Video: Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt ask “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”
Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who co-starred in the excellent 2009 film “(500) Days of Summer,” have reunited to prepare a festive holiday treat for their fans.
The actors, who have been friends since they made the 2001 movie “Manic” together, have released online a video of them performing Oscar-winning composer Frank Loesser’s 1947 jazz standard “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” Deschanel, half of the duo She & Him, plays ukulele and sings, while Gordon-Levitt plays acoustic guitar and croons in their holiday duet.
The two actors don’t reveal their New Year’s Eve plans in the clip, but they will be celebrating together in 2012. Both are nominated for Golden Globe Awards: she for actress in a TV comedy for the new hit “New Girl,” and he for his lead role in the film “50/50.”
The YouTube video of their performance has already earned 3.7 million hits.
If you’re in Oklahoma and wondering what to do New Year’s Eve, click here for a list of ideas.
Have a safe and happy New Year however you ring it in!
-BAM
13 Days of Oklahoma Music: The Flaming Lips experiment through 2011, play annual hometown Freakout tonight and Sunday
Since it’s the last day of 2011, this is the final installment of my “13 Days of Oklahoma Music,” a video series looking back at musical milestones reached by recording artists with state ties in the year almost past.
More than ever, Oklahoma City-based psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips engaged in wild musical, visual and merchandising experimentation in 2011.
They’ve recorded six- and 24-hour-long songs, music on hard drives and USB drives encased in gummy fetuses, $5,000 real human skulls and strobe light toys.The Lips also have collaborated with Neon Indian, Prefuse 73 and Lightning Bolt.
The Lips’ latest collaboration involves Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon (widow and son of the late, great John Lennon), along with the Plastic Ono Band, with whom their playing their hometown New Year’s Freakout #5.
Now a two-night extravaganza, the fifth Freakout is set for 8 p.m. today and Sunday at the Coca Cola Bricktown Events Center, 425 E California. Tonight’s show is sold out, but tickets are still available at www.ticketstorm.com for Sunday’s show. Tonight’s after-party has been moved to the OKC Farmers Market, 311 S Klein, after the OKC fire marshal nixed plans to have it in the new Womb gallery, which Lips frontman Wayne Coyne co-owns. For more information, click here.
Along with playing the Freakout together, the Lips and Plastic Ono Band have been working on a four-song collaboration, which includes a Christmas song called “Atlas Eets Christmas.” The new recording will be on sale at the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day shows.
Sean Lennon also helped the Lips on their six-hour song “Found a Star on the Ground,” which raised $20,000 for two Oklahoma charities.
“Well, we had played some shows with Sean Lennon’s group, the Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger,” Lips leader Wayne Coyne told The Oklahoman’s Gene Triplett in a recent phone interview. “We only played like five or six shows together. But you know, you travel around together, you do sound checks together, you’re in each other’s hotels partyin’ and stuff. And they’re just really wonderful, you know? Especially to think of all the people in the world who could be (screwed)-up sons and daughters of very famous, iconic people. He’s just a normal, real sharp, cool, you know, fun person to be around.”
Check out this and more of the Lips’ memorable musical experiments of 2011:
-BAM
Blake Shelton, Toby Keith to perform tonight on televised New Year’s Eve specials
Blake Shelton
Oklahoma country music fans should tune in and set their DVRs tonight as two of the state’s brightest stars perform on nationally televised New Year’s Eve specials:
Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton will ring in 2012 performing on “NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly,” airing at 9 p.m. Oklahoma time on the network home of the hit reality show “The Voice, which stars Shelton as a celebrity coach and Daly as its host.
Along with Shelton and Daly, the special will feature fellow “The Voice” celebrity coach Cee Lo Green, rapper Drake, British pop star Jessie J, hip-hop band The Roots and legendary crooner Tony Bennett.
Toby Keith
Norman resident Toby Keith will toast the arrival of 2012 with his “Red Solo Cup” on the “American Country New Year’s Eve Live,” airing at 10 p.m. Central time Saturday on Fox.
