Shelly, shrimp sculpture Fernandina Beach, Florida

Fiberglass shrimp sculptures, each whimsically decorated by a local artist have been installed in the Fernandina Beach area and on Amelia Island.  Each shrimp sculpture is unique with its own individual personality.

Shrimp Expressions  is a community art project to benefit Micah’s Place Domestic Violence Center.  But in September the Shrimp will retreat to a temporary home to rest and get freshened up because  it’s time for them to find new homes.

On  October 16, 2010, the shrimp sculptures available for purchase will be auctioned at Micah’s Place  spectacular ShrimpElation Celebration.

Tickets to the auction will go on sale to the public in August. If you would like to take part in this fun-filled evening, please call (904) 491-6364, ext. 100 to make your reservation.

Click here for a downloadable  map in pdf format  - locate the shrimp in downtown Fernandina

Moongoose, Fernandina Beach, Fl

On Tuesday July 13, 2010, the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, SC, it’s time for another Sustainable Seafood event – this time the event will include craft brews as well. It will be a special night where you get to indulge in seafood and special brews at the Riverside terrace overlooking the Charleston Harbor at the South Carolina Aquarium. All the fun is for a good cause, because proceeds from the event will go towards the South Carolina Aquarium’s conservation and education programs.

The special evening will feature sustainable seafood prepared by five of Charleston’s finest chefs, drinks, and a magnificent view. You get to taste a variety of sustainable seafood dishes prepared by the chefs from Fleet Landing, Pearlz, Slightly North of Broad, the Restaurant at Middleton Place and the Boathouse. In addition, there will also be a selection of beer samplings, courtesy of Highland Brewing Company, Brooklyn Brewery and Full Sail Brewing Company.

Tickets for the evening are $25 per Aquarium member, $35 per Aquarium non-member, and all guests must be of ages 21 or older. Advance reservations and payment are required. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (843) 577-FISH (3474).

First Coast – Celebrate the fabulous females of the First Coast and the hearts of women everywhere this Mother’s Day season. Join WJXT Channel 4’s Melanie Lawson and WOKV News Talk Radio’s Roxy Tyler for the Fifth Annual Go Red For Women Luncheon and Educational Forum Friday, May 14th at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Call 904-256-5642 to reserve your ticket today. Available seating is limited.

Of course, a heart healthy lunch will be served at 12 p.m. with life changing messaging from passion speaker Mrs. Joyce Beatty and keynote speaker Dr. Annabelle Santos Volgman, mentioned as Oprah Winfry’s cardiologist in O Magazine.

Go Red For Women Chair Susan Mack of Main Street America and the 2010 Signature Sponsor St. Vincent’s Healthcare are proud to present an enlightening forum designed for busy women.

Take advantage of complimentary blood pressure screenings provided by Solantic Baptist Urgent Care and Baptist Health and experience a fabulous expo with life saving educational sessions.

Education is key to making beneficial choices. The 2010 topics include:

*Women and Heart Disease, What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You presented by St. Vincent’s Healthcare

*Get to Know Your Winn-Dixie Pharmacist

*Gold Medal Fitness For Women On The Go Featuring Gold Medalist Shannon Miller provided by Baptist Health

Understand your health inside and out with picture and a promise from St. Vincent’s Healthcare. See your heart immediately with a sonogram and take your Red Dress picture home as a reminder to love your heart every day. Professional images provided by Melissa Posey Photography.

Deutsche Bank will also present a $1,000 scholarship to the 2010 Show Us Your Heart Art Contest featuring middle and high school students.

The color red and the red dress have become linked with the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives. Choose to go red in your own fashion, by spreading the Go Red for Women message. Speak up to save lives.

In America, 43 million women are living with cardiovascular disease. Every woman’s heart is a treasure worth protecting. Join the American Heart Association, change lives and Go Red for Women in 2010.

– Alhambra’s Celebrity Week to Raise Money for Local Charities –

Audiences coming the see “The Foreigner” at the new Alhambra Theatre & Dining will get a bonus the week of May 10. New owner Craig Smith announced today the Alhambra’s first-ever Celebrity Week, during which each of that week’s seven shows will feature a cameo appearance by some of Jacksonville’s local media personalities and celebrities.

