Folio Vol. 40, Issue 3

FOLIO STAFF:

Exclusive Interview by Ariana Alcantara Photo by Amanda Laferriere

BOUQS & BRICKS

BOUQUETS

To Sabina Atic for being named the 2025-2026 St. Johns County District Teacher of the Year and Ashley Vizcarra for being named the Rookie Teacher of the Year by the St. Johns County Education Foundation. Known as Investing in Kids (INK!), the organization honors the dedicated work of the local teaching community.

To Trevor Lawrence for selecting “Here Tomorrow,” a suicide prevention nonprofit, for his My Cause My Cleats campaign. His impact this season went far beyond the playing field. Local nonprofit Here Tomorrow had an extraordinary month of fundraising due to his support, raising more than $1.2 million in a single month.

BRICKBATS

To ICE for not following the Fifth Amendment. Under the Fifth Amendment, all persons in the U.S. (citizens or not) are entitled to:

• Notice of the charges against them

• A chance to respond or contest removal

• Access to an immigration judge (not just an ICE officer)

• The right to an attorney at their own expense

• Protection from arbitrary or indefinite detention

To federal immigration officers a ton of bricks to you for the murder of law-abiding citizens. And to Kristi Noem, Karoline Leavitt, Pete Hegseth and of course President Donald Trump himself for ALL being morally bankrupt!

I am a Floridian, born and raised in Jacksonville. Like all cities, Jacksonville has had its problems over the decades: high crime rates, struggling schools, financial shortfalls. But never once have I thought, “Aha, this must be the fault of immigrants making their home here!” The correlation simply does not exist.

And yet, we have ICE agents in Jacksonville based on an ill-defined emergency and a mission to repel a “foreign invasion”. With unchecked power, masked men (mostly without warrants) are waging a war on our neighbors who may or may not be citizens, who may or may not be here illegally, who may or may not have committed a crime and may or may not be milking the system. We are now witnessing what an abandonment of due process - the crown jewel of our judicial system - looks like. It looks like Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Some people compare ICE to the Nazi Gestapo of the 1930s, but my own rendering of history suggests a closer comparison to the U.S. during the 1850s, when bounty hunters were deputized by the Fugitive Slave Act to hunt down runaway slaves in northern cities. Essentially, a bounty hunter was paid to return with a body – the only requirement being he/she remotely fit the description of said runaway slave. When a bounty hunter rode into town, even legally free black populations were subject to kidnapping and the living nightmare of laboring on southern plantations. Much like today, there was not even the pretense of due process. In several cities, white citizens rose in protest to protect their black neighbors from assault. These brave souls considered this their Christian duty. In today’s America, defense of one’s fellow man gets you labeled a “terrorist” or worse, shot and killed.

Like the 19th century, ICE agents have been tasked with rounding up bodies, this time to meet “arrest quotas”. Hispanic, African, Middle Eastern - mostly nonwhite. In a recent interview, the Minneapolis police chief reported arrestees dragged from their cars, arrested for taking a walk or shopping without documents, targeted at Home Depot and surveilled at school. Many Minnesotans have organized to protest these actions taken against their fri ends and neighbors.

We Floridians are fools for thinking this same chaos and violence cannot be visited upon our own cities. We have four major urban centers that are rich in ethnic diversity and often vote Democratic. Two prime reasons for the Trump administration to deploy ICE agents who are growing in number, while at the same time the training period for officers roughly halved. Inexperienced agents carrying military weaponry and enjoying full immunity. What could possibly go wrong? Where are our national representatives at this critical juncture? Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody and in the case of my own congressional representative, A aron Bean?

Sadly, no one appears to be a champion of due process or the Bill of Rights. Nor have they demonstrated any empathy for the millions of people who have been conflated with the small minority of bad apples. No empathy for the millions of innocent people who have been tarred with epithets such as “rapist” or “violent gang member” simply for existing.

We have reached a point where a reminder of the contributions made by immigrants in Florida is in order. Possibly you have had the pleasure of teaching incredibly respectful and highly achieving students as I have, or maybe you and your family have been cared for by healthcare professionals across the board, from hospitals to nursing care centers. Perhaps you have experienced construction crews at your home or business that were characteristically punctual and hardworking (and yes, have kept your costs down). Have you served in the military in which you have stood shoulder to shoulder with an immigrant soldier? The list could go on and on and on.

As citizens we should be proactive before Jacksonville becomes another L.A., Chicago, Minneapolis. Call or write to your representatives and make your concerns known. More importantly, we must take advantage of this re-election year with the earnest hope that it will be free. There is no better time than 2026 to express ourselves. If Scott, Moody, Bean, et al. cannot find the moral fortitude to uphold the Constitution and respect all cons tituents, then VOTE THEM OUT.

Michelle Busby

On Jan. 26, Neptune entered your sign and will remain there for the next 13 years. Old identities will begin to dissolve, and you will start feeling more like yourself than you have in years. Last Spring and Summer, when Nepune briefly passed through your sign, you felt whispers of this, but it is nothing compared to what is to come.

Patience is a virtue you know all too well, Taurus, and as an earth sign, it’s one of your greatest strengths. You move deliberately, taking the time to notice details others often overlook. This month, lean into that steady pace to finally clear out your to-do list and make real progress where it counts.

Aries Taurus Gemini

As Neptune settles into your 11th house for the next 13 years, expect a serious shift in purpose. This is the era where longshelved hobbies finally get off the ground and long-overdue raises feel worth fighting for. Motivation won’t just knock — it’ll move in and make itself comfortable. Rather than expending yourself and your energy, half-assing a multitude of projects, try to zero in on one thing and make it your bitch.

Cancer

Money may not be flowing the way it once did or perhaps your spending has quietly outpaced your budget, Cancer. February calls for a financial reset, open that savings account and commit to a plan. This doesn’t mean denying yourself life’s little joys, just being more intentional. Think sale sections, thoughtful purchases and only buying what you truly need.

Leo

February moves at a slower, quieter pace for you, Leo — and not every shiny opportunity deserves your attention. This is a month for self-love in its simplest form: saying no to plans, guarding your weekends and giving your mind space to reset. Slowing down isn’t a setback; it’s the point.

Virgo

This month, your mantra is out of sight, out of mind, Virgo. And what’s staying out of sight? The drama that seems determined to follow you everywhere. You simply can’t be bothered, and honestly, that’s working in your favor. Some situations are best left to fizzle out on their own. While they do, turn your focus inward and make time for the self-care you’ve been putting off.

Love is very much in the air — and right on cue for Valentine’s Day. Grab a pen and paper, because you’re rewriting your love life from scratch. Out with the old, in with the new (and yes, your exes are exes for a reason). Your energy is borderline magnetic all month long… might be time to consider hiring a bodyguard.

It’s time to turn your focus inward, Scorpio — not exactly a stretch for someone who already keeps most things under lock and key. A few friendships may need some extra nurturing this month, and a romantic connection could feel like it’s walking a tightrope. Letting people in won’t weaken you; it’ll steady you. Sitting with emotions you’ve brushed past or revisiting parts of your past, can be surprisingly healing and help break outdated family patterns once and for all.

Libra Scorpio Sagittarius

No one likes a know-it-all, Sagittarius, and it’s OK not to have all the answers. In fact, leaving room for curiosity may teach you more than certainty ever could. Knowledge is power, but it starts with being open to learning. This month, choose a topic that genuinely intrigues you and allow yourself a full, deep dive into something new.

Capricorn

Thanks to the Full Moon in Leo on Feb. 1, your emotions won’t be hiding — they’ll be front and center. This is a deeply emotional lunation that brings you face-to-face with your shadow side and feelings you’ve ignored for far too long. Lean into the discomfort: exploring buried fears and insecurities could spark a real breakthrough or healing revelation.

It’s your birthday, Aquarius, and you can cry if you want to. In this season of reflection and rebirth, you’re taking a closer look at things you’d normally breeze past in your signature airy way. This month, that focus lands on your relationships, specifically where your energy is going, and whether you’re getting anything back in return. Don’t be afraid to stick up for yourself and call people out when they let you down. Sometimes people don’t know they are causing you any harm. Shocker, we know.

Take a step back and look at the bigger picture, Pisces. It’s easy to get swept up in the rush of getting things done when you’re the one living it. This month, the stars are asking you to pause, reconnect with what you truly want, and give yourself permission to move slowly toward it. After all, it’s about the journey, not just the destination.

All things happening

Special Events

FEB. 1

Mutts Gone Nuts

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

FEB. 5

Sixth Annual Great Cities Symposium Garden Club of Jacksonville scenicjax.org

FEB. 7

Jacksonville Model Train and Railroad Artifacts Show and Sale Prime Osborn Convention Center jaxevents.com

FEB. 16

Blizzard on the Beach Poker Festival bestbest Jacksonville bestbetjax.com

FEB. 18

Lift Every Voice and Sing: A World Day of Worship

St. John’s Cathedral eventbrite.com

FEB. 19

The Boxwood & Bowties Gala Friday Musicale eventbrite.com

FEB. 21

Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival Glass Factory eventbrite.com

Feb. 22

Riverside Craft Beer Festival 715 Riverside Ave. riversidecraftbeerfestival.com

“The Price Is Right: LIVE!”

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org

St. Augustine’s Got Talent

3rd Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com

FEB. 27

11th Annual DTJax Gala Venue 841 dtjax.com

FEB. 27-MARCH 1

Jax International Auto Show Prime Osborn Convention Center jaxevents.com

Feb. 28

World of Nations Celebration Ford On Bay events.jacksonville.gov

Amelia Island Book Festival

Fernandina Beach Middle School ameliaislandbookfestival.org

FEB. 7

Sweet Cheeks Valentine’s Burlesque Show

Dart Bar & Games instagram.com/dartbarjax

FEB. 12

Anti-Valentine’s Day Party

The Emerald Vine Room Speakeasy theemeraldvineroom.weebly.com

FEB. 13

Galentines Glow Up

James Weldon Johnson Park jamesweldonjohnsonpark.org

Candelight: Valentine’s Day Special Main Library feverup.com

Lock & Key Singles Mixer

Main Event eventbrite.com

FEB. 14

Galentine’s Sing Along Brunch

V Pizza + Flask & Cannon, Jacksonville Beach eventbrite.com

Valentine’s Day Cruise 1501 Riverplace Blvd. Boat Dock jaxyacht.com

Valentine’s Day Masquerade Night Myth Night Club eventbrite.com

Valentine’s After Dark Jacksonville Botanical Gardens jacksonvillearboretum.org

A LAVISH Valentine’s

The Karpeles Grand eventbrite.com

Make Your Own Bouquet

Memorial Park eventbrite.com

Couples Valentine’s Lounge Bed Movie

Experience Deerwood Castle eventbrite.com

Valentine’s Beer Dinner

Wicked Barley Brewing Company eventbrite.com

Words by Ariana Alcantara

Singles city

and the

Is Dating in Duval Really That Bad?

“Sex and the City” was a cultural phenomenon of the early 2000s, progressive (for its time), the television show highlighted stories of sex and relationships in the new millennium. A couple of decades later, though, the culture has shifted — and so has dating. I figured my curly hair and writing hobby qualifies me enough to be the Carrie Bradshaw of Jacksonville, Florida for some romance research. So I took to the streets to find out if the dating scene is really as rough as they say.

My investigation began with a simple question: what is it really like to date in Jacksonville in the current day? There are horror stories of gross Tinder messages (look up @barstoolunf on instagram to find real screenshots of unfortunate DM slides,) dates rough enough to warrant therapy and ex-situationship run-ins at the beach bars. For the most expansive research, interviewing a single and a non-single spokesperson seemed the best course of action, so I rang up two friends to grant insight into the city’s lovers (or lack thereof.)

