Downtown Hollywood has become a live music hotspot, thanks to the concerted efforts of city officials and business owners who share a vision for the historic arts and entertainment district as a vibrant live music destination.

As part of Mayor Peter Bober's initiative to create a "centralized hub for live music" that has been lacking in South Florida, city commissioners on May 2 approved new regulations that make it easier for downtown venues in the Live Music District to obtain an extended-hours liquor license. The new permitting process affords a lower fee and allows establishments that serve food to remain open and sell alcoholic beverages two hours later, until 4 a.m., if they provide live musical entertainment for at least three hours a night on three or more nights a week.

Under the new regulations, the late-night license process for downtown businesses is much quicker, the fee is greatly reduced and establishments do not need to have a kitchen.

Mayor Bober's live music initiative kicked off Feb. 18 with the debut of ArtsPark Live!, a year-round free concert series featuring a variety of high-quality acts every Friday and Saturday night at the state-of-the-art outdoor amphitheater that opened at the ArtsPark at Young Circle last June.

Numerous downtown venues currently offer ongoing live music, including The Big Easy Bar and Grille, Chocolada Bakery & Café, La Barraca Bar, Megabite Chillout Lounge, Mickey Byrne's Irish Pub & Restaurant, Native Florida Tap Room & Music Hall, Octopus Garden and Spice Resto-Lounge.

"It's refreshing to find a mayor and city government that support the arts in the marketplace," said Kilmo Doome, owner of Native Florida Tap Room & Music Hall, 2006 Hollywood Boulevard, and an accomplished bass player who toured with Blood, Sweat & Tears and other bands.

Kilmo previously owned live music fixture Alligator Alley in Fort Lauderdale, which closed in 2009, and he searched for the right location for two years prior to opening his new club in February. He said the new Live Music District provides the opportunity for him to promote creative original music in a variety of genres by both local and national artists performing in an intimate concert club setting.

City officials and downtown business owners say the creation of a live music destination has economic as well as cultural benefits.

Venues that provide quality live music "make the trip to Downtown Hollywood well worth the effort for music lovers," said Chris Eberle, president of the Downtown Hollywood Business Association (DHBA) and co-owner of The Big Easy Bar and Grille with Jimmy Sklavenitis.

"With live music heard all through the streets of Downtown Hollywood almost every night of the week, we are well on our way to becoming South Florida's live music capital," said Megabite Chillout Lounge owner Adam Morgan.

For more information on Downtown Hollywood businesses or events, call 954-924-2980 or visit www.hollywoodcra.org. There is no charge for on-street downtown parking between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Free parking is available in three-hour increments between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.