.99 Calzones $3.50 Mimosas & Bloody Marys
sun
60¢ Wings $3.50 Mimosas & Bloody Marys
VISIT 13779 BEACH BLVD. (HODGES PLAZA) LUNCH DINNER LATE NIGHT CALL FOR TAKE OUT 904.223.6999 TIMEOUTSPORTSGRILL.COM 40 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST BURGER IN ST. AUGUSTINE: CRUISERS GRILL
hottie you just met, and a Ghost Bar upstairs where legend has it at least one of the patrons isn’t of the flesh-and-blood variety. Spoookkky. FINALISTS: Ice Plant Bar, Milltop Tavern
BEST MARGARITA/ BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT La Nopalera Because each La Nopalera (or La Nop as the locals call it) has different ownership, each restaurant has its own vibe, with its own unique décor, recipes and specials. One thing they all have in common, however, is large portions on the cheap, and that’s not just the food. On top of draft beer specials, most La
BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST SPORTS BAR: SNEAKERS Nop locations have cheaper-than-most deals on margaritas. The chain’s Mandarin spot has Margarita Mondays with $3 12-ounce house margaritas, and in Arlington you can order a fish-bowl-sized 16-ounce pour for only $2.50. It’s the popular San Marco location that takes the cake, though, serving up two-for-one margaritas all day, every day. And while you’re at it, the steak fajitas are pretty spectacular. BEST MARGARITA FINALISTS: Flying Iguana, TacoLu BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT FINALISTS: TacoLu, Cantina Laredo
BEST MARTINI Ocean 60 Journalist and satirist H.L. Mencken called the martini “the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet.” And while the classic version of this cocktail includes gin and vermouth, garnished with an olive or lemon twist, the martini has undergone a serious metamorphosis over the past decade. At Ocean 60, a fine-dining restaurant in Atlantic Beach, the martini menu is extensive, featuring creative and delectable concoctions like the Cucumbertini (gin or vodka with pressed cucumber), the French Martini (vodka, raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice), and the Elegance Martini (gin, Cointreau and a splash of dry vermouth). FINALISTS: Dos Gatos, Bonefish Grill
BEST BARTENDER Casey Shelton (Dos Gatos) There are two things that all bartenders must possess in order to be successful. First, a heavy hand. Second, the gift of gab. When it comes to Casey Shelton, bar manager and bartender at Dos Gatos in Downtown Jacksonville, he’s considered “the best goddamn bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine or Portland, Oregon for that
matter,” at least according to the watering hole’s website, which, yes, may be biased, but at least here in Northeast Florida, Folio Weekly readers seem to agree. So whether you’re looking for a beer or one of the bar’s signature cocktails, visit Shelton. He’s got you covered. FINALISTS: Fernando Mesa (Brix), Bri Smith (Gold Club)
BEST SPORTS BAR Sneakers Jacksonville’s a sports-obsessed town, and if you can’t (or can’t afford to) snag a seat at the stadium, your second-best bet is to catch the game at one of Sneakers’ two area locations. The one-story-high screens that cover several of the sports bars’ walls may not be as big as the stadium’s videoboards, but you might not mind so much with a scantily clad cheerlead … er, waitress dropping off your wings and beers at a fraction of the stadium price. The Baymeadows location even offers ping-pong tables (or flip cup tables, as they’re often used) on its deck to keep you occupied during game downtimes, or in the third quarter, by which time the whole affair has usually gotten depressing. FINALISTS: Ale House, Buffalo Wild Wings
BEST DELI Pinegrove Market & Deli Situated on Pinegrove Avenue in Avondale, the fittingly named Pinegrove Market & Deli offers everything from homemade soups and handcrafted sandwiches to fresh-ground burgers and custom-cut aged steaks. Started by the Bajalia family, Pinegrove Deli has grown into an undisputed Jacksonville institution. Get the Camel Ryder and find out why. FINALISTS: Publix, Sun Deli
BEST FOOD TRUCK The Happy Grilled Cheese With menu-board items like the bestOCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 41
BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT: PUSSER’S CARIBBEAN GRILLE selling Daddy of the Mac Melt (American, cheddar, mozzarella, homemade mac ‘n’ cheese, pulled pork, caramelized onion and sweet BBQ sauce drizzle), you’ll be up to your eyeballs in ooey-gooey-melty cheese and all the requisite toppings. Jacksonville native Anthony Hashem’s cheerfully painted food truck is slated to also become a brick-and-mortar in 5 Points by the end of the year. For now, the Jax Truckies Facebook page lets you know how to chase down the big cheese for lunch or dinner. Keep it cheesy, Jacksonville. FINALISTS: On the Fly, Funkadelic
BEST BREAKFAST Metro Diner A place that serves chocolate chip pancakes bigger than your head is a keeper. Metro Diner has become so wildly popular locally that it has expanded — now to four area locations, with perhaps national domination on the way. Each restaurant serves breakfast favorites like the towering Yo Hala on the Square, a thick slab of challah bread stuffed with bananas, brown sugar, cream cheese and hazelnut syrup, then topped with a blueberry compote, and the massive Fried Chicken and Waffle — half a fried chicken, an entire Belgian waffle, a scoop of strawberry butter, and a side of sweet and spicy hot sauce. FINALISTS: Maple Street Biscuit Co., Fox Restaurant
BEST BAKERY Edgewood Bakery It’s the longest-running bakery in Jacksonville — this local landmark has been creating delicious baked goods in the heart of Murray Hill for more than 60 years. Edgewood Bakery not only offers yummy homemade-style donuts and desserts, but also a full lunch menu every day, with thick 42 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
sandwiches served on fresh-baked bread. Just the delectable smells alone make the trip to Edgewood worth it, and the rest is icing on the cake. (Get it? Icing. Cake.) Order the Homer donut (a huge pink-frosted glazed donut with sprinkles … Mmmm … donuts) or a signature red velvet cookie, and you’ll swear you’ve died and gone to sugar-high heaven. FINALISTS: Cinotti’s Bakery, Sweet Theory Baking Co.
BEST PIZZA ON AMELIA ISLAND Moon River Pizza The Bottorff brothers opened their dream pizza place in Fernandina Beach more than a decade ago, and have built an almost cult-like following at the original Amelia Island location and newer Murray Hill digs. Fans keep coming back for Moon River’s huge slices and pies of Northern-style dough piled high with fresh ingredients. This is definitely not your average slice shop, and patrons love the quirky vibe only Moon River can offer, with a rotating collection of local artists’ work hanging on the walls and everything from James Brown to Tool blaring through the speakers. FINALISTS: Mellow Mushroom, Arte Pizza
BEST PIZZA IN ST. AUGUSTINE Pizzalley’s Chianti Room According to Pizza Magazine (how do we get a job there?), there are more than 70,000 pizza places in the United States. Located between historic Charlotte and St. George streets in downtown St. Augustine, Pizzalley’s Chianti Room is the locals’ place to manga on a good-a pizz-a pie-a. The Italian establishment, which is really a two-in-one pizzeria and more formal dining restaurant, offers specialty brick-oven pizzas like Chicken Tropical,
Godfather’s Pizza and the popular Garbage Can (pepperoni, onions, peppers, sausage, mushrooms and olives). FINALISTS: Mellow Mushroom, Al’s Pizza
BEST CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT Pusser’s Caribbean Grille Restaurant While it might not be the most appetizing name for an eatery, Pusser’s Caribbean Grille Restaurant in Ponte Vedra Beach is the preferred spot to score some authentic Caribbean cuisine. Rooted in the British Virgin Islands and with a few locations in the Southeast and the Caribbean, Pusser’s is named after the restaurant’s own Pusser’s Rum, the official quaff of the British Royal Navy for the past 300 years. Check out the Jamaican Cobb Salad, St. Lucia Seafood Pasta and, if you’re thirsty, their famous 18-ounce Pusser’s Painkiller, comprising rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and cream of coconut. FINALISTS: Bahama Breeze, Nippers Beach Grille
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT Carrabba’s Italian Grill Sure, it’s not the most daring choice for Best Italian Restaurant, but Carrabba’s has a few things going for it. First, consistency. And second, there are more than a half-dozen locations throughout Northeast Florida, from San Jose to Jacksonville Beach to Orange Park. Founded in Houston in 1986 by Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola, Carrabba’s serves everything from lobster ravioli and rigatoni martino to tilapia nocciola and veal marsala. (Two words: Chicken Bryan.) There’s also a pretty killer dessert menu, including Italian classics tiramisu and mini-cannolis. FINALISTS: Enza’s Italian Restaurant, Maggiano’s Little Italy
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BEST OF JAX 2014
BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT/ BEST HOOKAH LOUNGE: THE CASBAH CAFE BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT India’s Restaurant Located in Baymeadows Plaza on the Southside, India’s Restaurant has been serving up traditional Indian cuisine since 1997. Started by owners Gurdev and Narinder Singh, who hail from Punjab in North India, the family-owned-and-operated eatery offers everything from tandoori shrimp and boti kabab to vegetable pakora and onion bhajia. India’s is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and nightly for dinner. Check out their popular and inexpensive lunch buffet. FINALISTS: 5th Element, Masala Indian Cuisine
bar scene, this Mediterranean restaurant and hookah lounge, located in the heart of the historic Shoppes of Avondale, is known as much for its amazing Middle Eastern food, including the best falafel in the city, as for its hookah and drink specials. Stop in on a “Wino Wednesday” and get a hookah and bottle of wine for only $21; stay for the live entertainment. Bands rock The Casbah almost every night, and belly dancers mesmerize customers on Friday and Saturday nights. BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT FINALISTS: Hala Café, Noura Café BEST HOOKAH LOUNGE FINALISTS: Taverna Yamas, Habibi
BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT
BEST THAI RESTAURANT
Daruma Japanese Steakhouse A Daruma doll is a traditional Japanese gift symbolizing perseverance and good luck. It’s also a fitting name for Folio Weekly readers’ favorite Japanese restaurant. Daruma Japanese Steakhouse, with locations in Bartram Park and on Beach Boulevard, is open seven days a week and offers a variety of teppanyaki (hibachi grill) and sushi. Expect an entertaining atmosphere and good food — and a lot of it. FINALISTS: Kazu Japanese Restaurant, Tokyo Steak House
Indochine When the owners of Indochine decided to take over the old Square One spot in San Marco two years ago, they didn’t want to just create another restaurant like their popular Downtown eatery; they wanted to fully utilize the massive multifloor space and build the perfect venue for a night of dinner and dancing, all in one place. Offering the same lunch and dinner menu as the original location, you can chow down on Indochine’s famous duck curry, then head downstairs for live music, which they’ve got going every Friday and Saturday night. FINALISTS: Lemongrass, Tumptin Thai
BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT Hovan Mediterranean Gourmet It’s hard to miss the bright blue façade of Hovan Mediterranean Gourmet in 5 Points. Serving lunch and dinner, Hovan offers traditional old-world Mediterranean dishes like baba ghanoush, fatoosh salad, kibbeh and saganaki. And, of course, the famous Hovan rolls: assorted meats and cheeses rolled up in Armenian bread. The 5 Points location, part of a small string of franchises throughout the Southeast, has become an institution for Mediterranean cuisine. FINALISTS: Taverna Yamas, The Casbah Café
BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT/ BEST HOOKAH LOUNGE The Casbah Café A popular late-night hangout for college students and insomniacs who aren’t into the 44 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
BEST VEGAN RESTAURANT DIG Foods “Much like our wonderful city, DIG Foods has changed and grown a good deal over the last four years,” explains chef and owner Sean Sigmon of his farm-fresh, organic and completely meat- and dairy-free eatery. After several successful pop-up events, Sigmon moved DIG to Underbelly for a short stint, operating a lunchtime café from the music venue’s small kitchen. Today, you can find DIG’s agrarian products every Saturday at the Beaches Green Market in Jarboe Park at Florida Boulevard and Third Street in Neptune Beach, as well as at Moon River Pizza and Brew in 5 Points. FINALISTS: Present Moment, Black Sheep
FOLIO WEEKLY’S CELEBRATE WHAT’S BEST IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA WITH FOLIO WEEKLY AND THE BEST OF JAX WINNERS YOU VOTED FOR !
SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 12, 4-8PM
@ BOLD CITY BREWERY 2670 ROSSELLE ST., STE. 7, RIVERSIDE
ONE $10 TICKET GETS YOU TWO (2) BOLD CITY BREWS, FOOD AND LIVE MUSIC! TICKETS ARE LIMITED, SO GET YOURS NOW! Available now online at eventbrite.com or at Folio Weekly, 9456 Philips Hwy., Ste. 11, Southside 260-9770 ext. 129
LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR. OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 45
Our Picks Reasons to leave the house this week
MEDIUM COOL THERESA CAPUTO
“Shut the front door!” The Queen of the Suburban Séance is coming to Northeast Florida! Since 2011, Theresa Caputo has earned a loyal following on the strength of her popular reality TV show, Long Island Medium, where she channels spirits of lost loved ones for clients seeking contact and closure. This TLC Channel favorite also documents the Caputo family’s dayto-day lives and their shared embarrassment of Theresa channeling spirits in the grocery store and beauty shop. “Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience” is 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Times-Union Center’s Moran Theater, Downtown, $36.75-$85.75, ticketmaster.com.
JAMMIN’ ME GOV’T MULE
Formed as an offshoot of The Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule kicked their way onto the music scene with their 1995 eponymous debut. Since then, the band has released more than a dozen albums and played an ungodly amount of shows featuring their signature blend of blues, jazz, Southern rock and beyond. Gov’t Mule has been long recognized as forefathers of the jam band scene; key to that rep is hearing them in full flight, flat-out killing it on the concert stage. 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at The Florida Theatre, Downtown, $40-$55, floridatheatre.com.
OPA! ST. AUGUSTINE GREEK FEST
BEST OF THE BEST FOLIO WEEKLY BEST OF JAX STREET PARTY
Your votes have been cast, the winners have been chosen and now it’s time to party! Folio Weekly is throwing our annual Best of Jax extravaganza with a street party at Riverside’s Bold City Brewery to celebrate readers’ picks of the best and greatest in categories ranging from best restaurant and live club to local celebrities and even best scandal! (Lookin’ at you, Matt Shirk.) We’re undoubtedly known for being the greatest (and most modest) news source in Northeast Florida, and we’re equally renowned for our skills at throwing one hell of a shindig – and you’re the guest of honor. This year’s ballot-induced bacchanal features food and live music (The 77d’s!); one ticket scores two Bold City brews. 4-8 p.m. Oct. 12, 2670 Rosselle St., Ste. 7, Riverside, tickets $10, available at FW Headquarters, 9456 Philips Hwy., Ste. 11, Southside or online at eventbrite.com. Limited tickets at the door.
Considered the birthplace of Western civilization, Greece is home to the first advanced developments in Europe and is a veritable cradle of culture, philosophy, and ancient arts. In the U.S., there are an estimated 3 million-plus folks of Greek descent. What does all this mean to the think tank at Folio Weekly? The Greeks know how to party! The 17th annual St. Augustine Greek Festival celebrates the area’s Greek heritage with food, live music by the Hellenic Band, traditionally costumed folk dancers, arts and crafts vendors, and kids’ games and rides. 4-10 p.m. Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12 at Francis Field, St. Augustine, stauggreekfest.com.
CULINARY CAUSE CARING CHEFS FEST
Since 1902, Children’s Home Society has been providing much-needed services for children with their proven adoption, foster care and educational programs. Support this noble organization at the largest food-tasting event in the area, the 31st-annual Caring Chefs. You can sample food and drink from nearly 70 area restaurants, caterers and wine vendors. Proceeds benefit the CHS. 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at Avenues Mall, Southside, $70, chscaringchefs.com.
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LGBT PRIDE AT UNF RELIGION & SAME-GENDER ORIENTATION TALK
Changing Religious Perspectives on Same-Gender Orientation is a panel discussion and open dialogue that addresses the emerging new religious perspective on same-gender orientation. The panel includes Jane Clementi, a Christian mother whose gay son committed suicide; Dr. David Gushee, a Mercer University Christian ethics professor and Center for Theology & Public Life director; Rev. MacArthur Flournoy, Human Rights Campaign faith partnerships and mobilization director; and Dr. Carolyn Stone, UNF professor and spokesperson for the American School Counselor Association’s ethics committee. 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at University of North Florida’s Fine Arts Center, Robinson Theater, Southside, unf.edu.
ILIZA
SHLESINGER Located inside the Ramada Mandarin at 1-295 & San Jose Blvd.
Buy tickets at
ComedyZone.com 904-292-4242
OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 47
A&E // MUSIC
SPIRIT OF MUSIC
Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens bring their acclaimed gospel sound to Northeast Florida
I
f you haven’t heard soul songstress Naomi Shelton, do yourself a favor and stop reading this article for a sec. Seriously, put the mag down and go do a quick YouTube search of her music. Check out the acoustic version of “What Have You Done, My Brother?” and the tune “Heaven Is Mine” from her latest release. Shelton is backed by the Gospel Queens, a three-piece powerhouse in their own right, to make up Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens. The group’s new record, Cold World, came out this summer on Daptone Records — the band’s first album since their debut five years earlier called What Have You Done, My Brother? At age 71, Shelton got a late start to the music industry — a very late start. In fact, she was in her 60s before she recorded anything — originals or covers. “I grew up in a very religious family. There was always music being played,” Shelton says of her humble and spiritual beginnings. She continues, “Me and my sisters, we would go every Sunday morning to the radio station in Tuskegee [Alabama], which my dad built. We would go and broadcast every Sunday morning at 6 o’clock, then come back home and have our breakfast on the table, then get ready for church where we’d be all day long.” The songs on a Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens record are tinged with religion, social issues and a rather pessimistic yet hopeful view of the world. But you don’t have to align yourself with God to enjoy them. Pitchfork, a comprehensive website of what’s happening on the independent music scene, gave Cold World a 7.3 out of 10. That kind of praise doesn’t phase Shelton — she’s less diva and more divine. “I just keep a positive attitude. And I do thank God that he helped me rid all of my vices, which is drinking and smoking,” Shelton says. “So I just drink my juice and just take care of my voice and just keep a positive attitude. If you have a negative attitude, you’re going to have a negative voice. If you keep a positive attitude, you keep up with a very happy voice.” Shelton grew up in the South, but has lived most of her adult life in Brooklyn, New York.
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She’s always been a singer — mostly gospel and soul — but didn’t join a record label or get into the industry side of things until about 15 years ago, when she signed with Daptone and joined The Gospel Queens, a trio comprising Bobbie Jean Gant, Edna Johnson and Angel McKenzie. “We work together as a package with me as the lead singer,” Shelton explains. “Our whole thing is, ‘Keep your head up and hold onto your dreams.’” After recording their debut album (Shelton’s first recording ever), the ladies hit the road — playing some of the most prestigious festivals in the world including Bonnaroo, Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreal Pop and Ottawa Bluesfest. “This day and age, you have to learn not to get too comfortable with one thing in life because life will just pass you by,” explains Shelton. “So you have to have a little of this, a little of the other. That will keep you motivated and keep you going with what you have to do.” When it comes to putting together a Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens record, the team at Daptone — specifically label founder Gabriel Roth (aka Bosco Mann) — chooses the songs and puts Shelton behind the mic. “Music has changed quite a bit with hiphop this and the other. But not so much that music has [completely] changed. I just think that people are doing what they’re comfortable and happy with doing, which is all kinds of music,” Shelton says. “I do what I like and I like what I’m doing.” Shelton will turn 72 in the next few weeks, but there’s no indication that she or the Gospel Queens will be slowing down. They’ll continue touring the world and already have plans for a third Daptone release. “I’m not planning on retiring no time soon,” she says. “But when I do retire, I’m going to keep myself active and not going to just sit around — I’ll volunteer myself to anyone who needs a little music going.” Kara Pound mail@folioweekly.com NAOMI SHELTON & THE GOSPEL QUEENS 8 p.m. Oct. 10, Ritz Theatre & Museum, $35-$50
A&E // MUSIC
Photo courtesy of untastdejazz.blogspot.com
A RHYTHMIC RETURN
Journeyman jazz drummer John Betsch comes home to Northeast Florida for a very special gig
J
ohn Betsch has spent a lifetime being right on time. In the past 50 years, the Jacksonville native has played with some of the biggest names in forward-thinking jazz. Betsch had been the longtime drummer-percussionist for Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp, Steve Lacy, Jim Pepper, Billy Band, Jeanne Lee — to name just a few — and remains a highly active presence in the current jazz realm. His determination, discipline and ability to stay plugged into the music circuit over the course of a lifetime are a testament to his creative drive, innate skills and what he describes as “pure luck.” Locals can check out this prodigal son when he returns to Northeast Florida for a performance on Friday at Riverside’s Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, as part of the Riverside Fine Arts series. Trumpeter Longineu Parsons, pianist Lindsey Sarjeant and bassist Delorean Fullington join Betsch onstage; an exhibit of works by visual artist Daniel Wynn is also on display. Betsch has a deep connection to this area through his family’s notable achievements, threaded throughout the history of Northeast Florida. His great-grandfather, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, whose mother was born into slavery, was one of the first African-American millionaires in the United States. Betsch’s sister Johnetta was the first African-American female president of Spelman College; his sister MaVynee Betsch was the much-loved American Beach environmental activist known as “The Beach Lady.” With much protesting by his mother, Betsch first started playing drums at the age of 9. “When I started talking about the drums, she said ‘get real,’” he says from his home in Paris, where he has lived for the past decade. When he was 10, MaVynee was touring Europe as an opera singer, performing the title roles in productions like Madame Butterfly and Salome. She would send the young Betsch postcards from overseas and bring back currency from different countries, filling his head with the possibilities of surrendering to a life of following his muse. “Unfortunately, most of her influence was negative,” he laughs. “Jazz musicians are one thing, but opera singers live in another world — they have their own reality going on.” Betsch studied music at college, but was gigging professionally by the age of 18, and hit the ground running. He spent much of the ’70s living in Manhattan, participating in that era’s musical hotbed centered in SoHo’s Loft Scene, helmed by players like saxophonist Sam Rivers and singer Joe Lee Wilson. Betsch honed his chops at clubs like The Tin Palace and John Coltrane sideman Rashied Ali’s venue, Ali’s Alley, while playing in trumpeter Ted Daniel’s big band. “That period was
unbelievable,” says Betsch. “I lived in a loft on 10th Street on the corner of what I called ‘crazy’ and ‘deaf,’ and I could just walk straight across town and encounter these amazing musicians and possibilities.” After his stint as a key player in NYC, Betsch decided to check out the scene overseas. “After 10 years in Manhattan, I realized that the real money was made on a European tour, and slugging it out day-by-day in New York was ridiculous.” Once settled in his new environment, Betsch deepened longtime musical relationships with pianist Waldron and soprano saxophonist Lacy. “Those guys ultimately taught me one thing: Cover your ass.” Betsch’s fortunes improved in Europe, but over the years he has remained realistic about the income of a jazz player in the 21st century. “You know how to make a million dollars in jazz?” he asks. “Start with two million.” This week’s show is a reunion of sorts for the now-69-year-old journeyman — he performs with musicians he’s known since childhood. “Longineu and I like to say we knew each other before we were born,” he says of his close friend and longtime collaborator. “When we were kids, we even went to the same church.” Betsch has known pianist and Jacksonville native Sarjeant for decades, and known the show’s featured artist Wynn since junior high school. The quartet is slated to play tunes like Waldron’s “Soul Eyes” and Lacy’s “As Usual,” as well as a Betsch original title, “Double Dutch Treat,” inspired by the rhythmic sound of the ropes in motion during a jump rope competition. A few weeks ago, Betsch was in town for the opening reception of an exhibit honoring MaVynee at the new American Beach Museum. He was quite pleased by the display honoring his late, much-loved older sibling, and is excited to come home again to a city that, like his career, has evolved and changed over the years. “Every time I come to Jacksonville, I am in shock,” he says. “Just physically the place has expanded. The mayor is a brother and City Hall is in the old MayCohens building, which is in the same area where Ax Handle Saturday happened. I’m just flabbergasted every time I think about that.” Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com
JAX JAZZ GREATS: JOHN BETSCH, LONGINEU PARSONS, LINDSEY SARJEANT, DELOREAN FULLINGTON 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, $30; $10 for students, 389-6222, riversidefinearts.org OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 49
A&E // MUSIC THE SHIVAS perform with RIVERNECKS on Oct. 11 at Shanghai Nobby’s.
