The Robertson Family Enjoys Christmas in Avondale

The historic neighborhood of Avondale in Jacksonville, FL celebrated “Christmas in Avondale” last night. Next year, I’ll remember to tell you ahead of time so you can plan to be there.

Always scheduled for the first Saturday in December from 6-9pm, the event is sponsored by the Merchants of Avondale.  It’s a cherished Holiday Tradition for the people of Avondale, Ortega and Riverside and has been enjoyed by the neighborhood for over 30 years — AND another great reason to considering buying a house in this great part of town!

St. John’s Avenue is closed to vehicular traffic so pedestrians can enjoy roaming freely back and forth among the beautiful shoppes of Avondale.

Special Events include horse drawn sleigh rides, pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus, local church and organization musical and dance performances, strolling carolers, lighting of the Avondale Christmas tree, treats for the young & old, and the usual festival fan fare attendees have come to expect.

Prudential Network Realty played the movie “Polar Express” in an outdoor theater style show for anyone who wanted to drop by, offered bags of hot buttered popcorn and had arts and crafts for the little ones. They could make Jingle Bell bracelets,  Christmas ornaments or color pictures — thanks to all who came by!

Please plan to be there next year — I’ll try to remind you at least a week in advance — but it’s always the first Saturday in December!

Thanks for reading — please join me for my next adventure in the Avondale, Ortega and Riverside neighborhoods.

Sammy Salem - Whiteway Deli Owner

When we moved to Jacksonville, FL one of the FIRST places I was taken by my new neighbor, Gina Donahoo, was Whiteway Deli. Gina said  it’s a local “institution” with the BEST sandwiches – so off we went and I quickly became a Whiteway devotee.

A favorite among Avondale,  Ortega and Riverside locals, Whiteway is a place where you’ll ALWAYS see tons of people you know and consistently get great food.

Served inside pita pockets, most of the sandwiches feature tabouli which has Middle Eastern origins. It’s made with parsley, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, cracked wheat, lemon juice and olive oil – delicious!

Many of the sandwiches are named for locals. The Anne Beard, for example, has turkey, tabouli, feta cheese, banana peppers and Italian dressing and is one of the best sellers. Wrapped in old fashioned “deli paper” the sandwiches have timeless appeal.

A breakfast favorite is the Emmet special.  Named for Judge Emmet Ferguson the dish is an egg white omelet with bacon and tabouli served in (you guessed it) a pita pocket.

Whiteway Deli is a family business that’s owned and operated by Sammy Salem. He has taken over daily operation of the place that his father bought in 1962 but that was opened in 1927 — you can bet there aren’t too many restaurants with that kind of longevity. The restaurant is now proud to count second and third generations of the same families among their loyal customers.

Open only for breakfast and lunch, the hours of operation are 7am – 3pm Monday – Friday. Get there early if you want to go for lunch because the line gets long. If you’re in a hurry, call your order in ahead of time at 904-389-0355. If you have time to sit down, the address is 1237 King Street.

A favorite of the doctors and nurses from nearby St. Vincent’s Hospital, local businessmen, ladies who lunch and area old timers — nearly everyone names Whiteway as a local gem.

Thanks for reading — if you have a favorite place in the Avondale, Ortega or Riverside neighborhoods that you’d like me to blog about, please send me a note!

I live on the St. John’s river in Ortega and we have SPECTACULAR sunsets — I need to get my camera out and snap some photos. The deep oranges and pinks that are created as the sun sets over the river are nothing short of majestic. Feel free to stop by and watch the sun set with me sometime – and bring your camera! 

How about you? Do you like the “spring” schedule or the “fall” schedule? Let me know what your preferences are – I’d love to know.

Thanks for reading – please join me next time for another adventure in Avondale, Ortega and Riverside by subscribing to my blog.

They have all shapes and sizes. You can pick out miniature pumpkins, big fat ones for a Jack-O-Lantern or even a silvery green one (I saw these once in a Martha Stewart magazine)! They also have great looking gourds, dried corn and other things that help you get in the spirit.  The source of all these goodies is at Ortega United Methodist Church which is conveniently located at 4807 Roosevelt Blvd. in Ortega. 

The proceeds from the sale go to support the youth group at the church. For more information on the sale or other things going on at Ortega United Methodist Church, click on their link.

Just a few blocks from this cute little pumpkin patch, we have a great listing at 4834 Arapahoe Avenue, in Ortega Terrace. Continue South on Roosevelt Blvd. abut a half mile, turn left onto Robert Gordon and then turn left onto Arapahoe. The house is a beautiful two story brick colonial on a great street. Priced at only $545K and under $200 per square foot, this is a great buy! If you’d like to take a look, please give me a call at 904-252-5181 or click here to see more details about 4834 Arapahoe Avenue.

Thanks for reading!

If coffee isn’t your thing, stop by for lunch and try their incredibly delicious steaming hot ruben sandwich dripping with melted swiss cheese and piles of sauerkraut. On the lighter side, they have great salads too. Whatever your choices, you won’t be disappointed with the menu, the service or the convenience

 Have a favorite local spot that you’d like people to know about? Send me a note at steilberg@comcast.net and I’ll try to write a blog about it!