I couldn’t help but wonder, after all this time are the people still looking for love, or is the search as never ending as the construction on Interstate 95? When it comes to dating in Jacksonville, what are the people looking for, really? And if they’ve found it, where were they looking?

The first issue presented itself as my best single girl friend informed me that even for those with an interest in looking for love, there is nowhere to go. On our walk across the University of North Florida campus she shared, “There’s no place to meet people nowadays. Seriously none. And even the places like university, which is where you would have the chance, everyone’s on their phone. Everyone doesn’t talk to each other. It’s just... It’s very bad. Like, there are no chances. There are no places for us to hang out.”

The term “third place” is as tired as Jaguars fans are of disappointment, but some more hangout spots might just be the saving grace of the dating crisis. There has to be more to life than the beach bars and one million coffee places. The people yearn for museums, listening rooms, places to gather without spending $100, food spots open later than eight at night. The new RiversEdge park Downtown, for one, is a step in the right direction, serving as a setting to meet new people with similar interests, like walking outside — and breathing outside — all the valuable qualities one looks for.

Since there seems to be a lack of places to meet people, my single friend introduced a valid point, inquiring, “Where do we go for walks?” By the beach, which.. meh. San Marco? Which also, meh. And parks, which are full of families and kids and dogs.” Where are all the dateable people in Jacksonville? They obviously exist based on the sheer amount of engagement announcements on my Instagram feed; these people were single once too, so where did they find each other? For this question I referred to my in-a-committed-relationship friend, who let me in on the secret. Everyone is finding the love of their lives at work.

I joined her during her workout because it was the only time our schedules aligned. “There’s probably like eight couples at my job,” she informed me in between sets on a machine that I have no idea what it does. I wondered, “Is it just because y’all are with each other all the time? Or why do you think that is?” Her response was simple: “Yeah, and I mean, we work with a lot of pretty people.” She also met her boyfriend of three years at work, further supporting her theory that this was the place to be. So, if you are taking notes: get a job and love will follow. If, unfortunately, the job market is holding you hostage, hope is not lost, there are other ways to find someone.

Here are some other potential meet-cute settings, based on some life-long observations of friends and friends of friends and strangers I have stalked online:

• Meet in middle school and stay together forever (rare)

• Meet a friend’s friend and hope they have not already dated your sister or cousin or neighbor because everybody knows everybody in this city (even more rare)

• Meet on a dating app like Bumble, Hinge or Tinder and stay together forever (go ahead and play the lottery if this happens because you might be the luckiest person on Earth or at least in Florida.)

Moral of the story, the universe will reward those who get off their phones and go outside, or go on their phones and swipe until a unicorn appears.

If you are single, looking for love and are lucky enough to escape Tinder purgatory, then the next hurdle to overcome is the actual dating part. This step, my single friend noted, is no easy task to escape from unscathed. Though her experiences were not quite as traumatic as others I have heard, my friend highlighted the exhaustion of just not clicking with someone. There exists a disconnect between interactions over text and interactions in person. When someone is as witty and charming as pop star Harry Styles over text and then in person they have more of an awkward, creepy, “Don’t Worry Darling” Harry Styles energy, the disappointment could be enough to make a person give up on the concept of love altogether.

After all of this, for the people who are looking, what are they really looking for? To my single friend, there are just too many people looking for hookups getting mixed in with the ones looking for something real. These days you can have everything: fulfilling careers, long-lasting friendships, one designer bag being afterpaid on Klarna … so what is the point of wasting time getting to know someone who is not looking for the same commitment level? The problem arises with this disconnect between motivations. Someone motivated by potential marriage will be unsatisfied with someone motivated by a “good time, not a long time” mentality. This is where honesty and communication are paramount because, as my relationship friend points out, nobody wants to deal with cheating. “I’ve witnessed a lot of cheating before people actually are, like, locked in. I’ve witnessed cheating when people are locked in,” she commented. “I think that the people in Jacksonville are very toxic. You know, there’s good eggs, too, for sure, but, yeah, it’s not great. It’s not great here from what I’ve seen. I got a good one, but, you know, my single friends are definitely, like, throwing themselves out there for potential heartbreak.”

Though the potential for disappointment in dating is very real, Jacksonville is home to such thriving, vibrant people creating the potential for a fulfilling life in whatever one chooses, single or not, just as possible. At the end of the day, there is a concoction of ingredients that lead to the overall unsatisfactory dating experience in this city, like the lack of places to meet a date and too much time in one’s car leading to a long road of loneliness. But if the number of people holding hands on their walk around the Town Center blocking the path indicates anything, it’s that love is very much alive in Jacksonville.

Words by Emily Cannon

The Self-Love Scene in Jacksonville

New year, new me doesn’t have to stop in January! We all start the year off strong with our fitness goals on a high, ready to take back our lives into our own hands, but this doesn’t have to only be a beginning of the year idea. With Valentine’s Day approaching, the idea of love is also on everyone’s minds.

Love doesn’t just have to be in a relationship way, but it can be in a self-love way as well. The city of Jacksonville and its surrounding areas are jumping off the deep end to create a wellness movement and self-love and self-care are at the top of the list.

Jacksonville’s wellness culture isn’t just green juices and gym bros anymore. It is a movement centered around community, connection and well-being. Across Northeast Florida, wellness events are creating feel-good gatherings to create relationships and empowerment for all.

Jacksonville has quietly become a wellness hub in the state of Florida with dozens of Pilates studios, spin classes and multiple spaces of wellness with the intention of slowing down from the hustle we are used to in this city.

Events centered on wellness and self-love continue to pop up all over town, from sunrise yoga on the beach or sunset yoga at Friendship Fountain, wellness festivals and free workout classes are creating communities centered on wellbeing with little to no cost, proving self-care doesn’t have to be exclusive or expensive.

Some of the trends in wellness that are also hitting Jacksonville are focused on lowering stress levels that all seem to be at a high as well, myself included (“don’t look at my Oura Ring scores”), these trends include breath work, hot and cold contrast therapy, and sound healing.

Jacksonville residents are creating this new movement, and it is continuing to sky rocket. Rather than focusing on external results they are making choices that support long-term well-being and learning to listen to their body’s recovery and understanding that it is OK to take a pause.

Jacksonville is a community focused on personal wellness and connecting it with everyday life. This is a movement you do not want to miss. You can find local events popping up every weekend. Time to build your own version of selflove!

FEB. 1

26.2 with DONNA The National Marathon to Finish

Breast Cancer

Seawalk Pavilion breastcancermarathon.com

Jacksonville Icemen vs. Savannah Ghost Pirates

Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

FEB. 3

Jacksonville Icemen vs. Savannah Ghost Pirates

Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

FEB. 7

Swoop the Loop 5K

UNF–JB Coxwell Amphitheater 1stplacesports.com

FEB. 11

Jacksonville Icemen vs. Kansas City Mavericks

Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

FEB. 14

5K/8K Superhero Run

Grace Episcopal Day School 1stplacesports.com

Jacksonville Icemen vs. Savannah Ghost Pirates

Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

FEB. 20-21

PBR: Unleash The Beast

Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

FEB. 21

Sporting JAX vs. Charleston Battery

UNF–Hodges Stadium sportingjax.com

Ortega River Run

St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School 1stplacesports.com

FEB. 22

San Pablo Elementary 5K For Play

Jacksonville Beach Lifeguard Station 1stplacesports.com

PBR Returns to Jacksonville

Words by Teresa Spencer

If you think February in Jacksonville is all cool breezes and polite entertainment, Professional Bull Riding is here to correct you — violently, loudly, and in about eight seconds flat.

On Feb. 20, Professional Bull Riding storms into the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, and for one electric night, downtown Jacksonville trades decorum for dirt, adrenaline and the kind of courage that makes most modern sports look like a book club with uniforms.

This isn’t rodeo cosplay. This is the major league of bull riding. Elite athletes, 2,000-pound animals bred specifically to ruin your day, and a rulebook that boils down to a single, unforgiving question: Can you survive?

Bull riding has always been refreshingly blunt. There’s no clock management, no replay review to save you, no flopping, no excuses. The gate opens. The bull explodes. The rider hangs on — or doesn’t. The crowd knows instantly who won.

In PBR, riders chase points, prize money and a shot at the World Finals, while the bulls, often bigger stars than the riders themselves, build reputations that inspire fear, respect and the occasional prayer. These animals don’t just buck. They strategize. They spin, drop shoulders, kick high and remind everyone in the building that humans are not the main character in this story.

Inside the arena, the scene is pure controlled chaos. Pyrotechnics crack. Music pounds through your chest.The smell of dirt and animal muscle hangs in the air. Fans lean forward like they’re trying to help the rider with sheer willpower alone. One second of hesitation can end a season. One perfect ride can define a career.

And when a rider gets thrown — because most of them do — the bullfighters sprint in, distracting the animal and sometimes taking hits themselves. It’s part rescue mission, part ballet, part street fight. Blink and you miss it. Look away and you regret it.

PBR isn’t just about the bulls, though they earn every bit of their fame. It’s also about the riders who keep getting back up, taping ribs, icing shoulders and climbing back into the chute like pain is just another line item in the job description. And make no mistake: this tour is stacked with American bull-riding royalty.

We’ve got our eye on Marco “Money Man” Rizzo. Born in Quitman, Georgia, he learned to ride the way bull riders always have, following his father into the dirt. He climbed on his first calf at six and grew up trading wrecks with John Crimber and Clay Guiton. Today, the three, now known as “The Three Stooges” are a constant presence behind the chutes, backing each other on bull riding’s biggest stages.

EIGHT SECONDS OF THUNDER

After finishing second at the 2020 Junior National Finals Rodeo, Rizzo turned pro at 18 and hit the PBR in 2023. His rookie season flashed potential, but 2025 made it official. He delivered an 84.25-point walk-off ride in Nashville, helped New York post its first-ever perfect game in Glendale, and played a key role in the biggest regular-season upset in league history toppling Florida Freedom during Maverick Days.

Then came Chicago. On the Unleash The Beast tour, Rizzo went a perfect 3-for-3, sealing it with a career-best 90.25-point ride on two-time World Champion bull Man Hater. First UTB win. Message received.

Get ready to sit on the edge of your seat, Jacksonville: This event is a total blast, and that ain’t no bull.

Feature sponsored by

Words by Carmen Macri

A Guide to Jacksonville’s

Once you hit 25, your friends tend to split into two camps: the ones who join a run club, and the ones who are still closing down the club at 3 a.m. There’s rarely much overlap. And if you’re someone who wants a hob by — but absolutely does not want to run — it can start to feel like Jacksonville doesn’t leave you with many options. That assumption, however, could not be more wrong. So we did what we do best: We put together a carefully curated list of niche, unexpected hobbies happening right under your nose, maybe even in your own backyard.

Pinball Leagues

Let’s start with one that hits the nostalgia sweet spot: pinball leagues. And yes, Jacksonville has mul tiple, because of course it does. What sounds like a niche hobby for dads and dive bars is actually a whole scene, happening all over the city. The JAX Pin ball League plays at spots like Tepeyolot Cerveceria, while Keg & Coin and Leaderboard Arcade host reg ular leagues and events of their own. Think flashing lights, loud machines, beer in hand and people who take their high scores just seriously enough.

It’s low-pressure, surprisingly social, and you don’t have to be good to start — most people aren’t. And if you’re a woman looking to keep it firmly in that lane, Belles & Chimes is an all-female pinball league that’s welcoming, competitive and very much not weird about it.

