Urban Neighborhoods: Riverside

[NJ to JAX WHAT DID I DO?]

I have been to Madrid.  I like the place.....in fact I had picadillo there and also at La Carreta...the cuban chain  in Miami.  And surprisingly I thought the food at Madrid was better. 

As for Havana Jax I think their prices are a little too steep.  It is fancy cuban.  I think we are all looking for homestyle cuban.  But, I do like Cuba Libre right next door!

Las Congas looks cool. I am glad to learn of this place...looks like a good menu and good prices.

[second_pancake]

Just to get the food out of the way...Havana Jax is pretty good, I like it anyway.  But, there was this really great authentic Spanish restaurant in Murray Hill that was fantastic!  Alas, they went out of business shortly after they opened (they were right next to the Italian place next to Martini's).  It was by far the best ceviche and braised ox tail EVER!  Anywho...

Ok, so why all the pics of 5-points that seem to depict all but the newer shops that are really trying to bring money into the neighborhood?  Oh, excuse me, you have Starbuck's, lol.  What about (and this is a shameless plug) City Cycle??  I mean, he-e-elloo.  It's businesses like that, that bring in a whole new set of people into the area that otherwise didn't know it existed!  Of course, being a cyclist, having a fiance that's a bike racer, and being a bicycle commuter, I'm a little bias and if those were my pics, you'd probably only see shots of City Cycle and The Cool Moose, so I guess I'll give you a few kudos;-)  We do need to see more of King and Park though...great little part of town.

[thelakelander]

We have images of the places you mentioned.  Check out these photo tours.

Historic Five Points: Jacksonville's Bohemian District
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/248/117/

Park & King Shopping District: Photo Tour
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/342/117/

[second_pancake]

We have images of the places you mentioned. 

Well, open mouth, insert foot.  You certainly do have pictures.  Thanks!

[duster1]

I was born in the Riverside hospital where the Publix is now. Across from there used to be the All Saints Nursing Home. Before both were torn down for the new area, we used to fish on the wall behind All Saints. There was always this really nice Northern lady with a giant black dog that would...within seconds of us walking up to the spot...threaten to call the police because of our fishing and that this whole area is not only private property..but her area of patrol (?). The general feeling I have of this area, to this day, was formed by that. Unfriendly, exclusive of all but the "select beautiful people" and carpetbaggin' interlopers. Look out 5 points, your gentirifcation is at hand.

[second_pancake]

I was born in the Riverside hospital where the Publix is now. Across from there used to be the All Saints Nursing Home. Before both were torn down for the new area, we used to fish on the wall behind All Saints. There was always this really nice Northern lady with a giant black dog that would...within seconds of us walking up to the spot...threaten to call the police because of our fishing and that this whole area is not only private property..but her area of patrol (?). The general feeling I have of this area, to this day, was formed by that. Unfriendly, exclusive of all but the "select beautiful people" and carpetbaggin' interlopers. Look out 5 points, your gentirifcation is at hand.

OMG!!!  I don't have that impression at all...unless I'm one of THOSE that you're talking about   I love the area and haven't encountered anyone rude or unreasonable at all.  Of course, I'm also not one to really give a crap about what other people think either;-)  I guess I have the attitude that everything is there for me to enjoy and so I do.  I have just as many great experiences sitting at Starlight with all the druken downers as I do riding out to the Brick and eating a veggie burger.  Well, there was that one time when the old blue-hair with her Mercedes SUV in Avondale tried to overtake me while I was riding my bike, but that was nothing a little pepperspray in the ole air-conditioning intake didn't fix;-)  Kidding...maybe.

[Ocklawaha]

Oh my God! Duster you missed the best parts of the hood man. I grew up in Ortega (Pirates All) and loved 5-Points and Riverside. The theater at 5-points was a high point in the week for us. The Worlds most cool store had to be PETERSONS 5 and 10, it was an amazing place for young boys and girls. Hell, where else could you buy toy soldiers by the one at a time? I don't know who their buyer was, but he or she was super-in-touch! And that yellow flashing light, NEVER EVER EVER touch that! Classic Jacksonville survives!

Ocklawaha

[Charles Hunter]

Wow, Ock - I had forgotten all about Peterson's - it was great!
You must remember the grocery down near the 5-Points Beacon - was it an A&P?

[Ocklawaha]

Can't remember which it was, I know we had Food-Fair, Setzers, A&P and some others, of course Winn-Dixie. You might be right about A&P. Charles, did you or anyone else ever eat at TADS? A little coffee shop - restaurant over on Park(?) Looks like they took it out for another empty lot, unless I have my directions messed up. It was once THE place to eat in the area. I recall one time asking the "old man" what TADS was? He pointed to himself and his name tag. ME! T. A. Davis! I'm TAD!

Ocklawaha

[Charles Hunter]

Yes, I've eaten at Tad's.  And yes, it was taken out for the Forest Avenue widening, to connect Riverside Avenue with the new on and off ramps at I-95 when that big interchange is finished.

Oh, and Tad's has http://maps.yahoo.com/map?q1=1921%20Lane%20Ave%20S%20Jacksonville%20FL%2032210&mag=5&ard=1#mvt=m&lat=30.283896&lon=-81.755116&mag=3&q1=1921%20Lane%20Ave%20S%20Jacksonville%20FL%2032210
moved to South Lane - in front of a Sonny's Bar-b-que. Haven't been in the new location, so I don't know if they were able to move the wall size photos of old downtown with them.


PS - how do you make a string of text into a URL link?  does this software allow that?

[Lunican]

Code Select Expand

[url]http://website/[/url]
or

Code Select Expand

[url=http://website/]Site Name[/url]

[gatorback]

I lived here.  Loved it.



Here's more info.  Most people feel the new owner really messed the house up.  I'm not a fan of the new gig either.  There was a time when it was actually a 3 bedroom 1 bath.  Three ladies lived there for 50 year.  Helen, lLouise, and Lucille (I think) all three sisters were the originial owners.  I bought it from Dr. Masters.  He lived there 25 years.  Over 3.5 times my investment in just 7 years.  Thanks market!  Sold to  Ms. Hoover--best appreciating house in Florida I tell you.  Now, the house just isn't right.

http://www.trulia.com/property/1030033082-1309-Challen-Ave-Jacksonville-FL-32205

[duster1]

Oh I remember all of those things too. I went to 5 Points theater weekly when I visited friends on Cherry St and have had more meals a Spaghetti Italian than I care to remember. I grew up in Cedar Hills near Jammes so my perspective of Riverside/Avondale/Ortega was always that of being an outsider, which come on, you know those areas never liked being lumped in with the rest of the blue collar, everyday westside.

[gatorback]

There's always been that other side of the track mentality but only on That side of the track.  I love Murry Hill...lots of the same type homes.  Less stuffy on that side too.

[billy]

What's the story on the tiny newstand at Five Points next to the restaurant patio?