Tres Leches Desserts 1st Anniversary/ Valentine’s Party, February 11, 2012

Posted by helen_samba on January 26, 2012   |   No Comments

On Saturday, February 11, Tres Leches Desserts in Springfield is hosting its 1st Anniversary / Valentine’s Party celebrating their first year in business! There will be complimentary mini-desserts and a drawing for a free kids Birthday Cake. Entertainment will be provided by John Nolen and his animal balloon show, some music and a tour of this historic establishment. The opening will highlight its new Lunch Menu, new Party Room and an introduction of several free cooking clinics.

Festivities start at 12 noon and will continue until about 4 pm.

Desserts will include the signature Tres Leches cake, Strawberry Magnolia Cake, Caribbean Lime Pie, Chocolate Marquesa (12 layer cookie cream), Strawberry Meringue Cake, and the Decadent Double Chocolate.
Bring Your Friends and Family!

Cost: Free (tips for balloon animals will be appreciated)
Other items to be Raffled:
2 Bottles of Infused Olive Oil from River City Gourmet Shop at The Landing http://www.rivercitygourmet.com
$100 Gift Certificate from Kimberly Clarke Salon at San Marco Square http://kimberlyclarkesalon.net/

Tres Leches is located at 1839 N Pearl St. 32206. Visit http://www.treslechesdesserts.com for more info.

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Springfield Security Funday!

Posted by helen_samba on January 25, 2012   |   No Comments
January 26, 2012
11:00 amto6:00 pm
11:00 amto6:00 pm

Sweet Pete’s Natural Sweets and Tres Leches Dessert are donating 15% of sales on made Thursday, January 26 to the Springfield Security Fund. Come support this great cause!

JANUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

Posted by helen_samba on January 24, 2012   |   No Comments

 

SAMBA is pleased to announce its Officers and Board Members for 2012: 

President: Allison Behringer 

Vice President: Christina Parrish 

Treasurer: Bob Steele 

Secretary: Helen Albee 

Board member: Michelle Tappouni

If you are interested in helping SAMBA support the continued revitalization of 
commercial interests in Springfield and the surrounding areas, please consider a 
leadership position. New ideas and energy are always welcome 

2012 Meeting Schedule 

SAMBA understands that your time is valuable. As a result, SAMBA is 
doing things a little differently this year. Our membership meetings will be 
as follows: 

February 16: Topic – Marketing Your Business Through Social Media 
 Guest Speaker: Tiffany McDonald, Yellowbook 360 
 At the meeting, we can help you set up a Facebook page or Twitter account! 
 Location: Sweet Pete’s 
May 17: Topic – TBA 

August 16: Topic – Small Business Saturday Kick-off 

Nov/Dec: Holiday Celebration 

 As before, you will receive more detailed notice of these meetings closer to 
the actual date. Please mark your calendars. We want to bring you 
programs to help you grow your business. 

Membership Fees 

It is time to RENEW for some members or to JOIN for others. If you renew 
or join between now and June 30, 2012, your membership fee will be $50 
(regularly $75). If you've recently joined, your current membership term 
will be extended another year so you can still take advantage of this cost 
savings. Watch your mail or e-mail for your membership status letters! 

Membership Directory 

We are currently putting together our membership directory which will be 
distributed to realtors, hotels and other outlets to help market our member 
businesses. Be sure to keep your membership status current to be included 
in the directory. 

Upcoming events of Interest 

February 7: Mayor’s Business Builder Workshop 
 Admission is free but you must register 
 Go to www.coj.net to register 

February 11: Tres Leches Dessert’s 1st Anniversary Celebration 
 Check out more details on their Facebook page 

February 16: SAMBA Meeting 
 Sweet Pete’s 

If you have events happening at your business or have information you’d 
like included in SAMBA’s newsletter, please e-mail us or send us a message 
on Facebook.


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Sweet Pete’s Celebrates Jacksonville’s Local Artists with a Sweet Candy Themed Art Show!

