Coastal Companion » Jacksonville

St Johns River Celebration Cleanup 2010

Susanne — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:47:55 +0000

This is the 15th Annual St. Johns River Celebration Cleanup scheduled for Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 8 – 11:30 a.m. (for most locations). The event is Jacksonville’s kick-off event for the Florida Great American Cleanup. This local effort combines with national and regional volunteer efforts to clean and protect the environment.

Come out and do your part and help collect litter and debris. The clean up will take place in several different locations across the Jacksonville area. At each location site captains will be on hand to register volunteers and hand out trash bags, gloves and tickets.

Your tickets can then be redeemed for refreshments and t-shirts from
noon – 2 p.m. at Metropolitan Park downtown Jacksonville, while supplies last.

Students can receive community service hour certificates.
Scouts may earn badges for two volunteer hours at the cleanup.
While supplies last. Pre-registration is not required.

Volunteers who are under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

To learn more, call Keep Jacksonville Beautiful at (904) 630-3420
or visit www.coj.net

St. Johns River Celebration 2010 Cleanup Sites

Click here to view a map of the 2010 sites

 Urban
o Warren W. Schell Jr. Memorial Park, 510 W. Sixth St. (32206)
o Henry J. Klutho Park, 635 Third St. (32206)
Parking and sign in at 1200 Blk. Boulevard & 100 Blk. 2nd. Street

 Arlington/Beaches
o Blue Cypress Park, 4012 University Blvd. N. (32277)
o Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, 500 Wonderwood Road (32223)
(Volunteers must check in at park gate by 9:30 a.m. to participate at this site.)
o Helen Cooper Floyd Park (formerly Little Jetties), 3600 S.R. A1A
(32233)

 Riverside
o Yacht Basin Park, 2941 St. Johns Ave. (32205)

 Westside
oTillie Fowler Regional Park, 7000 Roosevelt Blvd. (32244)

 Southeast
o Hood Landing Boat Ramp, 12925 Hood Landing Road (32223)
o Burnett Park, 3740 Burnett Park Road (32257)
o Goody’s Creek Boat Ramp, 9145 San Jose Blvd. (32257)
o River Oaks Park, 1000 River Oaks Road
o All Wet Sports/Beach Boulevard Boat Ramp, 8508 Beach Blvd.
A personal kayak, canoe or boat is required for this site. Participants use water vessels at their own risk.

 Southwest
o Azalea Creek/Boone Park, 3700 Park St. (32205)
o Fishweir Creek, 4000 block of St. Johns Avenue
o Ringhaver Park, 5198 118th St. (32244)
o Wayne B. Stevens Boat Ramp, 4555 Ortega Farms Blvd. (32210)

 Northeast
o Rolliston Park, 7505 Rolliston Road (32208)
o Huguenot Memorial Park, 10980 Hecksher Drive (32226)

 Northwest
o Harborview Boat Ramp, (north side Ribault River) 4100 Harborview Drive (32208)
o T. K. Stokes Boat Ramp, 2120 Riverview St. (32208)
o Henry L. Brown Kooker Park, 1400 East 20th Street (32206)
o Hollybrook Park, 2805 McCoys Creek Blvd. (32254) (volunteers sign in at basketball court)

 North
o Oceanway Community Center and Park, 12215 Sago Ave. (32218)
exception: cleanup 9-11am
o North Shore Park, 7901 Pearl St. (32208)

Gate River Run in Jacksonville 2010

Susanne — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:42:01 +0000

The Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Florida, is the largest 15K in the U.S. and this year it will once again served as the official USA 15K Championship.
The 33rd Annual Gate River Run on March 13, 2010, is set to be the biggest and best event ever.

In 2009, more than 18,000 runners and walkers participated in one of the three featured events. The 15K is of course the main event with over 14,000 participants. Other events include the Florida Times-Union 5K for Charity and the adidas Junior River Run. These events had over 2,000 participants in 2009.

The course starts at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, runs through downtown Jacksonville. The runners will cross the St. Johns River over the Main Street Bridge, then run through historic San Marco, down Atlantic Blvd to the St. Nicolas area. The runners will then cross the river again, for the second time. This time across the Hart Bridge, and then continue on Duval Street back at the stadium.
Click here for the course map

To make this into a great spectator event, there are live bands along the route performing at ten different locations. Thousands of spectators line the course every year. The Gate River Run is more than a race – it’s an annual celebration in Jacksonville.

More information www.gate-riverrun.com

Riverside Arts Market Re-Opens for Spring 2010

Susanne — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:36:51 +0000

Winter has definitely left the coast – and a sign of spring is the re-opening of the Riverside Arts Market (RAM) on Saturday March 6, 2010. The Riverside Arts Market is located next to the St Johns River and here you’ll find local arts and crafts, produce, flowers, and you can watch entertainment on stage as well. It’s a great event for the whole family.