Do not, under any circumstances, tilt the machine.

At least it’s not running, right? For those of you who actually do enjoy exercising but want something a little more exciting with a little more camaraderie, join a roller derby.

This is not casual skating. Jacksonville Roller Derby (JRD) is highly physical, volunteer-run and women-led. Players take on alter egos, train hard, and build the kind of close-knit bonds that feel less like a team and more like a chosen family. It’s intense, it’s intentional, and it’s not just about skating in circles.

The league is made up of multiple travel teams, including the New Jax City Rollers (All Stars), River City Rat Pack (B-Team), and the J Villains (C-Team), alongside home teams like the Duval Derby Dames, First Coast Fatales, and Bold City Bombshells. There’s even a youth league for skat ers ages 8 to 17, because apparently, all this can start that early.

And if you’re new to skating, JRD offers a 12-week beginner training program designed to get you up to speed — literally. The season runs nearly yearround, with about 11 months of scrimmages and travel bouts, and beginner programs tend to kick off in early February.

Roller Derby

Jacksonville’s Niche Hobby Groups

Tabletop&BoardGame Leagues

Stitch and Bitch

If you’ve been craving a hobby that lets you use your hands and talk a little trash about life, allow us to introduce you to Stitch and Bitch Jax. Whether you knit, crochet, embroider, sew — or bounce between all four depending on your mood — there’s a seat for you. All skill levels are genuinely welcome, so bring along whatever work-inprogress you’ve been half-finishing and settle in for good conversation, shared frustrations and the kind of low-stakes creativity that feels therapeutic without trying too hard.

And if you’ve been flirting with the idea of learning to crochet but didn’t know where to begin, this is about as approachable as it gets. They host monthly meetups at bookstores, coffee shops, anywhere that’s willing to host, really.

If you’ve ever thought “board games are just for kids,” think again. Jacksonville’s tabletop and board game scene is thriving, and it’s for anyone who loves strategy, storytelling or just getting lost in a universe that doesn’t involve your phone. From long-form D&D campaigns to obscure strategy games and massive legacy board games that can stretch over months — or even years — there’s a table waiting for you.

Spots like Java Game Haus in Mandarin and Darby’s Dungeon are hubs for these diehards, but it doesn’t stop there. Local libraries also host regular game nights, offering a more low-key, welcoming space for newcomers to dip their toes in. Whether you’re a seasoned dungeon master, a ruthlessly competitive strategist or just someone looking for a weekly escape from reality, these groups have something for every kind of game nerd.

We can’t think of a better Friday night than rounding up your friends, getting way too competitive, and maybe, even probably, stirring up a little harmless rivalry in the friendship department.

Bird Watching

We know what you’re thinking: Bird watching? Really? Like, a hobby reserved for retirees who’ve decided golf is too intense but still need their prescribed 45 minutes of fresh air.

Wrong. Bird watching is f***ing lit. The dopamine hit you get from finally spotting a red-shouldered hawk after scanning the sky all day? Unreal. You will feel accomplished. You will feel chosen.

It’s also one of those rare hobbies that works just as well solo as it does with a group — and if you’re wondering how you’re supposed to find said group, relax. Obviously, we’ve got you. The Duval Audubon Society is a solid place to start, not just because they know their birds, but because they’re actively working to protect them, too. Riverside Avondale Preservation also regularly hosts bird walks through Avondale, where you can casually stroll a very pretty neighborhood while learning which birds are local, migratory and just passing through.

And if you’re ready to really commit, here are some of Jacksonville’s best spots for catching the more elusive birds:

• Huguenot Memorial Park & Little Talbot Island State Park

• Castaway Island Preserve & Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

• Bird Island Park & Blue Cypress Park

• Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve

TRIVIA

MONDAYS

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

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

• Iguana on Park (cashpot bingo), 6:30 p.m.

• 9 Ball Heaven Sports Grill & Billiards, 7 p.m.

• Amici (music bingo), 7 p.m.

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

• Mellow Mushroom–Durbin Park, 7 p.m.

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

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

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

• Rain Dogs, 8 p.m.

• Treylor Park (pop culture), 9 p.m.

TUESDAYS

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

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

• Dick’s Wings–St. Augustine, 6:30 p.m.

• V Pizza– St. Augustine, 6:30 p.m.

• The Back 40, 7 p.m.

• Bottlenose Brewing, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Nocatee, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–San Pablo, 7 p.m.

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

• Harps American Grill, 7 p.m.

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

• Island Wing Company–Bartram, 7 p.m.

• Jax Craft Beer, 7 p.m.

• Jerry’s Sports Grille, 7 p.m.

• Miller’s Ale House–Deerwood, 7 p.m.

• My Tap Room (pop culture), 7 p.m.

• Players Grille, 7 p.m.

• Shantytown Pub, 7 p.m.

• Southern Grill, 7 p.m.

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

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

• VooSwar, 7 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

• Monkey’s Uncle Tavern, 7:30 p.m.

• Time Out Sports Bar, 7:30 p.m.

• Tepeyolot Cerveceria, 7:30 p.m.

• Casbah Cafe, 8 p.m.

• Sahara Cafe, 8 p.m.

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

WEDNESDAYS

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

• V Pizza–Mandarin, 6:30 p.m.

• The Beacon, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.

• Bold City Brewery, 7 p.m.

• Cruisers Grill, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Nocatee, 7 p.m.

• Dick’s Wings–Mandarin, 7 p.m.

• Firefly Bay, 7 p.m.

• Ink Factory Brewing, 7 p.m.

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

• Island Wing–Southside, 7 p.m.

• Lola’s Burrito & Burger Joint, 7 p.m.

• Mellow Mushroom–Avondale, 7 p.m.

• Miller’s Ale House–Hodges, 7 p.m.

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

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

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

• V Pizza–Fleming Island, 7 p.m.

• V Pizza–Fernandina, 7 p.m.

• V Pizza–Palm Valley, 7 p.m.

• Veterans United Craft Brewery, 7 p.m.

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

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

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

• Hoptinger–5 Points, 7:30 p.m.

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

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

• King Maker Brewing, 7:30 p.m.

• Time Out Sports Grill, 7:30 p.m

• Wicked Barley Brewing, 7:30 p.m.

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

• Root Down (music trivia), 9 p.m.

* all games are general knowledge unless stated otherwise

THURSDAYS

• Ann O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 7 p.m.

• Bold City Brewery, 7 p.m.

• Bottlenose Brewing, 7 p.m.

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

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

• Justice Pub (music bingo), 7 p.m.

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

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

• Miller’s Ale House–Avenues, 7 p.m.

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

• The Stout Snug, 7 p.m.

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

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

• Dick’s Wings– St. Aug, 7:30 p.m.

• Flask & Cannon / V Pizza, 7:30 p.m.

• V Pizza–San Marco, 7:30 p.m.

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

FRIDAYS

• Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 6 p.m.

• Time Out Sports Grill, 6:30 p.m.

• Engine 15 Brewing, 7 p.m.

• MVP’s Sports Grille, 7 p.m.

• Tepeyolot Cerveceria, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAYS

• Hamburger Mary’s (HamBingo), 2 p.m.

• VooSwar, 7 p.m.

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

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

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

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

HOME AWAY

FROM HOME

Words by Teresa Spencer

Shopping for an RV is a lot like dating in your 40s: everyone looks great online, everyone claims they’re “solid,” and nothing reveals the truth until you see it in person. I spent countless hours scrolling listings and roaming RV lots armed with a notebook, a phone camera, and the quiet understanding that whatever I chose would become both my home away from home—and my next great teacher.

My search introduced me to every type of rig imaginable: motorhomes, fifth wheels, toy haulers, and towable campers of all size s. I toured glossy Class A behemoths that felt like cruise ships on wheels, alongside smaller setups that promised “freedom” while quietly whispering claustrophobia directly into my soul. Every salesperson had a story. Every rig had quirks. And every door I opened felt like peeking into a different version of the future. The thrill wasn’t just about buying a vehicle—it was about choosing a life that could move.

When the right RV finally appeared, it felt less like a purchase and more like a handshake. Equal parts thrill and terror. Equal parts let’s go and what have I done. I landed on a 35-foot camper that sleeps nine. Yes, it’s just me—but I figured if friends and family wanted to join the adventure, space would be the best invitation. Road trips are always better with company.

After signing the paperwork and writing the check, my next challenge was logistics: getting the camper from Florida to Missouri, where I had already begun creating a little oasis for it to live when not in motion. Fortunately, my dealer made that part painless. Instead of immediately buying a truck capable of towing it, he connected me with a transport service that delivered the camper straight from the lot t o its new home in the Ozark Mountains.

RV life, it turns out, is a masterclass in itself. You don’t just buy an RV—you plan and anticipate. Suddenly I was learning the fine art of water, power, weight distribution, wind, and space. Online forums became invaluable. YouTube tutorials became my closest companions. Education was no longer optional; it was daily at first but I must also say, it was delightful to learn.

Then came the vision.

Plans formed quickly: a deck, a hot tub, landscaping worthy of a small resort. This wasn’t just a parking spot—it was a pause button. A place to land.

The rig now sits beneath a custom-built awning, no longer a vehicle waiting to leave, but a home that chose its place wisely. The deck came first. Then a tiki bar—because practicality without pleasure is just bureaucracy. A hot tub followed, carefully positioned to overlook 200 rolling acres of the Ozark Mountains, just down from the James River basin. Close enough to hear the land breathe. Far enough to forget about deadlines.

The garden came next—unrushed and alive. Flowers, herbs, and plants that reward patience. Wildlife noticed. Deer wander through like they’ve always owned the place. Birds hold morning meetings. The occasional fox drops by, curious but unimpressed. Nothing there feels staged. Nature doesn’t perform, it simply exists, and you’re lucky enough to witness it.

This is America without hurry. No GPS recalculating. No tanks to dump. Just seasons unfolding at their own pace and the quiet satisfaction of having earned the stillness.

Now that the project is complete, the road is calling again. I’m mapping out trips to places across the country that have lived on my bucket list for years. It feels refreshing—liberating, even. My little dog will be coming along too. No strange hotel rooms. No lumpy mattresses. Just the open road and a home that travels with us.

RV life hasn’t changed me—it has clarified me. It has stripped away the unnecessary, sharpened the practical, and reminded me that exploration isn’t about escape. It’s about engagement. About seeing this country not as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing thing—messy, beautiful, and worth taking the long way around.

One thing is certain: once you’ve driven America instead of flying over it, you never look at a map the same way again.

If RV life is calling your name, I highly recommend checking out the Jacksonville RV Mega Show, presented by the Florida RV Trade Association, February 5–8. With multiple dealers on site, it’s the easiest way to compare options and explore what’s out there—all in one place.

For more information, visit frvta.org.

