Downtown OKC

OKLAHOMA RISING

2006-10-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

Finally, a thread at OKCTalk that left me inspired, a bit teary eyed and boasting a heart filled with civic pride.

We're Oklahoma rising,
Brighter than the sun
Stand up and sing about her,
Let the world know who we are
* * *
I'm an Okie and I'm proud
When you call me an Okie
Man, you better say it loud

Doug is right. Great lyrics by hometown boys Vince Gill and Jimmy Webb.

OKC is leaving an indelible mark on those who have passed through our town, only to leave for other destinations.

First, this from OKC Pulse:
I've been living in Texas for over ten months now. And I've learned a lot, as well as realized a few facts of life. But I'll discuss that later.

My wife and I just returned from a trip last weekend (Oct. 13-15) to Oklahoma to visit an ailing relative. I have already been to Oklahoma City once this year over summer (got to see Patrick, Keith and Todd), but even though this return visit was swift, exhausting and under not-so-good circumstances, it was a wonderful weekend. You'll never realize what was a part of you for so long until you feel its absence... in another state.

It's good to see people here on OKCTalk debate, critique and hold high standards for what we want to see happen in OKC. Keep that up, because it's very valuable for Oklahoma. But I also see people here getting frustrated and giving up hope when things go slow or proposals disappear in the wind. When that happens, I go back to what makes OKC mean so much to me to begin with... and why I still proudly proclaim myself to be from Oklahoma City.

To me, it's the magic that Oklahoma City holds... the feeling of home. I found myself doing the things I enjoyed so before I moved. Like going to 7-Eleven on Saturday mornings to grab a paper. Going to Stevie's Bargain Liquor, saying hello to Stevie and grabbing an Oklahoma Gazette along with my case of Molson Ice. I drove by Lake Hefner, remembering the countless warm spring days and summer mornings jogging for four miles while watching the sailboats and bikers drift by. I passed the Ford Center, reminiscing the days of Blazers games, screaming at the top of my lungs watching our team beat the crap out of teams that didn't stand a chance against us.

Then there were those days of hitting Bricktown for Independence Days. I know Bricktown has taken some wrong turns for our standards, but there are things about Bricktown that still make the place fun. I coasted along Lake Hefner, remembering those Saturday afternoon drives my wife and I would take.

In the middle of all the memories, I noticed a change in Oklahoma. People weren't bad-mouthing the state the way I remember. There seemed to be a new pride in our state. This may not be a big deal, but I noticed ODOT now stamps the state shapes into the concrete of Oklahoma's bridges. The new state highway signs are nice. It's a symbol of pride. Like it or not, that's what it is. And I noticed a big difference in Oklahoma and Texas, and that is cohesivesness. Everyone was wearing their OU clothing for the game, and while to some that may be overkill, to a new out-of-stater, you get the feeling that everyone is on the same page. And somehow you want to be a part of it all.

I know we are all frustrated that Oklahoma City hasn't yet seen the high-rise development we all hope for, but I have this sneaking suspicion that our city's big date with huge high-rise developments is not far down the road. Look at Dallas. The city went more than a decade without any new downtown high-rise construction, and today, there are eight new towers under construction in downtown Dallas that didn't happen until after the American Airlines Arena was complete. Most of those new towers appear to be reisdential, but nice developments. It will happen for Oklahoma City. You wait. Just like I new in 1993 that MAPS completely redefine OKC, I know that this will soon come to pass. And it will happen with a vengeance.

And this from a St. Lous resident known as "Y H":
I came to Oklahoma City in 1990 to attend OCU law school (on the recommendation of a cousin from St. Louis who had graduated from there and decided to stay). I was fresh out of college, having just graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia. I grew up just 30 miles away in Jefferson City, so I really didn't count my four undergrad years as truly living away from home - OKC was indeed my first real experience living on my own. For the first year and a half I had an apartment at Warwick West out on NW Expressway and got to know that part of town quite well. I used to enjoy killing what little free time I had at Penn Square Mall and 50 Penn Place, grocery shopping at Crescent Market and Friday night happy hours at the Varsity with my law school cohorts. On Saturdays my study group would spend 6-8 hours working on our course outlines and then cap the day off with cocktails and dinner at the Metro. This was a Saturday ritual that lasted for over two years. In the spring and early fall when the weather was still warm it wasn't unusual for a group of us to cut out for an extended lunch on the patio at Doc's (which I'm told is now Irma's) or, if we had the rare luxury of time, we'd head out west to Bunny's for an infamous onion fried burger or my personal favorite, the Frito Pie. During the winter we'd warm ourselves at the Split T (R.I.P.) with a bowl of Texas Red and their incredible handcut fries.

At school I was impressed by the diverse background of the faculty. We had a number of professors from the east coast, California, Texas, Florida and Chicago. All of them had chosen to make their homes in Oklahoma City and they all had wonderful things to say about it.

During the second half of my time at law school I lived out in the Stonebridge Cove development right outside of Yukon. Sure, there was a bit more of a commute involved with getting to classes every day but it was worth it. I enjoyed the experience of living in the Bethany-Yukon area and getting to know the people and businesses in that area as well. This was also just about the time when the Blazers came (back) into being. Having grown up a hockey fan, I was ecstatic at the prospect of being able to watch pro hockey at an affordable price. That first season was a really fun time even though the hated Oilers wound up winning the playoff championship. Another business opened up my final year in OKC - a little coffee shop on Western called the Yippee Yi Yo Cafe. That establishment became the official hangout of my circle of law school friends - we'd congregate there in the early morning before classes and often wind up there on weekend nights, especially on "Sinatra Saturdays" when we'd sit out on the front porch with our coffee and cigars (a smug, obnoxious - but well mannered, mind you - bunch we were), listening to Ol' Blue Eyes. Ah, good times.

So, here it is, thirteen years past my departing OKC as a resident and twelve years past my last visit, but yet I still feel tied into the community. Why? For me I just think that Oklahoma City is a terrific place to live. It's extremely affordable; the people are as nice as can be; the city is very clean and there's an abundance of activities to suit just about everyone's interests. It's also a very easy city to navigate; there's lots of diverse and interesting neighborhoods and commercial districts and (as you can certainly divine from my reminiscences above) plenty of great places to eat! Oklahoma City combines Midwestern values, Southern hospitality and a cosmopolitan aura without pretense. It is quite simply a great place to be.

As I've mentioned in a number of other threads in this community, I'm coming "home" for a visit in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. My best friend from law school and I are going to spend the better part of four days revisiting old friends and seeing all that's new from the last dozen years since we last made our pilgrimage. We intend on making it an annual event.

So, for those of you lucky enough to reside in the OKC area, don't get bogged down in what isn't working right now. Focus on your strengths and work up from there. You're living in one of the finest places to be in America as far as I'm concerned - more of the good stuff will come once others get attuned to the OKC vibe. That's why I suggested in another thread that the city make more of an effort to put folks on the payroll who do nothing but focus on two core missions - cultivating potential growth businesses from within and actively recruiting outside businesses to consider OKC as a new home or outpost. It shouldn't be hard to sell OKC once people spend time here. Had I not had preexisiting commitments in St. Louis, I certainly would have liked to have stayed after law school. So for now I'll have to make do with annual visits.

Chat Boards

2006-09-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

At www.okctalk.com, there is a high level discussion going on about the board's future. People like Patrick and Keith have given a lot of time, passion and energy to the site, helping make it what it is today.

They're burning out. I understand completely.
We start out doing the blogs, the chat boards as a hobby. And we're caught off guard when it becomes a success, when they generate a lot of attention.

It happened with the last downtown blog. It's a heartbreaker to drop the hobby others enjoy so much. But you get bogged down, you no longer enjoy what you were once passionate about.

I'm not hinting at anything here. I don't think www.okctalk.com is going away. And Doug doesn't need to worry about this site. But you won't find daily blogging here.

Keith, Patrick, take a break. Don't let it get to where you hate the hobby. You've done a great job.

And go easy on the folks at www.okmet.org (successor to the OKC Urban Forums site). They're a nitche site focused on urbanism, you're a community site. Seems to me you can both exist just fine.

Oh, and by the way, has anyone noticed how well things are going downtown? We'll have seven hotels before too long, lots of new housing... and yes, more fun things are coming.

Can Someone Do this One Next?

2006-09-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

Across from the Sieber, this neglected gem awaits a better future. It's owned by the guys who for years let the Pat's Lounge Building and other properties sit boarded and forgotten.

Sieber in Midtown

2006-09-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Renovations are started! This place will look great as an apartment tower!

How's it going with that big Indian statue?

2006-09-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

Bold vision for river and city unveiled
Tulsans invited to join in making project a reality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2006

Tulsa – A bold vision for development of the Arkansas River designed to propel the Tulsa region past its competitors was announced today by six citizens, who also urged residents to get involved in making the project a reality.

“Now is the time to create a place on the river of which we can be proud. But we need your help, and we need it now,” said John-Kelly Warren, chairman of the William K. Warren Foundation. “Join us and support The Channels.”

The project launched over a kitchen table in the spring of 2005 when Warren and his wife, Margie, Tom Cooper, CEO of Warren Professional Building Corporation, Christine and Scott Lambert, owners of Travertine Elevator Interiors, and local business attorney Rusty Patton, decided to identify the root causes of Tulsa’s decline. After considerable study, the six determined Tulsa County fell short in three areas: the ability to attract and retain talented employees and the employers of that talent; a strong sense of community; and a sustainable tax base.

They then decided to do something about it.

The non-profit group, now called Tulsa Stakeholders Inc., commissioned world-famous urban planner/architect and waterfront expert Bing Thom to develop a plan for a project that would transform the future of the Tulsa region.

Citing the need for a central gathering place that anchors and catalyzes the county’s quality of life, the resulting project, known as “The Channels,” begins with an impounding dam at the 23rd street bridge that creates a 12.3-mile lake north to Sand Springs. A 40-acre, man-made island located between the 11th and 23rd street bridges, itself connected by two bridges to the east bank, rises up from the water and anchors the project. The man-made land mass features low- and high-rise residences to the north and south, separated by navigable canals from the public zone.

At the heart of the island is the community focal point, a stone-paved plaza that is the largest open space on the development. Facing the east river bank and channel, as well as a floating stage for performance arts, the plaza is lined in trees with plans calling for cafés and pubs to “spill out into the space.” Much of the parking is subterranean.

Focal to the project is a several-story high framework canopy that shades the plaza. Covered in solar panels, the canopy is designed to collect sunshine for power conversion, while also serving to cool by up to 13 degrees the open market and other public spaces underneath it.

