Lifestyle – Folio 2.0 / EU Jacksonville

The Three Ds from Duval Dominating the Literary Scene

Nikesha Elise Williams May 25, 2021 Books 2,826

Jacksonville natives Deesha Philyaw, Dawnie Walton and Dantiel W. Moniz shake up the book world with works anchored in the experiences of Black womanhood. “Do not set us up like this is some anomaly that happened,” Deesha Philyaw demands. Philyaw, the multiple award-winning author of the short story collection The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is adamant that she, along with authors Dawnie Walton and Dantiel W. Moniz are all (to borrow from Cardi B) “regular, schmegular, degular” born and bred Black women from Duval County who happen to be living their dreams in a major way. Philyaw’s 2020 …

You Better Boogie, B*tch

Casey Craig May 24, 2021 Community, Feature 1,415

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 …

Sheer Force of Will: The EU Magazine will join the Folio Brand

EU Jacksonville January 21, 2021 Community, Feature 1,700

by Shelton Hull By any appreciable standard, 2020 was, among other things, the worst year ever in the long, complex, storied history of print media in this country. Dozens of daily and weekly papers were closed, crippled or curtailed, from coast to coast, and Florida was no exception. Indeed, our community was hit harder than many with the shuttering of two long-standing pillars of print: Folio Weekly closed after publisher Sam Taylor retired, while EU finally ceased publication a couple years after the death of Will Henley, its publisher. In July 2020, Folio Weekly returned to the stands—as a monthly …

Kids Free November

Teresa Spencer November 2, 2020 Events, Family 806

Bring the Whole Family for Kids Free November in Jacksonville Enjoy free entry all month long at Jacksonville’s top attractions! Throughout the month of November, discover all the family fun that Jacksonville has to offer at our city’s top attractions! The best part? Kids under 12 get in FREE all month long! Now tell us that isn’t something to get excited about, much less plan a trip for. Kids Free November Details Offer valid from November 1st – November 30th, 2020 Up to 5 children ages 12 and under get FREE admission* with a paying adult Let your kids explore, …

Why is Jacksonville, FL a Cryptocurrency Hotspot?

EU Jacksonville September 24, 2020 Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Finance, Lifestyle, Shopping, Technology 5,903

Jacksonville, FL has become something of a cryptocurrency hotspot over the last few years, with several landmark moments and occurrences strengthening the city’s bond with digital currencies. As far back as 2010, Jax was making history with bitcoin. It was the location of the first-ever bitcoin transaction, something that is commemorated on a plaque at Papa John’s on Atlantic Boulevard. Back then a computer programmer called Laszlo Hanyecz decided he wanted to buy pizza with bitcoin. Action News Jax explains how a resident from the UK sent pizza to his home in exchange for 10,000 bitcoins, worth around $100m in today’s climate. …

JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS ASKS FOR HELP TO RAISE $250,000 BY SUNDAY

EU Jacksonville September 15, 2020 Animals & Pets, Charitable, Community, Crowdfunding, Family, Ft. George / East Heckscher, Lifestyle, Northside, Outdoors, Parks 727

When COVID-19 forced Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to close its gates for two months, the nonprofit lost critical revenue during its busiest months. The Zoo is now asking for the community’s help to recover through the ZOO-A-THON, which aims to raise $250,000 in donations by Sunday. “Many people are surprised to learn how expensive it is to maintain our day-to-day operations, even after we closed to the public on March 14. We still had to feed and care for our animals daily, as well as employ the dedicated staff who worked through our closure. We were closed during our busiest …

Keedron Bryant: Jax Teen Inspires Hope for Social Justice

Liza Mitchell September 3, 2020 Community, Local Musicians, Music, Musician Interviews 2,898

If the last few months have shown us anything, it’s that we are capable of so much more than we ever thought possible. They have tested our resolve, pushed us to find strength and inspired us to do better, to be better even in the worst of times. These past few months have been a whirlwind for Keedron Bryant. The 13-year-old Jacksonville native recently inked a deal with Warner Records after sharing an emotional acappella performance on social media. The song “I Just Wanna Live” is a plea for social justice, spoken from the heart of a young man inspired …

Will the Florida Theatre’s Darkened Stages and Empty Seats Survive COVID?

Liza Mitchell August 11, 2020 Community, Downtown, Music, Music Venues, On Stage, Performing Arts Venues 3,442

The iconic marquee at the Florida Theatre is among the most recognized landmarks in the downtown Jacksonville landscape. Since its second act from a movie house to a performing arts venue, the neon lights have illuminated some of the biggest names in entertainment, until March when it all went dark. No one could have predicted what was to come in early 2020. After closing out 2019 on a high note, the year was off to an auspicious start. But when Numa Saisselin, president of the Florida Theatre, took the stage March 12 to welcome the audience to that evening’s show …

Jacksonville, Florida is a Hidden Gem to Live and Play

EU Jacksonville July 25, 2020 Home Life, Neighborhoods, Outdoors, Travel & Tourism 4,149

Jacksonville, Florida is the Hidden Gem of Florida

Jacksonville, Florida, is emerging as a rising travel destination. But what about a destination to live in? The locals have always known that Jacksonville, or Jax as we like to call it, is one of Florida’s little gems. Now others are slowly discovering that Jacksonville is a pretty cool place to live. Here are 6 things about Jacksonville, Florida that many people overlook, making it one of Florida’s most underrated cities. 1. Plenty of Outdoor Activities Jacksonville boasts the largest land area of any city in the United States spreading across more than 840 miles. The St. Johns River runs through …

Fishing in Northeast Florida: Jacksonville is a Fisherman’s Paradise

Jennifer Melville June 26, 2020 Atlantic Beach, Attraction, Family, Feature, Fernandina, Ft. George / East Heckscher, Intracoastal, Jacksonville Beach, Lifestyle, Local Fishing, Mayport, Neptune Beach, Northside, On the River, Outdoors, Perennial, Ponte Vedra, The Beaches, Travel & Tourism 195

Fishing the First Coast: Jacksonville and Northeast Florida are a Fisherman’s Paradise, Photos by James Brown

Numerous fish species, unbeatable weather, and a healthy fishing infrastructure make the First Coast a fisherman’s paradise. Our state offers 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline, 10,550 miles of rivers, 7,700 lakes, and countless ponds. The First Coast offers a multitude of options. From offshore saltwater fishing, surf fishing, bridge fishing, river fishing and plenty of freshwater ponds or lakes around, there are options far and wide. Inspiration That Lasts a Lifetime Former Jacksonville Beach Councilman and Mayor Rick Hale has been a fisherman in Florida’s waters for close to 70 years. The native’s passion for fishing was largely influenced by …