Folio Vol. 40, Issue 8

FOLIO STAFF:

JOHN

TERESA

KERRY

AMBAR RAMIREZ Creative Director

CARMEN

AARON

ARIANA

EMILY

KALEB STOWELL Writer

HARRY

BOUQS & BRICKS BOUQUETS

To the city of Jacksonville for earning its place on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail for 2026, joining a powerful national narrative rooted in courage, resilience, and nonviolent change. This recognition is a reminder that Jacksonville helped shape the path forward, and that legacy still matters.

To Ben Williams of Ponte Vedra for raising nearly $175,000 for the American Heart Association and earning the title of First Coast Teen of Impact. While most teenagers are figuring out what’s for lunch, Ben was out here saving lives and rallying a community. Bravo, Ben!

BRICKBATS

To Donald Trump for turning Easter morning into a spectacle of crude, inflammatory rants on Truth Social. While most people were focused on reflection, family, and hopefully not picking fights before coffee, Trump was busy lobbing verbal grenades like it’s normalcy. Threatening to end an entire civilization is out of control. This wasn’t leadership, it was noise. At some point, the act stops being “tell it like it is” and starts looking like an insane man who just can’t stop shouting at the world like a lunatic. Enough already.

By Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri

Horoscopes

Aries

Happy birthday, Aries! In your long pursuit of novelty and notoriety, a relationship could be a double-edged sword, which you might soon find out as the Libra full moon shines directly in your relationship sector. You love having someone in your corner, but the second it feels overcrowded, game over. This month will have you walking the tightrope trying to find a perfect balance. As Chappel Roan once said, “Good luck, babe!”

Taurus

Spring may have sprung, but you’re not quite ready to leave hibernation so quickly, Taurus. Inconveniently timed as it may be, since your season starts on April 19, the stars want you to relax and reset. Doors closing are signs of new beginnings. Until the end of your season, prioritize yourself and your goals.

Gemini

Momentum is building in all aspects of your life, Gemini. Professional, personal and everything in between. With the Sun powering through Aries all month long, take a deeper look into what fills your cup and start pouring your energy into it. Your celestial chart looks like a Christmas tree for the month of April; every house is lit up and begging for attention.

Cancer

April showers bring May flowers, but for you, Cancer, April showers bring professional opportunities. The Aries new moon on April 17 lands in your tenth house of career and ambition is there to help you get a clear and solid vision of what you want your future to look like. And once the Sun starts its month-long visit in Taurus on April 19, get ready for group projects, hang outs and support.

Leo

April is risky business, Leo. With the sun lighting up Aries stacked with the Libra full moon, you will find yourself saying yes more often than not —to travel plans, business ventures and new relationships. The boxes on your bucket list are slowly getting checked off. Money comes back, memories are forever. Book that flight, and we will see you on the other side … hopefully a little more cultured.

Virgo

Put the binoculars away, Virgo, and widen your viewfinder. The Sun starts its monthlong visit in Taurus on and in your ninth house of adventure and expansion April 19. Over the next four weeks, an opportunity to travel or take a niche art class could arise.

Love takes center stage this month, Libra. Sparks are flying and relationships are blooming. Hope you’re ready to get loved, sucker! Being the reclusive, avoidant type is only sustainable for so long. Whether you want it or not, a partnership is on the horizon. Your seventh house of relationships is lit up all month long, and there’s really nothing you can do but sit back and enjoy the ride. Giddy up!

Libra Scorpio

Good thing you aren’t a creature of habit because your daily rhythms are about to get shaken up (sarcasm). Don’t resist the call to change. With your sixth house of habits and health lit up by the Aries sun until April 19, your well-oiled machine needs a complete system reboot. Practical tweaks are needed, and your usual systems need to be redefined. How fun!

Sagittarius

The last couple of weeks, you’ve been a little bit lax regarding your health, Sagittarius. But as the Sun moves into Taurus and your sixth house of health on April 19, you’re ready to switch gears and get back on your health kick. Expect the next four weeks to be a full on Spring cleaning, starting with what you’ve been eating all the way to what you’ll be wearing.

Capricorn

Home becomes your anchor this month, Capricorn. Social batteries die, and the best way to recharge is to take a breather. You don’t need to be in a constant state of go, go, go. Taking a day — or 5 — won’t kill you. The opposite, actually. Spend a weekend in. Reorganize your closet if you desperately need a task. Sitting still for longer than 30 minutes is not the end of the world. It might actually be your saving grace.

Aquarius

Fear not, Aquarius. Once Taurus season begins and the Sun lights up your fourth house of home, family and emotional foundations, your fear of missing out will be a thing of the past. You’re ready to slow down and get some much needed R&R. Until May 20, you’ve got free rein to binge-watch your favorite series and enjoy some sweet solitude.

Pisces

Your inner social butterfly is in need of some attention, Pisces. As the Sun enters Taurus and your third house of house of communication, local activity and ideas, it’s time to step away from the desk and overflowing email inbox and check in with the real world and your friends. Instead of spending any free time doomscrolling or reorganizing your closet, go to the museum with friends or grab drinks with the girls.

Review “The Drama”

Words by Harry Straussman

As many people would agree, relationships can be terrifying. From the initial courting phase to intertwining your lives and eventually deciding whether this is the only person for you for at least the foreseeable future, each step of the journey comes with its own set of challenges. A predominant anxiety that dating brings is the knowledge that you will never fully know your partner, and is that kernel of mystery going to be a dealbreaker?

This is the idea that Kristoffer Borgli’s “The Drama” wrestles with in this biting dramedy in which an engaged couple’s relationship is tested when an unexpected revelation upends the week leading up to their wedding. Robert Pattinson and Zendaya star as Charlie and Emma, the couple in turmoil, with finely calibrated performances that elevate the idea-loaded script that feels a draft away from reaching its full potential. “The Drama” takes major swings in satirizing uncomfortable social issues that few other contemporary films would feel comfortable even commenting on, with the film’s inciting incident being the revelation that Emma had planned, but did not carry out, a heinous act of violence, which causes Charlie to unravel and question whether the person he has planned to spend his life with is who he had thought her to be. “The Drama” certainly has a lot of ideas on its mind, from its skewering of rom-com tropes and the wedding industrial complex to examining unintelligible adolescent emotions and social etiquette.

But while the film reaches for many targets, it never fully grasps onto any of them and feels like a grab bag of interesting concepts that are never carried out to satisfying conclusions.

Both leads give strong performances that elevate the material off the page with Pattinson in particular giving an exemplary, tightly wound comic performance that shows once again why he is amongst the most engaging actors of his generation and possesses the enviable range to convincingly portray both the insecure, weaselly wreck he is here — and also be Batman. The supporting cast is also game for the material with Alana Haim standing out as one of the most detestable characters in recent memory. So wonderfully loathsome, you’d be forgiven for booing her like a pantomime villain.

“The Drama” isn’t without merit. The New York location is shot well, the performances from its leads and supporting ensemble are all strong. It is bold, and will spark conversation in a way too few mainstream movies do. It just feels more like a discussion piece than a film that should be recommended to watch.

To read the review for “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”

folio weed

Words by Teresa Spencer

Prescription Not Required: Florida’s Medical Marijuana System Is Basically a Legal Loophole with a Waiting Room

Let’s start with a truth that feels like it belongs in a late-night comedy monologue but is actually straight Florida law: if you’re using medical marijuana in the Sunshine State, your doctor didn’t prescribe it. They recommended it.