CONCERTS THIS WEEK SPIRITUAL REZ 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St. N, Downtown, advance tickets are $8; $10 day of show. CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE – THE BEATLES: WHITE ALBUM 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9, Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts, 283 College Drive, Orange Park, 276-6815, $15-$38, thcenter.org. CLAUDE BOURBON, ERIC BOWDEN 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Mudville Music Room, 3105 Beach Blvd & 3104 Atlantic Blvd., Southside, 352-7008.
GOV’T MULE 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $40-$55. RICHARD MARX 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., 209-0367, $55.50-$59-50. NOT TONIGHT JOSEPHINE, BARGAINERS, CITY UNDER SIEGE, TREES SETTING FIRES 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 398-7496, $8. PARKER URBAN BAND 9 p.m. Oct. 9 at 1904 Music Hall. VX36, BARGAINERS 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown, 353-6067, $5.
THE VELDT
AIDAN CONNELL & THE NOONDAY PARADE, OPIATE EYES, DAGGER BEACH, WISE RIVER tix available at ticketfly.com OCTOBER 11
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THU 10/9
VX36, bargainers, iron assault, slamosphere, bad vibe, pranayam
FRI 10/10
‘68, modern art, sack the city, carry the weight
TUE 10/14
lionscape reggae soundsystem
SAT 10/18
impurity, neverbaptized
TUE 10/21
lionscape reggae soundsystem
WED 10/12
human behavior, a selfless lot
THU 10/23
tambor
SAT 10/25
snake blood remedy, swamp rats, jake cox
SUN 10/26
hodera, waighstill avery
MON 10/27
jealousy mountain duo, lake disney
THE RAZORBACKS 10 p.m. & midnight Oct. 9 at The Tavern on 1st Street, 401 First St. N., Jax Beach, 435-4124, free. ’68, MODERN ART, CARRY THE WEIGHT, SACK THE CITY 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Burro Bar, $10. GARTH BROOKS, TRISHA YEARWOOD 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, 11, and 12 and 16, 17 and 18, Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Downtown, 633-6110, $68. WORTH ROAD, THE ALARMISTS, SKELETON STRUT, DALTON STANLEY BAND 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at 1904 Music Hall, advance tickets are $8; $10 day of show. SALIVA, SOUTHBOUND FEARING, MANNA ZEN, ROCK N ROLL CHROME 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, 246-2473, $15. BREAD & BUTTER 8 p.m. Oct. 10 on Riverfront Stage, Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Drive, Downtown, 356-1110, free. JEFF THOMPSON, GARRETT HARBISON, ON THE AVENUE, LEAH SYKES 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Jack Rabbits, $8. NAOMI SHELTON & THE GOSPEL QUEENS 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at The Ritz Theatre, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 807-2010, $35-$50. LITTLE MIKE & THE TORNADOES 9 p.m. Oct. 10 & 11 at Ragtime Tavern, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7877. TRIXSTER 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at Mavericks at The Landing, 2 Independent Drive, Downtown, 356-1110, $10.73-$20. EARTH, WIND & FIRE 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 130C A1A S., 209-0367, $49.50-$79.50. PETER CASE & ARVID SMITH 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Mudville Music Room. THE VELDT, CASSIUS CLAYE 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Burro Bar, $5. THE STOCKTONS 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Jack Rabbits, $8. THE SHIVAS, RIVERNECKS 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Shanghai Nobby’s, 10 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, 547-2188, $7. IVEY WEST BAND 8 p.m. Oct. 11 on Riverfront Stage, Jacksonville Landing, free. THE DRUIDS 10 p.m. Oct. 11 at Flying Iguana, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680. THE 77D’s @ FOLIO WEEKLY’S BEST OF JAX PARTY 4 p.m. Oct. 12 at Bold City Brewery, 2670 Rosselle St., Ste. 4, Riverside, 260-9770 x. 129, $10. BEING AS AN OCEAN, FIT FOR A KING, GIDEON, WOLVES AT THE GATE, CAPSIZE 6 p.m. Oct. 12, Murray Hill Theatre, 932 Edgewood Ave S., Murray Hill, 388-3179, $13. SOKO, SWEET BRONCO, JESSE MONTOYA 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., Downtown, 699-8186, $10. WALTER MARTIN 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, free admission. TREVOR HALL, CAS HALEY 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Freebird Live, $15. THE VIBRATORS, POWERBALL, BRICK’S GRENADE 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Jack Rabbits, $10. DARREN CORLEW 8:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Flying Iguana. HOME FREE 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at T-U Center’s Terry Theater, 300 Water St., Downtown, 633-6110, $24-$29.
A&E // MUSIC
MARK STUART 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Mudville Music Room. LIONSCAPE REGGAE SOUNDSYSTEM 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at Burro Bar. SPADE McQUADE 6 p.m. Oct. 15 at Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, Downtown, 374-1247. FLINTFACE, ALEXIS RHODE 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Jack Rabbits, $8. RICHARD SMITH 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Ragtime Tavern. DR. FAMEUS, LUCKY COSTELLO 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at 1904 Music Hall, advance tickets are $10; $13 day of show.
UPCOMING CONCERTS Amelia Island Jazz Festival: EL NINO & THE LATIN JAZZ KNIGHTS, RANDY BRECKER, THE DYNAMIC LES DeMERLE BAND, BONNIE EISELE, TONY MONACO & HIS ALL-STAR SMOKIN’ JAZZ QUARTET, HUNTER DIAMOND, NEXT GENERATION JAZZ BAND Oct. 16, 17, 18 & 19, Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach WILLY PORTER, BRENT BYRD Oct. 16, Café Eleven GIVERS Oct. 16, Jack Rabbits HEAVY DRAG Oct. 16, Burro Bar MARK WILLIAMS Oct. 16, Ragtime Tavern Magnolia Fest: LYLE LOVETT, BELA FLECK, JASON ISBELL, INDIGO GIRLS, DONNA THE BUFFALO, DR. JOHN, THE WAILERS, JIM LAUDERDALE, THE LEE BOYS, GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE, FLAGSHIP ROMANCE, PARKER URBAN BAND, CHELSEA SADDLER Oct. 16-19, Suwannee Music Park THE ACACIA STRAIN, THE PLOT IN YOU, CANE HILL, DIG DEEP Oct. 17, 1904 Music Hall SOMETHING DISTANT Oct. 17 & 18, Ragtime Tavern UNDERHILL ROSE Oct. 17, Mudville Music Room Blues Fest: MURPHY ESSERY BAND, WAREHOUSE BLUES BAND, BILLY BUCHANAN, AMY HENDRICKSON, CAPT. JACK & THE RHYTHM CRIMINALS, LEE ALLEN BAND, AFTER MIDNIGHT, PATRICK HAGGERTY & MOJO CHILLEN Oct. 17 & 18, St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church, St. Augustine ADJY, GREYMARKET Oct. 17, Burro Bar BOYTOY Oct. 17, Underbelly DISCIPLE, PROJECT 86 Oct. 17, Murray Hill Theatre LACUNA COIL, CILVER, MARION CRANE, SYLENT VYLENTZ Oct. 17, Freebird Live DAVID NAIL Oct. 17, Mavericks DISCIPLE, PROJECT 86 Oct. 17, Murray Hill Theatre GINORMOUS J Oct. 17 & 18, Flying Iguana RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STARR BAND Oct. 18, TimesUnion Center for the Performing Arts’ Moran Theater MOLLY HATCHET, BIG ENGINE Oct. 18, River City Brewing Company THE ANIMAL IN ME, THE NEARLY DEADS, IT LIVES IT BREATHES, GIVE UP GHOST Oct. 18, Jack Rabbits TREEHOUSE, DALTON STANLEY BAND, ROOTS OF A REBELLION Oct. 18, Freebird Live MOTLEY CRUE, ALICE COOPER Oct. 19, Veterans Memorial Arena ZIGGY MARLEY Oct. 19, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BLOCKHEAD, ELAQUENT, MUNSHINE Oct. 19, Underbelly DANIEL AND THE LION, JEREMIAH DALY Oct. 19, Jack Rabbits THE U.S. AIR FORCE CONCERT BAND & SINGING SERGEANTS Oct. 20, St. Augustine Amphitheatre LOS LONELY BOYS Oct. 21, The Florida Theatre THE NTH POWER, SQUEEDLEPUSS, SAM SANDERS Oct. 21, Freebird Live AUTHORITY ZERO, PRIDELESS, KOUP DE TAT Oct. 21, Jack Rabbits THE DEVIL MAKES THREE, CAVE SINGERS Oct. 22, Freebird Live SECRET KEEPER Oct. 22, Jack Rabbits PAT ROSE Oct. 22, Ragtime Tavern JUSTIN HAYWARD Oct. 22, The Florida Theatre STRAY FROM THE PATH, COUNTERPARTS, EXPIRE, MY TICKET HOME Oct. 22, 1904 Music Hall IL SOGNO DEL MARINAIO (MIKE WATT), MEMPHIBIANS Oct. 23, Jack Rabbits ANDY McKEE Oct. 23, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall COLTON DIXON, SUMERLIN Oct. 23, Murray Hill Theatre THE CHRISTOPHER DEAN BAND Oct. 23, Ragtime Tavern ANJELAH JOHNSON Oct. 24, The Florida Theatre J. DASH & FRIENDS Oct. 24, The Ritz Theatre FINCH, MAPS & ATLASES, WEATHERBOX Oct. 24, Freebird Live DROWNING POOL, A BREACH OF SILENCE, RED TIDE RISING, MANNA ZEN Oct. 24, Jack Rabbits THIS WILD LIFE Oct. 24, 1904 Music Hall
GARTH BROOKS performs with TRISHA YEARWOOD on Oct. 10-12 and 16-18 at Veterans Memorial Arena.
FRIGHT FEST: TWIZTID, KUNG FU VAMPIRE, NEUROTIC NOVEMBER, PWD Oct. 24, Underbelly 3 THE BAND Oct. 24, Flying Iguana BOOGIE FREAKS Oct. 24 & 25, Ragtime Tavern ICED EARTH, REVAMP, AMON AMARTH, SABATON, SKELETONWITCH Oct. 25, Freebird Live PAUL McCARTNEY Oct. 25, Veterans Memorial Arena WORLD GONE, ASKMEIFICARE, DENIED TIL DEATH, PRIDELESS Oct. 25, Jack Rabbits BETTY LAVETTE Oct. 25, The Ritz Theatre MONSTERS OF MUSIC ROCK OPERA Oct. 25, Murray Hill Theatre BLEEDING IN STEREO Oct. 25, Underbelly DIRTY GRINGOS Oct. 25, Flying Iguana
MARK JOHNSON & EMORY LESTER Oct. 26, Café Eleven RONNIE DOZIER Oct. 26, Club Aqua PEELANDER-Z, THIS LEGEND, FLAG ON FIRE Oct. 28, Jack Rabbits PAINT FUMES Oct. 29, Underbelly THE POLISH AMBASSADOR Oct. 29, Freebird Live MIKE DOUGHTY Oct. 29, Café Eleven RED BEARD & STINKY E Oct. 29, Ragtime Tavern RONNIE DOZIER, JASMINE RHEY Oct. 29, The Ritz Theatre Halloween Cover Show: OBN IIIS, GOLDEN PELICANS, BURNT HAIR, RIVERSIDE PARTY GIRLS Oct. 30, Underbelly BILL KIRCHEN, FAUXGRASS, BRYCE ALASTAIR BAND Oct. 30, Jack Rabbits THE DRUIDS Oct. 30, Ragtime Tavern
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A&E // MUSIC
EARTH, WIND & FIRE performs on Oct. 11 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre.
SUPERVILLAINS, THROUGH THE ROOTS Oct. 31, Freebird Live Suwannee Hulaween: THIEVERY CORPORATION, BIG GIGANTIC, BEATS ANTIQUE, THE NEW DEAL, JOE RUSSO’S ALMOST DEAD, GREENSKY BLUEGRASS, FUTURE ROCK, RISING APPALACHIA, THE HEAVY PETS, GREENHOUSE LOUNGE, MICHAEL TRAVIS, JASON HANN, EOTO Oct. 31-Nov. 2, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park DAVID COOK, CHRIS WOOD Oct. 31, Jack Rabbits FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, COLE SWINDELL, THE CADILLAC THREE, CLARE DUNN, JOHN KING, MICHAEL RAY Oct. 31, Jacksonville Shipyards DARYL HANCE Oct. 31, Dog Star Tavern CARL & THE BLACK LUNGS Oct. 31 & Nov. 1, Flying Iguana BAY STREET Oct. 31 & Nov. 1, Ragtime Tavern MAYSA Nov. 1, The Ritz Theatre ANGEL OLSEN, LIONLIMB Nov. 1, Jack Rabbits STEVE POLTZ, DONNY BRAZILE Nov. 1, Café Eleven STURGILL SIMPSON, CRIS JACOBS Nov. 2, Jack Rabbits NEW KINGSTON, I RESOLUTION, MYSTIC DINO & THE KIDS, DJ RAGGAMUFFIN Nov. 2, Freebird Live SELF DEFENSE FAMILY, GOODTIME BOYS Nov. 2, 1904 Music Hall MELVINS, LES BUTCHERETTES Nov. 3, Jack Rabbits PAUL COLLINS BEAT, THE LIFEFORMS Nov. 3, Underbelly 7 SECONDS, THE INTERRUPTERS, POOR RICHARDS Nov. 4, Jack Rabbits CASTING CROWNS Nov. 6, Veterans Memorial Arena CHERYL WHEELER Nov. 6, Café Eleven TONY LUCCA Nov. 6, Jack Rabbits SUSAN BOYLE Nov. 6, Times-Union Center Old City Music Fest: OLD DOMINION, JASON D. WILLIAMS Nov. 7, St. Augustine START MAKING SENSE, GOV CLUB, LAKE DISNEY Nov. 7, Jack Rabbits BLACK LILLIES Nov. 7, Colonial Quarter, St. Augustine GUANTANAMO BAYWATCH Nov. 7, Shanghai Nobby’s ASKMEIFICARE Nov. 7, Freebird Live Old City Music Fest: JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS, WILL HOGE Nov. 8, St. Augustine HEART Nov. 8, St. Augustine Amphitheatre PRIME TREES, PRIDELESS, SWEET HAYAH Nov. 8, Freebird Live LOVE, LIVE LAUGH: TAMAR BRAXTON, NEPHEW TOMMY, RICKY SMILEY, SPECIAL K, LYFE JENNINGS Nov. 8, Veterans Memorial Arena RANDY NEWMAN Nov. 9, Flagler College PHILLIP PHILLIPS Nov. 9, St. Augustine Amphitheatre MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER, TIFT MERRITT Nov. 9, The Florida Theatre THE LONE BELLOW Nov. 10, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall TAB BENOIT, DEVON ALLMAN BAND Nov. 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MATISYAHU Nov. 12, The Florida Theatre REVEREND HORTON HEAT, GRANDPA’S COUGH MEDICINE Nov. 12, Jack Rabbits SEVENDUST Nov. 12, Underbelly Bear Creek Music & Arts Festival: DUMPSTAPHUNK,
52 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
UMPHREY’S McGEE, ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES, OTEIL BURBRIDGE, ZACH DEPUTY, MINGO FISHTRAP, THE FRITZ, CATFISH ALLIANCE Nov. 13-16, Suwannee Music Park ROD PICOTT Nov. 13, Mudville Music Room TRIBAL SEEDS, BALLYHOO, GONZO WITH BEYOND I SIGHT Nov. 13, Freebird Live LECRAE Nov. 13, The Florida Theatre SAINTSENECA Nov. 13, Jack Rabbits NONPOINT, GEMINI SYNDROME, ISLANDER, 3 YEARS HOLLOW Nov. 13, 1904 Music Hall O.A.R., ANDY GRAMMER Nov. 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre LOCAL HONEY ARTIST SHOWCASE Nov. 14, Colonial Quarters, St. Augustine MATTHEW & GUNNAR NELSON Nov. 14, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall DIRTY HEADS, ROME Nov. 14, Mavericks THE CURT TOWNE BAND, FIREROAD Nov. 14, Freebird Live CLARENCE CARTER Nov. 14, The Ritz Theatre EX CULT Nov. 14, Underbelly JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, CORY BRANAN Nov. 15, Colonial Quarters, St. Augustine SICK OF IT ALL, NEGATIVE APPROACH, RHYTHM OF FEAR Nov. 15, Jack Rabbits MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS Nov. 15, TimesUnion Center for the Performing Arts CELTIC THUNDER Nov. 15, The Florida Theatre COURAGE MY LOVE, BUTTONS, EVERSAY Nov. 18, Jack Rabbits WHITECHAPEL, GLASS CLOUD, OF TRIBE & TRUTH Nov. 18, Freebird Live JAMES TAYLOR & HIS ALL-STAR BAND: LOU MARINI, WALT FOWLER, LARRY GOLDINGS, LUIS CONTE, STEVE GADD, ANDREA ZONN, KATE MARKOWITZ, ARNOLD McCULLER, DAVID LASLEY, JIMMY JOHNSON, MICHAEL LANDAU Nov. 19, Veterans Memorial Arena ERIC LINDELL Nov. 20, Mojo Kitchen THE WORD ALIVE, COLOR MORALE, OUR LAST NIGHT, THE DEAD RABBITS, MISS FORTUNE Nov. 20, Underbelly TERRY McDERMOTT, MIGGS, RIES BROTHERS Nov. 20, Jack Rabbits MELISSA ETHERIDGE, ALEXANDER CARDINALE Nov. 21, The Florida Theatre THIRD DAY Nov. 21, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts OTIS CLAY Nov. 22, The Ritz Theatre I-VIBES Nov. 22, Freebird Live FLATBUSH ZOMBIES, THE UNDERACHIEVERS Nov. 22, Underbelly TENTH AVENUE NORTH, KB, ROYAL TAILOR Nov. 22, Murray Hill Theatre TWISTED INSANE Nov. 23, Jack Rabbits RELIENT K, BLONDFIRE, FROM INDIAN LAKES Nov. 24, Freebird Live AARON CARTER, BILLY WINFIELD, RAQUEL CABRERA Nov. 25, Jack Rabbits COSBY SWEATER Nov. 29, 1904 Music Hall I-WAYNE, BLACK AM I Nov. 29, Freebird Live
PRIMER 55, RAZORZ EDGE Nov. 30, Jack Rabbits The Big Ticket: FALL OUT BOY, WEEZER, ALT-J, YOUNG THE GIANT, CHEVELLE, NEW POLITICS, J RODDY, BIG DATA, BEAR HANDS, YOUNG RISING SONS, ISLANDER Dec. 5, Metropolitan Park HUNTER HAYES Dec. 5, Veterans Memorial Arena URBAN JAZZ COALITION Dec. 6, The Ritz Theatre JUBILEE RIOTS Dec. 6, Café Eleven DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES Dec. 6, St. Augustine Amphitheatre QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT, WHITE MYSTERY, BURNT HAIR, THE MOLD Dec. 9, Underbelly DIANA KRALL Dec. 9, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Jacoby Symphony Hall PIERCE PETTIS Dec. 11, Mudville Music Room TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Dec. 11, Veterans Memorial Arena TRAMPLED BY TURTLES, NIKKI LANE Dec. 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ALLEN TOUSSAINT Dec. 13, The Ritz Theatre WYNONNA & THE BIG NOISE Dec. 14, The Florida Theatre PETER WHITE, RICK BRAUN, MINDI ABAIR Dec. 16, The Florida Theatre JOE BONAMASSA Dec. 17, The Florida Theatre BOWSER & THE STINGRAYS, HERMAN’S HERMITS & PETER NOONE, GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP Dec. 18, The Florida Theatre BAD SANTA, GRANT PEEPLES Dec. 18, Mudville Music Room TRACE ADKINS Dec. 19, The Florida Theatre A SWAMP RADIO CHRISTMAS Dec. 21, The Florida Theatre DON WILLIAMS Jan. 7, The Florida Theatre ’70s Soul Jam: THE SPINNERS, THE STYLISTICS, THE MAIN INGREDIENT Jan. 8, The Florida Theatre MISERY HEAD, CRASHMIR, THE EMBRACED Jan. 10, Freebird Live MIRANDA SINGS Jan. 14, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND Jan. 16, The Florida Theatre THE BOTH (AIMEE MANN, TED LEO) Jan. 16, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CASE Jan. 16, The Ritz Theatre TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND Jan. 16, The Florida Theatre SANDY HACKETT’S RAT PACK SHOW Jan. 16, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Moran Theater DIANE SCHUUR Jan. 17, The Ritz Theatre THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA Jan. 18, FSCJ’s Wilson Center for the Arts GAELIC STORM Jan 21, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall KATHLEEN MADIGAN Jan. 22, The Florida Theatre IRIS DEMENT Jan. 23, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ARLO GUTHRIE Jan. 29, The Florida Theatre URSAMINOR, SURVIVING SEPTEMBER, THE HEALING PROCESS, NOCTURNAL STATE OF MIND Jan. 31, Freebird Live TRAVIS TRITT Feb. 6, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall TIME JUMPERS & VINCE GILL Feb. 7, The Florida Theatre CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES SALUTE THE MUSIC OF THE
RAT PACK Feb. 13, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall JOHN HAMMOND Feb. 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MARCUS ROBERTS TRIO Feb. 20, The Florida Theatre DENNIS DeYOUNG & THE MUSIC OF STYX Feb. 21, The Florida Theatre THE MIDTOWN MEN Feb. 26, The Florida Theatre STRINGFEVER March 5, Café Eleven Aura Music & Arts Festival: MOE, THE DISCO BISCUITS, PAPADOSIO, SNARKY PUPPY, THE MAIN SQUEEZE, PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG, McLOVINS, GHOST OWL March 6-8, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park THREE DOG NIGHT March 10, The Florida Theatre JOHN MELLENCAMP: PLAIN SPOKEN TOUR March 15, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts CYRUS CHESTNUT March 20, The Ritz Theatre JACKIE EVANCHE March 22, The Florida Theatre BRONX WANDERERS March 29, The Florida Theatre JANIS IAN, TOM PAXTON April 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall THE ORCHESTRA (Former ELO & ELO II members) April 11, The Florida Theatre RAIN April 24, The Florida Theatre CHRIS BOTTI April 30, The Florida Theatre ZZ TOP, JEFF BECK May 9, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
LIVE MUSIC CLUBS AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH
DAVID’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE, 802 Ash St., 310-6049 John Springer every Tue.-Wed. Aaron Bing 6 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. GREEN TURTLE, 14 S. Third St., 321-2324 Buck Smith every Thur. Yancy Clegg every Sun. Vinyl Record Nite every Tue. HAMMERHEADS, 2045 S. Fletcher Ave., 491-7783 DJ Refresh 9 p.m. every Sun. THE SURF, 3199 S. Fletcher Ave., 491-8999 Live music every Fri. & Sat.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
CASBAH CAFE, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores at 9 p.m. every Wed. Live jazz every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE, 4219 St. Johns Ave. KJ Free at 9 p.m. every Tue. & Thur. Indie dance at 9 p.m. Wed. ’80s & ’90s dance at 9 p.m. every Fri. Music every Sat. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 3611 St. Johns Ave., 388-0200 Mark O’Quinn on Oct. 9. Paul Miller on Oct. 10. Samuel Sanders on Oct. 11
BEACHES
(All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted)
BILLY’S BOATHOUSE, 2321 Beach Blvd., 241-9771 Jetty
A&E // MUSIC
RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE
BOLD CITY BREWERY, 2670 Rosselle St., Ste. 4 The 77d’s at 4 p.m. on Oct. 12 MURRAY HILL THEATRE, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., 388-7807 Megan McKenzie at 8 p.m. on Oct. 10. Lauren Slyman, Eric Wendorf at 8 p.m. on Oct. 11. Capsize, Being as an Ocean, Fit For a King, Gideon, Wolves at the Gate at 6 p.m. on Oct. 12 rain dogs., 1045 Park St., 379-4969 Ruffians at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9. Matt Woods on Oct. 10 RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449 Yoga Day starting at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 11
ST. AUGUSTINE
SOKO performs with SWEET BRONCO and JESSE MONTOYA on Oct. 12 at Underbelly.
