EXPRESSIONS
- Music in Jacksonville Laurel Wright
- Three springs to cool down your summer Ross Brooks
- Potter franchise matures with 'Order of the Phoenix' Matt Coleman
- Haunted First Coast Ross Brooks
- Rugby league brings contact-sports to UNF stadium Laurel Wright
Music in Jacksonville
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Jacksonville rarely comes up when discussing popular music cities. But despite its relatively low standing in the music industry, Jacksonville's music scene can keep one busy. Rockers Limp Bizkit, Lynard Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet all lived in Jacksonville at one time, as well as Ray Charles and more recently Yellowcard. There are also quite a few local bands that feature University of North Florida students. The variety of Jacksonville music venues enables the city to have a diverse music scene where almost anyone can find a place to jam out.
The venues:
Freebird Live:
Named for Jacksonville classic rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1973 hit song "Freebird," this Jacksonville Beach venue has branched out to bring much more than classic rock to Duval County. The 700-capacity venue gives patrons an up-close look at performers from almost every genre. Everything from blues to heavy metal can be found somewhere on Freebird's calendar of artists. Freebird Live opens its doors to up-and-coming area artist as well as better-known musicians. Some past performers at Freebird Live include Blues Traveler, Ziggy and Damien Marley, Mofro and Jason Mraz.
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena:
If large crowds and big names are what you're looking for, the Veterans Memorial Arena downtown is the place to be. Boasting performances such as the American Idol live tour, 311 and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Soul2Soul tour, the arena is usually the only place music superstars can be found in the River City. The arena seats up to 14,000, so getting an up-close view of artists could be difficult, but the 123 in-house televisions make the experience more convenient.
Florida Theatre:
The Florida Theatre has been entertaining Jacksonvillians since 1927 with a smorgasborg of events. This historic building, located in the heart of downtown, holds concerts by artists form every genre of music, including opera. The venue has movie theater-style seating, probably because it was a movie theater in its early years, so there are assigned seats and buying tickets early is a good idea.
There is a plethora of other venues that populate the Jacksonville music scene. Almost every bar on the beaches has live music. Some notable regular performances are reggae nights at Caribbee Key with Pili Pili, open-mic night at Fly's Tie, and '80s cover band Little Green Men at Lynch's Irish Pub.
Downtown also has quite a music scene with Thee Imperial, Jack Rabbits, Fuel Coffee House, club TSI discotheque and tons of other venues. Each location offers a unique setting with a variety of music choices.
The bands:
Jazz Conceptions Orchestra:
This nine-piece jazz ensemble, suitably named Jazz Conceptions Orchestra, formed about three months ago with aspirations to perform on cruise ships. The group, composed of UNF students and graduates, formed after Alex Nguyen, a trumpet player and UNF alum, suggested the idea as a way to travel and stay in touch with fellow music lovers. The band members arrange all of their own music, said Jeremy Fratti, one of three saxophone players in the group. Since a nine-piece band is unusual in the jazz scene, the band members have to rewrite the music they play to suite the needs of the performance. The group has played shows in Jacksonville and Savannah and is planning to submit a video of them playing to the American Idol band competition, said Fratti, a spring 2007 graduate. "We should stand out because jazz is unusual [...] especially for our age," he said
Shadow Agency:
"We are just straightforward rock [...] none of that screaming stuff," said Steve Carey, bassist of Shadow Agency. The band has been playing together for more than three years, and recently finished a small tour with bands Red Jump Suit Apparatus and Saosin. "Kids were so into it. It was really positive," said Carey, a sophomore business management major. The five-instrument band opened three sold out shows and played at the House of Blues in New Orleans during the tour. They have also played shows at Freebird Live, Jack Rabbits and Wackadoo's. They write all of their own music and are now working on recording and writing. "Its just fun being able to play with people who like the same stuff," Carey said. "Its really easy to jam with the guys."
Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Three springs to cool down your summer
One of the biggest perks at the University of North Florida is the campus' close proximity to the beach. With the Atlantic a mere 20-minute drive from campus, who hasn't felt the temptation to skip class and go for a swim?
However, with the Atlantic reaching temperatures over 85 degrees during the summer, along with often-choppy waves and limited visibility, many students are left wishing they had somewhere else to cool off.
