Bored? No Excuses With this List
OK folks, you can’t say it’s going to be a boring week ahead downtown. Here’s the latest from Downtown Oklahoma City Inc.:
The Downtown Dash is right around the corner
The Downtown Dash is just over a week away, folks! Sign up online today at DowntownOKC.com because the 1,000 runners to register will receive a special Dri-Fit version of the race shirt.
Participants will also be automatically entered to win a 1-year membership to the Park Harvey Athletic Club and a bicycle from Schlegel.
Not a runner? No problem! Join us at 6 p.m. the night of the race to enjoy a free and informative health expo with inflatable toys, kid activities, a live DJ and more.
Also, we’re looking for organizations to participate in the health expo and volunteers to help with the event. Booth space is free and volunteering is fun so call us at 405.235.3500 to find out how you can get involved.
Pro-Am Classic provides full day of racing, family activities
DNA Racing is pleased to announce the inaugural Oklahoma City Pro-Am Classic criterium presented by SandRidge Energy. The annual cycling event and festival in Oklahoma City will take place on Saturday, June 2.
The OKC Pro-Am Classic will feature a full day of racing, a children’s ride, and a host of other activities for the whole family. Created to showcase the growing developments in OKC, particularly the Automobile Alley district, the event seeks to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among children and adults, and make a positive contribution to the community through cycling.
The OKC Pro-Am Classic is a Category A race with a payout of more than $20,000.00. Expected to attract some of the finest elite cyclists in the nation, the event will provide the spectator with a first class cycling experience.
More information is available at okcpac.com.
Red Earth Festival scheduled June 8-10
When the 26th Annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival opens at the Cox Convention Center Friday June 8, more than 1,200 American Indian artists and dancers from throughout North America will gather to celebrate the richness and diversity of their heritage with the world. For three exciting days, Oklahoma City will be at the center of Native American art and culture in America as more than 30,000 people gather to celebrate.
At Red Earth, guests can sample the work of some of the nation’s most celebrated artists, with opportunities to purchase contemporary and traditional examples of beadwork, basketry, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, paintings, graphics and cultural attire during the juried art show and market. The dance competition at Red Earth is one of the rare occasions when dancers from America’s Northern and Southern tribes can be seen together in one venue.
Red Earth dancers represent the elite of Native American dance, some of the most gifted and accomplished in the world. The masters, each in their own distinctive tribal dress, exhibit their originality and skills in one of the most prestigious of all native dance competitions.
A grand parade, unlike any other parade in the world, opens the Red Earth Festival on Friday morning. The streets of downtown Oklahoma City will vibrate in Native American tribal spirit as representatives of more than 100 tribes, in full tribal regalia, make the Red Earth Parade one of America’s most unique.
The Red Earth Art Market opens Friday, June 8 at 11 a.m. and the first Grand Entry of dance competitors begins at noon inside the Cox Convention Center Arena. Grand Entries are scheduled at noon and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at noon on Sunday.
Tickets can be purchased at online at ticketmaster.com. Active U.S. Military and U.S. Military veterans receive an admission discount with a valid Military I.D. For additional information contact Red Earth, Inc at 405.427.5228 or visit redearth.org.
Thunder up!
Our hometown ballers swept the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round of playoffs and are 3-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of Western Conference playoffs. Don’t jinx our good luck by not properly Thundering up. Check out the best places to get your OKC Thunder gear at OKGazette.com.
Don’t miss the Thunder take on the Spurs, here’s the schedule for the next round:
Sunday, May 27 @ San Antonio Spurs, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 29 @ San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 31 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 2 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 4 @ San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. (TBD)
Wednesday, June 6 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. (TBD)
Friday, June 8 @ San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. (TBD)
Support your OKC RedHawks
Baseball season is underway OKC’s newly-named Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Here are the RedHawks’ upcoming games:
Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship
May 25-27 @ Albuquerque Isotopes
May 28 @ Albuquerque Isotopes
May 29-June 1 vs. Nashville Sounds
June 2-5 vs. Iowa Cubs
June 7-10 vs. New Orleans Zephyrs
Purchase your tickets online at MILB.com.
Barons fans, mark your calendars!
Go see your OKC Barons take on the Toronto Marlies!
May 28 at 7 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center
May 30 at 7 p.m. at the Cox Convention Cener
Don’t miss out on great playoff hockey. Call 232.GOAL or visit ticketmaster.com to get your tickets today.
OKCNM news in about a minute
Memorial Minute is a digital newsletter that provides you with more in-depth coverage of exhibits, events, programs and people who shape the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
We hope you enjoy the digital format and explore the links that accompany each article. View the Memorial Minute archives online archives or subscribe online.
Women’s College World Series coming to OKC
The 2012 Women’s College World Series begins May 31 and will continue through June 6 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
All-session and single-session tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at TicketingCentral.com or by phone at 866.208.0048 (toll-free). For more information, visit NCAA.com.
Major league motor sports returns to OKC
The Little Caesars–Ozarka Oklahoma City Nationals presented by NewsChannel 4 is the largest motor sport event in Oklahoma.
Produced by Oklahoma City Events & Entertainment (OKCEE), the race is registered and sanctioned by the Southern Drag Boat Association (SDBA). The Oklahoma City Nationals will be one of the largest single drag boat races in the nation. The projected number of teams and spectators make this event a marquee event for all motor sports fans, especially the drag boat racing fan. For more info, visit DragBoatcentral.com.