Cats at 6 p.m. on Oct. 10. Jaxx or Better at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11. Incognito at noon on Oct. 12 BLUE WATER ISLAND GRILL, 205 N. First St., 249-0083 Dynohunter at 8 p.m. on Oct. 14 BRASS ANCHOR PUB, 2292 Mayport Rd., Ste. 35, Atlantic Beach, 249-0301 Joe Oliff at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8 & 15 CULHANE’S IRISH PUB, 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-9595 Irish music at 6:30 p.m. every Sun. FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680 Herd of Watts at 10 p.m. on Oct. 10. The Druids at 10 p.m. on Oct. 11. Darren Corlew at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 12. Live music every Fri. & Sat. Red Beard & Stinky E at 10 p.m. every Thur. FREEBIRD LIVE, 200 N. First St., 246-2473 Saliva, Southbound Fearing, Manna Zen, Rock N Roll Chrome at 8 p.m. on Oct. 10. Trevor Hall, Cas Haley at 8 p.m. on Oct. 12 HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815 Live music at 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. Dan Evans, Spade McQuade at 6 p.m. every Sun. Back From the Brink at 9 p.m. every Mon. LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR, 200 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-2922 Not Unheard Band on Oct. 10. Ernie Lombardi & the Session on Oct. 11. Live music every Fri. & Sat. LYNCH’S IRISH PUB, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Live music on Oct. 10 & 11. Dirty Pete every Wed. Split Tone every Thur. Live music every Fri. & Sat. Who Rescued Who every Sun. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 N. Third St., 246-1500 Blue Muse on Oct. 8. Uncle Buffalo on Oct. 9. Cam Jam on Oct. 10. Jazz on Oct. 15 MEZZA RESTAURANT & BAR, 110 First St., Neptune Beach, 249-5573 Neil Dixon at 6 p.m. every Tue. Gypsies Ginger at 6 p.m. every Wed. Mike Shackelford & Steve Shanholtzer at 6 p.m. every Thur. NIPPERS BEACH GRILLE, 2309 Beach Blvd., 247-3300 Fat Cactus at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8. King Eddie & Pili Pili at 6 p.m. on Oct. 9. Catfish Rodeo on Oct. 10. Last 2 Leave Band on Oct. 11. Houston Keen on Oct. 13. Kevin Ski on Oct. 14. Cloud 9 on Oct. 15 NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 372-4105 Larry Lemier & the Backtracks at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9. Elizabeth Rogers at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10. MaryAnn Hawkins at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 PIER CANTINA & SANDBAR, 412 First St. N., 246-6454 Charlie Walker at 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 POE’S TAVERN, 363 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7637 Live music every Fri. & Sat. RAGTIME TAVERN, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 241-7877 Neil Dixon on Oct. 8. Pierce & Harmony on Oct. 9. Little Mike & the Tornadoes at 9 p.m. on Oct. 10 & 11. Richard Smith on Oct. 15. Live music every Thur.-Sun. THE TAVERN ON 1ST, 401 N. First St., 435-4124 The Razorbacks at 10 p.m. and midnight on Oct. 9 WIPEOUTS GRILL, 1589 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 247-4508 Kurt Lamb at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9. Amy Vickery at 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 10. Live music every Thur. and Fri.
DOWNTOWN
1904 MUSIC HALL, 19 Ocean St. N. Spiritual Rez at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8. Parker Urban Band at 9 p.m. on Oct. 9. Worth Road, The Alarmists, Skeleton Strut, Dalton Stanley Band at 8 p.m. on Oct. 10. Dr. Fameus, Lucky Costello at 8 p.m. on Oct. 15. The Acacia Strain, The Plot In You, Cane Hill, Dig Deep on Oct. 17. Open mic jam every Mon. BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St., 353-4686 VX36, Bargainers at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9. ’68, Modern Art, Carry the Weight, Sack the City at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10. The Veldt,
Cassius Claye at 8 p.m. on Oct. 11. Lionscape Reggae Soundsystem at 8 p.m. on Oct. 14 FIONN MacCOOL’S, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1247 Spade McQuade from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 8 & 15. Jimmy Solari 8 p.m. on Oct. 11. Live music at 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. JACKSONVILLE LANDING, 2 Independent Dr., 353-1188 Spanky 6 p.m. on Oct. 9. Friday Night Live 8 p.m.-1 a.m. local bands, singers and musicians compete on Riverfront Courtyard Stage, Bread & Butter at 8 p.m. on Oct. 10. Ivey West Band at 8 p.m. on Oct. 11. George Aspinall Band 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 12 MARK’S DOWNTOWN, 315 E. Bay St., 355-5099 DJ Roy Luis every Wed. DJ Vinn every Thur. DJ 007 every Fri. Bay Street every Sat. MAVERICKS, Jax Landing, 2 Independent Dr., 356-1110 Trickster at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11. Joe Buck, Big Tasty every Thur.-Sat. UNDERBELLY, 113 E. Bay St., 699-8186 Shivas, Tomboi at 8 p.m. on Oct. 11. Soko, Sweet Bronco, Jesse Montoya at 8 p.m. on Oct. 12
FLEMING ISLAND
MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1800 Town Center Blvd., 541-1999 Jay DeCosta at 9 p.m. on Oct. 9 WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 DJ Throwback at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9. Copious Jones at 9 p.m. on Oct. 10. Pierce in Harmony at 5 p.m., Southern Ruckus at 9 p.m. on Oct. 11. Open mic 9 p.m. every Thur. Deck music at 5 p.m. every Fri. & Sat., 4:30 p.m. every Sun.
INTRACOASTAL WEST
CLIFF’S BAR & GRILL, 3033 Monument Rd., Ste. 2, 645-5162 Bandontherun2011 on Oct. 8. Lawless Hearts on Oct. 10 & 11. DJ Big Rob every Thur., Sun. & Tue. JERRY’S SPORTS GRILLE, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Live music every Fri. & Sat. YOUR PLACE, 13245 Atlantic, 221-9994 Clayton Bush on Oct. 8
MANDARIN, JULINGTON
HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., 880-3040 Retro Kats on Oct. 12. Open mic: Synergy at 8 p.m. every Wed. World’s Most Talented Waitstaff at 9 p.m. every Fri.
ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG
THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells, 272-5959 John Michael every Wed.-Sat. PREVATT’S SPORTS BAR, 2620 Blanding Blvd., 282-1564 Corbitt Brothers Band at 9 p.m. on Oct. 10. DJ Tammy at 9 p.m. every Wed. THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Blistur at 10 p.m. on Oct. 10 & 11. DJ Corey B every Wed. Live music every Fri. & Sat.
PONTE VEDRA, PALM VALLEY
PUSSER’S GRILLE, 816 A1A N., 280-7766 Billy Buchanan at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11. Live music every Wed.-Sun. TABLE 1, 330 A1A N., Ste. 208, 280-5515 Quimby Duo at 6 p.m. on Oct. 8. Gary Starling Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9. Paxton & Mike at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10. Ryan Crary on Oct. 11 & 15. Live music every Thur.-Sun.
ANN O’MALLEY’S, 23 Orange St., 825-4040 Eric Von Otto on Oct. 10. Brent Byrd on Oct. 11. Open mic with Smokey Joe every Tue. CAFE ELEVEN, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311 Willy Porter and Brent Byrd at 8 p.m. on Oct. 16 THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS, 157 King St., 826-1594 Oh No at 7 p.m. on Oct. 10. Deron Baker at 2 p.m., The Mix at 7 p.m. on Oct. 11. Vinny Jacobs at 2 p.m. on Oct. 12 HARRY’S, 46 Avenida Menendez, 824-7765 Billy Bowers at 6 p.m. on Oct. 8 MILL TOP TAVERN & LISTENING ROOM, 19-1/2 St. George St., 829-2329 Nathaniel Good, Todd & Molly Jones, Bret Blackshear on Oct. 8. Don Oja Dunaway, David Dowling, Aaron Esposito on Oct. 9. Don Oja Dunaway, Donny Brazile, Don David Trio on Oct. 10. Shane Billette, Aaron Esposito, Don David Trio on Oct. 11. Colton McKenna at 1 p.m. on Oct. 12 SHANGHAI NOBBY’S, 10 Anastasia Blvd., 547-2188 The Shivas, Rivernecks at 8 p.m. on Oct. 11 TEMPO, 16 Cathedral Place, 342-0286 Open mic at 7 p.m. every Wed. Live music every Fri. & Sat. TRADEWINDS, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Those Guys at 9 p.m. on Oct. 10 & 11. Matanzas every Sun.-Thur. Elizabeth Roth at 1 p.m. every Sat.
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
INDOCHINE San Marco & Buddha Lounge, 1974 San Marco Blvd., 503-7013 Dance Radio Underground, Sugar & Cream, Black Hoodie, Bass Therapy Sessions from 10 p.m.mid. Allan GIz-Roc Oteyza, Scott Perry aka TrapNasty and Cry Havoc rotate, mid.-3 a.m. for Fever Saturdays JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 Not Tonight Josephine, Bargainers, City Under Siege, Trees Setting Fires at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9. Jeff Thompson, Garrett Harbison, On The Avenue, Leah Sykes at 8 p.m. on Oct. 10. The Stocktons on Oct. 11. The Vibrators, Powerball, Brick’s Grenade at 8 p.m. on Oct. 12. Flintface, Alexis Rhode at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15. Givers at 9 p.m. on Oct. 16 MUDVILLE MUSIC ROOM, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 Claude Bourbon, Eric Bowden at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9. Peter Case, Arvid Smith at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11. Mark Stuart at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 14
SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS
COMEDY CLUB, 11000 Beach Blvd., Ste. 8, 646-4277 Fascinating Rhythm Orchestra at 7 p.m. 1st & 3rd Wed. COPPER TAP HOUSE, 13500 Beach Blvd., 647-6595 Live music 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. LATITUDE 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555 Be Easy, VJ Fellin on Oct. 9. Boogie Freaks, VJ Reign on Oct. 10 & 11. VJ Fellin on Oct. 12 MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 997-1955 Charlie Walker on Oct. 9. Crusoe on Oct. 10. Live music every Thur. & Fri. MY PLACE BAR & GRILL, 9550 Baymeadows, 737-5299 Aaron Sheeks on Oct. 8. Carl & the Black Lungs on Oct. 10. Chuck Nash every Tue. WILD WING CAFE, 4555 Southside Blvd., 998-9464 Chris Brinkley Oct. 8. Love Monkey on Oct. 10 WORLD OF BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 551-5929 Barrett Jockers at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9. Doplematic at 9 p.m. on Oct. 10. Live music every Fri. & Sat.
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
3 LIONS SPORTS PUB & GRILL, 2467 Faye Rd., 647-8625 Dave Bazzell every Thur. HIGHWAY 17 ROADHOUSE, 850532 U.S. 17, Yulee, 225-9211 Live music most weekends SANDOLLAR, 9716 Heckscher Dr., 251-2449 Larry & the Backtracks at 6 p.m. on Oct. 10. Blistur at 4 p.m. on Oct. 12 THREE LAYERS COFFEEHOUSE, 1602 Walnut St., 355-9791 Open mic every Thur.
OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 53
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DEVIL’S ADVOCATE B ack in the mid-’90s, there was a vibrant underground scene in Jacksonville. Well, as underground as it can get in this Northeast Florida burg we call home. Dante’s Inferno, Spike’s Dog House, The Imperial and Moto Lounge were the center of most of the activity, with bands mixing genres and causing general havoc. I was fortunate enough to have brought my band from Orlando to Jacksonville during this time, and fell in with many of the bands that composed the scene. One of those bands was Hank El Diablo. We played many shows with the boys in Hank and got to know them pretty well. Hank founder and chief songwriter Rob Nader (who has gone by many names over the years — including Hank El Diablo, Henry R. Nader, The Devil) and I share a love of horror cinema and on-stage theatrics, which made our bands a comfortable pairing. Let’s just say things got a little weird. So it is with a sense of great nostalgia that I revisit Hank El Diablo’s debut 1996 release, Hank El Diablo Sings the Gospel. The record unfolds like a perverted cabaret circus, opening with the song “The Demon” and closing with the “The Hank El Diablo Love Song.” You can see where this is going. “The Demon” is a down-tempo creepout involving a nameless “She” who attracts the alley scum to her “dark corners.” Nader’s proclivity for strange jazz mixes with drummer Brian Jenkins’ marchy swing and his brother Ken Jenkins’ synth-noise drapery to create a swirling bit of madness. It’s all very controlled, very channeled, very, let’s say, composed. It’s a nice set-up for the rest of the album, which spirals into seedy atmospherics and big-top oddities. “Dirt-Garden Love” invokes the “fist bucket jaw,” whatever the hell that is, and the “Ratman,” whoever the hell that is. This is filthy swing for pervs, and not knowing the whole story leaves the imagination free to wander. “Exordium” is a loopy instrumental, its shifting time signatures and tremolo guitars
upping the creep factor and appropriately heralding the advance of the next track, “King Clown.” “King Clown” is a crazy slide into the foggy, self-imposed seclusion of the titular clown. On this one, Rob’s father, Larry, hops on sax with Flip Robison on trumpet. Track 6, “Praise the Lard,” was always a crowd-pleaser — well, it pleased the limited crowds our bands would draw, anyway. Opening with a sermon rendered in noisy delay, like a Southern tent evangelist might deliver while tripping on heavy doses of hallucinogens, “Praise the Lard” remains as offensive today as it was back then. The refrain “Jesus is Lard” repeated over a sleazy funk groove underpins the rest of the tune, and I can remember chanting along from the audience. My favorite song on “Sings the Gospel,” however, has always been the sing-along “Old Fucker,” a country swing with out-of-tune guitars that would not have seemed out of place on an early Ween album. The chorus: “That old fucker ain’t never gonna die, never gonna die, never gonna die … lest he takes his own.” He’s a bloodthirsty sex killer at a hoedown. He’s a child murderer and recluse, who hears the voices of his victims singing right along with him. It’s great and horrible stuff. Nader still makes music, sometimes as Hank El Diablo, sometimes in other incarnations. He’s also gotten into video production and filmmaking. And he’s married and has a kid now, too. The rest of the Diablo gang has gone in different directions, the Jenkins brothers remaining involved in the local music and art scene. And there have been pseudo-Hank reunions over the years, but nothing can really capture the way it used to be here in Jacksonville, when a bunch of weirdo bands would get together and do our best to shake up a sleepy town, if for only a few moments in the dark confines of a short-lived hole-in-the-wall. John E. Citrone mail@folioweekly.com
A&E // MOVIES
VANISHING POINTS
Director David Fincher’s latest starts out strong but misses the mark
T
his is a horror movie about the marriage of many women will recognize, and yet, I can’t Nick and Amy Dunne, about what happens have a lot of sympathy. You pretended to be something you’re not, and now you hate what on their fifth wedding anniversary, when you’ve become and resent your husband for it? Amy disappears and Nick is soon believed Whose fault is that? by the police to have killed Amy for various I’d say the same thing to Nick (Ben Affleck, apparent motives that crop up in murder mysteries and real life all too often. It’s a horror also excellent). We get his side of the marriage from his conversations with his twin sister, movie about what happened leading up to Margo (Carrie Coon). He’s been putting on that terrible day … which also makes Gone a false front, too: When you pretend to be Girl a horror movie about marriage itself. The something you’re not and you can’t keep it up — nightmare behind the fairy tale. The illusion who could? — you start to appear inconsistent. and the delusion. The ways that a man and a woman manipulate each other and trick each Gone Girl is still all good up to this point, other so that they can “fall in love” and pretend with lots of delicious ambiguity and some to live that fairy tale until one of them snaps … really meaty stuff about the differences Wait. What? between the faces we present to the world — I’m not married, I’ve never been married — romantically or otherwise — and the roles we but I don’t see how Gone Girl works in the way perform because we think we have to perform that it intends unless there’s some universality them, versus how we might rather just be in it, however exaggerated. The other option sitting around eating junk food and playing is that Gone Girl is delusional about “human video games all day. nature” and the supposed So what happens? Gone societal pressures that force Girl takes sides: Sure, men people to do something and women may trick one GONE GIRL they’d otherwise never do on another, but one gender **@@ their own (i.e., get married). ends up sympathetic, and Rated R I suspect the movie follows the other one villainous. the second premise to snare The movie throws out all everyone’s attention. the ambiguity. What started as general — and If Gone Girl had stuck to being just about reasonable — cynicism about an institution the Dunnes, on a small, personal scale, I (marriage) that many people have doubts might have been able to give it a pass as highabout ends up in a perilous realm that appears toned cinematic junk food. But it didn’t. It to willfully misunderstand the realities of went places where the story itself becomes domestic violence. Yes, it’s all fantasy, of a sort manipulative and disingenuous in unforgivable … and it’s frightening. If the specific details and even dangerous ways. of what happens here are what people are It’s like this: Amy (Rosamund Pike, fantasizing about, then this underscores a awesome, as always) is famous, having terrible tragedy in our society that we should been the inspiration for a series of popular be horrified to acknowledge: We’re encouraging children’s books written by her mother, so the unhealthiest sorts of behavior in everyone. her disappearance is major national news. Gone Girl seems completely — even Nonstop media attention is but a metaphor blissfully — unaware of this, however. for the limited perspective we can only ever It’s bad enough, and says enough bad stuff have on someone else’s relationship: A couple about us, when a story like Gone Girl is tossed might look happy in public, but only they know around as B-movie trash. When it’s Oscar bait from the likes of director David Fincher, who what goes on behind closed doors. Flashbacks to Amy and Nick’s life from the moment they has had a lot of tough things to say about how meet give us an intimate peek into what’s been messed up the world is but seems to miss that going on between the two of them, and it’s not angle here, I despair. pretty. It’s here where we get her side of the MaryAnn Johanson “But I changed for him!” story. It’s stuff that mail@folioweekly.com
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This animated kid-geared flick fails to color outside the lines
T
he new movie The Hero of Color City is for Astin) and Ricky the Dragon (Owen Wilson), who hold valuable secrets needed to defeat wee little kids, kindergarten age, who are too young to know the difference between King Scrawl. This is hardly high art, but the animation good and bad and probably lack the attention is serviceable, and likely would look good span to sit through 77 minutes of this brightly in 3D projection. After a while, though, the colored contraption. Friends with youngsters eye-candy “wow” factor fades and you’re left tell me how insufferable much of children’s with a few earworm songs and a boring story. programming tends to be; it’s hard to tell The only clever scene adults will appreciate is them to pay movie theaters prices for more of when Yellow is carried to the top of a building the same. à la King Kong with his Ann, but even then Think Toy Story, only with crayons instead director Frank Gladstone of various kinds of toys. After holds back and doesn’t see six-year-old Ben goes to sleep, the homage through to its full his crayons come alive, each with THE HERO OF COLOR CITY *@@@ a personality that somewhat suits effect. Memo to Gladstone: Rated G his/her color. Yellow (Christina If there’s only one thing in Ricci) is a bit scared, Black your movie for adults, and (David Kaye) is a downer, Red all the rest is for very young (Rosie Perez) is sassy, and Blue (Wayne Brady) children, make sure you do that one thing is brave and fun-loving. Every night, the really well. crayons retreat inside their box to Color City, Little kids are hardly harsh critics. If they the effervescent home to the Rainbow Waterfall don’t like something, they’ll stop watching, that allows them to keep their lush colors. start fiddling, annoy Mom to take them to the One night, Yellow is left behind and bathroom even though they don’t really have accidentally awakens King Scrawl (drawn to go, etc. Whether this happens with The Hero without a mouth) and his minion Nat (Craig of Color City obviously depends on the child, Ferguson), who are mere scribbles without but my best guess is that it’ll happen more color. Seizing an opportunity, they follow often than not. Combine this with the fact that Yellow into Color City and take over the the last thing parents need is more annoying Rainbow Waterfall, leaving Yellow and the earworm jingles, and this is a movie to skip. other colors to save the city or be erased for Dan Hudak good. Luckily, the colors meet Horatio (Sean mail@folioweekly.com
A&E // MOVIES
MAGIC LANTERNS
SUSPENSE ACCOUNTS
In 2007, I saw a movie called Murder Party, written and directed by a first-time filmmaker named Jeremy Saulnier. This low-budget (practically non-budget) indie film wasn’t the kind that makes it to big theater screens. The story of an ordinary shmuck invited to a Halloween party where the plan is to murder him for the sake of art, Murder Party was one of those rare surprises for film lovers — a dark comic/horror film that was, despite its limited budget, inventive and intelligent and interesting … and bloody funny. I was anxious to see more from Jeremy Saulnier. It took six years. In 2013, after working for years as cinematographer on other people’s films, Saulnier cajoled friends and investors, and finally scraped together (at various stages) a little more than $400,000 to complete his second feature, Blue Ruin. This time, the critical response, if not the general box-office, has been extremely positive. Saulnier’s movie won the International Federation of Film Critics Prize at Cannes in 2013 and four more awards at various film festivals before finally getting a limited theatrical release last April. As of June 20 (already consigned to DVD and home viewing), Blue Ruin had grossed only a little more than half its budget. It’s a shame. Blue Ruin is a terrific little film that should appeal to audiences of all types, from those of the art-house persuasion to lovers of suspense thrillers. Written, photographed (beautifully!) and directed by Saulnier, it features Macon Blair (Saulnier’s childhood friend, who also appeared in Murder Party) as bearded, scraggly lost soul Dwight, who in the opening sequences scrounges for food in trashcans at a Virginia Beach resort, retreating for shelter, reading, and sleep to a rusty blue Pontiac, which, like the aimless, depressed Dwight, is a “blue ruin.” When a kindly police officer tells Dwight that the man who killed his parents years earlier is about to be released from prison, the homeless vagabond prepares to return home to exact revenge. Except Dwight is no Liam Neeson; he achieves his initial aim more by accident than design, eventually killing his target but wounding himself as well. The cycle of violence begins to escalate as the blood-soaked Dwight is informed by the nephew of his victim that he got the wrong man. The targets are reversed as the bumbling avenger realizes his victim’s remaining kin mean to turn their sights on Dwight’s only living family, his sister and her child. The family feud swings into high gear. Many reviewers have noted similarities in the new film to the early efforts of the Coen brothers and even Quentin Tarantino, but Saulnier’s film is distinctly different in its own right. Quiet, foreboding, maybe even haunting, Blue Ruin relies on a terrific performance by Blair as the hapless Dwight, who, along with Saulnier’s hypnotic cinematography, evokes a powerful response with only minimal dialogue. The actual violence is spare but incredibly convincing. In the end, though, Blue Ruin is neither a blood-fest nor your typical action thriller. More than anything, it’s a character study of a timid dormouse who becomes a reluctant avenger, bumbling his way through one unexpected confrontation to another until the inevitable, but ironically apt, conclusion. I hope we don’t have to wait another six years for Jeremy Saulnier’s next film. Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com
Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner star in the family comedy, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
**** ***@ **@@ *@@@
FILM RATINGS
PHIL LESH PHIL EVERLY PHIL COLLINS PHIL SPECTOR
SCREENINGS AROUND TOWN FROM HERE TO ETERNITY THE MUSICAL Tim Rice adapted James Jones’ 1951 classic World War II novel set in the South Pacific into a musical. Don’t worry – it’s before Pearl Harbor, so it’s not really in bad taste. It screens locally on Oct. 9 at area theaters; call for specific times and dates. SUN-RAY CINEMA Gone Girl and The Skeleton Twins are currently screening at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com. UNFAIR: EXPOSING THE IRS Written and produced by nationally syndicated radio show host Craig Bergman, this feature-length documentary investigates the alleged cover-ups and abuses of power at the Internal Revenue Service. It’s screened at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14 at AMC Regency Square, 9451 Regency Square Blvd., Cinemark Tinseltown, 4535 Southside Blvd., Regal Avenues, 9525 Philips Highway, and AMC Orange Park, 1910 Wells Rd., Orange Park, fathomevents.com. LATITUDE 360 MOVIES Maleficent and Transformers: Age of Extinction screen at Latitude 360’s CineGrille Theater, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555. WGHF IMAX THEATER D-Day Normandy 1944 3D, Island of Lemurs Madagascar 3D, Journey to the South Pacific: An IMAX 3D Experience, Jerusalem, and We The People are currently screening at World Golf Village Hall of Fame IMAX Theater, 1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine, 940-4133, worldgolfimax.com. Dracula Untold starts Oct. 9.
NOW SHOWING ADDICTED Rated R Amazon smut artist (and federal tax cheat) Zane adapts her novel about a married black woman who develops a dangerous compulsion to sleep with other men. Sexual sister-shaming: It isn’t just for white people anymore! Costars Sharon Leal, Boris Kodjoe and John Newberg. — Steve Schneider
ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY Rated PG I don’t know how to break it to you, kid, but Judy Moody just had herself an entire kickass summer. Costars Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Ed Oxenbould, Megan Mullally and Jennifer Coolidge. Dick Van Dyke has a cameo. — S.S.
ANNABELLE Rated R One of the highlights of my movie-going career was attending a midnight screening of Bride of Chucky that was attended by a splendid array of thrill-seeking reprobates. My favorites were the family of four at the very head of the line, who enthusiastically informed the ticket-taker they’d spent the night before re-watching all the previous Chucky movies, “to catch up.” (To CATCH UP.) Maybe someday, some equally dedicated clan will undertake a similar marathon to reacquaint themselves with the adventures of Annabelle, the possessed children’s doll now being spun off from the sleeper horror hit The Conjuring into her very own prequel vehicle. Then again, maybe I shouldn’t get my hopes up: Doesn’t the Bible say that man will only receive one Chucky per generation? — S.S. AS ABOVE, SO BELOW Rated R Proving that the catchy phrase “M. Night Shyamalan protégé” can be more than an onscreen title in a Key & Peele sketch, director John Erick Dowdle (2010’s Devil) trains his camera on the catacombs beneath Paris, where buried remains of millions of people give rise to unspeakable evil. Not to be confused with 2007’s Catacombs, which trained its camera on the catacombs beneath Paris to show that buried remains of millions of people had given rise to unspeakable evil. That one was made by some nobody, not the chosen inheritor to the mantle of Lady in the Water. Seriously, it’s like Hollywood had a Sorting Hat for hacks or something. — S.S. BANG BANG! Not Rated This Bollywood action/adventure/romcom/thriller costars Katrina Kaif, Hrithik Roshan and Ron Smoorenburg. In Hindi, Telugu and Tamil. THE BOXTROLLS **** Rated PG Loosely adapted from Alan Snow’s 2005 book Here Be Monsters, this animated feature is the tale of the titular creatures, reclusive scavengers who live beneath the surface world in the heart of Cheesebridge’s pointy mountain. Yet they’re believed to steal babies and eat humans – a story given some credence by the disappearance of one infant 10 years earlier. The “Boxtroll exterminator,” Archibald Snatcher (voiced by Ben Kingsley), is trying to maximize that fear in order to move up the Cheesebridge hierarchy into the world of the “white hats,” even as the now-10-year-old Boxtrollraised human boy, called Eggs (Isaac Hempstead Wright), begins to wonder if he may belong to a different world. The town’s self-absorbed, cheese-nibbling, white-hat-wearing oligarchy – led by Lord Portley-Rind (Jared Harris), whose daughter Winnie (Elle Fanning) befriends Eggs – is the perfect launching pad for Snatcher’s disgruntled sense of entitlement. — Scott Renshaw DOLPHIN TALE 2 Rated PG There’s a really great scene in that teen angst classic American Graffiti in which Charles Martin Smith’s Toad and Candy Clark’s Debbie think they’re going to witness a backwoods atrocity. Smith’s horrified reaction – “I don’t WANNA see it” – later became my personal mantra when
confronted with the trailer to one sure-to-be movie misfire after another. (“Blood Diamond? I don’t WANNA see it!”) Enough about me; what’s Charlie Martin Smith up to these days? Well, he’s now the sort of “working director” who not only has to make family pictures about kindly humans who help endangered sea creatures, he then has to shoot their cash-grab sequels as well. Guess which American Graffiti quotation best captures my feelings about the prospect of being exposed to Dolphin Tale 2. You got it – It’s “Look, creep, you want a knuckle sandwich?” — S.S. DRACULA UNTOLD Rated PG-13 • Opens Oct. 10 Desperate to create a “shared universe” for its classic horror characters, Universal has reboots coming of Dracula, Frankenstein and a whole cemetery plot’s worth of their pals. In the driver’s seat? The guys who brought you Transformers. And before you declare that idea the pits, consider this: Dracula Untold is an unrelated, low- priority quickie the studio had to get out of the way first. The breath, it truly does catch. Costars Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper and Sarah Gadon. — S.S. THE DROP Rated R Still trying to figure out if we’ve seen Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last movie, or if he’s going to keep appearing posthumously with a frequency my working-artist friends would envy. One thing’s sure: We’ve seen the absolute last of James Gandolfini, whose The Drop – an adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s short story Animal Rescue – is his final acting role. Then again, there’s Criminal Justice, an upcoming HBO miniseries for which Gandolfini shot a pilot. If we ever want to see that buried document, we should probably make nice with the kind folks at 4chan – I hear they’re great at liberating that kind of stuff. — S.S. THE EQUALIZER Rated R Back in the late ’80s, I had a buddy who was heavily into the CBS grayhead-revenge series The Equalizer; when his metal band released its first single, he even cited the show as “inspiration” in the liner notes. Now it’s 2014, Edward Woodward has become Denzel Washington, and I don’t wanna THINK about what kind of indie music this pseudoremake might spark. A plot seemingly lifted wholesale from Washington’s Man on Fire (not to mention The Professional, last month’s The November Man, and probably the stock footage you get when you install iMovie) indicates that director Antoine Fuqua isn’t counting on diehards like my old pal for anything more than a few bucks’ worth of fi rstweekend insurance. — S.S. FIELD OF LOST SHOES Rated PG-13 This drama, based on historical fact, is about a group of boys from the Virginia Military Institute who were forced into battle during the Civil War. Costars Lauren Holly, Jason Isaacs and Tom Skerritt as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. THE GIVER Rated PG-13 Here’s one to dither over on Throwback Thursday: Plans to turn the dystopian YA hit The Giver into a movie were first hatched way back in 1994. Not only did half the
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A&E // MOVIES Expendables still have a sperm count back then, but Richard Linklater had just begun to grow Ellar Coltrane in a petri dish! Now the wait is over, and we can see what kind of work Walden Media has done in adapting Lois Lowry’s oh-so-subtle tale of a conformist society living under the edict of “The Sameness.” Personally, I thought the kids in The Wackness seemed to be having a better time, but I question how committed to “youth concerns” this movie is anyway, since lead character Jonas was 12 in the book but is played onscreen by 25-year-old Brenton Thwaites. Then again, everybody in the source novel of Logan’s Run died at 21 instead of 30, and Michael York gotta eat. — S.S. GONE GIRL **@@ Rated R Reviewed in this issue. THE GOOD LIE Rated PG-13 • Opens Oct. 3 In the latest bit of socially conscious drama from Monsieur Lazhar director Philippe Falardeau, Reese Witherspoon helps rescue the Lost Boys displaced by the Sudanese civil war. Her novel approach: Getting snockered and bellowing “You’re about to find out who I am!” until the government lets her have her way. — S.S. GOVINDUDU ANDARIVADELE Not Rated The Bollywood drama costars Ram Charan, Srikanth, Kajal Aggarwal and Kamalinee Mukherjee. In Telugu. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Rated PG-13 As I write this, the San Diego Comic-Con is just getting underway, and I’m bracing myself for all sorts of P.R. fog about the future of comics on film, and how DC Entertainment is going to start giving Marvel Studios a run for its money any minute now. So as a reality check, let me just point this out: “Winning” is when you can wring the most anticipated movie of the summer out of a property so obscure even the editors of The Comic Book Price Guide have to look it up. By Christmas, Rocket Raccoon may be firmly entrenched as a star of the Disney-acquisition firmament, making “possible Star Wars crossover” the hot ridiculous rumor du jour. DC’s entire release slate for the next five years will have shifted three more times, just because Olaf the Snowman blew on it really hard. God, how I love a photo finish. — S.S. THE HERO OF COLOR CITY **@@ Rated G Reviewed in this issue. IF I STAY **@@ Rated PG-13 Oh, goodie; mortality porn. Chloë Grace Moretz is plunged into a coma and has one day’s worth of out-of-body flitting around family and friends to decide if she wants to rejoin the land of the living. (Hey, do you think she knows how Mad Men turns out?) The only reason I’d go near this apparent
hunk of Kleenex bait is that it was directed by R.J. Cutler, who worked on the excellent reality series American High with the late Jonathan Mednick. Miss ya, Jonathan! And tell Chloë nobody here blames her for Dark Shadows. — S.S. THE JUDGE Rated R Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin casts Robert Downey Jr. as Hank Palmer, a hotshot lawyer who has to defend his own father, Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall) on a murder charge. The two Palmers do not get along. “What a perfect idea for a John Grisham property,” said nobody you ever loved or trusted. Costars Vera Farmiga, Leighton Meester and Dax Shepard. — S.S. LEFT BEHIND Rated PG-13 For a while there, it was amusing to cluck about the terrible movies Nic Cage had to keep making because he’d lost all his money. (Andy Samberg got some good mileage out of it.) But no amount of destitution could justify Cage’s decision to take the lead role in a mainstream, big-studio adaptation of the odious Left Behind series of fundie wish-fulfillment novels. Somehow, a huge swath of secular America has convinced itself that the books are just fun apocalyptic sci-fi, when they’re really sneeringly superior whack-job theology that wishes death and damnation on everyone standing to the left of Pat Robertson. The last thing this county needs is a “name” star (even a now-laughingstock of one) conferring further legitimacy on that sort of “entertainment.” Hey, Nic: Get back in the cage. And stay there. — S.S. LET’S BE COPS Rated R The action-comedy co-stars Jake Johnson (New Girl) and Damon Wayans Jr., who inherited his dad’s good looks and, we hope, comedic talents. They’re pals Ryan and Justin, going to a costume party dressed up as cops, with all the shiny gear cops like to have hanging off their highly polished Sam Browne belts. The two slackers are mistaken for real flatfoots and the hilarity ensues. — Marlene Dryden LOVE IS STRANGE Rated R In this new drama, love is indeed strange and slightly comically complicated. John Lithgow and Alfred Molina star as newlyweds Ben and George, respectively, separated by logistics. Ben is fired from his teaching position and the resulting loss of income forces the two to move – each going to a different locale, where of course they learn new aspects of others and, consequently, each other and themselves. Co-stars Marisa Tomei. — M.D. THE MAZE RUNNER Rated PG-13 In this week’s bit of YA-derived dystopia, a bunch of teen himbos with no memory struggle to escape a mysterious prison. Spotting the symbolism yet? The arrival of an actual girl changes everything, while raising my hopes that the story can ultimately viewed as a commentary on the Duke lacrosse rape scandal. A sequel has already been ordered, because you and I don’t get to decide anything. — S.S.
MEET THE MORMONS Rated PG That Mitt Romney thing having not worked out so well – no matter what he thinks – the LDS Church needs another chance to mainstream its image among those who know it only as a springboard to the Tony Awards. Enter this officially sanctioned doc, which follows six Mormons living and witnessing in various locations across the globe. Theocratic homophobes who wear sacred Underoos – they’re just like us! — S.S. NO GOOD DEED Rated R On Aug. 7, Theodore P. Wafer was convicted of murdering Renisha McBride, a black teenager who had knocked on his doors and windows in the dead of night. At press time, police officer Randall Kerrick was under indictment for killing Jonathan Ferrell, a black 24-year-old who’d approached a woman’s house seeking help after a car accident. And how has Hollywood chosen to respond to this recent rash of bad Samaritanism? By rewarding and reassuring us with a thriller in which the black person is up to no good after all. In this movie, yet another person of color arrives on the doorstep of yet another unsuspecting homeowner, claiming car trouble. But this time, the stranger is actually an escaped convict looking to pull off a home invasion. Whew! The endangered property holder in this scenario is an African-American woman too, so nobody can accuse the filmmakers of stoking racist fears. Costars Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson. — S.S. THE SKELETON TWINS **G@ Rated R Filmmaker Craig Johnson’s debut, True Adolescents, didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, but you don’t expect to rub shoulders with Iron Man when your biggest star is Mark Duplass. For the follow-up, Johnson has conscripted leads Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, which means you might even see it in an environment that doesn’t require you to hit a big red button on your remote. The Saturday Night Live alums play siblings who renew their once-close relationship after they both manage to escape certain death on the very same day. And boy, are Hader and Wiig ideal for this gig, because you can count the number of latter-day Lorne Michaels protégés who have “escaped death” on the thumbs of just one foot. — S.S. THE SONG Rated PG-13 It’s a marital drama that has “temptation” as a plot point. Redemptive message. Limited release with little mainstream publicity. Put ’em all together, and what do you get? JAY-SUS! Yep, it’s another faith-based picture out to show us what’s wrong with our puny secular relationships. This one says it’s “inspired by the Song of Solomon” – which, if I remember my Bible-camp scoldings correctly, is one of the filthiest bits of pornographic poetry in all of literature. Maybe an ad or two on NFL night might have been worth the dosh? — S.S. THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU Rated R Admit it: You’re a sucker for a story in which a wacky family has to pull together after the death of their beloved patriarch. Heck, the first episode of Six Feet Under is still your favorite hour of TV ever. Now imagine that story setup handled by Shawn Levy, the guy who made The Internship and the Night at the Museum movies. Now think of something pleasant, because you’ve earned it. — S.S. A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES **@@ Rated R If you’re a fan of Liam Neeson the badass, this one’s for you. He’s Matt Scudder, a retired detective, now working as an unlicensed private eye. Howie (Eric Nelsen), a drug addict Scudder met in AA, asks Scudder to help his brother Kenny (Dan Stevens) get revenge on the guys who kidnapped, raped and murdered Kenny’s wife. Scudder demurs, then accepts – because if he didn’t, the movie would be about something else. There are no twists, the intrigue is distracted by the unfocused story, and the suspense could be a lot chair-grippingly better. Immediately after Scudder takes the case, he starts investigating something that’s tangentially connected, making us wonder: 1) What the hell is he doing? and 2) Why did he take the case in the first place? It’s not for the money or the glory. — Dan Hudak
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WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL Rated PG … he sure makes Weezy look like a bitch when it comes to throwing three-pointers, nyuk nyuk! Actually, this new sports drama is about high school football, not hoops, and it stars Jesus-turned-Person-of-Interest Jim Caviezel as a real-life coach who took a California team to a record-winning streak. Son of a bitch, I think I nodded off just typing that. — S.S.
