|
Subscribe | Get featured
It’s Friday, Jacksonville! Let’s finish this week strong.
In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: New YMCA CEO, Narcan training golf classic, and Pearl Square’s chef-driven Japanese restaurant + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Jacksonville protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.
|
📰 In the news
Experience and scale behind hire: The First Coast YMCA has named Darryl Head its next president and CEO, succeeding Eric Mann after 40 years of service. Head will join the association in early May — see his track record.
Honoring loss through prevention: A Jacksonville family turns grief into action with the A.No.V.E. Golf Classic at Queen’s Harbour on May 4, featuring Narcan training aboard JTA’s Safety on the Move bus — get all the details.
Once sleepy corridor reimagined: Downtown Jacksonville’s Pearl Square will welcome Vandeveer, a seven story building with 205 apartments and a chef driven modern Japanese restaurant from Indigo Road, with opening expected in 2026 — get all the project details.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Highlights this week:
|
💎 Local business spotlight
Stronger-than-storm decks: B&W Marine Construction builds stout, good‑looking decks, wood or composite, that stand up to salt air, summer downpours, and river life. Based in Jacksonville since 1981, they’re a smart call when railings creak and backyard dreams outgrow a tiny slab.
Seafood with river views: Julington Creek Fish Camp channels laid-back Jacksonville with fresh North Florida catches, crisp cocktails, and breezy St. Johns River views. Weeknight dinners feel like a mini vacation, thanks to sunset hues, friendly buzz, and plates that taste like the coast, right in the city.
Fresh art fix: If your walls are giving you the silent treatment, The Vault at 1930 keeps San Marco buzzing with approachable curators and a mix of local and regional artists. No snobbery, just beautiful work you’ll actually want to live with… pieces that might surprise you long after they’re hung.
These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.
|
🫶 We got your back
Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →
Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →
Thinning hair? Don’t treat the wrong thing: When my ponytail started thinning, I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, sprays, etc.) and not one of them lasted. Turns out, most products target the strand, not the follicle… and that’s the whole problem. Once follicles go dormant, they need targeted help to come back. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn about my favorites here →
Six figures you can’t spend: Most homeowners over 50 have spent years dutifully paying their mortgage, assuming the only time it’ll pay off is when they sell. I thought the same thing until I discovered you can tap into the equity you’ve earned whenever you want (without leaving your home). Overdue for a new roof? Want to build your dream bathroom? There are two ways to turn equity into usable cash →
|
📆 Around town this weekend
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
☘ Springfield St. Patrick’s Day @ Historic Springfield | Friday (3/13) at 5:30 PM – Skip the crowded bars and follow the rainbow to a Historic Springfield St. Patrick’s Day bash in the hidden H alley off West 4th near Pearl. Spade McQuade on tunes, food trucks, free family fun, and alleyway charm in every nook, cranny, and pint.
🧘 Sunset Yoga + Soundbath @ USS Orleck Naval Museum | Friday (3/13) at 7:00 PM – Whether your back has opinions or you want a sunset, stretch and exhale on the USS Orleck flight deck with Susan Kniseley Foy while Soundbath Jax rolls out the vibes. Guided flow, river views, moonrise, and zero burpees, a 75-minute reset under the open sky.
💃 Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown @ Jacoby Symphony Hall | Friday (3/13) at 7:30 PM – Think you still know all the words to Marvin and Diana? This Motown powerhouse brings live vocals, hooks, and all the hits, from Ain’t No Mountain High Enough to Dancing in the Street and Superstition. Call it cardio, call it therapy, you’ll move, nostalgia included.
❤ First Coast AIDS Walk @ A. Phillip Randolph Park | Saturday (3/14) at 10:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to make your steps count, here it is. Walk to fund IDs, documents, and life-stabilizing care for neighbors with HIV in Northeast Florida. We honor those lost, uplift those we serve, and stand for dignity, access, and compassion.
🌿 Julington Durbin Creek Preserve Spring 2026 Bioblitz @ Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve | Sunday (3/15) at 8:30 AM – Trade the scroll for a field guide and join a community bioblitz at Julington Durbin Creek Preserve. We’ll wander, log plants, birds, and fungi on iNaturalist, and pretend our kids taught us the app, all while doing real science, no degree required. Low-key, high payoff.
🍊 Orange Park Farmers’ & Arts Market @ Town Hall Park | Sunday (3/15) at 10:00 AM – Head to Town Hall Park for Clay County’s favorite, the Orange Park Farmers’ & Arts Market. First and third Sundays, September through June, expect real tomatoes, local art, and neighbors you’ve been meaning to run into, plus easy parking off US 17.
🌺 Jacksonville Orchid Show & Sale @ Mandarin Garden Club | Sunday (3/15) at 10:00 AM – Plant itch acting up? The Jacksonville Orchid Show brings gorgeous displays, AOS judging, and a sale packed with orchids, supplies, and all the fussy gear. Swing by, claim the free parking, and leave with something that thrives in our humidity, unlike your azaleas.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📻 Jacksonville report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 75°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny. High near 75, with temperatures falling to around 73 in the afternoon. East wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 5am. Mostly clear. Low around 57, with temperatures rising to around 58 overnight. Northeast wind 1 to 9 mph.
—
Tomorrow – High: 79°F – Low: 63°F – Precip: 10%
Patchy fog before 8am. Sunny. High near 79, with temperatures falling to around 76 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 2 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2am and 5am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
This house is wild
This gated riverfront compound on 2.2 acres in Mandarin offers deep water on Julington Creek and a remodeled Victorian with wraparound porch. Amenities include a pool, outdoor kitchen, playset. Dual docks, including an 800 sf Julington Creek dock in 6-9 feet, covered RV and boat parking with a 1,200 sf loft, plus a garage with upstairs suite.
Take a peek inside →
|
|
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
P.S. Did someone forward this to you? Click here to subscribe (it’s free)!
|
|
|
