by Kellie Abrahamson       Aside from family feasts, folks in the River City have something else to be thankful for in November. Walking with Dinosaurs: The Live Experience; a stage production, a science lesson and a sideshow all at once; is coming to Jacksonville from the 26th to the 30th. The show has wowed audiences in Australia, Canada and now the US and is making its way to the First Coast this month. The production promises to drop jaws and elicit shrieks with its incredibly life-like life-sized creatures.       Based on the hit BBC documentary series, Walking with Dinosaurs takes …

by jon bosworth It’s that time of year again. Hurricane season is waning and your appetite for various meats on sticks, animal smells and rides that appear as dangerous as the people operating them is strong. You can’t help it. No matter how bad the economy is, you simply can’t experience autumn in the South until you’ve hit the fair. We don’t get the benefit of leaves changing color or the consistent brisk winds of fall, so the only way to really immerse ourselves in the season is by going to a vast lot that spends most of the year …

by erin thursby A neighborhood gourmet specialty store just opened up near Park and King. Olives & Oils (1506 King St. 619- 6187) carries exotic cheeses, various pastas and, of course, olive oil. Check out their fresh produce and ready-made side dishes as well! There’s nothing like a deep fried turkey. But it’s a bit messy and can be a little dangerous. Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurant and Bar is selling Cajun Fried Turkeys all throughout November and December. A 12-14 pound turkey costs about $50, not unreasonable when you consider that all the equipment needed, plus the raw turkey …

by jennifer mccharen Celebrating holidays in Jacksonville typically means welcoming family and friends from out of town. If they’re coming from inland, they’re probably excited to taste some fresh Floridian seafood. We have long been told of the many health benefits of eating fish, especially the brain-enhancing power of Omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately, many popular species are desperately overfished these days, making seafood one of the least sustainable meat choices around. Sustainable seafood is seafood from either fished or farmed sources that can maintain or increase production in the future without jeopardizing the ecosystems from which it was acquired. Even …

by erin thursby Italian is my first love, but I’ve neglected her in favor of trendy fusion food. Today, I remembered why I love Italian food. Primi Piatti awoke my slumbering love with their homemade marinara and tender veal. But I’m jumping ahead to the main course. The atmosphere of Primi Piatti feels very Tuscan. A warm suffused golden color dominates the dining room, with tasteful accent colors to keep things interesting. Several chandeliers dangle from the ceiling. Though the chandeliers all have the same sort of tone to them, they actually don’t match and so are much more interesting …

by erin thursby What: March of Dimes Signature Chefs Gala When: November 13 at 5:30- 9 pm Where: Jacksonville Marriott It’s been over a year since Chef Rahman “Rock” Harper won over the fierce competition in Hell’s Kitchen. Besides running his restaurant since leaving the show, he’s been giving back when he can. As the slogan on his website says, he’s “changing the world, one chive at a time.” Right now he’s touring with the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction, where he’ll be appearing on Thursday, November 13 at the Jacksonville Marriott. His own experience with the birth of …

by erin thursby Stale bread isn’t useless. If it hasn’t gone moldy that is. Dried, stale bread is the base for everything from stuffings and croutons to bread puddings. Italian, French and cornbread are all great bases for a good homemade stuffing. Simply cube the bread and toss it in the oven with a light coating of olive oil or melted butter with seasonings. Let it get a little crispy for stuffing and very crispy for croutons. Crumble some of the bread cubes to get your base for stuffing started. Folks still tend to think of stuffing as something you …

by katherine stevens There’s a hidden epidemic in the United States. It strikes every age group and every ethnicity. It’s hunger. 38 percent of all Jacksonville children live in low-income homes (where income is below 200 percent of federal poverty level.) So, when it comes time to decide between rent and groceries the rent wins. Or between gas and groceries, what do you think will win? Right now our country is facing some of its most challenging days. As our country is plagued with questions of the economy, questions as to whether there will be food on the table plague …

by erin thursby Luxury is often best in small doses. You don’t always have to head to TGI Friday’s if your dinner budget is under $30. Just because a place looks expensive, doesn’t mean it has to be! When pondering where two diners can eat in Jacksonville for $25, I realized that you don’t have to be limited to casual dining. This does include some casual places (like the ever-fabulous West Inn and barbecue goodness of Mojos) but we also wanted to give our readers options at restaurants they wouldn’t normally expect to make a list like this. By no means is …

by troy spurlin I have always envied residential painters. They make great money and their drinking doesn’t seem to interfere with the job! Lucky bastards. So with the holidays nipping at our heels and without a whole lot of money in our pocket I thought it the right time to officially announce the “First Annual Bachelor Pad Picks: Colors For Dudes!” C’mon man, you know those walls need painting! I have selected masculine, sexy, rich, warm colors guaranteed to get her juices flowing. Besides, I have done all the homework. All you have to do is grab a bottle of …