2009 Jacksonville Jazz Festival
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/544185067_pua5J-M.jpg)
Despite the rain, the 2009 Jacksonville Jazz Festival featured jazz performances and activities along the Laura Street Corridor, The Jacksonville Landing, Hemming Plaza, Snyder Memorial Church, downtown businesses and vacant buildings.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-may-2009-jacksonville-jazz-festival
That actually looks like a vibrant city!!!!!!
The Laura Trio made an interesting backdrop for the Forsyth stage. Despite the success of the event it undoubtedly would have been a bigger success without the historic rains.
The venue was certainly different from the Metro Park experience. We enjoyed walking around and exploring but unless you waited at a stage for a particular performer you would find yourself standing way in the back. Sitting was never really an option unless you set up at one stage and stayed. The Metro Park experience may have been better if you prefer a "home Base" from which you park your chairs and venture from them to visit the vendors.
Just an observation... not really a criticism... :)
It's very refreshing to see (great shots, btw) photos featuring a lively downtown filled with people and 'things to do' for a change. Great baby-step on the way to having something like this more prominently and more regularly downtown!
Excellent!
A couple of my suggesstions:
-Move the Forsyth St. stage back away from the intersection a bit. This would allow people to pass through to
Hemming a little better.
-Reconfigure Hemming - They set up the wine bar in the middle of Hemming Plaza, which made it near impossible to make your way to the stage (it took me a while to figure hot how to get there).
There are probably a couple more, but that's it for now. Great Job to the City! I know I don't say that much, but I can give credit where credit is due.
I had so much fun attending non-Jazz Fest-related functions in downtown this weekend! They should block several key arteries off every day to make downtown impossible to navigate. It's a great way of drawing people to the urban core. Parking was a treat, too. Thanks for not utilizing an already concert-equipped, gigantic public park, city decision makers!
The photos were great - I trust that the Laura Street improvements (i.e. landscaping, moving the A.J. statue, roundabout, etc.) are still in the works(?).
Quote from: stug on May 26, 2009, 09:19:41 AM
I had so much fun attending non-Jazz Fest-related functions in downtown this weekend! They should block several key arteries off every day to make downtown impossible to navigate. It's a great way of drawing people to the urban core. Parking was a treat, too. Thanks for not utilizing an already concert-equipped, gigantic public park, city decision makers!
So, let me get this straight. When no one is downtown we complain. We a ton of people are downtown, we complain there are too many people downtown. I can't follow your logic with regard to parking. Plus, I attended Saturday and Sunday, and I found a meter with VERY little effort both times.
However, with regard to roads, I thought the city could have done a better job redirecting traffic around the closed Laura St. This is something that they might need some practice at.
Great pic's!
Things I enjoyed:
Smooth sounds & great acoustics in Hemming Plaza
Easy & Free transit via (the packed out) Skyway
Snyder Memorial Church
Low Country Boil plate
Sausage & Pepper's
Corn on the Cob
Chicken Kabob
Bold City Beer tent
Roberta Flack and the Laura Street stage
I wish I could have gone more than just Saturday... it'd be great if the city would do more festival's this way.
Maybe even bring the Warped tour back to downtown.
I was told at the fest that Snyder Memorial was currently under renovation and that after completion it may not hold Church services anymore… any idea if this is true or what it may be used for? I’ve said for years it would make a great night club like the Lime Light (NYC) and the “Church†(Denver).
I would be interested to know the non Jazz related events. I have a really hard time believing it was that hard to get to something.
Quote from: Shwaz on May 26, 2009, 10:03:26 AM
I was told at the fest that Snyder Memorial was currently under renovation and that after completion it may not hold Church services anymore.
The Snyder has been vacant for years. Right now the city owns it. I doubt chuch services will be returning anytime soon.
QuoteThe Snyder has been vacant for years. Right now the city owns it. I doubt chuch services will be returning anytime soon.
I wonder if the city would consider selling it off or if they would block it from becoming a night club. I'm pretty sure FBC would have a fit.
I could see Hemming plaza brimming with young people before and after live concert's and being at an actual skyway location moving the herds in & out would be a breeze.