And no, that’s not just legal fine print, it’s the entire backbone of Florida’s cannabis system.

Because marijuana is still federally illegal (yes, still), doctors can’t technically write a prescription the way they would for blood pressure meds or antibiotics. So Florida, being Florida, found a workaround. Physicians certify that you have a qualifying condition and then “recommend” cannabis. That recommendation gets you into the state registry, and suddenly you’re legally strolling into a dispensary like you’re picking up cold brew instead of something that was once treated like contraband. It’s not a prescription. It’s permission. And that distinction? That’s the loophole everything hinges on.

Now here’s where things get even more interesting, because while it might feel like a free-market green rush, Florida runs one of the tightest cannabis ships in the country. This isn’t California chaos or Colorado’s weed wonderland. Here, only a limited number of companies are allowed to grow, process and sell marijuana. Same players, different storefronts. It’s less “mom-and-pop dispensary” and more “you’ll have what we’re already offering.”

And yet, for all that structure, recreational marijuana is still off the table in Florida as of 2026. You can walk into a sleek dispensary, buy professionally packaged cannabis products with your state-issued card and feel like you’re living in the future but step outside that system without the paperwork, and suddenly you’re back in the past. No card, no dice. The irony is almost poetic.

There’s also a growing buzz — no pun intended — around whether Florida might eventually allow patients to grow their own cannabis at home. Right now? Not legal. Not even a little. But proposed legislation has floated the idea, and if that ever passes, it would be a seismic shift. Imagine going from tightly controlled corporate cannabis to backyard grows.

For now, though, Florida’s cannabis scene lives in this strange middle ground: legal but limited, accessible but regulated, modern but still tethered to old rules.

It’s a system where you don’t get a prescription, but you still need a doctor. You can buy it legally, but only from a select few. And you’re one ID card away from either total compliance… or total illegality. In other words, Florida didn’t just legalize medical marijuana, it engineered it. Carefully, deliberately, and with just enough wiggle room to keep things interesting.

A Twist on Tourism: Local Airboat Tours

Words by Carson Haines

Here in Jacksonville, there are numerous attractions for residents and out-of-towners to visit. Among the most popular are the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Cummer Museum, and the Riverside Arts Market (RAM). With St. Augustine and Fernandina Beach less than an hour away, visitors can experience even more entertaining and activity-filled moments during their stay. But what about those attractions that are a little different, or as some would say, “out there”?

Just a little northwest of World Golf Village, you will find Sea Serpent Tours and Crazy Fish Tours, sister companies that showcase wild Florida waters and their natural wonders.

Founded by Michael Blount (aka Capt. Mike) back in 2015, Sea Serpent Tours is a family-owned and operated outdoor checkpoint for locals and tourists. In 2020, Capt. Mike also bought Crazy Fish Tours, and merged the two businesses. “My favorite part about my job is showing off the wildlife,” he said, “Unlike many places like the zoo or an aquarium, all of the animals, whether it’s snakes, alligators or manatees, are in their real homes.”

After working for the United States Navy for three decades, and taking part in a decade-long large-scale project in Djibouti, Africa, Capt. Mike decided to return to Florida and leave the corporate world entirely. “Even though I was in my late 40s at the time, I still asked myself what I wanted to be when I grew up. On my 17-hour flight back home, I decided that I wanted to be out in the wild. I wanted to look for gators, snakes, and turtles, even though I knew nothing about airboats, and yes, my wife thought I was crazy,” he said. Since his life-altering decision, he made his dream possible; he now has a total of five airboats and has created a team of five captains, including himself, his daughter Becca and nephew Justin.

With tours lasting about an hour and a half, the fully narrated excursion is not only insightful, but educational and truly captivating. “I’ve had many locals tell me how they never knew that these swamps and wetlands were so close by. I love showing the different groups the lilypads, Spanish moss and cypress trees,” he said.

Unlike normal fishing boats, airboats are much more complex, and simply put, unique. “We offer a side of northeast Florida that you’re not gonna be able to experience, other than on an airboat,” said Capt. Mike. With these boats allowing riders to travel through creeks and even on land, expeditions are very engaging and certainly loud (I mean, just look at that fan). At Sea Serpent Tours, the trip goes all the way into the backwaters of Trout Creek, where land is 100% protected and untouched, even by landowners.

Since Florida is one of the most ecologically diverse states in America, attractions such as this one are truly a local gem. “We are located not too far from Green Cove Springs. Many of our visitors love to go to nearby parks and restaurants after they do our tours.

Right by us is Outback Crab Shack, who has the longest floating dock on the St. Johns River, and Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ. Both places are amazing. Make sure to try the Capt. Mike Special at Woodpeckers,” he said.

This biodiverse treasure is sure to wow you; to experience native wildlife in their natural habitat is truly a rare and surreal occasion. If you are interested in visiting with family, friends or would even like a private tour, Sea Serpent Tours is sure to satisfy your needs. With four 15-passenger boats and one 6-passenger boat, the captains can carry up to 66 tourists at a time. Open Tuesday to Sunday with four tours per day, the family- operated attraction is sure to wow you.

Start the Spring off right by trying something new. Enjoy the beautiful corners of wild Florida, and experience a real-life utopia in your own backyard!

For more information, visit seaserpenttours.com.

BLOSSOMS, ART, COMMUNITY. ONE MAGICAL EVENING.

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.

code to reserve your spot.

Stepping Beyond Reality: Inside Jacksonville’s Zero Latency VR Experience

Words by Emily Cannon

On an unassuming stretch of Philips Highway, something extraordinary is happening behind closed doors. Inside Zero Latency Jax, visitors aren’t just playing video games, they’re stepping inside them. In a city known for beaches and football, this cutting-edge virtual reality arena is redefining what entertainment can feel like blending technology, storytelling and physical movement into one fully immersive experience.

Virtual reality has come a long way from clunky headsets and stationary gameplay. At Zero Latency Jax, the concept is taken to its most advanced form: free-roam VR. Instead of standing in one place or using a joystick to move, players physically walk through a large open arena roughly the size of a tennis court while exploring digital worlds.

The moment the headset comes down, reality dissolves. One minute you’re in Jacksonville; the next, you’re navigating a zombie-infested mall, battling alien forces in deep space or solving puzzles in a surreal floating landscape. The key difference? You’re not watching it; you’re inside it. Unlike traditional VR setups, there are no cables, wires or bulky backpacks restricting movement. Players are completely untethered, free to move naturally through the space while interacting with both the environment and each other.

The experience begins before you even step into the virtual world. Groups, usually up to eight people, are briefed by staff, fitted with headsets and controllers, and introduced to the mission ahead. Then, the doors open. Inside the arena, motion tracking technology maps your real-world movements into the virtual environment with surprising precision. Walk forward and your avatar walks. Turn your head and the world shifts accordingly. Even your teammates appear beside you as fully realized digital characters, creating a shared experience that

feels both social and cinematic.

What makes Zero Latency stand out is this combination of scale and freedom. Unlike at-home VR systems, which often limit movement to a small area, this setup allows players to roam, dodge and explore without boundaries — at least, not ones they can see.

The game library reflects this immersive philosophy. Popular experiences include cooperative zombie survival missions like “Outbreak,” sci-fi battles such as “Space Marine” and even competitive multiplayer challenges. Each scenario is designed to be intuitive enough for beginners while still engaging for seasoned gamers.

