Comprehensive First Coast Photo Thread

simms3_redux · #1 Posted: **Feb 10, 2011, 5:14 PM**

I will begin to amass all photos of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and SE Georgia into one photo thread. The area from Flagler Beach, FL to around St. Simon's Island, GA
is known as the First Coast because it was the area of the United States first explored and settled.

I'll start off with two pans and every couple days I'll add a few photos. I have a lot of unposted photos from this past December/November.

Starting off with two panoramas. These are simply attempts. I have a new camera and I haven't learned even 10% of it yet. I took this using motion control and fast snaps
to maintain a level shot. There are some disconnects and a little bit of contrast from right to left. The stitching program in my photo editing software is not good at all.

Both pictures taken from the base of the Ortega Bridge this past December.

simms3_redux · #2 Posted: **Feb 10, 2011, 5:14 PM**

Food.

First pictures taken at the Brick. I ordered beef tenderloin benedict, and other dishes at the table were varied. I forgot to take pictures of the food because it just never occurred to me, but the pictures are of the inside of the restaurant.

The second pictures were taken at 'town, just down from the Brick. Both of the meals were brunch type meals over the past weekend. 'town was a bit of a letdown because I ordered the market fish, which was red snapper, and out came salmon. The waiter tried to convince me I was wrong and that the red snapper literally was red. I honestly at first thought it might be someone else's dish. I wasn't too impressed with the bed of mushrooms, either, but the three tater tots you see were absolutely delicious. I probably won't be going back.

Brick:

(Please ignore my father LoL)

'town

simms3_redux · #3 Posted: **Feb 10, 2011, 5:15 PM**

A large photo/pan:

Expat · #4 Posted: **Feb 11, 2011, 1:36 AM**

Looks great! Wish I were there right now.

simms3_redux · #5 Posted: **Feb 12, 2011, 4:23 PM**

Jacksonville International Airport:

Guys, we really have a cool airport. It might be small, but it is NICE. It is very fast and efficient, and it offers lots of great service. It is clean, too. The bars/restaurants are very good for airport places and there are several worthy shops (the PGA Tour shop/Jax shop, a Haskell gallery, Brighton Collectibles, and a Brooks Brothers). The whole space is very airy and definitely points visitors in the right direction of a progressive Jacksonville on the move. The color scheme is appropriate, too. I really just can't say enough.

A model of what the airport will look like when built out in a decade (or less depending on growth).

Space still UC (recently remodeled)

The above photo seen from the plane:

Haskell gallery had some interesting art:

There was of course live music in the atrium:

One of many food spots, the food court in the concourse with Sbarro, Freshens, and Quizno's.

One of the new concourses:

Planes at the airport:

Expat · #6 Posted: **Feb 13, 2011, 1:27 AM**

That really is a nice looking airport.

simms3_redux · #7 Posted: **Feb 19, 2011, 3:06 PM**

The area where I took the panoramas.

Baker Point and the Ortega Bridge Park are relatively new (~6 years) public parks at the foot of the Ortega Bridge. They were largely financed by private donations from individuals in the Ortega area, namely the Bakers. They are very very popular parks and serve as small scale examples of what Jacksonville should have in all of its parks. They also offer the best skyline views and beautiful views of the river.

simms3_redux · #8 Posted: **Feb 19, 2011, 3:08 PM**

Riverside Arts Market

This is a weekly art market held under the Fuller Warren bridge (I-95). There are lots of local art and local produce vendors, live music, entertainers, and just an excuse to be out and about on a Saturday.

I would say that for Florida, and even for the South, Jacksonville is kind of artsy fartsy in a funky sort of way. I have never been to a city with so many art shows/walks and with the same amount of local produce being sold everywhere. I live in Atlanta now, but going to art walks in Midtown and Piedmont Park and searching for local produce vendors makes one want to cry. I guess Jacksonville is just fortunate enough to have good weather, lots of scenery in the area, St. Augustine, Amelia Island, and lots of old, funky neighborhoods. There are weeks in Jacksonville where six similar art shows will take place in one week all over town, just by coincidence.

