Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Jazz Festivals on the Coast – Fall 2010

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From ragtime, to New Orleans, swing, dixieland, latin jazz, bebop, acid jazz and more – the music form itself is difficult to define. On the other hand, Louis Armstrong who really was the king of Jazz once said “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.”
But it’s evident jazz has strong ties to the South and maybe that’s the reason why we have several music events in our area this fall celebrating jazz music.

Low Country Jazz Festival
September 3 – 5,2010
Charleston, SC
Even though it’s only the second time around for The Low Country Jazz Festival, this event is quickly becoming a very popular. Both local and international jazz artists will perform during the festival the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in Charleston and various other venues in the area.
Click here to read more about the Low Country Jazz Festival

Hilton Head Jazz and Brew Fest
September 13 -18, 2010
Hilton Head Island, SC
This festival manages to combine several coastal favorites – live music, great food and good beer. The Seafood Jazz & Brew Festival on Hilton Head Island includes include beer tastings, beer and food pairings, and of course plenty of jazz performances. This festival utilizes the coastal locations of the Shelter Cove Community Park and the Shelter Cove Harbour. Click here to read more about Hilton Head Jazz and Brew Fest

Savannah Jazz Festival
September 19 -26, 2010
Savannah, GA
This is one of the most anticipated festivals in Savannah where the best jazz talent gather in Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia. This year it’s actually the 27th year for event. There are many live performances, jam session and also film screenings. This outdoor jazz festival is free and open to the public.
Click here to read more about Savannah Jazz Festival

Les deMerle

Amelia Island Jazz Festival
October 3 – 10, 2010
Fernandina Beach, Fl
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island celebrates jazz with a week-long annual festival. The popular event consists of a series of events around the island. This year the headliner is multiple Grammy award-winning pianist, Ramsey Lewis. The festival’s creative director, Les deMerle, has put together a program with world-class jazz artists in a wide variety of styles from Dixieland, Smooth Jazz, Bebop, Big Band, Blues, Latin and to new, state-of-the-art styles. Read more about the Amelia Island Jazz Festival here

Little River Shrimp & Jazz Fest
October 9 – 10, 2010
Little River, SC
This is one of the most anticipated events in Little River near Myrtle Beach. There’s lots of fun for the whole family and lots of live music.
Read more about Little River Shrimp & Jazz Fest

Football Fever in Jacksonville – Gator Bowl Tickets on Sale

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Football season is starting in Jacksonville, Florida, with lots of excitement. The 2011 Gator Bowl will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on January 1st and will feature the SEC and Big Ten for the first time in over fifteen years. Get your tickets now and beat the rush for good seats.

Click here for Gator Bowl Tickets!

We will update our special page for Gator Bowl in Jacksonville throughout the season, so check back often.

MOSH $5 Fridays now includes weekends – Jacksonville

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Five dollar Fridays at MOSH has become a great success in Jacksonville, Florida. Now the Museum of Science & History is introducing $5 Weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) starting on Saturday, August 6 through Sunday, October 17, 2010. So if you haven’t been to MOSH yet, here’s your chance.

The five dollar Fridays promotion, which launched in July, has resulted in a 288% increase in attendance as compared to Fridays in June. To accommodate crowds and busy family schedules, the museum will stay open until 8 p.m. on Fridays. MOSH is also extending $5 Fridays through the end of the year.

In addition to the eight core exhibits MOSH offers daily, patrons will be able to visit the featured summer exhibit The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition, on display through September 12. And, on September 25, dinosaurs will invade MOSH with the opening of Prehistoric Predators.

People who visit before August 23 have one last opportunity to see a show in the museum’s vintage planetarium (for an additional $2 per person per show). The Alexander Brest Planetarium will be decommissioned August 23 at 11 a.m. The space science theater will then close, reopening October 23 after a complete renovation and the installation of the state-of-the-art Bryan Gooding Planetarium.

The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) is located at 1025 Museum Circle near Friendship Fountain Park. MOSH, first chartered in 1941 as the Jacksonville Children’s Museum, stimulates the joy of learning for visitors of all ages in science, astronomy and the history of the region. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Museum admission is $11 for adults, $9.50 for military and senior citizens, $9 for children 3-12, and free for children 2 and under and members. Admission is $5 on Fridays through Friday, December 30 and Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, October 17.

Labor Day Weekend – Florida – 2010

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Even though most kids are heading back to school in August, and the stores are advertising for their Back To School Specials already, summer in Florida is far from over.  We’re just not ready to give up on the beach, outdoor concerts and fun in the sun. Make Labor Day weekend count and let’s have some fun with family and friends. We have come up with a few suggestions for you.

(Here is the link to our video podcast about Labor Day Weekend on the coast!)

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

Sun Splash – Amelia Island
Who said we had to say goodbye to summer, instead let’s have fun in the sun.  The Sun Splash event takes place at Seaside Beach on Saturday, September 4, 2010, 8am – 7pm.  Come enjoy island fun on the beach with live music and lots of activities.

At 7 am, there will be a beach clean up with Keep Nassau Beautiful, followed by a surf contest at 8am.  Then it is time for the popular reggae music concert. Live reggae is performed from 1-7pm. There’s also a swimwear fashion show, volleyball, ping-pong, sand castle contest, giveaways and prizes.

American Music Festival in Daytona Beach
Daytona is known for auto racing and NASCAR, but this weekend it’s all about music in Daytona. It’s the American Music Festival in Daytona Beach, September 1-5, 2010.
The festival holds concerts with big name artists such as Usher, Jonas Brothers, Tony Bennett and more at the Bandshell, Ocean Center and Peabody Auditorium. Artists will also take the stage at the community stages on the festival campus.

Click here to visit our special page for American Music Festival

Labor Day in St Augustine

Birthday Bash in St Augustine
The city turns 445 years old this year and the big day is celebrated with a reenactment of the landing and a special cutting of the birthday cake.
Click here to read more about the Birthday in St Augustine Celebration

Concerts in the Plaza
Also in St. Augustine there’s a free concert at Plaza de la Constitution on Sunday September 6th with The St. Augustine Jazz Society. The music starts at 1 pm – 5 pm. For more information, visit our special page about Concerts in the Plaza in St. Augustine

First Friday Art Walk – St Augustine
On Friday September 2nd, it’s time for another First Friday Art Walk in St. Augustine. This is alwyas a fun event with lots of people mingling, checking out local arts. You can read more about on our special events page.

Toby Keith in St. Augustine, Florida

More music – Toby Keith with Jaron and The Long Road To Love are performing at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Labor Day Weekend.  The concert is scheduled for Sunday, Sept 5, 2010 at 7:17 pm.  This is one of the big concerts of the year, don’t miss out.

Click here to buy tickets now!

Spend a Day at the Beach Downtown Jacksonville
Going to the beach is a tradition for Labor Day Weekend.   But for those who would rather hang out downtown, the beach comes to the Jacksonville Landing for the third year in a row.   The beach will be open to the public for the extended Labor Day Weekend festivities starting already on Wednesday, September 1 and will remain open until Monday, September 6.

Hula Hoop contests for kids and adults will take place on Saturday with live entertainment beginning at noon. A pair of tickets to a home Jaguars Game will be given away on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. during the Big Cat Sand Dig Competition. The celebration will wrap up with a live performance by the world-famous Sauce Boss on Sunday at 4 p.m. and live music on Monday.

Here is the complete schedule:

Wednesday, September 1
Art Walk “Art Takes Shape” 5-9 p.m. Featuring a sandcastle building contest and live entertainment in the Courtyard by George Aspinall Band 7 – 11 p.m.
Arts Market 5 – 9 p.m. in front of The Landing, including over a dozen local artists and crafters.

Thursday, September 2
Adamec Bike Night 6 – 10 p.m. with live entertainment by The Ride 7 – 11 p.m. Free bike parking, $10 bike washes, on-site tattooing, live entertainment, prizes and many other vendors. Adamec Bike Night takes place on the first Thursday of each month.

Friday, September 3
Big Cat Sand Dig for a pair of tickets to a Jaguars home game 7 p.m.
Live music in the Courtyard by George Aspinall Band 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Saturday, September 4
Live music in the Courtyard by Palmetto Catz 2 – 6 p.m. and Radio 80 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Kids Hula Hoop Competition 3 p.m.
Shag Lessons and Demonstrations by the First Coast Shag Club 2 – 3 p.m.
Big Cat Sand Dig for a pair of tickets to a Jaguars home game 7 p.m.
Open Hula Hoop Competition 8 p.m.

Sunday, September 5
Shag Lessons and Demonstrations by the First Coast Shag Club 2 – 3 p.m.
Sauce Boss LIVE! 4 – 8 p.m. Enjoy a performance by celebrity gumbo chef and entertainer the Sauce Boss … and even try his famous gumbo!
Live music in the Courtyard by The Rhythm Cure 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Monday, September 6
Live music in the Courtyard by Hipp Street 4 – 8 p.m.

For more information visit www.jacksonvillelanding.com

It’s Shark Week in Charleston and Jacksonville

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As you know, it’s Shark Week this week on Discovery Channel.  This summer favorite first aired in 1987 and it has been a cable TV hit ever since with a cult-like following. Shark Week features documentaries and educational programs about sharks for seven days straight.  This year Shark week is hosted by Late Late Show’s own Craig Ferguson, I’m not sure what knowledge about the big fish the Scotsman can bring to the table – but I’m sure Craig will boost ratings.

Here at Coastal Companion we decided to make our own version of Shark Week. After all, who want’s to spend a whole week watching TV in the summer?

Take a look at our ides for what to do during Shark Week.


Jacksonville Sharks
Guys like to watch hard hits and lots of action, isn’t that how Shark Week got popular in the first place? But when we talk about Sharks in Jacksonville, were not talking about fish with big teeth, we’re talking lots of arena football action with the city’s home team – The Jacksonville Sharks.  It’s the first year for the team, and they are the South Division Champions of the Arena Football League. Take a look at the incredible action in our video from the last game Jacksonville Sharks vs. Spokane Shock!

Fans are have created their own Shark Dance, the dance team is the Shark Attack team – and it’s just a lot of “fin-tastic fun”! (Click here to watch our video and see for yourself) The Jacksonville Sharks are what Discovery Channel commentators would put it “nature’s perfect killing machine”! The team is  in the playoffs and are facing the Orlando Predators at the Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday August 6. The question is are the Predators  going to become shark bait? Yeah, it is definitely Shark Week in Jacksonville.

Love at First Bite in Charleston
In South Carolina the aquarium celebrates Shark Week with a week long celebration of all things Shark.  Catch one of the shark-themed dive shows, participate in new special interactive activities such as ‘Sharkeology’ and ‘Shark Shapes,’ venture through Shark Alley to see the real size of some of these silent giants and of course, marvel at live sharks swimming in the Aquarium’s largest exhibit, the Great Ocean Tank.

For those who swim with the big fish,  on Thursday, August 5, there’s a a FREE showing of the classic shark movie, ‘Jaws’ at the Aquarium’s Movie on the Lawn! See ‘Jaws’ on the big screen with the sound of the ocean just beyond your seat. Lawn opens at 7 p.m. with the movie beginning at dark. Before the movie starts, interact with Aquarium educators rovering the lawn and watch an Aquarium-made short film on shark myths. This is a free showing, although donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the conservation efforts at the Aquarium. Bring your own chair or blanket.

The South Carolina Aquarium will celebrate Shark Week July 30 – August 8, 2010. For more information, visit scaquarium.org/sharkweek or call (843) 577-FISH (3474).

Sandbar Shark, courtesy of: South Carolina Aquarium