Part of what makes the experience so convincing is the way it engages multiple senses at once. High-definition visuals, spatial audio and responsive controls all work together to blur the lines between reality and simulation. Perhaps the most powerful element is movement. Because your brain is receiving consistent physical feedback — walking, turning, reaching— the illusion becomes more believable. You’re not just seeing another world; your body feels like it’s there.

For anyone looking to try something new in Jacksonville, Zero Latency Jax offers an experience that’s hard to match. Whether you’re a gamer, a thrill-seeker, or just curious about VR, it delivers a unique blend of technology and entertainment that’s both accessible and unforgettable.

Because in a world where so much happens on screens, there’s something refreshing about actually stepping inside one.

And for 30 minutes or so, reality becomes optional.

Words by Ambar Ramirez and Carmen Macri

CARMEN: We’ve talked a lot about the best spots in Jax, whether it be finding the best hot dogs, margaritas or even date night spots. So, naturally, we’re here to talk about the worst spots and why we think they’re the worst. Reviewing a place not by the food, but by the vibe, the difficulty of the parking lot, and everything in between.

AMBAR: I’ll kick things off! But not with a specific place, but a concept: the QR code menu standard. Look, if I walk into a nice restaurant and find myself frantically hunting for a physical menu only to be met by that haunting black gridded square, the night is already in trouble. You can pretty much guarantee I’ll be asking for the check early or just grilling the waiter on their favorites so I don’t have to look at my screen. If I wanted to spend my night scrolling through a menu on my phone, I would’ve stayed home and ordered DoorDash. So… sorry, Lemon Bar. You’re officially a second-date spot.

CARMEN: Speaking of Lemon Bar, pretty much any spot in Atlantic Beach is an automatic no from me unless we are walking or Ubering there. Why, you ask? Because the parking situation makes me want to walk into the Atlantic Ocean with cinder blocks tied to my ankles, and I’m not exaggerating. Princess parking literally doesn’t exist. I am convinced people show up at 6 a.m. and leave their cars there for the foreseeable future. I have never once found an actual parking spot that didn’t require walking at least half a mile to the shopping center. Normally, that’s fine, but if I’m dressed to the nines in my c*nty little kitten heels, I don’t want to stumble to and fro.

AMBAR: And while we’re at it, any place that requires ordering up at the register before sitting down is automatically a “no” for a first date. There’s no way that my first date jitters are gonna let me focus on a menu as soon as I step into a restaurant. So Angie’s, you’re also unfortunately not an ideal date spot, though I do love your Samoan wrap.

CARMEN: Put me in front of a counter-service menu and my brain immediately factory resets. It’s a 90% fail rate. I’ll look at a list of 30 items, panic-glance at the person behind me in line, and blurp out the first noun I see. That is how I— a woman whose hatred for mushrooms is practically a personality trait— ended up staring down a portobello panini. It was just fungus, weeds and a dream. I’m still recovering, but I digress. I’m just going to say it, and you can all cancel me later: if I walk into a restaurant and the menu isn’t translated, I’m immediately vibrating with anxiety. I know, it’s a hot take, but there is nothing that makes me feel more humbled and genuinely terrified than having to stealth-Google my dinner under the table because I’m too scared to ask for help. I don’t want a culinary adventure; I just don’t want to accidentally order a plate of mushrooms.

AMBAR : Right on. If any of you are lucky enough to take Carmen on a date, just make sure the menu does not have anything with mushrooms to save yourself the trouble.

CARMEN : It’s all I ask.

Annabella

Jaguars Stadium Renovation Hits Early Milestone

Words by Teresa Spencer

Jacksonville’s “Stadium of the Future” is officially underway, with renovations about 15 percent complete and tracking on schedule. Construction began in 2025, and since the 2026 season, EverBank Stadium has been visibly transformed into an active work zone. Entire sections have already been removed, cranes are in place, and capacity has been reduced. According to the Jaguars website, the capacity of EverBank Stadium for the 2026 NFL season will be 42,507, which includes 1,260 standing room only tickets. Of the 27,637 seats that will be offline in 2026, 22,005 are located in the upper bowl (400 Level). Additional impacted seats are located in the 200 Level corners and select rows in the North End Zone; lower level South End Zone; and lower-level Club. The North End Zone spa deck and Sky Patio will also be offline in 2026.

The biggest disruption is still ahead. In 2027, the Jaguars will relocate home games to Orlando for a full season while construction reaches its most intensive phase. That temporary move clears the way for major structural upgrades, including the installation of a translucent canopy roof and a complete overhaul of concourses and fan spaces.

The $1.4 billion stadium is aiming for a grand reopening in 2028, promising a modernized stadium built to handle everything from NFL games to major national events. For now, the project is on track but Jacksonville is very much in the “under construction” phase of its future.

Words by Ariana Alcantara

Valuable Instincts: Walker Andrews’ Journey from Skateboarding Videos to Directing for Kanye West

Artists everywhere can feel it: a persistent pressure to survive within the over-saturated hellscape called modern media. This pressure may convince some that they need the newest, most expensive tools for their art to stand out. This capitalist trap brainwashes artists to commodify their self-expression. Walker Andrews, a 24-year-old director from Jacksonville, proves that the most valuable asset in art is actually curiosity about one’s craft. His work emphasizes style, demonstrating how taste trumps expensive gear when it comes to creation. We got the chance to speak with Andrews about his influences, his artistry and his passion for capturing real life through video.

If you’re unfamiliar with Andrews, his influence and work are staples in the Jacksonville culture. Over the years, he has built a name through his company Caprice Cinema, having shot music videos for some of our most prominent Jacksonville rappers like Julio Foolio. Beyond this, his influence on other videographers in the city is evident with many artists pointing to Andrews as the inspiration for their interest in videography and editing. More than the big names in his collaborative roster like Kanye West, ASAP Rocky, Lucki, G-Eazy and Playboi Carti, Andrews’ style is the captivating factor that inspires. His videos, often heavily edited and surrealist in their camera movement, evoke a raw energy that reflects the atmosphere of the rap genre. The precision of cuts in his videos points to a meticulous attention to detail, allowing for immersive, almost dizzying edits.

Andrews’ taste developed from an early interest in drawing, a young person’s introduction to visual expression. He recalled, “I used to draw a lot as a kid, and I wanted to be a tattoo artist. [I was] always visual.” His parents fed his curiosity when they bought him a Flip Video camera for Christmas when he was still in elementary school. Over nearly a decade his taste developed through watching and shooting videos. It was his initial appreciation for the art of film that propelled him forward, though this interest looked different than the

letterbox-warrior-film-bro one might imagine of a director. For Andrews it was about the art of reality, noting, “[Documentary] just comes easier to me; it’s real. Even with movies, I’m not hip. I don’t know much about the classic narrative movies. But real stuff like documentaries, and even music videos because it’s real. It’s a real person acting in the real world.”

Appreciation of real life established his emotional investment in film, while his visual intrigue grew. He discovered artistic expression through editing, citing his favorite childhood movie as a means of visual inspiration, saying, “‘Transformers’ is the greatest movie of all time. Studios didn’t know how to exploit [CGI] yet…so it’s just beautiful with hundreds of thousands of little pieces of shiny metals. And then Michael Bay’s filming is just motion-based; every shot is either coming around something or in the sky, just so much motion.”

When it came to creating his own work, everything came down to movement and instincts. He asserted, “Motion is just an accumulation of style. It’s just how I see. It just comes easy to me. It’s hard for me to put a camera on a tripod and just let it sit. [Movement] just feels good.” Andrews employs movement to immerse the viewer into the world he is creating.

