Jacksonville’s Rivers Just Got an
with Jax Cruise
Carmen Macri
Wait! That’s an Olympic Sport?
Emily Cannon
Planning of the Players Championship
Carson Haines
Jacksonville Nightlife Has a New Gatecrasher
Teresa Spencer
The Block Jax: Grand Opening
Carson Haines
A Feast to Remember: St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival 2026
Teresa Spencer
Reviews of “How to Make a
“Wuthering Heights”
Harry Straussman
TERESA
KERRY SPECKMAN Copy Editor/
AMBAR
CARMEN
From Duval to Beverly Hills: 17-YearOld Tatum Matthews Releases First Short Film
Ariana Alcantara
Art Is Love
Ambar Ramirez
James Weldon Johnson Parks and Rec!
Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri
New Music Releases
Ambar Ramirez
Never Too Late: 60-Year-Old Barry Degroot Trades in Corporate America for Music
Ariana Alcantara
Bella Vista - A Mare
Ambar Ramirez
Dining for Life & Jacksonville NFAN: Feeding the Community, One Meal at a Time
Teresa Spencer
BEHIND THE COVER: “James Weldon Johnson Parks and Rec!” Photo by Carmen Macri
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Law enforcement officers reportedly rescued over 80 dogs from a suspected dogfighting operation in north-central Florida. We can all help prevent future suffering by recognizing the signs of dogfighting in our own neighborhoods.
Watch for pit bull–type dogs chained outdoors with only a barrel or box for “shelter.” When outdoor space is limited, dogfighters may lock dogs in basements and garages. Dogs used for fighting are typically kept separate but in close proximity to each other. Many have scars or open wounds on their faces, necks, and front legs, and some have crudely cropped ears.
Makeshift fighting pits—made from plywood, fencing, or hay bales—are another warning sign. You may see ropes, rawhide strips, or tires hanging from branches or beams to build jaw strength, as well as break sticks to pry dogs’ mouths open. Breeding stands that restrain females for forced mating are a major red flag. There may be skin staplers and stashes of steroids and painkillers on the property.
Dogfighting also endangers humans as it fast-tracks weapons, narcotics, and other violent crimes into communities and desensitizes onlookers to cruelty.
If you see or suspect dogfighting, report it. You can remain anonymous, and your call could save lives.
Sincerely,
Melissa Rae Sanger, LVT
The PETA Foundation
To the Supreme Court of the United States for doing what adults in the room are supposed to do — scrutinizing economic chest-thumping and reminding Washington that trade policy isn’t performance art. Whether you cheer or groan at Donald Trump’s tariff enthusiasm, a little constitutional reality check is never hogwash. It’s called balance of power.
To the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society for more than six decades of turning financial stress into opportunity, providing scholarships and interest-free loans that help Navy and Marine Corps spouses and children stay focused on degrees instead of debt. For information, visit nmcrs.org.
Jacksonville’s so-called “teen takeovers” aren’t harmless pop-up fun — they’re unplanned, unsupervised flash crowds that strain police, rattle businesses and inject real danger into public spaces, especially when firearms enter the mix. This isn’t about demonizing teenagers; it’s about calling out a reckless trend where clout and chaos collide, leaving venues, families and the city’s nightlife paying the price.
This month starts off in a foggy slump, thanks to Mars being a nuisance, but don’t delete your social media just yet. Once the Sun and Mercury both go direct in your sign on the 20th, it’s like the universe finally handed you the remote to your own life. Use the first half of the month to sharpen your “armor” and the second half to charge like the glorious, impatient ram you are.
In March 2026, Taurus, the phrase “a lot can change in the blink of an eye” takes on a deeper meaning as you navigate a month of controlled progress. While the world accelerates around you, the stars urge you to remain grounded and steadfast on your chosen path despite a significant push-andpull energy. This tension is defined by Jupiter, turning direct on March 11 to give your finances a green light, while Mercury remains retrograde until March 20.
Your ruler, Venus, is bouncing around this month, making your social life feel like a game of musical chairs. Use the Mercury retrograde period to finish those projects you started in 2024 and promptly forgot about. Balance is your whole “thing,” but the Lunar Eclipse on the 3rd might tip the scales. Just stay calm, drink your water and remember that “no” is a complete sentence.
You’re in deep transformation mode (again), but this time the Virgo eclipse is helping you prune the “frenemies” from your contact list. Financial opportunities look bright after Jupiter turns direct on the 11th, provided you don’t spend it all on a “mysterious” impulse buy. Communication might be a bit of a minefield until the 21st, so maybe practice that brooding silence you’re so good at.
Your ruling planet, Mercury, is doing the moonwalk until the 20th, so expect your brain to feel like it has 47 browser tabs open and four of them are playing music you can’t find. The New Moon on the 18th is your “get out of jail free” card for professional recognition, so keep your eyes on the prize. By month’s end, the fog clears and your wit returns to its usual lethal settings — just in time to charm everyone you accidentally ignored.
This month, Sagittarius, you’ll feel caught between heavy obligations and a desire for freedom. With Mercury retrograde in your domestic sector until March 20th, the first half of the month brings mental fog and demanding home responsibilities. However, once your ruler Jupiter goes direct on March 11th, the clouds lift, fueling a renewed drive for creativity and passion.
Cancer, you are entering a pivotal phase where your inner world and outer ambitions are finally coming into alignment. Your mantra this month? Trust the process. The Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3 hits your sector of communication and local community, urging you to clear out mental clutter and old social obligations that no longer serve your growth.
Saturn is keeping you disciplined, but the six-planet party in your second house early on means your bank account and your ego are having a very loud conversation. Work looks promising with a promotion potential mid-month, though you’ll need to navigate some office politics with the grace of a mountain goat. Avoid signing any major contracts until Mercury stops its retrograde nonsense on the 20th.
The beginning of the month has you focusing on your inner circle, but with Mercury acting up, maybe double-check those “spicy” texts before hitting send. You might feel a bit of a stamina dip mid-month when Saturn gets grumpy, but don’t panic — it’s just the universe telling you to nap. After the 26th, Venus moves into Aries, and suddenly your confidence (and your libido) is back in the driver’s seat.
Out with the old and in with the new, Virgo. The powerful lunar event on March 3rd is your personal reset button. This month, you are finishing a long chapter of personal growth and preparing for a major identity shift. The energy is a mix of intense self-reflection and practical breakthroughs, particularly in your finances and long-term partnerships.
This month, Aquarius, your focus shifts to the two m’s: money and mindset. While others navigate identity crises, you are grounded in the tangible, evaluating your resources, value system and how you communicate your worth. The total lunar eclipse on March 3rd activates your 8th house, triggering a financial and emotional “audit” of what you owe and what is owed to you.
You are currently standing between an old version of yourself that is dissolving and a new, more grounded identity that is just beginning to take shape, Pisces. With a major eclipse and your ruling planets shifting signs, the energy is deeply transformative.
Last summer, a few days after the Fourth of July, a buddy of mine called with a simple question: “You want to go on a boat?” That was it. No details. No pitch. No context. Just a vague invitation and a boat ramp location.
Naturally, I said yes.
When I pulled up to the ramp, I was expecting the usual: a center console, maybe a cooler of beers, a handful of sunburned friends. What I was not expecting was a completely gutted river taxi stacked with booze and outfitted with a full live band. (Shout out Haze Brothers)
Immediately, I was intrigued. Maybe it was the journalist in me, but I had questions. I’d never seen anything like this in Jacksonville — not quite a charter, not quite a party boat, something entirely its own. So I did what I do best: I started scouting for answers. But not before grabbing a drink and taking it all in.
We pushed off from Jax Beach at an easy, unhurried pace. Friends and strangers mingled like they’d known each other for years, all united by one shared goal: have a good time. The drinks flowed, the music carried across the water and we cruised toward Fort George with the kind of golden-hour glow you can’t manufacture.
Somewhere between the second song and the second drink, I found Captain Dom. And that’s when the real story started.
“Jacksonville and St. Augustine are surrounded by some of the most beautiful waterways in Florida, yet most people only experience them from land. We saw an opportunity to take a proven commercial
vessel hull and reimagine it to be an experience — not just transportation, but a destination,” Captain Dom explained. “The vision was simple: create a floating environment where strangers become friends, sunsets feel cinematic, and people leave saying, ‘best night ever.’”
From the initial idea, it only took a short six months after finding an appropriate vessel to completely reanimate it. Captain Dom worked closely with naval architects to ensure everything met Coast Guard standards for stability and safety. They then completely revamped the cruise with new engines, steering, electrical, and throttle systems, so it’s reliable for years to come.
“It wasn’t just cosmetic. It was about building something transforming for different event needs while being sustainable, elevated and fun,” he said. “Our very first cruise was actually donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters for a VIP charity event. That felt right, launching with purpose. We had live music, food, incredible supporters on board and one of those perfect Florida sunsets. It set the tone for what we want this to be about: community, energy and meaningful moments on the water.”