To celebrate the re-opening, there will be a big parade. (Click here to download the pdf document)

Here is a video we did when we visited the Riverside Arts Market in Jacksonville last year

First Wednesday Art Walk in Jacksonville March 3, 2010

Joe Talentino — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:32:12 +0000

Maybe winter has finally left Florida, about time I say. I checked the weather report today and it says that the weather for Wednesday is partly cloudy but with a high temperature of 55 F, so we should be OK for the art walk.

The theme for March 3, 2010: Rock ‘n’ Roll, so you don’t want to miss this one.

A few notes for this month’s event:

There’s a new venue for this art walk, the RiverFit Gym at The Landing, where you can meet t artist, Rejel of REJCEL.co.

Rock ‘n’ Roll to help Haiti with the best bands in Jacksonville and a silent auction benefit by local artists will take place at Suite 106 Gallery.

There’s an Elvis tributes by five-year-old (?!) Gabriel Jarrett, and Elvis tribute artist, Randy Elvis Walker at Visit Jacksonville. If you enjoy fashion, you’ll have the opportunity to watch a live runway show by “Princess of the Prom” at Cafe 331 & The Sinclair

At the Florida Theater you can view the 2010 ADDY award-winning work from local advertising agencies and participate in the 2010 AAF JAX Media Auction at 6 p.m.

To watch our video, and to download an map for The First Wednesday Art Walk in Jacksonville, Florida – click here

Scottish Games & Festival 2010 Jacksonville, Florida

Susanne — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:59:19 +0000

This popular festival promises to bring a “wee bit o’ Scotland” to the coast, with bagpipes, music, dancing and more.

The Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival include Kilted Golf Tournaments, Pub Crawls, Kirkin‘ o‘ the Tartans, Whiskey Tasting, Parades of Tartans & Ceilidh (Scottish Musical Evenings).

There’s also live entertainment with a variety of groups such as Need Fire, Mother Grove, Highland Reign and Ron Davis. The Navy Band Southeast is also scheduled to perform. Check the website for more information.

The Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival 2008 will be held Saturday, February 27, 2010. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. The location for these Games is Clay County Fair Grounds on State Road 16, 2497 SR16 W Green Cove Springs. Tickets prices are $10 per person in advance or $12 at the gate.

Call 904.725.5744 for more information or visit the Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival website.

World Class Service at Jacksonville Airport

Joe Talentino — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:39:08 +0000

We always loved flying from Jacksonville, it’s quick and easy to get in and out at the airport.
So we were not surprised when we read this press release about the customer service at Jacksonville Airport, Florida.

Jacksonville International Airport’s Customer Service
Recognized as Among the Best in the Industry

Two New Surveys Show JAX Providing World-class Service

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) has earned top rankings for providing some of the aviation industry’s best customer service and overall passenger satisfaction in 2009, according to two recently released surveys.

In a J.D. Power & Associates study that measures overall airport satisfaction, JAX ranked No. 4 among all U.S. airports with fewer than 10 million annual passengers. Six factors – assessed through 27 specific attributes – are examined as part of the survey to determine overall customer satisfaction. They include: airport accessibility, baggage claim, check-in/baggage check process, terminal facilities, security check, and food and retail services.
In addition, JAX was ranked the 4th best airport in North America in a survey of participating airports by Airports Council International (ACI). The ACI Airport Services Quality (ASQ) passenger survey, a leading industry benchmarking tool, is used by many airports as one of the key performance indicators of an airport’s service.

In the same ACI survey, JAX ranked No. 5 in the world among airports with five to 15 million annual passengers.

“Congratulations to the entire JAX team, including Jacksonville Aviation Authority staff, the Transportation Security Administration, airlines and airport vendors,” said JAA Chair Deborah Pass-Durham. “2009 continued to be a tough year for airports, and for JAX to maintain such high levels of customer service is truly a source of pride for this region.”

MS Mud Run Jacksonville 2010

Susanne — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:25:32 +0000

National Multiple Sclerosis Society—North Florida Chapter Holds Second Annual “MS Mud Run Jacksonville”

The MS Mud Run Jacksonville is a 10K, military-style obstacle course race, with most of the obstacles surrounded by (or consisting entirely of) mud. Individuals, teams of two and teams of five will compete for prizes and the satisfaction of a doing a dirty job very well.

The North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS-NFL) will hold its annual MS Mud Run Jacksonville on March 20, 2010. This is the second time around for the exiting race. It’s one of its most successful fundraising activities in 2009, according to Jennifer Lee, President of NMSS-NFL. The inaugural Mud Run in 2009 attracted over 900 participants and raised more than $120,000.