The big winner, however, will be local charities that each celebrity will represent. The Alhambra is donating a portion of tickets sales from each show to the charity of that celebrity’s choice. Additionally, to make it a friendly competition, the celebrity with the biggest draw – the one who essentially has the most tickets sold for their show — will receive a bonus donation to his or her charity.

Said Florida Times Union entertainment columnist and author of the tracy.com blog, “I get to check ‘perform on the Alhambra stage’ off my bucket list. I cannot wait.” On a more serious note, she added, “There are so many charities for which I have a strong affection, and I chose “Kids at Heart,” the new young professionals group for daniel Kids. I love daniel and I thought this would be a great way to enlighten Jacksonville about this new fundraising troop.”

“I love live theatre and I’m flattered to be asked to participate in an Alhambra production,” stated Melissa Ross, host of WJCT’s “Jacksonville Connects.” She added, “The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Florida serves 13 counties and literally hundreds of agencies across this part of the state that help feed people in need.”

Schedule for the Stars

On their respective nights, each of the guest stars will appear in the same scene early in the second act of the show. The scene is actually not in the original script and is being “written in” by Alhambra Executive Producer Tod Booth, Sr. “The guest stars are going to have a ball doing it, and the cast is excited,” said Booth.

Currently lined up to perform at the Alhambra, and the charities for which they are raising money include:

Tuesday, May 11 Phil Amato, WTLV-TV JaxReStore, Habitat for Humanity

Wednesday, May 12 Melissa Ross, WJCT The Second Harvest Food Bank

Thursday, May 13 Tracy Collins, Times Union Kids at Heart, daniel

Friday, May 14 Arthur Crofton, WEJZ Salvation Army

Saturday, May 15 (e) Surprise guest

Sunday, May 16 (m) Richard Nunn, WJXT-TV American Diabetes Association

Sunday, May 16 Matt Saffer, WAWS-TV Child Cancer Fund

“I am an actor at heart. Growing up in New Jersey, I performed in countless shows throughout my life. In college, I attended one of the top musical theater programs in the nation and performed throughout New York City. Being able to step back onto the stage for a wonderful cause is something I can’t say no to. I’m honored the folks at the Alhambra asked me to do this,” said WAWS FOX30 reporter Matt Saffer.

The Foreigner Synopsis

Imagine yourself so pathologically shy that you move from your native country to the “middle of nowhere” and, to remove yourself from the world, you go so far as to pretend you’re from an exotic country and you don’t speak English. Because people think you can’t understand, you suddenly become the repository for all the town’s scandalous secrets. So goes the tale of Englishman Charlie Baker who finds himself plunked in rural South Georgia by a friend.

Winner of two Obie Awards and two Outer Circle Critic Awards as “Best New American Play” and “Best Off-Broadway Production,” The Foreigner is an inspired comic romp that demonstrates what can happen when a group of devious characters erroneously confess their sins to the wrong guy. Written by Larry Shue, the play ran for nearly 700 performances at New York City’s Astor Place Theatre to rave reviews. The New York Post describes The Foreigner as “a devilishly clever idea.” The Village Voice declared The Foreigner, “a constant invitation to relax and laugh at the foolishness of life.”

The Foreigner opens April 30 and will run through June 13, 2010. Show times are 8:00 PM for evening shows Tuesday through Sunday. Doors open at 6:00, buffet starts at approximately 6:45. Matinees on Saturday are at 1:15. Doors open at 11 and the buffet starts at 11:15. Sunday matinee is at 2:00. Doors open at noon and the buffet starts at 12:15. Group sales are available. Tickets start at $42 and include dinner and the show. Tickets for the Gala are available by becoming a Season Ticket or Triple Play Partner. Call the box office or visit www.alhambrajax.com for details.

