EXPRESSIONS
- Natural escapes in Jacksonville Laurel Wright
- Mediterranean cuisine easily found in Jax Alissa LaGesse
- Rental Web site offers textbook buying alternative Laurel Wright
- Budget tips alleviate expense woes Lori Bero
- David Blaine's video magic
- Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' spreads sounds, file sharing Gaia Bonini
- Camp treats, easy fire cookin' Lori Bero
- Oddball Antics Mike Pinree
Natural escapes in Jacksonville
The smell of burned marshmallows, extra-crispy hot dogs, wet sleeping bags and smoke-saturated clothes doesn't sound very appealing, but for the seasoned camper these smells mean one thing - a super relaxed night spent hanging out by the campfire. Most don't think of Jacksonville as a camping destination, yet surprisingly there are quite a few campgrounds that are worth setting up a tent, or at least
checking out.
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The campground located in the 450-acre Hanna Park in Mayport is one of the most popular in the Jacksonville area, and with good reason. Campsites are nestled among huge trees and are within walking distance from the beach. There are miles of trails for hiking and biking and a 60-acre freshwater lake located right next to the camping area. While beautiful, Hanna Park is not the place to go for seclusion. The campground fills up quickly during the weekends and holidays and is often packed with massive recreational vehicles. Sites: 293 Price: Tent sites are $15.26 for the first two people and $2.26 extra per extra person, up to four people; RV sites are $25.43.
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Situated between the marsh and the ocean, the Little Talbot Island campground is a haven for those looking to spend a secluded night camping in a serene and stunning environment. Campsites are spread relatively far apart and offer ample space. Many of the sites back up to patches of semi-dense woods. There are hiking trails as well as an area to launch kayaks to explore the marsh. A little bit of walking will lead campers to a beach usually far less crowded than what can be found closer to town. While Talbot is a 30-minute drive from UNF, it is a great place to spend a quiet outdoor weekend.
Sites: 40 Price: $21.47
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Anastasia State Park is a great place to stay for a weekend trip to St. Augustine; it's close to historic downtown (about a five minute drive), yet far enough away to spend some time with nature. The campground is located on the beach with the sites situated in a wooded area. There are plenty of activities like nature trails, water sports such as canoeing and kayaking, and an archeological site to keep campers busy within the campground. The camp store, Island Joe's Trading Company, offers visitors a tasty alternative to camp food along with a place to rent goods such as bikes, umbrellas and beach chairs.
Sites: 139 Price: $25.07
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The Huguenot campground sits on a flat open area among the beach bluffs and dunes at Huguenot Memorial Park. The camping area offers waterside sites, a boat launch, and picnic and swimming sections. The campground provides little cover or vegetation, (the only green is grass and a few palm trees) so bringing firewood is a must and windy days should be avoided. The dunes that surround the camping area are fun to explore and the area is known as being a wonderful spot for bird watching.
Sites: 71 Price: Tent $5, RV and waterside $7
Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Mediterranean cuisine easily found in Jax
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Mediterranean food establishments are abundant in Jacksonville, serving traditional dishes such as tabbouleh, hummus, lamb and pork kebabs, spamakopitas as well as salmon salad (above). |
With any large city usually comes a huge selection of restaurants that cater to any appetite. Yet, the beams glowing from the many golden arches around Jacksonville blind the culturally-themed cuisine choices that are sure to provide an enjoyable change of pace for your taste.
Leave the fast food burger joints as an on-the-go option and treat yourself to the finest in Jacksonville's Mediterranean fare.
If you find yourself in the 5 Points area of Riverside, consider dining at Hovan Mediterranean Restaurant, on Park Street. Known by regulars for their cheese and deli meat-filled Hovan Rolls, the restaurant has extensive lunch and dinner menus.
Hovan has vegetarian rolls, which consist of hummus or avocado, as well as a variety of salads, including a Tabbouleh salad and a traditional Mediterranean salad.
On the dinner menu, you'll find Imambayildi, a dish of eggplant baked with garlic, onions, peppers, and tomatoes, as well as the Kefta Kebab, ground lamb meat skewered and grilled
with vegetables.
If you are looking for an authentic Mediterranean restaurant with an extensive wine menu, you need not look further than Zaitoon Grill, located in the Harbor Village Shopping Center on Atlantic Boulevard.
In a dark and elegant dining setting, the restaurant prepares original menu items such as Spanakopitas -- sweet onion and spinach-filled pastries, Calamari Fritti - fried calamari served with a spicy roasted garlic sauce, and vegetarian Dolmades
- grape leaves stuffed with rice, onions and pine nuts.
Zaitoon serves wines from all over the world, including Jean Sauvion Vouvray from Loire, France; Luzon Monastrell from Jumilla, Spain; and a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
Bistro AIX (pronounced "Bistro X") in San Marco is the perfect place for a wonderful
sit-down meal or a special
celebration.
The restaurant has an eclectic atmosphere replicating France and the Mediterranean
inspired by the restaurant owners' travels. The fare includes more contemporary selections such as wood-fire pizzas, French onion soup and Moroccan-spiced pork kebabs.
If you want to have a special event at Bistro AIX, private dining rooms are available and the staff will customize a whole night encircling your event, including a personalized menu.
The restaurant also makes customized desserts and has a specialty cake service. Some desserts on the menu include Profiteroles - cream puffs filled with vanilla bean ice cream, Flourless Chocolate Espresso Torte and Lemon Coconut Cake.
Contact Alissa LaGesse at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Rental Web site offers textbook buying alternative
Renting is a common way to save money - people rent homes and cars to avoid large payments, and now the concept of renting has moved toward education.
With Web site Chegg.com students can rent textbooks to reduce the amount of money spent in the beginning of the semester.
The premise is simple: order the books needed for classes online, pay the rental fee, use the books for the semester and return them once classes are over.
"The main reason behind Chegg is to save students money," said Chegg.com founder Aayush Phumbrha.
Phumbrha said that by using Chegg.com the average student spends 35 to 40 percent of what would normally be paid in a bookstore.
"It's [Chegg] a better option because students are never 100 percent sure if they will be able to sell their textbook back. It's just a way students don't have to stress out," Phumbrha said.
He also said that using the rental Web site is better for the environment.
"We know that publishers are cutting trees to print books every year, this helps to print less books."
In further efforts to help the environment, Chegg has a tree planted in an area suffering from deforestation for each book that is rented from the Web site, Phumbrha said.
However, some students are unsure of how much renting textbooks would benefit them.
"I probably wouldn't use the Web site," said junior communication major Jacob Krumm. "I usually keep most of my books, but if there was a big price difference I might use it."
Other students like junior psychology major Erik Schlessinger, who has looked into using the rental site says that it's not worth it.
"It's not that less expensive than half.com, maybe $10 less, but if I buy a book I can sell it back and get the $10," Schlessinger said.
Graduate student and software engineering major Lacy Cryer also had reservations about using a rental site.
"I think it's a cool idea, but for students who get reimbursed for their books it probably wouldn't work. But if I had to pay for books on my own I would look into it," she said.
Phumbrha said that there is an option to keep the rented textbooks at the end of the semester by paying a little bit more money. He also said that Chegg.com makes sure the textbooks rented are in good condition, and that if they are returned damaged, students will have to pay extra money. Minor wear and tear and highlighting are fine.
Textbook rentals
- Rent by semester or quarter.
- Printable shipping labels to return books.
- A tree is planted for every book rented.
- Can extend rental if needed.
Contact Laurel Wright at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Budget tips alleviate expense woes
College students usually are not the most financially sound individuals. This comes as no surprise when one looks at the over-priced books, parking permits, tuition and other expenses thrown at them.
Taking some advice from financial experts or adopting some money-saving tactics fellow students use might help alleviate some of those financial burdens.
"I used to put sticky notes in my wallet that said 'You're fat, stop spending money on food!' to remind me to not eat out," said Kent Grandy, senior sports management major.
In order to save money, Grandy said he cuts his own hair and drinks at home instead of out at the bar.
It can be surprising how the little expenses will add up. In order to keep track of income and expenses, starting a financial record is a good way to track where money is coming and going. Then cuts can be made to certain areas like eating out.
"I put my money in the bank as soon as I get it," said junior communications major Scott Davis. "I try to think about what I spend my money on and don't impulse buy."
Patty Daley, a member service representative from Community First Credit Union of Florida, said she has seen a lot of students open a certificate of deposit or savings account.
"Many students separate school funds," Daley said. "I've seen this work for a lot of students because it helps students to keep from overspending."
Impulse buying can be a dangerous area for many students. Waiting a day or so before making a purchase can be a good way to determine if it is a necessity.
"I've learned how to budget. I've learned to decipher what's a luxury and what's a necessity," junior math and biology major Jeremiah Jackson said.
Jackson said he buys in bulk and buys off-season in order to save money. He also uses his credit card like a debit card, never spending more than he has.
It's important to pay all bills in full and on time, otherwise the unnecessary expense of interest will build. The amount of accumulated debt and how payment is handled will be tracked and converted into a credit rating that will affect future loans.
Getting a job can help as well. The thought that one is working for their personal savings, often helps to appreciate the value of
a dollar.
Contact Lori Bero at staff2@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
David Blaine's video magic
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A David Blaine impersonator wows two unsuspecting victims with his amazing hiding tricks in this series of street magic videos that are "effing crazy." Search David Blaine YouTube version. |
Contact Lori Bero at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' spreads sounds, file sharing
The Good: Fans name the price. Take that big record labels. |
Radiohead's most recent album, "In Rainbows", is stirring up the music world by releasing the album as a digital download on its Web site where fans could name their own price for purchase. According to file-sharing tracker
Big Champagne, the CD was downloaded more than 100,000 times within the first twenty-four hours of the Web site release.
For fans who require a more tangible item as a purchase, the band released the album to stores in late December.
While previous albums have been criticized as glacially distant, Radiohead's icy reputation has melted away with melodious instrumentals and Thom Yorke's smooth, crooning voice.
Its uncomplicated beauty sets it apart from previous albums while still maintaining that classical Radiohead fusion of both sharp and smooth electronic sound, urging rhythms, and white noise, with Yorke's iconic voice hovering over it all.