His practice in motion also came from his practice in skateboarding, saying, “Skate videos are just moving forward, coming around things and then the camera’s pointed up at the subject.” More than the compositional choices Andrews makes, skateboarding also pushed him to understand the demands of filmmaking. “I think skateboarding really taught me that high anxiety. I think that’s where it comes from, kind of just adrenaline and instinct trying to stay focused on [getting a] clip.” His instincts were formed through taste and his own “skateboarding” practice. As his friends practiced the mechanics of a kickflip, Andrews was drawn to the complexities of filming the tricks. The motion of

the camera to capture the energy of a move intrigued him. He said, “For some reason I could never see the tricks, I could only see, ‘how was this filmed?’”

He pointed to the majority of his editing education as “just watching skate videos and trying to copy them.” This catapulted him into an exploration of editing software, saying, “Final Cut was like iMovie on steroids. Then it got to a point where I was doing other stuff on FinalCut like school projects or a short doc or music videos. I was like there has to be more here, and then I got Premiere. And Premiere was like you could do anything.” His process highlights the practice in taste and use of instincts in his work as he puts it, “I wish I was a camera nerd, but I really don’t know much. I still use a cheap lens.” For Andrews the technical side of cameras is not the main focus: it is using it to capture a moment. “Film is so much of just the world around you that you can’t control, and you’re trying to just have a controlled environment,’” he added.

In tandem with experimenting in skateboard videos and editing, Andrews decided to explore formal education to enrich his craft. He auditioned for Douglas Anderson School of the Arts after being disappointed by traditional school. His time there taught him the basic necessities needed to be organized and successful in the chaotic space of directing. “They trained you on having multiple batteries charged and having a schedule, having paperwork when you show up of like these are what our shots are gonna look like,” he added. It was also during this time that he transitioned from skateboard videos to music videos, finding a similar pulse between the energy of skate and rap. He recalled, “Music videos were popping .. and I was like well, let me try this, I like music, I like rap music.” This pivot led to him working with Julio Foolio, a prominent figure in the Jacksonville music scene. “I DM’d him and his manager, and then it just like happened the next day, working with him. Then it went on Worldstar and we did a few more videos afterwards.”

Eventually, though, like a true rolling stone, he felt at an end point with what he could learn in high school. It was time to gain some real world experience so he revisited his goals. He knew two things he wanted out of his career:

1. To move to Los Angeles 2. To work with Kanye West

Fueled by true tenacity, he packed up and moved across the country. One of his goals was being actualized, but the realities of living as an artist began to settle in.

“The first few years out there f*cking sucked,” he recalled. He struggled with the effect that financial stress had on his work, describing this chapter saying, “It got real very quick [with], all right, this is how I’m gonna eat, this is my reputation. All of that stuff comes into play.” Eventually, though, determination carried him through the hard times toward what he set out to do. Andrews directed a promotional video for Kanye West’s “Vultures 1” released in 2023. His documentary style infuses the video with a glimpse into the world of a genius artist. This insertion into Kanye’s world presents itself in a fly-on-the-wall style, embodying Andrews’ visual taste. In the wake of this accomplishment, Andrews did not slow down. Over the past few years he has directed music videos, shot a trailer for I Am Gia’s “Varsity” collection, directed Mikey Madison’s interview for “Dazed” magazine, directed the promotional video for Chief Keef and True Religion’s collaboration and much more.

With eight years of experience, Andrews’ understanding of grounded perception continues to expand his career. Never abandoning the tools that got him here, the camera serves as an extension of himself and his artistry more than just a means to make a living. As time passes and we move further away from the source material of MTV music videos and playful artistry, people like Andrews are walking reminders that there is more to life than commercial indulgence. A $10,000 camera will not guarantee good art if the vision is not there. Focusing on curiosity and giving value to instincts are the backbone of Andrews’ philosophy, a practice that will get any artist far in their craft: no matter what their medium is.

MOUNTAIN GRASS UNIT

APRIL 17

CRYSTAL GAYLE

APRIL 18

BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS

APRIL 21

JUSTIN HAYWARD THE STORY IN YOUR EYES TOUR

APRIL 23

TRIPPING DAISY WITH JUMPROPE APRIL 24

OTTMAR LIEBERT & LUNA NEGRA APRIL 26

MAREN MORRIS WITH SPECIAL GUEST SLIMDAN APRIL 27 & 28

GRAHAM NASH LIVE ON TOUR 2026 MAY 1 & 2

PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE MAY 4

DEVON ALLMAN'S BLUES SUMMIT MAY 5

SAM BUSH MAY 8

10,000 MANIACS MAY 9 JJ GREY'S BLACKWATER SOL REVUE TOP OF THE WORLD EXPERIENCE VIP SHOW MAY 15

JIM BREUER MAY 16

TIM MEADOWS MAY 22

THE 502S NONSENSE ALL NIGHT TOUR WITH LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS MAY 23

PUNCH BROTHERS MAY 26

DUANE BETTS & PALMETTO MOTEL WITH SPECIAL GUEST SUN CHILD MAY 27

49 WINCHESTER MAY 29

COOPER ALAN MAY 30

SHOOT FOR THE MOON

NASA’s Artemis II Mission is a Feel Good Story of Lunar Hope

Words by Sam Kaplan

On December 14, 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison “Jack” Schmitt lifted off from the moon to begin their trek back to Earth. Just before departing from the lunar surface, Cernan gave a short speech back to those on Earth who were listening, saying, “America’s challenge of today has forged man’s destiny of tomorrow. As we leave the moon and Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and, God willing, we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind.”

Unbeknownst to Cernan, he would go down as the last astronaut to speak from the Moon or anywhere near it. After Apollo 17, the remaining Apollo missions were scrapped due to budget cuts, a lack of public interest and a lack of motivation: We had already beaten the Soviets … and repeated it five times, so what was the point of continuing to go? What had been the focal point of the Space Race was now something that no country cared about doing. I suppose Ricky Bobby was right: If you ain’t first, you’re last. And just like that, space programs around the world pivoted to focus on operations closer to home, such as the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and China’s Tiangong space station.

As the years ticked by, our trips to the moon became distant memories, the American space program went through up and down periods, and the group of American heroes that set foot on a different world began to age, retire and pass away. For over 53 years, Cernan’s quote remained a testament that a driven nation could strive to achieve what was once impossible, but a major question remained for anyone willing to look up at Earth’s only natural satellite: when would we make it back to the Moon?

On April 1, 2026, the manned journey back to our celestial partner began, as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) launch vehicle lifted off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center, beginning the Artemis II lunar mission. In a visceral display of power, the 322-foot behemoth of a rocket roared off the ground, carrying a crew for the very first time (Artemis I was an uncrewed test launch of SLS). NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen sat atop the big orange rocket, strapped in to begin a 10-day mission around the moon and back inside the Orion capsule dubbed “Integrity.” While this mission doesn’t end the half-century’s long wait to put boots on the moon again, it does mark a historic step toward our renewed presence on the Moon, alongside the first step toward humanity’s permanent place on other worlds, as NASA has now announced its intentions to begin building a permanent moon base in the 2030s.

Now, as countless skeptics have pointed out, it’s not like we’re actually landing on the moon, so what’s so special? Why should we care?

