A hedger’s keen observations for 2019

In this space around this time of year, for the last three or four years, I’ve written that all signs seemed to be pointing to big changes coming in the arts and culture scenes in our city. These are the sort of keen insights I get paid to recognize.

I usually hedged on my vaguely bold predictions by adding that I wasn’t sure if the changes would be good or bad, fleeting or lasting, or whether they meant we would suddenly become a big-time entertainment mecca or remain a cooler-than-average midsize city.

I’m still not ready to say we are set to become the next Nashville or Atlanta — God forbid — but we have definitely turned some corners. Not a lot of corners, mind you, and the few that we have turned are very much isolated to just a few areas of town. One could argue they benefit only certain members of our city, which is to say downtown. OK, really just the Southside.

Of course, I’m kidding because even folks living in East Lake or Alton Park or Ringgold can drive into town, pay to park and enjoy the cool stuff happening around Main Street.

Which brings me to this year’s keen observation No. 1: Some of the changes that have taken place — such as the addition of hip, expensive hotels and finer dining places — aren’t really mar- keting to folks in Brainerd or Hixson. What I mean by that is that I keep having conversations with longtime residents who seem stuck in the past. They Barry Courter can’t seem to accept that there are now people living here and elsewhere who are not only willing but happy to pay $16 for a mixed drink or $400 for a hotel room. Now, whether there are enough of them to sustain such a business remains to be seen.

Keen observation No. 2: Riverbend 2019 will not look like Riverbend 2018. I predicted that a week or so after 2018 wrapped up, but it doesn’t take someone with my years of experience, impeccable sources and, well, keen observation skills to see the elephant ear in the room.

The festival industry, the city, the riverfront and the ticket-buying market, as Moon River Festival proved, have all changed, so Riverbend is changing with it. I’m going to play the hedge card again here and wait to comment on what it will mean.

My final keen observation is really more of a wish or a hope. I’m hoping that with all of the wonderful changes that are happening, that 2019 is the year that more people from every part of the city, from all demographics and socioeconomic categories are able to enjoy them.