The opening number, "15-Step," takes listeners back to the anxious, racing electronic beats of previous Radiohead albums that left the rest of the band with little to do, but guitarist Jonny Greenwood soon takes
a forty second spot-light that reminds us how well the band feeds off of one another.
"Nude" has finally made its way onto an album. A long time fan-favorite, Yorke's voice seems to float over an imaginary film score.
Much of the album has
abandoned the classic verse/chorus/verse template for a gradual musical build culminating in a cacophony of sounds and a calm scream of lyrics, as in "Bodysnatchers" and the pop-string single, "All I Need."
The album closes in "Videotape," a steady percussive ballad showcasing the album's overall ability to put you in that mood where you can't quite pull yourself back into focus.
"In Rainbows" is definitely one for the headphones on days where you just need to sit by yourself for a while. It is not only a renovation of the music industry but on the band itself.
It is a rewind to early Radiohead, with the addition of all they have learned in timing, variety, and digital instrumentation, resulting in straightforward, accessible tracks.
Contact Gaia Bonini at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Camp treats, easy fire cookin'
College Cooking with Lori
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White Trash Trail Mix
What you need:
Golden Grahams cereal
Peanuts
White Chocolate Almond Bark
Preparation:
Spread as many peanuts and Golden Grahams as you want onto sheets of wax paper. Make sure they are close together.
Melt the white chocolate almond bark and pour over the cereal and peanuts. Let it sit overnight to dry.
After it dries, break the sheet of cereal, peanuts and chocolate into smaller pieces. Then eat and enjoy!
Cost: About $8.50
Campfire Banana Split
What you need:
1 banana for each person
Chocolate chips
Mini-marshmallows
Peanut butter
Aluminum foil
Preparation:
Do not peel banana. Slice lengthwise halfway through, spread open and place chocolate chips, mini-marshmallows and peanut butter into the banana.
Wrap with foil and toss into your fire pit embers for about 10 minutes.
Remove and open carefully, eat with a fork.
Cost: About $6
Dogs in a Blanket
What you need:
1 hot dog
1 clump of pizza dough
Aluminum foil
Preparation:
Heat hot dogs for 2 minutes. Let cool.
Pat the dough flat into a thin rectangle that is long and wide enough to cover the hot dog.
Wrap the dogs in a double thickness of aluminum foil that has been buttered on the inside and place on coals.
Rotate the package until the dough is cooked completely.
Cost: About $4
Contact Lori Bero at features@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Oddball Antics
NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT, EH?
A homeless Naples, Fla., man who kept making non-emergency calls to the 911 police number from the Greyhound bus station was told to stop by a deputy sheriff. He responded: "I will call 911 whenever I want to, Sweetcakes, and there is nothing you can do about it."
He then went over to the pay phone, called 911, and asked the dispatcher to tell him how many stars were in the sky. He was immediately arrested.
YOU SEE, DUDE, WE WERE FOLLOWING THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD ...
A sheriff's deputy in Denver, who pulled over a car full of teenagers, immediately suspected they had been smoking marijuana. His suspicions were confirmed when he asked the driver where they were coming from, and he replied, "It's complicated."
MOMMY'S HOME ... WHAT ARE THE COPS DOING HERE?
A Houston woman went to Nigeria to marry a man she met on the Internet, leaving her eight young children home alone. She planned to be back in a month or two at which time she will be arrested for child endangerment.
WELL. I THOUGHT IT WAS MINE, OFFICER
A man stole a GPS receiver from a home in Amityville, N.Y., and rode off on his bicycle. When stopped by police, he was evasive, and claimed the device was his. To settle the matter, the cop pressed the "home" button. The screen showed the nearby address of the home that had been burglarized.
DRINKING DOES NOT MAKE YOUR PROBLEMS GO AWAY
Two men burglarized a home in Kitchener, Ontario, but were confronted by police as they were walking out the front door. So they ran back in, locked the doors and proceeded to drink all the homeowner's booze.
GO AHEAD, PUNK, MAKE MY DAY
An armed man wearing a ski mask jumped over the counter of a convenience store in Indianapolis and demanded cash. A customer, who was also armed, pulled out his pistol and put a stop to it.
YOU WANNA SEE AN I.D.? THESE ARE MY I.D.
A 23-year-old woman, driving
drunk in Naples, Fla., ran another woman off the road, then, when they got out of their cars,
vomited on her. When the cops showed up, she lowered the top of her dress, flashing her breasts..
WHO IS SHE?! YOU TELL ME RIGHT NOW!
A man was watching TV
with his girlfriend at his Bonita Springs, Fla., home, when he received a phone call from another woman. This prompted the girlfriend, who had been drinking, to jump on top of him and try to grab the phone. He fled. She grabbed a shotgun, and, despite the fact that she wasn't wearing any pants, chased him into the street. Police involvement resulted.
I GUESS THIS LOOKS PRETTY BAD FOR ME, EH JUDGE?
A man with four previous drunk driving convictions showed up drunk at a Worcester, Mass., court to face yet another DUI charge. He had a blood-alcohol level of .40 five times the legal limit.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
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