Building on the Boom
WRITTEN BY: BRAD ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS Building on the Boom New CEP chief Matt McCormick’s challenge is to help map Ocala’s economic future. For a chamber of commerce guy, getting the chance to come to work in a boomtown like Ocala/Marion County is a great opportunity. After all, our community is America’s fastest […]
Love Worth Waiting Fur
WRITTEN BY: JESSI MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS PROFILES BY VOCAL Cupid may miss his mark sometimes, but these VOCAL residents haven’t given up. This Valentine’s Day, skip the swipe fatigue and meet matches who don’t ghost, don’t play games, and are ready for the real thing. Looking for love? These hopeful hearts have been […]
Presence of Mind
BY: JESSI MILLER Presence of Mind The antidote to tech overload, overwhelm, burnout, and rampant anxiety may lie in mindfulness—which asks just one thing of us: to slow down long enough to be fully here and now. Life impolitely keeps coming at us, and sometimes it doesn’t feel okay. I once found myself sitting […]
For Foam And Glory
STORY, ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS For Foam and Glory Thaliondor isn’t just a LARP—it’s a shared mythology, contact sport, and a temporary refuge from modern life, where the only thing that matters is the sword in your hand and the story you leave behind. Before memory was measured in years and before borders […]
River Dreams
WRITTEN BY: BRAD ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JESSI MILLER AND MICHAEL WARREN River Dreams Restoring the Ocklawaha River has been an environmental debate for half a century. Now proponents argue that restoring the river also has meaningful and lasting economic promise for the region. Since the late 1960s, environmentalists have been pushing the state of Florida […]
Being Santa
WRITTEN BY: BRAD ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS Being Santa In the heart of Central Florida lives a brotherhood of Santas who are keeping the magic alive. They share the joy, laughter, and spirit that comes from embodying the great man in red. He drives a red car, dresses year ‘round in red, green and […]
The Iconic LBD
WRITTEN BY: LISA IRWIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS WARDROBE PARTNERS: OCALA CLOTHING SWAP, AGAPANTHUS, KEN EMPORIO MODELS: MEGAN SAARANEN, NIKKI UPTON, ZOEE ZARILLO ON LOCATION: MAGNOLIA ART XCHANGE The Iconic Little Black Dress Just Add Imagination One little black dress goes from desk to cocktails to full-glam nights, reinvention never looked this effortless Holiday schedules […]
Hooves & Harmony
WRITTEN BY: BRAD ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: CHERI PRILL | STUNNING STEEDS Hooves & Harmony Horses and music come together to help working equines across the globe For the second year in a row, Ocalans will have the opportunity to see some of the world’s top equestrian riders and their elegant horses dance to the beautiful […]
The Music Men
WRITTEN BY: BRAD ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS The Music Men “The joy is just watching people play music, learn music, enjoy music.” After a half century in downtown Ocala, the beat goes on for Parramore Music Step through the front door at 304 E. Silver Springs Blvd. in downtown Ocala and you’ll know immediately […]
Anatomy of a Dinner Party
STORY, STYLING AND TIPS BY: ROBIN FANNON DESIGN TIPS BY DAWN LOVELL OF PARTY TIME RECIPES BY CARLEY LOVELL OF THE LOVELL TABLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS Anatomy of a Dinner Party Because the best gatherings aren’t just about food—they’re about atmosphere, connection, and a touch of intentional design Pro tips and tricks: Engage all […]
Maximally Mod
Maximally Mod Shot on location at Brick City Center for the Arts. Wardrobes provided by The Ocala Civic Theatre, Ocala Vintage Market, and the models. Models: Laila Fakhoury, Stephanie Giera, Lilli Hart, Ashley Justiniano and Olivia Ortiz Why blend in when you were born to pile it on? Five women in the arts lead us […]
The Great Outdoors
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JOSHUA JACOBS The Great Outdoors Now that the weather is cooling down, Ocala comes alive with an array of outdoor experiences that are perfect for enjoying the crisp, comfortable air. From high-flying thrills to peaceful woodland trails, the city offers activities that showcase the region’s natural beauty and adventurous spirit. Whether […]
FAFO’s Festival of Dreams
FAFO’s Festival of Dreams STORY BY BRAD ROGERS Build it and they will art. A handful of dreamers built an art show in a parking lot that has grown into a lasting Ocala tradition. Things were a little different in Ocala in 1966. The countywide population was 98,000. The community was just coming out of […]