LGBTQIA+ Friendly Spaces in Jacksonville
The Walrus
https://www.thewalrusjacksonville.com/
The Walrus is a delicious vegan restaurant serving natural, organic juices, vegan meals, craft drinks, or wine & beer. Their Beatles-themed bar and vegan restaurant are locally owned and operated. They opened their doors in 2021 to the Murray Hill community. They take pride in providing top-quality service to everyone who walks through their doors. In addition to vegan food, Craft Drinks, Wine, Beer, and Mocktails they also provide arcade games, live music, and other events including karaoke and comedy night.
Femme Fire Books
This bookstore’s motto, “Celebrating diversity in literature” indeed says it all. Their goal is to celebrate diversity in literature and encourage reading for all. They offer a diverse range of books reflecting the incredible cultural melting pot of what America represents. As soon as you enter this store the vivid rainbow display of colorful books immediately welcomes visitors into the space. Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal, and Sovereignty in Native America by Gregory D. Smithers is one of the books featured on their Facebook page. This nonfiction title discusses the hundreds of Indigenous communities across North America that celebrated people who identified as gender nonconforming.
Keg and Coin
Keg & Coin provides a unique nostalgic experience as Jacksonville’s first arcade bar. Their collection of the 80s and 90s arcade games provides entertainment for all. They have an available selection of craft beer on one of their 15 rotating taps. You can also pick something up from their package store which offers a wide selection of craft beers. This space is both LGBTQ+ and dog friendly so feel free to bring your pups along for a fun trip to this arcade.
Alewife Craft Beer Bottle Shop & Tasting Room
https://www.alewifebottleshop.com/
The vision behind Alewife was to create a welcoming environment for people to explore, discover, and enjoy all that craft beer has to offer. They say they weren’t interested in opening up a regular package store but instead wanted to build a community-focused establishment to celebrate and continually rediscover the handcrafted ales and lagers of American craft brewers. In addition to offering beer and cider on tap and packaged they also boast a range of events. Events include Queer Ladies Night, Beer Can Derby: Pride Edition, Trivia night: LGBTQ+ History & Pop Culture, crafting nights, and opportunities to learn more about beer and brewing.
Sun Ray Cinema
The Sun-Ray Cinema at 5 Points opened in March 1927 in the Five Points district of the Riverside and Avondale neighborhood. Formerly known as Riverside Theater and 5 Points Theatre, this historic two-screen movie theater was the first theater in Florida equipped to show talking pictures. They have come a long way since the 20s and began featuring drive-through shows at a nearby location after the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to close their indoor theatres.
Park Place
https://parkplaceloungejax.com/about/
Park Place Lounge is an LGBTQ+ bar located in Jacksonville’s Riverside area. This spot is frequented by the local LGBTQ+ community and their allies. They feature all typical bar amenities including two pool tables and Riverside’s largest patio with TVs and plenty of space for group seating. Their indoor dance floor is perfect for dancing with friends on a night out and their music often ranges from today’s upbeat hits to the oldies we all know and love.
Bobby K Boutique
Bobby K Boutique is a men’s, women’s, and home goods boutique in the historic Murray Hill neighborhood of Jacksonville, FL. They offer a variety of specially selected goods some of which are specifically designed for LGBTQ+ community members or allies. Their inventory includes graphic tee’s stating “Gay and Tired” and “Just Say Gay.” They provide a friendly space with stylish clothing and fun household items.
by Avonlea Veilleux, MSW, RCSWI
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