SOURCEBOOK 2011

A 360° view of the region

Your Essential Guide to Life in theRiver City

A few weeks ago I received an email from an editor of an in-flight magazine published by a major airline. He informed me he was coming to town to write a travel feature on the city. Having never been here before, he was in need of some direction before touching down at JIA. It’s not uncommon for us to receive such inquiries, so I replied that Jacksonville Magazine was ready and eager to provide him with whatever guidance he desired.

He was in search of the typical visitor essentials—places to stay, things to see and do, where to eat and what not to miss. We have been churning out magazines on those subjects for nearly 30 years now, so I let him know we could take care of him and provide enough information and ideas to fill a few dozen articles about the River City and her surrounding communities. Gathering that kind of info is what we do every month. Helping an interested out-of-towner with a request of this kind was a breeze.

Last year I exchanged several phone calls and emails with producers of the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. They wanted the scoop on local restaurants, particularly those that fit the theme of their show. Tasty eats, both cheap and expensive, are featured in practically every edition of Jax Mag. So, giving a crew from Hollywood a few ideas to chew on didn’t require much effort on our part.

Over the last several years I have received all sorts of similar requests. Dozens of magazines have reached out to us for the skinny on Northeast Florida. And numerous TV production companies have called, as well as others looking to shoot movies in the region. On a couple of occasions I have picked up the phone only to be greeted by the question, “Are there any hot bachelors in Jacksonville?” My response usually begins with the explanation that, while I appreciate the confidence placed in my ability to decide who is “hot” and who is not, I may not be the best person to make such judgments. But I give the producers of The Bachelor credit for their due diligence. And, I have to admit that, with the help of the staff and friends, we have provided a few candidates for the show.

Of course, our suggestions aren’t always accepted. Everybody has different tastes and opinions, and there’s something to be said for a person who comes to town with fresh eyes and few preconceptions. But I take it as a feather in our cap that so many people outside the city limits view us as a go-to authority on the area.

While each month’s edition of the magazine is stuffed with details about life in Jacksonville—and how to perhaps live it better—July is when we really pour it on. Our staff learns more about the city putting together this edition than at any other time of the year. The SourceBook is assembled to be completely different than a typical issue. Gone are the normal features such as the party pictures and department articles. In their places, we assemble page after page of regional insights and information. Some of it may be old news to you. However, I believe much of it will be new and useful for many months to come, whether you have lived in the area for years or have only recently arrived.

Thanks for reading. See you next month. And I’ll let you know the next time we’re in search of hot bachelors.