Tulsa comedian Rodney Carrington, who just played his annual post-Christmas stint at Shawnee’s FireLake Grand Casino, will host the holiday special with Rick Harrison and Austin “Chumlee” Russell of the reality TV series “Pawn Stars.”
Country stars Joe Nichols, Rodney Atkins, Lauren Alaina and Eli Young Band also are set to musically ring in the New Year on the show, while comic Howie Mandel will make an appearance to share his New Year’s resolution and offer a sneak peak of his upcoming “Mobbed” series of specials.
-BAM
OKC Museum of Art offers traffic, parking tips for New Year’s Eve in downtown Oklahoma City
: A worker places a glass ball in a boat during reinstallation of the Chihuly exhibit at the OKC Museum of Art on Thursday, December 15 , 2011. Photo by David McDaniel, The Oklahoman
For the first time, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is a venue for Opening Night, downtown Oklahoma City’s annual family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration.
The museum will be busy tonight with the Opening Night festivities and several special events.
The museum is marking the close of the special exhibits “Faded Elegance: Photographs of Havana by Michael Eastman” and “Poodles & Pastries (and Other Important Matters): New Paintings by Franco Mondini-Ruiz,” along with the grand reopening of its vast collection of Dale Chihuly glass art.
Also, the museum will open Saturday night a new temporary exhibit titled “Chihuly: Northwest,” which will feature glass creations inspired by the American Indian basketry, along with selections from the Chihuly’s large collections of Pendleton trade blankets and images by renowned Western photographer Edward S. Curtis.
“It’s an exciting time to be involved with Opening Night for the first time in our 10-year history … in downtown,” said Leslie Spears, the museum’s communications manager. “We’re thrilled to partner with our colleagues at the Arts Council of Oklahoma City and at the beautiful new Myriad Gardens.”
Museum members will preview “Illuminations” from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, and the redesigned Chihuly exhibit will open to the public from 8 to 11 p.m. Admission will be free to those with Opening Night wristbands.
From 11:30 p.m. to midnight, the museum’s Roof Terrace will host a champagne toast and viewing of the Opening Night fireworks. Tickets are $5 for guests and members, or free to patrons of the Museum Cafe’s annual New Year’s Eve Dinner.
In addition, two favorite jazz bands from the museum’s summer Roof Terrace concert series — Bruce Benson & Studio B and Maurice Johnson — will play in the museum lobby during Opening Night. OKC Improv will have improvisers performing throughout the event in the museum auditorium.
To help patrons take part in tonight’s festivities, the museum has issued a map, directions and parking tips to help people see the best routes around construction downtown due to Project180 and Opening Night.
On this map, red cross lines indicate road construction on one side of the street, and road construction where streets are closed:
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And who better to advise on getting to the OKCMOA than the museum staff who drive it daily? Here are their recommended routes:
Leslie (from the Village) Hefner Parkway south becomes I-44 , to I-40 east. Take the Walker exit, north to Couch Drive, turn left. Walker is down to two lanes but passable. Couch is one lane.
Brittany (from Norman) I-35 North to I-40 West, take the Classen exit on the right, turn right onto Robert S. Kerr by the Oklahoma County Jail. Park by the Civic Center. Nicole (from Edmond) Broadway Extension, take the 6th Street exit, head west. Turn left at Hudson or even further down at Shartel. Parking is available along Robert S. Kerr. Matt (from downtown surrounding neighborhoods)
South on Classen Blvd from NW 23rd, turn left on Robert S. Kerr and head east to OKCMOA. South on Western or Classen to Robert S. Kerr, go left. Look for parking.
Whitney (from NW 10th & May Avenue area) Go south on May Avenue then left on General Pershing Blvd. (which eventually turns into Main Street). Turn left on Shartel, then right on Robert S. Kerr. There are various places to park on Robert S. Kerr and just north of it. Jack (from Yukon) I-40 west, take Walker exit. Walker north to Couch. For details of all street construction listings from the City of OKC, CLICK HERE. |
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PARKING OPTIONS
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PARKING LOT A parking lot (Progressive Parking) is located directly north of the Museum on the northwest corner of Hudson and Robert S. Kerr. Parking rates for this lot are as follows: $3 for ½ hour; $6 for 1 hour; $8 for 2 hours; $10 for ALL DAY
PARKING GARAGE
The multi-story City Center East parking garage is located on the corner of Park Avenue and Harvey, one block south of OKCMOA. This garage is available nights and weekends for use by the public. Hours for evening parking are Monday-Thursday, 6 p.m.-midnight. Weekend parking begins at 6 p.m. on Friday through Sunday at midnight. Parking is $7, and only credit cards are accepted.
