Neighborhoods

The Cultural Council Virtual Arts Awards Will Include Violin Virtuoso Phillip Pan, a Caribbean Vacation and One-of-a-Kind Glass Wave Awards Cultural events are at a standstill but the 44th annual Cultural Council Awards is live-streaming ahead! A virtual fete re-imagined event will be showcased Sept. 2 at 7pm on the Cultural Council, WJCT, and Downtown Vision’s Facebook page and the Jesse Ball DuPont Center website. The theme of this year’s Arts Awards is “Bridges: Connecting Arts, Business, and Community” which highlights the inter-connectivity between the arts, business and community. Organizers shifted programming to a virtual format ahead of the pandemic …

New Voices Program at PBTS Puts Important, Relevant Stories Into The World Players by the Sea is looking for new voices to participate in a year-long program designed to bring original works to the stage. Established in 2016, the was created as a vehicle to nurture and develop scripts by local playwrights. Now that theatres have gone dark during the pandemic, Players revived the program after a yearlong hiatus into a virtual platform “New Voices: Voices Unheard.” “I created the New Voices program as a way for to help nurture and elevate the voices of local playwrights. At that time, …

The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville 44th Annual Arts awards is scheduled for September 2, 2020. The theme for this year’s event is “Bridges: Connecting Arts, Business and Community”.  To work within the unknowns of the current public health and social climate, they have planned an exciting hybrid event that will combine videos and interactive streaming for a virtual Arts Awards event that can’t be missed.  “Moving forward with this reimagined Arts Awards will actually allow us to acknowledge the extraordinary individuals and businesses who are advocates and champions of arts and culture in our city to a much broader audience”, …

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 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 …

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 …

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens will open in phases, beginning June 20, 2020. The first phase of the Museum’s reopening will restore community access to the historic riverfront gardens; phase two will include the Museum’s galleries and exhibitions. Details are as follows: The gardens will reopen for a special free admission weekend starting on June 20, 2020. Free admission on Saturday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., has been sponsored by Florida Blue. Free admission on Sunday, June 21, will be available to all guests from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The gardens will be closed for …

This article was originally published April 5, 2018 THE HOPE & HISTORY MURAL PROJECT DEBUTS AT PUBLIC ART WEEK Public Art Week, an annual event hosted by the , is an opportunity for the city to celebrate local art and to reassert the ‘public’ aspect of public art. Not only a moment to celebrate Jacksonville’s arts scene, it also invites locals to be a part of it–and not just by passive appreciation. ‘The Hope and History Mural Project,’ an initiative by the University of North Florida’s Center for Urban Education and Policy (CUEP), embodies this spirit, as a fusion of …

With wonderful views of the St John’s River, the rooftop lounge of River & Post is a nice, serene place to enjoy happy hour after a long day at the office. Recently, Chef Steve Thurston was hired on from the German Schnitzel Haus, where he worked for the past 5 years. Chef Steve has been at River & Post for less than a year, but he has already accomplished quite a feat, opening a brand new kitchen to serve the rooftop bar. Before this, any food ordered would have to come from the first floor kitchen, which as you can …

Jacksonville Symphony to Perform March 23-29 for the Festival of American Orchestras at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.   The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra joins an elite group of musicians chosen to perform as part of the 3rd annual SHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras in Washington, D.C. The prestigious event held March 23-29 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts celebrates the identity and artistry of orchestras in our culture. This year, SHIFT will also feature the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Jacksonville Symphony …