Opposite of the plaza on the east bank is a large park, “Tulsa Green,” with stairs cascading down to the water’s edge across the full width of the bank. Renderings depict a beach and large pool located to the south. Visions for the west bank include a marina for boaters.

Estimated to require $600 million in some form of public financing, the group committed to raise $100 million as a gift from the private sector to the Tulsa region. Through the sale of energy created by the project’s hydrodam and other renewable energies, an additional $88 million dollars can be financed, for a total of $788 million.

“By offering the quality of life amenities found in this project, we can create a competitive advantage for Tulsa that retains and attracts the best and brightest workers and the companies that follow them,” said Warren. “It’s time Tulsa is known for a new kind of energy – intellectual energy. But in order to compete in the economy of tomorrow, we must create a truly amazing place to live.”

Among the many benefits generated by “The Channels” is an overarching program of environmental sustainability, which was developed in concert with one of the world’s largest engineering firms, Ove Arup & Partners. Plans call for the project to generate excess energy from hydro, solar and wind power that can be sold back to the power grid for profit.

During its presentation, the group encouraged discussions with community leaders and citizens of Tulsa County to determine a plan for moving forward.

“Tulsa has a history of projects breathtaking in scope that set it on a path to greatness and international attention,” said Warren. “Today can be the start of the Tulsa of tomorrow. It’s time to be bold. It’s time to make The Channels a reality.”

For more information, visit www.tulsachannels.com

Don't you hate...?

2006-09-03T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hackers and grafitti vandals are annoying me this week.
Don't they have anything better to do?

Anyway, Doug points out a hacker ruined the Oklahoma Urban Forum site.
It's not as well known as www.okctalk.com, and early on, there was friction between the two chat sites. But they are different. OKCTalk is a community board, diverse in interests, filled with debates, conversations and personalities.
Urban Forums was much more oriented toward urban planning issues, much more academic and very pro-downtown.
The old site is hacked, so here's the new site:
http://okmetropolis.forumer.com/

I'll create a new link later this week.

Time off

2006-08-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

I'm going to take a couple days off. Besides, Doug has an excellent and lengthy series on the Skirvin and Pearle Skirvin Mesta that deserves your attention.

Say Goodbye...

2006-08-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

The B-52 plaza at the fairgrounds. It joins the monorail and the frontier post as just memories as the state fair board and the city homogonize the park for horse shows.

Don't be surprised if the miniature St. Louis arch and fountain, and the Space Needle follow.

Yes, some of it was tacky. But so are some of the most cherished landmarks along old Route 66. I wonder how our children will look back at this in 20 years.

Kline Hotel?

2006-08-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

MidTown

2006-08-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

This photo might interest Greg Banta.

Mr. Banta will definitely appreciate this photo

2006-08-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Flat Iron or Triangle?

2006-08-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

This building, once a bbq joint, was yet another flat iron building along Harrison Avenue. Not sure of the exact address, or what happened to it.
The district was being called the Flat Iron District, but developers Anthony McDermid and Bert Berlanger want it called the Triangle.

Where have I been?

2006-08-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hackers have been creating big hassles for me the past week. Just vanquished them.
Now I'm back, and I'm not sure I have much to say.

Visit Doug's place. I'll try to get re-inspired soon.
Tell Ted this site is still dead.

Don't start celebrating yet...

2006-08-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

The news today must have gotten some people excited. Tom Ward, having bought out Amarillo's Riata Energy and moved it to OKC's Valiance Tower, is saying the company is going to grow out of its suburban home quickly.

He says a downtown headquarters or a suburban Chesapeake sort of campus are both possiblities within a couple years.

This is where people surely begin plotting for McGee Tower, of Dowell Center, to become the new Riata hq.

Don't be too sure. Tom Ward is a campus kind of guy. And unless downtown people can come up with a large swath of land where 5-6 story buildings will fit in, and have room to grow, look for Riata to look somewhere in the suburbs.

This is a nice problem to have.

Downtown isn't out of the running. But I doubt Riata is the answer to existing, empty office space. But just south of Interstate 40 there will be hundreds of blighted acres needing redevelopment when the new highway opens in 2009. Of course, that might require eminent domain, and we've all been told time and again how evil that can be.

So never mind Riata coming downtown. I'm sure there is some nice pasture land at Northwest Expressway and the Kilpatrick Turnpike just waiting for another corporate office park.

Housing, MidTown, Hotels

2006-08-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

That's what is on my mind today. We're only just getting started.

Latest comments about OKC on Yahoo travel site

2006-08-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's helpful to see how others see us:

YEEE HAAAAW! Okies!
By Cindy from Maine
01/03/05
Overall:
Atmosphere
Convenience
Safety
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PROS:
best steak! gorgeous cowboys and wide open spaces!

CONS:
none

I'm from Maine and get to OK occasionally.
I love Oklahoma! The people are great, the men are considerate, the food is awesome! The wide open spaces of the plains is breathtakingly beautiful. The history of the "wild west" is fascinating. If you get bored in OK, you just don't know how to get around. There is ALWAYS something going on. You'd probably be bored at Disney
World. And a visit to the Memorial is a MUST for every American.

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10 of 11 Yahoo! Users found the following review helpful:
The Perfect Day In OKC Would Include
By A Yahoo! User from OKC
05/29/05
Overall:
Atmosphere
Convenience
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Last Visit:May 2005Great for:History/Culture, Nightlife, Budget Travel, Family Vacations1. Breakfast at Jimmy's Egg -- there are several locations.
2. A jaunt through the OKC Zoo. Don't miss the Gorillas, Tigers and Lions. You can even ride on a 'swan' in the lake (paddle boat).
3. Lunch at Sonic -- yes, the drive in -- they started in Oklahoma and it's a tradition. I recommend a Cherry Dr. Pepper!
4. An afternoon shopping the boutiques and antiques stores that line Western between I-44 and NW 36th Stree.
5. Dinner at Mushachi's (make reservations ahead of time). It's a traditional Japanese habachiti type place. If you'd like something more subdued, right across the street is Sushi Neko. (If you prefer an American style cafe, then Queen Ann's is the place.)
6. An evening in Bricktown. From nightclubs, the ball park (or in winter, catch a Blazers game at the Ford Center), you can't go wrong. Ride the water taxi -- the guides are all well educated on OKC's history -- stop by the Bass Pro Shop (which is where I prefer to park -- it's free) -- and play some pool or darts at the Varsity -- my pick for a late evening snack or drinks with the gang!

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7 of 7 Yahoo! Users found the following review helpful:
wow what a city
By magandavid2003 from sydney australia - See magandavid2003's reviews (1)
06/15/05
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Last Visit:December 2004Great for:History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Nightlife, Family Vacationsthere is nothing to duslike about oaklahoma city what a city great vistas great people divine restaurants and an abundance of hotels to choose from to cater to every tourists needs I am from australia and I think that its one of the finest cities I have ever been to in the world in fact I have met the love of my life there so yes for sure I will be back and soon there is so much to see and do but believe me you will do it in a friendly enviroment with that typical american hospitality

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5 of 5 Yahoo! Users found the following review helpful:
Oklahoma City--Heartland that pulls at your heartstrings!
By booanddukebassethounds from Frederick, OK - See booanddukebassethounds's reviews (7)
09/26/05
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Atmosphere
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Last Visit:July 2005Great for:History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Nightlife, Family VacationsOklahoma City has more than proved itself to all of America with the bombing in 1995. However, Oklahoma City has now built a canal with shops, restaurants, dancing, singing, the best of romance and family friendly a person could find. Walk the canal starting after a tour and shopping experience at the new Bass Pro Shop. Afterwards, walk to the canal a hitch a boat ride to gather your thoughts and plan your day along the canal. Shopping is a heritage experience with Native American shops and many other cultural shops. The restaurants are wonderful! All restaurants are within walking distance of historical bricktown, many of which are in Bricktown. The nightlife is great fun. The canal is most beautiful at night with the canal lit up by beautiful lights and personalities of those visiting. You'll find great seafood and american food. Also, take your family to a ballgame at the all new ballfield. So much to do, so little time to write it all. You will not be dissappointed! Great for a date or for a family visit!

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4 of 4 Yahoo! Users found the following review helpful:
MY Home OKC
By toot_toot_tootsie2002 from Australia now edmond Oklahoma - See toot_toot_tootsie2002's reviews (10)
01/29/06
Overall:
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Convenience
Safety
Value

Last Visit:January 2006Great for:Skiing/Snowboarding, Hiking/Camping, History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Nightlife, Budget Travel, Family VacationsI have lived in many places but nothing lives up to my Oklahoma.
I may not be from here like my husband i love this city this town, yes i am a want to be Okie' a SOONER, as the song states "You will love Oklahoma"
I do, come one come all and vist this city you will love it the down home hospitality is beyond belief.
There is much to do nite life is grand, safe also i found walking around town at night very safe i live in Edmond love the city, Your new Okie (Sooner) Regina Parker

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A Friendly Home in Motel 6
By A Yahoo! User from Mission, TX
05/24/05
Overall:
Atmosphere
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Last Visit:April 2005Great for:History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Budget TravelThe motel I stayed at was on Meridian Ave. It was only about 5 miles from the Business Cox Center. I was lucky to stay there because there was a bus stop right in front of the motel. This was very convenient. I didn't need to take a taxi and pay $10.00. I only paid $1.25 for the bus fare.
To learn more about the location of the motel, I called a month in advance. I was also given the opportunity to reserve a room to make sure I had a room to stay when I arrived. I didn't have to reserve my room with my credit card. They guaranteed my room without a credit until 6:00 p.m. The gentleman was very helpful in providing me with all the information I needed. He gave me a big picture in my mind of the area I was going to stay in. This way I knew what my expenses were going to be as far as transportation and food deliveries. He also asked me whether I wanted a smoking or non-smoking room. I chose the non-smoking. I also asked him if he could reserve a room for me downstairs and not upstairs. These are all great tips to inquire about when staying at a motel.
The price for the room was pretty reasonable too. I needed a room with a single bed just for me. However, the gentleman offered me a room with a two queen beds, just in case I needed it. When I arrived, I found the room was very clean. There were clean towels and neatly folded on the rack. The bed had fresh sheets and a blanket in case I needed to be warmer. On the other hand, I was able to regulate the temperature. I also figured the owner of the motel likes to save energy because I found one outlet by the television and one outlet in the bathroom. Good, I could charge my cell phone and use the blow drier.
In the evening, I called the desk clerk for a wake-up call. At 5:00 a.m. I heard the phone ring. I picked it up and heard a radiant voice that quickly gave me the will to get up from bed.
While I was there, I focused on the convention that I was scheduled to attend. But, in the morning I did take short walks by the Meridian Gardens and then later I took a walk in the evening and ate at I-Hop Restuarant for some pancakes. This restuarant was just across the street from the motel. This I really really liked, but there was one thing I did not like. The prices at the vending machines at the motel were very very expensive.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed my stay. When I was finally ready to come back home, the front clerk called a taxi. There were no bus fares on Sunday, but I was sure glad that the hotel made the taxi arrangements for me. The taxi was there in 5 minutes. The accomodations I recieved were very adequate for me because I didn't take my car. Nonetheless, my stay was above satisfactory because I had all that I needed to fulfill the purpose of my stay.