Luckily enough, Northeast Florida is home to an abundance of cool, clear freshwater springs close enough to campus for a day trip, yet far enough away to pack a tent and enjoy an entire weekend stay.
Ginnie Springs:
Less than 80 miles southwest of Jacksonville sits the little-known town of High Springs. Once voted the friendliest small town in Florida, High Springs is home to less than 4,000 people and is best known for its Main Street, dotted with country bed and breakfasts, antique shops, and ice cream parlors.
While it's a safe bet this little town isn't known for its old Florida charm by most students, every weekend dozens of students from across the state come to High Springs for one reason: Ginnie Springs.
Situated on the bank of the Santa Fe River, Ginnie Springs Outdoors is a privately owned campground and dive resort. Daily admission is $12, and the cost to camp is $18 per person per day. Even though these ticket prices are more than twice that of admission into any state park, patrons are more than willing to shell out the extra cash for one major reason: the right to imbibe.
While parks under the state of Florida's jurisdiction prohibit visitors from bringing in alcohol, the owners of Ginnie Springs don't seem to mind one bit. In fact, kegs can even be brought into the park, provided the front office is notified ahead of time.
Aside from its accepting attitude towards all things ethanol, Ginnie Springs Outdoors offers a wide variety of activities to keep you occupied. Camping is available, with many of the campsites set along the riverbank and close to the springs.
Water sports of all kinds, from canoeing and snorkeling to diving and swimming, are always a possibility, as the water percolating up from the springs maintains a constant 72 degrees year-round. If you're feeling a bit on the lazy side, tubes are available for rent from the country store, providing you with a way to spend an afternoon floating down the Santa Fe.
Directions to Ginnie: Take I-10 West to Exit 335. From Exit 335, take State Road 121 South. Approximately 30 minutes after exiting I-10, you will see the turnoff for County Road 326. At the CR-326 intersection, turn right. Continue straight into High Springs and through two stop lights, and go approximately half a mile further to the turnoff for County Road 340/NE 182nd Avenue. Turn right on to County Road 340 and go approximately 6.5 miles to the sign indicating the turnoff to Ginnie Springs (NE 60th Ave.) Turn right at the sign and go approximately one mile further to the Ginnie Springs Outdoors entrance.
Source: www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com.
Poe Springs:
Approximately four miles up the road from Ginnie Springs, with a small sign advertising its existence, is the Alachua County park at Poe Springs. Unlike Ginnie Springs, Poe Springs Park is relatively unknown due to its lack of overnight camping and prohibition on alcoholic beverages within the park.
On paper, the park's statistics make it seem as though Poe Springs is a destination to be forsaken - but this couldn't be further from the truth. With over 200 acres of lowland forest stretching along the banks of the Santa Fe, Poe Springs is one of the most pristine areas in all of Alachua County, putting out over 45 million gallons of pure fresh water every day.
The park's one and only headspring is hemmed in by huge cypress knees with a concrete entrance running parallel to the shallows. The spring is as picturesque as setting as you're likely to find anywhere, with white sand shallows contrasting brilliantly against the deep green of the spring's mouth.
The park also maintains a walkway along parts of the river and through the forest. The surrounding environment is home to many Florida natives, including white-tailed deer, red-tailed hawks, ospreys, great blue herons, and a variety of amphibians and reptiles.
While Poe Springs doesn't have the drawing power of Ginnie Springs, entrance fees are a bit friendlier on the wallet. Also, with fewer people in the spring, Poe presents its visitors with a much more relaxed atmosphere, especially on the weekends and over holidays when Ginnie tends to get crowded. Wildlife photography also becomes a reality here, as fewer people entering the park results in a greater chance of spotting critters.
Directions: Take I-10 West to Exit 335. From Exit 335, take State Road 121 South. Approximately 30 minutes after exiting I-10, you will see the turnoff for County Road 326. At the CR-326 intersection, turn right. Continue straight into High Springs and through two stop lights, and go approximately half a mile further to the turnoff for County Road 340/NE 182nd Avenue. Turn right on to County Road 340 and go approximately three miles until you see Poe Springs Park on the right.
Source: www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park:
At just under 100 miles from Jacksonville, Ichetucknee Springs State Park sits north of the town of High Springs, and is an easy 15-minute drive from either Ginnie Springs Outdoors or Poe Springs Park.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park sits among cypress hammocks and lowland forests. Its headspring feeds the Ichetucknee River, which runs for six miles before flowing into the Santa Fe River.
Like Poe Springs, Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a state-owned facility, meaning that alcoholic beverages are not allowed inside park grounds. Also, camping is prohibited, but the park remains open from 8 a.m. to dusk. The entrance fee is $5 per vehicle.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park is home to the same sights and sounds as both Poe and Ginnie Springs; however, Ichetucknee has activity unparalleled by either of its neighboring parks.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the six miles between the Ichetucknee's headspring and the point where it flows into the Santa Fe River are open for tubing. The entire run of the river is around a three-hour float trip, but visitors may also choose from other trips running 1.5 hours or 45 minutes. The price for all three float trips is $5, and tubes can be rented from a number of stands around the park.
The river is crystal clear and fed by a number of springs along its course, making the water nearly as cold as it is clear. The pristine waters are home to a veriety of freshwater fish as well as Florida box tutles and alligator snapping turtles, so keep your feet out of the tall grass.
If you plan to tube the length of the river, prepare to show up early, as the park limits the number of visitors allowed to enter the shallow and sensitive northern portion of the river.
Tubing aside, the park also grants its guests the opportunity to walk a number of trails along the river, and the large "Blue Spring" at the rivers head is a great place to take a dip.
Directions: Take I-75 South to Exit 423. Take State Road 47 South, turn on County Road 238 and follow the park signs.
Source: www.floridastateparks.org.
Contact Ross Brooks at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Potter franchise matures with 'Order of the Phoenix'
Growing up is hard to do. That's especially true for a teenage wizard who has a lightning-bolt shaped target on his head.
Harry Potter's latest foray into cinema, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," picks up right where the last film left off. He's reeling from the death of his friend Cedric and his sworn enemy has since become corporeal. The movie introduces some new allies for him in the eponymous order - a group united by Dumbledore to fight against the leader of the Death Eaters. Unfortunately for Harry, just as many evil witches and wizards are introduced as well.
Casting for the Potter movies is still one of the franchise's strong suits and series regulars continue to impress.
Helena Bonham Carter joins the fold as the manically evil Bellatrix Lestrange, but she is on-screen for what amounts to a minute and a half. Her role will undoubtedly be expanded in the next film, but for now she serves as icing on the crazy cake.
Imelda Staunton steals the first half of the film, playing the ridiculously unhinged Dolores Umbridge. She is sent to Hogwarts as a liaison to the Ministry of Magic, but she eventually tries to co-opt the school for her own purposes. Her portrayal of the power-hungry administrator brings to mind some parallels between her and a current member of the U.S. government.
Daniel Radcliffe, playing Harry Potter, has matured not only as a young adult, but as an actor.
His relationships with other characters seem more organic and less forced than in previous films, and he has developed into a capable leading man. Harry is increasingly tormented by his recurring dreams of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and he is disturbed by the similarities between him and his arch-nemesis.
This leads to a more moody version of the young wizard, which Radcliffe manages to handle in stride.
The only problem is that major characters like Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine (Emma Watson) still don't exist outside of Harry. It is understood that the film is told through Harry's point of view, but that gives his friends little freedom to explore their own backstories. Too often the pair shows up to provide moral support, and just as quickly fades to the background.
The movie's finale delivers with the most intense sequence in the series so far. Harry and his friends do battle with Voldemort and the Death Eaters, with some help from the more seasoned wizards of the Order of the Phoenix. The action is easy to follow and the special effects are dangerously beautiful. The battle ups the ante for the fifth-year students, as their array of charms and curses is puny when compared to the villains' magical prowess. After the death of Cedric in the last film, audience members might start to consider these characters' mortality and wonder how expendable they are to the narrative.
Grown men and women waving tiny, wooden sticks at each other might make sense in the context of the novel, but this passage could have easily devolved into a campy mess when translated to celluloid. Director David Yates manages to inject a gritty realism into the CGI-heavy battle, and the ultimate duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort is the franchise's crowning moment.
One of the film's strongest points is conversely one of its biggest missteps. The effects during the battle sequence are fantastic, but the CGI rendering of Hagrid's brother is jarringly bad.
