Carmen Macri

Since a young age, Carmen Macri knew she wanted to be a writer. She started as our student intern and has advanced to Multi-media Journalist/Creative. She graduated from the University of North Florida and quickly found her home with Folio Weekly. She juggles writing, photography and running Folio’s social media accounts.

Jacksonville Is Getting in Its Own Way … Again.

Carmen Macri

September 19, 2024

Downtown·Feature·News

What is really happening with the Laura Street Trio? Words by Carmen Macri In the very heart of Downtown Jacksonville lies the very vacant Laura Street Trio. The buildings have been deteriorating for more than 30 years with graffiti covering the walls and overgrown weeds taking over the landscape. But the question remains, why? To put it bluntly, the

Feature

Healthcare Prices May Be on the Rise as Baptist Health and Florida Blue Battle It Out

Words by Carmen Macri A dispute between Northeast Florida’s largest healthcare system and its leading health insurance provider has left tens of thousands of people uncertain about their future healthcare. The three-year contract between Baptist Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield Florida (BCBS) is set to expire on

The Holy Punt

Collegiate Football Program Comes to Jacksonville Community College Words by Carmen

Get Rowdy at The Rowdy Pickle

Words By Carmen Macri For reasons beyond me, pickleball has become

DND While I’m At My BNB

July 3, 2024

Feature·Lifestyle

Words by Carmen Macri Whether you’re an out-of-towner or enjoying a staycation, there’s nothing worse than booking a picture-perfect Airbnb online, only to arrive and find out the place is more “meh” than marvelous, and the neighborhood isn’t quite the paradise you imagined. And don’t even get me started on

Beach Bowl Is (Almost) Back and Better Than Ever

May 31, 2024

Editorial Opinion·Entertainment·Events·Feature

Words by Carmen Macri The time has finally come! The re-opening of Beach Bowl is right around the corner, with a soft-open scheduled for June 17, and here is what we have to look forward to. This Jacksonville staple, around for over 60 years, was due for

The Clock is Ticking for TikTok in the U.S

May 24, 2024

Education·Feature

Words by Carmen Macri Our favorite clock app is facing scrutiny within the U.S. Congress — again — and here is everything you need to know. To put it bluntly, the U.S. Government is worried that a Chinese-owned company is accessing sensitive user data and promoting Chinese

Chicks Love Charley

May 24, 2024

Education·Environmental·Feature

Words by Carmen Macri and Ambar Ramirez A seemingly harmless COVID project turned into a massive success story. Back in 2020, Charley Harrold was facing difficulty finding work in the film industry as a grip which involves setting up, rigging and dismantling lighting equipment on set, a job

Riding the Wave of Shopping Sustainable and Eco-Friendly

April 18, 2024

Feature

Words by Carmen Macri Summer is right around the corner and it’s time to finally ditch that old ratty bikini and trade it in for something better — for you and the environment. It’s always a mission to find a swimsuit that’s both durable and easy on the

Make America Late Again – The San Marco Train Saga

April 1, 2024

Feature

Words by Carmen Macri Remember when Wendy’s Twitter account went supernova with their comeback tweets a few years back? Well, brace yourself for déjà vu, but on a neighborhood level. This time, it’s not a fast-food joint, it’s the San Marco Train Twitter account causing a stir. Yep, that infamous

No Day Left Behind: Is There Any Holiday Too Weird?

March 28, 2024

Editorial Opinion·Feature

Words by Carmen Macri As I write this on March 22nd, it is National World Water Day. When I came up with the idea for this story March 18, it was National Awkward Moments Day. Actually, for the last three weeks, there has been a “national holiday” every single

Make America Late Again – The San Marco Train Saga

March 28, 2024

Community·Editorial Opinion·Feature·San Marco

Harmonizing Jacksonville: RTEAM’s Artistic Alchemy in Event Production

March 22, 2024

Concerts·Feature

Words by Carmen Macri Have you ever wondered about the inner workings behind the scenes of Jacksonville’s beloved festivals? Who might be the mastermind behind the curtains? When it comes to events like Florida Fin Fest, we simply stroll in and soak up the music, the food, the art

AI Anti-Hero

March 21, 2024

Editorial Opinion·Education·Feature

Words by Carmen Macri Artificial intelligence seems scary, does it not? We grew up on movies that warned humanity about the radical evolution of AI. “The Terminator,” “Ex Machina,” “I, Robot,” “I Am Mother,” “The Matrix …” I think you get the point. So it comes as no surprise