Jacksonville Florida
Jacksonville's Island Playground to the East - Jacksonville Beach
Located just east of Jacksonville Florida, Jacksonville Beach has evolved over the years into a world class resort renowned for good times, good food, and luxury living. Long gone are the days of the old Jacksonville Boardwalk and all the sleaze it was known for in the late fifties and sixties. Today Jacksonville Beach aspires to be the South Florida of the north. Seperated from Jacksonville by the Intercoastal waterway (aka "the ditch") our humble town has become both a refuge for the downtrodden townies, and a destination for tourists and business travelers alike. Join me for a tour of Jacksonville’s worst kept secret - Jacksonville Beach.
The Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier opened with two days left in 2004. Built to withstand Hurricane weather, (and it has-twice before it opened!) somebody forgot to lock the gate on New Years Eve! Some surprised locals brought in the new year from about a half mile into the Atlantic!
Some of the best east coast surfing happens here, with contests for the kids and the champs occurring just about every weekend in the summer. Not the hugest waves in the world, but our kids sure know how to tear it up in the Jax Surf!
Entertainment in Jacksonville Beach is often and varied. Spring and
Summer Festivals at the outdoor Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavilion offers free
concerts featuring bands from all over. Springing the Blues- our version
of the Right of Spring, features three days of music, food, and fun! Across
the street is FreeBird Live, a nightclub bringing in bands from all over
all year round!
Florida Seafood at it's best! From Joe's Crab Shack, a colorful building at the end of Beach Blvd., to the upscale Bonefish Cafe in south beach, tons of restaurants for every taste line A1A and First Street.
Make no mistake about it, Jacksonville Florida's worst kept secret -
Jacksonville Beach is a party town! Restaurants abound, and live
music occurs more often than not at the many nightclubs and restaurants that
concentrate around Beach Blvd. and spread out both north and south on A1A. If
you're ever in the Jacksonville area, do yourself a favor and visit Jacksonville
Beach!
Shorelines
Carrying on New Year's Day tradition
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
Charles Lamkin of Jacksonville Beach does the Wavemasters Polar Plunge every year.
Babies' births for the record: Last, first of old, new years
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
The mom who delivered the last baby born at the Beaches' hospital last year got an extra tax deduction for 2008.
Skateboard park plan company leaves job
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
JACKSONVILLE BEACH - A proposed skateboard park that has been in the works for eight years is once again on hold.
Couple shares 6 roles in their 'Love Letters' play
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
Six actors will share two roles when the Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre opens its next show, Love Letters, on Friday. The comedy-drama by A.R. Gurney is based on letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together and went their separate ways, yet continued to share confidences. Those involved with the production said the story is evocative, touching and humorous.
"Gurney is so marvelous at understanding people," said ABET founder Carson Merry Baillie, who plays the role of Melissa Gardner.
Shakespeare comes to Players by the Sea with 'Othello'
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
One of Shakespeare's great tragedies, Othello, is set to open Friday, Jan. 16, at Players by the Sea in Jacksonville Beach. It is the first time in many years that Players by the Sea has performed a Shakespeare play and the first time a Jacksonville community theater has presented Othello.
"I hope that people aren't put off by Shakespeare," said director Robyn Neal. "While it is a tragedy, it doesn't start out with a lot of gloom and doom. There's a lot of humor, too.
Sights and sounds
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
Have you seen an outstanding slice of entertainment recently in the Beaches area? A good band? An interesting art exhibit? A play not to be missed? Do you know of a good attraction that's coming our way? Please let others know by going to Shorelines.com and blogging about it. Thanks!
UNF puts on 'Psychosis,' troubled writer's dark tale
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
British playwright Sarah Kane wrote 4.48 Psychosis in 1999, shortly before killing herself. The play has been described as beautiful and dark.
Beaches-area audiences are invited to see an adaptation of 4.48 Psychosis performed at the University of North Florida at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The performance will feature actor Kirsten Walsh, with Charlotte Mabrey accompanying on percussion.
The play has no explicit characters or stage directions and stage productions vary greatly.
Brothers' dispute over dog results in battery arrest
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
The following is a compilation of reports from Beaches-area police departments:
KEEPING WATCH
by Times-Union
6 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
'Fine for Foods' succeeds
Beach visitors, residents welcome '09
by Times-Union
2 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
People swam in the ocean, scrawled messages in the sand and toasted each other with wine this week on the beach.
2008 was difficult for many people, but many beach visitors who came from around Jacksonville and the country had big smiles as they enjoyed the sunshine, chilly water and each other's company.
They celebrated the joys of the present, while looking ahead to 2009 with a variety of emotions that included anxiety and hope.
"I'm still freezing cold," said Genevieve Ehlers, 12, of Jacksonville, after swimming with her cousins in Jacksonville Beach Tuesday.
Nearby, some visito
New clinic for homeless, uninsured
by Times-Union
2 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
Michael Hollahan had good health insurance before he and 1,500 other people were laid off when AOL closed its Jacksonville call center in 2006.
The job loss triggered a financial and emotional downward spiral for Hollahan and within a year he ended up homeless. When he recently developed a sinus infection, he had no clue how he could see a doctor.
That problem was resolved Wednesday, the first day Beaches Community Healthcare, a Sulzbacher Center Clinic at 850 Sixth Ave. S. in Jacksonville Beach, began seeing patients.
Water, sewer problems seem to be resolved, residents say
by Times-Union
2 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
PONTE VEDRA BEACH - The smelly, black water residents had complained about when the county took over the Ponte Vedra Beach area's water and sewer system seems to have cleared, residents said this week.
"It's been about six weeks since we've had a problem," said Clara Cowan, a homeowners association officer who said most customers in the area didn't have water quality problems before the county took over the system.
The St. Johns County Commission voted to acquire Intercoastal Utilities, which served about 4,500 Ponte Vedra Beach customers, for $24.5 million in the fall of 2007.
Hionides rejects city's deal to settle
by Times-Union
2 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
JACKSONVILLE BEACH - Developer Chris Hionides has resoundingly rejected the city's recent counteroffer to try to settle his lawsuits seeking $12.4 million in private property rights claims.
In a Dec. 18 letter, Hionides gives the city until the end of its next meeting, on Jan. 20, to accept one of his two settlement offers and asks the mediator to declare an impasse. Otherwise, Hionides said, he will demand a trial to seek the $12.4 million in damages plus attorneys' fees and $1.6 million in interest.
Hionides is suing the city under the Bert J. Harris Jr.
Hundreds cheer at Noon Balloon Drop
by Times-Union
2 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
Kids and parents listened to music, gobbled pizza and ice cream, crafted party hats with sequins and feathers and then cheered for the new year Wednesday as hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling at the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach at noon.
"It's a thank-you to our community for supporting us," said Program Director Leigh Rodante.
"To have a fun activity for kids at New Year's."
The annual hour-long indoor and outdoor New Year's Eve "Noon Balloon Drop" party was free to members, and $2 each for non-members.
It featured tunes by the Ancient City Slickers band, pizza from
Mays sees his interim job as a big challenge
by Times-Union
2 Jan 2009 at 11:00pm
PONTE VEDRA BEACH - Interim St. Johns County Commissioner Phillip Mays said his first orders of business will be challenging - working on the budget and providing jobs in the county.
"The budget is going to be challenging for the next several years," he said.