The other thing that was funny to me was seeing everyone bundled up. It was 63-83 for the previous week or so, and then a cold front came through and the high dropped to maybe 68 or 70. Don’t get me wrong, Jax can get pretty cold in January and February, but coming down from Atlanta where even I thought Atlanta was too hot for this time of year made me laugh to realize that to these people 60s is cold.

RAM

Some Asian dude rapping while some other guys break dance

Expat · #9 Posted: **Feb 19, 2011, 5:49 PM**

I love good art & produce markets. A good use of space under the freeway bridge! There is a produce market under a freeway bridge in Baltimore that is a lot of fun. Boston's produce markets have been a big disappointment to me.

Love the parks in the previous set, especially with the view. I have never been to Jacksonville and hope to visit one day.

simms3_redux · #10 Posted: **Feb 26, 2011, 6:04 PM**

Scenes from an early winter weekend

There were soooo many birds out all weekend!

simms3_redux · #11 Posted: **Feb 26, 2011, 6:05 PM**

Scenes Part II

simms3_redux · #12 Posted: **Feb 26, 2011, 6:06 PM**

Near the Riverside Art Market, people can walk to a host of other places. Riverside is one of Jacksonville’s most dense neighborhoods with densities in some areas well above 6,000 people per square mile. Riverside used to be the bohemian/counter-culture hub of Jacksonville, but is now the hub of art and gay life in Jacksonville. There is a good mixture between yuppies, hippies, gays, and the elderly in the neighborhood, which is also served now by a continuously running trolley. This will definitely be the first Jacksonville neighborhood to see streetcars and there is already a push for that.

Residents of this neighborhood can walk to dozens of restaurants and bars, a theater, a neighborhood Publix, several churches, and a host of stores. People can also walk to two great parks (one is photographed), one of the South’s best art museums (personally I think it is the best in FL, though because Salvador Dali is one of my favorite artists I enjoy that museum in St. Pete…another artsy town). There are also tons of B&B’s in the area, but no standard hotels.

An example of the average Jacksonville bus stop: a concrete bench with a sign. There is a comprehensive sign ordinance in Jacksonville guarded by a prominent attorney. Many would like to see a public-private partnership where private companies sponsor a bus station with space for an advertisement (what most cities do), but this would involve the unraveling of the sign ordinance, which this lawyer fiercely protects. Parts of the ordinance are legitimate, but the language is too general and includes too many things.

Jacksonville Women’s Club, purchased by the Cummer and currently being refurbished, originally constructed in 1927.

The Garden Club

Another dismal bus stop.

simms3_redux · #13 Posted: **Mar 2, 2011, 2:48 AM**

Riverside

1926 apartment building

1892 Queen Anne

1927 Riverside Presbyterian Church

1922 Riverside Presbyterian Day School

simms3_redux · #14 Posted: **Mar 2, 2011, 2:49 AM**

5 Points

This was the epicenter of Bohemian/liberal life in Jacksonville, but now shares its space with yuppies and the elderly (2 large retirement buildings nearby and tons of highrise and lowrise condos filled with grandparents nearby, too). The 5 Points Theater was recently restored to its original glory, and hosts independent films, live shows/concerts, and other movies. The area is rife with independent retailers (think clothes, books, audio, organic grocers, beer/wine, tattoo/piercing, smoke shops, salons, coffee shops, pubs, and a host of good restaurants). There are two great parks within walking distance (though if you ask me, both need refurbishment). This is the type of place where you will see people walking their pet pigs and goats. This is probably one of the biggest liberal holdouts in FL, and also has a very large local gay population (there are around 5 or so gay bars/clubs in the area). You’ll also find a wicca store and various art galleries.