Public cruises include a little bit of everything. There’s the seasonal St. Augustine Nights of Lights cruise — because being able to see the lights without the traffic sounds like heaven, plus sunset cruises with live music and dancing. And soon, they’re adding a Haunted History Boat Cruise to the lineup, because apparently, we’re not limiting the fun to daylight hours.
The private charters are where things really open up. Birthdays, corporate outings, proposals, weddings, bachelorette parties — you
name it. The whole thing is customizable. Whatever someone is picturing, they work to build around it. It’s not a preset package; it’s more of a “tell us the vision, and we’ll make it happen” situation.
“[A typical cruise] feels like family but elevated. Everyone’s together. The energy is positive. There’s music, laughter, beautiful scenery and a shared goal: have an unforgettable time. It feels like a private yacht party without the private yacht ego,” Captain Dom expressed. “You’re moving through water at sunset. Dolphins sometimes surface. The skyline glows. The breeze hits different. We balance relaxation with light history, photo opportunities, group engagement, games, dancing and icebreakers. People who board as strangers often leave feeling like they were part of a shared event.”
He said they’ve seen just about everything onboard — proposals, powerhouse live vocal performances, break dancers, even fire spinners lighting up the deck (safely, of course.)
But the moment that stuck with him most wasn’t the flashiest. It was a grandfather who refused to let age dictate the pace of his life. The man pulled his entire family onto the dance floor, and within minutes, his energy spread across the boat. What started as one person dancing turned into an all-out party.
They laughed so hard that night, the crew ended up creating a “Lifetime Free Pass Token” on the spot and awarded it to him. Now, he said, they’re just waiting to see who’s bold enough to earn the next one.
“In our first 40 days, we were nearly sold out most nights, some evenings selling out three cruises in one night. The response has been incredibly supportive and encouraging,” Captain Dom shared. “We’re working with Palm Valley Outdoors in Ponte Vedra, Beaches in Vilano and Mavi in Jacksonville for boarding locations. We’re open to collaborations with DJs, event planners, musicians and local brands, but what excites me most is expanding into more charity work. Churches, summer camps, youth organizations. I want this boat to be more than entertainment. I want it to introduce kids to boating, nature and experiences that develop an interest that leads to dreams and goals.”
With two ships now in the water, Captain Dom is steering the brand toward a new phase of intentional growth. His current strategy involves expanding their repertoire with more themed voyages, exclusive private charters and the potential for a membership model.
Despite this expansion, Captain Dom remains anchored to his original vision: crafting unique, incomparable experiences that simply cannot be found anywhere else.
“Most people spend money on nights they forget. This won’t be one of them.”
THROUGH MARCH 1
World of Nations Celebration Ford on Bay events.jacksonville.gov
Jax International Car Show
Prime Osborn Convention Center thejaxautoshow.com
MARCH 3
“The Forsytes”: A Screening WJCT Studios wjct.org
MARCH 7
Jacksonville Food and Wine Festival Artist Square Park eventbrite.com
MARCH 8
Women’s Wellness Fest Seawalk Pavilion womenswellnessfest.com
8th Annual Clay Bridal Expo
Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park thcenter.org
MARCH 17
Beaches vs. Town Food Fight
Prime Osborn Convention Center sulzbacherjax.org
MARCH 21
Jacksonville Food Fest & Craft Fair
Tailgaters Parking Lot battlebrosevents.com
San Marco Beer Fest Balis Park sanmarcobeerfest.com
ABKC Jacksonville Bully Showdown 6
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center jaxevents.com
MARCH 21-22
St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival Francis Field lionsfestival.com
MARCH 27-29
Collective Con
Prime Osborn Convention Center collectivecon.com
Disney On Ice presents Let’s Dance! VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com
MARCH 28
Spring Fling Seawalk Pavilion flspringfling.com
MARCH 29
Jacksonville Spring Fest Artist Square Park eventbrite.com
MARCH 31
Florida Forum Speaker Series: Chef Jose Andres
Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts thefloridaforum.com
Words by Emily Cannon
If you are anything like me, the past few weeks you’ve been sitting on the couch watching the “Quad God” and the United States hockey teams take home the gold. You may have also said, “I could do that about 50 times.” As I was looking for the sports we all know and love, I’ve also come across sports that made me go, “How the heck is this in the Olympics?”
As a native Florida girl who has only seen snow a handful of times, I did not grow up like these Olympians who were on skates or skis at the age of two, but how does one decide they want to bobsled at 70 mph or take part in the biathlon (which if you didn’t know is cross country skiing mixed with shooting a rifle). But how did these come to be?
One sport that has become popular the last few years due to social media is the curling or “shuffleboard on ice” which involves sliding heavy granite stones toward a target while teammates sweep to melt the ice to get it in the target. Now this is one I definitely think I could do. You should see me mop the floors.
Another sport that makes me question how you decided to do this is the skeleton where athletes launch themselves down a chute head first at crazy speeds steering themselves with only their body weight and pressure from their knees. Do parents just decide to throw their kids down a downhill track covered in ice? I’m still so confused.
What started as Scandinavian military training, the biathlon combines cross-country skiing with shooting. Yes, you read that right, shooting. Athletes ski grueling distances, then have to abruptly stop and shoot targets while either lying down or standing. Missed shots result in extra laps or penalties. This feels like a Wii sport that should have never made it to real life.
Another Wii sport in real life is ski jumping where athletes launch themselves off towering ramps soaring hundreds of feet in the air before creating a smooth and precise landing (they hope). This has to be timed perfectly if you don’t want to snap your body in half. It’s scored by how far you jump and style points (apparently flying through the air has style now). This is one I have never said I could do.
We have four more years until the next Winter Olympics in the French Alps (brb buying a ticket now, unless I become the next curl ing superstar and join the team), so we all need to buckle up and find what sport we’re taking the gold in. It’s time to get up north because I haven’t heard of anywhere to ski or bobsled near Jack sonville, but we do have the Community First Igloo if you want to be a figure skating champion or a part of the next hockey team. Good luck and see you in 2030.
MARCH 1
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Florida Everblades
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jacksonvilleicemen.com
MARCH 4-9
ASUN Basketball Tournament
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com
MARCH 6-17
2026 AAU Collegiate Hockey
Championship
Community First Igloo communityfirstigloo.com
MARCH 7
Gate River Run
Jacksonville Shipyards gateriverrun15k.com
MARCH 20
Sport Club Jax vs. Hartford Athletic
UNF Hodges Stadium sportingjax.com
MARCH 10-15
THE PLAYERS Championship
TPC Sawgrass theplayers.com
MARCH 13
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jacksonvilleicemen.com
MARCH 14-15
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Florida Everblades
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jacksonvilleicemen.com
MARCH 15
St. Paddy’s Run 5K and 10K
Evergreen Cemetery 1stplacesports.com
MARCH 19-21
Cosmic Chili Peppers vs. Glow Mojis Cosmic
Takeover Baseball
121 Financial Ballpark chilipeppersbaseball.com
Bob Hayes Invitational Track & Field Meet UNF Hodges Stadium bhitm22.org
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Atlanta Gladiators
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jacksonvilleicemen.com
MARCH 21
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Biscuit Run 5K
Chick-Fil-A, 14020 Lunar Dr. 1stplacesports.com
Fight for Air Climb Bank of America Tower action.lung.org
MARCH 22
Jacksonville Icemen vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jacksonvilleicemen.com
MARCH 25
Sport Club Jax vs. Miami FC UNF Hodges Stadium sportingjax.com
MARCH 27-29
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp vs. Rochester Red Wings
121 Financial Ballpark milb.com/jacksonville
MARCH 28
Vilano Bridge 5K & 10K Run North Shores Park 1stplacesports.com
MARCH 29
March To Get Screened Durbin Crossing 1stplacesports.com
MARCH 31
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp vs. Sugarland Space Cowboys
121 Financial Ballpark milb.com/jacksonville
Words by Carson Haines
It’s quite common during this time of year to hear about a classic and historic event held at TPC Sawgrass: The Players Championship (TPC). The Players Stadium Course houses a large and globally recognized golf tournament that spans four days each Spring. Many locals and people from all over come to watch world-renowned golfers compete. As someone who has attended numerous times, I can truthfully say that it is such a surreal experience.
Like clockwork, a couple weeks ago my fiancée and I purchased tickets for the 2026 event. As I reminisced on previous years, I started to wonder about the behind-thescenes of TPC, and what it takes to assemble such an event.
So, I decided to reach out to the Professional Golf Association (PGA) headquarters myself and find out.
Nick Nuzzo, PGA assistant golf professional, has been working at TPC Sawgrass the past four years. “I loved golf growing up and have played since I was 13,” he said.
As a kid, he played on his local course, and at college, majored in professional golf management at Florida Gulf Coast University. Since he started, Nuzzo has had the opportunity to host and work with golfers at member tournaments. “We have about 15 a year, and each one has different course layouts and prizes,” he said. “I am also a lead coach for our junior golf program. We have around 50 kids, ranging in ages 6-14 that play about nine months out of the year.”
While members of the club are important, so is the construction of the championship. If you’ve ever been to the TPC or watched it on television, you’ve probably seen ginormous stands holding fans on the iconic 17th hole. Across the course, these stands are placed to seat viewers and take around five months to assemble and place. “It’s a 12-month process, truthfully. We’re working on it all year round. As for breaking down the event, we start the day after it’s over and are normally done around early May,” said Nuzzo.
The tournament is great for all ages and provides many amenities for attendees. Some of the most memorable and popular places during the event are holes 16, 17, and 18, but if you’re hungry, hole 12 has some pretty good tacos (thanks to Taco Lu). Other holes like 10, house food trucks and along the course, you can get drinks, pizza and more.
Nuzzo’s favorite hole is 11. “It’s a great viewing area for the tournament because you can watch golfers hit their approach shots,” he said. But if you’re a fan of sitting in the shade under some trees, hole 9 might be the spot for you (it’s my personal favorite). Regardless of your preference, the course wouldn’t be as beautiful as it is if it weren’t for the volunteers and workers from TPC Sawgrass Agronomic Operations.
In order for professional golfers to perform their best, a course must be well-kept and in proper condition. “Our agronomy staff work very long and hard hours, especially when the course closes in mid-February,” said Nuzzo. During the official event, over 2,000 volunteers from more than 40 organizations work in concessions, guest services, parking and more. For just the agronomy staff, around 100 volunteers assist with course maintenance.
With March being a very erratic month weather-wise, it’s safe to say that some days can get quite hot. Luckily, there are a couple of spaces to cool off. The PGA Tour Fan Shop, located by hole 17, provides an abundance of cold air conditioning and a whole lot of merchandise. Nuzzo and his team are the ones to receive all of the merchandise. “We have to make sure it’s packed up, marked with price tags, correctly sized and unload it all before the event. We also make sure it’s all displayed on hangers and racks in the shop, which takes a total of around 3 to 4 days.”
Although he grew up in Florida, surprisingly, Nuzzo has never attended TPC as just a fan. Because of this, his experience is much different from many of ours. “With TPC being such a Jacksonville favorite, it’s really nice to see how many fans come out and support the event. Personally, since I’m in the locker room at times, it’s pretty cool as a golfer to see the pros’ routines and how they prepare to play their best.” Since TPC Sawgrass is such a timeless facility, many professionals are also members. “Some of my favorite interactions with pro-golfers are with the locals that come and practice at our courses. Over time, you get to know them, and being able to build relationships with them year after year is the best part. At the end of the day, they are normal folks too, so it’s nice to see that other side of them that many people don’t get to witness.”
As someone who was never into the sport until recently, I can wholeheartedly say that the TPC is a great opportunity to learn more about the beloved game that is golf. Whether you have a Friday off work, are waiting for the Sunday round to begin, or want to attend all four days of competition, this tournament is the place to be. Although we may never witness the year-round work, it’s important to recognize every staff member and volunteer who make the tournament and all of its wonders possible.
Words by Teresa Spencer
Jacksonville has always sold a particular promise after dark: live music drifting from open doors, ocean air softening the edges of the week, neon reflections bouncing off wet pavement after a brief Florida rain. It’s a city that learned long ago how to unwind loudly and collectively.
But lately, that familiar rhythm has been competing with something harshe — gun violence.
Across Jacksonville and its beach communities, spontaneous youth gatherings, often organized through social media, have begun reshaping nights meant for concerts, festivals and casual fun. Locals call them “teen takeovers.” Authorities use more formal language: “unpermitted mass gatherings of minors, coordinated online, typically lacking structure, supervision, or security planning.” Whatever the label, the results have proven unpredictable.
Recent months have seen multiple incidents in which large crowds of young people converged rapidly on public spaces, retail centers and entertainment districts. In several cases, disturbances escalated into fights, property damage or gunfire. At a Jacksonville Beach event, law enforcement reported that an unauthorized gathering occurring near an active music festival coincided with a shooting that left multiple individuals injured, including a juvenile. Officials publicly linked the violence to crowd activity occurring outside the permitted event footprint.
Police departments and city leaders have since acknowledged a pattern: gatherings that begin as loosely organized meet-ups can swell into hundreds, sometimes thou -
sands within hours, fueled by viral posts and real-time location sharing.
A Jacksonville Beach public safety official, speaking to local media following a recent incident, emphasized that these events present serious logistical challenges. Large crowds form without permits, traffic controls or security measures, creating environments where tensions can escalate quickly. The official’s remarks underscored concerns about safety risks for attendees, bystanders and nearby businesses.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: guns.
Crime analysts and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly highlighted the troubling intersection of youth gatherings and firearm access. Even a single weapon introduced into a dense, emotionally charged crowd can transform minor conflict into a catastrophe. The math is brutal … chaos plus firearms rarely equals a harmless ending.
For Jacksonville’s entertainment economy, the ripple effects are impossible to ignore.
Venue owners quietly discuss rising security costs. Promoters navigate increasingly complex risk assessments. Families weigh whether attending large public events still feels worth it. Each disruption, each headline, chips away at the fragile psychology that nightlife depends on: the belief that a night out is, fundamentally, safe.
And let’s face it, entertainment districts don’t collapse dramatically; they erode. First, the hesitant crowds. Then, the canceled bookings. Then, the creeping narrative that “it’s just not like it used to be.”
City officials have responded with increased patrols, temporary restrictions and stronger enforcement of existing ordinances. Public statements from municipal leaders have stressed a commitment to maintaining order while balancing the reality that young people will continue seeking spaces to gather. Yet enforcement alone faces limits.
You can disperse a crowd. You can’t disperse the impulse behind it.
Jacksonville’s challenge now sits at a complicated crossroads: public safety, youth engagement, nightlife economics and a digital culture where gatherings can materialize faster than any traditional planning mechanism can respond. None of this means the city’s cultural pulse has flatlined. Jacksonville still hums with artists, venues and communities determined to protect what makes its nights feel alive. But the tension is real.
Our message to the people participating in these teen takeover gatherings: STOP. JUST STOP! And regarding the shootings, we are hopeful that the shooters are detained and prosecuted to the highest extent of the law. And anyone connected to the violence needs to be locked up too.
• 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.
With Jacksonville’s constant growth and development, it’s no surprise that a new event space is in the works. If you’ve recently driven down Gate Parkway, north of IKEA, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen a large and colorful facility. The Block Jax, a family-oriented destination, full of fun, entertainment, and community, is set to open this month. This local hangout houses eight different restaurants, a kid’s park, a dog park, and much more. Whether you’re from Riverside, Jax Beach or even Julington Creek, this new hotspot is sure to wow you.
Founder of Kanine Social, and now The Block Jax, Daniel Moffatt, started working on the project with co-owner Ryan Irish almost four years ago. Back in 2018, Moffatt opened Kanine Social in hopes of creating an outdoor social space for pet parents. “I decided to do something I figured people would enjoy. At the time, breweries were becoming quite popular in Jacksonville, and as a dog owner, I thought of bringing the two together and creating a dog park and drinking space.” In 2021, 2022, and 2023, Kanine Social held the Woofstock Festival, which gained thousands of visitors over the course of the day. “It’s one of my favorite memories since starting the facility,” he said, “it’s pretty rare to get the chance to bring your pups to a music festival, so we decided to do it ourselves.”
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The Doggy daycare has tremendously paw-gressed over the past eight years, and with it, Moffatt’s expansion ideas. “Back then, it was my wife, our firstborn, our two dogs and myself. Now we have four kids and would love to provide a local, family-friendly space as well.” With Kanine Social being a perfect fit for a niche demographic of kid-free pet owners, this growth symbolizes change in lifestyle, where The Block Jax is open to all ages. “We want this to be an entertainment destination for Jax locals,” he said. The venue houses numerous amenities making it nearly impossible to be bored. “We have a stage for live music performances and a 30 ft. wide by 16 ft. tall screen for sports and movie nights,” he said.
Our city is truly such a diverse gem with numerous sub-communities. Moffatt emphasizes the importance of meeting others and creating a new spot for all residents. “We have the Beaches, the river, the Intracoastal, and there’s tons of different pockets within the city like Avondale, San Marco, Mandarin or Nocatee. What we’re essentially doing is plopping this space right in the center, so everyone can come out, socialize and befriend new people.”
The Block Jax officially broke ground in April of 2024, making this construction project almost two years old. The amenities provided on site are far from dull; whether you’re in the mood to kick back and crack a cold one from Southern Swells, need a break from the kids, or are craving some barbecue from the Bearded Piglet, this place has it all. The 2.5-acre land will house other restaurants such as Chancho King, The Hungry Owl, Just Kitchen Jax, Stack’d, Darkside Tacos, Slingin’ Wieners and Dairy Joy. Multiple bars will also be provided on-sight, one on the roof, and you can rent the space for private events.
Out of all the different local entertainment spots, this one is sure to take the lead. In a time where things feel busy and stressful, remember that community is natural and important. “This is a place where you can just put the phone down and talk to people,” said Moffatt. With our city being the largest landwise across the nation, finding a common center to interact with others is very valuable.
So mark your calendar for March 20 and get ready to spend the evening mingling, relaxing and playing with pups.
Saturdays | 8PM
The Neighborhood is a sonic journey through new and classic hip-hop and R&B, soul, funk, jazz and more. It is hosted by Duval- based hip-hop artist Mr. Al Pete.
Saturdays | 9PM
Annabella suffered a meniscus tear but thanks to Injury Care Centers & our Biotarget Therapy she was back on the field in only 3 weeks.
Tune in for Bop City with Daniel Stark. Acclaimed jazz saxophonist and director of Jacksonville’s historic Friday Musicale, Stark celebrates the revolutionary legacy of bebop—the bold, improvisational style born in 1940s Harlem and carried forward by artists like Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie.
Saturdays | 10PM
WJCT Public Media’s station manager David Luckin returns with Electro Lounge, carrying listeners into the late night with eclectic, downtempo sounds.
BLUES HORIZON
Sundays | 12AM
On Blues Horizon, WJCT Public Media’s Andrew Wiechman celebrates the best in classic and modern blues and showcases the musical genre that has inspired and influenced many other genres, including rock 'n' roll, jazz and modern popular music.
Words by Teresa Spencer
Springtime in St. Augustine comes with a soundtrack: the pop of sizzling seafood, laughter in the warm breeze, and the unmistakable aroma of butter, garlic and spices. This March 21 and 22, the St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival transforms Francis Field into a paradise for anyone who knows that the ocean’s finest tastes best fresh, hot and piled high on a plate.
Picture this: plump shrimp, glistening with garlic and herbs, seared to perfection; crab legs smothered in butter that drips down your fingers; scallops that are tender and sweet with a whisper of smoky char. Lobster tails glisten in the sun, their flesh flaky and rich, while crawfish pack that perfect Cajun punch, making your taste buds sit up and salute. Even the fried fish is a triumph — golden, crispy and delicate enough to melt in your mouth. Every bite is a reminder that seafood is not just food … it’s an experience.
Sides? Think creamy coleslaw, buttery corn on the cob and hush puppies with just the right crunch. Desserts sneak in too from gooey pecan pies to cool, sweet lemon tarts that cleanse the palate for the next glorious bite.
Music threads through it all: rock, blues and soul lacing the air as bands make you tap, sway or simply close your eyes and savor the flavors. The kids have their own adventures too from pirate antics to magic shows, letting grown-ups focus on tasting every dish without distraction.
Beyond indulgence, the festival carries heart. Every plate served supports local Lions Club charities, helping kids, seniors and veterans, meaning your taste buds are doing good as well as feeling glorious.
So go hungry. Get ready to lick your fingers, savor the sauces and let the aromas pull you from one booth to the next. From the first buttery bite of lobster to the last spicy pop of crawfish, this festival is a celebration of the ocean. Bon appétit!
THROUGH MARCH 2
“The Trojan Women” Flagler College–Lewis Auditorium flagler.edu
THROUGH MARCH 9
“Mean Girls” (teen version) Amelia Musical Playhouse ameliamusicalplayhouse.com
THROUGH APRIL 5
“Damn Yankees” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
MARCH 1
“She Loves Me” Orange Park Community Theatre opct.info
MARCH 2-3
“The Rainbow Thief” (Autism Spectrum Disorder Friendly Show) Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
MARCH 4
“Swan Lake” Ballet Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org
MARCH 5-15
“God Of Carnage” Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine limelight-theatre.org
MARCH 6
“Pen Pals” A Classic Theatre, St. Augustine aclassictheatre.org
MARCH 7
“In Here: Emerging Voices” The Florida Ballet jacksonvilledancetheatre.org
One Vision of Queen Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park thcenter.org
MARCH 7-8
“The Jungle Book” (kids version) Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com
MARCH 9
“Pete the Cat” Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
MARCH 10
“RENT”–In Concert Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Classic Stones Live! Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
“Dog Man: The Musical” Thrasher-Horne Center, Orange Park thcenter.org
MARCH 10-15
“Moulin Rouge!” The Musical Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org
MARCH 12
Movie Night at the Ritz Theatre: “Polar” Ritz Theatre ritzjacksonville.com
Screening of “Police Academy” and Live Conversation with Steve Guttenberg Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
MARCH 13-14
Jacksonville Horror Film Festival Main Library jaxhorrorfilmfest.com
MARCH 13-APRIL 12, 2026
“Every Brilliant Thing” Players by the Sea playersbythesea.org
MARCH 16
In the Air Tonight: Celebrating the Music of Phil Collins and Genesis Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
MARCH 21
The Phil Collins Story Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Disney On Ice presents Let’s Dance! VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com
MARCH 23
The Breakers: A Tribute to Tom Petty Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
MARCH 24
“Dancing With The Stars”: Live! Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com
MARCH 27 & 28
“Whispers the Vines” Dinner Theatre Blue Fire Theatre, Yulee bluefiretheatre.org
MARCH 28-29
Choreographer’s Choice
The Florida Ballet floridaballet.org
MARCH 29
Celtic Woman Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Words by Harry Straussman
A discarded member of a wealthy family orchestrates a plan to prune his family tree so that he can receive a grand inheritance in “How to Make a Killing.” John Patton Ford makes his sophomore effort following the acclaimed Aubrey Plaza-starring indie “Emily the Criminal” with this darkly comic satire that works as an appropriate vehicle for rising star Glenn Powell, after going through something of a misstep last year with Edgar Wright’s unfortunately forgettable “Running Man” remake. Ford makes an amusingly zippy caper that is boosted by large, sketch-like performances from supporting actors, like Topher Grace and Zach Woods, who ably skewer different shades of the rich, failed son, creating characters whose demise you are actively rooting for. “How to Make a Killing” is a diverting enough romp that is maybe hamstrung by its chosen framing device and struggles to juggle its many tones, but still taps in very well to the societal current disdain toward the fabulously wealthy.
Speaking of eating the rich, the newest adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” presents a steamy take on Emily Brontë’s classic novel. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star in the latest work from cinematic provocateur Emerald Fennell, who opts to sand down the sweeping tome to close in on the desperate romance between Cathy and Heathcliff, focusing particularly on their lust-filled desire that provides the dramatic thrust of the film.
With her previous two films, “Promising Young Woman” and “Saltburn,” Fennell made waves for her pulpishly provocative work that seemed to be intentionally dividing audiences with her confrontational presentations of sex and class, as can be surmised from “Wuthering Heights’” opening moments, in which a black screen is scored to what sounds like breathless lovemaking, only to be revealed as the last gasps of a hanged man.
Also notably, for the second time in a row, Fennell, who was raised in the Etonian upper crust of Britain, has made a film where the thematic core seems to be saying, “These poors will ruin our lives, and possibly kill us, if we allow them into polite society,” which I just think is a really interesting perspective for someone who went to the same private school as Ghislaine Maxwell to be sharing.
“Wuthering Heights” hinges on the hopes that its audience will be edging on their seats watching these two improbably attractive, very Australian-looking Victorians circle each other on a misty Yorkshire moor for what feels like a lifetime. The only issue is, as written here, both Cathy and Heathcliff are loathsome people who make a toxic couple when together.
From this straight’s perspective, there doesn’t appear to be much reason for Elordi’s Heathcliffe to be so desired besides his gargantuan height, of course.
As portrayed here, Heathcliff is sullen, vindictive and eventually abusive. Not to mention kind of a pussy who can’t tell a girl how he feels, despite growing up with them and having over 10 years to do so. It appears that the character is only swoon-worthy because he is played by an 8-foot-tall piece of meat, and not at all to do with Heathcliff’s personality or Elordi’s performance, which gives little beyond a glowering smolder. Interestingly, Elordi found much more depth, range and humanity when playing Frankenstein’s monster in Guillermo Del Toro’s adaptation of another Victorian-era novel that can, in all honesty, probably be put to rest for the foreseeable future. We don’t need any more interpretations of “Wuthering Heights” or Frankenstein when there are so many Spider-Man stories to be told.
On the other side of the gothic infatuation is Cathy, played here by the always luminous Margot Robbie. In what is essentially her major follow-up to the cultural juggernaut, “Barbie,” Robbie, a fine actor by any standard, finds herself miscast in a role that is practically defined by teenage naivete. As Cathy acts in a way that would be expected of someone flowing with hormones and new urges and is not becoming of a woman in her 30s. It underlines Cathy as an unlikeable character whose actions can’t be explained away as the dramatic flailing of a teenager, but shows her to be a selfish and thoughtless individual who makes the lives of everyone around her worse because she is only concerned with her own infatuation. It is a waste of Robbie’s talents and charms as an actor to have her spend what feels like most of the runtime relentlessly sobbing over what amounts to “some guy.” Robbie is one of the most dynamic A-list actors working today and has given several performances in films such as “Babylon”, “I, Tonya”, and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” that show off how wide her range is and utilize her talents more effectively than Fennell’s film can do.
But the greatest sin “Wuthering Heights” commits is that, despite the promised eroticism that the film was made and sold on, it’s just not remotely hot and, instead, surprisingly tame. I can accept and enjoy a film where the romance takes a backseat to more simplistic, lustful needs, but if that’s the case then you need to take a bigger swing than Fennell does here, where the most charged imagery she can muster is a repeated motif of Heathcliff’s sweaty, scarred back and of a slimy white snail slowly trickling down a window Cathy gazes longingly out of. I’m not saying that the film needed to have scenes of full penetration to fulfill its promise of being a sexually charged epic romance, but at the very least, Elordi could have hung some dong or something.
The most pressing question on many young people’s minds is: What am I going to do with my life? The multitude of possible life paths can be paralyzing. What happens, though, when someone as young as 11 years old knows exactly what she wants to do and is intent on achieving all she sets out for? Tatum Matthews is one of the lucky few to know what she wants — and her story is already in progress.
Matthews, a local 17-year-old high school student, wrote, directed and produced her first short film last year entitled “Would You Rather.” The drama, centered on adolescence and friendship, premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival to positive reviews.
Her pursuit of film began with another passion: acting. “I started getting into theater shows and did professional shows at the Alhambra Theatre. I did about a dozen shows there when I was younger up until now,” she recalled. After years of acting, though, a new interest emerged. “When I was about 11, I wanted to get into film too because I was loving theater, but I was really interested in the movie side of it as well.”
So her training began, an unconventional education with directors instead of teachers and castmates instead of students. When asked about the scheduling theater and school, Matthews explained, “When I started doing shows, like, obviously, it became crazy to balance being in elementary school and middle school and having to sit up to 11 o’clock doing eight shows a week — but I love a busy lifestyle.”
Where many parents might have seen this interest in theater as just a hobby, Matthews’ parents recognized something more and did all they could to support her. “My parents were the ones who would come and get me, and then I had school bright and early at 7 o’clock the next morning. But seriously, their support was never, never taken for granted. They have always been there for me.”
Matthews’ story emphasizes the need for a perfect concoction of support and self-assurance to pursue something like the film industry. “There are so many situations where people have these ambitions and these talents, but without that support, it really is nearly impossible. So I’m very lucky,” she recognized.
Her parents are not the only ones rooting for Matthews to succeed, of course. Surrounding her are what she calls “mentors” acting as teachers to her own personal film school. One in particular stands out. “Franklin Ritch — he came out to my mom after my audition, and I basically introduced myself to him, and he’s been with me ever since. He’s taught me so much. He’s such an incredible director and actor and writer himself, so he’s kind of taught me all the ropes, which I’m just beyond grateful for. I definitely could not have had the confidence to do it without his mentorship throughout the entire process,” she recalled. “Especially during ‘Would You Rather,’ he would come over to my house and help me with any questions I had. He never said ‘no.’ I think definitely the film would not be what it is without that because I was so new to the whole experience of writing and directing.”
Years of exploring theater as an actress led to the beginning of last year when Matthews had an idea. “I had been doing a lot of dramatic roles and scenes recently. I was, like, let’s make it a drama film. I really just wanted to focus on the scenes that teens deal with every day in their life that really aren’t talked about a lot, and I wanted to make sure that everyone felt seen with the movie,” she said. From this initial moment of deciding to make a film, Matthews employed her experience as a teen, actress and student to write the script for “Would You Rather.”
Soon after filming began, a benchmark moment came as Matthews turned 16 on the first day. “The most challenging part would have to be wearing all the hats at once. I wasn’t fully thinking about how cool it would be to also be acting and doing all of it at once on set. But acting has kind of always been second nature for me. So on set, I really wasn’t thinking about the acting and was definitely able to more so focus on the directing. But it was weird because technically I’m directing myself, and I feel like sometimes I’m my worst critic.” She continued: “The Jacksonville community has been the best part. People like Adam Madrid are so helpful. We had extras volunteer from the Providence Thespian Group, [who were] nice enough to let us use their school, and local restaurants helped with catering. Mayday Ice Cream was completely willing to let us film there.”
It finally came time for the film to premiere at Calgary International Film Festival but due to scheduling conflicts, Matthew was unable to attend. Now, a second chance to experience the film screening presented itself just last week, Matthews revealed, “I will be going in April to the Beverly Hills International Film Festival because we just found out probably, like, a week ago that we were accepted. So I’m really excited about that.”
Matthews has no plans of slowing down, as her high school days come to a close I asked her about her plans for the future, expecting an answer about college but Matthews jumped in with her longterm goals, “I think I’ll either eventually want to start a production company or a casting office because I love the production side of it and the fact that you’re controlling whose movies get made. What I love about both casting and a production company is, either way, you’re making someone’s dream come true. I’ve been so lucky for the casting directors that have said ‘yes to me,’ and I would just love to say ‘yes’ to more people. All you need is one person to give you an opportunity.”
I’ll let you in on a secret: nobody knows what they’re doing, but if you pay enough attention, the world is your education. Support comes in many forms, parents, friends, mentors, but it is what one does with this support that counts.
Tatum Matthew’s film “Would You Rather“ will be screened at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival on April 12.
To catch a sneak peek of “Would You Rather”
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
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
Join the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens for a spectacular fundraising event inspired by our current exhibition Art in Bloom. This enchanting evening will feature live music, interactive art experiences, and delectable bites and libations under the stars and among our gardens.
We met over coffee, a meeting that began with an accidental aesthetic: two pink drinks sitting on the counter. He had ordered a beetroot latte; I went with rose pistachio. Before we sat down, Joe VanDyke snapped a photo of the vibrant pairing alongside a poster for his upcoming show, “Art is Love,” set for March 21 at Hard Love Co.
While VanDyke has spent the last few years in Los Angeles, he remains a Jacksonville native to his core. He’s the kind of local who knows the best hidden coffee spots and the history of the garage indie scene because he lived it. He hasn’t just been attending shows in this city; he’s been building the stage for them since 2006.
His debut as a curator happened almost by accident at a hotel in Jacksonville Beach. What started as a modest vision — a space for local bands to play and a few vendors to set up shop — exploded when 500 people showed up. The overwhelming turnout didn’t just validate the idea; it unlocked a new calling for him.
“That very first one, I didn’t expect it to turn into a regular thing,” VanDyke recalls. “I just thought, ‘We love art, let’s throw a show.’ But people immediately started asking when the next one was.”
The momentum was instant. Following that 2006 debut, VanDyke began booking shows three to four months in advance. The “buzz” became impossible for local venues to ignore.
“Different venues started reaching out to me because they saw the energy we were creating,” he says. “It just picked up steam, and I ended up running them regularly from 2006 all the way through 2011.”
While these shows may seem like a series of fortunate accidents, looking back, it feels as though VanDyke’s path was written in the stars. Two consistent threads have always pulled at the fabric of his life: art and love.
Growing up as the only boy among four children, VanDyke’s early years were defined by a quest for quiet. He spent his days exploring the coastline or skateboarding at local parks, not out of a lack of affection for his sisters (one of whom is actually working the door for the upcoming show), but as a necessary escape from the beautiful “chaos” of a full house.
“It was a loud house,” VanDyke laughed. “With three sisters and all our neighborhood friends constantly around South Jax Beach, I just wanted to get away from the noise. We’re all close, but that environment pushed me outside … to the beach, building forts in the woods, skateboarding and eventually, picking up a guitar. I just leaned into all of it.”
There is a poetic irony in that escape. To flee the noise of his home, VanDyke inadvertently mastered the tools of a different kind of clamor. The guitar he picked up in solitude eventually landed him in the thick of the music scene, playing for bands like Five Cents Short (alongside former Yellowcard guitarist Todd Cleary) as well as Lurch and Shadow Agency with Warren Cooke.
These projects took him far beyond Jacksonville Beach and the garage punk scene, landing him on massive festival stages like Warped Tour. Yet, even in the middle of those high-decibel tours, the core threads remained. He wasn’t just playing music; he was building a nationwide network of artists and lasting connections that would eventually come full circle, back to the art shows he curates today.
