KEXP TOP 100

KEXP SEATTLE IS ROCKIN OUT 2005

Dumbest Quotes of 2005

Uggh

La Cena, for New Years

La Cena Ristorante is Open New Year's Day @ 5:30 PM
Please make a reservation.

Jerry Moran
Chef & Owner
La Cena Ristorante
211 N Laura St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202-3501
904.633.9255

FINAL FRIDAY

Where is the Art Program?

Mural Project

There is no art program at Andrew Jackson High School. Thats terrible for a lot of reasons but mostly because there are dozens of talented students there who want to create.

With the help of Marsha Hatcher, Overstreet Ducasse, Annelies Dkygraaf, Princess Rashid and Roosevelt Watson III, and many other helpful volunteers from JCAAA (Jacksonville Coalition of African American Artists) we were able to get some color on the otherwise institutional look of the historic school.

I publish this post to point out two things.
1. JCAAA is worth keeping an eye on, they are doing the projects that really have the big "quality of life impact" and deserve community support.
2. Many if not most of our public schools have or are abandoning art programs.

Perhaps you can get involved.

Always wave to your Ambassadors!

Celeste Harrell has been a great friend and downtown ambassador nearly forever. I met her on the original hard hat tour (in front of the unfinished Berkman) Here is a great article about her here. I know I don't usually post news threads, thats done best by Urban Jacksonville, but Celeste and the Ambassadors are truly important.

Remember though, that the value of the Ambassador can never be appreciated by some one who never comes downtown.

Side Note: Celeste and Lydia have the final track on the original Art Walk CD (Water Records, Los Angeles, mixed the rest hand picked by David Luckin's Electro Lounge), called Good Morning Downtown. They'll sing it acapella if you weren't lucky enough to get a CD.

Anyways, please always wave to your Ambassadors. And call them 465-7980. If you see anything that needs their attention or just a walk to your car.

Come on down.

from downtown

The Calm before

The New Years Storm. Hope you are planning to come downtown. Take a cab, get a VIP, book a room. Burrito closes at 6pm New Years Eve and all day New Years Day. We'll see you downtown.

Merry Christmas!!!

FROM JAX!

photo credit> SarahG

The Lofts on Main Jax

www.theloftsonmainjax.com

BURRITO HOURS

photo credit> SarahG of mactruQue painting

I used to think folks were reading my blog because it was interesting. Come to find out every one reads it to find out when the burrito is open. So here ya GO:

Christmas Eve - Closed all day
Christmas Day - Closed all day

New Years Eve - Open Until 6PM - Private Party 6-10PM
New Years Day - Closed

Burrito Closed Christmas Eve!

Happy Holidays from the CREW

photo credit> Sarah G

thursto takes over the burrito gallery

If you had your eye on anything from the Christian Pierre show please let me know.

Shaun Thurston is next on the Burrito Gallery walls.


Shaun brings a street level and accessible art with an art school sensibility and inventive techniques.

His old website is www.thursto.com and is worth checking out. His myspace is www.myspace.com/thurston000

Check IT!

I am so smart, SMRT

Uggh. I was trying to change the "look and feel" of ye olde blog and I totally lost all my links. I'll have them back up soon when I decide which skin to be in. If you weren't on my links last time, email me. BIG WEEK

New Website coming soon!

Keep checking in...

UrbanPlanet.org -> Jacksonville

UrbanPlanet.org -> Jacksonville

SANTALAND DIARIES CALL NOW! It sells out EVERY YULE!

FROM IAN our Neighbor and friend at Oasis on Adams Street:
Howdy folks,

Just an FYI that we have added another performance of David Sedaris
SANTALAND DIARIES on Thursday, December 22nd at 7:30 pm at
JMOMA. This week's performance was sold out and next Wednesday's
performance (12/21) has only 15 tickets left. Call the Oasis hotline
at (904) 386 5675.

Grab a friend and come out early to hear the lovely and talented Lauren Finchen in the main lobby. Mention this ad for 20% off your tickets.
I hope you can make it!

