I’m willing to wager these folks are more interested in Bricktown, Oklahoma City, and not Bricktown, New Jersey.
Temperatures in the low 90s, not much wind … yeah, it’s not a bad night to catch Cocktails on the Skyline of the rooftop of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The weekly gathering runs 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with music starting at 6:30 p.m. Galleries, meanwhile, stay open until 9 p.m.
Music this week is by Rexall Rangers. To sign up for Thursday roof terrace alerts, email Leslie Spears at lspears@okcmoa.com.
Urban Neighbors September Social at Gaijin Sushi
September 11, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
The U.N.’s September social event is at Gaijin Sushi. Free appetizers and a cash bar will be provided. Come out and meet your neighbors!
Rack Up Downtown! Grand Launch on September 10
Downtown OKC and Urban Neighbors invites you to the Rack Up Downtown! Grand Launch event on Wednesday, September 10 at 9:30 AM; NW corner of Mickey Mantle & Sheridan. Get complete information on this Urban Neighbors initiative.Â
Downtown Walkability and Bikeability
The Downtown Strategic Initiative (DSI) is a public process facilitated by the City of OKC Planning Department to prioritize the next steps for the continued revitalization of Downtown. Currently, the topic of “Movin’ Around” Downtown is being looked at.
What are your concerns about walking and cycling Downtown? What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? Please send your ideas and comments to mgibbs@urbanneighbors.org so that Urban Neighbors can effectively contribute to this process.
What to do down by the river?
The Chesapeake Boathouse offers a lot to downtowners. Learn to row, rent a kayak or a bike, take your group dragon boating, take a yoga/pilates class, or use the gym.
Other U.N. Websites
Facebook
MySpace Â
Take a class downtown!
The Downtown College Consortium, located in the downtown library, offers several interesting classes. Spanish, Ballroom Cancing, Tai Chi, and more! Check out what they have to offer.
Downtown’s Ward 6 Seat Open
With Ann Simank’s departure, Oklahoma City council seat 6 is open. Elections to fill the seat will be held November 4.
Upcoming Downtown Events
Through August 30, Romantic Materialism at Untitled Gallery
Wednesdays:Â Downtown Farmer’s Market
Thursdays:Â Noon Tunes and the Downtown Library
August 28Â 2008 Sundance Short Films, Oklahoma City Museum of Art
August 28-30Â Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park
September 1Â McNellie’s Pint NightÂ
September 2-6 Mama Mia! at the Civic Center
September 4, 6:00 PMÂ Stilettos Art Show, Gaijin Sushi @ Park and Harvey
September 5 United Way 2008 Campaign Kickoff Pancake BreakfastÂ
September 5 Josh Cruise Duo, Nonna’s Purple Bar
Complete list of downtown events
Urban Neighbors Hosts Its First National Night Out Event
The UN hosted Downtown police and fire officers at Gaijin Sushi on Tuesday evening, August 5. This was the 25th National Night Out which is a proven and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and community partnerships, and Urban Neighbors was proud to participate for the first time.
We greatly appreciate the work these dedicated public servants do to protect our Downtown community and we would like to thank Lt Kevin Barnes and Sgt Howell and Officer Garey of the new OCPD evening bike patrol plus all the Green Shift at Fire Station # 1 for attending, including Batalion Chief Cothran, Cpl Bruehl, Cpt Storx, Sgt Blankinship, Cpl Coon, Frec Reeves, Lt Stuart, Cpl Pyle, Cpl Wikersham, Sgt Stewart, Cpl Gilbert, FF Edgerton and Sgt Jackson. Thanks also to Cristian Clay of Gaijin Sushi for his kind hospitality and very generous donations of refreshments for the officers.
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Norick Downtown Library are teaming up to present Roman Art Family Day. Families can visit the Museum to view the exhibition and enjoy fun-filled activities for all ages, including hands-on art, face painting, a dress up area, mini-tours, and scavenger hunts in the galleries, door prizes, and free Little Caesars® Pizza from noon to 1:00 p.m. Then, beginning at 1:00 p.m., the Romans will invade the Downtown Library with more family fun! Both the Museum and Library will host a gladiator parade and Roman play, presented by are fabulous friends at the Oklahoma Children’s Theater, as well as puppet shows and storytelling.Event sponsors include the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library; Oklahoma Children’s Theatre; Little Caesars® Pizza/Magnum Foods, Inc.; Remington Park; and others. All activities at the Museum of Art are included in the price of Museum admission: $12 adults, $10 students/seniors, and free to members and children ages 5 and under. There is no charge to participate in activities at the Downtown Library.
