I often say that any day Downtown is a good day. In recent weeks, I’ve spent multiple days per week Downtown — so the days have been spectacular. They’re so spectacular, in fact, that I have little time to write! My apologies.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s kept me away, in no particular order:
>My first JEDC meeting, during which Executive Director Ron Barton gave a three-year assessment of progress on the Downtown Action Plan.
>Participating in the JCCI Recession, Recovery and Beyond study with attendance at the regional meetings. Regionalism interests me because I grew up an hour away; of course, Bradford is not part of the Cornerstone region, but that’s OK.
>My first Jacksonville Veterans Day parade. The empty caisson and riderless horse nearly did me in. (Plenty of photos — five rolls! — to come after I get the slide film developed.)
>Fantastic concerts by the talented and amazing Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, including Frederica’s Farewell.
>Election Day!
>My first Historic Preservation Commission meeting, which was just under two hours long. I heard that was a record (early) finish.
>Downtown Vision‘s annual meeting.
>Riding the Skyway as much as possible. It is a joke to many, but I think it’s the best way to cross the river. Also, it limits the number of parking tickets I receive.
>Logistical work for a JCCI Forward event, that I am pleased to say will include a trip on the Skyway.
>Conversations with various parties interested in Downtown, some going back 20 or more years. The question I pose is how one can get involved in Downtown when one does not own property or a business.
>Quick trips out of Downtown to St. Augustine and Gainesville. By living in Melbourne, I learned that I appreciate Jacksonville even more when I go away.

>That amazing Jaguars win Sunday against the Texans, in which David Garrard threw a Hail Mary pass that was deflected into the hands of Mike Thomas.

Phew! That’s a lot, and not everything I’ve done in the last 17 days. The plan is to write about most of those events. Thanks for your patience and for checking in!