Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Kenny Chesney is coming to Jacksonville

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Kenny Chesney is coming to the Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Kenny is of course on of the biggest and brightest stars on the horizon of country right now. He has produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 20 of which climbed to the top of the charts. Kenny Chesney has been honored with numerous awards from the Academy of Country Music (ACM), Country Music Association (CMA), American Music Awards (AMA), Country Music Television (CMT), Billboard Music Awards (BMA), People’s Choice Awards (PCA), and the French Country Music Awards (FCMA).

This popular country star is coming to Jacksonville on Thursday May 12, 2011 at 7:00 pm.

Don’t miss this concert, book your tickets now!

Art of Fighting and Guns N Hoses Boxing in Jacksonville in April

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Love a good fight? Here are two choices coming to Jacksonville, Florida, in the month of April – Art of Fighting and the Guns N’ Hoses Boxing.

Art of Fighting 12: Static

This event takes place at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday April 2, 2011 at 7:00 pm.

Click here to reserve your seat for Art of Fighting!

 

Guns & Hoses Boxing

Guns N Hoses Charity Boxing event returns to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday April 16, 2011 at 6:30 pm.

Click here to reserve your tickets now!


Things To Do in Jacksonville – April 2011

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April is the perfect time for outdoor festivals, and this month there is no shortage of fun things to do in Jacksonville.

George’s Music Annual Springing the Blues
April 1-3, 2011
This popular three-day oceanfront music festival is free and features a number of renowned blues performers, held every spring in Jacksonville Beach. Click here for more information about Springing the Blues.

Cosmic Concerts
April 1, 8, 15, 22
Experience total-sensory entertainment as laser lights, high-def images and digital sound collide to create a Cosmic Concert! Each concert costs $5 per person; $1 for laser glasses. Tickets are available online at www.moshplanetarium.org or at the door.

  • April 1: Laseropolis at 5 p.m., The Beatles at 6 p.m., Laser Vinyl at 7 p.m., and Laser Retro at 8 p.m.
  • April 8: Laseropolis at 5 p.m., Led Zeppelin at 6 p.m., Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon at 7 p.m., and Pink Floyd: The Wall at 8 p.m.
  • April 15: Laseropolis at 5 p.m., Laser Retro at 6 p.m., Laser X at 7 p.m., and Metallica at 8 p.m.
  • April 22: Laseropolis at 5 p.m., Laser Vinyl at 6 p.m., Laser Retro at 7 p.m., and Metallica at 8 p.m.

First Wednesday Art Walk
April 6 2011
Downtown Jacksonville turns into an art adventure every first Wednesday of the month. The event is a free, self-guided tour that combines astounding visual and live art, engaging events and more. It’s a downtown happening you have to try at least once. Read more about the event here.

Movies in the Park
April 8, 15 and 26
Downtown Jacksonville’s series is returning to historic Treaty Oak Park Fridays in the spring. Hosted by Downtown Vision, Inc. and JaxParks, the series features four family-friendly movies shown under the stars, each beginning at dusk (around 8 p.m.). Bring family and friends, blankets to sit on or lawn chairs and a picnic. Music and kids lawn games will keep moviegoers busy before each show.

Starry Nights
April 9, 2011
The City of Jacksonville presents Starry Nights, an event that combines the sounds of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra with a national performer. Concert is held at Metropolitan Park, along the St. Johns River. www.makeascenedowntown.com

starry nights

Earth Day at MOSH
April 16, 2011 
Come to MOSH in Jacksonville for Earth Day activities from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. Visitors will work to together to paint a masterpiece on a working rain barrel, make crafts from recycled items and more.

Beaches Sandcastle Contest & Parade
April 23-24
The beaches officially welcome visitors as temperatures become warmer and families head for a day in the sun. A sandcastle contest kicks off the weekend with prizes in several categories. On Sunday, a lively parade marches through Jacksonville Beach.

Mandarin Art Festival & Egg Hunt
April 23-24
Every Easter holiday art is celebrated at this two-day event in Mandarin. More than 100 artists are expected to participate this year. Paintings, jewelry, pottery, photography and more. There’s also a Kids Art Show and an egg hunt for the younger ones. You can read more about the Mandarin Art Festival & Egg Hunt here.

World of Nations Celebration
April 28 – May 1
Each spring, Jacksonville celebrates its cultural diversity with the World of Nations Celebration, presented by the City of Jacksonville. Metropolitan Park transforms into a multi-ethnic marketplace of cuisine, crafts and entertainment of people from around the world. Read more about World of Nations in Jacksonville here.

