Free Shakespeare in a park, and the Jags' last preseason night 🌴

Good morning, Southside! 🌴

Last weekend of August, and it turned out to be a good one. There is free outdoor theater running two nights straight with a different food truck each night, the Jaguars close out preseason at home on Friday, and San Marco has a free morning yoga class and a ten dollar jazz night on the same Saturday.

Quick favor: hit reply with your zip code (if you haven’t already!). Takes five seconds, tells me which corners of the Southside to dig into, and teaches your inbox that we belong in Primary.

Here's what's worth leaving the house for 👇

Let's get to it. -S

TOGETHER WITH THE CADY CLUB

San Marco has a two story coffee shop that turns into a wine bar at night, and most people still don't know it's there.
The Cady Club sits at 1015 Kings Ave in the old Cady Building, a 1930 photography studio. Downstairs is coffee from 7 in the morning, then beer, wine, and small bites into the evening. Upstairs is an event space people book for weddings, birthdays, and work parties. They're open until 10 Wednesday through Saturday and until 9 on Sunday, which makes them one of the few places on this side of the river you can still walk into at 8 on a Sunday night.
See what's on this week →

No money changed hands for this placement and this slot is free while we're small. Run a Jacksonville business? Get on the list →

Theatre in the Park: The Shakespearean Games
The City of Atlantic Beach and Lumen Repertory Theatre are doing a live mashup of Shakespeare's best scenes crossed with improv competition, outdoors, for free, two nights in a row. Bring a chair or a blanket, kids are welcome with an adult, and there's a food truck both nights so dinner is handled. This is the one to text a friend about. (Atlantic Beach, worth the drive.)Johansen Park, 1300 Seminole Rd, Atlantic Beach · Sat Aug 29 and Sun Aug 30, 6:00 PM · Free

[Fri] · 🏈 Jaguars vs Buccaneers
Preseason finale at EverBank, and the last chance to see this team at home before games start counting. The two clubs practiced against each other this week, so there's a little more edge on it than a normal August night. Tickets have been going for around $37. (Downtown, worth the drive.)

[Fri] · 🎶 RnBMostly: Summer's End
R&B from the 80s through now, slow jams and trap soul, in the Phoenix Arts District. It's billed as a send-off for the summer, the suggested look is sundresses and bright colors, and the room is one we've never put in here before. (Phoenix Arts District, worth the hop.)

[Sat] · 🧘 Free Yoga at Balis Park 📍San Marco
Yoga Den San Marco runs a free community class in the square on the last Saturday of every month, and this is that Saturday. One hour, outdoors, no charge, no sign-up. Bring a mat and get there a few minutes early.

[Sat] · 🧠 Empowering Gifted Minds Mini Conference
Four hours of plain-English workshops for parents trying to figure out gifted programs: how eligibility actually works, plus sessions on development, wellness, and life skills. Useful if your kid just started the school year and you're wondering what the testing means.

[Sat] · 🙌 The Joyful Noize Takeover with DJ Bryce G
A praise party at Murray Hill Theatre with a DJ, vendors, worship, and testimonies. All ages, doors at 4, parking is free. Not the usual Saturday night register, and that's the point. (Murray Hill, worth the hop.)

[Sat] · 🎷 Jazz Night at The Cady Club 📍San Marco
Ten dollars, and the wine tasting is included in it. Tasting starts at 6:30, the Ryan Dillahay Trio goes on at 7:30, and there are small bites and more drinks if you want them. Parking is free, which on Kings Ave is worth saying out loud.

[Sat] · ⛏️ Minecraft Rave
Three local DJs, drag performances from Stevie Deluxe, a themed photo wall, and open encouragement to show up in costume. Yes, it's a Minecraft party for grown-ups. 18 and up, 21 to drink. (Arlington, worth the hop.)

[Sun] · 🎭 Theatre in the Park, night two
Same free Shakespeare mashup as Saturday, second and final night, and the food truck changes: L&L Soft Serve does Saturday, Pura Vida Latin does Sunday. If Saturday is already spoken for, this is the same show with a better dinner.

[Mon] · 🪴 Plant Bingo at Tepeyolot Cerveceria 📍San Marco
Not technically the weekend, but it's Monday night in San Marco and everyone who doesn't win a round goes home with a plant anyway, so I'm counting it. Three rounds, doors at 7, free parking, all ages.

A few Jacksonville things worth knowing, minus the doom-scroll:

That's the weekend, Southside. Go do one thing off this list, then reply and tell me how it went.

See you next Thursday,
-S

The Southside Brief · San Marco to Mandarin, plus the best of Jax worth the drive · thesouthsidebrief.com