Posted by jason_samba on August 3, 2011   |   1 Comment
August 11, 2011
6:30 pmto8:30 pm

Sweet Pete’s, Jacksonville’s only all natural sweet shoppe is excited to host its first art show. The company’s founder, Peter Behringer has lived in Jacksonville since childhood and opened Sweet Pete’s in Historic Springfield last year. As Peter spent more time in Springfield and the urban core he became increasingly impressed with Jacksonville’s art movement. After attending the Riverside Arts Market and the Downtown Art Walk, Peter decided he wanted to show appreciation for the local artists who are working hard to grow art awareness in Jacksonville.

Peter shared his excitement with a customer and lifelong painter, Deborah Reid. As luck would have it, Deborah also curates monthly art shows at Zodiac Grill as a charity fundraiser for Jacksonville Legal Aid. Deborah encouraged Peter to host an art show at Sweet Pete’s and they decided together the show’s theme should focus on Jacksonville Landmarks and/or candy.

The Art show @ Sweet Pete’s will host 15 artists. Sweet Pete’s will offer samples of their all natural candies and chocolates along with chocolate & candy Martinis. The show will also feature live music by local band Fainted Paces.

The Art Show @ Sweet Pete’s
Thursday, August 11th
6:30-8:30 pm

Disrupt Jacksonville Event

Posted by helen_samba on May 5, 2011   |   No Comments

Here’s an upcoming event for those interested.

As part of the Innovate JAX movement, the first mini-TechCrunch Disrupt (http://disrupt.techcrunch.com/) style meeting will be held at Intuition Ale Works, 720 King St. on May 17, 6pm – 8 pm.

We will be hearing from 8 local entrepreneurs. Each presenter gets ten minutes to pitch their idea and 5 minutes for questions.

Presentations might follow this format:

Problem (what I saw that needed fixing) —-> Alternatives (some possible existing solutions) —-> My Solution (and why it is better) —–> What I’m Doing (how I’m going about creating my solution and getting the word out) —–> Call to Action

The “Call to Action” can be whatever the presenter needs: advice, investors, people, expertise, resources, space, beer….

The audience will be fellow entrepreneurs, students, stealth VCs, business owners and the general public.

The objectives are:

1. Opportunity for our entrepreneur community to pitch their ideas to a broader audience.
2. Introduce active innovators.
3. Expose our community to what is happening in our entrepreneur world.
4. Establish networks.

Two of the presenters signed up are Dylan Phillips (tourmenow.com) and Kirk Olson (CMS for mobile apps). Dylan and Kirk are involved in the GoLO Group. If you have any questions, please contact Kirk at 425-391-3945 (office) or 904-309-4947 (cell).

Sweet Pete’s Welcomes Spring with a Buzz

Posted by helen_samba on March 24, 2011   |   No Comments

Bee collecting pollen and nectar on an orange blossom

Honey bees and renowned local candy maker, Peter Behringer, have something in common. They each create delicious all-natural sweet from their own distinctive recipes. The flavor of honey varies depending upon the flowers from which the honey bees collect pollen and nectar. The honey bee’s sense of smell is so precise, it can differentiate between flower varieties and choose the just the right one.

Behringer wanted to incorporate honey into his spring chocolate line but he needed to find the right honey. He turned to Savannah Bee Company, a specialty honey company which began in Savannah, Georgia (www.savannahbee.com). Upon tasting their many varieties of honey, Behringer found the perfect honey. “I was instantly taken with the honey. I was surprised by how different each honey could taste. I decided to create my honey truffle and to carry the line of Savannah Bee honeys in my shoppe.” In addition to offering the best varietal honey from ecologically responsible beekeepers , Savannah Bee Company offers premium organic beeswax-based body care products like soap, moisturizer and lip balm.

To introduce the new honey truffle, Sweet Pete’s is hosting two special events celebrating honey and the art of beekeeping or apiculture. On Thursday, March 24 from 5:00-8:00 pm, they will be hosting a Free Honey & Cheese pairing event.

During this event, representatives from Savanna Bee Company will be discussing honey and how to use honey when entertaining. Truly versatile, honey can be served along side savory foods like cheese in addition to its traditional uses as a sweetener. Complimentary wine will be served. Morning Glory Fire Arts, North Florida’s mobile ceramics studio (www.morninggloryfire.com), will also be on hand with honey pots for painting. ($15.00 RSVP required).

