Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

July in Florida

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Many of my friends schedule their vacation time in July.  For us here in Florida, July usually means heat Summer. But many are just like us forced to stay at home to work in July. Actually July can be one of the best times on the coast of Northeast Florida. There is always a lot to do, and it’s always an nice to spend time outdoors during our Florida Summer evenings. 

 

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

 

First Wednesday Art Walk

The Art Walk in Jacksonville takes place on Wednesday July 6, 2011. The focus this month is dance with “Art Shook Up”as the theme. There are lots of interesting activities going on downtown.

Here are a few highlights:

Zumba is a growning workout trend, and if you are curious here is your chance to try it out for yourself during the Art Walk this month. Positively Fit is having a big Zumba Party at Hemming Plaza from 5.30 pm to 7 pm. I talked to Vickie at Positively Fit, and she said it is going to be a lot of fun. They will have a mini-stage and several instructors ready to go, so come downtown and join the fun! The Zumba party is open to everyone, even the complete newbie!

Mark’s Downtown is hosting free Tango, Salsa, and Swing group classes hosted by A Social Affair Dance Studios.

MOCA Jacksonville & Café NOLA – Presents “Deformance” by Liz Gibson at 7 p.m. 111 E. Bay St. Studios – F13RCE Dance Theatre presents “Reflections of Dance” at 7 p.m.

For more information about the First Wednesday Art Walk visit our special events page.

 

The Jacksonville Landing Market

Friday July 8, 15, 22, 29, 2011, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Vendors set up throughout The Landing selling locally-grown produce, baked goods, plants, pottery, arts and crafts and more. Every Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information call (904) 353-1188.

 

Riverside Arts Market

July 9, 16, 23, 30. The Riverside Arts Market is open every Saturday. Even though it can be hot and humid, it’s usually cool in the shade under the bridge. This is a great place to visit. There is always something fun going on. Now you can also take your boat to the Arts Market. For more information, check out our special events page.


Jazz at Jacksonville Beach

July 10, 2011 from 5 pm. In the summer you can listen to cool jazz at Sea Walk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach during the Summer Jazz series. This is a free concert. For more information, call the  EVENTS HOTLINE at (904) 247-6100 press 3. You can read more on our special events page for the Summer Jazz series at Jacksonville Beach.

 

Summer Movie Classics – Florida Theatre

Sunday, July 10 at 2 pm.All Summer long you can escape from the Summer heat and relax with a good movie and good company at the Florida Theatre. The movie screened on July 10, 2011, is “Taxi Driver”.

Chris Tucker

Friday, July 15, 2o11 at 8 pm. The very funny guy Chris Tucker is coming to the Veterans Memorial Arena. Chris Tucker might be most popular for the Rush Hour movies, but he is also a great standup comedian. Click here to get your tickets! 

 

 

Family Fun Day

Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.It is the 2nd Annual Family Fun Day with dance and musical performances, bounce houses, water activities, arts and crafts, giveaways, face painting, Family Expo, demonstrations, special appearances by popular characters and much more at the Jacksonville Landing downtown. All events and activities are free.. There is also Live music in the Courtyard by Hipp Street 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.

 

Kingfish Tournament JacksonvilleKingfish Tournament in Jax

This is one of the biggest fishing events around.  The Kingfish Tournament last for six whole days! More details available on our special page for Kingfish Tournament

 

 

Toby Keith at St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Toby Keith with Aaron Lewis is coming to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on  July 21, 2011 at 7 pm. Click here to buy your tickets now!

 

Britney Spears

Saturday, July 23 from 4 p.m. at the Jacksonville Landing

95.1 WAPE’s Brittney Spear’s Pre and Post Party featuring a Brittney Spears look-a-like contest, Brittney karaoke, giveaways including tickets to the concert, drink specials and more. Live music in the Courtyard by Little Green Men 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.

Britney Spears Concert at the Veteran’s Memorial Arena – July 23, 2011 at 8 pm.

Britney Spears with Jessie and the Toy Boys is coming to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial for a special concert. This is going to be a popular event, so don’t wait. Book your tickets now.

 

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

 

St Augustine, Florida

 

Concerts in the Plaza

Downtown St. Augustine comes alive every Thursday night in the summer when it’s time for the Concert in the Plaza concert series. Bring your own chair or blanket to this free concert in the plaza. Performances in July 7, 14, 21,28. For details visit our special events page for Concert in the Plaza, St Augustine.

 

Uptown Saturday Night

Every month antique dealers and art galleries in the Old City’s San Marco District in Saint Augustine, Fla.,  hold the Uptown Saturday Night.  This is a monthly art event combines a festive party atmosphere with hospitality and special deals.  Uptown Saturday Nights takes place the last Saturday of  the month, so in the month of July that means Saturday, July 30, 2011.

The event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m.  Galleries, antique stores and shops between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine’s San Marco Shopping District stay open.

 

FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA

 

Fernandina Farmers Market

Every Saturday from 8 am – 2 pm the Fernandina Farmers Market opens in downtown Fernandina on Amelia Island, Fla. Here you can find fresh vegetables, plants, fruit, cheese, arts and crafts and much more. Read more on our special page. 

 

More interesting posts from Florida to read:

Sounds on Centre in Fernandina Beach

Jacksonville City Page

 

St. Augustine City Page

 

 

 

 Opening of the Beaches - Sand Castle Competition Jacksonville Beach, Fl

 

 

 

Spice it up with Cocktails

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Kick it up a notch with these cocktails with a bite! These cocktail recipes will bring a little bit of spicy heat and excitement to your day, even if your weekends feel short and vacation is out of the question right now. Just stay in your own backyard and enjoy a lazy Summer evening. Invite some friends, listen to Latin American tunes, and invoke the feelings of the tropics with these refreshing, fruity cocktails. Staycation is not so bad after all — at least not when you can spend it on the coast!

These cocktails are perfect for the adventure seeker, but if you are a afraid of things “too hot” — just forget the spicy tequila and just use regular.

 

Tequila Sunburst

1 1/2 oz. TABASCOâ„¢ Spicy Tequila
1 oz. Cranberry Juice
3 oz. Pineapple Juice
Squeeze Lemon Juice

Combine ingredients in a 12 oz. highball glass filled with ice. Stir and serve garnished with a pineapple wheel.

Don’t forget the umbrella and the straw. Drinks like these require a  straw, don’t they?

 

Avery Island

1 ½ oz TABASCO™ Spicy Tequila
¾ oz Triple Sec
½ oz Fresh Lime Juice
¾ oz Cranberry Juice
¼ oz Simple Syrup

Shake ingredients vigorously over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

 

Hot Breeze


1 1/2 oz. TABASCOâ„¢ Spicy Tequila
2 oz. Grapefruit Juice
3 oz. Cranberry Juice

Build over ice and garnish with a lime.

 

spicydrink

Take a Chance 5K Trail Run – Charleston, SC

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In Charleston runners have an opportunity to get away from the hot asphalt and on to the trail for some fun racing this summer.

 

Take a Chance

On the evening of Wednesday, July 13,Wannamaker County Park hosts The Chance Run. The 5K race starts at 6:00 p.m. in the evening and features a split in the course that forces runners to choose one of two routes.  Runners who choose the wrong path will find themselves on a slightly longer course than those who selected the other route. Take the chance!

 

Registration for the Race

Online registration for both of the Summer Fun Trail 5K Series races is open now through the day before each event. Late registration and packet pickup will be available on race day from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Fees to participate in each race are $20 or $16 for residents of Charleston County. The Summer Fun Trail Series is for participants ages 10 and older; runners ages 10-15 must be accompanied by an adult. Chaperones are not required to register or participate in the run.

To register online for the Summer Fun Trail 5K Series, visit www.ccprc.com or call 843-795-4386 for more information.

Take a Chance 5K race

Hootie & The Blowfish in Charleston, SC

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Hootie & The Blowfish – In Concert at the Family Circle Cup

 

 

The Family Circle Cup
Daniel Island, SC

Come out to the Lowcountry’s biggest party on August 12 – 13, 2011,  when Charleston’s favorite band returns for the eighth consecutive Homegrown Concert.  Hootie and the Blowfish Homegrown Weekend will be a 2-day event this year. A seperate ticket will be necessary for Friday night and Saturday night, but your best bet is the 2-Day Passes are available for a discounted rate.

This concert at Family Circle Stadium is always sold out, so don’t hesitate or wait – you need to buy your tickets today!

Click here to reserve your tickets today!

Hootie & the Blowfish,  Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, Darius Rucker, and Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, have sold more than 25 million albums since they started back in 1994.  The band established the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation to support children of South Carolina through supporting school music programs.

 


Cirque du Soleil : Alegria | Jacksonville, Fla.

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Alegría is a classic Cirque du Soleil production that has received international acclaim and wowed over 10 million people worldwide since it premiered in 1994 in Montreal. After 15 years performing under the big top, Alegría embarked on a new journey in May 2009 and is now presented in arenas throughout the United States and Canada.

Alegría means “jubilation” in Spanish. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth—it is against this backdrop that the characters of Alegría play out their lives. Kings’ fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats and children make up its universe, along with the clowns, who alone are able to resist the passing of time and the social transformations that accompany it.

The performance features an international cast consisting of 55 performers and musicians from 15 countries. Alegría combines a baroque style with colorful, flamboyant costumes. Original music is performed live and an elaborate set is used as backdrop to the astonishing spectacle of athleticism and artistry.

The 2½ hour spectacle (with intermission) showcases breathtaking acrobatics including the dramatically sensuous Synchro Trapeze and the high-energy Aerial High Bars where daring aerialists fly to catchers swinging more than 40 feet above the stage. Imagine two agile performers who bring alive the Mongolian art of contortion and artists manipulating flaming knives around their bodies in the rhythmic and dangerous Fire-Knife Dance.

The vibrancy of youth is alive in fast-paced Power Track, a brilliant display of synchronized choreography and tumbling on a trampoline system that is magically revealed under the stage floor. In Russian Bars, artists fly through the air with spectacular somersaults and mid-air twists, landing on 4-inch wide bars perched on the sturdy shoulders of the catchers.

Now Alegria and Cirque du Soleil is coming to Jacksonville and performing at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on June 29 & 30, and also July 1, 2, 3.

Don’t miss this exciting performance – click here to reserve your tickets now!