New Rules at ArtWalk

[stephElf]

F*** the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

ArtWalk is the one reason I go downtown, and I'm not going to let a bunch of PURITAN FASCISTS ruin my evening.

See you kids there!

Stay classy, wanderlust.

Stay uptight, Riverside Gator. 

Of course I am half kidding .. but seriously, not to thread hi-jack, but this discussion board really needs some humor, sarcasm, light hearted-ness.  It is fun to have debates and be passionate about Jacksonville and our happenings.  But not every thread has to be so serious from A - Z.

Just to be clear, I am not in favor of the new drinking rules.  But I am also not in favor of using the f word in a thread about ArtWalk (or anything else).

at least it was *** out.

I tend to curse like a sailor (except at work of course) so I guess we can agree to disagree.

[RiversideGator]

In the post's original form, it was not *'d out.  It was the actual f word.  Ocklawaha was good enough to edit it for us.

As for cussing, I used to do it more too but getting older and having children cures you of a lot of that IMO.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

I prefer to say EFF!!!

[stephElf]

In the post's original form, it was not *'d out.  It was the actual f word.  Ocklawaha was good enough to edit it for us.

As for cussing, I used to do it more too but getting older and having children cures you of a lot of that IMO.

well then yea, that is tacky 

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

I just got a call from a friend who says that around 40 people were arrested at last nights ArtWalk for open container, however I have no way to confirm that information.

[BridgeTroll]

I just got a call from a friend who says that around 40 people were arrested at last nights ArtWalk for open container, however I have no way to confirm that information.

THAT is tacky...

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Yes, it is.

[ProjectMaximus]

I just got a call from a friend who says that around 40 people were arrested at last nights ArtWalk for open container, however I have no way to confirm that information.

THAT is tacky...

That might deserve the F word.

[BridgeTroll]

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100308/met_339694520.shtml

The Florida Times-Union

October 3, 2008

Art Walk not hindered by alcohol restrictions


By MATT COLEMAN,
The Times-Union


Reports of the Art Walk's demise are greatly exaggerated.
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Jacksonville message boards were buzzing this week with word the popular downtown event, which is scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month, was on the outs with law-enforcement agencies for its free flow of alcohol.

Agents from the state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco visited vendors along the Art Walk path this week in preparation for Wednesday's event to reinforce alcohol restrictions, check liquor licenses and warn owners about the consequences of violating the law.

But authorities said Thursday nothing has changed. Alcohol is still off limits on city streets, and the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Division only responded because of complaints from a vocal businessman.

The Art Walk, which has been around for five years, turns downtown Jacksonville into a walkable art gallery. Local artists display their work, musicians perform on street corners and vendors extend their hours to sell food and other items.

Assistant Chief J.R. Ross of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said his agency isn't trying to ruin the party for Art Walk patrons. He said the division came out because of a complaint from a downtown business owner frustrated with open-container violations during the event.

He said the concerned owner, whom he declined to identify, contacted the city and the division repeatedly to voice his concerns. His main issue was patrons taking alcohol from one of the walk's stops and traversing Jacksonville's downtown with booze in hand.

"This one individual has got everybody jumping through hoops," Ross said. "This is a political disagreement between vendors, plain and simple, and we're stuck in the middle."

Ross said the walk is typically incident-free, and the need for police involvement is rare. No one was arrested during Wednesday's Art Walk, he said.

"This isn't the Georgia-Florida game with people hooting and hollering drunk," Ross said. "It's simply not an issue."

Many downtown businesses such as the Burrito Gallery and the London Bridge Pub posted signs outlining the main rule - alcohol must be kept inside the premises.

Burrito Gallery co-owner Paul Shockey said agents met with him and his staff before Wednesday's festivities to inform them they would be watching to ensure his business complied.

He said he had an employee at the door with a trash can ready to keep patrons from walking onto the streets with their drinks.

He also removed all seating from the restaurant's patio area to make it into a "holding area" for people to wait and finish their drinks.

The stricter rules didn't keep people away. Shockey said his staff served 800 food orders - a better than average Art Walk haul.

Juanita Bedo, daytime manager of the London Bridge Pub, said her restaurant took similar precautions.

IDs were checked, signs were posted and the letter of the law was obeyed, she said. She was just worried someone who snuck out alcohol could ruin things for businesses.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Nice job, I thought that 40 peeps arrested thing would turn out to be false.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I know this un-named local businessman and if you guys think a bit on it, you probably will too.

[BridgeTroll]

I was thinking the same thing...

[David]

I didn't see a ridiclious amount of police out this artwalk either. Plus I still carried my free wine from venue to venue as usual, although I was unclear about on that rule. I know you can't buy a drink and walk off, but the various venues that hand out the wine, I didn't see any signs in there.

It does seem as though they should designate an area to walk with your drinks as they do it with any major college/jaguars game. The beach does it for their festivals too. I just don't see the point of someone getting in trouble when the law applies to a certain physical location but not another.

But like the article said, this is artwalk, not a football game, so it really isn't something i'd get worked up about. I'm there to enjoy the illusion of a vibrant downtown that artwalk creates, not to get smashed

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

One place that didnt allow peeps to leave with free beer or wine was the old (Hayden Burns) Main Library.  So that was confusing to me since I did see others walking around with theirs.

Obviously the rules need to be laid out a little clearer I think.

[tufsu1]

Nice job, I thought that 40 peeps arrested thing would turn out to be false.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I know this un-named local businessman and if you guys think a bit on it, you probably will too.

well there is one guy who owns a restaurant downtown who seems overly concerned about people buying alcohol...it mainly seems to be about his obsession with the homeless problem....and as a result of his past actions, I refuse to patronize his estbalishment!

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

YES, thats the exact person Im talking about. Though I love his youtube videos, and understand his frustration with the homeless Downtown, I do NOT feel the same way about the ArtWalk.  I was looking for a video he had posted a while back where he was specifically saying that ArtWalk was ruining his business because of the parking situation, but I think hes removed it from youtube. I couldnt find it. Maybe he should take part in ArtWalk instead of bashing it.