Category Archives: Arts & Culture

Four Local Writers, Three Crime Stories and One Special Event

Amelia Island Writers presents a special event – When Crime Meets Truth and Imagination – [...]

It’s Time for Wildflowers — and Magic

  By Lauri deGaris This time of year, there is no surer sign of spring [...]

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Local Actress/Film Producer Nominated for Award

By Wilma Allen This Sunday, Amelia Islander Sinda Nichols will be rubbing elbows with stars [...]

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A Tale of Whales, Healing and the Beach Lady

By Lauri deGaris I am grateful to have known The Beach Lady of American Beach, MaVynne [...]

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Bill Birdsong: Through His Lens, He Teaches a Love of Nature

  By Dylan Bailey In the realm of photography, there are those who capture moments, [...]

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Is This Your Year to Write a Book?

Has anyone ever said to you, “You should write a book about that?” Is 2024 [...]

How to Pitch Your Novel

The Amelia Island Writers are presenting a free workshop on pitching an idea for a [...]

“Billy” Star is Only Second Girl in the World

Julia Taylor is appearing as Billy in “Billy Elliot the Musical” (BETM) in Fernandina Beach, [...]

The Big Spring Book Sale Is Coming in March

The Friends of the Fernandina Beach Library’s Spring Book Sale will be held March 20-23 [...]

Billy Elliot, the Musical, Coming to ACT Next Month

Amelia Community Theatre opens “Billy Elliot: The Musical” on Feb. 9 at 207 Cedar St. [...]

A New Book for a New Festival of Stories and Songs

By Wilma Allen Release of the new book, “Life on American Beach: Voices from Within,” [...]

Up Close and Personal: A Rush to Watch Whales Near Shore

By Lauri deGaris In my mind, few things are more exciting than receiving news about [...]

Renowned American Impressionist Eric Jacobsen to Host Workshop

By Dylan Bailey In the art world, the name Eric Jacobsen holds a significant place. [...]

‘Once Upon a Time in Florida’ Literary Luncheon

  By Marla McDaniel From editor and writer Jacki Levine and the University of Florida [...]

‘Becoming Dr. Ruth:’ Many Laughs for People of a Certain Age

Jill Dillingham of Amelia Musical Playhouse, first gave the script of “Becoming Dr. Ruth” to [...]

Amelia Chamber Season to Start with ‘Rhapsody in Blue’

By Wilma Allen Pianist William Ransom will take the stage Sunday, Jan. 14, at 5 [...]

Pelorus Jack: Part Two of a Whale of a Story

This article is part of a series of 10 appearing every other Monday in the [...]

La Boheme Coming to Amelia Island Stage

By Wilma Allen La Boheme, among the most popular operas of all time, will be [...]

Winter Solstice: a Universal Celebration

By Lauri deGaris December 21, 2023, marks the astronomical beginning of winter. Mother Earth’s north [...]

New Story-telling Festival Headlined by Carl Hiaasen

By Wilma Allen If he’s as funny on stage as he is on the page, [...]

Symphony Bus Trips Available Again

Amelia Residents in Action for the Symphony for many seasons co-sponsored bus transportation to Jacksonville [...]

Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play at ACT

Santa gets his day in court as Amelia Community Theatre presents “Miracle on 34th Street: [...]

Oh, Peg Leg Pete! Your Future Hangs in the Balance

By Mike PhillipsThe Fernandina Beach Historic District Council was surprised to find Peg Leg Pete [...]

Have You Noticed? Amelia Is Becoming ‘Music Island’

By Wilma AllenGoogle “Music City” and you will find Nashville, Tennessee. Google “Music Island” and [...]

Dickens on Centre Plans Just Keep Getting Better

By Dylan Bailey Dickens on Centre, an enchanting holiday event on Amelia Island, has been [...]

Symphony Ensemble to Focus on Harp and Violin

By Julia McDermott A performance by Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra musicians, punctuated with an intermission and [...]

Commentary: The Wise Know What They Don’t Know

By Linda Hart Green I don’t like to admit I was a know-it-all in school. [...]

Library Book Club to Discuss Woolf Classic

The Friends of the Library Book Club will discuss Virginia Woolf’s classic novel “To the [...]

A Spooky Opera at Disco Witch Brewing

  By Wilma Allen If you’re an opera buff thirsting for music close to home, [...]

Baskets: Nature’s Gift to Hold Nature’s Harvest

By Lauri deGaris It is time to gather the gifts of summer, it is time [...]

The Language of Trees Gladdens Human Hearts

By Linda Hart Green I grew up with “sand between my toes,” as my parents [...]

ACT’s 43rd Opens With a Classic Family Comedy

Amelia Community Theatre opens its 43rd season with  the family comedy “Over the River and [...]

Got Empty Shelves? The Fall Book Sale is Coming Up

Dust off your backpack, carry-all or little red wagon: the Friends of the Fernandina Beach [...]

Arts Alive Is Cranking Up in Nassau Schools

By Wilma Allen Starting next week, hundreds of local kids will be raising their paint [...]

Bartram Garden Club to hold ‘Welcome Back’ Meeting

The Bartram Garden Club is holding a Welcome Back Coffee and Tea at the GFWC [...]

Child Book Authors at Book Loft Sept. 2

Child book authors Frank and Rose Winn are a father-daughter team who will be at [...]

Book Fest: A Famous Chef and a Funny Southern Cook

The Amelia Island Book Festival guests for its 2023 fall luncheon are the celebrated French [...]