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4 of 4 Yahoo! Users found the following review helpful:
Friends everywhere
By A Yahoo! User
04/07/05
Overall:
Atmosphere
Convenience
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Value
PROS:
Friendly

CONS:
none

People are very helpful and friendly here. There are some great musuems to see at least once. Bricktown is starting to become more exciting and the Myriad Gardens are very pretty.

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4 of 4 Yahoo! Users found the following review helpful:
A great view
By A Yahoo! User
01/01/05
Overall:
Atmosphere
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PROS:
family oriented, energetic, friendly

CONS:
none

This is a great state. I think a person can always find something great to do, where ever they go, you just have to be creative.

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what i think about oklahoma city
By A Yahoo! User from severna park maryland
02/28/05
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i love oklahoma city i think it is the most sanitary place i have ever been.also the atmoshpere it perfect and i am going to move here

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3 of 3 Yahoo! Users found the following review helpful:
Great Family Fun
By A Yahoo! User from Ardmore OK
07/23/05
Overall:
Atmosphere
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Last Visit:June 2005Great for:History/Culture, Nightlife, Family VacationsSeveral great small family parks -- With Frontier City and Celebration Station...but a good secret for us is Perfect Swing Fam Fun Center in Norman down by OU campus 30 min away. Super rates and super friendly. They have driving range and huge indoor game room kids klimb with great sports. Kids love it. We now sometimes just stay in Norman and commute into OKC on our weekend stays while doing some other things in Norman area or Lake.

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Downtown Under

2006-08-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Whether anyone likes it or not, the Conncourse in downtown OKC is about to get a whole new facelift, and with it, a new life as THE UNDERGROUND. In case you think we're alone in having underground pedestrian tunnels, think again. Here's some examples I found at http://www.emich.edu/public/geo/557book/d111.underground.html:

The world underground — some believe -- might hold special riches and pleasures; and indeed it can. Besides constructing subways to move people under rivers and buildings, urban planners are discovering many other uses for the ground beneath their feet.
The reasons people come to town usually involve work, but also to meet, shop, dine and generally enjoy themselves. At street-level, weather can often be a deterrent. But underground, areas can be made bright, shiny and made uplifting yearlong. Prime examples of outstanding subterranean commercial development can be found in Atlanta, Georgia; Montreal and Toronto, Canada; and Kansas City, Missouri.

Take a look down at Underground Atlanta beneath the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. There you will find a $142 million entertainment and shopping complex. The revitalized Underground Atlanta reopened in 1989 and has become a major attraction for visitors as well as Atlanta residents, drawing over one million people its first weekend. The new Underground Atlanta covers approximately six city blocks and includes aboveground buildings. Very important to the success of this complex, are the city’s MARTA rapid transit system and 1,250 parking space garage which allows visitors easy access.
(Photo courtesy of Sasquatch Books, Seattle)
http://www.underground-atlanta.com/

It is not always necessary to dig up an entire area to construct something that is eye-pleasing and useful. The City of Toronto has constructed an underground shopping walkway between buildings. It connects 38 office buildings, 3 major hotels, a commuter railway and 5 subway stations along its length. There are over 1000 stores and dining establishments.
Another "Must See" underground development in Canada is the Golden Square Mile in downtown Montreal. Like the one in Toronto, it connects a series of downtown buildings and museums. The difference between the two is size. Montreal boasts having the world’s largest protected downtown pedestrian network.
Photo courtesy Montreal Tourism Board
What can you do with an old mine? Why you make it into a city, of course. At least that is what Hunt Midwest Enterprises, Inc. did — and very successfully. The company has developed Sub Tropolis, the world’s largest underground business complex. Of the 40 million square feet of earth that has been mined out under Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas area, the company has constructed 4 million sq. ft. of facilities that house over 1300 people working for businesses that include warehousing, distribution, cold storage, light manufacturing and office facilities. Sub Tropolis is completely dry, brightly lighted, with miles of wide, paved streets, and is entered at street level.
Drawing courtesy Hunt Midwest

In Case You Missed It

2006-08-05T16:26:00.000-07:00

Doug has a hilarious post about your's truly at www.dougdawg.blogspot.com. No pressure on the Downtown Guy, of course. But Lex is out there... so if you know someone who has an ego the size of Texas, knew about the old site, don't let him know I'm back.

That's it for now, I'm afriad. I've got to find a phone booth and get out to Bricktown by midnight to make sure Lois stays safe once she gets out of Skybar (she's a bad drunk when I let her slip out of my view).

Yes, they certainly are

2006-08-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Tourism commercials

2006-08-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

Am I back? Kind of. Sort of.
When the old blog went away, it was drawing at least 1,000 visitors a week. As of a couple weeks ago, this feable attempt to keep an online discussion alive was down to a few visitors a week.
Yesterday, 17 people came to the site. Hopefully, that figure doesn't include one person who out of pure vanity sought to smoke me out this time last year.
Instead of guessing my identity, try to guess his. And blame him for my extended absence.
Here's another video worth catching:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGkHJD7PcYA&NR

A better photo of the missing sign

2006-07-31T21:38:00.000-07:00

Doug provided me the link to this photo, providing us a reminder of the neon sign that has been hidden from the public now for the past few years. Will we ever see it again? Is this a new cause for the preservationists?

Nuance

2006-07-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

Calvary Baptist Church, Northeast 2nd and Walnut Avenue, 1956, by John Fink

So how do I stay relevant as a blogger without duplicating a blog I consider to be superior to this one (www.dougdawg.blogspot.com) and without getting into political fusses that might cause me grief in life as "Clark Kent"?

Maybe I'll just try to add some nuances to Doug's posts, when I think they're needed. One is needed today, with his excellent writing about Clara Luper. So what's missing? The sign at the Calvary Baptist Church. The neon sign that stood at Northeast Second and Walnut Avenue for a half century. You can't see it very clearly in this photo. The sign was there when Martin Luther King Jr. preached at the pulpit, and it was there when Clara Luper launched the civil rights protests from the church. Yet Philip Davis in 2001 took the sign down, renaming the church as Covenant Life Family Center. A name change happens. But couldn't they have kept the sign up? They promised to save it and do something with it when Willa Johnson complained. But five years later, it's forgotten.

And that, Doug, is what I've got to add to your post. I also loved your history of the downtown theaters, but I am unsure I can endure more "will they or won't they" on yet another Nba team.

Who is James L. Brown?

2006-07-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

A story on www.newsok.com is more than a bit haunting. Someone went to a lot of effort to preserve the family photos and history of James L. Brown and Alice O'Hara. Decades of the family's photos were left in a suit case that was abandoned in a southside grocery.

Why? Who was the woman who discarded the suitcase? Is anybody left from the Browns who might appreciate this history?

Police can't solve the mystery. They're asking for the public's help. Here's my contribution. O'Hara worked as a nurse at St. Anthony in the 1930s. And here is a 1930s news story about a St. Anthony glee club, one of the members happen to be: Alice O'Hara. Fellow members included Mrs. G.W. Goodwin, Betty Kastner, Mary Hickman, Emma Picek, Ann Stepleton, Dorothy Zimmerman, and Dorothy Weyel.

If any of them are alive, they would certainly be in their 90s now. But maybe they have relatives or friends who might have some missing pieces of this puzzle.

Lost Oklahoma City?

2006-07-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

Doug's recent blog postings have gotten me to think about the history we've lost, that is forgotten so quickly.

Lost Tulsa does such a great job at reminding us of that city's great past. Maybe it's time we go beyond looking at downtown, and look at what we've lost and what we're about to lose. Some of it's worth saving, some of it is simply a matter of amusement or reliving a collective community wide tragedy.

I'm not sure how Enterprise Square fits into the picture. I remember when it opened. The arcade games were pretty fun, and Apple IIC versions could be bought at the gift shop. The elevator ride with the aliens was a fun reminder of the sort of school trips you'd expect in the 1970s - a well meaning but ultimately corny attempt at being modern and cosmopolitan, cutting edge...

My favorite part of the museum was a room where you could play the stock market against a history going back to pre-WWI. With headlines flashing above, and current events flashing on the computer screen, you could end up broke or end up a millionaire. Invest in Ford in its earliest days, dump the stock at the end of World War I, when the product began to get musty, then buy it again just before the start of World War II when Ford got big into military vehicles. Invest in General Electric at the dawn of the radio age... you get the picture.

Story below from Roadside Attractions tells the rest of the story:
Enterprise Square
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Before it closed for good in 2002, Enterprise Square USA occupied a building on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University of Science and Arts in Oklahoma City. Its extravagant multimedia show instructed in the wonders of free enterprise and the horrors of government control. After you paid admission, a slow glass elevator ride up to the fourth floor provided a good view of America's Heartbeat Rotunda, a multi-screen, multistory slide presentation introducing the superior economic system of the American Way. "Spend!" "Save!" "Buy!" yelled voices piped into the elevator. Dozens of screens flash slides of groceries, real estate, want ads, happy families.
At the top, you navigated your way back down past the Giant Talking Face Of Government, where nine video screens showed the problems that arise when government oversteps its bounds. Great Capitalists were paid tribute in the Hall of Giants (including Sam Walton and Helena Rubenstein). In the Supply and Demand Donut Shop, Doc, the talking robot, helped you price products effectively. The Great American Marketplace featured one of the world's largest cash registers, and giant paper money extruding 3-D President heads. The heads sang the praises of the marketplace in barbershop quartet harmonies. A bicycle-pedaling skeleton wearing a helmet emblazoned with the name "Cal C. Umm" explained osteoporosis in a sponsored dairy display. Eventually you staggered into the gift shop, where you could buy "I Love Capitalism" bumper stickers.
One of the most darkly appealing aspects of Enterprise Square was that it was slowly falling apart. It was built in 1982 for $15 million, and little appears to had been done to upgrade it. Color schemes and display designs dated from the tail-end of the disco era; the internal power systems were less reliable; a cheerful skeleton crew kept the place running.
Freedom Sings [584k Quicktime Movie]
Its most notable casualties near the end were the space alien puppets that provided a framework narrative for the tour during the Golden Age of Enterprise Square. (They had supposedly crash landed and had to learn how to make money so they could repair their ship.) Their puppet bodies were left, mute and immobile, in a little shrine at the end of the Hall of Statistics.
(Enterprise Square - Closed: 2501 East Memorial Road, Oklahoma City, OK Directions: Oklahoma Christian College )

Endangered Landmark?