The MS Mud Run Jacksonville will take place at Cecil Commerce Center, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Food and beverage vendors will be available and entertainment is planned throughout the day to provide a festival atmosphere for the event.

“We were optimistic when we launched this event last year that Jacksonville would show up and support us, and the results far exceeded our expectations,” said Lee. “Registration for this year’s Mud Run has been strong, with almost 1500 people already registered to participate and we’re still a month out from the event. There are people from more than 13 states signed up, and just about every major employer in the North Florida area will be represented by a team. Some will be represented by multiple teams, such as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the different branches of the military. We’re expecting a terrific event with excellent results. And it will provide a great entertainment opportunity to participants and spectators alike here in Northeast Florida.”

Mud Run For Kids Too

New this year is the Mud Run Fun Run for Kids event, which will be held at 2:00PM. Boys and girls ages 7-12 will run a three-quarter of a mile course featuring three to five obstacles, including the large Slip ‘n’ Slide. The registration fee for this event is $30 per child and a signed notarized waiver by a parent/guardian will be required. Teens 13-18 may run the full course if accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times; they will also be required to submit a signed, notarized waiver by a parent or guardian.

Complete information about the MS Jud Run Jacksonville is available at www.mudrunjax.com, where you may also register for the event. Registration fees are $45 per person and each participant agrees to raise a minimum of $100 for NMSS-NFL. Simple online fundraising tools are available to participants to help them make the fundraising easy. Registration closes at midnight on March 18th. One hundred percent of fundraising contributions are donated to the North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Volunteers will play a big role in the preparation and smooth running of the event. Volunteer opportunities are still available for the day of the event as well as Wed, Thurs, and Fri, March 17th, 18th and 19th for those who would like to be involved. For information about volunteering or the event in general, visit www.mudrunjax.com, send an email to Jessica.Eichhorn@fln.nmss.org or call (904) 332-6810.

Breast Cancer Marathon – Jacksonville, Florida

etalentino — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:58:19 +0000

The big marathon with takes place in Jacksonville, Florida every year in February. This is the third time for 26.2 with Donna The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer.

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

Much Ado About Books in Jacksonville, 2010

Susanne — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:56:49 +0000

February is the month of book festivals in Florida for sure with Much Ado about Books in Jacksonville coming up right after the Amelia Island Book Festival.

Much Ado About Books follows on February 26-27, 2010 with most of the events taking place at the Main Library on Laura Street in downtown Jacksonville. The festival is hosted by The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation. This year’s festival include a writer’s workshop, breakfast with an author, panel discussions, Children’s Chapter and keynote luncheon.

“It is with great pride that we are hosting this year’s milestone event to benefit the Jacksonville Public Library,” said Maggie Hightower, executive director of the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation. “Much Ado About Books is the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts and a meaningful contribution to Jacksonville’s literary community.”

The festival kicks off on Friday, February 26 with a Writer’s Workshop, hosted by guest authors Steve and Elizabeth Berry. The workshop is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $100 in advance and seating is limited.

On Saturday, Feb. 27, a private breakfast for 10 lucky guests will be hosted by a featured author. This event will take place at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel and tickets are $100 in advance.

Following the breakfast, the Book Festival itself, will open its doors at the Main Library. Highlights for 2010 include panel discussions with featured authors and a Children’s Chapter. Here you can meet children’s authors and experience hands-on activities. The Children’s Chapter will take place from 9 a.m. until noon.

The event will conclude with a keynote luncheon, sponsored by THE PLAYERS Championship and featuring women’s fiction author Mary Kay Andrews, who entertain the audience with stories from her most recent book, Fixer Upper. Tickets to the luncheon are $50 in advance and $60 at the door.

Other featured authors include Michael Craven, Michael Cavendish, Jacksonville natives Donna Deegan and Carla Harris, Kaylie Jones, William “Ron” Little, Tori Murden McClure, Katherine Hall Page, Andrew Gross, Michael Palmer, Chris Bohjalian, Carlla Cato and others.

To purchase tickets or get more information about the schedule, visit the event Web site, www.muchadoaboutbooks.com.

First Wednesday Art Walk, Jacksonville, FL – February 2010

Susanne — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:09:52 +0000

Art Walk in February in downtown Jacksonville, Florida
Check out our First Wednesday Art Walk Jacksonville, Florida, page and watch our video and download this month’s map.

February 3, 2010: Ladies Night

February is the month of Valentine’s Day and the theme for this month’s art walk is “Ladies Night”, lots of special treats for ladies. You don’t want to miss out this time!

