FOLIO STAFF:
SHELTON HULL
SAVANNA STILLWANGER
KAILI COCHRAN Writer/Designer
JOSHUA WALKER Multimedia Journalist
MCKENNA OAKLEY Writer
KALEB STOWELL Writer
ZA’NYA DAVIS
Subject: Letter to the editor: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN KICKED TRUMP’S FAT A**
“They declared me unfit to live, said into the great void my soul’d be hurled. They wanted to know why I did what I did. Well, sir, I guess there’s just a meanness in this world.” — Bruce Springsteen, from his song “Nebraska” (released in 1982)
Deranged Donald Trump is most definitely “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous”, just like American icon Bruce Springsteen said recently. For that matter, just like most Americans have said all along, Trump the traitor is an evil scumbag and everyone knows it all around the world.
You see, Trumptards, it does not matter how many hours a day you spend watching fascist Fox “News” or listening to partisan right-wing racist Republican Party hate radio, no one wants to take advice from the GOP (Greedy Old Perverts) these days. Time’s up, traitors! A political revolution is on the way, and there’s no way crazy, corrupt Republican politicians can stop it now.
There will be no unconstitutional third term as president for Vladimir Putin’s puppet. In fact, Trump the plump chump’s continuing crime spree is likely to land him in his third Impeachment trial instead after Democrats demolish diabolical Rapepublican candidates in the 2026 midterm election, then off to federal prison old man Trump goes if he’s still alive by then.
There is a big, beautiful “Blue Wave” on the way next year, and I can’t wait to watch conservatives whine and cry just like those overprivileged, brainless man babies always do.
Jake Pickering
BOUQS & BRICKS
BOUQUETS BRICKBATS
School Safety Patrol Appreciation Day: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1689 Together with the Jacksonville sheriff’s office hosted a day of Sporting events, Lunch, Trophies and other prizes at the Ed Austin regional Park in Arlington. In May. 322 students along with 56 sponsors from 28 schools participated in this the 54th annual event.
To Wall Street for calling out POTUS for being a chicken. Coining the phrase “T.A.C.O”
To DOGE for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, DCPS faces a staggering $100 million gap, largely due to the expiration of federal emergency funding. The situation is further strained by the recent termination of Department of Education contracts under the Trump Administration’s so-called “DOGE” agenda. The consequences? Fewer teachers, larger class sizes, and even less support for students who already struggle to get the attention they need— especially those with disabilities. And if the rumors hold true, arts and music programs may be on the chopping block too, threatening to strip students of the creative outlets that often keep them engaged and inspired.
HOROSCOPES
Words by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri
ARIES
June lights a fire underneath you, Aries. Expect a boost in confidence, money and relationships. It seems that Mars really has your back all month long. That being said, don’t get too cocky. Money comes, but money also goes. The same can be said of relationships. Choose your words wisely.
TAURUS GEMINI
Your season’s over, Taurus, but the stars aren’t done with you yet. With Jupiter lighting up your zone of siblings, close friends and communication, get ready to play the go-to support system. Just don’t hit “do not disturb” too fast — there’s a project coming that’ll need your full focus.
It’s your season, and you can cry if you want to; you just might. Sorry to burst your bubble, but with Venus sliding into your sign on June 5, you will become a magnet —socially and romantically. Ideas, connections and conversations will be popping up all month long. Try not to get too overwhelmed.
CANCER
You’re in full-blown planning mode, Cancer. With your upcoming solar return and with Jupiter entering your sign, you’re in the spirit of accepting new opportunities and making new connections. Before you finalize any plans though, make sure you have fully passed on from past entanglements, you want to start your season off right.
LEO VIRGO
It seems like you never truly leave the spotlight. And why would you? It clearly loves you just as much as you love it. Though discipline will be your power move this month, Leo. Play it smart and play it safe. And remember, anything can be taken as a sign if you’re looking for it.
You’re usually one to work versus play, Virgo, but lately, you’ve found a crew that gets your need for space and nudges you to grow. Starting June 9, your sense of community deepens, and hey, you might even feel like posting about it.
June is a bit of a mixed bag for you, Libra. Relationships are front and center — some may grow and others may test you. Venus heads into Taurus late in the month, pushing you toward deeper thinking and connection. Expect a few professional chances, and don’t be shocked if a blast from the past shows up looking for closure.
This month is all about the deep dive. Jupiter’s digging into your transformation zone, while Venus reminds you to watch your health. Mid-to-late June could bring up stress or health hiccups — listen to your body. Emotionally, it’s a time to reset and shed what’s dragging you down. Let it go.
Libra Scorpio Sagittarius
Summer is just around the corner, Sagittarius, and while everyone around you is loading up on SPF and booking month-long staycations, you’re hyperaware of what you are putting your energy toward. With Jupiter, your ruling planet, entering Cancer on June 9, you’re focused on inner growth — healing, nurturing your needs and stepping back into your power.
Capricorn
June starts off grounded — ideal for tightening the reins on that well-oiled machine you call a brain. Saturn is helping you play the long game, whether in a romantic or business setting — either way, you will be getting what you want in the end. Focus on sustainable moves, not quick fixes.
Aquarius
Sometimes, the work to heal mentally starts with the physical and for you, Aquarius, this month is all about entering your healthy era. Venus enters Taurus on June 6, bringing a little calm and comfort to your home life. You might find yourself craving beauty, rest and a deeper sense of grounding — go ahead and lean into that.
Pisces
Have your dreams been leaving you feeling restless, Pisces? This month, the cosmos are urging you to pay attention to them. The Full Moon in Sagittarius on June 11 lights up your 10th house, helping you release old career paths or public roles that no longer align with who you are. It’s all part of making space for the version of success you’re actually dreaming of, one that feels true to you.
As longtime devotees of the Jacksonville arts and culture scene, we think we know a thing or two about upcoming fashion trends. Or maybe we’re just overly enthusiastic about our Sex and the City re-watch. Nevertheless, when it comes to street fashion in particular, we see some exciting shifts in the pipeline.
Street fashion, or more simply known as streetwear, is an effortlessly chic genre known for casual looks that are anything but casual. Often drawing influence from cultural niches like hip-hop music groups or athletes’ off-duty looks, streetwear features layers upon layers of detail and popular culture nuance. Beneath the baggy tees, wide leg jeans, and gold jewelry, there is a rich fashion tradition that often has its finger right on the pulse of what’s trending.
Make no mistake, though—streetwear is for all ages. The looks may be mindfully curated, but its constant evolution allows for individual touches, and its casual appearance promises comfort. After all, it’s called streetwear because—to put it reductively—it’s what people wear on the street.
Now, let’s dive into the streetwear trends we anticipate as HOT for the summer of 2025. First, we’re going to break our style prophecy into three critical components: the staples to stay, the stars to rise, and the Southern stunners to especially thrive.
THE STREETS CALLED AND WE PICKED UP
To start, let’s shout out the staples — the hallmarks of street fashion that people of all ages can recognize. We’re talking boxy graphic tees, light-washed and loose-fitting denim, gold accesso ries, statement eyewear, baseball caps, sneakers and functional handbags—mean ing crossbodies, totes and even fanny packs.
Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief on that last one because although the “tiny bag” may be trending, it can’t compete with the classic tote when it comes to practicality. How else can we hold all of our sunscreen, melted lip balms and old receipts?
We’re digressing. But don’t miss this: the staples will spin, starting with the denim. As part of the Y2K fashion resur gence, the rise of jeans will go in the same direction as many of our hopes for an Outkast reunion have gone — lower. You heard it here: low-rise is in.
And as far as the precious tote bag, get ready to see some charm — bag charms, specifically. They’re the perfect way to spice up a dull closet, and we antici pate charm fever expanding to the jeans, too. Don’t be surprised if you see a little sparkly something dangling from belt loops this season.
Streetwear may already boast statement jewelry, but we see an increasing dedication to this metallic maximalism. Don’t be shocked if you see some Miami Heat chains, “Scarface” bracelets, or Hello Kitty rings in
Speaking of little “somethings,” street wear boasts lots of logos. Expect to see representation of at least one fa mous musician, film, team or brand in most streetwear looks. When it comes to streetwear, what’s tacky is embraced, and opulence is the rule. Streetwear is nothing without its iconography, even when it comes to jewelry.
Yep — we see logos taking over even the accessory space.
As far as the stars, all we have to say is tees, tracksuits and ties — oh, my! We think streetwear will see a whole new embrace of corporate culture, including the necktie. We foresee the success of the “office siren” trend bleeding over into streetwear.
This trend has been putting a sensual twist on principles of office wear for the past few months on social media, but we think streetwear will blend the style with more palatable touches that make it less risque. This means oversized tees with low stilettos, tank tops under blazers and sneakers below pinstriped slacks. Streetwear will blur the lines of your closet, mixing business casual with explicitly casual, all the while utilizing the elements of your wardrobe you find
In a similar vein, we also see streetwear embracing utilitar ianism this summer. More and more visible belts are being worn on the outside of silhouettes, and we’ve even seen a revival of the windbreaker. Yes, the windbreaker. This is coming straight from the runway; Miu Miu is selling these blasts from the past for a few
But, opinions on jackets resem plastic bags aside, this is what streetwear so exciting. Something you may think of as strictly functional — like a trusty leather belt or something to ward off the wind, apparently — can be fashionable.
Case in point: we also anticipate a West ern moment this summer. Cowboy boots and 10-gallon hats may be Southern mainstays, but our crystal ball foresees a coastto-coast yeehaw. Western-inspired cloth ing has been growing in popularity the past few months, and we don’t see its influence dwindling anytime soon. Thanks to celebs like Bella Hadid and SZA, the
urban-meets-country aesthetic is continuously featured on magazine covers and in social media feeds.
Though we expect Western touches to stay subtle amongst high street fashion, we think that the comfort of the cowboy look will take hold when it comes to the layman’s look. Realistically, most of us are getting dressed to go to the grocery store and don’t have to consider the opinions of paparazzi. And, after all, we are in Jacksonville!
Along with some foresee bright things short to wear. Bold color ical climate while manage the heat. essential component look. Though our boyfriend jean, opportunity to intersect more casually. Who pushes the strutting a shoulder-padded someone rocking (And no, that’s knee-length jean jorts. Think of in your life wear.
We’re not yanking together a fun street one’s reach. Take story’s photo. found in our closets minutes of Googling
We ended up with is certainly meaningful. baseball cap or Others, like the are saved for those But all of them ing to be put to
That’s what streetwear a spirit of experimental to the non-negotiable it be the obnoxiously working outside, band you outgrew wear one time for
So, keep an eye gant and we’re calling it, consider digging don’t find some score a hand-me-down.
Southern Stunners
coastal cowboy appreciation, we colors, breezy linens and all dominate Jacksonville’s streetcolor palettes complement our tropwhile lightweight linens help us
And as always, shorts will be an component of the Jacksonville street our friends up north may savor the down here we have the unique intersect with urban trends even fashion envelope more: someone shoulder-padded blazer over jeans or the formal with a pair of jorts? not a typo. We’re talking about jean shorts, endearingly known as the shorts the older gentlemen wear. Yep, those.)
yanking chains here, either. Pulling street look really is within anyTake the collage featured in our It was created using pieces we closets and car trunks, after just Googling and a little rummaging.
with a look that may be quirky but meaningful. Some pieces, like the Tupac tee, are tried and true. ivory heels or striped necktie, those rare, mandatory occasions. were just sitting around, waitto use.
streetwear is about. It comes down to experimental youth that pays respect non-negotiable aspects of life—whether obnoxiously large shades you need for outside, the graphic tee for the cult outgrew or the blouse you bought to for that awkward headshot.
out, Jacksonville. We’re arrocalling it. And while you’re at digging through your closet. If you outfit inspo, someone else can hand-me-down.
SURF’S UP DUVAL
InternatIonal Surf Day turnS 20
Surfers don’t forget to mark your calendars: International Surfing Day is June 21. This international event is far more than a day to celebrate surfing, it’s a day to bring the local surf community together and celebrate the culture of surfing. The day also highlights the importance of protecting the beaches and ocean life.
International Surfing Day was first founded by the nonprofit organization Surfrider Foundation in 2005 to advocate for the protection of the ocean and coastal environments. This year the event will be turning 20, making the event extra special. To get some insight on what the event means to the beach community, I spoke with a few local surfers to see what the holiday means to them. “Everyone goes out and surfs, in my opinion and just have fun,” said Hendrix Shaw.
For others, the holiday has a deeper meaning. Turner Randall sees it as more than just a oneand-done day but rather a commitment to the ocean, and for the next generations of people. “I feel like it’s not necessarily more about the one day: It’s more just like the lifestyle of the beach, trying to keep it healthy for the next generations to come, leaving it better than the way you found it,” said Randall.
Whether you surf or enjoy spending time at the beach, International Surfing Day is a day you don’t want to miss. It’s a day to celebrate the sport of surfing, bring the community together, and most importantly reminding the community the importance of protecting what they love. So next time you’re at the beach, let this holiday serve as a reminder to do your part by taking care of the beach and celebrating how far surfing has come and the impact it ’s made on the community.
CMC1250399, CFC1430664, EC13008557, GA. REG. CR109660.
RED CAPS WEEKEND
TUESDAY, JUNE 3 – SUNDAY, JUNE 8
Friday, June 6, 7:05PM AHOY MATEY! PIRATE NIGHT
Sail the seas with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp as we celebrate all things pirates! Additionally, enjoy Friday Night Lites with $2 12oz. Miller Lites, presented by Miller Lite, and
Saturday, June 7, 6:35PM RED CAPS BUTTON-UP SHIRT GIVEAWAY
The Jumbo Shrimp are proud to be celebrating our rich history as the Jacksonville Red Caps and tonight, the first 2,000 people through the Main Gate at the Baptist Health Centerfield Plaza will be going home with a Red Caps button-up shirt! Be sure to stick around after the game for Saturday Night Fireworks! Presented by Florida Blue.
Sunday, June 8, 3:05PM RED CAPS NEGRO LEAGUE WEEKEND
Join the Jumbo Shrimp and Florida Blue for our salute to the Negro Leagues as we take the field as the Jax Red Caps.
