THE CITY IS BROKE AND THE BUDGET MEETINGS HIT POTHOLES P.8
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A WEB MADE MORE COMPLEX P.10
STRATA AND DIMENSIONS DISPLAYING AT MOCA P.22
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JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 3
THIS WEEK // 6.24-6.30.15 // VOL. 29 ISSUE 13 COVER STORY
SPEAKING [11] FROM THE HEART BY DANIEL A. BROWN
The Coming Out Monologues provides a powerful voice of creative empowerment for Northeast Florida’s LGBT community
FEATURED ARTICLES
HATRED IS PERVERTED
[9]
A WEB MADE MORE COMPLEX
BY SUSAN COOPER EASTMAN Mandarin church’s marquee sparks PROTEST
[10] PAGING UP
BY KEITH MARKS Though the law’s been on the books for a year, City Council calls emergency vote on NON-EUPHORIC WEED
[26]
BY KARA POUND Local indie-pop duo THE LITTLE BOOKS follows two releases with a summer Southeast tour
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FROM THE EDITOR
ON POTTY PARITY, SERIOUSLY AS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND AGAIN, the Interwebs — more specifically, social media — has the power to take seemingly benign ideas and raise the stakes of participating and engaging with said ideas (think MS Ice Bucket Challenge, or its less philanthropically motivated, more dimwitted cousin, the cinnamon challenge). It’s social pressure, only magnified. Rarely, however, do such efforts effect lasting social change, or even increased awareness — a fact I’ve proved by calling the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge the MS Ice Bucket Challenge, without you even doing a doubletake (bring on the letters to the editor). So when local political activist Ben Weaver (who identifies as Ben America on social media) talks about the impact of his most recent digitally driven agitation, he does so with caution. “I’m not on a crusade with this,” says Weaver, whose social media reach extends to a respectable 2,500 Facebook friends. “I’m just trying to point out some things that we take for granted around us that institutionalize sexism, racism, and classism,” he tells me. A few weeks ago, Weaver, who runs a sign business, posted a picture on his Facebook page, along with a simple (incomplete) sentence: “Thinking of making and donating.” The picture that accompanied this phrase was of a brown restroom sign. From left to right on the sign were two familiar female and male pictograms (wearing the standard A-line dress and conceivably nothing at all, respectively). And to the far right stands a third icon, a blend of the other two — the dress protruding from only one side. “It seems really simple,” Weaver says of the gender-neutral signage. “You got a sink and a toilet. You put up a sign. It doesn’t say ‘this is a men’s room’ or ‘this is a women’s room.’ It’s just a bathroom.” Weaver, who worked closely with the LGBT-PAC during the better part of Jacksonville’s recent mayoral race, told me he hoped to spark conversation with the post. “So how do change minds and hearts?” Weaver asks me, rhetorically. “You start showing them the absurdity of these systems that we hold onto.” Many businesses adhere to an antiquated building code that requires separate facilities for the sexes. It’s called potty parity (seriously). For people who identify as transgender or questioning, this binary, socially-constructed framework complicates things. But things are changing. Student-led initiatives made it possible for gender-neutral signage to be installed on the campuses of most public universities in the state of Florida. City governments are beginning to follow suit. Santa Fe, New 6 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
Mexico, for instance, passed an ordinance in early May requiring all single-occupancy restrooms to be available for anyone, regardless of gender, and its City Council is weighing giving gender-neutral signage to businesses. Is Northeast Florida ready to embrace inclusive signage? Weaver received hundreds of comments on Facebook, including legal advice regarding state and city codes related to restroom accommodations, as well as solicitations for procurement and installation of the signs. The owner of Bold Bean Coffee Roasters inquired, but decided he couldn’t wait. The Riverside coffeehouse has since posted its own version of the signs featuring only the androgynous pictogram, with the word Whichever underneath. But that’s in Jacksonville’s liberal enclave. Socially and politically speaking, Riverside/ Avondale may be the one place in Northeast Florida where the word progressive can be uttered aloud, in public, with a straight face (though, in their affinity for Republican mayoral candidate Bill Bishop, many residents displayed a confused understanding of the word). It’s diverse and inclusive, yet you won’t find a more homogenized — ideology-wise — district in the city. So if you live there, or spend a great deal of time there, it’s easy to forget you live in one of the few major cities in America that votes overwhelmingly red. Many Riverside/Avondale residents lovingly refer to this blissful ignorance as the bubble. In the past, Riverside/Avondale hasn’t had much success exporting ideologies to the rest of Northeast Florida. More recently, the neighborhoods’ collective causes — a push for candidates to embrace a comprehensive Human Rights Ordinance, the campaign of a fringe-progressive-ish candidate — have, just like in the past, fallen on deaf ears. But elections aren’t always the best way to effect social change. Experience is the most powerful form of persuasion. Bold Bean is a popular spot. The ability to sell a highly addictive drug (oh, and their welcoming atmosphere) attracts people of all ages, inviting them from all corners of Northeast Florida to both of the Roasters’ two locations. It may seem like a small, even subliminal gesture, but by now hundreds of people have put their eyes on the signs. “For us, for generation X and Y, it’s obvious, we’re built for change,” Ben Weaver tells me. “We’re early adopters — change doesn’t scare us.” “Then again,” he says, “we’re not the ones who vote.” Matthew B. Shaw mshaw@folioweekly.com twitter/matthew_b_shaw
THE MAIL READERS REACT TO SUSAN COOPER EASTMAN’s story on Beach Church Jax’s decision to not allow former WNBA player and seventh most powerful woman in sports, Donna Orender, to speak to graduating students at a baccalaureate service held at the church (“Faith in the Future” June 10).
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Donating a church auditorium as a venue for a distinguished speaker for a public school event is a great and noble gesture. Earmarking that donation to restrict any selected speaker to be part of a particular faith is disrespectful and probably against the law. I have attended that church with my wife and I will never set foot in there again. My Christian friends would say that it was not a very Christian gesture. Fred Blum via folioweekly.com
How awesome that First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Beach hosted the event instead on such short notice! I’ll check them out. Little Bailey via Facebook
Sounds like typical Christians being “Christ-like” to me. They didn’t miss a golden opportunity to show their true Christian spirit, they hit it dead on the mark. Chris Petranick via Facebook If you would like to respond to something that appeared in the pages of Folio Weekly, please send an email (with your name, address and phone number for verification purposes only) to mail@folioweekly.com.
Beach Church Jax (top); Donna Orender People who aren’t Christian expect Christians to somehow be better than that; truth is, they are broken like everyone else. The only difference is they have faith in Jesus. Don’t blame the faith for the actions of some. Nobody is perfect. Tobe Stubee via Facebook
BRICKBATS & BOUQUETS BRICKBATS TO CITY COUNCILMEMBER BILL GULLIFORD After Jacksonville City Council voted unanimously for a county-wide moratorium on businesses involved with a low-THC, non-euphoric medical cannabis known as Charlotte’s Web, the District 13 representative told the Times-Union he was unaware that, when he voted to approve the measure, the state legislature had already implemented significant hurdles to appropriation of licenses to sell or cultivate the strand. BOUQUETS TO JASMYN – the nonprofit youth services organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth – for continuing to shine a spotlight on HIV/AIDS work in the community. On June 27, the organization hosts a Backyard Party to encourage the whole community to get tested. Free rapid HIV testing will be provided between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. In 2013, Florida ranked first in the nation in the number of new HIV infection cases diagnosed. This year marks the 20th annual National HIV Testing Day. For more information, go to http://jasmyn.org. BOUQUETS TO PATRICK NICHOLS for representing the right coast and winning the NSSA collegiate longboard championship, helping the UNF Surf Team earn a second place finish overall in the National championships off Salt Creek in Dana Point, California.
KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES A BOUQUET? HOW ABOUT A PROVERBIAL BRICKBAT? Send your submissions to mail@folioweekly.com. Submissions should be a maxium of 50 words and directed toward a person, place, or topic of local interest. JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 7
LET THERE BE LIT
FIGHTIN’ WORDS
PERVERTED BY LANGUAGE Local LITERARY RAG releases an issue featuring the new wave of Northeast Florida writers
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advice. In Issue One, he warned, “All advice arl Rosen can never tire of being asked is bullshit, including the advice implicit in to explain the name. He couldn’t have what I just said.” expected anything else when he named In Issue Two, in response to a letterthe magazine Perversion. writer’s confession that he “fictionalizes “The word ‘perversion’ has been corrupted humans into things they are not,” including from its etymological roots,” he says. “vapid sorority girls” he transmutes into I’m sitting across from Rosen and Hurley “brilliant beautiful savants,” Moon wrote, Winkler, Perversion writers and editors, “At present, you are an incompetent in Rosen’s second-floor Jacksonville Beach fantasist. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t see apartment. Surfboards stand in the corner and any discrepancy between your so-called proof sheets of Perversion’s upcoming third fictionalizations and the real world, ever.” issue are spread across the dining room floor. The drawings in Winkler’s “Girl Crush” “The original meaning of the word,” are somehow sweetly sardonic, innocently Rosen says, “had to do with thinking outside astute. In the first installment, she wrote, the norms.” “Let’s get this straight: Girl Crushes aren’t He’s saying the word “perversion” has sexual. In fact, they aren’t even romantic. been perverted, and in that wider meaning They don’t say, ‘I want of disrupting norms, to bring her flowers “The magazine itself and hold her hand,’ but is a perversion of PERVERSION rather, ‘I want to BE Jacksonville.” MAGAZINE: ISSUE NO. 3 Winkler and Rosen her. I respect her. I am RELEASE PARTY couldn’t be more excited. enthusiastic about the 7 p.m. June 26, Florida Mining At just over 200 pages, fact that she exists.’” Gallery, Southside; live music Issue Three is more than So Winkler writes by Tomboi, Fort Stories, Fjord twice the length of Issue about trying on the Explorer, Colin Adkins, $10 One and features writers qualities she most admired admission includes beer/ from across North in high school girl crushes. wine, perversionmag.com, floridamininggallery.com America and a story by There’s “The Bitchface,” (“I Pakistani installation practiced my Bitchfacing artist Shehrezad Maher, in the mirror after school. about her transformation My dad came in my room of a traffic circle into color wheels in the and asked, ‘Honey, is your stomach upset?’”) or heart of Karachi. “The Taste” (“They claimed to take a liking to Rosen, Winkler, and staff writer Sam obscure experimental music that no one had Bilheimer met in University of North ever heard of and books that didn’t Florida Professor Mark Ari’s creative writing contain pictures.”) workshops and published stories in UNF’s Likewise, a girl crush “has some kind of 2012 creative nonfiction collection, Yes, super period radar detector” so she always They’re Real, and the 2013 fiction anthology, “puts her tampon in moments — seconds! — 396 Hours. before her period arrives.” Bilheimer’s comic and anxiety-ridden Rosen’s “Weird Humans” series has so far nonfiction piece “Amber,” in Issue Two, explored kissing (“Do you know how dirty describes his stopping his car to pick up mouths are?”) and holding hands (“Hands a woman who’d waved knowingly to him, are riddled with germs”), though his though he didn’t recognize her, and who extraterrestrial-like befuddlement at his own seems, by the end of his picaresque journey species cranks up in his Issue Three response driving her around, to have been to the Blue Angels, those stunt-warplanes a prostitute. whose annual shows have long been favorites Though shops in Savannah, Brooklyn, of crowds that assemble at area military Manhattan, and Philadelphia now carry bases and beaches to watch. “The Blue Angels,” he writes, “weren’t Perversion, Winkler and Rosen say the crafted to entertain us.” Instead, they were magazine will always be rooted made “to kill.” He’s “no pacifist or conspiracy in Jacksonville. theorist,” but the Blue Angels’ shows “have “I grew up in Jacksonville,” Winkler made war and war machines more palatable,” says, “and nothing like Perversion has ever while we watch from below, “eating corn dogs happened here.” and cheering with ketchup on our shirts.” The aesthetic is a blend of Brooklyn hip, Perversion also features fashion shoots surfer chic, and absurdist humor, into which and art criticism, as well as some of the best fit pieces like Austin Coit’s “The Love I Used local young fiction, poetry, and creative to Hate” in Issue One, which charts how he nonfiction, a major genre these days, by moved from hating “people who fly-fished” Northeast Florida writers like Jeff Jones, as the snobs of the fishing world to acquiring Cassidy Spencer, Alexander Cendrowski, an “encyclopedic knowledge” about fly Leonard Owens III, and Grant Kittrell. fishing, which made him a “zealot.” Before settling on Perversion, Rosen had Each issue publishes different poets, considered calling the magazine White Wall, short-story writers, and essayists, but because he wanted it to be like a gallery. Perversion is also known for continuing “I like to think of us, the editors,” series like Winkler’s illustrated “Girl Crush,” Carl Rosen says, “as curators of the work Rosen’s musings on “Weird Humans,” and we’re publishing.” Cyrano Moon’s advice column. Moon’s nihilistically absurd advice Tim Gilmore column might better be described as antimail@folioweekly.com
8 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
CURRY’S transitional budget meetings hit a few potholes
THE CITY IS BROKE
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or the better part of last week, I sat in the budget review meetings led by Lenny Curry’s transition team Executive Director Sam Mousa, along with his “budget SWAT team” and the heads of every single department in Jacksonville City government. And when I say that I sat in them, I sat in all of them. I live-blogged these things. Every day. And I learned something. Sit down if you’re standing. I’ve got a spoiler alert for you. Ready? The city of Jacksonville is broke. When I say broke, I don’t mean that the paychecks won’t cash for city employees. What I do mean is that there has been an institutional neglect when it comes to infrastructure. Both the stuff that we can see, such as roads and bridges, and the stuff that we can’t see that nonetheless affects us. Take the fleets of vehicles for Jacksonville Sheriff ’s Office personnel and Fire & Rescue workers. Those departments probably wouldn’t mind. There are police cars on the road right now from 2007 and 2008, with some having more than 150K miles on them. They’ve had engine replacements, repair, etc. But here’s the thing. Cop cars aren’t driven like normal cars. Jackrabbit starts, high-speed pursuits, idling during traffic stops, running speed traps and so on are all things that are done in the course of police business. Fire and Rescue vehicles have, except for high-speed chases, many of the same pressures. We were told, during the campaign, that public safety was the straw that stirs the drink. OK, player. What happens now that we see that the issues aren’t as simple as hiring more cops, but actually making sure their cars, their TASERs, and their body armor and computer databases are on point? Fire and Rescue, similarly, needs upgraded radios. Where does the money come from? Starved for resources. I have typed this phrase so much that I need a macro. And it doesn’t apply just to the needs of entities involved public safety. The library acquisition budget has gone down by almost 50 percent in the last decade. The staff of the Human Rights Commission, likewise, cleaved almost in half — it can take them up to two years to investigate a complaint. Meanwhile, a city concern is
buying retirees out of their health plans now; giving them a $125K lump sum before the city has to pay for their million-dollar heart transplant, as “heart and hypertension” is a massive cost to the city, and the balloon payment is coming due. The city is broke. We are coming out of a time when interest rates have been kept so low that lending might as well have come with Groupons. And the top percentiles have reaped the benefit, as has the educated middle class who found a way to monetize its Stafford Loan funded skills. The rest? Remember that single mom Alvin Brown discovered late in his campaign, working two or three jobs just to pay the rent to a slumlord and buy McDonald’s for her kids? Well, stars — they’re just like us. People often ask me why I’m a smallgovernment guy, in terms of things like the Drug War, which (I keep saying) has bankrupted us and diverted resources away from real, must-have priorities to social control, the prison-industrial state, and a labyrinth of regulation that hasn’t actually curbed the problems. The most violent dealers? Meet them at the club, it’s going down; meet them at the mall, it’s going down. The convenience stores in Murray Hill and Lackawanna; the Section 8 apartment complexes on the Northside, and all kinds of other places where the Shoot ’Em Up of the Day happens. America has pissed away its competitive advantage building a prison-police state for the sake of private equity markets. Jacksonville is no exception to that model. We built a state with entitlements for the poor, and corporate entitlements for the very rich. And who pays? What’s left of the middle class, and those rubes who believe that the certainties of yesteryear can be counted on today, much less tomorrow. Alvin Brown just got back from San Francisco’s U.S. Conference of Mayors. Do you think he’ll tell us, before he vacates his office, what has worked elsewhere? He goes to these damned conferences, and Curry will, too, yet we still have the same decades-old unimaginative policy thought. It’s time to move on. Who has the juice to make that happen? AG Gancarski mail@folioweekly.com
NEWS
HATRED IS PERVERTED
Mandarin CHURCH’S MARQUEE sparks protest
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andarin d i resident id t C Cate t Dobbins D bbi iis hoping to change the heart of Rev. Gene Youngblood of First Conservative Baptist Church. She talked as though she believed that if she could convince Rev. Youngblood that the core message of Christianity — that of Jesus Christ — is tolerance and love, he’d stop posting anti-gay, homophobic messages on the church marquee. But she’s also kind of baiting him, titling a protest at the church last Sunday as the “First Conservative Baptist Church Protest/kiss-in disco party.” Dobbins objects to the messages that Rev. Youngblood posts on his church marquee. After seeing one that read, “Homosexuals Must Repent or Go To Hell,” she began a campaign to convince the church to stop posting anti-gay statements. But neither a phone call to the church nor a petition on change.org titled, “Take Down Your Homophobic and Bigoted Sign” (which, by June 15, had garnered 877 signatures) convinced Rev. Youngblood to stop. When Dobbins visited the church on May 11, she was told to leave the property. Since then, she’s protested in front of the church on Sundays with one or two other people. For the disco protest, there was no disco in evidence: just six people in casual attire holding signs promoting tolerance or ones that said “Hatred is Perverted.” Dobbins waved a large rainbow flag. “I’m hoping it will grow and he’ll see us and maybe come to his senses. Putting up a marquee like that is not what Jesus would do,” she says. “This is not about me being opposed to their First Amendment rights. It is about a group of self-purported Christians behaving in the most un-Christian manner imaginable.” Despite the protests, Rev. Youngblood’s marquee messages have continued, changing weekly to a new iteration on the same theme: “Homosexuality Is Not From God;” “Genesis: 19 — God’s Judgment Against Homosexuals. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah,” “Pray the Supreme Court Says No On Gay Marriage,” “All Christians Boycott Pro-Gay Businesses – Stand for God,” “Christians Don’t Be Silent — Speak Up. Stand Up” and “Keep Marriage Pure, Not Perverted.” Last week, sisters Toby Getman and Elizabeth Zaner noticed the marquee while
SIGN O’ THE TIMES
on their daily walks through their Mandarin neighborhood and were horrified. The sisters and Elizabeth’s son Brad joined the protest this week. Getman’s and Zaner’s grandparents are Holocaust survivors, so they said the intolerance and prejudice of Rev. Youngblood’s message deeply bothers them. In the aftermath of the massacre of nine people in a Bible study group at the historic black AME church in Charleston on June 17, the sisters said they felt like the need to do things to not only keep bodies healthy, but to promote love and tolerance. “It made us so sad,” said Getman of the sign. “It is just seriously horrible to have hate and God in the same sentence.” “We know what hate does,” said Zaner. In a three-page statement, Rev. Youngblood wrote that for the past 30 years, he’s used the marquee to educate, inspire and caution. He
wrote he hoped “one practicing homosexual might read the sign and repent before it is too late and they are cast into hell.” Rev. Youngblood spoke briefly to Folio Weekly last week. Asked what he thinks about Dobbins’ statement that his message is not Christ-like, he responded: “I understand,” he said. “Let me simply say this and say this simply. … And this is not for interview. … “If you are tape recording, I will sue your pants off.” I told Rev. Youngblood I wasn’t taping, but I was typing. “Well, then, I’ll cease to say anything, and thanks for calling,” he said, before he disconnected the call. Susan Cooper Eastman sceastman@folioweekly.com
Do you have all the answers? Do you hold the keys to all universal truths? Well, you need your own church sign!
Folio Weekly would like to invite our readers to visit says-it.com/churchsigns. Once there, follow the instructions to create your own unique church sign. But, instead of condemning people, we ask you to create your own messages of love, tolerance, inclusion, or even apathy. Just don’t spread hate. If you are proud of your pronouncement, please post your church sign to our Facebook page (facebook. com/folioweekly). HATEFUL SIGNS WILL BE FLAGGED AND DELETED. Check out our church signs at right. JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9
NEWS
A WEB MADE MORE COMPLEX Though law has been on the books for a year, Jax City Council calls emergency vote on NON-EUPHORIC WEED
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h SB1030 hen SB1030, th the Compassionate C i t M Medical di l Cannabis Act of 2014, passed the Florida State legislature in June 2014, Gawker Magazine published a brief story with the headline, Florida Legalizes Boring Medical Weed That Doesn’t Even Get You High. Dubbed Charlotte’s Web, the strain Gawker was referring to was created in Colorado, with the express purpose of allowing patients access to high levels of cannabidiol (CBD) without the euphoric-inducing THC. Florida parents with children suffering from epileptic seizures pushed to have the strain legalized in Florida. Even Governor Rick Scott signed off on Charlotte’s Web. “I’ve met several families with young children who were suffering from as many as 100 seizures per day … Charlotte’s Web shows great promise to provide their kids with relief,” said Florida State Senator Rob Bradley (R, Orange Park), who drafted the legislation. “As the father of three children myself, how could I in good conscience refuse to help these families? Any law that defines these families as criminals is a law that defies common sense. The law needed to be changed, and we changed it.” The bill includes a budget for clinical research on the effects of Charlotte’s Web. However, the University of Florida, in not wanting to risk its $300 million in federal grant funding, elected not to have anything to do with researching Charlotte’s Web (as did many other prominent research facilities around the country), which remains illegal under federal drug laws. This Catch-22 paradox is, for the most part, the reason there’s little medically accepted research on the subject of Charlotte’s Web.
Last Law JJudge L t month, th Administrative Ad i i t ti L d W. David Watkins rejected a challenge to a proposed rule setting up the medical marijuana industry in Florida, opening a year-long gridlock keeping Charlotte’s Web from the public. And the joint was rolling. Until two weeks ago. On June 8, Jacksonville City Councilman Richard Clark (District 3) proposed an emergency six-month moratorium on the distribution of Charlotte’s Web. The emergency part effectively blocked any public comment. “It is sad and really disappointing that the council voted on this measure without giving the people who would be most impacted by their decision a chance to voice their concerns,” said Ryan Wiggins, spokesperson for the Moseley Family’s nonprofit Realm of Caring. “To my knowledge, no other city in the state has passed any similar measure or has reacted this way. Every municipality in the state has had a year to plan for this and figure out zoning. To wait until the last minute as if this issue has only just now been sprung on them isn’t fair to the families who are desperately waiting on relief for their children.” Council’s paranoia runneth over. The apparent need for the emergency measure stems from a zoning issue. With a lack of marijuana laws, the city won’t know where to allow the sale of what amounts to a tube of toothpaste. The six-month moratorium will fall into the lap of land use and zoning. Shortly after the Council’s unanimous decision, Folio Weekly reached out to all Councilmembers in an email. (Read the
We reached out to all 18 City Councilmembers following their vote to place a moratorium on the distribution of Charlotte’s Web, a non-euphoric strain of marijuana. We asked each one:
10 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
responses from those who chose to reply in the graphic that accompanies this article). New legislation creates new challenges to overcome and it may take time for the city to fully understand and implement a law. However, the state passed SB1030 more than a year ago. Why was the law overlooked? Former Jacksonville City Council candidate Lisa King phoned Melissa Ross’ First Coast Connect on Monday, June 15, calling the Council’s decision “unconscionable.” King told Ross, “I’m most disappointed that the City Council has waited till the zero hour to do anything and then has done a knee-jerk reaction, when they could have been working on this for the last year, so that if one of these dispensaries was located in our part of the state, we would know exactly where it could or couldn’t go.” Folio Weekly isn’t advocating that Charlotte’s Web is a cure-all — especially in the face of medical science indicating that the whole plant, with THC, is a more optimal health product, but when city councilmembers call emergency legislation that actively seeks to block public comment (especially when it concerns a law has been on the state books for one year), it begs the question: special interest or incompetence? Either way, the baggie doesn’t quite weigh up to snuff. “The State tightly controls the growth and distribution of low-THC cannabis to ensure that only entities and individuals with a track record of financial stability and ethical conduct are involved,” said Sen. Bradley. “The law that we ultimately passed contains tight regulations on the growth and distribution of low-THC cannabis to suffering families. The substance at issue is not smokable and it does not make you high. I’m confident that after the city completes its review of the law, the city will be comfortable with allowing its suffering residents to have unfettered access to Charlotte’s Web.” Keith Marks kmarks@folioweekly.com
Why was it important to pass a moratorium on a strain of medically-engineered marijuana that CANNOT GET PATIENTS HIGH?
BILL GULLIFORD
JIM LOVE
BILL BISHOP
RICHARD CLARK
CLAY YARBOROUGH
Because even though the state of Florida placed their restrictions on growing and distribution, we had no time to consider such factors as zoning control of growing and distribution … This is not a ban but a slowdown. If your contention about not being able to get “high” on the drug, thereby inferring that it is completely safe, why is the state of Florida place such tight controls on the growing and distribution?
