Bold City Best 2015

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 THE TIMES-UNION • 3
Bold city.
Bold winners.
Jacksonville hard to beat … no matter the category
Bob.Self@jacksonville.com
Folks in this “Bold City’’ are not
shy when it comes to sharing
their bold tastes.
Votes were cast in 134 categories
in the inaugural Bold City Best
competition, presented by
Jacksonville.com.
But, before we fast-forward to the
Bold winners for 2015, let’s take a
brief look back at how Jacksonville
became a “Bold City.’’
The story begins in the mid-1960s
when rapid urban sprawling sent
many residents away from central
urban areas and out of downtown
Jacksonville. As the city’s tax
base scattered, there was also an
outbreak of corruption among city
officials. This paved the way for a
consolidation of Jacksonville and
Duval County.
On Oct. 1, 1968, a new border
was established at Florida 13
and Julington Creek, making
Jacksonville the largest city by land
mass in the continental United
States. Mayor Hans Tanzler added a
sign at the new Jacksonville boarder
that boasted, “Bold New City of the
South.”
Today, Jacksonville is still the
largest city by land mass (747 square
miles) and definitely a bolder city
with many things to offer. The
region is continually expanding
with new suburban neighborhoods
and the simultaneous development
of downtown. However, the city still
preserves the small-town charm
that originally made it so popular
with tourists and residents alike.
Jacksonville is a city that knows
how to have a good time. The
First Coast is recognized for a
host of exciting events, including
the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars at
EverBank Field, THE PLAYERS
Championship, the Riverside Arts
Market, and (spoiler alert) Florida
Country Superfest — voted Bold
City Best Concert/Event.
In this inaugural guide, we
have your official 2015 Bold City
Best winners. These selections
were made by locals for locals and
visitors alike — for things to do and
places to be; cuisine and cocktails;
homes and finance; health and
well-being; homes and professional
services; shopping; auto; and
people, faces and places of Jax.
Along with the comprehensive
listing of your favorites, we’ve
spotlighted our overall highest vote
earner; the winner of the Apple
Watch Giveaway grand prize; and
an exciting bash celebrating all the
Bold City Best winners!