Well, you might hear that Artemis II is the first time humans have reached the lunar sphere of influence, where the Moon’s gravity is stronger than Earth’s, since the aforementioned final Apollo mission — with the goal of testing how both their equipment and their bodies are affected in the environment of deep space.

Or that it is the farthest humans have ever travelled from Earth, beating a record set by Apollo 13’s crew during their infamous “successful failure” that saw three astronauts make a daring return home after an oxygen tank exploded (and then have a Tom Hanks movie made about them). Or even that three different groups —people of color, women and non-Americans— will each have their first representative reach the Moon.

But truthfully, none of the records or scientific achievements can really explain what Artemis II represents: hope.

This mission has been full of moments that tug at the heartstrings, all of which can remind us that it may truly be alright in the long run. First was the launch itself, a near-sunset display of some of the most impressive engineering that the smartest minds on the planet have to offer, and a level of bravery from the crew that few people in history may ever understand. Watching four astronauts say goodbye to their loved ones, drive out to the pad in front of cheering crowds, and climb atop the most powerful rocket to ever carry humans off our home planet … I can attest that there weren’t many of us in the press pool who could contain our emotions as that rocket rose into the deep blue Florida sky.

Along the way, the crew have been sharing incredible images with those of us back on Earth. One photo in particular from early in the mission caught a lot of attention and it isn’t even of the Moon… It’s home.

The photo, named “Hello, World”, depicts our home planet at night framed by one of Integrity’s windows with a plethora of natural beauty on display. Auroras on both top and bottom, a glow from the hidden sun, a field of stars, and even a cameo from Venus. This image — as agreed upon by anyone who has seen it — captures Earth in its purest form, with every human, dead or alive, pictured… except for four. A photograph only possible through a unified, selfless effort from everyone involved in the mission, resulting in a stunning image to show just how beautiful life on this planet can be.

The big day came on Monday, April 6: it was time for the crew to reach the Moon, and it sure felt like someone at NASA made the call for it to be the most emotional day from the get-go, as the crew’s day started off with a message from former astronaut Jim Lovell.

Lovell, who flew on Apollo 8 as one of the first three people to reach and orbit the Moon, as well as the previously mentioned Apollo 13, passed away in 2025 at the age of 97, but had recorded a message for Integrity’s crew to hear as they approached the Moon.

“Hello Artemis II! This is Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell. Welcome to my old neighborhood. When Frank Borman and Bill Andrews and I orbited the moon on Apollo 8, we got humanity’s first up close look at the moon and got a view of the home planet that inspired and united people around the world. I’m proud to pass that torch on to you as you swing around the moon and lay the groundwork for missions to Mars, for the benefit of all.

It’s a historic day, and I know how busy you’ll be, but don’t forget to enjoy the view. So, Reid and Victor and Christina and Jeremy, and all the great teams are supporting you, good luck and Godspeed from all of us here on the good Earth.”

With that, the passing of the torch had begun. A voice from the past giving the go-ahead for the crew to carry on the legacy of those who came before and pave the way for those who will come after, a truly beautiful reminder that the desire to learn, advance and succeed is a key part of what makes us human and will continue to bring people together across generations.

And yet, it would soon become the second most emotional moment of the mission.

Mere moments after surpassing the record and etching their names into the history books as the farthest four people from Earth in history, Hansen spoke back to mission control in Houston to help name two new craters that the science team on the ground had identified. The first they named “Integrity,” in honor of their “great spacecraft.”

The second, however, took an emotional turn. Hansen, choking up, stated, “A number of years ago, we started this journey in our close-knit astronaut family and we lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll: the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katie and Ellie…it’s a bright spot on the moon … and we like to call that ‘Carroll,’ and you spell that C-A-R-R-O-L-L,” before all four members of the crew, teary-eyed, embraced Wiseman in humanity’s farthest group hug.

Carroll Wiseman passed away in 2020 after a five-year battle with cancer, leaving Reid Wiseman as a single father of two, something he has openly called “his greatest challenge.” Through all of that, in their most impactful and historic moment — with the world watching — the crew of Artemis II had chosen to honor their crewmate and his loved ones by naming their crowning achievement after her, showing the world that Reid Wiseman, in a literal sense, loved Carroll to the moon and back, serving as a reminder that when supported by the right people, the darkest times in life can become something as beautiful as a “bright spot on the moon.”

At the time of writing, the crew of Artemis II is now hurdling back towards Earth, with a planned splashdown of Integrity in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.

The goal of this piece is not to try to convince you that everything is splendid or that hard times don’t exist. We know neither of those is the case, and it certainly wasn’t when we went to the Moon the first time —King assassinated, Vietnam, Watergate, etc. — but we can learn as much from Artemis II and the crew’s experience on this mission as we can from the scientific discoveries they made along the way. This mission not only made history, but reminded the world that, united, humanity can achieve the impossible … again.

“We will explore. We will build ships. We will visit again. We will construct science outposts. We will drive rovers, we will do

radio astronomy, we will found companies,” mission specialist Christina Koch shared “We will bolster industry, we will inspire,

but ultimately, we will always choose Earth.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

Before she even had a steady stride, Joely Leguizamon was already steadying her grip on a baseball bat. With an older brother as her shadow and a father who placed her in front of a tee before she knew any better, the game wasn’t just a hobby — it was inevitable. While the traditional path forced a detour into college softball at FSCJ and Jacksonville University, the dirt of the diamond kept calling her back. After graduation, Joely bypassed the status quo, grinding through both men’s and women’s minor leagues to keep her baseball dreams alive. That persistence paid off as she is officially the first Dominican woman to join the newly formed Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL), representing San Francisco when the inaugural season kicks off this August.

“I played baseball my entire life. I got put into T-ball at five, and it was just one of those after-school activities. And so it wasn’t like I was picking baseball over softball — I just got put in baseball first, and I fell in love with the game. I only played softball for five years, which was when I was in college, and I went back into baseball as soon as I was done,” Leguizamon shared. “I think the speed of the game is the biggest difference. I think softball is more reactive and baseball is a lot more, in a way, artistic, there’s more time to do everything.”

We haven’t seen a proper Women’s Professional Baseball League since 1954 — back when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League called it quits. But the 52-year drought officially ends this summer. Co-founded by Justine Siegal, who already broke ground as the first woman to coach in the MLB, the WPBL is launching with four heavy-hitters: New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

While the franchises represent some of the country’s biggest metro titans, every game of the 2026 season is actually going down at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. It might seem like a random choice for a league HQ, but it’s a massive nod to the game’s DNA: Springfield is widely considered the birthplace of women’s pro ball, dating all the way back to 1875. By huddling up on “neutral” turf, the league is aiming to cultivate a concentrated, die-hard fan base in the very place where the sport first found its footing 150 years ago.

“I had been participating in a women’s baseball tournament here in the United States —it was like an annual thing starting in 2022. And I think it was the second year I went, there were talks of a women’s league coming soon,” Leguizamon explained. “They were using this tournament to see what kind of talent is out there. So I would say in 2023 is when I first started hearing about it, and then at the beginning of last year, they officially announced that there’s going to be a women’s professional baseball league.”

For years, Leguizamon’s baseball career felt like navigating without a map. Without a dedicated professional ecosystem for women, she found herself hunting for opportunities in men’s minor leagues, never quite sure how to bridge the gap between passion and a profession. The announcement of the WPBL changed everything. For Leguizamon, it wasn’t just a headline; it was the moment the lights finally came on. “I just felt like you’re in a dark room and then somebody turns on a small night light,” Leguizamon said. “You’re like, ‘Oh, I can see now. There’s something to see.’”

