Guiding the redevelopment of a struggling downtown can be a daunting task: Where to begin? Our guest says to start with the streets. And the trees. For nearly four decades, Victor Dover has worked with developers and municipalities on planning and street design, whether in town centers of New Urbanist communities or existing cities in need of revitalization. He was named among “the country’s best urban designers and architects” by Architecture magazine and is the keynote speaker at the sixth annual Great Cities Symposium on Feb. 5. Dover and joins us to share what Jacksonville can learn from the streets — and trees — of the world’s thriving cities.
Guests:
- Victor Dover, principal, Dover Kohl & Partners Town Planning
- Nancy Powell, executive director, Scenic Jacksonville
Voice of a generation
Then, though just 26 years old and performing jazz for less than a decade, Samara Joy has already been recognized as one of the strongest voices in the history of the genre. Joy has won 5 Grammy awards including two in 2023 for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album — a category she claimed again last year. Joy has performed at the Newport, Monterey and Montreal jazz festivals and at such storied venues as the Apollo, Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Now, jazz fans in Northeast Florida have a chance to see her as part of the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series. We talked to Joy about her meteoric rise and what to expect at her upcoming show.
Guest: Five-time Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Samara Joy
Art for thought
And, local artists join nationally recognized muralists at the second annual Jacksonville Mural Festival. The event, which runs Jan. 26 to 31, plans to flood the zone in Murray Hill, installing 15 new murals on neighborhood buildings. The event also features panel discussions on the value and economic impact of public art. Featured national artists include Lucas Aoki, David Swartz and Phoebe Joynt. They will be joined by acclaimed local artists Marie Eljera, Mike McIntire and Patrick Maxcy.
Guest: Jason Tetlak, muralist, executive director, National Mural Awards
Topics and guests subject to change.