“I spent all my 20s touring in bands, and it kind of gave me a background of DIY, like do it yourself, book everything yourself, approach it. You’re not coming at it for, like, you know, money or status or anything. It’s more of, like, a really fun creative outlet,” VanDyke explained. “So, having all those years of focusing on bands and everything, it kind of led to displaying art in a way. And the art itself is kind of, you know, inspired by those times. I would say without the punk rock background, I probably would have never started doing the art shows. They kind of go hand in hand.”
In 2011, VanDyke traded the tour van for the West Coast, moving to Los Angeles to pursue videography and photography.
While there, he stumbled into a craft that was much smaller in scale than a festival stage but just as impactful: pin design. Alongside his close friend Preston Nettles, he launched Nerdpins.
“That was another thing that just happened organically. I didn’t expect that to be what Nerdpins ended up becoming, which is my brand name. By 2017 and 2018, I was vending every weekend. I was doing, like, every Comic-Con. I got them in Urban Outfitters. The pins were another thing that organically just took off in a way that kind of blew my mind. And it’s still here. August will be the 10th anniversary of the brand,” VanDyke said.
Since returning to Jacksonville, however, the pace has changed. Nerdpins remains active online, but VanDyke has traded the relentless L.A. hustle for the tactile, slow-burn rhythm of painting. He is in a season of reflection, and the upcoming “Art is Love” show marks a massive full-circle moment — his first curated event in Jacksonville since moving away over a decade ago.
True to the theme of the show, VanDyke credits his “support system” for making it
possible, specifically citing his best friends Paul Carr (of Flamingo) and Preston Nettles. “I think I’ve grown more peaceful, which is something I love about this era of my life,” VanDyke shared. “I’ve dived into meditation a lot, and that helps with creativity. I hold things lightly, like, I’m not as, everything doesn’t seem life or death if somebody cancels or if this doesn’t work out, if that doesn’t work out, you just roll with it and realize that everything unfolds exactly as it should. So I kind of feel more at peace these days, especially after a decade of hustle in L.A. and everything else. Being back in Jax, I’m just feeling, like, connected and grounded, and I love seeing all the different creative things people are doing here in Jacksonville.”
That sense of community will be on full display from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Hard Love Co. The event will transform five rooms into an immersive gallery, featuring food and drinks from Flamingo and a raw bar by East Coast Oysters. The atmosphere will be curated by live DJ sets from Tiger Records and acoustic performances by local artists, all culminating in an “indie sleaze” dance party—a high-energy nod to the garage band roots where it all began.
Words & photos by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri
“I think the greatest thing about parks and entertaining people within a park is that it is accessible to all. You can have people who are unhoused, and you can have people who are making six figures and more hanging out in the same space and enjoying the same music, the same entertainment. It is truly an egalitarian space to be. And that is what we all strive for here at James Weldon Johnson Park. We want to be the park for everybody.” – Liz McDonald, executive director of the Friends of James Weldon Park.
Every great city has a central pulse. A green sanctuary stitched into the gray fabric of the business district. It’s where the rhythmic clacking of keyboards fades into the rustle of leaves, and the sterile glare of office monitors is traded for the dappled Florida sunlight.
In the shadows of the surrounding skyline, the park serves as a kinetic crossroads. You see it in the hurried commuter pausing their stride for a fragrant local food truck, the student tucked into a corner bench with a weathered paperback, and the quiet dignity of neighbors simply watching the city breathe. For 160 years, this plot of land has been Jacksonville’s front porch. Today, we know it as James Weldon Johnson Park.
We sat down with McDonald to discuss what we have to look forward to this year.
Having spent her formative years navigating the concrete canyons and lush retreats of New York City, McDonald didn’t just visit parks; she studied their soul. Combined with a high-octane career in the entertainment industry, she arrived in Jacksonville with a rare blueprint for success.
Think of her as our very own Leslie Knope: a whirlwind of civic ambition and creative fire, fueled by the belief that a park should be more than just grass and benches. To her, it’s a stage, and every afternoon is an opening night.
While McDonald’s favorite park in New York was Wagner Park because it was romantic, she notes that James Weldon Johnson Park is even more unique for its vast history.
“It’s 160 years old in 2026. So think about all the people who have passed through. And some of those people are Lyndon Johnson and John F. Kennedy. And, you know, I have a friend who saw Roy Rogers perform in the park,” McDonald shared. “There have been so many people who have come through the park, and that’s what makes this park so wonderful.”
For the 160th anniversary, rather than celebrating for one day, the James Weldon Johnson Park team decided to turn it into a year-long celebration. McDonald is introducing a suite of interactive programming designed to turn the park into a daily retreat for the community. Among these initiatives is “Happy Mondays,” a weekly event inviting visitors to step away from their routines with lawn games such as mini-golf and beanbag toss, as well as various board games.
However, she is most enthusiastic about a collaboration with the Jessie Ball duPont Center: an upcoming exhibit titled “Stories of the People of the Park.” Running from March through May, the gallery features personal histories and portraits of the park’s everyday users.
To bring the project to life, McDonald worked with actress, director, playwright and educator Barbara Colaciello to record the oral histories and portrait photographer Toni Smailagić to capture the images. The goal, McDonald noted, is to highlight the individuals who give the space its unique character.
“I think the biggest throughline from 160 years to now has been community. Isaiah Hart first designed this park in his head. And, of course, this is before Jacksonville even existed. He designed the park in his head, thinking this was going to be Jacksonville’s center for commerce and community. And it’s still that today. Now it’s more, maybe not so much commerce, but definitely community. This is the space where Jacksonville comes together,” McDonald added.
“We’ve got people that come from all over town into Downtown for the events that we have here, not just Springfield and not just Riverside, but we’ve got people coming from out east and from Northside and Westside and Southside. It’s really the people’s park.”
The park operates on a placemaking principle known as the “Power of 10.” The idea is simple but expansive: a truly successful park offers 10 distinct activities within its borders. That energy then ripples outward, 10 great things to do in the immediate neighborhood, then 10 in the surrounding districts.
Meaning, Jacksonville’s Downtown will be most successful when that power of 10 expands from the river and across to Springfield to the stadium and even farther to Brooklyn and Riverside.
“My little cosmo here is the power of 10 that happens right here in the park. So on any given day, you can buy lunch from a food truck, you can listen to music, you can meet your friends, you can enjoy the shade,” McDonald explained. “And these are just, I mean, I know that they’re not like hugely active things, but you know what? It’s still something. You can read a book. You can play dominoes with the domino players out there. We need to have at least 10 things in the park and then have 10 things beyond that and beyond that and beyond that.”
To watch the full interview with Liz McDonald
MARCH
MARCH
MARCH
MARCH
MARCH
MARCH
MARCH
MARCH
MARCH 12
Prohibition Laughs: Speakeasy Comedy Show
The Volstead thevolsteadjax.com
MARCH 13-14
Theo Vonn Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Big Jay Oakerson Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
MARCH 5-7
First Coast Comedy First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
MARCH 6-7
Third Space Improv
Third Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com
MARCH 13
Third Space Improv
Third Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com
MARCH 14
Don’t Tell Comedy
Somewhere in Murray Hill (even if we knew we wouldn’t tell) donttellcomedy.com
OMGITSWICKS & Friends
Thrasher-Horn Center, Orange Park thcenter.org
Magic Hideaway with Bill Abbott Casa Marina Resort & Spa, St. Augustine magichideaway.com
MARCH 15
Rocky Dale Davis
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
MARCH 17
Mike Goodwin
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
MARCH 18
Steve Hofstetter Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
MARCH 19
Whose Live Anyway?
Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
River City Comedy Voodoo Brewing eventbrite.com
MARCH 20
Hannah Berner Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
MARCH 20-21
First Coast Comedy First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
MARCH 21
Cristela Alonzo FIVE fivejax.com
Mind Magic Live With Mentalist Joshua Seth MOCA Jacksonville joshuaseth.com
BURPIE Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
Don’t Tell Comedy
Somewhere in Riverside (even if we knew we wouldn’t tell) donttellcomedy.com
Magic Hideaway with Bill Abbott Casa Marina Resort & Spa, St. Augustine magichideaway.com
MARCH 22
Emo Philips Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
Masters of Illusion
Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
MARCH 26
Salt Cave Comedy Show
Earth Salt Stone earthsaltstone.com
Giggles & Grooves
Somewhere at the Beaches (even if we knew we wouldn’t tell) sofarsounds.com
MARCH 27-29
First Coast Comedy
First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
MARCH 28
Don’t Tell Comedy
Somewhere in Murray Hill (even if we knew we wouldn’t tell) donttellcomedy.com
KISS Comedy Show Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk eventbrite.com
Third Space Improv
Third Space Improv, St. Augustine 3rdspaceimprov.com
Magic Hideaway with Bill Abbott Casa Marina Resort & Spa, St. Augustine magichideaway.com
Made For You By Ambar Ramirez
“KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY”
After a four-year hiatus, THE Harry Styles is back with his fourth studio album. And as the title suggests, it will probably be hopelessly romantic with hints of boogie rhythms and nights spent under a disco ball.