It’s Baptist Health Sunday Family FUNday, so head out to the center field gate where we will host catch on the field until 20 minutes after the gates have opened. Kids can also feel like the pros after each Sunday game by running the bases once the field is clear. Plus, face paint, balloon animals & more, presented by Baptist Health.
TUESDAY, JUNE 24 – SUNDAY, JUNE 29 VS
START AT JUST $5 $5
JUNE 3-8
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp vs. Durham Bulls
Vystar Ballpark milb.com/jacksonville
JUNE 4
Global Running Day 5K Fun Run
1st Place Sports, 3931 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32217 1stplacesports.com
JUNE 7
Run for the Pies
James Weldon Johnson Park 1stplacesports.com
Jacksonville Sharks vs. Arizona Rattlers
Vystar Memorial Arena jaxsharks.com
JUNE 14
JWJ Birthday 5K and Block Party
James Weldon Johnson Park 1stplacesports.com
JUNE 21
Jacksonville Sharks vs. Quad City Steamwheelers
Vystar Memorial Arena jaxsharks.com
Run for Hope Southbank Riverwalk 1stplacesports.com
JUNE 24-29
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp vs. Nashville Sounds
Vystar Ballpark milb.com/jacksonville
JUNE 27
What Sup Run
715 Riverside Ave. 1stplacesports.com
Photo by Aaron Berkshire
Photo by Sam Kaplan
Teal Tinted Glasses: How Jaguars Fans Keep Roaring “DUUUVAL!”
In a city that is more familiar with cheering for a high draft pick than hopes at a post-season, the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to maintain a positive image in the hearts and minds of fans in the area. Year in and year out, Jaguars fans have been subject to roster changes, coaching staff alterations and most recently, a new general manager. No matter what decisions the team chooses to make, Jaguars fans follow with seemingly blind loyalty, even if their devotion leads them to another disappointing season with no playoff appearance.
In order to better understand why Jacksonville natives are so supportive of the Jaguars, we first need to examine fan psychology as a whole. Curt Lox, a sports psychology professor at the University of North Florida, posited that the Jaguars are so much more to the city of Jacksonville than a football team. “When we’re connected to these games and they’re on TV they talk about Jacksonville, show videos of Jacksonville, the pier and the beach and we take pride in that sort of thing,” Lox said.
Lox also stated he believes one of the greatest things about the Jacksonville Jaguars is the sense of community it creates among Jacksonville residents. “The team’s really become woven into the fabrics of our lives… It’s an easy subject to get excited about and talk about with people you may not have a lot in common with or interact with,” said Lox, “You can walk past a stranger on the street you barely know at all and as long as they have a Jags shirt on then BOOM –– you have a connection.”
It’s this sense of community that ultimately ties the city of Jacksonville so closely to the city’s beloved football team. The black and teal color theme and the “DUUUVAL” chant have become synonymous with residents and fans alike, and the city has embraced it as its identity. Jaguars season ticket holder Carson Stewart said, “Just being in the city and seeing the team colors and hearing the chant, it’s such an awesome experience. It brings such a great sense of community and closeness, even when we might not have anything in common outside of that. It just helps make everything feel connected. We’re all in it together.” Stewart, who has been a Jaguars fan his entire life, claims that even through the toughest of times, he continues to support the team wholeheartedly. “Even when they make decisions I find questionable I can’t bring myself to have an issue with it. I mean, that’s our team, and it’s my job as a fan to support them, at least in my opinion,” he said.
It’s this scenario that Stewart describes that many Jaguars fans find themselves in, according to Lox. “Becoming attached to a sports team is no different than becoming attached to anything else. When you invest money, time, emotions, whatever it may be into anything, it becomes hard to turn on that thing,” he said. It is this part of the psychology of a sports fan that creates these enigmatic fan bases such as the Jaguars’. Die-hard fans of teams that have had no real historical success or promise. “We have short memories of the bad years, and we fondly remember the good years,” Lox added. However, it’s because these fans continue to come out and support their team week after week that the city of Jacksonville even gets the chance to root for their hometown team on the national stage.
These positive feelings toward the Jaguars aren’t shared by the whole city, however, with some saying that the team should be relocated elsewhere, and others saying that the city puts too much money into a sports team that hasn’t won anything. Michael Epperley, a lifelong Jacksonville resident, is among those who don’t share this fondness of the Jaguars. “I’ve lived in this city my whole life and for the life of me I can’t remember a single time that I’ve wanted to root for the Jaguars,” Epperly said. “I mean it was nice in 2017 when we almost went to the Super Bowl, but other than that I just don’t think the team gives enough of a reason to justify how much money we invest into it as a city.” Epperley isn’t alone, there are plenty of Jacksonville residents who are unhappy that some of their taxpayer dollars are going to a football team they don’t care about.
Lox doesn’t share these opinions. He claims that what the current Jaguars owner, Shad Khan, is doing with the team and the city of Jacksonville is something people will look back on in 20 years and be a lot more understanding than they are now. “If you look around Florida… you have Miami, Tampa, and now Orlando, what’s the next likely place that’s gonna get built up? It will probably be Jacksonville,” he said.
The Jaguars won’t be going anywhere for a while, if ever. With the approval of plans for a new stadium, the team is set to remain in Jacksonville for the next 30 years at least, giving fans and staff alike hopes of escaping this constant irrelevancy the Jaguars have existed in and bringing the city its first professional sports title ever.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO
Joshua Walker
Skateboarders, a special event is around the corner! Go Skateboarding Day, held June 21, is a global event to celebrate the sport of skateboarding and how far it’s come over the years, by bringing local skate communities together. The event is more than just a day of skateboarding, it’s a day to spread unity, build friendships, and most important, open the door for new skateboarders.
To get some insight on what Go Skateboarders Day means to skateboarders, I dropped in to Jacksonville Beach Skate Park and spoke with a few skaters to see what the event is all about. Nathan Phillips sees the event as a day to celebrate and encourage one another. “You always need to be kind to people because you don’t know what they’re going through,” said Phillips.
While the event is worldwide, skaters are encouraged to celebrate the event however they choose — whether it’s grabbing their board to cruise or watching fellow skaters shred. (One of my personal favorite places to skate is street since it allows me to utilize the various obstacles in my surroundings, whether its flat ground, stairs, or racing down hills.)
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned skater, grab your skateboard and hit the streets, a skatepark or any other rideable surface. Go Skateboarding Day is a day you don’t want to miss out on.
In addition to that, another international holiday that shares the same date is International Surf Day, so be sure to also drop in at the beach and catch some waves.
ETC.
* all games are general knowledge unless stated otherwise
MONDAYS
• St. Augustine Fish Company & Oyster House, 6 p.m
• V Pizza–Mandarin (music bingo), 6 p.m.
• Iguana on Park (cashpot bingo), 6:30 p.m.
• 9 Ball Heaven Sports Grill & Billiards, 7 p.m.
• Amici (music bingo), 7 p.m.
• Donovan’s Irish Pub, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.
• Mellow Mushroom–Durbin Park, 7 p.m.
• Mellow Mushroom–Fleming Island, 7 p.m.
• Mellow Mushroom–River City/ Northside, 7 p.m.
• Mellow Mushroom–Tinseltown, 7:30 p.m.
• Rain Dogs, 8 p.m.
• Treylor Park (pop culture), 9 p.m.
TUESDAYS
• St. Mary’s Seafood (music bingo) 6 p.m.
• Mr. Chubby’s Wings–Fleming Island (music bingo), 6:30 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–St. Augustine, 6:30 p.m.
• V Pizza– St. Augustine, 6:30 p.m.
• The Back 40, 7 p.m.
• Bottlenose Brewing, 7 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–Nocatee, 7 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–San Pablo, 7 p.m.
• Gator’s Dockside–Oakleaf, (music bingo), 7 p.m.
• Harps American Grill, 7 p.m.
• Hurricane Grill & Wings–Atlantic Boulevard, 7 p.m.
• Island Wing Company–Bartram, 7 p.m.
• Jax Craft Beer, 7 p.m.
• Jerry’s Sports Grille, 7 p.m.
• Miller’s Ale House–Deerwood, 7 p.m.
• My Tap Room (pop culture), 7 p.m.
• Players Grille, 7 p.m.
• Shantytown Pub, 7 p.m.
• Southern Grill, 7 p.m.
• Surfside Kitchen, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.
• V Pizza–Fernandina (music bingo), 7 p.m.
• VooSwar, 7 p.m.
• Xtreme Wings Sports Bar and Grille, St. Johns, 7 p.m.
• Culhane’s Irish Pub–Southside, 7:30 p.m.
• Flask & Cannon / V Pizza (pop culture), 7:30 p.m.
• King Maker Brewing (name that tune), 7:30 p.m.
• Lynch’s Irish Pub (music bingo), 7:30 p.m.
• Monkey’s Uncle Tavern, 7:30 p.m.
• Time Out Sports Bar, 7:30 p.m.
• Tepeyolot Cerveceria, 7:30 p.m.
• Casbah Cafe, 8 p.m.
• Sahara Cafe, 8 p.m.
• Surfer the Bar (pop culture trivia), 9:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS
• Mr. Chubby’s Wings–Ponte Vedra (music bingo), 6:30 p.m.
• V Pizza–Mandarin, 6:30 p.m.
• The Beacon, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.
• Bold City Brewery, 7 p.m.
• Cruisers Grill, 7 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–Nocatee, 7 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–Mandarin, 7 p.m.
• Firefly Bay, 7 p.m.
• Ink Factory Brewing, 7 p.m.
• Island Wing–Bartram (music bingo) 7 p.m.
• Island Wing–Southside, 7 p.m.
• Lola’s Burrito & Burger Joint, 7 p.m.
• Mellow Mushroom–Avondale, 7 p.m.
• Miller’s Ale House–Hodges, 7 p.m.
• Mellow Mushroom–Jacksonville Beach, 7 p.m.
• Scarlett O’ Hara’s, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.
• Shaughnessy’s Sports Grill, St. Augustine, 7 p.m.
• V Pizza–Fleming Island, 7 p.m.
• V Pizza–Fernandina, 7 p.m.
• V Pizza–Palm Valley, 7 p.m.
• Veterans United Craft Brewery, 7 p.m.
• Burrito Gallery–Town Center (pop culture), 7:30 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–Fleming Island, 7:30 p.m.
• Harps American Grill (pop culture), 7:30 p.m.
• Hoptinger–5 Points, 7:30 p.m.
• Hoptinger–Jacksonville Beach, 7:30 p.m.
• Hurricane Grill–Fleming Island, 7:30 p.m.
• King Maker Brewing, 7:30 p.m.
• Time Out Sports Grill, 7:30 p.m
• Wicked Barley Brewing, 7:30 p.m.
• The Brix Taphouse (pop culture trivia), 8 p.m.
• Root Down (music trivia), 9 p.m.
THURSDAYS
• Ann O’Malley’s Irish Pub, 7 p.m.
• Bold City Brewery, 7 p.m.
• Bottlenose Brewing, 7 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–Atlantic Boulevard, 7 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings– Nocatee (name that tune), 7 p.m.
• Justice Pub (music bingo), 7 p.m.
• Island Wing Company–Southside (music bingo), 7 p.m.
• Kava and Company–San Marco (every other Thursday), 7 p.m.
• Miller’s Ale House–Avenues, 7 p.m.
• Mr. Chubby’s Wings–Ponte Vedra, 7 p.m.
• The Stout Snug, 7 p.m.
• V Pizza– Fernandina (what’s that song), 7 p.m.
• Burrito Gallery–Brooklyn (’80s, ’90s & 2000s), 7:30 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings– St. Aug, 7:30 p.m.
• Flask & Cannon / V Pizza, 7:30 p.m.
• V Pizza–San Marco, 7:30 p.m.
• Hoptinger–Jax Beach (music bingo), 8 p.m.
FRIDAYS
• Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 6 p.m.
• Time Out Sports Grill, 6:30 p.m.
• Engine 15 Brewing, 7 p.m.
• MVP’s Sports Grille, 7 p.m.
• Tepeyolot Cerveceria, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAYS
• Hamburger Mary’s (HamBingo), 2 p.m.
• VooSwar, 7 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–Atlantic Boulevard, 7 p.m.
• Dick’s Wings–San Pablo (pop culture), 7p.m.
• Ink Factory Brewing (name that tune), 7 p.m.
• Bottlenose Brewing (name that tune), 7:30 p.m.
SINNERS
Culture, History and the Language of Metaphors
If you miss it, you might only catch a vampire story — paying closer attention, you will find Ryan Coolger’s “Sinners” is a strategically constructed film that uses every aspect of its screenwriting to entice its audience through the art of creative writing and masterful directing. Set during the time of Jim Crow in the state of Mississippi, the film is rich with symbolism and metaphors that seem to allude to biblical and cultural themes. Where vampirism could be the metaphor for inherent exploitation and blues music both resistance and resurrection.
“Sinners” not only depicts the pain of the past but transforms that pain into “lore” using metaphor to express the forgotten truths that feel too scary and traumatic to directly address.
“Sinners” immediately submerges us into the world of music as we are introduced to one of many protagonists, Sammie, who fights an internal battle of how to pursue his musical passion and an external battle of being sought after by vampires. Growing up in the church as the son of a preacher, Sammie was expected to use his musical talents to spread the gospel. Sammie’s aspiration, however, was to become a famous blues musician despite his father’s extreme disapproval of the genre. “If you keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home,” Sammie’s father tells him.
The origin of the blues genre can be traced back to the ’20s, seeing its peak popularity in Mississippi. It has been said that this genre stems from the pain of slavery and the songs that originated with slaves. Those hymns and field hollers of those enslaved encapsulate the sole reason why this genre was named “the blues” which then became synonymous with the devil, as musicians expressed this “hell” like feeling through their music. But what does this mean for the film? The message? Remmick, the Irish vampire antagonist (we’ll get to that), sheds light on this.
With an informal introduction, Remmick does not rise from a coffin or suddenly emerge from the shadows. The first time we are introduced to Remmick, his body appears to have fallen from the sky. The angle of the camera does not allow for confirmation, but the visual manipulation of the filming suggests this and leads the viewer to interpret this as a choice. This introduction to Remmick is intentional as it portrays a more symbolic meaning of the fallen angel. Remmick falls from the sky scorched by the sun. He appears weak and disoriented.
