Yeah, I'm Still Around
Some weeks I feel inspired to crank out three or four posts a day. And other weeks I’m just trying to figure out what it all means. This is one of those “what does it all mean” weeks.
The folks at Devon made a presentation on the planned addition today to the Colcord Hotel. It’s pretty much what I expected: low key, functional, not a Disney Main Street approach to duplicating historic architecture.
Klay Kimker and Jon Pickard gave some hints at what’s to come with the courtyard for the Colcord. What I heard is pretty impressive – certainly it has potential to be the nicest hotel courtyard area in the city, if not the entire state.
Over at www.okctalk.com a couple of posters were so upset over last week’s news that Devon was cutting the floor count from 54 to 50. One even suggested the company should just move to Houston.
Seriously.
Bizarre, bizarre, bizarre.
I still don’t think anyone can grasp what this project and the spin-off TIF streetscape and park program will do to downtown. I’m not sure I have a good grasp either. It reminds me of the early days covering downtown, when I sat listening to plans for the Bricktown Canal. I was listening to all the right people, I was looking at the plans, but at the end of the day I didn’t truly grasp the magnitude of the project until it was virtually done.
I’m really hoping those of you truly interested in downtown took the time to read Doug Loudenback’s post on Core to Shore. It is truly a huge investment of time and effort, and does a good job reflecting all the different issues, opinions and ideas surrounding this somewhat controversial project.
I was visiting with Blake Wade tonight. The Untitled Art(space) Gallery on NE 3 really needs the community’s support right now. I’m going to try to book an OKC Central video there soon. It’s a great asset for downtown, unlike anything else in that it allows so much interactivity and has hosted so many great artists in residence. I’m wondering if the folks at Urban Neighbors might be able to bend their rules a bit on hosting requirements and find a way to bring their crowd to the gallery as a way to give it more publicity.
Come to think of it, I’m throwing this out as a challenge to Urban Neighbors. I’ve already written a column about the gallery, but there’s nothing stopping me from writing more about here on the blog.
That’s pretty much the end to my rambling. I’ll admit I’ve been a bit distracted at night these days – the gallys are in for the new Skirvin book I’ve written with Jack Money and it’s set to go to printers in about two to three weeks. It’s designed and published by the same great folks who helped us create “OKC Second Time Around” and it’s very similar in tone, look and feel to that first book.
W.B. Skirvin, in my humble opinion, may have been one of the most entertaining, womanizing, drinking oil wildcatting scoundrels and visionaries this city has ever seen.
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Comments
Urban Neighbors would love to have a social at Untitled. We’ve tried before, but schedules conflicted. Maybe we’ll be able to do something this winter.
RE: W.B. Skivin. I miss those colorful guys. They’re probably still out there today, hope so, but history will have to tell their tale.
Does anyone really know what is being proposed as part of the Devon TIF projects? I keep hearing vague ideas about “fixing” the gardens and “streetscapes,” but are there any true proposals yet? Remodeled Crystal Bridge? A few dozen extra fountains? Art? Statues? Something else?
One more interesting item to think about. Today the union at Mercury Marine voted down their contract in WI and it looks like Merc will move the manufacturing to Stillwater (they announced it will move by 2012). Also, the corp. headquarters there employs about 900 people. Hopefully our city leaders are on the phone today trying to get the corp. headquarters here in OKC, which would be perfect timing with Devon moving in 2012 too. They could fill up a lot of the space vacated by Devon downtown. Class A space opening just at the right time and Merc is already consolidating it operations in OK. Sounds like a great fit. Come on Mayor Cornett…get those phones ringing!
Steve, Sage and Untitled Art Gallery are hosting “Taste of Art” cooking classes in Sept. with Sage Executive Chef, Dave Fouts. Will update you with more information soon. We are hoping this will give more exposure to the gallery, the restaurant, and the Deep Deuce community.