The List Jacksonville
The top 10 must-dos in Jacksonville, FL
The Jaguars
Rabid sports fans are keeping their fingers crossed and their breath bated, hoping that with a new owner, head coach and roster full of fresh talent, 2012 will become the year of the Jaguar. Don't miss an epic showdown when the Jags host the New York Giants in a preseason matchup for the ages (Aug. 10).
www.jaguars.com
Dos Gatos
Sleek black couches, seductively low and flattering lighting and exposed brick details give Dos Gatos a speakeasy vibe that's second to none in Jax. Watching the bartenders expertly mix cocktails like the Orange JalapeñoMargarita and El Verano is almost as enjoyable as toasting with and sampling the final product.
www.dosgatosjax.com
The Florida Theatre
Claiming to be "Jacksonville's premier entertainment center since 1927," today its stage is used mostly for live touring acts. However, every summer the cultural landmark revives its original use as a movie theater by screening classic flicks in its vintage ambiance. This month's lineup includes Carousel (Aug.19) and Some Like It Hot (Aug.26).
www.floridatheatre.com
The Soul Food Bistro
A word of warning: a meal at the Soul Food Bistro is sure to break every diet's rules. However, the real travesty, would be to leave Jacksonville without sampling the golden fried chicken, cornbread, slow braised oxtails and sweet tea that have made this cafeteria-style restaurant a local legend.
www.thesoulfoodbistro.com.
Riverside Arts Market
Equal parts food bazaar, farmers market and arts fair, the Riverside Arts Market is held every Saturday under the Fuller Warren Bridge—a veritable explosion of colors and smells. Admission is free, but bring a few bucks for a handmade necklace or fresh kettle corn.
www.riversideartsmarket.com.
Butterfly Hollow
Lions, tigers and bears are tried and true; but in the summer heat, who wants to see sleeping giants? Butterfly Hollow, like a fairy tale come to life with meandering paths and tropical gardens, is an 8,500-square-foot exhibit that boasts hundreds of winged residents amidst fairy houses, garden art and babbling brooks.
www.jacksonvillezoo.org
Jax Brew Bus
With 10 craft breweries in Northeast Florida, hitting as many as possible can be a real mission impossible. Partake in an unforgettable pub crawl (minus the crawling) with the Jax Brew Bus, which takes you to visit a select handful of breweries like Intuition Ale Works and Engine 15, where you'll sample over 15 styles of beer.
www.jaxbrewbus.com
St. Johns Town Center
Fashionistas should leave their heels at home. This mammoth outdoor mall will have them running around for miles, ogling high-end names like Louis Vuitton as well as local favorites like Private Gallery. For a strengthening snack, Sweet! by Good Golly Miss Holly, one of two bakeries owned by two-time Cupcake Wars winner Hollis Wilder, will hit the (sweet) spot.
www.simon.com
e2ride Bike Tours
e2ride offers daily, guided bike tours ranging from five to 12 miles of the Riverside/Avondale, Olde Mandarin, Springfield and San Marco neighborhoods. Some tour-specific stops include the birthplace of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the site where the Civil War's first torpedo casualty took place, the house where Truman Capote spent his summers and one of the largest trees in Jax.
www.e2ride.com
Blue Bamboo
Chef Dennis Chan, author of Hip Asian Comfort Food, fuses Asian and Southern influences on his "hip Asian menu," with mouthwatering meals like Chile-mango salmon and soft shell crab and grits. Take his hipness home by attending one of Chan's monthly classes (Aug. 25) in his dining room.
www.bluebamboojacksonville.com
Reader Comments
- Awesome list! Blue Bamboo's Dennis Chan is all around nice guy.
Not Too Miss in Jacksonville, Part II:
DISNEY DIRECTOR HOSTS 2 WORKSHOPS IN JAX
Disney Feature Film Director and master artist George Scribner is hosting an oil painting workshop (3 days) and a Q&A: Behind the Scenes.
OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP:
Get one of only 10 spots in this workshop with a Disney master artist with over 20 years of training with many different legends. WIth 15 hours over 3 days, you will have much one-on-one time with George, giving you a solid foundation both in this medium and in the art of drawing on canvas. Aug 24-26 Only $255. Register now. www.bit.ly/scribnerOIL
Q&A: Behind the Scenes
For the film buffs, geek out on your favorite topic, and have the chance to ask George questions. Here about the pressures of directing a multi-million dollar film, how to thread together the work of some of the worlds greatest artists and actors, working with legends like Chuck Jones and Joe Ranft, or his current work with the brainiacs in Imagineering (think NASA for Disney). Ask about the fast-paced world of television animation. Meet others from the world of film, animation and art in Jacksonville. Sat, Aug 25 Only $10. Register now: bit.ly/scribner1131 (Posted on 02 Aug 2012)
- Dos Gatos and e2ride Bike Tours are awesome! Love them both! But where's Art Walk??? (Posted on 02 Aug 2012)
- Three Layers Cafe, Bold Bean, Chamblins Uptown, Sweet Petes, and Bistro Aix need to be mentioned as truly unique places to visit while in Jacksonville too. (Posted on 02 Aug 2012)
- How could you leave off the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Riverside?! And the Beaches?! (Posted on 03 Aug 2012)
- So glad to see locally owned e2ride bike tours on this list. Their bike tours are hands down the best thing to do in Jacksonville and they offer 5 different tours. The guided tours last about 3 hours, and they supply everything from bikes & gear to souvenir water bottles and snacks. We have done 3 of them. Riverside Avondale, San Marco and Springfield, and plan on doing the others soon. (Posted on 14 Aug 2012)
- e2ride tours rocks. Also, the Jacksonville "Top to Bottom" tour on Tuesdays 10am from AdLib Tours was fantastic. They go into secret underground tunnels. (Posted on 20 Aug 2012)
- Burro Bar!!! (Posted on 07 Sep 2012)