A&E // ARTS PERFORMANCE
ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID This comedy, by the folks who brought you The Dixie Swim Club and directed by Linda McClane, is staged at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9, 11, 16-19 and 23-25 at Amelia Community Theatre, 207/209 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach, 261-6749, $20; $10 for students, ameliacommunitytheatre.org. MRS. INDEPENDENT Priest Tyaire’s musical stage play, starring Tyaire, Robin Givens, Christopher Williams, Dottie Peeples, Tony Grant and Trisha Mann-Grant, about the struggles of a husband and wife is staged at 8 p.m. Oct. 10 and 3 and 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Moran Theater, 300 Water St., Downtown, 633-6110, $54.95. MAN OF LA MANCHA The story of eternal optimist Don Quixote and faithful sidekick Sancho Panza is set to Tony Award-winning music and accompanied by a themed menu created by Executive Chef DeJuan Roy. Dinner at 6 p.m., curtain up at 8 p.m. Oct. 10, 11 and 12, $55 plus tax; brunch 11 a.m., show 1:15 p.m. Oct. 11; brunch noon, show 2 p.m. Oct. 12, $47 plus tax; at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., Southside, 641-1212, alhambrajax.com. THE ADDAMS FAMILY: THE MUSICAL Spooky and creepy – and funny – this fresh-from-Broadway musical is staged at 7:30 p.m. Thur.-Sat. and 2 p.m. Sun., through Oct. 19 at Limelight Theatre, 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, $25, 825-1164, limelight-theatre.org. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music and Tim Rice’s words are still powerful in this musical directed and choreographed by Ron Shreve and Jocelyn Geronimo and starring Alejandro Rodriguez as Jesus Christ. The local production is staged at 8 p.m. Oct. 9, 10 and 11 at Players by the Sea, 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, $28, 249-0289, playersbythesea.org.
COMEDY
ILIZA SHLESINGER Shlesinger, the first woman and youngest comic to win Last Comic Standing, performs at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9, 10, and 11 and 10 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, $20-$25, 292-4242, comedyzone.com. MIKE HERLIHY Known for his appearance on Comedy Central, this comedian appears at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Bonkerz Comedy Club, bestbet, 455 Park Ave., Orange Park, $10 and $35, 6460001, bestbetjax.com. CLAUDE STUART Stuart, who’s appeared on The Tonight Show, performs at 8:04 p.m. Oct. 9-11, and at 10:10 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Comedy Club of Jacksonville, 11000 Beach Blvd., $6-$15, 646-4277, jacksonvillecomedy.com. MAD COWFORD IMPROV Weekly PG-13-rated improv shows, based on audience suggestion, are held at 8:15 p.m. every Fri. and Sat. at Northstar Substation, 119 E. Bay St., Downtown, $5, 233-2359, madcowford.com. HOT POTATO COMEDY HOUR Local comics 9 p.m. every Mon. at rain dogs., 1045 Park St., Riverside, free, 379-4969. OPEN DOOR SUNDAYS Open mic night at 9 p.m. every Sun. at Tapa That, 820 Lomax St., 5 Points, free, 376-9911, tapathat.com.
CALLS & WORKSHOPS
PONTE VEDRA DRAWING WORKSHOP Stephen Perkins teaches an anatomical drawing workshop from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 12 at The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, 50 Executive Way, $300; $275 for members, 280-0614, ccpvb.org. PAINTING AT TAC Elbert Shubert teaches live model portrait painting from 9 a.m.-noon on Oct. 11 at TAC II, 229 N. Hogan St., Downtown, $10; $5 for members. For more info, email info@tacjacksonville.org. SUNDAY PAINT DAY Free art classes are offered to children at 5 p.m. every Sun. at LIYF Clothing & Accessories, 2870 University Blvd. W., Lakewood, vegan and vegetarian snacks, free, 865-630-0358. VERBAL ESSENCE Open mic poetry and musical performances are held at 7 p.m. every Mon. at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, free, 807-2010, ritzjacksonville.com. FIGURE DRAWING Live model figure drawing is offered at 7 p.m. every Tue. at The Art Center II, $5 for members, $10 for non-members, artists bring supplies. ACTEEN STAGE LAB Children in grades 6-12 learn street style and ambush theater 6:30 p.m. every Wed. at Limelight Theatre, $80 per session, 825-1164, limelight-theatre.org. AMATEUR NIGHT Musicians, singers, comedians and poets participate in an audience-judged competition based on Amateur Night at the Apollo, held at 7:30 p.m. every first Fri. at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, $6. ACTING & DANCE CLASSES The Performers Academy offers a variety of weekly acting and dance classes for children and adults at 3674 Beach Blvd., Southside, 322-7672, theperformersacademy.com.
The ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD FAIR features more than a dozen music dealers selling thousands of vinyl records, CDs and music-related merchandise on Oct. 12 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre.
CLASSICAL, CHOIR & JAZZ
FIRST COAST WIND ENSEMBLE ANNIVERSARY The JU Wind Ensemble and First Coast Wind Ensemble celebrate FCWE’s 25th anniversary at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9 at Jacksonville University’s Terry Concert Hall, 2800 University Blvd. N., Arlington, 256-7386, fcwe.org. AN EVENING OF HUGO WOLF Baritone Jay Ivey, soprano Kimberly Beasley, mezzo-soprano Brittnee Siemon and pianist Alfred Meneses perform works by Wolf at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Terry Concert Hall, $10; $5 seniors, military, and students, 256-8000, arts.ju.edu. SOUNDS OF SIMON & GARFUNKEL Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performs the music of Simon & Garfunkel at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Oct. 10 and at 8 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the Times-Union Center’s Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 Water St., Downtown, $16-$72, 354-3578, jaxsymphony.org. 10th ANNUAL UPBEAT PINK This musical tribute to breast cancer survivorship is featured at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 at University of North Florida’s Lazzara Hall, 1 UNF Dr., Southside, 620-2878, unf.edu. A NIGHT OF JAZZ GREATS Legendary jazz drummer John Betsch performs with trumpeter Longineu Parsons, pianist Lindsey Sarjeant and bassist Delorean Fullington at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 1100 Stockton St., Riverside, $30, 389-6222, riversidefinearts.org. JAZZ IN THE PARK New Orleans/Dixieland-style jazz group Navy Band Southeast’s TGIF performs at 2 p.m. on Oct. 12 at Amelia Park, Fernandina Beach, 504-4772, ameliaislandjazzfestival.com. GERSHWIN, BEETHOVEN & SZEWCZYK Florida Chamber Music Project presents this concert at 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., Ponte Vedra, 209-0399, $29.55, pvconcerthall.com, flchambermusic.org. CLASSICAL AT LIBRARY Mezzo-soprano Regina Torres, tenor Pablo Pomales-Ojeda and pianist Bonita Wyke perform at 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 at Main Library’s Hicks Auditorium, 303 N. Laura St., Downtown, 630-2353, jaxpubliclibrary.org. OPERA AT FLAGLER Baritone Jay Ivey performs at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14 at Flagler College’s Flagler Room, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine, $6, 797-2800, emmaconcerts.com. JAZZ NIGHT AT UNF Jazz Combo Night is featured at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 at University of North Florida’s Recital Hall, 1 UNF Dr., Southside, 620-2878, unf.edu. PHILL NIBLOCK Legendary minimalist/drone composer Niblock performs with a live video projection at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St., 5 Points, free, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com. JAX SYMPHONY PLAYS THE EAGLES Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performs the music of The Eagles at 8 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Jacoby Symphony Hall, $35-$65, 354-3578, jaxsymphony.org. JAZZ IN PONTE VEDRA The Gary Starling Group (Carol Sheehan, Billy Thornton, Peter Miles) performs 7:30-10:30 p.m. every Thur. at Table 1, 330 A1A N., 280-5515. JAZZ IN RIVERSIDE Trumpeter Ray Callendar and guitarist Taylor Roberts are featured at 9:30 p.m. every Thur. at Kickbacks Gastropub, 910 King St., 388-9551. JAZZ IN MANDARIN Boril Ivanov Trio plays at 7 p.m. every Thur. and pianist David Gum plays at 7 p.m. every Fri. at Tree Steakhouse, 11362 San Jose Blvd., 262-0006. JAZZ IN NEPTUNE BEACH Live jazz is featured 7:30-9:30 p.m. every Sat. at Lillie’s Coffee Bar, 200 First St., 249-2922. JAZZ IN ATLANTIC BEACH Guitarist Taylor Roberts is
featured 7-10 p.m. every Wed. and Thurs. at Ocean 60, 60 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-0060, ocean60.com. JAZZ IN AVONDALE The Von Barlow Trio and Third Bass perform at 9 p.m. every Sun. at Casbah Café, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966. JAZZ IN ST. AUGUSTINE Live jazz is featured nightly at Rhett’s Piano Bar & Brasserie, 66 Hypolita St., 825-0502.
ART WALKS, FESTIVALS & MARKETS
ARTRAGEOUS ART WALK Downtown Fernandina Beach galleries are open for self-guided tours, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 11 and every second Sat., 277-0717, ameliaisland.com. COMMUNITY FARMERS & ARTS MARKET Homemade baked goods, preserves, local honey, crafts, sauces, yard art, handcrafted jewelry and more are featured 4-7 p.m. every Wed. at 4300 St. Johns Ave., Riverside/Avondale, 607-9935. DOWNTOWN FRIDAY MARKET Arts and crafts and local produce are offered 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Fri. at The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 353-1188. RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET Local and regional art, local music and entertainment – featuring North Florida Yoga Fest starting at 9 a.m. on Oct. 11 – food artists and a farmers market are featured 10 a.m.-4 p.m. every Sat. under the Fuller Warren Bridge, 715 Riverside Ave., free admission, 389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com. JAX BEACH ART WALK More than 30 local artists display works, 5-9 p.m. Oct. 14 and every second Tue., along First Street between Beach Boulevard and Fifth Avenue North, Jax Beach, betterjaxbeach.com/jax-beach-art-walk.html.
MUSEUMS
ALEXANDER BREST MUSEUM & GALLERY Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. N., Arlington, 256-7371, arts.ju.edu. The opening reception for Engaging Form, Work by John Oles and Mika Fowler, is held from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 9. The exhibit is on display through Nov. 5. The permanent collection features carved ivory, Chinese porcelain, preColombian artifacts and more. AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUM OF HISTORY 233 S. Third St., Fernandina Beach, 261-7378, ameliamuseum.org. The children’s exhibit Discovery Ship allows kids to pilot the ship, hoist flags and learn about the history of Fernandina’s harbor. AMERICAN BEACH MUSEUM American Beach Community Center, 1600 Julia St., Fernandina Beach, 277-7960, nassaucountyfl.com/facilities. A new exhibit celebrating the life and work of MaVynee Betsch, “The Beach Lady” is currently on display. BEACHES MUSEUM & HISTORY PARK 381 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 241-5657, beachesmuseum.org. The exhibit Remembering Hurricane Dora: The 50th Anniversary is on display through Nov. 23. Admission is free for members, $5 for nonmembers. CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, cummer.org. A Commemoration of the Civil Rights Movement: Photography from the High Museum of Art is on display through Nov. 2. CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530, flagler.edu/crispellert. Hand, Voice and Vision: Artist’s Books from Women’s Studio Workshop is on display through Oct. 18. The Bourbon Street exhibition focuses on the culture of the famous New Orleans street through
the photography of Courtney Asztalos and screen grabs of the street’s 24-hour Earth Cam. Her works are on display through Oct. 18. KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992, rain.org/~karpeles/jaxfrm.html. Michael Cenci’s Wildlife and Nature Photography is on display through Oct. 29. The permanent collection includes many rare manuscripts. LIGHTNER MUSEUM 75 King St., St. Augustine, 824-2874. Curator-led monthly tours are featured at 10 a.m. every first Wed. Photographer Theresa Segal’s exhibit Undisclosed: Photographs from the Lightner is on display through Jan. 2. MANDARIN MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY 11964 Mandarin Rd., 268-0784, mandarinmuseum.net. The exhibit The Maple Leaf, which features artifacts and information from the Civil War era, runs through December. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, 366-6911, mocajacksonville. com. The exhibits Get Real: New American Painting and Jason John Studio Experience are on display through Jan. 4. The works of Caroline Lathan-Steifel are displayed in the Project Atrium exhibit through Oct. 26. Express Your #Selfie shows off the works of Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital patients, through Nov. 30. The Juxtaposition exhibit of works by husband-and-wife team Larry Wilson and Laurie Hitzig is on display through Nov. 2. MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY 1025 Museum Circle, Southbank, 396-6674, themosh.org. The exhibit Odyssey’s SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure features shipwreck treasures and is on display Oct. 11-March 31. Skies Over Jacksonville, a detailed live star show, is screened daily in the Planetarium at 2 p.m. WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM 1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine, worldgolfhalloffame.org. Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf – an exhibit featuring photographs, audio, video and memorabilia from the late 1800s to the present – is featured in the WGHOF permanent collection.
GALLERIES
AMIRO ART & FOUND 9C Aviles St., St. Augustine, 824-8460. Painter Matteo Neivert’s exhibit Roots is featured through October. THE ART CENTER PREMIER GALLERY Bank of America Tower, 50 N. Laura St., Downtown, 355-1757, tacjacksonville.org. Print Matters: Making an Impression features works of various printmaking techniques; on display through Nov. 5. THE CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH 50 Executive Way, 280-0614, ccvb.org. The exhibit Fusion, featuring collaborative works by photographer Ann Kemp and glass artist Denise Murphy, is on display through Nov. 7. FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928, firststreetgalleryart.com. New digital paintings by Melinda Bradshaw are featured in the exhibit Beneath African Skies through Oct. 20. GALLERY 1037 Reddi-Arts, 1037 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, 398-3161. The opening reception for 16 x 20 The Canvas Size, featuring works by Art Guild of Orange Park members, is held from to 2-4 p.m. on Oct. 12. J. JOHNSON GALLERY 177 Fourth Ave. N., Jax Beach, 435-3200, jjohnsongallery.com. The exhibit Modulism, featuring works by Dolf James and Andrew Zimmerman, is on display through Nov. 7.
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A&E // ARTS
Author Tim Gilmore signs copies of his book In Search of Eartha White, which chronicles the life of the Northeast Florida humanitarian, philanthropist and businesswoman White (picture above), on Oct. 11 at the Clara White Mission, Downtown Jacksonville. PLUM GALLERY 9 Aviles St., St. Augustine, 825-0069. New works by blown glass artist Thomas Long and painters Mary Lou Gibson and Sara Pedigo are featured during October. ROTUNDA GALLERY 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, 829-9721, stjohnsculture.com. An exhibit of black-andwhite photographs from about 30 nonprofi t organizations in St. Johns County is on display through Oct. 23. SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY 201 N. Hogan St., Ste. 100, Downtown, 438-4358, southlightgallery.com. Jack Allen and Sydney McKenna are the featured artists for October. ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION 22 Marine St., St. Augustine, 824-2310, staaa.org. The 13th annual Tactile Art Show for the blind is featured through Nov. 2.
EVENTS
ST. AUGUSTINE GREEK FEST The 17th annual festival celebrates the area’s Greek heritage with Greek food, live music by the Hellenic Band, traditionally costumed folk dancers, arts and crafts vendors, and a kids’ center with games and rides, 4-10 p.m. Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 11 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12 at Francis Field, 29 Castillo Dr., St. Augustine, 829-0504, stauggreekfest.com. EARTHA WHITE BIOGRAPHY BOOK SIGNING Author Tim Gilmore signs copies of his book In Search of Eartha White, which chronicles the life of the Northeast Florida humanitarian, philanthropist and businesswoman, at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Clara White Mission, 613 W. Ashley St., Downtown, 354-4162. THERESA CAPUTO The psychic and star of the TV show Long Island Medium appears at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Moran Theater, 300 Water St., Downtown, $36.75-$85.75, 633-6110. JAXTOBERFEST This two-day event features 15 bands, a 5K beer run, children’s activities, and food and drink, from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. on Oct. 10 and from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the Jacksonville Shipyards, 750 E. Bay St., Downtown, $8-$85, jaxtoberfest.com. ST. AUGUSTINE RECORD FAIR More than a dozen music
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dealers are selling thousands of vinyl records, CDs and music-related merchandise from noon-6 p.m. on Oct. 12 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 130C A1A S., 209-0367. Walter Martin performs at 8 p.m. ONEJAX PRESENTATION The panel-led discussion “Culture and Faith: End-of-Life Decisions” is held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14 at FSCJ’s Wilson Center for the Arts, South Campus, 11901 Beach Blvd., Southside, 620-1529, free e-tickets are required and available at webapps.unf.edu/eticket/endofl ife. LGBT HISTORY MONTH AT UNF A discussion, “Changing Religious Perspectives on SameGender Orientation,” is presented at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9 at University of North Florida, Building 45A, Fine Arts Center, Robinson Theater, Room 1311. Images from the Stonewall National Museum & Archives-curated exhibit are on display throughout the campus, 1 UNF Dr., Southside, 620-2878, unf.edu. GLOBALIZATION TALK AT FLAGLER Dr. Art Vanden Houten discusses The Rights of Citizens and the Struggle for the Environment in the Age of Globalization at 10 a.m. on Oct. 14 at Flagler College’s Flagler Room, 74 King St., St. Augustine, $5, 819-6282, flagler.edu. BOOK TALK IN PONTE VEDRA BEAC Award-winning historical fiction author Robert N. Macomber is featured at a reading and book signing at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, 827-6950, sjcpls.org. SECOND ANNUAL JAXTOBERFEST 5K BEER RUN This 5K run features beer “Chugging Stations” along the racecourse. Runners are encouraged to wear lederhosen, dirndls or any creative costume. Registered racers receive a race shirt, souvenir race bib and commemorative glass beer stein at the end of the race. Race is held at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Jacksonville Shipyards, 750 E. Bay St., Downtown, $35, jaxtoberfest.com/5k-beer-run. NAO VICTORIA Tour a replica of the first Spanish tall ship to successfully circumnavigate the world, commanded by Ferdinand Magellan in the 16th century, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat. and Sun. through December at St. Augustine Marina, 111 Avenida Menendez, 824-1606, elgaleon.org.
