Riverside Arts Market Opens

[outandaboutinjax]

Hi All,
Just wanted to let you know that I attended RAM this past Saturday and wrote all about it in "Out and About in Jax", a blog all about events and places to go in Jacksonville.  It has pieces about all the events I go to plus links to local event websites and calendars.  Check it out at www.outandaboutinjax.blogspot.com
Erica

[blizz01]

We went today & it seemed every bit as crowded as day one between 11am & 1pm.  A lot of that probably had to do with the talent that was booked (Justin Roberts), however, I cannot grow tired of spending a Saturday afternoon there.  Seriously, this is really something that everyone in JAX can be proud of.

[blizz01]

I see that they've started pedicab rides to Five Points & the Trolley has a stop there too - what ever happened to the River Taxi?

[grimss]

The River Taxi wanted something like $1000 per Saturday to run, and it wasn't in the market's budget.  I think it will be reconsidered for the next market year.

[904Scars]

I have continuously gone and remained excited about the amount of people coming into the Riverside / 5 Points area because of the market. I hope we can take this idea and run with it, creating more monthly or weekly events that are similar. Art Walk seems to be a continued success as well and there are also First Fridays in 5 Points... that being the least popular of the mentioned events. But all in all each one is a sign of progress.

[JaxBorn1962]

This is a good start and I pray we don't let a good thing slip between are fingers! And in the future I also hope that the R.A.M. could be open on Sundays for the people who have to work on Saturday

[blizz01]

What gives with this poll/vote?  While still fresh & new, RAM comes in at a respectable 34th; but take a look at the Fernandina Farmer's Market - 4th!  I smell some home cookin' - this thing seems more fixed than an American Idol result.  I suspect that you could vote more than once.  Given that, I plan to pay a visit to our friends on Amelia Island very soon to drink the Kool-Aid.  As nice as it may be, I simply cannot imagine anything superior to RAM in North Florida to date.   

http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/top_markets

[stjr]

What gives with this poll/vote?  While still fresh & new, RAM comes in at a respectable 34th; but take a look at the Fernandina Farmer's Market - 4th!  I smell some home cookin' - this thing seems more fixed than an American Idol result.  I suspect that you could vote more than once.  Given that, I plan to pay a visit to our friends on Amelia Island very soon to drink the Kool-Aid while as nice as it may be, I simply cannot imagine anything superior to RAM in North Florida to date.  

http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/top_markets

As you note, this poll seems to be more akin to American Idol - who can spike the ballot box most.

Most of these markets appear to be single day or weekend markets, likely open only a few weeks of the year.  Comparing them to real farmers markets like the Jacksonville Farmers Market on West Beaver Street is apples to oranges (a little "industry" humor there!).  Maybe they should have had multiple classes for types and sizes of markets.

In the end, polls like this are likely to promote the hosting sponsor more than the markets being "polled".

[blizz01]

I for one can't wait for this to start back up in several weeks - I'd say that we were able to do about 30% of our holiday shopping there as we were able to grab some unique finds....Certainly one of Jax's bright spots for '09.

Year-End Report for RAM

RAM has had a spectacular first year. Since its Grand Opening on Saturday, April 4, 2009, the Riverside Arts Market has become one of Jacksonville's most popular free weekend family outings. RAM is a Jacksonville phenomenon and has had a major impact on the city:

»  It took 16 years of planning
»  For something that did not even exist a year ago, it has made a major change in Jacksonville.
»  Economic impact = several million dollars. (The market has had over $1 million in on-site sales, and add to this the salaries, purchase cost of artists' and vendor's raw materials, hotel rooms, sales tax, advertising, printing, stimulus of local businesses, etc., and the three-fold recycling of money in the local economy, RAM has had well over $4 million in local economic impact.
»  Over 700 different artists have exhibited at RAM.
»   Nearly a half million visitors have attended RAM. (38 weeks x 15,000 avg. per week. RAM is the largest drawing event in the city.)
»  The average price of item sold at RAM is $30 to $50, but some artists have sold work in the thousands of dollars
»  RAM has over 150 volunteers that have participated at RAM.  30 of those are semi-regular weekly participants. (38 weeks x 12 volunteers per week x 4 hour shifts per week = 1, 824 volunteer hours).  Plus RAM’s steering committee “RAMROD” has put in well over 8,000 hours, pushing RAM volunteers into over 10,000 hours.
»  Over 250 different entertainers have performed at RAM.
»  Over 100 non-profit organizations have received free exposure at RAM.
»  RAM has become one of the top twenty community markets in the U.S. in its first year, and  RAM was recognized in USA Today as Top 10 River City Destinations.
»  RAM is the largest weekly free outdoor arts and entertainment venue in Florida.
»  RAM has become one of the most spectacular public spaces in Jacksonville, if not Florida.  RAM has a devoted following of weekly local visitors, and out-of-town visitors have begun choosing RAM as a destination for their vacations (not just a stop on the way to Disney).
»  In a harsh economic environment, RAM has provided:
    °  free entertainment for thousands of people, close to home.
    °  employment and income for hundreds, if not thousands, of people.
    °  low-cost storefronts for local entrepreneurs to start, grow, and promote their businesses.
»  Exposure at RAM has stimulated hundreds of business opportunities outside of RAM for its artists, vendors, entertainers, and staff members.
»  RAM has promoted environmental friendly public activities, including biking and walking to shop, shortened driving distances for shopping and entertainment, recycling, home-grown produce, etc.
»  RAM’s success has spun off a growing number of other local markets.
»  RAM has stimulated the arts; it has stimulated awareness of the importance to buy hand-made locally-produced products; it has promoted riverfront activities.
»  RAM has had dozens of newspaper and magazine articles, hundreds of blog and social media impressions, several national media attentions, and a documentary film.
»  RAM has over 1,000 free parking spaces available.