Happy Holidays,


Ian Mairs, Director
Oasis Theater Studio

NEVER SAY DIE

del.icio.us URBAN JACKSONVILLE

http://del.icio.us/tag/urbanjacksonville

Joey keeps giving us hits over at Urban Jacksonville. His latest and greatest is his del.icio.us urban jacksonville page. Don't miss a downtown BEAT!

CNU Local 32206 Meeting today! Hurry to confirm!

Attention Media and Downtown Friends: Contact Ingar Brunnett at historicspringfield@comcast.net or 904.254.4143 if you would like to confirm attendance by 9:30 am Monday, December 12.





For immediate release

December 9, 2005





Jacksonville, Fla. – The Northeast Florida chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism has scheduled their monthly meeting at the SRG Homes model home in Downtown Historic Springfield on Monday, December 12, 2005 at 12 noon. The model home is located on 1434 Market Street, between 4th and 5th Street.



Presently, the CNU has over 2,300 members in 20 countries, as well as 49 states. Visit www.cnuflorida.org for information about the Florida chapters.



A caption of their mission statement: “CNU advocates the restructuring of public policy and development practices to support the restoration of existing urban centers and towns within coherent metropolitan regions. We stand for the reconfiguration of sprawling suburbs into communities of real neighborhoods and diverse districts, the conservation of natural environments, and the preservation of our built legacy. Rebuilding neighborhoods, cities, and regions is profoundly interdisciplinary. We believe that community, economics, environment, and design need to be addressed simultaneously through urban design and planning.” Visit www.cnu.org about more information about the Congress.



The New Urbanists gathers members from every field of planning. Members include architects, city planners, economists, real estate agents, developers, lawyers, government officials, educators, students and activists. The organization has proved to be successfull in areas of integrating the thoughts and practices of diverse and real neighborhoods, economic and environmental development, as well as increasing coherent metropolitan regions through a citizen-based participation of planning and design.



Mack Bissette, CEO and President of SRG Homes will be present to close the CNU monthly meeting with a brief tour of the homes developed along Market Street in Downtown Historic Springfield. This is the second time a formal introduction of the homes as well as the neighborhoods have been introduced during a private community tour hosted by SRG Homes. The previous tour was successfully presented November 30, 2005 with Ron Barton, Executive Director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.



SRG Homes & Neighborhoods, LLC is the largest developer within Downtown Historic Springfield (1st through 12th Street) a designated Enterprise/Empowerment Zone. This company builds historically inspired single family homes in the high $200’s to $600’s. SRG continues to implement suggestions made in the JEDCO commissioned Urban Core Housing Plan prepared by Lambert Advisory, LLC dated mid-year 2005.



SRG has invested over $16 million since 2004 and plans to develop 35 residential units ($15 million per year) in the Historic District for the next three to five years. SRG currently owns 150 lots and several multi-use parcels for a total build-out of 250 units.



For more information visit www.srghomes.com





Contact:



Ingar Brunnett
Melt Into Arts Inc.
Cultural Planning Consultant
Public Relations for the Arts!

904.254.4143

historicspringfield@comcast.net





"Art Educates, Enlivens, and Exceeds critical thought in hopes for Freedom"

Jazz Fest Poster Design Deadline!

Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2006 Commemorative Poster Contest Parameters Entries must be received by December 30, 2005 in order to have your original art (never published) design considered for the 2006 Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Entries may be submitted as a JPG or PDF. The artist will be chosen by January 9, 2006.
By submitting a design for consideration, the artist agrees to the following terms and conditions:
• Artist must design and execute a full-color, print-ready poster design suitable for reproduction by the City of Jacksonville as a photo-offset poster (size to be determined through a mutual agreement between the artist and the City of Jacksonville).
• The City of Jacksonville will procure the art for a pre-determined fee.
• The City of Jacksonville will retain the exclusive right to use the poster, poster art and or any details thereof, in color, black and white and/or any variation in promotional materials in perpetuity including, but not limited to, brochures, flyers, print advertisements, web pages and television promotions. o This will include font to read JACKSONVILLE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2006 which will serve as an integral part of the poster. o Particular elements may be extracted from poster art in order to create a theme represented in promotional materials and website, www.jaxjazzfest.com
• Artist will sign and number at least 500 posters for sale by the City of Jacksonville. The City of Jacksonville will retain all proceeds for the sale of this poster.
• Artist will be allowed to sign a maximum of 25 posters for personal use.
• The City of Jacksonville will provide a booth free of charge at the “Art at the Met” event at Metropolitan Park, April 7-9, 2006 that conforms to the standards set in the “Art at the Met” application.
• The City of Jacksonville will have the exclusive right to unlimited reproduction of the poster.
• The City of Jacksonville will retain the exclusive right, prior to and during and for one year following the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, to sell the poster in the United States and worldwide.
• The City of Jacksonville will retain the exclusive right to use the poster, poster art and/or any details thereof on apparel and other merchandise for sale prior to, during and following the Jacksonville Jazz Festival based on the terms described below under consideration.
• The City of Jacksonville shall retain the right to display the original piece of art through the period prior to the announcement of the 2006 Jazz Artist. (If the artist desires framing, it is to be provided by the artist at no cost to the City of Jacksonville).
• The City of Jacksonville has the right to purchase the original piece of art in all associated digital and requested formats for $3,500 up to the time the artist for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2006 is announced. The City of Jacksonville may or may not exercise that option. The artist will own the original art up to the point of purchase by the City of Jacksonville.

ART WALK TODAY!

It is Art Walk number 25! You can tell it was Art Walk by all the clouds moving in. But like I have said numerous times. Rain makes for a better Art Walk. Artists are more likely to make a deal. You're more likely to start a conversation with a stranger, waiting for the rain to slow so you can rush to the next venue. And crowd control. Imagine how many people would be jamming the street if it weren't for a little of the wet stuff.

Anyway, check it out:

December 7 First Wednesday Art Walk

Holiday Sui Generis: (soo-eye-JEN-er-us) a class of its own; unique



Join Downtown Vision, Inc. and Suddath for the First Wednesday Art Walk from 5- 9 p.m.! The First Wednesday Art Walk is a free self-guided tour of Downtown galleries and museums, as well as cultural and educational venues on the first Wednesday of every month. Explore unique holiday gift ideas Downtown!



Special Features

5-9 p.m. Holiday Gift Bazaar-Hemming Plaza: community artists showcase unique gift ideas

6 p.m. Curator Tour of hte 30th Parallel at JMOMA

8 p.m. Sounds of the Season: Community Sing-A-Long and Holiday Caroling in Hemming Plaza



Maps and trolley schedules are available at Headquarters, 100 N. Laura Street, or at any art walk venue.

Umbrella Escorts provided by Downtown Ambassadors.




Choose your own route to the following Art Walk venues, or begin at Headquarters 100 N. Laura Street, in Downtown Jacksonville:



HEADQUARTERS
Jacksonville Bank - Curated by Stellars Gallery, hospitality provided by Lifestyles Realtors, music by PC Synergy.



GALLERIES/MUSEUMS
JMOMA - Art Walk Happy Hour, featuring a 6 p.m. Curator Tour of the 30th Parallel. Extended gift shop hours

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum (outer loop trolley stop)
Gallery L

Push 2 Gallery - Winter show preview featuring Don Trousdell, Irene Sainz Mayo, Kathy Stark, Marion Tippetts, and Molly Mabe
Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum (outer loop trolley stop)



CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL VENUES
11 E Forsyth - a community artist collective
FCCJ Downtown Campus - art from around the world, student exhibits (outer loop trolley stop)
Hemming Plaza-Historical tours at 7 p.m., Unity Drum Circle, bellydancing, Community Art Bazaar and Sounds of the Season (weather permitting)

First Presbyterian Church: Holiday music and carolers, turn-of-the-centry glass window displays and works by student artists

Florida Theatre Lobby



DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES
BellSouth Tower, Daniel James Salon, Hemming Plaza Jewelers – Jimmy Johnson, Jessica Riebing, Hudson Books, ImprovJacksonville Comedy Theatre, Jacobs Jeweler, The Omni Hotel, Riverwatch Tower: Fogle Fine Arts presents Heidi Edwards and other artists, exhibitions in the lobby and on the 22nd floor. Live entertainment and wine and cheese.



CULINARY ARTS
Burrito Gallery, Casa Dora Italian Ristorante, Chunky Chef, London Bridge Eatery & Pub Live music, Magnificat Cafe, Mongo’s Flat Hot Grill, Mudville Grill-Live music, Starbucks, Twisted Martini Retro Fit: Shoe shines, cigars, and other timeless ideas, sponsored by Sundrez Gifts in the Landing, Zodiac Grill



HISTORICAL TOURS: beginning at 7 p.m. in Hemming Plaza, across from JMOMA

ART WALK TODAY!

It is Art Walk number 25! You can tell it was Art Walk by all the clouds moving in. But like I have said numerous times. Rain makes for a better Art Walk. Artists are more likely to make a deal. You're more likely to start a conversation with a stranger, waiting for the rain to slow so you can rush to the next venue. And crowd control. Imagine how many people would be jamming the street if it weren't for a little of the wet stuff.

Anyway, check it out:

December 7 First Wednesday Art Walk

Holiday Sui Generis: (soo-eye-JEN-er-us) a class of its own; unique



Join Downtown Vision, Inc. and Suddath for the First Wednesday Art Walk from 5- 9 p.m.! The First Wednesday Art Walk is a free self-guided tour of Downtown galleries and museums, as well as cultural and educational venues on the first Wednesday of every month. Explore unique holiday gift ideas Downtown!



Special Features

5-9 p.m. Holiday Gift Bazaar-Hemming Plaza: community artists showcase unique gift ideas

6 p.m. Curator Tour of hte 30th Parallel at JMOMA

8 p.m. Sounds of the Season: Community Sing-A-Long and Holiday Caroling in Hemming Plaza



Maps and trolley schedules are available at Headquarters, 100 N. Laura Street, or at any art walk venue.

Umbrella Escorts provided by Downtown Ambassadors.




Choose your own route to the following Art Walk venues, or begin at Headquarters 100 N. Laura Street, in Downtown Jacksonville:



HEADQUARTERS
Jacksonville Bank - Curated by Stellars Gallery, hospitality provided by Lifestyles Realtors, music by PC Synergy.



GALLERIES/MUSEUMS
JMOMA - Art Walk Happy Hour, featuring a 6 p.m. Curator Tour of the 30th Parallel. Extended gift shop hours

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum (outer loop trolley stop)
Gallery L

Push 2 Gallery - Winter show preview featuring Don Trousdell, Irene Sainz Mayo, Kathy Stark, Marion Tippetts, and Molly Mabe
Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum (outer loop trolley stop)



CULTURAL & EDUCATIONAL VENUES
11 E Forsyth - a community artist collective
FCCJ Downtown Campus - art from around the world, student exhibits (outer loop trolley stop)
Hemming Plaza-Historical tours at 7 p.m., Unity Drum Circle, bellydancing, Community Art Bazaar and Sounds of the Season (weather permitting)

First Presbyterian Church: Holiday music and carolers, turn-of-the-centry glass window displays and works by student artists

Florida Theatre Lobby



DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES
BellSouth Tower, Daniel James Salon, Hemming Plaza Jewelers – Jimmy Johnson, Jessica Riebing, Hudson Books, ImprovJacksonville Comedy Theatre, Jacobs Jeweler, The Omni Hotel, Riverwatch Tower: Fogle Fine Arts presents Heidi Edwards and other artists, exhibitions in the lobby and on the 22nd floor. Live entertainment and wine and cheese.



