Learning

If there was ever a perfect symbol for spring, it’s a butterfly emerging from its winter slumber in a bright symphony of colors. At , the butterfly is more than just a symbol. It’s the centerpiece of the annual held April 27 at the nature preserve on Lone Star Road in . The community event offers a chance to connect with nature in a pristine setting where guests can stroll the wooded paths, enjoy homemade crafts, family-friendly activities and live music culminating in the release of hundreds of live butterflies. The butterfly release is held at 3pm, weather permitting. It’s …

It’s thought-provoking and inspiring, emotional and raw, connecting us all through the power of the written word. In celebration of National Poetry Month, Hope at Hand presents the 4th Annual Jax Poetry Fest with free community workshops and presentations by a collection of local poets, writers and spoken-word artists in . Jax Poetry Fest is an annual event produced by the North Florida nonprofit every April during National Poetry Month to inspire community-based poetry projects and engage the community. The inaugural Poetry Fest was held in 2016. Now in its fourth year, the festival has grown in terms of both …

GastroFest, which takes place on Saturday, March 23 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Friendship Fountain and The Museum of Science and History (MOSH), remains committed to their goal of giving the First Coast a food-oriented festival. “People come to GastroFest because they love food,” says GastroJax Executive Director Erin Thursby. She helped found the organization which runs Jacksonville’s annual premier food festival— GastroFest—in 2014. “We’re very selective about our restaurants, food trucks, and marketplace vendors. Even if they’re selling t-shirts or candles, they need to be food or beverage oriented.” She points to Hopcloth who is back at …

Strategic upgrades and enhancements will significantly increase Museum’s capacity to serve Northeast Florida residents and visitors Leaders from the today announced plans to renovate and expand the Museum’s campus and capacity. The proposed changes are projected to more than double the number of people the Museum can serve annually, from 229,239 in 2017 to an estimated 468,000 by 2023, while positioning the institution as a public gathering space for lifelong learning and experiential education. Plans include an expansion of the Museum’s total square footage from 77,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet; reorienting the Museum’s entryway toward the St. Johns …

What’s in Your Backyard? When it comes to helping your child develop a passion for science, there’s no need to look farther than your own backyard. Though, perhaps it’s a bit more interesting to get started in a veritable garden of hands-on scientific experimentation and discovery at MOSH. Created by Australia’s Scitech and produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Backyard Adventures opened January 19th and welcomes young scientists to learn about the exciting world of wonders awaiting discovery outside. The exhibit runs through May 12, 2019. “MOSH is very deliberate about the traveling exhibitions we choose to bring to Jacksonville, and in …

Florida’s identity is wrapped up in one fruit: the orange. It’s an industry that’s changed with the times, that’s changed with scientific and agricultural advancement, and that will keep changing. For the last year, I’ve been writing Florida’s Oranges: A Colorful History. In it, I’ve given the reader snapshots of this 500 year history and the various places around the state where oranges have been cultivated. What I’ve found is that orange history is messy, interesting, and bound around unexpected things, things such as gay rights, privacy law, immigration, even voting rights and past KKK activity in the state. On …

A Dual Critics Review Douglas Anderson School of the Arts opened Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs” on January 31, which continues during February 6 – 9, 2019.  The school campus is located in Jacksonville’s ; the show is in the. For tickets, visit www.datheatreboosters.org or call the Box Office at 904-346.5620 x 122. Simon, who died at age ninety-one last August, left behind a lifetime filled with productions for theatre, film, and television. Many of his stories were set in New York City, where he was born. Notable works include “Barefoot in the Park,” “The Odd Couple,” and the Pulitzer …

The turning of the New Year inspires rebirth, renewal and rediscovery through a cleansing of the spirit and affecting positive change. To get the year started off fresh, explore personal agency and the healing power of water with ecofeminist artist who will be hosting a creative engagement workshop Jan. 12 at the . Participants will create a personal narrative drawing in mixed media illustrating their own story using recycled materials. Crooks based the concept for the workshop on her own tapestry drawing entitled “Decent; Dissent; Descend: Into the Springs of RED Pearl River,” the fourth and final tapestry drawing of …

If you’re looking for a unique and kid-friendly Halloween excursion just an hour or so from Jacksonville, venture north to coastal Georgia for a memorable adventure on the St. Mary’s Railroad. There’s just one more weekend of Halloween Express excursions left, so don’t wait too long to book your seats. Guests load into three open-air cars for a journey through woodlands and over marshlands. Midway through the ride, the train stops so guests can vote for their favorite Halloween monster. Who will be the king or queen of the Monster Ball: Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, or the Wicked Witch of …