Thanks to David Holt, the mayor’s aide, for grabbing this video and emailing it. Everybody, be sure to have a great July 4th weekend. And if you want to start up a great new tradition of having a free outdoor downtown symphony performance every July 4th weekend, you’ve got to start it. The Red White and Boom performance starts at 8:45 p.m. in the parking lot east of the ballpark and will be followed by fireworks. Also be sure to fill the seats Friday night (Saturday there will be no performance) for the Shakespeare in the Park performance at the Myriad Gardens.

Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer recently visited and reported back to his readers that maybe, just maybe, we’re not all that bad:

Easiest assignment ever: Go to the town that abducted the Sonics and write some impressions.

Or, in other words, sip some Hater-ade and let ‘er rip.

But a crazy thing happened on this disdainful mission. I learned to tolerate Oklahoma City. Then I learned to kinda, sorta like the place. And then, shocker of all shockers, I learned to accept it as an NBA city and stop connecting the Thunder with the Sonics.

(Comment: now, if Jerry had met Mayor Mick, I could see Jerry actually being talked into making Oklahoma City his new home).Thanks to Paige Gregory for bringing this column to my attention!

Oh really? What the KWTV report doesn’t mention, nor does the mayor, is who this famous “we” is. And there’s a reason for this - this we does not include a unanimous city council. It doesn’t include a unanimous civic and business leadership. And it certainly doesn’t involve any vote by any group or body.

To be honest, my numerous, numerous sources indicate that when it comes to what will be on a MAPS 3 ballot, the only concensus involves Mick Cornett and his assistant David Holt, who is dividing his time between city affairs and running for state senate.

A lof of downtown dreams, plans and ideas are in the balance here. And while Mayor Mick Cornett is a likable guy, someone who most agree has done a great job as a spokesman for the city, his vote at City Hall is one of nine. That’s it.

Get ready for some big discussions ahead. We’ve seen to date big pitches by advocates for a State Fair exhibition hall, a transit system, a convention center and tomorrow Bricktown begins to make its case for a canal extension. Still ahead - the river and the mayor’s own pitch for a central park and Core to Shore, a project that has plenty of people questioning whether it could do more harm than good to downtown.

In the old days these decisions were made behind closed doors and voters were simply told vote yes or else. Starting in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a different process emerged that involved concensus building and public discussions on how best to advance this city’s development. This process was credited for what we’ve seen to date - successful citywide bond issues upgrading infrastructure, parks and public safety; and the MAPS, Fix MAPS Right and MAPS for Kids ballots.

What process will see emerge with a MAPS 3? I’ll be asking tomorrow who this “we” is that has already decided on the basic MAPS 3 ballot and I’ll be interested in hearing from you, the readers, whether we’re following the pre-MAPS way of getting things done.

UPDATE: Mayor says the MAPS 3 ballot is not a done deal.

But with all these game changers up in the air, it’s more important than ever to really discuss the various issues and opportunities that await us.

So, we’re talking about a potential MAPS 3 ballot - one that could easily top $500 million. But before we do, I’ve been asking, what can we accomplish with $5 million?

Let’s start with my realization from my recent stint in Bricktown and Fort Worth/Dallas as a “tourist.” It was during the Bricktown part of my vacation that I met four women, all from Texas, who had chosen to spend their five-day vacation staying at the Hampton Inn in Bricktown. They ate at Toby Keith’s. They visited the art museum. They went to the memorial. They rode the canal boats. They were spending money as tourists. They have no family in Oklahoma City. They have no friends. They simply came up because they thought Oklahoma City was a fun place to visit. Oh, and one more thing - they wanted to ride the Amtrak Heartland Flyer.

Now, there are those who will quickly point out that the Flyer isn’t without some drawbacks (I know of one reader who had a dreadful experience this last week). But I too rode the train last week with my son and had a blast. Maybe we were lucky.

What strikes me most is how badly OKC does at presenting itself as a tourist destination. That’s no slight at CVB. Under the leadership of Michael Carrier, they are rocking and rolling and doing wonders for our economy. But their visitor center is not well located, and I’ve got to wonder if they’re planned future location - at the new Greater OKC Chamber building to be built at NW 4 and Broadway - won’t be even more inconvenient for visitors.

The Santa Fe depot, meanwhile, surely can be used for more than it is currently. The depot is at the crossroads of where people staying at all of downtown’s hotels (except those in Bricktown) walk into Bricktown. Under the ownership of the Brewer family, it is currently being used sporadically for special events. Is this the highest and best use? What would it take for the city or the CVB to buy or lease this building and make it a visitor and tourist center? Can one think of a more visible and accessible location for a visitor and tourist  center?