THEATER DANCE FILM

THROUGH FEB. 1

“Packing Up Polly” Theatre Jacksonville theatrejax.com

“Arthur’s Stone, Merlin’s Fire” Artist Theatre Connection artistconnectiontheatre.org

THROUGH FEB. 15

“Dear Evan Hansen” Players by the Sea playersbythesea.org

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine limelight-theatre.org

“Mamma Mia”

Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernandina Beach ameliamusicalplayhouse.com

FEB. 2

Piano Men: Generations — Elton John & Billy Joel Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com

FEB. 3

Lionel: A Tribute to Lionel Richie Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com

FEB. 5

Riverdance 30: The New Generation Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

FEB. 5-15

“Mamma Mia”

Amelia Musical Playhouse, Fernandina Beach ameliamusicalplayhouse.com

FEB. 5-16

“Great Expectations” The Island Theatre, Fernandina Beach theislandtheater.com

FEB. 6-21

“Alice by Heart” The 5 & Dime Theatre Co. the5anddime.org

FEB. 10

Shen Yun Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org

FEB. 10-15

“Mrs. Doubtfire” Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org

FEB. 13

The Florida Ballet: “Swing-SwingSwing” Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

FEB. 13-28

“Lend Me a Soprano” Amelia Community Theatre, Fernandina Beach ameliacommunitytheatre.org

FEB. 13-MARCH 1

“She Loves Me” Orange Park Community Theatre opct.info

FEB. 14

Valentine’s Swing Dance Night Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

“Menopause: The Musical” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com

FEB. 18

Cirque FLIP Fabrique: Blizzard Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

FEB. 18-22

“Elvis” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com

FEB. 20

“When A Woman’s Fed Up” Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

FEB. 20-MARCH 7

“The Fever” BABS’ LAB at CoRK Arts District lumenrep.org

FEB. 26

“Don’t Push That!” World Premiere

EPIC Theatres at Oakleaf evenbrite.com

FEB. 26-APRIL 5

“Damn Yankees” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com

FEB. 27-MARCH 14

“Oliver!” Artist Connection Theatre artistconnectiontheatre.org

FEB. 27-MARCH 15

Ken Ludwig’s “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” Theatre Jacksonville theatrejax.com

FEB. 28-MARCH 1

“Legally Blonde Jr.” The Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com

Words by Harry Straussman

NA’VI SUPREME

Reviews of “Marty Supreme” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash”

A post-war period piece following a highly aspirational, if purposefully irritating, young man with dreams of becoming the world’s most renowned ping-pong player is an exhausting but entertaining romp in the hands of director Josh Safdie. Here, the filmmaker makes his first solo effort without the collaboration of his brother Benny and continues to work in their patented vein of anarchic, anxiety-inducing thrillers they became known for with previous films such as “Good Time” and the Adam Sandler-starring “Uncut Gems.” With “Marty Supreme,” Safdie makes his most ambitious film yet, needing to balance multiple genres, recreate the 1950s on location in New York City, and maintain focus on an outlandish story that includes a washed-up actress, a mobster’s dog, a ruthless pen magnate and, of course, some world-class table tennis. For many directors, that’s more than enough ingredients for the outcome to, almost inevitably, be an incoherent mess. But Safdie is singularly capable of riding out that storm, particularly with an exemplary turn from Timothée Chalamet anchoring proceedings at the center of everything.

Last year’s double act of leading both “Dune” and the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” to box office hits firmly cemented the young star as the great white hope for Hollywood’s immediate future. In “Marty Supreme,” Chalamet transcends with what is certainly his finest performance yet as Marty Mauser, demonstrating an ability to accomplish one of the hardest tasks for any leading actor: creating an inherently unlikable character into someone the audience can’t help but root for. Marty is rude to everyone around him, selfish beyond all reason, and knowingly uses people for his own gain, and yet you are with him for every step of his journey. It is a testament to Chalamet’s bona fide status as a movie star that you are willing to follow this character through the film’s duration when it is likely that many people would be looking for the exits if caught in a conversation with him. The film works as a self-reflective commentary on the nature of stardom. Much like Chalamet is off set, the young Marty is eager to show off his talents and prove to all others that he is someone to be taken seriously.

While on the other end of the spectrum, Gwyneth Paltrow makes her return to real acting after spending years bouncing around Marvel land to dig deep as a former movie star attempting to make her comeback on Broadway. If they are the two established stars in this impeccably cast ensemble, then Odessa A’zion feels poised to soon follow suit after breaking out with magnetic performances both here and in the HBO series “I Love LA.” A’zion has the enviable dual gift of looking as though she walked straight out of a Bogart noir, while also having the high-energy presence needed to register as a modern actor; the sky is the limit for where she can go next. Also, the piece of shit business guy from Shark Tank plays a real good piece of shit business guy here. From the opening frame to its close, “Marty Supreme” is a unique and gripping ride.

Alongside Odessa A’zion, the hottest new face lighting up theaters over Christmas has to be Verang, the fire-worshipping Na’vi in “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” King of the world, James Cameron presents the third chapter in his environmental space opera, revealing further depths of Pandora, as the human invaders join forces with the evil Na’vi ash clan to take control of the planet’s resources and eliminate the Sulley family. At this point, everyone knows what an Avatar film is all about, and whether it’s something for you. “Fire and Ash” is not the entry that will change the minds of any detractors, but it certainly goes down a treat for those of us who are perfectly content to bathe in Cameron’s warm, glowing blue glow.

What sets this film apart from the rest of the series is Cameron’s continued world-building. Where the first two films would rhyme thanks to repeated villains and plot beats, this installment showed new angles of this world that suggest there is even more meat left on this bone beyond the continued war between Na’vi and humans. As expected, the film is a technical marvel, with the alien world seamlessly realized from Cameron’s imagination. The iconic director shows once again why he is among the greatest executioners of action set pieces in the history of the medium, and why, even if a decade goes by between his films, James Cameron will always be able to draw in and enthrall crowds.

The Art Center Cooperative tacjacksonville.org

Beaches Museum beachesmuseum.org

Butterfield Garage Art Gallery butterfieldgarage.com

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens cummermuseum.org

FemArt Gallery femartgallery.org

First Coast Cultural Center firstcoastculturalcenter.org

Flagler College–Crisp Ellert Museum flagler.edu

Florida Community College at Jacksonville fscj.edu

Florida Mining Gallery floridamininggallery.com

Gallery 725 gallery725.com

Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum, St. Augustine staugustine.ufl.edu

Haskell Gallery at Jacksonville International Airport jaxairportarts.com

Hillary Whitaker Gallery hwhitakergallery.com

Jacksonville Main Library tacjacksonville.org

Jacksonville University ju.edu/cfa

The Lightner Museum lightnermuseum.org

MOCA Jacksonville mocajacksonville.unf.edu

PAStA Fine Art Gallery pastagalleryart.com

Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com

Southlight Gallery southlightgallery.com

St. Augustine Art Association staaa.org

Stellers Gallery stellersgallery.com

Thrasher-Horne Center Gallery thcenter.org

Touché Gallery touchegallery.com

The Unicat instagram.com/the_unicat_jax

University of North Florida unf.edu/gallery

The Vault at 330 thevaultat1930.com

Yellow House yellowhouseart.org

ONGOING

Art Walk

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

Fernandina Beach Arts Market

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

Riverside Arts Market

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

St. Augustine First Friday Artwalk

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

Vilano Beach Artisan Market

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

Hugs and Kisses Bouquet

Whether for your significant other or your sister, aunt, or grandmother, this delightful floral gift is a sweet way to say “I love you.” Sweet price, too.

The charming bouquet includes: white daisy spray chrysanthemums, pink carnations, red miniature carnations, red roses accented with fresh greenery. SKU # T11Z100C

Sale

Be My Love Bouquet

It might be 2026 but we are throwing it back to 2000! From low-rise jeans that are just missing a butterfly back tattoo and baby tees straight out of “Mean Girls,” here are some of the Y2K fashion trends making a comeback.

Mini skirts:

A staple in 2000s fashion, the mini skirt has been spotted all over the runways and social media. Paired with knee-high boots or layered over leggings, mini-skirts were the talk of holiday outfit guides and are continuing to make a statement in the new year. From denim to sequined, this is not a trend we see stopping any time soon

From bags to skirts and platform shoes, metallic fabrics are popping up everywhere. Pairing with everyday items allows for a pop of fun with celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid keeping this trend alive.

Cargo pants and baggy low-rise jeans: Say goodbye to skinny jeans! Baggy is in, and highrise is out! This comfort-focused trend has seen a resurgence in the past few years. Think of pairing this with a baby tee and platform shoes you’ll have a relaxed Y2K outfit that will keep heads turning!

Driven by TikTok and Gen Z, designers such as Isabel Marant, Steve Madden and Golden Goose, platform sneakers boots and sandals are often styled with mini skirts or jeans creating an effortless cool-girl outfit that sends you right back to the 2000s!

Bring on the bucket hats and butterfly clips, along with statement pieces such as chunky necklaces and rings along with bags that are so tiny they only fit your phone and sunglasses that barely cover your eyes. These over-the-top accessories can be styled with any outfit to send you back in a time machine.

So pull your Juicy Couture tracksuits out of the attic and the Von Dutch tees off the hangers. This Y2K comeback is sure to turn heads this year. Gen Z loves to throw it back to the millennials that came before them. It goes to show we never should have gotten rid of the jelly shoes and Nokia phones!

#2016: A Decade of Reflection

Words by Carson Haines

It has officially been a decade since 2016; an era filled with rose gold accessories, Adidas Superstars, skinny jeans and overly exposed Instagram filters. A year that embodied cringe-culture, extremely overused Musical.ly audios, and had us questioning, “Does this outfit actually look good?” While some of us were learning the dance moves to DNCE’s “Cake By the Ocean,” others were preparing for the next chapter of America, the 2016 election. There’s no doubt that this time was a turning point for our society, and its various generations. From the point of view of a millennial (Malori Doxsee) and a member of Gen Z (Morgan Jeremy), this article will discuss the ins and outs of 2016, how it shaped us as individuals, and what we once had, that we sure as hell miss.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Doxsee, 37, talks about her personal experience over this past decade. After graduating from Bishop Kenny High School in 2007, and attending the University of Alabama, she moved to her new home, Atlanta in 2015. Now with two kids and one on the way with her husband Thomas, she is fully embracing millennial motherhood. With the new #2016 trend surfacing online, it’s almost inevitable to go through your camera roll and reminisce about your younger years. “Finally, millennials are getting some love! I like how the trend promotes generational appreciation and how that time was carefree for so many of us,” she said.

In 2016, at the age of 27, Doxsee was listening to “Daydreaming” by Radiohead on repeat and was navigating the next chapter of her life. “It’s sad to think about how blissful and ignorant we were in our 20s, and how younger adults under this administration are not able to experience that same peace,” she said. After dealing with President Donald Trump’s leadership, she misses having “a stable government with a rational and logical president.” Trump’s first term started on Jan. 20, 2017, and America has dealt with his hateful and manipulative rhetoric for over half a decade now. Since his first term, our country has undergone COVID-19, or as Trump would say, the “kung flu,” the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, and now, ongoing ICE raids, leaving American communities fearful and vulnerable.

Although this past decade has been tough, the new #2016 trend is providing a nostalgic escape for many. While some may say that the style should never make a comeback, people like Doxsee simply disagree. “My engagement ring is actually rose gold; even for our wedding, we asked for all copper kitchenware, which we still use today,” she said. There’s no doubt that millennials experienced their 20s differently than some of Gen Z. “One trend that I would love to see again is young people voting.

Don’t get discouraged and avoid getting involved in politics, our community can grow through peace when we make our voices heard,” said Doxsee.

With the youngest members of Gen. Z being born in 2016, the generational gap is very apparent. Born and raised in Vero Beach, Jeremy, 23, has dealt with a different way of life. Like Doxsee, Jeremy also attended private school. In 2016, she started her high school years at Master’s Academy as a “closeted emo kid,” she said. Jeremy was only 14 when she had to navigate her teenage years in a heavily homophobic school system, in addition to a slowly devolving country. “The world is a scary place right now, and even though the political world was starting to shift back then, it was definitely simpler in comparison to now,” said Jeremy.

