Ambar Ramirez

Flipping through magazines for as long as she can remember, Ambar Ramirez has always known she wanted to be a journalist. Fast forward, Ambar is now a multimedia journalist and creative for Folio Weekly. As a recent graduate from the University of North Florida, she has written stories for the university’s newspaper as well as for personal blogs. Though mainly a writer, Ambar also designs and dabbles in photography. If not working on the latest story or design project, she is usually cozied up in bed with a good book or at a thrift store buying more clothes she doesn’t need.

The Changing Face of 5 Points

Ambar Ramirez

September 20, 2024

5 Points·Feature·News·Riverside

Words & photos by Ambar Ramirez It’s Aug. 19, 2024 and while doom-scrolling on Instagram you pause on an image the local bottle shop Alewife posted. The caption begins with “Ok. Here we go. **takes a deep breath**,” and without reading the rest, you know you’re about to read another goodbye post from a beloved spot on the historic

5 Points·Community·Fashion·Feature·Local Artists·Riverside

Humans of Jacksonville: Gunnel Humphreys

Words & photos by Ambar Ramirez If you’ve heard of Edge City, you’ve likely heard of Gunnel Humphreys. For 50 years, Humphreys’ daily routine was familiar and consistent. Her mornings began at 6 a.m., and after breakfast and a quick outfit change, she and her partner Tom would hop

Skating into Riverside: Jacksonville’s New Artist Walk Skatepark

Words & Photos by Ambar Ramirez and Photos Matt Oistacher With a

Slicing and Brewing

Brent and Jennifer’s Journey with Butcher & Bean Words and photos by

Future State of Mind With Nick Cannon

February 1, 2023

Feature·The Cover Story

Where does the comedian-actor-rapper-writer-TV host-producer go from here? Words By Ambar Ramirez Discovered and thrown into the spotlight right out of high school, Nick Cannon never felt like he missed out on any experiences. He even mentioned not even really having put much thought into how becoming famous while

Worst Tourist Trap: St. Johns Town Center

January 25, 2023

Feature·Lifestyle

Worst Tourist Trap: St. Johns Town Center It’s happened to all of us, probably during the holiday season, or really any season that schools are on break. You head out to “the heart of shopping and dining in Jacksonville” (their words, not ours) for some retail therapy only to be

Best Vintage Clothing Store: Disco Dolly

January 25, 2023

Business·Community·Fashion·Feature

Best Vintage Clothing Store: Disco Dolly What else would you expect from a vintage clothing store called Disco Dolly than a wardrobe full of outfits you would definitely wear to Studio 54 (or on any night out in the city)? The locally-based online vintage store is owned and operated by

Best Medical Marijuana Dispensary: Müv

January 25, 2023

Community·Feature·Health & Wellness·Lifestyle

Best Medical Marijuana Dispensary: Müv At this point, we all have at least one friend with a medical marijuana card. Maybe you even have your own. And more likely than not, you or your “friend” (wink, wink) are shopping at Müv for all of your medical marijuana needs. And really,

Best Local Crusader: Hope McMath

January 25, 2023

Community·Creative Spaces·Feature·Lifestyle

Best Local Crusader: Hope McMath A crusader is someone who campaigns vigorously for social, political or religious change. And when Jacksonville was asked to name its “Best Local Crusader,” they resoundingly voted for Hope McMath. A graduate of Jacksonville University, McMath is the founder and director of Yellow House, an

Best Local Musician: Vince Jones

January 25, 2023

Feature·Lifestyle·Music·On Stage·Theatre

Best Local Musician: Vince Jones Upon hearing the name Vince Jones, I immediately thought of a rockstar or someone I had to have known. It turns out, I wasn’t too far off: Jones is a part of the local band Blistur (which has won “Best Original Band” and “Best Cover

Best School Board Member: Elizabeth Andersen

January 25, 2023

Feature

Best School Board Member: Elizabeth Andersen As they say, the children are the future and what a big responsibility it is to be trusted with educating those who will inherit the Earth. It all starts with education—specifically the Duval County School Board—and the administrators and school board members in whom

Best Morning Show: News4Jax

January 25, 2023

Feature

Best Morning Show: News4Jax There’s something about watching morning shows that takes us back to when drinking coffee along with a newspaper in hand was the norm. Now, it’s not that different except for the part that everyone in Jacksonville is watching the News4Jax Morning show with their coffee. Every

It’s the Eye of the… Rabbit?

December 30, 2022

Feature·Lifestyle

It’s the Eye of the … Rabbit? Words By Ambar Ramirez Sorry to all those who carry the Chinese zodiac sign of the Tiger, but your time is up. But if you were born in 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 or 2011, you’re in luck: 2023 is the

Rebuild or Evolve?

December 21, 2022

Feature·Lifestyle

Rebuild or Evolve? Words By Ambar Ramirez Talk of global warming and climate change is nothing new. Almost every day we see or hear of a catastrophic natural event happening somewhere around the world, leaving people homeless, hungry, lost, or buried. Living in Florida my whole life, unpredicted weather is