2006-07-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

The Patio Grill. Back when it was a place where the state's most powerful enjoyed some of the best burgers to be found. The painting is by the city's best artist, Greg Burns, and can be ordered at his website, www.gregburns-fineart.com.
Sadly, the old Patio Grill building is falling apart these days. Now that the Gold Dome, Walnut Street Bridge and Skirvin have been saved, maybe the preservationists should start an effort to save this great old building. Otherwise, I fear this building will eventually be lost forever.

Bricktown Video

2006-07-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

Odd... last video got removed after I posted the link here. So ...
Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nE-IgHfpPU&mode=related&search=bricktown

And this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0xIMOaIZ9s&search=Bricktown

Video

2006-07-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

Watch this youtube video of a visitor's drive through downtown Oklahoma City and listen to the out-of-towners comments.
Very interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LE5eJLL10A&search=bricktown

The Finley Bridge (I'll forever call it the Walnut Bridge)

2006-07-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

First, some history from the city:
The Dr. G.E. Finley Bridge is named for the Oklahoma City physician who maintained a practice in the Deep Deuce area from 1937 to 1999.
The bridge reopened on July 21, 2006 after being closed for almost two years for repaiurs and renovation.

The bridge was previously known as the Walnut Avenue Bridge.

It leads into Bricktown from the Deep Deuce neighborhood. It was built between 1934 and 1937 to carry traffic into what was then the City's warehouse district.

It crosses the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and Main Street.

With the redevelopment of the warehouse district into Bricktown, and the growth of Deep Deuce, the aging bridge again became an important route. But there was disagreement about whether it should be restored, replaced with a more modern bridge or replaced by a grade-level railroad crossing.

Voters approved a bridge replacement project in the 1989 General Obligation Bond Issue, but because the bridge crossed railroad tracks, approval was also needed from the State Corporation Commission and the railroad itself.

The $4.3 million construction project will saved parts of the bridge that were still usable and replaced the rest with new construction matching the original design.

Funding for the project will came from the following sources:

$3,649,483 from the 1989 General Obligation Bond Issue, Proposition 1 - approved by voters December 14, 1989.
$643,053.06 from the 2000 General Obligation Bond Issue, Proposition 2 – approved by voters on December 12, 2000.

And now, for history as provided by the Old Downtown Guy:

This is the more detailed version of the story as I recall it. I’m sure that my recollection of the history of this project is somewhat shaded by my close relationship with the small band of dedicated people that took on The City’s powerful Public Works Director and eventually prevailed, but, I think it's pretty damn close.

There were several hearings at the Planning Commission and at City Council. The "Preservationists" were led by an OKC Architect.

There had been about $1.2M in funds from a 1989 bond election set aside for a new bridge, but for some reason, Bricktown developer Jim Brewer was promoting the idea of replacing the bridge with a street, and had persuaded then Public Works Director Paul Brum to support the idea. They insisted that the railroads were going to abandon the tracks and that there was no need for the grade separated crossing that the bridge provided. In fact, there had been no discussions with the railroads regarding future plans for the tracks in question. Brewer and Brum had no engineering drawings of their very steep street concept, but were trotting around a totally inaccurate rendering of the proposed street and had convinced the Bricktown Association to agree with them, so the Bricktown Association was on record as opposing replacing the dilapidated bridge with an updated version of the historic structure and sent their president to represent their view at City Council hearings. Several very vocal individuals were also in favor of the street idea and either appeared at City Council and/or wrote letters decrying the idea of replacing the bridge with a bridge. Strangely, last week, some of those same folks were overjoyed with the new bridge and couldn’t wait for the dedication. They seemed to have conveniently forgotten about their past opposition; not surprising.

Some of Brum and Brewer’s arguments for a five lane street rather than a bridge were totally absurd and included asserting the need for greater traffic capacity coming into Bricktown from I-235, suggesting that some how there would be more parking using the street design vs. a bridge, and trying to demonstrate that people would have a really difficult time finding the new north side parking lots because they would have to make too many turns once they got to the foot of the bridge.

Of course, Brewer and Brum hadn't been to the Corporation Commission with their idea, which is the Oklahoma State Agency that has the final say over every thing to do with railroad construction. Since there were active railroad tracks involved, a Corporation Commission hearing was a required step. The preservationist group informed City officials of this at several public hearings and finally in writing, but since The City can be a little pig headed some times, the suggestion fell on deaf ears. The City’s legal staff was finally asked by the City Manager about the requisite process and couch was advised that The City would have to get the State Corporation Commission’s approval to change the railroad crossing from a grade separated bridge to at-grade.

It was not until The City was turned down at the Corporation Commission following a hearing on February 20, 2001, that they relented and agreed to reconstruct the bridge. At that point, replicating the historic design was agreed to. One of the preservationists, even managed to locate one of the original light poles in the front yard of a Heritage Hills home and it is my understanding that those are being replicated as well, although they were not in place for the dedication last week.

Though the bridge, which is located in Ward 7, was used several times by civil rights activists led by Clara Luper in the 60s and numerous individuals from the surrounding community, including Dr. Finley, shared wonderful stories of their memories about the old Walnut Avenue bridge with the Planning Commission and City Council, Ward 7 Councilwoman Willa Johnson was opposed to reconstructing the bridge from the beginning. It was, then Ward 2 Councilwoman, Amy Brooks who provided the political leadership that resulted in the Council choosing to replicate the historic design of the original bridge and arranged for the final engineer’s drawings to be reviewed by the preservationists to insure as high degree of accuracy and authenticity as possible.

Had a tiny group of citizens not taken a stand for good urban design and historic preservation, the City of Oklahoma City, as represented by then Public Works Director Paul Brum, would have had its way; the original Walnut Avenue bridge would be just another fading memory. Instead, we would have a five lane street flanked by twenty foot high concrete retaining walls; no nice view of the skyline, no history preserved, no memorial to Dr. Finley.

I've been outdone...

2006-07-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

Doug Loudenback once made a big deal out of me retiring from this business (he actually quoted a poignant scene from "Dances with Wolves" as I recall. I was burned out, facing a threat from someone who had too much time on their hands, and was starting to sound like a broken record.
Yes, I've been flirting with this site again, on and off. But truth be told, Doug is doing a much better job. What he's doing now, that's what I was thinking of moving into doing. But he's doing so much better.
So I'm making a couple of offers.
First: www.downtownokc.blogspot.com is a pretty good address to have. I'd be glad to surrender it to you, Doug, if you want it.
Second: I'm not up to running a full blog anymore. But sometimes the bug hits me. Doug, if you're interested, I'd be flattered if you would consider letting me contribute to your blog.
Think about it. I have a lot of respect for your efforts to promote OKC history and share it with the world.
- The Downtown Guy.

2006-07-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

2006-07-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Some great aerials are on display at www.urbanok.9.forumer.com/

Not as well known as the Biltmore, but...

2006-07-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

The Tivoli Inn was once the Oklahoma Club, which was well known in its heyday for being a gambling mecca.

Great Blog

2006-07-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for an interesting blog to visit, check out www.dougdawg.blogspot.com.

In case anyone is interested...

2006-07-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

Count me among those who appreciate Brown Bakery's contribution to MidTown. The family owned institution stuck it out in Midtown when a lot of others fled. The old Safeway the Bakery inhabits is looking a bit ... shabby.
The building is a great example of '60s architecture. Here's an example of the store style in its heyday.

I'm back, but what's next?

2006-07-05T05:39:00.000-07:00

New housing: check
New hotels: check
Aggressive effort to get wireless web access downtown: check
Aggressive effort to get a grocery, stores downtown: check
Limp but earnest effort to still get light rail: check
Major league city status: check

So now that we have spent a year enjoying our new downtown and things are still moving forward, what's the next challenge?

The Centennial

2006-07-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Will people fight to save this building in 50 years?

The Future

2006-07-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Inspire me. Please.
At OKC Talk, they're debating whether the Residence Inn being built in Bricktown is up to expectations. Some argue it could fit in just fine along Northwest Expressway. They're right. Others argue it's a welcome addition to a downtown that didn't see any significant new construction between 1983 and 1997. They're right.

Will the hotel still look respectable in 20 years? Probably. Will anyone fight to save it if a developer chooses to tear it down and replace it with something else in 20 years? Probably not.

Will people look upon it in 10 years and look at John Q. Hammons' legacy in this town in the same way people speak of William Skirvin with reverence? No.

Mr. Hammons is adding valuable, respectable hotel real estate to downtown. But he isn't creating monuments. We need the hotel rooms, so respectable seems to be just fine with this city. And maybe that's as it should be.

But at some point, maybe we should set out sights higher. I have spent my past year out and about downtown, and I like much of what I see.

The strident among you will confuse this as a nod to your almost reckless attacks on people who mean well, but fall short. Others among you will perceive this as an attack, and will once again seek me out and close this site.

I am not keen on siding up with either of you. I don't like rock throwers and I don't like people who think they're entitled to do as they please just because they own the right land.

To the rock throwers, I say this: cut it out. Encouragement and polite criticism will get you a whole lot further than asuming everybody who is at odds with your taste, your dreams, is somehow inept or stupid. And for the RH's and JB's out there, consider this: are these buildings really the legacy you wish to leave when you're gone?

Dark clouds, then sunlight

2006-06-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

Everything will turn out okay. Every beautiful sunny day is eventually going to be followed by storms. But even the chaos and damage left behind by a storm can result in new life, new opportunities, and even better days ahead.

2006-05-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

Italian Gift Baskets is a way to show someone that you know and respect their taste or tradition. This is a kind of present that is loved by almost anyone. It could be a home welcoming present, a holiday present, thank you or sympathy, or even just thinking of you present...

Just kidding!

Keeping the Blog Alive

2006-04-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

Just so it won't be pulled offline and taken over by spammers.