Fifth Annual Dance Season Set, Tickets Going Fast

By Wilma Allen Thanks to enthusiastic audiences and sold-out performances in its first four seasons, [...]

Only in Fernandina Beach: The Eclectic Band Sonofarious

Scott Kessler, Marcus Yew. Bottom: Brenda Kayne, Nora Wittman, Munsell McPhillips By Wilma Allen With [...]

Lecture on the Slave Ship Antelope

The Amelia Island Museum of History will host Dr. Jonathan Bryant’s presentation “Dark Places of [...]

Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ on Stage as Live Musical at ACT

By L. McClane Amelia Community Theatre opens “9 to 5: The Musical” on August 11 [...]

An Artist’s Tale: Finding Her Calling

By Dylan BaileyTricia Faulkner’s tale is an inspiring story of self-discovery, resilience, and artistic brilliance. [...]

Arts in the Marsh — Last-Minute Thrill

Are you looking for a unique arts experience surrounded by nature? Then you must visit [...]

Birdsong Photo Presentation Coming Up

The Amelia Island Museum of History will host Bill Birdsong’s presentation “Photography on Our Greenway” [...]

A celebration of Southern Grassroots Music

By Lauri deGaris Recently, a good friend of almost 40 years gifted me an LP [...]

Dance Superstar to Perform ‘The First Set’ July 13

By Wilma Allen If you’re looking for some world-class musical thrills and excitement this summer [...]

Dance Festival: Tap, Vocals and Jazz

Tap dancer and singer John Manzari is bringing his show The First Set to the [...]

Author Kevin Powers Coming to Book Loft

  National Book Award Finalist Kevin Powers, author of “The Yellow Birds,” is coming to [...]

The Game’s Afoot at Amelia Community Theatre

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson travel to the moors of Devonshire for their latest case [...]

Aloha Bagel Is a Feast for More Than Your Eyes

By Dylan Bailey Aloha Bagel and Deli made waves when it opened its doors in [...]

Hofbrau Amelia: Real German? Ja! Recommended? Jawohl!

By Dylan Bailey Hofbrau Amelia is Fernandina’s only German pub and biergarten. My question now [...]

Art Auction to Support Police Good Works

The Fernandina Beach Police Foundation (FBPF) is holding a ticketed VIP art auction to benefit [...]

Author to Speak on Florida in WWII

A presentation called “War in Paradise: World War II in Florida” will be at 6 [...]

Casual Chamber Concert With a Norwegian Flair

Join the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival (AICMF) 5 p.m. April 16 for a fun-filled [...]

Pulitzer-Winning ‘Proof’ Opens Here April 14

By Linda McClane The award-winning drama “Proof” opens April 14 at Amelia Community Theatre. The [...]

Review: New Cuban Bistro Off to a Delicious Start

By Dylan Bailey When I heard Amelia Island was welcoming another Cuban restaurant, I was [...]

Review: Fill Up at T-Ray’s

  By Dylan Bailey On the corner of Beech Street and Eighth Street, lies an [...]

Daniil Trifonov, Acclaimed Pianist, Here April 1

The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival (AICMF) presents Daniil Trifonov, on Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at [...]

Old Town Home Tour April 8, 10-4

By Jennifer Harrison Old Town Fernadina was the last Spanish town platted in the New [...]

Review: Wickedly Good Wicked BAO

By Dylan Bailey Down an unassuming street in Fernandina Beach, lives a restaurant you won’t [...]

Garden Club to Present “Down the Rabbit Hole” Flower Show

  The Bartram Garden Club of Amelia will present Down the Rabbit Hole, a National Garden [...]

Review – Peach Cobbler Factory

By Dylan Bailey It’s always exciting when a new restaurant opens on Amelia Island. And [...]

How Fernandina Beach Came to Be Restored

The Amelia Island Museum of History will present a lecture by Buddy Jacobs on the [...]

Calling All Quilt-Lovers, ‘Quilts by the Sea’ Is This Weekend

The Amelia Island Quilt Guild’s triennial quilt show, Quilts by the Sea, will be this [...]

Restaurant Review: a Hidden Gem the Tourists Haven’t Found

By Dylan Bailey I have lived around the Amelia Island area for more than 15 [...]

A Bash to Kick Off Concours

CarCoterie hosts The Hangar, on March 4, as a kick-off to the widely attended Concours [...]

Interview: Story & Song Bookstore Bistro

By Dylan Bailey I was given the opportunity to interview Donna Kaufman, who is the [...]

Amelia Community Theatre Presents “Clue”

It’s a dark and stormy night in 1954, as invited guests arrive at the foreboding [...]

Restaurant Review: The Old/New Crab Trap Is a Delight

By Dylan Bailey The Crab Trap, at 31 N. 2nd St., was long a staple [...]

More Than a Concert: A Bridge for Peace

The 22nd season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival continues with a timely performance on Tuesday, Jan. [...]

No More Crepes, but a Good New Restaurant

Editor’s Note: The author is our new restaurant and culture writer. Think that’s an odd [...]

Chamber Music Festival Opening Is Coming Up

The 22nd season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival will open on Friday, Jan. 13 with a [...]

Exhibit of Amelia Excavations — Plus Lecture on Big Talbot Digs

Stories Underground highlights significant archaeological excavations on Amelia Island, from crude 19th-century explorations of native burial [...]

A Big Saturday Coming Up

Dec.10 in Fernandina Beach will be big. Not only will both the Market Place farmers [...]

It Came from the Attic: A Community Show and Tell Event

For lovers of old objects and photographs, the joy comes more from the story behind [...]