Best of Jacksonville Party

You have to love whenever the best get together in any category - whether it be sports, music, and in this case...FOOD. On Thursday, January 28th from 6p to 8:30p, MOCA (Jacksonville's Museum of Contemporary Art) will be hosting the 7th Annual Jacksonville Scene Magazine's Best of JAX event. This is where the best area restaurants serve select tapas-sized portions of a dish of their choice - typically off the restaurant menu.

I was in attendance at the 2009 Best of JAX Party as this was the very first GNO (Girls Night Out) event - I'll tell you more about that at another time. I must say, I do enjoy whenever MOCA hosts these types of events. I think it's a great venue with the three floors they open up to the hoards of people. It can get pretty crowded, but the museum set-up along with the flights of stairs help the flow of the crowd (plus you get to burn some of the calories you're taking in, ha).

There is a lot going on, so I suggest you get there early. You'll want to try almost everything. It's like having a 24-course meal as the dishes offered include salads, appetizers, entrees and dessert! They even have some venues serving alcohol (and if that's not enough, they do have beverages available to purchase).

It looks like they will be having the Jacksonville Scene Cover Model Search again this year. What a fun aspect of this event! On one side you can take group pictures which may be featured IN the Jacksonvlle Scene Magazine and on the other side, you have the chance of being ON the cover of the magazine. One of the girls we were with last year, Chieu, was in the running and had a taste of the runway as a result! Also this year,there will be an after party which I think is a great addition.

They are limiting the number of tickets sold this year, so buy them in advance online. Plus, it's cheaper to buy in advance ($35 versus $40 at the door).

2010 Best of Jacksonville Party
Thursday, January 28 @ 6pm
MOCA Jacksonville, 333 N. Laura St., Downtown
http://www.jacksonvillemag.com/

BITE CLUB

I had the privilege of attending the Bite Club's first event at Culhanes. I must say, this is a great idea and wonderful way to try different restaurants out in the Jacksonville area. I heard many people say they typically wouldn't go to Culhanes because they didn't live or work near the Jacksonville Beaches. Whereas, I've been to Culhanes, but would have never thought to try some of their gastro-pub dishes. See...Culhanes is an Irish pub and, don't get me wrong, their Irish dishes are DELICIOUS, but who thinks to order seared ahi tuna, crab cakes, or lamb sliders at an Irish pub?! It was great of Culhanes to host and it was even better being able to interact with one of the four sisters who owns the place (they are all actually Irish)! I encourage all foodies to follow this girl's blog, Ashlee Wethrington and, at the very least, sign up to be a part of the Bite Club (at no cost!). Oh! And it's not like fight club...you CAN talk about it...so, SPREAD THE WORD!!

IMPACTjax

IMPACTjax is a young professional program of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce who serves as a network of those who currently, or are looking to, live or work in the Jacksonville area. They have over 600, 21 to 40-year-olds. They are made up of a few committees whose goal is to:
1. Grow thru the Professional Development Committee;
2. Connect thru the Social & Cultural Committee;
3. Interact thru the Service & Giving Committee;
4. Voice thru the Government Affairs Committee.

I have been a member of IMPACTjax for almost a year now. I must say it's a great, low-pressure way to meet new people. They typically meet at a different venue once a month through the Social & Cultural Committee. I particulary enjoy being involved in some of the Service & Giving Committee events and I recently attended the IMPACTjax Holiday Party which was at the Omni Hotel this year. This was probably the most members I've seen in attendance at one event. Great opportunity for networking while benefiting a charity (they asked for a $10 donation of a Walmart gift card or cash to go towards the Safe Harbor Boys Home).

Check out their Facebook or homepage for more info!!

SANTA CON!

Okay. So my ex-co-worker/friend/neighbor, Lisa, just told me about this event...SantaCon (short for Santa Convention). It's where everyone gets together and dresses up in a Santa suit (or your interpretation thereof), no exceptions. Once suited, you get together at a designated spot in your city and thus begins the SantaCon adventure. It started in San Francisco in 1994 and now it happens all around the world! Sounds like fun, right? It gets better...in most of the major cities (including our own J-ville) the Santas get together for a pub crawl! Check out the Jacksonville-based SantaCon Facebook page for more details.

If this sounds like your thing, keep in mind the following:
1. Bring gifts! Naughty ones for the adults; nice ones for the kids (although I don't know how many kids will be out at 10pm on a Saturday night).
2. Pay for your drinks as soon as you get them. The SantaCon website brings up a good point, I'm sure it's a pain having to wait on other Santas to close tabs out while the reindeers are waiting (cash tabs are encouraged).

There are other tips and tricks, but the basic "FOUR F**KS OF SANTACON" are:
1. Don't f**k with kids
2. Don't f**k with cops
3. Don't f**k with security
4. Don't f**k with Santa. (it's okay to f**k Santa)


SantaCon
Jacksonville, FL
December 12, 2009
Sleigh ride begins @ 10pm
Check the local FB page for details

YES YOU CANVAS!

I had the opportunity to visit Yes You Canvas! for the first time to celebrate my best friend and roommate's 29th birthday. I have to say, it was a great venue for a group. It would make a fun date, too! The artist/instructor, David Durrett, is very patient and accommodating (he stayed about half an hour after everyone else left to help one of my perfectionist friends with her painting). You could probably check out the website to get the detail, but the gist of the workings behind it are as follows.

1. Check out the calendar online to make a reservation.
   
2. Pick a painting you like (everyone paints the same thing) on a day that works for you and your crew.
3. Reserve your seat by making a payment online (cost is only $35 plus tax and includes the canvas).
4. Grab your snacks and wine before your class (I suggest getting there at least 15-30 minutes early to get situated - station set-up, smocks on, and wine poured). Adult night classes typically start at 7pm. Plan to stick around at least 3 hours - this depends on how involved the painting you picked is (again, details are on the website). We brought a cooler, but they have a mini-fridge you can use.
5. GET YOUR PAINT ON!

I had never painted on canvas before my first visit here (I keep saying first because I plan on making multiple visits!). I think no matter your artistic level, you will definitely surprise yourself!

http://www.yesyoucanvas.com/

Lakewood Shopping Center
6012 San Jose Boulevard
(904) 993-9047
Contact: David Durrett
mail@YesYouCanvas.com