This Weekend at RAM

THIS WEEK
Project Backpack will be back at the Market this week collecting backpacks and gift cards for Jacksonville's foster kids. By donating, you'll also be eligible to win two great tickets ...and a parking pass to the Jaguars home game against Buffalo on Nov.22. (Thank you Delores Weaver!!) Stop by the Project Backpack booth for details. Time's running out! Project Backpack will only be at RAM for for the next 2 Saturdays.

Fresh off last week's win, the Jacksonville Jaguars will at the Market selling tickets and will have a drawing for a signed item for anyone that purchases tix at the Jaguars table. They will also have a set of pads/uniform so that everyone can see the new helmet and uniform up close. Check em out on Farmers Row.

Magnolia Farms has gone PUMPKIN CRAZY. Be sure to check out the Jacksonville Weavers Guild at booth 011 (by the office)! I bet weaving by the river would be very therapeutic. Lets see! Need some insight on your future? Kiti Komatsu reads palms and reads them well. But did you know that she gives all her tip donations to RAM!

As always we have great food, great performers and, of course, great art! You can always check out the RAM web site for the latest news!

COMING UP
The Toyota Hybrid Farm to Table Tour comes to RAM Saturday, October 10. Toyota created the Farm to Table Tour to highlight farmers markets around the country and the benefits they offer their communities, and to celebrate the food produced by each market's farmers and vendors.

VOLUNTEERS
We always need new volunteers! Shannon has a new e-mail, so update your address book and while you're at it, let her know when you want to join the best volunteer group in the nation! Our vols get the only currently available RAM t-shirts and invites to exclusive special events. Not to mention the awesome feeling one gets helping us pull off the best thing to happen since the river.

JTA inching towards transit shelters ads

The Daily Record recently posted an article detailing the proposed changes in City’s sign ordinance to allow advertising on JTA transit stop shelters. Legislation has been introduced to allow advertising on the JTA’s shelters that serve bus and trolley riders. The Downtown Development Review Board of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Downtown Vision, Inc. and the City’s Historic Preservation Department will all determine the design and placement of the proposed new shelters.

Contact your City Council representative to let them know where you stand on the issue.

Film Buffs!

We are fortunate to have the 5 Points Theatre and all the new and interesting programming that they are offering. In addition to regular film fare (Inglorius Bastards is currently playing), they have so many special features. Did you catch Dirty Dancing Friday night? How about the UF-UK football game Saturday? You could have seen that nasty hit Tebow took on the BIG screen. Ouch! So I missed the 12th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival. I hope you didn't.

This Friday is First Friday and marks the one year anniversary of the re-opening of the theatre. They're celebrating by showing Casablanca for free at 7pm! Later, Army of Darkness plays at midnight. You'll have plenty of time to hit one of the local watering holes in the neighborhood before the movie. There's Wall Street, O'Brothers and Starlite Café, to name a few. And if you are in to making horror films as wel as watching them, you have until Friday at 7pm to drop off your entry in the Short Horror Film for 5 Points Horror Fest.

If you are into beading, Bead Here Now in 5 Points is offering classes.

Wednesday 10/01 - Basic Beading with Margaret
Saturday 10/03 - Blending Teas for Healing and Taste with Donna McGee of Green Lotus Organics
Sunday 10/04 -Soft Glass with B Ashley of Riverside Art Glass
Thursday 10/08 - Massage Therapists Massage Lotions and Body Butters workshop with Donna McGee of Green Lotus Organics
And many more! Check out their site for a complete listing.

The Birds are Back in Town!

One of Jacksonville’s truly amazing natural phenomena is now taking place in our neighborhood, and we thought you might enjoy seeing it (and spread the word).

Every year, thousands of chimney swifts migrate through Jacksonville on their way to Central America and Peru. Their annual flight path brings these birds back to the exact same place in large numbers, and for over a decade they have been roosting in the chimney of the Riverside Avenue Christian Church on the corner of Riverside and Cherry Streets.

This has been happening for years with the largest showing of these birds is usually in September /October. Each night at sunset (a little after 7:00 p.m. this week) the sky begins to fill with hundreds of the little birds, scattered over a few miles in all directions at first. Slowly, the birds coalesce into a swirling cloud. This vortex of birds moves faster and faster until they suddenly begin to shoot down the chimney at incredible speed, as many as 10 birds a second plummeting down the shaft.

In 20 minutes, the spectacle is over. The birds spend the night down in the unused chimney, and emerge the next morning at dawn to spend their entire day in flight, eating Jacksonville’s bugs, and they return to the chimney at night to complete the cycle. But they will be leaving soon, so you might want to see them while they are here.

I invite you to join Dr. Wayne Wood and others tonight at 7:15pm to watch this phenomenal display from the church parking lot.

The Humane Society has a great article about them here or you can read more about chimney swifts on the Wiki.

Thank you to Dr. Wood for sharing with us.

Project Backpack will be at the market for the next 3 Saturdays, collecting backpacks and gift cards for Jacksonville's foster kids. But now, in addition to just feeling good for doing good, you'll also be eligible to win two great tickets ...and a parking pass to the Jaguars home game against Buffalo on Nov.22. (Thank you Delores Weaver!!) Stop by the Project Backpack booth for details - it's next to JC's Breads.