October 3. This beer-tasting event features more than 70 import and domestic beers. Spend the evening sampling beverages from across the globe along with heavy hors d’oeuvres from area restaurants, including Adobe Grill, Old Germany Restaurant, Cafe Nova, McNellie’s Public House, the Museum Cafe and more. Enjoy tastings throughout the Museum’s main lobby and theater lobby, listen to the group Who’s Joe Fazzio?, and visit the special exhibition, 
The OSU-OKC Farmers’ Market continues to draw bigger crowds to downtown’s Couch Park, located between Broadway and Robert S. Kerr Avenue, adjacent to Kerr Park and just west of the Skirvin Hilton Hotel. The market is open every Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., through September 24. The downtown market is a partnership between OSU-OKC and Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc.
The OSU-OKC Farmers’ Market is a member of the Oklahoma Grown Farmers Market program, registered with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Every item sold at the market is grown or made in Oklahoma. Items available include produce, dairy, eggs, meats, nuts, baked items and processed foods - many of which are certified organic. 
In addition to a wide array of food items, the Market offers plant materials, fresh cut flowers, and a variety of handmade skin care and craft items. For more information, visit www.osuokc.edu/farmersmarket.
Visitors will also enjoy entertainment, as well as cooking demonstrations by some of Downtown’s most notable chefs including The Skirvin Hilton’s executive chef Andrew Black.
I guess it’s no big deal to share some shots I took last night during the debut party for Oklahoma Today’s all OKC issue at the new Iguana Mexican Grill at NW 9 and Broadway.Â
Have fun and spot the downtown players … my spottings included Greg Banta visiting with Mickey Clagg (now that’s a discussion I’d like to listen in on), Bert Belanger, who was accompanied by a Houston apartment developer (just visiting, I’m sure), Chris and Meg Salyer, who I’ll bet are simply bewildered by the idea that Steve Mason has taken properties on the verge of collapse and spent millions to bring them back to life (this inside joke is a test on how much you know about the history of Automobile Alley), architect Rand Elliott and his wife Jeanette (still waiting to see what Kerr Park will look like), MidTown’s Arturo Chavez (quit following me!), the usual gang from Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., Skirvin Hilton General Manager John Williams, that crazy river guy Pat Downes, and many more.
Final note: Ah… free food and drink. Sure fire way to get a reporter in the room. This issue of Oklahoma Today is really impressive - it’s a nice recap of what’s going on downtown and throughout the city.
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deadCENTER Film
Having end of summer blues? Celebrate with deadCENTER Film and XO LOUNGE. The first Wednesday of every month, independent filmmakers showcase their short films during shortsSUITES. The XO Lounge is located on the lower level of the Colcord Hotel; doors open at 8:00pm and films start at 8:15pm. Admission is FREE and you must be 21 to enter.  |
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Art Escape Getaway
For a limited time, The Colcord is offering the ART ESCAPE PACKAGE in celebration with Oklahoma City Museum of Art and the special collection of Roman Art from the Louvre.
Until October 12, the ART ESCAPE PACKAGE is available which includes a night’s stay in an Executive King room, tickets to the Museum, complimentary self-parking and 1:00pm late check-out. Upgraded room types available.
OKLAHOMA CITY is the last North American venue for this special exhibition. So, book your Roman-tic getaway or Rome downtown with the Colcord and OKC Museum of Art. Packages available ONLINE or by calling 405.601.4300. |
So if you read my column today, you now know that there likely are some growing pains ahead for downtown, especially in regards to parking.
The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority will likely be pocketing some money from selling garages to Devon and SandRidge. So, if it were to build a new garage or add parking, where should that take place?
Ideas that have been floated around:
- Add on to the east City Center garage
- Tear down Century Center Plaza and replace it with a bigger garage
- Tear down the middle tower of First National Center (the ugly one) and replace it with a high rise garage.
Any other ideas?
OK, coffee talk time. The best posts involve you, the readers. You’ve traveled the world, or at the very least, you think you have because you’ve spent too much time either on the Internet or watching the Travel Channel.
So, what would you do to liven up the Myriad Gardens without diminishing the gardens?
I’ve long dreamed of creating a miniature version of NYC’s Bryant Park, truly a magical place that brings the community together. Below are some photos of Bryant Park - I challenge you to not just add your comments, but also email me at slackmeyer@oklahoman.com with any photos or images that might help illustrate your ideas.
Sure, we have fountains downtown. But not like this one.
Yes, we definitely need a Merry-Go-Round.
Why in the world are there no cafes or restaurants around to take in the view of the Myriad Gardens?
Several of you have asked to see all of the images provided by Devon Energy for the new tower. So here you go. Above, the entire block is shown with One North Hudson to the left and the Colcord Hotel to the right.
A park will front Sheridan Avenue in front the tower’s “podium.”
Water pools will surround the property, with a grand public lobby and rotunda atrium looking out on the park.
The rotunda will light up at night, providing passersby a dramatic view of life inside Devon Energy’s new world headquarters.
Another look at the rotunda entrance.
Looking up at the rotunda, where people will be able to walk along bridges on the upper floors.
More models of the new Devon Energy tower and headquarters.
Schematic and floor plan for new Devon headquarters.
Several of you have asked to see all of the images provided by Devon Energy for the new tower. So here you go:
