By Laurel Wright
ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

Both Jacksonville newbies and seasoned veterans experience the occasional lull in their nighttime activities. While sitting in a dorm room on Friday night may sound thrilling to some folk, those looking for more daring activities than the occasional fire evacuation can venture out to one of the many night spots Jacksonville has to offer, and yes, there are even places out there that welcome underagers. So retire those pj's for a night or two and venture out to see what Jacksonville has to offer.

Monday:

Relax from the weekend's activities at places like the Ritz, which celebrates the start of the new week with $1 New Castles without all the craziness of the weekend. Or you can boogie down to '80s jams with karaoke and the Little Green Men at Lynch's Irish Pub.

Tuesday:

Take a break from studying with a quick game of golf. Who cares if it's dark outside? Urban Golf on Beach Boulevard offers golfers an indoor complex complete with simulators and a driving range, and they're open until 10 p.m. Or, if building your brain sounds more appealing, you can visit Island Girl Wine and Cigar Bar on Gate Parkway for team trivia night.

Wednesday:

Warm up your vocal cords for tomorrow's class presentation at Bourbon Street Station with karaoke and dancing for anyone 18 and older. Those of age can also enjoy free drinks until midnight. Or practice your math skills - or at least pretend you are - at Kickbacks in Riverside in their weekly Texas Hold 'em tournament.

Thursday:

A general rule in Jacksonville is that Thursday night is college night. Celebrate the start of the weekend early at Ocean Club at the beach, which offers admission to college students 18 and up with student ID. The club has three rooms and a patio, and often features specialty nights like lingerie parties. Globe, the closest club to the University of North Florida, offers a variety of themed Thursday nights such as '80s 'n' Ladies, where '80s dance music blares all night and women get free admission. If the Hollywood nightlife sounds appealing, Club Paris downtown offers free shuttles from the dorms to the club and all the hip-hop music you can stand. Bourbon Street is one of the few places that allows entrance to those 18 and up throughout the week, and free line dancing lessons on Thursdays liven things up. If drink specials are what you desire, ladies drink free all night at The Atlantic at the beach, with free admission to anyone 21 or older and two rooms of dance music.

Friday:

Live music and hoards of people are easy to find on the weekends no matter where you go, but a few fun places to start the night out are Caribe Key for reggae night with Pili Pili and The Casbah for cabaret belly dancing. The underaged can visit Mellow Mushroom, which features live music with Charlie Walker along with specialty pizzas. Club TSI Discotheque downtown has one-cent Pabts Blue Ribbons, along with various live performers and DJs.

Saturday:

Get active - sort of - and go bowling at one of Jacksonville's many bowling lanes. Some, like Bowl America on Beach Boulevard, are open 24 hours for those who have the sudden urge to score a 4 a.m. strike. Or swing by any of your favorite night spots from earlier in the week to see what their Saturdays have to offer - almost all of them have something exciting going on.

Sunday:

Rest your ears with the sounds of smooth jazz while sampling some of the town's best flavored tobacco and Indian cuisine at The Casbah in Avondale. If hookahs aren't your thing, Brewsters has poker and an all-day sports day.

Contact Matt Coleman & Ross Brooks at features@unfspinnaker.com  --  PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Cedar Key scenery delights intrepid travelers

By Jamie Williams
STAFF WRITER

In the 19th century, long before metropolitan Florida cities like Miami and Orlando came into play, Cedar Key was a major municipality with a vibrant port and a thriving business as an important supplier of raw materials and seafood.

The first railroad in Florida - and the first to go from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico - ended in Cedar Key, as did environmentalist John Muir's storied walk to the Gulf of Mexico from Indiana.

Factories that helped to make pencils and broomsticks once held a prominent place in the community.

Today, friendly locals exhibit warm southern hospitality and great pride in their town, and the Gulf of Mexico sets the stage for countless fisherman, boaters and water sports enthusiasts to indulge in their pleasures.

Weathered wooden buildings graced with salt-air breezes, a taste for seafood, a passion for art, and a desire to conserve nature define this seaside Florida city.

Cedar Key is one of those places you have to be heading toward in order to find. There's only one road in and out (state Road 24) and the closest freeway is at least an hour's drive east. The nearest U.S. highway is about 20 miles away. It's at least one hour from smaller cities like Gainesville and Ocala, and a few hours from both Jacksonville and Tampa.

For many years now, Cedar Key has been a conservation-minded area, both in terms of the surrounding nature and its own charm. It welcomes outsiders with open arms but doesn't solely cater to tourists.

Like many other seaside Florida cities, there are condos and hotels, but not the tacky, view-impairing high-rises found elsewhere. The ones found here have a sense of character and display a warmth rarely found in fast-paced Florida, as do the charming local restaurants, where seafood - a lot of it locally caught - is king.

All things considered, though, Cedar Key is best as a place to go to simply relax.

Take for example the peaceful drive into town along state Road 24. For almost 20 miles, 360-degree views of greenery define this mostly undeveloped region.

Then, suddenly, the view becomes breathtaking as it expands to include a panoramic cluster of undeveloped islands on both sides of the bridge from mainland Florida to the cluster of islands that make up the Cedar Keys.