Hemming Plaza: Show off, impress and be memorable. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn some new dance moves with dancing and lessons by Salsa Caliente from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

The Adrian Pickett Gallery – New location at the Jacksonville Landing. Portraits in charcoal and more by Adrian Pickett. Special treat for ladies.

Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Museum – New location at the Jacksonville Landing – U.S. Navy ship models, photographs and former shipboard equipment on display.

MOCA Jacksonville – Check out the new exhibit: Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe.

Burrito Gallery – Features works by Overstreet Ducasse, Roosevelt Watson and Adrian Rhodes with a ladies night video installation by Biggie Tea.

Cafe 331 – Burlesque show, fire dancing, live body painting, the history of St. Valentine and more. Chocolate-covered strawberries while supplies last.

The Sinclair – Features haikus and web comics by Haiku Birdie. Chances to win Valentine’s-themed prizes.

11E – Circa Sixty Three showcases the ‘Frontier’ collection and hosts a raffle to win an exclusive jewelry package.

The Twisted Martini – The spot for THE OFFICIAL ART WALK AFTER PARTY! Buy one drink, hand over your Art Walk flyer and receive your second drink free.

Click here to visit First Wednesday Art Walk Jacksonville, Florida, watch the video and download the map for February 2010.

The Black Eyed Peas Tour comes to Jacksonville, Florida

etalentino — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:56:32 +0000

Three-time Grammy Award winning recording artist, The Black Eyed Peas announced today that Ludacris will be joining opening act LMFAO on their highly anticipated world tour. Described as the ultimate Black Eyed Peas party experience, it also marks the first time that the group – will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie – is united for a North American headline tour since their 2006 Monkey Business world tour.

The Black Eyed Peas, who are nominated for six Grammy Awards including Album Of The Year for THE E.N.D. and Record of The Year for “I Gotta Feeling”, will perform Sunday night, January 31 at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards live on CBS.

2009 was a monumental year for The Black Eyed Peas, starting with the March release of “Boom Boom Pow” – not only the group’s first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 but one of the top dozen or so longest-charting singles in Hot 100 history, 12 weeks at the top. They bumped themselves out of #1 with their second single, “I Gotta Feeling” (released in June), surpassing their own success with a 14-week stay at #1 (only the fourth group in Hot 100 history to replace itself at #1). Their 26 consecutive week run at #1 has now become a new all-time benchmark in Hot 100 history (for groups or solo artists).

Meanwhile, flush with three massive hit singles, The E.N.D. (released June 2, 2009) debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with the highest first-week sales of The Black Eyed Peas’ career. The E.N.D. has sold over 5.2 million cds worldwide. The fourth single, “Imma Be” is climbing the charts at Top 40 radio and is top 5 on the iTunes chart.

Chris “Ludacris” Bridges is a celebrated recording artist, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Ludacris has sold over 20 million albums worldwide with each release being certified platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. His upcoming album, Battle of The Sexes, is set to be released March 16, 2010. To date, he has won three Grammy Awards (including Best Rap Album for Release Therapy) and appeared in two Academy Award-winning films. In addition to his creative endeavors and business ventures, Ludacris serves as Chairman and CEO of The Ludacris Foundation, an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to helping young people achieve their dreams through the encouragement of “Principles of Success.”

The tour kicks off on February 4, 2010 at Philips arena in Atlanta, Georgia. On February 6 it’s Miami and then Jacksonville on February 9, 2010.

Feb. 4 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
6 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
9 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veteran’s Memorial Arena

Marilyn Monroe: Life as a legend exhibit – Jacksonville, Fl

Joe Talentino — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:29:48 +0000

Marilyn Monroe: Life as a Legend is a travelling exhibit hosted by MOCA – the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville. The exhibit highlights the life of the beloved actress Marilyn Monroe by featuring the works of over 50 artists including Andy Warhol, Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Bert Stern.

In 1999 the American Film Institute ranked Marilyn Monroe as the sixth greatest female star of all time, so the title of the exhibit “Marilyn Monroe: Life as a Legend” is fitting. The exhibit begins on January 22, 2010 and continues through April 4, 2010.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA) will host a traveling exhibition over the next several months, highlighting the life of Marilyn Monroe. This exhibit features the works of more than 50 artists including Andy Warhol, Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Bert Stern.

Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. She has performed in many movies, but is perhaps most known for her roles in “The Asphalt Jungle”, “All About Eve”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, “Some Like It Hot” and “The Seven Year Itch”.

A Chorus Line comes to Jacksonville, Florida

Susanne — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:41:11 +0000

Can you dance? If you do, auditioning for a part might be something you’re used to, but for most of us, this is unfamiliar territory. To perform on stage and to become a star is a dream for many dancers. An audition is a chance of a lifetime, all your training, hard work, sweat and tears, might finally pay off when you get a chance to perform in the spotlight. This is your chance to dance – and to shine. This is the focus of the Chorus Line.