“It’s like you’re in a dark room and then somebody turns on a small night light. You’re like, oh, I can see now... With this league being announced, it’s like, okay, now there’s something concrete that I can work towards.”

Before the league’s inception, Leguizamon’s routine was a cycle of “training and hoping,” a relentless grind without a clear destination. The WPBL provided the one thing every elite athlete craves: a concrete objective.

“Now there’s something concrete that I can work towards,” she said. “I know there’s going to be a tryout. I know what I need to do to prepare.”

Beyond the clarity of the schedule, the “pro” label brought a long-overdue validation in the form of a salary. While the love of the game fueled her through the amateur ranks, the prospect of a legitimate career path sparked a new level of intensity.

“Knowing that we were going to get paid... that was another big thing,” Leguizamon said.

“I do a lot out of passion, but we get to a point where you’re like, ‘Man, I want to do this as a career.’ For that to be another aspect to it gave me big emotions.”

Being the first Dominican woman to play professional baseball in the U.S. is a title Leguizamon wears with a sense of duty rather than stress. In a culture where the sport is everything, she views the opportunity to represent her country as a major responsibility.

“I would say the weight that I feel is positive,” Leguizamon said. “It’s not something that feels heavy, because I’m just glad there’s somebody representing the country and what baseball means to Dominican people, which is everything. I take it as a responsibility.”

While she would have pursued baseball regardless of the accolades, the public recognition of her heritage has made the years of effort feel even more worthwhile.

“It’s been a cool experience,” she said. “I would love baseball regardless of where I come from or where I grew up, but to be able to go around and have people say, ‘Oh, you’re the first Dominican,’ I’m like, ‘I am. Yeah, I am.’”

For Leguizamon, the title is the ultimate return on investment for a lifetime dedicated to the sport.

“It feels rewarding,” she said. “It gives some weight to the effort that I have put into the sport.”

AN AMERICAN GIRL’S TAKE ON THE WAR

Words by Carson Haines

When I was 4 years old, I saw President Barack Obama accept his official role on live television. It was Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009. That cold morning, I sat alongside my classmates on my preschool’s humongous colorful carpet and watched him speak. While I did not remember his address, mainly because of the big words he used, my memory of that day is still relished in the feeling of hope. Today, I decided to watch the 44th president’s powerful and moving speech in full, and like clockwork, I got emotional.

As I listened to his declamation, it was clear that his remarks are still heavily relevant to today, and the backwards history being made by our current administration. His words weighed on me. “But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”

The message was highly applicable to today’s land of the free and how “free” it truly is.

Last month, I celebrated my 22nd birthday. I reminisced on the past year of my life and experienced a shift in my adulthood perspective. Like myself, many others my age are currently living through a very raw and impactful period of time. In a few weeks, I will finish my internship (“Folio,” you will be greatly missed), graduate from the University of North Florida, get married in October, and officially take on the “real world.”

While all of these milestones are highly celebratory, it is still a challenge most days to be joyful in a time of my life where I am also experiencing the first-hand effects of a modern-day war. The bittersweetness I feel is more bitter than sweet in comparison to the beginning of my college career. Back then, in 2022, I was entering a phase where adulthood was fresh, I had new classes to delve into, and my parents still covered my meal plan and dining dollars.

As my final year of college comes to a close, I’ve been trying to soak in the last couple of days at school. Recently, I have been going to the beach after class, but last week, as I was driving home, I had to stop for gas. I drove past several gas stations; signs illuminating “$4.19,” “$4.25,” and “$4.29” filled both sides of the street. I made it to about 40 miles when I finally decided to pull into a Daily’s. My total ended up being $53.56, and for context, I drive an SUV.

With oil shipments disrupted by President Donald Trump’s unnecessary and highly destructive war, not only gas, but jet fuel, is becoming quite limited. For Americans, travelling opportunities are starting to slowly become scarce and leaving a negative impact on the global travel industry as a whole. America and Israel’s attack on Iran has caused military degradation, overused obscene amounts of energy and devastated so much land from an abundance of weaponry.

This has left our country’s citizens quite vulnerable. Trump and his incompetent orders have cast a great deal of darkness on Gen Z and our futures; the deadline to experience a carefree and innocent time in our lives is near, and the war’s imprint on young adults is very significant. A friend of mine had summer plans to visit her family in Lebanon and had to cancel. I have heard of multiple students revoking their study abroad applications, one in particular who was going to Greece but had to decline due to the drone bombing on Cyprus.

As summer break approaches, the temptation to travel or even take a day trip somewhere is great. This time of year is perfect for vacations up into the mountains, a drive down to the Florida Keys, or somewhere very far away. Unfortunately, we have to face the facts: travelling is quite a big challenge in a country where fuel truly is low. Although these times are suffocating and overwhelming, I have found some solutions to somewhat drown out the very loud noise.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. While we are undergoing this continuous war, I am reminded of the different hobbies and interests I took on during quarantine (a true staycation). I’ve decided to start reading, drawing and going on walks. With school ending, my free time will certainly be consumed with activities, that is, until I find a career.

For those of you who are older and have dealt with this before, you know of the path America once took. You watched and listened to Obama’s speech that frigid January day, and you listened to him say that “we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.” My generation has attended classes on Zoom calls, worn masks to school, sat behind clear and plastic desk dividers, and been exposed to heartbreak and violence due to the media’s overexposure.

Each day, I am grateful for my life thus far, my relationships and my current opportunities as a young American woman. Trump’s presidency has certainly showcased how one should not represent a country. While we are encountering his relentless destruction in cases of racism, sexism and bigotry, and his exhibition of hateful power, I have faith in knowing that this country is resilient, and as Obama said, one day, will be “ready to lead” again.

Words by Teresa Spencer

The Great Mayport Shrimp Swindle

Jacksonville wears its shrimp like a badge of honor. It’s part of the culture, the economy, even the branding of the city itself. But a recent independent report using genetic testing suggests that what many diners are being served under the label “Mayport shrimp” isn’t local at all.

According to the report put out earlier this month by Sea D Consulting, shrimp samples were collected from 44 randomly selected restaurants and seafood markets across the Jacksonville area and were analyzed using genetic analysis/ species-identification testing. The findings were hard to ignore: only about one-third of the shrimp tested could be verified as American wild-caught. The majority, roughly two-thirds, were imported or farm-raised products. Even more concerning, the report indicates that more than half of the establishments sampled appeared to be presenting those imported shrimp as local, either through menu descriptions or direct communication with customers.

That’s not just a mix-up. That’s a pattern. Here are the actual stats released from the report.

• 14 of 44 dishes (32%) were confirmed as authentic American wild-caught shrimp

• 30 of 44 dishes (68%) were imported or farm-raised shrimp

• 25 of 44 establishments (57%) were explicitly inauthentic, meaning menus or staff verbally represented the shrimp as local/ Mayport/American wild-caught when testing confirmed imports

And it comes with a price tag. The same report found that diners were often paying more for shrimp marketed as local or “Mayport,” even when the product didn’t match the claim. In other words, customers were paying a premium for something they weren’t actually getting.

Let’s call it what it is: a classic bait-and-switch, just dressed up with Old Bay and a lemon wedge.

Meanwhile, the restaurants that are sourcing and serving authentic American wild-caught shrimp are competing in a market where honesty doesn’t always win. When cheaper imported products can be passed off as local and sold for more, it creates a system where doing the right thing is actually harder.

