New Resident Observations

[JFman00]

So after about a month of living downtown I just had some observations/complaints I wanted to air:

• The one-way street system is very annoying
• The Subway on Hemming Plaza closes at 7 PM on weekdays and 4 PM on the weekends (I prefer eating late)
• Many of the lights in Brooklyn on Riverside Avenue appear not to have sensors. This is particularly evident at Riverside and Leila at night when I'd wager 95% of the traffic is simply passing through on the way to/from Riverside
• I get groceries on the way home (Roosevelt Blvd) or drive down to Riverside Publix as the downtown Winn-Dixie is frustrating to get to from where I am and has a much more limited selection.
• The downtown 7-11 has almost nothing I wish I could get from a corner store within walking distance and so I end up driving to Publix
• The routes between downtown and Riverside do not seem at all bike-friendly to a would-be novice rider like me
• Knowing what was there and what's there now, driving through Lavilla makes me furious
• I'd kill (figuratively) for some decent hole-in-the-wall ethnic restaurants downtown. I don't have the budget to be eating at Indochine regularly.
• Where can I grab coffee and hang out in the evenings?
• The homeless people don't bother me in the least, though the lack of pedestrian activity makes me nervous at night.

[Noone]

Nice update. As for hanging out. How about a kayak paddle Downtown? have a fishing license?

[JFman00]

I'm not much of an outdoorsy guy, especially in a place this hot. More of a read a book in a coffee house/in the shade, free classical music (Friday Musicale!), attend a lecture, food explorer type.

[Debbie Thompson]

Three Layers or Kool Beans Café when Kool Beans re-opens.  They may already be.  Are great hang out places.  Three Layers has a zen garden with a resident rabbit.  Kool Beans has a great wine-down deck out back.  Hola Mexican has good chicken enchiladas verde and beer/margaritas for a reasonable price. They have patio dining too.  Karpelis Museum has great ambiance and cool exhibits.  1st and Laura. Mike and Waafa's. at 6th and Main has good Mediterranean fare, and "serves hookah."  (On a side note, Mike's garage next door is the place to go for auto repairs.)  Uptown Market at 3rd and Main serves wonderful dinners on Thusrday-Saturday (I think those are the days.)   All in Historic Springfield.

[spuwho]

Sounds like we need an updated guide to living downtown.

[tufsu1]

• I'd kill (figuratively) for some decent hole-in-the-wall ethnic restaurants downtown. I don't have the budget to be eating at Indochine regularly.

there is a Brazilian place at Ocean/Forsyth (although I don't think it is open most nights)...Casa Dora around the coner from there....and the prices at Pho are a good bit lower than Indochine

[DDC]

I can understand being annoyed with Winn Dixie because of lack of choice. But the one way street system doesn't bother me. But then I have lived in Jacksonville all my life. I live in Springfield but have no problem navigating my self around town. It just takes a little getting used too.

Chomp Chomp is on East Adams behind Burro Bar at the corner of Adams and Ocean. Open for lunch Tues-Sat.  Open for Dinner Thurs-Sat and open till 2AM Fri and Sat.

Zodiac Grill 120 West Adams, Mediterranean food.

As mentioned earlier Casa Dora Italian 108 E Forsyth St

Hope all of the posts help. I love downtown and rarely go anywhere else in town when I go out. If I ever move from Springfield it will be to Downtown.

[sheclown]

Chamblin's downtown is a fun place to hang-out.  Old books, treats, and a good cup of coffee.  What more does a person need?

[JFman00]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I don't know why I haven't been to Chamblin's yet, but it's at the top of my list. Bold Bean has been my go-to place recently. Just got back from Latin America so it's going to be a while before I have a hankering for Mexican.

[Josh]

The river Walk is actually really good for getting from downtown to "riverside" on bike. The system just falls apart after you get to RAM. Even if you want to ride the sharrows, crossing Riverside Ave can be treacherous during rush hour.

• I'd kill (figuratively) for some decent hole-in-the-wall ethnic restaurants downtown. I don't have the budget to be eating at Indochine regularly.

there is a Brazilian place at Ocean/Forsyth (although I don't think it is open most nights)...Casa Dora around the coner from there....and the prices at Pho are a good bit lower than Indochine

Yeah, the actual Brazilian items from that place are incredible, but most require you to order them basically a day in advance. Very weird, but I guess they only keep their deli ingredients on-hand.

[thelakelander]

JFman00, where did you relocate to Jacksonville from?

[Ocklawaha]

• The routes between downtown and Riverside do not seem at all bike-friendly to a would-be novice rider like me

Which brings to mind an idea and possible hijacked thread.  Why not gather our bike forces and map out a series of bike routes via the safest possible streets for our visitors. I'm sure we have done hundreds of maps and sharrows but to someone such as JF, it's not only confusing, it's downright dangerous. I too have lived here at least half my life and wouldn't have a clue if the Riverwalk, Riverside, Park or Myrtle would get me from Water or Bay to Riverside safer on my bike and I didn't realize I'd be dumped at RAM if I used the Riverwalk.

Certainly we need bike lanes along all of our roadways, but mapping out the single best route from Downtown to Riverside, Springfield, San Marco, Saint Nicholas etc. would be a giant improvement.

DON REDMAN anyone?

[JFman00]

JFman00, where did you relocate to Jacksonville from?

Year in Pensacola, 5 years in Uptown New Orleans, 18 years in one of the older railroad-based suburbs in Dupage County, IL (Chicago collar county)

[Bill Hoff]

Coffee & chill in the evenings? Three Layers ( 6th & Walnut) & Chamblin's (Laura) are your closest options (and good ones).

"Ethnic" food: Wafaa & Mikes (Main), Zodiac Grille (Adams), Hola (Main), Da Real Ting (Adams), Casa Dora (Forsyth), Caribbean Stone (8th), Pho (Adams), Brazilian Corner (Forsyth & Ocean), Cinco de Mayo (Landing), La Cena (Laura), Koji Sushi (Landing), Vito's (Landing) and the aforementioned Indochine (Adams) are going to be your closest options. I don't know if you consider Fionn MacCool's (Landing) ethinc or not.

Note: I've eaten at all of these, as I eat most of my meals in the the Downtown/SPR area, and they are all at least decent to good, with the exception of Cinco de Mayo. No Gracias.

[sheclown]

For downtown entertainment, you just can't beat the city council meetings every other Tuesday at 5:00.