Mentality Shift

2006-02-25T08:12:00.000-08:00

As you probably have noticed, many were offended by Charles Barkley's comments. In fact, you probably heard more about the issue than you cared to. I wanted to shed some light into what I think is the greater issue at hand. My insight is not necessarily right or wrong but instead food for thought.

If one follows Sir Charles very closely or even if you simply do a "Google", one will find that his comments are often crude and off the wall with false pretenses. Barkley is known for being derogative, has been accused of racism, and even accused of making demeaning remarks towards women. He's ripped on other cities before including New York. Did New York lash back as did the state of Oklahoma? No. New York knows two things: they have already proven themselves as a striving diverse metropolis, and two, Barkley is ignorant and has no factual basis for the majority of his comments, including the one about Oklahoma.

From his comments I wrestle with two things. 1.) Oklahoma would have been more classy by ignoring his comments just like everyone else. 2.) National press exposure is National press exposure and can still be a good thing

I thought Kelly Ogle's two cents were not helping the matter but again either way national press coverage is national press coverage. Charles did contradict himself to save his tail when Ogle approached him at the All Star Weekend in Houston, but Kelly and the rest of the good ole' boy Channel 9 gang didn't do a good job of shedding the "hick image" they are trying to disprove. The channel 9 gang was talking a little too "down home" when the cameras shifted back to the OKC studio. They asked people on the streets of downtown where they should take him and showed video clips, all they came up with was a buffalo statue, Marble Slab, and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum (NCHFWHM)? Not to mention that they got more parking lot and such in the background of the shot than any buildings or sites. One guy on the street they interviewed said Bricktown is the only cool place in Oklahoma. Need I go there? Boy they sure showed Sir Charles! Yeah when you come Charles, Kelly will show you a buffalo statue, the NCHFWHM, and then the nice ice cream of Marble Slab chain restaurant! And on top of that, we're going to do it on our dime!! Insult us again and see what we'll do next time. We need to raise public awareness on a local, state, and national more than worrying about what Sir Charles thinks.

After surfing the blogs of the internet and talking with many people on this issue, I think the majority agree with me that we should have ignored the comments and faced the larger facts at hand.

Two major issues/themes I have noticed out of this are racism / reverse discrimination, and raising public awareness on all levels of our state's image. I won't comment much on the first point as it is a touchy subject but it does exist in modern societies including our own. In fact it is an issue we as American's and the world as a whole need to deal with. Some will take this issue to an even deeper level and talk about cultural elitism and how since the beginning of history people groups have had elitism on all levels, not just race, but class,age, gender, geography, etc.

As far as the second issue goes, our own head cheerleader, Gov. Brad Henry has touched on this subject before and I have to concur.

In fact, I know leaders on all levels in Oklahoma both on the private and public side agree with this stance and know it is a real problem we must overcome, more so on a statewide level than the national level. Yes, many of our own citizens at large have a worse image of us than most of the nation, although we need to improve our image on the national level. The world has seen our turnaround and progress with the OKC Memorial, the Hornets, downtown OKC's renaissance, MAPS projects, MAPS for Kids schools, exploding economic growth, etc. However, many of our citizens have not been to Oklahoma City in years or to downtown and other parts of OKC and seen all the progress that has been made the last few years, let alone the last 10!! Believe it or not, but there is a large portion of residents that have not seen ANY of the MAPS projects. We need to raise our sense of pride (which has been negative for so many years) so that when people ask about our city, we boast instead of talk down, or our college grads stay instead of moving away.

Oklahoma's famous Will Rogers once said: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

-- Steven Newlon

Someone is Angry

2006-02-23T19:26:00.000-08:00

I'm amused by those who try to delve into the whole "Clark Kent" thing, as Doug Loudenback calls it. Some say Downtown Guy and Old Downtown Guy are the same person, now someone thinks Steve Newlon (Metro) and Downtown Guy are the same person.

Now think about that for a second. Why would Steve use his real name as "Metro," and try to use an alias as Downtown Guy? And if you go back on OKC Talk, back when I was more talkative, you will find some disagreements between us. And sorry, but those corsettes that Metro promoted don't strike me as art - though I do find the model/artist attractive in an upsetting sort of way.

But if it helps you to sleep at night thinking you have this whole Clark Kent thing settled, I/We/Us and Sybill are very happy for you.

For those interested in the truth, I burned out on the politics and expectations associated with blogging. In some ways, I am a perfectionist, and if I can not do something perfect, I become frustrated. I was spending more and more hours on the blog at the cost of time I could have spent with my family and friends. The blog quit being a hobby.

When Steve (Metro) offered to take over, I was happy to let him do so. Every now and then, you will see a contribution by myself. But mostly, it's Metro (or for the conspiratorial among you, me).

Maybe someday I will return in full force. But for now, I am out there enjoying it all, soaking it all in, enjoying Hornets games at Ford Center, visiting with friends at TapWorks, taking in an afternoon stroll at the art museum or enjoying a movie and dinner with my family in Lower Bricktown.

For those of you angry at opinions expressed by Metro, get out there and enjoy life. Or better yet, get out there and prove that Michael Bates and Chaz at Dustbury are the same person.

- The Downtown Guy

Why Not Here?

2006-02-14T18:55:00.000-08:00

When: The late 70's
Where: Little Rock, Arkansas
What: Two establishments side by side in location but worlds apart in concept.

Inside the classic setting of the Missouri Pacific Train Station, two very different establishments enjoyed a brisk trade.

A man named Buster ran a favorite watering hole. Buster's restaurant boasted casual elegance, warm historic ambience and wonderful eclectic food served up by some of the friendliest people in town.

Next door another man was also enjoying bustling business. Dave ran "Slick Willy's World of Entertainment." Here people were almost irresistibly drawn by his selection of outrageous fun and games for big people.

These two young entrepreneurs and neighbors became fast friends.

"Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?"
Dave and Buster soon discovered they had a unique traffic phenomenon. Patrons would often be seen going from one business to the other. An idea began to form: What would happen if they put both establishments under one roof?

After a year or so of scratching out a rough plan, Dave and Buster gathered a few hard-earned dollars, a few close friends and went in search of the right location to begin building a dream.

Dallas, 1982
Long before frequent flier programs, several thousand air miles led the two young men to "Restaurant Row" in Dallas, Texas. There, perched right at the end, they found an empty 40,000 square-foot warehouse.

Having been proclaimed certifiably crazy by many in the restaurant industry, Dave and Buster dove headlong into construction. By December of 1982, the doors were opened on the very first "Dave & Buster's."

Today
Perseverance, faith and scores of talented people put D&B on the map for good. The D&B family has grown to include locations across the country and around the world.

D&B Goes Public
Dave & Buster's traded on the NASDAQ and then in June of 1999, became a proud member of the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol DAB.

D&B
Great food and big fun served up by the friendliest people in town: that's always been our guiding principle... and not such a crazy idea after all.

iN stYle

2006-02-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the renaissance spirit in OKC, what more could you ask for than a fashion show? Well folks it gets better than that because it includes VIP treatment at one of OKC's newest uber-hip restaurants.

On Sunday, February 19th the See It Before London! hits Cafe Nova at 4308 N. Western. Nicole Moan is an established artist in the region and she is from right here in OKC. Her forte is wearable ceramic corsets. Nicole made the cut of 60 out of 5000 entries chosen for Swatch Watch Alternative Fashion Week in London, England March 20-24th.

This event is a fundraiser to help send Nicole and her team to represent the OKC Fashion scene at the London Fashion Week.

Parties interested in booking in advance for VIP treatment should arrive at 6pm for dinner. VIP's will be the first to view Nicole's collection of ceramic corsets. Each table will also receive a piece of artwork by Nicole as well as a gift basket donated by local merchants. There will also be prizes raffled off and a silent auction as well. Doors open to the public at 7:30pm and there is a $15 cover. The show starts at 8pm. There will also be performances by: Lisa Curl, The Stringents, Victor Zuniga, spontaneous bob, Tracy Townsend, and Pseudodance Theatre.

For more information you can go to : www.nicolemoan.com , www.cafenovaokc.com or call 405-525-NOVA

--Steven Newlon

Oh, and if your not a member yet of OKC's most informative blogsite OKCTalk, please go to www.okctalk.com and join and use "metro" as your referral code. Thanks.

Cultural Diversity in OKC

2006-01-30T19:10:00.000-08:00

I first wanted to apologize to all of you faithful readers for the delay in my posting. I work for a major film studio in the metro and we just released a film so all of my efforts and resources have been tied up.

I wanted to share some insight into the burgeoning cultural scene in Oklahoma. In fact, cultural divesity has been prevalent in the metro pretty much since the land run. Ignorance, and challenging ourselves to educate and expose ourselves to the diversity Oklahoma City has to offer, instead, has been our major setback to achieving even greater things.

For all those naysayers, this past weekend was a prime example of something new to get out and do. The Vietnamese-American Community of Oklahoma City had a "Tet" (lunar new years) festival over the weekend with many different events that ended with some dragon dancers in the heart of the Asian District. In fact, I even noticed an Israeli church in the heart of the Asian District. This weekend also concluded a week long's celebration of the Mariachi festival. The festival celebrated Hispanic culture and Mariachi music at venues throughout downtown OKC. There was also an Irish Arts Winterfest celebrating of course, Irish traditions. There was also a Lebanese festival on Sunday. And just a few days prior to these events was the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade downtown as well.

So folks, no more complaining or saying OKC has nothing new to do. In fact, our cultural scene rivals many cities larger than us. I challenge you to go out and explore a new part of the city, or a part that you haven't been to in years, its time for all our citizens to realize OKC is a great place to be!!

On another note, I took a new round of pictures that I will try to post in the next few days.

Sincerely,

Steven Newlon

Film Exchange

2006-01-18T21:08:00.000-08:00

What a great idea. Enough said.

Metro Writes, Metro Shoots Photos

2006-01-16T19:41:00.000-08:00

The real Skirvin hotel emerges from years of abuse. The soon-to-be renamed Galleria garage takes shape. And forget Zio's and Spaghetti Warehouse. Real downtowners know they need to go outside of Bricktown to get tasty Italian food with in a rapidly maturing arts district.

And who can't notice the banner outside the Colcord?

The Colcord Today

2006-01-09T18:56:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Doug Loudenback at www.dougloudenback.com, great downtown history site.

The Colcord

2006-01-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

As renovations continue at the Colcord, which will become a botique hotel, it's fun to go back and look at the neighborhood that once was. To the west of the Colcord was a Beverly's Chicken and Warner Theater. To the right was the much missed Baum building.

