While the Sommet Center disgorged its hockey crowd and a few hundred people lingered while Jo Dee Messina performed on its the arena's plaza, others assembled for the spectacle of a voluntarily dark Downtown.
Talking it over with some friends, I decided a glimpse of Downtown without its nighttime night would be worthwhile.
After witnessing Villanova’s last-second victory over Pitt, I took to wandering thanks to the close-off sections of Lower Broadway. With 8:30 nearing, I decided to watch the darkness hit outside the Ernest Tubb Record Store.
From my view, Tubb’s killed its sign first, then the whole block went on both sides.
A glorious cheer came from the thousands assembled, who quickly took advantage of the now car-free blocks of Lower Broadway (more on that later).
Save for a few wet blankets, the entirety of Lower Broadway underwent a total transformation. All the neon and glitz that birthed the Nashvegas nickname vanished, even as the music continued.
The Lower Broadway honky-tonks weren’t alone – much of downtown went, from the radio tower at the
Only the police barricades at the intersections broke the darkness, assaulting the eyes and making me glad I never experienced their flashing in a less comfortable setting.
An hour later, Nashvegas returned to its usual business of glass-blown signs and thick traffic traversing the Lower Broadway. The music never stopped, nor the occasional musician shoving a tip jar in your face when you only arrived in time to catch half of their bearable Allman Brothers cover before they took their break (sorry guys, I only tip after hearing three songs).
Meandering through the sidewalk and open road, I heard someone yell, “This is just like
Of course, the waterfront does come with the ability to walk around with a drink, but the freedom to stroll without worrying about tank-framed SUVs attempting to shove their way through a crowded crosswalk.
The good message behind Earth Hour aside, it s celebration opens up another argument – closing sections of Lower Broadway to automobiles, whether temporary or permanently. New York City will soon create a pedestrian zone on the streets around Time Square
Now, Nashville merchants would probably cry foul – especially those parking lots and valet services right on Broadway – so I don’t expect a permanent closure anytime soon. While onstreet parking would vanish if permanently closed, the trade-off would be more space for more people plus space for business kiosks on the former roadway. With all the streets crossing Broadway and the cost to close the streets, this won't even get consideration in the short term.
Still, think about the weekends. Thousands hit Lower Broadway, and the ability to wander freely would ease the pedestrian congestion. Motorists refuse to accept the dominance of pedestrians in the area. The idea of a leadfoot running down someone legally in the street is hardly far-fetched; with those volumes of people, I wonder why it doesn’t happen more often.
If Downtown hosts one of its bigger events, it could go with temporary closures, letting people experience Lower Broadway free of vehicles. Titans games, Predators games or even big concerts could also be cause for closing off the street. If they can do it for Earth Hour, certainly Nashville can look at closing Broadway on other occasions.
Earth Hour highlighted climate issues, but through the darkness, it illustrated the potential for a much more lively Lower Broadway.
Wow, Somebody Who Doesn't Know Me Read This Thing
While it was not my proudest moment in the new media - it's hard to show pride in what I cannot remember - the folks at Richard Thompson's Web site grabbed a link to the review I posted of his Nashville show .
I went to see if the site had added links to any Nashville reviews only to discover they found mine. It almost makes me wished I'd not spend so much time writing about my brew intake for the evening.
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