Since 2016, she has completed high school, graduated in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to Jacksonville in fall of 2020. In May, Jeremy is set to graduate from the University of North Florida with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. While studying at UNF, she has learned about the importance of communications. “One thing I miss about 2016 is life before artificial intelligence (AI),” she said, “Since I started college, society has slowly started to depend more and more on AI.” With Gen Z being one of the biggest environmental advocates, people like Jeremy choose to avoid AI at all costs, in hopes of saving water, reducing fossil fuels and building critical thinking skills.

Not only did 2016 lack AI, but it also was rooted in cringe-culture and authenticity. With Snapchat bringing back their iconic dog ears and rainbow mouth filters, and TikTok creating trends for Musical.lystyle videos, the online community is delving into full-on nostalgia. “I think that this new trend is very wholesome. It allows us to reflect; we’re able to look back at the good times and use them to help us with the bad. The world wasn’t so judgmental, and I think we should bring that back,” said Jeremy.

Over the past decade, generations have grown and our society has experienced so many notable milestones: vaccine development, private space commercialization, rise of remote work, hybrid and self-driving cars, and so much more. It’s certain that we are progressing in many ways, but it’s important to note that we still have many problems as a society that need solving. Although the next 10 years are unknown, it is wise to remember that humanity has so much potential; and while it is OK to reminisce about the past, we must continue to look forward, and encourage creativity, authenticity, and most importantly, kindness.

FEB.

FEB. 13

First Coast Comedy

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

Love Bites

Third Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com

FEB. 14

Don’t Tell Comedy

Murray Hill (even if we knew we wouldn’t tell) donttellcomedy.com

First Coast Comedy

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

Magic Hideaway with Bill Abbott

Casa Marina Resort & Spa, St. Augustine magichideaway.com

Three Blind Dates

Third Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com

FEB. 15

Kathy Griffin

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

FEB. 18

Rock Bottom Comedy Comedy Zone Lounge comedyzone.com

Best of Jax Comedy Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

FEB. 19

Salt Cave Comedy Show Earth Salt Stone eventbrite.com

FEB. 20

Don’t Tell Comedy

Riverside (even if we knew we wouldn’t tell) donttellcomedy.com

First Coast Comedy

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

Drag Queen-a-Palooza

Third Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com

FEB. 20-21

Vic DiBitetto Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

FEB. 21

Tom Papa Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Vien “The Comic Doc” Phommachanh Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com

Best of Jax Comedy Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

First Coast Comedy First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

Spill the Tea

Third Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com

The Late Show

Third Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com

FEB. 26

Nate Bargatze VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

Rock Bottom Comedy

Comedy Zone Lounge comedyzone.com

FEB. 26-28

Don “DC” Curry Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

FEB. 27

Sarper Güven Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

First Coast Comedy First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

FEB. 28

Don’t Tell Comedy

San Marco (even if we knew we wouldn’t tell) donttellcomedy.com

First Coast Comedy

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

KISS Comedy Show

Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk eventbrite.com

First Coast Comedy

First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com

& Magic

NEW MUSIC RELEASES

Made For You By Ambar Ramirez

J.COLE “THE FALL-OFF”

It’s been nearly two years since the American rapper and producer last released an album. On Jan. 14, J. Cole reignited anticipation by teasing “The Fall-Off” on Instagram Reels, sharing a track expected to appear on the project. The video opens with a bold revelation: J. Cole has been working on this album for the past decade.

NICK JONAS “SUNDAY BEST”

Best known as one-third of the Jonas Brothers — arguably one of the most successful sibling boy bands—Nick Jonas has long proven himself as a powerful vocalist and solo artist. “Sunday Best” marks his fourth solo studio album. He’s already offered a preview of what’s to come with “Gut Punch,” a track from the album.

CHARLI XCX

“WUTHERING HEIGHTS”

Charli XCX is riding a creative high — and inviting us along for the ride. After a wildly successful two-year run, she now turns her attention to film, contributing to the soundtrack of Emerald Fennell’s highly anticipated “Wuthering Heights.” While only the track “House,” featuring John Cale, appears in the film, the project sparked something bigger. Inspired by the experience, Charli went on to craft an entire album of her own.

SYDNEY ROSS MITCHELL

A fresh voice on the modern folk scene, Sydney Ross Mitchell brings a sound that feels both intimate and expansive. Born and raised in Texas, Mitchell moved to Nashville at 19, where she spent two years shaping a style uniquely her own — blending subtle country influences with dreamy pop sensibilities. “Cynthia” will mark her second EP.

MUMFORD & SONS “PRIZEFIGHTER”

We know them, and we love them. Since 2008, Mumford & Sons have been a staple on road trip playlists everywhere, crafting music that feels both nostalgic and new. Less than a year after their most recent release, the band is already returning with their sixth studio album, “Prizefighter,” which is expected to feature collaborations with Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Chris Stapleton and Gigi Perez.

HILARY DUFF

“LUCK … OR SOMETHING”

Hilary Duff, a.k.a Lizzie McGuire, releasing new music was not on my 2026 bingo card. It’s been nearly a decade since she last dropped an album, and more than 20 years since “Metamorphosis,” arguably one of the best pop albums of its era. If this new project is even a fraction of that energy, I already know who my top artist will be by year’s end.

BRUNO MARS

“THE ROMANTIC”

The internet may have manifested 2016 so hard that we are actually living in the past. After a decade since his last album, Bruno Mars is officially making his return. He’s never let me down before, and I don’t expect this moment to be any different.

GORILLAZ

“THE MOUNTAIN”

The iconic virtual project behind hits like “Clint Eastwood” and “Feel Good Inc.” is back. After a three-year hiatus, Gorillaz return with their ninth studio album, “The Mountain.” Known for their genre-blurring sound, the group continues to shape-shift with each release, creating music that feels both futuristic and unmistakably Gorillaz.

MITSKI

“NOTHING’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO ME”

The soft-pop, lyrically driven artist behind “My Love Mine All Mine” is back with her eighth studio album. Known for her emotionally precise songwriting and intimate, slowburn sound, Mitski continues to turn quiet moments into something devastatingly powerful.

INVESTING IN CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS

Celebrating the completion of the City of Jacksonville’s history-making milestone, the first-ever piloted Individual Artist Grant Program. This strategic allocation of operating dollars demonstrated the undeniable value of supporting creative entrepreneurs directly, fueling the Northeast Florida workforce, strengthening Jacksonville’s ability to retain and attract top talent , and enhancing small creative businesses.

This pilot program demonstrates real impact into the City of Jacksonville’s economic bottom line and real incentive for private funders to partner in elevating the creative workforce through ongoing professional development opportunities, optimizing financial literacy, and matchmaking innovation with destination builders.

60 ARTISTS

$10,000 EACH

Flipturn’s Devon VonBalson to Release First Solo Project

Artists exude a certain energy, a difficult-to-place sort of style that alerts those around them “that guy must be in a band.” At least this was my initial thought upon meeting the members of Flipturn for the first time. It was a few years ago during one of those tsunami-like afternoon summer storms, the ones that would flood San Marco after just an hour of rain. A little shop called Juicebox served as a safe haven for the boys as they pounded in, evading the storm. I happened to be seeking shelter as well and at one glance, having never heard of Flipturn or their music, knew there was something different about this group. Though they all possessed a rock-star quality in their own right, it was really their drummer, Devon VonBalson who tipped me off. As he stood, studying the menu, tapping on his still rain-drenched pants and bobbing his head to the rhythm, I recognized that creative spirit which all artists carry with them.

In the time following this brief interaction, Flipturn embarked on a whirlwind of experiences that many musicians dream of — from performing on Jimmy Kimmel to their first and second European tours, and recording their second studio album “Burnout Days,” the band’s hard work and talent was carrying them to the top.

Fast forward, in the same juice shop where I first met him, I got the chance to formally speak to VonBalson about himself, Flipturn, and his upcoming solo release. His bandmate Mitch Fountain recently released solo projects under the name Druzin. A deviation from the indie sound of Flipturn, Fountain’s music evokes a psychedelic-like experience with his magical synths. Now, VonBalson’s debut song grants him the same exploration of his own sound. The song perfectly blends elements of hyperpop with energized drums and angsty vocals making for a sonic personification of the 24-year-old musician. VonBalson’s first single “Slow Burner” releases Feb. 18 under the name “VonBalson.”

Through much success in creating music in a collaborative format with the band, this project solidifies his musical talent as a solo artist as well. The drummer is always in a process of creating, citing music as a means of therapy. Over the past year this form of expression transformed into something he thought might resonate with more than just himself.

This interview comes in the middle of a three-month break from tours and shows for Flipturn, giving VonBalson some much deserved time for rest, though his rest looks a bit different than most since he is constantly writing songs. This is just how he exists in the world, though, ever-moving, buzzing with an energy and passion that he was essentially born with. In recollection of where his interest in music and drumming stemmed from, he joked, “I’m so grateful that I got to hit on drums since I was in diapers.”

Where exactly did you start with music, what was your home life like?

Well, I grew up in a family of musicians, so I was exposed and indoctrinated early. My dad’s a drummer, and he played in a bunch of rock bands and kind of punk stuff. And my mom is a singer. And they also gig in churches, so I grew up going to the early morning rehearsals and being in the green rooms and stuff. But that was like my first memories of music was like growing up in the CCM scene.

What is that? CCM?

Contemporary Christian music, I think.

Oh, OK, so were you also playing in the church?

Yeah, that’s like my first ever experience with playing. I was, I think, 14? I started practicing drums when I was like 12. And then my dad kind of pushed me into playing in youth group bands. So it was like 14 when I started. I auditioned, and then it became a thing I did every Wednesday. And then I was getting Wednesdays and Sundays, every week just playing church music. It’s really funny.

Did you enjoy the church music?

I did. Yeah, well, it teaches you, like passion. The music’s like, oh, it’s not about us, it’s about something greater. Which I think is really good to keep with you as an artist. And I feel like it got my chops up. I was able to lock in with different musicians and be expected to learn music and show up prepared. It got me ready for the actual music industry. And I think more than all that performing, it’s just, it’s so fun. I love the rush of performing, I love the impact that a good performance leaves on people, no matter the setting. And I feel like when you’re doing something like that and you’re so locked in, you get in this flow state and that’s the first time I remember having this overwhelming zeal for life, for music or just like being present in the moment. I found the most present I was in life was drumming and performing. And I got addicted to feeling that early.

You said that a good show is the best thing, I’m rephrasing your words, but like, the best feeling that you can have, do you recall, one of the first shows that you watched where you experienced that?

Oh, yeah. Big Ticket in Jacksonville. I think it was 2015 or 2016 that festival they used to do at I think it’s Metro Park. But it was like a really cool rock festival and a bunch of my favorite alternative bands were on at the time. It was the most stacked line-up ever. But a band that I grew up on called Mutemath played that festival, and I had never seen them until that point. I think I was 15. And seeing that live show and just the passion and like the bombastic nature of each band member and just how explosive and bigger than life it was, it left such an imprint on me. I was like, this is the coolest thing and how do I do exactly what they’re doing? I think that’s kind of what solidified, ‘Oh, this is what I had to do the rest of my life.’”

Were you studying certain performers? What was your work like for music? How were you practicing?

The first experiences that I had with learning music were just trying to replicate other people’s songs. So like I’d play along with my favorite music. I didn’t really take any official lessons until I was, like, 16 years old. So up until that point, it was self-taught, going to my dad, who was a drummer, thank God, for tips and tricks and everything.

But even if I wasn’t getting it, hit for hit, just for fun, I’d pop on headphones and play my favorite music at the time. And then slowly but surely that led to actually being able to play the parts and realized that I’m picking out certain things that the musicians are doing or that the drummers are doing, and I can fully replicate it.

