• Mayor John Peyton continues to receive good reviews for stopping the Duval County Courthouse project. State Senate president Jim King congratulated Peyton for grabbing “the reins to what was appearing to be a runaway horse.” Chief Judge Don Moran called it “a solid business decision.” Moran said the judiciary had been misled, “by those whose obligation was to provide us with sound advice and solid numbers.”
• Restaurant row on West Adams Street has a new dining option. Redd Cafe at 128 W. Adams St., a self-proclaimed “relaxed elegant dining” establishment, offers breakfast, lunch and is open some nights for dinner. The family-operated cafe offers a variety of Southern style cuisine and will be open during all home Jaguars games.
• The First Coast Metropolitan Planning Organization is looking into renaming Brannan Field/Chaffee Road for missing Desert Storm pilot Scott Speicher. A Speicher family spokesperson told assistant general counsel Cindy Laquidara that the family would be honored by the gesture.
• The St. Johns River City Big Band is hosting its holiday party, Yuletide Swing, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Florida Theatre. Tickets are $25 and includes a post concert reception.
• Reminder: Three Rivers Legal Services and Florida Coastal School of Law’s Pro Bono Reception and Awards Ceremony is Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the law school.
• Super Bowl Host Committee co-chair Tom Petway is the speaker at Tuesday’s Rotary Club of South Jacksonville meeting. He’ll give a Super Bowl update. The meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Radisson.
• We confused our “Star Trek” characters in a City Note Tuesday about the manatee statue in front of Berkman Plaza. It’s not a Romulon, but a Klingon. And his phaser was apparently stolen over the weekend.
• The Starlite Cafe in Five Points is hosting a reception for artists Jason Wright and Thomas Wiley tonight, following the Downtown Art Walk. The artists will be displaying some of their new work. The show starts at 9 p.m.
• The City Council’s Recreation and Community Development Committee was unable to do much business during a Tuesday morning meeting. Gwen Yates, Suzanne Jenkins, Mia Jones and Glorious Johnson, who comprise more than half of the committee, were either excused or absent. According to the City’s charter, at least four members must be present to make a committee recommendation. Art Shad was eventually summoned as an alternate.