An exciting development is taking place at the 5 Points Theatre. Local cinema director, Tim Massett and his wife, are in the planning stages of negotiating a new lease to take over and re-energize the theatre.

If he pulls it off, it would add a vital cultural spark to an eclectic collection of close-in neighborhoods that would welcome such a spruced-up amenity, Riverside Avondale Preservation founder Wayne Wood said.

The Plans: Think Alamo Draft House

Plans include a larger screen, improved sound and acoustics, theater seats with a bar running the length of each row, and full-on kitchen where food will be delivered to your seat.

It will provide a unique combination of movie theatre and dining, showing first-run and independent films while offering beverage and expanded concession service that includes a carefully selected menu of freshly prepared appetizers, sandwiches, and pizzas as well as a wide selection of handcrafted, local beers and great wines.

Tim’s has a background in re-developing theatres and turning them into successful businesses. He got his start at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, where he worked in 1997. The Alamo Drafthouse is quite possibly the most famous movie theatre in Texas and maybe the US.

You may know also Tim from his involvement in many local film projects which include running the San Marco Theatre, The Pit, The Brooklyn Microcinema and The Talkies.

Crowdsource the $$$! An Innovative Funding Model

The business plan that has been reviewed and approved by the Small Business Association office in Jacksonville, now they need to raise about $95,000. So, Tim is taking his cause to the people and using the crowd-funding site Ulule to help fund the project.

Learn more about innovative ways to fund your next project in a recent article I wrote for One Spark, a movement dedicated to highlighting and fostering innovation in Jacksonville. @BeOneSpark

It should be noted that Tim and his wife plan to invest $10,000 of their own money in the redevelopment.

Plans to raise the money mirror an NPR pledge drive. There are pre-defined contribution levels and each has a reward associated with it. If you choose to pledge, the money will not be removed from your bank account until the project reaches it’s goal. If the project does not reach it’s goal in a stated time frame, no money will change hands.

For example, the $100 pledge level includes twelve movie tickets and twelve popcorns. With the average cost of a movie ticket around $7.50 this contribution pays for itself.

The Urban Jacksonville Matching Challenge & Other Ways to Help Launch This Project

I will match up to $100 contributed by Urban Jacksonville readers. I believe this could help elevate Jacksonville culturally and improve our quality of life. If you think so too, I challenge you to contribute.

Once you have contributed, forward me a copy of your contribution conformation email from Ulule. If there is anyone else out there who is interested in providing a match grant, let me know and I will help facilitate. Let’s amplify our efforts!

Here are some other ways to help. If you can do two of the items below, that would be awesome.

• Visit the project page, contribute and get some great rewards.
• Write a blog post, feel free to use any of the content on this post.
• Share the project page on Twitter or Facebook.
• Convince a family member or friend to contribute.
• Share this blog post with others.

I’m interested to hear your thoughts and comments if you have any. What do you think about this project?

Jacksonville is blessed. My first Del album.

The world famous Oakland, Ca. based rapper Del The Funky Homosapian has added a Jacksonville, Fl. date to his “Del Funk for Free” tour scheduled to stop at Lomax Lodge in 5 points on Saturday May 7th 2001.

Over his 15 year plus illustrious career Del has found success and acclaim as a member of Hieroglyphics, Deltron 3030 (with Dan The Automater), and most recently the multi platinum super group The Gorillaz.

The most amazing thing about this tour is Del is doing the shows for essentially free to the public! There will be a $5 cover for those 18-20, however anyone over 21 can attend simply by leaving a cash donation with the door man. It could be $1 or $100- the customer chooses to pay what its worth to them.

Lomax Lodge’s capacity is 165, so this show will definitely sell out. Doors are at 9pm sharp and we are highly recommending everyone gets there early.

Thanks to Ian and HIP HOP HELL for bringing this show to Riverside

Del The Funky Homosapian
performing live with
Bukue 1, Project Lotus, D.A.R.Y.L., and the $BIG BUCKS$ DJ crew
Saturday May 7th 2011
at Lomax Lodge
822 Lomax St. (5 Points)
Jacksonville, Fl. 32204

A little Del in a movie I made for the Riverside Trolley

Today we announced I’m leaving Wingard Creative (wing-ard) to take a job with Beeline. It’s a happy-sad day for me. Sad I’m leaving a creative agency I love and believe in. Happy I’ll be able provide my family with more opportunities.

It’s All Good

Many times when a high-profile member of a company leaves, everyone’s first inclination is to think “there must be something wrong”, but I can assure you, Wingard Creative is stronger and better than ever. In fact, I don’t want to leave. It’s such a fun place to work and the people are amazing.

In the past two years at Wingard, we’ve accomplished a lot. We built an interactive department from the ground up and in the process won quite a few awards including the Cultural Council’s Small Business of the Year in 2011.

We organized Creative Company to help small businesses learn to market their services online and work with creative agencies, it was a blast. We launched a beer brand and helped protect the St. John’s River in more ways than one.

We made friends on Facebook and Twitter and then we showed our clients how to do it. All along we developed a high level of customer service, which we promote as a feature of working with us.

Then End …?

One end is a new beginning and I don’t see us stopping here. I have a feeling Wingard and I will be involved for a long while after I leave. If we’re not already connected on Linked In or Facebook, lets do that now. Onward!

Left to right: Christopher Ball (business), David Wingard (principle), Caitlin Robinson (design), Katie Riffle (design), Crystal Jones (interactive/design).

I’m happy to announce in association with Wingard Creative, Black Sheep Restaurant Group (Orsay/Chew), RAP and of course JTA the Riverside Trolley will run until Midnight on Wednesday November 3rd. This will be ArtWalk’s 7th birthday and we’re bringing this awesome present!

This is a trial run and if successful it’s something we could see more of for ArtWalk. Please find a way to ride the trolley on November 3rd. The more people we have, the better, as we’re trying to reach a very modest goal. If you’re unsure how to ride the trolley, this simple instructional video will show you everything you need, compliments of Wingard Creative. Tony Allegretti says so far, so good and this:

The trolley is just $1 each way, and sure, its just a bus that looks like a trolley, BUT, think about how awesome it will be to not have to deal with parking and traffic. Leave the driving to JTA!

The trolley will run at 35 minute intervals and we are working on getting a map with all stops. Come back and get updates!

If that wasn’t enough, the November ArtWalk is also the Movember ArtWalk in honor of beards and men’s health. There will be an art show at the 229 Hogan Street Studio. I (DJ ‘Mo) will be DJing with with DJ Debo on the 1′s and 0′s. So definitely make it out for that.

More about Movember

Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.

Sean Collins, JaxBeard founder and facial hair advocate, will be joining us on the live Urban Jacksonville Weekly show Thursday September 30th at Underbelly in 5 Points.

The Mo, slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember. Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month.

The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.

In addition to this appearance there are events planned for the entire month of November. Including a Movember themed ArtWalk and art show at 229 East Hogan.

Here is a full list of Movember events with more coming soon

• Movember Craft Night @ Anomaly – 10/26
• Wild Zero @ 5 Points – 10/29
• Shaving Party @ Dos Gatos – 11/1
• Movember Art Walk – 11/3 (That includes Movember Art Show, Bake Sale at Snyder Church and main information and crafts booth in Hemming Plaza)
• First Fridays – 11/5 (This isn’t actually a Movember event, but we’ll have a couple tables out talking to people.)
• Riverside Wine Festival – 11/20 (We had a table there last year selling cupcakes and did very well.)
• Jacksonville Roller Girls Match – 11/21 (They are doing another charity for that event, but we’ll have a table there as well.)
• Movember Party and Awards Ceremony @ The Loft – 12/4

Transformations Ticket Giveaway

We plan on giving away 10 tickets to Transformations (2 sets of 5) at the live show. If you wanted to chance to go to transformations, here you go!

Program note: Episode #79 with Jimmy Saal was sadly lost. We’ll try to get him back on at some point.

I know what you are thinking. “A salon? Dude has gone off his rocker”. But no, I haven’t. Hawthorn Salon (Facebook) in 5 Points is chock full of good people, good tattoos and good hair. Superfriend Christie drops some hair styling knowledge on the show. Did you miss the recommendations? You can find them on the Urban Jacksonville Facebook page.

Listen and Subscribe

Download audio file (urban-jacksonville-weekly-episode80.mp3)
Subscribe with iTunes | Download MP3

Supporting Transformations

All this month we are supporting the Transformations event which will be taking place on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront. It’s a night of inspiration stories from people whose lives have been changed forever by the Sulzbacher Center’s comprehensive programs and community partnerships.
There will be live music, great food and drink, and a silent auction.

• Buy tickets online for this event
• Coffee Sponsor: Bold Bean Coffee Roasters

LIVE Urban Jacksonville Weekly! September 30th in 5 Points at Underbelly

Thanks to Urban Jacksonville Weekly host Tony Allegretti for the flyer design. So here’s what we know about the live show so far:

Location Underbelly in 5 Points
Date and Time September 30th from 6 to 8pm (show starts at 6:30)
Band After the Bomb Baby (UJW house band playing 3 sets)
Hiatus is on after the live show. I have a blog to redesign!

More details and fun stuff to come!

Listen and Subscribe

Download audio file (urban-jacksonville-weekly-episode77.mp3)
Subscribe with iTunes | Download MP3

• Coffee Sponsor: Bold Bean Coffee Roasters
• Special Guest: Allan DeVault

Notes from Alan on the show

I totally gaffed and said AmSouth Bank (which is really Marty’s Regions Bank) was not in the Historic District. It so is, but Al’s strip is not.

Jonathan Insetta’s restaurant group (Black Sheep) has an ambitious plan for building a modern, efficient infill project in the fast growing 5 Points district of the Urban Core. Insetta, of Chew and Orsay fame, is planning to open a new restaurant as the anchor of a three story commercial building which will feature a rooftop bar and gathering space.

The name has not be determined, but the location has. The group has been working hard to reach a complex set of goals, to
place the restaurant at the corner of Margaret and Oak, next to Mossfire Grill. The flatiron lot where the restaurant will sit, presents a unique set of hurdles in terms of parking and some existing trees.

Black Sheep is proposing to add 23 new spaces on Oak Street and upgrade the 13 spaces on Margaret adjacent to the property.  All spaces will be open to the public with a 3 hour limit to encourage visitors to eat, walk and shop. You can bet there will be a sizable bike rack to support the large number of cyclists in the community.

As you can glean from the designs and scale model shown, the plan is an efficient use of space using true urban density design principles while also creating new parking. This project also creates new jobs and new street front retail which finishes a continuous retail link from Riverside Park to Memorial Park, one of the longest retail strolls in the city.

photo credit Design Cooperative

While urban development and the food and beverage industry are both fraught with risk, especially in today’s climate, Insetta’s experience and reputation from Downtown’s Chew and Avondale’s Restaurant Orsay (both in historic buildings) will be helpful. The neighborhoods of Riverside, Avondale, and Historic Five Points have been aware of and involved in the project for weeks.

There is much work left to do for the project to become a reality including the final city approval and a unique commercial zoning change called an Urban Transitional Area (UTA) added to HB 485 that would make this district much like downtown’s with regards to seating capacity required.

HB 485

graphic credit Wingard Creative

The addition of 5 Points to this well supported bill will make it easier for bona fide restaurants to survive and thrive in the spatially constricting spaces that a historic retail area presents.

The UTA – The Riverside Overlay set up the Urban Transitional Area (the Commercial area of 5 Points) to encourage this type of infill development – imagine, living, working and shopping all within a ½ mile radius.  As projects like this, Publix, 1661 and others are developed, the area can truly live up to it’s Urban name.

So not only is Black Sheep investing in the neighborhood it is also paving the way for the further proliferation of destinations in Five Points, opening an economic development zone that allows a more reasonable seating requirement for historic districts. See map below.

Should this change work, expect further developments, local restaurants, jobs, and foot traffic in from Historic Five Points all the way to the river. Our neighbors and co-workers seem galvanized at the idea of further local, sustainable development in 5 Points and hope that urban infill and historic development spreads with the success of this project.

photo credit Design Cooperative

A statement from Jon Insetta

“We at Black Sheep Restaurant Group are very excited for the opportunity to become part of the 5 Points neighborhood. At Chew and Orsay we pride ourselves in the symbiotic relationship we maintain within our surrounding community and hopefully we can be a force for positive change with this new project. As owner operator of both the restaurant and the building itself we bring a level of commitment to the community that few can match.

I also believe that we can act as a bridge between historic 5 Points and the newer commercial district to the south. The project will create more jobs as well as fit the spirit of the urban transition area overlay. We plan on being a part of 5 Points for many years to come and see ourselves as a very positive addition to an already amazingly diverse community of independent and national businesses. 5 Points has a synergy and identity that we feel right at home in.”

What are your thoughts on the project and the design?

photo credit Design Cooperative

video credit Design Cooperative

Disclaimer: the restaurant group involved in this project is a client of Wingard Creative where I work.

In the middle of yesterday’s push to build support for the Riverside Trolley once funding ends in September, I began hearing the trolley will be extended and not sent to the corner with our other tried transit ideas.

Metro Jacksonville is saying the trolley will now push into Avondale and service will be extended to weekends, they have an article scheduled to run tomorrow with all the updated information.

We still need to push for support so I encourage everyone to come out to the public meetings this Friday at JTA offices downtown to show love for our little fixed rail gateway drug, the Riverside Trolley.

I’ve set up a Facebook event to Get Jacksonville Back on Tracks which has all the details of Friday’s public meeting. If you can’t make it you can always show your love for the trolley online with a few choice comments.

Friday · 11:00am – 1:00pm
JTA Offices Downtown
100 N Myrtle Avenue
Jacksonville, FL

Friday July 23rd from 11am to 1pm the Jacksonville Transit Authority will host a public hearing to present proposed changes to the transit system (including Riverside Trolley) that go into effect September 6, 2010. Support for the proposed Riverside Trolley service is critical to its continued success.