Business
Fighting Antisemitism
From Dreyfus to Today By Allison Galloway-Gonzalez, Curator The Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery at LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS) Jacksonville is proud to present “Fighting Antisemitism: From Dreyfus to Today,” opening on September 3rd. A landmark travelling exhibition from the Wiener Holocaust Library in London, one of the world’s foremost institutions dedicated to the documentation of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution, this is the exhibition’s American debut, and Jacksonville is its first home in the...
read moreJacksonville’s Museum Jacksonville’s Moment
By Amy Pierce, Chief Development Officer, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Jacksonville is growing quickly. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 population estimates, the city has crossed the one-million-resident threshold. It is an exciting milestone, and it offers an important opportunity to think not only about how much we are growing, but about the creativity, connection, and sense of belonging that will shape the kind of city we become. That vision will not be defined by development projects or economic rankings alone. It will be...
read morePublisher’s Note
Nature conservation is the ethical/moral philosophy and conservation movement focused on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. Florida is fortunate to have many reputable conservation organizations and areas tendered through careful maintenance and upkeep of natural resources to prevent them from disappearing for everything from wildlife to land management. Audubon Florida Summer is nesting season for beach-nesting sea and shorebirds....
read moreJax Rising From Ashes to Ambition: The Unfolding of an Architectural Renaissance
By Sheri Webber In Jacksonville, architecture has always told a story of resilience. From the devastation of the Great Fire of 1901 to the steady momentum of today’s redevelopment surge, the city has repeatedly reimagined itself through the built environment. Now, as cranes punctuate the skyline and long-envisioned projects rise along the St. Johns River and throughout the city, Jacksonville appears to be entering another defining chapter—one shaped not by crisis, but by intention. “This really started in 2012 and 2013, for JWB, with...
read moreThe Haydon Burns Now The Jessie: Rebirth of a Welcoming Community Space
By Wayne W. Wood A century from now, when architectural historians come to visit Jacksonville, one of the four most important buildings they will want to see is the former Haydon Burns Library, aka The Jessie. (The other three would almost surely be the St. James Building, Gulf Life tower, and Chart House.) The fact that the old library building still exists is a miracle in itself. Like many of the buildings in downtown Jacksonville, it is interwoven with the story of destruction and rebirth. On May 3, 1901, 90 percent of...
read moreInspired Closets Jacksonville
Custom Isn’t a Luxury. It’s Our Standard at Inspired Closets Jacksonville. We love a beautiful closet as much as the next person, but the most important takeaway we have learned on our 9-year journey as the owners of Inspired Closets Jacksonville is this: a beautiful closet means nothing if it isn’t designed for your unique needs and space. This doesn’t mean beauty gets sacrificed. It takes trust to welcome our dedicated team into your home and help your vision come to life. As the co-owner alongside my husband, Raul, and...
read moreGold Star Restaurants
This annual list features top-notch, locally owned eateries that are favorites of Arbus staff, friends, and readers. Our list is based on more than the quality of food—it is service, consistency, atmosphere, hospitality, and value. Places that make you smile with their sense of community, indefatigable restauranteurs, and excellent food. All are worth visiting for an exceptional meal and a unique regional experience.
read more2025 Shop Local Gift Guide
Here are ways to make shopping for gifts this holiday season feel super festive. Our beloved independent local businesses need our support. In thinking of things to make your dearest people smile, let’s try to shop our values and make our community smile as well. Each year, Arbus Magazine presents our Shop Local Gift Guide so that you can see what locally owned businesses are offering and be inspired to enjoy shopping for gifts. Enjoy browsing through the following pages and soak in the tradition and sparkle of the season. Be safe, be...
read moreNewBeginnings for a Treasured Tradition
WJCT’s mission is: “To provide programming and services that celebrate human diversity, encourage joyful learning, and promote civic participation, all to empower citizens to improve the quality of their lives.” That mission has been met and exceeded for more than six decades, with ever-increasing participation and support of the North Florida community. Recently, dramatic federal and state funding cuts to WJCT and affiliates have necessitated and resulted in greater community support than ever before for the vital programming it...
read moreThe Conversation Mari Kuraishi President of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund
Mari Kuraishi is president of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, where she leads work to create communities of belonging in Jacksonville and beyond. Named one of Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers for “crowdsourcing worldsaving,” she cofounded the crowdfunding platform GlobalGiving after many years at the World Bank, where she created and managed some of its most innovative programs. Fluent in several languages and having lived in multiple countries, Mari brings a unique global perspective to her work in philanthropy and community building....
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