It will be of interest to many how faithful the developer will be to the building's history. Will the small tile windows above the awnings be restored?

More Now and Then

2006-01-05T19:54:00.000-08:00

Before it was home to Abraham's Onion Burgers, before the demolition of half of downtown, 1 North Hudson was the Hotel Black.

Skirvin Hotel

2006-01-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

The Skirvin Hotel, in its glory days, during the 1960s, and now.

Hollywood, Oklahoma??

2005-12-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

That's right folks, you read it correctly. You've probably heard about and read articles about the burgeoning film industry in Oklahoma but never really went digging for more information about the local industry. You know there are dozens of small independent film companies, usually producing documentaries or short films, commercials. You've even heard of OKC's own Graymark Productions Inc. (www.graymarkproductions.com) and their upcoming January 3rd release of "Cloud 9" through Fox Home Entertainment. The movie even features an "A list" cast. This film will be marketed through a DVD release. Make sure you pick up a copy next week. This is the company that also filmed Survelliance here locally a short while back.

You've also heard about the booming success downtown OKC's own deadCENTER film festival (www.deadcenterfilm.org) had with its take off 5th season this year! A big named Canadian producer even called it "the next up and coming film festival". The festival was recently named one of the top regional festivals in “The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide,” the 6th Annual deadCENTER Film Festival will explode into downtown Oklahoma City June 7-11, 2006. With special screenings, parties, a much-anticipated panel series, and multiple venues throughout the heart of downtown, the 2006 festival will live up to its notice in the festival guide as “the best festival in Oklahoma.”

You've heard about the remarkable film program offered at OCCC.

You may be asking, where are the big boys in Oklahoma? How come there aren't any Oklahoma film companies that produced wide-release movies in theaters. How come they aren't located here or why aren't they shooting more wide-release movies in Oklahoma? Well folks, one company you probably aren't familiar with is the joint effort of Every Tribe Entertainment (www.everytribe.com) and Bearing Fruit Communications (www.bearingfruit.org) both located right here in OKC. On January 20th, Every Tribe Entertainment in association with Bearing Fruit Communications will release End of The Spear (www.endofthespear.com) in over 1200 theaters nationwide. You should be hearing a lot more national buzz about the movie in the next few weeks. If nothing else, you owe it to yourself to see this Oklahoma produced movie on January 20th and help advance the burgeoning big time film industry in Oklahoma.

Sincerely,

Steven Newlon (metro)

Sources: some information was gathered from www.graymarkproductions.com and www.deadcenterfilm.org

Update from Metro

2005-12-23T18:15:00.000-08:00

I wanted to write a brief article explaining my absence. I apologize I have not been providing semi-weekly reports the last two weeks. I work for a large Oklahoma film company that is releasing a major motion picture nationwide in January so all our efforts and my time are gearing up for the release. I hope to write some articles about downtown as well as the film industry in the metro and state over the Christmas holiday and submit them next week to provide with what I hope you all find, entertaining commentaries. I wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas!!

Respectfully,

Steven Newlon (metro)

It Didn't Exist

2005-12-13T19:47:00.000-08:00

I was enjoying Doug Loudenback's wonderful downtown picture site - www.dougloudenback.com - and saw he has another mystery on his hands. What was the building shown in the above post card image?
It's a fantasy, Doug, just like the image you found of the inspiring, but fictional Terminal building. The building that ended up just west of the YWCA was never completed, and ended up a mix of parking and exposed steel structure until it was eventually torn down by urban renewal.
- The Downtown Guy

Oh yeah...

2005-12-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

December Magazine

2005-12-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone!
I hope that Metro's reports, mixed with reruns of my old site, have provided you with some ideas and thoughts about downtown's continued rise. In some ways, I'm starting to miss the old blog, doing daily posts, engaging in spirited debates and such.
It's a blessing, then, that the old site crashed. "www.downtownguy.blogspot.com" - what was I thinking? Let's keep the attention on downtown, and not some guy who has a sometimes unhealthy fascination with it. With an address like that, is there any wonder that some well meaning people were trying to smoke me out?
I'm glad to see some of the regulars of the old site have found this new one. I'm amazed at what's happening these days. My old approach to the blog wouldn't work today, even if I tried. Things are moving too rapidly, the dreams are way past anything I can fathom.
Look at what's going on ...
* We have four new hotels coming ... they're fixing up the Skirvin into a Hilton Hotel, they're turning the Colcord into a botique hotel, they're building the Residence Inn along the Bricktown Canal and apparently we'll be getting a 9-story Hampton Inn next to the Bricktown Garage.
* Housing is being built all over the place. We're going to see five different condominium and townhome projects in Bricktown and Deep Deuce. We may still see an apartment complex next to Sycamore Square, and four different office buildings - the Park Harvey and three old Kerr McGee office buildings, are being converted into housing.
* The Oklahoma City Community Foundation is building a new headquarters at Northwest 10 and Broadway. Down the street, Anthony McDermid is preparing to renovate an old warehousing into housing and a ballet studio.
* Midtown continues to florish, and is starting to show its true potential with renovations going on at the Plaza Court, Cafe do' Brasil's new home wowing visitors, and the Grateful Bean/Kaisers about to reopen. As we've heard from Metro and Old Downtown Guy, Midtown is about to get even more exciting.
* And then there's the Hornets. It appears we're a bit eager to prove we really are major league.

Can we wrap it all up in pretty packaging? That's the question that is still unanswered. The I-235 and I-40 gateways into downtown are worn out, dirty and no where close to showing what's going on inside of our downtown. We have no signage outside of Bricktown/Cox Convention Center/Ford Center telling visitors what's up. Look at the sign outside the Civic Center Music Hall. At OKC Talk they're asking, can't we do something similar where we have downtown's busiest traffic corridor?

It's funny to read the Tulsa vs. OKC debate at OKC Talk. Not because I think badly of Tulsa. I just think back to 10 years ago, when most people in this town would have been pressed to find anything to brag about.

How times change.

- The Downtown Guy

Monuments

2005-12-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

(Yet another item reposted from the old site)

I was recently browsing through the list of Tulsa’s Centennial projects and found this little item:

Redfork Centennial Derrick
The Redfork Derrick will be 66 feet in height and constructed to portray the oil derricks once widely seen in this region. It will include observation decks and vintage signs. It will be located in the 3700-3800 block of Southwest Boulevard, across from Webster High School.

To some veteran chat board visitors at www.okctalk.com, this project will seem very familiar. People like Patrick Horn, Rob Anderson, Keith Sossomon and others were proposing a project just like this

Before you start griping, consider that Oklahoma City getting the better monument. And it’s a real deal. Visit Bricktown these days and you’ll see another wave of construction going on. The Toby Keith restaurant and music hall building is up and open – we already knew that. You will also see work having started on Bricktown's first hotel - a Residence Inn. But venture south of Bass Pro Shops and you’ll see a new parking lot and trails being built – accommodations for the Oklahoma Land Run. Some of the figures have been up for a couple years.

Reports have indicated planning is going on for a possible museum/visitor center that would provide information about the Land Run. Now, if you ask me, the run is one of the big selling points we have to offer travelers and tourists that isn’t offered anywhere along the major interstates. What is more likely to attract tourists? A glorified oil derrick (by the way, don’t you think the ones we have in front of the capitol are themselves sufficient to amuse travelers?) or a real exhibit on the Land Run.

By the way, some fellow bloggers have complained that the set up of the land run isn’t true to history – the formation should show settlers spread across a field, not in a single line (the land run was in every sense a race). But it’s a step in the right direction, and will be another huge attraction that will make Bricktown outshine Dallas’ West End, Kansas City’s Crown Plaza, and, we can dream, make Oklahoma City competitive with San Antonio as a year-around destination.

Think just about the possibilities between Interstate 40 and the Oklahoma River. As Bricktown grows, count on it spreading toward the river. The park that’s already down there, combined with the monument, the Chesapeake Boathouse which is about to be built make the area a great site for hotels and housing.

Am I dreaming? Big, big things are yet to be announced. A privileged few in this town have a view of the full forest. What you’re seeing is just a grove of trees. Rethink everything you know about downtown. Because in five years, things will be as different from what they are now as they are from a decade ago.

- The Downtown Guy

The Question Still Stands

2005-12-06T18:19:00.000-08:00

Okpartisan asks a good question at www.oklarama.blogspot.com:

We went out to dinner and a movie in Bricktown last night and were wondering what the event was at the Cox Center (turned out it was the Speaker's Ball). It occurred to me that, in most cities I've been to, when you drive by the event center you know what the event is. I know there is talk of a news ticker for downtown, but how about a ticker or video board or something to tell what the events are at the Cox Center and the Ford Center? (And don't you wish you could just call them the Myriad and the Arena?) There are some really great events coming to Oklahoma City these days, and it's good for our population as well as for visitors to know who's here. It would encourage people to find out what else is coming to town. It would also help with the image and self-image issues. Besides, who doesn't want to know why people are clogging up the streets and diverting traffic?

Now, for some background. The ticker Okpartisan refers to is an idea being promoted at www.okctalk.com. Whether the downtown powers that be even go for that isn’t known at this time. The Cox Convention Center did have an events sign up for years back when it was the Myriad. The sign was a mess by the time it was torn down to make room for the MAPS expansion. I can tell you that SMG, operator of the convention center and Ford Center arena, was looking at such a sign a year ago. I don’t know why the sign never became a reality. You can pose this question to Gary Desjardins at SMG, or to Dave Lopez at Downtown OKC Inc.

MidTown

2005-11-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, MidTown is well under way with its resurgence. The largest project to date is the $220 overhaul and expansion of the state's oldest and largest hospital, St. Anthony's. Just to the east of St. Anthony Hospital is the Plaza Court, built in 1926. The Plaza Court building is nearing completion of its renovation and should be drawing its first tenants shortly. Rumor has it several contracts have already been signed with more under negotiations. This triangular building is at the five-way intersection of NW 10, Walker and Classen Drive. Additionally the roundabout at this intersection has been completed along with new landscaping and period lighting all the way down NW 10th and at the roundabout. Traffic roundabouts are common in Europe and are catching on in the United States.

The historic Kaiser building across the street has reopened with the long anticipated Grateful Bean Cafe again. The Spanish building across the street houses Cafe Do' Brasil, a Brazilian restaurant as well as law offices. Also adjacent is another building (which name skips me) now housing architectural offices (Studio Architecture).

