By: Bela Sparks

For those interested in making dance classes part of their routine, a modest studio in Fleming Island is proud to welcome adults who want to learn to dance. Arts on the Edge studio is run by a talented staff, passionate about teaching those who may have never danced or are returning after years away from the floor.  

Arts on the Edge is owned by Andrea Toledo, Jenne Vermes, and Sean Mansfield after they purchased it from the previous owners in 2022. There is a weekly adult class schedule, with a rotating style each week on Wednesday and tap classes every Wednesday and Thursday night. Students have the option to bundle class passes or even drop in on select classes when their schedules are packed. Jenne Vermes said she loves teaching the adults, although they “have very crazy schedules, so when they come back, it’s not always consistent, and that’s okay.” 

At the heart of the studio lies the open-door philosophy and an emphasis on helping dancers strengthen their skills no matter their level. Sean Mansfield shared his journey into the Tap Dance World and spoke about how he was first interested in tapping when he was 33 after seeing a performance that Vermes was a part of. He did not have a background in tap, but he had just started dancing and is now a touring professional with Noise Complaint and a teacher at Arts on the Edge Studio at 42.  

Classes are structured to help dancers at every stage in their journeys. Many of the students are finding a new way to reconnect with their bodies and learn a new skill that challenges them. Vermes said that the most rewarding part of teaching adults is the fact that they all have different schedules, backgrounds, and challenges that make them progress at unique levels. She tells all her students, “This is the room where you are allowed to be terrible at things, this is the room where it’s ok to suck at stuff, like please come in here and just be bad at the things I’m giving you.” The studio wants every student to leave feeling accomplished and like they had fun learning a new skill.  

Arts on the Edge studio is always welcoming more students to join them in their weekly classes. For more information on registration, fees, or any other inquiries, visit the website or stop by to meet the staff. No experience is necessary, just the confidence to try something new.  

By: Kaleb Stowell

For the last 15 years, every Saturday, rain, sleet, or shine, a lively arts market pops up in the morning under the western end of the Fuller-Warren Bridge in Jacksonville, the Riverside Arts Market. The Riverside Arts Market is provided by the Riverside Avondale Preservation, a group dedicated to maintaining and preserving the Riverside area.  

The Riverside Arts Market provides a place for local vendors and farmers to sell their homemade goods. The Arts Market provides many different commodities, such as produce, bread, condiments, apparel, jewelry, paintings, and more.  

The Arts Market also provides food service in the form of local food trucks from all over Northeast Florida. Each serving a distinctly unique style of cuisine for customers to enjoy, from Soul food to Korean food, there is something for everyone. 

The Market offers a place for those of all ages to come and hangout. The atmosphere is jovial and fun, and everybody who is there always seems to be in high spirits. The vendors are accommodating and happy to talk about their products, and they hold the market itself in high esteem, some claiming that the culture of Riverside itself is what brings them back week after week. 

Chloe Kuhn, the Director of the Riverside Arts Market at the Riverside Avondale Preservation said that the market is always looking to bring new and unique vendors to the Market, as they want to have a wide variety of goods offered so that all visitors can find something they like. For those interested in becoming vendors themselves, the Riverside Avondale Preservation offers an application program to become a vendor at the Arts Market, you can find it at their website, riversideavondale.org.  

By: Hadlee Reichart

The charm of Angie’s extends beyond its generosity. Walking inside, customers are met with a fun and funky atmosphere, with walls covered in memorabilia that tell a story of tradition and community spirit. The staff—many of them local high school students—help create a friendly and familiar experience, making every visit feel personal. 

For Jacksonville locals, Angie’s is more than a sub shop—it’s a gathering place, a symbol of support, and a reflection of the community itself. Whether stopping by for a meal or joining in on one of their charitable efforts, customers know they’re part of something bigger. 

As Angie’s continues its legacy of serving both food and the community, one thing is certain: it’s not just the subs that keep people coming back—it’s the sense of home and belonging that makes this Jacksonville staple truly special.