about the flat city. The muddy Mississippi serves as a "just okay" viewpoint from its
aging skyline. Memphis' biggest attractions are Beale Street and Graceland; both of
which have already seen their heyday. While you can get some good music on Beale,
the street seems more filled with panhandlers and tourist shops than Blues artists.
However, Memphis' National Civil Rights Museum is spectacular. Memphis also
has a few nice areas; the area surrounding Overton Park has some very attractive
homes and unique shops and restaurants. Like many other segregated Southern
cities, "White Flight" took place here; African-Americans make up a majority of
Memphis' urban areas and its suburbs are very White. Memphis' crime rate has, for
multiple years, been one of the top ten worst in the U.S. The Pyramid venue, sitting
prominently next to the Mississippi, is mute testimony to Memphis' difficulties: once
a hotspot, the former largest arena in town now sits vacant.
Louisville, Kentucky is an excellent 2nd-place ribbon for me. That may not sound
as impressive as the first prize, but for me, Louisville is like placing runner-up on
"Price Is Right": you may not hit the jackpot, but you're still usually walking away
with a lot of perks. Twenty years ago, Louisville was in big trouble. Its crime rate
was unnerving, its population was in constant decline and the downtown was
showing serious signs of neglect. But slowly, with the help of funds driven towards
Kentucky's largest city and a pro-active mayor, Louisville started to shine again.
Kentucky Center for the Arts found its home. The unattractive industrial riverside
gave way to the impressive Waterfront Park. The crime-ridden Galleria urban
shopping mall became the bustling Fourth Street Live. The Highlands district, with
its beautiful homes, parks and eclectic shops, became recognized for its cultural
addition to the city. Gradually, the city's crime rate did a 180 and for years now,
it has been one of the safest metro areas in the country. Louisville's social views
have become more liberal, and its nightlife now rivals that of some larger cities.
Despite this progress, however, the River City is frustrating because it often
"can't see the forest for the trees." Traffic congestion is much less here than in
other comparable cities. Yet, Louisville continues to gripe and drag its feet on
crucial transportation issues, such as building more bridges to accommodate
commuting needs, restructuring a failed major highway intersection, and finally
completing the last piece of an outer-bypass connecting Kentucky and Indiana.
The city recently spent a ridiculous chunk of change to build a new downtown
arena--which doesn't have the capability to host major-league sports teams.
Louisville tries hard--but it has to become innovative to keep momentum. Still,
I love it. It is comfortable, quirky enough to be interesting, easy to navigate and
has friendly people. If that doesn't make second-place noble, I don't know what
does.
Lexington, Kentucky was a dream for me years ago, when I was 18 and wanting to escape Waddy. I saw it, through teenage eyes of stupidity, as something short of heaven. My father's reaction was unforgettable: "You want to move where?! That monument to poor urban planning?!" His assessment was correct then, and it continues to be accurate. If Louisville has a problem seeing the forest for the trees, Lexington's blinders keeps it from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. For starters, Lexington never wanted to be as large as it is. This notion is best reflected in its incredibly bizarre design and zoning; the urban growth boundaries place main arteries right next to quiet horse farms. The city grid's original spider web-esque design makes for a bad newcomers (and routine visitor's, for that matter) experience. Limestone Street becomes Nicholasville Road, Broadway becomes Harrodsburg Road and so on. That would be simple if it weren't for the fact that these streets don't intersect; they're just the same stretches of pavement with name changes. Yeah. I don't get it either. Still, most folks recognize New Circle Road as Lexington's most prominent planning screw up. Soon after its completion, the city began allowing businesses to build on its only bypass. Fast forward fifty years: the entire north end of Lexington has a bypass--which bypasses absolutely nothing. The part of the road that actually works as intended is heavily congested; especially on days when the Wildcats play. That, ladies and gentlemen, is Lexington's real reason for existence. Lexington is surprisingly socially progressive. It has a few nice shops, restaurants and pretty neighborhoods. However, if you aren't a UK fan, there is basically nothing here for you. Most die-hard Lexingtonians will still tell you that their city is much more special than its bigger, sinister neighbor of Louisville. I guess that sitting in traffic for an extended period of time allows ample time to look around and ponder such things.