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It would have to be a very small nightclub as there is not much room in there. I think it needs to be a downtown Information Kiosk staffed with downtown ambassadors by day, and maybe a small coffe shop at night off to the side. They can make it a museum/ visitors welcome center offering free water and maps for out of town guests. They could have brochures for all the downtown hotels and clubs and events. This is what I think it would be perfect for.
^That was discussed a few years ago, along with making it into a Supper Club. Unfortunately, both ideas never gained much traction.
A visitors center/art gallery will be going into the building next door, next to the jewelry store. Although they had a kiosk set up in there this past weekend, its anticipated to open later this Summer.
QuoteIt would have to be a very small nightclub as there is not much room in there.
I agree but there was enough room for stage, common area, large bar, merch tables and general admission front of stage. The acoustic's are perfect... you almost get a church like reverb ;)
It's definitely too much venue for a kiosk and water cooler.
I think it should be a museum/ coffeee bar/ visitors center. Imagine pictures of old Hemming plaza set up, maybe some model displays, some info on the fire and the church as well. To me that would be the best option for it. I do not see a club or anything like that working here at this time.
Downtown already has plenty of coffee, and visitor center's.
I agree more Museum's would be nice such as the Maritime Museum idea for the ship yards.
We need more venue's that draw visitor's and bring downtown back to a dominant area for retail, culture and nightlife instead of wasting great venues (like this) to hold old pictures showing that downtown used to be great.
Wow, this looks great. Sorry I was away this weekend!
So, all of the aforementioned being said, and the fact that I wasn't there, would you all call it a success or no? It looks like there was an excellent turnout despite the rain.
Heights Unknown
I would call it a success. Keep in mind I would give the city a grade of 100%, but I'd give them at least a B+/A-. There were a couple of things I would have done differently, however keep in mind that they are my opinion, not necessarily fact.
I would say this format is FAR better than the isolated Metro Park version
Just what I needed to know; and who knows? Even this annual event could alter downtown in a positive way, i.e., giving a shot in the arm and impetus for growth in other downtown areas and entities.
Heights Unknown
With all due respect, I thought it was an A+! :D Although I didn't get to see it in person. Downtown is always at its best when it comes to something like this. The essence and the atmosphere of downtown is almost like the days of old. We should have more like this in the future. Mayor Payton, God bless you! 8)
Great photos, I'm glad it was as successful even with the bad weather.
Yeah, I wonder why there isn't more festivals or parades downtown. I seem to remember there being a Latin festival in Hemming Plaza a few years back. What about having a Puerto Rican day parade, West Indian day parades and I like all the ideas that Stephen posted above. Granted I have no experience in organizing things such as these, but is it really that hard to coordinate with the city to get things like these moving? It seems that downtown always has a good turnout when they host things. And even though leaving and coming back home to the Carling was somewhat of a pain this weekend, I'd gladly welcome an event in the surrounding area again if it was for the long-term good of downtown and its growth.
I agree conmcense; and just like Stephendare said, hold different types of events at least a minimum of once a month; in my opinion every weekend hold something (if you're that innovative to hold 52 different events a year). Nothing else goes on downtown anyway so once a month minimum would be better than nothing at all. You live at the Carling "Comncense?" If so, how is the living quarters there?
Lastly, if the City held recurring events year round once a month, once a week or whatever, it would change downtown in more ways than we know, and, people would all of a sudden start coming to downtown if not for an event, at least to hangout, and, people would also start wanting to live downtown, which would provide impetus for restaurants, stores, etc. to spring up and support the people wanting to live and "hang out" downtown.
Heights Unknown
Quote from: stephendare on May 26, 2009, 02:01:07 PM
Downtown needs a themed festival every month, I would posit. Art walk on the first wednesday I suppose and a weekend festival on the second weekend of the month.
Jazz
Blues
Latin Salsa
Gospel and Christian Contemporanea
Country
Neo Soul/Contemporary Urban
Square Dancing/ Line Dancing/ Dancing in the Streets
Barbeque Fests
Alternative College Indie
Mardi Gras
Holiday Caroling
Choral and vocal ensembles / Cheerleading / Marching Bands.
