• The City may finally be issuing Requests for Proposals for the Haydon Burns Library, but City Council member Suzanne Jenkins, who represents part of downtown, said she won’t support any development that won’t bring its own parking. “How can I?” she said. “Parking is already such a problem downtown that we can’t really afford to bring even more people down into the area without it. Whatever it turns out to be, it has to bring parking.”
• Georgia-Florida fans will have the opportunity to be the first to try out the Burrito Gallery on East Adams Street. Though the restaurant won’t officially open until later this year, it will be open this weekend for the game. Besides authentic burritos and beer, the restaurant will also have music and art work on display.
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid honored attorney Lewis “Lukie” Ansbacher at a ceremony Thursday evening. Ansbacher is a longtime supporter of Legal Aid.
• Georgia Bulldog fans can only hope it’s a sign of things to come. Georgia won the inaugural Georgia-Florida Charity Softball Game 5-4 with a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning.
• There’ll be a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday at 10 a.m. at Jacksonville International Airport to officially open the centralized security checkpoint.
• Visitors to Shelby’s Coffee Shoppe in Neptune Beach Thursday found their morning coffee was on the house. A jubilant Boston Red Sox fan was buying for everybody.
• Mayor Peyton may have halted work at the new Duval County Courthouse Thursday, but City Council members Lake Ray, Jerry Holland and Glorious Johnson say they stand behind legislation to find a contractor to build the courthouse at $232 million. The trio will discuss the bill at today’s special courthouse committee meeting. “What we heard today is that we don’t have a budget to build right now,” said Ray after the mayor’s press conference. “Well, I say we do. It’s $232 million and we will find someone who can work with that number.”
When it comes to keeping downtown safe during special events, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office calls on Jim Suber. Who is Jim Suber? He’s profiled in Downtown This Week, available today at various locations.