[Charles Hunter]

I wonder, as 2010 will be an election year, what the RAM position will be on booths for candidates or issues on the ballot?  Or, just general politicking - wandering around, handing out flyers and such?

[Overstreet]

99 outside and it feels like 120 this summer, how many will stay and how many will, well, wilt.

That is some of the draw that it's under the Fuller Warren Bridge. It's also not 120 at sun up or in the evening. If people are willing to come out to RAM in a nor'easter with nothing but rain people will come out in the summer.

I've had offices under the bridges. That area is usually cooler than outside the bridge. But high heat will be a good market for ice water and those gel filled bandanas.

[blizz01]

Just a couple of weeks until this is back into full swing! Promising article today in the TU regarding the River Taxi(s):

Water taxi stop expected for Riverside

The mayor proposes adding a floating dock to ferry people to and from the North Riverbank.
The water taxis that ferry customers across the St. Johns River soon may add a new stop to their route: the Riverside Arts Market.
Mayor John Peyton wants to spend $395,000 on a 210-foot-long floating dock and 60-foot gangway near the popular Saturday destination under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Eleven of 19 Jacksonville City Council members have signed on to co-sponsor Peyton's bill, which will be introduced at Tuesday's council meeting.
Once built, water taxi passengers and boaters will have direct access from the St. Johns River to the market on the Northbank Riverwalk.
The proposal is the latest in a series of downtown improvements the mayor's office has launched. The council recently approved $23 million for renovations to Friendship Fountain, the Southbank Riverwalk and Metropolitan Park. Construction to make Laura Street more pedestrian-friendly, costing $2.7 million, is already under way.
The money for the floating dock will come from the Northbank Tax Increment District Fund - property tax dollars that are set aside specifically for improvements to the area.
Sherry Hall, the mayor's liaison to the council, said the project will help support the relatively new market that gained popularity in 2009, its inaugural year. According to its Web site, the market averaged about 15,000 visitors per week.
"We are looking at ways to continue to improve and expand upon the successes of the Arts Market," Hall said.
Council President Richard Clark, who is listed as one of the bill's co-sponsors, said he believes the floating dock will help connect the river, which he considers the city's greatest natural asset, with the 2-acre property.
"Riverside Arts Market has been more successful than any of us hoped," Clark said.
The market will be open every Saturday starting on March 6, ending its season in December. Director Tony Allegretti said providing direct access to the river would be a natural progression.
"I think it's going to be huge for us in terms of opening us up and giving us an even deeper and better sense of place," he said.
The decision to bring river access to the Arts Market is not due to parking problems that initially plagued the event, Allegretti said.
He said businesses along Riverside Avenue have opened their lots to alleviate most of these problems, but he does like the idea of having a public transportation link to the space via the water taxis, with one-way fares at usually $3 to $5.
The floating docks will provide a direct link with other downtown destinations, especially during busy special events weekends, Allegretti said. He is working with the St. Johns Riverkeeper to providing programming during the Arts Market dates that bring more people to the river.
Hall said the city is working with the owners of S.S. Marine Taxi to ensure the Arts Market is added to its list of stops, which currently include Friendship Fountain, The Jacksonville Landing and Metro Park.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-02-22/story/water_taxi_stop_expected_for_riverside

One more item to add to the wish list - Wouldn't it be nice to have some signage nearby to create additional awareness & nostalgia.......Something that could be see while crossing the Fuller Warren -   

[blizz01]

REMINDER!  RAM is back tomorrow!

[fsujax]

I think RAM needs to erect some really cool signage and lighting, like the pics above.

[Doctor_K]

Agree.  It would definitely help give it a sense of place and make it that much more of a destination.

Question - do downtown signage laws prevent this?  Or is this something that has even yet to be looked at by the promoters?