The cartoonish imagery of the giant isn't as terrible as the visual atrocity that was Jar Jar, err, Doby from the second film, but viewers will still be transported back to reality by the shoddy graphics.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is a solid entry into the Harry Potter film series. It may lack the visual style of "The Prisoner of Azkaban," but it manages to pare down a lengthy book into the most well-paced Potter film yet.
Contact Matt Coleman at editor@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Haunted First Coast
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St. Augustine
1. Old city gates: Legend tells that during an epidemic of yellow fever, a young girl in a white dress was found dead at the city gates, and no one ever claimed her body. It is said that her ghost can sometimes be seen dancing on the city gates after midnight.
2. Castillo de San Marcos: Visitors to this old Spanish fort claim that by putting an ear flush up against the wall, one can hear shouts, screams, and cannon fire - also known as "battle echoes." It's also said that the ghost of a young soldier can be spotted leaning against the outside wall, looking towards the bay at sundown.
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Jacksonville
3. Greenbriar Road: Motorists say that while driving along Greenbriar Road at night, an otherworldly light will sometimes appear above or behind their car. Locals attach this haunting to the untimely death of a young man who was decapitated by a cable while riding his motorcycle on the road late at night.
4. Annie Lytle Elementary School: Also known as public school four, this now-abandoned schoolhouse was built in 1917. Some believe it to be a place used for dark magic rituals, while others think of it simply as a place they wouldn't want to be caught in without a blade. Either way, the structure is dilapidated, and police don't want anyone entering the building.
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Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island
5. Amelia Island's old jail: Back when hanging was a spectacle, a truly bad egg named Luc Simone Aury was sentenced to hang for numerous nefarious acts. As word spread that Aury would be hung behind the jail, a crowd gathered in anticipation. Being a renowned spoilsport, Aury slashed his throat; however, Aury didn't cut deep enough, and the warden ordered his throat stitched back up. Aury was marched to the gallows with his collar pulled up to conceal the wound. When the bottom of the stage fell out from under him, the crowd was sprayed in blood like something out of a Gallagher show. Legend has it that his nearly decapitated ghost rarely appears, but moaning can often be heard where the gallows once were.
Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Rugby league brings contact-sports to UNF stadium
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A player on the Jacksonville Axe-men takes the ball into contact. |
So what if the University of North Florida doesn't have a football team? There's always rugby! The Jacksonville Axemen (2-3), a semipro rugby team, bring high-contact sports to UNF's Hodges Stadium, where they play games.
The Axemen are growing fast for a team only in its second season: The roster contains about 35 players, six of which are UNF students, said Daryl "Spinner" Howland, co-founder and coach of the team.
Howland said although rugby isn't exactly football, it's
just as intense.
"Every player is expected to have the ability to play all aspects of the game," he said. He said if a player starts a game, it's likely he'll be in the entire time or until he gets injured.
It's uncommon not to have someone bleeding at the end of the game, Howland said. Rugby players do just as much tackling as football players - minus the pads - so injuries happen, especially to the face.
"Something's got to give somewhere, and it's usually the face," Howland said.
There have been broken noses, dislocated shoulders and broken collarbones this season. One player was knocked unconscious for about five minutes during a game after he hit his head on an opponent's knee.
"He was snoring on the field," said Marc "Tex" Hanke, a first-year Axemen player.
Hanke, a UNF biology graduate student, said his favorite part of playing rugby is the camaraderie.
The players have long days traveling together to games as far away as New Jersey, and after each home game the players go out as a team to the bars. They frequent Finn McCool's at the beach and often invite their opponents and fans to join them.
There are serious parts of the Axemens' regime, too. On game weekends, they have drinking restrictions starting the Thursday before the game, Howland said. The players also have to wear a certain-colored shirt to each practice or they owe the coach a dollar, and if a player forgets his water bottle, he knows he'd also better get his dollar ready. This year the national championships will be played at UNF, and next year a team from Australia, owned by actor Russell Crow, will be coming to campus for training.
"Its good to be part of a sport that's growing in America," said William Fletcher, Axemen player and UNF alum.
The Axemens' next home game is July 21 in the arena. Admission for UNF students is $2 and beers are $1. The Jamaican National Rugby team is visiting August 4, and the arena will hold the American National Rugby League Championships August 25.
Contact Jamie Williams at espinnak@unf.edu -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE