• Appearing before a roomfull of lawyers at the Jacksonville Bar Association Thursday, it was only natural that University of Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley’s comments turned eventually to contracts. But Foley said the toughest negotiator he faced didn’t even have a law degree. Foley credits Billy Donovan’s dog with scoring the Florida basketball coach a higher salary. During negotiations over Donovan’s first contract with Florida, the dog threw up after Foley handed over his initial offer. Foley immediately reached for his counteroffer. “That dog probably made Donovan an extra $50,000 a year,” he said.
• Speaking of Foley, he said he enjoyed his appearance at the Jacksonville Bar Association Thursday. There was just one problem: the timing. “I wish this lunch had been a week ago, we’d have been undefeated,” said Foley after the Gators basketball team dropped back-to-back games against Tennessee and South Carolina. “Billy Donovan would have been a little bit better coach and I would have been a little bit better athletic director.”
• One last Foley note: He closed his speech at the JBA with a parting shot at the University of Tennessee. Volunteer fans labeled Foley a sore loser after he complained about fans rushing the court after Tennessee’s upset of Florida’s basketball team in Knoxville. Tennessee was fined $5,000 by the SEC for allowing the mob scene. “Tennessee fans, I know you’re upset with me, but next time don’t rush the court.” Foley said the atmosphere in Knoxville was “as good as I’ve seen. But we look forward to getting you down in Gainesville.”
• Where did the developers go? That’s the question on West Adams Street where proprietors haven’t seen or heard from the supposed developers of the Lerner Building, Kimmick Corporation, in more than a year. Most grating, the construction site has a lane of traffic blocked off on one of downtown’s busiest streets. “We’re now in month 15 of no action over there,” said Dick Cohee, administrator for the Police and Fire Pension Fund, which has an office across the street.
• The Chai House Tea Co. on Hendricks Avenue is planning to add live music to its menu of teas, coffees, breads and biscuits. Owner Kathy Lee said the cafe will soon feature live jazz and other music. She’s waiting for the Hendricks Avenue construction to move away from her front door before she starts booking bands.
• Danny’s at The Beach — a spinoff of Southern Paradise on West Forsyth — has a new name. It’s now called “Mother’s.”
• More City Notes, page 5.
• Speaking of name changes, the former Mexican restaurant on Atlantic Boulevard across from Adamec’s Harley Davidson is now, appropriately, “Chopper City Cafe.”
• The City is calling all multicultural organizations to participate in the 14th annual World of Nations Celebration when Metro Park is transformed into a multi-ethnic marketplace of cuisine, artistry, education and entertainment from countries around the globe. The festivities begin May 4 and last through May 7. Tickets are $5 for one day and $7 for a two-day ticket to the World. Tickets are available at Metropolitan Park entrances.
• The Falcon’s Nest at Amelia Island Plantation will host a Super Bowl party featuring special appearances from former NFL players Sunday from noon-2 a.m. The party will feature “Gridiron Greats” such as Dexter Carter (San Francisco), Eugene Chung (San Francisco, Green Bay, New England, and Jacksonville), Ron Coppenbarger (Atlanta), Eric Curry (Jacksonville), Paul Lankford (Miami) and Johnny Rembert (New England). For more information, call 491-4242.
• The Teacher Supply Depot will hold its monthly opening Thursday from 3-6 p.m at 2525 College St. A joint project of Duval County Public Schools and the Duval County Council of PTAs / PTSAs, the depot provides free items donated by area businesses and organizations to Duval county teachers at monthly “shopping” events.
• Douglas Anderson School of the Arts will return to the Times-Union Center for the first time since 1989 to present “Extravaganza 2006: 20 Years and Beyond.” Things get underway Friday at 6:30 p.m. with a 75-piece student gallery show and silent action. Performances will begin in the Moran Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20 and are available from Ticketmaster.
• Five Duval County high school students have been chosen to participate in Bank of America’s 2006 Student Leaders Program. The students are Marjorie Douglas, Zolike Nisbeth and Rebecca JoAnn Youmans from Jackson High, Joan Harbottle from Frank Peterson Academies of Technology and Lindsey Phillips from Terry Parker High. Each student will be paired with a Bank of America executive mentor and will receive an eight-week paid summer internship with a local community organization.
• Steak Finger Station at the Landing has closed its doors. Well, not really since it didn’t have any. The free-standing eatery near the entrance closest to Starbucks ceased operations last week. Rachel Kaltenbach, the Landing’s director of public relations, said there’s no word yet on what might go in the location.
• Last Tuesday night, the Florida Theatre presented “Menopause the Musical.” Marketing Director Lorie Strange said there were only about 15 men in the audience of 1,600 and it caused such a crush that the ladies took over the men’s restrooms, too. One of the members of the all-female JSO bicycle patrol who was there said it was, “Estrogen overload downtown.”