by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
One of the few things all people have in common is eating, whether it’s merely for sustenance or as a celebration of food, family and friends.
That idea has inspired Downtown Vision, Inc, to partner with 15 restaurants on the Northbank and Southbank to present the inaugural “Eat Up Downtown!” Aug. 20-26. Each of the eateries has developed a prix fixe bill of fare for the week-long event that will offer a three-course meal for $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
Pamela Elms, DVI’s director of marketing, said the organization has been planning the event and getting restaurants on board for two months. She believes Downtown offers an experience as a dining destination that is found nowhere else in North Florida.
“We have so many new restaurants and this is the only area in Jacksonville where you can have dinner on the river and choose from such a wide selection of cuisine,” she said.
The variety of selections offered by the participating restaurants runs the gamut from haute cuisine to chicken wings and everything in between.
“We want consumers to be able to experience the wide range of food and the unique ambiance offered by each restaurant. We didn’t want to have any limits because everyone has a different palette and since the event lasts a week, we expect many people will take advantage of the offer at more than one venue and on more than one night. It’s all about celebrating Downtown,” said Elms.
Diners will be able to fill out comment cards that DVI will use to gauge their response to the event and enter them into a drawing for tickets to the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and events at the Florida Theatre.
“We realize that since this is a first-time event for Jacksonville, we have a learning curve. We’re looking to grow the event in the future and it might be a catalyst to get even more restaurants Downtown to open for dinner. We’re also expecting some residual effects since it is an opportunity to discover all the things to do Downtown in addition to dining.
“There is so much to do Downtown. You can eat at one of the restaurants and then go to the Landing to hear a concert. The Museum of Contemporary Art (Jacksonville) is showing movies that week and the Florida Theatre has a Sunday matinee. People could come Downtown for dinner and then stay and take a walk along the river or go somewhere for a drink afterwards. We think it’s a great way for people to come here and discover many of the things Downtown has to offer,” said Elms.
Elms also said diners won’t have to pay for on-street parking at meters after 5 p.m. and the parking garage on Duval Street near the Main Library will be open free of charge each night during the event.
Eat Up Downtown!
participating restaurants:
For menus and more information, visit www.EatUpDowtown.com or call 451-3344. Reservations are suggested.