What I love about Jacksonville

[kirkols]

Hi, my name is Kirk, and I have a problem:  I love lots of things about Jacksonville.

A little intro:  I am a serial entrepreneur and have owned a home in JAX for ten years.  I split my time between Jacksonville and Seattle, WA.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

The Jacksonville Library System is amazing.  Seattle has the second busiest library system in the US.  The only problem is, you can't get a book.  The best sellers and popular books are always checked out and the waiting list is long.  The JPL almost always has the title I am looking for, and the book appears to be rarely (if ever) opened. 

Garbage collection in Jacksonville is crazy good.  I swear that I could leave a used Abrams Tank on the curb in the evening and in the morning wake to find it collected.  In Seattle, we pay for garbage collection by the ounce.

Chamblins Book Mine is a treasure.  Seattle has more readers per square mile than any city in the US (the rain festival that runs from January 1 to December 31 every year insures that).  Chamblins warehouses nearly every title ever written, starting with cave drawings.  Okay, so I like to read.

Street parking spots in Downtown.  There are actual, available street parking spots downtown, near restaurants and businesses, that you can pull in to, park, pay $.50 an hour for up to two hours. I kid you not.

Bistro Aix.  Want to leave Jacksonville for a while?  I can think of no faster transportation system than Tom Gray's restaurant.  He works harder at sourcing fresh, organic ingredients than anyone I know or anyone I know who knows.  If Aix opened in Seattle, the waiting line would stretch to Portland (which is 180 miles away).

San Marco Theater.  I try to describe this place to Seattle friends and they are "totally, like, no way," you know?  Even if the movie sucks, the microwaved pizza and pitchers of beer rock.

Duval Public Schools.  Best. Idea. Ever.  Take all of the smartest kids with the most motivated parents and stick them in three high schools with tough teachers and an aggressive curriculum.  It's like squeezing plutonium rods together...critical mass smartness.  I will not comment about what happens to kids in other schools.

Traffic.  What traffic?

I'm glad to have found this forum and site.  Metro Jacksonville is climbing up on my favorites ladder.

[buckethead]

Heckuva first post!

It's nice to hear my hometown recieve some praise.

[Miss Fixit]

Great post, Kirkols!  I agree with all of your things to like about Jacksonville except that I would cite Orsay as this city's example of dining excellence and would throw in some comments about sunshine, kayaking, and rock free beaches.  As the parent of a child who will be attending one of those plutonium enriched high schools in the fall, I'd add great public school magnet programs at  the elementary and middle school level to your list as well.

And, like you, since the title of this thread is "What I Love About Jacksonville", I'll avoid talking about what happens if you're not fortunate enough to get into one of those awesome magnet programs.  Maybe we need a new thread about public education......

[BridgeTroll]

Awesome post kirkols... welcome!

[Keith-N-Jax]

Your right about traffic, since I lived in Atl and has driven through many cities like NY, Mia, NJ, and now Boston. I like our weather and our native trees, plants, wildlife. Rivers and bridges and of course the Jags. Welcome to the forum,,,

[Jason]

Welcome, welcome, welcome!

[Captain Zissou]

Welcome Kirk.  Sounds like you've been fortunate enough to spend time in some great cities during your life.  Would you care to express areas where you think Jax needs to improve?  You frequent the library, Chamblins (DT or roosevelt location?), San Marco Theatre, and Aix.... If all of Jax's citizens were like you, we'd be in better shape.  You should check out 3 Layers, 5 points theater, and 13 Gypsies as well.

Come to the meetings on Tuesday night at 3 Layers, I'd love to hear your input.

[subro]

I would also add the Zoo, the Cummer and the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville as some really great Jacksonville attractions.

[Sportmotor]

HellO!

[Coolyfett]

Hi, my name is Kirk, and I have a problem:  I love lots of things about Jacksonville.

A little intro:  I am a serial entrepreneur and have owned a home in JAX for ten years.  I split my time between Jacksonville and Seattle, WA.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

The Jacksonville Library System is amazing.  Seattle has the second busiest library system in the US.  The only problem is, you can't get a book.  The best sellers and popular books are always checked out and the waiting list is long.  The JPL almost always has the title I am looking for, and the book appears to be rarely (if ever) opened. 

Garbage collection in Jacksonville is crazy good.  I swear that I could leave a used Abrams Tank on the curb in the evening and in the morning wake to find it collected.  In Seattle, we pay for garbage collection by the ounce.

Chamblins Book Mine is a treasure.  Seattle has more readers per square mile than any city in the US (the rain festival that runs from January 1 to December 31 every year insures that).  Chamblins warehouses nearly every title ever written, starting with cave drawings.  Okay, so I like to read.

