👋 Is Nashville too friendly?

🎨 The Metro Arts Mess Rolls On

In a unanimous vote, the Metro Arts Commission agreed to offer Metro Arts director Daniel Singh a $200,000 settlement to resign, and he has accepted. This comes after more than a year of controversy over handling of the FY24 grant cycle, during which the commission used a formula that included racial data to award grants to more independent artists and smaller nonprofits. A month later, based on Metro Legal’s advice, the commission reversed that vote, which led to formal Title VI complaints and left a lot of artists and organizations without their promised funding — serious issues that have yet to be fully resolved. [Nashville Scene]

😀 We're Too Friendly, Y'all

Southern Living has deemed Nashville the fifth friendliest city in the South. In the blurb, a Southern Living reader claims that Nashvillians “don’t seem to suffer from any tourist fatigue.” Uhm, I beg your pardon? Other Tennessee cities included on the list are Chattanooga (#11) and Franklin (#8). [Southern Living]

• Nashville also had a record-breaking tourism year in 2023. I know I’m not the only one who wishes more emphasis was placed on locals than tourists, so maybe we should be a bit less friendly, y’all? I know, it’s a hard ask. [NASHtoday]

💔 Shooting at Red Caboose Park Leaves Teen Dead

I’m very sad to report that 13-year-old Aayden Hayes has died after a shooting at Bellevue’s popular playground, Red Caboose Park, on Thursday just before 8 p.m. His 16-year-old sister was also shot, but was able to make it to the nearby fire hall for help. The 15-year-old who shot into the group of teens has been arrested. My heart goes out to Aayden’s family and friends, and I hope his sister recovers swiftly. [News Channel 5]

🍜 Chinatown Coming to Nashville

Investors have pinpointed Antioch as an ideal place to build Nashville’s first Chinatown. Sheri Ma and Rita Zheng are excited to transform the area across from the abandoned Hickory Hollow Mall into a thriving spot, with Chinese restaurants, a Pan-Asian supermarket, and more. While I was initially hesitant about the idea of investors “creating” a Chinatown, both Zheng and Ma are Chinese American women bringing their experiences to the project. They plan for the supermarket to open in 2025, with more to follow. [News Channel 5]

🪐 Get Ready for a Planet Parade Monday

So many celestial events lately! On Monday, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will align in the sky, in what is considered a “large planetary alignment.” If the skies are clear, they’ll be visible in Nashville at 5 a.m. Monday morning, though binoculars or a telescope are recommended for viewing. Forecasters are currently predicting scattered showers on Monday, but we all know how random Nashville weather can be. Fingers crossed for clear skies! [The Tennessean]