CULINARY ARTS
Burrito Gallery, Casa Dora Italian Ristorante, Chunky Chef, London Bridge Eatery & Pub Live music, Magnificat Cafe, Mongo’s Flat Hot Grill, Mudville Grill-Live music, Starbucks, Twisted Martini Retro Fit: Shoe shines, cigars, and other timeless ideas, sponsored by Sundrez Gifts in the Landing, Zodiac Grill



HISTORICAL TOURS: beginning at 7 p.m. in Hemming Plaza, across from JMOMA

Quality of Life in JAX

It is one of the reasons a lot of us moved here. And then it becomes the reason to stay. Everyday it seems to me that there is more and more going on. More and more improvement in the city. More and more business. More and more art. We grapple with communicating all of these things to folks both here and away. I try to show cool things on my blog and try to link up with other sources of info. Currently I am on the management team at JCCI's study charged with Attracting and Retaining Talent. Its a really good discussion and their blog on this subject alone (along with a TON of resources) can be found at www.jcci.org. Check it out! And how about them Seminoles!

PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITY!

You always hear people asking how do I get my art bought by the city? Well, here ya go superstar:

CALL FOR ARTISTS

PUBLIC ART OPPORTUNITY IN JACKSONVILLE, FL



RITZ THEATRE & LAVILLA MUSEUM, SIGNATURE ARTWORK

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)



ESTIMATED PUBLIC ART BUDGET: $85,000.00



DEADLINE: Thursday, January 12, 2006, 5:00 P.M. EDT

Optional Informational Meeting for Artists: Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum, 829 N. Davis Ave

See Full Prospectus at www.culturalcouncil.org (Art in Public Places page)



CALL SUMMARY

The City of Jacksonville, Florida’s Art in Public Places program is seeking artists or artist collaborations to create innovative, original and site-specific artwork for the recently rebuilt Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum, in the heart of the historic, downtown LaVilla neighborhood.



The Art Selection Committee for the Ritz is seeking an artist or artist team who can understand and express in their art the Ritz’s connection to historic, contemporary and future expressions of the vibrancy of African-American culture within the context of Jacksonville’s character as a whole.



Possible locations include a range of sites including walls, sidewalk, open street-corners and corners and features of the building. Possible types of artwork include, but are not limited to:

Hardscape
Lighting
Three dimensional outdoor work (freestanding or on building)
Two dimensional outdoor work


BUDGET/COMMISSION

The estimated total public art budget for the Ritz, including all aspects of design, lighting, fabrication and installation, is $85,000.00. The final location(s) for the commissioned artwork(s) will be determined in collaboration with the selected artist(s).



ESTIMATED TIMELINE

Optional Info Meeting for artists Wednesday, December 14, 2005 6:00 p.m. AT THE RITZ

Qualifications Due: Thursday, January 12, 2006 by 5:00 p.m., EDT.

Panel Review: January 2006

Finalists invited to develop proposals: February 2006

Artists Present Proposals: March/April 2006

Artist(s) Selected by: May 2006

Artwork installed: Winter/ Spring 2006-2007

*****All dates subject to change*****

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Ritz, which opened in 1929 and was a cornerstone of a thriving, African-American business and entertainment district, was rebuilt in 1999. It functions now as a performance and film-screening venue, and a museum for historical artifacts and contemporary art. The Art in Public Places Commission (APPC) seeks to commission an original and dramatic site-specific work, or works, of art which enhance the site and engage visitors and passersby, night and day, 365 days a year. The selected artwork(s) do not have to be literal representations of people or things. The art must capture the ‘spirit’ of the Ritz and its legacy and role, described in “Project Site Background,” below. This artwork will not only complement the architecture of the building, but act as a beacon and provide instant recognition of the Ritz as an active and vital institution reflecting the heritage of the city’s African-American community, at a gateway to the LaVilla neighborhood and from there to the City.

The Art in Public Places Program may be reached via website (preferred) or by phone: (904) 358-3600 x.11



Please See Full Prospectus at www.culturalcouncil.org (go to Art in Public Places page).







Sarah Gay

Director, Art in Public Places Program

City and Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville

300 W. Water Street, Suite 201

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Ph. 904-358-3600 x.11

Fax 904-353-5100

email sarah@culturalcouncil.org