Beer & Music Festival rescheduled

Due to concerns of North Florida being impacted by Hurricane Dorian and issues of public safety, organizers of Labor Day Weekend's largest event are planning to reschedule the festival to Sunday, September 22, 2019 (pending approval).

The Bold City Beer & Music Festival was scheduled to happen this Sunday, September 1st in Riverside under the Fuller Warren Bridge.  The festival will still feature over 65 different beers as well as 20 food trucks, a free concert, 40 local vendors and more.

Charles Wagoner, one of the festivals organizers mentioned “Public safety is our major concern. We want to ensure the public has adequate time to prepare for the approaching hurricane and keep their families safe.”

For festival updated and additional information visit the Bold City Brewing Company website.

“Chris Brown comes to JAX for one night

Global music icon, world-class entertainer and Grammy Award winner Chris Brown will be hitting the road, including a stop in Jacksonville, Florida August 30^th at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, for the epic “INDIGOAT Tour” with some of the hottest names in hip-hop including: Tory Lanez, Ty Dolla $ign, Joyner Lucas and Yella Beezy.  Following last year’s highly successful Heartbreak on a Full Moon Tour, Brown is returning to the stage, where he’ll wow audiences across the U.S. with a fresh high-energy show complete with his signature dance skills and strong vocals, as well as new music.

Ahead of the tour, fans can look forward to Brown’s highly anticipated 9th studio album, INDIGO, which came out via RCA Records, with star-studded features from: Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, G-Eazy, Juicy J, Trey Songz, Tory Lanez, Tyga, H.E.R., Lil Jon, Joyner Lucas, Gunna and Tank.  Coming off the heels of catchy tracks, such as “Wobble Up,” “Back to Love,” and “Undecided,” Brown has teamed up with global superstar Drake for the album’s new smash, “No Guidance” produced by Vinylz, J-Louis and Noah “40” Shebib.  Click Here To Pre-Order Indigo, and Click Here To Stream “No Guidance”

Fans attending the tour can expect a remarkable set list with a mix of Brown’s classic hits and new tracks from his new album.  Kicking off August 20th in Portland, OR, the extensive 38-city tour produced by Live Nation will make stops at major arenas in New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and more, before wrapping in Anaheim, CA on October 19th.  INDIGOAT Tour 2019 U.S. Dates.

 “Chris Brown”
  INDIGOAT tour

DATE: Friday, August 30, 2019
TIME: 6:30 p.m.

TICKETS: start at $60.84.  All seats are reserved, and tickets are available online, by calling (800) 745-3000, or by visiting the Tom Bush Family of Dealerships Box Office at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

LOCATION: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
      300 A Philip Randolph Blvd., Downtown
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
                (904) 630-3900

Events at the Cummer for the month of September 2019

The format here is a little different, nevertheless, the adventures just keep on coming.  There is always something new and interesting at the “Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens”.  It’s the place to be especially when it’s hot outside.  Come enjoy the cool breeze from the St. John’s River and the magnificent gardens, along with beautiful and unusual art work.

September Highlights:

Thur., Sep.t 5 | Dinner With Monet (Only a few tickets are left!)
Fri., Sept. 6 | Summer Friday (Last one!)
Sat., Sept. 7 | Weaver First Saturday Free For All
Sun., Sept. 8 | Bank Of America And Merrill Lynch Museums On Us
Sun., Sept. 8 | Closing Day Of French Moderns: Monet To Matisse
Wed., Sept 11 | Art Fundamentals: Acrylic Painting (Sept 11 through Oct 16)
Sat., Sept. 14 | Art For Two: Pattern Play
Sun., Sept. 15 | Family Open Studio: Quotation Station
Sun., Sept. 15 | Pop-Up Art Building
Thur., Sept. 19 | Priceless: How I Went Undercover To Rescue The World's Stolen Treasures – An Evening With Robert Wittman
Sat., Sept. 21 | Art Adventures: Abstraction
Mon., Sept. 23 | Cummer Amelia Fall Kickoff
Sat., Sept. 28 | Art For Tots: Patterns In Paradise - 'Carlos Rolón'

Recurring Events At The Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens

Florida Blue Free Tuesdays
Free admission every Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m.
Weaver First Saturday Free For All
Free admission on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monthly Collection Highlight Tour
First Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. and every Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Bank Of America And Merrill Lynch Museums On Us
First full weekend of every month | Free for BOA and Merrill Lynch Cardholders

Autumn on Amelia Island with the Cummer

Celebrate the first day of fall with an evening of inspiration at the Southern Living Idea House, hosted by Cummer Amelia, the Nassau County Affinity Group for the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. Cummer Amelia's signature project provides museum tours for Nassau County 3rd and 4th graders.