Mayport shrimp isn’t a marketing slogan, it’s tied to generations of working fishermen along the St. Johns River and the Atlantic coast. It represents a local industry that’s already navigating tough waters from global competition. When imported shrimp is sold under that name, it chips away at both trust and tradition.

The report also makes one thing clear: asking where your shrimp comes from may not be enough.

In many cases, customers were given confident answers that didn’t match the actual product being served.

That leaves consumers in a tough spot and highlights a bigger is sue. Florida, despite its strong coastal economy, does not currently have the same level of strict seafood labeling requirements that ex ist in some other states. Without clear standards and enforcement, the responsibility often falls on the diner to figure it out.

Here’s the reality: a significant portion of seafood sales happen in coastal tourist markets like Jacksonville. People come here ex pecting fresh, local flavor aka the real deal. When that expectation isn’t met, it doesn’t just disappoint, it undermines confidence in the entire dining scene.

So what can you do? Pay attention. Ask questions, but also understand their limits. Support places that are transparent about sourcing. And recognize that right now, ordering “Mayport shrimp” might not mean what you think it does. Until the system changes, the name on the menu and the shrimp on your plate don’t always match. That’s a problem Jacksonville can’t afford to ignore.

In closing we offer you the reports findings on restaurants that were confirmed to be serving “AUTHENTIC” American Wild- Caught Shrimp/ AKA Mayport Shrimp.

1. AJ’s Seafood , 21-1 Arlington Rd N, Jacksonville, FL 32211

2. Beachside Seafood , 120 3rd St S, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

3. Blue Fish Restaurant & Oyster Bar , 3551 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32205

4. Fisherman’s Dock Seafood Market , 11610 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223

5. Grouper Shack , 1700 3rd St S, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

6. Julington Creek Fish Camp , 12760 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223

7. Land Shark Bar & Grill , 715 1st St N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

8. Marker 32 , 14549 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32250

9. Mayport C & C Fisheries Seafood Market , 36 W 6th St, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233

10. New Berlin Fish House & Oyster Bar , 604 New Berlin Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32218

11. Safe Harbor Seafood Restaurant , 4378 Ocean St, Mayport, FL 32233

12. Seafood Express & More , 12961 N Main St #105, Jacksonville, FL 32218

13. Singleton’s Seafood Shack , 4728 Ocean St, Jacksonville, FL 32223

14. Voodoo Brewing Co , 1974 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207

REAL VS. FAKE:

MAYPORT SHRIMP EXPOSED

TEXTURE

(Imported / Farm-Rasied)

Uniform, identical,

THE 5 SECOND TEST

Too perfect? No shell or head? Price too good? Vague menu? Bland taste? -- Be skeptical.

PRO TIP

Ask: “Is this American wild-caught shrimp?” — then watch how confidently they answer.

WHY IT MATTERS

Mislabeling hurts local shrimpers, honest restaurants, and you — the customer paying for something you may not be getting.

Words by Ambar Ramirez

30 Years of BEACHES NIGHTLIFE

When the news broke that Fly’s Tie was locking its iron gates for the final time, the silence on Sailfish Drive felt heavy. For 30 years, the pub served as a reliable sanctuary in Atlantic Beach. Its departure, following so closely on the heels of other local icons, felt less like a simple business closure and more like the end of an era for Jacksonville’s coastal nightlife.

While it’s natural for the tide to turn after three decades, the sudden vacancy of such a staple begs the question: What is the “Beaches” becoming? As we look back over the last 30 years, the map of our local nightlife is unrecognizable. And I began to wonder, with the rise and fall of legendary stages, the replacement of gritty dives with polished restaurants and a shifting landscape, are we evolving into a leading destination, or are we losing the soul that made the beach worth visiting after dark?

Thirty years ago, the beach’s nightlife was on a different path. A much louder path. One paved with Southern rock and the occasional earplugs. People didn’t go to the beach to bar hop. They went to hear live music and see some of their favorite bands.

And in 1996, if you wanted to catch an unforgettable show and have an unforgettable night, you went to Einstein a Go-Go. This family-owned, all-ages and non-alcoholic club sat somewhere between what is now Hoptinger and Best Western on 327 N. First Street, and its stages saw some of the greats like Sonic Youth and Soundgarden, Jane’s Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers, even Nirvana before it was, well, the Nirvana. Tammie Faircloth, whose family ran Einstein’s, mentioned in a “Florida Times-Union” article that Einstein a Go-Go was popular because it was the “perfect timing at the perfect place.”

Bands would roll into town, get sunburned on the beach, then perform killer shows. But by 1997, Einstein a Go-Go’s lease expired. The venue became a piece of Jacksonville Beaches nightlife history.

Whether you’re a Jacksonville local or a transplant (i.e., me), you’ve heard of Freebird Live. Originally named Freebird Cafe, Judy Van Zant and her daughter Melody (yes, those Van Zants) opened the venue in 1999 with the Charlie Daniels Band as its inaugural concert. It was a true temple of rock, where the walls were a living museum draped in Lynyrd Skynyrd memorabilia and the dark, storied room felt like it was vibrating with every guitar riff. And just north of the club was Ronnie’s Place, the outdoor patio served Southern family recipes and frozen cocktails. The club was later renamed Freebird Live as it shifted its focus to presenting live music.

And present live music they did. Anyone who was anyone took the stage. It was a dizzying spectrum of sound. One night you’d have Southern rock royalty like Shinedown, Molly Hatchet, or Gregg Allman; the next,

you’d find the sweaty, high-energy crowds of Yellowcard, Against Me!, or Thirty Seconds to Mars. It was a safe space for anyone who wanted to see a good show and be in a good crowd.

But on January 20th, 2016, the music stopped. Freebird Live took its final bow, leaving a silence that the community felt instantly.

In a 2016 article, “LIVE! Is Large In Jacksonville,” Folio spoke to Tim Hall, the man who helped Freebird become a leading venue. Even though back then the only information they had was that Freebird was going to be occupied by Surfer the Bar, Hall knew that the closing of this iconic venue would have a ripple effect.

“The closing of Freebird is definitely going to affect Jacksonville Beach. They were very lucky to have a place that was just a bicycle ride away to see some of these bigger acts. It’s going to hurt the value of the entertainment district down there, too. It wasn’t for everybody all of the time, but it was for somebody most of the time,” Hall said.

It’s been just 10 years without Freebird Live and 10 years of a different sign hanging from its building on the corner of First Street and First Avenue North. What once housed amps, guitar stands and speakers from floor to ceiling, is now occupied by DJ tables, bar stools and floors sticky with spilled drinks. Now, instead of catching a show at Freebird Live, people catch sets at Surfer the Bar.

Slowly but steadily, that small strip of bars on First Avenue North stopped caring about which bands they were going to book and cared more about drink specials and which DJs brought the biggest crowds. Rather than pubs and smoking-permitted patios, we’ve entered an alternate universe where the demographic wants $16 craft cocktails and a sit-down meal. The 90s beach kids grew up and took their nightlife scene with them.

A little farther down in Atlantic Beach, past the row of bustling restaurants and the iconic Pete’s Bar (which I can only hope never follows the trend of its former neighbor), sat Ragtime Tavern.