Meanwhile, My Friend Chef Andrew Black Has Kept Busy….
A Change Would Do You Good
It’s all good. And it could be very good.
A Hint of Monday Night?
This video was shot on May 16 – five days before Monday night’s post-game shootings. The footage shows a crowd that was, (AMENDED: by some definitions), out of control. Let the discussion begin.
Growklahoma
Thoughts about Better Block
Let’s start with what strikes me the most: as a member of Generation X, I readily admit I sometimes engage in mocking the Millennials. But Better Block OKC is, very much, the coming out party of Oklahoma City’s next wave. And if this is a hint of what they’re capable of, this Generation Xer is quite happy to welcome them to the ongoing effort of remaking our community.
Better Block is an exmaple of what’s possible. People want community, they crave community, and if the framework is established, the people will come. The cost to pull this off was actually quite minimal. The sweat equity invested by our city’s 20-somethings was priceless. Generation X at this age dreamed of this sort revolution. We watched movies like “Singles” and visited Austin and complained, “why not here?” I’ve seen my generation (and younger Baby Boomers as well) try to tackle the issue of making Oklahoma CIty a more exciting place to live, work and play. But for the most part, it involved BIG PICTURE, MAPS style efforts. Today’s 20-somethings recognized the need for a block by block battle – and the war is now commenced.
Better Block – Before and After
NW 7 and Hudson - Before Better Block OKC
Jackie Wilson Said …
What It’s All About
More on Stage Center
Today I had an update on the effort to turn Stage Center into a children’s museum. I figure this expanded questions and answer bit with Tracey Zeeck, co-organizer of Children’s Museum of Oklahoma might be of interest:
Q: What is the latest development on efforts to place a first right of refusal deposit with the OKC Community Foundation?
A: Unfortunately we were not able to agree on terms.
Q: Why couldn’t you work within their timeline and requirements?
A: OCCF had generously offered us First Right of Refusal for $25,000, which would essentially give Children’s Museum of OKC FRR for 5.5 months. While we were pleased that they saw enough value in our effort to offer this, their timeline simply didn’t match ours. As anyone could guess, a fundraising effort of this magnitude (est. $30,000,000 to fully complete the project, and open the museum to visitors) requires a much greater time commitment than just a few months. That said, we did counter with an offer to pay their $25,000 fee if it meant that we could extend the FRR to one calendar year. They declined.
The one-year effort still puts fundraising in a relatively aggressive time frame, but we feel like it’s reasonable, given the current interest in the project. We believe that a year would give us time to do foundational work to ensure success, such as running a feasibility study, creating a targeted strategic fundraising plan, getting materials prepared and a committee trained for fundraising effort, getting meetings set with potential funding partners before their budgets are finalized for 2013, and then going out and gathering those financial pledges so that we can get to work building the Children’s Museum of OKC!
Q: Does this mean your effort is doomed?
A: Absolutely not. In fact, it means the opposite is true. Instead of sitting and waiting, we can now forge ahead with our current fundraising efforts on our own terms
Q: How is fund raising going?
A: With such a limited time (remember we just kicked off the project the first week of February for an RFP that was due Feb 29th!) we developed our entire scope with a “dream funder” in mind. We envisioned a potential superhero who exemplifies the independent spirit of The New OKC. Someone willing to work toward the universal good that we’re trying to accomplish through this project. Opening the doors to every child, from every walk of life. And we built the project with that fictional character in mind. Then we identified who that superhero actually might be. And while I obviously can’t name names, I can tell you this: To date we’ve presented to this like-minded organization for the naming rights and are now on phase two of a grand proposal, at their direction, incorporating their next-level suggestions. Honestly, whether they end up partnering with us or not, this idea shaped our efforts, and that alone was a gift, for it resulted in our creating an extremely inclusive project based on the goodness of our then-fictional hero.
Q: What is the extent of public support for your campaign?
A: Let’s first put it into perspective: With no budget whatsoever, most everyone in OKC knows about our project, although it didn’t even exist until February of this year. That’s fast. As a PR person, I’ve never seen anything so naturally explosive as the love for this project. People stop me in the grocery or at the park to ask if I am ‘the children’s museum lady” and give me their phone number or email address so they can help when the time comes. Of course, it still feels as if some don’t believe we can do it. Which doesn’t surprise us, nor does it inhibit our efforts in the least. Oklahoma City is a place where a single person can make a difference. Imagine then what 1000 people can do.
Q: How much of an organization have you built in trying to save Stage Center, turn it into a children’s museum?
A: We have incorporated (Children’s Museum of Oklahoma City, Inc.) and we’re working on getting our 501(c)(3)status, which, as you may know, can be a relatively lengthy process. Fortunately we have the help of attorneys, civic and government leaders, business people, museum experts, child advocates, community folks, and even some family foundations making up our interim board of directors, and they’re willing to put their hearts and dollars and sweat into this as well. And then there are the fans. OKC enthusiasts who want nothing more than to have a safe engaging place for their families to play and grow together, downtown, in our generation’s most iconic building.
Q: What’s next?
A: We continue to move forward, of course. As parents, we teach our children to share, to take turns, to be honest, and to stand up for what’s right. We quote The Lorax, that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” Now we’re in a position to behave the way we ask our kids to behave. We’re committed to seeing this through, and seeing it through correctly. We’ll continue to partner with other cultural organizations and child advocacy groups too, for we believe that a high tide raises all ships. The more we do for families and culture and preservation in Oklahoma City, the richer all of our lives here will be.