Where would the money come from for all of this? I agree these would be very nice, but to hire union workers and all to set up sound and stages once a month and to rent all that is needed could be quite expensive. We are ina projected huge city deficit. How can the city afford this right now? I think this would be a nice thing to incorporate when things get back in the upswing.
Quote from: Shwaz on May 26, 2009, 11:49:34 AM
Downtown already has plenty of coffee, and visitor center's.
I agree more Museum's would be nice such as the Maritime Museum idea for the ship yards.
We need more venue's that draw visitor's and bring downtown back to a dominant area for retail, culture and nightlife instead of wasting great venues (like this) to hold old pictures showing that downtown used to be great.
I am sorry, I just disagree that this would be a good club spot. If it was such an enticing option, it would have been purchased for such well before now. It sat in default forever and the city has been trying to sell the place but people kept defaulting on payments. It is a neat venue, but it needs to stay simple for now and at least be useful while the city owns it.
Quote from: comncense on May 26, 2009, 02:46:06 PM
Yeah, I wonder why there isn't more festivals or parades downtown. I seem to remember there being a Latin festival in Hemming Plaza a few years back. What about having a Puerto Rican day parade, West Indian day parades and I like all the ideas that Stephen posted above. Granted I have no experience in organizing things such as these, but is it really that hard to coordinate with the city to get things like these moving? It seems that downtown always has a good turnout when they host things. And even though leaving and coming back home to the Carling was somewhat of a pain this weekend, I'd gladly welcome an event in the surrounding area again if it was for the long-term good of downtown and its growth.
We do have a Puerto Rican day parade every year, one year it was in springfield ending at confederate park and the next year it was at metro park, down bay street to in front of the entrance. However the turn outs for these have been small, mostly the local puerto rican community, I think a main issue isn't as much the amount of events that are planned, but the logistics and the marketing, there are events that go on here that i'd love to go to and dont find out until afterwards or happen to see advertised in an obscure place.
Quote from: Dapperdan on May 26, 2009, 03:16:56 PM
Quote from: stephendare on May 26, 2009, 02:01:07 PM
Downtown needs a themed festival every month, I would posit. Art walk on the first wednesday I suppose and a weekend festival on the second weekend of the month.
Jazz
Blues
Latin Salsa
Gospel and Christian Contemporanea
Country
Neo Soul/Contemporary Urban
Square Dancing/ Line Dancing/ Dancing in the Streets
Barbeque Fests
Alternative College Indie
Mardi Gras
Holiday Caroling
Choral and vocal ensembles / Cheerleading / Marching Bands.
Where would the money come from for all of this? I agree these would be very nice, but to hire union workers and all to set up sound and stages once a month and to rent all that is needed could be quite expensive. We are ina projected huge city deficit. How can the city afford this right now? I think this would be a nice thing to incorporate when things get back in the upswing.
You wouldn't try to add them all at once but consistently one, two or Three a year. The city couldn't do that many festivals unless they are real money makers but they probably could be.
Just because it wasn't purchased and renovated into live music venue doesn't mean it isn't enticing. I'm sure there's all kinds of red tape when it comes to turning an old Church that dates back to 1903 into a night club in the bold new city.
Quote from: Dapperdan on May 26, 2009, 03:16:56 PM
Quote from: stephendare on May 26, 2009, 02:01:07 PM
Downtown needs a themed festival every month, I would posit. Art walk on the first wednesday I suppose and a weekend festival on the second weekend of the month.
Jazz
Blues
Latin Salsa
Gospel and Christian Contemporanea
Country
Neo Soul/Contemporary Urban
Square Dancing/ Line Dancing/ Dancing in the Streets
Barbeque Fests
Alternative College Indie
Mardi Gras
Holiday Caroling
Choral and vocal ensembles / Cheerleading / Marching Bands.
Where would the money come from for all of this? I agree these would be very nice, but to hire union workers and all to set up sound and stages once a month and to rent all that is needed could be quite expensive. We are ina projected huge city deficit. How can the city afford this right now? I think this would be a nice thing to incorporate when things get back in the upswing.
