A handy guide for the city-savvy resident

ALL YOU'LL EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIVING IN JACKSONVILLE

MEET JAX

SO YOU WANT TO MOVE TO JACKSONVILLE?So you want to move to Jacksonville. But, as with any relocation process, you feel like a human in a bug's world—you don't recognize any faces, some great threat hides around every wrong turn, you're unsure of the neighborhood etiquette, and you're tasked with gathering necessities that you normally take for granted. Jacksonville is a big city, the largest by area in the country (excluding Alaska) and the largest by population in the state, with several main highways and neighborhoods. Though you can never perfectly predict the weather from day to day, there are few cold days in the year, and summers are long and hot—very hot. But don't let that scare you—learning the lay of the city is really your only obstacle. Let the following pages be your one-stop resource, and feel at home in your new city.

Jacksonville events are chances to engage in the community, do some serious networking, and simply have fun. The “beaches” area is known for its annual extravaganzas filled with music, food, drink, and fun. Springing The Blues welcomes renowned artists to Seawalk Plaza for three days every April. The Beaches Town Center closes off its streets for two different notorious days: Dancin' in the Streets is a May affair that's exactly what it sounds like. The bars, restaurants, and outdoor booths in the square offer live music, food, and fun. "Pete's Thanksgiving" is a local tradition 28 years running—Pete's Bar closes down First Street and serves thousands of patrons until 2:00pm on the holiday. Jacksonville Beach hosts a Summer Jazz Series and a Moonlight Movie Series during the summer months. Atlantic Beach's Arts in the Park gives artists the chance to display and sell their works. The Players Championship at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra is the PGA Tour's flagship annual tournament – the four-day event each May is a must-attend for residents,

EVENTS

ANNUAL EVENTS

Springing The Blues

Dancin' in the Streets

Pete's Thanksgiving

Summer Jazz Series

Moonlight Movie Series

The Players Championship

Jacksonville Fashion Week

Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Jax Beer Week

Jacksonville Craft & Import Beer Festival

THINGS TO DO

Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville hosts hundreds of exciting events year-round—and trust me, you don't want to miss them.

golf fans, or otherwise. What's great about the beach is that all events are family-friendly, usually pet-friendly, and best accessed by bike, foot, or cab.

The other place you're certain to find some of the city's big annual events is right downtown. And with the city's recent cultural upgrade and renewed sense of community pride, many events are new, founded in the last few years. This forecasts a great future for the city's cultural scene. Jacksonville Fashion Week highlights the city's fashion pulse each March, showcasing local designers, shops, and clothier nonprofits. The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is a signature event, and the second largest in the country, that takes place downtown Memorial Day weekend. Rival college teams play football to create "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" at the annual Florida/Georgia game each October. The world's first live crowdfunding event, One Spark, began in the urban core in April 2013, matching innovation with public support. The Jacksonville Film Festival recognizes and shares our independent film community. Jax Beer Week is a multi-event gathering to celebrate the city's growing love for craft brewing. Other “spirits-centered” events include the Jacksonville Craft & Import Beer Festival, Folio Weekly's Margarita Fest, Folio

Weekly's Martinifest, and Riverside WineFest. Foodies take note of charity events FOODFIGHT and Caring Chefs, and newly founded group The Legend Series. A few holiday must-sees include the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony downtown, the Christmas festivities at the St. Johns Town Center, and the beloved 4th of July fireworks shows both downtown and over Jacksonville Beach.

Also, be sure to check out weekly and monthly events North Beaches Art Walk the third Thursday of every month, Beaches Green Market every Saturday 2-5 pm, Downtown Art Walk the first Wednesday of every month, and the Riverside Arts Market every Saturday 10am-4pm. Discover local designers, companies, and shops, and while you're downtown, stop by Chamblin Bookmine - a gold mine for serious bookworms.

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Friendship Fountain, downtown Jacksonville

One thing can be said about the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars: this city stands behind its football team. Get season tickets for some of the best dedicated tailgating at Everbank Field. Other city teams include minor league baseball team Jacksonville Suns, arena football team Jacksonville Sharks (2011 champions), minor league basketball team Jacksonville Giants (2012, 2013 champions), and rugby team Jacksonville Axemen. College and high school sports are popular too, and the city hosts the annual Gator Bowl on New Year's Day. Several little leagues and team sports are organized in the area as well.

The City of Jacksonville maintains the largest urban park system in the U.S. One of the city’s defining characteristics is its abundance of public parks, preserves and playgrounds. Even more parks are locally

SPORTS & RECREATIONTHINGS TO DO

EverBank Field, Home of the Jaguars

If you love sports and the outdoors, Jax has a lot to offer!