Chorus Line is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including “Best Musical”, and Chorus Line also received a Pulitzer Prize for dramal. It is the longest-running American Broadway musical ever. And now a Chorus Line returns and comes to Jacksonville Jan 19 – 23, 2010 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, Jacksonville.

Click here for more information

The 2010 SEC Gymnastics Championship – Jacksonville, Fl

Joe Talentino — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:52:41 +0000

The Southeastern Conference has awarded the 2010 SEC Gymnastics Championship to Jacksonville, Fla., SEC Commissioner Mike Slive announced today. The championship will be hosted by the Gator Bowl Association.

“We are excited about the opportunity to have our gymnastics championship at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena,” said Slive. “Gymnastics has been very popular in the SEC and having our championship in such a great SEC city gives us another location where we can showcase this exciting event.”

The SEC has won 14 national championships in the sport of gymnastics since 1987, including a current streak of five consecutive by the University of Georgia.

“The Gator Bowl Association is extremely proud to host the 2010 Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Championship featuring the top gymnastics teams in the nation,” said Gator Bowl Association President Rick Catlett. “The City of Jacksonville has a long history with gymnastics competition but the SEC Gymnastics Championship will take that to a whole new level.”

The SEC Gymnastics Championship was held at on-campus sites from 1981-2000. It was then moved to neutral sites and held in Birmingham, Ala. (2001-2003, ‘06), while also being held since in Duluth, Ga.(2004-05, ‘08), North Little Rock, Ark (2007) and Nashville, Tenn.(2009).

“It is great to host SEC athletics, once again, in Jacksonville,” Assistant General Manager Robin Timothy said. “On behalf of the entire SMG staff and the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, we look forward to serving the athletes and the fans during this competition.”

The 2010 SEC Gymnastics Championship will take place on Saturday, March 27. For ticket information, please visit www.SECsports.com.

From Monroe to Ocean, Architecture and Jazz. Explore in Jacksonville, Fl

Susanne — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:48:37 +0000

The Beaches Museum & History Center present the work of award-winning architect, William Morgan, Jan. 16 through Feb. 13, 2010. Maintaining that there is no such thing as primitive architecture but only primitive means, Morgan relates buildings and human activity to the ecological context, thus revealing the universality of phenomena while also advocating creative freedom. An Evening at the Museum with William Morgan will be held Feb. 11, 2010, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Beaches Museum and History Center
413 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Bch, FL 32250
(904) 241-5657

Jazz it Up

Beginning Jan. 20, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens will unveil a new must-see exhibit for jazz fans of all ages. Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits by Paul Rogers highlights jazz greats through poetry, from A (Louis Armstrong) to Z (Dizzy Gillespie). Each portrait and poem is evocative of the particular musician’s sound, and each work of art alludes to song titles, artifacts, and other markers of the time, including artistic references to well-known artists who were particularly inspired by jazz music.

The Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32204
904.356.6857

Life as a Legend: Marily Monroe
Marilyn Monroe is once again in the limelight at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville this season. The feature exhibition, Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe, will debut on Jan. 22 and run through April 4, 2010. Forever Blonde, a captivating one-woman live performance celebrating the life and glamour of Marilyn Monroe will take the stage Thursdays through Sundays Feb. 11 to March 7, 2010. On March 13, MOCA will host the Mad About Marilyn Soirée, a Hollywood-style party featuring diamond-laced cocktails, live music, dancing and late-night tours of the Marilyn exhibition.

MOCA Museum of Contemporary Art
333 North Laura Street,Jacksonville, FL, 32202 USA
(904) 366-6911

Virtual Ocean Trip
A fully immersive maze-based exhibit starts on January 30 at The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) in Jacksonville. A-Mazing Sea is a virtual trip into the ocean with surprises around every corner – from role play games and puzzles to problem-solving and deep-sea sleuthing.

A-Mazing Sea compels visitors to climb into sea turtle shells, crawl through a whale’s mouth and reach into an octopus cave while discovering simple solutions for challenges that face inhabitants of the deep blue and beyond.

MOSH Museum of Science and History
1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, Florida 32207
904-396-6674

New Year’s Eve in Jacksonville

etalentino — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:31:25 +0000

Ring in the New Year downtown Jacksonville

New Year’s is always a big deal in Jacksonville, and not only because of the big game. Many of us can’t wait to say goodbye to 2009 and ring in a new brighter year. Come to downtown and plan to spend the day!

Downtown Jacksonville starts its celebration early with a 5K run. The Vystar 5K run is held at 1:30 pm right before the Gator Bowl Parade, and runs along the parade route.

Gator Bowl Parade
Then at 3:00 pm it’s time for the big parade. The Gator Bowl parade hits 60 this year, but this won’t stop this parade from going strong. Traditionally the parade includes floats from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Fernandina Pirates, the Shriners and a huge variety of colorful floats, music from both high school bands and college bands, and much more.

The parade starts at the Prime Osborn Convention Center and on Water Street in front of the Federal Reserve Bank. It continues east on Water Street to Independent Drive, left on Laura to Bay Street, following Bay street back to the Prime Osborn Convention Center.

After the parade you can head to the Landing for pep rallies for the football fans, the Christmas Tree Light shows, and then it’s a New Year’s Party with live entertainment on stage.

There’s also a Party in the Park at Metropolitan Park, beginning at 5:00 pm. with live music from Donavon Frankenreiter and others.

Fireworks
At midnight it’s time for the grand finale of the evening when we count down to 2010. Spectacular fireworks will light up the sky and reflect in the waters of the St. Johns River. The fireworks are actually shot from barges located in the river right in front of The Jacksonville Landing, the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Metropolitan Park.

The fireworks can be viewed from the Northbank and Southbank. For more information, call (904) 630-3690.

Holiday Events for the Family in Jacksonville, Florida

Susanne — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:40:30 +0000

Many of us have friends and family visiting for the holidays, or we have kids who are home from school. Sometimes you just need something to do that fits the whole family. We have found a few events the family can enjoy together, and these events will� get you into the holiday spirit without breaking your budget.

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

Gator Bowl Events 2010 – Jacksonville

Susanne — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:57:38 +0000

New Year’s means parade, fireworks and football — at least in Jacksonville, Florida. As you know, The 2010 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl will showcase the West Virginia Mountaineers vs. the Florida State Seminoles. The big game kicks off at 1:00 pm on New Year’s Day at the stadium.

The River City is going to attract a huge crowd of football fans for the week leading up to game day. Didn’t get tickets? No worries, there is a whole bunch of fun events around town and plenty of cool hang outs.

The Patch
A great idea is to purchase “The Patch” which gets you in for free at some of the events – for example the Budweiser Tailgate Party, and the patch also gives you pretty good rebates at different places from $2.00 off admission at the Zoo to half price on golf karts and laser tag at the Adventure Landing. The Patch is only $10.
For details about what rebates you get with the patch, click here

Here is the list of what’s happening day by day:

Sunday Dec 27 & Monday Dec 28, 2009

Adventure Landing Players Outing

December 27, 2009 – ACC Team
December 28, 2009 – Visiting Team
Time: 3 PM – 5 PM
Adventure Landing on Beach Blvd.

This is a special event for players participating in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl. There is plenty to do at Adventure Landing including laser tag, go-carts, miniature golf and arcade games. Fans with “THE PATCH” are welcome to join the fun!

Please note: NO additional PATCHES can be purchased on the day of the event; Members must be wearing “THE PATCH” in order to be admitted and receive the benefits of “THE PATCH”.
(Click here to purchase the patch!)

Tuesday Dec 29, 2009

Gator Bowl FCA Breakfast
December 29, 2009 at 7:00 a.m.
First Baptist Church of Jacksonville

This is an event for the early birds! Coaches and players from both teams in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl 2010 will join the Jacksonville business community and local youth for a time of fellowship and devotion at the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Coaches and athletes will share testimonials of how Christianity is a part of their life and two local student athletes will be presented the Tony Boselli Award of Excellence.

Tickets: $20. Click here to buy tickets.

Wednesday Dec 30, 2009

A Day at the Zoo presented by Outback Steakhouse
Times: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – ACC Team
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Visiting Team

Players of both teams competing in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl will enjoy a day at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens for the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. Refreshments will be provided by Outback Steakhouse.

NEW YEARS EVE EVENTS

Thursday, Dec 31, 2009
CSX Coaches Luncheon and Hall of Fame Induction
December 31, 2009 at 12 NOON
Hyatt Regency Hotel

Tickets for this popular luncheon are sold out already. The event showcases the best of the past and present in Gator Bowl history. It’s a chance for fans to meet and greet coaches and players, as well as rub elbows with legends from the Gator Bowl past.

VyStar 5K Run
Thursday, December 31 at 1:30 p.m.
The Jacksonville Landing

This race is held right before the Gator Bowl Parade, and runs along the parade route through downtown Jacksonville. It’s a great way to participate in the excitement. If running is not for you, come down and support the runners. Each entrant will receive a VyStar Credit Union 5K Run T-shirt.

Click here for complete race information.

Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade
Thursday, December 31 3 p.m.
Downtown Jacksonville
$10 Reserved Parade Seat

This is one of the most popular annual events in Jacksonville, and there is no better way to celebrate the beginning of a New Year than with a parade. So come to downtown for the Winn-Dixie Hometown Gator Bowl Parade filled with colorful floats, high school bands, college bands, giant helium balloons, and entertaining specialty units. The units will be routed along the Northbank in downtown Jacksonville. Click here for complete parade information.

Gator Bowl Parade Route
The parade will start at the Prime Osborn Convention Center and on Water Street in front of the Federal Reserve Bank.
Take Water Street (east) continuing east to Independent Drive
Make a left on Laura Street (north) to Bay Street
Make a left on Bay Street (west)
Follow Bay Street ending at the Prime Osborn Convention Center (end of parade)

Gator Bowl Pep Rallies
The Jacksonville Landing Courtyard
Florida State Pep Rally: 1:30 p.m.
West Virginia Pep Rally: 5:30 p.m.

Get pumped up for the Toyota Gator Bowl Classic! Excited fans are gathering at the Jacksonville Landing to show their team spirit at the Pep Rallies. There will be music, bands, cheerleaders, mascots and lots and lots of screaming football fans!

New Year’s Eve Party
The Jacksonville Landing Courtyard

The Party in the Park
New Year’s Eve Celebration at Metropolitan Park
with Donavon Frankenreiter & Friends
Gates open at 5 p.m.
Please click here for more information

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular
Midnight
Downtown Jacksonville
Presented by The City of Jacksonville

Finish off a full day of events with fireworks! Count down to 2010 with a spectacular fireworks display over the St. Johns River to light up the night sky and celebrate the New Year.

Fireworks will be shot from one barge in front of The Jacksonville Landing and another barge in front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The fireworks can be viewed from the Northbank and Southbank.

NEW YEAR’S DAY

January 1, 2010
Budweiser Tailgate Party
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Pepsi Pavilion
$10 at the gate or free admission with the PATCH

Thousands of football fans come together to celebrate their team in a festive and family-oriented entertainment atmosphere. Feel the excitement of college football. There will be pep rallies, cheerleaders and bands from both Universities. This party is guaranteed to spark the passion in every college football fan. You can also test your own athletic skills� – or compete with friends and family – with a wide variety� of interactive games. There a whole selections of inflatables for kids of all ages to enjoy. This is a Tailgate Party you don’t want to miss!
And if you’re planning on going, make sure you check out the patch. You get rebates at a few other locations as well. Click here to buy the patch.

Times-Union Touchdown Party
January 1, 2010 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Inside Tailgate Party

Tickets to the Touchdown Party are SOLD OUT. This pregame Tailgate Party complete with game day Bar-B-Q and complimentary beverages is a great way to sample game day excitement.

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Classic
Florida State University vs. West Virginia University
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
With six Heisman trophy winners, 175 all-Americans and over 1,000,000 fans, the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl is truly more than a football game…it is a premiere event of Florida’s First Coast.
For ticket information, visit www.gatorbowl.com

Download the fan guide

PARKING

Parking for the 2010 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl is SOLD OUT.

SKYWAY:
The Skyway stops at eight stations throughout downtown on both sides of the river. Change machines are available at each location. Cost: 50¢ (one way).

STATIONS:
• FCCJ (Hogan and State Streets)
• Hemming Plaza (Monroe and Hogan Streets)
• Central (Bay and Pearl Streets) The Jacksonville Landing stop
• Convention Center (Bay and Johnson Streets)
• San Marco (San Marco Blvd. and Mary Street)
• Riverplace (Flagler Avenue)
• Kings Avenue (Prudential Drive and Kings Avenue)

Visit www.jtafla.com for alternative transportation and parking options on game day.

For more information, visit www.gatorbowl.com

A Christmas Carol on IMAX in St Augustine

Susanne — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:58:28 +0000

Disney’s “A Christmas Carol,” starring Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come, will premiere on the largest IMAX screen in northeast Florida Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. The film will be a special engagement at the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater with tickets being $13 for adults with discounts for children, military, seniors and students. Tickets may be purchased and additional film information may be found at www.wgv.com.

“A Christmas Carol” is Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of an old miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who must face Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come as they help to bring kindness to his otherwise cold heart. The Ghosts remind Scrooge of the man he used to be, the hard truth of what the world is today and what will happen if he does not strive to be a better man. Set around Christmas, the most joyous day of the year, Scrooge realizes the sharp contrast of his own personality.

“A Christmas Carol” is rated PG for scary sequences and scary images and runs one hour and 36 minutes. The film will play at the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater through Monday, Jan. 18, 2010.