“IS THIS THE LOW POINT OR THE MOMENT AFTER?”
When I came across this emopunk band, I was surprised to see that they only have 59,568 monthly listeners. That is obviously still a high number, but after listening to a few of their songs, I expected more ’cause they are just that good. And their fourth studio album might just be the one that takes them to the top.
“SATELLITE”
Ironically, the artist who got famous on TikTok for essentially making a diss track called “Dress” toward all the uptights that were upset Harry Styles wore a dress on a cover of Vogue is also releasing an album the same day Styles’ is. This is the electric pop artist’s third studio album.
“STILL THERE’S A GLOW”
Expressive and honest, Sweet Pill is coming out with their sophomore album, and it’s expected to be a document of self-reflection and growth. This album comes three years after their debut LP, which includes some of my personal favorites like “Blood,” and if the full studio album is as thought out as their LP, I think they will be all right.
I won’t lie, I’m not the biggest Central Cee fan. and it has nothing to do with his music but more so with the online drama I choose to believe. If you know, you know. That said, there’s a reason the British rapper is popular, and it has everything to do with his talent.
Another instance of separating the artist from the art applies to none other than Kanye West, formally and legally known as “Ye” now. I’ll be honest, the last album I listened to from the rapper was “The Life of Pablo,” and that won’t change now. But it is my duty to let you know what albums to look out for, and I am not one to discriminate.
Whenever I read or hear about Charlie Puth, I can’t help but blurt out to the nearest person the fact that he has what is called Perfect Pitch, a (real) rare ability to identify or recreate any musical note without a reference tone. It will be interesting to see how much or how little has changed over the four years since his last album.
If you only listen to one album from this list, do yourself a favor and make sure it’s this one. RAYE has quickly become one of my favorite artists. She is, in my opinion, a modern Amy Winehouse and that is saying a lot. She has all the qualities of a true jazz vocalist with the lyrics of a pop artist. Catchy and just so damned good!
If you don’t know who Melanie Martinez is, then you probably lived under a rock in 2015 … or had a very normal childhood. Anyway, Martinez is not your run-of-the-mill pop artist. She took the genre and reshaped, stretched and molded it to fit her alternative and immersive world. Music is just the language of a fantasy she has built.
Funnily enough, Robyn recently resurfaced in my playlists on Spotify thanks to the movie “People We Meet on Vacation.” And lo and behold, just two months later, here she is with a new album after an 8(ish)-year hiatus. Her music is fun and, like one of my favorite songs of hers — “Dancing On My Own” — suggests her music makes you want to dance.
Uncertainty is a feeling many will avoid by chasing stability. Stability is supposed to come from responsible decisions like going to college, getting a practical degree and accepting a practical job. After years of climbing that corporate ladder, the potential downside of stability becomes too much to ignore, though. This pitfall comes in the form of abandoned “impractical” dreams. These untaken paths may seem unattainable compared to the steady life granted by serious careers, but the paths never truly disappear. They exist forever, manifesting in smaller choices like what movies to watch, what clothes to wear and what hobbies to take up.
After years of practicality, it may seem impossible or painful to entertain the thought of giving those dashed dreams a second chance. Even so, this is exactly what Barry Degroot did after leaving his reliable corporate job at 60 years old to pursue a path he always dreamed of — becoming a musician.
DeGroot entered the corporate world at a young age and worked in law for the past few decades. Though he appreciated the work and the stability of this lifestyle, a love of music persisted. This love carried him through years of work in the form of a hobby until his law career reached its natural end. DeGroot recalled his decision to retire, saying, “I think I just reached the natural point for it to happen. Thinking more about it, I was probably reaching a point in my corporate career where I’m like, yeah, you know, you reach the point where I’m heading towards burnout on this.”
Following retirement DeGroot examined his life. After so much life lived, he still hadn’t fulfilled something he always wanted. Over the course of his career, during his off time, he wrote songs on the piano. He now sat with a collection of 30 years worth of music only heard within the walls of his home. So he asked himself where he wanted to be in five years, and the answer revealed itself to be sharing his music with the world.
DeGroot’s emotionally evocative piano pieces reflect a part of himself that he describes as an inner world. It’s moving and melancholic and tells of a deep creative spirit, he explained, “My piano stuff is sort of my emotional diary of just expressing myself and translating my emotions through music.” This would become the collection of songs released on his first album “Unspoken Conversations.”
DeGroot’s overall goal with the release of his music was just that, sharing it for people to hear, bringing an audience in for a conversation through music. “If people enjoy it,” he said, “that’s all the satisfaction I need.” Much to his surprise, though, his music would be heard by more people than he imagined. Submitting songs to curators through a portal called SubmitHub landed him on over-70 Spotify playlist, mostly study playlists. “When I listen to the album I released, it’s kind of mundane and repetitive. But maybe that’s what makes it good for relaxation. But there’s no buildup to a traditional verse and chorus and things like that.” Through these relaxation playlists he garnered over 100,000 monthly listeners, far exceeding his expectations.
A true lover of music, DeGroot decided next to pursue another forgotten dream, attending Berklee College of Music. When he chose, all those years ago, to be practical in pursuing law, he decided against Berklee. Now, with retirement granting free time, he attends classes online, learning different aspects of the craft he might have never been exposed to, allowing for new inspiration in his own work.
“More so in recent years, it’s really the result of the Berklee education — thinking about my songs more in the sense of structure and bringing it to a climax and building up to a certain point in a song.” He continued, “So songs that I’ve been writing that are more popular rock songs, I’m paying a lot more attention to that structure.”
The songs he speaks of here refer, in part, to music he writes with John Ashton, the founding guitarist of the Psychedelic Furs. The creation of the production duo reflects the attitude which led DeGroot to releasing his music in the first place, a sort of “why not” spirit rewarded with personal fulfillment. “I just followed him [Ashton] on Facebook for years, and we became Facebook friends and just, you know, I’d go see shows and chat with him online once in a while and share music with him. And we just kind of organically became friends through Facebook.” He continued,
“It was great. I was just so excited when he said, ‘Sure, let’s work together.’ And I was like, ‘Reed,’ my wife, “Look, it’s John Ashton. He’s calling me.”
DeGroot’s life looks different than it did a few years ago, now completely enveloped in music rather than it being just a part of his day. He expressed his gratitude for those years spent in his career because ultimately it led him where he is now. Though he did share his thoughts for anyone of any age who has a dream: “I mean, my advice — even with my own children — if they said, ‘Hey, I want to drop this and go play music,’ I would just say do what you love. Being happy is more important than making money. But try to do your best to make a living at it.”
