Riverside & Avondale

Riverside & Avondale

Much of Jacksonville’s history can be traced to the Riverside and Avondale areas, just to the south of Downtown along the St. Johns River.

In the early days of motion pictures, the filming of black and white silent movies scandalized residents of Riverside with their antics. Local law enforcement and politicians gave the early movie makers so much trouble they packed up their equipment and found a new home in an equally sunny location, today known as Hollywood, California.

Riverside today still hosts the occasional movie maker looking for a certain ambiance. Brenda Starr, starring Brooke Shields and Timothy Dalton was made in Jacksonville in 1989, followed by Lonely Hearts in 2006, starring Jared Leto, Salma Hayek, John Travolta, James Gandolfini and many more.

In 1997, Demi Moore came to Jacksonville and nearby Clay County and filmed G.I. Jane.

The Kent Campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville is located near Riverside. The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens hugs the St. Johns River bank, and offers a wide collection of art from around the world. Next to the Cummer is the Garden Club of Jacksonville’s Riverside facility, a favorite for generations of families for wedding, receptions, cotillions, and other social events.

During the warm season, the Riverside Arts Market is held every Saturday under the protective canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge between Riverside Avenue and the St. Johns River. Every week, the outdoor market features the work of up to 160 artists, musical entertainment, street performers, food vendors, and a fresh produce market.

The historic Five Points shopping area is an interesting mix of shops, galleries, entertainment venues, and restaurants.

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