• Daniel’s, a fine dining Mediterranean restaurant, has opened in the space formerly occupied by L’Orient Chez Guy. The restaurant, at 1540 Atlantic Blvd., is open for dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Guy O. Farmer Jr. has joined Holland & Knight, LLP as a partner in the firm’s employment, labor and benefits practice group. Farmer will work out of H&K’s Bank of America offices.
• Maybe our port’s cruise ship hopes have some legs. In a New York Times story this week, an analyst from Bear Stearns said the future of the cruise industry is in regional cities, which are more accessible.
• Orientation for new City Council members is set for May 30 and afterwards everyone is gathering at Council president-elect Lad Daniels’ Southside house for dinner and drinks.
• Recently elected Dist. 5 City Council member Art Shad — who won the seat by 98 votes — might have earned a few votes the hard way. Seems he was bitten by a dog while campaigning, which required four stitches. After the election, he received a letter of congratulations from Benji’s owner, who told Shad that he’d spread the word on what a great candidate Shad was.
• According to the latest numbers, the Better Jacksonville Plan now is responsible for repaving 1,050 miles of streets and 54 miles of new sidewalks.
• Harris, Guidi, Rosner & Mordecai law firm is now Harris, Guidi, Rosner, Dunlap, Rudolph, Catlin & Bethea.
• Barlett, Heekin, Smith, Greene & Malin law firm will be adding another partner, attorney Mark New, in the near future.
• Sports talk radio host Greg Larson’s evening show has switched stations and that means he had to lose a sponsor. He’s gone from AM-970 to AM-1010, which happens to be a religious station during the day, so he had to adjust: no more remote broadcasts from the Wacko’s girlie bar. Also, no more caller nicknames like “Skinny Bastard.” The show is the favorite of many, including politicos such as City Council prez Jerry Holland and Neptune Beach Mayor Dick Brown.
• Just three years ago, our David Duval was No. 1 in the international points standings for golfers. Today, he’s No. 201 after a battle with what’s believed to be vertigo.
• So far, 129 people have signed up to join the currently non-existent fitness center at City Hall. In order for it to get built, 240 people have to sign up by Sept. 30.
• The surveys are back from this year’s Toyota Gator Bowl participants — N.C. State and Notre Dame — and, overall, the teams and fans enjoyed their stay. N.C. State’s athletic director, Lee Fowler, said: “This bowl has huge potential to host a BCS Championship.”
• City Council’s Cheryl Brown clarified a recent City Note in which we said the Council was arranged alphabetically during last Friday’s meeting. Actually, the new members were sitting in the seats of those they are replacing.
• The Florida Theatre is looking for volunteer ushers.
• The Moonlight Movies series returns to the SeaWalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach May 30 with a showing of “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
• Recommended: Sunday breakfast at Sun Dog Diner. Great cheese grits.
• The City’s new Neighborhoods magazine is out and it’s a comprehensive guide to City parks. It covers everything from pools to hiking trails to community centers to athletic complexes.