How did you find that first band?

A couple of us met through church. The band was called SolaFide! and it was with singer Joseph Arns, Chase Barrett was the bassist, Jonas Miller was a guitarist and his uncle was a singer of my dad’s band called Shangri La. And we met at a little reunion that my parents hosted at the house in like sixth grade, and like, we just hit it off. We were kids, man.. Like little teens and we were like, ‘We should start a band! You can you play guitar, I play drums. We should do this.”

What was like finding Flipturn after your first band? Was there anything in between that?

I was a senior in high school. I was 18 years old. And then I got a tour offer from this group called Johnnyswim. And they had roots in Jacksonville and then moved to Nashville and then they moved to LA. But they had found a lot of momentum and success with their music. It’s like a folk-pop duo, and they bring on band members to play live. And their music director, we became tight because he produced my first band’s, one of our singles, and their drummer had dropped out for a summer tour and he threw my name in the pot. And then I sent like an audition video and they’re like, ‘OK, yeah, come on.’ I was like, oh my God, I’m not even done with high school yet. So I had to get permission from my school to basically do accelerated courses on the road.

What was your first show with Flipturn?

The first, technically, it was during COVID, so it was a live stream in Charleston. And then the next show we did after that was a socially distanced show outside the Atlanta Speedway opening for Mt. Joy. But it was like a drive-in situation. So it was like people were pulling up in their cars like a drive-in theater, but it’s a stage and it’s a show. So, like, no applause during songs, just people honking their horns.

How has being in the band informed your songwriting?

There’s just something magic about a band because it’s a bunch of different people, and you get something that otherwise would not have to exist before. It’s incredibly unique because of all the different inputs. So it taught me how to listen to other parts and write to other instruments going on and, like, not just go balls to the wall the whole time, but be intentional with the parts I’m playing.

Can you tell me a little bit about your project that is coming out? Like, where this came from, where it started? Yeah. I think the first single called “Slow Burner,” I started the original demo in February of last year? So it’s almost a year old now. But it came from just learning how to do production through writing with Flipturn and like working in studios with producers. It was just sort of experimenting with my own song ideas and drum ideas. I was like, I love this beat too much to not do anything with it, and maybe it’s a little bit too weird or aggressive for a Flipturn thing, so I’m just gonna see what I can do with

it. And I ended up bringing it to my good friend Asher Peterson, who is a producer in Nashville. And he just blew it out of the water.

I totally think it’s cool that you were able to recognize the difference in the intensity of a song that would not align with the Flipturn sound. How did you create that sound that was specifically yours?

I feel like because everybody has their own tastes and music tastes, musical interests, my input with Flipturn is different than would it be in any other band or in my own project. So, yeah, it was weird chasing something by myself, isolated. I’m used to having other cooks in the kitchen, stuff running through filters. And I think it’s just the product of not having anything filtered out, except my own filters. And I think subconsciously, I’m just pulling from music that I like. I feel like at the time I was getting into a little hyperpop. And I was definitely listening to a lot of Charlie XCX, and I don’t know, pulling from really tough alt-rock songs and stuff I grew up on. I feel like I pull a lot from Lewis Del Mar. I feel like I pulled so much from alt bands from the 2010s. Yeah, Louis Delmar, Mutemath, of course, I’m a Twenty One Pilots fan.

On the track you’re singing, tell me about how that came about, do you already sing, or were you like, I just really need a vocal in this?

It was terrifying because I don’t really sing these days. In high school, I was in choir, I was a theater kid, so I did all the sing-songy stuff. And then when I started doing like my band and touring, I leaned more into the whole drummer thing. So it was a little freaky kind of revisiting vocal territories. But I think because I believed in the song so much, I felt comfortable enough to push it over the finish line and make it a full song.

What came first? Lyrics, melody, something else?

The lyrics. It’s so weird. For me, lyrics always come last. I resonate emotionally more with, like, the instrumentation of a song. If a beat in a chord progression makes me feel a certain way, I try to draw from that and put it into lyrics if that makes sense. So like the original demo, I did a vocal melody that I’m just singing, like gibberish. I’ll come back and fill in the blanks later with lyrics, but that’s sort of the last step of the process, because I want to resonate with it emotionally at first. I don’t want [the lyrics] to be so straightforward that people can’t connect their own experiences to the song. So I want to leave it somewhat cryptic so that you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about, but you can still relate to it. People deal with anxiety and people deal with having hesitations or not being sure where to go in life. And I think it’s just, you know, a word vomit, of all of those feelings.

What are your emotions releasing something that’s just your baby versus something that you created with your band? It’s so weird. This will be my first time doing it. I don’t know, maybe there’s a bit more sense of like ownership, rather than like 20%, it’s like, oh, this is 100% me. It’s exciting and a little scary because I’m like, oh, I wonder how it’s going to be received. It’s like uncharted territory for me. But yeah, that, like, that hopefulness, it is exciting. It’s so therapeutic, in a way to just make music. And I want to put it out there because I know if I resonate with it and, like, I really connect with it, chances are somebody else will too. But yeah, I’m excited to get these out there to the world and then dive into whatever comes next.

Check out “Slow Burner” Feb. 18. It will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Soundcloud or wherever you stream music.

CONCERTS

FEB. 1

John Waite Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

EMF

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Demola the Violinist FIVE fivejax.com

Carmen Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

FEB. 3

New Wave Orchestra Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Reverend Horton Heat The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com

Ellise Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 5

Choir of Man Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Romance in Opera–Symphony in 60

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxsymphony.com

Dizgo Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 6

Unis

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

A1A Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

The Sixties Show

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Black V Neck Decca deccalive.com

Taper’s Choice

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 6-15

Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine discoverfortmose.com

FEB. 7

NEEDTOBREATHE

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Karla Bonoff

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Leela James

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

Nine Inch Nails

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

Wonky Willa’s Galactic Circus Decca deccalive.com

Loosely Speaking

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 10

American Aquarium Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 11

Drew and Ellie Holcomb

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

The Outlaws

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

FEB. 12

The Queens: 4 Legends, 1 Stage

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com

FEB. 13

Goldfinger

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Avi Avital & Viano String Quartet

St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church beachesfinearts.org

John Doe

The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com

Teenage Bottlerocket

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 13-14

Romeo and Juliet: Tchaikovsky & Bernstein

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

FEB. 14

Shenandoah Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Majesty vs. Absurdity: A Celebration of Love with the Duo Beaux Arts Friday Musicale fridaymusicale.com

Railroad Earth FIVE fivejax.com

Sidepiece DECCA deccalive.com

Good Terms

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Wheel The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com

FEB. 16

Marc Rebillet FIVE fivejax.com

FEB. 17

K-POP Warriors

Prime Osborn Convention Center jaxevents.com

Gipsy Kings

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

FEB. 18

Ana Popovic

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

FEB. 19

Atlanta Rhythm Section

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Hogslop String Band

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 20

Niko Moon

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Humanity World Tour by Myrna Clayton Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, St. Augustine lincolnvillemuseum.org

Lightwatch

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 20-21

Jax Symphony: Rodgers, Hart & Hammerstein

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

FEB. 21

Amy Grant

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Uptown

Ritz Theatre & Museum jaxevents.com

Last Dinosaurs FIVE fivejax.com

Deejay Al DECCA deccalive.com

Caroline Jones

Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

FEB. 22

Chris Botti Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Millington Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

Prison Affair

The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com

FEB. 23

Lord of The Rings & The Hobbit: The Concert

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

FEB. 24

The Magical Music of Harry Potter

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

The Music of Hans Zimmer & Others: A Celebration of Film Music

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

FEBRUARY

Makes My Blood Dance

Jack Rabbits

jaxlive.com

FEB. 25

The Three Italian Tenors

Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com

Steve Hackett

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

Brass & Soul: An Evening With James Jenkins

Friday Musicale fridaymusicale.com

FEB. 26

Il Divo

Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com

I Am, He Said: Celebrating Neil Diamond

Florida Theatre

St. Paul & The Broken Bones

St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

Robert Jon & The Wreck

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

pvconcerthall.com

Pink Martini

Florida Theatre

floridatheatre.com

FEB. 28

Styx with Cheap Trick

St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com

Taj Farrant

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall pvconcerthall.com

MJ Live—Michael Jackson Tribute

Concert

Florida Theatre

floridatheatre.com

Paul van Dyk DECCA

deccalive.com

End of the Line: A Tribute to The Allman Brothers Band Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com

MAMASAMAS

Before opening a brick-and-mortar in 2025, Mamasamas quietly built its name and its following through pop-ups, letting the food speak first. In-house-made pasta, fresh fish and veal dishes, and rich desserts tell a story rooted in Calabrian tradition, boldly shaped by the Australian lineage it branches from. Mamasamas is more than just another Italian restaurant. It’s an act of sharing culture, passed from kitchen to table.

Tucked in the corner next to an AutoZone and a dance studio in a plaza on Atlantic Boulevard, the upscale restaurant stands out. String lights glow overhead and a sky-blue awning spills over the outdoor seating. Inside, the ambiance is just as inviting — warm lighting, lively chatter, clinking glasses, all layered over energetic music. There’s seating that wraps around the bar for a solo night out or if you want to make friends with the charismatic bartenders. The rest of the dining room sits at the center of the space, close enough to feel like a big family gathering around one grand table, yet spaced just right so that I’m not bumping into chairs or eavesdropping on interesting conversations. It’s the kind of place you come for a special night out or where you can just as easily settle at the bar with a book. Moody yet lively, it’s a balanced juxtaposition that’s mirrored in the classic menu and boldly flavored dishes.

On Wednesday nights, Nic Sama, founder and owner of Mamasamas, fires up the mobile pizza bar, adding two special menu items just for the evening: a true Calabrian-inspired margherita pizza with a thin, perfectly blistered crust, and a pepperoni pizza finished with a drizzle of hot honey. That alone was reason enough to visit on a Wednesday.

Sama explained that he initially leaned toward classic pizzas, thicker and doughier, but then remembered why he opened Mamasamas in the first place: to share his traditions. So he switched gears, committing to true Calabrian-style pies, where the dough runs thinner and the crust crisps just right. We, of course, ordered the pepperoni hot honey because we have taste.

While we waited for the pizza and meatballs to arrive as our primi (first course), we had to get a cocktail. Obviously. The wine list is impressive, with both bianco and rosso available by the glass and bottle, though it’s clear they have a soft spot for red. The cocktail menu is just as thoughtfully curated, mapped out like a screenplay, offering classics like the espresso martini and Aperol spritz alongside more experimental pours such as the Vertigo and the Casablanca. I went with a glass of Merlot, which paired perfectly with everything we ordered.

Now let’s get into the actual review — and shocker — everything was delicious and worth every penny (even if those pennies add up, with dishes ranging from $15–$30).

The pizza arrived first. Sama had nothing to worry about when switching to a thinner style, because let me just say I could’ve eaten the entire pie myself and still considered ordering another. The true test of a good pizza is whether it folds in one hand. The true test of a great one is a perfectly balanced sauce-to-cheese ratio. This pepperoni hot honey passed both with flying colors. And the hot honey? A genius addition to a classic flavor. The meatballs followed shortly after. Beef, parmigiano and garlic, nestled in a pomodoro sauce and topped with whipped ricotta, they melted the moment they hit the fork. Juicy but never greasy. And the sauce didn’t take over the flavors like so often happens with this sort of appetizer. It was all about the meatballs.