Although it has coasted under the radar of public attention for the most part, Cedar Key is becoming increasingly popular as a getaway. Families like its cordial atmosphere, and students at the University of Florida frequently make day trips.

Cedar Key is a place where man and nature walk hand-in-hand. Pelicans abound among the weathered docks where fishermen bring in the day's catch. Oaks, twisted cedar trees and crepe myrtles accentuate the streets of historic downtown , which is lined with 100-year-old Florida Cracker houses.

Second Street is the six-block main strip of the downtown area, and it is here you'll find many of Cedar Key's unique shops and art galleries.

It won't take very long for you to find Cedar Key has a thriving art scene. One local artist said there's always something artsy going on in Cedar Key, for both children and adults.

The Cedar Keyhole is an interesting gallery that showcases art created by Cedar Key citizens as well as people from surrounding counties and communities.

Make some time to stop by the Cedar Key Historical Museum. Located in an 1871 home, photographs dating back as far as 1850 are on display, as are Native American artifacts, plus various exhibits about the area's development.

If you're looking for a book on Cedar Key's history, as well as a decent selection of books on Florida and nature in general, then consider stopping by the bookstore Curmudgeonalia.

To get a bit closer to Cedar Key's historic side, consider staying for at least a night at the Island Hotel. Built in 1859, the hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been carefully restored to replicate the atmosphere of a century ago, complete with antique furnishings and claw-foot bathtubs.

Not a particular fan of the tacky, tourist-oriented souvenir shops found nearly everywhere in the Sunshine State? The closest Cedar Key gets is in a handful of shops along Dock Street, a crescent-shaped pier with a Cannery Row feel to it. Located just a block from downtown and overlooking the gulf, it is here you'll also find Cedar Key's most impressive collection of architecture.

From the random psychedelia found outside Frog's Landing to the ski-lodge look of Seabreeze's exterior, Cedar Key's varied architecture mirrors its varied way of life.

The South-meets-the-sea flavor often adopted by local chefs can be found in the restaurants, where the menus are as diverse and interesting as the exterior architecture and interior decorations.

Dine at the Captain's Table, a moderately-priced salty spot with views overlooking gulf from which its entire menu is derived.

While facing the gulf and looking out toward the small cays interrupting the horizon, you might find a thirst to board a boat and visit them personally. Boats and kayaks are available for rent adjacent to Dock Street, and you can even hire a guide to give you a tour if you please.

Interestingly enough, you'll also find Cedar Key has a passion for cruising about town on golf carts.

Rent one for the day if you want, but the main area is so small and concentrated that you don't really need to. Come Independence Day, though, there's a golf cart parade where you can decorate your cart to compete for prizes.

For all its placid beauty and restful pace, this small haven is far from miniature in its character and charm.

Cedar Key is a cozy coastal island town where life moves at a slower pace and nature and sea are supreme.

The tranquil environment is a welcome change from the increasingly fast pace found nearly everywhere in Florida nowadays.

Poet Sidney Lanier described the Cedar Key area as "a country of cedars, sponges, of corals, of strange fish, of shells multitudinous in shape and tint, of hundreds of quiet bays whose circular waters lie embraced in the curves of their white beaches, as the old moon in the cusps of the new."

The most unique splendor of Cedar Key is that it offers something for everyone.

Cedar Key will cast its line, waiting for you to be enticed by the bait.

So take a bite on the hook and let it reel you in.

You'll be glad you did.

Contact Jamie Williams at features@unfspinnaker.com  --  PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Counselor says homesickness can be overcome

By Laurel Wright
ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

Adjusting to college can be rough. A new town, a new home and a lack of familiar faces can be difficult for almost anybody to process, especially when added to the weight of new classes and roommates.

Some students jump right into their new life. Others struggle to hold onto familiar faces, places and habits.

Those dealing with homesickness are not alone: It's quite common for incoming freshman to feel homesick because it's their first time away from home, according to Reena Sheth, counselor at the University of North Florida Counseling Center.

But don't worry, there are things that can be done to make the transition to college life easier, and you won't need much of mom and dad's help.

The first thing that students need to do is to realize that it's OK to miss home, family, friends and the security that comes with it all, Sheth said.

"You are not alone, it's extremely common to miss home," she said.

If a student still has problems coping with homesickness, they should access resources around them to help cope with their feelings, like attending events that catch their attention, Sheth said.

Events can help students meet new people and make friends that often share similar interests.

Another idea Sheth suggests when battling homesickness is to bring something from home that reminds you of something or has some type of personal message. This could be anything that provides comfort, like a pillow, photo or stuffed animal.

"It's also important that students take care of themselves," she said.

"They should try and do something every day."

She suggests simple things like going to the gym, talking on the phone to a friend, listening to music or taking a warm bath.

There are other resources that can help a student to overcome homesickness, like friends and resident assistants.

The Counseling Center can also help students.

"It's important that you get help if homesickness leads to things like missing classes or becoming ill," Sheth said.

Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com  --  PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Residence Life offers tools for solving roommate dilemmas

By Laurel Wright
ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

Bethany Sutherland was excited about moving into the dorms and meeting her new roommates. The junior accounting major was assigned to live with knew each other, which made Sutherland worry she would feel like the odd one out, but it all worked out for the best.

"We all just stayed in our own space and everything was fine," Sutherland said. The girls got together right after moving in for coffee and a chance to get to know each other.

Later on, they would also do other things around the dorms together, like going to meet the neighbors or decorating for the holidays, Sutherland said.

While Sutherland's experience worked out for the best and she still keeps in touch with her roommates, many students worry about living in close quarters with other students their own age.

Fortunately, there are things that students can do to make the best of their time in the dorms.

The No. 1 thing roommates need to do is communicate with each other, said Nicole Houle, assistant director of Residence Life's Conduct and Mediation Services at the University of North Florida.

"Students need to discuss each other's wants, needs and expectations," she said. "Be aware that personalities are different and that things will happen because of the differences."

If students are nervous about addressing issues with their roommates, there are resources to help. A resident assistant can sit down with roommates until a compromise is reached, or they can attend peer mediation, which will give them a confidential, safe environment to define their concerns and reach a solution.

Remember that if a roommate is unbearable, there are things that can be done, such as peer mediation or a room change, so students shouldn't feel too overwhelmed.

"Many students think of confrontation as a bad thing, which isn't necessarily true if it's done without anger and with active listening," she said.

Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com  --  PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

'Superbad'destined for high-school film hall of fame

By Ross Brooks
FEATURES EDITOR

If you were a fan of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up," do yourself a favor and put this review down, get in your car, find the closest theater playing "Superbad," grab a seat and prepare to laugh until it hurts.

The latest creation from Judd Apatow, writer and director of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and 'Knocked Up," "SuperBad" follows in the same vein as its predecessors with relentlessly witty dialogue and quote-worthy one-liners throughout.

As the opening credits fade, the film's two main characters, Evan (played by Michael Cera from "Arrested Development") and Seth (played by Jonah Hill from "Knocked Up") set the frame for the film's comic stylings as they argue over what pornographic Web sites they should subscribe to upon entering college.

Unlike the traditionally punch line- or slapstick-oriented comedies of movie troupes past and present, Apatow sticks to the writing style that has worked so well for him in the past. Apatow creates characters both unique and easy to relate to, and his focus on cutting dialogue paired with his talent for making the awkward hilarious sets this movie apart from his most recent blockbuster "Knocked Up."

Seth Rogen, known for his lead role in "Knocked Up," returns to play the role of Officer Michaels, a cop fresh out of the academy with an itchy trigger finger and a lax approach to police work. Hill, whom Apatow used in support roles in his last two films, returns to steal the screen with his foul-mouthed, phallus-obsessed portrayal of Seth. And Cera does an incredible job of playing straight man with his soft demeanor and innocent yet ignorant good guy appeal.

While "Superbad" certainly fits into the niche that Apatow has created for his films, it also stands apart from his last two films for a number of reasons. Where as "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up" both dealt with dilemmas experienced by the older crowd, "Superbad" deals with current social problems experienced by anyone who tasted their first bit of nightlife before leaving high school.

The awkwardness of trying to lose one's virginity at 40, and the surprise and shock of impregnating a total stranger, are not easy for everyone to relate to. However, the trials of trying to find alcohol as an 18 year old and the ever present threat of your house party being busted up by cops are things most young adults can identify with.

In a summer that has seen its fair share of comedies hyped up only to fall flat on their face (see "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"), "Superbad" is a refreshing and wholly original film with more quote-worthy lines than you'll be able to remember.

Contact Ross Brooks at features@unfspinnaker.com  --  PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE

Oddball Antics

By Mike Pingree
MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE

PEEK-A-BOO, I SEE YOU
A teenager in Edinburgh, Scotland, upset that his girlfriend left him for another, snuck up on his love rival and stabbed him in the buttocks. The teen had put women's stockings over his face to disguise himself, but, unfortunately, they were fishnets, and his victim had no trouble identifying him.

I'LL BET YOU FEEL PRETTY SILLY NOW
After running a red light in Nottingham, England, a man noticed a traffic camera at the intersection. So he went and got a power saw to cut the camera down. After his arrest for removing the device, he was told it hadn't recorded his traffic infraction in the first place.

OH YESSSSS! ... DOES HE HAVE AN ALIBI? ... OH GAWWWWD!
A prosecutor in Chehalis, Wash., had a sexual relationship with the mother of a teenage arson suspect whose case his office was prosecuting. The lad's attorney accused the man of using sex to find out the defense's strategy. The prosecutor denies everything.

CALL IT THE INEBRIATES' RELIEF FUND
Illegal public urination is on the rise in Sweden. Police have been fining people $120 for this, and have collected $264,000 so far this year.

SO WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM EXACTLY?
A man working in a medical facility in the Bronx filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against his female boss, contending that she bared her breasts, tried to fondle his genitals and offered to kiss him passionately to help him quit smoking.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services  --  PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE