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

Riding the Wave of Shopping Sustainable and Eco-Friendly

Words by Carmen Macri Summer is right around the corner and

It Was Always… Who?

February 1, 2023

Feature·Sports

The Jags. That’s who. Words by Carmen Macri It didn’t look that way in the 2020-2021 season when the team finished 1-15, which was not only a personal worst for the Jaguars but also the worst record in the league, only to be followed up with a 3-14 record.

Best Auto Shop: Beach Plaza Auto Care

January 25, 2023

Feature

Best Auto shop: Beach Plaza Auto Care The family-owned and operated business, Beach Plaza Auto Care, has been around in Jacksonville Beach since 1990 when Buster DeLay bought out the last full-service Shell gas station in Jacksonville Beach. Once DeLay got started, he recruited his son Charlie DeLay and daughter

Best Community Activist: Ben Frazier

January 25, 2023

Feature

Best Community Activist: Ben Frazier Veteran journalist, news anchor, producer, narrator, motivational speaker and life-long activist, Ben Frazier can do it all — and if he hasn’t, he will. Frazier loves the city that he calls home and refuses to be silenced. Having founded the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville in

Best Cheap Thrill When You’re Broke: Keg and Coin

January 25, 2023

Downtown·Feature·Food + Drink·Lifestyle

Best Cheap Thrill When You’re Broke: Keg and Coin Listen, we’ve all been young and broke. Well, some of us still are. So living in an up-and-coming city where the price of living can’t seem to slow down, finding a fun AND affordable place to hang out is a rarity.

Best Local Comedian: Jenn Weeks

January 25, 2023

Feature

Best Local Comedian: Jenn Weeks Knock Knock Who’s there? Jenn. Jenn who? Jenn Weeks, Jacksonville’s best local comedian! Although, She is not only a comedian but the official host of the LOL JAX Film Festival, creator of Comedy Cookout Jax and co-creator of Laugh-n-Lyrics. Weeks has traveled the country performing

Best Radio Broadcaster: Brian Jordan, 99.9 Gator Country

January 25, 2023

Feature

Best Radio Broadcaster: Brian Jordan, 99.9 Gator Country A proud Jacksonvillian since birth, Brian Jordan started his radio career with 95.1 WAPE before moving to 99.9 Gator Country becoming the station’s midday host. In addition to playing the hottest songs in country and giving away tickets to see the top

Best TV Anchor: Dawn Lopez

January 25, 2023

Feature

Best TV Anchor: Dawn Lopez Born and raised in Jacksonville, Dawn Lopez has been a part of our community from day one. And she’s become a part of our homes as an anchor on Action News Jax This Morning and Action News Jax at Noon. The beloved news personality graduated

Best Local Journalist: Katie Jeffries

January 20, 2023

Feature

Best Local Journalist Katie Jeffries First Coast News anchor, traffic reporter and news reporter Katie Jeffries has always had a passion for journalism. From a young age, Jeffries parents believed she would grow up to be a lawyer or a writer because of her love for investigating, debating and writing

Tattoo Talk

December 30, 2022

Feature·Lifestyle

Tattoo Talk Words by Carmen Macri What better way to get to know someone than when they are stabbing you repeatedly in the back of the arm? (I personally can’t think of one.) There is always that awkward limbo when getting a tattoo. Do you try to make small talk?

The Willow Sisters

December 21, 2022

Feature·Music·On Stage

The Willow Sisters Words by Carmen Macri Much like the songs of a weeping willow, twins Kristen and Brittany Rogers have voices so soothing you will find yourself in a trance. The sisters have been singing alongside each other since before they can remember. Growing up, they had a burning