A&E // ARTS
TONAL VISION
Legendary avant-garde composer Phill Niblock brings his multimedia experience to 5 Points
F
studio with a musician and have them record or nearly a half-century, Phill Niblock 10 different tones, maybe in the key of A. Then has been exploring the combined effects I edit that material to remove anything that of merging audio art with film. In his doesn’t work.” compositions and live performances, sustained In the ’60s, Niblock began collaborating tonalities, shimmering frequencies and with dancers for live performances using languid drones wash over the listener, as video nature materials as a background, but had a footage provides equally inventive imagery. problem staging concerts with that form. “I His upcoming appearance at Sun-Ray Cinema wanted to find something that had movement features Niblock playing original works so I began to do this series of films,” he says. with accompanying live video projection by When combining music and imagery, Niblock Katherine Liberovskaya, as well as a set of routinely screens pieces from his ongoing Niblock playing along with a screening of his series, The Movement of People Working, which own films. features individuals doing everyday things like Phill Niblock was born in 1933 in fishing or working in the fields. “I thought that Anderson, Indiana. After studying economics I would make these for a few years and stop, in college, he moved to New York City in but it went on for 20 years.” the late ’50s and focused on photography Over the course of his career, Niblock has and filmmaking, capturing images of jazz been incredibly prolific in creating new pieces, musicians. In the mid-’60s, there was a vibrant musical enclave in Manhattan that was creating and in the process became a figurehead of 20th- and 21st-century composition. He has long pieces based on drones. La Monte Young, written scores for orchestras and ensembles, Tony Conrad and Terry Riley used voices and been the director of the Experimental instruments to create experimental works Intermedia Foundation since the late ’60s, and based on the use of overtones, harmonics and has presented more than 1,000 performances microtones — frequencies and intervals that at his NYC loft space. Niblock taught at the dance across the fundamentals of sound. The College of Staten Island for effect was hypnotic, conjuring 17 years and has released glimmers of Indian ragas and PHILL NIBLOCK more than a dozen albums otherworldly soundscapes. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at and DVDs. In recent years, “The drone actually comes Sun-Ray Cinema, free, he’s collaborated with an from the idea of using 359-0049, sunraycinema.com array of younger music microtones — you only really mavericks, including hear it when it’s long tones,” Thurston Moore and Jim O’Rourke. says Niblock. “In the ’60s, we were making While Niblock’s music is more drone music in New York but it was nothing new. Drones go back to the Middle Ages.” contemplative than cacophonous, he cranks it In 1968, with no formal training, Niblock up during live performances. “What happens at began creating his own compositions. Niblock’s higher volumes is really what’s essential to my music had similarities to the improv-rich music,” he says. “You begin to really hear these drone school, yet was more contingent on a overtone patterns. If you lower the music by methodical exploration of these sonic building just 10 decibels, you begin to hear instruments blocks. “I essentially make music that has long and then lose these overtones.” tones and a lot of microtonal intervals, so there At age 81, Niblock has considerable is a lot of harmonic activity going on during influence over experimental music, and he the piece. Yet it can also seem like nothing is shows no signs of slowing down. At press time, happening because it is a continuous sound.” he has finished 14 of 16 new compositions that The 2009 piece Stosspeng features samples of will be completed by the end of the month. After helping create an utterly inventive form electric guitar and bass morphed into an hourof music that once seemed alien, Niblock long uninterrupted soundscape that ebbs and is experiencing the dividends of investing a flows with softly rippling clusters of tonalities. lifelong journey into the creation of a new “The duration of each tune is dependent on auditory language. “There’s always a new the instrument in each piece. There are always audience,” he says, “and we are performing for many, many tones occurring,” says Niblock. more young people who haven’t even heard Initially, Niblock used multitrack analog music from 50 years ago.” tape recorders to capture his source material. Now he uses state-of-the art digital equipment Daniel A. Brown like ProTools. “What I generally do is go into a dbrown@folioweekly.com OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 61
DINING DIRECTORY To list your restaurant, contact your account manager or Sam Taylor at 904.260.9770 ext. 111 or staylor@folioweekly.com. DINING DIRECTORY KEY
$ = Less than $8 $$ = $8- $14 $$$ = $15- $22 $$$$ = $23 & up BW = Beer/Wine FB = Full Bar K = Kids’ Menu TO = Take Out B = Breakfast R = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner Bite Club = Hosted free FW Bite Club tasting. To join, go to fwbiteclub.com. 2014 Best of Jax winner F = FW distribution spot Average Entrée Cost
AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH, YULEE
29 SOUTH EATS, 29 S. Third St., 277-7919, 29southrestaurant.com. F In historic downtown, Chef Scotty Schwartz serves traditional regional cuisine with a modern twist. $$ L Tue.-Sat.; D Mon.-Sat.; R Sun. BARBERITOS, 1519 Sadler Rd., 277-2505. 463867 S.R. 200, Ste. 5, Yulee, 321-2240, barberitos.com. Serving Southwestern fare; made-to-order burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, handcrafted salsa. $$ BW K TO L D Daily BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ, 1 S. Front St., 261-2660. F Southern hospitality in an upscale waterfront spot; daily specials, fresh local seafood, aged bee f. $$$ FB K L D Daily CAFÉ KARIBO, 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo. com. F In a historic building, the family-owned spot offers worldly fare: veggie burgers, fresh seafood, madefrom-scratch desserts. Dine in or out on oak-shaded patio. Karibrew Pub offers beer brewed onsite. $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L D Daily CIAO ITALIAN BISTRO, 302 Centre St., 206-4311, ciao bistro-luca.com. Owners Luka and Kim Misciasci offer fine dining: veal piccata, rigatoni Bolognese, antipasto. Specialties: chicken Ciao, homemade meat lasagna. $ L Fri., Sat.; D Nightly DAVID’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE, 802 Ash St., 310-6049, ameliaislanddavids.com. Fine dining in historic district. Fresh seafood, prime aged meats, rack of lamb served in an elegant, chic spot. $$$$ FB D Wed.-Mon. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 474313 E. S.R. 200, 491-3469. 450077 S.R. 200, Callahan, 879-0993. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE, 98 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Award-winning B&B has seaside dining, indoors or out. Hot buffet breakfast daily. Homestyle soups, sandwiches, desserts. $$$ BW K B L D Daily JACK & DIANE’S, 708 Centre St., 321-1444, jackanddianescafe.com. F In renovated 1887 shotgun house. Jambalaya, French toast, mac-n-cheese, vegan/ vegetarian items. Dine in or on porch. $$ FB K B L D Daily LULU’S AT THOMPSON HOUSE, 11 S. Seventh St., 432-8394, lulusamelia.com. F Creative lunch: po’boys, salads, little plates. Dinner: fresh local seafood, Fernandina shrimp. Reservations. $$$ BW K TO R Sun.; L D Tue.-Sat. MARCHÉ BURETTE, 6800 First Coast Hwy., 491-4834, omnihotels.com. Old-fashioned gourmet food market/ deli, in Spa & Shops, Omni A melia Island Plantation. Continental breakfast; lunch features flatbreads. $$$ BW K TO L D Daily MOON RIVER PIZZA, 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400, moonriverpizza.net. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Northern-style pizzas, 20+ toppings, by the pie or the slice. $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE MUSTARD SEED CAFE, 833 TJ Courson Rd., 277-3141, nassaushealthfoods.net. Snail of Approval. Casual organic eatery and juice bar, in Nassau Health Foods. All-natural organic items, smoothies, juice, coffee, herbal tea. $$ TO B L Mon.-Sat. THE PECAN ROLL BAKERY, 122 S. Eighth St., 491-9815, thepecanrollbakery.com. The bakery near the historic district has sweet and savory pastries, cookies, cakes, bagels, breads, all made from scratch. $ K TO B L Wed.-Sun. PLAE, 80 Amelia Village Cir., 277-2132, plaefl.net. Bite Club. Omni Plantation Spa & Shops. Bistro-style venue serves whole fried fish and duck breast. Outdoor dining. $$$ FB L Tue.-Sat.; D Nightly THE SALTY PELICAN BAR & GRILL, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, thesaltypelicanamelia.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. ICW sunset view; 2nd-story outdoor bar. Owners T.J. and Al offer local seafood, Mayport shrimp, fish tacos, po’boys, original broiled cheese oysters. $$ FB K L D Daily SLIDERS SEASIDE GRILL, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652, slidersseaside.com. F Oceanfront place serves award-winning handmade crab cakes, fresh seafood, fried pickles. Outdoor dining, open-air 2nd fl oor, balcony. $$ FB K L D Daily TASTY’S FRESH BURGERS & FRIES, 710 Centre St., 321-0409, tastysamelia.com. In historic district. Fresh fast-food alternative, combining the freshest meats, handcut fries, homemade sauces, hand-spun shakes. $ BW K L D Daily
62 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
Flying Iguana’s Executive Chef Josh Agan, General Manager Jessica Van Valkenburgh and Bar Manager Dave Catullo present an agave-brined pork chop with seared rosemary polenta, creamy cilantro slaw, ancho chile sauce and apple-jalapeno jam. The Neptune Beach eatery is a finalist in Folio Weekly’s Best of Jax readers’ poll for Best New Restaurant and Best Margarita. Agan is a finalist for Best Chef. Photo: Dennis Ho
T-RAY’S BURGER STATION, 202 S. 8th St., 261-6310. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. This spot in an old gas station offers blue plate specials, burgers, biscuits & gravy, shrimp. $ BW TO B L Mon.-Sat. THE VERANDAH, 6800 First Coast Hwy., 321-5050, omnihotels.com. Extensive menu of fresh local seafood and steaks; signature entrée is Fernandina shrimp. Many herbs and spices are from onsite garden . $$$ FB K D Nightly
ARLINGTON, REGENCY
DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 9119 Merrill Rd., 745-9300. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. LA NOPALERA, 8818 Atlantic Blvd., 720-0106. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1301 Monument Rd., 724-5802. F SEE ORANGE PARK. THE SHEIK DELI, 9720 Atlantic Blvd., 721-2660. Familyowned-and-operated, Sheik delis have served our area for 40+ years, with a full breakfast (pitas to country plates) and a lunch menu. $ TO B L D Mon.-Sat.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
BAGEL LOVE, 4114 Herschel St., Ste. 121, 634-7253, bagellovejax.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Locallyowned-and-operated. Northern style bagels, cream cheeses, sandwiches, wraps, bakery items. Freshsqueezed orange juice and lemonade, coffee, tea. $ K TO B L Daily THE CASBAH CAFÉ, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966, thecasbahcafe.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Middle Eastern/Mediterranean fare. Patio, hookah lounge, bellydancers. $$ BW L D Daily CLAUDE’S CHOCOLATE, 3543 St. Johns Ave., 829-5790. F In Green Man Gourmet. Wines, spices, fresh fruit ice pops and Belgian chocolates. SEE PONTE VEDRA. $$ TO FLORIDA CREAMERY, 3566 St. Johns Ave., 619-5386. Premium ice cream, fresh waffle cones, milkshakes, sundaes and Nathan’s grilled hot dogs, served in Floridacentric décor. Low-fat and sugar-free choices. $ K TO L D Daily THE FOX RESTAURANT, 3580 St. Johns Ave., 387-2669. F Owners Ian & Mary Chase offer fresh diner fare: burgers, meatloaf, fried green tomatoes, desserts. Breakfast all day. Local landmark for 50+ years. $$ BW K L D Daily HARPOON LOUIE’S, 4070 Herschel St., Ste. 8, 389-5631, harpoonlouies.net. F Locally owned and operated for 20+ years, the American pub serves 1/2-pound burgers, fish sandwiches, pasta. Local beers. $$ FB K TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA, 4530 St. Johns, 388-8828. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE MANDARIN. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 3611 St. Johns Ave., 388-0200. F Bite Club. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO NO. 4 URBAN BBQ & WHISKEY BAR, 3572 St. Johns Ave., 381-6670. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES.
PINEGROVE MARKET & DELI, 1511 Pine Grove Ave., 389-8655, pinegrovemarket.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. 40+ years. Burgers, Cuban sandwiches, subs, wraps. Onsite butcher cuts USDA choice prime aged beef. Craft beers. $ BW TO B L D Mon.-Sat.
PULP, 3645 St. Johns Ave., pulpaddiction.com. SEE SAN MARCO.
RESTAURANT ORSAY, 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaurantorsay.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. French/Southern bistro, with an emphasis on locally grown organic ingredients. Steak frites, mussels, pork chops. Snail of A pproval. $$$ FB K R, Sun.; D Nightly SIMPLY SARA’S, 2902 Corinthian Ave., 387-1000, simplysaras.net. F Down-home fare, from scratch: eggplant fries, pimento cheese, baked chicken, fruit cobblers, chicken & dumplings, desserts. BYOB. $$ K TO L D Mon.-Sat., B Sat.
BAYMEADOWS
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 7825 Baymeadows Way, 733-4040. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 8060 Philips Hwy., Ste. 105, 731-4300. F SEE BEACHES.
BROADWAY RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA, Ste. 3, 10920 Baymeadows Rd. E., 519-8000, broadwayfl.com. F Family-owned-and-operated Italian pizzeria serves calzones, wings, brick-oven-baked pizza, subs. $$ BW K TO L D Daily INDIA’S RESTAURANT, 9802 Baymeadows, Ste. 8, 620-0777, indiajax.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Authentic Indian cuisine, lunch buffet. Curries, vegetable dishes, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish tandoori. $$ BW L Mon.-Sat.; D Nightly LA NOPALERA, 8206 Philips Hwy., 732-9433. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., 737-7740. 8616 Baymeadows Rd., 739-2498. F SEE ORANGE PARK.
NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI, 11030 Baymeadows Rd., 260-2791. SEE MANDARIN. PIZZA PALACE RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., 527-8649, pizzapalacejax.com. F Casual, family-owned; homestyle cuisine. Local faves: spinach pizza, chicken spinach calzones, ravioli, lasagna, parmigiana. Outside dining; HD TVs. $$ BW K TO L D Daily SNEAKERS SPORTS GRILLE, 8133 Point Meadows Dr., 519-0509. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES. ZESTY INDIA, 8358 Point Meadows Dr., 329-3676, zestyindia.com. Asian methods meld with Europea n template to create tandoori lamb chops, rosemary tikka. Vegetarian items cooked separately in vegetable oil. $ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.
BEACHES
(Locations are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
AL’S PIZZA, 303 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 249-0002, alspizza.com. F Al’s is often a repeat winner in F W readers’ poll. New York-style, gourmet pizzas, baked dishes. All-day happy hour Mon.Thur. $ FB K TO L D Daily ANGIE’S SUBS, 1436 Beach Blvd., 246-2519. ANGIE’S GROM, 204 Third Ave. S., 246-7823. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Angie’s has served subs made with the freshest ingredients for more than 25 years. One word: Peruvian. Huge salads, blue-ribbon iced tea. $ BW TO L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. BUDDHA THAI BISTRO, 301 10th Ave. N., 712-4444,
buddhathaibistro.com. The proprietors are from Thailand; every dish is made with fresh ingredients. $$ FB TO L D Daily BURRITO GALLERY EXPRESS, 1333 Third St. N., 242-8226. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE DOWNTOWN. CANTINA MAYA SPORTS BAR & GRILLE, 1021 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-3227. Popular spot serves great margaritas, great Latin food, burgers. Sports on TVs. $$ FB K L D Tue.-Sun. CASA MARIA, 2429 S. Third St., 372-9000, casamariajax.com. F Family-owned-and-operated place offers authentic Mexican fare: fajitas and seafood dishes, hot sauces made in-house. The specialty is tacos de asada. $ FB K L D Daily CULHANE’S IRISH PUBLIC HOUSE, 967 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-9595, culhanesirishpub.com. Bite Club. Upscale pub/restaurant owned and run by sisters from County Limerick, Ireland. Shepherd’s pie, corned beef; gastropub fare. $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L Fri.-Sun.; D Tue.-Sun. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. FLYING IGUANA TAQUERIA & TEQUILA BAR, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Neptune Beach, 853-5680, fl yingiguana.com. F Latin American fusion, Southwestern-influenced: tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cubana sandwiches. 100+ tequilas. $ FB L D Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815, harmoniousmonks.net. F SEE MANDARIN. LA NOPALERA, 1222 Third St. S., 372-4495. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 657 N. Third St., 247-9620. F SEE ORANGE PARK.
LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR, 200 First St., Beaches Town Center, Neptune Beach, 249-2922, lilliescoffeebar. com. F Locally roasted coffee, eggs, bagels, fl atbreads, sandwiches, desserts. Dine indoors or out, patio and courtyard. $$ BW TO B L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS, 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, 241-5600, mellowmushroom.com. F Bite Club. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Hoagies, gourmet pizzas: Mighty Meaty, vegetarian, Kosmic Karma. 35 tap beers. Nonstop happy hour. $ FB K TO L D Daily METRO DINER, 1534 Third St. N., 853-6817. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MEZZA RESTAURANT & BAR, 110 First St., Beaches Town Center, Neptune Beach, 249-5573, mezzarest aurantandbar.com. F Near-the-ocean eatery, 20+ years. Casual bistro fare: gourmet wood-fired pizzas, nightly specials. Dine inside or on the patio. Valet parking. $$$ FB K D Mon.-Sat. MOJO KITCHEN BBQ PIT & BLUES BAR, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636, mojobbq.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Pulled pork, Carolina-style barbecue, Delta fried catfish, all the sides. $$ FB K TO L D Daily M SHACK, 299 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 241-2599, mshackburgers.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. David and Matthew Medure flip burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes, familiar fare, moderate prices. Dine inside or outside. $$ BW L D Daily NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6, Atlantic Beach, 372-4105, nbbistro.com. Bite Club. Neighborhood gem with a chef-driven kitchen serves hand-cut steaks, fresh local seafood, tapas menu. Happy hour. $$$ FB K R Sun.; L D Daily OCEAN 60 RESTAURANT, WINE BAR & MARTINI ROOM,
GRILL ME!
DINING DIRECTORY
A WEEKLY Q&A WITH PEOPLE IN THE FOOD BIZ
NAME: Henry Livingston RESTAURANT: The Coffee Bard New World Coffeehouse, 9735 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 13, Mandarin BIRTHPLACE: Toledo, Ohio YEARS IN THE BIZ: 20+ FAVORITE RESTAURANT (other than mine): Tony Packo’s in Toledo BEST CUISINE STYLE: Almost any Asian style GO-TO INGREDIENT: Lawry’s Seasoned Salt IDEAL MEAL: Two teriyaki burgers from McDonald’s in Japan and a barrel of hot sake. If you’re going to Japan … WILL NOT CROSS MY LIPS: If I haven’t tried, I don’t know if I like it. INSIDER’S SECRET: I’ll never tell. CELEBRITY SIGHTING @COFFEE BARD : Richard Nunn, Ch. 4 CULINARY TREAT: Chicken-fried steak, mac n cheese, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy at Cracker Barrel 60 Ocean Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 247-0060, ocean60.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Continental cuisine, fresh seafood, dinner specials and a seasonal menu in a formal dining room or casual Martini Room. $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. RAGTIME TAVERN & SEAFOOD GRILL, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Beaches Town Center, Atlantic Beach, 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com. F For 30+ years, the iconic seafood place has scored many awards in our BOJ readers poll. Blackened snapper, sesame tuna, Ragtime shrimp. Daily happy hour. $$ FB L D Daily SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK, 1018 Third St. N., 372-4456, saltlifefoodshack.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Specialty items: signature tuna poke bowl, fresh rolled sushi, Ensenada tacos, local fried shrimp, in a modern open-air space. $$ FB K TO L D Daily SLIDERS SEAFOOD GRILLE & OYSTER BAR, 218 First St., Beaches Town Center, Neptune Beach, 246-0881, slidersseafoodgrille.com. Beach-casual. Faves: Fresh fish tacos, gumbo. Key lime pie, ice cream sandwiches. $$ FB K L Sat. & Sun.; D Nightly SNEAKERS SPORTS GRILLE, 111 Beach Blvd., 482-1000, sneakerssportsgrille.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. More than 20 beers on tap, TV screens, cheerleaders serving the food. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. $ FB K L D Daily TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA, 1712 Beach Blvd., 249-8226, tacolu.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Fresh, Baja-style fare with a focus on fish tacos, tequila (more than 135 kinds) and mezcal. Bangin’ shrimp, carne asada, carnitas, daily fresh fish selections. Made-freshdaily guacamole. $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L D Tue.-Fri.
DOWNTOWN
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 21 W. Church St., 665-7324, akelsdeli.com. F New York-style deli offers freshly made fare: subs (3 Wise Guys, Champ), burgers, gyros, breakfast bowls, ranchero wrap, vegetarian dishes. $ K TO B L Mon.-Fri. BURRITO GALLERY & BAR, 21 E. Adams St., 598-2922, burritogallery.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Southwestern burritos, ginger teriyaki tofu, beef barbacoa, wraps, tacos. $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. CASA MARIA, 12961 N. Main St., Ste. 104, 757-6411. F SEE BEACHES. CHOMP CHOMP, 106 E. Adams St., 762-4667. F Eats at moderate prices – most less than $10. Chef-inspired street food: panko-crusted chicken, burgers, chinois tacos, bahn mi and barbecue. $ L Tue.-Sat.; D Thur.-Sat. FIONN MacCOOL’s IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT, The Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1547, fionnmacs.com. Casual dining with an uptown Irish atmosphere, serving fish and chips, Guinness lamb stew and black-and-tan brownies. $$ FB K L D Daily OLIO MARKET, 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket. com. From-scratch soups, sandwiches. They cure their own bacon, pickle their pickles. Home to duck grilled cheese, seen on Best Sandwich in America. $$ BW TO B R L Mon.-Fri.
FLEMING ISLAND
GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 1915 East-West Pkwy., 541-0009. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE RIVERSIDE.
LA NOPALERA, 1571 C.R. 220, 215-2223. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE MANDARIN. MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS, 1800 Town Center Blvd., 541-1999. F Bite Club. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO SMOKEHOUSE, 1810 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 8, 264-0636. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES. WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198, whiteysfishcamp.com. F Real fish camp. Gator tail, freshwater catfish, daily specials, traditional fare, on Swimming Pen Creek. Tiki bar. Come by boat, motorcycle or car. $ FB K TO L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly YOUR PIE, 1545 C.R. 220, Ste. 125, 379-9771, yourpie. com. Owner Mike Sims’ concept: Choose from 3 doughs,
THE RED ELEPHANT PIZZA & GRILL, 10131 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 12, 683-3773, redelephantpizza.com. F Casual, family-friendly eatery serves steaks, seafood, chicken grill specials. Five topping selections. Salads, sandwiches, pizza. Gluten-free friendly. $ FB K L D Daily STEAMIN, 9703 San Jose Blvd., 493-2020, eatsteamin. com. Classic diner serves steam burgers, fat dogs and chili, 50+ craft beers. $ FB TO B Sat.-Sun.; L D Daily
ORANGE PARK, GREEN COVE SPRINGS
9 sauces, 7 cheeses, 40+ toppings. 5 minutes in a brick oven and ta-da: It’s your pie. Subs, sandwiches, gelato. $$ BW K TO L D Daily
ARON’S PIZZA, 650 Park Ave., 269-1007, aronspizza. com. F Family-owned restaurant has eggplant dishes, manicotti, New York-style pizzas. $$ BW K TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 1540 Wells Rd., 269-2122. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Road, 272-5959, hilltop-club. com. Southern-style fine dining. Specialties: New Orleans shrimp, certified Black Angus prime rib, she-crab soup, desserts. $$$ FB D Tue.-Sat. LA NOPALERA, 9734 Crosshill Blvd., 908-4250. 2024 Kingsley Ave., 276-2776. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE MANDARIN.
INTRACOASTAL WEST
AL’S PIZZA, 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 31, 223-0991. F SEE BEACHES.
DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 14286 Beach Blvd., 223-0115. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 14333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 39, 992-1666. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Tamales, fajitas, pork tacos. Some La Nops have a full bar. $$ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 14, 642-6980. F SEE ORANGE PARK. TIME OUT SPORTS GRILL, 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, 223-6999, timeoutsportsgrill.com. F Locally-ownedand-operated. Hand-tossed pizzas, wings, wraps. Daily drink specials, HDTVs, pool tables. Late-night menu. $$ FB L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly
LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1330 Blanding Blvd., 276-7370. 1545 C.R. 220, 278-2827. 700 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 15, 272-3553. 1401 S. Orange Ave., Green Cove Springs, 284-7789, larryssubs.com. F For 30+ years, all over town, they pile ’em high and serve ’em fast. Hot/cold subs, soups, salads. $ K TO B L D Daily POMPEII COAL-FIRED PIZZA, 2134 Park Ave., 264-6116. Family-owned-and-operated, offering pizzas and wings made in coal-fired ovens. Espresso, cappuccino. $ BW TO L D Daily THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611, roadhouseonline.net. F For 35-plus years, Roadhouse has been offering wings, sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas; 75+ imported beers. $ FB L D Daily THE SHEIK, 1994 Kingsley Ave., 276-2677. SEE ARLINGTON.
PONTE VEDRA, NW ST. JOHNS
JULINGTON CREEK
DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 525 S.R. 16, Ste. 101, 825-4540. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. METRO DINER, 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE SAN MARCO. PIZZA PALACE, 116 Bartram Oaks Walk, 230-2171. F SEE BAYMEADOWS.