Would a few million give the city a shot at making this a reality?

More ideas… a merry-go-round, Ferris Wheel and small pocket park? A permanent outdoor skating rink? How would such additions transform this city’s image and also get back to the basics - the quality of life issue emphasized by MAPS and MAPS for Kids?

Or here’s one more possibility… Mayor Mick Cornett talks a lot about the need for free parking in Bricktown as a way to force the development of surface  parking lots that line the canal and sit at key intersections like Mickey Mantle Drive and Sheridan. Well, what would it take to make this happen?

Assuming Mayor Cornett is wanting $30 million or more for a Central Park in an area that has no businesses, has no residents and has life, I wonder what the same money could accomplish in a downtown that consultant Jeff Speck notes isn’t done cooking yet.

This journey will continue….

I see this sort of parking arrangement anytime there is a big event downtown. My question is, are the Brewer family’s parking operations going to be a problem if you need to respond to a fire at the Santa Fe depot? And to everybody, is this an appropriate way to treat a historic property?

UPDATE: OK, I didn’t mean to get everyone down on this event. I’m sure it will be great. But don’t be thinking you can leave at your normal time for work, go through your normal routine and everything will be fine. Don’t be thinking you can leave the house at 7:30 a.m. and get the Cox Center, walk in and everything will be fine.

It’s not going to work that way. This will be like having a Thunder game in the middle of the work day.

But there are ways, if you prepare, to enjoy Tuesday and get through just fine.

- Leave home early. I can’t say that enough. If you’re going to the “Get Motivated” seminar, use the Fair Park park-and-ride. I’ve been a fan of such operations ever since I used one in Dallas when I saw Genesis perform at Cowboys Stadium in the early 1990s.

- Get to the park-and-ride between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. (the earlier the better) and you’ll not only get to the Cox Center on time, you’ll also likely have time to grab a coffee and a quick bite to eat at Sonic, McDonalds or Starbucks in Bricktown. Take a shuttle at 6 a.m. and you’ll have time for a nice sit-down breakfast at Ihop in Bricktown, or at the Skirvin, Renassaince Hotel or Sheraton, or at The Buzz at First National (all of these places are within walking distance of the Cox Center, with The Buzz, McDonalds and Ihop being the longest distance).

- Don’t be surprised if you see lines at the restaurants closest to the Cox Center. Walk a bit further to catch lunch in Lower Bricktown at Earl’s, Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar and Grill, Nonna’s, Coach’s, Crabtown, The Mantle, and Falcones. If you’ve got a big group, you can probably get a bunch of tables together at Red Pin Bowling Alley (I’m betting they’ll be the place that will be overlooked by this crowd and they’ve got good food).

- For the downtown crowd: I repeat, this is the time to hit those “secret” stops we only know about. They’re in The Underground, they’re scattered across the central business district, MidTown and the Arts District. Specific recommendations: Trattoria il Centro, the Peacock Restaurant, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Cafe, Beatnix, Java Daves, The Iguana Grill ….

- If you’re attending the seminar and insist on parking downtown, the best secret parking can be found in the North Bricktown Parking lots along Main Street. The entrance is immediately east of the Railway Viaduct with the Centennial Mural all over it. Take E.K. Gaylord to Main Street, go under the bridge and you’ll see the entrance by the buffalo sculptures.

Good luck everybody.

I am freaking exhausted~!!! The opening week of Oklahoma City was fantastic. The bar did freaking phenomenal!! I am bringing in a few veterans in next week and the week after that as well to ensure success for these girls.
Today I am going home and people keep saying ” You don’t like our city Oklahoma?” It’s not that I don’t like Oklahoma but I have been away from home for two weeks. My clothes are so dirty that I swear my jeans can stand up on their own. Also, It truly has been the kind of hot that erodes your insides. I need to take a shower in my own home, sleep in my own bed, and eat something that is not friend or BBQ’d.
Tomorrow night Jackson gets home from sleep away camp! I can’t wait to see him.
Go Oklahoma!!!

Bob and Norm ... under water.

I’m pretty certain Bob Bekoff (the guy on the sidewalk above) enjoyed yesterday’s coverage of the upcoming 10th anniversary for the Bricktown Canal. So here’s a snapshot that is blatantly aimed at reminding him of a somewhat embarassing moment from those early giddy days (that’s his son Norm in the boat). To be fair, these guys pulled off  a miracle getting such a big operation launched within just a few weeks when the canal opened July 2, 1999. To read more about their adventure, pick up tomorrow’s Oklahoman.