Heard about this on WJCT this morning--nice article about Jax in the travel section of the Chicago Sun-Times.
edit: See link below.
Here is a working link: http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/travel/5189296-502/sunshine-and-surprises-in-jacksonville-fla. (http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/travel/5189296-502/sunshine-and-surprises-in-jacksonville-fla.)
Thanks Lunican!
A really great and flattering article. It made me feel better....
“People used to complain that there wasn’t anything going on in the city,†said Cabeth Cornelius, who grew up here. “Things were happening â€" you just didn’t know where because Jacksonville is so spread out. That’s where social media has really helped.â€
I have told this same thing to people time and time again. I have heard this comment from so many people that stay here, or move here. There has always been plenty to do, and now there is even more to. Everything is just spread out or hidden. Most big city folk are just used to everything being downtown and thats not how Jacksonville is set up. This article actually made my day. Everything that is said about Jacksonville is not all bad.
Quote from: avonjax on May 13, 2011, 09:49:45 AM
A really great and flattering article. It made me feel better....
Yep. Sometimes it's good to get an outsider's perspective to better appreciate what we already have--and areas where we may still need to invest.
COUGH-downtown-is-just-another-neighborhood-right-mike-hogan?COUGH
Things that weren't mentioned:
1. Southpoint
2. St. Johns Town Center
3. Tinseltown
4. Avenues Mall
5. Regency
6. 9A
7. Butler Blvd.
8. Nocatee
9. Oak Leaf
10. Orange Park
Why were these places not mentioned? Because these places do not matter and are literally nothing to write home about.
^^Exactly!
I Love My Jacksonville!!!!! :)
Quote from: Lunican on May 13, 2011, 10:26:09 AM
Things that weren't mentioned:
1. Southpoint
2. St. Johns Town Center
3. Tinseltown
4. Avenues Mall
5. Regency
6. 9A
7. Butler Blvd.
8. Nocatee
9. Oak Leaf
10. Orange Park
Why were these places not mentioned? Because these places do not matter and are literally nothing to write home about.
I didn't see Arlington, Mandarin, Northside, Westside mentioned either.
Nor Fruit Cove or Ortega, or Hecksher Drive...
It was a light piece, good article, but light on details. Jacksonville is too spread out to mention anything more than a few areas in an article like this.
Great quote from the article: "And I certainly didn’t know just how ridiculously big Jacksonville is." That's one of our biggest hurdles.
Pretty great article.
I absolutely love how someone from a legit urban area totally ignores the southside. Jacksonville's pride and joy is seen as a strip mall by someone who has been in a real urban environment. If only we could change the mindset of our own citizens. If Sweet Pete's gets a shout out an the Town Center isn't mentioned, I think that says something. Jax needs to grow up and read a book.
Well, the writer does have a thing for the name Pete. Both Sweet Pete's and Pete's bar get a mention.
Quote from: jandar on May 13, 2011, 11:48:18 AM
Well, the writer does have a thing for the name Pete. Both Sweet Pete's and Pete's bar get a mention.
Nice find. If only she went to Sweet Pete's food truck in San Marco. That would be the trifecta.
If only Pete's Bar had a truck!
Quote
Things that weren't mentioned:
1. Southpoint
2. St. Johns Town Center
3. Tinseltown
4. Avenues Mall
5. Regency
6. 9A
7. Butler Blvd.
8. Nocatee
9. Oak Leaf
10. Orange Park
Why were these places not mentioned? Because these places do not matter and are literally nothing to write home about.
Quote
Pretty great article.
I absolutely love how someone from a legit urban area totally ignores the southside. Jacksonville's pride and joy is seen as a strip mall by someone who has been in a real urban environment. If only we could change the mindset of our own citizens. If Sweet Pete's gets a shout out an the Town Center isn't mentioned, I think that says something. Jax needs to grow up and read a book.
There are definite differences between living in an area, and visiting an area.
Also, I hate the antagonistic tone some people have when talking about the Town Center or the malls. Those places absolutely DO matter, because people go there and spend money, and in far larger numbers than they do downtown. Why not look at those places and apply some of what makes them accessible to downtown?
Pretty light article. It was positive, but how much sway did Visit Jacksonville have regarding the places visited by the reporter?
How did I know that some of us were going to knick pick the article? It puts Jacksonville in a very positive light compared to most articles I have read over the past few years. Yes they didn't mention certain neighborhoods, but atleast Jacksonville was mentioned in a positive manner. Sometimes I think we are our worst critics.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 13, 2011, 12:04:38 PM
It puts Jacksonville in a very positive light compared to most articles I have read over the past few years. Yes they didn't mention certain neighborhoods, but atleast Jacksonville was mentioned in a positive manner. Sometimes I think we are our worst critics.
I agree, I think it's a pretty flattering article--the pictures accompanying it look good too.
For someone who has never been here before, it portrays Jax as a cool, laid-back and dare I say it, almost
hip place to visit.
This reminds me again of the Lonely Planet Guide to Florida's listing about Jacksonville, written in 1997. They absolutely hated it, citing many problems that just don't apply anymore.
It's definitely improved a lot, we have to give it that.
Nice piece.
Nice article and somethings have improved, but its 2011 and Jacksonville should be further along than it is right now. Nice read reguardless.
Nice exposure for the city.
This might be hard to believe but some people from Chicago are not from the urban areas. Chicago has suburbs too.