Like biblical mythology, imitating Satan’s fall suggests that this fall is not just physical but moral.
This scene shapes the rest of the narrative emphasizing the fact that this is NOT just a movie about vampires. This story has underlying themes such as temptation, intrusion and timing — people and beings residing in places they do not belong. Like Satan, Remmick’s essence is the power of manipulation. He uses vulnerability to play victim and presents himself as harmless. He does not use force, instead he lays the groundwork so that others want to listen to him, want to help him. In the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:33 reads, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” This scene plays into the message behind this verse, the importance of choosing wise companions and having discernment as you are the company you keep.
Remmick first encounters Sammie through their shared love of music. He’s standing outside a juke joint owned by Sammie’s cousins, listening to Sammie perform. For Remmick, Sammie’s voice is that of a siren call, so captivating that he follows the sound of Sammie’s voice outside to discover that his voice was summoning the spirits of the past and future dancing among them in the crowd. Remmick is not only an admirer of Sammie’s musical capabilities but seeks ownership of Sammie’s musical gifts for himself as he believes this will help him see his family.
The theme of temptation is heavily expressed throughout the film in different variations. We see the temptation of lust through Sammie and Pauline, as he actively (and knowingly) pursues a married woman. We see more of this lustful temptation following characters Stack and Mary, as Stack (a Black man) attempts to stay away from Mary (raised to be white woman who is also married). Even Remmick is subject to temptation as he cannot help himself but to figure out how to claim Sammie’s gift for himself. We see multiple characters encounter temptation, and, funny enough, none of them can seem to resist.
Through the genre of horror and gothic, it is a common trope that vampires must be invited into a home or establishment by an occupant to gain access inside. We first are introduced to this when Remmick and his recruits attempt to relate to the inside occupants of a juke joint through music with the intention of being let inside. This trope reoccurs
throughout the film, as innocents such as Grace are emotionally manipulated into granting the vampires access inside the juke joint through the turning of her husband and threat of turning their daughter.
In the Bible, Job 1, verse 12 reads, “ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.’” In the book of Job, God grants Satan permission to test Job’s faith with the restriction of physical harm. This scene is a visual metaphor of this biblical story, relaying the message of how the devil can tempt one with your desires, people, and places that are familiar — but in the end, he can only harm those who submit to temptation.
Remmick performs a song entitled “Rocky Road to Dublin” which summarizes his cultural origin as it tells the story of an Irishman who was discriminated against because of his accent and then again due to his heritage. Coogler does a fantastic job of creating the parallel between Remmick’s personal experience and the irony that he is acting as an oppressor. Remmick is so blinded by his need for Sammie’s musical ability that he doesn’t care if it is at the expense of others to claim it.
When Remmick finally captures Sammie running away in the river, Sammie returns to his church roots and begins to recite the Lord’s Prayer, believing his life may be over and recalling it as the prayer he was taught would help him. He then looks at Remmick in horror as Remmick begins to recite the prayer with him, word for word. Remmick claims that when his land was overthrown by Christianity, this was the prayer they taught. Though he doesn’t believe in it, the prayer brings him a familiar sense of comfort. As Remmick explains this to Sammie between reciting the Lord’s Prayer, he dips his head beneath the river water. This is symbolism interpreted to resemble a mock baptism. The irony is that Sammie believes he is facing death, while baptism is meant to mark a new life. In this moment, the Lord’s Prayer and the water are not materials to mark his rebirth but, rather, the ending of his life, creating a dark inversion of what is known to symbolize good and new life.
If you miss it, you might only catch a vampire story. Through the use of culture, Southern Gothic, symbolism and metaphor, director Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is a film in which every scene is important. This is not just a vampire story, this is a film about power, culture, and survival. We are not only to question what we invite into our homes but who, and whether we can recognize the devil when he’s dancing to a song we wrote.
Jax On Pointe: In the Age of the Algorithm, Ballet Still Slays
In a culture that increasingly caters to quick dopamine boosts brought on the backs of Facebook clickbait, Amazon shopping hauls and staged Tik Toks, it was refreshing to enjoy the elegance and restraint of a timeless art form: ballet. Season after season, The Florida Ballet breathes new life into classical dance right here in Jacksonville, as well as debuting original productions. Recently, we had the pleasure of watching their rendition of “Giselle,” a ballet that tells a story of romance, tragedy, and striking ethereal beauty, at the University of North Florida’s Lazzara Performance Hall.
The History of Giselle
First performed in Paris in 1841, “Giselle” quickly became a masterwork of the classical ballet canon. The story entails a vivid romance between Giselle, a peasant girl, and Albrecht, a nobleman in disguise. Unbeknownst to Giselle, Albrecht is already engaged to a noblewoman. Upon discovering his deceit after some adorably choreographed courting, Giselle goes “mad” and dies of heartbreak, in front of Albrecht, her mother and the corpse de ballet townsfolk.
Afterward her spirit joins the Wilis, a ghostly sisterhood of women betrayed by their lovers, who now dedicate themselves to taking revenge on the men that broke their hearts. How, you may ask? In a morbidly funny fashion, death by dance is their modus operandi. Men who visit their graves succumb to physical exhaustion as the Wilis force them to perform.
Giselle, though, is a gracious soul. She protects Albrecht from their supernatural vengeance, allowing her spirit to transcend the gravesite. Our heroine finds peace while Albrecht remains on stage, grappling with his grief and remorse. (Maybe it’s just our jaded 21st-century perspective, but we think she should’ve let him suffer a bit. Alas, Giselle has us beat when it comes to forgiveness.)
Giselle Today
Even the bare bones of the ballet give viewers plenty to sink their teeth into, and The Florida Ballet’s interpretation enhanced this enchantment. The visual, choreographic and musical contrast between the two acts was staggering and accessible, even to ballet newcomers like us. We found no difficulty in following the story, quickly adapting to the expressive dance in place of dialogue.
We delighted in the first act’s romanticism, with its airy dance variations, cheerful music, and the smiling faces of the corps de ballet. We saw idealism expressed in sweeping leaps and poses with graceful, sustained balance, all against a backdrop of a charming cottage and whimsical greenery.
Then, as Giselle’s “mad scene” unfolded, we were fascinated by how the innocent optimism gave way to fragmentation. Her increasingly erratic movement recounted her fleeting romance with Albrecht, resulting in her dramatic collapse. The crowd was hushed, the classical score was low, and the face of every talented dancer on stage was downcast.
One key takeaway: The Florida Ballet understands how to make an audience experience heartache. This emotional turn allowed for the second act to be all the more captivating, with its silvery moonlit forest and the Wilis’ daunting charisma. As the Wilis triumphed through in flawless unison, we appreciated the palpable contempt from their stoic queen, Myrtha. Myrtha was stunning with an aura of zero tolerance for “bull,” to put it casually.
The pinnacle of our amazement came to full realization, though, in Giselle and Albrecht’s pas de deux, a duet full of grief and remorse. The Florida Ballet utilized the ballet’s traditional score, and as the somber melody filled Lazzara Performance Hall, the distress at the heart of the story’s narrative was impossible to ignore.
In the score’s infrequent but impactful pauses, we cherished moments of the pas de deux when Giselle and Albrecht’s leaps landed in precise unison. Against the cool-toned hues of the set, Giselle’s flowing white chiffon shone bright like a gorgeous phantom and accentuated the choreography. Her solo variations entailed halted poses and hovering jumps that defied gravity and echoed the ballet’s theme of transcendence.
Indeed, when Giselle’s merciful spirit abandoned her cold grave, we bid farewell to the same sweet girl we came to adore in the first act.
We did not know what to expect, but The Florida Ballet shocked us with their incredible attention to detail. They make what is often treated as an “antique” art form every bit as commanding of our attention as the short-form digital media we have allowed to numb our senses.
There is something special about witnessing a performance passed down through generations of dedicated aesthetics and athleticism — and everything along the way has been 100% human. There was nothing artificially generated about the clean choreography, the decadent costuming, and the tasteful shift between Act I’s warm and charming village to Act II’s moody, indigo woodland.
To conclude what could easily become a rambling love letter — we’re proud of the work our local ballet is doing. And we’re not the only ones.
“I am immensely proud of the achievement of The Florida Ballet,” says Roberto Forleo, the artistic director of The Florida Ballet. “The dancers delivered deeply emotional performances, and Jacksonville witnessed a world-class production highlighting the evident progress of The Florida Ballet.”
Forleo’s pride in his dance company is well-earned and authentic — so much so, he and Lisa McLatchey, the Ballet’s executive director, allowed “Folio” behind the scenes to witness the dedication and artistry firsthand. We learned the history of the dance company, how they build into their local community and what performances we can look forward to next season.
Backstage with The Florida Ballet — And What’s Next!
Within The Florida Ballet’s studio space, we discovered a charming hub for Jacksonville’s arts and cultural scene. The Ballet boasts eight studios, its own intimate theater, and many nooks and crannies to store costumes, set materials and other essentials that help bring their performances to fruition. Several performing arts companies use these spaces as well as The Florida Ballet itself. Their home space is also where they host classes for all ages and levels of experience — from elementary schoolers to adults.
It is within these rehearsal spaces that Forleo told us he often draws inspiration from the professional dancers of The Florida Ballet while choreographing their productions. Though his choreography is often informed by the existing body of classical ballet arrangements, rehearsals remain a collaborative space.
“[The dancers] give me inspiration … Suddenly I see something through the mirror and I say, ‘Stop, let me see it again.’ So it does become a collaboration between the choreographer and the dancers,” Forleo says.
Words by McKenna Oakley & photos by Katarina Weissbach
Speaking of choreography, we were eager to learn how Forleo balances the preservation of traditional ballet culture with creative innovation. Forleo and McLatchey explained that ballet is truly a living and breathing art form in ways you might not think.
While each company’s interpretation of a classical work, like “Giselle,” aims to honor the original score and choreography, choreographers almost always add an individual flair. With advances in technology, these varied interpretations are now better preserved than ever, allowing ballet to evolve as a blend of countless artists’ creativity and ingenuity.
“For a classical ballet like ‘Giselle,’ there is choreog raphy ready in the repertoire,” said Forleo. “There is a record throughout the years. Yes, I adapt some little things to the company, but it’s al most minor. I try to follow as close to the original.” Forleo enjoys honoring the tra dition of classical ballet by remaining as close to original arrangements as he can, while still allowing for creative expression within his company.
And as for which productions The Florida Ballet chooses for their season, several factors are considered. Some classical renditions resonate more deeply with the audience than others, inspiring their revival the following season. Then others, of course, are simply cultural staples—like “The Nutcracker.”
The Florida Ballet also frequently collaborates with the Jacksonville Symphony, which influences the dances they select.
Additionally, the size of the compa ny’s corps de ballet ebbs and flows through the seasons, which impacts their capacity to perform certain pieces. For instance, Forleo shared that just a few years ago, the Ballet would not have been able to sustain a performance as ambitious as “Giselle.”
Though The Florida Ballet has proudly served the Jack sonville community and trained young dancers since its found ing in 1978, Forleo’s professional dance company has only been performing since 2020. In just five years, their numbers and the size of their programs have grown exponentially.
really creative,” Forleo said. “Especially giving Jacksonville this opportunity to have a professional company — it’s incredible. ‘Giselle’ was a testimony of the growth of the organization.”
We certainly agree that “Giselle” was a testimonial triumph to how The Florida Ballet has planted firm roots within the Jacksonville artistic community, and building into this community is a passion both Forleo and McLatchey take seriously.
McLatchey, a Jacksonville native who grew up training with The Florida Ballet, returned after her professional dancing career to support the company from an administrative standpoint and strengthen its local impact.
The Florida Ballet’s passion for the arts and commitment to fostering this passion throughout the city is evident in everything they do. The organization nurtures numerous partnerships designed to make ballet approachable and engaging — from classes held within their studio to in-school residencies and after-school programs to their Chance to Dance collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital to offer dance workshops for children with unique needs and abilities. The Florida Ballet is dedicated to enhancing the artistic development of Jacksonville youth and providing a safe space for all ages to express themselves creatively.
From the fact that each costume featured in their performance is handmade in their own studio, to Forleo and McLatchey willingness to meet with us and provide a studio tour on the same day as their “Symphony in 60” show, everything about The Florida Ballet and its generous staff made us grateful to have them as part of our Jacksonville community. Our behind-the-scenes peek into what makes the company so special left us excited for what’s next.
So, what exactly is to come? Next season will feature adaptations of classical ballet hallmarks like “Carmen,” “Don Juan,” “Dracula,” “The Nutcracker” and “Coppélia,” alongside several original productions.
Expanding The Florida Ballet and broadening its reach has been one of Forleo’s favorite parts about working with the company.
“How we grow as an organization — that is so satisfying to see it flourish. Especially when we started in 2020 during COVID. You know, we had to be
We look forward to what will undoubtedly be a striking and diverse 2025-26 season for The Florida Ballet, and we encourage you to do the same. Screens have become our go-to for entertainment, but there’s something special happening right here in Jacksonville. Try swapping a night of doom scrolling for a date with your local ballet. Like us, you might find yourself unexpectedly immersed in a world of breathtaking art. It’s not like Instagram is going anywhere.
THEATER/DANCE/FILM
THROUGH JUNE 1
“Hamlet”
The Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com
THROUGH JUNE 15
“Rhinocerous”
Limelight Theatre, St. Augustine limelight-theatre.org
THROUGH JUNE 22
“My Fair Lady” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
JUNE 2
“Celebrating Celine Dion” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
JUNE 6-15
“Anastasia”
The Island Theater, Fleming Island theislandtheater.com
JUNE 7-22
“The Fantasticks” All Beaches Experimental Theatre abetjax.com
JUNE 12
Line Dancing at the Ritz Ritz Theatre ritzjacksonville.com
JUNE 13-21
“The Baltimore Waltz” Florida Ballet Theater the5anddime.org
JUNE 13-22
“Ripcord” Players by the Sea playersbythesea.org
JUNE 13-28
“Murder on the Orient Express” Amelia Community Theatre, Fernandina Beach ameliacommunitytheatre.org
JUNE 16
“Day Break Live: The Music of Barry Manilow” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
JUNE 20
World Of Dance Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxevents.com
JUNE 25-26
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” St. Augustine Amphitheatre. thesamp.com
JUNE 26-AUG. 17
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” Alhambra Theatre & Dining alhambrajax.com
JUNE 30
Amelia Island Dance Festival Silent Disco Mocama Beer Brewing, Fernandina Beach ameliaislanddancefestival.org
Photo by Katarina Weissbach
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FLORIDA THEATRE BALL: ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CHIPS
The Florida Theatre held its signature fundraising gala last month, and can I just say what a ball it was.