The new Alhambra Theatre & Dining

The Alhambra Theatre is the nation’s oldest continually operating professional dinner theatre. Opened in 1967, The Alhambra has hosted legends such as Tony Curtis, Claude Aiken, Sid Cesar and Cesar Romero, and she was the place of Betty Grable’s final acting role. The Alhambra is also home to former Miss America, Orange Park native Leanza Cornett who started at the Alhambra when she was 15. In November 2009, the Alhambra was purchased by Theatre Partners, LLC, headed by Jacksonville entrepreneur and Alhambra patron, Craig Smith as way to give back to Jacksonville and preserve what he believes is one of its cultural jewels.

Some of the events include a Diaper Derby, Chalk Art Walk Competition, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Runs. All the events benefit the Childrens’ Museum of South Carolina.

Buy a wristband and save. The wristband is $5 and gives you free access to the inflatables at Market Commons all day – it also gives you free entry to the Children’s Museum of South Carolina and other rebates. Click here to buy your wristbands now.

The wine festival will feature over 100 international wines plus delicious  tapas from some of Tybee Islands best restaurants.  But for those of who don’t appreciate good wine, the organizers have arranged something special for this year. This year the festival will also  offer a selection of craft beers, so you have no excuse for staying home. There will even be  a raffle, silent auction and live music by some of the island’s finest musicians.

Attendees receive a free gift package which includes a souvenir wine glass and wine tote. Participating restaurants are Hunter House, Papa’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood, The Breakfast Club, Fannies on the Beach, Marline Monroe’s, Doc’s Bar, Huca Poos, Sundae Cafe and Sting Rays.

All festival net proceeds go to the restoration of the Tybee Post Theater.

Tickets are  available online at  tybeewinefestival.com.

This year’s show will begin with a preview gala the evening of Thursday, March 4, and runs daily from Friday, March 5, through Sunday, March 7.

Preview Gala and Champagne Receiption

Already on the evening on March 4, 2010, it’s time for kick off. The event begins with the preview gala, An Evening in the Garden, at 7 p.m. Here  collectors have an  opportunity to secure the antiques of their choice in the dealer gallery.  Meanwhile the elegant black-tie (optional) soiree will be going on in the adjoining tent. One of the highlights of the evening is the performance of the Mary Davis & Company band. Also hors d’oeuvres will be provided by noted caterer Anna Hood and the women of St. Peter’s Church.  Dinner stations will feature a variety of cuisines from noted Savannah-based chefs.  Call 912-598-9521 for invitation information.

The daily show dates are Friday and Saturday, March 5 & 6, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 3 West Ridge Road, Savannah, located on Skidaway Island, 20 minutes southeast of the city.

Tickets to the show are $8 and are valid for all three days. Tickets may be purchased on site during the event.

Gourmet lunches and desserts, prepared from recipes in St. Peter’s cookbook, Manna from Savannah, are offered daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a flower-filled tent adjacent to the dealer showcases.

For more information, visit St Peter’s Episcopal Church website by clicking here.

Race Weekend Schedule

Friday, February 19, 2010

Health & Fitness Expo

• Hours 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Prime Osborn Convention Center
  1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
• On-site registration and packet pick-up are available during expo hours.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Health & Fitness Expo

• Hours 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Prime Osborn Convention Center
  1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
• On-site registration and packet pick-up are available during expo hours.

26.2 with Donna Family Fun Run

• Prime Osborn Convention Center
  1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
• Registration and check in begins at 7 a.m.
• Fun Run begins at 8:30 a.m.

26.2 with Donna National Galloway Pep Rally

• Prime Osborn Convention Center
  1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
• Time: 10:00 a.m.
• Join U.S. Olympian, Author, Inspirational Speaker and 26.2 with Donna Training Director Jeff Galloway as he offers tips for successful run and motivates the crowd to FINISH BREAST CANCER!

Pasta Party presented by Nektar Therapeutics

• Prime Osborn Convention Center
  1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, Florida
• Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Tickets are $20 for adults, and kids under 12 eat free!
• Tickets may be purchased at the door or at the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday. Proceeds will benefit the Donna Foundation and help FINISH BREAST CANCER!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

26.2 with Donna National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay

Start/Finish, Mayo Clinic Campus
Medical Support at the start/finish line will be provided by Mayo Clinic from 7 a.m. until the end of the race and race day events.

