• A new blues club is being planned for the top floor of the Amsterdam Sky Cafe. There are hopes that an October opening will have it established by the time the Super Bowl comes to town.
• The McCormick Agency will handle public relations for The Towers Group, a neighborhood development firm.
• Citing a need to be out of town on legal business, City Council member Kevin Hyde will be absent at tonight’s Council meeting. Hyde, who regularly serves as floor leader, will be replaced by Mia Jones.
• Speaking of Hyde, outgoing Council president Lad Daniels has recommended that he serve as an alternate for Mayor John Peyton at all future Metropolitan Planning Organization meetings. At those meetings, various City and agency representatives discuss transportation priorities.
• The City’s Planning Department was pretty happy with a profile we did on Council aide Jenny Farraday. A map they designed was prominently featured in the background of Farraday’s photo. “I guess we can continue in our role as being the City’s unsung hero,” they said.
• We erred in a Monday note that said the Chamber’s Military Affairs Luncheon was today — it’s Wednesday. The speaker, Bob Natter, is the state’s man on the base closures; Tillie Fowler has the City’s lobbying contract.
• Talleyrand Marine Terminal Director Victoria Robas has been elected for the third consecutive year as the chairman of Florida’s Board of Pilot Commissioners. The commission is responsible for licensing harbor pilots across the state.
• The mayor’s Investment/Finance Committee is keeping a close eye on short-term interest rates. As short-term rates like the London Inter Bank Offering Rates go up, the value of the mayor’s interest rate swap investment program declines.
• Tickets are still available for the annual Jacksonville Women Lawyer’s Association judicial reception on Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at JMoMA. it’s also not to late for firms to help sponsor the event by calling Tess Arington at 389-5161. The Jacksonville Woman Lawyer of the Year will be named and honored during the event. RSVP to Patty Dodson at 632-2424.
• Not too long after we ran a City Note about City attorney Peggy Sidman not having a television in her office, that quickly changed. Sidman was surprised with a TV when she showed up Monday morning.
• While briefly showing up at City Hall Monday, City Council vice president-elect Kevin Hyde joked that he was only there to take measurements of his new office. Vacant after Elaine Brown moves into the president’s quarters, Hyde will move in later this month.