Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Fourth of July in Florida

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The Fourth of July holiday is built around traditions and for many it’s a great family tradition to celebrate the weekend together friends and family.  We have come up with a few ideas for fun things to do on the coast of Northeast Florida for the Fourth of July weekend.

Daytona International Speedway - NASCARDAYTONA BEACH
NASCAR fans kick off Indpendence Day early and head to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the famous Coke Zero 400 Weekend.  This event takes place July 1 – 3, 2010, at Daytona International Speedway.  It’s one of the few NASCAR races taking place at night, and with the summer heat, that’s a good thing for us.  Besides fast cars, there’s live music, fireworks and much more.
Check out our page for Coke Zero 400 Weekend for more.

ST AUGUSTINE
There’s no better place to celebrate Independence Day than in the Nation’s Oldest City – St. Augustine, Florida.  The beautiful, historic city is always well worth a visit, especially if you have friends and family coming to town.  Make sure to take time to walk around in the historic downtown area – or take a horse carriage ride if it’s too hot.

St. Augustine offers free concert and of course impressive fireworks over Mantanzas Bay. This is one of the most anticipated events in St. Augustine, so expect lots of people – and traffic.  Check out page for  Fourth of July in St Augustine for more details and parking suggestions.

JACKSONVILLE

Last year the city of Jacksonville had a lot of events going on around town – but with the budget cuts it seems as if everything is now centered around the Jacksonville Landing in downtown.  The day starts with free concerts at the Jacksonville Landing, and at dusk it’s time for fireworks at the riverfront.

There’s also fireworks and fun at Jax Beach.

Click here to visit our special page with details including parking suggestions for Fourth of July Events in Jacksonville.

FERNANDINA BEACH

The Stars and Stripes Freedom Festival and Parade takes place in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. The Festival itself takes place on Saturday July 3, 2010, while the parade and fireworks happen on Sunday July 4.

We went to Fernandina Beach for Fourth of July last year and made a video about the experience that is posted on the  special page for Stars and Stripes Freedom Festival & Fireworks

Free Summer Concerts in Savannah, Georgia

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The City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs announced that it will be presenting a series of free live concerts in Johnson Square throughout the summer. Sixteen concerts are planned from June 2 through July 23. Concerts will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The concert series is being managed by New Arts Ensembles (NAE), a Savannah-based group that showcases some of the region’s finest musicians. “Musicians from different styles of American traditions will be performing music loved by young and old,” said NAE founder and co-owner Ricardo Ochoa. “Whether you are visiting Savannah or taking a break from the office, it’s the perfect opportunity to grab lunch from one of our many outstanding local restaurants and enjoy your meal with great music.”

The concert series will kick-off on June 2 with Roger Moss & Eric Jones in Johnson Square. The concert line up also includes: Silver Lining (Modern Jazz); Jan Spillane (Folk/Blues); vocalist Claire Frazier & Frank Bright(Jazz); and Bottles ‘n Cans (Blues).

Concerts are free and open to the public. For information and a complete concert schedule, call 912-651-6417 or visit www.savannahga.gov/arts . For information on NAE, call 912-596-1360 or visit Www.newartsensembles.com.

2010 Summer Concerts in the Squares Schedule
June 2 Roger Moss/Eric Jones
June 4 Regina Rene Quartet
June 09 Jan Spillane
June 11 Jimmy Wallin Band
June 16 Trae Gurley
June 18 Claire Frazier & Frank Bright
June 23 Eddie Wilson
June 25 Bottles ‘n Cans
June 30 Silver Lining
July 2 Roger Moss & Eric Jones
July 7 Trae Gurley
July 9 Annie Allman Trio
July 14 Clair Frazier & Frank Bright
July 16 Silver Lining
July 21 Eddie Wilson
July 23 Bottles ‘n Cans

Pops at the Beach – Mother’s Day Concert at Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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POPS AT THE BEACH
It is spring, it is TPC week, and it is Mother’s Day. Cap off the week of championship golf by talking your favorite mother to the Sea Walk Pavilion on Mother’s Day. What better way to honor her than a Pops concert featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performing a little night music.  An extra plus is the fact that admission to the concert is free, so you can treat Mom to lunch or dinner instead.  Just bring mom, friends, family, lawn chairs or blanket, and enjoy an evening of great music, moonlight, sea breezes and the sounds of the ocean. This is a family event, kids of all ages are welcome. Soft drinks, wine and beer, food, and dessert are available for purchase. Admission is free. The event area opens at 5:00 PM.

The City of Jacksonville Beach, Beaches Fine Arts Series, B.R.A.S.S., and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra are partnering again to bring you the annual Mother’s Day POPS AT THE BEACH concert featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, May 9, 2010.

This is the 16th POPS AT THE BEACH performance by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the 10th from the Sea Walk Pavilion stage designed specifically for the JSO by The Haskell Company. Under the direction of guest conductor Morihiko Nakahara, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra takes the stage at 7:30 PM performing music from the movies, the opera, Broadway and the concert hall. Maestro Nakahara is in his second season as music director of the South Carolina Philharmonic. Having served as Jacksonville Symphony associate conductor in 2007, he continues to make annual JSO conducting appearances.

The Jacksonville Mass Choir starts off the evening’s entertainment at 5:45 PM with To Michael with Love – The Songs of Michael Jackson. The group is directed by Deborah McDuffie, Artistic Director for the Jacksonville Mass Choir and its younger component, Boys and Girls Choir; and, Chair of the Fine Arts Department/Choral Director at Paxon School for Advanced Studies and Executive Director of Arts4Jax, Inc., a community performing arts foundation in Jacksonville, Florida.
There is no better way to show moms how special they are than this outstanding performance under the stars at Jacksonville Beach’s Sea Walk Pavilion.

For more information, call the hotline  (904) 247-6100 press 3 or visit  www.jacksonvillebeach.org.

MOTHER’S DAY CONCERT PROGRAM

THE JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MORIHIKO NAKAHARA, CONDUCTING A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC!
Overture to West Side Story BERNSTEIN/PERESS
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Mvt. I MOZART
Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music SONDHEIM/LOWDEN
Por Una Cabeza (Tango from Scent of a Woman) GARDEL/WILLIAMS Philip Pan, violin
Suite from Carmen BIZET Les Toreadors – Suite No. 1, Mvt. V Habanera – Suite No. 2, Mvt. II Nocturn – Suite No. 2, Mvt. III Danse Boheme – Suite No. 2, Mvt. VI

INTERMISSION

The Wizard of Oz ARLEN/SAYRE
La Comparsa (Night Procession) LECUONA
Dance of the Hours from La Gioconda PONCHELLI
Moon River MANCINI
Phantom of the Opera WEBBER/CUSTER

What To Do for Mother’s Day in Jacksonville, Florida

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It’s an action-packed week with the Players Championship at  TPC Sawgrass, followed closely by everyone’s favorite celebration – Cinco de Mayo on Wednesday.  Then on Sunday it’s time for Mother’s Day.

Most people I’ve spoken to usually take Mom out for breakfast, brunch or dinner. Some moms with more than one child gets to go out and eat all day, the biggest problem seems to be to agree on who is handling what meal.  Keep in mind that some restaurants get really busy on Mother’s Day and opt for reservations.  But if you want to do something a little bit different this year without spending all your hard earned money,  stick with me.  I have found activities in Jacksonville both  you and your mother can enjoy.

Museum of Contemporary Art MOCA Jacksonville FloridaContemporary Art
Sunday is always “Family Free Sunday” at MOCA Jacksonville, so if your Mom likes art and you have a big group, a trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Jacksonville could just be the ticket. Also Cafe Nola has a special Mother’s Day Brunch which includes free mimosas. My mom would really enjoy that.   (Reservations are strongly suggested for Cafe Nola.
Visit www.MOCAjacksonville.org for more information.

Home & Garden Tour
The 32nd Annual Tour of Homes and Gardens in Springfield is going on all weekend. The tour takes you to some of the most beautiful historic homes in Springfield and the tour also includes tea in Henrietta’s Tearoom in the SPAR building, 1321 N Main Street.  If you like you can upgrade your ticket to include a dinner, which seems like it’s a really good deal.  Choose from 10 restaurants and bars in the Springfield area that will provide discounts. You will also receive a free beer from the Bier Garden during the Home Tour.
I would really enjoy that!

On Sunday May 9th the tour takes place from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm.

Driving Miss Daisy
Another way to see historic Springfield is to participate in the  historic bike tour.   My Mom is probably not that interested in riding her bike around Springfield – even though it’s a free tour –  so she’ll be relieved to know that the tour takes place already  on Saturday May 8th at 10:00 am.  A more suitable activity for my mother is to  sit down in the air conditioned theater with a nice cold Pepsi watching the play  “Driving Miss Daisy” by Stage Aurora.

This is a heart-warming story and I would enjoy the performance, but mom  would probably take it the wrong way and think I’m trying to point out how old she is.  Now when I think about it,  a better idea is to take mom to the Florida Theater where the king of blues himself, B.B.King, is performing.   He is 84 years old but still going strong, and he takes the stage at 8:00 pm on Sunday May 9th.    (For more information about B.B. King, click here)

Free Mother’s Day Concert at the Beach
I’d suggest heading to Jacksonville Beach on Mother’s Day.  Here you can enjoy a live performance with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra at Sea Walk Pavilion.  You can get everyone in the car and “drive your Miss Daisy” to Jax Beach for a great evening under the stars.  The event area opens at 5:00 pm.  At 5:45 pm Jacksonville Mass Choir performs To Michael with Love – The Songs of Michael Jackson. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra takes the stage at 7:30 PM performing music from the movies, the opera, Broadway and the concert hall.  Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or a picnic blanket for mom to sit on.   You could even turn the whole Mother’s Day dinner into a outdoor picnic.  Gather the family, make a big outing and a great impression while saving money, after all this is a free concert.

For more information:

MOCA Jacksonville
333 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL, 32202
Ph: (904) 366-6911
www.MOCAjacksonville.org

Cafe Nola for reservations  (904) 366-6911, ext. 231

Tour of Homes and Gardens in Springfield
Friday May 7th & Saturday May 8th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Sunday May 9th from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm.
Call 904-353-7727 or visit www.sparcouncil.org for more information.

Springfield Historic Bike Tour
Saturday May 8th from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Bring your own bike and ride for free, or rent one for $25
www.e2ride.com

Stage Aurora
5164-A Norwood Ave, Jacksonville, Fl 32208 (click here for map)
Call 904.765.7372 or visit www.stageaurora.org

Florida Theater
128 East Forsyth Street, Jacksonville, Fl

www.floridatheatre.com

Pops at the Beach
Sea Walk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach, Fl
Event Hotline (904) 247-6100 press 3
www.jacksonvillebeach.org

Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival 2010

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Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, One of the Largest Classical Music Events in the Southeast takes place i Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida on  May 7-30, 2010

Amelia Island will host the ninth season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, one of the largest chamber festivals in the southeastern U.S.  The Festival will feature over fifty internationally acclaimed artists and eighteen performances in different locations around around the island, including churches, an historic courthouse and one of the best preserved Civil War forts in the nation.

Christopher Rex, the Festival’s artistic director and principal cellist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, said, “Entering its ninth season, The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival has become a nationally recognized event, drawing music lovers from around the country. The 2010 Festival will feature a galaxy of internationally acclaimed stars, including pianists Andre Watts, and Valentina Lisitsa; The Eroica Trio; violinists Robert McDuffie and Arnold Steinhardt, formerly principal violin with the Guarneri String Quartet; cellist Andres Diaz; soprano Jessica Rivera; and The St. Lawrence String Quartet. These and other artists, combined with the unparalleled beauty of Amelia Island, are certain to make our upcoming Festival the best yet.”

The complete schedule of the 2010 Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival is available at the Festival’s web site, www.aicmf.

Highlights of the 2010 Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival include:

Pianist Valentina Lisitsa, May 7 at the Friday Musicale concert hall in Jacksonville (645 Oak Street) in a piano quintet and piano duet with her husband, Alexi Kuznetsoff; and May 16 on Amelia Island.
Described by critics as “positively dazzling” and “electrifying,” she has performed at most of the world’s most prestigious venues, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall, Vienna’s Musikverein and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. Valentina had more than 80 performances in the 2009 season.

Violinist Robert McDuffie, May 13
Robert McDuffie, a Grammyâ nominated violinist, has appeared as soloist with most of the major orchestras of the world. “A New York critic recently wrote: “McDuffie is one of the finest violinists of our age.” Anotherreview from the Chicago Sun-Times commented: “The evening’s hero was the remarkable American fiddler Robert McDuffie, who plays with magnetic energy and seeming effortlessness.”

Pianist André Watts, May 14
Considered one of the greatest pianists on the international stage, André Watts burst upon the music world in 1963 at the age of 16 when Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in their Young People’s Concerts, broadcast nationwide on CBS-TV. More than 45 years later, André Watts remains one of today’s most celebrated stars..

Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, May 18 and 19
Violinist Jay Ungar and guitarist Molly Mason composed and performed the musical hallmark of Ken Burns’ The Civil War on PBS. The couple is recognized for its timeless renditions of hard-driving Appalachian, Cajun and Celtic fiddle tunes, stirring Civil War classics, sassy songs from the golden age of swing and country, stunning waltzes, and deeply moving original compositions.

The Eroica Trio, May 23
The Eroica is one of the most sought-after trios in the world. The three women who make up the Grammy®-nominated Eroica Trio—one of the first all-female ensembles to reach the top echelon of its field—electrify the concert stage with their performances of depth and precision. “This is a superlative ensemble, producing one of the biggest and most brilliant piano trio sounds in memory,” lauded a New York music critic.

Free Concerts
As part of the Festival’s community outreach initiatives, four concerts of the 2010 season will be free of charge, including a concert in Central Park on May 16 and a Family Concert on May 29.

Tickets for the 2010 Festival can be purchased by credit card at the Festival’s website (www.aicmf.com) or 904/261-1779. Ticket prices range from $10 to $60, with most priced at $25.