The main dish leaned simpler on paper, the pomodoro, classic spaghetti in tomato sauce, nothing fancy. But at Mamasamas, nothing is what you expect. The noodles were thicker than your average boxed pasta, with that unmistakable texture of dough that had just been rolled, cut, shaped and boiled minutes before landing on the table. The sauce tasted just as fresh, as if the tomatoes had been squeezed by hand. Balanced, vibrant and deeply comforting. I ate every last bite. (P.S. If you want a white sauce dish, get the rigatoni salsiccia. Trust me.)

We finished the night with the Budino, a rich chocolate cream with salted caramel gelato topped with a crunchy amaretti biscuit and freshly whipped meringue. Need I say more? We capped it off with a quick milky limoncello shot at the bar. The only proper way to end a five-course meal, if you ask me.

Could I have kept eating? Yes. Will I make Mamasamas a weekly dinner spot? Also yes.

Jacksonville’s Newest Addition The HUB Brooklyn

If you’ve recently driven down Riverside Avenue, you’ve probably seen a collection of restaurants, a studio and an event space hugging Arepa Please and Burlock and Barrel Distillery. This is Brooklyn’s newest addition: The HUB Brooklyn, a local hangout spot housing Southern Grounds & Co., Alder & Oak, and Zorba’s Bar. With a wide range of food and drink options, the culinary diversity of the space is sure to keep locals busy.

Started by Mark Janasik in December 2015, Southern Grounds & Co. (SoGro), has been a huge staple in the coffee and restaurant industry of Jacksonville. “We wanted to create an inviting space for all-day dining. By serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, without drive-thrus, we want to encourage genuine connections.” said Janasik. With nine different locations across Florida — Neptune Beach, San Marco, Avondale, St. Augustine, Jacksonville Beach, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville International Airport and St. Pete, SoGro has tremendously grown within the past decade.

The HUB has been in the works for the past three years, and Janasik knew he wanted it based in Brooklyn from the very beginning. “The Brooklyn neighborhood sits at the current epicenter of Downtown’s urban revitalization,” he said. “With strong walkability and a growing residential and professional base, it perfectly suits a lifestyle-driven hospitality concept.”

SoGro Brooklyn’s general manager Tyler Vincent has been working for the franchise since April 2022. “I love to work alongside others that want to deliver excellent hospitality, while growing connections with customers,” says Vincent. After working at many of their locations, Vincent is “looking forward to working together with a new team and is excited to meet more of the Jacksonville community.” With this being the first time that the coffee shop will co-exist with other restaurants and office spaces, it will provide new dining selections. Every day after 4 p.m., the establishment will transform into a dessert and champagne bar, with mezze served on the rooftop at Zorba’s Bar.

Along with SoGro, Alder & Oak, a Mediterranean-style restaurant, is making its debut. Also owned by Janasik, this space will create all things “rustic and refined,” adding “wood fire is at the center of the kitchen, transforming fresh produce and thoughtfully sourced proteins.” Inspired by Janasik’s childhood spent in Greece, the restaurant will encapsulate the coastal market feel of the Aegean Islands. Managed by Eddy Escriba, Alder & Oak will provide more cultural cuisine to the corner, which already houses Arepa Please, a Venezuelan-style contemporary café.

Whether you’re new to Jacksonville, live near… or far, or are a die-hard SoGro fan, this place will be sure to make you hungry, leave you full, and wanting to return.

Folio’s Top Picks:

Arlington Catullo’s Italian facebook.com/catullositalian

Galaxy Burgers Bar & Grill galaxyburgersjax.com

Just Kitchen Jax justkitchenjax.com

Spices Caribbean Restaurant spicesjax.com

Tabouleh Mediterranean Cafe taboulehjax.com

Jax Beaches

Dockside Seafood Restaurant docksideseafoodrestaurant.com

Oaxaca Club theoaxacaclub.com

O-Ku

o-kusushi.com

RP’s Fine Food & Drink rpsjaxbeach.com

Sizemore’s Coastal Kitchen sizemorescoastalkitchen.com

Neptune/Atlantic Beach Arepa Please arepaplease.com

Coop 303 coop303.com

North Beach Fish Camp thenorthbeachfishcamp.com

Mamasamas mamasamas.com

Salumeria 104 salumeria104.com

The Local thelocaljax.com

Mayport Egg Boy eggboybreakfast.com

The Juicy Seafood Mayport thejuicycofl.com

La Casa Leon lacasaleonfl.com

Sub Cultured subculturedsubs.com

Downtown Bellwether bellwetherjax.com

Cowford Chophouse cowfordchophouse.com

Dorothy’s Downtown dorothysdowntown.com

Indochine Downtown indochinejax.com

Murray Hill Buchner’s Bierhalle buchnersbierhalle.com

Chancho King chanchoking.square.site

Community Loaves communityloavesjax.com

Solazo Taqueria solazofl.com

Northside & Airport Green Papaya greenpapayaus.com

Eleon Pizza & Pastry eleonpastry.com

Flying Fish Taphouse flyingfishtaphouse.com

New Berlin Fish House & Oyster Bar newberlinfishhouse.com

Mandarin Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant chwinery.com

Julington Creek Fish Camp julingtoncreekfishcamp.com

Enza’s Italian Restaurant enzas.net

Salento Colombian Steakhouse salentosteakhouse.com

Riverside and Avondale Bartaco bartaco.com

Carolina Jax carolinajax.com

Hawkers eathawkers.com

Josephine josephineavondale.com

Taqueria Cinco taqueria5points.com

San Marco The Bearded Pig thebeardedpigbbq.com

Taverna taverna.restaurant

Tepeyolot Cerveceria tepeys.com

Maple Street Biscuit Company maplestreetbiscuits.com

Springfield Crispy’s Springfield Gallery crispysspringfield.com

Othello othellospringfield.com

Tulua Bistro Springfield tuluabistro.com

1748 Bakehouse 1748bakehouse.com

Southside Purple Roots purplerootsjacksonville.com

Rustic 21 Bistro rustic21.com

RH Rooftop Restaurant rh.com/us/en/jacksonville/restaurant

Zen Dumpling zendumplings.com

Orange Park/Fleming Island/Middleburg Grumpy’s Restaurant grumpysrestaurantco.com

Kyodai Sushi Rock facebook.com /KyodaiSushiRock

Palermo Puerto Rican Kitchen palermopuertoricankitchen.com

The Toasted Yolk Cafe thetoastedyolk.com

Ponte Vedra/Vilano Anejo Cocina anejococinamexicana.com

Barbara Jean’s barbarajeansonthewater.com

Nona Blue Modern Tavern nonablue.com

Trasca & Co Eatery trascaandco.com

1912 Ocean Bar & Rooftop 1912oceanbarandrooftop.com

Vilano Beach

Aunt Kate’s aunt-kates.com

Cap’s On The Water capsonthewater.com

Pesca Vilano pescavilano.com

The Reef thereefstaugustine.com

Surfside Kitchen surfside.kitchen

Words & photos by Ambar Ramirez

Now, I’m not going to sit here and pretend I just stumbled into Kicker’s Country Bar, aka Kicker’s Saloon, on some fated Thursday night. Absolutely not. I will, however, proudly announce that the moment I heard from a friend who heard from another friend sometime mid–last year, that a country bar was opening on San Pablo, I was locked in. I followed every update closely, eagerly waiting for the doors to open. And it’s not because I love country music (it’s actually my least favorite). It’s because I love a theme and I love the movie “Coyote Ugly.”

So, of course, I showed up on a Thursday night the same week as their grand opening. And yes, I had a blast. And yes, I had on my cowboy boots.

For a Thursday night, Kickers was surprisingly busy. Not as busy as it was the following Saturday, but those details are stricken from the record as I was off the clock. Come to find out that we visited Kickers on the perfect evening since they were having line dancing classes from 7-9 pm. Talk about a first impression. If there is anything I love more than a theme and “Coyote Ugly” (in regards to my version of country) it’s line dancing.

But I’m getting ahead of myself as I so often do. I can’t keep talking about Kickers without first giving credit where credit is due. That is to Jay Dodson, GM and partner Nick Elasser and the team at ServStar Management Group.

From the saddle seat that wraps around the boot-shaped bar and the vintage framed photos of country legends that line the walls to the menu that features items like farmer’s Coke and Sloppy Bob, this team didn’t miss a beat.

“I wasn’t gonna do another bar unless it was a country bar,” Dodson shared.

It wouldn’t be a true country bar if it didn’t have a mechanical bull. And of course they have not just any mechanical bull but a disco ball mechanical bull, which pairs perfectly with an actual disco ball that hangs near a vintage butter yellow convertible.

But it’s not all just about the design, the photo ops, the front bar that has a photobooth and reprieve

from bustle of the line dancing with pool tables or even the country karaoke. While all that is great, this bar just opened some doors for the local country music scene with its 336-square-foot stage.

“We are so excited to bring Jacksonville country music fans a space to enjoy what they love,” said Elasser.

Whether you’re there to dance, sing, ride the bull or just soak in the atmosphere, Kickers proves Jacksonville was ready for a country bar with personality, flair and a whole lot of heart.

Jax Beach Rat Riverside Rat vs.

The decades-long feud doesn’t have to be a feud.

Words by Carmen Macri

Jacksonville’s nightlife is divided into two distinct scenes, each offering its own take on a night out. It’s a rare thing to meet someone who can genuinely appreciate both Riverside and the beaches — especially when nightlife is involved. It’s been debated endlessly with coworkers, friends, even partners, and the truth is, most people fall firmly on one side. You’re either a Riverside loyalist, perfectly at home wandering historic streets, who wouldn’t dream of stepping foot in a beach bar or a Jax Beach devotee who thinks the drive up to Riverside is never really worth it.

The Beaches are loud, casual and social with bars spilling onto patios and crowds of tourists and locals in shorts and flip-flops. Riverside, by contrast, is intimate and artsy, full of smaller bars, hidden patios, and a local crowd looking for craft cocktails, live music, and a more curated night out. The two could not be more different. While the beaches lean into loud cover bands, Riverside is out here hosting silent discos. You get the idea. Both have their appeal, if it’s the vibe you’re actually looking for.

So here’s the deal: instead of forcing a showdown between the two — it’s like comparing apples to oranges — we’re going to craft the ultimate night out at each spot. And we’ll break it down in full, delicious detail, so you know exactly what kind of night to expect. This is no lowkey casual night out either; this is to ensure maximum drinking capabilities.

The Beaches

Hitting the beaches for a night out almost guarantees a 2 a.m. Uber ride — unless you’re playing it low-key in Atlantic Beach with dinner and a casual cocktail. Jax Beach, though? Not for the faint of heart. It’s loud, it’s crowded, and it’s downright chaotic. But man, is it a good time. And it keeps getting better. In the past year alone, the beaches have welcomed three new bars, two of which have already stolen a spot on our favorites list: Lucky’s, Kickers Country Bar and The Grande.

So, as a beach rat, here’s my ultimate night out — designed to maximize time, efficiency and, of course, alcohol consumption.

Step one: never, ever go out hungry. Start at the Casa Marina rooftop (Or if a game is on, Brix). Sip a happy hour cocktail while catching the sunset, soak in some live music, and grab a little snack to keep you going, because trust me, later it’s going to be Uber Eats and Taco Bell at home.

Next, wander over to Lucky’s. Between the slot machines, ping pong tables, and a photobooth, you could literally spend hours here. Downstairs is thumping with the live DJ, upstairs is even louder thanks to whoever’s on aux that night. High-top tables are scattered everywhere, perfect for when your feet start staging a protest.

