As you may have guessed from my previous posts, (like most people these days), I wear many, many hats. One of my favorite roles (and most challenging, of course), is playing Mommy to a three-year-old little girl. Fortunately, Jacksonville is a great city to raise a family - there are always so many new, fun things to do!
One question that I consistently hear from parents is "where can I take my kids to eat in Jacksonville?" This can be especially challenging for parents with children under four. So if you're new in town, or just new to the parenting gig, (with the help of a few friends), I have created a list of the best kid-friendly, parent-approved restaurants in Jacksonville.
Some of you may be asking "What are the parameters for a "good" kid-friendly restaurant"?
Here are the qualifications:
For the kids - entertaining atmosphere (a bit on the louder side, just in case you have a crying baby in tow), highchairs and booster seats available, kids menu with lots of choices, coloring & activity sheets and extra activities for the kids is a big bonus.
For the parents: lively atmosphere, alcohol and/or beer and wine readily available, convenient location, great food, clean bathrooms with changing tables, kids menu with healthy options and reasonably priced.
So grab the kids and get ready for a fun-filled family night out with these tasty local eateries (in no particular order):
1) Taverna Yamas - (Greek/Mediterranean) This is the "go-to" for our very large "ever expanding" family here in Jax. They can accommodate large groups, the food is awesome, and the entertainment is great for small children through teens. (Belly dancers, napkin throwing and table dancing nightly, live DJ Friday and Saturday nights).
2) MShack - (Upscale Burgers and Shakes) The Medure' boys new concept and my new favorite spot at the Town Center with the fam - great food including healthy choices like the kale salad and perfect for people watching!
3) Taco Lu - (Fancy Taco's & Tequilla) A beach favorite for years, especially in the new location!
4) Nippers - (Seafood) Come here by boat, car or bike. Best during the summer months where the kids can play in the "beach" area and the parentals can sit in the lounge chairs sipping on tropical drinks.
5) Otaki, Kanki and Wasabi's - (Japanese Grill) Kids are mesmerized by the hibachi chef and love the fried rice and teriyaki chicken.
6) Brucci's - (Italian - Beaches location) Delicioso lasagna, pizza and salads. Family night on Wednesday's and live entertainment on Saturday's.
7) Mojo's - (BBQ) Great live entertainment!
8) Latitude 30 - (American) Endless entertainment for the kids with the games, bowling and movie theater, but it can get pricy!
9) Poe's Tavern - (Gourmet Burgers & Beer) Great outdoor dining next to the beach.
10) Casa Maria - (Mexican - Beaches location) Very entertaining, friendly staff with authentic food. (Many people prefer La Nap....but personally I am not a fan, it's kinda dirty and needs to get off the "bad health inspection" list before I go there again).
11) Salt Life - (Seafood) Lively, fun, great food (get the Poke Bowl with seared tuna and tropical rice) and kids love the surf decor and huge fish tank.
12) Lulu's - (Seafood) Great for Saturday or Sunday family lunch. It has a mini putting green, walking dock, live bands, a big chair swing, and lots of room for kids to run...do you need more?
13) Mambo's Cuban Cafe & Pizzeria - (Cuban) Our family loves Mambo's (the hubby is from south Florida), especially their Ultimate Mambo's Pizza!
Other notable regional chain restaurants: Mellow Mushroom, Your Pie & Bento's.
I would love to add great kid-friendly Chinese, Thai and Steakhouse Restaurants, as well as establishments in other areas of town like Riverside/Avondale and Mandarin. Please email me if you have any recommendations and I will update the list: LisaMatz@gmail.com
"Mommy! I want to see the Blue Men again!" exclaimed one very excited little three-year-old this morning.
Ahhh, yes, my daughter's first broadway show experience was a complete success, which I hope paves the way for a lifetime love of the theater. ....ok, maybe that's too much to ask, but if you are looking for an awesome experience for the whole family, Blue Man Group is your ticket to ride!
While traveling through New York City 15 years ago, I was told that I must check out the Blue Man Group, in their off-broadway production. My first thought was "this seems very strange." And it was! Deliciously, off-the-wall, totally originally, dance in the aisle strange stuff. I loved it and vowed that someday I would see it again. As luck would have it, the production has finally made it to our beautiful city and I could share the experience with my daughter.
As we entered the theater, for a split second, sheer terror ran through me - as it has with any parent when you have that single moment thinking, "Did I make the right decision to bring my child here? She looks so much younger than the other kids. What if she doesn't like it? What if she is scared by the blue men? What if..." I gathered my composure and proceeded to try and enjoy myself, which wasn't too hard with the pleasant distraction of all the wonderful kids activities available all over the Times-Union Center!
Last night was a very special night - it was The Artist Series annual family night! Upon entering, we received a map indicating twelve different kid-friendly activities to partake in an hour before curtain call. Some of the various activities included a photo booth, face painting, coloring station, techno dance floor, music makers area, hands-on-art project and selfie photo area, all sponsored by local vendors, museums, and the Jax Public Library. Not to mention the opportunity to snack on some blue refreshments before the show!
After finally peeling my daughter away from all of the fun activities, we found our seats. Oh good, close enough to the action, but not so close that I will get paint on me or have a blue man regurgitate marshmallows in my new Coach purse (yes, I am serious....and it's not gross....it's awesome)!
The Blue Man Group show runs about an hour and a half, with no intermission (and you don't need one). The three-year-old was literally wide-eyed, clapping, with jaw dropped the entire time. Normally she has about a three-minute attention span, but those wacky blue men kept her attention until the last. It probably helped that they picked her out of the audience and decided to surround her like sharks and stare at her for a few minutes...she found this all very amusing, especially after seeing herself on the gigantic screen onstage, and even said "The blue men love me!" Yes, my next blog will be about teaching my daughter a little humility and the joys of parenting.
The Blue Man Group show is wildly entertaining from start to finish! You will be blown away by the sets, music, lights and of course the totally insane humor. To me this show would be like if you dropped three blue alien guys in the middle of an urban playground to experiment with art in every way imaginable. Another cool attribute to this show is the widely used audience interaction. It keeps the crowd engaged at all times and gives fans a chance to study the extremely talented actors up close. There is no other show like this anywhere - so if you get the chance, go see it!
Shows run Tuesday, January 21 - Sunday, January 26, 2014. You will not be disappointed and neither will the kids! Purchase your tickets here.
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| M Shack Town Center |
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| Face Painting Station |
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| Selfies Station |
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| Coloring Station |
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| Hands-On-Art Project Station |
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| From Our Seats |
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Blue Man Meets 3-Year-Old
Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group
 Our Video Review of Blue Man Group |