The 2019 Southern Living Idea House, located in the stunning master-planned community of Crane Island, showcases architecture and design inspired by Fernandina Beach’s rich history.  Guests will have the opportunity to marvel at the house’s details while mingling with an engaged group of Cummer Museum supporters and staff, including George and Kathleen Gibbs Director and CEO Adam Levine, Ph.D.

The event will feature the Sean McCarthy Band performing their song, Sarah’s Island, a tribute to Crane Island, as well as food and signature cocktails from Catering by Liz Grenamyer.  Special thanks to our sponsors Riverside Homes, Crane Island Company, and Island Flower & Garden. Contact them HERE.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

What is Pine Castle doing?

Pine Castle will host Direct Support Professional (DSP) for a Day on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 from 10 a.m. to noon.  This event is an opportunity for federal, state, and local legislators to learn firsthand about the work the agency does to serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

The goal of this day is to raise awareness of the individuals they support and of the dedicated workforce who help them maintain their independence.  This is an opportunity for DSPs to share their experiences with legislators, who may not otherwise have knowledge of the work they do and the impact it has.  It is also a unique opportunity for legislators to connect with their constituents.

Each participating legislator will be paired with a DSP to volunteer their service for one hour.  This volunteer work may include shadowing a member of the team through their daily tasks or one-on-one interactions with Pine Castle Participants.  This will be followed by a tour of the facility and a brief lunch.

About Pine Castle: Today, Pine Castle is a leader in serving adults with intellectual and developmental differences (I/DD) and providing support to their families across Northeast Florida. More than 300 clients come through our programs daily to learn valuable skills. From basic academic training and hands-on job experience to leisure activities and life skills coaching, Pine Castle provides a wide range of opportunities to adults with I/DD.

As one of the first organizations in Florida to serve children with special needs, Pine Castle helped pioneer the philosophy that individuals with intellectual and developmental differences have the right to live full and productive lives.  Pine Castle was founded in 1952 by a group of 33 families of children with I/DD. No local programs or schools existed at that time to provide support services.  The only resources were distant residential institutions run by the state.  Parents were forced to choose between institutionalization or keeping their children at home.  In 1965, the public-school system initiated a program for students with special needs.  At that time, Pine Castle transitioned to a work and life skills training and activity center for adults with differences.  Get to know them by visiting their FB Page.
PINECASTLE
4911 Spring Park Road
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 733-2650

‘Players By The Sea’ theatre reignites education program

New fall musical theatre and acting programs begin this month.  An innovative and improvisation-based acting program and solo & ensemble musical theatre workshop are coming to Players by the Sea.  Each program is geared toward middle and high school students. Executive Director of Players by the Sea Theatre in Jacksonville Beach, Suzanne Hudson-Smith has focused the past year on rebuilding an education program.  She says, “We believe that theatre is transformative for our young actors – they begin to realize that theatre is powerful in building self-esteem, teamwork, expression and focus.”

Fall into Fall, a 16-week program, stresses ensemble acting and character development, promoting empathy, risk-taking, emotional literacy, and dramatic presence.  They’ll put these skills to the test through their production of CUT, a comedic play on December 12 and 13.

The program begins with auditions on Sunday, August 25 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Players by the Sea Theatre: 106 6th St N in Jacksonville Beach.  Students should prepare a two-minute story that they are emotionally invested in.  Classes will be each Wednesday from August 28 – December 13, 4:30 – 6:30 pm.

Guest teacher/director Barbara Colaciello teaches communication, collaboration, and critical thinking through a process-oriented study of theater and improvisation at BABS’LAB.  Colaciello was the Educational & Outreach Director of Players by the Sea from 2005 to 2014.  Players is happy to welcome her back as guest director for their Fall 2019 season.