Next stop: Surfer — because, back in the day, it was the only spot at the beach with a real, designated dance floor. So dust off your dancing shoes and get ready to swirl and twirl to whatever dubstep is blasting that night (beggars can’t be choosers).

This is where the night splits depending on your vibe. Feeling adventurous? Hop in an Uber and hit Pete’s — the best bar Jacksonville has to offer. That’s usually where my crew calls it a night.

Not in the mood to Uber just yet? No worries. Meander over to Lynch’s for some live music and a round of Irish Car Bombs. After that, it’s a no-brainer: Mangos to close things out.

Honorable Mentions: Where you can spend the entire night

The Grande

Kickers Country Bar

Pete’s

Fly’s Tie

Riverside

Right off the bat, Riverside already has something the beaches can’t touch: FIVE. Yes, I know, it’s technically a venue, not a bar, but it still adds a whole new layer to the nightlife scene that the beach just can’t compete with. (Please don’t come for me. I loved Sun-Ray, but FIVE is honestly a great venue.)

Riverside is built for locals — the ones who live just across the Fuller Warren Bridge. Nights out here are intimate and lowkey. Bar-hopping isn’t the goal, and it doesn’t need to be, but for the sake of the article, we’re hopping. And what better place to start than Hoptinger? Both Riverside and the beaches have a Hoptinger, but that’s where the similarities end. The beach location is small, cramped, and honestly, slowly fading. Riverside’s is a three-story gem with a rooftop, where each level has its own distinct vibe, like you’re navigating three completely different bars in one spot.

So naturally, you’re starting on the rooftop and working your way down. The same set of rules applies here — no empty stomachs. We’re eating, watching the sun set and taking in the scenery. Technically, we could count Hoptinger as three bars, but that feels a little unfair — so after Hoptinger, we mosey on down to 5 Points Liquor Lounge (formerly known as Wall Street Lounge). The interior alone is enough to keep you planted there for a while. Cozy and intimate with the most comfortable booths. Seriously, I could sit there forever.

From there, we pop next door into Birdies to play a little pool, order a couple of craft cocktails, maybe flirt with the bartenders — you get the idea. And if you haven’t noticed by now, walkability is the name of the game here, which is why we’re sticking to the 5 Points strip and the Jax Beach bar strip. Anyway, carry on.

From there, depending on how long you linger at each spot, it only makes sense to cap the night at Rootdown with a silent disco. Seriously—there’s no better way to end things than packed in like sardines, swaying sweaty to music blasting in your headphones. Bonus points for the moment you take them off and hear everyone singing offbeat like they’re auditioning for a choir.

Honorable Mentions: Where you can spend the entire night

Keg & Coin

Dart Bar

The Garage

NIGHTLIFE

ARLINGTON

Atlantis Lounge instagram.com/theatlantis_jax

Cliff’s Bar and Grill cliffsbarandgrill.com

Club Heaven clubheavenjax.com

BEACHES/PONTE VEDRA

Beach Bowl beachbowljax.com

Bedlam bedlamlive.com

Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com

The Brix Taphouse jacksonvillebeachbar.com

Casa Marina casamarinahotel.com

Culhane’s culhanesirishpub.com

Flask & Cannon facebook.com/flaskandcannon

Fly’s Tie Irish Pub facebook.com/flystieirishpub

Green Room Brewing greenroombrewing.com

Grey Matter Distillery greymatterdistillery.com

Gusto gustojax.com

Hoptinger Bier Garden + Sausage House hoptinger.com

Ink Factory Brewing inkfactorybrewing.com

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Jax Beach Kava Bar kavajacksonville.com

Jekyll Brewing jekyllbrewing.com

Julep Palm Valley facebook.com/juleppalmvalley

Kicker’s Country Bar instagram.com/kickersbar

Lemon Bar & Grille lemonbarjax.com

Living Room Lounge instagram.com/thelivingroomab

Lucky’s Bar instagram.com/luckysjaxbch

Lynch’s Irish Pub lynchsirishpub.com

Mango’s mangosjaxbeach.com

Mavi’s Waterfront Bar & Grill mavijax.com

Mayport Brewing Company maportbrewing.com

Mayport Garden Club mayportgardenclub.com

Monkey’s Uncle Tavern monkeysuncletavern.com

Palm Valley Outdoors Bar and Grill palmvalleyoutdoors.com

Penthouse Lounge at Casa Marina Hotel casamarinahotel.com

Refinery Jax Beach refineryjaxbeach.com

Reve Brewing revebrewing.com

The Ritz Lounge theritzlounge.com

Serenity Restaurant & Hookah Lounge serenityjaxbeach.com

Southern Swells Brewing Company southernswells.com

Surfer The Bar surferthebar.com

VooSwar Restaurant & Lounge instagram.com/vooswar

DOWNTOWN Albatross thealbatrossjax.com

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

Bold City Brewery boldcitybrewery.com

The Circuit Arcade Bar instagram.com/thecircuitbarcade

De Real Ting Cafe facebook.com/derealtingcafe

Decca Live deccalive.com

Dos Gatos dosgatosjax.com

Element Bistro Bar & Lounge elementjax.com

Hardwicks hardwicksbarjax.com

Intuition Aleworks intuitionaleworks.com

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Justice Pub facebook.com/thejusticepub

Live Bar facebook.com/livebarclubjax

Manifest Distilling manifestdistilling.com

Myth Nightclub & Bar mythexperience.com

Ocean Street Tequila instagram.com/oceanstreettacosandtequila

Pour Taproom jaxpourtaproom.com

Ruby Beach Brewing rubybeachbrewing.com

SIP Cocktail bar sipontheroof.com

Spliff’s Gastropub spliffsgastropub.com

That Bar At The Arena facebook.com/ThatBarattheArena

The Volstead thevolsteadjax.com

FLEMING ISLAND

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com/fleming-island

Mercury Moon facebook.com/mercury-moon

Mr. Chubby’s Wings mrchubbyswings.com

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

Whitey’s Fish Camp whiteysfishcamp.com

Intracoastal West 9 Zero Pour 9zeropour.com

Brew and Barrel Tavern bbtjax.com

MVP’s Sports Grille facebook.com/mvpssportsgrille

The Spot Hookah Lounge thespothookahloungejax.com

Time Out Sports Grill timeoutsportsgrill.com

MANDARIN/JULINGTON

CREEK/FRUIT COVE

2nd Bay Brewing 2ndbaybrewing.com

Comedy Zone comedyzone.com

Iggy’s Grill and Bar facebook.com/iggysgrill

Kava & Company kavaandcompany.com

Legacy Ale Works legacyaleworks.com

Monkey’s Uncle Tavern monkeysunclemandarin.com

Rack’em Up Sports Bar facebook.com/rackemupsportsbar

Time Out Sports Grill timeoutsportsgrill.com

Murray Hill Axe Champs axechamps.com

Buchner’s Bierhalle buchnersbierhalle.com

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

Emerald Vine Room theemeraldvineroom.weebly. com

Fishweir Brewing Company fishweirbrewing.com

The Flamingo theflamingojax.com

Perfect Rack Billiards perfectrackbilliards.com

Silver Cow silvercowjax.com

Spruce sprucejax.com

The Walrus thewalrusjax.com

NORTHSIDE

Coppertop Bar and Restaurant coppertopbarandrestaurant. com

Four Fathers Distillery fourfathersdistillery.com

ORANGE PARK/MIDDLEBURG

57 Heaven

facebook.com/57heavenop

Big Dawgs Sports Restaurant bigdawgsrestaurant.com

Cheers Park Avenue cheersparkave.com

The Daq Shack thedaqshack904.com

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

The Fresh Spot Lounge thefreshspotlounge.com

LeaderBoard Arcade leaderboardarcade.com

Locals Pub localspub.co

Nakama Anime Bar nakamabar.com

Park Avenue Billiards parkavenuebilliards.com

Pinglehead Brewing Company pinglehead.com

Southern Social Whiskey Bar & Lounge southernsocialbar.com

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE

Bartaco bartaco.com

Birdies facebook.com/birdiesfivepoints

Bold City Brewery boldcitybrewery.com

Brick Restaurant brickofavondale.com

Burlock & Barrel burlockandbarrel.com

Dart Bar & Games facebook.com/dartbarjax

Eclipse Bar & Nightclub facebook.com/eclipsebarjax

The Garage garagejax.com

The Green House thegreenhousebar.com

Hoptinger Bier Garden + Sausage House hoptinger.com

Incahoots incahootsnightclub.com

Kanine Social Taproom kaninesocial.com

Keg & Coin kegandcoinjax.com

Kingmaker Brewing kingmakerbrewing.com

Lemonstreet Brewing Company lemonstreetbrewing.com

The Loft loftjax.com

Myrtle Avenue Brewing instagram.com/myrtleavebrewing

Night Lights facebook.com/nightlightsjax

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

River & Post riverandpostjax.com

Riverside Liquors riversideliquors.biz

Rogue Bar facebook.com/rogue.bar.1

Root Down facebook.com/rootdownjax

Shores Liquor and Bar instagram.com/shoresliquoravondale

SAN MARCO/ST. NICHOLAS

1937 Spirits & Eatery 1937sanmarco.com

Aardwolf Brewing Company aardwolfbrewing.com

Bar Molino barmolino.com

Breezy Jazz House breezyjazzhouse.com

Cuba Libre Ultra Lounge cubalibrebar.com

Fore Score Golf Tavern forescoregolf.com

The Grape & Grain Exchange grapeandgrainexchange.com

Kava & Company kavaandcompany.com

The Mudville Grill themudvillegrill.com

The Players Grille playersgrille.com

Posting House posting.house

Sherwoods sherwoodsbar.com

Sidecar instagram.com/sidecarjax

Voodoo Brewing instagram.com/voodoojax

SOUTHSIDE/ST.

JOHNS TOWN CENTER

Austin Karaoke facebook.com/austinkaraoke

Bottlenose Brewing bottlenosebrewing.com

Cataluna Jax catalunajax.com

Culhane’s culhanesirishpub.com

Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com

Jax Craft Beer jaxcraftbeer.com

Medusa Restaurant and Hookah Lounge

facebook.com/medusa-loungejacksonville

Rio Restaurant and Lounge instagram.com/riorestauraunt. jax

Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery 7bridgesgrille.com

Sugar Factory instagram.com/sugarfactoryjacksonville

Trio Lounge triohookahlounge.com

Veterans United Craft Brewery vubrew.com

Wicked Barley Brewing Company wickedbarley.com

WXYZ Bar at Aloft Hotel aloftjacksonvilletapestrypark. com

SPRINGFIELD

Crispy’s crispysspringfieldgallery.com

The District thedistrictspr.com

Historically Hoppy Brewing Company historicallyhoppy.com

Shantytown Pub facebook.com/shantytownjax

Strings Sports Brewery stringssportsbrewery.com

Stumpy’s Hatchet House stumpyshh.com

Tulua Bistro instagram.com/tuluabistro

St. Augustine Ancient City Brewing ancientcitybrewing.com

Arnold’s Lounge arnoldslounge.com

Beacon Listening Room beaconstaug.com

Cellar Upstairs Bar at San Sebastian Winery sansebastianwinery.com

Dog Rose Brewing dogrosebrewing.com

Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge and Kitchen instagram.com/odd_birds

The Original Café Eleven originalcafe11.com

Prohibition Kitchen pkstaug.com

Shanghai Nobby’s nobbysfl.weebly.com

Tradewinds Lounge tradewindslounge.com

Westside Elevation Lounge elevationjax.com

Lillian’s lillianssportsgrill.com

The Phoenix Bar & Bowling facebook.com/thephoenixjax

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