Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

July in Florida

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

 

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

 

First Wednesday Art Walk

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

Here are a few highlights:

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

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

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

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

 

The Jacksonville Landing Market

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

 

Riverside Arts Market

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


Jazz at Jacksonville Beach

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

 

Summer Movie Classics – Florida Theatre

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

Chris Tucker

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

 

 

Family Fun Day

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

 

Kingfish Tournament JacksonvilleKingfish Tournament in Jax

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

 

 

Toby Keith at St. Augustine Amphitheatre

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

 

Britney Spears

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

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

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

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

 

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

 

St Augustine, Florida

 

Concerts in the Plaza

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

 

Uptown Saturday Night

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

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

 

FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA

 

Fernandina Farmers Market

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

 

More interesting posts from Florida to read:

Sounds on Centre in Fernandina Beach

Jacksonville City Page

 

St. Augustine City Page

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Mother’s Day in Jacksonville, Florida

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We will barely have time to recuperate from everyone’s favorite party – Cinco de Mayo – before it’s time for the big golf event of the year – the Players Championship at  TPC Sawgrass. Mother’s Day is right around the corner and I haven’t made any plans yet. Now, I am not known for preparing far in advance for any holiday. I am one of those guys who will go out on Christmas Eve to pick up a few gifts for Christmas. But this year, I was going to change all that. So, I decided to do some research and see what I could come up with for Mother’s Day this year.

Most people I’ve talked to usually take Mom out for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Some moms who have lots of kids end up going out to eat all day.  The biggest problem for families with many siblings seems to be to agree on who is having Mom over when. After all, there are only so many meals mom can eat in a day. This can be a great way to celebrate the day, especially if your Mom is a “foodie”. Just keep in mind that some restaurants get extremely busy on Mother’s Day and make a reservations.  (Hint; this is also a good way to impress Mom, especially for those of us who are not known for our great organizational skills.)

On the other hand, if you’re mom is like mine, who eats like a bird, this is not the best way to celebrate Mother’s Day. Besides, we have done that already. I wanted to see what else we could come up with to do for Moms in Jacksonville.

If you want to try something a little bit different this year,  keep reading.  I have found activities in Jacksonville both  you and your mother can enjoy. I even found a few that fit those of us who are working with a more modest budget for the big day.

 

The Snake Oil Salesman

I was so excited when I found this event. Unfortunately, there is no way I will be able to sell my Mom on this idea. Too bad! I would love to go and my kids would too. This event fits the bill as a very unique choice for Mother’s Day.

Maybe your Mom is a bona fide snake charmer who can’t wait to go to the Repticon Jacksonville Reptile & Exotic Animal Show. Boy, aren’t you lucky! My Mom would call me all kinds of names but Joe  if I ever tried to get her up close and personal with a reptile.

This event takes place on Sunday, May 8, 2011 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at Jacksonville Fairgrounds and Expo Center.

For those of us who like the idea of animals, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens has a special Mother’s Day deal which I am sure many mothers, including mine, really would enjoy. Keep in mind, the Zoo also has some amazing gardens. Kids young and old can bring Mom to the Zoo to celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8th. You will receive one free adult or senior general admission ticket with the purchase of one adult or child ticket – but you need to print the special coupon from the website.

Here is the link to the coupon page.

 

Herding Cats for Mother’s Day

I usually can’t go wrong with animal encounters for Mother’s Day – as long as I stay away from the reptiles. This fundraising event sounds really cool. You can bring your whole gang out for a guided tour at the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary. During the tour you get to meet the special residents of the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary –  Siberian tigers, lions, cougars, spotted and black leopards, a serval, two coatimundis, a European wild cat and two arctic foxes. Bring family and friends out to see the big, beautiful cats at the sanctuary. Admission is $10 per person. Children 3-11 are $5, 2 years & under are free. (But remember, you’re supporting the sanctuary with your ticket purchase).

For more information visit the Catty Shack website.

 

Look Mom – No Hands!

Spring is the best time for biking! It doesn’t matter if you barely remember how to ride a bicycle or if you are a Tour de France Pro, this is a great tour for the whole family – and if you and mom are looking for an activity to do together in the beautiful spring weather, this could be a lot of fun. You will ride through cool Jacksonville neighborhoods with interesting architecture and history. Rent everything or bring your own bike. Call (904) 945-1571 for more information or visit the website.


Artsy Fartsy

My Mom enjoys arts and craft shows, so this festival is her cup of tea. The Sawgrass Village Art Festival Spring Show  is a juried art festival for fine artists. The popular festival on May 7 – 8, 2011, now in its 17th year, and the event attracts thousands of visitors every spring to Ponte Vedra. Here you can see a wide variety of art works from first-class watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, drawings, clay, photography, wood, glass, fiber, graphics, metal, paper to mixed media fine arts. In addition, there is also food, lots of other fun and children’s activities. The festival takes place at Sawgrass Village Shopping Center from 10am to 5pm both days. Admission is free.

 

Champagne Taste

Museum of Contemporary Art MOCA Jacksonville FloridaIn downtown Jacksonville, Sunday is always “Family Free Sunday” at MOCA Jacksonville. This is a good idea, especially if you have a big group.

You can splurge and treat Mom to a special Mother’s Day Buffet Brunch in Cafe Nola on Sunday, May 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.  All Moms get free mimosas! Now we’re talking, my Mom would love that. Reservations are strongly suggested. Call (904) 366-6911, ext. 231 for reservations.  $25/adults, $8 children under 10

Visit www.MOCAjacksonville.org for more information.

