This comment was from a newbie's "welcome" thread, so I've decided to respond in a new thread.
Quote from: ben says on March 20, 2012, 07:11:13 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on March 20, 2012, 06:12:05 PM
Welcome! I lived in St. Nicholas for a year and a half. Wonderful neighborhood.
My mother and uncle both used to work at a law firm on Atlantic Blvd. across from Mudville grill. Haven't been back to the area in years, except one trip to hit the hardware store. Would love to check out a little more of St. Nicholas, starting with a drive-by. Any "must-see" streets/intersections/strips you'd recommend?
Most of the stretches along the river are worth checking out. There are several and unfortunately not all of them are easy to get to from one another. I lived off Old Hickory Road for a while, and there are some very interesting houses over there. It's a nice neighborhood to walk around in. Even after we moved off the street we used to take the mutt over there for walks. The Nicholson Road stretch directly north of the town center is similar.
Moving past what's really the "core" of St. Nicholas, there are some REALLY cool things to see on the river to the east. Episcopal High School is worth a visit, it has some pretty impressive new buildings and a few even more impressive historic buildings, including Chick Acosta's house and bowling lane-turned concession stand.
Far and away the
pièce de résistance is Marabong, which, I believe, is on River Point Road in what's now the Empire Point subdivision. It is one of the wierdest, coolest buildings in all of Jacksonville and all of Florida. The main building is a large estate home with a very strange tower. The estate has been parceled off, so some features, like an old swimming pool and an odd wine celler/medieval catacomb/whatever it is, are on different properties today. I can just about guarantee that a quick trip over there won't disappoint. I'm surprised Metrojax hasn't done an article on it yet.
The areas south of Atlantic Blvd (where I've also lived) are not as impressive, but still worth a drive through IMO.