METERS/STREET PARKING There are several available metered parking spaces down Robert S. Kerr between Walker and Shartel. Meters stop taking quarters after 6pm. REPUBLIC PARKING Broadway/Kerr Parking Garage, 1 Robert S. Kerr Century Center Garage, 100 W. Main
Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens
Santa Fe Garage, 2 Santa Fe Plaza
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Have a safe and happy New Year!
-BAM
Oklahoma City’s Opening Night rings in New Year with an array of entertainment
Ravi Riyanto, 8, of Norman, Okla., participates in Opening Night activities at the Cox Convention Center on Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman Archives
From Saturday’s The Oklahoman.
Opening Night rings in 2012 with an array of entertainment
The alcohol-free, family-friendly event will spread 40 performers across eight different downtown venues, with nonstop entertainment starting at 7 p.m. Saturday. A world-famous magician, a local roller derby squad and musicians of practically every sonic preference are on the bill for the venerable year-end bash.
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” asks the old song by Oscar-winning composer Frank Loesser.
For downtown Oklahoma City party-goers who choose to ring in 2012 Saturday at Opening Night, the better question might be “what aren’t you doing New Year’s Eve?”
A world-famous magician, a local roller derby squad and musicians of practically every sonic preference are on the bill for the venerable year-end bash along with improv comedians, an Elvis impersonator and a hypnotist.
Presented by the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, the alcohol-free, family-friendly event will spread 40 performers across eight different downtown venues, with nonstop entertainment starting at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The children’s area inside the Cox Convention Center will feature live entertainment, hands-on art projects, face painting and an inflatable obstacle course, plus it will serve as headquarters for the event-wide scavenger hunt.
When it comes planning out the celebration, organizers aim to provide a wide variety of entertainment.
“We have performers all across downtown. With musicians and theater and dance, there’s really just a little bit of something for everyone,” said Opening Night Director Christina Foss.
About 60,000 people rang in 2011 at last year’s Opening Night.
The Opening Night Finale Ball is moved from its storage location on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, in Oklahoma City by crews from Allied Steel Construction Co., for its final preparations before it is moved into the downtown Oklahoma City. The ball will be lifted during the countdown to welcoming in the new year as the grand finale of Opening Night activities. The ball is decorated with 5,000 lights, a mirror ball, weighs 3000 pounds and is 10 feet tall. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Grand finale
The recent reopening of the renovated Myriad Botanical Gardens, coupled with ongoing downtown construction, prompted organizers to move this year’s finale from its traditional spot in Kerr Park to the new Myriad Gardens Grand Lawn.
“It’s just going to be beautiful for the fireworks and with the sightlines, and it’s a really good spot to gather thousands and thousands of people,” Foss said. “We’re very excited to have it there.”
At 11 p.m. Saturday, Smilin’ Vic and the Soul Monkeys will bring their high-energy fusion of rhythm, blues and soul to the finale stage. The year-end countdown will begin in earnest at 11:30 p.m. with a sound and light show involving police cars, fire trucks and a helicopter. To heighten the experience, lights will go out across downtown, including those in the Myriad Gardens, buildings and parking garages.
As the final seconds of 2011 tick down, the 10-foot mirrored and light-festooned ball will be lifted at least 15 stories above the crowd — while the ball drops in New York’s Times Square, the Opening Night ball rises to start the New Year on a literal high point — and colorful fireworks will burst in the air at the stroke of midnight.
The special exhibition "Chihuly: Northwest," opening New Year's Eve at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, recreates the Northwest Room at The Boathouse, which is Chihuly's studio in Seattle. On view through April 8, the exhibit features selections from famed glass artist Dale Chihuly's large collection of Pendleton trade blankets, along with American Indian-inspired glass pieces.