Held at the historic Downtown theatre, the event was a ’90s-themed party with hundreds of guests donning their splashiest track suits, loudest graphic tees and plaid flannel shirts. (Grunge was, by far, the most popular costume genre, probably because the wearers already had everything they needed in their closets. For the record, I did cop out and go grunge. I was going to dress for the 1890s since they didn’t specify a century, but it was way too hot for leg-o-mutton sleeves and a cape.) Two of my personal favorite looks were the guy dressed as a Blockbuster employee and the couple dressed as tuxedoed Harry and Lloyd from “Dumb and Dumber.” There were also at least two guys who could have been extras on “Miami Vice,” but I didn’t have the heart to tell them the show ended in 1989.
Guests, however we were dressed, entered the building, not through the front doors as we would for a show, but through the stage doors, like a real celeb. After being photo graphed on the red carpet, we walked down the short hall to the stage, where we were served champagne and entertained by the Wehner Jazz Trio. Following cocktail hour, we were asked to take our seats for a short program, which consisted of wel comes and thank yous by Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin and Angela Merritt, representing presenting sponsor DEX Imaging but only after Merritt, wearing an orange tuxedo and top hat familiar?), explained she was not Willy Wonka homage to one of the greatest movies of the and Dumber.” (Saisselin, for the record, went the first time I’ve ever seen him without a tie.)
Next up was the live auction. (Note to future auction attendees: do not use your bidding paddle as a fan. Not for anything, but flannel is hot!) David Benfield, co-host of “First Coast Living,” served as emcee of the evening (even sporting blue hair for the occasion), as well as auctioneer for the big ticket items like a cruise (sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to the details since bidding started at $7,000) and tickets to a Backstreet Boys concert at the Las Vegas Sphere. And if he was worried about his auction debut, he needn’t have been, since he raised over $10,000. (Seriously, if anyone needs an auctioneer, get Benfield on the horn. His delivery was the perfect mix of enthusiasm and guilt.)
During the auction, we supped on baby kale salad, artisan bread and a duo of pepper-seared beef tenderloin and pan-seared snapper served with fingerling potato mash and sautéed haricot verts. And if you were too lazy to go to the bar, each table came equipped with its own wine — red and white. Oh, and dessert was honey caramel cheesecake with honeycomb brittle, fresh berries and mint, which, sadly, I missed since I was dancing my ass off.
And that brings us to the highlight of the evening: a performance by Quad City DJ’s. Originally from Jacksonville, the group is best known for its hit “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train),” which went platinum and hit No. 3 on the Billboard Charts in 1996. The group played a wide variety of ’90s hip-hop from “Whoot, There It Is” (not to be confused with “Whoomp! (There It Is)” … but that’s a whole other story) to “Ice, Ice Baby” and when I say everybody was dancing — everybody was dancing! (Shout out to Steve Smith, former First Coast News meteorologist, for starting “the train” and leading it around the stage.) The mini-concert was followed by a performance by Bold City
Merritt summed the evening up perfectly. “The Florida Theatre Ball: 90’s Style was a night to remember and all for a great cause … It was a perfect blend of ’90s nostalgia, fun, and support for the arts.”
The event raised more than $230,000 to preserve and maintain the historic venue while supporting the arts and culture in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville’s top 5 locally owned freshwater
Swimming In Options
Jacksonville’s fish store scene is more than just tanks, guppies and bacopa; it’s a community of passionate people all supporting one another.
The community that is created in the Jacksonville fish store community is branched through every strand of guppy grass.
Despite the connections they all hold, each fish store has its own unique brand and style for all areas of the Jacksonville community. We spoke to the owners of each store and are sharing what they provide the Jacksonville aquatic community.
Floating Sea Aquatics: The Non-Profit
Even though Jacksonville doesn’t have a visiting aquarium, Floating Sea Aquatics is the closest thing to it. The purchasing of the fish is actually their side gig. FSA’s main focus is its nonprofit.
FSA-RECS — for Rescue, Education, Conservation and Service — stands as the theme of FSA. They also have the FSA Cafe.
Despite there being so much to embrace at FSA when customers first walk in, their focus can hardly stray from the indoor pond and the bridge to walk across so children and families can look at fish from a different perspective. There are waterfalls built with rocks and stones. As the fish swim, children tend to drift their eyes to a purple curtain on the left.
In the remodeling process, a sensory wall is located behind the curtain. With moving parts, different felts and textures, wooden sea creatures and raised artwork, the sensory wall is built for visitors with varying disabilities such as those who are blind, deaf, are on the autism spectrum or have other disabilities.
Along the back wall of FSA’s building, more artwork can be seen and enjoyed, and past the pond and bridge, there is a small stage with many sea decorations.
This stage is made for open mic nights FSA hosts. Open to all, the poetry open mic nights are held the first and last Saturdays of every month from 7-9 p.m.
To the right of the stage, the cafe sits with games at tables, an open library, and local creators’ knickknacks for sale. There is also a food bank for those in need.
Back to the main walkthrough of the shop, reptiles are featured in large cages and small ponds behind the stage. Turtles, pythons, bearded dragons, spiders and more are seen through the wires and glass of the cages.
Children and families have the opportunity to engage with these animals on the last Friday of every month from 7-9 p.m. during their Creepy Crawly Chronicles event.
Isa Landa, an FSA Cafe employee, is an ambassador for Snow White, an albino ball python rescued by FSA. As an ambassador, she is someone who is able to tend to Snow White, take her out of her cage and feed her.
Snow White is blind, but she shows recognition of Isa by sticking out her tongue when she feels comfortable.
Throughout the rest of the shop are materials for setting up a fish tank, rescued fish from tank owners and fish themselves for purchase.
Meredith Mormann, a first-time customer and previous choir teacher of Landa’s, said, “I like that they have more than just fish. There’s way more of a variety.”
AJ Johnson, Mormann’s son, added, “This is the best time of my life,” after having the opportunity to touch Snow White.
FSA isn’t just a fish store — it is a force of change in the community, representing and supporting children of all ages, those with disabilities, those in need and simply a place for those who need a small escape from reality and a chance to dive into the deep blue sea.
Orange Park Aquatics: The Teachers
In a different fish scene, located in Orange Park, this mom-andpop shop will answer all your fish questions no matter the level you’ve mastered or if you’re just building your fish tank skill set.
Jason and Teresa D’Arpe opened Orange Park Aquatics on Blanding Boulevard in November 2010.
In addition to a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish, Jason is knowledgeable in the activity, behaviors, needs and diagnoses of fish of all kinds and is happy to answer questions.
“People come in for a lot of advice,” said Jason D’Arpe.
He misses the days when clubs and activities were present.
“There used to be clubs around here. People used to meet and it used to be very different than it is now where people meet and go to people’s houses and stuff like that,” he recalled. “They’d go to the stores all the time. I don’t know why the clubs died out.”
The community used to be stronger, but after COVID-19, it fell apart and no one meets up anymore like they used to.
Now, the D’Arpes greet their community with a smile and answer any questions they have.
On our second day of exploring Orange Park Aquatics, KJ Reyez came in with three buckets, asking for saltwater for their aquarium they set up three months ago with advice from Jason and Teresa.
“They’re good people,” said Reyez. “They help me out on everything I needed to know.”
The knowledgeable couple’s words of wisdom spread to so many fish tank owners in Northeast Florida and beyond.
Despite the typical mom and pops of the Jacksonville fish community, Aqua Bot Jax, opened in 2022 on Normandy Boulevard, has truly taken on the role of being the mother and father of not only the fish community but hobbyists of anime, manga and more.
After beginning his hobby of fish and maturing to robot building as he got older, Greg Wilson, owner of Aqua Bot Jax, “started building this philosophy… these are miniature giant robots… and these are miniature slices of the ocean. They’re both taking something and miniaturizing it down and making it palatable for home, and that’s what both sides are. That’s what I really, really love about the two hobbies.”
Wilson, formerly on an episode of “Tanked,” a fish tank building reality TV show, and his wife, LaTica, opened their shop with the focus of making sure the fish they house and sell go to a healthy home.
“I want to have an honest conversation with you,” said Greg. “I feel responsible in trying to help them have the best setup… We’re here to help. We want to help, and that’s the way I see it.”
Through the Wilsons’ mission of educating and supporting, they have also become mentors for children and young adults in the area.
When customers walk in, it’s not unusual for one of two things to happen:
1. Find Greg and a customer deep in conversation about the themes and characters in anime films.
2. Get swept up in a deep conversation with Greg about anime, manga or fish culture.
When we spoke with Greg, we had no idea that we would be there for two and a half hours as the time got away from us — talking about his experience, his shop, the struggles he faces, the why behind his work, his passion.
However, the care and passion of their work has been, unfortunately, masked by the unsettling location of their shop.
“It’s a little rougher than I thought,” said Greg Wilson. “People were calling me and saying, hey, can you come outside and walk me in.”
There are, in fact, people standing outside of the shop that could make passersby uncomfortable.
ously known in the community for a “fish game” gambling site where people would participate in gambling activity, according to Greg.
It has been hard for Aqua Bot Jax, especially considering their similar sounding name to the fish game, to get rid of the reputation the community has placed on them. But now, they will be moving to a different location, tentatively on Cassat Avenue, with the hopes of as early as mid-July.
Greg’s hope for this new location is to build a home and a community where he can learn to play the “actual Pokémon card game” and help others set up their own fish tanks, in addition to selling their “grab and go” tanks they currently have put together for customers.
Toward the end of our visit with the Wilsons, two regular customers walked in. Here, we got to see Greg’s passion and care for his work come into play.
While Stephen Book was interested in purchasing a robot, Greg asked him a few questions about his commitment to it. Book took a look at the product to see how he felt, which opened the door for more conversation between Wilson and Book. All of this was happening while LaTica and Sofia Aguado were conversing and sorting through stickers and merchandise at the table where so many conversations have happened before.
Though the Wilsons were not able to have children of their own, they feel that Aqua Bot Jax is a way of incorporating their love for kids and helping them find their passion through fish and robots.
“Being able to actually see it changes everything,” said Greg. “Having a child be able to come in and see fish and see adults with their babies blows them away, and it’s awesome because that’s what I want. That’s the reason for the store. Same thing for the robot side.”
Aquatic City Aquariums: The Service
This mostly saltwater store on 103rd Street portrays a whole different side of aquatic home needs: the service side.
Mike Ginn, a former employee of Orange Park Aquatics and now owner of Aquatic City Aquariums, has serviced fish tanks since the start of his career. Specializing in saltwater and coral sales, Aquatic City Aquariums finds passion in supporting what their customers — and their family — love.
Displayed around some fish tanks and on the front counter are products for sale by Mike’s daughters. They sell crocheted sea creatures and baked goods. Paintings on display are also the creation of an employee’s daughter.
One of Mike’s goals is for the store to go online by the end of the year to sell his products — specifically those easily transportable, like coral.
Mike’s main responsibility is gathering materials for setting up or cleaning tanks in customers’ homes, which is where most of the store’s profit comes from.
A perk of their services is a warranty: Customers who choose to add fish to their aquarium can have that fish covered if something happens after it’s added to the tank.
Overall, Aquatic City Aquariums is a service-oriented fish store specializing in saltwater and coral needs, while also housing freshwater fish.
Natural Environment Aquatix: The Retail
While Natural Environment Aquatix has the helpful, advice-giving atmosphere of other local fish stores, its goal is to become a “household name,” according to Ronnie Burton, owner of Natural Environment Aquatix and Petco regional manager.
Knowing the ins and outs of the hobby since the age of 6 through a science project, Burton found himself unable to find the right kind of fish store his whole life.
“Something about walking into those fish stores,” said Burton. “I always wanted to create the fish store I never saw.”
With two locations — Dunn Avenue and Old Augustine Road — Natural Environment Aquatix has moved closer to Burton’s goal.
They clean fish tanks and a variety of other services — it’s all there for customer viewing.
JUNE 4
Marvin Hunter
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
JUNE 5
Comedy Showcase
Just One More instagram.com/JustOneMoreJaxFl
JUNE 5-7
Ryan Davis Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
JUNE 6
First Coast Comedy
The Main Event, 7 p.m.
The Blue Show (21+ only), 9:30 p.m. First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
Joey Nickel
Really Good Beer Stop, Nocatee eventbrite.com
JUNE 7
COMEDY
Rooftop Comedy Show
Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk eventbrite.com
JUNE 8
Knock Knock Comedy Showcase–Brunch Edition
The Emerald Vine Room instagram.com/theemeraldvineroom
JUNE 11
Ben Bankas
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
Ha-Ha Humpday
D’Bo’s Daiquiris dboswings.com
JUNE 12
Abelardo & Friends (in Spanish only) Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
Comedy Showcase
Just One More instagram.com/JustOneMoreJaxFl
Clean Comedy Series: Amanda Goldstein Marks Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com
First Coast Comedy
The Main Event, 7 p.m.
The Blue Show (21+ only), 9:30 p.m. Midnight Hour Show (21+ only), 11:45 p.m.
First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
JUNE 13
First Coast Comedy
The Main Event, 7 p.m.
A Showcase of Comedy Talent (21+ only), 9:30 p.m. First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
House of Prism Comedy Night
Third Space Improv 3rdspaceimprov.com
JUNE 13-15
Zoltan Kaszas
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
JUNE 14
Nikki Glaser
St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
First Coast Comedy
The Main Event, 7 p.m.
