Jacksonville’s roller skating scene gains momentum and shows us how to love thy bearings Roller skating has been a cherished American pastime for decades: In the ’70s, roller disco became a nationwide sensation with many kids growing up at the turn of the millennium christening their weekends with a group of friends at their local roller rink. As the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the globe in 2020, roller skating experienced an unexpected and explosive comeback. Many of the skaters who picked up the hobby during quarantine now skate daily, go to meets or are members of established local skate crews. Glenn …

It’s easy to assume the oldest private skatepark in the world can be found in Huntington Beach or in San Diego, areas where modern skateboarding originated. However, you may be surprised to learn it’s actually an East Coast original based in Jacksonville. Tucked away behind the pines in Arlington, Kona has served generations of skaters since 1977. The park is also notable for its contribution of the first ever vert ramp and being featured as a level in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, which highlights the park’s signature design. Outside of operating as a skatepark, Kona has also garnered buzz …

The Legend of the Skunk Ape goes beyond imagination. Since the earliest recorded human migration patterns, mysterious cryptids, creatures whose existence is claimed but unsubstantiated, have woven their way through folklore, fables and cautionary tales across the world. Recently, fascination with cryptids has been revived; dozens of online discussion boards have sprung up, and Hulu recently produced a documentary centered on Sasquatch. Better known as Bigfoot, its mythos originated among indigenous populations in the Pacific Northwest. While the existence of cryptids like Bigfoot can be the subject of debate, intriguingly, some cultures acknowledge the same creatures under different names. A …

Reviewing a culture that bumps and hustles for a new generation.  Roughly 45 years ago, it was everywhere. LED tessellations shifting and flickering beneath platform shoes, polyester-clad bodies pressed together in dim corners, the marriage of funk and Philadelphia soul … so many memories and colorful tropes encapsulated in one simple word: disco. Throughout the ’70s, the glossy genre dominated airplay and culture. Like a circadian rhythm (and blues), hard rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath thundered through radios by day, while soul-funk forces by the likes of Gloria Gaynor and Chic brought the boogie nights. As …

The many reasons Avondale is poplar today, mostly its past as a Covenant Community, is what still makes it exclusive.  Tucked away under a viridian canopy of live oak with a scenic backdrop of the St. Johns River rests Avondale, one of Jacksonville’s oldest neighborhoods. Its streets are lined with charming bungalows and Mediterranean revivals, and though the area boasts plenty of waterfront mansions with sprawling yards, there’s still a sense of Southern humility and welcome in the air—or at least, it would seem. Spanish moss and despicable histories drape over the western stretch of St. Johns Avenue, a street …

 For Schuyler Smith, mixing up refreshing cocktails and mingling with customers comes naturally. Currently, you can find our Bartender of the Month behind the counter of colorful watering hole and Murray Hill’s favorite bird, The Flamingo. The trendy coffee-shop-meets-wine-bar, where he began working within the last year, serves a wide variety of libations, ranging from canned local brewery goodies to a selection of sparkling wines. On weekends, the bar also plays host to the area’s favorite vegan-friendly hotdog stand Hotdog Party, home to novel frankfurters and crafty condiments. Their glizzies vary from tofu scramble franks covered in jalapeños to …

In a male dominated industry, a fresh Generation of female tattooers is shaking up gender norms in Jacksonville. In the early 1900s, American tattooing began to take off, canvassing curious and daring bodies, seditious to the rigid status quo of Victorian life and fashion. As the medium’s artistry broadened through the 20th century, so did its audience. From well-travelled sailors to decorated war veterans, emboldened pinups to the blossoming out-crowd, by the early ‘70s, the industry had made its impression.  Jacksonville became home to some of the best shops in the world—and it still is. The River City welcomed revolutionary …