by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Since last June, several of the seats at the weekly “Clara’s at the Cathedral” luncheon at St. John’s Cathedral Downtown have been occupied one Friday each month by people who came to be part of the “First Friday Lunch Bunch.”
It’s the brainchild of Darren Dailey, artistic and executive director of the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus.
“I just saw it as an opportunity for our community’s creative people to meet, get to know each other and network,” he said. “And breaking bread together is a pretty basic thing to do.”
The meal is prepared and served by students in the culinary training program at the Clara White Mission. It’s a way for the mission to help fund the program that transitions homeless people into jobs in the food service industry. The meeting hall at St. John’s Cathedral provides a setting reminiscent of an ancient castle or a fine european restaurant with its high ceiling, leaded-glass glass windows and hardwood floor.
The artists’ table’s guest list changes from week to week depending on who is in town or touring, but it’s an interesting mix of people from various artistic fields, said Dailey. The tables are set for eight, which almost guarantees a lively lunch. “Any time you sit down to eat with that many people, there’s always at least one extrovert,” added Dailey.
Touring pianist and music educator Joy Myers described herself as “a regular whenever I’m in town” when asked what she thought about First Friday Lunch Bunch.
“I get such wonderful energy from the other artists. We’re all people who are living our dreams. Some of us are involved in nonprofit organizations and others are just putting beauty into the world. It’s a great way to find out what’s happening in the local art world and sharing a meal creates a kind of instant connection,” she said.
In addition to artists and musicians, arts professionals have also discovered the social and networking possibilities of the once-a-month noontime gathering. At the November meeting, Martha McManus, education programs manager of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, had an appointment to meet Sue Downs, who is the special projects coordinator at the University of North Florida’s Fine Arts Center. They were there to have lunch and discuss plans for UNF’s Summer Institute that will be funded by the Duval County school district’s new arts grant.
“It’s so wonderful to be able to get together and discuss the arts and what each person is doing,” said McManus.
“Plus the food is great and we don’t have to cook it,” added Downs.
The next meeting of the First Friday Lunch Bunch will be held at 12 p.m. Dec. 5 at St. Johns Cathedral.
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