Lifestyle

Words by Carmen Macri   Once a day at random, I receive the notification “Time to BeReal: 2 min left to capture a BeReal and see what your friends are up to.” No matter where I am or what I am doing, I have to take two photos simultaneously; one is a selfie and the other is whatever is in front of me. The only way to enter the app is to post photos and there’s only one post per day. There is no mindless scrolling on BeReal. Why? Because it’s boring as hell.    Swiping through my friends’ posts …

Words By Ambar Ramirez   Located behind a row of businesses in Riverside, through a path filled with greenery and florals, one will find the pie shop, Mixed Fillings. Though you may not see it immediately in passing, you’ll definitely be able to smell it. It’s as if Chef Natasha Burton places a freshly baked pie on the windowsill, allowing the aromas to attract hungry passer-byers.    It all started when Burton got an Easy-Bake-Oven for Christmas when she was just five years old. It was when the light blew out in the toy oven, that the light within turned …

Words by Ambar Ramirez   As a little girl, I dreamed a knight in shining armor would save me from my one-story apartment and whisk me away on his white horse. But, of course, that’s a fairy tale, except that knights in shining armor very much existed. They just weren’t saving princesses from tall towers (and they probably didn’t own white horses).    On Oct. 21, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens revealed its newest exhibition to the public. As part of “The Age of Armor”: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum, visitors can …

Words by Carmen Macri Spirits were high during the third quarter of the Bar Brawl at The Volstead downtown.  The bracket-style competition calls for the best bartenders in the city to show the people what they’re made of, only it comes with a twist. The bartenders are given a spirit and a list of secret ingredients… though, they aren’t allowed to choose freely. There is a Plinko-type board with unique ingredients at the bottom and the fate of the bartenders’ drinks being left to gravity. The broad spectrum of components ranges from fresh pineapple to carrot turmeric puree.  Two bartenders …

Nov. 2 River City Showcase Comedy Zone comedyzone.com   Improv Night With First Coast Comedy Colonial Oak Music Park, St. Augustine thecolonialoakmusicpark.com   Nov. 3  Bryan Torresday featuring Levi White  Jackie Knight’s Comedy Club jackieknightscomedyclub.com   Nov. 3-5 Jon Reep Comedy Zone comedyzone.com   Nov. 4 Crass & The Curious Comedy Show Case featuring Marcus Crespo with special guests Anna Lepeley,Marty Labbe and Brian Thomas Cafe Eleven originalcafe11.com   Nov. 4 First Coast Comedy: The Main Event  (7:30 p.m.) Full Disclosure: Adults Only (10 p.m.) First Coast Comedy firstcoastcomedy.com Nov. 4-5 Phatt Katz Comedy Presents Jenn Weeks, Double D and …

Words by Ariel Rademyer  Voting facilitates expression for the people. Serving as a vital and core attribute of the United States of America, selecting government officials is our nation’s blessing. We, the people, hold the power to make our voices heard on a larger scale. On July 1st, 1971, the United States Federal Government ratified the 26th amendment, granting the right for 18-year-olds to vote in elections. Voting allows for a change in communities; whether this alteration includes a different direction for the workforce departments or education, voters dictate their future. Particularly, 18-year-olds can elect candidates who implement beliefs prevalent …

Words By Ambar Ramirez She picks up and burns the sage before anything else, allowing the tendrils of smoke to cleanse and calm the surrounding energy of the tarot deck, as well as the body.  After shuffling and kissing the tarot cards, she hands them to me.  To everyone, the journey to spirituality may look different. For Lauriena Zarrelli it began with her mother and aunt passing. For America, it began around the 1800s. While spirituality and spiritualism are defined as different concepts, they hold many similarities. Spirituality is defined as the quality of being concerned with the spirit or …

An inside look into the agricultural community during the fall season Words by Molly Britt   The agricultural community in Northeast Florida is one of the most important parts of our community. They are the reason we get our fresh vegetables and gorgeous flowers. I especially love the tasty blueberries we get from so many wonderful local farms. We really do take it for granted. So, why not take a look into what goes on in the agricultural community during the fall season?   Haley Hopkins showed me just what the fall season entails for Congaree and Penn, where she …

Words By Ambar Ramirez   Imagine not knowing the next time you will eat, and living with consistent food shortages and hunger or food insecurity becomes the norm. Such a life is already a reality for millions of low-income households and for those living in developing nations. And if changes are not made now that life will become a reality for millions more.   In developing nations, the main reason for the hunger crisis stems from a lack of food production and scarcity of supplies. In America, though, the main reason we will face food hunger is due to inflation, …

Women’s Work Can Lakesha Burton seal the deal? MAYBE! Words by Shelton Hull   With more than 3,000 civilians, corrections officers and sworn officers, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is one of the largest law enforcement organizations in the South, and Lakesha Burton knows the agency, backward and forward. “It’s a massive organization,” the retired JSO assistant chief/zone commander and current candidate for sheriff and one she is ready, willing and able to take on.   The run-off to the special election takes place Nov. 8. It is one of the most contentious contests in a midterm election cycle that is …