Mike Todd’s been championing the Edge District since 1994. That’s when he bought his first building in the area. “I’m not a gentrification guy. I’m a capitalist,” he says. But, he adds, “I want the Edge to maintain its coolness.”
To that end, there’s The Edge Gets Lit! Alley Party set for Saturday, April 29th, noon to 11 p.m. This is a place-making event for Floyd Alley, designed after similar events in other cities. The alley will be strung with 1,000 feet of lighting — signaling that the alley is safe and spotlighting all the businesses and stuff that’s going on.
The alley party will take advantage of the Edge’s resources. The Black Farmers Association, a new tenant, will be in charge of the hay rides. Evelyn & Olive, a sponsor of the event, will be cooking on site. There will be storytelling, too — on the history of music in the Edge and Sam Phillips and Sun Records.
Courtesy: The edge gets lit! alley party
We can’t not mention the Wacky Dog Olympics, which will include the Great American Peanut Butter Lick Off. As described by Darrin Hillis, Edge supporter and owner of event production company In the Wings, this involves dog owners, about a cup of peanut butter per, swim goggles, and (most likely excited) dogs.
Of course, the highlight of the event will be the lighting of the alley. The switch gets thrown about 7:50 p.m.
The ultimate goal, Hillis says joking, is to eliminate the question, “Now, where’s the Edge?” “Bottom line,” he says, “is to expose the Edge. It’s everything cool in one spot.”