Artistic venue
“We did add a new venue — the Oklahoma City Museum of Art — this year, which will be fun,” Foss said. “I think that it’s going to be a very popular venue.”
Saturday night marks the museum’s first time to join in the Opening Night festivities, and it should be a bustling place.
The museum is marking the close of the special exhibits “Faded Elegance: Photographs of Havana by Michael Eastman” and “Poodles & Pastries (and Other Important Matters): New Paintings by Franco Mondini-Ruiz,” along with the grand reopening of its vast collection of Dale Chihuly glass art.
In conjunction with “Illuminations: Rediscovering the Art of Dale Chihuly,” a new temporary exhibit titled “Chihuly: Northwest,” which recreates the Northwest Room at Chihuly’s famed Seattle studio The Boathouse, also will open Saturday at the museum.
Museum members will preview “Illuminations” from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, and the redesigned Chihuly exhibit will open to the public from 8 to 11 p.m. Admission will be free to those with Opening Night wristbands.
Plus, jazz bands Bruce Benson & Studio B and Maurice Johnson will play in the museum’s lobby, while OKC Improv will bring live comedy to its theater.
“It’s an opening, last call and members’ preview all in one for the museum,” said Leslie Spears, the museum’s communications manager. “Bruce Benson and Maurice Johnson are seen often performing on our roof terrace in the summer months. Additionally, this is the first time OKC Improv has performed in our theater. We look forward to the fun.”
GOING ON
Opening Night 2012
When: 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday.
Where: Eight venues downtown.
Admission: Wristbands are $10 the day of the event. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Wristbands are available at 7-Eleven stores, metro-area Homeland stores, MidFirst Bank locations, Science Museum Oklahoma or at the event.
Information: 270-4848 or www.artscouncilokc.com.
See the Opening Night 2012 schedule after the break.
Oklahoma venues ringing in 2012 with a variety of New Year’s Eve events
Eli Young Band
If you’re looking for something to do tonight for New Year’s Eve, you have a wide variety of entertainment options here in Oklahoma. Here are a few; find more at www.wimgo.com:
EVENTS
Opening Night 2012, 7 p.m., eight venues across downtown Oklahoma City, www.artscouncilokc.com.
Downtown in December, various times and locales in downtown Oklahoma City, including OK Cityscape, Chesapeake Snow Tubing at RedHawks Field and Devon Ice Rink, www.downtownindecember.com.
CONCERTS
New Year’s Freakout with The Flaming Lips and The Plastic Ono Band, 8 p.m., Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center, 425 E California, www.ticketstorm.com. Tonight’s show is sold out, but tickets are still available for Sunday’s New Year’s Day show. NOTE: The after-party has been moved to the OKC Farmers Market, 311 S Klein; for more information, click here.
New Year’s Eve Party: Jason Boland and The Stragglers and Turnpike Troubadours, 8 p.m., Tumbleweed Dance Hall and Concert Arena, 5212 Lakeview Drive. www.calffry.com. (Stillwater)
Gregg Allman and Buddy Guy, 8 p.m., First Council Casino, 12875 N U.S. 77, (580) 448-3015. (Newkirk)
Maroon 5, 9 p.m., WinStar World Casino & Hotel, Exit 1, Interstate 35, www.winstarworldcasino.com. (Thackerville). Sold out.
Eli Young Band, 9 p.m., Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main, www.cainsballroom.com. (Tulsa)
Randy Rogers Band and Brison Bursey, 8 p.m., Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan, 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
New Year’s Eve Party with The Temptations, 8 p.m., Choctaw Casino, 4418 U.S. 69/75, (800) 788-2464. (Durant)
Clay Walker, 8 p.m., Choctaw Casino, U.S. 271, (580) 326-8397. (Grant)
New Year’s Eve Party with JB And The Moonshine Band, 9 p.m., Arbuckle Ballroom, 12201 State Highway 7 W, (580) 369-3870. (Davis)
Pretty Black Chains and Student Film, 9 p.m., VZD’s, 4200 N Western. 524-4203 or www.vzds.com.