 

Beach Bums for the Day

I’d suggest heading to Jacksonville Beach on Mother’s Day for a free concert.  Here you can enjoy a live performance with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra at Sea Walk Pavilion.    The event area opens at 5:00 pm.  Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or a picnic blanket for mom to sit on.   For those of us with a modest Mother’s Day budget, you could even turn the whole Mother’s Day dinner into a outdoor picnic.  Hey, you don’t even have to cook the picnic food. Just visit your grocery store’s deli counter and pick up cheese, sandwich meat and good bread. You could even go for a grilled chicken. Gather the family, make a big outing and a great impression while saving money, after all this is a free concert.

 

Singing Sisters

There is more music in Jacksonville. Fearless is the one word used to describe the creative spirit of groundbreaking duo Mary Mary.  Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell broke through in 2000 with their crossover hit “Shackles (Praise You). Since then ” the chart-topping sister act has never wavered from defying convention to fulfill its mission: sending uplifting messages through music and words that are relatable to everyone. Mary Mary performes at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville May 7 – 8, 2011.

Get your Mary Mary tickets here!

 

Music for Bookworms

There is also a free concert at the Main Library downtown on Sunday May 8, 2011 at 2:30 pm, so if you’re going to MOCA, you might be able to stop by. Pianists Marion Wilkinson Scott and Rosa Villar Scott will perform works for piano solo and piano 4-hands, by Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, and Dvořák. Mr. Scott, a native of Jacksonville, and Mrs. Scott, who is from Lima, Peru, both have won numerous awards and prizes for their playing.

Music @ Main concerts are presented in the Main Library’s Hicks Auditorium, located on the Conference Level of the Library near the Main Street entrances. Call 904-630-2665 for more information.

Library customers who use the public garage at the corner of Duval Street and Main Street may take their garage tickets to the ground-floor Popular Services Desk to get validation for free parking. Free on-street parking is also available on weekends and evenings after 6 p.m.

Now, you might now that Jacksonville also becomes Rockville this weekend. Godsmack, Stone Sour, Seether and a bunch of other bands are performing at Metropolitan Park, but if you’re going to try to sell Mom on that event – you’re on your own.
(Go here to reserve your Rockville tickets now.)

 

For more information:

Repticon Jacksonville Reptile & Exotic Animal Show

Sunday, May 8, 2011 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Jacksonville Fairgrounds and Expo Center
510 Fairgrounds Place, Jacksonville, FL,32202

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

370 Zoo Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32218

www.jacksonvillezoo.org


Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
1860 Starratt Road
Jacksonville, FL 32226-1760
(904) 757-3603

www.cattyshack.org

Bike Tour
Saturday May 8th from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Bring your own bike , or rent one 
www.e2ride.com


The Sawgrass Village Art Festival
May 7 – 8, 2011

Sawgrass Village Shopping Center
1300 Sawgrass Village Dr.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

MOCA – Museum of Contemporary Art

www.MOCAjacksonville.org

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

Mary Mary
Florida Theater
128 East Forsyth Street, Jacksonville, Fl

www.floridatheatre.com

Music @ Main Concert

Main Library
303 North Laura Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
904-630-2665

Right Whale Festival – Jacksonville, Florida

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With as few as 350 remaining, North Atlantic right whales are in jeopardy and are often threatened by human activities.  The mission of the Right Whale Festival is to celebrate right whales and the beginning of their calving season. The goal is to engage the community and heighten public awareness of both right whales and the importance of the area as the whales make their seasonal return to the waters off FL/GA coast — the only known North Atlantic right whale calving grounds. This one-day family-oriented festival will feature children’s activities, music, beach cleanup, and other activities geared towards informing and inspiring the community about right whales, their habitat, and conservation needs.

http://www.rightwhalefestival.org/

righwhalefestival1

Springing the Blues 2009 – Jacksonville Beach

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Springing The Blues is an annual festival drawing a crowd of approximately 125,000 blues fans to Jacksonville Beach. Here you can experience performances from some of the nation’s top Blues performers. Springing The Blues is a free outdoor blues music festival. The goal of the festival is to celebrate blues.  The three-day oceanfront music festival features a selection of blues performers as well as other  activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Springing The Blues festival is traditionally held at Jacksonville Beach, Florida’s Oceanfront SeaWalk Pavilion on the first weekend of April each year.

A Few Festival Facts:

• Downbeat Magazine named Springing the Blues as one of the top 50 Music Festivals in the World

• SouthEast Tourism Society named the festival as one of the top 20 destination events in the U.S.

• Springing the Blues is known as Florida’s largest free outdoor blues festival.

• In 1997 the festival was voted as “Best Festival in Northeast Florida” by Folio Weekly Magazine’s annual poll.

Past performers at the festival have included many famous musicians such as; Larry McCray, Phillip Walker, Tinsely Ellis, Saffire “The Uppity Blues Women,” Maurice John Vaughn, Earl King, Mitch Woods And His Rocket 88’s, Susan Tedeschi, North Mississippi Allstars, Tab Benoit, Little Jimmy King, Henry Gray and the Cats, Grammy Award winner Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Ruby Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, R. L. Burnside, Smoky Wilson, Coco Montoya, Smokin’ Joe Kubek and B’nois King.

This year the festival will take place on April 3-5 at Seawalk Plaza, Jacksonville Beach, Florida