A Fall Musical Theatre Intensive for grades 5 through 12 will be led by Jereme Raickett and Andrew Sardoni. Raickett is Production Manager at Players and a talented performer/vocalist seen in shows at the Alhambra Theatre.  Sardoni is a talented musician who was the assistant musical director for Let’s Put on a Musical! this summer.

These directors will lead a 12-week course designed so students receive individualized attention in learning vocal technique, stage presence, audition etiquette, and presentation skills. Starting August 27th, classes for 5th - 8th graders will be every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 pm and 9th - 12th graders will be every Thursday at the same time. The course ends with students presenting a Musical Theatre Showcase on November 15 and 16.

Tuition for each program is $320.  Visit PBTS or call to register.

LOCATION: Players By The Sea Theatre
      106 6th Street North
      Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
      (904) 249-0289

ABOUT PLAYERS BY THE SEA— For over fifty years, Players by the Sea has brought quality creative and classic theatre to the Jacksonville community.  With a team of only three full time workers, the theatre relies on volunteers to dedicate their time and talents to making each show a success.  Through the years, Players has grown in its operations, incorporated educational programs, and increased its membership and volunteer base.  But they have not lost site of the main ideal its founders lived by — “the passion of individuals for creating satisfying theatre experiences to share with audiences.”

More time for French Art at the Cummer

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is excited to announce that French Moderns: Monet to Matisse has been extended to September 8, 2019 — coinciding with ‘Weaver First Saturday Free For All’ on September 7.  Click HERE for full story.

This extension means that Museum guests will have more time to experience some of the biggest names in French art, right here on the First Coast.  The exhibition’s final weekend will kick off with the last Summer Friday on September 6, with Le Petit Cheri Cupcakery & Mr. Potato Spread food trucks on the front lawn, live music, and lots of family fun.  Make sure that  you see this exhibit.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Mamma Mia! is almost a total ‘sell-out’ at the Alhambra!

Photos: Jamie Iames Repper

The show Mamma Mia! hasn’t been in Jacksonville, Florida since 2013 and this presentation, at the Alhambra Theatre, is by far the best that any town could render.  The highlight of the show is the wonderful harmony and dancing from the entire Ensemble.  A standing ovation goes out to Rodney Holmes*, Victoria Elizabeth, Taylor Hilt Mitchell*, Kaléa Leverette, Mitchell Burnes, Hailey Hendrickson & Sam Brown, under the experienced direction of Choreographer, Shain Stroff*; Musical Director, Cathy Murphy Giddens and Producer/Director, Tod Booth*.

If you are an avid theatergoer, you would know the excitement that the song “Memory” (from the musical CATS), sung by Grizabella the cat, brings to an audience.  Well, there is the same thrill from the Alhambra stage when Kelly Atkins* (who portrays Donna Sheridan) belts out the song, “The Winner Takes It All” - drop the mike!  That’s all that needs to be said.  You’ve got to be there and hear it for yourself.

The other two mature lead females: Lisa Valdini* (Rosie) and Karen Coughlin (Tanya) have some great moves on the dance floor.  Lisa and Jim Ballard take the stage and show off when they preform “Take a Chance on Me”.  There is so much comedy between these two actors during this particular number in the second act.

I don’t recall seeing the three male lead actors donning such bright disco apparel in other productions of Mamma Mia! but these guys have the moves to go along with the colorful costumes.  Kudos go out to seasoned actors Jim Sorenson* (Sam), Jim Ballard* (Bill) and Billy Clark Taylor* (Harry).

All the Mamma Mia! songs are enjoyed by the crowd, who naturally sings along with the music of ABBA.  Gala Night was almost sold-out, with only a few seats available; so, you may want to check the Alhambra links below and see if there have been any cancellations for this marvelous show.

