Top Oklahoma City Experiences*
- Watch a movie at the Winchester Theater
- Fly over downtown in a helicopter
- Meet Clara Luper
- Attend a birthday party at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour at Crossroads Mall
- Draw with crayons on the table cloth at Garfields
- Eat at an authentic Vietnamese restaurant with full hogs hanging from hooks in the kitchen
- Shop at Super Cao
- Witness heartbreaking bravery in response to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building
- Cried during my first visit at the Oklahoma City National Memorial
- Attend the model train show
- Dance around the salad bar at Molly Murphy’s to my favorite song, “Car Wash”
- Ride the monorail at the State Fair
- Ride the Space Needle at the State Fair
- Attend a show at the Oklahoma Opry
- Meet Wayne Coyne
- Meet Edward L. Gaylord, enjoy his incredible dry wit
- Get yelled and cursed at by Jim Brewer
- Share a laugh with Jim Brewer
- See a skyscraper get built
- Ride the rollercoaster, crash bumper cars at Frontier City
- Ride the rollercoaster, crash bumper cars at Springlake Amusement Park
- Meet Robert Henry
- Attend a service at a black Baptist church
- Calf fries at Cattleman’s Steakhouse
- Enjoy an evening in the Paseo
- Enjoy an evening in the Plaza District
- Hear Richard Hogue talk about the importance of tithing and his affinity for $1,200 Italian suits
- Be amazed at the excess of an oil boom out of control
- Be dismayed by the devastation of a crippling oil bust
- Listen to stories by Mary Jo Nelson
- Square dance like a happy dork
- Hang out with much cooler people
- Breakfast at Nic’s, lunch at Nic’s, no heart attack afterwards
- Enjoy a burger made by Big Ed himself, no heart attack afterwards
- Hang out with fellow dorks
- Go down the rocket slide at Stars and Stripes Park
- Reminisce about the rocket slide, now removed at Stars and Stripes Park, as sons enjoy the newer playground
- Stay up at night listening to “Boogie” Michaels on KOFM, hope not to get caught by parents
- Watch Greg Burns at work in his art studio
- Listen to Danny Kaye on WKY with parents
- Ride go-carts at Hook’n’Slice
- Meet Pody Poe
- Enjoy real homemade Jewish chicken noodle soup with Mark Schwartz
- Ride a motorcycle through Oklahoma City
- Watch Greg Burns at work in his art studio
- Prime rib and Caesar salad at Junior’s
- Experience Eric Cartmanesque glee visiting Casa Bonita
- Watch son learning to salsa dance at arts festival
- Watch a performance of the Oklahoma City Ballet
- Enjoy a performance of the Philharmonic
- Meet John Johansen, architect of Stage Center, wonder if he’s a genius or just crazy
- Meet John Johansen, architect of Stage Center, wonder why he never bothered to get community buy in for his design
- See the Biltmore Hotel blown up
- See the Skirvin Hotel restored
- Write a book, get it published
- Write a second book, get it published
- Write a third book, get it published
- Get offers to write four more books
- Get a column in the newspaper
- Win wonderful readers to interact with everyday
* This list is a work in progress ……
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Comments
Very interesting list. I too have done all but 2 or 3 of those itmes you listed. Thanks for the reminiscing.
Steve, are you trying to make me home sick? J/K All jokes aside, it is easy to connect with many of your experiences.
So many wonderful things remembered and to think of what memories the future holds …. one just has to be awe.
Great list Steve, brought back lots of the same memories for me. Bittersweet that many of those items can no longer be experienced. Businesses are long gone, buildings demolished. Sometimes with something taking it’s place but many times nothing. Sometimes things get restored and brought back to life (Skirvin). Sometimes buildings are repurosed. And sometimes bigger better things come as a result of the loss and new experiences/memories can be made.
I would add the original Casa Bonita (39th & Portland), was there for 25 years (1968 – 1993). Ate there often and have a table flag from the closing weekend. Was able to get some decor items at the auction after they closed and even a tile topped table after the location became a series of oriental places. Sadly the building sits vacant.