Blog

The following is this week’s issue of the #DTJax Weekly Update e-newsletter. To receive this in your email inbox each week, sign-up here.

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Instagram of the Week 

 

 

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Things To Do Downtown

Arts & Culture

Live Music & Nightlife 

• MOBA Monday at GLHF Game Bar
• Monday Night Funk Jam at 1904 Music Hall
• Cocktail Workshop at The Volstead
• Rock N Roll Karaoke with DJ Randall at Dos Gatos

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Get Involved

Each year Downtown Vision evaluates the state of Downtown Jacksonville and collects data on how to improve the Downtown experience. If you live or work in #DTJax (Northbank, Southbank, Brooklyn/Riverside Avenue, LaVilla or the Stadium District) we want to hear from you! Complete our survey and be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to the Downtown restaurant or retailer of your choice. Two winners will be chosen and contacted by the email address provided. Take the DTJax Employee Survey here. Take the DTJax Resident Survey here.

COJ City Council Meeting    Join the City of Jacksonville for a City Council Meeting. Details. When: Tuesday, December 11, 5 p.m. Where: City Council Chambers Sheriff’s Watch Meeting    Join JSO officers and community members for monthly discussions about crime issues facing our neighborhoods and hear progress updates. Details. When: Wednesday, December 19, 11 a.m. Where: Main Library, 303 N. Laura St.

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#DTJax News

• 7 restaurants, bars coming to Downtown Jacksonville
• A taste of the new MLG restaurant in Downtown Jacksonville
• Hart Bridge: Federal funding secured for Hart Bridge ramp removal
• Downtown Ruth’s Chris to complete renovations by June
• The Jaxson: Why An Art Deco Building Set For Demolition Deserves To Be Saved
• Mayor’s office hopes to soon move jail away from Downtown
• Plan to renovate Downtown Ambassador Hotel advances
• JTA launches bus lines, micro-transit options
• 10-story mixed-use Brooklyn development approved
• Orlando group expands Downtown Jacksonville speakeasy plan to include arcade, entertainment venue
• City Council poised to approve $2 million for new visitor center
• Downtown Thumbs: Thriving cities have vibrant downtowns, authors say
• City approves permits for former annex, courthouse demolition
• The Cawton Report: Boyer working to streamline Downtown zoning rules
• Rapid, scalable connectivity comes to downtown
• 10 Best Big Cities to Live in Right Now

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New businesses in #DTJax:

Club Pilates 150 Riverside Ave. #307 Now Open!	Duval Mercantile 211 N. Laura St. Now Open! (through the holidays)
MLG Jax Restaurant 400 N. Hogan St. Now Open!	Vagabond Coffee Co. 223 N. Hogan St. Now Open!
Burlock & Barrel Distillery 417 Magnolia St. Coming Soon	Joysticks Arcade Lounge and Retro Bar 120 E. Forsyth St. Coming Soon
The Manhattan Sports Bar & Lounge 345 E. Bay St. Coming Soon	Mathers Social Gathering 120 E. Forsyth St. Coming Soon
SHOR Tavern, Hyatt Regency 225 E. Coastline Dr. Coming Soon	Vagabond Coffee Co. 112 W. Adams St. Coming Soon

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Stories From BlogDTJax.com

• 7 Hidden #DTJax Hotel Restaurants
• #DTJax Holiday Events 2018
• #DTJaxSalutes Veteran Ambassadors
• Downtown Ambassador Spotlight: Cindy Ray
• National Outdoors Month in #DTJax
• Celebrating the St. Johns River in #DTJax
• Street Art in #DTJax
• Found in #DTJax: FORGE 3D Printing Studio

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Photo by: @kddreamin             There was a 100% chance of snow in #DTJax… Thank you to everyone who attended our Spirit of Giving #ArtWalkJax last week! We hope you had a fantastic time playing in the snow, taking horse-drawn carriage rides, viewing the Annual Tree Lighting and all the other exciting activities throughout the night. A HUGE thanks to VyStar Credit Union for sponsoring this event and making it possible to bring 15 tons of snow to the urban core! We’d also like to thank Council President Aaron Bowman and VyStar Credit Union President/CEO Brian Wolfburg for leading the Annual Tree Lighting at Hemming Park and for their continued support of Downtown. In case you missed the fun, check out this fun video by First Coast News. We look forward to the new year, full with new possibilities. Don’t miss the Dress the pART #ArtWalkJax on January 2, 2019. Details.

Congratulations to the 2018 #DTJax Award Winners! Thank you to all who attended for celebrating the 4th Annual #DTJax Award winners at the 2018 #DTJax Awards Breakfast this morning! Downtown Vision created the #DTJax Awards in 2015 to celebrate the people and projects making Downtown Jacksonville a better place to live, work, visit and invest. Learn more about the awards here. 2018 Winners Ambassador of the Year Michael Ryan Downtown Project of the Year 20West FSCJ Housing and Cafe Downtowners of the Year Ambassador John D. Rood and Steve Moore Vestcor Downtown Achievement Award Aundra Wallace Downtown Investment Authority Thanks to all the great Downtown Jacksonville supporters who came out to The River Club to honor the winners, including our DVI board and elected officials. We’d also like to thank our sponsors again for their support in making this event a possibility: Event Sponsors VyStar Credit Union JEA Ambassador Award Sponsor First Baptist Church Sponsors JAX Chamber The River Club Media Sponsors Jacksonville Business Journal 904 Happy Hour We also announced the theme for our 2019 #DTJax Gala…Havana Nights, Neon Lights! We hope to see you at our upcoming 2019 #DTJax Gala on Saturday, February 23 at Novel Coworking (formerly Level Office). Tickets and sponsorships can be found at DTJaxGala.com               NEW: 2017-2018 Annual Report is here! Have you ever wondered, what exactly does DVI do in a year? From expanding the Ambassador program by 50% to installing 80,000 LED lights for the “Lights on Laura” to topping 100,000 followers on @DTJax social media, check out our latest Annual Report, which highlights accomplishments and financial information for fiscal year 2017-2018. Read or download the PDF here. 2017 State of Downtown Report   It’s an exciting time for Downtown Jacksonville. As we watch Downtown “potential” turn into action, we have a lot of successes to celebrate. Read about current development, employment and residential trends in this 12-month look at the Downtown Jacksonville progress. Read or download the PDF here.           2018 Art Walk Sponsorship Opportunities   Downtown’s signature monthly event, First Wednesday Art Walk attracts 5,000 people each month, spans 15+ blocks with 35+ galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants, bars and businesses. In its 15th year, Art Walk celebrates the local art scene by featuring hundreds of artists, performers and live music acts. Be a partner today! Download the kit here.