Councilman Clark’s ordinance is to allow the city time to develop some regulatory framework for the sale of medical marijuana. This is a new industry to Florida and Jacksonville and it needs to start right.
It is a six-month moratorium on zoning changes that would be required … This is to give our Planning Department time to develop zoning recommendations for the new council to adopt. … Without the moratorium, they could have been sited anywhere …
The strain of marijuana is irrelevant … it’s up to the local governments to apply their respective rules and laws when those entities actually are in operation … the city has not one law pertaining to this industry. We need the small period of time to protect neighborhoods from having dispensaries in any commercial zoning and we feel that it should be more restrictive than this (much like alcohol sales).
Though the State of Florida passed a law designating the construction of cannabis distribution facilities … the City Council is concerned because no current proximity protections are in place … as it relates to where a potential distribution facility could be constructed, if in Jacksonville. The Council also does not have direction from the State on how to best implement the new law.
THE COMING OUT MONOLOGUES PROVIDES A POWERFUL VOICE OF CREATIVE EMPOWERMENT FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S LGBT COMMUNITY
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veryone is gathering together. While it’s a postcard-sunny Saturday afternoon outside, the next two hours will be spent inside, telling stories. As people arrive, they greet one another with a smile and a hug and walk up the lawn to the house. With a little more than two-and-ahalf weeks left until the opening night of this year’s version of The Coming Out Monologues, the cast and crewmembers seem confident and relaxed, though most are carrying notebooks and printouts of their scripts. Ranging in age from their early 20s to early 60s, they share a common bond. Everyone here today has, at some point in their lives, “come out.” Whether as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, they have walked through the experience of accepting and revealing who they truly are. At times, these admissions have been greeted with tolerance, love, and understanding; more fierce reactions have led
to familial discord, emotional trauma, and even physical peril. Very few members of The Coming Out Monologues cast have theatrical experience, but most do not, a radical element that makes the embodiment of their roles onstage one of evident, and even disarming, vulnerability. “It’s funny to call them cast members, and they are that, but they’re really storytellers
— it’s their stories,” says Tina Vaughn, co-producer of this year’s The Coming Out Monologues, or as the group calls it as a kind of abbreviated shorthand, COM. Along with co-producer Cynthia Dane, Vaughn coordinates everything from funding cash flow and vetting submissions from possible cast members to managing the rest of crew and securing the venue.
The Coming Out Monologues originated at University of California Riverside in 2007, as a kind of homage to, and extension of, The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler’s 1996 episodic, agitprop-feminist play. In ’08, students at Texas A&M University adopted the idea and began rewriting new monologues with each subsequent annual performance. In 2011, a friend hipped Vaughn to this production idea that injected profound, highly personal storytelling into the performance arena. “I reached out to UC Riverside for their blessing to model our materials after their concepts and they graciously agreed,” says Vaughn. “They were honored.” Wearing a black T-shirt and black yoga
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<<< FROM PREVIOUS pants, her brown hair cropped close, Vaughn has a friendly, open, and no-bullshit demeanor. Standing by her side, Dane is more reserved, in black jeans and a matching shirt, friendly eyes peering through her large, plastic-framed glasses. If Vaughn is the vocal and “visible” representative for the show, Dane offers a more quiet, subtle influence on the production, albeit a crucial one. “Cynthia has a heart for community and social change — she’s never wavered,” says Vaughn of her co-producer’s continual commitment that is played out behind the scenes. “The thing that keeps my heart most in this is seeing the embodying love that the Jacksonville community provides for this project,” says Dane. “This vehicle of acceptance and love is always something I’ll support with my heart and soul, even if it’s always in the backseat.” While they continually stress the collaborative aspect of the production (“we are absolutely a family,” says Vaughn), the pair is the acknowledged spearhead and founder of Jacksonville’s version of COM, hosting the initial meeting in Vaughn’s living room in 2011. That was the year they first placed open calls for submissions through media outlets and peers like Facebook, PFLAG (and Folio
Weekly), seeking members of the local LGBT community willing to not only submit, but also read their stories onstage. In addition, straight allies, people who tell their own stories of advocacy and relationships in the LGBT community, were encouraged to send in their stories, a practice that remains part of the process. After sending out their clarion call that first year, Vaughn and Dane received 20 submissions. Vaughn expanded the creative process by helping those who’d offered stories to edit, hone, or even rewrite the narrations, being vigilant in keeping the purity and emotional resonance intact. “In the very beginning, it was literally just me sitting down with each cast member, helping to get their stories together.” Now scriptwriters are involved with each year’s production, helping the storytellers move their tales from the page to the stage. “This year, we have Travis Sauter-Hunsberger, Travis Wilbanks, and Bill Weeks, all of whom have performed in previous years’ productions, and who are all three incredible writers in helping the cast members find their voice. Besides syntax and grammar, the writers really help everyone find what’s incredible in their story and allow us to expand on that.” Talking with Vaughn, it’s apparent that the original and even ongoing success of COM is due to a combination of tireless persistence and apparent providence. “In the beginning, it fell on the shoulders of me and Cynthia and the one director that
(Clockwise from bottom) Narrator Lezlee McDaniel; Co-directors Cynthis Dane (left) and Tina Vaughn; The cast and crew prepare for rehearsal at co-director Drew Hunter’s home; Co-directors Natalie Cordova and Drew Hunter.
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we had, because it was new. And even we didn’t know what was next. But we didn’t want to scare the cast that we had, so we were fumbling a lot behind the scenes and we didn’t want to burden the cast. But, serendipitously, we pulled it off.” In June 2012, the first COM was presented at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Kent Campus. Since then, the show has been featured at venues that have donated space, including Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum and WJCT Studios, who hosted the
production last year and are also the site of the June 26 and 27 performances. “Every year, we probably get somewhere between 10 to 15 submissions. And if we have a solid 15, we can almost always expect that people are going to drop off and bail out,” says Vaughn. “And that’s what happens. There’s attrition because all of a sudden, ‘Whoa, I realize I’m not ready for this. Here, take my story and run with it,’ or ‘I’m going to hold onto it until I’m ready to run it myself.’ Telling your story like this can be frightening.
* CAST * “IT’S FUNNY THEM * TO CALL * * * MEMBERS, AND THEY ARE THAT, * * * * * REALLY BUT THEY’RE STORYTELLERS * * IT’S THEIR STORIES.” — * *
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But if you can work through that fear, it’s incredibly powerful.”
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TODAY’S REHEARSALS ARE BEING HELD AT co-director Drew Hunter’s home in Fort Caroline Club Estates. Set on the St. Johns River with the Dames Point Bridge in sight, Hunter’s home has a comfortable and artistic vibe. Bookcases are filled with horror books, while memorabilia including original sculptures from Disney’s 1940 animated surrealist classic Fantasia and a poster of David Lynch’s cult classic film Eraserhead share space with a large photo of John Waters. “These are but a few of my passions,” Hunter laughs. The cast is sitting on couches or in straightbacked chairs in Hunter’s large, airy living room. The walls are painted light blue, with aquatic motifs rendered on their surfaces from floor to ceiling. A package of bottled water in the kitchen is quickly emptied and the 14 people in attendance are either in conversation or scrutinizing their scripts, attempting to memorize their story sans paper printout.
Sitting side-by-side, Hunter and co-director Natalie Cordova confer with one another. His gray hair short and shirt opened just below the collar, Hunter has the air of the hip elder. With purplish-gray streaks in her dark hair, and beatnik black-top-and-blue-jeans get-up, Cordova embodies Hunter’s thirtysomething counterpart and sounding board. “I was in the show three years ago as a performer and last year was also co-director,” says Hunter, who worked in theater for decades in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana before moving to Jacksonville years ago. “I think this is just a wonderful way to not only work with all of these people to get their stories out, but then to come to grips with themselves; and then to open arms, open eyes, and open hearts.” Cordova first came onboard after working with Vaughn in a production of Eight at University of North Florida. After someone backed out from telling their experience at that year’s production of COM, Cordova was enlisted. “They asked me, ‘Hey, Natalie, can
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THE PRODUCERS AND DIRECTORS PROVIDE AN outlet, guidance, and encouragement, but the obvious focus of The Coming out Monologues is the cast members and their stories. Today, the entire cast and crew are out in full force to run through the entire show, an experience which will last for more than three hours and leave everyone there physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. Lotus Yoga in Riverside has donated the use of its studio, and cast members line the perimeter of the large room, sitting barefoot on yoga mats or folding chairs. Bold Bean Coffee Roasters is located next door, so large quantities of iced coffee seem to be the tribal drug of choice. Many of the attendees are wearing their performance outfits, variations of black with purple accents; purple is the universal color of anti-bullying. Others are decked out in shorts; some wear T-shirts emblazoned with the COM logo. While last week’s run-through had a casual quality, today’s rehearsal gets fairly intense — at times uncomfortably so. Memory lapses and flubbed lines seem almost contagious, only to
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then be dispelled by a member who storms out of the gate, jabbing a finger at some invisible listener, stomping and walking across the hardwood floor as they recite their monologue script-free, the room erupting into a roar of applause. One storyteller breaks down in the middle of reading, apparently overwhelmed by the re-telling, or possibly re-living, of their past. When at its fullest measure, the shared intensity and almost amplified emotionality of COM hits squarely in the heart. Vaughn acknowledges that there’s a welldefined arc and format of happy/sad/happy to the show (“We don’t want to flatten the crowd and not be able to bring them back up”), but the sum impact exceeds entertainment. The “script” is merely a codified version of each person’s heart and soul, stories and voices chronicling a desire for equality, uninvited and raw insight, even personal spirituality: “Labels can be a good thing; it’s the stereotypes that are harmful”… “I am transsexual — if you can’t figure that out, Google it.” … “I plummeted deep within my darkness” … “I was gay. You were crazy” … “If it was wrong, I would feel like a sinner. I don’t” … “My family is going to find out. I will lose my job. Nobody will want to be friend. My life is over” … “Light was power and power was God. He was there all along.” By show’s end, the audience will travel through 11 separate segments that culminate in a letter sent to a prominent political leader, a message seeking LGBT equality that delivers surprising results for the writer. Mike Vatter’s story is that of a now-decadesold friendship that was directly affected by his coming out in ways he could’ve never imagined.
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of the group. She and scriptwriter SauterHunsberger have their notebooks and laptops on the glass kitchen table, glancing up to follow the action in the living room but equally intent on their respective writing. The directors call it a day. Visibly depleted, the cast seems to collectively exhale as they slowly stand up and begin to stretch. “Take it from the top!” yells Cordova, as the group lets out a weak groan, followed by shared laughter.
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* MEET THESE PEOPLE, “FROM*THE DAY * YOU FIRST * * BARING THEIR SOULS WITH EACH OTHER, YOU CAN * *NEVER*REALLY * GET* TO KNOW* ANYBODY ELSE THE WAY*THAT YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE THROUGH THIS … * * CREATED.” * FAMILY THAT’S BEING *
you be a Vietnamese lesbian?’ and I said, ‘No problem!’” Not unlike Vaughn and Hunter, Cordova is quick to turn the spotlight toward its rightful focus: the cast. “From the day you first meet these people, baring their souls with each other, you can never really get to know anybody else the way that you get to know people through this … family that’s being created,” says Cordova. “It’s the most important thing that I’ve ever done.” Rehearsals for COM began in May. Eight in total, there are two more rehearsals left after today’s run-through until the June 25 dress rehearsal. Including intermission, the production runs roughly 90 minutes to two hours, so the directors are stressing the idea of moving forward — missed, maligned, or forgotten lines be damned. “And … action!” says Cordova to the seated cast, greeted by a chorus of laughter. “We have a few absentees today, which is a good thing because we have plenty of time,” says Cordova. While the gathered may be amateurs, once Cordova and Hunter kick into action, they are completely attentive and receptive to what is being said. The cast of this year’s performance, in order of appearance, includes Miranda Wood, Courtney Wood, Kyle Sieg, Bobbie Garner O’Conner and Veronica Wilson, Crystal Solie, Chris Guarino, Christine Rusbuldt, David Vandygriff, Mike Vatter, Jayson Evans, and Jo Nieschalk and Sarah Deierlein Nieschalk. Between each of their soliloquies, Lezlee McDaniel will provide narration to thread the stories together. While only nine of the cast are present, Hunter and Cordova keep the momentum of the show at a steady pace. The stories told today all seem penned from places of uncut emotion. Whether from a combination of inexperience or nerves about public speaking, as each person delivers the monologue, an atmosphere buoyed by vulnerability elevates the experience of listening their story to one of inclusion. Moments of humor rising from blinding, impossible anguish; the reality of being “labeled” and then in turn creating, or even embracing, a label; the fear of being “exposed” for who they truly are; accepting their own gender in a sometimes unaccepting “binary world”; a horrifying, but unsurprising refrain of being betrayed and targeted by religion (“pray away the gay”); suicide attempts and self-destruction, only to find healing and recovery; and love — finding love, falling in and out of love, matrimony. Some of the readings today are delivered with a tight, well-honed rhythm; others slightly stumble and trip up from missed lines. But all the readings feel heartfelt and refreshingly anti“show biz,” a triple play of total DIY, grassroots aesthetics, reliving one’s personal fable, and a kind of reinvention that results in a surprising turn: a homecoming and return to one’s truest self. After each reading, everyone assembled responds with applause, whistles, some rising up from their seats to hug the storyteller who’s just read. Between readings, Cordova and Hunter offer criticisms and encouragement. “Drop that script and you’ll take it to another level. It’ll be more powerful,” implores Drew to one particular cast member almost clutching the pages that they actually ignore while flawlessly telling their story. “When you are on the stage, you own it. Take it — it’s yours,” says Cordova, “and breathe.” Over the course of the two hours of readings, Vaughn sits far away from the rest
“I’m really telling someone else’s story through my perspective of how it happened,” says Vatter. “And even 20 years later, it’s still very raw, so it can be difficult and I still get choked up about it. But it’s making a difference, that’s the important part. If someone is in the audience and says, ‘That’s my story,’ or ‘I can identify with that,’ then that makes it all worthwhile.” While some crew and cast members acknowledge that the COM experience has been a kind of healing experience, possibility for closure, and further release in “coming out,” Courtney Wood’s motivations for participating this year are more specific. “My experience has been more nerve-racking than cathartic,” she laughs. “I’m not a very open person. I don’t talk to people about my life and I’m very, very, very private. So standing up there and talking not only to people that I know now, but people that I don’t know at all about my personal life is very scary. But I’m trying to prove a point to my daughter, and lead by example for her. I want her to know that when you do something like this and put yourself out there, you can push through those fears and it will be OK.” When cast members start to tank on their delivery, Hunter and Cordova’s direction once again leads toward encouragement rather than admonishment. “You’re already moving with purpose; don’t amble,” says Hunter. Cordova offers guidance on memorizing the story. “Start with the last paragraph and work backwards. You’d be amazed at how this works.” The writers are highly aware of the sometimes-delicate dance between editing a piece of submitted writing while maintaining
authenticity of each member’s life story. “First of all, my coming-out story is so boring,” says Bill Weeks with a laugh. “But this year, we have some wonderful, remarkable survivors telling their stories.” The primary goal of COM is seemingly to reach people in the local LGBT community who would not only enjoy and appreciate the show, but be receptive to participate in subsequent performances. Yet Weeks believes that the show’s very authenticity is what appeals to a wider audience, rather than being a specialized LGBT play. “You don’t have to be gay to understand these experiences because, if you’ve ever been in a situation where you had to reveal something and you were at risk as a result of revealing it, maybe someone’s not going to love you any more, maybe you’re afraid they’re going to throw you out of their house, whatever,” says Weeks. “Everybody’s had an experience like that, unless they’ve had an incredibly charmed life. So I see a lot of similarities. It’s an idea of, ‘I hope you’re going to still love me as we’re going through this.’ That’s why it works. I have a lot of friends who come to this who are not gay. They originally came because I was in it, and now they want to come just because they really like the show. It’s an incredible thing.” The show also faces another shared and universal reality that crosses gender lines: money, a factor that Vaughn explains nearly threatened the 2012 debut performance. “I thought I might have to cancel the damn show. Kent Campus was our most expensive venue to date and we had a measly $500. I never shared this with that cast. I have always believed that my role was to absorb the snags, snafus, fears, and bullshit so that cast could relish in their ‘telling’ — a process far bigger than a few dollars in the account,” says Vaughn. After commiserating with friend (and current cast member) David Vandygriff about her fears and disappointment, she fired off a text to his network of friends, stating that if 15 of them donated $100, the show would go on. Within two weeks, Vaughn received $2,000. Since then, the production has relied on fundraisers held at various bars and eateries that donate space at a vastly reduced rate. Silent auctions feature donated items from various local business and creative types, while the COM crew has also purchased T-shirts, buttons, and bracelets that they exchange for donations. An annual GoFundMe account brings in a few hundred dollars and they get a discounted rate from the actual facilities where they hold the performances. “We withstand time because people believe in us and so they do their tiny part to see to our success,” says Vaughn. Even though COM is gaining momentum, each year they immediately donate their earnings to Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and Jacksonville Area Sexual
Minority Youth Network (JASMYN), two nonprofit organizations that offer a variety of support and education programs for members of the local LGBT adult and teen community, as well as their straight allies. Though they barely scrape by on a shoestring budget, since its inception COM has donated $22,000 equally between the two organizations.
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NEARLY THREE HOURS LATER, IT SEEMS AS IF monologue delirium has set in. Some of the cast members have all but slid off their yoga mats and are leaning back against the wall; others are lying in each other’s laps for physical and even emotional support. “The hard work is totally, totally showing,” says Cordova, to the spent crew. “For some of you, this last three hours has shown amazing progress. And some of you were gone for weeks and we didn’t know if we were going to pull this together! And then you all surprised us by showing up so strong.” Most everyone gathers their belongings and leaves. Some stay behind to talk, or return the chairs and yoga mats to a storage closet. With the show opening in less than two weeks, Vaughn seems confident in the cast and crew’s abilities to deliver the goods. And she remains optimistic about the future of this ongoing theatrical entity, which grows a little larger each year. Self-perpetuating through story submissions from both veterans and strangers, The Coming Out Monologues has found an organically inclusive way to provide a collective voice for this community-within-community; new arrivals are welcomed, encouraged, given guidance and direction by alumni. New stories are told; new friendships are born. And it’s hoped that some might stay on board to guide the next year’s participants willing to come out and join them onstage. After weeks of rehearsals, emails, texts, and myriad required tasks, Vaughn seems more contemplative than tired, reflecting on today’s run-throughs and the production at large. “It’s one thing to read these stories for the first time in an email. It’s another to see them read in that first rehearsal. Because they’re finally getting to experience that narrative and you are right there with them through every laugh and tear. And then to witness it all roll toward being a stage production. That’s a powerful thing,” she says, and adds, with a laugh, “You hope for empowerment, but at the very least you might find relief.” Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com The Coming Out Monologues is staged at 7 p.m. June 26 and at 1 and 7 p.m. June 27 at WJCT, 100 Festival Park Ave., Downtown, $25, eventbrite. com. Proceeds benefit PFLAG and JASMYN. JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 15
Our Picks
Reasons to leave the house this week
STRANGE BREW AMERICA ON TAP
MUSIC AMERICANA @ THE CUMMER While Folio Weekly has been increasingly trying
The touring craft beer event America on Tap is kind of a roving suds juggernaut that would make good King Wenceslas weep delicious tears of ale. More than 100 beers and specialty brews are onsite, as well as food and live music. 2:30-6 p.m. June 27 at Prime Osborn Convention Center, Downtown, $35, jaxevents.com.
to issue a fatwa on Americana music in our music stories, we are lifting our banjo-banishment since four local notable “Americana-ish” bands – Fjord Explorer, New Strangers, Joseph Shuck, and The Jacksonville Old Time Jam — are playing a unique outdoor event at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. 6 p.m. June 25 at 829 Riverside Ave., $25; $20 members, bring a picnic and beverages; food and drink available at museum’s café, cummermuseum.org.
HANDS-FREE ACTION
JACKSONVILLE ARMADA FC VS. BOCA JUNIORS Local soccer fans need to come out in full-force this weekend and support our other football team when the Armada FC take on the Boca Juniors to battle it out for the International Community Cup. Considered one of the top football clubs on the planet, the Boca Juniors are the most popular team in their home country of Argentina and will certainly be formidable foes on the field for our hometown heroes. Only sweetening the on-field drama, Armada FC head coach Guillermo Hoyos played with the Boca Juniors from 1986-’89. 8 p.m. June 27 at EverBank Field, Downtown, $14-$60, armadafc.com.
ENGAGING DISCUSSION
THE STATE OF BLACK ART/WHAT IS BLACK ART? Northeast Florida visual art fans must
check out the artist talk, “The State of Black Art/What is Black Art?” Preeminent Jacksonville artists Princess Simpson Rashid and Overstreet Ducasse and moderator (and fellow artist) Professor Dustin Harewood are featured in this discussion about the current state of black art in the contemporary art world. 6 p.m. June 30 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, Downtown, ritzjacksonville.com.
CREATING AND CELEBRATING
KIT YAN AND STONEWALL IN THE PARK
Two events this week based on creativity, equality, and remembrance are worth checking out. First up, Kit Yan, a self-described “queer, transgender, Brooklynbased slam poet,” performs his one-person show, Queer Heartache, at 7 p.m. June 25 at University of North Florida’s Student Union Auditorium, 1 UNF Drive, Southside, unf.edu. To commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which occurred in Manhattan in response to a raid on Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, Hemming Park presents “Stonewall in the Park,” a celebration with special performances, DJs, and celebrity drag queens from TV’s RuPaul’s Drag Race. 1-10:30 p.m. June 28 across from City Hall, 117 W. Duval St., Downtown; hemmingpark.org.
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JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 17
A&E // FILM
SUMMER MOVIE CLASSIC SERIES LOOKS BACK … TO THE FUTURE It’s all about anniversaries at THE FLORIDA THEATRE
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n this exciting 21st Century, few millennials look back fondly on much of anything. Their hapless parents, on the other hand, often cling precariously to past pleasures — hula hoops, Ms. Pac-Man, The Worm — in an effort to maintain a slight hum of happy memories amid the digital-dependent chaos. With that in mind, the entertainmentsavvy folks at The Florida Theatre in Downtown Jacksonville have launched their annual Summer Classic Series, screening a film at 2 p.m. every Sunday through August. At $7.50 a pop, it’s a good deal. The series sets the theme with its June 28 selection, the first in a threepeat about time travel featuring the cuddly, aw-shucks Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox, in his career-making role) and the peripatetic mad scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), who team up, along with a flux capacitor, to send Marty back just slightly to thwart a terrorist attack.
The settings get screwed up and Marty warps back 30 years to 1955. So now we get to relive those thrilling days of yesteryear (oops, sorry, Kemosabe) by watching the comedy 30 years after it came out. Which makes it technically 60 years since Marty’s romp around the clock tower … which makes some of us officially really old farts. Ensuing offerings marking anniversaries include Born on the Fourth of July, screening on the fifth of July (26 years); The Breakfast Club, from which our children can quote whole scenes, much to our chagrin, on July 12; and National Lampoon’s European Vacation, running July 19 — both of which are 30 years old. Vacation stars the delightful Beverly D’Angelo as Ellen Griswold and SNL alum Chevy Chase as her bumbling hubby Clark, blissfully ignorant. It’s the 30th anniversary for this one, too, but we’d rather see Chase
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Marlene Dryden mdryden@folioweekly.com
MAGIC LANTERNS
THE WEST IS THE BEST
SHE WAS ONLY 27 YEARS OLD when she was killed in a car accident with her husband in the California desert. He was an unsuccessful novelist at the time but had recently begun making good money as a scriptwriter of B-movies. They’d been married only nine months. Three days after their deaths, just before Christmas 1940, one of the most successful Broadway plays of all time would begin its run, based on a book of autobiographical stories (originally published in The New Yorker) by her older sister, Ruth McKenney. My Sister Eileen was box-office magic at the theater, spawning numerous revivals over the years and the 1955 musical Wonderful Town, scored by none other than Leonard Bernstein. It also spawned two feature fi lms (1942, 1955) and one TV series in 1960. At the time of her death, Eileen McKenney’s name was certainly better known than her husband’s and, due to the success of the various incarnations of My Sister Eileen, she’s become ensconced as a pop culture icon. Her husband Nathanael West became known after his two short novels, Miss Lonelyhearts (1933) and The Day of the Locust (1939) finally escaped obscurity to become staples in the American literary canon. I was intrigued by Marion Meade’s recent biography, Lonelyhearts: The Screwball World of Nathanael West and Eileen McKenney, particularly in regard to Eileen – I knew next to nothing of her. So I went looking. The two film versions of My Sister Eileen, which I’d never seen, turned out to be almost as delightful as Meade’s book.
in Seems Like Old Times, paired with Goldie Hawn, or the video for “You Can Call Me Al,” Paul Simon’s amusing hit song from 1986, on a 90-minute loop. Flipping to safari drama next, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford romance each other amid wildly beautiful scenery in Out of Africa, also marking 30 years since its premiere; on July 26. She has a Danish accent, he’s just really good-looking. Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover and Margaret Avery are stellar in 1985’s The Color Purple, screening Aug. 2. Guaranteed to keep you on shore, Jaws screens Aug. 9. It’s been 40 (FORTY) years since the mechanical shark made us jump out of our seats at the movies at Regency Square (remember that? Not funny. We spilled our orange soda.) On Aug. 15, John Waters is the focus in a double billing, Hairspray and Cry-Baby, the tedious Johnny Depp vehicle, both films marking 25 years. Mr. Chase is dragged out of the mothballs again on Aug. 23 for a big-screen offering of Fletch, his tongue-in-cheek detective who’s more clever by far than the criminals he’s dealing with. The smug one-liners suit Chase’s ego at the time. The Academy-Award-winning Kevin Costner and his band of Lakotas wrap up the series on Aug. 30, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Dances With Wolves. Familiar films, air-conditioned comfort, relatively cheap prices — and few millennials pissing and moaning about the lack of pith in the plots. Enjoy.
