Introductions and Howdys.

[thelakelander]

I'm still trying to get up to St. Louis.  Its one of the few major urban centers in this country that I have yet to see with my own eyes.  Until that happens, I'll continue to get my fix by checking out the photo threads on SSP.

[chris]

well i guess i'm "here" too. as the witty alias would suggest, my name is chris. i'm a jacksonville native, currently attending UNF in political science working for Hines of the St. John and Palnecia fame, the RBR Foundation, and in the near future, DCF. I'm not really a big poster but I will skulk and post when the mood suits me. I'm the son of a builder, and real estate agent, the grandson of a banker, and grew up with land developer's kids, so if there's a question about any major project from the last twenty years, my unfortunate circumstance puts me in the know about most of them. I say unfortunate becuase unlike my family, I seem to have developed an odd conscience regtarding the environment and sustainability which usually puts me on "wrong side of teh tracks" at family gatherings. Can't wait to read more on here and the other forums... better yet, can't wait to be able to afford a place downtown.

~chris

[thelakelander]

welcome to Metro Jacksonville chris.

[Brick]

Long time, no posting... Formerly "Jacksonvillian" from MetJax. The new format looks great and it's nice to see some familiar names!

Looking forward to new discussions.

[Jason]

Welcome aboard!

[alohameisha]

Hey I've really been enjoying this site and decided to sign up for the forums. I moved to Jax seven years ago and really enjoy the area. I visited a friend in Riverside six years previous and vowed to come back and buy an old house in the area. I fulfilled the dream of owning my own home five years ago (in Riverside). I really see the potential of Jacksonville (especially the historic districts and downtown) but I do enjoy it already.

Also I'm a foodie so I like to get out there and try all the mom and pop places. My friend Amanda has been telling me about Boomtown and I am sad to say I never made it in. Now I see it is relocating to San Marco so I am looking forward to that.

My first post was in response to that article about Mr. Dare in the Folio. I may have come off crazy suggesting that he sue for libel but I was just making the point that presenting someone in a false light in such a public forum and using a picture on the cover is not very cool of them. I went to the j-school at UF and that kind of slant should not fly.

[thelakelander]

welcome to the forum, alohameisha.

[Jason]

Welcome aboard!

[jbm32206]

A hardy welcome aboard, alohameisha....hope you enjoy the forum and posting with everyone!

[gatorback]

Hey alohameisha!  Welcome home.

[jbm32206]

Welcome to the forum, Glorious Johnson! 

[Mrite]

Wow... I hadn't been here in a while, things have changed 

It's been so long since I've been here, that I forgot my PW and had to re-register

The place looks nice though.

My names Tom and I'll get me another icon and stuff later. I'm gonna go look around now

[jbm32206]

Welcome back Tom...glad to have you back.

[PlanNinePlanner]

My name is Steve Bailey, and I live in Jacksonville Beach. I rarely get the opportunity to toot my own horn (at least publicly), so please bear with me and scroll on down.

First, let me acknowledge my association with Stephen Dare. He produced my "debut" play, "Plan Nine from Outer Space: The Rip-Off," as the premier effort at Boomtown Theatre's then-new location in downtown Jax in October 2005. After that, I worked with him via writing and acting in his Thursday-night program "Pulp Fiction Theatre" until Boomtown's downtown location shut down earlier this year. For anyone who cares, Stephen and I are in initial talks about reviving "PFT" in Boomtown's new location, a plan I fervently hope will see the light of day soon.

As I'm sure you know by now, Stephen has been outrageously criticized recently by local publications. I have left a spirited counterpoint about Stephen under a different topic at this blog, so I won't reiterate it here. But I hope you'll read it at your leisure.

Secondly, I run the "Leave 'em Laughing Tent," which is Jacksonville's chapter of The International Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society, also known as "Sons of the Desert." The Society is devoted to promoting the comedy films of 1930's and '40s comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

On one Monday each month, I show Laurel & Hardy movies from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. at the Pablo Creek Branch Library, 13295 Beach Boulevard. (Meeting dates vary according to room availability at the library.) All ages are welcome, admission is free, and I also serve free light snacks and soda at each meeting.

The Tent has been up and running since August of 2006. I usually get around a dozen attendees at each meeting. I am grateful for anyone who comes to the meetings. However, in a town the size of Jacksonville -- where, incidentally, Oliver Hardy made his first movies in the 1910's -- I have to believe that there are more than a dozen people who would enjoy viewing these movies.

Unfortunately, my budget is such that I can get the word out about my group only through posted leaflets, free listings in a few local publications, and word of mouth. If you are a Laurel & Hardy buff or you know someone who is, I hope you will help to get my group known. The group is *completely* non-profit; my sole purpose is to get the movies out for everyone to watch.

The Tent also has a promotional website, complete with reviews of all L&H movies, interviews with some of L&H's biographers, and regularly updated info about monthly Tent meetings. Please feel free to visit the Tent's website at:  http://www.leaveemlaughing.com

Thanks in advance for your help and support.

[jbm32206]

Welcome Steve...hope you enjoy parcipating in the metrojacksonville community