Folio Weekly 03/16/16

2 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

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FROM THE EDITOR

IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT,

IT’S OUR

FAULT ANGER IS POISON TO PRODUCTIVE DISCOURSE. So let’s both agree to suppress our inclination to get angry for the next little bit.

As those who read last week’s From the Editor might have expected, there were passionate reactions to the sentiments expressed therein. Some applauded, some misread, misinterpreted or just plain misunderstood the piece; others attacked me personally or threatened to tattle on this publication to our advertisers. (For the record, Folio Weekly Magazine does not censor or endorse opinion pieces such as editorials.)

At the heart of these criticisms and attacks lies a growing desire among some citizens to stifle all opinions or versions of events that do not jibe with their own; in short, to limit or utterly suspend our freedoms of speech and of the press.

Sneering at the dedicated men and women who bring us the news 24/7/365 has become a national tradition. As resentment of the press has grown, so has support for censorship, particularly among a sizable, extremely vocal minority of extremists who feel so utterly correct and righteous in their opinions that they have no qualms saying things like, “That damn [racial epithet for African-Americans] should just shut the hell up,” to complete strangers at a restaurant, referring to an SEC football coach who was quite rightly protesting a bad call; so comfortable with their moral majority that they penned the words, “The left in this country are now the pigs,” and “[Y]ou hate white males too. [sic] You must be a tough date,” in an email to the author of an editorial with which they didn’t agree, an email which also stated point blank that the “Left” are trying to suppress Donald J. Trump’s freedom of speech, rather than the other way around.

As shocking and terrifically wrong as these statements are — and as much as it may appear from the outside looking in that the American people as a whole share these sorts of opinions — they are not representative of our countrymen and women. Rest assured that these are not the forward-thinking, enlightened ideas that most often carry the day in this great society.

We are better than that.

And, no matter what the individuals who espouse ignorant, offensive opinions would have us believe, most Americans do not share such views. It may seem like we do, but that’s because most Americans were raised with better manners, common decency and mutual respect than to provoke arguments, openly mock or actively wish harm to their fellow citizens for doing nothing other than expressing an opinion different from their own, be it that #BlackLivesMatter, LGBT citizens should be protected from discrimination, no religion should be afforded greater legal protection or deference than another, or a political candidate is a dangerous zealot not fit for the office they seek.

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But if you listen to the people who shout the loudest in public, you may reasonably conclude that America is categorized by dissent against equal civil rights; willingness to suspend habeas corpus, freedom of the press and freedom of speech; unwillingness to concede the existence of racial profiling by a few members of law enforcement and condemn the accompanying unjust enforcement of laws against minorities; supports the suppression of human sexuality that reasserted itself in the backlash to the sexual revolution; denies scientific facts concerning the existence and causes of global warming, in spite of those facts being agreed upon by 95 percent of scientists the world over; refuses to hold political candidates accountable for rhetoric that incites violence, supports unconstitutional suppressions of freedom and is so abhorrent as to offend even one’s own political allies. In the vacuum created by the silence of reasonable people, these voices have reached peak volume, until sometimes it seems like theirs are the only songs being sung.

And it’s our fault.

How many of you have cringed to overhear someone you know personally, perhaps even a relative, use a racial slur and said nothing?

How many of you have listened in silent protest as someone droned on about their god and how this country was founded on, and should be governed according to, their religious dogma? How many of you have been appalled but just walked away from a group of people who were espousing beliefs that all liberals, or Muslims, or activists should burn in hell or be deported or rounded up into concentration camps, rather than be free to vote and elect representatives who share their values? How many of you have simply deleted emails that were aggressively offensive toward our president or his family or the (unbelievably brave) Caitlin Jenner or Hillary Clinton or Gloria Steinem, rather than respond to the sender to inform them that you do not agree that progressives are what’s wrong with this country, and, furthermore, would prefer not to receive such deplorable content as images of the First Lady doctored to look like a hominoidea?

I’m ashamed to admit that I have done every single one of these abominable, cowardly things; I have remained mute while my every value was derided as stupid, un-American and wrong. Sometimes I’ve done so out of fear, sometimes out of respect for the speaker, sometimes because it didn’t seem worth it, that it was a waste of breath to contradict such garbage. By keeping my mouth shut, being polite and letting fear govern me, I’ve helped create the dangerous political climate in which we find ourselves mired today. I’m not afraid anymore. And nor should you be. Our country, our very way of life, demands it.

Claire Goforth claire@folioweekly.com

THIS WEEK // 3.16-3.22.16 // VOL. 28 ISSUE 51 COVER STORY

DOWN & DIRTY

[10]

CITY CONTRACTS

Is SAM MOUSA’s influence filling the coffers of HIS FORMER FIRM? STORY BY CLAIRE GOFORTH

FEATURED ARTICLES

PURE POLITICS

[9]

BY AG GANCARSKI How LENNY CURRY moved to build Something That Lasts, and what it means FOR THE FUTURE

RENAISSANCE MAN

[25]

BY NICK McGREGOR On challenging musical convention and PROMOTING MULTICULTURALISM with Britishborn, African-raised JOHNNY CLEGG

AN OPEN LETTER TO [39] ALL POTENTIAL VOTERS

BY DAVID GILE One man’s plea to THE VOTING POPULACE

COLUMNS + CALENDARS FROM THE EDITOR OUR PICKS MAIL/B&B FIGHTIN’ WORDS FILM/MAGIC LANTERNS ARTS

4 6 8 9 16 22

MUSIC LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THE KNIFE DINING BITE-SIZED PINT-SIZED

25 27 29 30 31 32

PETS CROSSWORD ASTROLOGY NEWS OF THE WEIRD I SAW U CLASSIFIEDS

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45 West Bay Street, Suite 103 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 PHONE 904.260.9770 FAX 904.260.9773 MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 5

THE GREEN SCENE ST. PATTY’S IN FIVE POINTS

THU

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Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a hearty huzzah at the annual, beer-soaked bacchanal street party all along Margaret Street in 5 Points. The event features suds o’plenty (see what we did there?), seven liquor bars, food vendors, costume contest, Mr. & Miss St. Patrick contest, and live music by Love Monkey from 6-10 p.m. Wearing green is highly recommended, lest you fall victim to the touchy assault of a pinching mob. Starts at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 17, $1 wristband entry benefits 5 Points Merchants Association, folioweekly.com.

OUR PICKS SAT

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START YOUR ENGINES

AMELIA ISLAND VINTAGE GRAN PRIX

Check out some vintage wheels and high-speed thrills at the Amelia Island Vintage Gran Prix. On display — and some actually racing — are vintage automobiles, aircraft, and motorcycles ranging from Pre-war to 2014. Presented by Sportscar Vintage Racing Association, the event pays tribute to sports car races held at Fernandina Beach Airport in the ’60s.

Thursday, March 17-Sunday, March 20, Fernandina Beach Airport, $25-$45; free for active military and kids under 12; for qualifying and feature race schedule and to score tickets, go to svra.com/events/ 2016-amelia-island-vintage-gran-prix.

REASONS TO LEAVE THE HOUSE THIS WEEK THU

17

WELCOME TO MY FANTASY MANDARIN MINICON 3

Dragonslayers and Cosplayers unite! This year’s Mandarin MiniCon features authors and artists and more than 30 vendors, with goods ranging from beard products (natch!) to clothing, along with food and drink, and a costume contest. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 19, Mythical Mountain, Mandarin, facebook.com/events/884838528281539.

FRI

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SUNSHINE DAYDREAMS SLIDE INTO SPRING MUSIC & CRAFT BEER FEST Soak up some rays and enjoy a weekend of quality music and good brews at the Slide into Spring Music & Craft Beer Festival, featuring performances by G. Love & Special Sauce (pictured), Donavon Frankenreiter, Dirty Heads, Passafire, Hip Abduction, Sidereal, Herd of Watts, Jameyal, Chillakaya, Rusty Shine, The Fritz, Trongone Band, Post Pluto, and 25 different craft brews. Friday, March 18-Sunday, March 20, Main Beach Park, Fernandina, $10-$40; $70 weekend pass, for details and to nab tickets, go to goincoastalmusic.com.

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FRI

18

FREEDOM SONG

JOHNNY CLEGG & HIS BAND

Musician, anthropologist, and activist Johnny Clegg has spent his life creating savvy music based on the traditions of his home of South Africa, while fostering equality and unity through song. In the ’70s, Clegg’s group Juluka broke down barriers as an integrated band at the height of apartheid, with a sound that blended rock, Celtic, and Zulu elements. In the ’80s, Clegg carried on his progressive and humanist views toward Afropop with the group Savuka. Today, the now62-year-old Clegg continues as a figurehead of the power of music and activism. Check out our exclusive interview with Clegg on pg. 25. 8 p.m. Friday, March 18 with opener Jesse Clegg, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $35-$45, pvconcerthall.com.

MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 7

THE MAIL RE: “What’s the Cost of Solar?” by Susan Cooper Eastman, March 9

SOLAR SNAKE OIL SALESPERSONS

THE FIRST THING I LIKE TO ASK ADVOCATES FOR rooftop solar is “Do you have solar power on your home?” The answer is generally “no” followed by some excuse. Well, I was an early adopter of solar hot water heating and here’s the bad news – it doesn’t work. As a former engineer, I have been very open to solar energy as a concept, but after looking at it, the one conclusion I come to over and over again is that it doesn’t pay for itself, at least in Florida. You need to be prepared to come out of pocket if you’re going solar, and don’t let anyone tell you anything different. The world of rooftop solar voltaic sales is too often populated by those who sold patent medicines, swampland in Florida, and get-rich Ponzi schemes in decades past. Remember Professor Marvel from The Wizard of Oz? Well, he didn’t go away, he simply changed careers. Perhaps there are some honest ones out there. I just haven’t met them. So when someone tells you that rooftop solar is “the future” and that it’s being held back by the “big utilities,” ask them if they’ve ever had it on their own homes. If they say “no,” just ask them, “Why not?”

Rod Sullivan via email

SHEDDING LIGHT ON SOLAR ENERGY

YOUR ARTICLE SHED CONSIDERABLE LIGHT upon an important and complex set of policy issues. But there is much more to the story.

First, solar energy is indeed cheap, both in first cost and operating cost (made more so by government subsidies). Its principal disadvantage is that it is produced only when the sun is shining, which often does not coincide with the times when it is needed. Hence, there must be some form of storage to make solar energy genuinely feasible.

Second, a utility such as JEA must meet a demand for power, which varies widely by time of day, day of the week, and the season. Its cost of generation varies across these time frames, since the most efficient generating units are used to meet “base load” which occurs almost constantly, and less efficient generators are utilized as demand increases to “peak load,” usually encountered in the early morning, late afternoon, and evenings. Thus the cost of generation varies widely, with highest costs occurring at peak times.

A home which is “net-metered” can demand, and receive, its power at whatever

level and whatever time it needs it, and at a constant price per kilowatt-hour. Moreover, the solar-equipped customer may return its unneeded electricity to JEA at the same price at which it received it. Solar generation takes place during daylight hours on sunny days, when residential demand is low, putting the utility in a sell low-buy high position.

This arrangement, beneficial to the solar homeowner and disadvantageous to the utility, is actually a form of free storage – put it to JEA when you don’t need it, and get it back when you do. Today, the cost of this arrangement to other ratepayers is relatively small, but as net-metered solar energy grows, its impact will become large, unfair and unsustainable. JEA and other utilities like it are doing the right thing to raise understanding of this issue and to put practices in place to level the playing field.

A closely related issue is that of metering.

Technology exists to charge customers according to their level of demand and the utility’s cost of generation. This will incentivize customers to reduce peak demand by operating equipment such as hot water heaters, clothes dryers, and heating and cooling units at off-peak hours, reducing their monthly electricity bills and the utility’s costs. Such metering technology would enable JEA to pay more for solar energy when it needs it, and buy it at lower rates when it does not. Unlike many utilities, JEA has not yet implemented residential time-of-day metering but has plans to do so in the near future.

Also important but further into the future is economical, large-scale electricity storage.

Currently, battery storage is limited to relatively small applications such as automobiles. But research and development are underway to develop large-scale, economical means of energy storage, which will enable utilities to store their low-cost power and sell it when demand is high, and solar homes to store their surplus energy for use when the sun is not shining. Indeed, a properly designed home could become genuinely “net zero” and not require a connection to the utility grid at all.

A proper understanding of these issues and the continued development and implementation of relevant technologies will ultimately result in widespread solar at lower overall costs, borne fairly and equitably by all consumers and without government subsidies.

Preston H. Haskell via email

LEND YOUR VOICE If you’d like to respond to something you read in the pages of Folio Weekly Magazine, please send an email (with your name, address, and phone number for verification purposes only) to mail@folioweekly.com, visit us at folioweekly.com, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook (@folioweekly) and join the conversation.

BRICKBATS + BOUQUETS BOUQUETS TO JACKSONVILLE MAYOR LENNY CURRY On March 12, Mayor Curry became the first Jacksonville mayor in history to run the 15K (9.3-mile) Gate River Run. Not only did he blaze that trail, he finished with a very respectable time of 1 hour, 23 minutes and 52 seconds. Way to lead from the front, Mr. Mayor.

BRICKBATS TO CLAY COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT CHARLIE VAN ZANT JR. As Clay Today reported, on March 4, Van Zant sent an email to all district employees and school board members about ongoing issues between the school board and the district. The rub? Van Zant’s email was sent while both sides were prohibited from discussing issues that were to be examined at an impasse hearing. Good luck building bridges over that impasse now.

BOUQUETS TO REAGAN DARRAH On March 22, the 15-year-old Ponte Vedra resident will represent the United States (and Northeast Florida!) at the World Irish Dancing Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, oft referred to as the “Olympics of Irish Dance.”

That’s what we call stepping up.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES A BOUQUET? HOW ABOUT A PROVERBIAL BRICKBAT? Send your submissions to mail@folioweekly.com. Submissions should be a maximum of 50 words and concerning a person, place, or topic of local interest.

CORRECTION In the March 9 cover story, “What’s the Cost of Solar?”, we

incorrectly stated that it would take approximately 25 years to pay off a rooftop solar system, worth $25,000 to $35,000, utilizing assumed savings of $160 per month from JEA’s current net metering program. It would actually take between 13 and 18 years. We regret the error.

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FOLIO VOICES : FIGHTIN’ WORDS

PURE

How Lenny Curry moved to build Something That Lasts, and what it means FOR THE FUTURE

POLITICS ON MARCH 9, THE FLORIDA SENATE VOTED 35-1 to approve the discretionary sales surtax bill, which would allow the city of Jacksonville to impose a pension tax through a referendum if the bill is signed into law.

This is big, if you care about reserving the city’s general fund for things other than the ballooning pension obligation.

After a smooth second reading of the bill on March 8, and three clean committee stops on the Senate side, there was little drama involving the bill … a far cry from the worries expressed by senior staff in City Hall months ago when this process was launched.

Let’s recap some details. The bill would allow a referendum in Duval County later this year regarding extending, until 2060, the half-cent Better Jacksonville Plan infrastructure sales tax from its sunset date, which currently is no later than 2030, to help defray the $2.6 billion unfunded pension liability. In the process, the current defined benefit plan would be closed, and a defined contribution ution model would extend to all new hires going forward. A 10 percent employee ployee contribution would be required. And the Police & Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees would be barred from m collective bargaining negotiations ns of pension benefits, which actually accords with practice in Jacksonville since ce June 2015’s pension reform.

The House version of the billll passed 86 to 23 in February.

The big question now is the dispensation of Rick Scott, the most hard-to-read politician in Florida da history, as colorless as a pair of khakis and unpredictable as an old cat..

As I have noted in this space, e, this demonstrates that there are advantages vantages to playing the partisan game as Lenny Curry has done.

During his campaign for mayor, ayor, he was often called the “party boss. oss.” Those relationships came into play throughout roughout this process. Curry, by personally lobbying obbying dozens of legislators ahead of and during the session, was able to make a pitch that previous mayors — especially those who, say, hadn’t run a state party — couldn’t make.

The pension tax is not a new idea. It’s been around for years. But this particular mayor, with his particular brand of political capital, has been essential in pushing it through.

Also essential: Curry’s PAC, Build Something That Lasts. In the few months since it began, it’s raised about a half-million dollars.

And it has strategically spent its money.

How strategically?

“Since its inception, Build Something That Lasts has made $141k in contributions to PACs related to Tallahassee elected officials, including contributing to House and Senate campaign arms, the Governor’s PAC, and an additional $11k in campaign contributions to members’ campaigns. In short, 69 percent of all money raised by this PAC has gone to support Tallahassee and the political process.”

It didn’t take any digging to expose this information. For one, it’s all in the public record. For another, the quotation above was

from the PAC email, sent to supporters and beyond, hours after the 35-1 vote in the Senate.

This is pure politics, transparent as a new window pane. It’s exactly how the game is played.

Curry, when running for office, said Jacksonville needed to do a better job getting its cut from Tallahassee. We haven’t seen the Governor’s veto pen so far; there’s always plenty of ink in it, and that ink is made from distilled grievance, so we may be just as screwed in terms of apportionments as we were last year. Or maybe not.

It’s telling that the pension tax sales job was handled on the Senate side by Rob Bradley and on the House side by Travis Cummings.

They aren’t members of the Duval Delegation, a group whose local members have been underwhelming, as a whole, in terms of bringing projects home. The Tampa area and the Miami area win their fights much more

often than Duval does in a less populated area.

Jim King is dead and gone and he ain’t coming back back.

Curry’s PAC will be interesting to watch: It’s the first campaign finance report I look for month in and month out. Seeing who gives is always a fun pastime. But how the PAC spends, as far as marketing this referendum and noting which candidates receive contributions, is more so.

It will be interesting to see how that PAC weighs in on area State House races in the coming months. Could candidates like Donnie Horner in HD 11 and Jason Fischer in HD 16 get a boost? More than likely. Curry likes young “bold” Republicans. They remind him of himself.

Something to watch: how that PAC weighs in to the HD 12 race. Curry and Clay Yarborough are not close. Richard Clark shares consultants with the other two candidates just mentioned, but who knows if he’ll stay in the race? Terrance Freeman, Aaron Bowman’s executive council assistant, may be in the mix.

A.G. Gancarski mail@folioweekly.com twitter/AGGancarski MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9

Is SAM MOUSA’s influence filling the coffers of his FORMER FIRM?

Y T R I D & N DOW S T C A R T N O C Y CIT STORY BY

CLAIRE GOFORTH

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I

T LOOKS LIKE SAM MOUSA IS AT IT AGAIN.

In the mid-’90s, Mousa, then director of public works for the city, faced criticism for his role overseeing a contract between Jacksonville and J.B. Coxwell Contracting to fill the city’s northern landfill, a project that finally concluded two years behind schedule, spawned two lawsuits, and ultimately cost $32 million, $24 million of which was paid to J.B. Coxwell. In 2003, Mousa left the public sector and became executive vice president of J.B. Coxwell.

Sam Mousa and his son, Nick

Subsequently, J.B. Coxwell started raking in contracts under the city’s Better Jacksonville Plan, which Mousa oversaw when he was chief administrative officer under Mayor John Delaney, causing some to question the propriety of those contracts. The Florida Times-Union reported in 2006 that the company had “captured $48 million worth of work” under the program.

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MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 11

The whole point is to attempt to TAKE POLITICS OUT of the selection process. By and large, the process I believe is REASONABLE AND FAIR from a procedural standpoint.”

— FORMER CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT BILL BISHOP

DOWN &

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CITY CONTRACTS <<< FROM PREVIOUS Today, it seems as if history is repeating itself. Last June, Sam Mousa was one of the first tapped for a post with Mayor Lenny Curry’s administration. As chief administrative officer, Mousa is the highestranking — and highest-paid — member of the administration. His annual salary is $300,000; some $119,667.96 more than Mayor Curry’s.

The loss of Mousa hasn’t hurt J.B. Coxwell’s bottom line, however. In October, the city released a request for proposals for three construction projects: parks, vertical/ architectural and horizontal/civil. The winners of each received a contract with the city to provide all services of that nature for a period of three years. J.B. Coxwell won the horizontal/civil contract, so, for the next three years, every time the city digs a ditch

or moves several tons of contaminated dirt, J.B. Coxwell probably gets a check. (The city insists that it has the right to award such work to other firms and, further, that it has the right to nullify this contract.) Nevertheless, through 2019, J.B. Coxwell is in a position to perform every city project that involves roadways, tunnels, earthmoving, bridges, canals, drainage, etc., which typically comprises the bulk of city contracts. Considering how much roadwork the city performs annually, the huge problems with Jacksonville’s drainage system (ask the residents of Arlington and San Marco what happens when it rains), the massive Shipyards project, which some estimate will cost upwards of a billion bucks, etc., it’s easy to imagine J.B. Coxwell will be collecting many, many millions of taxpayer dollars.

Through the city’s public information officer, Jacksonville’s chief of procurement, Greg Pease, counters that the contract’s value is capped at $6 million annually. The city does admit, however, that it has discretion to award contracts to J.B. Coxwell under this agreement that are cumulatively valued at more than $6 million. And the city’s Adopted Capital Improvement Plan for 2016-2010 details much, much more than $6 million of work annually that would be classified as

horizontal/civil. For roadway resurfacing alone, the plan includes $9.5 million this fiscal year, $15 million next year and $15 million the following year. And although the mayor’s office doesn’t have the authority to request such contracts, it does have the authority to approve to deny them.

Mousa may not be getting a slice of the action himself, but someone in his family will. His son, Nicholas Mousa, is the managing principle of J.B. Coxwell’s subsidiary, JBC Planning & Engineering.

Through the city’s director of external communications and public affairs, Mousa provided the following statement via email in response to FWM’s inquiries: “Prior to Sam Mousa’s appointment as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the City of Jacksonville, a thorough conflict of interest review was conducted by the Office of General Counsel with respect to JBC Planning & Engineering, LLC. That analysis was also discussed with the City’s Ethics, Compliance, and Oversight Director as well as counsel to the Florida Commission on Ethics. Taking into account, among other things, that the CAO does not have the authority to determine the selection of such professional services, coupled

“I’ve had people come to me and raise issues and RAISE COMPLAINTS. I’ve been sympathetic but there’s NOTHING I CAN DO.” — COUNCILMAN BILL GULLIFORDThis is a small battle in a big war being waged nationally between utility companies

and a growing legion of customers. “[JEA’s proposed net metering changes] will basically crush rooftop solar,” said Pete Wilking, President of A1A Solar Contracting.

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with the CAO’s total relinquishment of control over any interests in JBC, the Office of General Counsel determined that there is no conflict of interest under the present circumstances.”