The 1942 version stars Oscar-nominated Rosalind Russell as older sister Ruth, Janet Blair as her prettier man-magnet sister Eileen. Moving to New York City from Columbus, Ohio, the two young women eye different paths to success – Ruth wants to be a writer; Eileen, an actress. The movie, usually defined as a screwball comedy, traces their various misadventures in the Big Apple, with Eileen fighting off the guys and Ruth wisecracking about her own plain looks. A surprise cameo by the Three Stooges brings the movie to a satisfying conclusion. Not in the same league as screwball classics like Howard Hawks’ Bringing Up Baby (1938) and Leo McCarey’s The Awful Truth (1937), the first version of Eileen is still charming enough in its own right, and it’s easy to see how wartime audiences would have responded to it. The 1955 version is a little gem, a musical no less, but with a score completely different from Bernstein’s Wonderful Town, which had premiered
two years before. Richard Quine, who had a supporting role in the 1942 film and co-wrote the new script with a young Blake Edwards, this time directs a pre-Psycho Janet Leigh and Betty Garrett as Eileen and Ruth, respectively. Jack Lemmon plays Ruth’s love interest, a role played by Brian Aherne in the earlier film, while Bob Fosse (here credited as “Robert”) doubles as Eileen’s boyfriend and the fi lm’s choreographer, his first solo outing in that department. Fosse went on to direct classics Cabaret and All That Jazz. Not in the same vein as the massive MGM-type musical numbers, the song-and-dance sequences here are still delightful, particularly as Fosse dances and Lemmon sings. Leigh and co-star Garrett are also delightful. Next week, we’ll look at fi lm versions of Nathanael West’s two great novels. Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com
A&E // FILM LISTINGS Surprise! Arnold Schwarzenegger returns (with a shotgun) to the latest from the Terminator franchise, Terminator Genisys.
FILM RATINGS ED SANDERS **** PHAROAH SANDERS ***@ JAN SANDERS **@@ COLONEL SANDERS *@@@
SCREENINGS AROUND TOWN SUN-RAY CINEMA Inside Out and Spy screen at 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com. The free summer kids’ series continues 11:30 a.m. June 24 and 27 with Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Dark Star: Hr Giger’s World, Love & Mercy and The Wolfpack start June 26. THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ Welcome to Me and Awake: The Life of Yogananda screen at 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com. Wild Tales and Gone Doggy Gone start June 26. The Munchin Monday Movie is Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, which screens at noon on June 29. IMAX THEATER Jurassic World, Galapagos 3D and Humpback Whales screen at the World Golf Village Hall of Fame IMAX Theater, St. Augustine, 940-4133, worldgolfimax.com.
NOW SHOWING ABCD 2 Not Rated The 3D Indian dance troupe movie costars Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Prabhu Deva. In Hindi. ALOHA **@@ Rated PG-13 Bradley Cooper plays Brian, an Air Force vet-turned-private military contractor who returns to Hawaii to negotiate a blessing from locals for a new Air Force base. Brian’s boss Carson (Bill Murray) wants to dominate outer space with satellites and rockets. Carson’s relationship with the Air Force is supposed to be mutually beneficial: They get access to his stuff, he gets legitimate support and space to operate. Danny McBride and Alec Baldwin have fun in extended cameos as Air Force officers. Writer/ director Cameron Crowe’s story is a muddled bore. A love story between Brian and his Air Force liaison, peppy Allison (Emma Stone), is predictable. The only interesting relationship is between Brian and ex-girlfriend Tracy (Rachel McAdams); romantic feelings linger in spite of her marriage to Woody (John Krasinski) and two kids. — Dan Hudak BEYOND THE MASK Rated PG The action/drama is set in colonial times in early America, where an industrial spy/assassin (Andrew Cheney) has taken refuge from the turmoil of his former life. Costars
John Rhys-Davies, Kara Killmer and Alan Madiane. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Rated PG-13 Director Thomas Vinterberg blew it when he didn’t cast Tom Hardy in this latest adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s story. Carey Mulligan plays the central romantic fixation in a tale of love and courtship on a sheep farm. — Steve Schneider HOME Rated PG HBO’s The Normal Heart showed that seasoned actor Jim Parsons can handle more than just The Big Bang Theory. So what did he choose for his all-important transition to mainstream cinema? Lilo and Sheldon! You can hear a whole mess of Dr. Cooper in his voicing of Oh, an alien who strikes up a friendship with a human girl. Any more safe moves like this, and I’ll claim a violation of our Roommate Agreement. — S.S. INSIDE OUT ***G Rated PG Brightly colored central characters and a high-concept premise might suggest a simplistic, gag-fi lled story, but director Pete Docter has packed emotional complexity into this terrific adventure. Inside us all is an emotional “control room,” with physical manifestations of those emotions responding to the things that push our metaphorical buttons by pushing literal buttons. For 11-year-old Riley (Kailyn Dias), a girl whose parents (Kyle MacLachlan, Diane Lane) have just moved the family from Minnesota to San Francisco, those emotions take the form of Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Anger (Lewis Black). As Riley struggles to adjust to her new home and new surroundings, Joy and Sadness inadvertently wind up whisked away to the far reaches of Riley’s subconscious, trying to preserve the happiness of Riley’s “core memories” and make their way back to headquarters. — Scott Renshaw IRIS **** Rated PG-13 Albert Maysles’ last documentary explores the world of fashion, focusing on the life and 75-year legacy of 93-yearold haute couture icon Iris Apfel. Using reproductions of fabrics from the 17th, 18th and 19th century, Apfel parlayed her savvy sense of style into restoration projects. After nearly a century being a guiding force in haute couture, Apfel’s reflections and collective wisdom of a life of confident self-expression through outer appearance remain forever in season. “It’s always better to be happy than welldressed.” — Daniel A. Brown JURASSIC WORLD **@@ Rated PG-13 “Nobody’s impressed by a dinosaur anymore,” says operations manager Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) in the early moments here, and how true that is for moviegoers as well: Visual effects are leaps and bounds beyond what they were in 1993 when Jurassic Park was a box-office smash, and that fi lm’s two ho-hum sequels caused fans to grow weary of the Jurassic world. So executive producer Steven Spielberg and director Colin Trevorrow have something great with this fourth outing, right? The franchise should’ve remained extinct. Jurassic World is a big, humorless, drab
JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 19
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A&E // FILM
How to read the emotional emergence from narcissism in ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
ME PROBLEM T
— but also delivers some solid visual gags. he arc of critical response to a festival film Mann and Cooke develop a terrific chemistry, is … well, let’s understate things a whole which Goméz-Rejon allows to unfold most lot, and say that it’s complicated. In the effectively during a pair of extended takes swarm of an environment where members of later in the film that make that relationship the press are watching four or five films a day, both more intimate and more uncomfortable reactions can be distorted by everything from for Greg. sleep deprivation to the desperate need to That shift is a huge part of what Me find something, anything great to champion. and Earl is about, and why so many of the When some of the most lauded festival films more blistering attacks on the film feel like make their way out into the wider world, misreadings. The strongest criticisms have however, the reaction from those catching focused on how every other character besides up with them weeks or months later can be Greg exists to help the narcissistic white something akin to, “What the hell were you boy grow as a person and an artist, and the people thinking?” accompanying portrayal of the AfricanSuch has it been with Me and Earl and the American Earl in particular as a wrong-sideDying Girl, director Alfonso Gómez-Rejon’s of-the-tracks stereotype whose dialogue adaptation of Jesse Andrews’ young-adult often seems to consist novel, which pulled off the entirely of “dem titties.” But rare sweep of the Grand Jury ME AND EARL AND there’s a “depiction equals Prize and the Audience Award THE DYING GIRL endorsement” element to at Sundance Film Festival in ***@ those gripes that doesn’t line January. Response in Park City Rated PG-13 up with the film’s pointed was almost universally rapturous construction of Greg as an from critics and general unreliable narrator. While that approach by attendees. Then, prior to its New York release the filmmakers doesn’t constitute a get-outearlier this month, critics elsewhere began of-criticism-free card — yeah, it does become seeing it. And the pendulum of enthusiasm difficult to stomach Earl’s characterization in swung radically in the opposite direction. increasing doses — it’s hard to look at all the There’s enough about the basic concept supporting roles throughout the film and not that could explain that post-Sundance see them as the way Greg has, reducing them shift. In some ways, it’s a quintessentially to his life story’s stock characters. Sundance-y hit, a quirky com-dram about At its core, Me and Earl and the Dying high school senior Greg Gaines (Thomas Girl is about growing out of the adolescent Mann) who tries to move unobtrusively self-absorption that turns every narrative through his days as a fringe participant into one with “Me” at the beginning. in a variety of social groups, his strongest The climactic emotional moment comes as connection being with fellow student Earl (RJ Greg becomes aware of how little he has truly Cyler) with whom he makes slapdash parody/ known Rachel despite the amount of time he homages to their favorite classic films, but has been spending with her, and that scene refers to not as a friend but as a “co-worker.” develops into an encapsulation of how much Then Greg’s mother (Connie Britton) learns Greg has needed to grow up. So maybe you that his classmate Rachel (Olivia Cooke) has been diagnosed with leukemia — and Greg can’t tell a story about a narcissistic white boy is expected to spend some time being nice to widening his lens without showing a her, whether he likes it or not. lot of that narcissism first — and it ain’t Goméz-Rejon delivers a highly stylized always pretty to watch. But Me and Earl is look from the start, squarely placing us in the far from a celebration of missing out on point of view of a teenager who sees the world the depth and complexity of the people entirely through the lens of movies. That around you. It’s a reminder that a life spent skimming the surface of those people is an approach includes a string of scenes from opportunity missed. Greg and Earl’s various ultra-low-budget movies — which, admittedly, get wearying Scott Renshaw after a while in their nudging references mail@folioweekly.com
20 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
A&E // FILM LISTINGS movie. Costars Judy Greer, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Chris Pratt, Omar Sy and Vincent D’Onofrio. — Dan Hudak LOVE & MERCY ***G Rated PG-13 The film jumps back and forth from ’80s-era Brian Wilson (John Cusack) to late ’50s/early ’60s Brian Wilson (beautifully underplayed by Paul Dano), when he was in the very successful California band, The Beach Boys, along with his brothers Carl (Brett Davern) and Dennis (Kenny Wormald), cousin Mike Love (Jake Abel) and family friend Al Jardine (Graham Rogers). The group, managed by Brian, Carl and Dennis’ rigid father Murry (Bill Camp), sang songs of summer fun – surfing, cars, girls, friends – regularly racking up No. 1 hits. Murry is especially hard on Brian, offering little praise to counter his physical and emotional brutality. In short, he’s a prick. It’s so sad that the adult Brian allowed himself to be maneuvered by Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti), an even bigger prick; the astonishing drug abuse notwithstanding, it’s as if it’s the only kind of home he knew. Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks) subtly and kindly guides Brian through his psychosis to eventually escape the maniacal clutches of the wack doctor. The method director Bill Pohlad uses to demonstrate the intensity and pervasiveness of these is unsettling; we ache for Brian’s sanity, but he’s got a sweet way about him and we’re left feeling that he’ll be just fi ne. — Marlene Dryden MAX Rated PG Last I checked, “Max” was the most popular dog name in the U.S., which means that Ted Geisel’s widow could push a hell of a nuisance lawsuit if she got smart. Sadly, this movie from director Boaz Yakin has nothing to do with Mount Crumpet’s most illustrious quadruped. Instead, it’s the cinematic equivalent of one of those feel-good TV commercials in which a delightful doggie welcomes his master home from military duty overseas. Only this time, it’s the animal that comes home – without his Marine buddy, who died in the line of duty. And it’s up to ol’ Max help the dead warrior’s family heal. Heard enough? Me too. Costars Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church and Lauren Graham. — S.S. ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL ***@ Rated PG-13 Reviewed in this issue. PITCH PERFECT 2 ***@ Rated PG-13 The a cappella girls are back in the sequel. This time, they’re off to the world championships in Copenhagen, where a German team reigns as the favorite. The opening performance number has Australian Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) hanging inverted from a silk cloth in mid-air and, due to a rip in the material, unintentionally revealing a gift “from down under.” As expected, this eye-opener gets the Bellas in trouble, and banned from college competitions. To be reinstated, they have to win the world championships. Costars Anna Kendrick, Keegan Michael-Key, Skylar Astin,
Brittany Snow, Adam DeVine, Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Chrissie Fit, Hailee Steinfeld and Elizabeth Banks, who also directed. — D.H. SAN ANDREAS Rated PG-13 A mighty earthquake lays waste to California. Helicopter pilot Dwayne Johnson watches in horror as L.A. takes the hit, then realizes what he’s duty-bound to do: Fly up to San Fran to rescue the daughter who hates him. Ex-wife Carla Gugino is along for the ride, so there’s lots of healthy mutual recrimination. Director Brad Peyton makes San Andreas an acid test for launching an original franchise. — S.S. SPY Rated R Yet another Paul Feig/Melissa McCarthy collaboration, which casts her as a CIA agent in the thick of an international crisis. Costars Jude Law, Rose Byrne and Jason Statham. — S.S.
TED 2 Rated R It’s too bad this sequel wasn’t made at the tail end of the silent era, because then Seth MacFarlane and company could have used the tag line “TED talks.” In the followup to one the most successful R-rated comedies of all time, our faux-furry hero is married and looking to have a baby. That means scoring some donor sperm from old pal Jawn – and if you think having to solicit the DNA of Mark Wahlberg is ignominy enough, wait until the legal system gets hold of Ted and demands that he prove he’s a real human being. Think carefully: Could Ben Carson survive that line of questioning? Similar uncertainties hang over this movie, since everything MacFarlane has done since the first Ted, including the box-office dud A Million Ways to Die in the West and his absurdly maligned stint hosting the Oscars – has contributed to the portrait of a career flameout. I also lament the absence of Mila Kunis, whose performance in Ted I didn’t get nearly the recognition it deserved for sidestepping the whiny-girlfriend stereotype so many movies of this nature descend to. In Kunis’ place is Amanda Seyfried, whose arrival I don’t feel one way or another about. — S.S. TOMORROWLAND *G@@ Rated PG The movie starts with blatant Disney promos, gets lost in a convoluted story, forgets to include its star (George Clooney) for an hour, guilt-trips us with a lecture on how we don’t appreciate Earth, and ends with a bunch of faux science that makes no sense. The visual effects are glossy and cartoonish; everything looks profoundly fake. Everything about this is a disappointment. — D.H. YOU’RE STILL THE ONE Not Rated The Filipino and Tagalog language fi lm stars Maja Salvador and Dennis Trillo.
Dark surrealist H.R. Giger is the subject of the new documentary, Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World. JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 21
A&E //ARTS
STRATA AND DIMENSION
PHIL PARKER fuses fragments of structure, archetypes, and icons in his latest exhibit
P
ostage stamps featuring Serbian-American inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla, poet Ezra Pound, American writer-essayist Flannery O’Connor and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo are just a few of the images present in Phil Parker’s 2013 composition, Twenty-eight-Piece Grid. “It’s a real vibrant, simplified form,” Parker, a Flagler Beach-based artist, says of the work that integrates collage, paper, wood, digital images, metal and found objects. “The 28 pieces reference different cultural icons. I think there’s a
me, by way of Jim Draper, who’s the director,” says Parker. “I had done some shows there. I did a show in 2000 at the university before the museum was connected with them. And then another show in 2005.” The current show at MOCAJax was installed in less than a day with the help of Draper and Parkers’ wife, Marilyn. “I’ve put the show up many, many times, so I … knew what I wanted to do,” says Parker of his meticulous process of presenting his work. “I
“Heresy of Coincidence” sort of architectural feel to the Oil, acrylic, wood, digital imag whole structure. You can see the with paint, and found and graphic design background and fabricated objects, 2009. how things are held together.” Parker’s exhibition, Assemblage/Collage, is on view in had built a scale model of the whole the UNF Gallery at the Museum gallery and put one-twelfth scales of Contemporary Art Jacksonville of how I wanted everything to go, through Aug. 30. photographed it, and showed it to the “As far as the structural pieces installers and we worked together.” that hang on the wall, they’re The result is a combination of pure assemblage,” Parker says of assemblages and collage, utilizing the show’s 13 works of art that he everything from found objects, like created over a series of three years. metal goblets, to layered digital “There are just very similar images and handmade Kozo papers. motifs of objects,” says Parker “My background is fine art in of the signifiers and materials that thread his printmaking and drawing,” says Parker. “I have work together. “There are discarded bicycle a lot of experience in the design world and the wheels that run through many of them as printmaking realm, which lead to book art and a graphic element. There’s a kind of simple papermaking and that sort of thing.” compositional structure that’s a strong All of the pieces in Assemblage/Collage are horizontal and vertical that for sale and run between intersects each other that $200 and $7,500, for some ASSEMBLAGE/COLLAGE the pieces are based upon.” of the larger assemblages. The work of Phil Parker Born and raised in But don’t expect price tags Through Aug. 30, UNF Gallery, Daytona Beach, Parker to adorn the work — you’ll Museum of Contemporary earned a BFA in Fine and have to check with MOCA’s Art Jacksonville, Downtown, Studio Arts from Florida information desk for a mocajacksonville.org Atlantic University in price list. Boca Raton. “They’re worked and “After I graduated, I did studio art for they’re studied for a period of time,” he says of 12 years and then got a teaching position at the exhibition. “It’s not like it’s just something Florida School of the Arts over in Palatka that pops out of the top of my head. It’s a in the mid-’80s and taught there until about culmination of a lot of ideas and, design-wise, 2000 as the head of the graphic design sort of based in psychology, philosophy and department,” he explains. “Since then, I’ve mythology. There are elements of all of that gone back to studio work. I’ve done gallery in various pieces. It’s not really obvious, but shows, museum shows and street shows off they’re in there.” and on since that time.” What’s next for Parker? He’s returning to his Parker’s work is included in the collections roots in drawing. of the Florida Museum of Art, the Florida “This assemblage series up there is the end culmination of about three years of work, so I’m House of Representatives, Norton Museum of going back and doing studio drawing, process Art, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, and drawing, mark making and letting the drawing Atlantic Center for the Arts, among others. emerge from a strong, powder graphite I put This current MOCA show was actually a down, and building the image from there.” long time in the making. “It came about through the University [of Kara Pound North Florida]. The department contacted mail@folioweekly.com 22 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
A&E // ARTS & EVENTS The Jokers Wild Comedy Tour: featuring DeRAY DAVIS (pictured). EARTHQUAKE, and KEVIN “DAMN FOOL” SIMPSON is featured at The Florida Theatre on June 27, Downtown.
PERFORMANCE
KIT YAN PERFORMS “QUEER HEARTACHE” Yan, a queer, transgender, Brooklyn-based slam poet, performs his one-person show, 7 p.m. June 25 at University of North Florida’s Student Union Auditorium, 1 UNF Drive, Southside, 620-4720, unf.edu. JULIANNE HOUGH & DEREK HOUGH Superstar dance siblings perform, 7 p.m. June 27 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, $45-$100. THE ADDAMS FAMILY Students from The Performing Arts Studio present their version of the comedy, based on Charles Addams’ characters, 7:30 p.m. June 25, 26, and 27 at Players by the Sea, 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, $10, playersbythesea.org. SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL Alhambra Theatre & Dining stages a family-geared musical revue, based on Dr. Seuss’ characters, through Aug. 2. Executive Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menu is featured; at 12000 Beach Blvd., Southside, 641-1212, $35-$59, alhambrajax.com. HAIRSPRAY Theatre Jacksonville presents the Tony-winning musical comedy about teen Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore, as she dreams of starring on a TV dance show, finding love and fighting segregation, 7:30 p.m. June 25, 8 p.m. June 26 and 27 at 2032 San Marco Blvd., San Marco, 396-4425, $25; $20 seniors, military, students, theatrejax.com. THE FOX ON THE FAIRWAY Amelia Community Theatre stages the modern-day farce, set at a country club golf tournament between rival clubs, 8 p.m. June 25, 26 and 27 at 207/209 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach, 261-6749, $20; $10 students, ameliacommunitytheatre.org. HELLO DOLLY Limelight Theatre stages Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart’s musical about a matchmaker and a bachelor, 7:30 p.m. June 25, 26 and 27 and 2 p.m. June 28 at 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, 825-1164, $25; through July 5, limelight-theatre.org. THE ADDAMS FAMILY Orange Park Community Theatre presents a stage adaptation, based on cartoonist Charles Addams’ characters, 8 p.m. June 26 and 27 and 3 p.m. June 28 at 2900 Moody Ave., 276-2599, $20; through June 28, opct.org.
CLASSICAL, CHOIR & JAZZ
ST. AUGUSTINE MUSIC FESTIVAL The ninth annual fest offers three free classical music concerts held June 25, 26 and 27 at Cathedral Basilica, 38 Cathedral Place, staugustinemusicfestival.org. JOSHUA BOWLUS Pianist Bowlus plays 9 p.m. June 25 at The Parlour (behind Grape & Grain), 2000 San Marco Blvd., 396-4455. OTTMAR LIEBERT & LUNA NEGRA Guitar virtuoso Liebert and his band perform 7 p.m. June 26 at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A, 209-0399, $36-$46. FRIDAY MUSICALE Pianist Laurent Boukobza performs, 3 p.m. June 28 at 645 Oak St., Riverside, 355-7584, fridaymusicale.com.
COMEDY
BRET ERNST Funnyman Ernst, who’s been on Chelsea Lately and Comics Unleashed, appears 8 p.m. June 25 and 8 and 10 p.m. June 26 and 27 at The Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, $18-$22, 292-4242, comedyzone.com. THE JOKERS WILD COMEDY TOUR: DeRAY DAVIS, EARTHQUAKE, KEVIN “DAMN FOOL” SIMPSON
The comedy train rolls in at 8 p.m. June 27 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $45-$65. SCOTTY K The comic, who’s been on Comic View and The Bob & Tom Show, is on at 8 p.m. July 1 and 2 and 8 and 10 p.m. July 3 at The Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, $12-$15, 292-4242, comedyzone.com. BRYAN CORK The comedy veteran is on at 8 p.m. June 26 and 7:30 and 10 p.m. June 27 at Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555, $15, latitude360.com.
CALLS & WORKSHOPS
THE STATE OF BLACK ART/WHAT IS BLACK ART? Princess Simpson Rashid, Overstreet Ducasse, and moderator Dustin Harewood discuss black art, 6 p.m. June 30 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 632-5555. PBTS ADULT ACTING CLASSES Gary Baker discusses auditioning, character work and making acting choices, 6:30-8 p.m. every Tue. June 30-Aug. 11; Baker teaches an improvisation class 6:30-8 p.m. every Thur. July 2-Aug. 13, at Players by the Sea, 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, $150 each course, playersbythesea.org. CIVIL RIGHTS HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS The Florida Commission on Human Relations accepts nominations for Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Deadline July 15; http://fchr.state.fl .us/outreach/florida_civil_rights_ hall_of_fame. JAX BY JAX The locally based literary organization accepts applications for its November 2015 event. Deadline Aug. 1; jaxbyjax.com. BEGINNING ACTING CLASSES Sinda Nichols holds class 1-3 p.m. June 29 and July 6, 13, 20, 27 at Amelia Musical Playhouse, 1955 Island Walkway, Fernandina Beach, 277-3455, $15 per class, ameliamusicalplayhouse.com.
ART WALKS & MARKETS
RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET Local and regional art, a free yoga session 9-10 a.m., local music – Tomboi, The Little Books, Four Families, Hannah Harber starting 10:30 a.m. June 27 – food artists and a farmers’ row, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. every Sat. under Fuller Warren Bridge, 715 Riverside Ave., free admission, 389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com. UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT The self-guided tour features galleries, antique stores and shops open from 5-9 p.m. June 27 and every last Sat. in St. Augustine’s San Marco District, 824-3152. FIRST WEDNESDAY ART WALK The downtown art walk, 5-9 p.m. July 1 and every first Wed., features more than 13 live music venues, more than 13 hotspots open after 9 p.m. and 50 total participating venues, spanning 15 Downtown Jacksonville blocks. iloveartwalk.com. WEDNESDAY MARKET Local produce, arts, crafts, clothing, foods, live music and more are featured, from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 1 and every Wed. at St. Johns Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, free, 347-8007, thecivicassociation.org. COMMUNITY FARMERS & ARTS MARKET Baked goods, preserves, crafts, art, handcrafted jewelry, 4-7 p.m. every Wed., 4300 St. Johns Ave., Riverside, 607-9935. DOWNTOWN FRIDAY MARKET Arts & crafts, local produce, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Fri. at The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 353-1188.
JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 23
A&E // ARTS & EVENTS MUSEUMS
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Together, we will gure it out. 24 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUM OF HISTORY 233 S. Third St., Fernandina Beach, 261-7378, ameliamuseum.org. Portraits of American Beach is on display. AMERICAN BEACH MUSEUM American Beach Community Center, 1600 Julia St., Fernandina, 277-7960, nassaucountyfl.com/facilities. The Sands of Time: An American Beach Story, celebrating MaVynee Betsch, “The Beach Lady,” is on display. BEACHES MUSEUM & HISTORY PARK 381 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 241-5657, beachesmuseum.org. The exhibit Mora: 25 Years on the First Coast runs through June. CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, cummer.org. Whitfield Lovell: Deep River is on display through Sept. 13. Reflections: Artful Perspectives on the St. Johns River is on display through Oct. 18. All Together: The Sculpture of Chaim Gross is on display through Oct. 4. British Watercolors exhibits through Nov. 29. Public garden tours are 11 a.m. every Tue. and Thur. Free admission 4-9 p.m. every Tue., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. every first Sat. KARPELES MANUSCRIPT MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992. The Art of Springfield is on display through June 27. The Addams Family: Part Two is exhibited through Aug. 26. LIGHTNER MUSEUM 75 King St., St. Augustine, 824-2874, lightnermuseum.org. Curator-led monthly tours are held at 10 a.m. every first Wed. MANDARIN MUSEUM, WALTER JONES PARK 11964 Mandarin Rd., 268-0784, mandarinmuseum.net. Permanent exhibits include the Civil War steamship Maple Leaf artifacts, Harriet Beecher Stowe items and Mandarin historical pieces. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., Downtown, 366-6911, mocajacksonville. com. Southern Exposure: Portraits of a Changing Landscape is on display through Aug. 30. In Time We Shall Know Ourselves: The Photographs of Raymond Smith is on display through Aug. 30. The Art Aviators Exhibition displays through Aug. 16. Project Atrium: Angela Glajcar, through June 28. Phil Parker’s Assemblage/Collage is on display in UNF Gallery through Aug. 30. Free admission 4-9 p.m. every Thur. through the summer. MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY 1025 Museum Circle, Southbank, 396-6674, themosh.org. Skies Over Jacksonville, a live star show, is held 2 p.m. daily in the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium.
GALLERIES
THE ART CENTER II 229 N. Hogan St., Downtown, 355-1757. Paco Gutierrez is the featured artist for June. The Nature Series exhibit is currently on display. BUTTERFIELD GARAGE ART GALLERY 137 King St., St. Augustine, 825-4577. An exhibit of new works by Peter Rumpel is on display through June. THE CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH 50 Executive Way, 280-0614, ccpvb.org. Curatorial’s Choice Exhibition is on display through July 17. Anthony Whiting’s Visual Melodies in Unrestrained Colors, through July 17. FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928. The 13th annual Sea Turtle Show is on display through July 6. FLORIDA MINING GALLERY 5300 Shad Rd., Southside. 535-7252. The release party for the third issue of Perversion magazine is 7 p.m. June 26. Live music by Tomboi, Fort Stories, Fjord Explorer, Colin Adkins. Admission $10; includes beer and wine. Caitlin Hurd’s exhibit, Daydreams from Brooklyn, through June. HAWTHORN SALON 1011 Park St., Riverside, 619-3092, hawthornsalon.com. Sara Pedigo’s Brimming with Casual News runs through August. RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM 829 N. Davis St., 632-5555, ritzjacksonville.com. Through Our Eyes 2015: Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey (An Artistic Revolution), works of 20 local African-American artists, is on display through July 28. ROTUNDA GALLERY St. Johns County Admin. Bldg., 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine, 471-9980. St. Augustine Camera Club’s Annual Photography Show is on display through July 23.
Limelight Theatre stages Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart’s beloved musical HELLO DOLLY June 25-28. The play runs through July 5 in St. Augustine.
SOUTHLIGHT GALLERY 201 N. Hogan St., Ste. 100, Downtown, 553-6361, southlightgallery.com. The juried plein air exhibit, A New Leaf, is on display through June 26. Raquel Tripp is the featured artist through June. ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION 22 Marine St., St. Augustine, 824-2310, staaa.org. The Honors Show is on display through July 5. ST. AUGUSTINE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER 10 W. Castillo Dr., 825-1053, staugustine-450/tapestry. The exhibit Tapestry: The Cultural Threads of First America, which explores intertwining cultures of Hispanics, Africans and Native Americans and how they helped form the foundation of American culture, is on display through Oct. 4. VANDROFF ART GALLERY Jewish Community Alliance, 8505 San Jose Blvd., Mandarin, 730-2100. The exhibit The Paintings of Margaret Billesimo is on display through June. X.NIHILO 956 N. Liberty St., Downtown. The exhibit Mequin, featuring paintings by Dimelza Broche and Franklin Ratliff, is on display through July 3.
EVENTS
AUTHOR AT SOUTH MANDARIN BRANCH Author Barbara Cameron discusses her novel, One True Path, 6:30 p.m. June 25 at South Mandarin Branch Library, 12125 San Jose Blvd., 288-6385, jaxpubliclibrary.org. HUMAN TRAFFICKING DISCUSSION Sponsored by the World Affairs Council, scholars from Jacksonville University and University of North Florida discuss human trafficking in the 21st-century, 6:458:30 p.m. June 25 at Southeast Regional Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd., Southside, 630-4655, jaxpubliclibrary.org. AMERICANA CONCERT AT THE CUMMER The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens presents Fjord Explorer, New Strangers, Joseph Shuck and The Jacksonville Old Time Jam at 6 p.m. June 25 at Cummer Gardens, 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, $25; $20 members; bring a picnic and beverages; food and drink available at museum’s café, cummermuseum.org. WOMANLESS BEAUTY PAGEANT Local actor Cory Billingsley hosts the fundraising event, featuring local male business professionals strutting their stuff in several categories, 7 p.m. June 25 at The White Room, 1 King St., St. Augustine, 824-9056, $75; includes food and drink; proceeds benefit Limelight Theatre, http:// staugypo.com/womanless-beauty-pageant. JACKSONVILLE SUNS The Suns kick off a homestand against the Biloxi Shuckers at 7:05 p.m. June 25 (College ID Discount, Thursday Night Throwdown) and June 26 (Team Card Set Giveaway, Report Card Night, Bloodmobile, Fireworks), 7:05 p.m. June 27 (Mary Frances Bragan Bobble Arm Giveaway), 3:05 p.m. June 28 (Ed Randall’s Bat for the Cure, Kids Run the Bases, Racing Day), and 12:05 p.m. June 29 (Camp Day). All the action is at Bragan Field, Baseball Grounds, 301 Randolph Blvd., Downtown. Tickets $7.50-$25.50; 358-2846, jaxsuns.com. MOSH AFTER DARK David Joudi, Riverside Liquors & Village Wine Shop and Royal Palm Village Wine & Tapas, discusses the history of wine and how it’s made, $20 members, $25 nonmembers, 6:30 p.m. June 25 at the Museum of Science & History, 1025 Museum Circle, Southbank, 396-6674 ext. 230, themosh.org. AMERICA ON TAP The craft beer event, featuring more than 100 beers and specialty brews, is held 2:30-6 p.m. June 27 at Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St., Downtown, $35, 630-4000, jaxevents.com. STORY TIME Kids ages 3-8 are read to 9-10 a.m. June 27 at The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach, 241-9026. FAMILY SEINING ACTIVITY Pull a seine net through Guana Lake, collecting fish, crabs and more, and learn about the animals’ roles in the habitat, 8:30-10:30 a.m. June 27 and every fourth Sat., at GTM Research Reserve Environmental Education Center, 505 Guana River Rd., Ponte Vedra. Free with paid entrance,
823-4500, gtmnerr.org. JACKSONVILLE SHARKS vs. CLEVELAND GLADIATORS Halloween in June themed night; game starts at 7 p.m. June 27 at Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Downtown, $12-$133, 621-0700, jaxsharks.com. ROMANCE AUTHORS Ancient City Romance Authors present Jennifer Fusco, author of Market or Die: A Down & Dirty Guide to Marketing Your Book, 1 p.m. June 27 at Southeast Regional Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd., Jacksonville, acrarwa.org. FIFTH ANNUAL FREEDOM FESTIVAL This event, honoring military veterans and their families, features live music by country star Mark Willis, Highway Jones, and Shermanda Ramsay, as well as kid-geared activities, a country cow train, pony rides, a bounce house, bike decorating contest, fireworks and parade, starting 5:30 p.m. June 27 at Orange Park Mall, 1910 Wells Rd., 269-9413. DOZIN’ WITH DINOS CAMP-IN Spend the night in MOSH’s summer exhibit, Dinosaurs Unearthed, or under Fermata, the museum’s life-sized whale. Dozing with Dinos includes an animal program, dino crafts, a self-guided flashlight tour, and a movie. The camp-in begins at 6 p.m. June 27 and ends the next morning, at 7 a.m. June 28. Cost is $35 per person (adult required) and includes a late-night pizza snack and continental breakfast. Members get a 20 percent discount. Souvenir packs available, $10; the Museum of Science & History, 1025 Museum Circle, Southbank, 396-6674, themosh.org. STONEWALL IN THE PARK In honor of the Stonewall Riots, which occurred in Manhattan in response to a raid on the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, Hemming Park presents a celebration of human equality that includes special performances, DJs, and celebrity drag queens from the TV series RuPaul’s Drag Race, 1-10:30 p.m. June 28 across from City Hall, 117 W. Duval St., Downtown; for schedule, go to hemmingpark.org. JACKSONVILLE ROLLERGIRLS The J-Villains take on Fort Stewart; Duval Derby Dames battle the Bold City Bombshells, 6:30 p.m. June 28 at Mandarin Skate Station, 3461 Kori Rd., $10 advance; $12 at the door, jacksonvillerollergirls.com. FUN IN THE SUN COMPETITION First Coast Figure Skating Club holds the competition June 28 at Jacksonville Ice & Sportsplex, 3605 Philips Highway, Southside, featuring basic skills, beginner/pre-juvenile, test track, adult, solo dance and showcase events, 399-3223, jaxskateclub.org, jacksonvilleice.com. PECHA KUCHA IN ST. AUGUSTINE Local speakers present 20 slides and comments on each for 20 seconds, in an open topic, free-for-all format, 6 p.m. June 30 at The White Room, 1 King St., St. Augustine, 824-9056, pechakucha.org. PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY Henry discusses and signs copies of her novel, The Idea of Love, 7 p.m. June 30 at The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach, 241-9026. MUSIC BY THE SEA Live music by Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, with dinner available from Purple Olive, 6 p.m. food service, concert at 7 p.m. July 1 at St. Augustine Beach Pier & Pavilion, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., free, 347-8007, thecivicassociation.org. JACKSONVILLE CHILDREN’S COMMISSION SEEKS SUMMER FOOD SITES The Children’s Commission seeks community partners through Aug. 7 to help serve free lunches and snacks to alleviate child hunger in low-income neighborhoods in a safe, effective and efficient manner. To qualify, the site must be in an area where there’s a school with at least 50 percent of its students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program, allow access to all neighborhood children, and provide the food free of charge. To apply, go to jaxkids.net. AMELIA RIVER CRUISES Adult Twilight BYOB Cruises are held every Thur., Fri. and Sat., featuring live music, from Amelia River Cruises, 1 N. Front St., Fernandina Beach, 261-9972; for fees and details, go to ameliarivercruises.com. DAILY EVENTS AT HEMMING PARK Hemming Park offers free yoga, group fitness and live music, across from City Hall, 117 W. Duval St., Downtown; for schedule, go to hemmingpark.org/hemming-park-events. SUMMER ART CAMPS IN ST. AUGUSTINE The St. Augustine Art Association offers five sessions starting in June for grades 1-6 and ages 12 and older. For more info, go to staaa.org. JR. WATERMAN’S SUMMER CAMP Black Creek Guides holds sessions July 6-10, 27-31, Aug. 3-7, 10-14 and 17-21, featuring SUP lessons, paddle and watersports knowledge, safety and techniques, for ages 7-15. For fees, details and descriptions, go to blackcreekguides.com. SUMMER ART CAMP AT THE CUMMER The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens offers a summer art camp for elementary and middle school kids, featuring printing, drawing, painting, and working with clay, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., June 8-July 24. $200; $140 members, 356-6857, cummer.org.
A&E // MUSIC
STILL STANDING
Can anything keep South Florida indie rockers SURFER BLOOD down?
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Pitts admits that Fekete’s absence initially ighteen months ago, we began a profile knocked the band for a loop before they of South Florida indie rockers Surfer quickly found a way to overcome yet another Blood by writing, “By all measures, [they] obstacle. “Thomas has a positive, go-anywhere, should not still be standing.” They signed with play-any-show attitude that was a big part of Warner Bros. Records, and were dropped the reason we made it out of Florida in the first mere months after the much-hyped release place,” Pitts says. “But thank God our friend of 2013 sophomore album Pythons. John Mikey [McLeary], who’s a great musician, Paul Pitts, Thomas Fekete, Kevin Williams, stepped in with an amazing attitude and an and Tyler Schwarz began publicly voicing ability to learn really fast.” their dissatisfaction with the over-produced Part of that seamless transition came from recording of that follow-up to Astro Coast, the band’s immense confidence in its new Surfer Blood’s 2010 breakout debut. Speculation material, which got the usual comparisons to swirled around Pitts’ 2012 arrest on charges Pavement and Weezer while also veering in of domestic battery, which were eventually more nuanced directions. “It was refreshing to dropped in a plea and pass agreement. go to back to recording in the dark, on our own Many at the time assumed that such a low time, with our own equipment — the way it was point would be the final nail in Surfer Blood’s when no one in the world knew who we were,” coffin. As drummer Schwarz told us, “Shit got Pitts says. “That process was obviously much messy.” But the band persevered, returning to less stressful than the recording of Python. As its home-recorded roots, reassuming control of a result, I think the songs on [1000 Palms] are day-to-day matters, and escaping the spotlight freer and explore more territory.” with an extended West Coast sabbatical. All That mature attitude is evident on deep of that culminated in a rousing revitalization album cuts like the exuberant “Into Catacombs” on new album 1000 Palms, which dropped (“I was swimming against the years/But now last month to near-universal acclaim for its moving forward feels better”) and the Zen-like renewed focus on the 200 grit guitars, dynamic “NW Passage” (“Build it up time changes, and dreamy, fuzzthen burn it away/And I’ll be driven melodies that first made SURFER BLOOD, there to see the day”), both the band famous in 2009. TURBO FRUITS of which highlight survival The release of 1000 Palms, 8 p.m. June 25, Jack Rabbits, and determination. “Wearing though, came a month after San Marco, $12, jaxlive.com yourself thin and burning news that lead guitarist Thomas yourself out is not good for Fekete, who beat cancer as a anyone in the long run,” Pitts says. Laughing, teenager, had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of sarcoma. Within months, the he adds, “Pulling stunts like signing to Warner new malignancy had spread from his abdomen Brothers is probably not good for you in the to his lungs and spine, requiring experimental long run, either.” surgeries that racked up stratospheric medical Which is why Surfer Blood might be bills. Benefit shows and online crowdfunding happier now than ever — even counting those efforts raised nearly $100,000 for the newly festival-headlining, Pixies-opening days in the married Fekete. On May 24, the band’s van was early 2010s. “That’s the thing with our band,” broken into near Chicago. The thieves didn’t Pitts says. “When we were treated like children, make off with any critical equipment, but they we acted like children. For a while, we had did swipe a handful of guitar pedals and other a glorified babysitter working for us — that personal items — along with a few hundred doesn’t feel good as a 28-year-old man. Now, dollars in cash donations collected for Fekete at we drive ourselves, we sell our own merch, we handle all the business … There’s a solace or the first few shows of the band’s headlining tour. satisfaction in taking care of your own stuff.” Which would make any mortal ask: Just Plus, Pitts adds, six years on, Surfer Blood how far Surfer Blood can bend before they is starting to see a seismic shift in its live break? “At this point, it’s pretty much ‘What audiences — particularly in Florida, whose doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’,” frontman crowds he describes as “really supportive and Pitts tells Folio Weekly. “But proud that you come from the same place” they we’re good. Our personal do. “One great thing I’ve noticed at the last few relationships are stronger shows is people coming up and saying, ‘Hey, I than they’ve ever been. saw you here two years ago, and I bought the We’re not just friends record and loved it.’ It feels good to be a band — we fully understand that has a loyal fanbase — not a gigantic one. each other, including That’s all you can really ask for.” each other’s shortcomings. That Nick McGregor makes for better mail@folioweekly.com songs and better shows.”
JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25
PAGING UP
A&E // MUSIC
Local indie-pop duo THE LITTLE BOOKS follows two releases with a summer Southeast tour
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do,” as relayed by Rütenberg. n late 2012, musicians Robin Rütenberg and Richard Colado (RickoLus, Julius “Earlier this year, I went and got my audio Airwaves) met at a house show in engineering degree at Recording Workshop Arlington. Over the next few months, the two in Ohio,” explains the songstress. “I thought singer-songwriters got together periodically it was necessary because we do everything to bounce ideas off one another. Eventually, ourselves. Pretty much the entire music they started writing songs together. industry is DIY these days.” “We didn’t form as a band for a while,” In 2014, shortly after the completion of says Rütenberg of those early stages. “We Bridges and Empires, Rütenberg and Colado finally gave the project a name in early 2013.” got to work on their next album, a four-song The Little Books is a Northeast Florida EP recorded at The Living Room Recording, indie pop duo blending soulful vocals, a full-service studio in Atlanta. with Rütenberg on keys, guitar, flute and Appropriately named The Living Room percussion and Colado Recordings, the album on guitar, percussion, clocks in at less than harmonica, and melodica. 12 minutes and will be TOMBOI 10:30 a.m., Their MAGNIFI officially released on July THE LITTLE BOOKS 11:45 a.m., profile describes The 24 at Rain Dogs. FOUR FAMILIES 1 p.m., Little Books as “garage “This was our first HANNAH HARBER 2:45 p.m. folk indie island goth experience in a studio June 27, Riverside Arts Market, music … their voices with paid staff and riversideartsmarket.com take turns as the lead and microphones and all of give the songs a dynamic that,” says Rütenberg. “We quality that only a male and female vocal really wanted the studio experience, but didn’t together can produce.” have the money for a full-length. I think that the sound we captured was really amazing.” “All of our shows are super-high energy,” Rütenberg says. “We’re only two people, but The upcoming Rain Dogs CD release we’re filling out the entire sound of a band. It’s party will feature some cover songs the kind of like watching an octopus play drums, duo has been working on as well as brandguitar and banging on cymbals all at once.” new, unrecorded tunes. In addition to an appearance at Riverside Arts Market on June In June 2014, The Little Books released 24, they’re also set for a few “weekend jaunts” their debut full-length, Bridges And Empires, through the Southeast starting on July 10. an eight-song album recorded at The Green Rütenberg, a 27-year-old University of Shed, a studio Colado set up in a shed in his North Florida graduate, will be working parents’ back yard in Jacksonville Beach. around her schedule at Intuition Ale Works, “It was basically birthed from our early while Colado takes off his green Starbucks hangout sessions,” Rütenberg explains of the apron for touring responsibilities that take record. “Writing songs, lyrics, especially, can them from Charlotte to Raleigh to Atlanta. be a very vulnerable thing when you’re doing “Being a two-piece, there’s a lot more it with someone else. Instead of recording accountability in the band,” says Rütenberg. like we were making an album, we were just “So things move faster. We’re tight-knit and capturing the songs and it ended up being a more efficient. I’m most excited about the pretty seamless process.” sound and dynamics that can happen with With Colado, a thirtysomething longtime two people than other projects I’ve been in.” studio rat, at the helm, the debut proved to be “a really cool example of what two Kara Pound songwriters and multi-instrumentalists can mail@folioweekly.com
26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
Prog-punker freaks DIG DOG (pictured) perform with ASKMEIFICARE, LOVERS QUARREL and LAKE DISNEY at 1904 Music Hall on June 25, Downtown.
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS THIS WEEK SPADE McQUADE 6 p.m. June 24 at Fionn MacCool’s Irish
Pub, Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, Downtown, 374-1247.
Music by the Sea: OH NO 6 p.m. dinner from Seafood Kitchen,
concert 7 p.m. June 24 at St. Augustine Beach Pier & Pavilion, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., free, 347-8007, thecivicassociation.org. ROD HAMDALLAH 8 p.m. June 24 at Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown. JOHN DAHLBACK, KINESIS 8 p.m. June 24 at Freebird Live, 200 N. First St., Jax Beach, 246-2473, $15. Americana Concert at the Cummer: FJORD EXPLORER, NEW STRANGERS, JOSEPH SHUCK, THE JACKSONVILLE OLD TIME JAM 6 p.m. June 25 at Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, $25; $20 members, bring picnic, beverages; food and drink available, cummermuseum.org. THE BAND BE EASY 7:30 p.m. June 25 at Latitude 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., Southside, 365-5555. ASKMEIFICARE, DIG DOG, LOVERS QUARREL, LAKE DISNEY 8 p.m. June 25 at 1904 Music Hall, 19 N. Ocean St., Downtown, $7 advance; $9 day of. SURFER BLOOD, TURBO FRUITS 8 p.m. June 25 at Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 398-7496, $12. DENNY BLUE 6 p.m. June 26 at Paula’s Beachside Grill, 6896 A1A S., Crescent Beach, 471-3463. Perversion Magazine No. 3 Launch Party: TOMBOI, FORT STORIES, FJORD EXPLORER, COLIN ADKINS 7 p.m. June 26 at Florida Mining Gallery, 5300 Shad Rd., Southside. 535-7252, $10; admission includes beer and wine. PIERCE PETTIS 7:30 p.m. June 26 at Mudville Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., San Marco, 352-7008, $10. HERD OF WATTS, AUTUMN ATTICS 8 p.m. June 26, 1904 Music Hall, $10. MISS MASSIVE SNOWFLAKE, BUSDRIVERS (REUNION), GOV CLUB 8 p.m. June 26, Burro Bar. BREAD & BUTTER 8 p.m. June 26 at The Jacksonville Landing, Downtown, 353-1188. STYX 8 p.m. June 26 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $39.50-$69.50. HALEY MAE CAMPBELL, FOUR BARREL BAND, CHRIS WOODS, ELI the POET 8 p.m. June 26, Jack Rabbits, $8. NEW STRANGERS, MAFDET, CHRISTIAN THUE, NELSON LOCKE, JOSEPH SHUCK 9 p.m. June 26 at rain dogs, 1045 Park St., Riverside, 379-4969. FUNKY BUTT BLUES BAND 9 p.m. June 26 at The Parlour (behind Grape & Grain), 2000 San Marco Blvd., 396-4455. NATURAL INSTINCTS 10 p.m. June 26 & 27 at The Roadhouse, 231 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, 264-0611. KIM RETEGUIZ & the BLACK CAT BONES 10 p.m. June 26 at Flying Iguana, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680. Riverside Arts Market: TOMBOI, The LITTLE BOOKS, FOUR FAMILIES, HANNAH HARBER 10:30 a.m. June 27 at 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449. DENNY BLUE 1 p.m. June 27 at Milltop Tavern, 19 St. George St., St. Augustine, 829-2329; 5:30 p.m. June 27 at Tempo Restaurant, 16 Cathedral Place, 342-0286. The RUBIES, The WILLOWWACKS 7 p.m. June 27 at Lohman Auditorium, Whitney Lab at Marineland, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., $15 advance; $20 at the door, 794-4163. The WOBBLY TOMS 7 p.m. June 27 at Colonial Quarter, 33 St. George St., St. Augustine, 342-2857. MICHAEL RENO HARRELL 7:30 p.m. June 27, Mudville Music Room, $10. BOOGIE FREAKS 8 p.m. June 27, The Jacksonville Landing.