Bragan Field

mandated: Atlantic Beach City Parks, Jacksonville Beach Parks, and Neptune Beach's Jarboe Park. Dog lovers be sure to check out Dog Wood Park. Volunteer opportunities are vast and can be found through HandsOn Jacksonville. The city is also becoming well known for runs and marathons. General recreation can be found at popular spots First Coast YMCA, Bailey's Powerhouse Gym, and new franchise LA Fitness.

It seems no one can live in sunny Jacksonville without spending lots of time outdoors. Explore 20 miles of beaches, learn the many access points, and plan activities with Beach Life Rentals. If you live at the beach, invest in a beach cruiser, and if you live in the Riverside/Avondale area, a bike is handy too—try Champion Cycling. Fishing is a popular sport here, with many prime spots to choose from. Surfing on the Atlantic Ocean is another favorite pastime. The Jax Beach pier and its adjacent strips of waves are dotted with surfers year-round. The "poles" in Hannah Park mark a little-known gem of a spot. For surf reports, events, and info check out Florida Surfing Association, 911 Surf, and Void. Skateboarding is popular in the youth culture here; check out main Kona Skate Park, Monument, and Oceanside Rotary Skate Park. Main surf and skate retailers are Aqua East Surf Shop and Sunrise Surf Shop.

All in all, Jacksonville is a golfer's paradise. Besides hosting TPC, aforementioned Sawgrass Country Club is the First Coast's premier course. Other highlighted courses include Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Marsh Landing Country Club, Jacksonville Beach Golf Club, Windsor Parke Golf Club, and Jacksonville Golf & Country Club.

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Sawgrass Clubhouse

Veterans Memorial Arena

Dozens of indoor and outdoor music venues host a wide variety of talent. For big-name artists check out Freebird Live and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall at the beaches, as well as Metropolitan Park, Jackrabbit's, and nearby St. Augustine Amphitheater. General performing arts venues include The Florida Theatre,  Veterans Memorial Arena, Times-Union Center, and Prime Osborn Convention Center. A must-see is the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Live music can be found nightly at almost every bar in town; check out local powerhouses Mark O' Quinn, Canary in the Coalmine, The Band Be Easy, Spade McQuade, Split Tone, and Something Distant. Community theaters are always booming with productions; check out Players by the Sea, Alhambra Dinner Theatre, Theatre Jacksonville, Ritz Theatre, and The 5 & Dime. Independent venues San Marco Theatre and Sun Ray Cinema screen movies with updated food and spirits service. in addition to other cinemas. Laughs can be found at Comedy Zone and The Comedy Club of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Landing is a downtown landmark on the St. Johns

ATTRACTIONSTHINGS TO DO

Freebird Live

Dozens of indoor and outdoor music venues host a wide variety of talent, from locally praised musicians to international acts.

EXPLORE JAX

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra

The Florida Theatre

Jacksonville Landing

Jacksonville Main LIbrary

Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens

Museum of Science and History

Museum of Contemporary Art

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

River where many events are held year-round, most notably free concerts. The surrounding Jacksonville Riverwalks are a beautiful public space to spend the day walking; check out the city skylines, the Main Street Bridge, Friendship Fountain, and the marina accesses.

I highly recommend taking time to experience the Jacksonville Main Library, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Hemming Plaza and its many events, Museum of Science and History, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

The premier destination is the St. Johns Town Center, a 200-plus-acre, open-air, lifestyle mall with department stores, high-end retailers, restaurants, banks, and beauty services. And it's getting bigger—phase three of construction is expected in 2014. Other destinations include The Avenues and Regency Square Mall. Other popular attractions to check out are play park Adventure Landing, entertainment complex Latitude 30 entertainment complex, Skydive Amelia Island, the Budweiser Brewery, and the year-round cruises to the Bahamas via the Carnival Fascination.  

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St. John’s Town Center Jacksonville Beach Fishing PierCummer Art Museum

Jacksonville really has every cuisine one could want and is home to a burgeoning community of microbreweries. The Pier Cantina and Sandbar, Salt Life Food Shack, Casa Marina (they have a fabulous penthouse lounge open at night), Beachside Seafood, Slider's, Lulu's Waterfront Grille, Table One, Taco Lu, Poe's Tavern, Nipper's, Pusser's, North Beach Bistro, The Fish Company, Ocean 60, Campeche Bay Cantina, and European Street Cafe (other locations in Riverside, San Marco, and on University). There's some good chain food beachside too; Ruth's Chris (second location downtown on the riverbank), Bonefish Grill, and Mellow Mushroom (second location on Southside). International gems hide here too; Nick the Greek, Maza, Pho Viet, Sala Phad Thai, and Simply Tasty Thai. Quick bites can be found at popular spots Angie's Subs, Burrito Gallery Express (main location downtown), Sun Deli Subs, and Deli Comb.