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OUNCILMAN BILL Gulliford did not have any comment about the details of this particular contract, nor how J.B. Coxwell was chosen, but he did have some critiques of the process by which city contracts are awarded. Per Jacksonville’s procurement code, a Competitive Sealed Proposal Evaluation Committee (CSPEC)

As chief administrative officer, MOUSA is the highest-ranking — and highest-paid — member of the administration. His annual salary is $300,000; some $119,667.96 MORE THAN THE MAYOR’S.

awards city contracts. (In this case, a twoperson subcommittee chose the winner.)

Gulliford believes that the process would be more transparent and accountable if city council had some authority. As it stands, the council is powerless. “I always like the independence the legislative body gave to the process,” he said.

“I’ve had people come to me and raise issues and raise complaints. I’ve been sympathetic but there’s nothing I can do.”

Former city council president Bill Bishop disagrees. Bishop, vice president and principle of architecture firm Akel,

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DOWN &

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CITY CONTRACTS <<< FROM PREVIOUS Logan & Shafer, said that corruption was a serious problem in the “bad old days” when city council was involved in awarding city contracts; change to the current procedure was the result of years of complaints of bad faith and insider dealings. “The whole point is to attempt to take politics out of the selection process,” Bishop said. “… By and large, the process I believe is reasonable and fair from a procedural standpoint.”

Therein lies the problem: Aren’t most people naturally inclined to judge a friend — or the former firm of a high-ranking, powerful public official — more favorably than they might a stranger?

For this contract, the city says that five firms submitted proposals; three were named finalists and presented to the subcommittee of two on Jan. 28; the subcommittee issued its recommendation to select J.B. Coxwell on Feb. 1.

Bishop and Gulliford, along with several sources in the construction industry who asked not to be named, all opined that it might very well be the case that, of the dozen or so local firms that are capable of such work, J.B. Coxwell is the most qualified for this contract. Indeed, the

company has a long history of performing large-scale horizontal projects with no known complaints, aside from allegations of insider dealings involving Sam Mousa.

Absent the storied history of Sam Mousa and city contracts, this would be a non-story.

But the facts — even potentially innocuous, coincidental ones — do paint a peculiar picture. On May 19, the day that Lenny Curry won the election, J.B. Coxwell posted on social media that it was “hiring for the following positions: Backhoe Operators, Bulldozer Operators, Off Road Truck Drivers, Roller Operators, and General Labor.” The Curry administration took office on July 1; on July 31, Sam Mousa signed (on the mayor’s behalf) an amendment to a contract between the city and J.B. Coxwell for “various minor-

medium size civil engineering and park improvement projects in the North Area.”

That amendment increased the total cost of the contract by $2 million.

On Sept. 29, J.B. Coxwell won a $9 million contract for the Trail Ridge Landfill enclosure.

And then on Feb. 1, the firm reeled in an even bigger fish: a three-year contract to perform all the city’s horizontal/civil work.

Bishop said, “The fact that Sam is Coxwell’s guy and he works in the city now, did that have something to do with it?

Probably … but they’re going to do a fine job.”

Claire Goforth Claire@folioweekly.com ____________________________________ J.B. Coxwell Contracting did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Bishop concedes that it is possible for the process to be TAINTED by the predispositions of those who award these contracts, specifically when the QUALIFICATION CRITERIA INCLUDE SUBJECTIVE CATEGORIES.

But he does concede that it is possible for the process to be tainted by the predispositions of those who award these contracts, specifically when the qualification criteria include subjective categories. Price is black-and-white, essentially unimpeachable, but other evaluation categories, such as “past professional accomplishments and performance,” “overall willingness to meet time and budget requirements for the projects,” and “experience, competence in and approach to the design and construction of various similar designbuild projects,” which were included in the request for proposals, necessarily require the evaluator to rely on their own judgment.

MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 15

FOLIO A+E E : FILM

Gay cinema outlaw Bruce LaBruce CONTINUES TO REBEL against the big screen

GIMME

LITTLE

DANGER

I

f Wakefield Poole is the spearhead of experimental gay cinema, Bruce LaBruce is its stabbing sword. Poole (see interview on pg. 19) is recognized as a radical auteur who synthesized gay cinema, experimentation, and pornography, turning once-peephole movies into a new kaleidoscope of cerebralism.

Since the mid-’80s, LaBruce has released 20 short and feature-length films that weave together satire, taboo subject matter like BDSM and extreme fetishism, gore,

TOTALLY GOTH A QUICK, UNDISCRIMINATING COUNT I MADE resulted in the discovery that many more than 65 feature films with “Frankenstein” in the title. And that’s not including the many movies like 1985’s The Bride (with Sting as the doctor and Clancy Brown as the creature), which strove for some originality, at least with the name.

This busy work on my part was prompted by the near-simultaneous appearance on video of the last two Frankenstein films, both of which made their big-screen debut in 2015: Bernard Rose’s Frankenstein (with Danny Huston and Carrie-Anne Moss) and Victor Frankenstein (with James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe as Victor and Igor, respectively).

My expectations of these films being somewhat dulled by earlier experiences (like 2014’s I, Frankenstein), I decided to prep by rewatching two older films (made two years apart), not about Frankenstein himself (or itself), but rather about the curious historical and biographical events which led up to the publication of the original novel in 1818.

The basic facts are these: During the summer of 1816 at a villa near Lake Geneva (Switzerland, not Wisconsin), two of England’s greatest poets — Percy Bysshe Shelley and George Gordon, Lord Byron — together with their respective women and one hanger-on (Byron’s physician John Polidori) — whiled away their time in one another’s company, at one point conducting on a contest to see who could produce the best ghost story. Thus was Frankenstein engendered, written

by Shelley’s mistress (later wife) Mary. Byron

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STRANGER hardcore sex, and social commentary into a truly individual style that gleefully walks the tightrope between lowbrow and high art. Regardless of one’s predilection toward gender, orientation, or possible-prudent views, LaBruce is an acknowledged master at creating groundbreaking movie mayhem that has no equal.

A native of Canada, LaBruce was a firebrand of the ’80s underground cinema and helped kickstart the homocore movement of

the ’80s and ’90s. And LaBruce’s dedication to his art has been as aggressive as his work.

Writer, actor, filmmaker, photographer, agitator … LaBruce wears all these titles and he wears them well. If there is a punk rock descendant of the gnarly genetics of 20thcentury subterranean filmmaking, LaBruce is the heir apparent.

In conjunction with Sun-Ray Cinema’s March 26 installment of its discussion-based series, “The Talkies,” which features Poole

MAGIC LANTERNS produced an illegitimate daughter by Claire Claremont, Mary’s half-sister.

Polidori wrote a story called The Vampyre, the predecessor of Dracula, before later killing himself.

It was one helluva wild summer.

In 1986, the equally wild, sometimes brilliant English director Ken Russell (Women in Love, Tommy) helmed Gothic, capsulizing that legendary summer into one night of drugs, sex, delirium, and nightmare. Byron (Gabriel Byrne) is properly Byronic, Shelley (Julian Sands) is high-strung and hysterical, Mary (Natasha Richardson) is confused and fearful, and Claire (Myriam Cyr) is sexy and frenzied. Polidori (Timothy Spall) is a guilt-ridden homosexual.

While the movie is over-the-top, Russell gets a lot of specific details right — like Percy’s nightmarish dream about a woman’s breast with eyeballs instead of nipples, the experimentation with laudanum and opium, and Claire’s fits, to mention only a few of the more sensational elements. The cast is good, complemented by Russell’s kinetic energy and in-your-face imagery. In short, the movie lives up to its title — “gothic,” as in horror or ghost tale, the kind of literature the protagonists were actually reading that notorious summer.

A less boisterous approach was the goal of Czech director Ivan Passer two years later in Haunted Summer. The film’s title sequence, featuring several shimmering landscapes by J.M.W. Turner, underscores its more cerebral approach to the intellectuals’ extended time together. (The opening credits of Gothic, by contrast, feature the steadily growing presence of a human skull against a black background.)

There is far more dialogue in the second film, much of it involving Byron’s and Shelley’s political/ social/religious views. Like the characters’ tones of voice, everything else in Haunted Summer is equally subdued, whereas Gothic is frequently punctuated by screams and gasps.

The Gothic cast is certainly competent if colorless. As Byron, Philip Anglim is more intense but less violent. Eric Stoltz plays Shelley like a flower child, literally blowing bubbles and shooting spitballs at old ladies, while poor Alex Winter Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is woefully miscast as Polidori.

The women fare better, particularly Alice Krige (Ghost Story) as Mary Shelley, transforming her into a feminist icon years ahead of her time. Laura Dern goes through emotional hoops as Claire Claremont, more shrill and less sexual than in Gothic.

In neither film is Frankenstein even mentioned until the epilogue, Gothic again scoring more effectively as far as technique and imagery. Both films afford the interested viewer insights into the real story behind the men, the women, and the monster.

Pat McLeod mail@folioweekly.com

THE EYE: MOLLY BROWN’S

“In my early ’20s, I had been SOMEWHAT BRAINWASHED by a certain strain of feminism that was very POLITICALLY CORRECT. Then I was kind of deprogrammed by a couple of enlightened friends... which served to FREE ME from political correctness in my own work.” screening Bijou(1972) followed by LaBruce’s 1996 film, Hustler White, Folio Weekly Magazine sent LaBruce some questions, which he was kind enough to answer. Here’s a portion of that communiqué.

Folio Weekly Magazine: In your 1994 film Super 8 1/2, you reference Wakefield Poole. Is he an inspiration to your work?

Bruce LaBruce: I like to think that I’ve tried to make my films in the tradition of what I call “The Great Gay Avant-Garde,” which has a long and complex lineage. It extends back to Kenneth Anger, who started making films in the ’40s, to Jean Genet’s Un Chant D’Amour, made in 1950, up through the ’60s with Jack Smith, James Bidgood, Andy Warhol, Paul Morrissey, and The Kuchar Brothers in the ’60s and beyond, and of course John Waters in the ’70s and beyond. But the “Great Gay AvantGarde” also has a porn component, which includes directors like Fred Halsted, Peter Berlin, Curt McDowell, Jack Deveau, Peter de Rome, and, of course, Wakefield Poole. What distinguishes these pornographers from any others are their styles and aesthetics, which have always been of prime importance in the gay world, their visual inventiveness (on meager budgets!), and their political use of sex, particularly in terms of gay liberation. Many of these films, like those of Mr. Poole’s, helped introduce the kind of sexual freedom and militancy that characterized the gay liberation movement in the ’70s and ’80s. I probably saw Boys in the Sand for the first time in the early ’80s on VHS, and it was a revelation for me that a filmmaker could combine explicit gay pornography with a number of unexpected elements: strong narrative technique, mise-en-scene, montage, humor, an inventive, sometimes ironic use of music, a camp sensibility, etc. It also made explicit gay sex so lush and sensual and erotic, while still remaining unapologetically pornographic. I started making films using some of the same techniques in the mid-’80s, except with a punk aesthetic. I credited the filmmakers I’ve mentioned in my second feature film, Super 8 1/2, which was in some ways an homage to this style of amazing ’70s avant-garde pornography.

It seems like your films were initially made in the wake of filmmakers like David Wojnarowicz, Richard Kern, and Nick Zedd; who were then sometimes known as “transgressive” filmmakers. Do you feel that sensibility in cinema affected your approach to making films?

I think those three were absolutely transgressive filmmakers. I had my nipple pierced in an early film, and pierced my boyfriend’s in No Skin Off My Ass, as a tribute to Wojnarowicz’s Robert Gets His

UNSINKABLE FUN

Nipple Pierced! Richard Kern’s work was a particularly hard lesson for me. In my early ’20s, I had been somewhat brainwashed by a certain strain of feminism that was very politically correct. (Full disclosure: I still, however, consider myself a feminist.) So I really struggled with Richard’s work initially, particularly his films with Lydia Lunch. Then I was kind of deprogrammed by a couple of enlightened friends, and I ultimately realized what incredibly strong statements that Richard and Lydia were making about female sexuality and power. It also served to free me from political correctness in my own work.

I became friendly with Richard, and he even did a cameo in Super 8 1/2. So the Cinema of Transgressive was very influential on me as a political, underground filmmaker.

Hustler White seems like this weird amalgamation of film noir, a Grail Quest, and straight-up, crazy sex. Can you describe the movie for the uninitiated?

Hustler White is an amalgamation of many influences. It’s partly an homage to Kenneth Anger’s depiction in Hollywood Babylon of the seedy underbelly of Hollywood. It’s also a queered updating of Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard and Robert Aldrich’s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, as well as a reimagining of Visconti’s Death in Venice. It’s also a document of the last gasp of the male prostitution scene on Santa Monica Boulevard, before the cops drove away all the hustlers, and before the Internet made street hustling almost defunct.

With your recent MoMa film retrospective last May, do you feel somewhat validated for spending 25-plus years creating on a kind of rogue wavelength?

Yes, it was a great experience, and an opportunity to look back at my work as a whole and see how it has evolved through the years.

For example, I started out making films on Super 8 and 16mm film, and then made the switch to digital, which introduced a whole new aesthetic, which I sometimes fought and sometimes embraced. I also developed my work through the gay movement, the queer movement, and now the post-queer movement, so it’s interesting to look back and see how that played out historically. It was also cool to introduce my films to a whole new audience.

Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com ______________________________________ The Talkie Series on March 26 includes a screening of Wakefield Poole’s Bijou at 7 p.m., with a live commentary and discussion by Poole and Bruce LaBruce. A screening of Hustler White is 9 p.m. at Sun-Ray Cinema, 5 Points, $10; $14 for double feature, sunraycinema.com.

IT WAS ALL FUN AND FEASTS AT MOLLY BROWNS PUB & GRILL for Folio Weekly’s Bite Club on March 8. Smoking grooves and a lively, hungry crowd made for a jamming, crunchity-licious event as the sun set over this North Jax gem.

The main canine herself, sweet Miss Molly — for whom the restaurant is named — was on hand to make sure everyone got a taste of each delicious dish that came their way — and to get herself some love in the form of rubs from the very happy patrons.

It was hard to save room for the doughy sweetness of Molly Browns’ housemade beignets after dining on delectable fried broccoli, hand-rolled cheese sticks, brilliantly topped pizzas and more, but everyone except — of course — Molly cheerfully managed.

MOLLY BROWNS PUB & GRILL, 2467 FAYE RD., 683-5044, MOLLYBROWNSPUBANDGRILL.COM MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 17

THE EYE: GATE RIVER RUN

OLYMPIC SPIRIT

FILM LISTINGS FILM RATINGS FEEL THE BERN FEEL THE BASS FEEL THE GROOVE FEEL THE CORPSE

**** ***@ **@@ *@@@

AREA SCREENINGS

SUN-RAY CINEMA The Hateful Eight runs March 16 and 17. The Brothers Grimsby, Anomalisa, The Witch, Son of Saul, Spotlight and Oscar-nominated shorts also screen. 1028 Park St., 5 Points, 359-0049, sunraycinema.com. The Talkie Series on March 26 includes a screening of Wakefield Poole’s Bijou at 7 p.m., with a live commentary and discussion by Poole and Bruce LaBruce. A screening of LaBruce’s Hustler White is at 9 p.m.; $10; $14 for double feature.

THE CORAZON CINEMA & CAFÉ The Danish Girl and Man Up screen at 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, 679-5736, corazoncinemaandcafe.com. The Kiterunner, noon March 17. Room and Suffragette start March 18.

IMAX THEATER 10 Cloverfield Lane, Zootopia, Rocky Mountain Express, and Living in the Age of Airplanes screen, World Golf Village Hall of Fame Theater, St. Johns, 940-4133, worldgolfimax.com.

NOW SHOWING

10 CLOVERFIELD LANE Rated PG-13 This scary sci-fi thriller sequel costars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bradley Cooper, John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr. 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI Rated R A U.S. compound in Libya is attacked and an American ambassador is killed. A military security team tries to keep everyone alive. Costars Toby Stephens, John Krasinski, Freddie Stroma and Pablo Schreiber.

THE BOY Rated PG-13 A young American woman (Lauren Cohan) is hired as nanny to an English family – but the kid she nannies is a doll. A doll. And the adults have some seriously weird rules. Costars Rupert Evans and James Russell.

THE BROTHERS GRIMSBY Rated R If you don’t like Sacha Baron Cohen, don’t see this. He’s a soccer hooligan whose brother Sebastian (Mark Strong) is a squared-away MI6 spy guy; they have to work together to stop world destruction. Whatevs. Costars Rebel Wilson, Isla Fisher, Penélope Cruz and Gabourey Sidibe.

DEADPOOL Rated R Another ultramilitary type goes rogue and gets powers. BFD. Costars Ryan Reynolds, T.J. Miller.

THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT PART I Rated PG-13 Opens March 18. The sequel about – well, whatever the other was about – costars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Jeff Daniels, Zoe Kravitz, Maggie Q, Bill Skarsgård, Mekhi Phifer, Ashley Judd, and a guy named Conphidance. Cool.

EDDIE THE EAGLE Rated PG-13 Michael Edwards (Taron Egerton) was a British ski-jumper who beat the odds yet did not do well at the 1988 Winter Olympics. True story! It’s about perseverance, people. Costars Hugh Jackman.

GODS OF EGYPT Rated PG-13 Chisled physiques in shiny armor, sweating and rippling … oh … uh, didn’t see you sitting there.

Mortals and, apparently, gods fight for the right to rule the empire. Costars Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gerard Butler and Geoffrey Rush.

HAIL CAESAR! *G@@ Rated PG-13 The comedy, set in the 1950s, has studio boss Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) trying to find star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) after Baird’s kidnapped.

Communists took him. Costars Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill. — Dan Hudak JANE GOT A GUN Rated R Natalie Portman plays a woman whose criminal husband is being threatened by a gang. So she begs her exboyfriend to help. Costars Joel Edgerton, Ewan McGregor.

THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS converged at EverBank Stadium on Saturday March 12 to participate in the 39th annual Gate River Run. As is the case each year, many runners came out in costume and collected a completion medal at the end of the 15-kilometer race on a course over each of the bridges in the Urban Core, culminating with a spectacular view of Downtown as the race ended back at the sports complex. Beers, bananas, massages and water were provided to runners postrace, as well as product samples from running and sports nutrition vendors. A kids’ race was part of the festivities, with parents cheering on their little tykes during a 1-mile Fun Run.

18 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

THE LADY IN THE VAN Rated PG-13 This emotional film is about a British playwright who befriends a grumpy old lady who lives in a van. Just like the title! Costars Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings and Jim Broadbent.

LONDON HAS FALLEN Rated R There’s a plot to assassinate a slew of world leaders who are in London for the funeral of England’s prime minister. Costars Alon Aboutboul, Waleed Zuaiter and Mehdi Dehbi.

MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN Rated PG It’s the ideal moment to put out a weepy melodrama starring Jennifer Garner, since we’re on her side against that two-timing … sorry; I got carried away by the tragedy of yet another Honey, I Shtupped the Nanny incident. Anyway, this is based on a true story about a little girl with a rare illness being cured after she falls out of a tree. Or so I gathered from the trailer. Costars Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, Queen Latifah and Courtney Fansler.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR Rated R This horror film is kinda like Pet Sematary, in that a grieving mother tries to resurrect a dead child. But there’s more to it than that, natch. It’s one of those “Don’t open that door!” scary movies.

THE PERFECT MATCH Rated R It’s a familiar story: Young, successful and goodlooking man declares all he wants is benefits without strings. Then he runs into an absolutely gorgeous woman who apparently feels the same – but damn if they don’t start wanting a real relationship. Maybe. The romcom costars Terence Jenkins, Cassie Ventura, Paula Patton and Donald shoulda-been-a-bigger-star Faison.

RACE Rated PG-13 The struggle to become the greatest track and field athlete on Earth is profiled in this historical drama about the peerless Jesse Owens (Stephan James), whose accomplishments in the sport catapulted him to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Adolf Hitler ruled that sphere – and hated all non-Aryans. Jesse showed him how a black man could not only compete against Der Fürer’s fair-haired automatons, but beat them decisively, with grace and poise. Costars Jason Sudeikis, Jeremy Irons, William Hurt and Carice van Houten. German runner Luz Long (David Kross) became friends with Jesse after his victories.

THE REVENANT **G@ Rated R There’s nothing nice here. Based on a true story, it’s a glum exercise in survival. Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio is fur trapper Hugh Glass, hunting under threat of attack by natives and French hunters. Hugh is mauled by a grizzly in a brutal scene. — DH RISEN Rated PG-13 This is the story of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – from the viewpoint of a nonbeliever. Costars Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth and Cliff Curtis.

WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT ***@ Rated R The seriocomic film is based on Kim Barker’s book The Taliban Shuffle. Tina Fey plays Barker, a TV news journalist sent to Afghanistan in 2003 to cover Operation Enduring Freedom. In Kabul, she meets other journalists from around the world, including Brit Tanya (Margot Robbie) and Iain (Martin Freeman), who’s Scottish.

She has Nic, a bodyguard (Stephen Peacocke), Fahim, a guide (Christopher Abbott), and working relationships with a Marine Corps general (Billy Bob Thornton) and the future attorney general of Afghanistan (Alfred Molina). — DH THE WITCH **** Rated R Banished farmer William (Ralph Ineson) and family have been driven from a village for, apparently, interpreting scripture differently. Their newborn is taken while under the watchful eye of Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy). A blood ritual is stunning and horrific, setting the tone for the rest of the film. — John E. Citrone THE YOUNG MESSIAH Rated PG-13 Everybody on Earth started out as a kid – Bernie Sanders, Chris Rock, Mother Teresa, Dick Cheney (well, maybe not Cheney) – and Jesus Christ (Adam Greaves-Neal) was no different. His young mother Mary (Sara Lazzaro) and – let’s face it, a bewildered – father Joseph (Vincent Walsh) have fled to Egypt to keep their son out of evil King Herod’s way. Herod dies, so they trek homeward to Nazareth. On the way, He’s told a bit about His special place on the planet … and elsewhere.

ZOOLANDER 2 Rated PG-13 Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are back doing their little turns on the catwalk because a rival wants to shut them down. Costars Benedict Cumberbatch, Will Ferrell, Justin Theroux, Macaulay Culkin, Billy Zane, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato.

ZOOTOPIA ***G Rated PG The animated movie has memorable furry characters, humor and warmth. The main character is Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), an ambitious bunny who wants more than anything to be a cop in the big city. Her parents (Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake) want her to stay in the bucolic town and be a carrot farmer, but Judy dreams of the police department in Zootopia. Police Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), a cape buffalo, gives her parking ticket duty, even though there are 14 missing mammals and no other cop has done much with the investigation. Costars Jason Bateman, Nate Torrence, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer and Shakira. — DH

FOLIO A+E : FILM

Wakefield Poole and the EXPERIMENTAL EDGE of Gay Cinema

HARDCORE

T

he first thing you notice is the art.

