Business Features
Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation
Gainesville’s Hidden Gem By Cinda Sherman / Photos by Rafael Hernandez @grip24 People often think of Gainesville as a college town surrounded by natural wonders and cold springs. Yet, it’s so much more. Gainesville has a strong and vibrant art scene that embraces the arts on almost every street corner. There’s the Harn Museum, one of the largest university art museums in the South, with permanent collections focused on Asian, African, modern, and contemporary art, as well as photography. The University of Florida’s Phillips Center features...
read moreFor the Love of Manatees
By Eva Dasher On a bright summer day, when the temperature hasn’t yet chased everyone indoors and the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is teeming with excited children recently released from school, I peer into a tank at the Manatee Critical Care Center (MCCC) and spot two manatees gently swirling around each other in the lettuce-covered water. “We have two manatees in here right now. One is Applejack, we just microchipped her today because she is going to be released soon. She came here with two calves. One of them is at the Georgia...
read moreShops of San Marco
Written by Caitlin Flynn / Photos by laird Centrally located in the sprawling city of Jacksonville, San Marco offers charm, culture, and culinary delights. Its combination of cosmopolitan and small-town southern sensibility makes you realize you have stumbled upon a gem. The close-knit community and familial ties of San Marco run deep. The majority of businesses in San Marco are either family-run or independently owned. As we approach San Marco’s centennial birthday, let’s take a moment to highlight the stories behind this Jacksonville hot...
read moreShop Local Holiday Gift Guide
wsing through the following pages and soak in the tradition and sparkle of the season. Be safe, be well, and happy holidays from Arbus!
read moreThe Power Within
Art with a Heart in Healthcare (AWAHIH) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides group and bedside art sessions to children and adults in the hospital setting. We were founded in 2001 and have brought the power of art to over 125,000 patients and their families. We are excited to observe our 14th year of partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville in presenting the exhibit “The Power Within.” The exhibit opening will be held on Sunday, September 15, from 2 – 4 p.m. This event is free to the public. The...
read moreJacksonville Symphony Celebrates 75 Years
A Symphony Season Like Never Before! By Tori Fusinaz, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for the Jacksonville Symphony In the heart of Jacksonville, where the St. Johns River weaves its timeless melody through the cityscape, something extraordinary is about to unfold. The Jacksonville Symphony is primed for its 75th anniversary season with a new logo that reflects our city’s bridges and rivers, and a lineup that promises to dazzle and delight every music lover under the Florida sun. Picture this: a city buzzing with anticipation,...
read moreRDD’s Raw Deal for the Arts
A Far Cry from FDR’s New Deal By Sheri Leonard Webber Florida arts groups face significant financial challenges after an unexpected move from the governor’s office—a $32 million veto in arts funding. After the initial shock and outrage in early June, arts organizations across the state are now scrambling to cover budget shortfalls. For some, the end of the fiscal year is right around the corner. Governor Ronald Dion DeSantis’s (RDD) June veto sparked alarm in more than 600 organizations marking the first time a Florida governor has eliminated...
read moreThe Ritz at 25
Celebrating Our Past, Present, and Future By Mitch Hemann, Archivist at the Ritz Theatre and Museum On the northwest corner of Davis and State Streets in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood, there stands a marquee. A bright red sign that has become an icon in the community. It has stood there in various states of repair for nearly a century, towering above the box office of the Ritz Theatre like a beacon. A reminder of a vibrant community that once was and the promise of a bright future that lies ahead. Long ago, it was a movie...
read moreMellen C. Greeley
THE DEAN OF FLORIDA ARCHITECTS By Wayne W. Wood Mellen Greeley walked with a cane, but his stride was brisk. He had a full head of snow-white hair, and, despite the warmth of the afternoon, he was wearing a tie. He had just set a bowl of dogfood in the grass twenty feet away, so he and I would be able to watch as the racoons emerged from the marsh grass. First one, then two, now four or five, enjoying their daily handout. Greeley joined me on the bench in his yard, overlooking the Arlington River. He was the last of the great architects who...
read moreA Riverfront for All (Part 2)
By Laura Riggs It’s been demonstrated in many other markets that well-designed, maintained, and programmed public spaces strengthen the real estate market while positively impacting the local economy. Understanding that any plans must also take into account various past visioning exercises, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund convened a diverse coalition of business leaders, change makers, planners, and visionaries in 2021 to steward plans for a riverfront that best serves the needs and wants of the community. The duPont Fund partnered with DVDL, an...
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