Housing projects are spurring up all over MidTown along with all sorts of restaurants and mixed-use developments. Recently, Greg Banta, of Banta Companies has purchased 11 buildings in the MidTown area most of which will be turned into mostly housing (condo's primarily) and mixed-use development. Several of these projects are underway. Additionally, he also purchased the old Brass Lantern Inn and has already demolished it making way for a new office building.

Let us not forget all the improvements being made in the northern part of MidTown closer to 23rd and Classen. Renovations are well underway on the luxury condo and mixed-use tower, The Classen (www.theclassen.com). Move-ins should be starting in early February. Additionally the recently re-opened Gold Dome keeps adding tenants and cultural events monthly. Just last week, a group closed on the old Tower Theater (aka Tower Records) building on NW 23rd near Paseo. We can only hope a sweet project will be planned for this!

These are only a few of many other announced, on-going, and unannounced projects in store for MidTown! Stay tuned for more updates soon!

Regards,

Steven N. (Metro)

Fruition

2005-11-20T17:45:00.000-08:00

Photo from www.dougloudenback.com, the best site to view historic images of downtown Oklahoma City.

Just a brief follow up from some of my recent observations. I will hopefully put some more meaningful posts up soon.
125 Park Place (www.125parkokc.com) is quickly wrapping up and looking sharp. For those of you who are not familiar with this project, it will be the first "for sale" office building downtown in which you can purchase an entire floor. The building was completely gutted and refurbished and new windows and signage were installed. Additionally, a new outdoor "underground stairwell" leads to the basement where plans have it for a "Cheers" style bar to follow shortly.
The Skirvin is well under way. Underground, the "Underground" or Conncourse has finally passed its initiative for a tax increment district and improvements should be underway in the early part of next year. In Automobile Alley, bad news in that the anticipated and announced Oyster Bar will not be locating a new restaurant there but will yet instead stick with its original digs only a floor lower. It will be relocating to the basement of the upcoming "Colcord Hotel", the luxury boutique hotel currently under renovation.
The Residence Inn in Bricktown has broken ground and ground work is well underway. Additionally, preliminary approval has been made for the Hampton Inn. "Bricktown Square" or the entire block at Sheridan and Oklahoma Ave. were auctioned off yesterday to a Midwest City developer for a stunning $10.6 million. Lit Fashion has opened its doors in nearby Deep Deuce with other project's well underway in Deep Deuce. I invite you to check out the private residence going up at 6th and Oklahoma. This goes to prove you can build and own a modern, urban private residence downtown for under $200K.
I hope this will wet your appetite for future updates and yet un-announced projects. Sorry for the delay, please know I have been busy at work and in my off time devoting it to our great city through non-profit and civic organizations working to improve our quality of life and will be sharing some unannounced projects I have been informed of our am working on for this great city of ours. Stay Tuned !!

- Steve N. (Metro)

Lower Bricktown Today

2005-11-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

Photos from www.dougloudenback.com and www.theoklahoman.blogspot.com

What I Want for Christmas

2005-11-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

Eat Up

2005-11-03T19:20:00.000-08:00

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday immerse yourself in cultural diversity at the Lebanese Food Festival. The event will take place at St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church at 150th and North May Ave. Friday and Saturday the hours are 10am to 8pm and Sunday for lunch only from 11am-1:30pm. In addition to the great food, there will be guided tours, a culinary cupboard and bake sale, homemade goods, specialty booths, cultural events, and live entertainment. For questions you can contact them at 227-8070.
- Steve N. (Metro)

Early Plans for Lower Bricktown

2005-11-02T07:05:00.000-08:00

As Lower Bricktown nears completion with construction of the Residence Inn and mixed retail and condos starting, it's interesting to look back at what was originally planned for the area, in a different time and different mind set. We talked about this before, but as we include some of the most interesting posts from the old site, it can't hurt to revisit this bit of history:

Entertainment and specialty retail will find another home in America’s heartland with the anticipated spring 2000 opening of Bricktown Entertainment Center in the old warehouse district of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The $120 million, 400,000-square-foot project under design by Perkowitz + Ruth Architects, Inc. (949-721-8904), will revolve around a $30 million, 22-screen Edwards megaplex theater featuring an IMAX 3D component, plus 75,000 to 80,000 square feet of retail and restaurants in phase one, a colorful boulevard with kiosks for retailers, cafes, a high-tech video arcade, a new canal weaving through the complex, and extensive landscaping. Phase two includes a mid-size hotel and additional retail.
Names of other tenants were not released, but project sources said they have an eye on a high-tech restaurant/entertainment entity that would occupy 40,000 square feet.
Crafting a Visionary Oasis
"We are crafting what should be a visionary oasis where a diversity of entertainment, retail and commercial elements will attract local residents and visitors to a very special destination," commented Marios Savopoulos, director of design at Perkowitz + Ruth’s Newport Beach office.
The project’s developer is TMK/Hogan (405-270-4659), a joint venture between Hogan Property Management LLC of Oklahoma City and Stonegate Management Co., of Birmingham, Alabama, a wholly owned subsidiary of Torchmark Co., a publicly traded insurance and diversified financial services holding company.
Bricktown is the name given to the city’s warehouse district for its predominance of brick buildings. The Bricktown Entertainment Center is being built on 50 acres of vacant land where some of the smaller warehouse buildings once stood but were acquired and demolished by the city over the years. The new center will continue the theme with the liberal use of decorative brick, cobblestone-like pavers, slate accents and textured concrete, and will expand on an already popular community of restaurants in downtown Oklahoma City. According to Randy Hogan of Hogan Property Management, the warehouse district began converting to restaurants and office uses many years ago and now contains a variety of trendy spots such as Spaghetti Warehouse, Obuelo’s, Chilini’s, Bricktown Brewery and Crabtown.
Area Attractions Draw Crowds
Visitors to Bricktown topped 3.6 million in 1997, Hogan said, partly due to the restaurant traffic and partly for a series of events such as the annual Blues Festival and the July 4th celebration, which draws 40,000 to 60,000 people each year. The University of Oklahoma in Norman is a half-hour drive away and provides considerable customer flow on weekends, Hogan said.
At the core of Bricktown Entertainment Center will stand the 134,000-square-foot Edwards Theatres complex framed by two enclosed lobbies a grand lobby for entrance and tickets, followed by an inner lobby for concessions. The 22 screens will accommodate 6,000 customers in extra-wide seats with state-of-the-art projection and audio equipment. Hogan said Edwards expects to draw 1.5 million viewers annually, adding that he hopes the Bricktown Center will boost the district’s total traffic to between 5 million and 7 million.
The nearest comparable movie theater is a new 20-screen Cinemark Tinseltown about four miles away in the northeast sector of the city, according to David Jones of the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority (OCURA). "There may be an old movie theater closer in, but I don’t think so," Jones said, adding that he considers the Cinemark theater "a bit of a gamble" because there has been little retail development in that area, whereas Bricktown has an established traffic flow.

Massive Infusion of Public Funds
Bricktown’s revitalization is the result of a "massive infusion of public funds over the past 10 years," Jones said, transforming the area from a vast array of abandoned buildings to a thriving office and entertainment district by beefing up police patrols, improving streets and lighting and funding new public buildings. Yet to come in the district are a Hammond Hotel, a Renaissance Marriott and the new arena, all within walking distance of the entertainment project, he said.
Phase one, which also will include 75,000 to 80,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, Savopoulos said, is expected to cost about $47 million, including the canal and public amenities. In the second phase will be a mid-size hotel and additional retail, bringing the total project price tag to $120 million. The cost of the hotel alone could be $70 million to $80 million, he said.
"As conceived by the development and design team, Bricktown will emerge as a signature destination, enhanced by the use of theatrical lighting design, colorful building materials and a landscaping concept orchestrated with every architectural and planning element of the project," Savopoulos said.
Architects Help Set the Ambience
Perkowitz + Ruth is working with city officials on the design and construction of canal walks, fountains and plazas to provide the links between Bricktown Entertainment Center features and the rest of the Bricktown area. Bricktown is one of nine projects in a massive downtown revitalization project being conducted by the OCURA (405-235-3771). Public contributions to this project include a $28 million AAA baseball stadium for the Oklahoma Redhawks and an $18 million canal bringing water from the North Canadian River almost a mile away, according to Garner Stoll, city planning director.
The baseball stadium is directly across the street from the Bricktown Entertainment Center site, and a proposed 20,000-seat arena for ice hockey, basketball and other indoor events will be at the western end of the site. The canal, which will be accessible to the boating public, will enter the site from the north and weave through, passing directly across the front of the theater in a bowl-like public plaza, surrounded by broad brick-stepped terraces, which could be used as an amphitheater for outdoor stage events.
The public projects are being paid for through a Metropolitan Area Project (MAPS) tax program consisting of a one percent sales tax for five years that is expected to net $360 million. Other projects include a fairgrounds, a new convention center, a hockey/basketball arena, renovations to the performing arts center, a new library, reconstruction of the bombed-out Federal Building and the surrounding area, plus a memorial and museum related to the Federal Building bombing.
$24 Million (Private) for a Museum
A unique feature is a $24 million art museum being built downtown entirely with non-public funds, including $6 million from the Kirkpatrick Foundation, to replace the current city-owned museum located by the fairgrounds on the edge of the city, and which is too small to display all the art it owns, Stoll said.
The MAPS program which originally anticipated $240 million and has now grown to $360 million ends in January, 1999, and will result in debt-free financing for the public projects, although city officials are seeking an extension of the MAPS tax because they need about $11 million more.
Striking the Deal
TMK/Hogan and Edwards Theatres Circuits Inc. paid $3 million for the land they will use, but the Urban Redevelopment Authority put that $3 million back into development of amenities along the canal. "You could say they got free land," said Stoll.
City council has set a January deadline for final development contracts to be executed, and groundbreaking will follow, according to Stoll. The final choice by the city council of TMK/Hogan was "a very controversial selection," Stoll said. The developer had been selected already, when a competing proposal from another local firm forced a showdown. A council vote to reconsider the developer selection ended in a 5-4 vote in favor of TMK/Hogan last May. Wounds from that battle are "healing," said Stoll.
"This is our first entertainment center," Hogan said. "We’re fairly active in retail in the area," he said, noting that his firm represents Home Depot in the Oklahoma City area and is developing a waterfront restaurant on nearby Lake Hefner. Torchmark developed Rancho LaQuinta Country Club in LaQuinta, California, where the "Skins" game is played, and Liberty Park, a 2,500 acre upscale planned community in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, outside Birmingham. The development includes retail and office complexes of a traditional nature.
Management and leasing will be handled by TMK/Hogan and financing is not yet settled, Hogan said. "We have a couple of options, with letters of intent. We’ll start on that next month." Groundbreaking for the Edwards Theater is scheduled for April, 1999, and the grand opening is set for April, 2000.

