The following is this week’s issue of the “#DTJax Weekly Update” e-newsletter. To receive this in your email inbox each week, sign-up here.
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Things To Do Downtown
Aug 3: Front Porch at Art Walk
Aug 4: Art and Ideas: Gwen Chanzit
Aug 6: Riverside Arts Market
Aug 7: Art Fusion with MOCA Jax
Aug 3-5: Free Preschool Music Classes
Aug 6: Levitz Korean Choir
Aug 2-4: Jacksonville Suns vs Biloxi Shuckers
Aug 5: 2016 Jaguars Scrimmage
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First Wednesday Art Walk is this Week!
Back to School SmARTs Art Walk:
Tomorrow is First Wednesday Art Walk – Back to School SmARTs with Fun4FirstCoastKids.com. This month we have tons of kid-friendly activities up and down Laura Street including:
- Fun 4 First Coast Kids
- First Coast School of Music
- Dazzling Diamonds Dance Company
- Saltwater Cowgirls Surf Camp
- Integrative Health and Allergy Center
- M.Power Tutoring – Math & Science Tutoring
- Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency Jacksonville
- Foundation for Excellence in Education
- The First Tee of North Florida
- Museum of Science & History
- Jax Kid’s Mural Festival
- Grace Conservatory
We’re looking for volunteers for this Art Walk! Sign up here today and receive cool volunteers perks.
As always, we’ll also have local art, food trucks and live music. Come visit us at the Art Walk tent in Hemming Park to pick up your Get Fit at Art Walk stamp card in order to complete the route and win a prize by participating in the Mayor Curry’s Mayorthon!
Don’t forget to hang out at the Front Porch at The Landing and to visit Art Walk After Dark in The Elbow.
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Stories From BlogDTJax.com
- Downtown’s Upswing: 2015 State of Downtown Report
- Pavement to Parklets in #DTJax
- Sunset Cruises with the St. Johns River Taxi
- Jacksonville Magazine: 95 Things We Love about Jax
- 6 Sweet Places in #DTJax
- #DTJax. There’s an App for that!
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News of the Week
- Ameris feels at home in Jacksonville
- Jaguars, fans make way back to field
- Is there a market for Barnett building?
- Jaguars unveil new look, menu for US Assure clubs
- JTA partners with radio station to offer new look for Jaguars shuttle service
- DVI report: 2015 was ‘a really good year for Downtown’
- Department of the Interiors: HobNob
- Stein Mart building on Southbank sold for $23.6 million
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DVI Updates
Mayor Curry’s Pension Reform:
On July 26th, DVI hosted Mayor Lenny Curry at our Quarterly Downtown Stakeholder Meeting to answer questions about his proposed solution to the City’s unfunded pension liability crisis.
On July 27, DVI’s Board of Directors voted unanimously approving a resolution of support of Mayor Curry’s proposed solution. DVI and its board of directors encourage Downtown supporters to vote “yes” on Duval County Referendum No. 1 on August 30.
A copy of the DVI resolution can be found here.
Given the dire circumstances of the City Budget, DVI’s leadership believe the resolution of this pressing issue is essential before the revitalization of Downtown Jacksonville can continue.
By establishing a dedicated funding source for the pension liability, general fund dollars will eventually be freed up and used for other high priority items for the City of Jacksonville, including public investments to better Downtown Jacksonville.
For more information on the Mayor’s plan, visit here and make sure to vote ‘yes’ on August 30.
We’re Looking for Interns!
If you or someone you know is looking for an internship this Fall, DVI may be the perfect fit! We are looking for marketing, events and research interns so if you love Art Walk, want to get to know Downtown better or are looking to find out how an organization like ours works, apply today! Read our blog to hear about an internship experience at DVI.
More information on the internship positions can be found here, and if you’re interested please email your cover letter and resume to haleigh@dtjax.org.
Mark your calendars for PARK(ing) Day in #DTJax:
September 16, 2016 is PARK(ing) Day, which is an internationally celebrated event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to turn metered parking spaces into temporary public spaces.
If you are a #DTJax area business interested in creating a temporary parklet for PARK(ing) Day, please email hana@dtjax.org no later than August 12.
Here is the sample parklet designed by Transform Jax in front of Zodiac Bar and Grill:
DVI Annual Report Available:

Have you ever wondered, what exactly does DVI do in a year? Check out our latest Annual Report, which highlights accomplishments and financial information for fiscal year 2014-2015.