In addition to the spots recommended in this guide, check the listings in the "Shorelines" and "Go" sections of Friday's Florida Times-Union (www.jacksonville.com) and FolioWeekly (www.folioweekly.com), the free local alternative paper available all over town. Another source is www.jaxevents.com.

The Performing Arts -- Jacksonville has plenty of seats for concerts, touring Broadway shows, dance companies, and big-name performers at the 73,000-seat Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, at East Duval and Haines streets (tel. 904/630-3900); the 16,000-seat Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Phillip Randolph Blvd. (tel. 904/630-3900 for information, or 904/353-3309 for tickets); the 4,400-seat Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, 300 Water St., between Hogan and Pearl streets (tel. 904/630-3900); and the revitalized Ritz Theatre (tel. 904/632-5555). A good website of event listings is www.jaxevents.com. Call or check the sources above for what's playing.

The Bar Scene -- You will find several libation options downtown at Jacksonville Landing including, if you must, a waterfront Hooters (tel. 904/356-5400), plus free outdoor rock, blues, country, and jazz concerts every Friday and Saturday night, except during winter.

Out at Town Center, at the ocean end of Atlantic Boulevard, one of several popular spots is Ragtime Tavern & Taproom, where local groups play live jazz and blues Wednesday through Sunday nights. On weekends, especially, the place is really jumping and the crowd is young, but it's lively rather than rowdy. Across the street is the Sun Dog, 207 Atlantic Blvd. (tel. 904/241-8221; www.sundogjax.com), with nightly acoustic music and decent diner food. New to the Town Center in 2010 is Whisky River, 4850 Big Island Dr. (tel. 904/645-5571; www.thewhiskyriver.com), a brand-new restaurant and live music venue owned and operated by NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr. If these don't fit your mood, walk around Town Center until you find something you like.

Freebird Live, 200 N. 1st St. (tel. 904/246-2473; www.freebirdlive.com), is a two-story homage to native Jacksonville band Lynyrd Skynyrd, run by late lead singer Ronnie Van Zant's widow and his daughter, and featuring live music 6 nights a week.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.