Fine dining is best at Dwight's Bistro, Eleven South, and Azurea at One Ocean. Some of the best breakfast is at Beaches Diner, Beach Hut Cafe, Metro Diner (locations in San Marco and Mandarin), and Ellen's Kitchen. Try the brunch at Fly's Tie Irish Pub and Culhane's Irish Pub in Atlantic Beach - you won't regret it. peaking of pubs, the "Jax Beach Bars" is the strip of establishments from 15th to 1st St N at the beach, and is one of two primary spots for nightlife, along with the Beaches Town Center strip. Happening spots include: Lynch's Irish Pub, Shim Sham Room, The Ritz Bar & Cocktail

DINING & NIGHTLIFETHINGS TO DO Jacksonville really has every cuisine one could want and is

home to a burgeoning community of microbreweries.

JAX HOTSPOTS

The Pier Cantina and Sandbar

Casa Marina

Dwight's Bistro

Eleven South

Azurea at One Ocean

Fly's Tie Irish Pub

The Ritz Bar & Cocktail Lounge

Lemon Bar

Royal Palms Wine and Tapas

River City Brewing Company

Lounge, The Brix Taphouse, Lemon Bar (on the beach!), The Wine Bar, and Island Girl Wine & Cigar Bar, Royal Palms Wine and Tapas, W90+ (locations in Avondale and Mandarin), and Wine Warehouse are wine retailers and tasting rooms at the beach.

Moving into town, The St. Johns Town Center offers fabulous food at many chain restaurants; Maggiano's Little Italy, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's, The Capital Grille, BlackFinn American Grille, Cantina Laredo, Seasons 52 and more. Lots of quick bites are found here too, and high-energy concept restaurants SUITE and Whisky RIver that double as a nightlife scene. Now headed to the core of the city and surrounding areas Riverside and San Marco, where some of the best food and modern delivery in the city lies. Must-trys include Orsay, Black Sheep, Biscotti's, Kickbacks Gastropub, 13 Gypsies, Olio, Bistro Aix, Taverna, Carmine's Pie House, and The Blue Fish. Bold Bean Coffee Roasters and Three Layers Cafe are quaint coffee & spirits lounges with

ample work space and great food. For downtown nightlife, check out the ambiance at swanky lounge Dos Gatos, The Rogue, The LOFT, The Garage, Burro Bar, Mark's, Underbelly, O' Brothers Irish Pub and Square One.

There are many sister restaurants in the city. Try Ragtime Tavern in Atlantic Beach and Seven Bridges on the Southside, both brewery concept restaurants; Restaurant Medure, Matthew's, and M Shack by noted chef Matthew Medure; North Beach Fish Camp and Palm Valley Fish Camp beachside and Marker 32 on the Southside; and Mojo BBQ's four, lively concept locations. Last but not least, food trucks re showing up on the city streets, with good eats worth chasing.

Also, Jacksonville is home to a burgeoning community of microbreweries. Check out Green Room, Engine 15, Intuition Ale Works, Bold City, River City Brewing Company, and Aardwolf Brewery. (Note that alcohol sales end nightly at 2:00am.)

(Editor's Note: Unless you know someone, all alcohol sales end at 2 a.m. nightly … aka the bars close shop)

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Bold Bean Coffee Roasters

Black Sheep

The city's two power players for news information are daily newspaper The Florida Times-Union and weekly staple magazine Folio Weekly. The Folio is your go-to guide for special events, dining, editorials, entertainment, and more. Also subscribe to Jacksonville Magazine for events and news citywide. Void is a monthly lifestyle magazine on the local surf, skate, and arts scene. (Beaches-area events can be found here too.) The beaches area is exclusively served by publication The Beaches Leader. Other publications include Arbus, EU, and Buzz Magazine. The Jacksonville Business Journal is your source for commerce news.

Local television stations include First Coast News (NBC 12), News 4 Jax (WJXT 4), Action News Jax (FOX 30/CBS 47), WJCT (PBS 7), and CW (17). Popular radio stations include 95.1 WAPE (top 40), RadioNOW 97.9 (top 40), Classic Rock 94.1, 99.9 Gator

Country, X102.9 (new rock) 93.3 The Beat (hip-hop), and am station WOKV (690).

The local economy has strong finance, transportation and logistics, consumer goods, and insurance sectors; it's been trademarked as “America's Logistics Center”. Defense is another main industry; U.S. Navy Bases Naval Station Mayport and NASJAX are here, making the city the third largest military presence in the country. The city's riverine location makes way for strong trade via the Port of Jacksonville. Chief business districts are located downtown, as well as in the office parks sprawled on the Southside and Gate Parkway. Fortune 500 companies include CSX Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, and Winn-Dixie

NEWS & BUSINESSThe city's two power players for news information are daily newspaper The Florida Times-Union and weekly staple magazine Folio Weekly.