The theater also is currently presenting a holiday favorite, “The Polar Express,” on the big screen through Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. The 90-minute animated holiday adventure based on the Caldecott Award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg, tells the story of a boy battling with the belief of Santa Claus’ existence and takes audiences on the boy’s extraordinary journey to the North Pole. Tickets for “The Polar Express” are $6 for all ages.

Closed captioning services are available for both holiday films. For all film and ticket information, visit the IMAX Theater section of www.wgv.com.

Additionally, Santa Claus will make appearances at the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater lobby around the holiday films. Santa’s schedule is as follows:

Saturday, Dec. 5 - 10 to 11 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6 – 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12 – 10:30 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 – 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2:30 to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19 – 12 to 2:30 p.m.

Watch our video from the Disney Train Tour “A Christmas Carol” in Jacksonville, Florida below

Right Whale Festival Video – Jacksonville, Fl

Joe Talentino — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:23:52 +0000

The North Atlantic right whales are endangered, there are only about 350 whales remaining. These mammals are threatened by human activities.

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:

First Wednesday Art Walk in Jacksonville on Dec 2nd, 2009

Joe Talentino — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:55:36 +0000

Come to downtown Jacksonville for the First Wednesday Art walk and celebrate the holiday season.
The Art Walk in Jacksonville, Florida, is a free, self-guided tour of downtown’s galleries and museums, as well as cultural venues, restaurants and businesses.

First Wednesday Art walk takes place monthly from 5-9 p.m. – rain or shine. The Art Walk takes place in an area consisting of about 15-block in downtown.

Click here to download the Art Walk map for December 2, 2009!

December 2nd: Holidays Around the World

Hemming Plaza – Jacksonville’s River Music presents “A Christmas to Remember”, candlelight sing-along at 7 and 8 p.m. Enjoy horse and carriage rides courtesy of the City of Jacksonville Office of Special Events.

229 N. Hogan – AIGA is hosting its first custom toy show, “Designers in Toyland”. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to The Big Fun Box.

Cafe 331 – Art and toys come together in the spirit of Christmas during the “Tattoos-4-Tots” fundraiser featuring Henna tattoos and body painting by The Henna Princess.

Quiznos – Features works by Transitional Tapestries, a craft cooperative of female refugees, including traditional hand-woven Karen bags, knit goods and handmade jewelry.

Snyder Memorial Church – This historic church is the perfect setting for a screening of one of your favorite family holiday movies!

Visit Jacksonville – Enjoy holiday music from The Fabulous Moods of Roger Glover, with special guest presentations while you meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Visit our page about First Wednesday Art walk in Jacksonville

The Rugby movie “Invictus” and the Jacksonville Axemen

Susanne — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:36:38 +0000

The Jacksonville Axemen are inviting all local Rugby players, supporters and fans to join them for a night at the movies on December 11 for the opening of the new Rugby movie “Invictus”. The Axemen have designed the night as a fundraiser for the Jacksonville area USO and also for the local Rugby Clubs to help them with the development of the sport in the Jacksonville area.

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.

Fleming Island Farmers Market – Florida

Susanne — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:53:32 +0000

Beginning December 5th, 2009, Fleming Island Farmer’s Market will open it’s doors to the local community every Saturday rain or shine!
The market will be located at the parking lot of Fleming Island Shoppes off Highway 17, at the Village Square Parkway.

For more information on this market, please email info@globalgreenup.com or call 904 236 9966/407 595 3052

Jacksonville Sharks Coming to Town

Joe Talentino — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:05:21 +0000

The Jacksonville Sports Group held a press conference at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Stadium where they unveiled the team name for the newly formed AF1 team – Jacksonville Sharks.

Jacksonville Sharks will play their home games at the arena.
The 2010 season tickets will include nine home games and prices will start at $45.

The Arena Football 1 will starts it inaugural season in the spring of 2010.

For more information, visit www.jaxsharks.com

Jacksonville Light Parade 2009

Susanne — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:07:23 +0000

The St. Johns River sparkles in holiday cheer during the Jacksonville Light Parade on November 28. Sailboats and other boats festively decorated for the holidays will parade down the river in the heart of Downtown. Boaters will light up the sails and dress up as Santas and wave to the crowds along the riverbanks. Don’t miss this spectacular holiday event which is followed by a fireworks show with Jacksonville’s signature “waterfall” fireworks cascading from two Downtown bridges.

2009 Jacksonville Light Parade
Saturday, November 28
7 p.m.
Downtown Riverfront

The parade can be seen from both the northbank and southbank of the downtown riverfront. Families are encouraged to bring their chairs, blankets and picnics to the riverfront for this magical evening!
Click here for a printable map

Annoucements of parading boats, themes and holiday messages will be broadcast along the northbank and southbank of the riverfront.

For more details visit www.coj.net