MANDARIN
AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 12926 Gran Bay Pkwy. W., 880-2008. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115. F SEE BEACHES.
ATHENS CAFÉ, 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 7, 733-1199. F Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baby shoes (stuffed eggplant). Greek beers. $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. BROOKLYN PIZZA, 11406 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 288-9211. 13820 St. Augustine Rd., 880-0020. Brooklyn Special. Calzones, white pizza, homestyle lasagna. $$ BW TO L D Daily THE COFFEE BARD, 9735 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 13, 260-0810, thecoffeebard.com. New world coffeehouse has coffees, breakfast, drinks. $$ TO B L D Tue.-Sun. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 10391 Old St. Augustine, 880-7087. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. GIGI’S RESTAURANT, 3130 Hartley Rd., 694-4300, jaxramada.com. In Ramada. Prime rib and crab leg buffet Fri. & Sat., blue-jean brunch Sun., daily breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. $$$ FB B R L D Daily GILMON’S BAKERY, 11362 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 13, 288-8128, gilmonsbakery.com. Custom cakes, cupcakes, gingerbread men, pies, cookies, coffee, tea. $$ B L Tue.-Sat. HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 30, 880-3040, harmoniousmonks.net. F American-style steakhouse: Angus steaks, gourmet burgers, ribs, wraps. $$ FB K L D Mon.-Sat. KAZU JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 35, 683-9903, kazujapaneserestaurant.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Wide variety of soups, dumplings, appetizers, salads, bento boxes, sushi, entrées, maki handrolls, sashimi. $$ BW TO L D Daily LA NOPALERA, 11700 San Jose Blvd., 288-0175. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Tamales, fajitas, pork tacos. Some La Nops have a full bar. $$ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 11365 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 3, 674-2945. F SEE ORANGE PARK. NATIVE SUN NATURAL FOODS MARKET & DELI, 10000 San Jose Blvd., 260-6950, nativesunjax.com. Natural, organic soups, sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, prepared foods, juices and smoothies. Juice, smoothie and coffee bar. All-natural, organic beers, wines. Indoor, outdoor dining. $ BW TO K B L D Daily
AL’S PIZZA, 635 A1A N., 543-1494. F SEE BEACHES. CLAUDE’S CHOCOLATE, 145 Hilden Rd., Ste. 122, 829-5790, claudeschocolate.com. Hand-crafted premium Belgian chocolate, fruits, nuts, spices. Cookies, popsicles. $$ TO DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 100 Marketside Ave., 829-8134, dickswingsandgrill.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. NASCAR-themed; 365 kinds of wings, halfpound burgers, ribs. $ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S SUBS, 830 A1A N., 273-3993. F SEE ORANGE PARK. PUSSER’S BAR & GRILLE, 816 A1A N., Ste. 100, 280-7766, pussersusa.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Bite Club. Innovative Caribbean cuisine features regional faves: Jamaican grilled pork ribs, Trinidad smoked duck, lobster macaroni & cheese dinner. Tropical drinks. $$ FB K TO L D Daily RESTAURANT MEDURE, 818 A1A N., 543-3797, restaurantmedure.us. Chef David Medure offers global flavors. Small plates, creative drinks, happy hour. $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat.
RIVERSIDE, 5 POINTS, WESTSIDE
13 GYPSIES, 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies. com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Intimate bistro serves authentic Mediterranean peasant cuisine updated for American tastes, specializing in tapas, blackened octopus, risotto of the day, coconut mango curry chicken. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sat. AKEL’S DELI, 245 Riverside Ave., 791-3336. F SEE DOWNTOWN .
AL’S PIZZA, 1620 Margaret St., Ste. 201, 388-8384. F SEE BEACHES.
BLACK SHEEP RESTAURANT, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, blacksheep5points.com. New American fare has a Southern twist, made with locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412. Made-fromscratch “semi-swanky street food,” tacos, nachos, glutenfree and vegetarian options. $ BW L D Tue.-Sun. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 5972 San Juan, 693-9258. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EDGEWOOD BAKERY, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. 66+ years, full-service bakery. Fresh breakfast, from-scratch pastries, petit fours, pies, cakes. Espresso, sandwiches, smoothies, soups. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999, europeanstreet.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. 130+
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DINING DIRECTORY
upscale diner in ’30s-era building. Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, homemade soups. $$ B R L Daily MOJO BAR-B-QUE, 1607 University Blvd. W., 732-7200. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES. PIZZA PALACE, 1959 San Marco Blvd., 399-8815. F SEE BAYMEADOWS.
PULP, 1962 San Marco Blvd., 396-9222, pulpaddiction. com. The juice bar offers fresh juices, frozen yogurt, teas, coffees, 30 kinds of smoothies. $ TO B L D Daily TAVERNA, 1986 San Marco Blvd., 398-3005, tavernasanmarco.com. Authentic Italian ingredients, seasonal local produce and meats on Chef Sam Efron’s menus. Regional craft beers, handcrafted cocktails. $$$ FB K TO R L D Daily
Brandon Stegonshek, at Corner Taco in 5 Points, presents a Korean short rib taco with purple cabbage, cilantro, sesame seeds and scallions in a soft corn tortilla. The food-truck-turned-brick-and-mortar is a finalist in our Best of Jax readers’ poll for Best Slow Food Restaurant. Photo: Dennis Ho imported beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style classic Reuben and other overstuffed sandwiches; salads, soups. Outside seating is available at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. F The juice bar uses certified organic fruits and vegetables. 500+ craft/import beers, 250 wines, organic produce, humanely raised meats, plus a deli, as well as raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Based on fare of Asian street vendors, peddling authentic dishes from mobile stalls. Chefs here serve the best hawker recipes under one roof. $ BW TO L D Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. New from Bold Bean Coffee Roasters’ owners. Locally-owned, family-run bake shop specializes in made-fromscratch pastries, artisan breads, savory pies, specialty sandwiches, seasonal soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1509 Margaret St., 674-2794. 7895 Normandy, 781-7600. 5733 Roosevelt, 446-9500. 8102 Blanding, 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Ortega, 999-4600. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S SMOKEHOUSE BAR-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Monroe’s smoked meats include wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey and ribs. Homestyle sides include green beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire.com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS IRISH PUB, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300, obrothersirishpub.com. F Traditional shepherd’s pie with Stilton crust, Guinness mac-n-cheese, fish-n-chips. Patio dining. $$ FB K TO L D Daily THE SHEIK, 7361 103rd St., 778-4805. 5172 Normandy Blvd., 786-7641. SEE ARLINGTON. SUN-RAY CINEMA, 1028 Park St., 359-0049. F Beer (Bold City, Intuition), wine, pizza, hot dogs, hummus, sandwiches, popcorn, nachos, brownies. $$ BW Daily SUSHI CAFÉ, 2025 Riverside Ave., Ste. 204, 384-2888, sushicafejacksonville.com. Sushi variety: Monster Roll, Jimmy Smith Roll; faves Rock-n-Roll, Dynamite Roll. Hibachi, tempura, katsu, teriyaki. Indoor or patio. $$ BW L D Daily
ST. AUGUSTINE
AL’S PIZZA, 1 St. George St., 824-4383. F SEE BEACHES. AVILES RESTAURANT & LOUNGE, 32 Avenida Menendez, 829-2277, hiltonhistoricstaugustine.net. F Hilton Bayfront. Progressive European-flavored menu; madeto-order pasta night, wine dinners, chophouse nights, breakfast buffet. Sun. champagne brunch bottomless mimosas. $$$ FB K B L D Daily CARMELO’S MARKETPLACE & PIZZERIA, 146 King St., 494-6658, carmelosmarketplace.com. F NY-style gourmet brick-oven-baked pizza, fresh sub rolls, Boar’s Head meats, cheeses, garlic herb wings. Outdoor dining, Wi-Fi. $$ BW TO L D Daily CLAUDE’S CHOCOLATE, 6 Granada St., 829-5790. In The Market. Wine and chocolate pairings, soft-serve ice cream, a coffee bar, fresh fruit ice pops, cookies. $$ TO THE FLORIDIAN, 39 Cordova St., 829-0655, thefloridianst aug.com. Updated Southern fare: fresh ingredients from area farms. Vegetarian, gluten-free. Fried green tomato bruschetta, grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. $$$ BW K TO L
64 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
D Wed.-Mon. GYPSY CAB COMPANY, 828 Anastasia Blvd., 824-8244, gypsycab.com. F A mainstay for 25+ years, Gypsy’s menu changes twice daily. Signature dish: Gypsy chicken. Seafood, tofu, duck, veal. Sun. brunch. $$ FB R Sun.; L D Daily THE ICE PLANT BAR, 110 Riberia St., 829-6553, iceplantbar.com. Vintage-inspired (an old ice plant) in historic area. Farm-to-table menu uses locally sourced ingredients; hand-crafted drinks, house-made bitters, syrups. $$$ FB TO D Nightly MELLOW MUSHROOM, 410 Anastasia Blvd., 826-4040. F Bite Club. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO OLD CITY BBQ, 5 Cordova, 342-5264. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES. PACIFIC ASIAN BISTRO, 159 Palencia Village Dr., Ste. 111, 808-1818, pacificasianbistro.com. F Chef Mas Lui creates 30+ sushi rolls; fresh sea scallops, Hawaiian-style poke tuna salad. Sake. $$-$$$ BW L D Daily SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK, 321 A1A Beach Blvd., 217-3256, saltlifefoodshack.com. Best of Jax winner. SEE BEACHES. TEMPO, 16 Cathedral Place, 547-0240. Latin American fusion wine bar and restaurant offers traditional American fare with a Latin flair; sandwiches, too. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sun.
ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER
BENTO CAFE ASIAN KITCHEN & SUSHI, 4860 Big Island Dr., Ste. 1, 564-9494, bentocafesushi.com. Pan-Asian fare; Asian-inspired dishes: wok stir-fry to fire-grilled, authentic spices, fresh ingredients. Full sushi bar. $$ K FB TO L D Daily MOXIE KITCHEN + COCKTAILS, 4972 Big Island Dr., 998-9744, moxiefl.com. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Chef Tom Gray’s place features innovative contemporary American cuisine – seafood, steaks, pork, burgers, salads, sides and desserts – using locally sourced ingredients when possible. $$$ FB K L Mon.-Fri.; D Nightly M SHACK, 10281 Midtown Pkwy., 642-5000, mshack burgers.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES.
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
BASIL THAI & SUSHI, 1004 Hendricks Ave., 674-0190, basilthaijax.com. F Authentic dishes: Pad Thai, curries, sashimi, fresh sushi, daily specials. $$ FB L D Mon.-Sat. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 1610 University Blvd. W., 448-2110. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 1704 San Marco Blvd., 398-9500. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. FUSION SUSHI, 1550 University Blvd. W., 636-8688, fusionsushijax.com. F Upscale sushi spot serves a variety of fresh sushi, sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki, kiatsu. $$ K L D Daily THE GROTTO WINE & Tapas Bar, 2012 San Marco Blvd., 398-0726. F Artisanal cheese plates, empanadas, bruschetta, cheesecake. 60+ wines by the glass. $$$ BW Tue.-Sun. HAMBURGER MARY’S BAR & GRILLE, 3333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 1, 551-2048, hamburgermarys.com. Popular chain serves wings, sammies, nachos, wraps, entrées, specialty cocktails and … wait for it … burgers. $$ K TO FB L D Daily LA NOPALERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 1631 Hendricks, 399-1768. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE MANDARIN.
MATTHEW’S, 2107 Hendricks Ave., 396-9922, matthewsrestaurant.com. Chef Matthew Medure’s flagship. Fine dining, artfully presented cuisine, small plates, martini/wine lists. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. Reservations. $$$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. METRO DINER, 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701, metrodiner.com. F 2014 Best of Jax Winner. Original
SOUTHSIDE
360° GRILLE, Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555, latitude360.com. F Seafood, steaks, burgers, chicken, sandwiches, pizza. Patio, movie theater. $$ FB TO L D Daily AKEL’S, 7077 Bonneval Rd., 332-8700. F SEE DOWNTOWN.
ALHAMBRA THEATRE & DINING, 12000 Beach Blvd., 641-1212, alhambrajax.com. Longest-running dinner theater in America. Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menus. Reservations recommended. $$ FB D Tue.-Sun. BARBERITOS, 4320 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., Ste. 106, 807-9060. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. BENTO CAFE ASIAN KITCHEN & SUSHI, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 11, 503-3238. SEE ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER. CASA MARIA, 14965 Old St. Augustine, 619-8186. SEE BEACHES.
DANCIN DRAGON, 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138D, 363-9888. This new spot features a BOGO lunch. Asian fusion menu. $$ FB K L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., 619-0954. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE DIM SUM ROOM, 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138D, 363-9888, thedimsumroom.com. Shrimp dumplings, beef tripe, sesame ball. Traditional Hong Kong noodles, barbecue. $ FB K L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. HZ CAFE, 6426 Bowden Rd., Ste. 206, 527-1078. Healthy concept cafe serves juices, smoothies, traditional vegan and vegetarian meals and vegan and gluten-free meals and desserts. $ K TO B L Mon.-Fri. LARRY’S SUBS, 3611 St. Johns Bluff S., 641-6499. 4479 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 425-4060. F SEE ORANGE PARK. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., 997-1955. F Bite Club. 2014 Best of Jax Winner. SEE BEACHES. MONROE’S SMOKEHOUSE BAR B-Q, 10771 Beach Blvd., 996-7900, monroessmokehousebbq.com. SEE RIVERSIDE. PAPI CHULO’S, 9726 Touchton Rd., Ste. 105, 329-1763, ilovepapichulos.com. The brand new Tinseltown place offers fresh, simple, authentic Mexican street food, topshelf tequilas, specialty drinks. Kids eat free. $$ K FB L D Daily SEVEN BRIDGES Grille & Brewery, 9735 Gate Pkwy., 997-1999, 7bridgesgrille.com. F Local seafood, steaks, pizzas. Brewer Aaron Nesbit handcrafts ales, lagers. $$ FB K TO L D Daily TAVERNA YAMAS, 9753 Deer Lake Court, 854-0426, tavernayamas.com. F Bite Club. Char-broiled kabobs, seafood, wines, desserts. Belly dancing. $$ FB K L D Daily TOMMY’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA, 4160 Southside Blvd., Ste. 2, 565-1999, tbopizza.com. NY-style thin crust, brick-oven-baked pizzas (gluten-free), calzones, sandwiches fresh to order. Boylan’s soda. Curbside pickup. $$ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. WORLD OF BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Court, Ste. 1, 551-5929, worldofbeer.com. F Burgers, tavern fare, sliders,flatbreads, German pretzels, hummus, pickle chips. Craft German, Cali, Florida, Irish drafts. Wines. $$ BW L D Daily
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
HOLA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 1001 N. Main St., 356-3100, holamexicanrestaurant.com. F Fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, daily specials. Happy hour; sangria. $ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S SUBS, 12001 Lem Turner, 764-9999. SEE ORANGE PARK.
SAVANNAH BISTRO, 14670 Duval Rd., 741-4404. F Low Country Southern fare, taste of Mediterranean and French. Crowne Plaza Airport. Crab cakes, NY strip, she crab soup, mahi mahi. $$$ FB K B L D Daily THE SHEIK, 2708 N. Main St., 353-8181. SEE ARLINGTON. UPTOWN MARKET, 1303 Main St. N., 355-0734, uptownmarketjax.com. Bite Club. In the 1300 Building. The market features fresh quality fare, innovative breakfast, lunch and dinner; farm-to-table selections, daily specials. $$ BW TO B L Daily
BITE-SIZED
Best BBQ
IN JACKSONVILLE
Winner Best BBQ Jax Truckies 2014
2 Locations Serving You 4838 Highway Ave. (904) 389-5551
10771 Beach Blvd. (904) 996-7900
Photo by Caron Streibich
ON A ROLL
There’s something for every raw-fish lover at this Avondale sushi spot
W
ith nearly four dozen sushi rolls to choose from — classics to deepfried treasures to vegetarian and vegan-friendly options — at Sushiko there’s something for everyone. On a recent lunch visit, I ordered a Bento Box ($9.25). You select two items — sushi rolls or three pieces of sashimi or an assortment of tempuras, teriyakis and starters — along with a choice of fried rice or pan-fried lo mein noodles. And there’s more — miso or clear soup and a side salad with ginger dressing. I picked the miso soup, which was loaded with seaweed and cubed tofu, a spicy white tuna and avocado roll, noodles, and the steamed-shrimp-filled shumai dumplings. A new favorite is the Icy Veggie Roll ($6.25), which is rice-less and wrapped in rice paper instead of seaweed, then stuffed with seaweed salad, lettuce, avocado, cucumber, carrot and asparagus and served with a light ponzu sauce. It’s both healthy and refreshing, but nonetheless packs a powerful textural crunch. And I tried something new (to me) — uni ($3.25), aka sea urchin. It arrived over rice and had a burnt-orange hue. It was creamy and custard-like, and briney, which reminded me of the ocean. The fried sweet potato roll ($4.25) proved to be simple yet satisfying. And for heatseekers, the Diablo ($8.75), with tuna, salmon,
SUSHIKO JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI BAR 3620 St. Johns Ave., Avondale sushikojax.com
yellowtail and krab, fried and then topped with scallions, shrimp sauce and hot sauce, was a hit. The interior space offers natural light flooding in from large windows, soothing peach-colored walls and dark wood tables and chairs. Our server was friendly and attentive, always a winning combination in my book. Open seven days a week for dine-in lunch and dinner or carry-out, Sushiko also serves beer, wine and sake if you’re thirsty. Caron Streibich biteclub@folioweekly.com facebook.com/folioweeklybitesized
NIBBLES BlackFinn has changed names. Now BLACKFINN AMERIPUB, the St. Johns Town Center eatery has remodeled and shifted its focus to a more casual dining experience, with a new menu and the addition of a 50-tap draft beer system. SWEET PETE’S mobile wagon has hit the streets with homemade ice cream, sorbet, salted caramels, cotton candy and more. VAGABOND COFFEE, a mobile artisan coffee roaster, is at 1461 Hendricks Ave., behind Aardwolf Brewery, weekdays from 7-10 a.m. Jacksonville’s newest brewery and restaurant, WICKED BARLEY, is planned for Baymeadows Road, in a space overlooking Goodbys Lake. OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 65
ASTROLOGY
LIZARDS, EMILY DICKINSON, EDGAR ALLEN POE & CARRIE
LIMELIGHT THEATRE PRESENTS
Come meet the family…
LIMELIGHT THEATRE PRESENTS
Sept. 19 – Oct. 19 “The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life in The Addams Family. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshal Brickman & Rick Elice, and Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa.”
3-color (CMYK)
2-color (CMYK)
Sept. 18 through Oct. 19
2-color (CMYK)
By MARSHALL BRICKMAN and RICK ELICE Music and Lyrics by ANDREW LIPPA Based on characters created by Charles Addams 3-color (CMYK) Licensed by arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Sept. 18 through Oct. 19 By MARSHALL BRICKMAN and RICK ELICE Music and Lyrics by ANDREW LIPPA Based on characters created by Charles Addams
For reservations, call 904-825-1164 or go to limelight-theatre.org 11 Old Mission Ave. uptown St. Augustine FREE parking
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Situation No. 1: If you meet resistance or doubt, say: “Ha! This diversion can’t slow me down, because I am in possession of an invisible magical sword!” Then take a few charismatic swipes with your sword to show you mean business. Situation No. 2: If angst and worry prevent your allies from synchronizing their assets with yours, say: “Begone, dread! For with the power of my wicked crazy songs, I am the destroyer of fear.” Then sing wicked crazy songs. Situation No. 3: If you find it hard to discern the difference between useless, ugly monsters and useful, beautiful monsters, say: “I am a useful, beautiful monster!” Your kind will flock to you. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In her poem Advice to Myself, Louise Erdrich speaks of the human heart as “that place you don’t even think of cleaning out. That closet stuffed with savage mementos.” Use her observations as a prod. Now’s a great time to purge savage mementos from your heart, and clean the whole place up. You don’t have to get all OCD about it. No need to scour and scrub until it’s spotless. Even a halfhearted effort will set promising transformations in motion. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Learn more in the next eight months than you’ve ever learned in a comparable period. Make a list of all the subjects you’d love to study and all the skills you’d love to master, then devise a plan to gather the educational experiences with which you reinvent yourself. Turn your curiosity on full-blast and go in quest of revelations, insights and epiphanies, smashing through limits of understanding as you explore frontiers of sweet knowledge.
Licensed by arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide
1-color (CMYK)
1-color (CMYK)
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Three times a week, I hike along a rough path through an oak forest. It’s rough because it’s strewn with loose rocks. If I don’t watch the ground, I’m constantly turning my ankles. Or at least that was the case until last week. For two days, with the help of a rake, I cleared many of those bothersome obstacles off the trail. It took several hours, but now the way is smoother. My eyes are free to enjoy the sights that aren’t close to the ground. Do similar work. Stop tolerating inconveniences and irritations hobbling you. Get your foundations in shape. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): American author Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was ahead of his time. He created the detective story genre and mastered the art of Gothic horror tales. According to the Internet Movie Database, 240 films have referenced themes from his work. British writer Aldous Huxley wasn’t a fan of Poe, though. He said Poe was “too poetical – the equivalent of wearing a diamond ring on every finger.” Judging from astrological omens, you may be at risk to lapse into a diamond-ring-on-every-finger phase yourself. I’m in favor of you unveiling more of your radiant beauty, but don’t go too far. Maybe wear diamond rings on just four fingers?