I believe the owner of this business is Jewish, but he hired a bunch of young Asian girls to work there. Anyway, I was one of the only non-Jewish looking people in there at the time I got a boba tea and a pastry. For all in Jax, it was good, but not as good as Aroma Corners on Baymeadows in the Southside. Perhaps it just needs time (opened a month ago…the staff was very friendly, though).

simms3_redux · #15 Posted: **Mar 4, 2011, 2:26 AM**

Residential Developments and Housing Style Around 5 Points

1661 Riverside (sadly the developer of this building and a neighbor of mine passed at a young age battling cancer recently). This is one of the best new developments in town.

It stays true to the architecture of the area and is fully leased with local shops for the most part. Zoe’s Kitchen is great (locations in Jax, Birmingham…the family has ties to Jax and Birmingham, it’s a Greek family, and Atlanta…in Peachtree Battle Station for those who live in Atlanta and want to try this place).

This place was packed when I returned from the park. I saw a large group of young people beat boxing and break dancing on the corner with a crowd at Starbucks watching.

1926 H.J. Klutho Mediterranean Revival design

simms3_redux · #16 Posted: **Mar 4, 2011, 2:27 AM**

Riverside Housing (Continued)

Craftsman Masterpiece

This could very well be from the 1800s as a good amount of buildings in the area are.

Brand New Chelsea Lofts, again fitting in with the area

Expat · #17 Posted: **Mar 4, 2011, 2:48 AM**

5 Points looks like fun. Do you have pics of the Episcopal churches/cathedral in Jacksonville?

simms3_redux · #18 Posted: **Mar 4, 2011, 6:34 AM**

Here are two (the real pretty churches in NE FL are the Catholic ones as there is a long Catholic history...FYI I went to an Episcopalian school from Pre-K through high school

):

St. Johns Cathedral, completed in 1903:

And Church of the Good Shepherd completed in 1926:

And interior shot from its website:

Expat · #19 Posted: **Mar 4, 2011, 5:41 PM**

Both of these are beautiful! I love seeing the vegetation, especially around the cathedral. Having never lived outside of the midwest & northeast, I am not used to seeing these types of buildings with tropical type plants. It adds a wonderful dimension for me. And wondering if they go out into the lawn to gather palms for Palm Sunday.

simms3_redux · #20 Posted: **Mar 4, 2011, 8:06 PM**

^^^There are parts of Jacksonville that look very very Northeasterny. Atlantic Beach looks almost exactly like Provincetown/Fire Island (lots of old cedar shake shingle houses and a real, townie beachie vibe that you don't get anywhere else in FL). Ortega/Avondale have areas that look very much like Darien, CT or other Fairfield County areas (or nice areas of NE NJ). It is interesting to have these areas and that architecture amidst semi-tropical fauna. Jacksonville was the winter/Florida metropolis until the 1920s and was settled and basically built up by snowbirds/transplants from the northern states at that time. Then Miami took over and has been the dominant city ever since. I agree it is weird to see traditional architectural styles with palm trees and other tropical looking trees around. Jacksonville's signature trees are the live oaks and the water oaks, though (we're smack dab in the middle of that narrow lattitude that can grow those trees...Miami is too far south and Atlanta is too far north).

The thing I don't like about NE FL fauna is it looks kinda weird in the winter. It is an odd mix of a few trees that lose leaves and semi-tropical and tropical plants and it looks out of place during late Dec.-early March. I prefer strict northern looking plants that all lose their leaves or tropical annuals that never lose leaves, not a mix. And about that mix, in NE FL there will be a string of winters where the temp is basically zone 10a and does not hit freezing ever in most areas. People will start planting coconut palms, rubber trees, birds of paradise, royal and foxtail palms, etc etc, and then we'll get a couple of winters that are just brutal and all of these plants will brown up or freeze completely and it looks horrible (horrible!). There is no uniformity to the weather and you can see that in the plants.