Street parking spots in Downtown.  There are actual, available street parking spots downtown, near restaurants and businesses, that you can pull in to, park, pay $.50 an hour for up to two hours. I kid you not.

Bistro Aix.  Want to leave Jacksonville for a while?  I can think of no faster transportation system than Tom Gray's restaurant.  He works harder at sourcing fresh, organic ingredients than anyone I know or anyone I know who knows.  If Aix opened in Seattle, the waiting line would stretch to Portland (which is 180 miles away).

San Marco Theater.  I try to describe this place to Seattle friends and they are "totally, like, no way," you know?  Even if the movie sucks, the microwaved pizza and pitchers of beer rock.

Duval Public Schools.  Best. Idea. Ever.  Take all of the smartest kids with the most motivated parents and stick them in three high schools with tough teachers and an aggressive curriculum.  It's like squeezing plutonium rods together...critical mass smartness.  I will not comment about what happens to kids in other schools.

Traffic.  What traffic?

I'm glad to have found this forum and site.  Metro Jacksonville is climbing up on my favorites ladder.

(Lil Jon Voice)
WUT! OK! WUT?!

[fsujax]

Nice first post. Jacksonville is truly a great place to live. Just think on a Friday night you can visit any number of bars, restaurants or clubs from Fernandina, to st Augustine from DT to Southside. Last Friday night we had a baseball game, football game and the Great Fire party all DT. Then wake up on Saturday and go boating, fishing, to the beach, intracoastal or river. So many things to do! thats what always gets me when I hear people say there is nothing to do here.

[Coolyfett]

I am going to add to this topic with things I like or miss about Jax.

1. Consolidated government! Man in Jax when your at the airport you are in Jax, when you are at the Avenues you are still in Jax, Jags game you are still in Jax. All the police work for the same damn agency. You guys should cherish that.

2. The Navy transplants. Its an unvalued resource for international and national human imports. I am a product of it. The Navy brings people from everywhere, people from everywhere have ideas and cultures they bring to the table. The "World of Nations Fest" is probably supplied by Navy sailors and their dependents. No way in hell should Jacksonville be letting Norfolk beat them at anything. Even if its a Florida v. Virginia fight, Jax gov should be more agressive in getting not just 1 but 2 nuke carriers.

3. Flat land. I drive a stick shift, going up hills can be a pain in the ass, the scenery is nice, but walking, biking or even driving up and down hills takes good health and skill behind the wheel lol.


Thats all I got right now. 1 & 2 are very important to Jax and is probably over looked by the many people that live there.Not living there now I notice these things.

[Coolyfett]

Nice first post. Jacksonville is truly a great place to live. Just think on a Friday night you can visit any number of bars, restaurants or clubs from Fernandina, to st Augustine from DT to Southside. Last Friday night we had a baseball game, football game and the Great Fire party all DT. Then wake up on Saturday and go boating, fishing, to the beach, intracoastal or river. So many things to do! thats what always gets me when I hear people say there is nothing to do here.

People who say that have no imagination or friends. Something any person will need to do ANYTHING.

[kirkols]

Welcome Kirk.  Sounds like you've been fortunate enough to spend time in some great cities during your life.  Would you care to express areas where you think Jax needs to improve?  You frequent the library, Chamblins (DT or roosevelt location?), San Marco Theatre, and Aix.... If all of Jax's citizens were like you, we'd be in better shape.  You should check out 3 Layers, 5 points theater, and 13 Gypsies as well.

Come to the meetings on Tuesday night at 3 Layers, I'd love to hear your input.

Thank you Captain and everyone for the warm welcomes.  I find Three Layers to be an oasis of coffee heaven.  I hope they will thrive and I recommend it highly.  Five Points and 13 Gypsies are both fun, quirky and deserve continued success.  I'll add to the growing list: the 5K running trail (flat and dirt!) around the lake at UNF, the miles of mountain biking at Guana River and Hanna Park and the secret pocket parks all over the city.  Hemming Plaza offers lots of people watching, chess and discussion opportunities.  UNF sponsors speakers like Neil deGrasse Tyson (for free!).  The Suns are part of the best baseball farm system and currently feature two players that may be superstars for the Marlins shortly.  The River Run is a celebration of fitness in which nearly everyone can participate.

This city has endless opportunities for anyone seeking "something to do."  There is always something to draw, photograph, record, smell, taste, see and touch.  The transit system is clean, efficient and economical. 

I can't answer your question on what needs to change.  I adapt to what is offered, offer help where I can and work to improve myself.   Every choice we make, individually, is an opportunity for growth or decline.

[fieldafm]

Every choice we make, individually, is an opportunity for growth or decline.

What a profound statement.  Welcome Kirk.  Great first post(s)!