• 4:00 a.m. Runners Village Opens
  • Staff will be on-site to assist runners
• 6:30 a.m. VIP/Sponsor Viewing Area Opens
  • Located at the race start/finish line.
  • Invitation Only
• 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Marathon, Half-Marathon and Marathon Relay
  • Post Race Celebration
  • Food and Beverages
  • Entertainment
  • Family Reunite Area/Post Race Celebration Area

For more information and details, visit the website at www.breastcancermarathon.com

We suggest you take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle and enjoy a late afternoon or early evening in downtown Jacksonville.

First, take a walk around the downtown area and look at the beautiful holiday window displays.  This is definitely going to look best when it’s starts to get dark. When the 2009 windows were unveiled and many walkers joined Mayor John Peyton for a tour of holiday windows. But if you haven’t seen them yet, don’t worry, the 15 holiday windows are still on display and you can download a printable map  in pdf format right here.

Christmas Tree Light Show at Jacksonville Landing

At night you can watch the synchronized Christmas tree light show at the landing. Over 78,000 LED lights in the Christmas tree are synchronized to blink to holiday music to spread holiday cheer in the courtyard. I’m sure this is a big hit with the younger crowd – and it’s free� – which is always an extra plus in my book

Christmas Tree Light Shows:
Sun – Thurs 6 pm – 9 pm and Fri – Sat 6 pm – midnight

On Saturday Dec 18 at 7 pm the Navy Band Southeast perform with a special Christmas Concert at the Jacksonville Landing. This is also free.

If you come early in the day, maybe you can even combine your walk with some free holiday music at city hall. Check out the schedule below.

Holiday Entertainment at City Hall St. James

December 2009
City Hall at St. James Atrium
Free Admission

Friday,� Dec. 18

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – U.S. Navy – Holiday Brass
1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Ritz Voices

Monday, Dec. 21

1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Orange Blossom Country Music Association, Inc.

Tuesday, Dec. 22

1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – 100 Youth Voices

Wednesday, Dec. 23

11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Rebecca Hewitt

The Gingerbread Extravaganza and Victorian House Tours

It’s only $5.00 to go and see the magnificent and unique gingerbread houses at Old St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, but the exhibit is well worth a visit. The proceeds go to charity, so it’s money well spent and this is definitely an event for the whole family.

OLD ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32202
This annual� event at the Old St. Andrews brings thousands to the site to enjoy the artistic Gingerbread exhibit installed in a National Register Site.

The 2009 Gingerbread Extravaganza Details:

until December 23, 2009
Wednesday – Saturday – Exhibit Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesdays, December 1, 8 & 15: By Appointment

General Public Open Dates
Wednesday – Saturday, December 3rd -20th: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Week before Christmas – 11a.m. – 5 p.m.

Monday, December 21, Tuesday, December 22, and Wednesday, December 23

Call (904) 391-3425
For more information visit� www.jaxhistory.com

Read our previous post about the Rotary Gingerbread House Extravaganza in Jacksonville, Florida

The Right Whale Festival in Jacksonville Beach took place to celebrate the start of the calving season. The goal of the festival is to engage, inform and inspiring the community about right whales, their habitat, and conservation needs.

Coastal Companion was a proud sponsor of this inaugural festival, and we’re hoping the festival will return in years to come.

You can support the ocean conservancy. Just visit www.rightwhalefestival.org and click on the red button in the right hand column that says “donate”!

Here is the video:

The USO is the official charity of the Jacksonville Axemen and as with most of their events, a $1 raffle will be held in association with the movie night and all proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the USO. There will be three great prizes to be won and the lovely Axe Maiden Cheerleaders will be on hand selling tickets prior the movie starting.

The Axemen are selling 200 tickets to the movie for $9 each that they pre-purchased at a discounted price. 100% of the profit from these sales will be evenly donated to the three local area Rugby Union clubs that have helped the Axemen promote and expose events over the past year. The Jacksonville Mens Rugby, UNF Rugby and the JAX Womens Rugby teams will all be on-site to help support the event and take the opportunity to expose their clubs and to attract interest from new fans and potential players. Axemen event planner, Spinner Howland, commented on the similarity of the movie plot and the use of it for this event. “Invictus is based around how the sport of Rugby was used to unite the nation of South Africa after Nelson Mandela took office. Using this movie as a joint effort that includes all the Jacksonville area rugby clubs is a perfect fit to bring us all together not only to help raise money for the USO but also to help us become a stronger force in the community by working to promote and expose our sport under the one banner. Just like Rugby united the nation of South Africa – We are using the movie Invictus to united Jacksonvilles Rugby community.”

The Jacksonville South African Club will also attend the event and one of their members who has been a long time rugby player for the Jacksonville Mens team and is the current coach for the JAX Womens team will open the movie with a short speech on the impact the sport has had on him and his home nation.

Following the movie all those fans who are 21+ will be invited to join the teams at Time Out Sports Grill where they can use their movie ticket to get a $1 Bottle of Bud or Bud Light or a $2 Bottle of Barons Black Wattle that is the official beer of the Jacksonville Axemen.

This annual event features a variety of large gingerbread creations made of 75% edible materials displayed in a village atmosphere in the Historic Society’s old church. Over 40 gingerbread structures are expected to be submitted for competition. Gingerbread houses displayed are built by local individuals and organizations, as well as area country club chefs, restaurants, bakeries, architects and various non-profits and area schools.

Winners of the competition will be awarded $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place. A “People’s Choice Award” will be announced at the end of the show when ballots cast by the public are tallied.
This event is organized by the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of North Jacksonville and Rotaract Club of Florida’s First Coast.

This year’s Gingerbread Judges include: Michael Bump, Pastry Chef, Restaurant Orsay; Cinda Sherman, Publisher, Arbus Magazine; and Hope McMath, Director, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.

Charities that will receive funds raised from the event include the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville, HabiJax and the Jacksonville Historical Society. For additional information www.rotarycharity.org.

The 2009 Gingerbread House Extravaganza
November 28 – December 22, 2009

Jacksonville Historical Society
317 A. Phillip Randolph Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL 32202

OPENING DAY – Saturday, November 28: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday – Saturday only: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Also Open December 21 and 22: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Open on Tuesdays by appointment only.

Admission:
Adults – $5.00 donation
Children (3 – 16) – $3.00 donation
Infants – Free
Special – $10.00 Polio Plus Tickets (to help Rotary and the World Health Organization eradicate polio globally) includes $5.00 donated to Polio Plus.

The emcee for the evening will be WJCL anchor Casey Jones
Entertainment provided by Ray Williams of Sounds Great! Entertainment
Some of the fabulous silent auction items:

* 4 Park Hopper Passes to the Walt Disney World Resort
* Rise and Shine gift basket from Loveless Cafe, Nashville
* Coastal Fitness and Wellness, LLC massage Gift Certificate
* Mary Kay gift basket
* Tickets to STOMP at the Johnny Mercer Theater courtesy of TheCoastalEmpire.com
* Paula Deen Holidays book and magazines basket

Gifts for your pets:

* Photos by Becky Gift Certificate
* Gift basket and certificate from Pawparazzi

Artwork from local artists:

* Debbie Brady Robinson
* Savannah Art Works

Gift certificates for local inns:

* Foley Inn
* DeSoto Beach Inn
* River Street Inn

Gift certificates to local restaurants:

* The Crab Shack
* Charly’s

Gift certificates for recreation:

* Capt. Mike’s Dolphin Adventure Tours
* Savannah Canoe and Kayak
* North Island Kayak
* Savannah Dan Walking Tours Private Tour
* Savannah Movie Tours
* Two free rounds of golf at the Wilmington Island Club
* Box seats to the 2010 Savannah Sand Gnats baseball season

Gift certificates for your business:

* Call to Order Organizing
* Signs by Design