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By
Matt Mathrani
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Click on the link for a handy PDF version of our December 2008 Florida travel feature!
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Jacksonville is the bustling commercial hub of northeastern Florida, named by CNN as "a best place for gay men to retire." The many servicemen stationed here -- together with young, ambitious folk who flock here from many points -- keep things energized. Memorial Park offers peaceful walking paths and there are long expanses of nearby beachfront. Museums, galleries, shopping and monthly art fairs (first Wednesdays) are other local attractions. The city sprawls over a vast area, but the downtown's commercial district of high-rise towers is compact. The business district is just to the northeast of the Riverside area, home to most of the city's gay hot spots. For local gay news and bar events, pick up Out in the City.
A good place to begin your night on the town, Park Place Lounge
(931 King Street) is a neighborhood bar with a full-liquor license and hot bartenders. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the televised games, and there are pool tables and video machines. Open noon through 2 am, they have the longest happy hours in all of Jax, plus Thursday nights All You Can Drink specials. It's a great place to meet folks and get oriented. There's a package liquor store (with a drive-up window!) tucked within this successful enterprise.
Metro
(2929 Plum Street, at College and Willowbranch), voted Folio Weekly's favorite gay bar, is the largest gay entertainment complex between Atlanta and Orlando. Proprietors Jerry and Mike have taken this local favorite of 15 years to new heights. Busiest late-nights, the club's happy-hour crowd is building, too. Metro boasts seven service areas, each with its own atmosphere. Their Boom Boom Room is a state-of-the-art disco dance club, and the Rainbow Room piano bar features live vocalists. All the Jaguars' and college football games are on the screens here, and they have pool tables, video games and pinball, too. Downstairs in the Boiler Room men's bar the sexy male dancers add to the testosterone.
A renowned house cast performs at Metro, with visiting celebrities, drag shows, amateur nights and more. The crowd is mostly young and gay, but all are welcome. Sappho's, a women's bar with female dancers, and a full-service patio complete the roster. The club also offers an on-site package store for snacks, cigarettes and bottled liquor plus two gift shops.
In Cahoots
(711 Edison Avenue) is open Wednesday through Sundays. Thursday and Saturday are Urban Nights with hip-hop, R&B and house music. Thursday and Sunday nights bring drag shows, and on Friday nights there's male and female go-go dancers and no cover. It's a late, last-stop crowd coming here and they have popular monthly special parties such as the recent Pimps and Whores. Stacy and the gang celebrate their fourth anniversary December 4.
616
(616 Park Street) is a neighborhood bar, popular with Gator and Jaguar sports fans. There's Wednesday karaoke, and a big daily happy-hour crowd drawn by the great drink prices, from 4 pm and after midnight on weekends. Theme parties and a monthly t-dance with strippers on last Sundays are big draws.
AJ's Bar & Grill
(10244 Atlantic Boulevard) has pulled in a broad mix of folk for 11 years. They're open from 4 pm daily, with friendly nights of darts tournaments Wednesdays and karaoke Thursdays. Food here includes Angus burgers, wings, Philly cheese steaks, sandwiches and salads -- all served till 1:30 am.
Boot Rack Saloon
(4751 Lenox Avenue) is a men's cruise bar with a country-western theme, outdoor patio games and pool table. Norm
(2952 Roosevelt Boulevard) is a women's beer and wine bar.
Duval County's first gay bar, Bo's Coral Reef
(201 North 5th Avenue), is the only gay bar on Jacksonville Beach. They're open daily 2 pm to 2 am, with evening entertainment from Thursdays through Sundays (on Sunday and Thursday nights it's Bubbles and Le Roux) and dancing. On Wednesdays there's karaoke and free pool. Wings, burgers and fries are available until closing. It's but a block to the wide sand beach and Atlantic ocean waves, where local surfers do their thing just north of the pier.
North a bit on Main, Pearl
(1101 North Main) has a young, high-energy gay-friendly crowd for Thursday night dancing.
Dining and shopping
A new restaurant and art gallery in Riverside, Bungalow on Park
(2782 Park Street) is a great for lunch and weekend brunch, with dinner on Tuesdays.
At gay-friendly Kickbacks
(910 King Street), wings, burgers and a Jax cheese-steak sandwich are among the favorite fare at this funky sports bar. Serving from 7 am to 3 am, this "gastro-pub" offers breakfast at both ends of their day, with outdoor seating and live bands.
European Street Cafe
(2753 Park) is a popular lunch spot for sandwiches, gourmet soups, wine and beer. They offer custom-built gift baskets of fine cheeses, cookies and chocolates.
Fuel
(1037 Park) and Raglands
(1023 Park) are part of a gay-owned and straight-friendly multi-room entertainment complex. There are live bands, hip-hop shows, a full-service restaurant and tap room. At their coffee joint, there's free wi-fi, with computer terminals for rent.
Several interesting restaurants and stores are clustered around San Marco Square, near the statue of the lions. Among these is a new gay-owned shop Potes Design
(1670 Atlantic Boulevard), with unusual home-dŽcor items, art and gifts.
The Five Points district has an cluster of stylish restaurants, stores and cafes to check out. Here you'll also find Rainbows and Stars
(1046 Park Street), a pride store going strong for eight years with gifts, jewelry, posters, cards, magazines, t-shirts (made locally) and other accessories you won't find the likes of anywhere else between Orlando and Atlanta. The friendly guys here have great tips about the area, and you can shop online for their many items, including official IGRA and NGRA rodeo wear.
Steamy offerings
Just off Atlantic Avenue you'll find Club Jacksonville
(1939 Hendricks Avenue), behind the big Baptist church. This superlatively clean bathhouse has a whirlpool, steam room, and large heated indoor pool, complete exercise facility, snacks, a TV lounge and private sun deck. The Club is open 24 hours every day. Check their website for their online community resources and bar guide, plus upcoming events in Jacksonville and beyond.
Accommodations
Riverdale Inn
(1521 Riverside Avenue) is a gay-friendly establishment in Riverside that comes highly recommended. This beautiful, Victorian-style house boasts comfortable rooms, friendly staff, gourmet breakfast from 7:30 to 9 am, and is handy to the local bar scene and Five Points shopping area. The Row, on premises, serves award-winning cuisine, with dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5 pm and afternoon tea (with reservation) Fridays and Saturdays, 1 to 3 pm. Gum Bunch Pub offers fine spirits and Southern hospitality.
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