Im downtown today watching all of the hubbub and chaos that happens before the crowds begin to descend.
All the guys i know with restaurants and clubs are out in the alleys and on the streets with their employees and a hundred extra helping hands busting asses to get all the extra supplies and beer packed into their spaces. Basically if you arent prestocked before the weekend you are screwed. Good luck trying to get a distributor out in time to deliver in the middle of the madness.
Even Toney Sleiman was out in front of the Landing hauling and making himself useful as a hired hand.
There are barricades everywhere and all of the merchants are in the streets communicating to each other exactly what the changes are in the tailgate policy and what the Landing is allowed or not allowed to do this year---busy trying to figure out what handicap or advantage the changes bring to their particular establishmen.
Ryan and Jason and Mark and the guys on Bay Street have been burning the midnight oil to make sure all of the silly signs and sidewalk displays are done in time.
There are heavily mascara'ed skinny musician looking guys wandering the streets (clearly the entertainment) trying to find a decent place to get coffee (I pointed them dutifully to Chamblins)
The bartender in front of the Landing has collapsed on an inflatable couch underneath a tent and is trying to catch 40 winks before it gets out of control.
All along Bay Street, the beer trucks are delivering pallet after pallet of cases to the bars.
I chatted for a moment with Toney at the Landing, long enough to get the simple frustrations of downtown's usual clusterhump for events.
The vans of meatheaded jocks are beginning to unload. Seriously already drinking college aged boys with more sports logos on their clothing than sense walking around in the unfamiliar downtown infrequently howling someting about gators for no apparent reason (every year the kids from gainesville always arrive just a few hours before the crowds from geogia.)
Although Toney mentioned that the Hotels had not actually booked out for the weekend (the first time in decades) the sidewalks in front of them are crowded with early guest arrivals.
Scouts for larger parties are out on the street getting the lay of the land from the downtowners who are giving them dazzling florida smiles despite the stress of getting everything ready in time.
The Downtown Ambassador's are at their best for this and this place would be a lot more confusing without them.
The first of the cars with the unprovoked honking, cat calls and wild yelling just arrived. Its 1 in the afternoon, and a sign to the businesses that its time to hurry the hell up because the huns are on their way.
Tonight this place will be chaos. Wonderful chaos.
AWESOME POST! I am so excited and this just put me over the top. I'm skipping lunch today so I can leave work an hour earlier. Maybe I'll make it a liquid lunch, dinner, weekend....
Quote from: stephendare on October 30, 2009, 01:12:21 PM
Tonight this place will be chaos. Wonderful chaos.
Ch-ching!
Toney Sleiman for mayor!
An article in the Times Union the other day stated something about not wanting the fair and the Georgia/Florida game on the same weekend. I thought this was nuts. What's the reason? Parking?
There are thousands of spaces downtown. I think they should charge regular bus fair and run the shuttles in loops from the various parking lots, hotels, Landing, etc to the stadium.
Cant wait to get off, and go play!!! ;D :D
Quote from: Seraphs on October 30, 2009, 06:24:21 PM
An article in the Times Union the other day stated something about not wanting the fair and the Georgia/Florida game on the same weekend. I thought this was nuts. What's the reason? Parking?
There are thousands of spaces downtown. I think they should charge regular bus fair and run the shuttles in loops from the various parking lots, hotels, Landing, etc to the stadium.
correct...the problem is parking...and traffic circulation...basically it took folks 3 hours to get out after last year's game.
I say spread the events out...that way the downtown area is buzzing for more than one weekend
The City will never have the fair and the game at the same time again. JSO does not want it, the mayor does not want it. Council does not want it. And with the new deal for the next 6 years, it basically says no fair during week of FL/GA.
I know Im a little late on this, but I have to say it was a lot of fun going up to the landing on the 30th dressed as a zombie and harassing the ga/fl people. :) It was good stuff!
Had a blast hanging out Downtown Friday night. Parking was no issue! plenty of free parking downtown every night and weekend! The Landing was packed, I must have been out of my mind to go in, but I did. Talked with Sleiman for bit, he was hanging out in the Landing taking everything in. There were so many cops Downtown Friday night, they were everywhere. If some how the City could figure out a way make every Friday night half of FL/GA weekend, we would have an awesome Downtown.
I couldnt agree more!!