Narrow Magazine Editorial Pieces

Honey Hounds

From busking on St. George Street to touring the country, Honey Hounds have made an impact on the music scene in Jacksonville. Honey Hounds are a funkadelic blues rock trio (booty shaking blues trio) hailing from Jacksonville Beach. Nick Izzard does guitar and vocals, Nathan Ranew does bass and vocals, and Tyler Watts plays drums. The group was formed in 2015 and quickly made a name for themselves with their artistic approach to their music and image. Insightful lyrics, sultry vocals and high energy performances set the group apart from other indie or rock bands. 

The group has a wide variety of influences, and their albums are somewhat “schizophrenic” because of how they explore multiple genres, according to drummer Tyler. Their rigorous touring and range of influences has garnered a rabid fan base both in the U.S. and internationally.

The age of their fan base ranges from people in their 20s to people in their 50s, most likely because of their vast influences. There is something for everyone, according to Tyler. Their second album “The Flame” was released at the end of 2019 and they have already begun conjuring up their next record, which is set to drop at the beginning of next year. 

“We’re just three best friends having fun and making music,” Tyler said.

Jacksonville Artwalk

Between the tall buildings and hustle and bustle of downtown Jacksonville is a hotspot for art and culture. The Jacksonville Art Walk is a monthly event, rain or shine, that brings people together to admire visual and performing arts. Each Art Walk has a them; March’s theme was St. Patrick;s Day and April’s walk will be Earth Month.

Dozens of artists set up in Hemming Park to show and sell their works. There is everything from jewelry, to paintings, to unique handmade items. There is also live music throughout the night at the main stage in Hemming Park. With it being a St. Patrick’s Day theme, JFRD Pipes and Drums, a group of bag pipe players and drummers, were the first performers on the main stage at March’s walk. Hemming Park is the center of the Art Walk, but over 35 venues across Downtown Jacksonville participate in the Art Walk such as galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants, bars, businesses, etc. 

People come out to appreciate art and music and have fun. Students walk through after their school day, people dance in streets, enjoy food and meet new people. The Art Walk is a great example of how art and music can bring people together. The April Earth Month Art Walk will take place on April 3 from 5-9 p.m. in downtown Jacksonville. 

Linen and Waves

Amanda Strange, owner of Linen and Waves, has always had a passion for clothing and a background in retail. With family ties, she decided to open her own store and rent from her brother in law next to the surf station. “It’s my favorite thing that I’ve done for myself,”Amanda said. Owning the store is a creative outlet for her, and her goal is to provide cute, yet appropriate clothing for young mothers or women in the same age range. 

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“It’s a really hard time when you have little kids. You’re not super young and you don’t want to wear the trendiest trends because they’re too short, but you don’t just want to shop at Target,” Strange said. “As a mom, you kind of lose your sense of who you are and your body’s so different. You feel like you don’t want to dress inappropriately for your child, but you still want to feel young and cute and put together.”

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Being just down the road from the amphitheater, Strange has seen first hand how music and fashion influence each other. “I love having music in my store. I feel like that’s really important, to have some kind of vibe going,” Strange said. Strange participated in Fashion Week last year and found it incredibly difficult to pick the right music for her style. “It made all the difference on the runway. It makes it so much more lively and happy when you pick the right music.” ​

Rochelle's

When they created an arcade business in their high school economics class, Karen Rochelle and her husband Tom never would have imagined that they would actually own their own business one day. After going through every idea possible, they eventually chose women’s clothing for their business. They wanted to take their business to the coast, but were skeptical about leaving their small town. “We found St. Augustine and we said even if business is not good, living will be good.”

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The two fell in love with the music scene in St. Augustine, and it inspired them in their business. “When we came here in the 80s, there was already a core amount of music. It was beautiful because there was dancing going on, DJ, just a lot of live music. It was very wonderful to see that in a tiny little town.”

Though their goal was just to stay in business, Rochelle’s boutique has been in business since 1984, and it has been successful because her and her husband intended for it to be. “Many times, we could have failed, but we just never quit,” Karen said. “We do what we love and what we want to bring. So the people that appreciate that, they find you.”

Market Street Boutique

Kimberly Patalano, owner of Market Street Boutique, opened her first store in Palencia in 2014. Market Street started out as a furniture and decor store. Kimberly used to thrift and paint furniture and would teach lessons at the store. She began incorporating decor into her store when one of her students expressed an interest in volcano candles. Kimberly found it easier than expected to buy the candles and sell them in the store, which eventually opened the door for Market Street to add gifts. 

“Here in Palencia we’re kind of a niche market. There’s really nothing here. So you have to go north or south to find gifts or anything to that extent,” Patalano said. Kimberly added clothing to her store about four months ago, and this will be her first time participating in St. Augustine Fashion Week. 

“Now with clothing, it brings people in for themselves, not just because they need a gift for somebody,” Kimberly said. “It’s fun to meet new people and they’re happy that you’re here and it’s something different.” Kimberly finds that music plays a huge role in her store, especially during the holidays. She also feels as though music can set the tone for a design. “It’s a big part of when you do runway shows. It makes a difference in what people feel about what you’re wearing,” Kimberly said.