   ***denotes Actors’ Equity Association***

“Mamma Mia!”
DATES: August 7, 2019 through September 15, 2019

SHOW TIMES: Evening shows Tuesday through Friday start at 7:50 p.m.  Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner is served until 7:30 p.m.  Saturday Matinees begin at 1:15 p.m.  Doors open at 11 a.m. and the brunch served until 12:30 p.m.  Sunday Matinees are at 1:50 p.m.  Doors open at 12 p.m. and the meal is server until 1:50 p.m.

DRESS: “Business Casual”, or “Sunday Best”.

TICKETS: Prices range from $40 – $66.  Ticket prices include: a plated three-course meal that changes for each show, and is served directly to your table; a Broadway-style performance and complimentary parking.  Tickets may be purchases on line, or by calling (904) 641-1212.
     **Prices do NOT include gratuity, professional photos, or orders from the bar**

LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
       12000 Beach Blvd.
       Jacksonville, Florida 32246
       (904) 641-1212

New staff joins ‘Players By The Sea’ team

The popular community (PBTS - Players By The Sea) theatre has hired two new valuable staff members to keep the theatre in top shape. Kanesha Frederick was named the Box Office Administrative Assistant and Alexandra Blackwell will take on the role of Marketing & Communications Manager.

Kanesha Frederick is a Jacksonville native who discovered a love for the stage at an early age.  She began singing at the age of 6 years old and her love of music and the arts blossomed.  She has been acting for 13 years and has been cast in numerous plays under the direction of some of Jacksonville’s greatest directors including Jereme Raikett with Megamind Productions, Toni Diamond-Bingham with Dynamic Duo Productions, and Cedarian Crawford with Cedarian Crawford Presents.  Kanesha is a passionate Pastry Chef and owner of Tickled Pink Sweets, a local bakery, “Tickling Your Tastebuds One Treat At A Time.”

“My love for theatre and my community are a part of what makes me who I am. I am excited to be a part of the Players By The Sea family and I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me. I am #ProudToBeAPlayer,” she says.

Alexandra Blackwell graduated from Florida State University this past May.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication Studies and a minor in Music.  Over her college career, she gained marketing, writing, editing and reporting experience from internships with WFSU Public Media, College Magazine, WJCT Public Broadcasting and Alcom Marketing and Advertising.  Ever since the 8th grade, she’s been in love with the theatre.  Her first role was Dina in School House Rock Jr.  From there she went on to participate in theatre at Nease High School, Summer Musical Theatre Camp in St. Augustine, the Northeast Florida Conservatory and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival.

She says, “I am beyond thrilled to accept a role that combines my skills with my passion.  Players by the Sea became my happy place the second I stepped inside.  And I am honored to start creating alongside such a talented team.”

You can find both Kanesha and Alexandra at the theatre five days a week with extended hours during show runs.  They are always looking for volunteers to help them with anything from administrative work to set building.  Visit the Players By The Sea website to learn how you can get involved.

About Players By The Sea— For over fifty years, Players by the Sea has brought quality creative and classic theatre to the Jacksonville community. With a team of only three full time workers, the theatre relies on volunteers to dedicate their time and talents to making each show a success. Through the years, Players has grown in its operations, incorporated educational programs, and increased its membership and volunteer base. But they have not lost site of the main ideal its founders lived by — “the passion of individuals for creating satisfying theatre experiences to share with audiences.”

LOCATION: Players By The Sea Theatre
      106 6th Street North
      Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
      (904) 249-0289

Mamma Mia! is Abba-Solutely Fun at the Alhambra!

The third-longest running show in Broadway history comes to the Alhambra Theatre and Dining.  “Mamma Mia!” - the Alhambra's highest pre-opening show of the 2019 season; is already more than 75% sold out.  Hurry and take a look at ALL the dates for this fantastic show.

Based on the music of the supergroup, ABBA, the musical includes such hits as: "Super Trouper," "Lay All Your Love on Me," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Take a Chance on Me," "Voulez-Vous," "SOS" and the title track - "Dancing Queen."  Mamma Mia! has been played in more than 50 countries in all 6 continents and more than 60 million people have seen the show, which has grossed $2 billion worldwide since its 1999 debut - and now for five weeks the Jacksonville area will get its own glimpse at this global hit show.  With 75% of the Alhambra's available 10,000 seats already sold for the run of the show, Mamma Mia's popularity proves to remain high even four years after it closed on Broadway.

