Setting up the spring social calendar

News

Staff Writer

In 1958 members of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce formed a subcommittee, the Downtown Council, that would work to promote business and other activities in what we now refer to as the Business Improvement District.

They were a creative group. Some of their early projects were the purchase of holiday decorations for Downtown’s light posts and during the December shopping season in 1959, they entered into a partnership with the Jacksonville Coach Company (the forerunner of JTA) to provide a free shuttle bus to transport shoppers from the municipal parking lot (where the Landing now stands) to the dozens of specialty shops and department stores that were part of the urban landscape back then.

Fifty-two years later, the Downtown Council is still working to build business and several of the current members have formed a subcommittee to promote commerce, partnerships and other more recreational activities in the urban core of the 21st century.

“The idea is to create a better tool for Downtown businesspeople to network and help people recognize the benefits of Downtown and what’s here to see and enjoy,” said Joe Snowberger, chair of the council’s Enhancement and Events Committee.

He has been visiting Downtown businesses to develop new partnerships and to invite people to the council’s series of networking mixers which are held the second Thursday of each month at different venues. Snowberger said this month the group will gather for happy hour at The Ivy Ultra Bar on East Bay Street at “5:30ish.”

The committee has a business mixer at the Florida Bank Downtown Branch at 135 W. Bay St. on the calendar. It’s from 4:30-6 p.m. March 3 and Florida Bank Personal Banker Sonia Green described it as a “pre-event for Art Walk.”

Bill Cosnotti, an account executive with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, said the symphony will present its first “Chamber Symphony Night” March 12. Titled “Italian Fusion” it’s an evening of Puccini, Rossini and Paganini and not the usual symphony experience.

“It’s much less formal,” said Cosnotti. “The musicians don’t wear tuxedos and the conductor turns around and talks to the audience.”

Cosnotti also said after the performance there’s a reception where concertgoers can meet the symphony’s musicians.

The Hyatt is also a partner for the event and is offering a discounted room rate as part of the package.

“It’s a way to stay Downtown and have a nice evening,” said Cosnotti.

Snowberger said the committee is also planning social events around the Jacksonville Sharks Arena Football League and Jacksonville Suns Southern League baseball seasons.

To learn more about the symphony package, call Cosnotti at 356-0426. To attend the Florida Bank mixer RSVP to Green at 446-1940. To learn more about the Downtown Council, visit www.downtowncouncil.org.

The next meeting is Feb. 19 at 7:30 a.m. at Currents Riverview Bistro in the Aetna Building on the Southbank. Duval County School Board member Martha Barrett will be there to discuss the public schools, the FCAT and the new high school.

Downtown Vision, Inc. by the numbers

• Downtown Guides distributed 21,461

• Unique Web site visits (Average per month) 13,487

• DVI events produced 78

• Requests for information fulfilled 827

• Facebook fans 750+

• Media requests 131

• Retailers and businesses assisted 397

• Tons of litter removed 8.9

• Cleanliness and maintenance issues reported 590

• Cleanliness and maintenance issues resolved 351

• Tree beds mulched 512