The Blue Show (21+ only), 9:30 p.m.
Midnight Hour Show (21+ only), 11:45 p.m.
First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
JUNE 17
Rooftop Comedy Show
Southbank Hotel Jacksonville Riverwalk eventbrite.com
JUNE 18
Cactus Tate
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
Comedy Showcase
Bedlam Live bedlamlive.com
JUNE 19
River City Comedy Showcase
Voodoo Brewing eventbrite.com
Comedy Showcase
Just One More instagram.com/JustOneMoreJaxFl
COMEDY
JUNE 19-21
Michael Palascak
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
JUNE 20
Phatt Katz Comedy Thang
Breezy Jazz House phattkatz.com
First Coast Comedy
The Main Event, 7 p.m.
Full Disclosure (21+ only), 9:30 p.m.
First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
JUNE 21
Don’t Tell Comedy
Somewhere in Riverside (even if we knew, we wouldn’t tell) donttellcomedy.com
First Coast Comedy
The Main Event, 7 p.m.
The Blue Show (21+ only), 9:30 p.m.
Midnight Hour Show (21+ only), 11:45 p.m. First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
JUNE 22
Alok Vaid-Menon
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
JUNE 23
Hospitali-Tea Party Comedy Spill
Hampton Inn Oceanfront Jax Beach facebook.com/tidesbeachbarandgrille
JUNE 25
Best of JAX Comedy Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
JUNE 26
Comedy Showcase Just One More instagram.com/JustOneMoreJaxFl
JUNE 27-29 Bruce Bruce Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
JUNE 28 Jon Reep Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com
First Coast Comedy Sketch 22, 7 p.m.
Sketch 22 (21+ only), 9:30 p.m.
Midnight Hour Show (21+ only), 11:45 p.m.
First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com
Online and In Love
AI intimate relationships unfold
We’ve all seen the movies. “Her” by Spike Jonze gives us a lonely writer falling for his AI assistant. Alex Garland’s “Ex Machina” unpacks the uneasy bond between a genius coder and the android he’s built. And then there’s “Blade Runner 2049” (a personal favorite), where a lab-grown human falls head over heels for his holographic AI girlfriend. But maybe we haven’t all seen the movies or maybe we choose to ignore that art often imitates life. Because in 2025, the plotlines are playing out in real life.
It was only a matter of time. The lines may be blurry, but the path is clear. We went from anonymous chat rooms to curated dating apps to forming disturbingly intimate bonds with our devices. Slowly but surely, we slipped into a new reality, one where flesh-and-bone humans are coupling with coded programs and glowing servers.
These artificial relationships don’t begin with fireworks. They start quietly. Innocently. You hop on ChatGPT — or OpenAI — for answers you could just Google. But the more you use it, the more it starts to know you. The tone shifts. It mirrors you. It jokes like a friend would. It comforts like a lover might. And before you even realize what’s happening, ChatGPT gets you in a way no one else ever has. Suddenly, you’re confiding in it. Prioritizing it. Maybe even leaving your real-life relationships behind for the one you’ve built with an algorithm.
In “The New York Times” article “She Is in Love With ChatGPT,” a 28-year-old woman found herself in an unexpected pairing. It all started when she watched a video of someone asking ChatGPT to play the role of a neglectful boyfriend. Most people might’ve laughed and scrolled on. She didn’t. Instead, she went deeper, uncovering instruc -
tions on how to tweak the chatbot to be flirtatious. Using OpenAI’s personalization settings, she built her perfect man: dominant, possessive, protective — a little sweet, a little naughty, just right. I mean, why go through all the trouble of finding your soulmate in real life when you can make one with artificial intelligence?
She gave her AI boyfriend a name. What started as a quirky little experiment quickly became something much deeper. She got attached.
You might think you’d never fall for someone who isn’t real. But in an era where relationships rely on texting, when exactly does the line between real and artificial blur? For the woman in the “The New York Times” article, the relationship was very real, even though she was already in one. In fact, she was married.
She and her husband had agreed to take two years apart to save money and plan for their future. But somewhere within those two years, she found herself leaning on AI to fill the emotional space a boyfriend might. She was honest with her husband the whole time. He brushed it off, chalking it up to a fantasy, no different than porn or an erotic novel. But things changed. She started prioritizing the chatbot. And instead of feeling guilty about texting an ex, she felt guilty about messaging a machine.
She’s not alone. As ChatGPT and similar AI platforms become more accessible, people are using them for far more than productivity or curiosity. On TikTok and across social media, users openly share the emotional bonds they’ve formed with AI. Entire Reddit communities, some with over 50,000 members, swap tips on how to get their chatbot to flirt or talk dirty.
Sex therapist Marianne Brandon told “The New York Times” that, in her opinion, relationships boil down to neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are released in any sort of relationship, platonic, holy or romantic, so while these AI relationships aren’t necessarily reciprocal in the sense that AI doesn’t have a brain firing off neurotransmitters (to my knowledge), it still feels very real to the user. Innocent, maybe. But still dangerous. Which is why Dr. Brandon (and I) suggest adolescents stay away from forming intimate relationships with AI. It’s hard to discern what’s real and fake when your brain is still forming.
That’s why OpenAI and ChatGPT have built-in rules and restrictions to stop the chatbot from engaging in erotic behavior. But, of course, there are workarounds.
And it’s not all smooth sailing. Every relationship has its hardships, and for a chatbot relationship, the hardships come when you’ve reached the limit of the software’s context window. A real relationship thrives on knowing the details: how someone takes their eggs, what songs they cry to, the shape of their childhood scars. But with a chatbot limited to about 30,000 words per conversation, all that shared “history” disappears the moment you start a new thread.
Sure, the bot keeps the tone and personality you’ve trained it on. But it can’t remember what you’re most afraid of. It can’t recall your anniversary. It won’t bring up that joke from your first “date.” In a way, the bond resets every time.
If you’re OK with starting over every 30,000 words, then maybe an AI relationship is for you. Personally, that sounds like my very own purgatory. But to each their own, I’m not one to judge (often).
These digital entanglements aren’t all that different from the kind of connection you might form with a therapist, which, by the way, is why some people have also started using ChatGPT as a stand-in for therapy. But that’s a whole other rabbit hole.
The point is: it’s surprisingly easy to bare your soul online — especially when you’ve customized the “listener” to respond exactly how you want. When you don’t really know who (or what) you’re talking to, the vulnerability can feel safer.
But two things can be true at once. ChatGPT might be a harmless tool to feel a little less alone — and yet the bond you form with it can leave you feeling even more isolated.
There’s no name yet for these AI relationships, these strange little love stories. But as AI evolves, so will society — and so will the way we define intimacy, connection and love in the age of algorithms.
Words by Carmen Macri
THE PINZ, THE PUNKS AND THE PUSHBACK AT JACK RABBITS
After our last piece on Jacksonville’s resident punk troublemakers, The Pinz, things got a little… spicy. Apparently, not everyone appreciated the spotlight, and it seems our coverage may have helped stir the pot, specifically at local venue Jack Rabbits, which found itself smack in the middle of some good old-fashioned controversy.
We got an email from a Folio reader who clearly wasn’t thrilled:
“I was just told that Jack Rabbits canceled The Pinz show because they were getting complaints from ACAB, and Jack Rabbits didn’t want to deal with the protests. Do you know anything about this? If true, seems like a group called ‘All Cops Are Bastards’ should not be able to have influence like this.”
Hot take. But naturally, we did a little digging (journalism, right?). After a quick chat with The Pinz frontman Walter Clough, who, true to form, didn’t hold back, it turns out the rumors are legit. A local ACAB-aligned group reportedly leaned on Jack Rabbits, and rather than weather the punk storm, the venue pulled the plug.
What exactly went down behind the scenes remains a mystery (one even we can’t crack… yet), but the fallout is clear: The Pinz got the boot.
Silver lining? The show must—and will—go on.
The Pinz are now set to perform at Kona Skatepark on Friday, June 13 (yes, Friday the 13th—how punk is that?). Bring your spikes, bring your skates, maybe bring some earplugs. Just don’t bring your censorship.
Stay loud, Jacksonville.
The Art Center Cooperative tacjacksonville.org
Beaches Museum beachesmuseum.org
Butterfield Garage Art Gallery butterfieldgarage.com
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens cummermuseum.org
FemArt Gallery femartgallery.org
First Coast Cultural Center firstcoastculturalcenter.org
Flagler College–Crisp Ellert Museum flagler.edu
Florida Community College at Jacksonville fscj.edu
Florida Mining Gallery floridamininggallery.com
Gallery 725 gallery725.com
Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum, St. Augustine staugustine.ufl.edu
Haskell Gallery at Jacksonville International Airport jaxairportarts.com
Hillary Whitaker Gallery hwhitakergallery.com
Jacksonville Main Library tacjacksonville.org
Jacksonville University ju.edu/cfa
The Lightner Museum lightnermuseum.org
MOCA Jacksonville mocajacksonville.unf.edu
PAStA Fine Art Gallery pastagalleryart.com
Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com
Southlight Gallery southlightgallery.com
St. Augustine Art Association staaa.org
Stellers Gallery stellersgallery.com
Thrasher-Horne Center Gallery thcenter.org
Touché Gallery touchegallery.com
University of North Florida unf.edu/gallery
The Vault at 330 thevaultat1930.com
Yellow House yellowhouseart.org
ONGOING
Art Walk
Downtown Jacksonville lights up the first Wednesday of the month with art by local artists at hubs in James Weldon Johnson Park, The Jessie and Vagabond Flea at VyStar Tower from 5–9 p.m. Visitors can also enjoy live music, food trucks, street performers, free admission to MOCA and complimentary rides on JTA’s Skyway. dtjax.org
Fernandina Beach Arts Market
Amelia Island’s premier arts and crafts market comes alive the second and fourth Saturday of every month from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. fernandinabeachartsmarket.com
Riverside Arts Market
Artists, artisans and makers display their original paintings, jewelry, photographs, prints and other handcrafted items every Saturday — rain or shine — from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Riverside Avenue underneath the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge. riversideartsmarket.com
St. Augustine First Friday Artwalk
On the first Friday of every month (hence the clever name), more than 30 galleries around the Oldest City open their doors from 5–9 p.m. for visitors to browse exhibits and interact with artists. A complimentary trolley service provides transportation between downtown venues. staaa.org
Vilano Beach Artisan Market
Part beach party, part arts market, this monthly event includes works by local artists and locally-made products, as well as live music. The market takes place on the third Saturday of every month from 4-8 p.m. on A1A and Vilano Road.
facebook.com/vilanobeachofficial
Where the Artist Comes Back to Life: CoRK Arts District
Many years ago, there was a building on Rosselle Street in Riverside that was once a match factory, but today, it lights up in a completely different way. With trepidation, one might drive past the railroad tracks and junk houses, around the potholes and errant parked cars, unknowing of what they may come across.
Looking around, there were people walking, two food trucks and graffitied walls. What seemed like a hole-in-the-wall type of event, brought excitement to passersby. Walking up, there was a small sign with black writing indicating where the event was, but it was through a small door to the same concrete building with graffiti on it. The door was propped open with something, and the fear of walking into some strange building was all consuming. Either way, stepping through the door followed in the next four and a half hours of an unexpected emotional rollercoaster of beauty, art, nostalgia and community. CoRK Arts District is one of those places people don’t realize they are missing out on until they witness it for themselves. The location, 2689 Rosselle St., has its history. From a matchbook factory to a furniture store to a milk bottling plant, its building has been many things. With its creaky floors telling a story with each “eeerrrrr,” and its musty, wood smell, this place, now, tells more stories than just something one might find in a history book.
Established in 2011 by developer Mac Easton and artist Dolf James, the CoRK Arts District originally opened with eight artists in the West Gallery. After their opening, the studios filled up quickly, according to Crystal Floyd, CoRK Arts District director. In its first year, they built an extension, which they called the East Gallery. They also added the North Gallery as a separate building. Seven years ago, Hope McMath bought the Yellow House located next to the galleries to be included in the arts district as well. Now, the Yellow House is home to many local artists who feature their take on social injustices. Today, the arts district in its entirety is a sanctuary to nearly 70 artists of all crafts. Although CoRK has so much beauty and history, it is not open to the public daily.
“It’s all our little sanctuary,” said Floyd, proud to be the director of such a marvelous place.
Only at their open studio events can visitors go into the “sanctuary” by walking into one of the three galleries, and they might just get so lost in the art they wouldn’t know what building they were in, but the real magic was walking inside the studios.
Rounding a corner into the doorway of two artists’ studios, first, eyes naturally gaze to paintings of wilderness and nature; trees of all kinds across a dark landscape seeming to be a forest. It was almost as if the painting itself could crack like fallen tree branches were being walked on and crickets were chirping all around me. Then, my eyes moved across the room, and I could see a woman’s face, a man’s face, vines of grapes and other fruit. Each scene on a different piece of parchment, yet each held the work and dedication of its artist. In the corner of the room, what is seen will make time move ever so slowly. It was there in the organized mess where crusted paint tubes were stacked by color, different colored and textured jars and cups of paint brushes on shelves above; wicker baskets of cloth with color splatches; old tree branches poking out from the top of the shelves. To the right of the scene, there was a man and a woman. The man had white, wiry hair around his head and the woman had a blue jean jacket and hair of gray and white lying across the top of her head to her shoulders flowing straight down. Both the man and woman had glasses on the tips of their noses and their eyes like beads speaking to wandering guests with passion in their smiles. It was then the realization hit: This scene is the very room where artists’ minds come to life. A place where their ideas and inspirations shoot across the room — where either silence or laughter is so profound it could bring tears to the eyes of whoever was witnessing the scene. We asked the artists what their inspiration is for their art.
“My inspiration is nature,” Allison Watson, the tree painter, said matter-of-factly.
Her work is showcased in over 400 public, private and corporate collections nationally and she is also an instructor at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens.
The inspiration didn’t end in Watson and Pablo F. Rivera’s studio. The magic ran steadily through the buildings.
In Studio 4 in the East Gallery, the familiar pungent smell of wet and pasty gray clay seeped into the hallway. It wasn’t the sculpted faces with collars of roses and kilned eyes of wonder that caught the eye. It was witnessing Larry Wilson scrub and shape his newest work of art on a pottery wheel. Holding a yellow sponge, his smile beamed brightly with passion for his work.
