Tony Allegretti hired as Market Manager of the Riverside Arts Market

[thelakelander]

Over 40,000 estimated.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-04-04/story/bridge_over_thousands_riverside_arts_market_a_splash

[9a is my backyard]

I agree with just about everything that's been said so far.  I was shocked at how many people were out.  I got to the market just before noon and it was almost hard to walk there were so many people.  I think that above all the fact that so many people came out bodes well for the future of the market.

I agree, I was expecting more 'art' and 'market' things than were there.  I was hoping to see more produce and food items (fresh baked bread, pastries, etc) than were there.  Personally, I don't mind lugging produce around but I've seen multiple people comment here that they don't so I guess I'm in the minority there.  I've always been underwhelmed by the Beaver St Farmers Market so I was hoping RAM would be an improvement.  

I think the space is perfect.  The bridge deck is far enough above to keep the traffic noise from being very loud and I think it fits an art market very well.

It's probably not something I would visit every week, but I'll probably go once a month and I hope with time it will become a great arts market.  I really hope that people will be exposed to parts of the city they might not otherwise see, like the Riverwalk, and this becomes something really positive.  Is there any chance JTA would be willing to run one of the trolleys or a bus to help with parking?  I'm sure future crowds will dictate whether or not it's needed and I'm not sure where it would run to/from, but I think it's a great opportunity to show the public the benefits of public transportation.

[thelakelander]

Imagine if JTA moved forward with a streetcar line in the vicinity?  A successful market would help generate decent ridership numbers on the weekends.

[9a is my backyard]

Absolutely, not to mention all the development that would start up within a few blocks of the streetcar line.  I could be expecting too much from the RAM, but I think it's a great opportunity to get public support for things the city needs like transportation and bring more life to downtown.

[grimss]

9a--the Mayor was there today and absolutely became a convert. He was talking to Doug Coleman, the Guru RAM chair, and discussed how valuable adding a river-dockage component to the market would be. The roaring success of the Bike Valet was another example of how alternative transportation should be a key component of the market.

[9a is my backyard]

Thanks for the info grimss.  While I know the Mayor is a politician, I hope is conversion is genuine.  I'm hoping the market can be the thing that gets our city moving forward.  There's no reason we don't have a great transportation system and there's no reason Jacksonville isn't the premier city in Florida and the Southeast.  It's just a matter of realizing our potential and taking advantage of what we have.  The space under the Fuller-Warren has been there for years, but now that it's being used by the RAM, it's contributing something to the community.

[CrysG]

Not to be contrary to some of the posts but I like buying local produce and even brought 4 tote bags to carry things around. That's part of fun of going to those types of markets. As for the Farmers Market on Beaver, I make this point, in all the years growing up I've never once been to it, but I was buying strawberry jam on opening day for RAM. My point is not everyone wants to drive to Beaver St. Why can't some of the vendors on Beaver street come to RAM?

If I was a vendor I'd rather cater towards the weekly person coming every week spending $10-20 each trip than a out of town visitor that only comes once but spends $50.

[blizz01]

What's the status on beer & wine?  I really expected to see Bold City represented there..........

[DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE]

I hope Beer & Wine never become part of the "scene" - it's unecessary and, in my opinion would compromise the quality of the Market.  Walking the streets in Jacksonville with an open container seems to have become such an ubiquitous lowest common denominator part of the "culture", to our own detriment.  You'd NEVER imagine seeing anyone in Portland's Saturday Market walking around with a beer or wine.  There's a time and place for everything, and this isn't it re: beer/wine.

Let's let this evolve to a great community event, focused on substance, and welcoming for kids/families, rather than turning it into another form of a "street party".  You've got the first Wednesday evening of every month downtown for that - as well as the various monster truck events and football games.

[thelakelander]

As for the Farmers Market on Beaver, I make this point, in all the years growing up I've never once been to it, but I was buying strawberry jam on opening day for RAM. My point is not everyone wants to drive to Beaver St. Why can't some of the vendors on Beaver street come to RAM?

The market on Beaver is geared to different clientele.  For example, many local restaurants purchase their fresh vegetables and fruits wholesale, from the market, seven days a week.  That's something RAM's location and facilities can't provide.

[tpot]

I thought it was a great event. I was amazed at how many people attended.  I even saw people there that live down in Jullington Creek.........

More food and produce would be great.

I also think beer and wine would be a nice addition.  I stayed for probably an hour and a half but would have stayed longer with a cold beer in my hand.........

[CrysG]

Lake,

That was my point entirely. I know all about the Farmers Market. My parents go to the Farmers Market. I have no desire to go to the Farmers Market. With there being different clientele it would be a smart move to have some of the people at the Farmers Market come to RAM.

[ChriswUfGator]

I hope Beer & Wine never become part of the "scene" - it's unecessary and, in my opinion would compromise the quality of the Market.  Walking the streets in Jacksonville with an open container seems to have become such an ubiquitous lowest common denominator part of the "culture", to our own detriment.  You'd NEVER imagine seeing anyone in Portland's Saturday Market walking around with a beer or wine.  There's a time and place for everything, and this isn't it re: beer/wine.

Let's let this evolve to a great community event, focused on substance, and welcoming for kids/families, rather than turning it into another form of a "street party".  You've got the first Wednesday evening of every month downtown for that - as well as the various monster truck events and football games.

A: Wouldn't you rather be able to compare Jacksonville to Seattle, rather than Portland?

Wouldn't that be nice, to be a real tier-1 city?

and

B: What's with all this silly ideology where you have to protect people from themselves? WTF? If you don't like beer, then don't buy any. It's that simple. But if other people do, then why the heck would it bother you? And why would you want to prevent multiple other people from getting what they want, just because it bothers you? I don't really get that logic.

If people want beer and wine, then give it to them. It would be good for the festival, and I bet for every silly conservative hell-bent on keeping this place in the stone-age that might not come out because *gasp* there's a wine booth (oh NO...the CHILDREN!!!), there would be ten regular people who would come to have a beer or a glass of wine and walk around and potentially buy stuff.

As it sits, a wine booth would give me a reason to spend some money there. No offense, but so far there's nothing much worth buying. It was a bunch of women's jewelry and overpriced homebuilt crafts. I ate before I went, so the food booths weren't really an option. And if I wanted to buy produce, I'd be at Publix where I wouldn't have to lug it a mile to my car. I was a little disappointed with it, because I really was expecting "Art" since that's the name of the event, right?

So look, better yet, why doesn't it just split it into two sections? One part of it can be art and a wine booth, and the other side of it can be crafts and produce? That would satisfy both "contingents" (though I bet I know which one will be busier). And FWIW, Portland's crafts fair is just that...a CRAFTS fair, and I wouldn't go to that either.

[thelakelander]

Lake,

That was my point entirely. I know all about the Farmers Market. My parents go to the Farmers Market. I have no desire to go to the Farmers Market. With there being different clientele it would be a smart move to have some of the people at the Farmers Market come to RAM.

Or visa versa.  Over time, we'll probably see a few, selling select products (ex. I can't imagine someone selling live chickens at RAM), take advantage of both.

[9a is my backyard]

I don't know that the Farmers Market vendors would fit what RAM is looking for.  It seems like RAM is trying to highlight organic/natural produce that's local.  I don't know how much of the stuff at the Farmers Market is local, but it seems like a good deal of it isn't (there are lots of pineapples, bananas, etc.).  I know there are some items such as strawberries, peaches and watermelon that are local during their respective seasons, but I don't know how many of the vendors the RAM would approve.