On the Arlington River, Wakefield Poole’s two-story townhome is a modest, well-appointed place.

Hanging on his living room wall, a late-19th-century piece by itinerant painter D.L. Peters features an infant child staring blankly. Beside it is Rick Herold’s colorful, yellow-and-black Pop Art-style work. Across the room hang two ’60s-era paintings by Paul Jasmin. During a half-plus century of collecting, Poole has owned pieces

by Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and Jasper Johns. His collection once included 24 Andy Warhol works, including the entire Marilyn and Electric Chair series. “People asked, ‘What are you doing buying art?’ I explained to them that it’s my retirement. I didn’t have a pension,” says Poole. “When I needed money, I would sell a piece. And that’s what I’ve done. I sold my last Warhol three years ago, here in Jacksonville.”

As well as being an astute art collector, Poole has been a dancer, choreographer, theatrical director — even a chef. Erudite, thoughtful, and humorous, Poole is expansive about these earlier vocations that took him around the globe and deep into the artistic atmospheres of Manhattan and San Francisco.

FOCUS But Poole is best known as a maverick and icon for his work in gay cinema, specifically pornography. Films like 1971’s Boys in the Sand and 1972’s Bijou are considered classics that merged Poole’s sense of experimentalism with the X-rated.

“I hate the word ‘porno.’ It’s so downplaying. When someone says ‘porno,’ you know they have a problem with it,” he laughs.

“It’s one thing if they say ‘X-rated’ films or ‘experimental.’ I really thought that I was doing experimental films but I was doing it in a sexual medium. Why can’t someone make a pornography film that is beautiful to look at and not dirty and something you could be proud of?”

Walter Wakefield Poole was born Feb. 24, 1936 in Salisbury, North Carolina. The youngest of three kids, Poole describes his parents, Walter and Hazel, as “very progressive” in their parenting style. They moved to Jacksonville in 1944, and Walter Sr. was a successful car salesman at Brooks Motors on Laura Street. Poole’s natural inclinations toward independence and curiosity were bolstered by his folks’ lenient attitudes; a nine-year-old Poole was allowed to explore his new surroundings unrestricted.

He’d walk from their house on Riverside’s

Herschel Street to Downtown. “I’d start out at Jacob’s Jewelers and just work my way from there,” says Poole. “Then next week, I’d branch out even further.” Downtown movie houses like The Empire Theatre, Empress Theatre, and Arcade Theater offered the boy a chance to indulge his growing love of cinema.

Just weeks after moving here, Poole walked into radio station WJAX, home of the popular kids’ talent show, Crusader Kids, and auditioned with the song “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life.” Within the hour, he sang the same song on the air, and won the first place prize: $15 in savings stamps. He became a regular on the show and kept winning, anywhere from $50 to $100. Suddenly he was an indemand performer around town; his mom fielded offers ranging from private functions to appearances at The Mayflower Hotel. “If nothing else, I was precocious,” Poole laughs.

As a preteen, Poole shifted his focus to dance. After receiving a scholarship from Katherine Bagaley of Bagaley Juvenile Theater, he studied acrobatics, ballet, dramatics, and tap. At 16, he moved from radio to television, performing a calypso number with Virginia

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>> MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 19

FOLIO A+E : FILM

HARDCORE

FOCUS <<< FROM PREVIOUS

Adder (later Keys) on her variety show. As a high-school senior, Poole did 10 weeks of winter stock at Palm Beach Playhouse, working with Charlton Heston, Jan Sterling, John Barrymore Jr., and Billie Burke.

Poole had been considering moving to Manhattan for some time, and so, with the same boyhood curious nature, he moved to New York City in 1955. Within two years, he was invited to join the internationally acclaimed Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

Poole was finally dancing full time, but his idea of a romantic world of dance was soon quashed by the hectic blur of tour buses, grimy dressing rooms, one-night stands of Swan Lake, and little sleep. “It quickly just became a job,” says Poole. “And anytime something becomes a job … goodbye!”

Back in New York, Poole accepted several notable dance offers. Finian’s Rainbow with director Herb Ross, Tenderloin with

20 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

Maurice Evans and with Hal Prince, a year in West Side Story. “The most exciting thing in my life is that I got to work with the geniuses of musical theater of my time. And we became friends as well: Noël Coward, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents, Michael Stewart, Jerome Robbins.

It was like a family. I used to play bridge with these people!” Poole says he “simply stepped into” a mythical time in American theater, film, and culture, as the 1960s morphed from black-and-white to radiant Technicolor.

During the late ’60s, Poole and thenlover Peter Fisk began experimenting with colored lighting and film projectors, creating primordial multimedia presentations bordering on avant garde installations. These forays into left-of-field moviemaking caught the attention of the Manhattan visual arts scene, including acclaimed artist David Byrd, who hired his friend Poole to create a kind of film-based installation at Triton Gallery.

After seeing the Warhol retrospective at The Whitney, Poole decided to make a film document of the show. Shot in handheld color, the resulting 10-minute film, Andy, is an abstract tour of the exhibit, with a soundtrack including passages from Strauss’ Clytemnestra.

While Poole never heard a direct review of his film from Warhol, today the film is in the permanent collection of the Warhol Museum.

One evening, Poole and Fisk went to see the gay porn film, Highway Hustler. While hardly parochial in his views on sexuality,

Poole found the film to be not only degrading, but quite evident of the soulless, bland, and greasy elements that compromised then-porn.

“They called them ‘Black Socks Movies,’” Poole laughs. “They were movies made with no story and it’s just people on a bed … wearing black socks. Sure, I’d never made a movie. But I had ideas. And I knew that whatever I made would be better than that.

And I already had a good life. But it totally changed when I made Boys in the Sand.”

Wakefield Poole’s Boys in the Sand was an absolute example of a DIY project-turnedovernight success. Made with a budget of $4,800 and shot over three weekends on Fire Island, the film had three segments of measured, languid sex scenes that were almost defiant to the blunt action of the 8mm sex loops of the day. In the film’s 90 minutes, leading man Casey Donovan interacts with men in scenarios Poole based on concepts of what he described as innocence, hero worship, dreams, attainment of love, and hedonism. “I didn’t do it to make a lot of money. I had no idea anyone would show up. I thought that I’d have 10 of my friends show up at the theater and that would be it.” Its opening weekend, Boys in the Sand raked in $28,000, and received rave reviews in The New York Times and Variety. The film is acknowledged as the catalyst for the next year’s blockbuster hit Deep Throat.

After the immediate success of Boys in the Sand, Poole focused on distilling his ideas of sex and surrealism into a cerebral 75-minute blend of both. Bijou is about a construction worker (Bill Harrison) who witnesses a woman hit by a car on a Manhattan street.

When the woman’s purse lands at Harrison’s feet, he hides it, then hurries home with it.

Inside her purse, he finds a card emblazoned with only the word “Bijou.” On the flip side, there’s an address, with an invitation to visit the cryptic place that same night (and that night only). “The things he picks out of the purse are all things we have guilt about: religion, secrets, possessions … all the things we struggle for and struggle with. And the invitation to ‘Bijou’ is freedom, escape. ‘Bijou’ is a place to go open yourself up and whatever happens, happens.”

Upstairs at a Lower East Side walkup to “Bijou,” Harrison steps into a dimly lit world, with a giant wreath-like cluster of human hands, and large genital-like objects. Blue stroboscopic lights, a four-panel “split screen” and a photo montage of religious icons, Greek gods, swimsuit models, and a leopard eating its kill makes Bijou more like Alejandro Jodorowsky than John Holmes. The film moves from phantasmagoric toward orgiastic,

“The things he picks out of the purse are all things we have GUILT about: RELIGION, SECRETS, POSSESSIONS … all the things we struggle for and struggle with. And the invitation to ‘Bijou’ is FREEDOM, ESCAPE.”

and the certain arrival of explicit sex, shot in a red room, enhances an overall otherworldly viewing experience.

Gay filmmakers like Kenneth Anger, Shan Sayles, Jack Smith, Warhol, and Paul Morrissey made movies that featured homoerotic content. But Poole was arguably the first gay auteur to work solely within the genre of pornography. Yet Poole admits that, other than Warhol, he was unaware of this peer group with which he was most aligned.

“It’s Hitchcock. I made the movie so you have to make up your own mind of what it’s about. I tried to keep suspense and tension,” says Poole of the film’s enigmatic approach. “I can be arbitrary but nothing is put into a movie that doesn’t mean something.” It seems most fitting that the pater familias of underground cinema, Warhol himself, acknowledged that, “After Wakefield Poole’s films, mine are unnecessary and a bit naïve, don’t you think?”

Poole continued to make his own brand of innovative films through the ’70s. Wakefield Poole’s Bible (1973), Moving! (1974), and 1977’s Take One all maintained his visionary blend of arthouse cinema and gay erotica.

As the ’80s arrived, Poole was disenchanted with the increasing conveyor-belt, quantityover-quality sensibility that defined the new wave of VHS porn. The germinating specter of AIDS decimating the gay community certainly dampened some of the fire. “Out of everyone I knew personally and in the industry, three of us survived,” says Poole of AIDS’ relentless onslaught. “And I am one of those three.”

In the mid-’80s, Poole trained as a chef at the French Culinary Institute, eventually landing a job with Calvin Klein Cosmetics in an executive position as manager of food services. He worked there for 15 years, retiring in 2003. That same year, he moved back to Jacksonville.

In 2000, Poole published a highly readable memoir, Dirty Poole, and in 2013, director Jim Tushinksi directed the biopic I Always Said Yes: The Many Lives of Wakefield Poole. On March 26, Sun-Ray Cinema features Poole and filmmaker Bruce LaBruce screening their films Bijou and Hustler White. Poole makes commentary and holds a discussion afterward. While Poole might not be a wellknown auteur in the Jacksonville community, Tim Massett, co-owner of Sun-Ray Cinema, hopes to change that. “Like others, I’m fond of Jacksonville’s secret histories. I recently learned about Wakefield Poole, his ties to Jacksonville, and the impact he had on the gay sexual revolution,” explains Massett. “I think it offers a unique opportunity for our signature series, ‘The Talkies,’ to have Mr. Poole discuss his life and work while one of Mr. Poole’s [in] famous films rolls by, and that there is no one better to facilitate that discussion than another gay filmmaking maverick, Bruce LaBruce.”

Poole’s major vice today is one of his oldest passions: bridge. Every Thursday, Poole and a group of ladies play bridge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a lunch break. Decades after pioneering experimental gay cinema and pornography, he’s heard every imaginable praise and criticism, but he admits he’s curious about the ladies’ reactions to this sudden local attention. “They know that I made movies,” says Poole, with a laugh. “They just don’t know what kind of movies.”

Daniel A. Brown dbrown@folioweekly.com ______________________________________ A screening of Wakefield Poole’s Bijou is included in The Talkie Series on March 26 at 7 p.m., with live commentary and discussion with Poole and Bruce LaBruce. LaBruce’s Hustler White is shown 9 p.m. Sun-Ray Cinema, 5 Points, $10; $14 double feature; Rated NC-17, sunraycinema.com.

MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 21

+ EVENTS ARTS + ARTS EVENTS PERFORMANCE

CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Cirque de la Symphonie, a troupe of acrobats, dancers, contortionists and strongmen, perform works by Shostakovich, Bizet, and Abreu, 8 p.m. March 18 and 19 at Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts’ Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 Water St., Downtown, 354-5547, $25-$74, jaxsymphony.org.

DEREK COGHLAN: I’LL GIVE YOU A DAY Swamp Radio presents Coghlan in his hysterical one-man show, which recounts his Irish youth and arrival to America, 8 p.m. March 18 and 19 at Omni Hotel, 245 Water St., Downtown, $20-$25, swampradio.com.

THE PEKING ACROBATS This group, celebrating 30 years of astonishing audiences with deft acrobatic tricks, performs 7 p.m. March 18 at The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $19-$39, floridatheatre.com.

JACKSONVILLE DANCE THEATRE The local ensemble performs In Here, An Evening of Solos, 8 p.m. March 26 at The 5 & Dime, 700 E. Union St., Ste. 1-J, Downtown, $10-$20, jacksonvilledancetheatre.org.

ALMOST MAINE Players by the Sea stages John Cariani’s romantic comedy about romance in a small town, 8 p.m. March 17-19; 2 p.m. March 20 at 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, $23; $20 seniors, military, students; through March 26, playersbythesea.org.

TUNA DOES VEGAS Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre stages Ed Howard, Joe Sears, and Jaston Williams’ comedic farce about small-town eccentrics from the Greater Tuna productions who wreak havoc on Sin City, 8 p.m. March 18 and 19; 2 p.m. March 20 at Adele Grage Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-7177, $20; through March 26, abettheatre.com.

A FACILITY FOR LIVING Limelight Theatre stages Katie Forgett’s dark comedy, about a retired actor who moves into a prison-turnedelder-care-facility in a future, dystopian America, 7:30 p.m.

March 17, 18 and 19; 2 p.m. March 20 at 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, 825-1164, $26; $24 seniors, $20 military/students; through March 26, limelight-theatre.org.

SPAMALOT Amelia Musical Playhouse stages the merry musical adaptation of Monty Python & the Holy Grail, 7:30 p.m.

March 17, 18, and 19 at 1955 Island Walkway, Fernandina Beach, 277-3455, $20; $15 students; through April 3, ameliamusicalplayhouse.com.

RUN FOR YOUR WIFE Orange Park Community Theatre stages Ray Cooney’s comedy, about a British cabbie who tries bigamy, 8 p.m.

March 18 and 19; 2 p.m. March 20 at 2900 Moody Ave., 276-2599, $18; $10 students; through March 20, opct.info.

THE MELVILLE BOYS Norm Foster’s poignant comedy, about brothers whose fishing trip changes when two sisters arrive, is staged 7:30 p.m. March 17, 8 p.m. March 18 and 19; 2 p.m. March 20 at Theatre Jacksonville, 2032 San Marco Blvd., 396-4425, $25; through March 20, theatrejax.com.

ORDINARY DAYS Amelia Community Theatre stages Adam Gwon’s musical comedy about events that affect the lives of four New Yorkers, 8 p.m. March 18 and 19; 2 p.m. March 19 and 20 at 207/209 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach, 261-6749, $20, ameliacommunitytheatre.org.

BIG RIVER Roger Miller’s Tony-winning musical adaptation of Mark Twain’s classic Tom Sawyer runs through March 20. Dinner 6 p.m.; brunch at noon; Executive Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menu (pimento cheese plate, fried green tomatoes, crispy snapper, braised boneless beef short-ribs, spicy shrimp & grits, wild mushroom faro, purple sweet potato pie, pistachio cake); Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 12000 Beach Blvd., Southside, $35-$55 plus tax, 641-1212, alhambrajax.com.

THE WIZ The Tony-winning sensation, a funky, musical interpretation of The Wizard of Oz in rock, soul, and gospel, is staged March 23-April 24. Dinner 6 p.m.; brunch noon; Executive Chef DeJuan Roy’s themed menu (chicken gumbo, dirty rice, Southern-style fried catfi sh, pork ossobuco, mapleglazed chicken, Mississippi mud pie, strawberry shortcake); Alhambra Theatre & Dining, 641-1212, alhambrajax.com.

THE GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS The Broadway favorites mount a new production, Cirque Ziva, 7 p.m. March 18 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre, 1340 A1A S., 209-0367, $9-$18, staugamphitheatre.com.

CLASSICAL, CHOIR & JAZZ

RECITALS AT JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY The Faculty Selection Honors Recital is 7:30 p.m. March 17; Piano Studio Class Recital is 7:30 p.m. March 18, at JU’s Terry Concert Hall, 2800 University Blvd. N., Arlington, 256-7386, arts.ju.edu.

LES DeMERLE World-renowned drummer and local jazz great DeMerle is featured in this presentation and discussion exploring the history of jazz, 6 p.m. March 18 at Amelia Island Museum of History, 233 S. Third St., Fernandina Beach, 261-7378, suggested donation is $10; $5 for members, ameliamuseum.org.

JEFF BRADSHAW Innovative jazz trombonist Bradshaw performs 7 p.m.

March 19 at The Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 807-2010, $36.50-$99, ritzjacksonville.com.

THOMAS PANDOLFI Pianist Pandolfi plays at 2 p.m. March 20 at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine, 797-2800, $30, emmaconcerts.com.

DANCING HAMMERS The hammered dulcimer duo bangs it out, 6 p.m. March 20 at Limelight Theatre, 11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine, 825-1164, $5, limelight-theatre.org.

WANDA DILLABERRY Vocalist Dillaberry sings popular favorites, 6:30 p.m. March 21 at Clay County Headquarters Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, 278-3722, claycounty.gov.

JAZZ GUITAR IN ATLANTIC BEACH Guitarist Taylor Roberts, 7-10 p.m. every Tue. and Wed., Ocean 60, 60 Ocean Blvd., 247-0060, ocean60.com.

JAZZ IN FERNANDINA BEACH Miguel Paley, every Fri., Sat. and Sun. evening, La Mancha, 2709 Sadler Rd., 261-4646.

COMEDY

FRED’S ALL-STAR COMEDIANS Northeast Florida comedians Spence and Sid Davis appear at 7:30 p.m. March 16 at The Comedy Zone, 3130 Hartley Rd., Mandarin, 292-4242, $10, comedyzone.com.

JON REEP Comic Reep, that redneck in the truck commercials who asked, “That thing gotta Hemi?,” is on at 7 p.m. March 17 and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. March 18 and 19 at The Comedy Zone, 292-4242, $20, comedyzone.com.

FESTIVAL OF LAUGHS Mike Epps, Sommore, Earthquake and Gary Owen appear at 8 p.m. March 18 at Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 Randolph Blvd., Downtown, 630-3900, $52-$125, ticketmaster.com.

CALLS & WORKSHOPS

LEGO ROBOTICS SPRING CAMP Shiva Robotics Academy offers half- and full-day camps for ages 3-13 in LEGO model building, science/technology, robotics, power function, and springtime gardening, March 21-25; drop-off 7:30-9 a.m., pick-up 3-6 p.m., 7044 Beach Blvd., Southside, 704-7046, $40 half-day; $70 full-day; $330 full session. Limited space. Details and egistration at shivarobotics.com/springcamp2016.

CAMP BROADWAY SEEKS ACTORS The camp accepts applications for actors ages 10-17, for a 40-hour summer camp with singing, dancing and

THE GOLDEN DRAGON ACROBATS present their latest production, Cirque Ziva, on March 18 at St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

22 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

FOLIO A+E : ARTS

SINGLE

MOVEMENT

JACKSONVILLE DANCE THEATRE presents an evening of solo performances

S

when creating a new piece — gave the itting inside Studio North of Jacksonville performers an interesting prompt: Don’t do University’s Phillips Fine Arts Building, what you normally do. her muscular arms and legs crossed in a “The prompt was the process,” says rookie way that — with her cotton workout attire and JDT dancer Winter Bosanko. “Whatever you focused gaze — make her appear as if she’s in normally do [when creating a piece], you have the midst of a yoga sequence, Rebecca Levy to try something different.” ponders what dance can convey that other art Classically trained in ballet and modern forms cannot. dance, Bosanko, who has developed several “That’s really interesting,” she says. “I feel solos before — though never professionally like I need to take a dramatic sigh before I give and never with the intent of performing an answer.” it herself — says being on stage alone is Levy’s being lightly sarcastic, of course. a transformative, if not uncomfortable, But as Artistic Director of Jacksonville Dance experience. “You definitely feel a lot more Theatre — Northeast Florida’s critically vulnerable,” she says. “You’re the only one up acclaimed professional repertory dance there and all the focus is on you.” company — she is quite serious about what And the unique prompt only adds to can be expressed through movement. the challenge.

“I think dance speaks the truth about Like Levy, Bosanko says she usually starts the human experience, immediately,” Levy with an emotion or a message and creates says, minus any feigned exhalation. “There choreography with the intention of conveying is something so primal about the physical said emotion or message. After that, she form that the viewer doesn’t even necessarily seeks out music that she can pair with the understand why [dance] resonates so much.” choreography she’s just developed.

When looking at the initial success of JDT, In conforming to the prompt, however, it seems Levy’s theory has some merit, as the Bosanko — who says she members of the company have JACKSONVILLE considers graceful movements the ability to connect each time DANCE THEATRE to be an area of strength — first they put themselves in front of PRESENTS: chose the music: a hip-hip song. an audience. Since founding the IN HERE, AN And then she choreographed company with Executive Director EVENING OF SOLOS 8 p.m. March 26, The a piece that consists of “sharp, Katie McCaughan and Creative 5 & Dime, 700 E. Union quick” movements.

Director Tiffany Santiero in 2012, St., Ste. J1, Downtown, The results weren’t exactly Levy and JDT have earned rave 881-7503, $10-$20, jacksonvilledancetheatre.org what she expected. reviews from audiences from “It ended up being a little Jacksonville to Chicago to New more silly — maybe a little more fun — than I York City. After watching the company’s third would normally do,” she says. “I initially tried annual concert last summer, local visual artist to make it really cool, but I ended kind of just Madeleine Peck remarked in an essay for Folio making fun of how not cool I am.” [Laughs.]

Weekly Magazine that “the temporal, fragile, Bosanko’s solo performance next weekend and exacting nature of [JDT’s performance] extends to the viewer a kind of ascetic and will be the culmination of nearly two months athletic virtue that is removed from linear time.” of mental prep, and several weeks of physically Peck went on to talk about the “privilege” demanding practice. of being able to see the performers work and, “The whole thing has made me a little also, to know that the artists are right here more self-aware, I think,” she says. in Northeast Florida, saying, “It is a hopeful Aside from Bosanko’s piece, In Here feeling that is actually a call for a closer look at will, of course, feature several other solos, Jacksonville dance, here and now.” incorporating the eclectic talents and That’s game recognizing game, people. backgrounds of each JDT dancer. The program The 14-member company is now gearing will also involve a homecoming of sorts, as former JDT dancer Kimberly Collins will be up for its third annual concert of solos, appearing in a special guest performance.

In Here, which will be held at The 5 & Asked what she hopes the audience will take Dime Theatre Company on March 26 in away from JDT’s upcoming show, Bosanko downtown Jacksonville. says the company is still seeking converts.

Featuring solo pieces created and “Dance is an art form that can be embraced performed by JDT’s dancers, In Here gives by all,” she says. each individual artist the opportunity to use “We’re so lucky that Jacksonville has their own particular skillset as a dancer, as well this awesome dance company, right here in as their internal creative process to connect our community.” with the audience.

Matthew B. Shaw To kick-start that process, Levy — who mail@folioweekly.com says she often draws from personal experience MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 23

+ EVENTS ARTS + ARTS EVENTS master classes, taught by 10 Broadway performers, choreographers and musicians. The $575 fee includes participation in a June production of Legally Blonde the Musical or How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, (by age group), a headshot and a Camp Broadway T-shirt; details and registration at fscjartistseries.org/ education/camp-broadway.

ART WALKS & MARKETS

JAXSON’S NIGHT MARKET Street food vendors, craft beer, local farmers, and artisans and crafters are featured, 5:30-9 p.m. March 17 and every third Thur. at Hemming Park, Downtown, facebook.com/ JaxsonsNightMarket.

NORTH BEACHES ART WALK Galleries of Atlantic and Neptune beaches open 5-9 p.m.

March 17 and every third Thur. from Sailfish Drive to Neptune Beach and Town Center, 753-9594, nbaw.org.

RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET Local and regional art, local music – Jeff Powers, Blue Veronica, Ciaran Sontag and The Safari Band – food artists and a farmers market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 19 and every Sat. under the Fuller Warren Bridge, 715 Riverside Ave., free admission, 389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com.

MUSEUMS

BEACHES MUSEUM & HISTORY PARK 381 Beach Blvd., Jax Beach, 241-5657, beachesmuseum. org. The exhibit Lights Up: 50 Years of Players by the Sea is currently on display.

CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 829 Riverside Ave., 356-6857, cummermuseum.org.

The book release for The Chef’s Canvas, featuring food tastings, beer, wine, and cocktails, is held 6-9 p.m. March 16; $50; $60 non-members. The exhibit Archipenko: A Modern Legacy, 80 works by modern sculptor Alexander Archipenko, is on display through April 17. The exhibit Conservation, Beautification, and a City Plan: Ninah Cummer and the Establishment of Jacksonville Parks is on display through Nov. 27. The exhibit Julien De Casablanca: The Outings Project is on display through May 1. The exhibit Rockwell Kent: The Shakespeare Portfolio exhibits through May 15. David Hayes: The Sentinel Series, sculptures of geometrically abstract, organic forms, displays through Oct. 2.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART JACKSONVILLE 333 N. Laura St., 366-6911, mocajacksonville.unf. edu. The Spring Cocktail Tasting: Irish Edition, featuring beers, wines, and Irish whiskey, is held 6-8 p.m. March 17, $30. Project Atrium: Shinique Smith, Quickening, a fabric-based installation incorporating elements of graffiti, Japanese calligraphy, and collage, is on display March 19-June 26. Art and Ideas: Shinique Smith is featured 2-3 p.m. March 19. The exhibit The Other: Nurturing a New Ecology in Printmaking, works by women printmakers, displays through April 10. In Living Color: Andy Warhol & Contemporary Printmaking and Time Zones: James Rosenquist & Printmaking at the Millennium show through May 15. Allegory of Fortune: Photographs by Amanda Rosenblatt, through March 27.

RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM 829 N. Davis St., Downtown, 807-2010, ritzjacksonville. com. Through Our Eyes 2016: Sensory Perception, 60 works by 18 African-American artists, through Aug. 14.

GALLERIES

233 WEST KING ART GALLERY 233 W. King St., St. Augustine, 217-7470. Sculptor Joe Lemmon’s works display through March.

ADELE GRAGE CULTURAL CENTER 716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 247-5828, coab.us.

Heather and Holly Blanton’s works display through March.

THE ART CENTER The Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 139, Downtown, 233-9252, tacjacksonville.org. An opening reception for the exhibit Primal Archetypes is held 5:30 p.m. March 24; the exhibit is on display through May 23. Lora Wood is the featured artist for March. A dinner and presentation with artist Lauren Pumphrey is held 7 p.m. March 18, $20.

CRISP-ELLERT ART MUSEUM 48 Sevilla St., St. Augustine, 826-8530, flagler.edu/newsevents/crisp-ellert-art-museum. Sunday, paintings by Kristan Kennedy, is on display through April 16.

THE CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH 50 Executive Way, 280-0614, ccpvb.org. The exhibit Natural Currents, works by John Bunker and Brian Frus, is on display through April 8. Jacksonville Watercolor Society Spring Show through March 22.

CYPRESS VILLAGE 4600 Middleton Park Cir. E., Southside, 677-5112, brookdale.com. The Jacksonville Coalition for Visual Arts exhibit runs through May 11.

FIRST STREET GALLERY 216-B First St., Neptune Beach, 241-6928, firststreetgalleryart.com. The exhibit Mermaid Magic displays through April 5.

JACKSONVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 741-3546, flyjax.com. Haskell Gallery features The Weirdness & Beauty, by Jeff Whipple; Connector Bridge Cases feature The Spirit of Jacksonville, through March.

Concourse Cases feature Tall Tales, by Raymond Gaddy, through March 21.

KARPELES MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY MUSEUM 101 W. First St., Springfield, 356-2992, rain.org/~karpeles/ jaxfrm.html. Evita, letters and journals of Eva Perón,

24 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

displays through May 1. Susan Schuenke’s Bold and Beautiful is on display through April 30.

MONYA ROWE GALLERY 4 Rohde Ave., St. Augustine, 217-0637, monyarowegallery. com. An opening reception for the exhibit Find Your Way, works by Gianna Commito, Matthew F. Fisher and Jim Gaylord, is held 5-7 p.m. March 16. The exhibit is on display through May 1.

PLAYERS BY THE SEA 106 Sixth St. N., Jax Beach, 249-0289, playersbythesea.org.

Anthony Whiting is the featured artist through March 26.

SPLIFF’S GASTROPUB 15 Ocean St., Downtown, 844-5000, facebook.com/spliffs gastropub. Jessica Becker’s 3D paintings are on display.

ST. AUGUSTINE ART ASSOCIATION 22 Marine St., 824-2310, staaa.org. Miniature Marvels is on display through March 26.

ST. PAUL’S BY THE SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH 465 11th Ave. N., Jax Beach, 249-4091, stpaulbythesea. net. Eve Albrecht’s paintings display through March 30.

EVENTS

AMELIA ISLAND VINTAGE GRAND PRIX The Amelia Island Vintage Gran Prix includes historical car races, vintage automobiles, aircraft, and motorcycles on display. Presented by The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association, the event pays tribute to the ’60s sports car races held at Fernandina Beach Airport. March 17-20, Fernandina Beach Airport, $25-$45; free for active military and kids under 12; details and tickets at svra.com/ events/2016-amelia-island-vintage-gran-prix.

ART FOR HOPE TOUR The Judy Nicholson Kidney Cancer Foundation holds this event, featuring children’s winning artwork from the Art for Hope Tour, wine, and hors d’oeuvres, 4:30-6 p.m. March 17 at Watson Realty Corp., 615 A1A, Ponte Vedra Beach, 309-0502, jnfkidneycancer.org.

ST. PATTY’S IN FIVE POINTS Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Folio Weekly Magazine at this event starting at 5 p.m. featuring much beer, seven liquor bars, food vendors, and live music by Love Monkey 6-10 p.m. March 17 at Margaret Street in 5 Points; $1 wristband entry benefits 5 Points Merchants Association, folioweekly.com.

FCAP NETWORKING MEETING The First Coast Administrative Professionals meets 6 p.m.

(5:30 p.m. check-in/networking/light meal) March 17 at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, 3933 University Blvd. S., Southside. RSVP: 318-7677; ask for Shirley D. DEEPAK CHOPRA Alternative medicine and health icon Chopra discusses “Higher Health,” 7:30 p.m. March 17 at University of North Florida’s Lazzara Performance Hall, 1 UNF Dr., Southside, 620-1000, $45-$150; $40 students, picatic.com/ DeepakinJacksonville.

SLIDE INTO SPRING MUSIC & CRAFT BEER FEST Slide into Spring Music & Craft Beer Festival features G. Love & Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter, Dirty Heads, Passafire, Hip Abduction, Sidereal, Herd of Watts, Jameyal, Chillakaya, Rusty Shine, The Fritz, Trongone Band, Post Pluto, and 25 craft brews, March 18-20 at Main Beach Park, Fernandina Beach, $10-$40; $70 weekend pass; details and tix at goincoastalmusic.com.

MANDARIN MINICON 3 Dragon-slayers and Cosplayers, unite! Mandarin MiniCon has more than 30 vendors, authors and artists, along with food and drink, and a costume contest, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

March 19 at Mythical Mountain, 11570 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 13, 680-1308, mythicalmountain.com, facebook.com/ events/884838528281539.

LOVE, SEX & MAGICK This art-fueled event, with performances by Black On Black Rhyme Jacksonville and Nan Nkama Pan-African Dance Ensemble, art by Leon iDraw, Essence Williams, Sash Warwin, Melina Reagan, Adela Hittell, Nini Moreno, and Myra Ro, is held 7 p.m. March 19 at The Birdhouse, 1827 N. Pearl St., Springfield, $10, facebook.com/ thebirdhousejax.

BESTSELLING AUTHORS AT THE BOOKMARK Randy Wayne White is featured in a reading and booksigning of his latest novel, Deep Blue, 7 p.m. March 20.

Stephanie Evanovich is featured in a reading and booksigning of her new book, The Total Package, 7 p.m. March 21, both at The BookMark, 220 First St., Neptune Beach, 241-9026, bookmarkbeach.com.

WILDLIFE TALK Wildlife photographer Bob Mantanaro discusses “The Secret Life of the Florida Scrub Jay,” 6:30 p.m. March 21 at Swaim Memorial United Methodist Church Hall, 1620 Naldo Ave., San Marco, duvalaudubon.org.

URGENT NEED FOR BLOOD DONATIONS An immediate appeal is being issued for blood donors to donate at OneBlood (formerly The Blood Alliance). All donors receive a wellness checkup of blood pressure, pulse, iron count, and temperature, including a cholesterol screening. Generally healthy people ages 16 and older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Photo ID required. For details and donor center locations, go to igiveblood.com.

_______________________________________________ To list your event, send time, date, location (street address, city), admission price and contact number to print to Daniel A. Brown, email dbrown@folioweekly.com or by mail, 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 103, Jacksonville FL 32202. Events run on a space-available basis. Deadline noon Wed. for next Wednesday’s publication.

FOLIO A+E : MUSIC

RENAISSANCE

MAN On challenging musical convention and PROMOTING MULTICULTURALISM with Britishborn, African-raised Johnny Clegg

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here are musicians who’ve built bridges between genres. There are musicians who’ve ventured in unpopular directions.

There are even musicians who’ve charted uncovered ground. But then there’s Johnny Clegg — a British-born, African-raised secular Jew who dared to challenge South Africa’s strict apartheid laws in the 1970s by teaming up with a black migrant worker to perform an intriguing mix of Celtic folk, Zulu street music, and singer/ songwriter fare. Their band, Juluka, openly celebrated biracial multiculturalism in a fierce — and violent — white supremacist society, and their fervent political activism came a full decade ahead of the popular international attention that eventually brought apartheid down.

After Juluka broke up in 1985, Clegg formed another interracial band, Savuka, which continued to blend traditional African music with the hard-rocking, keyboard-driven style of the era. In 1987, they achieved global popularity thanks to their song “Asimbonanga,” an ode to the then-still-imprisoned Nelson Mandela; in 1992, their immense popularity in Europe caused Michael Jackson to cancel a concert that fell on the same night as Savuka’s landmark performance at the Cologne Zulu Festival. Clegg went solo in 1993, and 17 years later, he released his first album, Human, on an American label. And still his piercing intellect and unwavering commitment to multiculturalism endure, making him a cult global hero.

Folio Weekly Magazine spoke with Clegg about the challenge of economic recessions, conducting crossover conversations, and touring the world.

believes in the American Dream, it’s all cool. But we still haven’t come out of the 2007 economic regression, which has been exacerbated by the Syrian refugee crisis and other conflicts in the Middle East. So there are always challenges to multiculturalism when there’s global instability and fear sets in, making people scared that their little bit of turf is going to be overwhelmed. It’s the same thing with racism, or xenophobia. In a

play my guitar, or the drums start, or a singer starts singing, or dancers start dancing. Then, suddenly, you’re swept up in this performance that enables you to transcend for an hour or two the place that you come from and the place that you might be going tomorrow. It puts you into what I call “quality space”: an innovative moment that comes, then goes, and then disappears. That’s the magic.

.

“There are always challenges to multiculturalism when there’s GLOBAL INSTABILITY AND FEAR sets in, making people scared that their little bit of turf is going to be OVERWHELMED.”

Folio Weekly Magazine: In the United States, multiculturalism seems like a dirty word these days. Do you think it’s regressing everywhere?

Johnny Clegg: Multiculturalism always slips backward when there’s an economic downturn. The moment there’s a huge uptick in the economy, that relaxes and people find space for each other. Multiculturalism depends on a modicum of tolerance, and the moment everything’s working and everybody

sense, humans don’t learn. They forget that there is space for everybody. All societies go through seasons, which affects not only multiculturalism, but the anticipation of what democracy is supposed to deliver. That’s when you find people expressing extreme right-wing or left-wing political beliefs, as they are right now.

THE JOHNNY CLEGG BAND WITH JESSE CLEGG

8 p.m. March 18, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $35-$45, pvconcerthall.com

For you, has music always been as a positive corrective to that?

I stumbled onto Zulu street guitar music at the age of 14. I responded to it, because I liked traditional Celtic folk music, and I heard the same kind of basic, primitive perception of life in Zulu war songs. But I couldn’t fully identify with it. Only later did I realize that the happiest music comes out of the toughest places. Music provides a way to be humanized in a dehumanizing context. That’s its basic, primitive level. And it doesn’t exist until I

Today’s musicians have more access than ever to the wildly variegated influences. Do you see any younger artists following a trajectory similar to yours, blending such disparate forms of music?

Well, because young South Africans were affected by the cultural boycott in the 1980s, when we had our first democratic elections in 1994, they wanted to be part of the global youth culture. That brought a massive influx of hip-hop, dance, house, and rock, which saturated the townships to the extent where traditional music was almost totally silenced. Now, you can talk country and Western and rap and hip-hop, but there isn’t much control from record labels and radio stations the way there was in the 1980s and ’90s. I’ve been touring every year since 1983, so I’ve managed to build a career as a mid-level artist with a nice repertoire of 300 or so songs that I can rearrange and make more interesting. This year, I’m touring with a percussionist, which I’ve never done before.

So I’m lucky. Young bands are just trying to find their way: to be discovered, to bootstrap themselves through social media and YouTube, to build an audience. That’s what I did. It’s tough, but it’s the best way to do it.

Do you have much experience touring in Florida?

I played at a big event in Miami about six years ago — some kind of expo or something.

It was very memorable, though, because Jimmy Buffett came on stage and sang [my song] “Great Heart,” which he covered on one of his albums, with me. That was really nice.

Also, the weather was fantastic. I hope it’s like that when we come back.

Nick McGregor mail@folioweekly.com MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 25

FOLIO O A+E A E: M MUSIC USIC IC

CRACKING THE SHELL

Jax Beach INDIE ROCKER rickoLus on inspiration, octopuses, and his green shed

R

ick Colado, aka rickoLus, released his new album Coconut last October, and he’s been rather quiet ever since. Coconut started as an Indiegogo campaign, resulting in pink vinyls, two local shows, and a wild European tour. When I first listened, I thought the sound was less processed than what I’d heard in previous rickoLus work, which led me to one thought: This will sound awesome live. I caught up with Rick before ’Nut has its first summer and got to know the meat beneath the shell.

down to do something. I bought some pizza and made it happen.

I like the octopus.

The octopus didn’t come in until I posted something on Instagram and somebody commented, “Where’s the giant octopus?” and I thought, “Great idea!” So I made a giant octopus. That made it all a little more organic.

It came out exactly how I had envisioned it, really stylized, supposed to look like a cartoon.

I listened to “Generation X Midlife Crisis” and “Trains.” It seems like there’s a lot of looking back into the past while also confronting this future that sometimes seems bleak on Coconut. Is this a midlife crisis album?

Oh, yeah! Now that you brought that up, holy fuck! I didn’t even put that together, but if you look at it, then, yeah, I may be having an early midlife crisis! I was looking at all this stuff, and even “Generation X Midlife Crisis” is directly about all these things that I used to think were solid and believed in, and with intense fervor, I thought they were real. To just see them kind of put on a T-shirt sold in Urban Outfitters … if you break a guitar on stage now it doesn’t mean Shackleton’s Endurance? the same thing. We tried to embody that idea, Yeah, and those stories were kind of what just make some songs on a four-track. Now it was on my mind. That album was focused just seems, like, meh. It’s strange to get old and around a four-track recorder because it was see things change; see your all recorded on a four-track. heroes become people. I’m not I was going back to how I RICKOLUS, a big fan of idols right now. started in my room recording THE LITTLE BOOKS, DUST on that thing and just playing & ASHES, BANG TRIM What is the green shed? around. Troubadour was also 8 p.m. March 19, It’s like my strange little about me and Sarah; it was Rain Dogs, Riverside, $10, facebook.com/raindogsjax temple. It’s where I go away to about this relationship; that’s be alone and make music. why there’s a lot, there’s two records. Coconut is really just a snapshot of what’s been going on over the past It’s a recording studio, right? couple of years, I guess.

Yeah, it’s a shed behind my parents’ house.

When my first band was getting serious, we How did you come up with the video concept really needed a place to practice, get out of for “Destroyer”? the garages. So I soundproofed the shed and I had the idea when I was finishing the record got a contractor to help us put in a window and was trying to pick the first single. I unit. It’s not a big room, I don’t know, a 12wanted to do “Destroyer,” and then I just had by-12 room. We practiced in there, and then the idea of the narrative: I’m in a submarine, whenever the band stopped, it became just a blowing up ships, and the whole time I’m not laboratory for me to go in by myself and just really knowing that there’s a sub following cut off the entire world. There’s no windows, me, and she gets me in the end. I like circular no clock, there’s no outside sound. It’s a real stories. I had the idea, and then I have some special place. What I want to do in the next awesome friends who like to build stuff and year, at some point, is release everything that I’ve done in there. Youngster, Coyote and Mule, make things. I called my friend Curtis Lyles.

Troubadour, and Coconut are just the tip of the I’ve done tons of video projects with him. He’s iceberg. There’re so many more things that I’ve always down for a crazy idea. I said, “Curtis, I done that weren’t as refined, but there’s songs wanna build a submarine in my garage,” and and ideas and concepts, a plethora. I want to he was, like, “Let’s do it!” We spent maybe release it all, along with a short film about the $100 on drywall at Lowe’s, and then a lot of the green shed and about what I’ve been doing in other little parts in it were just things we had, there the past 16 years. I want to make that like old TVs and switches. We spent about a story, a narrative, so people can understand week putting it together in my garage. Mark what I do and my process.

Hubbard came to film it. He knows how to Clark Ogier make things look cool. Then we got help from mail@folioweekly.com the Lackey brothers; they’re good guys always Folio Weekly Magazine: What was the inspiration behind Coconut?

Rick Colado: This is the first album in a while that wasn’t focused around a main theme.

For instance, Youngster was about youth, the end or letting go of youth, a homage to my youth. Coyote and Mule was inspired by my relationship with my wife, Sarah, and was also inspired by books I was reading at the time, like Homer’s Odyssey, and Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance. My grandma let me borrow that book and I plowed through it. Crazy story!

26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

The Great Atlantic Country Music Fest features performances

by THE CRAZY DAYSIES (pictured), 309C, JB CROCKETT, J COLLINS, RED ROOTS, and CORT CARPENTER March 19 at the SeaWalk Pavilion, Jax Beach.

LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC CONCERTS THIS WEEK

SPADE McQUADE 6 p.m. March 16, Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub, Jacksonville Landing, Ste. 176, 374-1247.

DAN VOLL 6:30 p.m. March 16, Alley Cat Seafood, 316 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, 491-1001.

WATER SEED, FFJB 7 p.m. March 16, Burro Bar, 100 E. Adams St., Downtown.

The SLACKERS, The DUPPIES 7 p.m. March 16, Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., San Marco, 398-7496, $15 advance; $20 day of.

The REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND 8 p.m. March 16, The Original Café Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach, 460-9311, $15 advance; $18 at door.

GORDON LIGHTFOOT 8 p.m. March 16, The Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St., Downtown, 355-2787, $35-$59.50.

Pre-St. Patty’s Party: RUMBLE STREET, 2ND HAND BAND, RAMONA QUIMBY, TY COWELL 8:30 p.m. March 16, Ancient City Brewing, 3420 Agricultural Ctr. Dr., St. Augustine, 429-9654.

Suwannee Springfest: JOHN PRINE, DEL McCOURY, JIM LAUDERDALE, DONNA the BUFFALO, more March 17-20, Suwannee Music Park, $50-$210, suwanneespringfest.com.

NobFest5: WET NURSE, CAFFIENDS, DREGDER, BROWN PALACE, RIVERNECKS, The RESONANTS, GHOST TROPIC, THUNDERHOOF, QUEEN BEEF, The HOLED-OUTS, more March 17-20, Shanghai Nobby’s, 10 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, 547-2188, facebook.com/events/1681231468813381.

SPADE McQUADE & the ALLSTARS, RATHKELTAIR, JIMMY SOLARI, SEARSON, SEVEN NATIONS, JFRD PIPES & DRUMS 10 a.m. to close, March 17, Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub. St. Patty’s in Five Points: LOVE MONKEY 6-10 p.m. March 17, event starts 5 p.m.; Margaret Street, Riverside.

Rock & Worship Roadshow: NEWSBOYS, JEREMY CAMP, MANDISA, PHIL WICKHAM, FAMILY FORCE 5, AUDIO ADRENALINE 7 p.m. March 17, Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 Randolph Blvd., Downtown, 630-3900, $10 at the door.

OLD DAWGS NEW KILTS 7:30 p.m. March 17, Mudville Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., San Marco, 352-7008, $10.

RUSTED ROOT 8 p.m. March 17, Jack Rabbits, $25 advance; $28 day of.

FROM UNDER the WILLOW, GLADIATORS, AXIOM, COUGHIN, CORRUPTED SAINT, TRAVERSE 8 p.m. March 17, 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St., Downtown, $8 advance; $10 day of.

GET the LED OUT 8 p.m. March 17, Florida Theatre, $19.50$39.50.

STRINGFEVER 8 p.m. March 17, The Original Café Eleven, $22 advance; $25 at the door.

“3” 9 p.m. March 17, Flying Iguana, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680.

Slide into Spring Music & Craft Beer Fest: G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE, DONAVON FRANKENREITER, DIRTY HEADS, HERD of WATTS, PASSAFIRE, HIP ABDUCTION, SIDEREAL, JAMEYAL, CHILLAKAYA, RUSTY SHINE, The FRITZ, TRONGONE BAND, POST PLUTO March 18-20, Main Beach Park, Fernandina, $10$40; $70 weekend pass, goincoastalmusic.com.

MILLTOWN ROAD 6 p.m. March 18, Slider’s Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., Fernandina, 277-6652.

WAKA FLOCKA FLAME 7 p.m. March 18, Mavericks Live, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, 356-1110, $35 advance; $40 day of; $50 advance upstairs; $55 day of.

BARRY GREENE & JAMES HOGAN 7:30 p.m. March 18, Mudville Music Room, $10.

CLOUD9 VIBES, WHOLE WHEAT BREAD 8 p.m. March 18, Burro Bar. JOHNNY CLEGG & HIS BAND, JESSE CLEGG 8 p.m. March 18, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, 1050 A1A N., 209-0399, $35-$45.

PERPETUAL DEMENTIA 8 p.m. March 18, Jack Rabbits, $8 advance; $10 day of.

CUPID’S ALLEY 9 p.m. March 18 & 19, The Roadhouse, 231 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, 264-0611.

5 O’CLOCK SHADOW 10 p.m. March 18 & 19, Flying Iguana.

Riverside Arts Market: JEFF POWERS, BLUE VERONICA, CIARAN SONTAG & the SAFARI BAND 10:30 a.m. March 19, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449.

Great Atlantic Country Music Fest: CRAZY DAYSIES, 309C, JB CROCKETT, J COLLINS, RED ROOTS, CORT CARPENTER Noon-7 p.m. March 19, SeaWalk Pavilion, Jax Beach, free; $20 VIP, greatatlanticfestival.com.

POINT BLANK, SURVIVAL METHOD, THREE KNEE DEEP, NEAR DEATH, LA-A 6 p.m. March 19, 1904 Music Hall, $10.

The FAB FOUR: The ULTIMATE TRIBUTE 7:30 & 9 p.m.

March 19, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $47.50.

COUNT BASS D, DILLON 8 p.m. March 19, Burro Bar. TIM MONTANA & the SHREDNECKS, The GOOD WOOD 8 p.m. March 19, Jack Rabbits, $8 advance; $10 day of.

JOE SATRIANI 8 p.m. March 19, Florida Theatre, $35-$79.50.

MONKEY WRENCH 9:30 p.m. March 19, Whiskey Jax, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Southside, 634-7208.

CONSIDER the SOURCE 9:30 p.m. March 19, 1904 Music Hall, $10 advance; $13 day of.

ROD MacDONALD 2 p.m. March 20, Beluthahatchee Park, 1523 S.R. 13, Fruit Cove, 206-8304, suggested donation $10; reservations required.

K. MICHELLE & FRIENDS 7:30 p.m. March 20, The Florida Theatre, $66-$78.50.

ABSU, VOMIKAUST, DEAD CENTRE, The NOCTAMBULANT 8 p.m. March 20, Burro Bar. ALAN DOYLE & the BEAUTIFUL GYPSIES 8 p.m. March 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $25-$28.

LIKE MOTHS to FLAMES, ICE NINE KILLS, MAKE THEM SUFFER, LIGHT UP the SKY, LANDFILL 6 p.m. March 22, Jack Rabbits, $17 advance; $20 day of.

SAOSIN, LIMBS, YOUNG & HEARTLESS, AURORA 7 p.m.

March 22, Mavericks Live, $25.

MOVEMENTS 7 p.m. March 22, 1904 Music Hall, $8 advance; $10 day of.

CHICAGO, EARTH, WIND & FIRE 7:30 p.m. March 23, Veterans Memorial Arena, $46-$124.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

SETH GLIER March 24, The Original Café Eleven ONE-EYED DOLL, EYES SET to KILL, OPEN YOUR EYES, VISIONS March 25, The Green Room NRBQ, The BASEBALL PROJECT March 25, St. Augustine

Amphitheatre Backyard Block Party

LION in the MANE, CITY UNDER SIEGE March 25, Jack Rabbits The LACS March 25, Mavericks Live WET BRAIN, RUKUT, TWINKI, The MOLD March 25, Rain Dogs BOYTOY, TEENAGE LOBOTOMY March 26, Shanghai Nobby’s KEITH SWEAT, TANK March 26, T-U Center STRAND of OAKS March 26, Hemming Park INTRONAUT, SCALE the SUMMIT March 26, 1904 Music Hall BYRNE & KELLY March 29, Culhane’s Irish Pub HIGH FUNCTIONING FLESH, BODY of LIGHT, BURNT HAIR, ALGAE GUCK March 30, Burro Bar DURAN DURAN March 30, St. Augustine Amphitheatre CECILE McLORIN SALVANT March 31, The Ritz Theatre COODER, WHITE & SKAGGS March 31, P.Vedra Concert Hall ACE FREHLEY, GEOFF TATE April 1, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall AFROMAN April 1, The Green Room Springing the Blues: TOOTS LORRAINE & the TRAFFIC, SEAN CHAMBERS BAND, SELWYN BIRCHWOOD, VICTOR WAINWRIGHT, KIM RETEGUIZ & BLACK CAT BONES, RED DIRT REVELATORS, CORBITT CLAMPITT EXPERIENCE, MR. SIPP, TORONZO CANNON, SAMANTHA FISH, CAT McWILLIAMS, PARKER URBAN BAND, CONRAD OBERG, DIEDRA BLUES DIVA & PRO RUFF BAND, COLIN LAKE, JAREKUS SINGLETON, The LEE BOYS, SMOKESTACK April 1-3, SeaWalk Pavilion WHISKEY DICK April 1, Burro Bar Inaugural Fool’s Paradise: LETTUCE & FRIENDS, GRIZ, CHRIS ROBINSON’S SOUL REVUE (George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Eric Krasno, Nikki Glaspie, Neal Casal, Shady Horns), GOLDFISH, The NTH POWER, VULFPECK April 1 & 2, St. Augustine Amphitheatre OF MONTREAL April 3, Mavericks Live CHAD VALLEY, BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD April 4, 1904 Music Hall DAILEY & VINCENT April 7, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall SUNN O))), BIG BRAVE April 7, Sun-Ray Cinema STICK FIGURE April 8, Mavericks Live LIVING COLOUR April 8, Harmonious Monks CITIZEN & TURNOVER, SORORITY, MILK TEETH April 10, 1904 Music Hall

BLACK UHURU April 10, Harmonious Monks THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL April 11, Original Café Eleven AMY HELM April 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall PEARL JAM April 13-16, Veterans Memorial Arena Wanee Music Festival: WIDESPREAD PANIC, GREGG ALLMAN, GOV’T MULE, LES BRERS, UMPHREY’S McGEE, BRUCE HORNSBY, STANLEY CLARKE, MELVIN SEALS & JGB, KARL DENSON April 14, 15 & 16 RITA WILSON April 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BILLY CURRINGTON, KELSEA BALLERINI April 18, St. Aug Amp The BRONX WANDERERS April 16, The Florida Theatre BARRAGE 8 April 17, The Florida Theatre ESTER RADA April 17, The Ritz Theatre JESSE COOK April 18, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Generation Axe: STEVE VAI, ZAKK WYLDE, SO THIS IS SUFFERING, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, NUNO the CONVALESCENCE April 19, Jack Rabbits BETTENCOURT, TOSIN ABASI April 20, The Florida Theatre One Night of Queen: GARY MULLEN & the WORKS April 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 27

LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC A NIGHT with JANIS JOPLIN April 21, Florida Theatre IRATION April 21, Mavericks Live SKINDRED April 21, Harmonious Monks BEN FOLDS April 22, The Florida Theatre RASCAL FLATTS, JANA KRAMER April 22, St. Aug. Amphitheatre SLEEPMAKESWAVES, MONUMENTS, ENTHEOS, The CONTORTIONIST April 22, 1904 Music Hall MYSTIKAL, JUVENILE, TRICK DADDY, BUN B, PROJECT PAT, TOO SHORT April 22, Vets Memorial Arena NOFX April 23, Mavericks Live CHRIS ISAAK April 24, The Florida Theatre WOLVES at the GATE, HOUSEHOLD, SEARCHING SERENITY, DROWNING ABOVE WATER, DAYSEEKER April 27, Murray Hill Theatre TOMMY EMMANUEL, The LOWHILLS April 28 & 29, PVC Hall JOHN MORELAND April 28, St. Aug. Amp. Backyard Stage OBN IIIs, BROWN PALACE April 29, Nobby’s JJ GREY & MOFRO April 29, Mavericks Live ANJELAH JOHNSON, BON QUI QUI, GROUP 1 CREW April 30,

NobFest5 features 50 bands (!) including Orlando garage pop rockers WET NURSE; it’s held March 17-20 at Shanghai Nobby’s, St. Augustine.

Florida Theatre

ALABAMA SHAKES, DYLAN LeBLANC April 30, St. Aug Amp Welcome to Rockville: ROB ZOMBIE, ZZ TOP, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, A DAY to REMEMBER, MEGADETH, LAMB of GOD, CYPRESS HILL, SEVENDUST, ANTHRAX, CLUTCH, YELAWOLF, P.O.D., WE CAME as ROMANS, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, ISSUES, CROWN the EMPIRE, BEAR TOOTH, TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION, AVATAR, From ASHES to NEW, GLORIOUS SONS, WILD THRONE, DISTURBED, SHINEDOWN, 3 DOORS DOWN, BRING ME the HORIZON, SIXX:A.M., COLLECTIVE SOUL, PENNYWISE, BULLET for my VALENTINE, HELLYEAH, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, CANDLEBOX, ESCAPE the FATE, PARKWAY DRIVE, ENTER SHIKARI, MISS MAY I, WILSON, RED SUN RISING, LACEY STURM, MONSTER TRUCK, CANE HILL April 30 & May 1, Metro Park

GIPSY KINGS, NICOLAS REYES, TONINO BALIARDO May 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Funk Fest: LL COOL J, NEW EDITION, MASTER P, FLOETRY, DRU HILL, JON B. May 6 & 7, Metropolitan Park JBOOG, COMMON KINGS May 6, Mavericks Live PHIL VASSAR, RUSSELL DICKERSON May 7, Thrasher-Horne BILL BURR May 8, T-U Center The 1975, The JAPANESE HOUSE May 10, St. Aug Amphitheatre The FRONT BOTTOMS, BRICK + MORTAR. DIET CIG May 11, Mavericks Live ELLIS PAUL May 13, The Original Café Eleven MICHAEL CARBONARO May 13, Times-Union Center STYX, .38 SPECIAL, The OUTLAWS May 14, St. Aug Amphitheatre AMY SCHUMER May 15, Veterans Memorial Arena OTEP FEST 2016 May 15, Harmonious Monks DEFTONES, CODE ORANGE May 17, St. Aug Amphitheatre SHAKEY GRAVES, SON LITTLE May 17, P. Vedra Concert Hall

NIGHT RANGER May 19, The Florida Theatre KING & the KILLER May 20, Mavericks Live FOALS May 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall SALT-N-PEPA, KID ’N PLAY, ROB BASE, COOLIO, TONE LOC, COLOR ME BADD May 21, St. Augustine Amphitheatre HERE COME the MUMMIES, NOAH GUTHRIE May 26, PVC Hall MODERN ENGLISH May 26, Burro Bar ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO June 5, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC June 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre CYNDI LAUPER June 12, St. Augustine Amphitheatre DEATH CAB for CUTIE, CHVRCHES, PURE BATHING CULTURE June 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre CHRIS CORNELL June 17, The Florida Theatre REBELUTION, The GREEN & J BOOG, STICK FIGURE, THROUGH the GREEN June 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre JUSTIN BIEBER June 29, Veterans Memorial Arena SUBLIME with ROME, TRIBAL SEEDS July 1, St. Aug Amp. BARENAKED LADIES, ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES in the DARK, HOWARD JONES July 2, St. Augustine Amphitheatre TWENTY ONE PILOTS July 3, St. Augustine Amphitheatre SHAWN MENDES July 16, St. Augustine Amphitheatre FLIGHT of the CONCHORDS July 17, St. Aug Amphitheatre 5 SECONDS of SUMMER July 20, Veterans Memorial Arena 311, MATISYAHU July 26, St. Augustine Amphitheatre BRING IT! LIVE July 29, The Florida Theatre

LIVE MUSIC CLUBS

AMELIA ISLAND, FERNANDINA

ALLEY CAT Beer House, 316 Centre St., 491-1001 Dan Voll March 16. John Springer March 17. Gitlo Lee March 18 KNUCKLEHEADS Bar, 850532 U.S. 17, 222-2380 Clinton Lane Darnell & Shayne Rammler March 18 LA MANCHA, 2709 Sadler Rd., 261-4646 Miguel Paley jazz show every Fri.-Sun. SLIDERS Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652 Pili Pili 5 p.m. March 16. Claire Vandiver, Davis Turner March 17.

Jamie Noel, Milltown Road, DJ Dave March 18. Mark O’Quinn, Davis Turner, Cootch March 19. Jimmy Beats March 20.

Darrell Rae March 21. Sam McDonald March 22 SURF Restaurant, 3199 S. Fletcher Ave., 261-5711 Yancy Clegg every Tue. & Thur. Black Jack Band every Fri.

AVONDALE, ORTEGA

CASBAH Café, 3628 St. Johns Ave., 981-9966 Goliath Flores every Wed. Live jazz every Sun. Live music every Mon. ECLIPSE, 4219 St. Johns Ave. KJ Free 9 p.m. Tue. & Thur.

Indie dance 9 p.m. every Wed. ’80s & ’90s dance every Fri. MELLOW MUSHROOM, 3611 St. Johns, 388-0200 Ryan Crary 9 p.m. March 17

THE BEACHES

(All venues in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted)

CULHANE’S, 967 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 249-9595 Flying Colors, JK & Happy, Matt Galligan, Briteside Band, DJ Vito March 17 FLYING IGUANA, 207 Atlantic Blvd., NB, 853-5680 “3” March 17. 5 O’Clock Shadow March 18 & 19. Darren Corlew March 20 FLY’S TIE Irish Pub, 177 Sailfish Dr. E., AB, 246-4293 Go Get Gone March 19 GUSTO’S, 1266 Beach Blvd., 372-9925 Groov every Wed. Monica DaSilva every Thur. Murray Goff Fri. Under the Bus Sat. HARMONIOUS MONKS, 320 First St. N., 372-0815 Back from the Brink Mon. LYNCH’S, 514 N. First St., 249-5181 Fran Doyle, The Firewater Tent Revival, JFRD Pipes & Drums, Dirty Pete, Split Tone, DJ El March 17. Dirty Pete March 18. Cort Carpenter March 19 MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1018 Third St. N., 241-5600 Three March 16. Party Cartel March 17 MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., NB, 249-5573 Ginger every Wed. Mike Shackelford, Steve Shanholtzer every Thur.

MONKEY’S UNCLE Tavern, 1728 N. Third St., 246-1070 Ace Winn 10 p.m. March 17. DJ Wed., Sat. & Sun. Live music every Fri. RAGTIME Tavern, 207 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7877 Billy Bowers 6 p.m. March 16. Kenny Holliday Band March 17. Boogie Freaks March 18 & 19. T. Martin & the Troublemakers March 20 SEACHASERS, 831 First St. N., 372-0444 Crazy Daysies March 16. Midlife Crisis March 17. Raisin Cake Orchestra March 20. Aaron Koerner March 21 SLIDERS Seafood Grille, 218 First St., NB, 246-0881 Jimmi Mitchell 5 p.m. March 19. Live music every Thur., Fri. & Sat.

DOWNTOWN

1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean. Gladiators, From Under the Willow, Axiom, Corrupted Saint 8 p.m. March 17. Point Blank, Survival Method, Three Knee Deep, Near Death, La-A, Consider the Source, Rhythm of Fear March 19. ABSU, Vomikaust, Dead Centre, The Noctambulant 8 p.m. March 20. Movements March 22 The BIRDHOUSE, 1827 N. Pearl St., 634-7523 JCeles March 18. Conveyor 6 p.m. March 22 BURRO BAR, 100 E. Adams St. Water Seed, FFJB 7 p.m.

March 16. Cloud9 Vibes, Whole Wheat Bread March 18. Count Bass D, Dillon March 19. ABSU, Vomikaust, Dead Centre, The Noctambulant March 20 DOS GATOS, 123 E. Forsyth St., 354-0666 BlackJack every Wed. DJ Brandon every Thur. DJs spin dance every Fri. DJ NickFresh every Sat. DJ Randall Mon. DJ Hollywood every Tue. FIONN MacCOOL’S, The Landing, 374-1247 Spade McQuade March 16, 19 & 23. Jig to a Milestone, Spade McQuade & the Allstars, Rathkeltair, Jimmy Solari, Searson, Seven Nations March 17. Ace Winn 8 p.m. March 18 HOURGLASS Pub, 345 E. Bay St., 469-1719 Richter 7 9 p.m.

March 17. Cain’t Never Could March 21 JACKSONVILLE Landing, 353-1188 Ace Winn March 17.

Bread & Butter March 18. Austin Park March 19 MARK’S DOWNTOWN, 315 E. Bay St., 355-5099 DJ Dr. Doom 10 p.m. every Fri. DJ Shotgun 10 p.m. every Sat.

28 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

LIVE + LOCAL MUSIC Songwriting legend JOHN PRINE performs at this year’s Suwannee Springfest, along with the likes of DEL McCOURY, JIM LAUDERDALE, and DONNA the BUFFALO March 17-20 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak.

ST. AUGUSTINE

CAFE ELEVEN, 501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Aug. Bch, 460-9311 The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band 8 p.m. March 16.

Stringfever 8 p.m. March 17. Seth Glier March 24 THE CELLAR UPSTAIRS, 157 King St., 826-1594 The WillowWacks March 18. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg March 19.

Vinny Jacobs 2 p.m. March 20 SHANGHAI NOBBY’S, 10 Anastasia Blvd., 547-2188 NobFest5: Wet Nurse, Caffiends, Dregder, Brown Palace, Rivernecks, The Resonants, Ghost Tropic, Thunderhoof, Queen Beef, The Holed-Outs, more, March 17-20 TRADEWINDS Lounge, 124 Charlotte St., 829-9336 Spanky March 18 & 19

SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK

MAVERICKS LIVE, Jax Landing, 356-1110 Waka Flocka Flame 7 p.m. March 18. Saosin, Limbs, Young & Heartless, Anthony Green March 22. Joe Buck, DJ Justin every Thur.-Sat.

FLEMING ISLAND

WHITEY’S Fish Camp, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198 Green Star 5 p.m. March 19. Robert Brown Jr. the Confluent March 20

INTRACOASTAL WEST

CLIFF’S Bar, 3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162 Clinton Lane Darnell, Shayne Rammler 8 p.m. March 16. Bill Ricci March 18 JERRY’S Grille, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., 220-6766 Mr. Natural March 18. Lisa & the Mad Hatters March 19

MANDARIN, JULINGTON

DAVE’S Music Bar, 9965 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 48, 575-4935 Weaver Exp March 19 HARMONIOUS MONKS, 10550 Old St. Augustine, 880-3040 Live music most weekends. Open jam 7 p.m. Mon.

ORANGE PARK, MIDDLEBURG

The HILLTOP, 2030 Wells Rd., 272-5959 John Michael Tue.-Sat. The ROADHOUSE, 231 Blanding Blvd., 264-0611 Cupid’s Alley 10 p.m. March 20

PONTE VEDRA

PUSSER’S, 816 A1A, 280-7766 Ryan Crary March 16 & 23.

Richard Smith 6 p.m. March 17. Mark O’Quinn 8 p.m. March 18. Savannah Leigh Basset 7 p.m. March 19 TABLE 1, 330 A1A, 280-5515 Deron Baker March 16. Gary Starling March 17. Robbie Litt March 18. Samuel Sanders & Darren Escar March 19

RIVERSIDE, WESTSIDE

ACROSS the STREET, 948 Edgewood Ave. S., 683-4182 DJ JStreet 8:30 p.m. every Sun.-Tue. & Fri. Higher Ground 8:30 p.m. every Thur. Live music 8:30 p.m. every Sat. MURRAY HILL Theatre, 932 Edgewood S., 388-7807 EDM House Party: We Own the Sky 8 p.m. March 18. MHT’s Spring Fest: Josh Wicker, Dog Apollo, Palm Trees & Power Lines, Marathon Runner, Outer Edge, Sea of Surrender, Citizen 102, Attalus, Kenny Gregory, David Borges, Jonathan Hoyle, Graham Snuggs, The Skys, Megan McCloud, Joey Contois, Eli the Poet 4 p.m. March 19 RAIN DOGS, 1045 Park St., 379-4969 Roy Peak March 16.

RickoLus, Little Books, Dust & Ashes, Bang Trim 8 p.m. March 19 RIVERSIDE Arts Market, 715 Riverside Ave., 389-2449 Jeff Powers, Blue Veronica, Ciaran Sontag & Safari Band March 19

A LOTTABIT COUNTRY THIS IS AN INDICTMENT OF MODERN COUNTRY MUSIC. Not that there needs to be one. Fans of popcountry are an unapologetic bunch, either proudly aware of their lack of taste or blissfully unaware of how completely awful the music is in the first place.

Neither is excusable yet both are understandable.

To comprehend the mindset of a pop-country fan, one must trace the lineage from the early days of country & western, which enjoys a rich and diverse history until around 1980. From Appalachian mountain music and its Southern variants in the ’20s through the rise of the Grand Ole Opry and the Nashville scene (including the popularization of bluegrass, Western swing, et al) of the ’40s and continuing through the outlaw country and rockabilly movements (’50s-’70s), the music kept evolving, sometimes upsetting the establishment, but always pushing boundaries. Artists infused elements of gospel, blues, folk and rock, and new forms loomed forever on the horizon.

Then the ’80s happened, and country music entered an indefinite holding pattern.

Why this unsolicited commentary on the state of pop-country? Normally, I wouldn’t give a donkey’s haunches about such a broken-down, mind-numbingly useless subgenre. But when asked to review an album by a Jacksonville-based pop-country artist (we’ll get to that in a moment), I feel the need to be frank regarding my utter disdain for the genre and its adherents. In the harsh light of this criticism, I also feel obligated to offer substantive support for my position.

It’s not enough to just scream, “I hate this shit!”

To be fair, most musical genres stagnated in the ’80s, the worst decade in American music history.

The experimental prog-rock of the ’70s turned into laughably complex, completely unmarketable simulacrum. Jazz fusion, subsequently, went smooth. Funk and disco died, replaced by bland MTV-driven synth-dance and horribly goofy hip-hop.

Trendy but still commendably rebellious punk

morphed into generic goth.

And metal – good fudgin’ god, look what happened to metal.

But many of those genres broke free in the late ’80s and ’90s, moving into new territories, even within the confines of pop markets (grunge, industrial, math rock, house, dub step, gangsta rap, new-wave ska, etc.) Pop-country, however, decided to stay put, and there it remains, nearly three decades later. Nothing new, exciting, inventive or even interesting. And so Billy Ray Cyrus is Clint Black is Garth Brooks is Alan Jackson is Jason Aldean is Florida Georgia Line and so on … and so on.

I don’t blame the artists; I blame consumers.

As with most post-’70s pop, consumers live in constant fear that listening to new or different music forms will somehow permanently damage them. Either that, or they’re too lazy to seek more challenging avenues. Either way, their money speaks, and the industry listens. And so we have guys like Jacksonville’s J Collins, who in promotion of his CD Come Get Some, sent a copy to Folio Weekly Magazine.

I needn’t write another word at this point, because you can guess the rest. His look: torsohugging T-shirt, even tighter gently aged jeans, leather shit-kickers, brow-obscuring cowboy hat.

Songs: Predictably twangy, just-this-side-of-rock foot-stompers with an obligatory tear-in-my-beer ballad. Lyrics: Rote, stale, easy-to-rhyme-andsing-along-with. Subject matter: Permissive country girls, small-town blue-collar values, summer lakeside Bud-soaked partying and, of course, the good ol’ USA. And pop-country fans will eat it up. J Collins, bless his metro-rural heart, is a marketing goldmine, tailor-made for a three-year run at the top of what’s left of the charts. He’s muscular,

JACK RABBITS, 1528 Hendricks Ave., 398-7496 The Slackers, The Duppies 7 p.m. March 16. Rusted Root 8 p.m.

March 17. Perpetual Dementia March 18. Tim Montana & the Shrednecks, The Good Wood March 19. Like Moths to Flames, Ice Nine Kills, Make Them Suffer, Light Up the Sky, Landfill March 22 MUDVILLE Music Room, 3104 Atlantic Blvd., 352-7008 Old Dawgs, New Kilts March 17. Barry Greene, James Higan March 18

SOUTHSIDE, BAYMEADOWS

MELLOW MUSHROOM, 1800 Town Ctr. Blvd., 541-1999 Samuel Sanders March 17. Kurt Lanham March 18. Ken & Kelly Maroney March 19 WHISKEY JAX, 10915 Baymeadows, 634-7208 Fat Cactus March 17. Krush March 18. Monkey Wrench, Anton LaPlume, Bill Ricci March 19. DiCarlo Thompson March 22

SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE

MOLLY BROWN’S Pub, 2467 Faye Rd., 683-5044 Rusted Diamond March 18. Clinton Lane Darnell & Shayne Rammler March 19. Black Creek March 25 SHANTYTOWN Pub, 22 W. Sixth St., 798-8222 Stonecutters 8 p.m. March 21 _______________________________________________ To list your band’s gig, send time, date, location (street address, city), admission price and contact number to print to Daniel A. Brown, email dbrown@folioweekly.com or by mail, 45 W. Bay St., Ste. 103, Jacksonville FL 32202. Events run on a space-available basis. Deadline noon Wed. for next Wednesday’s publication.

THE KNIFE

attractive, and he’s mastered all of his forbears’ poses – legs provocatively spread, arms thrust to his sides in a perennial flex, steamy but approachable gaze. This guy’s got it down. And it should pay off for him. Indeed, he headlined the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona in 2014. Soda endorsements = big money. Seems he’s on the fast track.

Who can blame him? As long as he plays it safe, Collins can make his bank with little effort.

Follow formula, don’t make any waves, cash those checks. But alas, there are thousands of artists just like him banging on Nashville’s doors, offering identical packages. As tidy as his path to stardom may seem, it is littered with speed bumps, road blocks and potholes, most of whom are dressed up and sing just like him.

Chalk my cynicism up to my oft-criticized elitism, my disdain for anything remotely popular or my contrarian nature. Chide me for my inability to abide anything consumed by the masses.

Upbraid me for being a typical music critic (the adage: Music critics are failed musicians). That’s fine. I’ve got a thick skin.

Let’s hope Collins does, too.

John E. Citrone theknife@folioweekly.com

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– J Collins performs 3-4:15 p.m. March 19 at Great Atlantic Country Music Fest, Jax Beach, greatatlanticfestival.com MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 29

WHISKEY JAX Kitchen + Cocktails, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 135, 634-7208, whiskeyjax.com. Gastropub has craft beers, burgers, handhelds, tacos, whiskey. $$ FB L D Sat. & Sun.; D Daily.

BEACHES

(Venues are in Jax Beach unless otherwise noted.)

Experience the zesty flavor of “Mexclectic street food” at Riverside’s Corner Taco.

Photo by Dennis Ho

DINING DIRECTORY AMELIA ISLAND FERNANDINA BEACH

29 SOUTH EATS, 29 S. Third St., 277-7919, 29southrestau rant.com. F Chef Scotty Schwartz’s traditional regional cuisine has 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 BEACH DINER, 2006 S. Eighth St., 310-3750, beachdiner. com. Innovative breakfast: Eggs on the Bayou, fish-n-grits; French toast, riders, omelets. Lunch fare: salads, burgers, sandwiches, shrimp & crabmeat salad. $$ BW K TO L D Daily BEECH STREET Bar & Grill, 801 Beech St., 572-1390, beech streetbarandgrill.com. In restored 1889 home, Chef Charles creates with fresh, local ingredients. Local seafood, handcut Florida steaks, housemade pasta, daily specials, small plates, street food. $$$-$$$$ FB D Tue.-Sat.; Brunch, D Sun. BRETT’S WATERWAY CAFÉ, 1 S. Front St., 261-2660. F Southern hospitality, upscale waterfront spot; daily specials, fresh local seafood, aged beef. $$$ FB K L D Daily BURLINGAME RESTAURANT, 20 S. Fifth St., 432-7671, burlingamerestaurant.com. The menu at this brand-new fine dining place changes quarterly, focused on elegantly prepared dishes made with quality seasonal ingredients. Duck confit, grilled pork chops. $$$$ BW D Tue.-Sat. CAFÉ KARIBO, 27 N. Third St., 277-5269, cafekaribo.com.

F Family-owned; historic building. Veggie burgers, seafood, made-from-scratch desserts. Dine in or on oak-shaded patio.

Karibrew Pub next door. $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L D Daily CHEZ LEZAN BAKERY CO., 1014 Atlantic Ave., 491-4663, chezlezanbakery.com. Fresh European-style breads, pastries: croissants, muffins, cakes, pies. $ TO B R L Daily THE CRAB TRAP, 31 N. Second St., 261-4749, amelia crabtrap.com. F $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L D Daily DAVID’S Restaurant & Lounge, 802 Ash St., 310-6049, ameli aislanddavids.com. Fine dining, 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, 879-0993. 2015 BOJ. SEE ORANGE PARK. ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE, 98 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-4851, elizabethpointelodge.com. F Award-winning B&B. Seaside dining, inside or out. Hot buffet breakfast daily. Homestyle soups, sandwiches, desserts. $$$ BW B L D Daily HOLA CUBAN CAFÉ, 117 Centre St., 321-0163, holacuban cafe.com. F $$ FB K TO R, Sun.; L D Daily JACK & DIANE’S, 708 Centre St., 321-1444, jackanddianes cafe.com. F 1887 shotgun house. Jambalaya, French toast, mac-n-cheese, vegan/vegetarian. Porch. $$ FB K B L D Daily

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.

2015 Best of Jax winner F = FW distribution spot

30 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

LULU’S at Thompson House, 11 S. 7th St., 432-8394, lulusamelia.com. F Po’boys, salads, local seafood, local shrimp. Reservations. $$$ BW K TO R Sun.; L D Tue.-Sat. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 925 S. 14th St., 321-3400, moonriver pizza.net. F 2015 BOJ winner. Authentic Northern-style pizzas, 20+ toppings, pie or the slice. $ BW TO L D Mon.-Sat. THE MUSTARD SEED CAFÉ, 833 Courson Rd., 277-3141, nassaushealthfoods.net. Casual organic eatery, juice bar, in Nassau Health Foods. All-natural organic items, smoothies, herbal tea. $$ TO B L Mon.-Sat. PABLO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT GRILL & CANTINA, 12 N. Second St., 261-0049. Chicken, carnes, fajitas, burritos, tacos, daily specials. Margaritas. $$$ FB K TO L D Daily THE PECAN ROLL BAKERY, 122 S. Eighth St., 491-9815, thepecanrollbakery.com. F Near historic district. Sweet and savory pastries, cookies, cakes, bagels, breads, made from scratch. $ K TO B L Wed.-Sun. PI INFINITE COMBINATIONS, 19 S. Third St., 432-8535, pi32034.wix.com/piinfinite. All bar service; NYC-style.

Specialty pizzas, pie/slice, toppings: truffle mushrooms, little neck clams, eggs, shrimp. Courtyard. $$ BW TO L D Wed.-Sun. PLAE, 80 Amelia Village Cir., 277-2132, plaefl.net. Bite Club. Bistro-style venue serves whole fried fish, duck breast.

Outside. $$$ FB L Tue.-Sat.; D Nightly SALTY PELICAN Bar & Grill, 12 N. Front St., 277-3811, the saltypelicanamelia.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. 2nd-story outdoor bar. Owners T.J. & Al offer local seafood, fish tacos, local shrimp, po’boys, cheese oysters. $$ FB K L D Daily SLIDERS Seaside Grill, 1998 S. Fletcher Ave., 277-6652, slidersseaside.com. F Oceanfront. Crabcakes, fried pickles, fresh seafood. Open-air 2nd floor, balcony. $$ FB K L D Daily T-RAY’S BURGER STATION, 202 S. Eighth St., 261-6310.

F 2015 BOJ winner. In an old gas station; blue plate specials, burgers, biscuits & gravy, shrimp. $ BW TO B L Mon.-Sat.

ARLINGTON, REGENCY

DICK’S Wings & Grill, 9119 Merrill Rd., 745-9300. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE ORANGE PARK. LARRY’S, 1301 Monument Rd., 724-5802. F SEE ORANGE PARK. The STEAKHOUSE @ Gold Club, 320 Gen. Doolittle Dr., 6455500, jacksonvillegoldclub.com. Lunch and dinner specials, free HH buffets Thur. & Fri. $$$ FB L D Daily

AVONDALE, ORTEGA

FLORIDA CREAMERY, 3566 St. Johns Ave., 619-5386. Ice cream, waffle cones, milkshakes, sundaes, Nathan’s grilled hot dogs. Low-fat and sugar-free choices. $ K TO L D Daily HARPOON LOUIE’S, 4070 Herschel St., Ste. 8, 389-5631, harpoonlouies.net. F Locally owned & operated 20+ years. American pub. 1/2-pound burgers, fish sandwiches, pasta. Local beers. $$ FB K TO L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 3611 St. Johns Ave., 388-0200. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO NO. 4 Urban BBQ & Whiskey Bar, 3572 St. Johns Ave., 381-6670. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. PINEGROVE Market & Deli, 1511 PineGrove Ave., 389-8655, pinegrovemarket.com. F 2015 BOJ winner.

40+ years. Burgers, Cubans, subs, wraps. Onsite butcher cuts USDA choice prime aged beef. Craft beers. $ BW TO B L D Mon.-Sat.

RESTAURANT ORSAY, 3630 Park St., 381-0909, restaurantorsay.com. 2015 BOJ winner. French/Southern bistro; local 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

AL’S PIZZA, 8060 Philips Hwy., Ste. 105, 731-4300. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. BELLA VITA Ristorante Italiano, 3825 Baymeadows Rd., 646-1370, bellavitajax.com. F Authentic Italian cuisine. $$ FB L D Daily INDIA’S Restaurant, 9802 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 8, 620-0777, indiajax.com. F 2015 BOJ. Authentic cuisine, lunch buffet. Curries, vegetables, lamb, chicken, shrimp, fish tandoori. $$ BW L Mon.-Sat.; D Nightly LARRY’S Giant Subs, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., 737-7740.

GRILL ME!

AL’S PIZZA, 303 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach, 249-0002, alspizza.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. New York-style gourmet pizzas, baked dishes. All-day HH 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 2015 BOJ winner.

Subs made with fresh ingredients for 25+ years. One word: Peruvian. Big salads, blue-ribbon iced tea. $ BW TO L D Daily BOLD BEAN Coffee Roasters, 2400 S. Third St., Ste. 201.

F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. ESPETO Brazilian Steakhouse, 1396 Beach Blvd., 388-4884, espetosteakhouse.com. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, sausage; full menu, bar fare, craft cocktails, Brazilian beers. $$ FB D Daily EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 992 Beach Blvd., 249-3001, europeanstreet.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. FLYING IGUANA TAQUERIA & Tequila Bar, 207 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, 853-5680 F 2015 BOJ winner.

Latin American, tacos, seafood, carnitas, Cubana fare. 100+ tequilas. $ FB L D Daily LARRY’S Subs, 657 Third St. N., 247-9620. F SEE ORANGE PARK. MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA BAKERS, 1018 Third St. N., Ste. 2, 241-5600, mellowmushroom.com. F Bite Club.

2015 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 2015 BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MEZZA Restaurant & Bar, 110 First St., NB, 249-5573, mezzarestaurantandbar.com. F Near-the-ocean 20+ years. Casual bistro fare: gourmet wood-fired pizzas, nightly specials. Dine in, patio. $$$ FB K D Mon.-Sat. MOJO KITCHEN BBQ PIT, 1500 Beach Blvd., 247-6636, mojobbq.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. Pulled pork, beef, chicken, Carolina-style, sides. $$ FB K TO L D Daily POE’S TAVERN, 363 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7637, poestavern.com. Gastropub, 50+ beers, gourmet burgers, hand-cut fries, fish tacos, Edgar’s Drunken Chili, daily fish sandwich special. $$ FB K L D Daily RAGTIME TAVERN & SEAFOOD GRILL, 207 Atlantic Blvd., AB, 241-7877, ragtimetavern.com. F For 30+ years, iconic seafood place. Blackened snapper, sesame tuna, Ragtime shrimp. Daily happy hour. $$ FB L D Daily SALT LIFE Food Shack, 1018 Third St. N., 372-4456, saltlife foodshack.com. Specialties: signature tuna poke bowl, sushi, Ensenada tacos, local fried shrimp, in modern open-air space. $$ FB K TO L D Daily SLIDERS Seafood Grille & Oyster Bar, 218 First St., NB, 246-0881, slidersseafoodgrille.com. Beach-casual 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. 2015 BOJ winner. 20+ tap beers, TVs. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. $ FB K L D Daily SURFING SOMBRERO, 222 First St. N., 834-9377.

Oceanfront place serves authentic fare – like paella. Drink specials. Dine in or outside. $$ FB L D Daily SURFWICHES Sandwich Shop, 1537 Penman Rd., 241-6996, surfwiches.com. Craft sandwich shop; Yankeestyle steaks, hoagies, all made to order. $ BW TO K L D Daily

DOWNTOWN

AKEL’S DELICATESSSEN, 21 W. Church St., 665-7324, akelsdeli.com. F New York-style deli has freshly made subs (3 Wise Guys, Champ), burgers, gyros, breakfast bowls, ranchero wrap, vegetarian items. $ K TO B L Mon.-Fri. THE CANDY APPLE Café & Cocktails, 400 N. Hogan St., 353-9717, thecandyapplecafe.com. Sandwiches, entrées,

GEORGE VONDOLTEREN

Bo's Club

201 Fifth Ave. N., Jax Beach BIRTHPLACE: Melbourne, Florida

YEARS IN THE BIZ: 18

FAVE RESTAURANT (other than mine): Orsay in Avondale FAVE CUISINE STYLE: French FAVE INGREDIENTS: Pepper, garlic and onions IDEAL MEAL: Seafood, steak and sushi WON’T CROSS MY LIPS: Egg yolks INSIDER’S SECRET: Treat people as you expect to be treated.

CELEBRITY SIGHTING: Derrick Odum CULINARY TREAT: Caviar 8616 Baymeadows Rd., 739-2498. F SEE ORANGE PARK. METRO DINER, 9802 Baymeadows Rd., 425-9142. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. NATIVE SUN Natural Foods Market & Deli, 11030 Baymeadows Rd., 260-2791. SEE MANDARIN. PATTAYA THAI Grille, 9551 Baymeadows Rd., 646-9506, ptgrille.com. Family-owned; traditional, vegetarian, new Thai; curries, , noodles. Low-sodium, gluten-free, too. $$$ BW TO L D Tue.-Sun. TEQUILA’S Mexican Restaurant, 10915 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 101, 363-1365, tequilasjacksonville.com. F Authentic fare, fresh ingredients. Vegetarian dishes; drink specials.

Nonstop happy hour. $$ FB L D Daily THE WELL WATERING HOLE, 3928 Baymeadows Rd., Ste. 9, 737-7740, thewellwateringhole.com. Local craft beers, wines glass/bottle. Meatloaf sandwich, pulled Peruvian chicken, vegan black bean burgers. $$ BW K TO D Tue.-Sat.

salads. $$ FB K L, Mon.; L D Tue.-Sun. CASA DORA, 108 E. Forsyth, 356-8282. F Chef Sam Hamidi serves Italian fare, 35+ years: veal, seafood, gourmet pizza.

Homemade salad dressing. $ BW K L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat. OLIO MARKET, 301 E. Bay St., 356-7100, oliomarket.com.

F From-scratch soups, sandwiches. Duck grilled cheese, seen on Best Sandwich in America. $$ BW TO B R L Mon.-Fri. SWEET PETE’S, 400 N. Hogan 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, thezodi acbarandgrill.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 Parkway, 541-0009. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE.

DINING DIRECTORY MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 1800 Town Ctr. Blvd., 541-1999. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MOJO SMOKEHOUSE, 1810 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 8, 264-0636. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. WHITEY’S FISH CAMP, 2032 C.R. 220, 269-4198, whiteys fishcamp.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

INTRACOASTAL WEST

AL’S PIZZA, 14286 Beach Blvd., Ste. 31, 223-0991. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. DICK’S WINGS, 14286 Beach Blvd., 223-0115. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE ORANGE PARK. LARRY’S, 10750 Atlantic, Ste. 14, 642-6980. F SEE O. PARK. TIME OUT Sports Grill, 13799 Beach Blvd., Ste. 5, 223-6999, timeoutsportsgrill.com. F Locally-owned-and-operated.

Hand-tossed pizzas, wings, wraps. Daily drink specials, HDTVs. Late-nite menu. $$ FB L Tue.-Sun.; D Nightly

MANDARIN, NW ST. JOHNS

AKEL’S DELI, 12926 Granbay Pkwy. W., 880-2008. F SEE DOWNTOWN.

AL’S PIZZA, 11190 San Jose Blvd., 260-4115. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. ATHENS CAFÉ, 6271 St. Augustine Rd., Ste. 7, 733-1199.

F Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baby shoes (stuffed eggplant). Greek beers. $$ BW L Mon.-Fri.; D Mon.-Sat.

DICK’S WINGS, 10391 Old St. Augustine Rd., 880-7087. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE ORANGE PARK. FIRST COAST Deli & Grill, 6082 St. Augustine Rd., 733-7477.

Diner: pancakes, bacon, sandwiches, burgers. $ K TO B L Daily LARRY’S Subs, 11365 San Jose, 674-2945. F SEE O. PARK. METRO DINER, 12807 San Jose Blvd., 638-6185. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. 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 RED ELEPHANT Pizza & Grill, 10131 San Jose Blvd., Ste. 12, 683-3773, redelephantpizza.com. Casual, familyfriendly eatery. Pizzas, sandwiches, grill specials, burgers, pasta, plus gluten-free-friendly items. $ FB K L D Daily

ORANGE PARK

CHEERS PARK AVENUE, 1138 Park Ave., 269-4855. $$ FB L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 6055 Youngerman Circle, 778-1101, dickswingsandgrill.com. 1803 East West Pkwy., 375-2559. 2015 BOJ winner. NASCAR theme.

365 varieties of wings, half-pound burgers, ribs. $ FB K TO L D Daily 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

BITE-SIZED

SUNRISE CARIBBEAN GOURMET delights with homestyle Jamaican cooking

AT LOCAL

YOU CAN’T MISS IT: THE BRIGHT RED, YELLOW and green exterior of SUNRISE CARIBBEAN GOURMET on the Westside, off Edgewood Avenue. Walking into Sunrise is like coming home to a crock-pot meal – welcomed inside by the savory smells.

I went on a weeknight, and though there are lots of comfortable booths and tables, it seemed the usual practice was to order to go, so I did, too.

Depending on how hungry you are, you can order a dish in a variety of sizes ranging from “express” to “jumbo.” As the size increases, so do your sides. With options like plantains, cabbage, and cornbread, you may decide you want them all. oxtailil A handwritten sign advises that “Double fragrant yellow sauce with vegetables. fr vegetables The oxtai was tender, savory, and quite flavorful. The jerk cabbage is ‘75¢’ extra,” which I took as a good and curry chicken were cut into large, tender, indication that I should order the cabbage. As you white and dark meat, bone-in chunks. I expected wait in line, snack on a Jamaican beef or veggie jerk chicken to light my mouth on fire, which it patty ($2) and peruse the drink case. There’s did, but it was a pleasant, slow burn. Whether the a variety of sodas and housemade traditional kitchen made the executive decision to make the Jamaican beverages like ginger beer, Sorrel and white girl’s food a little less spicy, we may never Irish Moss ($3 each). I chose the Sorrel, which was know. As for the curry, don’t anticipate it will be super-sweet, with its vibrant hibiscus-red coloring like Indian curry. The flavor profiles are different and spicy ginger finish. and almost none of the same Ordering is easy: The menu spices are used. is up front, with pictures for SUNRISE CARIBBEAN I love a good portion of reference. With options ranging GOURMET RESTAURANT rice and beans, and Sunrise from chicken to goat and oxtail 1415 Edgewood Ave N., doesn’t disappoint. The rice to snapper, you’re sure to Westside, 783-0102 has a slight sweetness to find something to satisfy. The facebook.com/Sunriseit that somehow managed guy in line behind me said he Caribbean-Gourmetto complement each meat always gets the snapper, but Restaurant-160162077360566/ perfectly. Don’t worry, that it doesn’t come deboned, cabbage lovers, I didn’t forget so he wouldn’t recommend it about you. The vegetable dish for a Jamaican food newbie. was a solid, tasty portion of cabbage. It’s easy to He suggested I try the traditional jerk chicken see why it’s the most popular side on the menu. with peas and rice instead. The oxtail looked Sunrise specializes in traditional Jamaican tasty, so I ordered the small oxtail ($8.56), jerk meals, so expect large, homestyle portions at a chicken ($7.50), and curry chicken ($7.50) for good price. I’ve resisted the temptation to end good measure. Each small order includes rice each sentence with “mon,” and for that I deserve and one side; I choose rice and beans, cabbage, another jerk patty. and plantains.

Brentley Stead Both the oxtail and the jerk chicken were in mail@folioweekly.com a rich brown sauce; the curry chicken was in a

photoo by Bre phot Brentley Stead

THE SUN NEVER SETS

JAMAICAN BITE SIZED RESTAURANT

MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 31

DINING DIRECTORY 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. 5733 Roosevelt Blvd., 446-9500. 1401 S. Orange Ave., Green Cove, 284-7789, larryssubs.com. F All over the area, Larry’s piles ’em high, serves ’em fast; 33+ years. Hot & cold subs, soups, salads. Some Larry’s serve breakfast. $ K TO B L D Daily METRO DINER, 2034 Kingsley Ave., 375-8548. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. SNACSHACK, 179 College Dr., Ste. 19, 682-7622, snac shack.menu. F Bakery and café; bagels, muffins, breads, cookies, brownies, snack treats. $$ K BW TO B, L & D Daily

PONTE VEDRA BEACH

AL’S Pizza, 635 A1A, 543-1494. F 2015 BOJ. SEE BEACHES. DICK’S WINGS, 100 Marketside Ave., 829-8134, dickswings andgrill.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE ORANGE PARK. LARRY’S SUBS, 830 A1A N., 273-3993. F SEE ORANGE PARK.

RIVERSIDE, 5 POINTS, WESTSIDE

13 GYPSIES, 887 Stockton St., 389-0330, 13gypsies.com.

2015 BOJ winner. Authentic Mediterranean peasant cuisine updated for Americans; tapas, blackened octopus, risotto of the day, coconut mango curry chicken. $$ BW L D Tue.-Sat. AKEL’S Deli, 245 Riverside Ave., 791-3336. F SEE DOWNTOWN. AL’S PIZZA, 1620 Margaret St., 388-8384. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. BLACK SHEEP Restaurant, 1534 Oak St., 355-3793, black sheep5points.com. New American, Southern; local source ingredients. Rooftop bar. $$$ FB R Sat. & Sun.; L D Daily BOLD BEAN COFFEE ROASTERS, 869 Stockton St., Stes. 1 & 2, 855-1181. F 2015 BOJ winner. 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 2015 BOJ winner. Local craft beer, espresso, coffee, wine. Rotating drafts, 75+ can craft beers; sodas, tea. Rotating seasonal menu: waffles, pastries, toasts, desserts, specialty coffees, craft beers. $$ BW K B L 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 air in historic landmark building. Shrimp & grits, lobster bites, 10-oz. gourmet burger. Dine inside or out. $$ FB TO Wknd brunch. B, L D Tue.-Sun. EDGEWOOD Bakery, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., 389-8054, edgewoodbakery.com. 68+ years, full-service. From-scratch pastries, petit fours, pies, custom cakes. Espresso/pastry café: sandwiches, smoothies, soups. $$ K TO B L Tue.-Sat. EUROPEAN STREET CAFÉ, 2753 Park St., 384-9999. 2015 BOJ winner. 130+ import beers, 20 on tap. Sandwiches.

Outside dining at some EStreets. $ BW K L D Daily GRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET, 2007 Park St., 384-4474, thegrassrootsmarket.com. F 2015 BOJ winner. Juice bar; organic fruits, veggies. 300+ craft/imports, 50 wines, meats, deli, raw, vitamins. Wraps, sandwiches. $ BW TO B L D Daily HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FARE, 1001 Park St., 508-0342, hawkerstreetfare.com. 2015 BOJ winner. Authentic dishes from mobile stalls. $ BW TO L D Daily IL DESCO, 2665 Park St., 290-6711, ildescojax.com. Modern Italian cuisine. Handcraft cocktails. $$-$$$ FB TO K L D Daily JOHNNY’S Deli & Grille, 474 Riverside Ave., 356-8055. F Casual; sandwiches, classic salads, homefries. $ TO B L Daily KNEAD Bakeshop, 1173 Edgewood Ave. S., 634-7617.

Locally-owned, family-run; made-from-scratch pastries, artisan breads, pies, sandwiches. $ 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 2015 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. $$ K TO L Mon.-Sat.; D Fri. MOON RIVER PIZZA, 1176 Edgewood Ave. S., 389-4442. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE AMELIA ISLAND. MOSSFIRE GRILL, 1537 Margaret St., 355-4434, mossfire. com. F Southwestern fish tacos, enchiladas. HH Mon.-Sat. upstairs lounge, all day Sun. $$ FB K L D Daily O’BROTHERS Irish Pub, 1521 Margaret, 854-9300, obroth ersirishpub.com. F Stilton crust shepherd’s pie, Guinness mac-n-cheese, fish-n-chips. Patio. $$ FB K TO L D Daily PATTAYA Thai Grille, 1526 King St., 503-4060. SEE BAYMEADOWS. RAIN DOGS, 1045 Park, 379-4969. ’15 BOJ. Bar food. $ D SBRAGA & Company, 220 Riverside Ave., Ste. 114, 746-0909, sbragadining.com. Chef Kevin Sbraga has a contemporary approach to local influences. Go-to dishes: hog & hominy, fish fry, carrot ceviche. $$-$$$ FB TO L D Daily SOUTHERN ROOTS FILLING STATION, 1275 King St., 513-4726, southernrootsjax.com. 2015 BOJ winner.

Healthy, light vegan fare; local, organic ingredients.

Specials, on bread, local greens or rice, change daily.

Coffees, teas. $ Tue.-Sun. SUSHI CAFÉ, 2025 Riverside, Ste. 204, 384-2888, sushi cafejacksonville.com. F Monster, Rock-n-Roll, Dynamite Roll. Hibachi, tempura, katsu, teriyaki. $$ BW L D Daily

ST. AUGUSTINE

AL’S PIZZA, 1 St. George St., 824-4383. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. CARMELO’S MARKETPLACE PIZZERIA, 146 King St., 494-6658, carmelosmarketplace.com. New York-style brick-oven-baked pizza, fresh sub rolls, Boar’s Head meats & cheeses, garlic herb wings. Outdoor seating, Wi-Fi. $$ BW TO L D Daily DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 965 S.R. 16, 825-4540. 4010 U.S. 1 S., 547-2669. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE ORANGE PARK. THE FLORIDIAN, 72 Spanish St., 829-0655, thefloridian

32 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

staug.com. 2015 BOJ winner. Updated Southern fare.

Vegetarian, gluten-free. Fried green tomato bruschetta, grits with shrimp, fish or tofu. $$$ BW K TO L D Wed.-Mon. GYPSY CAB COMPANY, 828 Anastasia Blvd., 824-8244, gypsycab.com. F Local mainstay 25+ years. Varied menu changes twice daily. Signature dish: Gypsy chicken. Seafood, tofu, duck, veal. Sun. brunch. $$ FB R Sun.; L D Daily MELLOW MUSHROOM Pizza Bakers, 410 Anastasia Blvd., 826-4040. F Bite Club. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. METRO DINER, 1000 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., 758-3323. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE SAN MARCO. MOJO OLD CITY BBQ, 5 Cordova St., 342-5264. F 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. ONE TWENTY THREE BURGER HOUSE, 123 King St., 687-2790. From Carmelo’s owners. Premium burgers, made with beef from NYC butcher Schweid & Sons. Woodfired pizzas, ice cream bar, Old World milkshakes. $$ BW K TO L D Daily SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK, 321 A1A Beach Blvd., 217-3256, saltlifefoodshack.com. SEE BEACHES.

SAN MARCO, SOUTHBANK

BASIL Thai & Sushi, 1004 Hendricks Ave., 674-0190, basilthaijax.com. F Authentic Pad Thai, curry, tempura, vegetarian, seafood, stir-fry, specials. $$ FB L D Mon.-Sat. BISTRO AIX, 1440 San Marco Blvd., 398-1949, bistrox. com. F Mediterranean/French inspired; steak frites, oakfired pizza, raw bar seasonal selections. $$$ FB TO L D Daily DICK’S Wings, 1610 University Blvd. W., 448-2110. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE ORANGE PARK. EUROPEAN STREET Café, 1704 San Marco Blvd., 398-9500.

2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. $ BW K L D Daily FUSION SUSHI, 1550 University Blvd. W., 636-8688, fusion sushijax.com. F Upscale sushi spot serves a variety of fresh sushi, sashimi, hibachi, teriyaki, kiatsu. $$ K L D Daily The GROTTO WINE & TAPAS BAR, 2012 San Marco Blvd., 398-0726. F Artisanal cheese plate, empanada, bruschetta, cheesecake. 60+ wines by the glass. $$$ BW Tue.-Sun. HAMBURGER MARY’S BAR & GRILLE, 3333 Beach Blvd., 551-2048, hamburgermarys.com. F 2015 BOJ winner.

Wings, sammies, nachos, entrées, burgers. $$ K TO FB L D Daily KITCHEN ON SAN MARCO, 1402 San Marco Blvd., 396-2344, kitchenonsanmarco.com. 2015 BOJ winner.

Local, national craft beers, specialty cocktails, seasonal menu, fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Sunday brunch. $$ FB L D Daily METRO DINER, 3302 Hendricks Ave., 398-3701, metro diner.com. F 2015 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 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. PIZZA PALACE, 1959 San Marco Ave., 399-8815, pizzapalacejax.com. F Family-owned-&-operated; spinach pizza, chicken spinach calzones, lasagna. Dine outside. $$ BW K TO L D Daily SCORES, 4923 Univ. Blvd. W., 739-6966. $$ FB D Nightly.

TAVERNA, 1986 San Marco Ave., 398-3005, tavernasan marco.com. Chef Sam Efron’s authentic Italian; local produce, meats. Craft beers, craft cocktails. $$$ FB K TO R L D Daily

SOUTHSIDE, TINSELTOWN

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. BARBERITOS, 4320 Deerwood Lake Pkwy., Ste. 106, 807-9060. F SEE AMELIA ISLAND. DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 10750 Atlantic Blvd., 619-0954.

2015 BOJ winner. SEE ORANGE PARK. DIM SUM Room, 9041 Southside Blvd., 363-9888, thedimsu mroom.com. Shrimp dumplings, sesame ball. Traditional Hong Kong noodles, barbecue. $ FB K L D Daily EUROPEAN STREET Café, 5500 Beach Blvd., 398-1717.

2015 BOJ winner. SEE RIVERSIDE. JC HOMEMADE PASTRIES FILIPINO CUISINE & KARAOKE, 12192 Beach Blvd., Ste. 3, 619-4303. Authentic Filipino fare. $$ Fri.-Sun. TO. 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. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE BEACHES. MONROE’S SMOKEHOUSE BAR B-Q, 10771 Beach Blvd., 996-7900, monroessmokehousebbq.com. SEE RIVERSIDE. OVINTE, 10208 Buckhead Branch Dr., 900-7730, ovinte. com. 2015 BOJ winner. European-style, influenced by Italy, Spain, Mediterranean. Small plates, entrée-size portions, selections from charcuterie menu. $$$ BW TO R D Daily STICKY FINGERS SMOKEHOUSE, 8129 Point Meadows Way, 493-7427, stickyfingers.com. Memphis-style hickorysmoked ribs, wings, pulled pork, barbecue – five legendary sauces and a dozen sides. $$$ FB K TO 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

PINT-SIZED

GETTING DOWN ON

ALL TOURS PUB CRAWLS offer camaraderie over suds

A FEW WEEKS AGO, IN A DARK CORNER OF AN unnamed drinking establishment, representatives from several breweries and distributors plotted their next move. The cabal spoke excitedly as they planned, downing cold craft brews and tossing out ideas. When discussions were over, plans were laid and glasses were empty, the faction had decided on their next course of action: the Sons of CANarchy Pub Crawl.

PUB CRAWLS are time-honored social activities, ranging from structured to strictly free-form tours of taverns, bars and pubs within a specific geographic area. Pub crawls can be as small as a group of friends deciding to bar-hop one evening or as large as New York City’s annual SantaCon, with thousands of revelers dressed as jolly ol’ St. Nick carousing the bars and streets of Manhattan.

“Pub crawls are for people who like to do things in groups,” said Suzanne Dixon, manager of St. Augustine City Walks, a company that conducts several themed pub crawls. “They are very much a social thing.”

The company’s Creepy Crawl Haunted Pub Tour and Paranormal Investigation takes fearless crawlers to four haunted pubs in St. Augustine as the guide regales them with tales of terror and hauntings while they quaff cold brews. And who doesn’t love chilling stories from the oftenbarbaric early days of our country along with a frosty beverage?

“It’s for people who like spirits with their spirits,” Dixon quipped.

According to Scott Cowart, Florida sales representative for Oskar Blues Brewery, Sons of CANarchy has been kicked around for quite some time.

“We wanted to do something that brought a focus on cans,” Cowart said. “We are still in a daily fight regarding cans versus bottles. We’re still trying to show people that good beer comes in cans. And with breweries like Cigar City, Intuition, Terrapin and Bell’s joining us, hopefully we can dispel some of the myths.”

Next week’s pub crawl begins at Beer:30 on King Street in Riverside and continues to Five Points for four more stops at Alewife, BREW Five Points, Root Down and Rain Dogs. Each stop features a different brewery, but beers from all breweries will be available at all stops. Crawlers have the opportunity to meet brewery representatives and score schwag, like coozies and stickers.

Some area pub crawls to try:

PINT SIZED

SONS OF CANARCHY PUB CRAWL 6-11 p.m. Thursday, March 24. First stop is at Beer:30 Riverside; Alewife Craft Beer Bottle Shop & Tasting Room 7 p.m.; Brew Five Points 8 p.m., Root Down Jax 9 p.m.; Rain Dogs 10 p.m. Costumes, wizard sticks encouraged. Details at facebook.com/ events/983098128412331/

SPRINGFIELD, NORTHSIDE

CREEPY CRAWL HAUNTED PUB TOUR & PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION 7-9:30 p.m. Thursdays & Fridays; 7, 8 & 8:30 p.m.

Saturdays. Departs from Al’s Pizza, St. George St., St. Augustine. Details at staugcitywalks.com

SEE ORANGE PARK.

THE JAX ALE TRAIL More a self-guided tour of several craft breweries in Jacksonville than an actual pub crawl. Get a bunch of beer buddies together and go. Details at visitjacksonville.com/jax-ale-trail.

Marc Wisdom mail@folioweekly.com

DICK’S WINGS & GRILL, 12400 Yellow Bluff Rd., Ste. 101, 619-9828. 2015 BOJ winner. SEE ORANGE PARK. HOLA Mexican Restaurant, 1001 N. Main St., 3563100, holamexicanrestaurant.com. F Fajitas, burritos, specials, enchiladas. Happy Hour; sangria. $ BW K TO L D Mon.-Sat. LARRY’S GIANT SUBS, 12001 Lem Turner Rd., 764-9999.

MOLLY BROWN’S PUB & GRILL, 2467 Faye Rd., 683-5044. F American (traditional), brunch, burgers, diner fare, hot dogs, sandwiches, seafood, Southern and vegetarian dishes. $$ FB TO L D Daily

MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 33

UPCOMING PET EVENTS YAPPY HOUR This dog-friendly event “You LUCKY Dog” is held 2-5 p.m. March 20 at The Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Dr., Downtown, featuring live music by DJ Kevin Tos and a St. Puppy’s Day Party for dogs, their parents and dog lovers. Dress your pooch in green and you may win King or Queen of the Green. Plus enjoy a dog and owner beer-drinking contest, smiling contest, pet expo, giveaways and more. 353-1188, jacksonvillelanding.com.

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ADOPTABLES

TAYLOR

Kiss Me, I’m Irish If you live an adventurous lifestyle, I’m the girl for you. Let’s go out and explore all there is to sniff in Jacksonville. Some of my BFFs are dogs at the shelter, so I’d love a trip to the dog park – I bet we can find a four-leaf clover together! I really hope my lucky day comes soon and that you will be the pot o’gold at the end of my rainbow! For adoption information, visit jaxhumane.org

2016 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL DOG SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP Nassau Humane Society partners with Team Surfdog, Dockdogs and Redbones in presenting this exciting contest at 9 a.m. Friday, March 25 through 2 p.m. Sunday, March 27 at 2500 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina Beach. Frisbee dogs, dock jumping, dog surfing competition and more. 310-3350, dockdogs.com.

DOGGONE EASTER EGG HUNT The fourth annual hunt is held noon-2 p.m.

Saturday, March 26 at Town Hall, 2042 Park Ave., Orange Park. Separate hunts for large and small dogs. A bake sale, a silent auction,

ADOPTABLES

SHAMROCK

My Irish Eyes Are Smiling If you want a forever good luck charm, look no further. My tabby coat’s as soft as Éire’s hills.

My green eyes shimmer like emeralds in mornin’ dew. I’m Irish and awesome. Yes, cats can be Irish. Would you doubt a sweet little lass like me? Come adopt me soon and you’ll see how Irish I can be! For adoption information, visit jaxhumane.org

Easter Bunny photos ops and Mojo BBQ are featured. Proceeds benefit Friends of Clay County Animals. All dogs must be on leash. For details and to register: pawfectionbakery.com.

DOGGIE DIPS Fernandina Beach Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring this fun swimming pool activity for dogs and their owners, 2-3 34 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

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DEAR DAVI

WEAPONIZED TORPEDO DOG “BUCKLE UP for safety”

isn’t just for humans

Dear Davi, We are planning a road trip soon and I need something to keep me strapped in safely and comfortably. What would you recommend for a safe ride?

Thanks, Saul the Schnauzer Hi Saul, Selecting a safety device for travelling any distance in any vehicle is a wise move. However, there’s a good chance that even well-intended restraints may not fully protect you in a crash. I know this fi rsthand.

It happened in a matter of seconds. We were at a complete stop, left blinker blinking, when suddenly BAM!, our vehicle was rear-ended. I instantly went from sitting inside my cozy car seat to dangling outside of it. Lucky for me, my safety harness kept me from smashing into the dash. Even buckled in, I was still bumped around, but unscathed.

The lesson learned? Wearing a safety restraint is better than not.

Yet finding one rated high for safety is no easy task. One would think that products that claim to protect you in a crash would actually protect you in a crash. This is not always true.

Pet products have no set criteria, so those promises on the packaging could be inaccurate.

The Center for Pet Safety put some of these products to the test to figure out which were the safest. Using crash test dummy dogs and a selection of popular harnesses, it staged a 30 mph accident. The results were not encouraging. Several of these products failed in one way or another; some failed so miserably that if you were in it, you could be seriously injured or even killed!

The good news: Many companies are now seeking guidance to develop safer products. A Seal of Approval will be stamped on safety harnesses, carriers, crates, or pet car seats that comply with recent standards.

That said, I was shocked to learn that while 84 percent of pet parents say they bring their pets along for the ride, only 16 percent use any form of pet restraint. Can you believe that? Honestly, some people.

It seems like a no-brainer to buckle up for safety, but it’s true, dog safety in the car has largely been left up to the human, with only those crazy dog people – like my mom – being the ones who use a restraint while traveling.

Dogs need the same safeguards as humans while riding in a car; otherwise the danger is very real. An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash becomes a projectile flying 30 mph, and an unrestrained 80-pound dog becomes a missile. Imagine the devastation that can cause to you and anyone in your path.

Even though a safety restraint is not the most comfortable thing to wear, it does keep you from being a distraction and keeps you from an unpleasant encounter with a windshield.

As for my recommendations, you can learn more about top performing products and pet travel safety by visiting centerforpetsafety.org.

Davi mail@folioweekly.com _____________________________________

Davi is a lively brown dachshund with a healthy appetite for any kind of adventure. He loves sweet potato treats, playing at the park with friends, and exploring the unknown.

PET TIP: POLLY WANNA SMACK HER LET’S FACE IT: SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO OWN A FURRY CREATURE. No judgment here, we totes get that it’s, like, exhaust-ifying to scoop fragrant tootsie rolls out of the litter box or trail after a canine picking up sh*t. But the apartment is so lonely! So, in lieu of a cat or dog, these almostadults might consider getting a bird for company. But be warned, would-be-bird-owners: Birds are highly intelligent, love (and actually need) attention and can be more irritating than Rip Taylor on meth. So you might want to consider a pet rock instead. Or a picture of an animal of your choice. Way lower maintenance.

UPCOMING PET EVENTS CONTINUED p.m. Saturday, March 26 and April 23 at the MLK Center, 1200 Elm St., Fernandina Beach. $5 per dog. No dog bullies are allowed, two dogs per owner maximum, and no humans in the pool. 310-3350 ext. 1. Proceeds support a free swimming lessons program for humans.

LB REPTILE EXPERIENCE The Jacksonville Herpetological Society member offers educational shows for schools, daycares, libraries, corporate events, birthday parties. Owners are designated Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission nuisance alligator trappers. 703-0249, lbreptileexperience.com.

To see your pet event here, send event name, time, date, location with complete street address and city, admission price, contact number/website to print, to mdryden@folioweekly.com – at least two weeks before the event.

MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 35

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

FOLIO WEEKLY MAGAZINE CROSSWORD by DALE RATERMANN. Presented by

SAN MARCO 2044 SAN MARCO BLVD. 398-9741

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PONTE VEDRA

THE SHOPPES OF PONTE VEDRA

330 A1A NORTH 280-1202

ACROSS

Acquire signs of age West African nation Seductress Feed the pot Salt Life clothing tag “Here comes trouble!”

Consolidation of cities from Broward and Collier counties Reduces to mist Headline worthy Ball girl Sen. Nelson, for one UNF business major On the Atlantic Place for sweaters?

Emulates Whole Wheat Bread End Opposite of blew Start for school Unification of towns from Palm Beach and Bradford counties A verb for you Good name for a Dalmatian Tampa coll.

