Okay, so there was some hype, a lot of hype about the American Idol auditions right here in our own town of Jacksonville. My roommates and I even hosted a few of our friends over to watch and see who knew, who sucked, and of course to see if they used the footage of the theatre that they shot. Well to say we were disappointed would be a major understatement. First, the interesting editing they did w/ the Veteran’s Memorial shots vs. Amelia Island footage. Jacksonville was represented as if we hosted the 4 judges in a cabin deep in the forest. It was just odd. Next, the episode was not entertaining at all. The contests were weird and virtually no talent was represented. Our representation consisted of a girl who brought her dog, a bearded kid who bobbled his head an awful lot and an extremely emotional guitarist. No one was outstanding or really even stood out. Very disappointing. The best part, when the song “Life is Highway” was played and the shot of the Florida Theatre marquee and front sign were featured!...

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This week, I might have officially gone insane.

I have decided, along with a few of my coworkers, to run the 2009 Gate River Run on March 14. Now it is necessary to disclose that never have I run the River Run before. I’ve never actually ran that long in one fell swoop before. To be honest, I’m pretty proud of myself when I can get through one full mile on the treadmill without stopping. It’s really sad, I know.

As lofty as it sounds, I really do have my heart set on accomplishing this. The responses from friends and family have been quite interesting I will say. Some are very supportive—usually because they are running it as well or have done it in the past. And from others, the response is less supportive and more based on previous knowledge about my relationship with running. They answer with things like, “Yeah and I’m going to cross the Arctic.”

So let me give some background.

It all stems from my elementary school days and the dreaded Presidential Physical Fitness...

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  Last Friday my new roommate Shannon and I decided to go out for a night of drinks and dancing.  We are big fans of the downtown scene, but really were interested to check out the new buzz- Destination Downtown. Downtown Jacksonville is a really important part of our community and is often overlooked as a place to come to and stick around.  Destination Downtown has now made a reason to stay! Mavericks, Twisted Martini, The Ivy, North Star Pizza, Mark’s and Dive all lifted their cover charges and offered great drink specials.  I am a personal fan of moving around from one bar to another, so this event even offers a car service (Designated Driver Inc.) to help you get from the Landing to Bay street free of charge- genius! Another reason some don’t choose to come downtown would be parking- but during Destination Downtown, you can park in a centrally located garage for just $1! The night also offers a chance to win prizes, bar tabs and even Florida Theatre tickets. Not that I need those, but you know what I mean!...

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I have rediscovered Jamie Cullum. After a few years of shelving his album “Catching Tales” for a while, it has now become my favorite album for the moment. I remember seeing him about two and half years ago at the theatre right about the time I was getting into the groove of working here. The rather vertically challenged British jazz singer/songwriter and musician was all over that piano like a kid on a very expensive, very pretty jungle gym. I had never heard of him before that night but literally fell in love with the little rascal.  His energy was infectious, his talent—phenomenal. His fingers would manipulate over those keys every which way like a perfectly chaotic choreographed dance. It was incredible. And I was most definitely sold. There is one very funny part about the whole thing. I’ve never liked jazz. Call me an uneducated jazz listener but I’ve always felt that it was too all over the place. Too wacky. Wild saxophones flailing notes left and right. Someone tinkering with the drum set in...

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Following in the keystrokes of my fellow K-girl, I would like to take this final 2008 blogging opportunity to relive some of my most memorable events from this past year. I can’t say that I will do them in any sort of chronological order… if I can even recall when they exactly happened at all, unless I can find some post-it note with that information on it somewhere on my desk. Needless to say I should probably bump up that ginkgo biloba dosage, if I could remember to take them. There have been many an opportunity to break out old dance costumes this year, notably my get-up at this years ADDY Awards. It won me the “Best Expression” award that now sits next to my “Amazing Author” award I won my senior year in yearbook—two very prestigious acknowledgments of my many talents. Speaking of the ADDY Awards, some of the AAFJAX crew and I supported our district and national ADDY awards in Tampa and Atlanta, respectively. There is really never a dull moment at functions that involve all the wacky creative people that...

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One of our new year’s resolutions last December was to revive our blog and keep it updated once a week. I am happy to report we have been successful! Now we want to hear more from you- so take to time to comment and give us some feedback, we’d love to hear from you. So this being my last blog of 2008 I thought I’d do a year in review, some of it is personal to me and some personal to the theatre. January Florida Theatre staff takes over the Big Apple! The year was off to a great start, 4 of us from the office traveled to NYC to participate and have a ton of fun at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference.  Our days were packed with seminars, samplings and wandering 3 floors of talent in a trade show form. Our nights were just as full with shows, concerts, good food and good drinks! A trip none of us will ever forget!   February I am NEVER a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, but this year had a great twist. Country star Trisha Yearwood was here to sing all of her great hits on the 14th...

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There are a few times in your life that really put you to the test—a test of strength, of will-power, of character. They always stand out as a crux, the hardest point of any experience. I have many of these particular moments speckled throughout my life. Some stick out more than others, and some I consider the best and most cherished moments of my life.

I seem to have inherited a fear of heights, and ever since I was little, I have been very fond of the ground…and being on it. It was a strange twist of fate when I started dating a climber a few years ago, whose vacations consisted of nothing but climbing trips. Rock Town, Horse Pens, Albuquerque…he went all over and I, like the trooper that I am, went along. I always managed to stay close enough to my beloved ground, never straying farther than fifteen, twenty feet up.

But it was only inevitable when my climber boyfriend would suggest something a bit higher, and by a bit higher, I mean a good 100 feet higher. That’s right, I was to brave a 100-foot...

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I’ve had some pretty memorable backstage encounters with artists over the last year.  I don’t always get the opportunity to meet the talent that comes through the theatre, but once in a while when the stars align- opportunity knocks. There was the time Katie and I by chance ran into Ben Harper after a sound check. I think we both froze for a second in our tracks as he reached out his hand to introduce himself to two of his biggest fans. I’ll never forget meeting the eclectic bunch who make up the B52’s, especially because they were one of the most played tapes in my household growing up. Another favorite was talking with Trisha Yearwood, even more so just watching her interact with her fans so graciously and attentively. Last week may have topped them all, chatting with Jason Mraz. I do appreciate the time I get to spend behind the scenes and still am learning new things about how to have a great show, so when I was lucky enough to go “backstage” at two different establishments last week I took advantage....

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‘Tis the season for the giving of thanks. Some people at their family gatherings go around the table and tell exactly what they are thankful for. We’ve done it many times with my own family but yesterday, on Thanksgiving, as we congregated around in my grandmother’s dining room, we began the meal with a poignant and relevant proclamation by Abraham Lincoln from October 3, 1863.

On this day with this speech, President Lincoln set the precedent for the national holiday of Thanksgiving.�

In the words of our sixteenth president, he invites all the citizens of the United States, on this land, out to sea or in foreign lands, to reserve the last Thursday in November as a day to give thanks for all that we have in this country and to give thanks to a higher power, without whom none of this would be possible. President Lincoln asked us to offer ascriptions that are rightfully due for the blessings we receive and to ask the help of that higher power to preserve the peace, harmony, tranquility and union of...

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