Jaxplorations

This week's Jaxploration is Crazy Sushi. The first time I came to Crazy Sushi it was probably two years ago when a friend of mine, who is a Jax native, suggested it to me. It was an instant hit with me and I have been back more times than I can count. I do need to mention that I personally don't eat sushi, I'm definitely a fried rice person. However, I have brought many friends here, who are avid sushi eaters, and they all have loved the sushi. Here's why I love it. For one, it's a small and quaint restaurant that's never really packed. For two, you can't beat what you get for a great price. The serving sizes are huge and I always end up grabbing a box to take leftovers home (so really it's like two meals for one). The fried rice is also the best fried rice I've ever had that wasn't from a big name hibachi restaurant. Usually at locally owned asian restaurants the fried rice is just bleh. Not at Crazy Sushi. The fried rice is a literal moun...

This week's Jaxploration is all about the Jacksonville Humane Society and their Grand Reopening which took place over the weekend. If you've been to the Jacksonville Humane Society before, you probably remember the trailers and outdoor dog kennels. The humane society faced a devastating fire in 2007 and has been making recovery efforts ever since. Because the Humane Society does not receive any state or federal funding, this grand reopening truly is a time for celebration. They have completely remodeled their facility and it is almost unrecognizable. The new facility is over 50,000 square feet, with plenty of room for the animals in the AC.  There are multiple hallways of kennels for dogs and different rooms for cats and kittens. Two of the cat rooms have custom built cat tree towers.  All of these major facility improvements are going to help these pets find their new forever home. Having spaces for people to go to visit, play, and interact with the anima...

This week's Jaxploration is the coolest coffee shop I have come across in my time here in Jax - and I love going to coffee shops. Their menu includes over 60 different types of coffee, all freshly brewed. I tried a frozen espresso and my friend got a mint chocolate iced latte. I was really happy with my order because I like my coffee strong, and even though this was a frozen drink, which tend to be watery, my drink had a very strong coffee flavor. The Coffee Grinder has a very unique atmosphere. The music playing is not your standard elevator/coffee shop tune, but rather electro-pop that's more reminiscent of a club than a coffee house. Inside there are lots of couches and comfortable seating options, but you can also sit outside if you prefer. There is a flat screen TV inside playing the sports channel, and a fireplace underneath it. The walls are lined with the art of Amer Kobaslija, a Bosnian artist who paints in a unique perspective with exquisite detail. Other part...

Today's Jaxploration is about the artisanal donut shop Good Dough. Good Dough opened earlier this year serving homemade donuts and local coffee. Their donuts are made fresh in small batches throughout the day, so you can know that the donut you eat was made fresh and hasn't been sitting in a display case all day. They also utilize local ingredients, something they take pride in. Their coffee comes from Vagabond Coffee Company, a local coffee maker.  Good Dough has a variety of flavors of donuts, and some of them are pretty unique. This is because of the local ingredients they utilize. They also change their menu monthly, so it's a good idea to check their website to see what's available before you go. They usually have a few staples- like the Molly Ringwald, a raspberry glazed donut with sprinkles, and a Cardamom sugar donut. If you prefer a savory choice, they offer a few breakfast sandwiches, and yes, the bread is a donut. Their signature is the fried chi...

Today's Jaxploration is about Freedom Boat Club and their new location in Palm Valley. Earlier in the week they held their official ribbon cutting ceremony. The official opening date is November 1st. To promote the opening of the new location, Director of Dock Operations Kloe Thompson was on site giving free boat rides to people who were interested in the club. The Palm Valley location joins the Julington Creek and St. Augustine locations under the ownership of Kevin Seelig and Lisa Almeida.  Freedom Boat Club is a membership based club, but when they do events like this they are open to the public. The Freedom Boat Club is a stand out choice because they keep a small ratio of boats to members, meaning that every time ten new members join, they add another boat to their fleet. Freedom currently has 65 boats in Northeast Florida. As a member, you have unlimited access to the fleet of boats, which is a large variety. Freedom has pontoon boats, deck boats, bow riders...

Today's Jaxploration is about a brewery with a unique story. The Veterans United Craft Brewery opened its doors here in Jacksonville in August 2014 as an open taproom. The owner got into brewing beer when his wife bought a home brewing kit for him. He then took some classes about brewing to improve upon his newfound skills and interest. He had spent 12 years in the navy prior to opening up the brewery and his wife had served as well. Many of the investors who teamed up to open the brewery had also served as well. In addition, the majority of the employees at the brewery are veterans as well. Old war posters, propaganda, and military artifacts line the walls of the bar area. You will find a few very long high-top tables with bar stools to sit at, making for a very communal and inviting atmosphere. Adding to this atmosphere is a large shelf full of board games that customers can bring over to a table and play with their friends. On Saturdays you can take a tour at 1:30pm...