Pidgin Band and the Flatland Travelers, 9 p.m., Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Co. in 50 Penn Place, 1900 Northwest Expressway. 840-1911 or www.belleislerestaurant.com.
My So Called Band’s A Very ‘90s New Year’s Eve,” 9:30 p.m., Blue Note Lounge, 2408 N Robinson Ave. 600-1166 or www.thebluenotelounge.com.
THEATER
“A Christmas Carol,” 2 and 8 p.m., Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16, 524-9310.
SPORTS
OKC Thunder vs. the Phoenix Suns, 7 p.m., Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W Reno, www.chesapeakearena.com.
OKC Barons vs. the San Antonio Rampage, 7 p.m., Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, www.coxconventioncenter.com.
-BAM
What to in Oklahoma on Dec. 31, 2011: Celebrate the New Year with Randy Rogers Band at the Wormy Dog
Randy Rogers Band
Today’s featured event:
Ring in 2012 in Texas country-style when the Randy Rogers Band and Brison Bursey play the Wormy Dog New Year’s Eve Bash tonight at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
For more New Year’s Eve events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Video: VH1 Divas Wanda Jackson, Sharon Jones and Florence Welch pay tribute to Amy Winehouse
Looking back at 2011, one of the most tragic and sadly unsurprising deaths of the year almost past has to be Amy Winehouse’s passing July 23 of alcohol poisoning.
Amy Winehouse (AP file)
Oklahoma’s own Queen of Rockabilly Wanda Jackson, soul/funk band Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and English singer-songwriter Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine paid tribute to the late, great British neo-soul chanteuse earlier this month during “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul.” (To see more of the concert special, click here.)
Other notable 2011 deaths in the music world: rapper Heavy D, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons, Songwriters Hall of Famer Jerry Leiber and country music greats Charlie Louvin and Ferlin Husky.
-BAM
13 Days of Oklahoma Music: David Cook greets “This Loud Morning”
We’re in the final days of 2011, and that means I’m winding down my “13 Days of Oklahoma Music,” a video series looking back at musical milestones reached by recording artists with state ties in the year almost past.
“American Idol” Season 7 winner David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, released his second post-”Idol” album, “This Loud Morning,” in June on 19 Recordings/RCA Records. He returned to Tulsa when he brought his tour in support of the new record to Cain’s Ballroom in October.
“This Loud Morning” marked Cook’s first new album since November 2008, when he released his self-titled major-label debut six months after winning on “Idol.” “David Cook” went platinum.
Executive produced by Matt Serletic (Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty, Collective Soul), “This Loud Morning” features tracks written and co-written by Cook along with many acclaimed songwriters including, Tulsa native Ryan Tedder, David Hodges, Johnny Rzeznik, Kevin Griffin and Marti Frederiksen.
Earlier this month, Cook talked about his second album, touring and his onstage persona in an interview with ABC’s “What’s the Buzz”:
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Best Bets for Dec. 30, 2011-Jan. 1, 2012: New Year’s Eve shows galore and the Wormy Dog’s Hangover Ball
Stoney LaRue
Here is a list of just a few of the New Year’s Eve and Day festivities happening in Oklahoma City this weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com:
1. Hear Cody Canada, Randy Rogers, Stoney LaRue, Jason Boland, Wade Bowen and many more at the annual Hangover Ball at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan. Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
2. Ring in 2012 with local music from the Pretty Black Chains and Student Film at at 9 p.m. Saturday at VZD’s 4200 N Western. Information: 524-4203 or www.vzds.com.
3. Celebrate the final night of 2011 with the funky sounds of Pidgin Band and the Flatland Travelers at 9 p.m. Saturday at Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Co. in 50 Penn Place, 1900 Northwest Expressway. Information: 840-1911 or www.belleislerestaurant.com.
4. Party like its 1999 all over again when the Norman-based ‘90s tribute group My So Called Band plays “A Very ‘90s New Year’s Eve” at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Note Lounge, 2408 N Robinson Ave. Information: 600-1166 or www.thebluenotelounge.com.
-BAM
