Kicks off with The Elbow Bender Party on July 9

Jacksonville, FL (June 16, 2015) – Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI) and the bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and promoters collectively known as The Elbow have come together to promote Downtown Jacksonville’s authentic entertainment destination, beginning with the launch of the new TheElbowJax.com website to provide Jacksonville and visitors with a snapshot of the scene.

In addition to the site, the partnership will launch a number of initiatives this summer to create new entertainment experiences. An Ocean Street Alleyway Clean Up Volunteer Day will give the community an opportunity to help clean up this hidden spot within The Elbow. The Elbow Bender will offer free, outdoor concerts paired with bar and restaurant specials. And, a video series titled The Alley Sessions will highlight Jacksonville’s local music scene.

“All too often, locals are unaware of the diversity of Downtown’s entertainment offerings,” said Katherine Hardwick, DVI’s marketing director. “It’s exciting to have so many eclectic venues working together to set The Elbow apart from anywhere else in Jacksonville and offer entertainment for all types of Jacksonvillians.”

Launched last week, TheElbowJax.com provides an interactive guide to more than 18 bars, restaurants and performance venues and a line-up of featured events. In addition, the site offers a free download of Jacksonville’s first local music compilations in years, “Amplified Vol.1.″ This inaugural edition features a premium sampling of Jacksonville’s best and brightest songwriters and musicians.

On Saturday, June 27, the Ocean Street Alleyway Clean Up Volunteer Day will spruce up the alleyway between Ocean and Newnan streets, through trash collection, raking, weeding and painting. All volunteers 21 and up will be treated to one free beer courtesy of 1904 Music Hall.

Kicking off Thursday evening promotions, the community can enjoy free festivities and entry into the bars at The Elbow Bender on July 9, from 6-10 p.m. Two outdoor stages will feature performances by Swimm, Greenhouse Lounge, Flat Land, Bells & Robes, Herd of Watts, Tambor, Sunspots and Fort Stories. The party will also feature food trucks, trivia and games and craft beer specials.  The Elbow bars will offer After Dark programming the night of The Elbow Bender and will offer happy hour and all-night drink specials on subsequent Thursdays. Sponsors include: Engine 15, Cox Media, JAX Chamber, Downtown Investment Authority and the City of Jacksonville.

The partnership will also produce The Alley Sessions, a series of four-minute videos to celebrate the local live music scene and culture of Downtown, which will be available at TheElbowJax.com later this summer.

“Jacksonville can be really proud of its local music and entertainment scene,” said Grant Nielsen, local artist, musician and originator of The Elbow brand. “We have arrived as a world-class music market and there’s no place that showcases it better than The Elbow.”

For more information on The Elbow, the Ocean Street Alleyway Clean Up Volunteer Day, The Elbow Bender and The Alley Sessions, visit TheElbowJax.com.

About Downtown Vision, Inc.

Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI) is a dynamic, not-for-profit 501(c)6 organization revitalizing Downtown through clean and safe initiatives, experience creation, marketing and information management. Created by commercial property owners through a self-assessment and governed by a board representing Downtown property owners, DVI administers a 90-block Downtown Improvement District. For more information, visit downtownjacksonville.org.

About The Elbow

The Elbow is Downtown Jacksonville’s Entertainment District. Committed to creating an authentic entertainment experience, The Elbow offers a wealth of diverse, walkable and award-winning culinary, nightlife, live music and performance venues. Cultivated around the historic Florida Theatre, The Elbow is one destination that encompasses eight restaurants and nine bars with three additional spots to open by 2016.  The formal boundaries are Bay Street to Adams Street and Main Street to Liberty Street. For more information, visit theelbowjax.com.