Brothers Tom and Bill Morton opened the spot in 1983 on the corner of Atlantic and Ocean boulevards, starting as a modest restaurant with just a few tables and a single bar. It grew with the neighborhood, and by 1994, it became Jacksonville’s first microbrewery, essentially pioneering the craft beer scene we see everywhere today. For decades, weekends meant grabbing a plate of coconut shrimp or New Orleans-inspired red beans and rice while a live band played to a packed house.

It was a cornerstone of the Beaches Town Center for over 40 years, but the tides changed in 2025 when it was sold to a California-based company. That chapter was short-lived, however; the space is now slated to become Grafton & Fleck’s Steakhouse under local restaurateurs Jeff McCusker and Bob Fleckenstein.

It’s a sign of the times: the nightlife scene has shifted its focus from live music and smoky, beer-stained rooms to fine dining and $50 steaks. Fly’s Tie certainly wasn’t the first to go, and as the beach continues to “grow up,” it definitely won’t be the last.

FLOATING ON AIR

Words by Emily Cannon

Tucked near the hustle and bustle of St. Johns Town Center, iFLY Indoor Skydiving Jacksonville offers something unexpected for Northeast Florida: the sensation of human flight, no airplane required. For thrill-seekers, families and even first-timers wary of jumping from 12,000 feet from a plane, indoor skydiving has become one of Jacksonville’s most unique attractions, blending adrenaline with accessibility in a controlled, high-tech environment.

Indoor skydiving isn’t just something to do for a birthday party or a night out, it’s the product of decades of engineering innovation. The concept relies on vertical wind tunnels that generate powerful upward air currents, allowing participants to float midair as if they were free-falling from the sky.

Companies like iFLY helped popularize the experience globally, expanding from a single concept in the late 1990s to dozens of locations worldwide. Jacksonville joined that global network in 2018.

Step inside the facility, and the first thing you notice is the hum. Low at first, then building into a steady roar as massive fans power the wind tunnel. Inside a clear cylindrical chamber, flyers hover effortlessly, guided by instructors who make the physics look almost magical. The experience itself is surprisingly simple. After a brief training session, participants suit up in flight gear, helmet, goggles and a specialized jumpsuit before stepping into the chamber. Instead of jumping, you lean forward into a column of air that lifts your body off the ground.

The airflow, which can reach speeds comparable to a real skydive, creates a cushion strong enough to suspend the body midair. The result is a feeling often described as “floating,” though it’s closer to controlled flight. Each session typically includes short flights, often around a minute each, but those seconds pack the intensity of a real freefall. In fact, two one-minute flights can simulate multiple skydives from thousands of feet above ground.

While many visitors come for the novelty, indoor skydiving has deeper applications. Professional skydivers and athletes use wind tunnels for training, practicing body control and aerial maneuvers in a consistent environment. The steady airflow allows for repetition and refinement in ways that outdoor skydiving cannot.

Jacksonville has long been defined by its outdoor lifestyle — beaches, rivers and sprawling parks. Indoor skydiving adds a different dimension to the city’s recreational scene, offering something weatherproof, high-tech and undeniably memorable.

What makes indoor skydiving stand out isn’t just the thrill, it’s the combination of accessibility, innovation and pure fun. It’s rare to find an activity that can be enjoyed by kids, teens, adults and even seniors, all within the same space.

More important, it offers something increasingly valuable in today’s experience-driven culture: a story worth telling. Whether it’s your first time defying gravity or your 10th flight perfecting your technique, the feeling of floating in midair is one that sticks with you long after your feet touch the ground again.

As technology continues to evolve, indoor skydiving facilities are becoming more advanced, with smoother airflow, better safety systems and expanded training opportunities. Jacksonville’s location is part of that broader trend, signaling a shift in how people experience adventure.

You no longer need a plane ticket or a leap of faith to know what it feels like to fly. In a glass chamber powered by carefully engineered wind, right in the heart of Jacksonville, that experience is already waiting.

BACK PAGE

By Bart H. Welling, Ph.D.

TO HELL WITH FOSSIL FUELS

Unless you’re currently wearing a MAGA cap, you probably feel the same way I do about the Trump administration’s Middle East policies. In short, they’re about as clear as the inside of a haboob at midnight. And yet, for all the confusion surrounding the administration’s goals in Iran and the rest of the region, Operation Epic Fury has revealed one thing with shocking clarity: the kind of world we’re going to end up with if we don’t rapidly transition away from fossil fuels.

It is a world of flame and ash, of filthy clouds of oil smoke and critical shortages of fresh water. It’s a world where massive, disempowered human populations cling to increasingly precarious islands of habitability. It’s a world ruled by mad kings and warlords who spend their days — when they aren’t, say, golfing with their cronies in air-conditioned pleasure

domes — using violence and disinformation to keep their subjects under control and scheming about grabbing, or obliterating, resources in other countries. It’s a world where hydrocarbon industry CEOs yell more and more loudly about jobs and shareholders even as ecosystems collapse and great crowds of climate refugees, human and non-, rush away from the killing heat and implacable tides. It’s a world that all nations could have chosen to turn their backs on decades ago.

Part of what makes the current war in the Middle East so hellish is its torturous repetitiveness, the sense that we have seen it all so many times before—not just during the Iraq War and Operation Desert Storm but from the very beginnings of modern petro-capitalism. To paraphrase UN Secretary-General António Guterres, we have been on the “highway to climate hell” for centuries now. Some contemporary descriptions of burning oil depots and exploding gas fields are almost indistinguishable from nineteenth-century accounts of spills and flaming gushers surveyed by historian Brian Black in his excellent book Petrolia: The Landscape of America’s First Oil Boom. Scientists today are able to measure

and predict the climate effects of burning hydrocarbons in ways they never could before, but most of the other grim externalities of the coal, petroleum, and natural gas industries — from air and water pollution to the frequent deaths of workers, the theft of Indigenous land, rampant political corruption, and industrial-style war—have long been obvious to anyone who cared to pay attention.

In narrative terms, we have been on a tragic trajectory for some time (heading down, down, down), but too many world leaders and heads of corporations seem stuck in a kind of infinite loop. It’s an infernal story in which they act as if they are condemned to commit the same crimes against their fellow humans and the Earth over and over again in perpetuity. But they have gotten very skilled at pretending that their crimes are not crimes, and that Earth is both a never-failing cornucopia and a bottomless receptacle for our wastes (thanks to some not-yet-invented miracle technology).

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POSITION:

BIRTHDATE:

HOMETOWN: FAMILY:

Gullible gal? 64 JIA postings

In short order

Lip shiner

Body art, briefly

Winning by a point

Grammar topic

Tallahassee born ambient/ gothic rock musician performing at The Amp on May 8

36 Raggedy doll

40 Designer’s concern

42 Jazz genre

45 ER pronouncement

47 Fake drakes

50 “We ___ to please”

51 St. Johns River wader

52 Tiny amounts

Colorful parrot

Clue, on “Jeopardy!”

Brief office communication 7 In the know

8 Head turner?

9 What Noah saved for a rainy day 10 “I Want to Know What Love Is” band that performed at The Amp on April 17 11 Nike rival 12 Hanna Park campsite sight 13 Some Jags linemen

Not those 22 Jax City Councilor Amaro

53 Cookie deep-fried at the Florida State Fair

54 Farm cylinder

55 Small bottle

56 UF frat letter

57 Future JD’s exam

58 U-turn from more

60 Fuel efficiency letters

Solve this puzzle like a regular sudoku, but instead of using numbers, use the letters

(for Florida’s iconic symbol) to fill each row, column and box.