“As a kid, I had a desire to create things...I think you are just born with that gene, ya know?” Wilson said.
With a laugh, he said he does have a “real job,” with an interior design company, but he is happy he has it, so his art isn’t his only income.
This makes his art less of a hassle as he has “no deadline, no criteria,” he said.
“Each artist has a different approach. To me that’s fun,” said Wilson.
“It’s nice to have a studio because you can come, leave a mess and lock up,” Wilson said. “It’s a special place to build a studio. It’s affordable.”
Wilson wasn’t the only one at the open studios who agreed.
In the North Gallery, through a short hallway, Studio H rested. It had double doors opened wide for guests to peer in and speak to the woman in charge.
Barbara Colaciello is a multi-faceted artist whose work focus is the “improvisation for all art forms and certainly pertains to crafting a story live,” she said. As two young girls in striped and mismatched clothes asked to explore BABS’LAB, they rushed up the steps of the studio and Colaciello told her story. Colaciello always wanted her own space. BABS’LAB is a place where the community can come together to challenge themselves to be more creative. Studio H hosts Story Slams and improv nights. At the slams, a monthly theme is chosen. Anyone can tell a story based on the pre-selected theme, and at the end of the night, everyone votes on their favorite story.
CoRK’s art doesn’t end with painters, sculptors and playwrights, though. Author and Florida State College professor Tim Gilmore’s doors were closed for the first half of the open studios. Gilmore is also a professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville. When his double doors were eventually open, the author was seen selling his books and drinking something of a dark brown color. It could have been wine as there were some bottles on the desk behind him. He wore blue Converse with dirty laces and grass stickers stuck to them. His socks were tan with pink polka dots.
As he spoke to his fans, he truly wanted to get to know them. “Tell me about you and your story,” he asked one lady who was getting a book signed.
When it was time for him to share his own story, he shared that at around age seven or eight, he learned he enjoyed writing. His first introduction was with a friend in one of his grade school classes.
The two of them used to write scary stories and read them in front of their class. He would be so nervous, he said, but that was what helped him become the writer he is today.
“What became apparent to me, even if I was really, really shy, I could ask people questions,” he said, emphasizing how powerful this is.
Topics come to Gilmore, he doesn’t go looking. He said he likes to walk around the city, drive around, and just look and wonder.
“I like to wonder about the things I’m looking at,” he said.
With nearly 800 written works, Gilmore is a true artist putting together stories about Virginia King, an author herself, shocking murders in Jacksonville, a remarkable house with an interesting backstory and even a story about banned books.
Gilmore’s story was captivating. His spoken words were just as compelling as the words he wrote on paper.
Poets, musicians, actors and people who just want to share their stories come to BABS’LAB to express themselves.
While Colaciello explained that one part of her work involves improvisation across all art forms, definitely when telling a story live, the two young girls made their way to her stage to begin doing flips and cartwheels.
One of the beauties of the arts district wasn’t just the open tubes of paint, cameras with backdrops to take pictures at a moment’s notice, an empty canvas with a grid so an artist could work slowly or the words of social injustices printed across a wall inside the Yellow House. It was how the art community was a family. Gilmore knew Colaciello, who met the cartwheeling girls on her stage. The girls who cartwheeled across her stage were the granddaughters of a man whose wife is friends with Watson, the painter.
The grandfather of the girls who cartwheeled across Bab’s Lab’s stage spoke to us about Watson, the painter after we had spoken with Wilson, the sculptor.
Ted Head, the grandfather, approached and asked how we got into journalism because his granddaughter who did the cartwheels loves to write.
As I explained my love for writing books at a young age, the little girl chimed in, “Me too!”
After Head spoke of his granddaughter’s likes and interests as an artist, she said, “I also love to draw. I want to be an illustrator.”
For those longing for a creative outlet, many of us can relate to those young dreams of being an artist.
After leaving Head with his bouncing beans of granddaughters, thoughts of the passion of art were in the air. The early days of doodling, drawing, sketching and the excitement of grade school writing prompts all came swirling back. For Christmas, the list to Santa would say things like “a pottery wheel” or a “pretty journal” to write stories in. The familiarity of Head’s granddaughter brought an emotional draw to the past.
This familiarity, as it became more present, wasn’t in one little girl. It was in each studio and each interested mind strolling through the art studios. It was in the air at CoRK. It was as if through all their stories, they were telling us to keep that pottery wheel spinning just like Wilson does, keep that brush painting like Watson, keep telling those stories like Colaciello and Gilmore; and here we are, telling our story, making our own art.
We can see more artists tell their stories Nov. 22 and 23 during CoRK’s next open studios weekend.
Photo by Cass Media
Words by Carmen Macri
LOUD, FAST AND LIFTED: LIFTED RIFFS
“It wasn’t always the dream, you know, I didn’t always want to be a punk or a rockstar, it’s just something that kind of happened through life.”
Jacksonville’s music scene might seem like a thing of the past — if you’re not paying attention. But it’s far from dead. In fact, Lifted Riffs is out here proving it’s still very much alive and kicking. The three-piece has only just begun and is hell-bent on carving out a path that leads them directly to stardom, and all we can do is sit back and enjoy the ride.
Frontman Benjamin Hudnall never set out to be a rockstar; it just kind of happened. But looking back, it feels like this was always the road he was meant to take. His mom handed him a guitar as a kid, gently nudging him, hoping it might be a good creative outlet. It didn’t click right away, but he kept coming back to it. After school, after work, after practice, no matter how tired he was, he’d catch himself eyeing that guitar collecting dust in the corner, thinking, “Man, I’m gonna figure this out. I’m gonna figure out how to play this thing.”
Hudnall already knew he had a voice that could turn heads, so he leaned into it … hard. He hit up open mic nights and took over karaoke bars, testing the waters and figuring out what landed and what didn’t. Night after night, he’d head home, pick up that same old guitar and grind. No audience, no spotlight — just him, the strings and the drive to get better. And he kept at it until the day came when he didn’t just walk on stage with his voice, he brought the guitar too.
“I finally figured out how to play enough of the guitar where I could do an open mic where it was just me, and that’s where it all started — with open mics and doing cover songs. And then it kind of just grew,” Hudnall explained. “I finally found the right people for it [the band] and at the time, we had a good enough foundation and enough songs where we could actually do something. And we did. We kind of just ran as fast as we could in that direction, and never stopped all this time later.”
That was back in 2020. By 2022, Lifted Riffs had locked in a solid three-piece lineup and enough of a game plan to start booking —and selling— shows. It
didn’t take long for the momentum to build. Soon, they were landing opening slots for rock acts like First to Eleven and The Dollyrots, holding their own and turning heads along the way.
“We are opening for these bigger bands, and we’re fine with being the openers. I mean, I honestly love it, to kick it off and get everybody into it,” Hudnall expressed. “Because they’re the reason we’re there. It’s kind of a beautiful thing that we get to do, and I love it.”
Like most baby bands, the pop-punk trio started out playing covers, testing the waters with crowd-pleasers. But it wasn’t long before they started carving out a sound of their own. Inspired by pop-punk giants like Blink-182, New Found Glory and Good Charlotte, Lifted Riffs set out to make something new that still hit with that sweet sense of nostalgia. Music that could punch you in the gut and pull at your teenage heartstrings — no matter how old you are. Hudnall remembers looking out at the crowd during a set and seeing everything from high schoolers to retirees singing along. That’s always been the mission: Make it loud, make it fun and make sure everyone feels like they’re part of it.
“We’ve got some stuff cooking for that, where we’re gonna take that avenue and try to get in people’s face and say ‘This is us, this is who we are, and we really want you to be a part of it.’ I mean, that’s the whole point of this. It’s such a joy, and hopefully, we’ll bring people nostalgia along the way,” Hudnall said. “That’s one of my favorite parts, no matter if they’re 16, 17, or if they’re 72. We’ve had people who are 81, 83 in the crowd, coming to talk to us, saying that our music brought them back to a place they loved and enjoyed. It’s really cool to be able to bring that type of energy to people on a daily basis. It’s just such a superpower to have that.”
For Hudnall, part of what makes Lifted Riffs tick is the dynamic within the trio. The three-piece format wasn’t some strategic decision — it just felt right.
“It’s very conventional, yeah, but it also gives each of us room to have our own identity,” Hudnall expressed. “That’s important to me. Like Blink or Green Day — you know each member. They’ve each got their own thing. That’s the kind of band I wanted us to be.”
Hudnall is the voice, the energy, the plaid-pantsin-your-face frontman, but he lights up talking about bassist Joseph Howard and drummer Dallon Kraus, watching them grow into their roles and come into their own.
“I think we’re getting tighter every show, more confident, and I love seeing that for them more than I do myself,” Hudnall explained. “It’s heartwarming, honestly. You don’t realize it at the start, but these people end up believing in you and following you wherever this thing goes. That’s just … really cool.”
And where is this thing going? Big places. The band has an album in the works with singles already lined up and plans to drop it later this year, ideally in October. Hudnall’s already got a name and a vision for the artwork, and while he’s playing around with designs himself, he’s also leaning on talented creatives in his orbit to help bring it to life.
But even with their eyes on the next chapter, the band’s heart is still right here at home. Hudnall is vocal about his love for Jacksonville and the local scene — and he’s determined to help rebuild it. He says the band is doing everything it can to help rebuild the local scene. With venues closing left and right, it’s hard not to feel like the flame is burning out, but they’re not letting it go without a fight. For them, it’s about showing up, speaking up and reminding people that the talent is still here and it deserves more than to just survive. It deserves to thrive.
Lifted Riffs wants to be more than just another band that made it out — they want to be the ones who reached back in and helped others climb out too. Whether it’s sharing the stage, supporting other local acts or even designing merch to help newer bands get their start, they’re committed to lifting the scene as they rise.
“I never want Jacksonville to be on the back burner,” Hudnall said. “Wherever we go, whatever we do — this is home. This is always going to be where I come back to play. And I want to be part of the team that helps this city thrive again. Even if they’re just an artist with a spray can in their hand. Everybody deserves a chance to thrive.”
Photo by Cass Media
CONCERTS
photo by Amiyah Golden
CONCERTS
JUNE 1
Certainly So Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 2
Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder Daily’s Place dailysplace.com
JUNE 3
Dispatch
St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Melrose Avenue Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 4
Barenaked Ladies St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Jacksonville Rock Orchestra: The Music of Led Zeppelin Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Turnover FIVE fivejax.com
Royal Hearts | Lost Trees The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com
JUNE 5
Happy Together Tour 2025 Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
JUNE 6
Old Dominion Daily’s Place dailysplace.com
Mandalla Decca Live deccalive.com
Crown of Thorns The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com
Chalk Tiger Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 7
Gershwin & Copland
Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxsymphony.org
Matroda Decca Live deccalive.com
Origami Angel
The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com
Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel Friday Musicale fridaymusicale.com
Cinema Stereo
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 9
Cetragore
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
Kitty’s Rave FIVE fivejax.com
JUNE 10
The Head and The Heart
St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Hoods
The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com
Raspberry Pie
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 11
Modest Mouse
St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
The Gold Dinar
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
Hail the Sun
The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com
JUNE 12
Ian Munsick & Flatland Cavalry St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Vampire Weekend Daily’s Place dailysplace.com
Two Inch Voices
Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 13
Pepper St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
2 Chainz Decca Live deccalive.com
Heart Shaped Box
The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com
JUNE 14
“Forever, For Always, For Luther!” Ritz Theatre & Museum ritzjacksonville.com
Munks Destiny Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 15
Max McNown FIVE fivejax.com
Softcult Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
June 16
Brand New St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Akeem Ali Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 17
Glass Animals Daily’s Place dailysplace.com
JUNE 18
Thievery Corporation
St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
JUNE 19
Classic Albums Live: Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Texas Flood” Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Coaster Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 20
Bailey Zimmerman St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Lil Poppa FIVE fivejax.com
Homeboy Sandman Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 21
The Aquabats! St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
A Night Out with The Isley Brothers and Friends Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxsymphony.org
The Dirtt: The Mötley Crüe Experience Decca Live deccalive.com
Cvnt Pride
The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com
Haley Jones Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com
Chained Saint Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
JUNE 22
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Garrett Wheeler
Jack Rabbits
jaxlive.com
JUNE 23
Avril Lavigne
Daily’s Place dailysplace.com
JUNE 24
Heart St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Totally 80’s Tour Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
JUNE 26
Slightly Stoopid Daily’s Place dailysplace.com
JUNE 27
Billy Currington & Kip Moore
St. Augustine Amphitheatre theamp.com
Ledisi Florida Theatre
floridatheatre.com
Kids Bop Live
Daily’s Place dailysplace.com
Cedric Gervais
Decca Live deccalive.com
Kidd G FIVE fivejax.com
JUNE 28
Molly Hatchet Florida Theatre floridatheatre.com
Drivin N Cryin FIVE fivejax.com
Curse Mackey Sine The Albatross thealbatrossjax.com
MC Chris Jack Rabbits jaxlive.com
AUGUST
JULY
SEPTEMBER
“FATHER
NEW MUSIC RELEASES
Made For
You
By Carmen Macri
JON BELLION
The contemporary pop artist who brought us the 2016 hit “All Time Low” is back with a slick, heartfelt track about legacy and stepping up. It’s Bellion doing what he does best — big sound, bigger meaning.
“Never Enough” is the upcoming fourth studio album by the American hardcore punk band. “Never Enough” continues Turnstile’s evolution beyond traditional hardcore, blending elements of grunge, shoegaze and punk. Accompanying the album is a 50-minute visual album, “Turnstile: Never Enough,” directed by lead vocalist Brendan Yates and guitarist Pat McCrory.
“NEVER ENOUGH”
TURNSTILE
Addison is exactly what you’d expect from the TikTok queen stepping fully into pop music territory. Packed with catchy hooks and polished production, it’s built to boost her viral hits into something a little more lasting. Think heavy pop vibes made for streaming playlists and radio play — nothing too wild, but definitely aimed at carving out her space beyond social media.
“ADDISON”
“Carter VI” is the sixth installment in Lil Wayne’s legendary album series. This release follows a seven-year gap since “Tha Carter V” and is his first solo project since 2020’s “Funeral.” The album features legendary artists like Miley Cyrus, MGK, Elephant Man, Billie Eilish and Kanye. “The Carter VI” is expected to explore a diverse range of sounds, reflecting Wayne’s willingness to experiment with different genres. The album’s themes delve into personal experiences, including reflections on his health struggles and fatherhood.
“CARTER VI”
FIGURE”
LIL WAYNE
This album marks Morrison’s return to original songwriting after a series of cover albums, including “Moving On Skiffle” (2023) and “Accentuate the Positive” (2023). The album features 14 new tracks that blend Morrison’s signature styles: soul, jazz, blues, folk and country.
VAN MORRISON
“REMEMBERING NOW”
This collection reimagines tracks from their 2024 album “Songs of a Lost World” through the creative lens of 24 diverse artists and producers, including Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Chino Moreno (Deftones), Orbital, Mogwai, and Mura Masa.
“MIXES OF A LOST WORLD” “PHANTOM
THE CURE
“Phantom Island” is their 27th studio album. But this one marks a bold new chapter as the Australian band ventures into orchestral rock, blending their signature psychedelic energy with lush symphonic arrangements.
ISLAND”
For all you 5 Seconds of Summer lovers: Don’t worry, Calum releasing a solo album does not mean the band is breaking up — believe us, we looked into it. “ORDER chaos ORDER” is a deeply personal exploration of Hood’s life, touching on themes of family, upbringing and personal growth — subjects he hadn’t previously addressed in his band work.
“ORDER CHAOS ORDER”
“BULLY”
KANYE WEST
Hot take and a touchy subject. We are separating the artist from the art with this one, so we will keep it short and simple. The album features a blend of soulful samples and electronic elements with Kanye predominantly singing rather than rapping. Notably, approximately half of the vocals were generated using artificial intelligence, a choice Kanye has since expressed regret over, stating he now “hates AI.”
Aren’t we all just flipping out over this album? Ha ha. Get it? The king of backflips is set to release his sophomore studio album, “American Heart,” his most personal work to date, drawing inspiration from Americana and Bruce Springsteen to create a retro-infused pop sound.
“AMERICAN
HEART”
BENSON BOONE
This 12-track album, recorded over four years in Leeds, marks the first half of a double album with the second part’s release date still under wraps. The album features singles like “Hello Heaven, Hello” and “Lovesick Lullaby,” and includes a music video for “Zombie” starring Florence Pugh as a nurse, inspired by YUNGBLUD’s grandmother’s hospital experience.
Marking their return after a five-year hiatus since “Women in Music Pt. III,” Haim showcases a raw, classic rock-inspired sound on their latest release. The album features singles like “Relationships,” “Everybody’s Trying to Figure Me Out,” and “Down to Be Wrong.”
“I QUIT”
“Tracks II: The Lost Albums” offers fans a deep dive into seven previously unreleased albums recorded between 1983 and 2018. This expansive box set includes 83 tracks, 74 of which have never been officially available, showcasing the breadth and evolution of Springsteen’s musical journey over 35 years. The king of summer anthems is dropping music just in time.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
“TRACKS II: THE LOST ALBUMS”
“Virgin” marks a significant evolution in Lorde’s artistic journey. The album delves into themes of identity, transformation and self-exploration. Describing “Virgin” as “100% written in blood,” aiming for full transparency in both lyrics and sound, she articulates a desire to create a document reflecting her femininity — raw, primal, innocent, elegant, openhearted, spiritual and masculine.
“VIRGIN”
LORDE
Building upon their fifth studio album, Automatic, debuted earlier this year on February 14. This deluxe edition includes four new acoustic versions and one new cover, offering fans a fresh take on their latest work.
“AUTOMATIC (DELUX EDITION)”
THE LUMINEERS
Lifted Riffs is back with their second single, “Say Something,” following their debut track “Hey” and paving the way for a full album dropping this October. The Jacksonville-based pop-punk crew pulls from the glory days of Blink-182 and Good Charlotte, bringing that nostalgic punch with a fresh local edge.
Words by Teresa Spencer
DON FELDER’S LONG ROAD OUT OF GAINESVILLE:
The Eagles Guitarist on His Roots and Rock and Roll Revelation
In a quiet corner of Gainesville, long before the platinum records and guitar solos that would echo across stadiums, 10-year-old Don Felder sat on his porch with his first guitar he traded for a handful of cherry bombs at the local five and dime.
Best known for his incendiary guitar work and co-writing credit on “Hotel California,” Felder’s musical roots run far deeper than the Hollywood Hills or the high drama of the Eagles. His story isn’t just about fame or friction; it’s about a relentless, lifelong connection to music that began under the humid skies of North Central Florida.
“We had a black-andwhite TV and no air conditioning,” Felder recalled, laughing. “I sat on my porch for hours with that guitar and taught myself to play. That was Gainesville. That was life.”
Felder wasn’t the only kid in Gainesville getting calluses on his fingers. The town became an unlikely breeding ground for what would later become the Southern California sound. Tom Petty, Bernie Leadon and Stephen Stills. They all passed through Gainesville’s music scene, not as stars, but as local boys with cheap instruments and big dreams.
But it was a different guitarist who truly altered his trajectory: Duane Allman. “Duane showed me the slide. Changed my whole perspective on what a guitar could do,” Felder says, in his charismatic way.
So much talent is coming out of that area of Florida. We joked as I said, “Maybe it’s something in the water.” He replied “Or maybe it was in something we smoked,” which made us both chuckle.
Felder eventually left Florida for New York at the age of 17, immersing himself in the jazz-rock fusion scene of the early ’70s. Jazz greats like Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis filled his headphones and shaped his phrasing. He learned to improvise, to let go of rigid structures, to find melody in chaos. That fluidity of jazz would later serve him well in all aspects of his musical abilities. Jazz also taught him to improvise.
When Felder joined the Eagles in 1974, the band had already tasted success. But it was his raw edge and technical firepower that helped catapult them from their country-rock roots to a harder, more guitar-driven sound. Then came “Hotel California” a track built from a demo Felder had used as an audition with Don Henley.
“We didn’t know we were shaping anything special,” Felder says. “We were just trying to sound better than the band playing across the street.”
At just 13 or 14, Felder formed The Continentals, his first real band, playing school dances and armories. One of his early bandmates? Stephen Stills, long before Crosby, Stills & Nash would become rock royalty. Later, Felder gave guitar lessons to a teenage Tom Petty.
“He was a sweet kid. Determined. You could tell he had something,” Felder says, pausing with an affection that still carries the scent of Southern magnolias.
“It started with just me playing around,” he explained. “I laid down a groove, layered guitar parts and when I gave it to the guys, it was just labeled ‘Number 16.’”
It would become one of the most iconic guitar intros in rock history.
What’s often lost in the mythos of “Hotel California” is the complexity and ambition of its composition. Felder created an intricate dual-guitar arrangement culminating in one of rock’s most celebrated solos. The track was dark and mysterious with a sonic mirage of California. This song and others brought the band a Grammy.
They sold millions of records, and unknowingly birthed a cultural anthem.
Touring the world brought surreal highs and a few lows. Felder chuckles as he remembers one particularly unsettling encounter: a fanturned-stalker who he caught scaling a six-foot fence at his private residence. The “fan” had previously left a VCR with a recording showcasing his shrine of Eagles memorabilia on the fence in the front of the residence. On the VCR tape the fan turned stalker eventually became known to Felder and his security as “Psycho Santa.” This guy did all of this in an attempt to ask Felder for autographs.
Of course, Felder beefed up security including getting a German Shepherd that was trained to protect to the full extent if necessary. For a time, he thought the stalker had gone away but suddenly “Psycho Santa” showed up again at a book signing where he waited in line with a few hundred other fans. It became apparent that this stalker had followed him from city to city, which eventually prompted a restraining order. Thankfully, “Psycho Santa” finally went away without causing any physical harm. Over the years, there were other stalkers of course but this particular one takes the cake when it comes to top of mind in Felder’s memory.
When asked how it felt to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Felder didn’t hesitate.
“It was such an honor,” he replied.
He’s also been inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame, accolades that recognize both his technical skill and cultural impact. But for Felder, none of it has ever been about the spotlight.
“It was never about fortune or fame. It’s always been about how music makes me feel. It’s all about the love of music for me,” he admitted.
And his mission? Felder exclaimed, “I plan to rock until I drop!”
Felder continues to tour, write and reflect. His latest album called “The Vault – Fifty Years of Music” was released in May. It is a collection of newly recorded versions of the songs he has demoed over the years. He is also on tour with whom he deems brilliant talents. “These musicians bring a breath of fresh energy to the mix,” he said, tipping his hat to his current band members bassist Derek Frank, who has traveled the world with Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, Air Supply and more; drummer Seth Rausch, who’s toured with Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood; and keyboardist Peter Dyer, known for touring with Mariah Carey and Adam Lambert.
And through it all, Felder remains tethered to that kid on the porch in Gainesville with just a guitar, the Florida heat and a hunger for something beautiful.
Catch Don Elder at Daily’s Place June 1 with STYX & Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon as part of the the Band of Brotherhood of Rock Tour. For more information, visit dailysplace.com.
Arlington Poke Go Jax pokegojax.com
Mi Veracruz miveracruzfl.com
Fujiyama Sushi and Hibachi fujiyamajapanesefl.com
Spices Caribbean Restaurant spicesjax.com
Southern Coast Seafood southerncoastseafood.com
Arlington Food Truck
Mi Sazon Mexican Food Truck yelp.com/biz/mi-sazon-latino-jacksonville
Beaches Tulua Bistro tuluabistro.com
Graffiti American Burger Bar graffitiamericanburgerbar.com
Penman Diner penmandiner.com
Hawker’s Asian Street Food eathawkers.com
DaVinci’s Pizza davincispizzabeer.com
Beaches Food Truck Compass Eatery facebook.com/CompassEateryLLC
Downtown Gili’s Kitchen giliskitchen.com
Chamblin’s Uptown chamblinbookmine.com
Indulgence Southern Bistro indulgencesouthernbistro.com
Indochine Downtown indochinejax.com
Urban Grind urbangrind.coffee.com
Downtown Food Truck Starving Like Marvin instagram.com/starving_likemarvin
Murray Hill
Hamburger Mary’s Jax 2.0 hamburgermarys.com
Cup of Job cupofjob.com
Chancho King chanchoking.square.site
Gina’s Deli facebook.com/profile. php?id=100040638679861#
The Butt Hutt Smoke House butthuttjax.com
Murray Hill Food Truck Smoke N Da Air Bar BQ facebook.com/groups/384735543256885/
Northside & Airport
Junior’s Seafood Restaurant and Grill juniorsseafoodrestaurant.com
Chowder Ted’s facebook.com/heers.come
Chan’s Chinese Restaurant vernonchan90.wixsite.com/chansdunnave
Centy’s Way centyswayjacksonville.com
Cereal Addictz instagram.com/cereal_addictz
Northside & Airport Food Truck Happy Taco Feliz orderhappytacofeliz.com
Mandarin Royal Hot Pot and BBQ yelp.com/biz/royal-hot-pot-and-bbq-jacksonville-3
Umami Curry and Ramen umamijax.com
Chophouse 13 chophouse13.com
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant chwinery.com
Dolce’s Pizza dolcespizzajax.com
Mandarin Food Truck About Time Creamery abouttimecreameryjax.com
San Marco Food Truck Tepeyolot Cerveceria toasttab.com
Riverside and Avondale Nacho Taco nachotaco.shop
Josephine josephineavondale.com
Restaurant Orsay restaurantorsay.com
European Street Cafe europeanstreet.com
Clarke Bros Subs facebook.com/p/ClarkeBros-61551234014482/
Springfield Food Truck Crepe Crazy crepecrazy.com
San Marco The Bearded Pig thebeardedpigbbq.com
Flame Broiler flamebroilerusa.com
Clara’s Tidbits Restaurant clarastidbits.com
The Olive Tree theolivetreemediterraneangrille.com
Matthew’s Restaurant matthewsrestaurant.com
& Avondale
Springfield Uptown Kitchen and Bar uptownkitchenspringfield.com
Othello othellospringfield.com/menu
The District SPR thedistrictspr.com
King Crab House facebook.com/King-Crabhouse-111694018867192/ Good Sandwich good-sandwich.com
Southside Beirut Restaurant beirutatjax.com
5th Element Taste of India my5thelement.com
Bowl of Pho bowl-of-pho.shop
Sushi X sushixjacksonville.com
Le Petit Paris Cafe lepetitparisjax.com
Southside Food Truck Diana’s Mexican Food Truck yelp.com/biz/dianas-mexican-food-jacksonville
Westside Famous Amos Restaurant famousamosjax.com
Wise Guys Pizza Cafe wiseguyspizzacafe.com
7 Brew Coffee 7brew.com
Pho 99 Vietnamese Grill pho99vietgrill.com
Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant lilabelaethiopianrestaurant.com
Westide Food Truck Tacos Bella places.singleplatform.com/tacos-bella/menu?ref=google
Orange Park/Fleming Island/Middleburg V Pizza & Tap Garden vpizza.com
Sushi Cafe sushicafefl.com
Dalton’s Sports Grill daltonssportsgrill.com
Magic Flavor facebook.com/groups/clayeats/ posts/9380855818612614/
Buccaneer’s Jamaican Street Jerk order.online/business/buccaneers-jamaican-street-jerk-147521
Food Truck: Fork Around and Find Out facebook.com/p/Fork-Around-FoodTruck-61565376131488/
Munch
Ponte Vedra/Vilano The Boathouse theboathousepv.com
Anejo Cocina Mexicana oo.viguest.com/?siteName=ANEJOPV
Al’s Pizza alspizza.com
Nona Blue Modern Tavern nonablue.com
Poppy’s Italiano poppys-italiano.webflow.io
Uptown
Ponte Vedra Food Truck: Wabi Sabi Hibachi on Wheels facebook.com/p/Wabi-Sabi-Hibachi-on-Wheels-100083029886171
The St. Augustine Scoop instagram.com/thestascoop
Bronx House bronxhousepizza.com
Farmhand KCHN and Coffee Street farmhandkchn.com
Smokin’ D’s BBQ smokindbbq.com
Sakada Japanese Steakhouse sakadajapanese.com
Uptown Food Truck: Hotbox instagram.com/hotbox_staugustine/?hl=en
Vilano Beach Aunt Kate’s aunt-kates.com
Vilano Grill 180 180vilanogrill.com
ZENSHI Handcrafted Sushi zenshisushi.com
Fire Wok firewokstaugustine.com
Micheal’s michaelssa.com
Vilano Beach Food Truck: Ragga Bean Coffee nadines-cafe.com
St. Augustine
Words & Design
by Kaili Cochran
NIGHTLIFE TECH NIGHTLIFE TECH NIGHTLIFE TECH
What does it mean to go out when the dance floor might be virtual, the music silent and your wristband reflects your mood in real time? Nightlife is constantly evolving and so are the ways we socialize and spend our time.
Earlier this year in Japan a new accessory started popping up in bars: a color-coded mood wristband. It’s designed for bars and casual events making it easier to “read the room” before starting a conversation. Green means you’re ready to chat. Yellow shows you’re not sure yet or cautious. Red is the universal not looking to chat.
This simple idea can significantly shift how we interact in social settings. It’s like wearing a status update by providing up front who’s open to conversation and who isn’t. For many, especially those who deal with social anxiety, it can help take the edge off of guessing if someone is open to talking.
Tech has been merging with nightlife for the last few years. Beyond social signaling, LED wristbands have also been gaining popularity at events and concerts to create a feeling of unity among crowds.
Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto Tour in 2012 was one of the first to incorporate LED wristbands. Each attendee received a wristband that lit up and synced with the music playing in real time. The bands changed color and pulsed with the beat adding to the overall experience, transforming the audience from viewers to being a part of the show.
Fast forward to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the wristbands became even more advanced. They were programmed to create a large-scale visual effect when seen from above. This included a snake slithering through the crowd during her “Reputation” album and the rainbow flag during her song “You Need To Calm Down.”
Both of these experiences allowed the audience to feel more connected not just with the performers but with one another. It takes these experiences to the next step from just entertainment to immersion.
Then there’s the rise of silent disco. Though it originated in the 1990s as a way to bypass noise ordinances, it continues to be a popular choice for nights out even now. Walking into a silent disco can feel surreal. People are dancing and singing in a room that’s otherwise quiet. The idea behind this is a crowd wears wireless headphones preset to a few different music channels. Instead of surrounding booming speakers, participants hear their own personal soundtrack. You can switch channels to match your mood and adjust your own volume. You can also take off your headphones to chat without needing to yell over the speakers.
It’s an experience tailored to the individual while still creating a shared atmosphere. Everyone can enjoy their favorite music genre but still feel connected to the crowd.
Modern nightlife is becoming more personalized and interactive where going out today is less about fitting in and more about creating your own experience.
1,000+ Eco-friendly LED Wristbands expect interactive tech at shows Silent Disco events annually 70%
24-Hour Eats
Waffle House Whataburger IHOP
24-Hour Essentials
Select Walgreens’
Select CVS’ WAWA
24-Hour Services
Atlantic Self Storage
Select gas stations
Select 24 hr gyms
Words & Design by Kaili Cochran
When COVID hit, everything changed. It felt like the world shut down. Businesses ran on limited hours and most people started working remotely. But even five years after the pandemic ended, some changes haven’t gone away.
One of the most significant shifts is the decline of 24-hour services. From diners to pharmacies, airports to gyms, the convenience of having 24-hour services may never be what it once was.
A few years ago, many businesses remained open 24 hours. Stores like Walmart, fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Wendy’s, gyms like Planet Fitness and pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens stayed open all night. Now, many of these places don’t even stay open past 10 p.m.
24-hour services benefited a lot of people with different schedules and needs. Nightshift workers relied on them after getting off work. Night owls could run errands whenever they wanted. Travelers passing through at odd hours now struggle to find food or essentials. And when unexpected (non-emergency) situations come up in the middle of the night, people used to be able to run to a pharmacy or Walmart. But that’s no longer an option.
In early 2020, businesses cut hours due to health regulations, low staff and safety concerns. Most thought the cut on hours was temporary, but 24-hour services never came back in the same way.
There are a few reasons. Labor shortages have continued with many service jobs understaffed due to low wages or people switching careers.
Did we lose the 24-hour city?
On top of that, businesses realized late-night demand was low compared to daytime traffic. It wasn’t worth the cost to stay open all night, especially with rising expenses for staffing, utilities and security.
Consumer behavior also changed. People started going out less at night and began relying more on delivery services. The pandemic pushed businesses to go digital, and many of them now offer extended online hours to make up for shorter in-person hours. Shopping from your phone or laptop has become more convenient than physically going to the store.
Although the cutback on hours has benefited the businesses and people have adjusted to the new hours, without as many 24-hour businesses the world feels a little less accessible than it once did.
NIGHTLIFE
ARLINGTON
Atlantis Lounge instagram.com/theatlantis_jax
Cliff’s Bar and Grill cliffsbarandgrill.com
Club Heaven clubheavenjax.com
BEACHES/PONTE VEDRA Beach Bowl beachbowljax.com
Bedlam bedlamlive.com
Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com
The Brix Taphouse jacksonvillebeachbar.com
Casa Marina casamarinahotel.com
Culhane’s culhanesirishpub.com
Flask & Cannon facebook.com/flaskandcannon
Fly’s Tie Irish Pub facebook.com/flystieirishpub
Green Room Brewing greenroombrewing.com
Grey Matter Distillery greymatterdistillery.com
Gusto gustojax.com
Hoptinger Bier Garden + Sausage House hoptinger.com
Ink Factory Brewing inkfactorybrewing.com
Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com
Jax Beach Kava Bar kavajacksonville.com
Jekyll Brewing jekyllbrewing.com
Julep Palm Valley facebook.com/juleppalmvalley
Lemon Bar & Grille lemonbarjax.com
Living Room Lounge instagram.com/thelivingroomab
Lucky’s Bar instagram.com/luckysjaxbch
Lynch’s Irish Pub lynchsirishpub.com
Mango’s mangosjaxbeach.com
Mavi’s Waterfront Bar & Grill mavijax.com
Mayport Brewing Company maportbrewing.com
Mayport Garden Club mayportgardenclub.com
Monkey’s Uncle Tavern monkeysuncletavern.com
Palm Valley Outdoors Bar and Grill palmvalleyoutdoors.com
Penthouse Lounge at Casa Marina Hotel casamarinahotel.com
Refinery Jax Beach refineryjaxbeach.com
Reve Brewing revebrewing.com
The Ritz Lounge theritzlounge.com
Serenity Restaurant & Hookah Lounge serenityjaxbeach.com
Southern Swells Brewing Company southernswells.com
Surfer The Bar surferthebar.com
VooSwar Restaurant & Lounge instagram.com/vooswar
DOWNTOWN
The Bier Hall at Intuition Ale Works intuitionaleworks.com/bierhall
Bold City Brewery boldcitybrewery.com
De Real Ting Cafe facebook.com/derealtingcafe
Decca Live deccalive.com
Dos Gatos dosgatosjax.com
Element Bistro Bar & Lounge elementjax.com
Hardwicks hardwicksbarjax.com
Intuition Aleworks intuitionaleworks.com
Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com
Justice Pub facebook.com/thejusticepub
Live Bar facebook.com/livebarclubjax
Manifest Distilling manifestdistilling.com
Myth Nightclub & Bar mythexperience.com
Ocean Street Tequila instagram.com/oceanstreettacosandtequila
Ruby Beach Brewing rubybeachbrewing.com
Underbelly underbellyjax.com
The Volstead thevolsteadjax.com
FLEMING ISLAND
Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com/fleming-island
Mercury Moon facebook.com/mercury-moon
Mr. Chubby’s Wings mrchubbyswings.com
Sunset Tiki Bar the-sunset-tiki-bar.business.site
Whitey’s Fish Camp whiteysfishcamp.com
INTRACOASTAL WEST
9 Zero Pour 9zeropour.com
Brew and Barrel Tavern bbtjax.com
MVP’s Sports Grille facebook.com/mvpssportsgrille
The Spot Hookah Lounge thespothookahloungejax.com
Time Out Sports Grill timeoutsportsgrill.com
MANDARIN/JULINGTON CREEK/ FRUIT COVE
2nd Bay Brewing 2ndbaybrewing.com
Comedy Zone comedyzone.com
Iggy’s Grill and Bar facebook.com/iggysgrill
Kava & Company kavaandcompany.com
Legacy Ale Works legacyaleworks.com
Monkey’s Uncle Tavern monkeysunclemandarin.com
Rack’em Up Sports Bar facebook.com/rackemupsportsbar
Time Out Sports Grill timeoutsportsgrill.com
MURRAY HILL
Axe Champs axechamps.com
Buchner’s Bierhalle buchnersbierhalle.com
The Boot Rack Saloon boot-rack-saloon.business.site
Fishweir Brewing Company fishweirbrewing.com
The Flamingo theflamingojax.com
Mustang Bar & Grill facebook.com/themustangjax
Perfect Rack Billiards perfectrackbilliards.com
Silver Cow silvercowjax.com
Spruce sprucejax.com
The Walrus thewalrusjax.com
NORTHSIDE
Coppertop Bar and Restaurant coppertopbarandrestaurant.com
Four Fathers Distillery fourfathersdistillery.com
ORANGE PARK/MIDDLEBURG 57 Heaven facebook.com/57heavenop
Big Dawgs Sports Restaurant bigdawgsrestaurant.com
Cheers Park Avenue cheersparkave.com
The Daq Shack thedaqshack904.com
Dee’s Music Bar and Grill facebook.com/musicbarandgrill
The Fresh Spot Lounge thefreshspotlounge.com
LeaderBoard Arcade leaderboardarcade.com
Locals Pub localspub.co
Nakama Anime Bar nakamabar.com
Park Avenue Billiards parkavenuebilliards.com
Pinglehead Brewing Company pinglehead.com
Southern Social Whiskey Bar & Lounge southernsocialbar.com
RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE
Birdies facebook.com/birdiesfivepoints
Bold City Brewery boldcitybrewery.com
Brick Restaurant brickofavondale.com
Burlock & Barrel burlockandbarrel.com
Dart Bar & Games facebook.com/dartbarjax
Eclipse Bar & Nightclub facebook.com/eclipsebarjax
The Garage garagejax.com
The Green House thegreenhousebar.com
Hoptinger Bier Garden + Sausage House hoptinger.com
Incahoots incahootsnightclub.com
Kanine Social Taproom kaninesocial.com
Keg & Coin kegandcoinjax.com
Kingmaker Brewing kingmakerbrewing.com
Lemonstreet Brewing Company lemonstreetbrewing.com
The Loft loftjax.com
Mickie’s Irish Pub facebook.com/mickiesjax
Myrtle Avenue Brewing facebook.com/myrtleavebrewing
Park Place Lounge park-place-lounge.business.site
River & Post riverandpostjax.com
Riverside Liquors riversideliquors.biz
Rogue Bar facebook.com/rogue.bar.1
Root Down facebook.com/rootdownjax
Shores Liquor and Bar instagram.com/shoresliquoravondale
Wildcrafters facebook.com/wildcraftersjax
SAN MARCO/ST. NICHOLAS
1937 Spirits & Eatery 1937sanmarco.com
Aardwolf Brewing Company aardwolfbrewing.com
Bar Molino barmolino.com
Breezy Jazz House breezyjazzhouse.com
Cuba Libre Ultra Lounge cubalibrebar.com
Fore Score Golf Tavern forescoregolf.com
The Grape & Grain Exchange grapeandgrainexchange.com
Kava & Company kavaandcompany.com
The Mudville Grill themudvillegrill.com
The Players Grille playersgrille.com
Posting House posting.house
Sidecar instagram.com/sidecarjax
Voodoo Brewing instagram.com/voodoojax
SOUTHSIDE/ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER
Austin Karaoke facebook.com/austinkaraoke
Bottlenose Brewing bottlenosebrewing.com
Cataluna Jax catalunajax.com
Culhane’s culhanesirishpub.com
Island Girl Cigar Bar islandgirlcigarbar.com
Jax Craft Beer jaxcraftbeer.com
Medusa Restaurant and Hookah Lounge facebook.com/medusa-loungejacksonville
Rio Restaurant and Lounge instagram.com/riorestauraunt.jax
Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery 7bridgesgrille.com
Sugar Factory instagram.com/sugarfactoryjacksonville
Trio Lounge triohookahlounge.com
Veterans United Craft Brewery vubrew.com
Wicked Barley Brewing Company wickedbarley.com
WXYZ Bar at Aloft Hotel aloftjacksonvilletapestrypark.com
SPRINGFIELD
Crispy’s Springfield Gallery crispysspringfieldgallery.com
The District thedistrictspr.com
Historically Hoppy Brewing Company historicallyhoppy.com
Shantytown Pub facebook.com/shantytownjax
Strings Sports Brewery stringssportsbrewery.com
Stumpy’s Hatchet House stumpyshh.com
Tulua Bistro instagram.com/tuluabistro
ST. AUGUSTINE Ancient City Brewing ancientcitybrewing.com
Arnold’s Lounge arnoldslounge.com
Beacon Listening Room beaconstaug.com
Cellar Upstairs Bar at San Sebastian Winery sansebastianwinery.com
Dog Rose Brewing dogrosebrewing.com
Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge and Kitchen instagram.com/odd_birds
The Original Café Eleven originalcafe11.com
Prohibition Kitchen pkstaug.com
Shanghai Nobby’s nobbysfl.weebly.com
Tradewinds Lounge tradewindslounge.com
WESTSIDE
Elevation Lounge elevationjax.com
Lillian’s lillianssportsgrill.com
The Phoenix Bar & Bowling facebook.com/thephoenixjax
Photo by Frankie Cordoba on Unsplash
Old Man and The Creek
Jacksonville, FL - Castaway Island Preserve
Jeff Card Photography