RAVEN CLIFF, SNAKE BLOOD REMEDY 8 p.m. June 27, Jack Rabbits, $10. STEEL TOAD, LUCID, BACHELORS FOR BUCHANAN 8 p.m. June 27, 1904 Music Hall, $7 advance; $9 day of. MANNA ZEN, TRIBE & TRUTH, TRUE VIOLET, BLEEDING IN STEREO, DEAD DEADS 8 p.m. June 27, Freebird Live, $8. JOHN CHAPMAN’S RAISIN CAKE ORCHESTRA 9 p.m. June 27, The Parlour. LAST 2 LEAVE 10 p.m. June 27, at Flying Iguana. 418 BAND 4 p.m. June 28, The Jacksonville Landing. Acoustic Night hosted by MIKE SHACKELFORD 6 p.m. June 28 at Bull Park, 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-5828. WILD SHINERS, ROBBIE DAMMIT, GRANT PAXTON 6 p.m. June 28, Limelight Theatre, 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, 825-1164, $5. BRYAN ADAMS 6:30 p.m. June 28 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, $30-$85. AURORA, The HAIL BOP GROUP 8 p.m., June 28, Jack Rabbits, $8. RUM REBELLION, SMILE 4, 187, HILLBILLY LIGHT PARADE 8 p.m. June 29, Burro Bar. JIMMI BAYER (INFINTESMAL RECORDS) BIRTHDAY PARTY 9 p.m. June 30 at Shantytown Pub, 22 W. Sixth St., Springfield, 798-8222. SAY ANYTHING, MODERN BASEBALL, CYMBALS EAT GUITARS, HARD GIRLS 6 p.m. July 1 at Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., Downtown, 699-8186, $17.50. Music by the Sea: AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG 7 p.m. July 1 at St. Augustine Beach Pier & Pavilion, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., free, 347-8007, thecivicassociation.org.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
DON McLEAN July 2, The Florida Theatre SWEET CRUDE July 2, 1904 Music Hall KABAKA PYRAMID & IBA MAHR, The BEBBLE ROCKERS July 2, Café Eleven CHILLY RHINO July 3 & 4, The Roadhouse The FRITZ July 4, Freebird Live The CONVALESCENCE, BESIDE the SILENCE, DENIED TIL DEATH July 5, Jack Rabbits VULTURE SHIT, BLITHE, BAD MOUTH BURNING July 5, Shantytown Pub Warped Tour: ALIVE LIKE ME, AS IT IS, BABY BABY, ARGENT, BEAUTIFUL BODIES, BEING as an OCEAN, BLACK BOOTS, BLACK VEIL BRIDES, BLESSTHEFALL, BORN CAGES, KOO KOO KANGA ROO, BOYMEETSWORLD, CANDY HEARTS, ESCAPE the FATE, FAMILY FORCE 5, FIT for a KING, HANDGUNS, HANDS LIKE HOUSES, I KILLED the PROM QUEEN, KOSHA DILLZ, LE CASTLE VANIA, LEE COREY OSWALD, M4SONIC, MATCHBOOK ROMANCE, NECK DEEP, NIGHT NIGHT RIOTS, PALISADES, SPLITBREED, The RELAPSE SYMPHONY, TRANSIT, The WONDER YEARS, TROPHY EYES, WHILE SHE SLEEPS, YOUTH in REVOLT July 6, Morocco Shrine Auditorium R5: SOME TIME LAST NIGHT, JACOB WHITESIDES, RYLAND July 7, Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts ARS PHOENIX July 7, Burro Bar The JAHMEN, SIGNAL FIRE, The ELLAMENO BEAT July 8, Jack Rabbits BJ BARHAM (Aquarium), BRETT BASS (Grandpa’s Cough Medicine) July 9, Jack Rabbits The Elbow Bender: SWIMM, GREENHOUSE LOUNGE, FLATLAND, BELLS & ROBES, HERD OF WATTS, TAMBOR,
SUNSPOTS, FORT STORIES July 9, Downtown Jacksonville SHAGGY July 9, Mavericks at The Landing NEW KINGSTON, SUNDRIED VIBES, CLOUD 9 VIBES, DJ RAGGAMUFFIN July 10, Freebird Live PLANETRAWK July 10, Burro Bar MILK SPOT July 10, Shantytown Pub HAUS PARTY 3000 July 10, Underbelly ASKMEIFICARE July 10, The Roadhouse BARENAKED LADIES, VIOLENT FEMMES, COLIN HAY July 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BETWEEN the BURIED & ME, ANIMALS as LEADERS, The CONTORTIONISTS PLANETRAWK, INNER DEMONS July 11, Jack Rabbits LOVE AS LAUGHTER, KDH, MEMPHIBIANS July 12, Burro Bar METAL MONDAZE: CLASSHOLE, HANG UP YOUR BOOTS, RUSTY COIL July 13, Shantytown Pub SLEEPING POLICEMAN, CANOPY HANDS, The SOMETHINGS July 13, Burro Bar KEPT at BAY, STRONG GUYS, MAFDET, CHARLIE SHUCK July 14, Burro Bar SHANIA TWAIN July 15, Veterans Memorial Arena AMERICAN IDOL LIVE July 15, The Florida Theatre CHRIS HANSON July 16, Mavericks at The Landing CHROME HEART July 17 & 18, The Roadhouse MODEST MOUSE July 17, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BRYCE ALASTAIR BAND, PIANO, TOM BENNETT BAND July 17, Jack Rabbits LEGIT July 17, Freebird Live PRINCE ROYCE JULY 17, Veterans Memorial Arena ROB BELL July 18, T-U Center MARY MARY & FRIENDS July 18, T-U Center STARBENDER July 18, Jack Rabbits PATO BANTON July 18, Freebird Live ROBERT EARL KEEN & HIS BAND July 19, P.V. Concert Hall ROUND EYE, HAVANIA WHAAL, MR. CLIT & the PINK CIGARETTES July 19, Burro Bar TREES on MARS, VELOCIRAPTURE July 19, Shantytown Pub E.N. YOUNG (The Tribal Seeds) July 21, Jack Rabbits KID ETERNITY, KEVIN LAWSON July 22, Shantytown Pub CHELSEA SADDLER, COLTON McKENNA July 21, Café Eleven SLIGHTLY STOOPID, DIRTY HEADS, STICK FIGURE July 23, St. Augustine Amphitheatre The CRAZY DAYSIES July 24, Freebird Live HELLZAPOPPIN July 24, Mavericks at The Landing KEIKO MATSUI July 24, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall FORT LOWELL RECORDS SHOWCASE July 24, Burro Bar KACEY MUSGRAVES July 24, The Florida Theatre PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE, FIREFALL, ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION July 25, The Florida Theatre RICHARD SMITH July 25, Lohman Auditorium UNKNOWN HINSON, RUSTY SHINE July 25, Jack Rabbits Connection Festival: 311, JULIAN MARLEY, MATISYAHU, BALLYHOO!, NEW YORK SKA-JAZZ ENSEMBLE, WHOLE WHEAT BREAD, STANK SAUCE, SKYWATER, JAH ELECT & THE I QUALITY BAND, CLOUD 9 VIBE, ASKMEIFICARE, HOLEY MISS MOLEY, YAMADEO, HERD OF WATTS, WESTER JOSEPH’S STEREO VUDU July 25, Metropolitan Park ROB THOMAS, PLAIN WHITE T’s July 25, St. Augustine Amphitheatre JAKE MILLER, JASMINE, ALEX ANGELO July 26, Freebird Live PLANES MISTAKEN for STARS, ZULU WAVE, DREDGER July 27, Shanghai Nobby’s SEALION, PARTY STATIC July 27, Burro Bar FIFTH HARMONY, DEBBY RYAN & the NEVER ENDING,
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LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC Bluesy solo artist DENNY BLUE performs at the Milltop Tavern and Tempo Restaurant on June 27.
NATALIE LA ROSE, BEA MILLER July 28, The Florida Theatre EMMET CAHILL July 29, Culhane’s Irish Pub ROCKY VOTOLATO, DAVE HAUSE, CHRIS FARREN July 29, Jack Rabbits PINK for PRESIDENT, STATUS FAUX, 187 July 30, Burro Bar PATHOS PATHOS, NORTHE, LE ORCHID, SUNSPOTS July 31, Underbelly WHITESNAKE July 31, The Florida Theatre MEDAL MILITIA (Metallica tribute), SHOT DOWN in FLAMES (AC/DC tribute), FOREVER OUR RIVALS July 31, Freebird Live KING SUNNY ADE & his AFRICAN BEATS July 31, PV Concert Hall MY MORNING JACKET, MINI MANSIONS Aug. 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre The STOLEN, AVENUES Aug. 1, Jack Rabbits LENNY COOPER Aug. 1, Mavericks at The Landing COUNTING CROWS, CITIZEN COPE, HOLLIS BROWN Aug. 2, St. Augustine Amphitheatre AUTHORITY ZERO, COUNTERPUNCH, RUBEDO, ONE SMALL STEP Aug. 2, Jack Rabbits JORMA KAUKONEN Aug. 6, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall SCARAB (Journey tribute) Aug. 6, Freebird Live FLOETRY Aug. 6, Ritz Theatre & Museum BHAGAVAN DAS Aug. 7-9, Karpeles Museum GENERAL TSO’S FURY, BRICKS GRENADE Aug. 7, Jack Rabbits Elvis Anniversary Bash: MIKE ALBERT, SCOT BRUCE & the BIG E BAND Aug. 8, The Florida Theatre
JOY BLOODY JOY, URSULA Aug. 8, Jack Rabbits WHITNEY PEYTON Aug. 9, Underbelly CHRISTINA PERRI, COLBIE CAILLAT, RACHEL PLATTEN Aug. 11, The Florida Theatre UNIVERSAL SIGH Aug. 12, Jack Rabbits HippieFest 2015: The FAMILY STONE, RICK DERRINGER, MITCH RYDER & the DETROIT WHEELS, BADFINGER & JOEY MOLLAND Aug. 13, The Florida Theatre KULT OV AZAZEL, SECRETS SHE KEPT, NEVERBAPTIZED, SATURNINE, The NOCTAMBULANT Aug. 13, Burro Bar NO MORTAL BEFORE, PALM TREES & POWER LINES Aug. 14, Jack Rabbits JIM LAUDERDALE & HIS BAND Aug. 14, P.V. Concert Hall HOR!ZEN Aug. 14, The Roadhouse The ROCKY HORROR Show Aug. 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 1904 Music Hall DARYL HANCE, EUGENE SNOWDEN Aug. 14, Underbelly Women Who Rock Show: MAMA BLUE, KIM RETEGUIZ & the BLACK CAT BONES, The CAT McWILLIAMS BAND Aug. 15, Freebird Live SUBLIME WITH ROME, REBELUTION, PEPPER, MICKEY AVALON Aug. 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC Aug. 16, The Florida Theatre NASHVILLE PUSSY, VALIENT THORR Aug. 16, Jack Rabbits COMMUNITY CENTER Aug. 18, Jack Rabbits LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND Aug. 20, Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts
TIM McGRAW, BILLY CURRINGTON, CHASE BRYANT Aug. 20, Veterans Memorial Arena Campout Concert Series: STRATOSPHERE ALL-STARS, SIR CHARLES, ZOOGMA, GREENHOUSE LOUNGE X2, DYNO HUNTER, VLAD the INHALER, MZG, S.P.O.R.E., BELLS & ROBES, MATTHEW CONNOR Aug. 21 & 22, Suwannee Music Park CLAY WALKER Aug. 22, Mavericks at The Landing LEISURE CRUISE Aug. 24, Jack Rabbits DONOVAN FRANKENREITER Aug. 25, Freebird Live The OUTLAWS, BLACKHAWK Aug. 28, The Florida Theatre TRIBAL SEEDS, The EXPANDERS, ARISE ROOTS Aug. 28, Mavericks at The Landing STEVE FORBERT TRIO Aug. 29, Mudville Music Room MEAN MARY Aug. 29, Lohman Auditorium RICK SPRINGFIELD, LOVERBOY, The ROMANTICS Aug. 30, St. Augustine Amphitheatre ALICE COOPER Sept. 1, The Florida Theatre NICKELBACK Sept. 1, Veterans Memorial Arena PONCHO SANCHEZ Sept. 5, Ritz Theatre & Museum GWAR, BUTCHER BABIES, BATTLECROSS Sept. 9, Freebird Live DOYLE BRAMHALL II Sept. 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall DAVID LEIBE HART, DIG DOG, The VULGARIANS Sept. 16, Underbelly LUKE BRYAN, RANDY HOUSER, DUSTIN LYNCH Sept. 17, Veterans Memorial Arena RUNAWAY GIN Sept. 18, Freebird Live REO SPEEDWAGON Sept. 24, The Florida Theatre DELBERT McCLINTON Sept. 25, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BRITTANY SHANE Sept. 25, Mudville Music Room HOUNDMOUTH Sept. 30, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BOOKER T. JONES Oct. 3, Ritz Theatre & Museum AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FEST Oct. 8-15, Fernandina Beach ANI DiFRANCO Oct. 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall RANDY WESTON’S AFRICAN RHYTHMS Oct. 10, Ritz Theatre BONZ (Stuck Mojo), A.M.M. Oct. 10, Jack Rabbits The VIBRATORS Oct. 11, Jack Rabbits The Princess Bride: An Evening with CARY ELWES Oct. 11, The Florida Theatre NEW FOUND GLORY, YELLOWCARD, TIGERS JAW Oct. 13, Mavericks The WINERY DOGS Oct. 14, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall NOAH GUNDERSON Oct. 14, Colonial Quarter CHRIS TOMLIN, REND COLLECTIVE Oct. 16, Vets Memorial Arena SUZANNE VEGA Oct. 16, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall The SENSES, The PHILTERS Oct. 16, Jack Rabbits DEF LEPPARD, FOREIGNER, NIGHT RANGER Oct. 17, Veterans Memorial Arena LITTLE BIG TOWN, DRAKE WHITE & the BIG FIRE Oct. 17, St. Augustine Amphitheatre The CHARLIE DANIELS BAND Oct. 22, The Florida Theatre TAB BENOIT Oct. 22, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall MARCIA BALL & her BAND, AMY SPEACE Oct. 23, P.V. Concert Hall MARK KNOPFLER Oct. 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre ALL HANDS ON DECK Nov. 8, The Florida Theatre REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND, BRYCE ALASTAIR BAND Nov. 8, Jack Rabbits ADRIAN LEGG, DAVID LINDLEY Nov. 12, P.Vedra Concert Hall AMERICA Nov. 13, Thrasher-Horne Center JAKE SHIMABUKURO Nov. 13, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall STRAIGHT NO CHASER Nov. 17, The Florida Theatre The DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND, NEW BREED BRASS BAND Nov. 21, Ritz Theatre & Museum This is Not a Test Tour: TOBYMAC, BRITT NICOLE, COLTON DIXON, HOLLYN Nov. 22, Veterans Memorial Arena SCOTT BRADLEE’S Postmodern Jukebox Nov. 28, Florida Theatre RONNIE MILSAP Nov. 29, The Florida Theatre LUCERO Dec. 3, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall NICHOLAS PAYTON Dec. 5, Ritz Theatre & Museum KANSAS Dec. 6, The Florida Theatre LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III Dec. 11, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BRIAN REGAN Dec. 13, The Florida Theatre A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS Dec. 15, The Florida Theatre The TEN TENORS Dec. 22, The Florida Theatre JOHN SEBASTIAN Jan. 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CHRISTIAN McBRIDE Jan. 16, Ritz Theatre & Museum The TEMPTATIONS, The FOUR TOPS Jan. 21, Florida Theatre JOHNNY MATHIS Jan. 31, The Florida Theatre PATTY GRIFFIN, SARA WATKINS, ANAIS MITCHELL Feb. 13, The Florida Theatre SUN RA ARKESTRA Feb. 20, Ritz Theatre & Museum ADAM TRENT Feb. 21, The Florida Theatre BLACK VIOLIN March 3, Ritz Theatre & Museum ROGER McGUINN March 4, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CECILE McLORIN SALVANT March 31, Ritz Theatre NAJEE April 9, Ritz Theatre & Museum
LIVE MUSIC CLUBS
AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH
DAVID’S Restaurant & Lounge, 802 Ash St., 310-6049 John Springer every Tue.-Wed. Aaron Bing 6 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. GREEN TURTLE TAVERN, 14 S. Third St., 321-2324 Buck Smith Thur. Yancy Clegg Sun. Vinyl Record Nite every Tue. SLIDERS, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652 Digital Skyline June 27. Live music every Wed.-Sun. SURF RESTAURANT, 3199 S. Fletcher Ave., 261-5711 The Bluff 5 Band June 28. Brett Staska July 1. Music Fri. & Sat.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
CASBAH CAFÉ, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores 9 p.m. every Wed. Live jazz every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE, 4219 St. Johns Ave. KJ Free 9 p.m. every Tue. & Thur. Indie dance 9 p.m. every Wed. ’80s & ’90s dance at 9 p.m. every Fri.
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THE BEACHES
(All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted)
BILLY’S BOATHOUSE, 2321 Beach Blvd., 241-9771 The Conch Fritters 6 p.m. June 26 BRASS ANCHOR PUB, 2292 Mayport Rd., Ste. 35, Atlantic Beach, 249-0301 Joe Oliff 8 p.m. June 24 CULHANE’S IRISH PUB, 967 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 249-9595 Savanna Leigh Bassett 8 p.m. June 26 ESPETO Brazilian Steakhouse, 1396 Beach Blvd., 388-4884 Steve & Carlos 6 p.m. June 25 FLASK & CANNON, 528 First St. N. De Lions of Jah every Wed. FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680 Kim Reteguiz & Black Cat Bones 10 p.m. June 26. Last 2 Leave 10 p.m. June 27. Darren Corlew 8:30 p.m. June 28. Red Beard & Stinky E every Thur. FLY’S TIE IRISH PUB, 177 Sailfish Dr. E., A.B., 246-4293 Live music most weekends FREEBIRD LIVE, 200 N. First St., 246-2473 John Dahlback, Jon Kinesis 8 p.m. June 24. Manna Zen, Of Tribe & Truth, True Violet, Bleeding in Stereo, Dead Deads June 27. Parker Urban Band, Saltwater Grass, Bonnie Blue July 3. The Fritz, S.P.O.R.E., Matthew Connor, Vlad the Inhaler July 4 HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815 Live music 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. Dan Evans, Spade McQuade 6 p.m. every Sun. Back From the Brink 9 p.m. every Mon. LILLIE’S COFFEE BAR, 200 First St., N.B., 249-2922 Live music every Fri. & Sat. LYNCH’S IRISH PUB, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Jaw Creation 10 p.m. June 26 & 27. Dirty Pete Wed. Split Tone Thur. Ryan Crary, Johnny Flood Sun. Be Easy Mon. Ryan Campbell Tue. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 N. Third St., 246-1500 Herd of Watts 10 p.m. June 25. Live music every Wed.-Sat. MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., N.B., 249-5573 Neil Dixon every Tue. Gypsies Ginger every Wed. Mike Shackelford & Steve Shanholtzer every Thur. MONKEY’S UNCLE, 1850 S. Third St., 246-1070 Chilly Rhino 10 p.m. June 26 NORTH BEACH BISTRO, 725 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 372-4105 Elizabeth Rogers June 25. Dan Coady June 26. Billy Bowers 7:30 p.m. June 27. Live music every Thur.-Sat. OCEAN 60, 60 Ocean Blvd., A.B., 247-0060 Taylor Roberts 7 p.m. June 25 & 18 RAGTIME TAVERN, 207 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7877 Live music Thur.-Sun. SLIDERS SEAFOOD GRILLE, 218 First St., N.B., 246-0881 Billy Bowers 6:30 p.m. June 26. Live music 6 p.m. every Thur., 6:30 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. TAVERN on 1ST, 401 First St. N., 716-4301 Ryan Crary June 24 WIPEOUTS GRILL, 1589 Atlantic Blvd., N.B., 247-4508 Billy Bowers 7 p.m. June 25. Chris Jobinski 9:30 p.m. June 26 WORLD OF BEER, 311 N. Third St., 372-9698 Ryan Crary June 25. Continuum June 26. Brian Sutherland Band July 2 ZETA BREWING COMPANY, 131 First Ave. N., 372-0727 Live music every Wed.-Sun.
DOWNTOWN
1904 MUSIC HALL, 19 Ocean St. N. Saturday Night Soldiers, Askmeificare, Lovers Quarrel June 25. Herd of Watts, Autumn Attics June 26. Steel Toad, Bachelors for Buchanan June 27 BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St. Rod Hamdallah 8 p.m. June 24. Miss Massive Snowflake, Busdrivers (Reunion), Gov Club June 26. Rum Rebellion, One Eight Seven 8 p.m. June 29. Live music every Fri. & Sat. DOS GATOS, 123 E. Forsyth St., 354-0666 BlackJack every Wed. DJ Brandon every Thur. DJs spin dance music every Fri. DJ NickFresh Sat. DJ Randall 9 p.m. Mon. DJ Hollywood Tue. FIONN MacCOOL’S, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1247 Spade McQuade 6-9 p.m. June 24. Chuck Nash 8 p.m. June 26. Live music every Wed.-Sun. JACKSONVILLE LANDING, 2 Independent Dr., 353-1188 Bread & Butter 8 p.m. June 26. 418 Band June 28 MARK’S DOWNTOWN, 315 E. Bay, 355-5099 DJ Roy Luis every Wed. DJ Vinn every Thur. DJ 007 every Fri. Bay Street every Sat. MAVERICKS, Jax Landing, 356-1110 Joe Buck, DJ Justin every Thur.-Sat. UNDERBELLY, 113 E. Bay St., 699-8186 Native Lights, Wray June 24. Bears & Company June 25. Say Anything, Modern Baseball, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Hard Girls July 1
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC
ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG
CLUB RETRO, 1241 Blanding Blvd., 5794731 ’70s & ’80s dance 8 p.m. every Fri. & Sat. DJ Capone every Wed. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wellss Rd., 272-5959 John Michael plays piano everyy Tue.-Sat. PREVATT’S SPORTS BAR, 2620 Blanding Blvd., 282-1564 The Corbitt Brothers Band June 26. Live music every Sat. THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Natural Instincts 10 p.m. June 26 & 27. Chilly Rhino July 3 & 4. Live rock music 10 p.m. every Wed. DJ Big Mike 10 p.m. every Thur. Live rock every Fri. & Sat. URBAN BEAN COFFEEHOUSE CAFE, 2023 Park Ave., 541-4938 CJ Fluharty 7 p.m. June 27
Acclaimed singer-songwriter PIERCE PETTIS, who, along with Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega, was a founding member of the early ’80s “Fast Folk” movement of NYC, performs at Mudville Music Room on June 26 in San Marco.
PONTE VEDRA
PUSSER’S GRILLE, 816 A1A N., 280-7766 Ryan Crary June 24. Billy Buchanan June 25. Live music every Fri. & Sat. TABLE 1, 330 A1A N., 280-5515 Paxton & Mike June 24 & July 1. Gary Starling June 25. Samuel Sanders & Darren Escar June 26. Caleb Joye June 27
RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE
ACROSS THE STREET, 948 Edgewood Ave. S., 683-4182 Backwater Bible Salesmen open mic 8 p.m. every Mon. DJ Rafiki every Tue. MURRAY HILL THEATRE, 932 Edgewood Ave. S., 388-7807 Outlands, Dayseeker, Searching Serenity, Nothing to Offer 7 p.m. June 27 RAIN DOGS, 1045 Park St., 379-4969 Barnyard Stompers June 25. New Strangers, MAFDET, Nelson Locke, Joseph Shuck June 26. Minor Influence 8 p.m. June 28 RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449 Tomboi, The Little Books, Four Families, Hannah Harber starting 10:30 a.m. June 27
ST. AUGUSTINE
JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 Surfer Blood, Turbo Fruits 8 p.m. June 25. Haley Mae Campbell, Eli the Poet 8 p.m. June 26. Raven Cliff, Snake Blood Remedy 8 p.m. June 27. Aurora, The Hail Bop Group June 28. The Convalescence, Beside the Silence, Denied Til Death July 5 MUDVILLE MUSIC ROOM, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 Lee Hunter 7:30 p.m. June 25. Pierce Pettis June 26. Michael Reno Harrell, Larry Magnum 7:30 p.m. June 27 THE PARLOUR, 2000 San Marco Blvd., 396-4455 Jesse Carole Montoya 9 p.m. June 24. Joshua Bowlus 9 p.m. June 25. Funky Butt Blues Band 9 p.m. June 26. John Chapman’s Raisin Cake Orchestra June 27. Live music every Thur.-Sat. RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY, 835 Museum Circle, 398-2299 Live music 8 p.m., Steve & Eden 10 p.m. every Fri.
SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS
BAHAMA BREEZE, 10205 River Coast Dr., 646-1031 Tropico Steel Drums June 24 & 25 CORNER BISTRO, 9823 Tapestry Park Cir., 619-1931 Matt Hall every Wed.-Sat. Steve Wheeler every Fri. LATITUDE 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555 DJ Trdmrk 5 p.m., X-Hale 7 p.m. June 24. Be Easy 7:30 p.m., DJ Dahn
BARLEY REPUBLIC, 48 Spanish St., 547-2023 Live local music every Thur.-Sun. THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS, 157 King St., 826-1594 Robert Burns 2 p.m., Ralph E. & the Jammers 7 p.m. June 26. Billy Buchanan & Free Avenue June 27. Vinny Jacobs 2 p.m. June 28 THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ, 36 Granada St., 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com Jimmy B. 5 p.m. June 26 DOS COFFEE & WINE, 300 San Marco Ave., 342-2421 Jazz every Sun. HARRY’S, 46 Avenida Menendez, 824-7765 Rob Ellis Peck June 24. Gary Campbell June 25. Jim Asselta June 26. Henry Murphy June 27. Andrea Marquis June 28. Stu Weaver June 29 MILL TOP TAVERN, 19 St. George St., 829-2329 Brady Clampitt June 24. Out to Play Boys June 25. Second Hand June 26. Denny Blue 5 p.m., Jake Cox & Jimmy B 9 p.m. June 27 PAULA’S BEACHSIDE GRILL, 6896 A1A S., Crescent Beach, 471-3463 Denny Blue open mic jam 6-9 p.m. June 26 TRADEWINDS LOUNGE, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Cotton Mouth June 26 & 27. Live music 9 p.m. every Fri. & Sat.