STYX
WITH SPECIAL GUEST CHEAP TRICK FEBRUARY 28
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE AND JUVENILE
MARCH 1
AN EVENING WITH TOTO
MARCH 2
ROD STEWART
MARCH 5
PECHAKUCHA NIGHT ST. AUGUSTINE VOLUME 26: GRASS IS GREENER
MARCH 7
BRET MICHAELS
LIVE & AMPLIFIED TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST TESLA
MARCH 8
MERCYME
THE WONDER + AWE TOUR WITH BIG DADDY WEAVE, TIM TIMMONS & SAM WESLEY
MARCH 15
107.3 PLANET RADIO PRESENTS PLANET BAND CAMP FEATURING THREE DAYS GRACE WITH SLEEP THEORY & THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT MARCH 18
WIDESPREAD PANIC MARCH 20-22
SPRING NIGHT MARKET
MARCH 24
PARKER MCCOLLUM
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS MAX M C NOWN & LACI KAYE BOOTH MARCH 27 & 28
BILLY STRINGS
APRIL 2-4
SANTANA ONENESS TOUR 2026
APRIL 7
DWIGHT YOAKAM WITH SPECIAL GUESTS FLATLAND CAVALRY & CHAYCE BECKHAM
APRIL 9
MT. JOY
HOPE WE HAVE FUN PART II TOUR
APRIL 11
TRACE ADKINS
30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST CONFEDERATE RAILROAD
APRIL 16
FOREIGNER
SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY LOU GRAMM WITH VERY SPECIAL GUEST NIGHT RANGER
APRIL 17
AN EVENING WITH GOOSE
APRIL 18 & 19
RUSSELL DICKERSON THE RUSSELLMANIA TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DASHA & ATLUS
APRIL 24
FT JOE SATRIANI & STEVE VAI WITH ANIMALS AS LEADERS
APRIL 25
ALABAMA SHAKES
WITH SPECIAL GUEST LAMONT LANDERS
APRIL 26
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS “THE BADDEST SHOW ON EARTH” WITH SPECIAL GUEST THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND
MAY 7
ETHEL CAIN THE WILLOUGHBY TUCKER FOREVER TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST 9MILLION
MAY 8
LIVE WILDLY PRESENTS JJ GREY'S BLACKWATER SOL REVIEW FEATURING JJ GREY & MOFRO WITH WAR & BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY
MAY 16
IRATION & SOJA WHERE IT ALL BEGAN SUMMER TOUR 2026 WITH SPECIAL GUESTS TRIBAL SEEDS & ARTIKAL SOUND SYSTEM
MAY 17
SAM BARBER
THE AMERICAN ROUTE TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
MICHAEL MARCAGI & BEBE STOCKWELL
MAY 23
THE BLACK CROWES
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST SOUTHALL
JUNE 2
CLAYPOOL GOLD FEAT: PRIMUS, LES CLAYPOOL’S FROG BRIGADE & THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM
JUNE 19
VINCE GILL
50 YEARS FROM HOME TOUR JUNE 27
MEN AT WORK WITH SPECIAL GUESTS TOAD THE WET SPROCKET & SHONEN KNIFE
JULY 17
DIERKS BENTLEY OFF THE MAP TOUR WITH RICKY SKAGGS & KENTUCKY THUNDER & COLE GOODWIN
JULY 18
LINDSEY STIRLING WITH SPECIAL GUEST PVRIS
JULY 20
THE BLACK KEYS PEACHES ‘N KREAM WORLD TOUR WITH SUPPORT FROM EDDIE 9V
JULY 29
THE FRAY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL & COLONY HOUSE AUGUST 8
BUDDY GUY 90 TOUR AUGUST 22
BLUES TRAVELER & GIN BLOSSOMS WITH SPIN DOCTORS SEPTEMBER 4
JAMES TAYLOR AND HIS ALL-STAR BAND SEPTEMBER 22 & 23
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND FUTURE SOUL TOUR 2026 OCTOBER 9 & 10
O.A.R. THREE DECADES TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS GAVIN DEGRAW & KT TUNSTALL NOVEMBER 14
MARCH 1
Al Jardine and The Pet Sounds Band Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Matte Blvck Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
Bonafide
The Albatross albatrossjax.com
MARCH 2
A Killer’s Confession The Albatross albatrossjax.com
Marbin Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 3
The Deslondes Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 4
Terror
The Albatross albatrossjax.com
MARCH 5
Christopher Cross Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Shovels & Rope FIVE fivejax.com
Stayin’ Alive: One Night of the Bee Gees Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org
New York Voices with UNF Jazz Ensemble UNF Fine Arts Center beachesfinearts.org
Lee Ross Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
Ordinary Boys
The Albatross albatrossjax.com
MARCH 6
The Magic of Motown Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com
The Doo Wop Project Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts fscjartistseries.org
TUSK: The Classic Tribute of Fleetwood Mac FloridaTheatre floridatheatre.com
Colt Ford DECCA LIVE deccalive.com
Justin Furstenfeld FIVE fivejax.com
The Summer Set Duval Hall jaxlive.com
Alexsucks Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 6-7
Mozart & More Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxsymphony.org
MARCH 7
Bryce Crawford Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com
Little River Band Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Saving Abel Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
Strung Out
The Albatross albatrossjax.com
MARCH 8
Get the Led Out
Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Letdown.
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 9
The Nighthawks
Amelia Community Theatre, Fernandina Beach ameliacommunitytheatre.org
MARCH 10
Veronica Swift Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Classic Stones Live! Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
Mahal Kita
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 11
The Bronx Wanderers
Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Shwayze
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 12
Justin Moore
Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org
Lari Basilio
The Albatross albatrossjax.com
Part One Tribe
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 13
Band Capricio FIVE fivejax.com
Dirty Dancing—In Concert
Thrasher-Horne Center thcenter.org
Mersiv
DECCA LIVE deccalive.com
Ventana
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 13-14
Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxsymphony.org
MARCH 14
Meduza
DECCA LIVE deccalive.com
Tori Nance
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 15
Beasts of the East
The Albatross albatrossjax.com
MARCH 17
Pat Metheny
Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
MARCH 18
THE ORCHESTRA Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
MARCH 19
THIRD DAY
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com
Beatles vs. Stones
Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com
MARCH 21
The STARS Tour ft. Anne Wilson
Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com
Back Outside
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena jaxevents.com
Beggar Weeds
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 22
Mammoth FIVE fivejax.com
Cavity
The Albatross albatrossjax.com
John Muka Band
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 25
Laid Back Country Picker
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 27
Forever Donna: The Ultimate Donna Summer Tribute Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Buddies
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
MARCH 27-28
Barber & Mendelssohn
Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxsymphony.org
MARCH 28
Brit Floyd
Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
MARCH 29
Great American Crooners
Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com
MARCH 31
Sebastian Bach FIVE fivejax.com
Redd Kross
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
I’ve had my fair share of Italian food lately. It’s such a staple cuisine, and there’s just something about living near the beach that makes you crave carbs upon carbs. That said, this isn’t Bella Vista’s first rodeo. Their Fruit Cove location is already a go-to for date nights, birthdays, and those evenings when you want to dress up a bit and spend more than $20 on a plate of pasta.
The newly opened spot on Third Street, taking over the old Biggies Pizza space next to Rita’s, stays true to the original. You’ll find the same menu and signature specialties, like their Cacio e Pepe, Veal Milanese and those famous Pistachio Martinis.
While the ambiance is a bit brighter than some of the other moody Italian spots popping up lately, the murals of the Amalfi Coast offer a nice personal touch. They give you a glimpse into the background of owner and head chef Giovanni Prignano, highlighting the flavors of his hometown.
Now, for the flavors themselves. We started with the complimentary bread. Fresh, fluffy and a perfectly crispy crust. For an appetizer, we went with a classic: the Caprese salad. I’ve become a bit of a Caprese snob lately, mostly after a weekend of “accidentally” ordering it at every stop, but this one rose to the top of my list. Even as a simple dish, the flavors really popped.
For my main, I ventured onto the specials menu for the Vodka Chicken Parm served with spicy rigatoni. It was delicious — point blank. The rigatoni actually brought the heat, which balanced perfectly with the rich, cheesy chicken.
I finished the night with a creamy Pistachio Martini. I could’ve opted for the tiramisu, but everyone has their own version of a nightcap, and a strong drink is mine.
Words by Teresa Spencer
In Jacksonville, there’s a unique way the community comes together that combines two essential things: great food and helping neighbors in need. It’s called Dining Out for Life, and over the years, it has grown into more than a fundraiser; it’s a true local tradition that shows what can happen when people step up for each other.
On a single day each year (April 16 in 2026), participating restaurants across the city contribute a portion of their sales to support local health and social services. Here in Northeast Florida, those contributions go directly to the Northeast Florida AIDS Network (NFAN), an organization that has been helping people in our community since 1989.
Originally, NFAN focused on helping people living with HIV during a time when treatment options were extremely limited. Today, medical advances have changed the landscape, but NFAN’s work goes far beyond medical care.
They provide guidance for clients navigating healthcare but also tackle the practical barriers that can prevent someone from staying healthy: food insecurity, unstable housing, mental health struggles and lack of insurance. NFAN understands that a person can’t prioritize medication or treatment if their basic needs aren’t met first.
A cornerstone of NFAN’s approach is the Mary H. Lewis Food Pantry, named after a local woman who faced discrimination and personal hardship due to her HIV status. Rather than just seeking help for herself, Lewis wanted to ensure others in similar situations had access to nutritious food. Today, the pantry continues that mission, providing meals for people living with HIV and others facing food insecurity.
The beauty of Dining Out for Life is its simplicity: when you dine at participating restaurants on the event day, a percentage of your bill goes to NFAN. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks all contribute to the cause.
Last year alone, the program helped deliver thousands of meals to local families while supporting NFAN’s services from housing and case management to education and health resources. This event is more than a fundraiser. It’s a testament to the power of community partnerships. Diners, restaurants, volunteers and nonprofit staff all play a role in creating meaningful, measurable change. So mark your calendar for April 16 and arrive hungry.
For information on sponsoring, participating or donating visit, diningoutforlife.com.
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
ARLINGTON
Atlantis Lounge instagram.com/theatlantis_jax
Cliff’s Bar and Grill cliffsbarandgrill.com
Club Heaven clubheavenjax.com
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 kickersjax.com
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
Trusted
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
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
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
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
Crispy’s crispysspringfieldgallery.com
The District thedistrictspr.com
Historically Hoppy Brewing Company historicallyhoppy.com
Juice Wine Bar juicewinebar.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
Bin 39 bin39.wine
Boat Drinks boatdrinksbar.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
The Bar with No Name instagram.com/nonamebarstaug
Tini Martini tini-martini-bar.com
“Space X Bandwagon-4 launch “ Space X Bandwagon-4 launched at 1:09am Nov 2, 2025 from Cape Canaveral. I was about 15 or so miles north. Took 3 photos to create this one photo. The two smaller streaks on the right up high and near the ground is one of the boosters that came back in for re-entry and landed.
Jeff Card Photography
