• The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is preparing a policy to guide future Riverwalk expansion and development. JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton wants a policy that addresses design guidelines, developer easements and cost sharing as well as public access.
• Now that the City has the ball rolling on plans to build a new county courthouse, real estate market observers are already speculating on what might replace the current Bay Street building. While the riverfront location might seem perfect for high-rise condos, some analysts think downtown would be better served by an entertainment venue to help boost downtown’s Bay Street entertainment corridor. Ray Rodriguez, president of the Real Estate Strategy Center of Northeast Florida, thinks the City should take a page from Atlanta’s playbook and build a riverfront aquarium.
• Jacksonville’s malls weren’t quite the mob scene you might expect on Christmas Eve. Several proprietors at the St. Johns Town Center said they count on men to do much of the last-minute shopping and speculated that many of them may have been at home Saturday watching the Jaguars.
• As expected, Christmas night was a slow one for the downtown social scene with almost every bar and restaurant outside the hotels closed. But the London Bridge opened its doors for those looking for a little extra Christmas cheer, and apparently the bar’s Christmas Eve party was a blow-out.
• A few downtown eateries are closed for the week. Bay Street Cafe won’t reopen until Jan. 3 nor will the Atrium Cafe in Independent Square. Laura Street Cafe is closed for the week for renovations.
• The new Gold’s Gym on Forsyth should open soon. Apparently all that’s left is final inspections. The gym was supposed to open in November 2004.
• The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is hosting its third annual Noon Year’s Eve, presented by Centex Homes and hosted by Radio Disney Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The festival will include live concert performances, dance and trivia contests, noisemakers, hats and party favors, a 30-minute live performance by Beu Sisters and a performance by the Gemz, a popular group with the Radio Disney audience. The zoo will have a countdown of the final seconds until noon and toast with apple juice when the zoo’s giant clock strikes noon. The celebration is the grand finale of Jazoo’s WinterJam, the zoo’s winter festival. Admission is $11 for adults and $6.50 for children.
• Former City Council member Alberta Hipps will get the Outspoken Citizens Award from the Southside Businessmen’s Club at its meeting today.
• Jan. 2 is the deadline for artists, professional and amateur, to submit their designs to the Otis Smith Kids Foundation for possible inclusion in the Big Cats for Kids Design Portfolio. The foundation is looking for artists to participate in the upcoming public art series, a follow-up to its Sea Cows for Kids campaign last year. The creatures will begin prowling the First Coast in September, and will remain on display through May 2007. Numerous companies are already “spot-soring” a Big Cat, including CSX, Fidelity, Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute, The Weaver Family Foundation, and Coggin. Interested artists and those seeking more information should call Bonnie Upright at 880-6846. Artists selected will receive a $750 honorarium.