🌃 Did you know we have a Night Mayor?

🏙️ Staying Safe on Lower Broad

Did you know we have a Night Mayor? Benton McDonough is the director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife, and he’s on the City Cast Nashville podcast today with his tips for how locals can best enjoy our downtown entertainment district while staying safe. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

💰 State Budget Amendment

Gov. Bill Lee has proposed a $343 million amendment to his state budget, including a $39 million reduction in K-12 public school funding based on enrollment, and $10 million toward artificial intelligence. [The Tennessean]

🔥 Fighting Fire With Fire

As climate change makes Nashville less humid and drier, we have a higher risk of accidental wildfires. The Warner Parks recently had their first prescribed fire, which reduces the risk of uncontrolled blazes. [Nashville Banner]

• Shelby Park and Bottoms had their first burn yesterday. [Instagram]

🚗 Autonomous Cars Coming to Nashville

Rideshare service Waymo will begin testing its autonomous driving technology this week in Nashville. Initial testing involves a small fleet of vehicles going on road trips to learn local driving culture, weather, and road conditions, first with human operators, and then autonomously. [WKRN]

• The rules for driving in Nashville [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

Warmer weather is finally here, which means it’s time to break out the picnic baskets and blankets and head outside to enjoy it as much as possible! Here are our favorite places to picnic in Nashville, from under-the-radar parks to scenic city views.

Bells Bend Park

Bells Bend Park in Northwest Davidson County is my favorite place to picnic. Park at the outdoor center and eat at one of the tables behind it for a view of wide-open meadows and bright blue skies. It’s a peaceful, quiet park.

Marcella Vivrette Smith Park

This is another quiet, under-the-radar spot for a peaceful picnic, located in Brentwood. Picnic in a meadow by the Ravenswood Mansion, or choose one of the picnic shelters.

Love Circle

Grab a picnic blanket for a fantastic view at Love Circle, a hill overlooking the city. It’s in a dense West End neighborhood, and you’ll need to park on the circular road leading up to the hill, as there’s no parking lot.

Centennial Park

I love picnicking in a field by the Parthenon, and if it gets too hot, I try to grab a shaded picnic table by Lake Watauga. The lake does get crowded on the weekends, but it’s a great lunch spot during the week. The botanical garden is a great picnic spot, too, and typically less crowded.

Bicentennial Mall Capitol State Park

Picnic here for a view of the Tennessee State Capitol building. I like to picnic by the carillon bells so I can listen to them ring, but another good spot is on the amphitheater steps.

Shelby Park

Shelby has many great picnic spots, but we like picnicking on the shores of Lake Sevier, the little lake in the middle of the park with a great crew of geese, ducks, and turtles to watch. You can even bring your fishing pole! There’s parking right by the lake.

Percy Warner Park

Bike or hike on one of Percy Warner Park’s trails before picnicking at one of their covered shelters.

Cheekwood

While you do have to pay to get into Cheekwood, it’s a gorgeous place to picnic. They have a small cafe and food trucks on the weekend, though you can bring your own food, too.