Mamma Mia! takes place on an exotic Greek isle where a gorgeous young woman is set to be married.  The blushing bride-to-be sets out on a search to find both her true identity and the identity of her father.  The fun gets ratcheted up when her mom finds out that she's invited three men that could potentially be her dad.  On top of the entertaining story, this lively musical will have the audience dancing in their seats with the infectious music of ABBA.

Said Alhambra Managing Partner, Craig Smith, "This show has been circled on a lot of calendars since we announced the season back in the fall of 2018.  We've only got 25% of our seats left and we don't open for two more weeks.  After the sellout of Disney's Little Mermaid just now, it seems like our market is catching on to the quality and the value of the Alhambra.  Every time we have an Abba tribute band the show sells out within days, we were confident in this pick.  It is going to be a blast here - even more than it usually is!”

You can expect nothing but the best from Executive Chef DeJuan Roy, and this show is no exception.  Chef has chosen the following culinary delights to please every pallet in the house.

First Course (Choice of One): Traditional Greek Salad with crisp romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, bell peppers, black olives, feta, Greek dressing *GF*; OR Greek Chicken & Rice Soup with yogurt and lemon garnish.
Second Course (Choice of One): Roasted Leg of Lamb in natural jus, orzo primavera, roasted asparagus, tzatziki sauce *GF* without pasta; OR Moussaka (Greek Lasagna) ground beef, potatoes, eggplant, broccolini, roasted cherry tomatoes with Greek spices; OR Mediterranean Cod with shrimp, mussels in garlic tomato broth, roasted fingerling potatoes, olives and sun-dried tomatoes, asiago crostini *GF* without crostini; OR Eggplant Parmesan orzo pasta salad.
Third Course (Choice of One) Baklava Cupcake with honey, fig and whipped Greek yogurt; OR Tiramisu. Menu subject to change. Gluten-free & sugar-free desserts available upon request.

“Mamma Mia!”
DATES: August 7, 2019 through September 15, 2019

SHOW TIMES: Evening shows Tuesday through Friday start at 7:50 p.m.  Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner is served until 7:30 p.m. Saturday Matinees begin at 1:15 p.m.  Doors open at 11 a.m., and brunch is served until 12:30 p.m.  Sunday Matinees are at 1:50 p.m.  Doors open at 12 p.m. and the meal is server until 1:50 p.m.

DRESS: “Gala Night” (Friday August 9, 2019) attire is “Dressy/Formal/Black Tie”.  All other shows could be “Business Casual”, or “Sunday Best”.  There is always complimentary Champagne and Hors d'oeuvres served in the lobby before dinner, on Gala evening and special pastries served after the show.

TICKETS: Prices range from $40 – $66.  Ticket prices include: a plated three-course meal that changes for each show, and is served directly to your table; a Broadway-style performance and complimentary parking.  Tickets may be purchases on line, or by calling the theatre.
     **Prices do NOT include gratuity, professional photos, or orders from the bar**

LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
       12000 Beach Blvd.
       Jacksonville, Florida 32246
       (904) 641-1212

Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell and Jon Langston come to JAX

Four-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan will bring his “Sunset Repeat Tour” to Jacksonville, Florida for one performance only!  The launch started on May 31 in Philadelphia, PA at the BB&T Pavilion and will come to the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on August 1, 2019.  The “Sunset Repeat Tour” also includes special guests: multi-platinum singer/songwriter Cole Swindell and EMI/32 Bridge Entertainment recording artist Jon Langston. DJ Rock.

About Luke Bryan: Luke is a two-time Academy of Country Music and a two-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, a five-time host of the ACM Awards, a NSAI Artist/Songwriter of the Year and was named a CMT Artist of the Year six consecutive years. Luke has more certified digital singles than any other country artist with 40 million tracks and 12 million albums with three Billion music streams. Luke has placed 21 singles at #1, 11 of which he co-wrote, and has headlined arena tours and sold-out stadiums across the U.S. and Canada. RIAA recently added to his multi-platinum success announcing new certifications for “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” 6X platinum, “Play It Again” 5X platinum, “Do I” now 3X platinum. This summer Luke opened Nashville’s only six-floor entertainment facility in the heart of Music City, LUKE’S 32 BRIDGE FOOD + DRINK. On March 3 Luke, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will return to the judges table for the second season of ABC’s American Idol.