COMING UP
The Toyota Hybrid Farm to Table Tour comes to RAM Saturday, October 10, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m. Toyota created the Farm to Table Tour to highlight farmers markets around the country and the benefits they offer their communities, and to celebrate the food produced by each market's farmers and vendors.

VOLUNTEERS
We always need new volunteers! Shannon has a new e-mail, so update your address book and while you're at it, let her know when you want to join the best volunteer group in the nation! Our vols get the only currently available RAM tshirts and invites to exclusive special events. Not to mention the awesome feeling one gets helping us pull off the best thing to happen since the river.

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER CREDIT EXPIRING

Time is running out to take advantage of the Federal government's offer of an $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. To qualify, homebuyers must complete a first-time home purchase before December 1, 2009. This means the last day to close on a home and take advantage of the credit is November 30. I encourage potential homebuyers to take advantage of market prices and this tax credit. While I support extending this tax credit, Congress has not yet acted. Potential buyers should be aware the current credit expires on the last day of November. For more information on the first-time homebuyer tax credit and how to apply, visit the Internal Revenue Services Web site www.irs.gov.

Road Trip! Mark Your Calenders

The Greenest Building: Historic Preservation and Energy Efficiency

The Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation is going GREEN in the month of September! Did you know that the greenest building is the one already built. Discover how your historic building is Green as the experts discuss ways to maximize your energy efficiency without compromising your building’s historic integrity.

Topics will include: energy audits, windows, insulation, HVAC

Sep 24 2009, 6-8pm
Tallahassee Garden Club
507 North Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please RSVP by calling 488-7334 by Monday, September 21st. For more information, contact Tiffany Baker, Program Coordinator at 850-488-7334.

Grow Your Own Organic…

…with a little help from some Friends!

You have probably seen Down to Earth Farm at RAM and bought some of their wonderful products. If you haven't, take it from me, you are really missing out! They are getting ready for the upcoming fall season and will be seeding very soon and want to share the love. They will be offering ready- made-garden trays for those interested in organic transplants for their garden. For $25 you get a 72 cell tray (or $15 for 36) chock full of fall veggie plants started in an organically certified growing medium. The trays may include broccoli, cauliflower, red and green cabbage, kohrabi, red russian and dino kale, brussels sprouts, butterhead and romaine lettuces, cilantro, dill and basil. You can also get squash (patty pan and yellow/green zephyr) and cucumber seedlings as well. Their first planting will be the first week of September which means the trays will be ready for market by the end of September to beginning of October — perfect timing for your fall garden.

If you are interested in a tray (or two) visit their site and fill out an order form so that they can plant accordingly. Happy eating!

Football at the 5 Points Theatre!

September 3rd, South Carolina vs. NC State at 7 pm

September 5, Georgia vs. Oklahoma State at 3:30 pm

September 7, Miami vs. FSU at 8 pm

September 5, Florida vs. Charleston Southern at 7 pm

September 12th, Georgia vs. South Carolina at 7 pm

Admission is Free. The theatre has six beers on tap and
a good wine selection by the glass and by the bottle.
They will be broadening our food selection,
adding BBQ for some games.

Trips for the History Book - Fall Edition

City of St. Augustine 444th Birthday Celebration
Setember 4 & 5

Arts and Crafts on Historic River Street
September 5th
Stay at the Hamilton-Turner Inn, a 4-Diamond Resort for $159*

Cool Off in Shenandoah National Park
Stay at Skyland Resort, high in the Blue Ridge Mountains for the special price of $59
Sunday-Thursday through Nov. 24. Your room must be booked by September 11.

Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival
September 19 • Greenville, MS

Returning to Our Roots:
Planting & Replanting the Historic Southern Garden
September 24-26 • Winston-Salem, NC

Wine Over Water
Saturday, September 26,
5-8pm

Fall Festival at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
September 27 thru November 1

21st Annual Colonial Folk Arts and Crafts Festival
October 10 & 11

Dark of the Moon Tour - St. Augustine Lighthouse
October 2-4

Taste of Charleston
October 9-11

Confederate Garrison at Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach
October 10 & 11

Dark of the Moon Tour - St. Augustine Lighthouse
October 31 & November 1

Lincolnville Festival, St. Augustine
November 6 - 8

First Weekend Union Garrison at Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandina Beach
November 7 & 8

Plantation Days at Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
November 14 & 15

16th Annual Nights of Lights Lighting Ceremony, St. Augustine
November 21

Holiday Homes Tour & Victorian Tea, Amelia Island
December 4 & 5

Success at RAM begets New Avondale Shop

After eight weeks showing her own works at the Riverside Arts Market, Jaye Richardson of Springfield opens up shop in Avondale. Richardson calls Muse’s Corner an indoor version of the Riverside Artist Market. She is selling her own hand made candles as well a wide range of unique and one of a kind artisan creations. The shop features paintings, pottery, bath and body, jewelry, clothing, accessories, glass art, pet products, paper art and specialty greeting cards, fiber art, home decor and gourmet food. Get the full story from the Times-Union article>>