Nightlife in Jacksonville

The acclaim for Wild Wing Cafe's wings is almost as wide ranging as the various inspirations behind its 30+ wing sauces. Readers of Augusta magazine and the Charleston City Paper routinely vote the wingery to the top of those publications’ Best Wings lists. Beyond that, countless magazines, newspapers, and "Best Of" lists from Knoxville to Myrtle Beach praise the delicious bites of sweet meat. Much of the praise is heaped on the unique glazes, which include everything from the mesquite-tinged Ol’ Smokey to the honey-lime-cilantro trifecta of the Loco Bueno. With orders ranging from 8-piece plates to 50-piece platters, diners can feast on wings or use them as appetizers. Once wing-satiation sets in, diners can explore the rest of the restaurant's all-American menu that, unlike a good space suit, is made up of sloppy joes, ribs, burgers, and potato skins.

The Sun-Ray Cinema at 5 Points, formerly known as Riverside Theater and 5 Points Theatre, is a historic single-screen movie theater in the Riverside section of Jacksonville. Originally opened in 1927, the large room was specifically designed to accommodate live theater as well, in the event that talking movies didn’t take off as expected. Over the years, the theater was opened and closed numerous times as a performance center, a night club and general cinema house, until the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission approved it as a Jacksonville landmark and remodeled the space several years ago. Colorful murals give vibrancy to the updated space, while comfortable seating and long wooden tables in front of each row act as wonderfully modern touches, allowing each guest to set down food and drinks easily. P, pulled pork sandwiches and a host of not-seen-everywhere snacks make for a unique experience inside.

Located on Jacksonville’s south side, The Comedy Zone has been hosting some of the nation’s finest standup comedians for decades. Tucked away inside the Ramada Conference Center and Hotel, the Comedy Zone is a quaint, dim, charming nightclub venue filled with cozy tables and chairs. The thick carpet underfoot cushions the space further and keeps noisy shoes and squeaky chairs to a minimum. The small, gleaming wood stage is back-dropped by a large brick wall, reminiscent of so many other famous comedy clubs. Over the years, the stage has played host to a variety of national touring comedians and lots of local Florida talent. A full bar and a variety of burgers, sandwiches and appetizers are available to order, and can count toward the room’s industry-standard one drink or item minimum. Of course, that means comedy fans must be at least 21 years of age to enter the Zone.

Jacks or Better Casino explores the waters stretching from the Mayport area down the coast. The boat stretches 155 feet from stem to sternum and contains a whale-sized supply of Vegas-style casino gaming. Deft dealers engage lucky streaks on a variety of table games, from blackjack and roulette to traditional poker, video poker, and fireplace poker. With visions of cherries and triple-bars dancing in their heads, slots fanatics sidle up to dual-screen Modern Gaming slots such as Four Leaf Fortunes and Jackpot Galaxy. Jacks or Better's slots paid out jackpots totaling $3 million in 2011. Special events and attractions include a craps tutorial with limits ranging from $5 to $1,000, ensuring comfortable stakes for anyone, from the novice dice slinger to the local Yahtzee grandmaster.

Although there are few reviews of the other locations, five Yelpers give Gene's Seafood Restaurant on Beach Boulevard a 3.5-star average:

Taps Bar & Grill calms rambunctious appetites with an expansive menu of freshly made American pub fare backed by potent potables including 24 beers on tap. The rotating draft brews ($3.50+), including Stone IPA and Stella Artois, flow obligingly from taps to lend hoppy flair to fried pickle chips ($6.99), while piquant buffalo wings ($8.99 for 10) dress up maroon-colored glasses of pinot noir ($6). Andouille spicy sausages, gouda, and cheddar cheese are layered over grits with pan-seared shrimp ($10.99), as cutlery trained in conflict resolution unites surf with turf on plates of new york strip steak and fresh Mayport shrimp ($17.99). Preteen sidekicks can fuel growth spurts with inoculations of mac 'n' cheese ($3.95), while age barriers crumble decisively in the face of ice-cream-laced brownie sundaes ($4.99).