JAX JOBS

Jobs.Jacksonville.com

Government Jobs Jacksonville

Stores, Inc. To get involved in local professionals groups, JAMA (marketing), AAF Jax (advertising), AIGA (design) JAXChamber, Women Business Owners of North Florida, Better Business Bureau, and Southside Business Men's Club. Work collaboration spaces are becoming a top communal initiative. CoWork Jax, JaxHax Makerspace, and CoRK Arts District are worthy of looking into.

Jacksonville has been ranked as a "high sufficiency" city by the World Cities Study Group, and the business climate has steadily improved, and evolved, in recent years.

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TV & RADIO STATIONS

First Coast News (NBC 12)

News 4 Jax (WJXT 4)

Action News Jax (FOX 30/CBS 47)

WJCT (PBS 7)

CW (17)

95.1 WAPE (top 40)

RadioNOW 97.9 (top 40)

Classic Rock 94.1

99.9 Gator Country

X102.9 (new rock)

93.3 The Beat (hip-hop)

WOKV (AM 690)

PUBLIC SERVICES & INSTITUTIONS

Knowing how to access public services will be a key part of your new residency. City safety is sufficiently looked after by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department serves the city from its 56 stations—know where the nearest one is. The United States Postal Service has offices and providers citywide so there's sure to be one close to you. Also prevalent are Jacksonville Public Library branches; the system runs many after-school and kids-related programs and functions. (Branches also serve as polling sites). On that note, register to vote so you have a voice in Duval County Elections. Locations to important public entities such as the Duval County Clerk of Courts, Tax

Collector, DMV, Jacksonville Electric Authority, and Beaches Energy Services (some services are autonomously served such as Atlantic Beach's utilities for trash and water, so double check). Traveling? You'll most likely take off and land at Jacksonville International Airport. It lies 13 miles north of downtown, so plan time accordingly; upon arrival, this airport has the lowest expected wait time from entry to the gate I've ever experienced, and daily parking fees are very low. City transportation is served by Jacksonville Transit Authority: Bus Service, Beaches Trolley, Riverside Trolley, and Skyway. The Mayport Ferry connects the north and south ends of State Road A1A (the easiest way to get from the beachside to

Knowing how to access public services will be a key part of your new residency.

PUBLIC SERVICES

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department

United States Postal Service

Jacksonville Public Library

Department of Motor Vehicles

Jacksonville Electric Authority

Beaches Energy Services

Jacksonville Transit Authority

Duval County Health Department

northern Nassau County). The city is also served by both Amtrak and Greyhound stations.

Healthcare is top-notch here. Leading institutions include Mayo Clinic, St. Vincent's Healthcare, Shands Jacksonville, and Northeast Florida's largest network of doctors with several locations Baptist Health. The Duval County Health Department provides several general health centers to the public. CareSpot is the leading walk-in clinic provider. Religious denominations are diverse in the city and the number of institutions is so overwhelming, it's best to look in the local yellow or white pages.

Jacksonville is primarily served by Duval County Public Schools, which maintain 183 schools, including 21 charter schools. It is one of the largest school districts in the country. Two area high schools, Stanton College Prep and Paxon School for Advanced Studies consistently rank in annual lists of the country's top public high schools. Higher education is represented by leading institution University of North Florida, part of the State University System of Florida; the public school serves near 17,000 students. Florida State College at Jacksonville is part of the Florida College System; formerly a community college, it now offers four-year degrees at its multi-location campuses. Private Jacksonville University serves near 4,000 students as a liberal arts school. Florida Coastal School of Law, The Art Institute of Jacksonville, Virginia College are for-profit specialized schools in the area.

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NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCES:

City of Jacksonville

San Marco

Springfield

Riverside/Avondale

Jacksonville Beach

Atlantic Beach

Neptune Beach

Ponte Vedra

OTHER RESOURCES:

Metro Jacksonville (community forum)

Checker Cab   

Super Shuttle

Jacksonville Humane Society

The Fresh Market   

Whole Foods Market   

Native Sun (natural foods groceries)

READY TO MOVE TO JACKSONVILLE?Buying a home in the Jacksonville, Florida, area is a big decision. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or building your investment portfolio, we are here to help you. We'll make sure you find the property that's perfect for you!

ERA Heavener Realty2602 University Blvd. W.Jacksonville,FL 32217

Office: (904) 448-6771Mobile: (904) 434-5154Fax: (904) 352-1166Email: Jeff@ERA.com

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MEET JEFF