Music Under the Stars
April 28, 2011
Learn about the stars that shine over Jacksonville while enjoying a live musical performance under the stars of the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium. Event is from 6 to 10 p.m.. The music presentation begins at 7 p.m. and rooftop stargazing is from 8 to 9 p.m. Admission, which includes museum access, one beer or glass of wine, music presentation, star show, and rooftop stargazing, is $10 for the public and $5 for MOSH Members. Music provided by arrangement with Friday Musicale. Call 396.MOSH (6674), ext. 230 for required reservations.

First Wednesday Art Walk in Jacksonville – March 2011

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Don’t forget, this is the week of firsts on the coast with lots of art walks and other monthly events. One of the most popular is the downtown art walk in Jacksonville, Florida.

Here’s this month’s schedule. Click here to visit our special page for First Wednesday Art Walk to get download the map, watch or video from the art walk and get more info.

Snyder Memorial – Jacksonville Fashion Week presents “The Art of Fashion,” weaving together recycled material “clothing,” avant-garde costumes and more.

The Art Center Cooperative, Inc. (TAC II) – Jacksonville Fashion Week presents “Sew Artistic” featuring fashion photography, paintings and more.

111 E. Bay St. Studios – F13RCE Dance Theatre presents “Music, Fashion and Dance” at 7 p.m., plus a Fierce Magazine fashion show.

Elemental Gallery & Studio – The Jacksonville Weavers’ Guild demonstrates their fine craft.

Hemming Plaza Jewelers – Enjoy a bridal extravaganza!

The Jacksonville Landing – Design workshops and sewing lessons by Kara Bazma Dress Factory.

Southlight Gallery – Art and wearables by The Southlight Collaborative and Bodega of Plenty.

The Ivy Ultra Bar – Complimentary make-up and hair styling by Bella Hair Designs from 6-8 p.m.

Northstar “The Pizza Bar” – Features handmade earrings, necklaces, chokers and more.

The Library: 122 Ocean – The Fine Arts Department of Florida State College at Jacksonville returns with a superb multi-discipline event.

Main Library – Visit Jaxport’s “Mixed Cargo,” an environmentally-friendly mixed media art exhibit and the new home of the permanent exhibition, “Imagination Squared.”

George Strait, Reba and Lee Ann Womack with Country & Folk

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Now you can see some of country music’s greatest names performing in Jacksonville, Florida on January 15, 2011. Ticket go on sale on December 3. (click here to reserve your seat now!)
If you’re a fan, you don’t want to miss this one.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, George Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis (57 to date inclusive of all charts). He has sold nearly 69 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

Strait’s CD Twang debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 chart and the Top Country Albums chart. This is the fourth time in Strait’s career that a new release has debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 13th time debuting at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart. His current single is “The Breath You Take.”

Named the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade last year, George Strait was nominated for this year’s ACM Entertainer of the Year for the 12th time and Top Male Vocalist for the 20th time, bringing his all-time record to 81 ACM nominations.

One of the most successful female recording artists in history, Reba has sold over 55 million albums worldwide, earned 33 #1 singles and was recently recognized as the biggest female hit-maker in country music history by “Billboard,” “Mediabase” and “Country Aircheck.” She is the winner of 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, 9 People’s Choice Awards, 7 Country Music Awards and 2 GRAMMY Awards.

[picappgallerysingle id=”10178394″]Reba is a 2010 CMA Nominee for “Female Vocalist of the Year.” The superstar recently surpassed the one million fan mark on Facebook, propelling her into an elite group of only 10 Country artists to achieve the popularity milestone.
Reba’s unprecedented run of sales successes extended the superstar’s lead as the female artist with the most RIAA sales certification in Country music history. Also an acclaimed film, TV and Broadway actress, Reba signed with The Valory Music Co. in November 2008. The move reunited the multimedia entertainer with industry leader Scott Borchetta, now President and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group, which includes Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co. and Republic Nashville.

Lee Ann Womack has sold over 6 million albums, won two Grammys and numerous other milestone awards. Womack’s current album Call Me Crazy has garnered critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard and The New York Times, to name a few. She was nominated for Top Female Vocalist at the ACM Awards in 2009 and the debut single “Last Call” was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category. Womack nominated for “Musical Event of the Year” with George Strait for “Everything But Quits” at the 2009 CMA Awards.

Click here to buy your tickets!

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