• City Council Finance Chair Stephen Joost has set the tentative schedule for the 2009-10 proposed budget hearings. They are Aug. 13, 20 and 27 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with a one-hour break each day for lunch from noon-1 p.m. The hearings are in Council Chambers and open to the public. The Council Auditor’s Office will set the schedule as to exactly when the various City departments and the independent agencies present their budgets.
• Remember when the “Naked Cowboy” was at the Landing several months ago? The Times Square fixture has announced he plans to run against incumbent New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The election is in November.
• Capt. Jack Scorby is the new Commanding Officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and he has ties to the area. His cousin is Sean Considine, a safety with the Jaguars.
• The worldly delights continue to be served up at An-Apple-a-Day food market at The Landing. Homemade ghoulash was one of the soup selections available Wednesday and the Hungarian dish can be found at the stand regularly.
• Now open: Bamboo Creek on Baymeadows Road, in the building of the now defunct Bennigan’s. The Asian bistro opened last week and along with its neighbor, the recently opened Four Points Sheraton, making for two new establishments in the proximity in less than a year.
• The Florida Theatre in association with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the Alhambra Dinner Theater will screen the movie “Oklahoma!” Sunday at 2 p.m. There will be musicians from the symphony and singers from the Alhambra’s production of the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical performing and even a “pretty little surrey with the fringe on top” at the theater. Tickets are $7 and the bar will be open.
• Interesting scheduling note for the Southside Businessmen’s Club: They’ll host City Council President Richard Clark during their weekly luncheon Aug. 5. The next luncheon? Mayor John Peyton visits the organization Aug. 12.
• As part of its 30th anniversary celebration Woody’s Bar-B-Q is hosting a contest to give away a trip to Disney World for four people. Children 10 years of age and under are invited to write “30 Good Things I Did This Summer” and drop off their entry at any Woody’s location. A winner at each restaurant will receive a $130 value “Q Card” and each will be entered in a drawing for the trip. The contest ends Aug. 31 and the grand prize winner will be announced Sept. 12.
• Ret. Navy Adm. Robert Natter, who assists the City’s military advocacy and lobbying efforts, will speak at the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Military Appreciation Luncheon Nov. 10. The following day is Veterans Day and the weekend before is the Sea and Sky Airshow at the beaches. Also that weekend, the Jaguars will play the Kansas City Chiefs at Municipal Stadium with a salute to the military at halftime.
• Three Rivers Legal Service and Equal Justice Works Americorps host “Legal Rights 101,” a community information program, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. at the Bradham Brooks Northwest branch library. Topics will include unemployment compensation, landlord-tenant law, elder law and small claims. Admission is free. For details visit www.trls.org.
• While the Jazz Festival might have ended more than a month ago, the City is already thinking about an image for next year’s event. The City’s Office of Special Events is having a commemorative poster contest for the 2010 festival, with the winner receiving a cash prize, complimentary booth at the Art in the Heart juried show and recognition as the official festival poster artist. For more information on the contest, go to www.jaxjazzfest.com.