I don't have much interest in square dancing or choraling but I agree downtown needs more festival type activities. Maybe not like the Jazzfest but more like SXSW in Austin. An organized group of club's & park's that hold a weekend schedule of live music & special events spread out through downtown.
The Jazz fest was great and despite the rain, we still had a great time. After walking around and checking everything out, we ended up spending most of the time at the Landing. I parked at the Kings Ave garage and rode the Skyway over so parking was a non-issue. All-in-all, a GREAT time.
IMO, quarterly events would be much more suitable. We already have a monthly Artwalk so just throw in 4 big events in the CBD each year. The Irish Fest, World of Nations Fest, Jazz Fest, and something else.... are all on the books already. So just a bit of reorganization and violia! Save Met Park for the smaller shindigs and outdoor concerts.
This looks like one of the cities that is frequently posted here to show us what we could be!
Snyder Memorial would make a great wedding chapel with receptions in Hemming Plaza, the library courtyard or the conference area downstairs. It could still be used for small concerts - string quartets, high school and college groups. The rental income could help offset the upkeep.
Speaking of baby steps… if landlords would do a 4-month lease for their empty street level space we could have a mini-season from October to January. This would give merchants a taste of what could be without the risk of a long-term lease and without the set up/break down costs of monthly festivals.
Artwalk could be extended to weekly during this timeframe along with other events to bring people downtown (Make a Scene Downtown Thursdays, Destination Downtown Fridays, add a Progressive Supper on Saturdays?)
This is the time frame when we already have people in town for FL-GA, Thanksgiving (Tree Lighting), Gator Bowl, Light Parade and New Year’s Eve fireworks. Throw in a few more events on the off weekends and you’ve got 4 months of good, solid activity downtown.
Eventually merchants would have the confidence to come downtown year round.
Looks great, too bad I was out of town also. Keep it up Jax.
Um...This is Jacksonville?? WOW!!! If you could see the smile on my face right not my jaws are hurting. MAN!!! I love how the stage looks, people still came out during the rain. Ok now this is what I am talking about, events like this!!! keep it on Laura Street!! Lets hope for no rain next year. Man these pictures look like they were taken in Chicago or DC....Impressive, most Impressive!!!
Quote from: Jason on May 26, 2009, 03:38:03 PM
The Jazz fest was great and despite the rain, we still had a great time. After walking around and checking everything out, we ended up spending most of the time at the Landing. I parked at the Kings Ave garage and rode the Skyway over so parking was a non-issue. All-in-all, a GREAT time.
Cool so how does Riverplace Station look? Did JTA add anything to it? They got that station fixed fast.
I think Riverplace is still closed, and the Skyway cars just run through it on the way to/from Kings Avenue.
The monthly or quarterly festivals wouldn't necessarily require as much organization, street closure and public expense as the Jazzfest. One of the great things about artwalk is the decentralized nature of it.
Also I think the bank building of the Laura Trio would be a better location for a club than the Snyder.
QuoteThis looks like one of the cities that is frequently posted here to show us what we could be!
Snyder Memorial would make a great wedding chapel with receptions in Hemming Plaza, the library courtyard or the conference area downstairs. It could still be used for small concerts - string quartets, high school and college groups. The rental income could help offset the upkeep.
Speaking of baby steps… if landlords would do a 4-month lease for their empty street level space we could have a mini-season from October to January. This would give merchants a taste of what could be without the risk of a long-term lease and without the set up/break down costs of monthly festivals.
Artwalk could be extended to weekly during this timeframe along with other events to bring people downtown (Make a Scene Downtown Thursdays, Destination Downtown Fridays, add a Progressive Supper on Saturdays?)
This is the time frame when we already have people in town for FL-GA, Thanksgiving (Tree Lighting), Gator Bowl, Light Parade and New Year’s Eve fireworks. Throw in a few more events on the off weekends and you’ve got 4 months of good, solid activity downtown.
Eventually merchants would have the confidence to come downtown year round.
Great suggestions Gen7... Welcome to the forum! Looking forward to more input!
yea
If Jacksonville does this event downtown next year like they did last year, I'll have to come down there and visit. I really like these pictures.