* The non-smoking laws may have taken affect but that’s gotten at least one local restaurant thinking creatively. The London Bridge Pub and Eatery is now offering outside seating from mid-afternoon on.
• Ask Council President Lad Daniels what he thinks of the old Main Library and you’ll get a half-joking response: “I think it would make for a great implosion sight,” he said jokingly. You’ll remember the RFPs that went out regarding any future plans for soon-to-be-vacated building have stalled and it will be up to the Peyton administration to get the ball rolling again.
• Dawson’s Gallery will open in August at 4444 Hendricks Ave. in the Players Grill shopping center. It’s a new location and name for the Design Circus Gallery & Master Framers on University Boulevard.
• The old Underwood’s Building and the future home of The UPS Store on Hogan Street is getting painted. The brick color has been applied over the Desert Rider sandwich shop letters.
• You get so many suggestive email labels that you’re wary of everything. So you might pass the one labeled “New Brest Exhibit.” Ah, but it’s an art show in the Alexander Brest Museum at Jacksonville University.
• Downtown Vision, Inc. has released a downtown service guide that includes a list of telephone numbers and organizations that can assist in addressing downtown-related issues. The list includes numbers for parking and trash pick-up; homeless issues and landscaping needs are addressed. DVI sent the brochure to business owners and property managers downtown, and the Downtown Ambassadors will also have them.
• Peyton Chief of Staff Scott Teagle is looking into a voice mail system for City Hall. Due to Mayor Delaney’s demand that no phone call go unanswered, phone calls to the previous administration were answered by secretaries.
• The Nest in San Marco is going out of business August 2 after being open for roughly a year and a half. The owner refused to comment on why the venture is folding.