• According to representatives from Langton and Associates, talks with restaurateur Robert Humphries are off. Humphries, who had been courted by Langton for several weeks, had planned to reopen former downtown staple Ieasyu in the W.A. Knight building. No word on where — or if — Humphries will open his Japanese-style bistro.
• Best wishes to Bailiff Mary Dorrell, who suffered congestive heart failure earlier this week at the Duval County Courthouse. She’s listed in critical condition at the Baptist Medical Center’s intensive care unit. Dorrell has been with the courts for over two years and her fellow employees are looking forward to seeing her back on the job.
• Add batteries to the long list of objects not allowed past security check points at the Duval County Courthouse.
• Don’t forget, there’s still one more big downtown event before the summer break. The Skyway Progressive Party is May 31 from 6-11 p.m. Food and music at six Skyway stops and they’ll wrap it up with a rooftop party at the Suddath Parking Garage in San Marco. Yes, you’ll be able to get an adult beverage at the after-party. The bash is sponsored by the Downtown Council and the Chamber.
• The Adam’s Mark Hotel is hosting its Super Sports Spectacular May 29. It starts at 5:30 p.m., costs $5 and features representatives from all of Jacksonville’s professional teams and several colleges. The event is also sponsored by the Chamber, which is using it as May’s Business After Hours networking meeting.
• The Sports and Entertainment Board will announce the 2003 class of inductees into the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame June 19 at noon on the 15th floor of the City Hall Annex. Other announcements, too: the Jacksonville Sports Hall, which will be located in the main entrance of the new arena, will become the permanent home of not only the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame, but also the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame and the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame.
• The Eye Bank has relocated. Formerly in the Baptist Eye Institute, they are now near UNF; 11221 St. Johns Industrial Parkway South, Suite 6.
• As part of the Riverkeepers initiative, the St. Johns River Alliance is being established. The non-profit group will seek state and federal grants and other avenues to help protect the river from Duval to Brevard County.
• Next month’s Jacksonville Economic Development Commission meeting has been moved to June 19. It’s at the Annex on the 15th floor at 9 a.m. and Mayor John Delaney will put in an appearance.