66 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Republican Jody Hice is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. To bolster his authority, he repeats quotes by revered figures from American history. One of his favorites is a gem from the sixth U.S. president, John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Only problem is, that was actually written by country singer Dolly Parton, not Adams. Don’t get fooled by a similar case of mistaken identity. Be on the alert for unwarranted substitutions and problematic switcheroos. Be a fact-checker. Insist on verification.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I am naughtiest of all,” wrote poet Emily Dickinson in a playful letter to Maggie Maher, dated October 1882. According to astrological omens, let that same declaration fl y frequently from your lips next week. Invoke other variations on the theme of naughtiness, as well: “I’m exploring the frontiers of naughtiness” or “You need to be naughtier” or “Being naughty is my current spiritual practice.” SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “There’s a way not to be broken that takes brokenness to fi nd it,” writes Naomi Shihab Nye in her poem Cinco de Mayo. This describes your situation now. The bad news? You’re feeling a bit broken. The good news? It’s a special kind of brokenness, one that has a valuable secret you’ve not been ready to learn. Let yourself feel the full intensity of the brokenness; you discover a way to never be broken like this again. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In a competitive Japanese TV game show, 13 people had slabs of meat tied to their foreheads. They poked their heads up through holes in the floor of an elevated platform, where a hungry lizard was. But not one contestant stuck around when the lizard nibbled the meat; they all ducked down and fl ed. That was probably wise, though it meant the prize was unclaimed. What might happen if a similar event were staged in your neighborhood? You’d will yourself to stand calmly as the lizard feasted on the meat just inches from your eyes. I admire that kind of poised courage, but there are better ways to express it. Look for noble challenges with goals truly worthy of you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Director Michael Bay makes big, loud, fast, melodramatic action fi lms, including Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and the four Transformers movies. The critics hate him, but he’s unfazed. “I make movies for teenage boys,” he says. “Oh, dear, what a crime,” he adds sarcastically. I love that. He knows what he’s good at, and makes no apologies. Cop some of that attitude now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Walking in San Francisco, I passed Pacific Heights Health Club. The sign out front said, “Birthday suits tailored here.” It was a witty reference to the idea that working out at a gym helps people get their bodies in good shape. I’d like to interpret the message a different way, and apply it to you. The time is right to get back in touch with your raw, original self, and give it the care, the fuel and the treats it’s been missing. Who did you start out to be? What does your soul’s blueprint say about who you must become? Home in on your source code and boost its signal. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Horror novelist Stephen King has sold more than 350 million books. When he was young and destitute, still honing his craft, his self-confidence was low. His breakthrough work was Carrie, about a teenage girl who develops telekinetic powers. When he was first writing that manuscript on an old manual typewriter, he got so discouraged he threw his fi rst draft in the trashcan. Luckily for him, his wife retrieved it and convinced him to keep at it. He finished, and later sold the paperback rights for $400,000. Hope you have an ally who’ll dig in your garbage to fi sh out the good stuff you unwisely discard. Maybe this horoscope will convince you not to scrap it in the fi rst place. Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com
NEWS OF THE WEIRD PROFESSIONAL BIOLOGY RESEARCH
The job of determining stress levels in whales is itself apparently stressful. The most reliable information about tension lies in hormones most accurately measured by researchers’ boarding a boat, sidling up to a whale and waiting until it blasts snot out of its blowhole. By catching enough of it (or wiping it off of their raincoats), scientists can run the gunk through chemical tests. However, a team of engineering researchers at Olin College in Needham, Massachusetts, told The Boston Globe in September that they were on the verge of creating a radio-controlled, mucustrapping drone that would bring greater civility to the researchers’ job (and reduce the add-on stress the whales must feel at being stalked by motorboats).
WAR IS HELL
The newly inaugurated “Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent” (a project of Osama bin Laden’s successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri) failed spectacularly in its maiden mission in September when it attempted to commandeer an American “aircraft carrier” in port in Karachi, Pakistan. Actually, the ship was a misidentified Pakistani naval vessel that did not even vaguely resemble an aircraft carrier, and Pakistani forces killed or captured all 10 jihadists. A September raid on an ISIS safe house in Syria turned up, among other items (according to Foreign Policy magazine), a Dell laptop owned by Tunisian jihadist “Muhammed S.,” containing (not unexpectedly) recipes for bubonic plague and ricin, and (less likely) a recipe for banana mousse and a variety of songs by Celine Dion.
LATEST RELIGIOUS MESSAGES
In September, the Seattle-based Mars Hill megachurch announced it would close several branches as founding preacher Mark Driscoll takes personal leave to contemplate overthe-top messages he’s made in the past about women. Among the most striking statements (as gathered by the “Wenatchee the Hatchet” blog in Wenatchee, Washington) were those expressing certainty that women exist solely to support men. A man’s penis “is not your (personal) penis,” he told men. “Ultimately, God created you, and it is his penis.” “Knowing that his penis would need a home ... God created a woman [who] makes a very nice home.” Driscoll added, helpfully, “But,
though you may believe your hand is shaped like a home, it is not.”
The Pilot Club of Port of Jacksonville
EvergreenCemetery
present Tales of our City, a guided tour of Evergreen Cemetery
OOPSIE
Catholic priest Gerald Robinson passed away in July, and many around the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, were shocked to learn that his body was buried with full priestly rights. Wrote the diocese, Father Robinson “was a baptized member of the body of Christ, and he was, and remains, an ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Church.” In 2006, Robinson was convicted of murdering Sister Margaret Ann Pahl years earlier.
RECURRING THEME
Another rogue Muslim cleric enraged mainstream Islamic scholars recently. Egyptian Salafist preacher Osama al-Qusi proclaimed via fatwa in August that men could properly spy on women bathing, but only if they have “pure intentions.” For example, he wrote, if a man intended to marry the woman, he might learn some things otherwise unrevealed before the ceremony. Egypt’s minister for religious affairs, Mohamed Mokhtar, has already banned “tens of thousands” of “unlicensed” preachers from working in Egypt’s mosques because of their embarrassing fatwas.
October 11-12, 2014 Saturday & Sunday 9am-3pm For More Information contact us at 904-703-4294 or visit our website www.pilotclub.org On Facebook: Evergreen Historic Cemetery Tours PreSale Ticket Locations: Evergreen Cemetery (Northside) Avondale Gift Boutique Book Nook Cottage by the Sea Flowerama Petunia Patch Boutique
PUT YOUR HAND ON THE TV
Televangelist Jim Bakker no longer runs the Praise The Lord ministry, but still operates a church near Branson, Missouri, with a website selling a staggering array of consumer goods denominated as “love gifts” for worshippers who donate at certain levels via the website’s shopping cart. Featured are clothing, jewelry (some “Tiffany-like”), bulk foods, “Superfood” legacy seeds, fuel-efficient generators (and a “foldable solar panel”), vitamins and supplements, “Jim’s Favorite” foods (like ketchup), “survival” equipment and supplies, water filtration products, and a strong commitment to the supposed benefits of “Silver Solution” gels and liquids ($25 for a 4-ounce tube), even though the FDA has long refused to call colloidal silver “safe and effective”. Of course, books, CDs and DVDs (and a digital download) of Bakker’s inspirational and prophetic messages are also available. Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net
OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 67
HELLO, YOUNG LOVERS (aka ISU Writers): The limit for ISU notices is 40 words ONLY. No messages with more than 40 words will be accepted. Please keep your message short & sweet. Thanks! DESPERATELY SEEKING PIXIE You: Steampunk girl on red couch. You asked if I’d ever be done. Me: In black, too work focused to speak to you properly. I’m done; ready. Need to find each other. Let’s meet, talk, try to forgive. RAM 10 a.m. find me. I’ll go until I see you. When: Aug. 23. Where: Royal. #1405-0917
SHORT-HAIRED BRUNETTE You: Short brown hair, sitting next to an older lady. You were with a party sitting by the door. I ended up talking to your friend but not you. Me: Black dress with dark hair at the bar. When: Sept. 27. Where: Hamburger Mary’s. #1415-1008
HOT COP AT LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE ISU at Logan’s. You: slightly seasoned gentleman; ordered a juicy steak, but I wish I could have ordered yours. Oh, and Momma has a coupon for you! When: Aug. 29. Where: Logan’s Roadhouse. #1404-0910
SO SWEET, BOUGHT TEA You: Tanned, green sunglasses, white SUV, motorcycle, OTW to pick up daughter. Me: Crazy spinner girl, parched, much appreciative of tea you bought. See you almost daily. Got your name, should’ve gotten number. A drink sometime? When: Sept. 27. Where: Monument/McCormick McD’s. #1414-1001
BMW RIDER ISU 18 years ago. Your cute dimples, warm smile and sexy moustache won my heart. Interested in a lifetime of fun? If so, let’s par-tay! Happy anniversary, Love, Your Nag. When: May 1994. Where: Famous Amos. #1403-0910
ROGUE MEN You helped me with ring toss. Stood really close. Had to run, had friends waiting. Wish I’d gotten your name and number! When: Sept. 7. Where: Dive Bar. #1413-1001
I'm a teen, an entrepreneur, and a 121 fan.
BEARD MAGIC You: Jet-black hair, green eyes, sexy red Fiat 500. You said my beard had magical powers. Me: Colorful tats, magical beard, Donkey Bong shirt. I gave you my toast and you promised a date. When and where? When: Sept. 15. Where: Brew 5 Points. #1412-1001 BARISTA WITH DEVILED EGGS You: Starbucks Barista. Handed me a deviled egg, drew a heart on my vanilla milk. Never knew what I loved about this old coffee shop. Close your tally with a herringbone? Love to read more newspapers – as your girlfriend. When: Aug. 14. Where: Southside/Baymeadows Starbucks. #1411-0924
Who are you?
SAUSAGE CUTIE You: Fast-talking Penguin shirt guy, recently out of jail; said three months in jail builds character. Me: Tall, jet-black hair, way-too-short dress. I asked if you knew I wasn’t wearing panties; you joked about sausage size on pizza. Pizza soon? When: Sept. 17. Where: Avondale Mellow Mushroom. #1410-0924
Eva Baker, TeensGotCents.com We want to get to know all the wonderful people who make up our community. Please tell us who you are and what we can do for you. Connect with us and you may find your photo and caption on our Pinterest page!
BLACK GUY, ORANGE SHIRT, BOOTS You: Handsome, dark skin, orange shirt, behind me in WalMart money center line, 2 p.m. Me: Tall, curvy, tattooed blonde talking to couple ahead of you. Too shy to stay, thought I saw you looking. Meet? When: Sept. 12. Where: Kingsland Walmart. #1409-0917 COFFEE HOTTIE You: Hottest girl at Bold Bean, skintight Lululemons, bedhead and full-sleeve Molly Hatchet tattoo. You caught my glance waiting for latte. Me: Still drunk from last night, looking fine in Jesus Is The Shit shirt. We MUST meet. When: Sept. 10. Where: Bold Bean. #1408-0917 HOT BLONDE @ UPS STORE You: Girl at Claire Lane/San Jose Boulevard UPS store. Me: Handsome Latino courier who comes in twice a month to pick up a customer’s mail. You know who I am. If single, wanna chat? When: Sept. 8. Where: UPS Store. #1407-0917
121fcu.org/connect
Banking Focused on You 121 Financial Credit Union, established in Jacksonville, FL in 1935 904.723.6300 | www.121fcu.org/connect #121fan on Twitter | email: info@121fcu.org 68 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
HUSKY SEMINOLES HUNK You: FSU shirt, name starts with S. Sloppy drunk & jolly. Me: Thick woman, Cornhuskers shirt. You loved my curly hair; let me rub your belly :) Bono’s unlimited BBQ rib night on Gate Parkway 7 p.m.? When: Oct. 4. Where: Kickbacks, Riverside. #1416-1008
FLIRTING WHILE DRIVING? You: Dark Dodge pickup, Gator plate. Me: Old red Jeep Cherokee. Passed each other – intentionally – on bridge; smiles, waves. You’re cute! I was late, or would’ve followed. Wanna slow down and say hi? When: Sept. 3. Where: Buckman Bridge. #1406-0917
STUNNING BLONDE NURSE Talked; bought you a drink upstairs. We seemed to connect. You showed me your driver license because I didn’t believe your age. Wish I’d written your name down; really want to talk. When: Aug. 22. Where: Salt Life St. Augustine. #1402-0827 PURPLE SCRUBS SAN MARCO You took my blood pressure, started asking me some questions, then a young doctor walked in. We started laughing at the tag-team questionnaire. I commented on your long hair. When: Aug. 19. Where: Academic Dermatology. #1401-0827 MR. CHEVY EQUINOX ISU wearing scrubs, driving an Equinox. I wore shorts, tank top; driving a black Chevy Tahoe, heading out of town for work. You asked about the Tahoe, what I did for a living. Love to chat more! When: Aug. 19. Where: Town Center Shell. #1400-0827 MEET FOR BEER You: Handsome guy, Yankee Coffin Co. T-shirt, jeans, behind me at register; our eyes met. Me: Curly blonde, jeans. Said hello as you left on motorcycle with I assume your son. If not single, no reply; you looked nice. When: Aug. 17. Where: European Street Jax Beach. #1398-0827 HOLDING AN UMBRELLA You: Sweet, standing under shelter helping people to cars during a thunderstorm. Me: Redhead desperate for shelter from the storm. You asked me what I did. You work at insurance agency. Call if you’d like to share your umbrella. When: Aug. 14. Where: Thrasher Horne Center. #1397-0820 RUNNING OUT OF MOONLIGHT ISU: Mavericks acoustic concert. We talked, you put your arm around me during two songs. Your friend said you wash your beard with long-term relationship Head & Shoulders. You make a cowboy hat look good ;). When: Aug. 13. Where: Mavericks at the Landing. #1396-0820 SUPERCUTE SECURITY GUARD Wanted to talk to you but you were already talking to another female when I was leaving. You: Supercute white security guard. Me: Cute, thin, chocolate-caramel female. Hoping you and I get a chance to talk. When: Aug. 12. Where: Main Library. #1395-0820 NAVY FATIGUES & ME You: A tall gorgeous clean-cut guy in your Navy uniform waiting on your coffee at Starbucks. Me: A shy long-haired Native American princess waiting on her breakfast dessert. Why aren’t you on the menu? When: Aug. 7. Where: 1604 Margaret St. #1394-0813 WALMART CHECKOUT, ST. AUGUSTINE You: Tall handsome gentleman, cowboy boots, jeans & white shirt. On a Monday, we chatted about your pool chlorine and my grapes. Me: Petite, long red hair. New to area, would love to connect. When: Aug. 4. Where: St. Augustine Walmart. #1393-0813
FOLIO WEEKLY PUZZLER by Merl Reagle. Presented by
SAN MARCO 2044 San Marco Blvd. 398-9741
PONTE VEDRA
THE SHOPPES OF PONTE VEDRA
330 A1A North 280-1202
Oh, It’s You Again 1 4 7 12 18 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 34 38 43 46 47 48 49 52 55 56 57 59 60 62 64 66 73 74 75 77 80 83 86 87 89
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SOUTHSIDE
AVONDALE 3617 St. Johns Ave. 10300 Southside Blvd. 388-5406 394-1390 AVENUES MALL
Northeast Asian river Sensible soul Kerouac’s Paradise Level area? Rejection words in a famous “Seinfeld” episode Fixes Become ex-exes Nonfict. category Connections Astaire or Rogers Greek letter Sloppy Joe’s home? The first installment Sports statistician The Skipper’s plan, on paper Hullabaloo Disappear intentionally Space vehicle Support, as a college Trouble Hiking dir.
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Solution to September Story P O D S A L I P R E V E C A S T I D U R A A Z A L M E N Q U C U R P A I N E L L E M I N K A Z A G E T T C A L I O R A N S E V E A S I S T E S
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OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 69
HELP WANTED
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70 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014
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EVENTS AND NOTICES FARM LIFE FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE MAIN EVENT 2014 “A NIGHT TO REMEMBER” Distinguished Venue : The Alfred I. duPont Riverfront Mansion Epping Forest Yacht Club 1830 Epping Forest Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32217 (904) 739-7200 December 7th 2014 Your evening begins at 5:30pm $150.00 donation per person Tickets available on-line: www.FarmLifeFDN.org Once in lifetime an event so specially crafted, planned and designed becomes a gift to the community. Farm Life Foundation will give a portion of net proceeds from The Main Event 2014 Fundraiser to the GMO Free Florida Org. and Equality Florida Org. Together Everyone Achieves More.
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BACKPAGE EDITORIAL
IN DEFENSE OF THE SKYWAY
Why the proposed ASE expansion makes sense
I
t is interesting that Marvin Edwards quotes items from the 1990s in his objections to the Automated Skyway Express [News, “Beware the Vested Interests,” Sept. 24]. The dynamics of Downtown have completely changed since the mid-’90s. This is why there are no major groups coming in and saying that ASE is not the way to go. It has been a tough road to get to where the Jacksonville Transportation Authority currently is with the ASE. Most of the problems were created by policy decisions made by past city councils. Back in the 1990s, while the ASE was being constructed, the City Council of the time never met a Downtown parking garage they did not like. The actions of the Council, against the recommendations of transportation consultants such as Roger Sharpe, led to a glut of Downtown parking. This in turn kept parking prices down and did nothing to encourage the completion of the ASE. If the 1990s City Council had listened to the consultants, there would be fewer garages, and the park-and-ride concept would have created a ridership of about 6,000. The other action that was more telling was the failure to use the bus intercept system to save money. Running buses Downtown results in much higher fuel costs and extremely higher maintenance costs. The ASE was designed to intercept most of the buses and thus save money. In addition to saving about $2 million (in 1988 dollars), this concept would have increased ridership by another 13,000. Miles Francis and Michael Blaylock killed the concept before it started, therefore eliminating a major group of riders. Another issue that drove the cost to $183.3 million (not the $250 million that Edwards claims) is that Jacksonville was too small for the demonstration project under which it was funded. Instead of building an entire 2.1- or 2.5- or 4.1-mile system in 1983, when the price
for the 2.1-mile system was $72 million, the ASE was done on piecemeal basis, and the costs increased greatly during the inflationary 1980s. By completing only a small section at a time, the JTA lost out on being able to take advantage of an economy of scale that would have come from a large project. The inflation of the 1980s drove the cost estimates up. JTA, by funding one small section at a time, spread the project out as the Construction Price Index numbers increased each year by double digits. The public has always asked one question: Why wasn’t a light rail (streetcar) system built? The answer was simple, and it involves Jacksonville’s most valuable asset, the St. Johns River. If a light rail line went across the river at the surface, there would be the need for a drawbridge, and it would interfere with the headways (service times). The other choice of going over the new Acosta Bridge was not practical, as the bridge would be too steep for vehicles running on rails. Another alternative considered was the bus-only system. This would still cost tens of millions of dollars for special bus lanes and for other equipment such as priority traffic lights. The operations cost was not competitive with the ASE. Electricity is always cheaper than motor fuel, even if it is natural gas. Power plant emissions are closely regulated and lesspolluting than internal combustion engines (not matter how clean they are). The final alternative was to do nothing. At the time, Downtown was rapidly growing and
there were many new projects. It was estimated that a new bridge would need to be built at Liberty Street at a cost of about $250 million (in 1983 dollars) to handle the traffic if the ASE was not built. Without the Skyway, there would be more parking needed and less land for better uses such as residences and offices. It should be noted that the estimated outcomes from the alternatives listed above were based on the perceptions during the 1980s. Hindsight is 20/20, and with hindsight the project, along with Downtown planning, may have been managed differently, creating a different outcome. The issues during the late 1980s and early 1990s were all crested by poor policy decisions among the City Council members. That brings us to modern times. The dynamics of Downtown have started to change. In the mid-2000s, three towers housing almost 1,000 people went up on Riverplace Boulevard. The towers are convenient to Downtown and many of the residents work in the area. Most of these residents who do work Downtown take the ASE. Several buses unload passengers at Kings Road Station, and they take the ASE to either jobs Downtown or to the Rosa Parks Station to catch a bus that is going somewhere outside of Downtown. This is the start of the bus intercept — or maybe a better name would the bus service enhancement role that the ASE will play in the future. This brings us to the future. Edwards was critical of an ASE extension and station to be
It has been a tough road to get where the JTA currently is with the Skyway.
built just south of the Sawyer Maintenance Facility. This station will serve the development to the southwest of the station. There will 310 units and approximately 450 people at the complex. There also will be a Fresh Market, restaurants and retail at this location. The station makes sense, as it will tie condos on the Southbank and several hotels to this location. The next step would be a station on or near the Florida Blue surface parking lot located across from 220 Riverside. This station would serve the people of this apartment complex, and tie the planned events for Unity Plaza to the condos and hotels on the Southbank. There is the possibility of creating a transitoriented development (TOD) using the site’s air rights. This development could be apartments, condos or offices. It would tie a planned hotel on the site to the Convention Center and could intercept buses. This station would also serve the 450 residents of 220 Riverside. The proposed station would also serve the YMCA, the St. Joe Building and EverBank. The final segment of this line would be stationed either at LPS or at the Florida Blue parking garage south of the office. This would tie bus routes to the north and the east to Florida Blue, LPS, The Cummer Museum & Gardens and be within walking distance of 5 Points. There would be several thousand potential riders from four to five bus routes that could be intercepted at this point. With new housing, a staff that encourages the development of TODs and the use of the ASE to shorten bus routes, the extension down the Riverside Corridor makes sense. The JTA can issue debt service through the State Bank (taking advantage of the state of Florida’s AAA bond rating) or obtain other transit funding. The JTA should rapidly proceed with this extension. Bruce A. Fouraker mail@folioweekly.com
Folio Weekly welcomes Backpage Editorial submissions. Essays should be no more than 1,200 words and on a topic of local interest or concern. Email your Backpage to mail@folioweekly.com. Opinions expressed on the Backpage are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or management of Folio Weekly. OCTOBER 8-14, 2014 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 71
72 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | OCTOBER 8-14, 2014