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
INDOCHINE, 1974 San Marco Blvd., 503-7013 Dance Radio Underground, Sugar & Cream, Black Hoodie, Bass Therapy Sessions, Allan GIz-Roc Oteyza, TrapNasty, Cry Havoc, every Sat.
FLEMING ISLAND
MERCURY MOON, 2015 Doctors Inlet Rd., 215-8999 The Corbitt Brothers Band 9 p.m. June 24 WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 The Corbitt Brothers Band 10 p.m. June 27. Live music 9 p.m. June 26 & 27. Live music every Fri. & Sat. DJ Throwback 8 p.m. every Thur. Deck music every Fri., Sat. & Sun.
INTRACOASTAL WEST
CLIFF’S Bar & Grill, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 Live music every Fri. & Sat. JERRY’S Sports Grille, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Boogie Freaks June 26. Spectra June 27 YOUR PLACE, 13245 Atlantic Blvd., 221-9994 RadioLove 9 p.m. June 25
MANDARIN, JULINGTON
DAVE’S MUSIC BAR & GRILL, 9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 48, 575-4935 Johnny Bravo 6 p.m., Blues Jam 9 p.m. June 26. Board Bros. 6 p.m., Chris Tyler 9 p.m. June 27. Bonnie & Clyde every Tue. Open jam every Wed. Joe G & Friends every Thur. HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., 880-3040 Back Alley Cadillac 5 p.m. June 28. Scott Verville 8 p.m. June 29. Open jam Blues Monday 7 p.m. every Mon. SAUCY TACO, 450 S.R. 13, 287-8226 Stu Weaver June 27
JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 29
LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC 10:30 p.m. June 25. Darrel Rae 5 p.m., The Ride 8:30 p.m. June 26 & 27 MY PLACE BAR & GRILL, 9550 Baymeadows Rd., 737-5299 Fat Cactus every Mon. Live music 9 p.m. every night OVINTE, 10208 Buckhead Branch Dr., 900-7730 Taylor Roberts, Chris Thomas June 28 PURE NIGHTCLUB, 8206 Philips Hwy., discodonniepresents. com Caked Up 8 p.m. July 1 SEVEN BRIDGES, 9735 Gate Pkwy., 997-1999 Toots Lorraine & the Traffic 7 p.m. June 26 WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., 634-7208 Live music every Wed.-Sun.
Overset
WILD WING CAFÉ, 4555 Southside Blvd., 998-9464 Chris Brinkley June 24. Open mic June 25. Steffani Renae Band June 26. Fratello June 27. Live music every Fri. & Sat. WORLD OF BEER, 9700 Deer Lake Ct., Ste. 1, 551-5929 Continuum 9 p.m. June 27. Live music every Fri. & Sat.
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
SHANTYTOWN, 22 W. Sixth St., 798-8222 Jimmi Bayer June 30. Woven In 9 p.m. July 1 THREE LAYERS COFFEEHOUSE, 1602 Walnut St., 355-9791 RadioLove, CJ Fluharty at 5 p.m. June 26. Open mic held every Thur.
THE KNIFE
TAPES ’N TAPES THERE WAS A TIME SOMEWHERE BETWEEN the slow slide of vinyl and the meteoric rise of CDs when the cassette tape ruled. It was the early ’80s, and the only portable, recordable music medium was the tape. And holy crap, we loved it. It was the era of the mixtape, the Walkman and the failed “blank tape” tax. By the ’90s, though, the cassette was dead, replaced by that shining “indestructible” disc many consumers now consider obsolete. Some have held onto that nearly unmanageable medium, with a No. 2 pencil at hand whenever the tape gets tangled in their aging cassette players. (If you don’t get the No. 2 pencil reference, you’ve never owned a cassette tape.) Like all cool things of yore, cassettes are enjoying an underground resurgence. Indie kids are cutting vinyl again, and they’re making and releasing cassettes, too. Jacksonville-based Tapes from the Gates (tapesfromthegates.com) is capitalizing on this trend, releasing new indie music in cassette-only format. (OK, they offer digital downloads, but don’t tell anyone.) Founded by Chris Bartus and a crew of his devoted friends – Jesse Kennedy, Paula Runyon, Joseph Campbell and Jennifer Bagheri – TFG has curated an interesting lot of newcomers for release on cassette. The roster is wide and varied, with a bent toward trippy electronica. Folio Weekly recently spoke to Bartus about the life of tape.
opposed to] digital music. Whether that is good or bad depends on the listener. If you want to get real nerdy about it, a high-quality tape deck with three heads can make the music sound pretty remarkable, and it’s fun scouring thrift stores to find them. A $600 tape deck from 1988 can be had for under $50 if you get lucky. I also still know quite a few people with older cars that only have tape decks. They get really excited over the idea of buying tapes, because it gives them a break from NPR.
THE KNIFE
Folio Weekly: Where are the artists coming from at Tapes from the Gates? Chris Bartus: At first, we reached out to friends to help fill our roster. Then I attempted to recruit other musicians whose music I really enjoyed. I’d look to see if they had released any music on cassette, and if they hadn’t, I’d ask them if they would be interested in joining TFG. I’ve had some great luck with that approach, but I’ve definitely had to get used to dealing with rejection. We are now to the point where we’re starting to get submissions from artists. It’s nice being wanted, but it isn’t easy having to be on the other side and telling artists you’ve decided not to put their music out. What are the criteria for distribution? We just go off what we think sounds good. I think psychedelic is a word that could describe our label’s music, but that also comes with lots of stereotypes and some misplaced associations. Music has the ability to take you out of space and time, and can alter your consciousness. On that note, John Fahey is psychedelic to me. The composer Steve Reich is psychedelic. I think what most will notice right away is that we don’t release straight-ahead pop or rock-and-roll music. Our artists succeed in setting moods or experimenting with the textures of sound. Our first few releases definitely utilized electronic elements and use of the synthesizer, but we’ve already lined up some blues, hip-hop, raga, and Afro-Latin music for the near future. Why tape … and why now? Digital music files can easily be stored, so the CD is starting to serve little purpose. Cassettes are an analog format, so they sound unique [as 30 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
How has the response been so far? It’s still a niche market. Our website was just completed last month, so we’re starting to get a lot more business through that. As it stands now, we’ve sold most of our tapes to people outside Florida. Name a couple of your personal favorites on the label. Also, what are some upcoming releases? Well, I’m definitely proud to have a few musicians of modest notoriety: Andrew Douglas Rothbard was previously in the band Pleasure Forever. They released a few albums on Sub Pop in the early 2000s. His solo material is incredible to me. Keith Wood [of] Hush Arbors is also almost done with his tape. He plays in the band Chelsea Light Moving with Thurston Moore, who was previously in Sonic Youth. We have our first hip-hop album from Joseph Charles Campbell [Athens, Georgia]. He’s very non-traditional for the genre, given he never made anything close to hip-hop in his life until recently. Daniel Maruniak’s project Hungry Holograms [Puerto Rico] sounds a bit like Daft Punk making music with The Mars Volta. Fans of Robert Fripp’s Frippertronics will be pleased by the guitar sounds. Next month, we’ll be releasing a tape by Los Pirañas from Colombia, South America. They do a wild fusion of champeta, Afrobeat, lysergic rock and cumbia. I listen to lots of international music, so I’m really excited about integrating that into the label. I’m currently in talks with musicians from China and the U.K. John E. Citrone theknife@folioweekly.com
Authentic European sausages are the specialty at Sausage Paradise Deli & Bakery, located off Baymeadows Road on the Southside. Photo by Dennis Ho
DINING DIRECTORY AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA BEACH
29 SOUTH EATS, 29 S. Third St., 277-7919, 29south restaurant.com. F In historic downtown, Chef Scotty Schwartz serves traditional regional cuisine with a modern twist. $$ L Tue.-Sat.; D Mon.-Sat.; R Sun. BARBERITOS, 1519 Sadler Rd., 277-2505. 463867 S.R. 200, Ste. 5, Yulee, 321-2240, barberitos.com. F Southwestern fare; burritos, tacos, quesadillas, salsa. $$ BW K TO L D Daily BRETT’S Waterway Café, 1 S. Front St., 261-2660. F Southern hospitality, upscale waterfront spot; daily specials, fresh local seafood, aged beef. $$$ FB K L D Daily CAFÉ KARIBO, 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com. F Family-owned spot in historic building. Veggie burgers, seafood, made-from-scratch desserts. Dine in or on oak-shaded patio. Karibrew Pub next door. $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L D Daily CHEZ LEZAN Bakery Co., 1014 Atlantic Ave., 491-4663, chezlezanbakery.com. Fresh European-style breads, pastries: croissants, muffins, cakes, pies. $ TO B R L Daily CIAO Italian Bistro, 302 Centre St., 206-4311, ciaobistroluca.com. Owners Luka and Kim Misciasci offer fine dining: veal piccata, rigatoni Bolognese, antipasto. Specialties: chicken Ciao, homemade meat lasagna. $ L Fri., Sat.; D Nightly DAVID’S Restaurant & Lounge, 802 Ash St., 310-6049, amelia islanddavids.com. Fine dining in historic district. Fresh seafood, prime aged meats, rack of lamb. $$$$ FB D Wed.-Mon. DICK’S Wings & Grill, 474313 E. S.R. 200, 491-3469. 450077 S.R. 200, Callahan, 879-0993. BOJ. SEE PONTE VEDRA. ELIZABETH POINTE Lodge, 98 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com. F BOJ winner. Award-winning B&B. Seaside dining, inside or out. Hot buffet breakfast daily. Homestyle soups, sandwiches, desserts. $$$ BW B L D Daily JACK & DIANE’S, 708 Centre St., 321-1444, jackanddianes cafe.com. F In renovated 1887 shotgun house. Jambalaya, French toast, mac-n-cheese, vegan/vegetarian items. Dine in or on porch. $$ FB K B L D Daily LULU’S at Thompson House, 11 S. 7th St., 432-8394, lulusamelia.com. F Po’boys, salads, local seafood, local shrimp. Reservations. $$$ BW K TO R Sun.; L D Tue.-Sat. MARCHÉ BURETTE, 6800 First Coast Hwy., 491-4834, omnihotels.com. Old-fashioned gourmet food market and deli, in the Spa & Shops, Omni Amelia Island Plantation. Continental breakfast; lunch features flatbreads. $$$ BW K TO L D Daily MOON RIVER PIZZA, 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400, moon riverpizza.net. F BOJ winner. Northern-style pizzas, 20+ toppings, by the pie or the slice. $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE MUSTARD SEED CAFÉ, 833 TJ Courson Rd., 277-3141, nassaushealthfoods.net. Casual organic eatery, juice bar, in Nassau Health Foods. All-natural organic items, smoothies, juice, herbal tea. $$ TO B L Mon.-Sat. THE PECAN ROLL Bakery, 122 S. Eighth St., 491-9815, the pecanrollbakery.com. F The bakery, near the historic district, offers sweet and savory pastries, cookies, cakes, bagels and breads, all made from scratch. $ K TO B L Wed.-Sun. THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 450102 S.R. 200, Callahan, 879-0101, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE.
PLAE, 80 Amelia Village Cir., 277-2132, plaefl.net. Bite Club. Bistro-style venue serves whole fried fish, duck breast. Outside. $$$ FB L Tue.-Sat.; D Nightly THE SALTY PELICAN Bar & Grill, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, thesaltypelicanamelia.com. F BOJ winner. 2nd-story outdoor bar. Owners T.J. and Al offer local seafood, Mayport shrimp, fish tacos, po’boys, cheese oysters. $$ FB K L D Daily SLIDERS Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652, slidersseaside.com. F Oceanfront; handmade crab cakes, fresh seafood, fried pickles. Outdoor dining, open-air 2nd floor, balcony. $$ FB K L D Daily TASTY’S FRESH Burgers & Fries, 710 Centre St., 321-0409, tastysamelia.com. Historic district. Freshest meats, hand-cut fries, homemade sauces, hand-spun shakes. $ BW K L D Daily T-RAY’S Burger Station, 202 S. Eighth St., 261-6310. F BOJ winner. In an old gas station; blue plate specials, burgers, biscuits & gravy, shrimp. $ BW TO B L Mon.-Sat. THE VERANDAH, 6800 First Coast Hwy., 321-5050, omni hotels.com. Extensive menu of fresh local seafood and steaks; signature entrée is Fernandina shrimp. Many herbs and spices are from onsite garden. $$$ FB K D Nightly
ARLINGTON, REGENCY
DICK’S Wings, 9119 Merrill Rd., 745-9300. BOJ. SEE P. V. LARRY’S SUBS, 1301 Monument Rd., 724-5802. F SEE O.P.
AVONDALE, ORTEGA
FLORIDA CREAMERY, 3566 St. Johns Ave., 619-5386. Premium ice cream, waffle cones, milkshakes, sundaes and Nathan’s grilled hot dogs, served in a Florida-centric décor. Low-fat and sugar-free choices. $ K TO L D Daily THE FOX Restaurant, 3580 St. Johns Ave., 387-2669. F Owners Ian & Mary Chase offer fresh diner fare: burgers, meatloaf, fried green tomatoes, desserts. Breakfast all day. Local landmark for 50+ years. $$ BW K L D Daily HARPOON LOUIE’S, 4070 Herschel St., Ste. 8, 389-5631, harpoonlouies.net. F Locally owned and operated for 20+ years, the American pub serves 1/2-pound burgers, fish sandwiches, pasta. Local beers. $$ FB K TO L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM, 3611 St. Johns Ave., 388-0200. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO NO. 4 Urban BBQ & Whiskey Bar, 3572 St. Johns Ave., 381-6670. F BOJ. SEE BEACHES. PINEGROVE Market & Deli, 1511 Pine Grove Ave., 389-8655, pinegrovemarket.com. F BOJ. For 40+ years, burgers, Cuban sandwiches, subs, wraps. Onsite butcher cuts USDA choice prime aged beef. Craft beers. $ BW TO B L D Mon.-Sat. To get your restaurant listed here, just call your account manager or Sam Taylor at 904.260.9770 ext. 111 or staylor@folioweekly.com.
DINING DIRECTORY KEY
Average Entrée Cost $ = Less than $8 $$ = $8-$14 $$$ = $15-$22 $$$$ = $23 & up BW = Beer/Wine FB = Full Bar K = Kids’ Menu TO = Take Out B = Breakfast R = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner Bite Club = Hosted free FW Bite Club tasting. fwbiteclub.com. 2014 Best of Jax winner F = FW distribution spot
RESTAURANT ORSAY, 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaurant orsay.com. BOJ winner. French/Southern bistro; emphasis on locally grown organic ingredients. Steak frites, mussels, pork chops. Snail of Approval. $$$ FB K R, Sun.; D Nightly SIMPLY SARA’S, 2902 Corinthian Ave., 387-1000, simply saras.net. F Down-home fare, from scratch: eggplant fries, pimento cheese, baked chicken, fruit cobblers, chicken & dumplings, desserts. BYOB. $$ K TO L D Mon.-Sat., B Sat.
BAYMEADOWS
AKEL’S, 7825 Baymeadows Way, 733-4040. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S Pizza, 8060 Philips, Ste. 105, 731-4300. F SEE BEACHES. BROADWAY Ristorante & Pizzeria, 10920 Baymeadows Rd. E., 519-8000, broadwayfl.com. F Family-owned-&operated. Wings, calzones, brick-oven-baked pizza, subs. $$ BW K TO L D Daily INDIA’S Restaurant, 9802 Baymeadows., Ste. 8, 620-0777, indiajax.com. F BOJ. Authentic cuisine, lunch buffet. A variety of curries, vegetable dishes, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish tandoori. $$ BW L Mon.-Sat.; D Nightly LARRY’S, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., 737-7740. 8616 Baymeadows Rd., 739-2498. F SEE ORANGE PARK. NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 11030 Baymeadows Rd., 260-2791. SEE MANDARIN. PATTAYA THAI Grille, 9551 Baymeadows, Ste. 1, 646-9506, ptgrille.com. Family-owned Thai place serves traditional fare, vegetarian, new-Thai; curries, seafood, noodles, soups. Lowsodium, gluten-free, too. $$$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun. SAUSAGE PARADISE Deli & Bakery, 8602 Baymeadows Rd., 571-9817, spjax.com. F This innovative new spot offers a variety of European sausages, homestyle European dinners, smoked barbecue, stuffed cheeseburgers. $$ TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE WELL Watering Hole, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 9, 737-7740, thewellwateringhole.com. New bistro has local craft beers, wines by the glass or bottle, champagne cocktails. Meatloaf sandwiches, pulled Peruvian chicken, homestyle vegan black bean burgers. $$ BW K TO D Tue.-Sat. WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows, Ste. 135, 634-7208, whiskeyjax.com. New gastropub has craft beers, burgers, handhelds, tacos, whiskey. $$ FB L D Sat. & Sun.; D Daily. ZESTY INDIA, 8358 Point Meadows Dr., 329-3676, zesty india.com. Asian/European fare; tandoori lamb chops, rosemary tikka. Vegetarian cooked separately. $ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.
BEACHES
(Locations are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)
AL’S PIZZA, 303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0002, alspizza.com. F New York-style, gourmet pizzas, baked dishes. All-day happy hour Mon.-Thur. $ FB K TO L D Daily ANGIE’S SUBS, 1436 Beach Blvd., 246-2519. ANGIE’S GROM, 204 Third Ave. S., 246-7823. F BOJ winner. Subs made with fresh ingredients for more than 25 years. One word: Peruvian. Huge salads, blue-ribbon iced tea. $ BW TO L D Daily BEACHSIDE Seafood Restaurant & Market, 120 Third St. S., 444-8862, beachsideseafood.info. Full fresh seafood market; baskets, fish tacos, daily fish specials, Philly
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DINING DIRECTORY cheesesteaks. Dine indoors. on second-floor open-air deck. $$ BW K TO L D Daily BOLD BEAN Coffee Roasters, 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201. F BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. BREEZY Coffee Shop Café, 235 Eighth Ave. S., 241-2211, breezycoffeeshopcafe.com. Casual, familyowned. Fresh baked goods, espres sos, locally roasted Costa Rican organic/Breezy Bold coffees, vegan/glutenfree options. Sandwiches, local beer, wine, mimosas. $ BW K TO R L Daily BUDDHA THAI Bistro, 301 10th Ave. N., 712-4444, buddhathaibistro.com. Proprietors are from Thailand; every authentic dish is made with fresh ingredients. $$ FB TO L D Daily CANTINA MAYA Sports Bar & Grille, 1021 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-3227. F Popular spot serves margaritas, Latin food, burgers. Sports on TVs. $$ FB K L D Tue.-Sun. CULHANE’S Irish Pub, 967 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 2499595, culhanesirishpub.com. F Bite Club. Upscale pub owned and run by County Limerick sisters. Shepherd’s pie, corned beef; gastropub fare. $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L Fri.-Sun.; D Tue.-Sun. ESPETO Brazilian Steakhouse, 1396 Beach Blvd., 388-4884, espetosteakhouse.com. Just relocated, serving beef, pork, lamb, chicken, sausage; full menu, bar fare, craft cocktails, Brazilian beers. $$ FB D Daily EUROPEAN STREET Café, 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001. F BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. FLYING IGUANA Taqueria & Tequila Bar, 207 Atlantic Blvd., N.B., 853-5680 F Latin American, Southwest tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cubana sandwiches. 100+ tequilas. $ FB L D Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815, harmoniousmonks.net. F SEE MANDARIN. LARRY’S, 657 Third St. N., 247-9620. F SEE ORANGE PARK. LILLIE’S Coffee Bar, 200 First St., N.B., 249-2922,
RYAN RANDOLPH
shrimp, in modern open-air space. $$ FB K TO L D Daily SLIDERS Seafood Grille & Oyster Bar, 218 First St., N.B., 246-0881, slidersseafoodgrille.com. Popular beachcasual spot. Faves: Fresh fish tacos, gumbo. Key lime pie, ice cream sandwiches. $$ FB K L Sat. & Sun.; D Nightly SNEAKERS Sports Grille, 111 Beach Blvd., 482-1000, sneakerssportsgrille.com. BOJ winner. 20+ beers on tap, TVs, cheerleaders. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. $ FB K L D Daily SURFWICHES Sandwich Shop, 1537 Penman Rd., 241-6996, surfwiches.com. Craft sandwich shop has steaks and hoagies made to order. $ BW TO K L D Daily TACOLU BAJA MEXICANA, 1712 Beach Blvd., 249-8226, tacolu.com. BOJ winner. Fresh, Baja-style fare: fish tacos, tequila (more than 135 kinds) and mezcal. Bangin’ shrimp, carne asada, carnitas, daily fresh fish selections. Madefresh-daily guacamole. $$ FB K R Sat. & Sun.; L D Tue.-Fri.
DOWNTOWN
AKEL’S Delicatessen, 21 W. Church St., 665-7324, akelsdeli.com. F New York-style deli offers freshly made subs (3 Wise Guys, Champ), burgers, gyros, breakfast bowls, ranchero wrap, vegetarian dishes. $ K TO B L Mon.-Fri. THE CANDY APPLE Café & Cocktails, 400 N. Hogan St., 353-9717. Sandwiches, entrées, salads. $$ FB K L, Mon.; L D Tue.-Sun. CASA DORA, 108 E. Forsyth St., 356-8282. F Chef Sam Hamidi has been serving genuine Italian fare for 35+ years: veal, seafood, gourmet pizza. The homemade salad dressing is a specialty. $ BW K L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. CHOMP CHOMP, 106 E. Adams St., 762-4667. F Chefinspired street food: panko-crusted chicken, burgers, chinois tacos, bahn mi and barbecue. $ L Tue.-Sat.; D Thur.-Sat. FIONN MacCOOL’S Irish Pub & Restaurant, Jax Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1547, fionnmacs.com. Casual dining with an uptown Irish atmosphere, serving fish and chips, Guinness lamb stew and black-and-tan brownies. $$ FB K L D Daily
GRILL ME!
Kitchen on San Marco, 1402 San Marco Blvd. BIRTHPLACE: Sweetwater, Tennessee YEARS IN THE BIZ: 17 FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Husk, Charleston, S.C. BEST CUISINE STYLE: Pork-centric Southern GO-TO INGREDIENTS: Pork, pork fat, beets and ramps IDEAL MEAL: Anything pickled or fermented WON’T CROSS MY LIPS: Coconut INSIDER’S SECRET: Alan Benton CULINARY TREAT: Gas station Ramen
lilliescoffeebar.com. F Locally roasted coffee, eggs, bagels, flatbreads, sandwiches, desserts. Dine inside or out, patio, courtyard. $$ BW TO B L D Daily THE LOVING CUP HASH HOUSE, 610 Third St. S., 422-0644. New place has locally sourced fare, locally roasted coffee, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, healthful dishes – no GMOs or hormones allowed. $ K TO B R L Tue.-Sun. MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, 241-5600, mellowmushroom.com. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. Hoagies, gourmet pizzas: Mighty Meaty, vegetarian, Kosmic Karma. 35 tap beers. Nonstop happy hour. $ FB K TO L D Daily METRO DINER, 1534 Third St. N., 853-6817. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., N.B., 249-5573, mezzarestaurantandbar.com. F Near-the-ocean spot, 20+ years. Casual bistro fare: gourmet wood-fired pizzas, nightly specials. Dine inside, on patio. $$$ FB K D Mon.-Sat. MOJO KITCHEN BBQ Pit, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636, mojobbq.com. F BOJ winner. Pulled pork, beef, chicken, Carolina-style barbecue, Delta fried catfi sh, sides. $$ FB K TO L D Daily M SHACK, 299 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-2599, mshack burgers.com. F BOJ winner. Burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes. $$ BW L D Daily NORTH BEACH Bistro, 725 Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 6, A.B., 372-4105, nbbistro.com. F Bite Club. Chef-driven kitchen; hand-cut steaks, fresh local seafood, tapas. Happy Hour. $$$ FB K R Sun.; L D Daily OCEAN 60 Wine Bar, Martini Room, 60 Ocean Blvd., A.B., 247-0060, ocean60.com. BOJ winner. Continental cuisine, fresh seafood, dinner specials, seasonal menu in a formal dining room or casual Martini Room. $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. POE’S TAVERN, 363 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7637. Gastropub, 50+ beers, gourmet hamburgers, ground in-house, cooked to order; hand-cut French fries, fish tacos, Edgar’s Drunken Chili, daily fish sandwich special. $$ FB K L D Daily RAGTIME Tavern & Seafood Grill, 207 Atlantic Blvd., A.B., 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com. F For 30+ years, iconic seafood place has served blackened snapper, sesame tuna, Ragtime shrimp. Daily happy hour. $$ FB L D Daily SALT LIFE Food Shack, 1018 Third St. N., 372-4456, saltlife foodshack.com. BOJ winner. Specialty items: signature tuna poke bowl, fresh rolled sushi, Ensenada tacos, local fried
32 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
OLIO Market, 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket.com. F From-scratch soups, sandwiches. Home to duck grilled cheese, seen on Best Sandwich in America. $$ BW TO B R L Mon.-Fri. SWEET PETE’S, 1922 Pearl St., 376-7161. F All-natural sweet shop has candy made of all natural flavors, no artificial anything. Several kinds of honey. $ TO Daily ZODIAC Bar & Grill, 120 W. Adams St., 354-8283, thezodiacbarandgrill.com. Mediterranean cuisine, American fare, paninis, vegetarian dishes. Daily lunch buffet. Espressos, hookahs. Happy hour Wed.-Sat. $ FB L Mon.-Fri.
