Memphis: like, Night and Day

On the Fourth of July, a favorite holiday of mine, I went to a couple parades for my job and had a wonderful time. We even knew some folks to the extent that some nice friends of friends invited us in to enjoy their air conditioning, food, and The Band on vinyl. 

That evening, I saw some amazing fireworks at the Buccaneer, which seemed to have a whole following I had never heard of until now. 

Although I was with great friends and live music, that evening and the evening to follow were not as warm and welcoming as my daytime experiences. This is a trend I am realizing. If I am to stay in Memphis, what are the millenials doing? and where are they doing it? I should note that I had never seen so many long-haired-20-something men until that Devil Train show. I found myself questioning what I was even doing out at this bar which seemed to have a few people I knew and recognized and what if this was the group I would be with forever if I stayed in Memphis. That was unnerving to me. 

It leaves me wondering, why was the daytime so much more comfortable? 

Memphis has a wonderful infrastructure for daytime from museums to trees to parks to neighbors. 
Why doesn't this translate as well for night? 
I did recently go to the Brooks for a thing at night, and it was very fun and packed, winding down around 8pm. I often go to the Levitt Shell within Overton Park (usually not providing entertainment in the day, I should note) for their evening concerts that end prior to 10pm. 

I have been known to enjoy the Lamplighter after 10 pm and for a rarer treat, Wild Bill's even later than that. Where are the things to do in Memphis that are not centered around alcohol in the evening? These are both places that I do not frequent in the day time because something about it seems weird and to my knowledge, the house band does not play until hours later. 

Does this divide exist everywhere? Are there things that we do in the day that we would not do at night? Are there different places for these, and do we split them up ourselves or is that division clear before we come into the picture? 

We all have those friends we only see at night, but is it not good to see friends at any hour? What makes a friend a daytime friend or a nighttime friend, and does that reflect our choices or the areas where we feel secure each gathering? 

I know I always want the movie theater to start screening around 11 am, at least on the weekends and holidays, but maybe I am the only one who would go then. 

I can offer a few things that are and would be both enjoyable day and night that bring people together in Memphis: 

• Basketball, I especially enjoy the Grizzlies (and other sporting events-I see you Redbirds). The issue there is, most public courts are not open all the time, and games are both seasonal and expensive. You have brief windows for baseball, football, and basketball, so there is nothing that you can really count on all year. 
• Festivals/festivities- any event that includes nighttime celebration is usually fun and people filled. 
• Take a Walk- I would encourage RDC to extend their hours and increase lighting to encourage evening strolls at least on weekends, other good walks: South Main/Downtown, Overton Square and Cooper Young for people watching. The issue is, the Cooper Young and Overton Square walks are short, cars seem to prevail, and parts of it are still not ideal, like walking past the dairy or that car-lot is kinda weird. Neither the SF Greenline nor the VECA Greenline is not ideal for after dark at the moment. Regardlessly, most parks technically close at sundown. I would increase lighting everywhere because it can promote safety and walkability. 
• Bocce? I have not yet played it there, but a court exists on South Main, and you can rent the balls for free. Would croquet, giant jenga, giant checkers, or glow in the dark badminton be something we would want to encourage, they are not all that expensive, and provide day and night time activity. 
• Set up rocking chairs somewhere with a good view; maybe this is my inner old person showing. 
• I do champion Otherlands for being a fun day and night place for offering a nice vibe that is different at day and night. Reasonably priced concerts or readings in the evening and reasonably priced ability to do whatever suits you in the day, for instance, it is where I am writing this blog. Many believe coffee shops are the answer, but there is a different feel between day and night at these locales, further questioning how this distinction exist. 
• Bicycle. I do like to bicycle at night, and I do like to bicycle in the day, whether it is getting where I am going or just going for a quick roll to see the lightning bugs. In the summer, night rides are really fun as they are slightly cooler and often there are less cars on the road. You can hear different noises and see different things. 
• Should we create art that is only seen at night? I'm not talking strobing blue crush lights...

What are things you would add? What do you want to see in Memphis to bring people together at night and day? I want to emphasize on night because it seems like we need safe, fun things to do, especially from 9 pm to midnight that do not cost money for the user and preferably spend little to no money up front for the producer. 

It seems clear to me that there is a gap between night and day, and that Memphis provides way more day time opportunities than evening ones, and I am seeking your help to find out why that is and how we can change it. 

*Pro-tip, check out the fireworks at the Buc on July 4th because they are awesome. There is plenty of parking, tons of people of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds, with one thing in common, a knowledge that a ton of fireworks are going off close enough to damage all the patients in Methodist Hospital. 

Why no RDC?

This is the letter I sent to Memphis City Council budget committee chair about renewing the RDC's contract (group who created Beale Street Landing, a half sold Wilco show, etc.). City Council Budget Committee's vote to extend the contract 5 more years is tomorrow. 

If the city stops funding the RDC starting July 1, what would happen? 

How much on average does park maintenance (only maintenance, not activities or anything like that) cost for 11 parks in Memphis? Is that amount more or less than what we give the RDC?

I am often impressed with their grounds management, like cutting the grass and keeping things clean, but those good works, in my opinion, do not outweigh their downfalls.
Granted I do not recall how the Riverfront was managed prior to 2000, but so many things have changed since then that I feel (in no particular order): 
a) it should be self-sustaining (or only require funds to cut the grass because the city would presumably pay for that if the RDC did not exist) and not request funds from Memphis.

b) start releasing annual reports that include their expenditures and incomes(their 2011 annual report is probably the only report i have ever seen that does not report $)  

c) update their goals, and have them not include Beale Street Landing 

d) include a water taxi (that either only charges those without a Memphis license or $1 or $0) or another of Jeff Speck’s ideas (not Riverside Drive as it is already en route) for our riverfront in the things they must do to receive money 

e) amend 5 year contract to 30 month contract making them more accountable and allows city to spend less money if they mess up…again

f) no more 9 year construction projects; it took the city 3 years to complete our massive, beautiful library (Memphis put in $38M)

g) get rid of the parking lot adjacent to BSL and put the grass back because technically in the areas they manage there are more pedestrians than motorists 

h) add a clause about requiring a planner on their board or as an employee because a group whose goals are creating gathering places, pedestrian-use, and planning ought to have a legitimate planner. 

Memphis seems to be on a community driven path of progress. Recently, this progress has been bottom up, but the RDC still functions like it can only be top down, so they seem to be more of a hurdle for the people of Memphis and tourists to enjoy what the “public ground” the city’s founders dedicated. Unfortunately, the RDC’s choices have left Memphis off of "best waterfront" lists, best downtowns, international notoriety(which they gloat on their website for their BSL contest), and too many other accolades for my continued support. 

I know that the amount proposed to give to the RDC is nothing compared to a stadium, a convention center, or pensions, but opening the door for this, opens the door for other things, and you have the ability to re-create an amazing, actually public, public space.