Time to Play

2005-11-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

Maybe you're not a basketball fan. Go downtown today anyway. This is the next big step forward for downtown. Rank this up there with the openings of the ballpark, canal and art museum.
There will be plenty to do without stepping inside Ford Center. Although if you want a Hornets ticket, apparently you have very little time left to get one. They are nearing a sell-out in tonight's game against the Kings.

Local Books

2005-10-31T12:51:00.000-08:00

Here's a posting from the old site that deserves another look:

Old Downtown Guy offers his contributions to great local history books:

I don't know if they are still in print, but I have two volumes titled "The Vanished Splendor – Postcard Views of Oklahoma City" that are compilations of photo post cards. Not only do the books contain photos of prominent buildings but also many other post card pictures and illustrations of local attractions and more humble structures such as dinners and gas stations. Included among the 419 reproductions are representations of Spring Lake Amusement Park, OKC Memorial Park Fountain (soon to be restored thanks to efforts by Oklahoma City Beautiful), Lincoln Zoo’s Monkey Island and Amphitheatre and Skyline Drive-In Theatre to name just a few. Cards 290 through 306 are a charming collection of cafeterias, restaurants, diners and drive-ins. Also included are post cards of prominent neighborhood homes in Heritage Hills, along NW 10th and 16th Streets and many more.

The inside front cover of Volume II shows a 1910 downtown panorama from Grand (now Sheridan) and Broadway and the OKC Stockyards is a two page spread in the back. Some interesting statistics from 1910 are also displayed:

Population: 64205
Area: 17.5 Square Miles
Steam Railroads: 4
Passenger Trains Daily: 30
Street Car Rails: 50 Miles
Paved Streets: 125 Miles
Sidewalks: 204 Miles
Sanitary Sewers: 135 Miles
Strom Sewers: 41 Miles
Water Mains: 140 Miles
School Buildings: 21
Churches: 40
Banks: 18
Chamber of Commerce: 1150 Members
Two packing plants with a daily capacity of 2000 cattle, 5000 hogs and 3000 sheep. The most complete stock yards west of Kansas City.

One of the nicest things about these books is the little paragraph of historical information about each post card presented by the authors, Hal Ottaway and Jim Edwards. The first 5000 copies of Volume I were published in 1982 by Abalache Book Shop Publishing and Volume II followed in 1983. They are Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 82-72945.

So, what is your list of essential local history books?

Shape UP OKC

2005-10-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

In staying with the current campaign for downtown OKC, I couldn't think of a better title. Fitness Together has leased 1,536 sq. ft at 119 N. Robinson Ave suite 200 at the Robinson Renaissance bldg. At Fitness Together, our goal is to provide our clients with quality, private, one on one, personal fitness training. Our philosophy of "1 Client - 1 Trainer - 1 Goal" says it all. Our clients reap the benefits of our unique training programs as we help them achieve all their fitness goals in our private training suites.
On Nov. 5th, Integris Health will host its' first annual Asian health fair at the Gold Dome 1112 NW 23rd. This event is free and open to the public. Free health screenings for Asians, cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose checks as well. health lectures and an "ask the doctor booth". Physicians are bilingual.
Things are also shaping up at the Oklahoma River with beautifcation efforts well under way and some will be implemented shortly. The Chesapeake boathouse is almost complete as well giving the rowing community much to rejoice about! If you haven't already, stop by the river for a walk, bike, skating or just plain relaxing outing !!
Regards,
Steven N.

Downtown Guy's November Magazine

2005-10-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

The Downtown Guy’s November posting:

There’s been plenty of developments being announced recently in the news, from a 10-story Hampton Inn along Sheridan in Bricktown to construction starting on a Residence Inn along Reno Avenue in Lower Bricktown.

More hotels are certain. More housing is certain.

What’s going to be most interesting to watch is what will happen in response to the NBA coming to town. Will more restaurants and clubs pop up south of the arena? The area has potential – at least one building looks like it somehow got separated from Bricktown. But the area is also full of transient activity and not very inviting to the public. And will people take a risk on the area before we know if we’re going to have an NBA team for more than a year?

A great special section was in yesterday's Daily Oklahoman, giving us everything we want to know about the Native American Cultural Center. As the river and downtown converge, the possibilities are astonishing.

I know a lot of you were unhappy about the demise of the old site. It had to happen. But I can’t help but laugh at the idea that a couple of people visiting the site with intentions to cause me grief are now reading what appears to be a weight-lifter’s diary.

Some participants in the old blog, like Doug, lament that the old archives are gone.
But they’re not totally lost. I’ll retrieve the best of them and re-post them onto this site.

So what can you expect from this site? Hopefully you’ll continue to get insight into what’s going on downtown. But your tour guide will now be Steven (Metro), and if he’s still out there, hopefully Old Downtown Guy and Doug will join in as well.

As for me (and no, I’m not also the Old Downtown Guy, as one poster on the old site suggested), I’ll provide a monthly posting like this one.

I’m thrilled the discussion goes on without me. Enjoy Metro’s posts.

- The Downtown Guy

Support Your City

2005-10-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

Untitled Gallery, 1 Northeast Third

Well metro citizens, its time for an update to this site. While I don't have anything particular to talk about, I hope that some of you faithful readers will start to give suggestions on what you would like to read about.

The sports scene is burgeoning in OKC and downtown is alive with new energy once again. The Blazers made their season debut in their newly updated uniforms on Friday night with a decent crowd. On Sunday, the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets debuted their first appearance with the pre-season game against the Denver Nuggets. Although the team didn't manage to pull off their comeback late in the 4th quarter, this was definitely a major league experience. If you would of told me 2 months ago I would be sitting next to J.D. Runnels at an Oklahoma City NBA game most of us would think you were crazy. For those of you who caught the halftime show, the inflatable hornet Hugo was one of the most insane performances I have ever seen. I had to rub my eyes a few times on that one. For those of you who missed it, I suppose you should of stayed in your seat or need to attend another game! I was amazed of both the service of the staff as well as how all or nearly all of the courtside seats were sold. This goes to prove yet again how both the general public and national media will be proved wrong about the capabilities of this great city as well as the scope of greater income levels than people realize.

If your looking for a hip place to be seen on Hallows Eve, then cruise on over to Untitled [Artspace] in Deep Deuce for the 2nd annual PLAY DEAD masquerade ball and costume contest.

Since I'm having a writer's block, I CHALLENGE each of you to do something that does not get enough praise. A lot of us are active enthusiasts on both this site and OKCTalk.com but I'm guessing we could all be a little more active outside the cyber world. I challenge you to get involved politically,civically, culturally, and socially. A lot of us seem to always talk about change and what could be or what should be but my guess is that 80% of those are not involved with a political or civic organization. I encourage each of you to spend a little time out of your busy schedules and get involved with another organization, especially those of you who claim to have political aspirations. I'll even start you off by giving a few examples of organizations you can contact: Allied Arts, Arts Council of OKC, Alliance of Emerging Professionals, Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, Leadership OKC, Prosperity Project, Rotary Club, and United Way, or start a group petitioning for reform with organizations such as Urban Renewal (OCURA).

My hope is that we will put our constructive criticisms and our knowledge where our mouth is and that we will only continue to build on the greatness this city is achieving and further progress the quality of life in OKC.

Regards,

Steven

Status Check

2005-10-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

Four new hotels:
Skirvin Hilton, Colcord Hotel, Bricktown Residence Inn, Bricktown Hampton Inn

The Hill, OKC Town Center, Deep Deuce expansion, Park Harvey Building, Lower Bricktown. Also probable, but not certain: Legacy Summit at Arts Central, Block Four (Grant Humphreys)

New shops: Lit clothing, Boone's General Store...

Will a grocery store be next?

Downtown's revival isn't going unnoticed. Some major national television attention is coming to downtown.

It's Your Blog

2005-10-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

Some of you have been very vocal, wanting this blog to return. So here it is. Over time, the links and photos and images you saw on the old site will be back. On occassion, I'll chime in on downtown history and events, but mostly, this site will rely on Steve (Metro), and maybe Doug and Old Downtown Guy will contribute as well (two people who should know by now that their thoughts and commentaries are welcome, as usual).

Doug, Old Downtown Guy, remember, if you want something posted, email it to downtownOKCguy@gmail.com

I ask only this: let's keep the focus on downtown history, planning and development, and not get sidetracked into fights, egos and pettiness.

The lights are back on. Play nice.

- The Downtown Guy

Your New Downtown Guy

2005-10-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

Well folks, I have been generously asked by the Downtown Guy himself to do a guest column. That's right, no more sadness, Steven Newlon has graciously accepted this task. When pondering what to write about, I thought what better to write about than the future progress of downtown OKC. Most of these projects have not been unofficially or officially announced but will hopefully continue to inspire the "Renaissance Spirit."

One task well under way that will be phased in 3 stages is the forgotten Old Trolley District or sometimes referred to as the Trolley Track district. This area is bordered by I-40 on the South, NW 36th to the North, Meridian on the West and I-44 on the East. The first phase is well underway and includes district signage such as the ones in Automobile Alley or the Deep Deuce area. The project will also include some period lighting. This will hopefully bring new character and life to a forgotten and somewhat dilapidated area. I will hopefully post some pictures in the near future.

More retail is in store for the CBD, particularly the Deep Deuce area. In the next few weeks, look for the opening of LIT fashion, a clothing and shoe store. This will be their second metro location.

In this general vicinity (around 8th and Oklahoma), also look for what appears to be the first, privately funded residential home downtown, without the help of Urban Renewal or outside investors.

Let us not forget the Oklahoma River area which is ripe for future development. The American Indian Cultural Center has broken ground and will have the official historic Ground Blessing Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 1st between 2:30-6:30pm. Volunteers are needed, if interested please contact Shoshana Waserman at 239-3270.

The Kerr McGee bell tower will be getting under way on the river shortly as well. Additionally, look for some private investment from local corporations as well as non-profits to head towards the river, probably starting in the Chesapeake Boathouse area. Improvements will include lighting on trails, wi-fi, aesthetic improvements such as flowers and landscaping, benches, trash receptacles, exercise equipment, as well as “adopt-a-space” type projects for cleaning up trash, etc.

I hope you have enjoyed my commentary and hopefully I will be invited for more in the future if you deem valuable. Thanks and God Bless.

Steven Newlon

Phoenix

2005-10-19T06:09:00.000-07:00