FLEMING ISLAND
GRASSROOTS Natural Market, 1915 East-West Pkwy., 541-0009. F BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 1800 Town Center Blvd., 541-1999. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO SMOKEHOUSE, 1810 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 8, 264-0636. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198, whiteysfishcamp.com. F Real fish camp. Gator tail, freshwater catfish, daily specials, on Swimming Pen Creek. Tiki bar. Come by boat, bike or car. $ FB K TO L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly YOUR PIE, 1545 C.R. 220, Ste. 125, 379-9771, yourpie. com. F Owner Mike Sims’ idea: Choose from 3 doughs, 9 sauces, 7 cheeses, 40+ toppings. 5 minutes in a brick oven and ta-da: It’s your pie. Subs, sandwiches, gelato. $$ BW K TO L D Daily
INTRACOASTAL WEST
AL’S Pizza, 14286 Beach, Ste. 31, 223-0991. F SEE BEACHES. APPLEBEE’S, 13201 Atlantic Blvd., 220-5823. SEE MANDARIN DICK’S, 14286 Beach Blvd., 223-0115. F BOJ. SEE P.V. LARRY’S, 10750 Atlantic, Ste. 14, 642-6980. F SEE O.P. OCEANA DINER, 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 3, 374-1915, oceanadiner.com. Traditional American diner fare served in a family atmosphere. $ K TO B L Daily TIME OUT Sports Grill, 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, 223-6999, timeoutsportsgrill.com. F Locally-ownedand-operated. Hand-tossed pizzas, wings, wraps. Daily drink specials, HDTVs, pool tables. Late-nite menu. $$ FB L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly
DINING DIRECTORY AL’S PIZZA, 1620 Margaret St., 388-8384. F SEE BEACHES. APPLEBEE’S, 8635 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 201, 771-0000. 6251 103rd St., 772-9020. 843 Lane Ave. S., 378-5445.
JULINGTON CREEK
DICK’S, 525 S.R. 16, Ste. 101, 825-4540. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA.
SEE MANDARIN.
METRO DINER, 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO.
BLACK SHEEP Restaurant, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American with a Southern twist; locally sourced ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN Coffee Roasters, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. BOJ winner. F Small-batch, artisanal coffee roasting. Organic, fair trade. $ BW TO B L Daily BREW FIVE POINTS, 1024 Park St., 714-3402, brewfive points.com. F Local craft beer, espresso, coffee and wine bar. Rotating drafts, 75+ canned craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu of waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts to pair with specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L Daily
MANDARIN, NW ST. JOHNS
ORANGE PARK
ARON’S PIZZA, 650 Park Ave., 269-1007, aronspizza. com. F Family-owned restaurant has eggplant dishes, manicotti, New York-style pizzas. $$ BW K TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS, 6055 Youngerman Cir., 778-1101. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959, hilltop-club. com. Southern-style fine dining. New Orleans shrimp, certified Black Angus prime rib, she-crab soup, desserts. Extensive bourbon selection. $$$ FB D Tue.-Sat. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1330 Blanding Blvd., 276-7370. 1545 C.R. 220, 278-2827. 700 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 15, 272-3553. 1401 S. Orange Ave., Green Cove Springs, 284-7789, larryssubs.com. F For 30-plus years, they’ve piled ’em high and served ’em fast. Hot/cold subs, soups. $ K TO B L D Daily THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 1330 Blanding Blvd., Ste. 170, 213-9744, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE. THE ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611, roadhouseonline.net. F For 35-plus years, the rock & roll bar for locals has been serving wings, sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas; 75-plus imported beers. A large craft beer selection is also available. $ FB L D Daily SNACSHACK, 179 College Dr., Ste. 19, 682-7622, snacshack.menu. F The new bakery and café offers bagels, muffins, breads, cookies, brownies and snack treats. $$ K BW TO B, L & D Daily
PONTE VEDRA
AL’S PIZZA, 635 A1A N., 543-1494. F SEE BEACHES. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 100 Marketside Ave., 829-8134, dickswingsandgrill.com. F BOJ winner. NASCARthemed; 365 kinds of wings, 1/2-lb. burgers, ribs. $ FB K TO L D Daily LARRY’S SUBS, 830 A1A N., 273-3993. F SEE ORANGE PARK. PUSSER’S BAR & GRILLE, 816 A1A N., Ste. 100, 280-7766, pussersusa.com. F BOJ winner. Bite Club. Caribbean cuisine, regional faves: Jamaican grilled pork ribs, Trinidad smoked duck, lobster macaroni & cheese dinner. Tropical drinks. $$ FB K TO L D Daily RESTAURANT MEDURE, 818 A1A N., 543-3797, restaurantmedure.us. Chef David Medure offers global flavors. Small plates, creative drinks, happy hour. $$$ FB D Mon.-Sat.
RIVERSIDE, 5 POINTS, WESTSIDE
13 GYPSIES, 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies.com. BOJ winner. Authentic Mediterranean peasant cuisine updated for American tastes; tapas, blackened octopus, risotto of the day, coconut mango curry chicken. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sat. AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 245 Riverside Ave., 791-3336. F SEE DOWNTOWN.
PONTE VEDRA.
EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999. BOJ winner. 130+ import beers, 20 on tap. NYC-style Reuben, sandwiches. Outside dining at some. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS Natural Market, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. BOJ winner. F Juice bar; certified organic fruits, vegetables. 300+ craft/import beers, 50 wines, produce, humanely raised meats, deli,
BITE-SIZED
photo by Rebecca Gibson
AKEL’S Delicatessen, 12926 Gran Bay Pkwy. W., 880-2008. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S Pizza, 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115. F SEE BEACHES. APPLEBEE’S, 14560 St. Augustine Rd., 262-7605, apple bees.com. Completely remodeled in the area – new look, new appetizers (half-price after 10 p.m.) Most are open until midnight or later. $$ FB K TO L D Daily ATHENS CAFÉ, 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 7, 733-1199. F Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baby shoes (stuffed eggplant). Greek beers. $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. BROOKLYN PIZZA, 11406 San Jose, Ste. 3, 288-9211. 13820 St. Augustine Rd., 880-0020. Brooklyn Special. Calzones, white pizza, homestyle lasagna. $$ BW TO L D Daily THE COFFEE BARD, 9735 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 13, 260-0810, thecoffeebard.com. New world coffeehouse has coffees, breakfast, drinks. $$ TO B L D Tue.-Sun. DICK’S WINGS, 10391 Old St. Augustine, 880-7087. F BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. GIGI’S RESTAURANT, 3130 Hartley Rd., 694-4300, jaxra mada.com. In Ramada. Prime rib, crab leg buffet Fri. & Sat., blue-jean brunch Sun., daily buffets. $$$ FB B R L D Daily HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 30, 880-3040, harmoniousmonks.net. F American steakhouse: Angus steaks, burgers, ribs, wraps. $$ FB K L D Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 11365 San Jose Blvd., 674-2945. F SEE ORANGE PARK. NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 10000 San Jose Blvd., 260-6950, nativesunjax.com. F Organic soups, sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, prepared foods. Juice, smoothie and coffee bar. All-natural, organic beers, wines. Indoor, outdoor dining. $ BW TO K B L D Daily THE PIG Bar-B-Q, 14985 Old St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 108, 374-0393, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE. WHOLE FOODS Market, 10601 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 22, 288-1100, wholefoodsmarket.com. F Prepared-food department, 80+ items, full-service/self-serve hot bar, salad/ soup/dessert bar, pizza, sushi, sandwich stations. $$ BW TO L D Daily
CORNER TACO, 818 Post St., 240-0412, cornertaco.com. Made-from-scratch “Mexclectic street food,” tacos, nachos, gluten-free, vegetarian options. $ BW L D Daily. DERBY ON PARK, 1068 Park St., 379-3343. New American cuisine, upscale retro atmosphere in historic landmark building. Shrimp & grits, lobster bites, 10-oz. gourmet burger. Dine inside or out. $$ FB TO Weekend brunch. B, L D Tue.-Sun. DICK’S, 5972 San Juan Ave., 693-9258. BOJ winner. SEE
FRENCH CONCOCTION Urban Core café brings a little of the Seine to the St. Johns gazpacho, a summer specialty Magnificat serves IT’S THE TINY EATERY THAT’S QUAINTLY chilled, as it should be. nestled in the corner of Laura and Monroe The café also features its “Mag” signature streets, a juxtaposition to the midday-bustle sandwiches. The favorite roast beef sandwich of Downtown Jacksonville. MAGNIFICAT includes beef piled on toasted bread straight CAFÉ has been feeding Downtown workers from The French Pantry, with Boursin cheese since 2003, though owners Benoit and Kathy melted into a creamy, garlic spread topped Desclefs have been in the culinary business with fresh veggies. Magnificat offers several for more than 30 years. Hungry patrons other sandwiches, including can step from the Urban vegetarian options, on a Core through the café’s variety of bread from which Parisian-themed entrance MAGNIFICAT CAFÉ to choose. – complete with wrought231 N. Laura St., Downtown, To complete the iron patio fencing, bistro magnificatcafe.com experience, I ordered furniture, hanging plants, pineapple-and-peach bread and a stone lion fountain pudding. My sweet tooth did an impressive that spouts water from his mouth – and step samba, though the fruit didn’t overwhelm the into Chef Benoit’s kitchen for a taste of the sweet vanilla flavor of the bread. (I know, the Paris suburbs where he was born and raised. samba isn’t a French dance, but my taste buds Kathy explains that Magnifi cat is known are still recovering from last week’s Brazilian for its quiches and handcrafted soups, so I had fare at Terra Gaúcha). to try both. Each slice of quiche is a quarter Kathy and Benoit are community-minded, of a pie, fluffy and savory, with a flaky crust which is why Magnificat Café has recently that crunches just right. When I visited, the become home to PuraBean Coffee, a local quiche of the day was blue crab with cheese, coffee roasting company. And soon, another a dash of seafood flavor that blended well local treat, GuanaBana artisan ice pops, will with a pasta salad sprinkled with poppy seeds be available there. If you happen to see a and a housemade vinaigrette. Sides are chips group of people sneaking under the counter or potato salad. As a diner wary of all things and stealing through the kitchen, don’t call mayonnaise, I was hesitant to try the potato the gendarme – they work upstairs. The salad. Fortunately, this homemade-style second floor of Magnificat is home to Lumen dish wasn’t the typical Southern “mayo with Entertainment, an independent film production potato” creation; instead, it had both an ample company started in Jacksonville. creaminess and a subtle saltiness that didn’t Magnificat Café hours reflect the Desclefs’ deter me from taking another bite. desire to serve lunch to hungry area workers; I love soup as much as I dislike mayonnaise, it’s open from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri. so I was happy to try the samples Kathy kept This cozy spot is a perfect getaway from the proffering. The carrot-and-ginger soup was, high-rise hubbub of Downtown’s noon rush and may always be, my top choice. Imagine hour, proving that Jacksonville can be quaint the sweetness of carrots and the spiciness of and giant all at once. ginger stirred into a creamy, savory concoction. This soup is perfect for vegetarians and those Rebecca Gibson who prefer a light broth. Another favorite was mail@folioweekly.com
BITE SIZED
JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 33
DINING DIRECTORY
FOLIO WEEKLY PUZZLER by MERL REAGLE. Presented by
SAN MARCO 2044 SAN MARCO BLVD. 398-9741
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1 War and Peace heroine 8 First stop for Oprah guests 13 Molokai missionary 19 Two-horse wagers 20 Coach Pat who trademarked “three-peat� 21 Olio 22 Amicably 24 Age-old excuse 25 Org. with a Pre√ list 26 Be too sweet 27 Like some stairs or stares 28 Where the Golden Spike was driven 29 Softcovers, for ex. 30 Something requiring tact 37 “___ ... the point emerges� (key Kill Bill: Vol. 2 quote) 40 Something bought after going bald? 41 BP bought it in 2000 42 Watch adjustment after landing, perhaps 45 Actor-singer whose real name was Leek 46 Animal track 47 Cold reaction 48 Wistful plaint 49 A way to be sealed 52 Texas oil city 54 Tampa and Biscayne 55 Cheer syllable 56 Fleur-de-___ 57 Primary income sources 60 ___ conservative (one who doesn’t identify with a party) 63 Grain fungus 64 Row of waiters? 65 Winds do it 66 Steinbeck title word 69 Artificial 71 Arguable 74 Deadly coiler 77 Travel option 78 Runaway win 79 More evergreen-scented 80 Using iodine to detect starch, e.g. 84 Cinema beekeeper 86 Bygone muscle car 87 Saturn’s largest moon
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72 A touching sport 73 Earthenware pot 88 Hops-drying oven 31 Stamp closer? 74 With 107 Down, 89 2006 Apple release 32 “Up and ___� dropping bombs, e.g. 91 Quint’s boat in Jaws 33 Fiesta finger food 75 Bake, as eggs 92 Infamous “bandit 34 Storybook nasty 76 Retailer for Rover queen� 35 Food-recall cause 78 Finds a new home 95 Big truck maker 36 Calhoun and McIlroy 81 Sir’s counterpart 96 1957 horror film of 37 Best-selling Mitch 82 Lounges around which Leonard Maltin 38 Masses (of people) 83 Anklebones wrote, “As walking-tree 39 Edvard Munch 84 Pre-riot state movies go, this is at depiction 85 Paper tray size: abbr. the top of the list� 40 Canyon feature 89 “You bet ___!� 98 Folding challenge? 43 The Monkees’ first 90 Shin kicker 100 Crime, famine, etc. single, “___ to 92 Like some cat collars 101 Take a sip of, perhaps Clarksville� 93 TV host who promotes 102 WWI fighter plane 44 Like sriracha sauce meatless Mondays 104 Bird that Byrd may 46 Habitual bungler 94 Tony-winning director, have seen 49 Intro to monger designer of The Lion 107 Winds do it King, Julie ___ 50 Drag the deep 111 What the gray squares 97 Vegas request 51 Cord extension? in the grid literally 98 Booming speed 53 Pivot around illustrate 99 ___ committee 54 Auto pioneer Karl 114 Spider’s hourglass site 103 Roman Holiday star 58 The Hollywood Bow 115 The Home or Office 104 Red army? 116 Say “heh-heh,� perhaps 59 Box of parts 105 Wrinkly fruit 60 Job opening 117 Said “USA, USA,� 106 Sharp 61 Unruly bunch perhaps 62 Pacino, Cazale, Shire, 107 See 74 Down 118 Houston player 108 Home of Veep ___ 119 Begins to take effect 109 “Yes� 65 Very dry, to vintners DOWN 110 Pub crawler? 67 Embarrassing mark 1 Lizard look-alike 111 Tooth driller’s aide: abbr. 68 Fancy shirt pin 2 Turning point 112 From ___ Z 70 [as written] 3 “ ’Til next time!� 113 Fauna-filled floater 71 One last thought 4 Cologne cry Solution to Advance Placement Test 2 (6/17/15) 5 Soup base MO T H S A S O V E N E P I S C 6 Has a semi job U P H A M A S I N A M E S R O D E O 7 Re N E E D Y T H E C A L M T H E S T O R M 8 “... cup ___ cone?� T OW A E S O P AWA Y L E E 9 Caron’s song syllables I N S A N I T Y T H A T S T H E P O I N T in An American in Paris B E N T Z A I R E R A Z E 10 “Girl on Fire� singer P A L G OWE S T R A H D O S E 11 Conserving types A R E S P A R S I D E S I D E 12 Shutterbug’s talent W I D OW D O N A T S L A V S L I P A R T I S T Y L E D P L A N O L E 13 Malign O N I O N S W E V E M E T N O T H O T 14 Hello or goodbye A N N D U P E A L I G H T O R E S 15 Scratch up S A K S M I N D I N G E R N E A T O 16 End to “end� T I M E T I M E W I N E D I P 17 I, in old Rome A I D A Y E A P I A G E T H T S 18 Like some gains M C L I M E A T Y R H E E 21 Bishop’s hat S C H E D U L E F A L L S A D E L E S S OM E I M A C S L I L L E 23 “Cock-a-doodle-doo, E P I ___ has lost her shoe� T H E T H E W A R S T A T E S A N S E R H E S S E S I R E E I N A W O V E N 28 Of practical value S E T O N L Y E S E T D R E P O 29 See 74 Across
SOUTHSIDE
raw items, vegan, vitamins, herbs. Wraps, sandwiches. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS Asian Street Fare, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily JOHNNY’S Deli & Grille, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. F Casual spot; sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. One word: Reuben. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD BAKESHOP, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S. Locally-owned, family-run; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, specialty sandwiches, soups. $ TO B L Tue.-Sun. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 1509 Margaret St., 674-2794. 7895 Normandy Blvd., 781-7600. 8102 Blanding Blvd., 779-1933. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., 999-4600. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MONROE’S Smokehouse Bar-B-Q, 4838 Highway Ave., 389-5551, monroessmokehousebbq.com. Wings, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, chicken, ribs. Sides: beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese, collards. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. Happy hour Mon.Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS Irish Pub, 1521 Margaret St., 854-9300, obrothersirishpub.com. F Traditional shepherd’s pie with Stilton crust, Guinness mac-n-cheese, fish-n-chips. Patio dining. $$ FB K TO L D Daily THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 5456 Normandy Blvd., 783-1606, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE. RAIN DOGS, 1045 Park St., 379-4969. Bar food. $ D SILVER COW, 1506 King St., 379-6968, silvercowjax. com. Laid-back, cozy, subdued spot serves craft beers, wines. The full menu is ever-expanding. $$ BW L D Daily. SILVER COW ANNEX, 1508 King St., 379-6968, annexjax.com. Adjacent to Silver Cow; serves craft beers, wines. Bigscreen TVs, games. Chorizo tacos, burgers. $$ BW D Daily. SOUTHERN ROOTS Filling Station, 1275 King St., 513-4726, southernrootsjax.com. Healthy, light vegan fare made fresh daily with local, organic ingredients. Specials, served on bread, local greens or rice, change daily. Coffees, teas. $ Tue.-Sun. SUSHI CAFÉ, 2025 Riverside, Ste. 204, 384-2888, sushicafejacksonville.com. F Sushi variety: Monster Roll, Jimmy Smith Roll; faves Rock-n-Roll, Dynamite Roll. Hibachi, tempura, katsu, teriyaki. Indoor or patio. $$ BW L D Daily
ST. AUGUSTINE
AL’S PIZZA, 1 St. George St., 824-4383. F SEE BEACHES. APPLEBEE’S, 225 S.R. 312, 825-4099. SEE MANDARIN. AVILES, 32 Avenida Menendez, 829-2277 F Inside Hilton Inn Bayfront. Progressive European menu; made-to-order pasta night, wine dinners, chophouse nights, breakfast buffet. Sun. champagne brunch, bottomless mimosas. $$$ FB K B L D Daily BARLEY REPUBLIC, 48 Spanish St., 547-2023, barley republicph.com. Old City’s only Irish gastropub in historic area has fish & chips, shepherd’s pie, lambburger, craft beers and spirits. $$ FB K TO L D Daily CANDLELIGHT SOUTH, 1 Anastasia Blvd., 819-0588. Casual spot offers fish tacos, sandwiches, wings, desserts, sangria, daily specials. $ BW K TO L D Daily THE FLORIDIAN, 39 Cordova St., 829-0655, thefloridian staug.com. Updated Southern fare, fresh ingredients. Vegetarian, gluten-free. Fried green tomatobruschetta, grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. $$$ BW K TO L D Wed.-Mon. GYPSY CAB COMPANY, 828 Anastasia Blvd., 824-8244, gypsycab.com. F Local mainstay for more than 25 years. The varied menu changes twice daily. Signature dish: Gypsy chicken. Seafood, tofu, duck, veal. Sun. brunch. $$ FB R Sun.; L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM, 410 Anastasia Blvd., 826-4040. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. METRO DINER, 1000 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., 758-3323. F BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MOJO OLD CITY BBQ, 5 Cordova, 342-5264. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. SALT LIFE Food Shack, 321 A1A Beach Blvd., 217-3256, saltlifefoodshack.com. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES.
ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER
APPLEBEE’S, 4507 Town Center Pkwy., 645-3590. SEE
BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE, 4910 Big Island Dr., 807-9960. Upscale Northern Italian fare, wood-grilled and oven-roasted steaks, chops, seafood. Dine indoors or al fresco on the terrace. $$$ FB K TO R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily M SHACK, 10281 Midtown Pkwy., 642-5000, mshack burgers.com. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. OVINTE, 10208 Buckhead Branch Dr., 900-7730, ovinte. com. European-style dining influenced by Italy, Spain and the Mediterranean. Small plates, entrĂŠe-size portions, selections from the cheese a charcuterie menu. $$$ BW TO R D Daily
MANDARIN.
34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK
BASIL THAI & BAR, 1004 Hendricks Ave., 674-0190, basilthaijax.com. F Authentic Thai dishes include Pad Thai, a variety of curries, tempuras, vegetarian dishes, seafood, stir-fry and daily specials. $$ FB L D Mon.-Sat. BISTRO AIX, 1440 San Marco Blvd., 398-1949, bistrox.
com. F Mediterranean and French inspired cuisine includes steak frites, oak-fired pizza and a new raw bar with seasonal selections. $$$ FB TO L D Daily DICK’S, 1610 University Blvd. W., 448-2110. BOJ. SEE P.V. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 1704 San Marco Blvd., 398-9500. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. $ BW K L D Daily FUSION SUSHI, 1550 University Blvd. W., 636-8688, fusionsushijax.com. F Upscale sushi spot serves a variety of fresh sushi, sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki, kiatsu. $$ K L D Daily THE GROTTO Wine & Tapas Bar, 2012 San Marco Blvd., 398-0726. F Artisanal cheese plates, empanadas, bruschetta, cheesecake. 60+ wines by the glass. $$$ BW Tue.-Sun. HAMBURGER MARY’S Bar & Grille, 3333 Beach Blvd., Ste. 1, 551-2048, hamburgermarys.com. F Wings, sammies, nachos, entrÊes, specialty drinks, burgers. $$ K TO FB L D Daily KITCHEN ON SAN MARCO, 1402 San Marco Blvd., 396-2344, kitchenonsanmarco.com. New gastropub has local and national craft beers, specialty cocktails and a seasonal menu focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and cuisine. Now serving Sunday brunch. $$ FB L D Daily MEZZE Bar & Grill, 2016 Hendricks Ave., 683-0693, mezzejax.com. Classic cocktails, fresh basil martinis, 35 draft beers, local/craft brews, Mediterranean cuisine. Hookah patio. Happy hour. $$ FB D Daily MATTHEW’S, 2107 Hendricks Ave., 396-9922, matthews restaurant.com. Chef Matthew Medure’s flagship. Fine dining, artfully presented cuisine, small plates, martini/ wine lists. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. Reservations. $$$$ FB D Mon.-Sat. METRO DINER, 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701, metrodiner.com. F BOJ winner. Original upscale diner. Meatloaf, chicken pot pie, soups. $$ B R L Daily MOJO BAR-B-QUE, 1607 University Blvd. W., 732-7200. F BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. PIZZA PALACE, 1959 San Marco Ave., 399-8815, pizzapalacejax.com. F Family-owned; homestyle faves: spinach pizza, chicken spinach calzones, lasagna. Outside dining. $$ BW K TO L D Daily TAVERNA, 1986 San Marco Ave., 398-3005, taverna sanmarco.com. Chef Sam Efron’s authentic Italian; local produce, meats. Craft beers, handcrafted cocktails. $$$ FB K TO R L D Daily
SOUTHSIDE, TINSELTOWN
360° GRILLE, LATITUDE 360, 10370 Philips Hwy., 365-5555, latitude360.com. F Popular place serves seafood, steaks, burgers, chicken, sandwiches, pizza. Patio, movie theater. $$ FB TO L D Daily AKEL’S DELICATESSEN, 7077 Bonneval Rd., 332-8700. F SEE DOWNTOWN.