Honeycomb on a fruit and cheese plate

On Saturday, March 26, it’s Bee-palooza! Beginning at 6:00 pm, Sweet Pete’s welcomes the 2011 Honey Queen Jayla Gillaspie. Jayla was crowned at the 90th Annual Convention of the Florida State Beekeepers Association. The Honey Queen programs is a competition among young women, ranging in age from 17 to 24, who are beekeepers or have work at an apiary assisting with the bees. Jayla is a beekeeper who maintains her own hives and sells her honey locally. Jayla, who is from Fort Myers, has been a beekeeper for more than five years. Also, representatives from the Jacksonville Beekeeper Association (www.jaxbees.com) will be on site to display beekeeping equipment and talk about the importance of honey bees to growing food. Morning Glory Fire Arts will have ceramic honey bees for painting as well ($10.00 RSVP required). The night will end with a free showing of Jerry Seinfeld’s “The Bee Movie” outside at Sweet Pete’s.

As Victor Hugo said, life is the flower for which love is the honey. A little chocolate doesn’t hurt either. So, come to Sweet Pete’s to try the new honey truffle and enjoy the tastes of spring.

Comfort Food, Syrian Style

Posted by helen_samba on March 17, 2011   |   No Comments

In a brightly painted building on Main Street, Wafaa & Mike’s Cafe serves delicious Middle Eastern food in a friendly and warm atmosphere. The Cafe’s name itself adds to feeling that you are coming to dine at a friend’s home. In Wafaa & Mike’s Cafe, Springfield has another eatery which is truly a neighborhood gem. On the whole, Middle Eastern cuisine is full of flavorful dishes that are not only tasty, but pleasing to the eye. The food here does not disappoint.

Opened in 2009 on the corner of 6th Street and Main Street in Springfield, Wafaa and her staff make delicious homemade hummus, tabouleh, and other Middle Eastern favorites. On a recent visit, they were preparing the stuffed grape leaves by hand. At Wafaa’s, not only are the dishes flavorful but the portions are also generous. Their handmade kibbeh is especially good with crispy bulgur surrounding perfectly spiced meat. Silky and extremely smooth, Wafaa’s hummus is crowned with a dusting of paprika and olive oil and is some of the best around.

The pita is a perfect vehicle for the hummus and the tabouleh. It was flat and not too fluffy which allows you to eat more! The tabouleh had a delicious tang of lemon juice, tomato and parsley. The gyro platter was large enough to feed two people. The taziki sauce was wonderfully thick and an excellent compliment to the savory gyro meat. Not only are the Middle Eastern dishes good, they also make a tasty Philly Cheese Steak!

Gyro platter with hummous and taboule

So, next time you have a craving for delicious Middle Eastern food (or Philly Cheese Steak), head over to Wafaa & Mike’s Cafe. You’ll be glad you did.

http://www.wafaamikescafe.com/

SAMBA Adds New Members!

Posted by christina_samba on March 15, 2011   |   No Comments

SAMBA welcomes new members joining in March:

Wachovia/Wells Fargo recently unveiled its newly remodeled store on Main Street in downtown Springfield and looks forward to meeting all of your banking needs.

Tres Leches is serving fabulous deserts and savory treats in its shop at 1839 North Pearl Street.

Laura Byres brings her design talents to Springfield through Yardchicks, a company specializing in both commercial and residential landscape design and installation.

The Springfield Improvement Association and Woman’s Club, formed in 1904, is Springfield’s original neighborhood organization and the first to support beautification of our parks and the Main Street business corridor.  The Club’s home is the lovely Springfield Presbyterian Church building on West 7th Street, which may be rented for weddings and other special events.  Meetings of the SIAWC are held on the third Tuesday of every month, with social time at 6:30 and a program at 7:00.  Guests (male and female) are welcome!

