By: Jasper Rosas

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In recent years, Eleven South Bistro has become one of Jacksonville Beach’s most decorated fine dining restaurants. Known for their seasonally inspired world cuisine, relaxed atmosphere, and top-notch service, Eleven South is sure to deliver a memorable experience for lunch, dinner, or any special occasion.  

The main appeal behind Eleven South is their creative menu and extraordinary drink options. The kitchen is always focused on high-quality ingredients and bold flavors, and their signature items are some of the bests you can find in all of Jacksonville. Their award-winning wine selection and handcrafted cocktails encapsulate the full dining experience of Eleven South. 

Eleven South has struck a perfect balance between casual elegance and lively energy through their service to create a unique dining experience for a restaurant in a beach town. Guests always comment on the welcoming staff that helps elevate the overall experience.  

The staff sees itself as one big family and frequently gets together outside of scheduled hours, further creating a great camaraderie which shows in their work. With their dedication to flavor, high quality service, and great sense of community, Eleven South will always be a must-visit location for locals or those visiting the Jacksonville Beach area. 

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By: Richard Spearman

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Habitat for Humanity– Is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to building and improving affordable housing for families in need. Founded in 1976, the organization operates in communities all over the world, guided by the belief that everyone deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. Habitat partners with volunteers, donors, and future homeowners to construct or repair homes, often relying on donated materials and labor to keep costs low.  

One of the unique aspects of Habitat’s approach is its model of “sweat equity.” Speaking to Lauren Edwards, she explained what sweat equity is and what it means for the homeowner,  

 “So, our biggest part is to involve the community and involve the neighbors, so when a family partners with us to build a home, they put 300 hours of sweat equity, so they are putting their hands on their home as well. The ones in the dark blue shirts are our future homeowners on site”.  

Habitat also offers affordable mortgage options to make homeownership sustainable for low-income families. Beyond construction, the organization advocates better housing policies and provides training in financial literacy, home maintenance, and community development.  

Volunteers are at the heart of Habitat for Humanity’s success. People of all ages and backgrounds come together to build homes, raise funds, or assist with administrative work. Many volunteers take part in construction projects, even if they have no prior building experience.  

On construction day, the volunteers are friendly and work together to get the job done. They can’t build a home trying to outdo each other. They have to work together to get it done but also lean on each other.  

Janet Spratley, a volunteer with Habitat for six years, spoke about the teamwork energy she experienced since working with Habitat. “The teamwork here is outstanding. The staff here and the faculty who work with everyone in conjunction, whether they’re from the office or in the field, they’re good at coordinating these many volunteers and everyone knows their role.” 

Speaking with the volunteers highlighted how the homes are not just built with hammers and nails but built with love and the experience of building with a homeowner.  

“Just the pride and the joy of ‘I’ve done this, and this is going to be my home for me, for my family, for my kids,’” said Jane Spratley. 

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By: Alex Barnhart

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Next to the Walmart Supercenter in St. Augustine, a hidden gem sits inside Mall 2121 off U.S. Highway 1. The Coconut Barrel, one of the city’s largest artisan markets and houses more than 200 local vendors, providing creatives with a space to showcase and sell their items. 

The artisan market is open six days a week — every day but Monday — and offers residents and visitors a chance to view unique creations and purchase one-of-a-kind gifts. 

Founded in 2018 by Kori Smith, the Coconut Barrel became a place for her to sell her own crafts. It soon became a platform for many other small business owners as well, but the artisan market is much more than a platform for artists.  

For Cheryl Gorecki, store associate and vendor, the Coconut Barrel is her “happy place.” It’s a place for her to unleash her creativity and connect with others in the process. 

“I find great enjoyment in making handmade things. The best part is making them for somebody to be able to give to them or to just give from my heart,” Gorecki said. 

The Coconut Barrel’s combination of local creativity and innovation makes it more than just another farmers’ market or craft fair. Gorecki says, “You’re not going to find the same things that we have here anywhere else. These are all unique, creative and handmade.” 

Smith says she felt led by God to open the artisan market. She was unsure about the right type of store to pursue, and she remembers clearly feeling the vision of a “craft mall” being impressed upon her. At the time, she did not even know what it was, unsure of what exactly to do next. Seven years later, the vision has become a concrete reality at the Coconut Barrel. 

As a way to connect with the community, Smith has set up a prayer wall on one of the walls in the Coconut Barrel for all visitors to write out their prayers and praises. Smith says, “We pray over those … It’s just a special thing we have for everyone.” 

Personal connections are essential at the Coconut Barrel. Smith made people a priority from the first day the doors opened. She said, “When I open my store, I’m going to make sure we always greet people … It’s one of our main focuses.” 

The Coconut Barrel has seen some changes over the past seven years. Vendors cycle through frequently, new items populate the shelves, and even the store location has switched, from a large warehouse on Anastasia Island to its current address at Mall 2121, yet one thing that hasn’t changed is the vendor’s dedication to careful craftsmanship. The store is packed to the brim with talented painters, glass workers, sewists and many other creators. 

Lynn Martin creates beautiful works from shattered glass. Cheryl Gorecki sews pretty and practical pieces for everyday use, like hats, bags and bowl warmers. Laura O’Kelly works with a variety of mediums, including acrylic paint, watercolors and glass, to design stunning, beachy-themed decor. And these are just a few of Coconut Barrel’s artisans. 

Visitors can find these vendors and nearly 200 others at the indoor Mall 2121, where they will be greeted with a smile. 

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