Honey substitute Fabric feature Sawgrass golf shot Pinches pennies Workout targets JAX destination ER pronouncement Small-town designation

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SOUTHSIDE

AVONDALE 3617 ST. JOHNS AVE. 10300 SOUTHSIDE BLVD. 388-5406 394-1390 AVENUES MALL

65 Communities of Duval and Polk counties merging 69 Paragon 70 Word in a Hugo title 71 Victory Casino surface 72 No. 2 vote-getter in Florida in 1996 presidential election 73 Weasel family member 74 Comcast channel

DOWN

1 Baymeadows inn choice 2 Bonds or binds 3 Night club flasher 4 Sharks or Giants 5 Pecan Roll Bakery coating 6 Concubines’ places 7 The basics 8 Modernist 9 Clay County Court excuse 10 Uncouth 11 “Eureka!”

12 When MLK Day is celebrated 13 Degree of success?

18 Summer starter 19 Moral misstep 24 Fiction’s counterpart 25 Where a pain in the neck might be 26 Neptune Beach lifeguard’s skill, initially

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29 Got fed up 31 Bella Vita staple 34 Test figs.

35 Young shark 37 Three-vowel word that sounds like a fourth vowel 38 OR workers 40 Make haste on I-95 41 A long time 42 Popeye’s rival 43 WJXL revenue 44 DVR button 48 “What gets wetter the more it dries?” e.g.

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36 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | MARCH 16-22, 2016

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C Z A R

E O L D A L O E T I O N O P T D O R T A D E R S G E E S E S S E R E S T

16

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A N T I C

S P A N

20

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50 Sandwich chain 52 Alhambra Dinner Theatre 2015 show 53 Reflexive pronoun 54 A good deal 56 Tend a fairway 57 Great effort 59 Floppy top 60 Gag order?

63 Limp Bizkit drummer John ___ 64 Boobs 65 Bridge term 66 Tizzy 67 Twitter twitter 68 Ready alternative

Solution to Dale’s 3.9.16 Puzzle

15

14

CARL SAGAN, NIETZSCHE (AGAIN!), HENRI MATISSE & IMAGINARY LIVES

53

54

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Artist Steven Spazuk works exclusively with an unusual medium: soot from candles and torches.

He spreads the stuff across a blank canvas, then uses various instruments to sculpt the accidental blobs into definitive forms. I’ve seen the results, and they’re well-done and intriguing. What’s your metaphorical equivalent of using soot to make beautiful, interesting things? You’re primed to turn waste into building blocks, rot into splendor, and lead into gold. (See Spazuk’s work at spazuk.com.)

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Carl Sagan said that science thrives on “two seemingly contradictory attitudes: an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive, and the most ruthless skeptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new.” Even if you’re not a scientist, practice this approach in the weeks ahead. It’s the tool most likely to keep you centered and free of rigidity and illusion.

As Sagan concluded, this is “how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Excess on occasion is exhilarating,” said British author W. Somerset Maugham. “It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.” Now’s an excellent time to take that advice to heart. According to my astrological omen analysis, you have license to engage in rowdy fun and extravagant pleasures; it’s your sacred duty. Get out and treat yourself to naughty adventures, or at least a celebration of meaningful thrills. You can return to rigors of discipline and order once you’ve harvested healthy benefits that come from escaping them.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): At one point in Friedrich Nietzsche’s book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the hero is talking to himself.

“You have wanted to pet every monster,” he says. “A whiff of warm breath, a little soft tuft on the paw – and at once you were ready to love and to lure it.” If I were you, I’d regard that behavior as forbidden in the weeks ahead. In fact, don’t pet any monsters at all – not even the cute ones; not even the beasties, rascals and imps that have slight resemblances to monsters.

It’s time for maximum discernment and caution. One monster may become a non-monstrous ally if you’re wary toward it now.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): On a social media site, I posted this quote from self-help teacher Byron Katie: “Our job is unconditional love. The job of everyone else in our life is to push our buttons.” One commenter took issue with this. “’Pushing buttons’ is a metaphor that’s long past its expiration date,” she wrote. “Can’t you come up with something fresher?” So I did. Here are potential substitutes for “push our buttons”: “tweak our manias” … “prank our obsessions” … “glitter-bomb our biases” … “squeeze our phobias” … “badger our compulsions” … “seduce our repressions.”

Whichever expression you prefer, find a graceful way to embrace your fate: Your job is unconditional love. The job of everyone else in your life is to tweak your manias.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In the weeks ahead, you’ll have maximum power to revise and reinvigorate your approach to cultivating intimate relationships. To aid your quest, here’s paraphrased advice from Andrew Boyd: Almost every one of us seeks a special partner who is just right. But there is no right person, just different flavors of wrong. Why? Because you are “wrong” in some ways – you have demons, flaws and problems. In fact, these “wrongs” are essential components of who you are. When you ripen into this understanding, you’re ready to fi nd and be with a special counterpart. He or she has the precise set

of problems you need, is the person who’s wrong for you in just the right ways. (See Boyd’s original quote: tinyurl.com/boydquote.)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In her book The Winter Vault, Anne Michaels writes, “We become ourselves when things are given to us or when things are taken away.” If she’s right, does it mean we should be grateful for those times when things are taken? Should we regard moments of loss as therapeutic prods to compel us to understand ourselves better and to create ourselves with a fi ercer determination? Meditate on these possibilities. The things-getting-taken-away period of your cycle is winding down. Soon you’ll begin a new phase, when you can become a deeper, stronger version of you because of the things given to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I’ll make love when the lust subsides,” sings Denitia, onehalf of the electro-pop band Denitia and Sene. That’d be a good motto for you to play around with in the next few days – in literal and metaphorical ways. I’ll enjoy seeing how your emotional intelligence ripens as the white-hot passion of recent weeks evolves into a more manageable warmth. As fun as the intensity has been, it’s blinded you to the possibilities for collaborative growth that have been emerging. You may be ready to explore and appreciate sweeter, subtler pleasures.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “The poems I have loved the most are those I have understood the least,” said T. S. Eliot. I’m going to steal and expand upon his idea for an accurate horoscope. In the days ahead, the experiences you love most will be those you understand the least. Indeed, the experiences you NEED the most will be those that surprise, mystify and intrigue you. Luckily, life will be ingenious in bypassing your analytical intelligence, to provide rich emotional stimuli for your soul.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn painter Henri Matisse made this testimony about his creative process: “At each stage I reach a balance, a conclusion. At the next sitting, if I find that there is a weakness in the whole, I make my way back into the picture by means of the weakness – I re-enter through the breach – and I reconceive the whole. Thus everything becomes fluid again.” I recommend this approach in the next few days. You’ve been making decent progress on your key project. To keep up the good work, find where the cracks are, and let them teach you how to proceed.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “We all lead three lives,” said Austrian novelist Thomas Bernhard, “an actual one, an imaginary one, and the one we are not aware of.” You’ll get big glimpses of your third life in the weeks ahead: the one you’re usually not aware of. It might freak you out a bit, maybe unleash blasts of laughter and surges of tears. But if you approach these revelations with reverent curiosity, they’ll be cleansing and catalytic.

They’ll make you less entranced by your imaginary life and better grounded in your actual life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “The greatest illusion is not religion,” says aphorist Michael Lipsey. “It’s waking up in the morning imagining how much you’re going to get done today.” But even if that’s often true, you have the power to refute it in the weeks ahead. Your ability to accomplish small wonders will be at a peak. Your knack for mastering details and acting with practical acumen may be unprecedented. For the immediate future, you’ll largely be able to get done what you imagine you can get done.

Rob Brezsny freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com

NEWS OF THE WEIRD TAKE THAT, PORTLAND!

Seattle’s ambitious Office of Arts & Culture has allocated $10,000 this year to pay a poet or writer to create a work while on the city’s Fremont Bridge drawbridge. The office’s deputy director told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in January that the city wants to encourage “public art” and that the grant will oblige the recipient to create a work of prose or poetry from the bridge’s northwest tower, to help the people of Seattle understand the function of art in the city. The artist will not be “in residence” — the tower has no running water.

WHO’S IN CHARGE?

The dominant-submissive lifestyle soared to higher-brow status in February when The New York Times reported on the recent marriage of the celebrated composer of “moody, queasy” works (and compulsive dominant) Georg Friedrich Haas to Mollena Williams, who blogs introspectively about her own kinky bondage as “The Perverted Negress.” Friedrich introduced himself to her on a dating site with the note, “I would like to tame you,” and credits her acceptance for his improved productivity — because, he said, “I am not [any longer] disturbed by unfulfilled thoughts.” Though Williams-Haas is a black woman submitting to a white man, she explained, “To say I can’t play my personal psychodrama out just because I’m black, that’s racist.”

NEW WORLD ORDER

Exasperated, Columbia County (Pennsylvania) District Judge Craig Long felt the need to post a sign outside his courtroom in January informing visitors that they should not wear pajamas to court. However, even Judge Long acknowledged that his admonition was not enforceable and that he was merely trying to encourage minimal standards.

MICROAGGRESSION

In its brand-new communications stylebook this year for city workers, San Diego officials noted that the city’s then-upcoming Presidents’ Day announcements should, to be bias-free and inoffensive, never refer to America’s “Founding Fathers” — even though they were all males — but only to “founders.”

WATCHING YOU

In February, roadside billboard giant Clear Channel Outdoor Americas announced it would soon be recording the cellphone locations of drivers who pass the company’s signs in 11 cities to give advertisers more information on how to pitch products to people with those particular travel patterns and behaviors.

Clear Channel asserts that no individual identifications would be sought, but privacy advocates fret about potential abuses, and even a Clear Channel executive acknowledged the program “does sound a bit creepy.”

HIGH RELIEF

“Medical” marijuana will take on a new meaning soon if the Food & Drug Administration approves Foria Relief cannabis vaginal suppositories for relieving menstrual pain, from California company Foria. Currently, the product is available only in California and Colorado, at $44 for a four-pack. The company claims the inserts are targeted to the pelvic nerve endings, but International Business Times, citing a gynecologist-blogger, noted that the only studies on the efficacy of Foria Relief were done on the uteruses of rats.

NOT THE USUAL SUSPECTS

A then-married couple, both graduates of elite California law schools, were convicted of felonies and went to jail briefly two years ago for a criminal scheme inexplicably tawdry. In February, they lost a resultant civil lawsuit for $5.7 million to the scheme’s victim. A woman at their child’s school had referred to the lawyers’ son as “slow,” enraging Kent Easter (University of California at Berkeley) and thenwife, Jill (UCLA), who retaliated by planting drugs and paraphernalia in Kelli Peters’ car and then, a man identified via circumstantial evidence as Kent (with an accent as if from India), called in a DUI tip to police, resulting in Peters’ arrest. According to Peters, neither perpetrator has ever expressed remorse, and though Kent admitted to “stupidity,” he now complains Peters does not deserve her windfall (like a “Powerball winner,” he said).

Chuck Shepherd weirdnews@earthlink.net

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Cannot wait for our lips to reunite! I love you most!

Love, M.P. When: 2003. Where: Fat Cat. #1590-0217

LISTENING PUNK ROCK IN TRUCK You: In blue/black truck, 8 p.m. When I came out, you turned radio up so I’d look; you flashed best grin.

Sandy, maybe curly hair, bright eyes, that dang smile!

Who ARE you? Gotta know. When: March 7. Where: Welcome Food Mart, St. Augustine. #1600-0316

PRETTY SMILE SAW U TWICE You: Blonde, pretty smile; 4:30 p.m. Me: Black cowboy hat; cold outside. You smiled at me (think it was me) passing by. Passed again, smiling, caught off-guard. Love to get to know you! When: Jan. 23. Where: Publix@Southside/Touchton. #1589-0217

TIJUANA FLATS DROPPED SODA SHERRY? You: Fletcher lacrosse sweatshirt; dropped soda, came back. Me: Waiting too patiently for table, talking to you while you waited for takeout. (Insert cheesy line here, preferably including queso.) Single? Let’s grab a drink. When: Feb. 23. Where: Hodges Tijuana Flats. #1599-0316 GANESH TATTOOED HOT BLONDE GODDESS With ball cap. Thanks for letting me take pic of adorable Ganesh on your beautiful arm! I was totally intrigued, want to connect over chai sometime. The pic got overwhelming likes on IG! When: Feb. 27. Where: SeaWalk Pavilion Jax Beach. #1598-0309 SCRUBS FROM ST. V @ PUBLIX We checked out at same time; you had St. V lanyard, pinenuts (or similar), yogurt and other things.

Handsome! I was too shy to say anything; regret not speaking when I left parking lot. When: Feb. 18.

Where: Publix Riverside. #1597-0224 LOVE THY NEIGHBOR Sharp-dressed man getting out of blue car to check mail. Me: Dark hair, blue eyes. Speechless at such a good-looking man in the complex. Your building’s somewhere in the 20s. Let’s do some neighborhood loving?! ;) When: Feb. 16. Where: Green Tree Place Apartments. #1596-0224 MY ANSWER IS YES You: Very shy. Me: Waiting by the phone. Please call again sometime; I really love your voice! I don’t have your number or I’d text you like I used to. That was fun, wasn’t it? When: Feb. 11. Where: Telephone line. #1595-0217 ENAMORADA DE TI...

Cada vez que puedo me escapo y regreso a donde tu y yo nos vimos por primera vez. Tu: Alto, distinguido. Yo: Chiquita, ojos grandes. Tu tenias un Polo negro, con tu pelo canoso muy buena combinacion. Espero seguirte viendo para siempre. When: Hoy, manana, siempre.

Where: En mis suenos. #1594-0217 PIERCED GIRL WITH DOG You: White SUV, cool shirt, septum piercing, pitbull Scout with heartworm. Me: Guy dressed too warmly for cold morning, with bull mastiff. You tried to talk; I’d been awake 20 minutes. Thinking about missed chance. Let’s meet. When: Feb. 9. Where: Baymeadows Animal Hospital. #1593-0217 TANGO FOR TWO Dance Shack free lesson night. You: Brunette, cute smile, gray booties. Me: Tall, dark eyes, black V-neck.

You wanted to stay and tango; didn’t hear you. My friend told me later! Offer still stand? Lesson’s on me.

When: Feb. 5. Where: Dance Shack. #1592-0217 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE You: Looking fine, dressed sharp in sweater vest for Bible study. Me: In church parking lot, to go to Firehouse; did triple-take when I saw you. You make this girl want to go back to church. When: Jan. 27. Where: Southside Baptist Church parking lot. #1591-0217

HAD ME AT GO ’NOLES! Seminole/Armada games, losing beer pong, Pub subs, laughs, cheek kisses = last “first date” I want. You stole my heart; don’t want it back. The start of something sweet? Say you agree; stay forever! When: Oct. 3, ’15. Where: The Garage/ Baseball Grounds. #1587-0120 WATER AISLE You: Commented on water price; beautiful blond hair, jeans, sweater, very warm and kind. Me: Gray hair, blue eyes, shirt, jeans. We both drink coffee; would love to share a cup with you.

When: Jan. 9, morning. Where: Walmart@foursquare/ U.S. 1 & Southside. #1586-0113 CHAMBLINS CHAMPION You had two enormous boxes of books. I held the door open for you. You: Blonde hair, glasses, great smile. Me: Tall, blonde. Would love to discuss literature sometime! When: Dec. 29. Where: Chamblins Uptown. #1585-0106 WELCOME TO ME! You: Tall, dress shirt, tie. I walked by to get your attention; you were on Bible app on phone.

Please come back next Sunday, and I will try again.

When: Jan. 3. Where: Moe’s @ Avenues. #1584-0106 NEED TLC You: Raven-haired nurse; funky glasses, chatting with co-worker. Me: Curiously smitten; backpack, sling; visiting pre-op over year ago, saw you eating fresh. We have some FB friends in common. Who are you? When: Oct. ’14 & now. Where: St. Vincent’s Subway/FB. #1583-0106 RIDE TOPLESS TOGETHER You: Sexy, dark, handsome, ballcap, BMW convertible. Me: Hot pink, caramel-covered sweetness, MB convertible. Pressed horn, blew a kiss.

Like real one in woods? Know where I am. When: Dec. 26. Where: Leaving UNF Nature Trails. #1582-1230 JAX BEACH EARLY A.M. PHOTOS Enjoy sunrise near 34th Ave.; struck up conversation. Asked to take your photos. You: White shorts; got wet as waves caught you.

Never gave you my card to send the pix. When: Sept. 28.

Where: Jax Beach 34th Ave. S. #1581-1230 TATTOOED REDHEAD, ARCHAEOLOGY BOOKS After clarifying sweater was indeed women’s, you laughed at my remark about you fitting into clothes. Our interaction made my day. Judging from book cover, know carbon dating’s your thing. Coffee dating sometime? When: Dec. 11. Where: UNF Bookstore. #1580-1230 PUT MY FIRE OUT You: Cute fireman, glasses, looking at stuffed dinosaurs. Wish you’d put my burning desire for you out with your big fire hose. Me: Brunette, yoga pants, hoodie. Too shy to introduce myself. Wish I’d said hello.

When: Dec. 9. Where: Publix/Kernan/Atlantic. #1579-1216 ALRIGHT NOW! You: Tall, handsome, sweet leaf. Me: Just a duck. Let’s play Jenga @ Across The Street!

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FOLIO VOICES : BACKPAGE EDITORIAL

One man’s plea to THE VOTING POPULACE

AN OPEN

.

LETTER TO ALL

POTENTIAL

VOTERS SO I’M BROWSING THE BOOK OF FACES ON A Thursday morning, taking a break from the mind-throttling monotony featured in most of my workdays, and I happen upon this article in Folio Weekly Magazine, “The Mayor Has Two Faces” (props for the title, by the way). To recap, the article concerns Councilman Tommy Hazouri’s recent withdrawal of the Human Rights Expansion bill he sponsored (which would protect LGBTQ people from workplace, public accommodation and housing discrimination). Hazouri, a friend of Equality, is temporarily withdrawing the bill to save it from certain defeat. Certain defeat? How? By most accounts, passage of this bill was all but assured. What happened? The usual: Our “mayor” (a title which, for him, shall from now on be lowercase and in quotes), in a series of backroom deals, has bought the votes of enough councilmembers to assure the bill would go down in flames … all according to multiple reliable and unnamed sources. So, for the time being, legalized discrimination against LGBTQ people in Jacksonville remains the law of the land.

I would like to think I’m surprised by this, but I’m really not … “mayor” Curry is a predictably slimy power-broker. All we could do is hope he would recognize the inevitability of this tide and let it happen. He played the role of the “fair arbiter,” holding town hall meetings, etc. You know, “having the conversations.” But when he saw the vote wasn’t going the “right” way, he did what people like him always do: He “corrected” it. So why, exactly, did he do it? Why the backroom deals … why was it so important?

I’ll tell you why: We are in a class war, people, and it’s been on steroids for almost a decade now. I’ve been on this planet for more than a half-century. I have never seen so many scary, crazy people crawl out of the woodwork. Never have political leaders felt so comfortable spewing hateful and laughably false information just to kiss up to their crazy constituents. None of this is new, really. FDR was called a socialist and regularly accused of starting a class war. And dangerous clowns like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have always existed.

But never before in American history have we had a shameful show of this magnitude, and the hits just keep coming. It. Is. Nuts.

The cognitive dissonance is brain-rattling.

And do you know what really blows my mind? Progressives are losing this war! And as I wrote that, I unconsciously gave my head a violent little shake, because WHY?!

Progressives have the numbers in their favor … it’s not even close! The ranks on the other side are literally dying off. But I digress.

Progressives have the numbers. Why do they keep losing when the demographics are so clearly (and increasingly) in their favor? It reminds me of that great line from Jeff Daniels’ rant in the pilot episode of The Newsroom: “If liberals are so fuckin’ smart, how come they lose so goddamn always?”

A very good question, and one that we had better answer soon.

Slick Lenny Curry was not a mystery. He was a known quantity from the get-go. So was Rick Scott, and we let him get elected twice.

That’s right, we let him. How? Many leftleaning voters, uninspired by candidate Crist, either voted for the third party choice (who had no chance of winning) or stayed home altogether. Now we have Rick Scott — Trump’s potential running mate — again. What will it take to reverse this trend? Must we have a president named Trump or Cruz before we finally admit we have a problem and do something about it?

Come on. Stop underestimating stupid people. And leave the ego at the door. Are progressives so focused on winning the argument, so determined to be right, that we forget to be smart?

Standing on a soapbox and railing against injustice is admirable, but to do that and then NOT vote against politicians who promote injustice, well … that would make you an impotent hypocrite. I absolutely agree that what is right should win the day, but it doesn’t always. Standing up for your ideals is fine and good, but grow up. It’s not all about YOU and your ideals. This is about strategy, folks. It’s a game of chess, not checkers. Yes, get fired up! Hold strongly to your ideals and demand better from your leaders. But BE SMART. In the midst of your fervor, breathe in and out, and don’t take your eye off the ball.

I am speaking to potential voters out there, primarily those who are young and left-leaning who too often and disproportionately skip the polls: VOTE. And vote with your brain. Never mind that no one in a particular election is blowing your skirt up. So what if you’re not in love

with either of the main candidates? (And by that, I mean the ones who actually have a shot at winning. To Hell with your ideals … when you cast a starry-eyed vote for the alternative, idealist candidate polling at less than 10 percent, you are mathematically helping the scary opponent WIN). These days, it’s simply crazy to say that there is no real difference between the main candidates.

That is 100 percent bull … the really stinky kind. There has never been a greater partisan divide in this country than there is right now. Our “mayor” and governor are prime examples of what we get when (mostly young) progressives refrain from voting and let the entrenched, privileged, rich old white guys continue to hold the reins and call the shots. We are all adults. Quit whining because you’re not getting everything you want all at once. Real and lasting change is gradual. But for change to actually happen, we must keep pushing forward, inch by inch.

That requires smart voting.

Like most old guys, I prefer gradual change to revolution. Change is far less painful and longer lasting. That said, I am good with revolution if that’s what’s needed. So for those of you who want to go “all in” on Bernie, I say do it! Feel the Bern! I wholeheartedly support you. I love Bernie and what he stands for. But I also know that as a career-long outsider, he is far less likely (not unable, just less likely) to play the role required if elected, and less likely to make the deals and compromises required for success. But I am OK with finding out because I am optimistic things would still be OK with President Bernie.

BUT … what I am seeing from so many Bernie supporters is a focus on Hillarybashing … doing the GOP’s dirty work for them — much of it straight from the Faux News playbook! And it’s rendering Hillary unelectable, for many, in the general election.

Stop the Hillary-bashing! And, if Bernie doesn’t get the nomination, try to remember that a vote for Hillary is a vote against those who oppose all things progressive.

Once the primaries are over, do the smart thing: Vote to keep the scary clowns out of the Oval Office.

David Gile mail@folioweekly.com _____________________________________ Gile, a licensed engineer, Bolles School and University of Florida graduate, is a Jacksonville native.

MARCH 16-22, 2016 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 39