SAMBA Notes from the Springfield Roundtable – March 9, 2011

Posted by christina_samba on March 10, 2011   |   No Comments

SAMBA Notes from the Springfield Roundtable Meeting – March 9, 2011

SAMBA attended the bi-monthly Springfield Roundtable Meeting on Wednesday, March 9th.  Representatives from a number of City of Jacksonville departments were present and a variety of subjects were discussed.  Matters of particular interest to the Springfield area business community included the following:

JEA

There was a lengthy discussion about JEA’s proposed new reservoir facility at Orange and Laura Streets, which was the subject of a community meeting a few weeks ago.  Unfortunately, only one community representative attended the meeting so JEA is seeking additional neighborhood input on the design.  Concerns expressed were the height of the building (32 feet above grade, much higher than the existing mound), architectural detail, landscaping and fencing. A rendering and more information about the facility is posted on www.myspringfield.org. 

Housing and Neighborhoods Department

There has been no real progress on a new RFP for the 9th and Main building. The city is considering its options and has been approached by an interested party that they feel would be a good fit for the neighborhood.  The department is unable to share any additional information at this time.

Developer and consultant responses to the RFP for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (part 3) are due this Friday, March 11th, by 4:00 pm. Proposals must be delivered to the Housing and Neighborhoods Department and date stamped.

Parks and Recreation

There was no representative from the Recreation and Community Services department present so no new information was provided on the proposed RFP for the Surveyor’s Building in Confederate Park.

Kim Heyde, a Springfield representative who is spearheading the Springfield Disc Golf Group, came to the meeting and shared a proposal for a new 18 hole disc golf course in Klutho Park.  She is working with the River City Disc Golf Association and has received letters of support from many of the neighborhood non-profit organizations, including the Springfield Improvement Association and Woman’s Club, the Mommies Group, Sustainable Springfield, Springfield Animal Care and Rescue Club, and Preservation SOS.

Notes from the March Urban Core CPAC

Posted by christina_samba on March 10, 2011   |   No Comments

March 8, 2011:  Springfield Has a New Voice at the Urban Core CPAC

SAMBA has applied to become a member of the City of Jacksonville’s Urban Core Citizen’s Planning Advisory Committee, and representatives have attended the past several monthly meetings.  Two items of particular interest to Springfield area residents were discussed at last night’s CPAC meeting as a direct result of SAMBA participation.

Jim Green, a representative of the Florida Department of Transportation, was present and provided excellent follow up to two questions raised by SAMBA at the previous meeting.

In February Ron Barton (Executive Director, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission) was asked about the possibility of Main Street returning to two-way traffic between State and Union, something we believe would greatly improve connectivity between downtown and Springfield. Barton seemed to dismiss the idea, suggesting that Laura Street was a satisfactory connection with Springfield.

FDOT told us last night that they would proceed with a study regarding the feasibility of two way traffic on that section of Main if the City of Jacksonville would simply make that request. The CPAC then made a unanimous resolution that Main Street be returned to two way traffic. This resolution will be forwarded to the appropriate City department with a request for action. Although there are no guarantees that the City will respond to the resolution, this is a step in the right direction.

FDOT also responded to a SAMBA question from last month’s meeting related to FDOT’s planned improvements to the Newnan/Hubbard Klutho bridge at Confederate Park. FDOT was not aware before SAMBA brought this matter to their attention at the February CPAC meeting that the City’s vision plan for the Hogan’s Creek greenway includes a proposal to close that bridge to automobile traffic, creating a pedestrian crossing. If that occurs there will be no need to improve the bridge, saving taxpayers many thousands of dollars. FDOT contacted the City and learned from the Parks department that there is no current funding for the proposed Confederate Park improvements.  Therefore, studies regarding the bridge will continue. However, these studies are preliminary and any construction would be several years from now.

We have an opportunity to coordinate City and State efforts to save money and improve our quality of life, as implementing this portion of the Hogan’s Creek vision plan would lead to traffic calming on Hubbard Street as well as a much improved recreational facility, with better connectivity between the existing dog park, the proposed playground and the rest of Confederate Park.
Closing Hubbard and Newnan Streets at the Klutho Bridge is a matter that merits additional conversation, as there are certainly positive and negative impacts to be considered.  Combining the proposed closure with a return to two-way automobile travel on Main Street between Union and State could lead to increased traffic on Springfield’s commercial corridors and reduced traffic on our residential streets, a definite win-win for the neighborhood.