Cole Swindell, a Platinum-selling recording artist and 11-time No 1 singer/songwriter, released his third album, All of It, for Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville in 2018 and it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country album chart and No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200. The first single “Break Up In The End” became his 8th No. 1 career single as a solo artist. “Break Up In The End” was recently nominated for a Grammy® for Best Country Song and was named one of the best country songs of 2018 by Amazon, Spotify, Billboard, and You Tube among others. Swindell performed the hit single on last summer’s (2018) ABC Television special CMA Fest and when he headlined the NBC’s Citi Concert Series on TODAY (2018).  The Georgia native debuted his current single “Love You Too Late” LIVE on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars and in December performed it on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The song is included on YouTube’s Best Country Songs of 2018.

About Jon Langston: Loganville, GA native, singer-songwriter Jon Langston grew up on music like his heroes Alan Jackson and the Eagles. And once multiple concussions ended his Division I football career, he worked to develop his own style and sound while drawing from that variety of influences. In 2013 with the release of his first song, “Forever Girl,” Jon’s live shows began to grow, and he found himself opening for Chase Rice at Georgia’s Kennesaw State University.  It was his first-ever full band show, and when the crowd sang “Forever Girl” along with him, Jon knew he wanted to pursue a career in music. Since then, the now 27-year-old Music City resident has not only signed a publishing deal with Sony ATV and is managed by KP Entertainment, but has fostered his own voice in country music and landed a record deal with Universal Music Group Nashville. The Georgia native is the first artist under Luke Bryan’s new label, 32 Bridge Entertainment, and will be worked in conjunction with EMI Records Nashville. He recently released his major label debut single “When It Comes To Loving You” which landed in the Top 5 of the all-genre iTunes Chart and has accumulated over 9 million streams.

About DJ Rock: For the past 15 years, DJ Rock has performed for crowds in premiere venues throughout North America and Mexico. As an open format DJ he is well versed in all music formats, spinningeverything from country to hip hop to rock to today’s top 40 hits. He’s worked alongside artists like Luke Bryan, Snoop Dogg, Florida Georgia Line, Gucci Man, John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Blake Shelton and more. Rock has also appeared at some of the biggest-sellingmusic festivals including Off The Rails, Rock The South, Route 91 and Tortuga. Rock last appeared on Luke Bryan’s “What Makes You Country Tour” in 2018.

 “Luke Bryan”
Sunset Repeat Tour

DATE: Thursday, August 1, 2019
TIME: 7 p.m.

TICKETS: start at $48.09 and up.  All seats are reserved, and tickets are available online, or by calling (800) 745-3000, or by visiting the Tom Bush Family of Dealerships Box Office at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Times Union Center or the Ritz Theatre & Museum.

LOCATION: JAX Veterans Memorial Arena
      300 A Philip Randolph Blvd., Downtown
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 630-3900

About SMG Jacksonville manages seven sports, entertainment, and convention venues on behalf of the City of Jacksonville.  Their beautiful venues include: TIAA Bank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Georgia-Florida, the TaxSlayer Bowl and Monster Jam; Daily’s Place, a 5,500 seat amphitheater with concert programming year-round and an indoor practice facility for the Jacksonville Jaguars; The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, showplace of such entertainment greats as Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett and home to the Arena Bowl XXIV Champions Jacksonville Sharks, the ABA Jacksonville Giants and the Jacksonville IceMen; The Baseball Grounds of JAX, home of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and Florida vs FSU Baseball; The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, stage to Broadway and music elite like Wicked, James Taylor and Diana Ross; and home of the FSCJ Artist Series and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra; The Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, a historic renovated train station providing a unique venue for meetings, social events and conventions & The Ritz Theatre and Museum, located in Jacksonville’s historic African American community of LaVilla, celebrating the artistic culture of African American life in Northeast Florida and the African Diaspora with museum exhibits, concerts, films, lectures, dance and dramatic arts.