ALHAMBRA Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., 641-1212, alhambrajax.com. USA’s longest-running dinner theater; Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menus. Reservations. $$ FB D Tue.-Sun. APPLEBEE’S, 5055 JTB Blvd., 296-6895. SEE MANDARIN. BARBERITOS, 4320 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., Ste. 106, 807-9060. F SEE AMELIA ISLAND. DANCIN DRAGON, 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138D, 363-9888. BOGO lunches, Asian fusion menu. $$ FB K L D Daily DICK’S WINGS, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., 619-0954. BOJ winner. SEE PONTE VEDRA. THE DIM SUM ROOM, 9041 Southside Blvd., Ste. 138D, 363-9888, thedimsumroom.com. Shrimp dumplings, beef tripe, sesame ball. Traditional Hong Kong noodles, barbecue. $ FB K L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717. BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 3611 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S., 641-6499. 4479 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., 425-4060. F SEE ORANGE PARK.
MELLOW MUSHROOM, 9734 Deer Lake Ct., 997-1955. F Bite Club. BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MONROE’S SMOKEHOUSE BAR B-Q, 10771 Beach Blvd., 996-7900, monroessmokehousebbq.com. SEE RIVERSIDE. THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 11925 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, 619-0321, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. Popular fourth-generation barbecue place, family-owned for 60+ years. The signature item is mustard-based “pig sauce.â€? $ BW K TO B, L D Daily TAVERNA YAMAS, 9753 Deer Lake Ct., 854-0426, tavernayamas.com. F Bite Club. Char-broiled kabobs, seafood, wines, desserts. Belly dancing. $$ FB K L D Daily TOMMY’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA, 4160 Southside Blvd., Ste. 2, 565-1999, tbopizza.com. F New York-style thin crust, brick-oven-baked pizzas (gluten-free), calzones, sandwiches. Boylan’s soda. Curbside pick-up. $$ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE VISCONDE’S Argentinian Grill, 11925 Beach Blvd., Ste. 201, 379-3925. The area’s only Argentinian place. Traditional steaks, varieties of sausages, pasta, sandwiches, empaĂąadas, wines. $$$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun.
SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE
HOLA Mexican Restaurant, 1001 N. Main St., 356-3100, holamexicanrestaurant.com. F Fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, daily specials. Happy hour; sangria. $ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S, 12001 Lem Turner Rd., 764-9999. SEE O.PARK. THE PIG BAR-B-Q, 9760 Lem Turner Rd., 765-4336, thepigbarbq.com. Bite Club. SEE SOUTHSIDE.
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JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35
FREEWILL Overset for the ASTROLOGY web
RED ANT WAR, DEPECHE MODE, MAGIC WANDS & HEDONISM Backyard firing ranges are legal in Florida (as NOTW reported last year), and in March a Florida House committee voted to keep it that way, shooting down legislation to outlaw them even in urban and residential areas. (Firing on private property is legal except if shooting over (March 21-April 19): During regular a publicARIES right-of-way or an occupied dwelling, hikes along favorite trails, I’ve gottenistoonly a and “negligent” gunfi re, though illegal, know theIn local boulders quite intimately. It misdemeanor.) 2014, one Florida legislator, might sound daft, but I’ve come to love them. I’ve originally from Alaska, said even in that libertyeven namedstate, some residents of them. They symbolize stability do conscious in urban Anchorage and to me. I gaze at them or sit not constancy have rights thatWhen Floridians have.
on them, I feel my own resolve grow stronger. They teach me how to be steadfast andcare unfloperators appable in all Convicted “satanic cult” day Dan kinds of weather. draw inspiration from the way and Fran KellerI were finally unconvicted bythey the are so purely forever true in to their Texas Courtthemselves, of Criminal Appeals Mayown — 23 nature. Now’s an excellent time to hang out with your years after being found guilty based in part on own stony allies. Boost in your ability to express the toddlers’ fantastical testimony (encouraged qualities they embody.
you have a wand at your disposal. See yourself wielding masterfully it to carry out fantastic tricks, like materializing a pile of gold coins or giving yourself an extraordinary power to concentrate or creating an enchanted drink to let you heal your toughest wound. This imaginative exercise will subtly enhance your ability to do actual magic in the real world.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The taskmaster planet Saturn wove its way through the sign of Scorpio from October 2012 until the end of 2014. Now it’s slipped back into your sign by counselors) telling impossible tales of for a last hurrah. Between now and mid-September, molestation. Still, however, the judges could not TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Everyone is a milk its rigorous help every way you can imagine. bring themselves to rule the Kellers “not guilty,” genius at least once a year,” wrote German Cut away any last residue of trivial desires and thus preserving children’s narratives of the Kellers aphorist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg. “The frivolous ambitions. Hone your focus, streamline videotaping orgies, serving blood-laced Koolreal geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer self-discipline. Once and for all, withdraw precious Aid, kidnapping them to Mexico and more — yet together.” According to my astrological analysis, your energy from activities that waste time and resist full somehow releasing them, unscarred, each day once-a-year explosion of genius is imminent. It’s even engagement. If you’re serious about capitalizing on to parents at experience pickup time in Austin. (The Kellers possible you’ll a series of eruptions that go Saturn’s demanding gifts, try this: Write either “I will spent 22 years bars.) for weeks. That’sbehind most likely if you unleash dormant never squander my riches” or “I will make full use of parts of your intelligence through activities like having my riches” 20 times, whichever motivates most. long, rambling conversations with big thinkers and SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The taking long, rambling walks all over creation. advanced lessons on tap in the days ahead aren’t for the squeamish, timid, lazy, or GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I think if we stubborn. You’re not any of those, right? So there didn’t contradict ourselves, it would be shouldn’t be a major problem. The purpose of these awfully boring,” says author Paul Auster. “It subterranean adventures and divine interventions is would be tedious to be alive.” He goes further in his to teach you to make nerve-racking leaps of faith, defense of inconsistency, adding, “Changing your whether or not you think you’re ready. Advice I think mind is probably one of the most beautiful things will help: Don’t resist and resent the tests as they people can do.” This bold assertion may not apply to appear. Rather, welcome them as blessings you don’t everyone all the time, but it’s true for you in the weeks understand yet. Be alert for liberations they offer. ahead. Feel free to explore and experiment with the high art of mind-changing. I dare you to use it to CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Man’s generate extravagant amounts of beauty. being is like a vast mansion,” observed philosopher Colin Wilson, “yet he seems CANCER (June 21-July 22): In its early to prefer to live in a single room in the basement.” days, the band Depeche Mode had the Wilson wasn’t just referring to Capricorns. He meant infinitely boring name Composition of Sound. everybody. Most of us commit the sin of selfHumphrey Bogart’s and Ingrid Bergman’s classic 1942 film Casablanca was dangerously close to being called limitation on a regular basis. That’s the bad news. Everybody Come to Rick’s. And before Charles Dickens The good news? You’re entering a time when you’re more likely to rebel against unconscious restrictions published Bleak House, a scathing critique of the you placed on you. You have extra motivation to 19th-century British judicial system, he considered 11 question and overrule rationales you used in the other titles, including the unfortunate Tom-all-Alones. past to inhibit primal energy. Won’t it be fun to leave The seeding phase of your personal cycle is starting. the basement and explore? The imprints you put on budding creations will have a major impact on their future. Name them well. Give AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “An obscure them a potent start. moth from Latin America saved Australia’s pasture-land from the overgrowth of LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): One summer cactus,” writes biologist Edward O. Wilson. “A afternoon when I was seven years old, Madagascar ‘weed,’ the rosy periwinkle, provided my friend Billy and I grabbed an empty jar the cure for Hodgkin’s disease and childhood and went looking for ants. Near the creek we found leukemia,” he adds, while “a chemical from the an anthill swarming with black ants, and scooped saliva of leeches dissolves blood clots during a bunch of them in the jar. A little later we saw a surgery,” and a “Norwegian fungus made possible caravan of red ants, and shoved many in with the the organ transplant industry.” These are great black ants. Did they fight? Naturally. It was mayhem. metaphors for the kind of healing available in Looking back, I’m sorry I participated in that. Why stir the weeks ahead: humble, simple, seemingly up a pointless war? In that spirit, I urge you to avoid insignificant things whose power to bring unnecessary conflicts. Don’t do anything like putting transformation has been secret or unknown. red ants and black ants in the same jar. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): For everyone in your sphere to meet their appointed destinies, you must cultivate your skills as a party animal. I’m only slightly joking. At least for now, it’s your destiny to be the catalyst of conviviality, ringleader of the festivities, engineer of fun and games. To fulfill the assignment, instigate events to encourage your allies to leave their comfort zones and follow you to frontiers of collaborative amusement. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your symbolic object of the week is a magic wand. Visualize yourself as the star of a fairy tale in which
36 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “She is hard to tempt, as everything seems to please her equally,” said artist Anne Raymo in describing a hedonistic friend. A similar statement may soon apply to you. You’ll have a talent for finding amusement in an unusually wide variety of phenomena. You could become a connoisseur of feeling really good. You may even go so far as to break into a higher octave of pleasure, communing with exotic phenomena we might call silken thrills, spicy bliss and succulent revelry. Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com
NEWS OF THE WEIRD WHAT CANNIBALS CAN TEACH US
Researchers studying the human-brain-eating Fore tribe of Papua New Guinea reported in a June journal article they’ve identified a specific “prion” resistance gene that seems to offer complete protection against mad cow disease and maybe other neurodegenerative conditions like dementias and Parkinson’s. The tribe customarily dined on relatives’ brains at funerals (though has quit that practice) and then suffered a major 1950s epidemic that wiped out 2 percent of the tribe annually. According to the lead researcher, survivors with the specific resistance gene demonstrated “a striking example of Darwinian evolution in humans.”
RECURRING THEMES (ALL-NEW!)
Spouses often disagree politically and vote accordingly, but occasionally one runs for office against the other — as is the case in Bremerton, Washington, where incumbent Councilmember Roy Runyon is being challenged by his wife, Kim Faulkner. Both were mum as to reasons and in fact filed their registration papers together in May. Said Runyon: “We’re different people. She might have a different approach.” India’s media reported in April yet another birth defect in which the surviving baby is treated as a representation of Hindu holiness. A fourarmed, four-legged child (medical explanation: remains of an underdeveloped conjoined twin) is worshipped as the reincarnation of the multilimbed Lord Ganesha, and pilgrims journey from all over India to the birthplace, Dumri-Isri in Jharkhand state. In a nod to modernity, one witness told a reporter he’d first thought a photo of the child was “Photoshopped,” but now has seen the baby with his own eyes.
ANOTHER “HUMAN RIGHT”
In April, London’s Daily Mail spotted Anna Broom of Gillingham declaring that despite her various disorders that keep her from working, she still imagines a first-class wedding with champagne, horse-drawn carriage and Mexico honeymoon — all at government expense — because that would be her “human right.” She told a reporter a small ceremony at a government office wouldn’t boost her confidence, but her “dream” wedding would be just the thing to get her back on a job search.
GOO-GOO-GOOGLEY EYES
The most recent exposition of people who tattoo their eyeballs, at the International Tattoo Festival in Caracas, in February, featured the phenomenon’s founder, Mr. Luna Cobra, who said it started when he tried to create “bright blue” eyes, as in the 1984 film Dune. Pigment is injected, permanently, so that it rests under the eye’s thin top layer, the conjunctiva. Asked what the process feels like, devotee Kylie Garth told BBC News, “It was mentally intense,” resembling an eye poke, pressure and “a bit of sand” — but “no pain.” Mr. Cobra urged young people to get their jobs before trying eye tats, since “you’re going to look frightening forever to the majority of people you encounter.”
ABBA DABBA
In May, lawyers went to court trying to persuade a judge some rights under the U.S. Constitution be extended to intelligent apes (here, chimpanzees, as “autonomous and selfdetermining beings” at least as perceptive as, for example, severely mentally ill people, who retain rights while institutionalized). Lawyers asked for a writ of habeas corpus (now available only to humans) to take Hercules and Leo out of a lab and to a sanctuary. Adding to the discussion, in the week after the court hearing, a Harvard professor and colleagues, writing in the journal Current Anthropology, hypothesized that chimps could cook foods if given the chance. Tests revealed they resist raw food when they are able to place it into a device that made it taste better — which in theory makes them more intelligent than kids who eat cookie dough.
UPDATES
The South Pacific islanders on the Vanuatu island of Tanna believe that 2016 will be the year that the man they inexplicably worship as a god — Britain’s Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh — will finally visit them. One highly regarded islander told a London Daily Telegraph correspondent in New Zealand that the cult is starved for a visit, since Philip’s only contact since the 1940s has been via gifts (one, the most treasured, an autographed photo). Legendary Vanuatuan “Chief Jack” was convinced that Philip was a descendant of island royalty. Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net
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VILANO PUBLIX; PULLED GROIN MUSCLE! Produce/dairy around 8 a.m. You live St. Augustine, injured groin surfing Puerto Rico. Left, came back; so flustered talking you forgot eggs. You: PT, work, fishing, watch fi ght. Me: to beach. Should’ve given my number! When: May 2. Where: Vilano Beach Publix. #1518-0506
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DRIVE BY I saw Clark Kent in the parking lot. Me: Driving by. You: Walking to your car; you’re really super-looking. I bet you get that a lot, though. When: June 5. Where: Bailey’s Gym. #1527-0617
JUICE BAR BABE You: Incredibly cute girl working juice bar. Braided blonde hair, nose ring. Your favorite is Pineapple Julius. Me: Suave, long-haired Adonis, right arm tattoo, sees you from afar, often there. Let’s meet, talk about more you like. When: April 3. Where: Baymeadows Native Sun. #1516-0408
BREATHLESS AT BIG LOTS You: Beautiful, short hair, coral outfit, buying plastic bins, in Mini-Cooper. Me: Tall guy, striped polo, khakis. Let you ahead; bought pens to write number for you; you left soon. Needed coral party item, never expected perfect coral. When: 2 p.m. June 4. Where: Merrill Road Big Lots. #1525-0610 STUNNING FRECKLED REDHEAD; BE MY MODEL? My jaw dropped! Your stunning looks, beautiful skin are amazing! Didn’t have business card with me; would you consider modeling for a photo shoot? Your schedule, preference. Let me build your portfolio! When: May 11. Where: Town Center Publix. #1525-0610
ENDLESS LOVE You: Handsome, buff, bald man, best smile, driving ivory Cadillac. Me: Short, long hair, blue-eyed girl who works your conversions; my heart melts when I see you. Let’s meet so I can convert you over to a real woman! When: March 4. Where: Baymeadows business. #1515-0408 SMILE’S FOREVER, HOWEVER Bumped into me, Underbelly’s bar, Art Walk. Dark hair, brilliant smile. Taking hygienist work home with you? Talked about smiles, other thing. I’ll make other thing last. You left with friends; didn’t get number. Let’s make smiles! When: April 1. Where: Underbelly. #1514-0408
TAG YOU’RE IT Me: Brunette, maroon Jeep. You: Smokin’ hottie in the white Nissan truck. Playing cat and mouse over the Intracoastal. Catch me if you can ;). When: May 30. Where: Beach Boulevard Bridge. #1524-0603
BEAUTIFUL SOCCER HOOLIGAN You: Blonde, glasses, ripped rolled-up jeans, yellow sweater, Armada scarf, temp cheek tattoo. Me: Dark hair, glasses, full sleeves. You behind me, half-time refreshment line. We smiled in section 141 top. Let’s sit side-by-side. When: March 28. Where: EverBank Field. #1513-0401
SEXY BLONDE, BOSTON CONCERT You: Very sexy, Sect. 101, Row I, with cute friend, “dates.” We took selfies together; chemistry unmistakable. Me: Sect. 101, Row K; mature gent; a lot more fun than your date. Sealed with a kiss. When: May 24. Where: St. Augustine Amphitheatre. #1523-0603
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COMPARIN’ TATTOOS AT DUNKIN’ DONUTS? Me: Too shy to talk further; noticed your foot tattoo; complimented it. You: Petite, cute in adorable summer dress! Mentioning tat, seeing that smile made my day! Wanna stay, chat a bit? When: May 26. Where: Dunkin’ Donuts, U.S. 1 & JTB. #1522-0603
BEST ASS I’VE SEEN You: Sweaty, dark hair, petite, beautiful Asian lifting heavy (humping weights? Never seen that workout), engrossed in weights and convos with gym regulars. Sorry, couldn’t stop staring. Let’s train together. Whatever you’re doing is working. When: March 16. Where: LA Fitness Atlantic Beach. #1511-0325
I CAN’T WEIGHT Me: Tall, blonde and flirtatious. You: Handsome and muscular. You were working on your fitness and I was your witness. Maybe we should get sweaty together? ;) When: April 20. Where: Retro Fitness. #1521-0527
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UNFORGETTABLE I pay great attention to small things, I feel so blessed that you were in my presences. Did you come back just to see me? I hope so, ’cause I love seeing you. In any color white, blue, coral … When: May 11. Where: Parked. #1520-0520
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JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 37
BACKPAGE EDITORIAL
JACKSONVILLE MUST AVOID ANOTHER COSTLY ABYSS SEVERAL NEW INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN elected to Jacksonville’s City Council. Their priority should be to serve the needs of all local citizens rather than serving the powerful special interests who, over many years, have raped the city to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Our mayor-elect Lenny Curry wasted no time in first selecting a five-member transition team, and then naming eight transition subcommittees, with a chairman for each committee. The Florida TimesUnion quoted Curry as saying, “The team is one of unprecedented depth of knowledge, diversity of experience and timeless commitment to excellence.” Apparently Curry never heard the saying, “We learn from history that we learn nothing from history and therefore end up repeating it.” The chairman of the transition team is Tom Petway; the executive director is Sam Mousa. The Financial News & Daily Record wrote, “Once Curry was a candidate, Petway, members of his family and companies tied to them were substantial donors, giving more than $340,000 to the campaign.”
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PETWAY WAS A PARTNER IN TOUCHDOWN Jacksonville (pre-Jaguars). On July 11, 1993, the T-U ran a Petway commentary on the NFL. Petway stated, in part, “Having an NFLquality stadium, which Jacksonville is assured with the Gator Bowl renovation agreement reached between Touchdown Jacksonville and the Mayor, calls for all NFL renovation costs to be paid by the new NFL team.” We got the NFL team and named it the Jaguars. Instead of Petway’s assurance that the team would pay its own way, the team paid only $20 million over 30 years. With interest payments on the renovation bonds, the city paid in the area of $200 million. What happened to the agreement with the mayor’s office? In April 1990, Touchdown officials said the renovation cost would be between $20 and $30 million. In November that year, the cost was raised to $60 million. Petway said, “Not a nickel more.” In May 1998, The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy article on the manipulation by some members of Touchdown Jacksonville. Lawsuits were filed against key members of Touchdown. Among those filing were investment broker C. Ronald Belton and Hamilton Jordan, former aide to Jimmy Carter. Both men claimed that Petway froze them out of Touchdown membership, even though they had helped form the organization. Petway and other members formed a new group called Touchdown Jacksonville Partners LTD. The case survived pretrial attacks and was settled with undisclosed terms in 1996. Petway’s reputation for sticking the city with the bill was bolstered by another premillennium business debacle.
In the 1990s, a multimillion-dollar scandal rocked both Jacksonville and Wall Street. In April 1997, Business Week did a six-page analysis of the fiasco. The article’s headline read, “How incompetence and greed undid credit-card insurer called SafeCard Services.” The company SafeCard Services changed its name to Ideon Group. The company had moved its headquarters from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Jacksonville in early 1995. Jacksonville officials boasted that Ideon would be a major contributor to the city’s future dynamic growth. Ideon’s CEO was Paul Kahn. SafeCard had gone public in 1977, and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1989. Kahn pushed two new products and they were both disasters. The stock nosedived. Many Northeast Florida residents bought Ideon stock at high prices as a result of the hype the company received when it came to town. The stockholders lost millions of dollars. To gain favor with the political establishment, Kahn made three high-profile appointments to the company’s board of directors. In April 1994, he named Tom Petway, a Jacksonville real estate developer, insurance firm executive, Jaguar partner and Republican political power broker. In January 1995, Kahn named John Ellis “Jeb” Bush, then a real estate developer, Jaguar partner and a candidate for Florida governor. That same month, the third director selected was Adam Herbert, then president of the University of North Florida. All three were Ideon directors prior to the stock price nosedive. By May 22, 1995, Ideon’s stock price dropped 22 percent, from $21 to $16-3/4. Then, in the next four days, it dropped 45.5 percent, to a low of $8. The Orlando Sentinel noted, in May 1998, that the lawsuits filed against Ideon “accused its managers, directors, lawyers, and accountants of criminal racketeering by manipulating company stock prices for their own benefit … Using fraudulent accounting practices and deceiving investors by inflating profit forecasts on new products that flopped … There is no question that the corporation squandered an estimated $100 million.” The suits against Ideon were eventually settled for $15 million. It should be noted that each director was paid an astronomical $50,000 a year. No other company principal came close to that. In addition, they were paid $2,000 for each board meeting. If that were not enough, they each received $500 for every telephone conference. And, finally, they received options to buy 15,000 shares at a price below market value. The Business Week article noted that some of the shareholder lawsuits were serious. “The suits allege that certain officers and directors leaked information to Wall Street analysts; wildly inflated profit predictions that misled investors … benefited personally from from their dealings with the company; used accounting techniques to mask the company’s deteriorating condition.” Business Week, in its April 1997 article, dropped a local bombshell. “Petway was
another director who benefited from SafeCard ties. He was a one-third owner of Prudential Network Realty (PNR), a well-regarded local firm. PNR was recommended by SafeCard to handle the sale and purchase of homes for SafeCard employees, say two former SafeCard employees. According to Parker Thomson, Petway’s attorney, PNR handled 51 transactions involving SafeCard employees as buyers or sellers from about 1993 to 1995. The commissions earned by PNR were approximately $154,000, plus $20,000 in referral fees, says Thomson. SafeCard reviewed the transactions at the time and determined disclosure into public filing was neither necessary, required, nor appropriate, he says. But a former SafeCard employee says PNR handled 100 SafeCard employees relocating to Jacksonville. If that is correct, PNR would have earned more than $300,000.” Ideon was sold in the summer of 1996 to CUC International in Stamford, Connecticut. Thus ended another Jacksonville multimillion-dollar fiasco. When Ideon left town, between 200 and 300 Ideon employees lost their jobs.
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IN EARLY JUNE, SAM MOUSA BEGAN CLOSEDdoor budget meetings with city department heads. Mousa is serving as executive director of Lenny Curry’s transition team. Over the years, Mousa has had many titles while working for the city. Most were related to the city’s Public Works Department. His unofficial title has been “A specialist in approving the giving of no-bid projects that cost the city millions of dollars.” His policy has drawn frequent criticism by contracting firms and lawsuits from excluded bidders. Mousa’s actions were illegal, because they violated Florida statutes and rulings of Florida’s Supreme Court. Three Florida statutes covering required public bids are 255.20, 255.0525 and 287.055. They govern purchasing codes. They require “any county, municipality, or other political subdivision” to publicly advertise bid proposals for projects that exceed $200,000. There are only three exceptions to these laws: when only one firm is qualified to supply a particular product, when there is a patented installation that needs replacement parts, or when there is an emergency. A situation carefully defined in the statutes, Jacksonville and Duval County (like all Florida cities, counties and school boards) are considered state agencies, as are private
companies under certain circumstances. The Florida Supreme Court has extended the definition of state agency “to include private corporations … providing services for a governmental body.” All of these “state agencies” must abide by state laws on publicly soliciting bids or proposals. Mousa gave J.B. Coxwell Contracting Inc. one of the most profitable and unsupervised contracts in city history. In 1994, he granted the company a no-bid contract to close the North Landfill. The city set no price tag for completion; it merely promised to pay whatever Coxwell billed (known as a time and materials contract). The city planned to spend $12 million closing the landfill. It ended up spending more than $32 million. In July 2003, Mousa gave Coxwell a no-bid $2-million-plus contract to widen St. Augustine Road from Interstate 95 to the entrance of the Bartram Park development. Mousa’s justification for that action was that Coxwell was already on the site. If there were public bids, Coxwell might have reduced its price to make sure it got the contract legally. It’s worth mentioning that the deal went to Coxwell. (There’s no indication that Coxwell knew of or sought the special treatment.) However, it should be noted that Mousa gave the contract in July 2003 to Coxwell. One month later, in August 2003, Coxwell hired Mousa, giving him an executive position with the company. Returning to the multimillion-dollar Gator Bowl renovation, Mousa joined others who said the project would require public bids to be legal. Instead, the renovation contract went without bids to the Haskell Company. The cost kept rising past the $60 million figure that was supposed to be the maximum price tag. Curry’s description of some of the leaders of his transition team indicate he did not do his homework. Besides Petway’s, there are numerous other Jacksonville multimillion-dollar special interest wasteful projects. They include many no-bid million-dollar-plus projects in violation of both Florida and Jacksonville laws: the Convention Center; the Automatic Skyway Express; the original Southbank Riverwalk; the monstrosity called the new county courthouse; the undeserved giveaway of part of Blount Island to Offshore Power Systems. Mayor-elect Lenny Curry should be aware of those who will softly twist his arm when the projects they talk about are self-serving. Marvin R. Edwards mail@folioweekly.com
Folio Weekly welcomes Backpage Editorial submissions. Essays should be no more than 1,200 words and on a topic of local interest or concern. Email your Backpage to mail@folioweekly.com. Opinions expressed on the Backpage are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or management of Folio Weekly.
38 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | JUNE 24-30, 2015
JUNE 24-30, 2015 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 39