Moving to Jacksonville in August (Springfield, Memphis: real estate, apartment complexes, house)

[SJC2010]

I've seen many moving to Jacksonville post; however, none seem to address my questions.
I'm moving to JAX for Law School. I know some people look down upon the law school there; however, through my research I have found that outside of Harvard and the like, it does not really matter where you go, but more about your grades and whether you do mock trial, moot court and review, as well as other honor programs.

I have looked at the Coventry Park Apartments and wondered what the area around it was like. I drove around during the day and it seems like a nice area, but was wondering about safety and all that.

Another question I have is where do most people in their mid-20's tend to go? I know I will have very little time for nightlife because of law school, but on those rare occasions I can actually get out, what are the best night spots to meet people in their mid-20s as well as during the day?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[fsu813]

The most popular area for young professionals, in general, are the general Downtown nighborhoods (Riverside & Avondale, Springfield, San Marco) and certain pockets of the Beaches. Downtown itself also have a virgining nightlife district as well.

They all will have lots of young people, but in general i'd list them in this order or young professionals/things to do/nightlife:

Riverside & Avonale (by far)
San Marco
certain pockets of the Beaches
Springfield

There are some random apartment complexes on the Southside that have a concentration of younger people to, but hoe areas aren't physically laid out to encourage socialability (ie, people watching, bar hopping, congregating in a small area with lots of young people.

Check out Crags list and type in thpse neighborhoods, you'll get a ton of listings.

or use www.traditionsjax.com

&

www.atkinsonrealtygroup.com

which specialize in those neighborhoods near Downtown. This realty company (Dwellings: In-town neighborhood Real Estate Specialists / Jacksonville, FL) doesn't do rentas, but they have a good description of the neighborhoods on thier website.


If you'd like links to different bars, lounges, cafes, popular tings to do for younger people.....i have plenty

[SJC2010]

Thanks fsu813.

That'd be awesome if you could send me some of those links.
The only place that I heard of when I was visiting was whiskey river, is that any good, or is it more like a restaraunt hooter's style than a bar/nightspot?

[fsu813]

There are others too, but these will be popular with young professionals especially:

Kickbacks: Kickbacks Gastropub - Google Maps
(a bar's bar, kind of a neighborhood bard that attracts people from all over)

The Loft: theLOFT | Jacksonville (this place is new, and has a modern/minimalist/modern feel to it). Very metro.

Walkers: Walkers | Jacksonville (somewhat similar to The Loft, more of a warehouse look to it though)

The Brick: Brick Restaurant - Jacksonville, FL (a semi-upsacle restuarant with a good bar/social scene too. live music sometimes)

Mossfire: The Mossfire Grill (a casual resturant with a good social/bar scene, upstairs deck)

O' Brothers: O'Brothers Irish Pub (http://obrothers.food.officelive.com/default.aspx - broken link) (a good irish pub, has a local bar feel to it)

Orsay: Restaurant Orsay (a popular, contemporary restaurant with a trendy lounge/bar scene too)

Underbelly: jaxunderbelly (a hidden bar in the back of a retail store, Anomaly. artsy and alternative)

There are others in the Riverside & Avondale area too, but they are geared more towards an older crowd or young alternative crowds.

San Marco

Square one: MySpace - Square One - 30 - Female - JACKSONVILLE, Florida - myspace.com/squareonejax (a bar/club that has a very unpredictable feel - just depends on the night. live music sometimes, a nice upstairs lounge and pool tables)

Bisto Aix: Home (an upscale restaurant with an actibe social/bar scene as well)

The Grotto: ~~~~ The Grotto Wine Bar & Shoppe ~~~~ (an upper scale wine bar and lounge)

Matthews: Matthew's Restaurant | The Night starts at Matthew's (an upscale restaurant that can have a good social/bar scene on occasion)

Springfield

The Cellar @ Three Layers: Three Layers a Coffee House - Historic Springfield - Jacksonville, Florida (a popular coffee house with a nice bar too, can be casual or upscale, very eclcetic. live music and rotaing art showings.

Fusion: FUSION*art*wine*jazz* - FUSION (a contemporary wine and beer bar, slightly upscale, with live music sometimes)

Shanty Town: MySpace - Shantytown - 30 - Female - JACKSONVILLE, Florida - myspace.com/shantytownpub (definition of a neighborhood bar, very casual, live music, geared towards more alternative type crowd)

Downtown

Dos Gatos: Dos Gatos - Jacksonville's Swank Downtown Neighborhood Lounge (a california-style bar & lounge, very cool vibe)

Lit: Lit Downtown (a new bar with a contemporary, loft-type feel)

Poppy Love Smoke: MySpace - POPPYLOVESMOKE premium cigars, wines & shop/chill - 101 - Male - DOWN TOWN JACKSONVILLE!!!!, Florida - myspace.com/poppylovesmoke (a modern cigarbar & lounge, not frequented by older cigarbar types)

Marks: Marks Downtown - Jacksonville Nightclub - Home (a semi-upscale bar and danceclub, there is a dress code)

The Ivy: The Ivy Ultra Bar | MySpace (a bar/lounge with a sometimes used dance floor. nice mix of music, depending on the night. pool table too)

Twisted Martini: Downtown's Hottest Nightclub and Ultra Lounge in Jacksonville, Florida | The Twisted Martini (a bar/lounge/dance club, all types comes here)




Of these........

Kickbacks, Walkers, Orsay, Bistro Aix, The Cellar @ Three Layers, Fusion, Dos Gatos, and The Ivy are my favorites.

All of those are going to be with in 4 miles of eachother, or much closer (steps away), depending on the location of them. You can map them out if you like.

[fsu813]

yea whiskey river is like a disney bar fake

[fsquid]

Kickback's is simply the greatest place in the world.

[abvavgjoe]

I congratulate you on your your lofty asperations, however I'm not sure about your choice to move to Jacksonville. It may work out for you since you will need to spend a lot of time studying, but in my opinion this is not a great town for singles in their mid twenties.

Downtown itself also have a virgining nightlife district as well.

This is just plain comedy. Are you really serious? I've lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Dallas, Kansas City, St. Louis and San Diego. Downtown is dead and buried. Everybody knows that.

It's more of a southern (think GA), conservative minded family city. There are bars, but compared to other cities, it just doesn't compare. I don't know where you live now, but I'd try to find someplace a little more progressive and vibrant if I were you. Just my opinion.

[SJC2010]

Thanks Everyone.

Abvavgjoe,
I'm from Memphis, but I have spent the last couple of years in undergrad at a small school in the middle of nowhere but farm fields in North-western Indiana; so even a few bars with a dj is a step up from where my undergrad years have been spent, lol.

Another question I have that I forgot to post in my original post: Are there any adult soccer or sports leagues in Jacksonville?

[abvavgjoe]

I have looked at the Coventry Park Apartments and wondered what the area around it was like. I drove around during the day and it seems like a nice area, but was wondering about safety and all that.

That area is pretty good as far as I know. The biggest area you want to stay away from generally is the North side of town. Everything North of 10, Union and Arlington Expy and inside the loop. In fact,... just stay on the Southeast side of the river and avoid the entire Arlington area as well. That would be my advice. Ponte Vedra is as nice as it gets. You could kind of think of it this way. Northwest bad, Southeast good. The entire beach area is good as well. Hope that helps.

[fsu813]

abv doesn't know what he or she is talking about....not everyone is legit on city-data.