Brady District

[Conan71]

Completely agree. In the Brady you can see a live show at Cains, Brady, HC, or Marquis. Have your violin fixed, try out for theater, buy jewelry, buy a sculpture or artisan chocolate, attend a glass blowing class, watch a drag show, stop in for a crafted cocktail at Brady, find comfort food, texmex, upscale and downscale italian, get an apartment, visit a local watering hole, visit an art gallery, walk a few blocks to a baseball game and more is on the way.

Good luck finding all of that in Bricktown

Which is the upscale Italian and downscale Italian?

[carltonplace]

Which is the upscale Italian and downscale Italian?

I classed them by price, noodles and meatballs = Italian in Tulsa. Not a fan of Hey Mambo I see.

[Conan71]

I classed them by price, noodles and meatballs = Italian in Tulsa. Not a fan of Hey Mambo I see.

I'm pretty meh on Hey Mambo.  We had a forum lunch there a few months back and it really didn't stand out to me.

Or might be the fact "Mambo" is Cuban in origin and I can't get a Cuban sandwich there (must go to Caz's for that), or that the name is a clear rip-off of a mediocre wine. 

[AquaMan]

Quite true, Carlton. Brady/Blue Dome may be more of a lifestyle orientation with emphasis on diverse (if not obscure) offerings. But I don't think you all can deny the Bricktown its allure as well. Its more "big city". I visited there this early spring and was blown away by how well it has been planned and executed. Large, well kept, landscaped walkways, a good mixture of old and new architecture, period and kitsch, art and commercialism.

As much as I smirk at its sewer like canal with Disney-esque pontoon boats guided by bloated, blathering middle aged carnies ("on your left note the multi screen theatre established in 2008...."), it still serves as the leather thread that ties it all together. All the boats were filled and constantly running because of the OU/OSU game nearby, visitors for a softball tournament, early visitors for a concert etc. Visitors, visitors, visitors.

We impulsively stopped at a candy store in a 1920's era storefront (I never buy candy, anywhere, anytime) and ended up buying several bags of crazy chocolate flavored goodies. Had a pitcher of Sangria outdoors at a busy warehouse turned upscale restaurant overlooking the ballpark and the canal and was seated quickly, with good service.

Walked a half mile over to the oversize bronze sculptures representing the Land Rush that were very well done near the Bass Pro (Tulsa tax dollars no doubt helped) and all with little fuss. People like this place. We could have spent the day there and not have visited all the offerings. Sometimes a "big city" feel is a fun thing.

And that is the difference. Their goal was to attract throngs. All kinds of throngs. They planned for it and they executed the plan. Our goal appears to be in line with what we are more likely to achieve and more attuned to our city's personality. Ours is not that rigidly planned and appeals to a younger, edgier, more selective demographic. You almost have to fit into our demographic to enjoy Brady, whereas Bricktown serves multiple populations.

[carltonplace]

I like your insight otterbouy

[sgrizzle]

I'm pretty meh on Hey Mambo.  We had a forum lunch there a few months back and it really didn't stand out to me.

Or might be the fact "Mambo" is Cuban in origin and I can't get a Cuban sandwich there (must go to Caz's for that), or that the name is a clear rip-off of a mediocre wine. 

Dean Martin song technically..

Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano...

[SXSW]

One of the biggest problems still with our downtown districts is the connectivity (or lack thereof) between them.  The connection between the ballpark and Blue Dome is still really bad where the streetscape just stops at the tracks, and the sidewalk ends on the west side of the street.  The bridges at Cincinnati and Detroit still have ridiculously narrow sidewalks and bad lighting.  The Boulder bridge is still just a proposal.  Main doesn't connect from 1st to 3rd.  There are giant parking lots between the BOK Center and CBD (changing soon though) and in between the CBD/PAC and Blue Dome.  I could go on.  Improving these connections and the streetscapes with better sidewalks, lighting, trees and yes bike lanes would go a long way toward making downtown more connected and better.

[TulsaEx]

Dean Martin song technically..

Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano...

Also sung by Louie Prima and featured in the movie "Big Night" about two brothers who own an struggling Italian restaurant that prepare a spectacular Italian dinner on the rumor that Louie Prima will be eating there.

[Conan71]

Dean Martin song technically..

Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano...

I stand corrected.  Doesn't change that the dining experience was middling and not especially memorable. 

[stageidea]

"Big Night", is a great movie!  Everyone who enjoys food should watch it at least once..

[Conan71]

Quite true, Carlton. Brady/Blue Dome may be more of a lifestyle orientation with emphasis on diverse (if not obscure) offerings. But I don't think you all can deny the Bricktown its allure as well. Its more "big city". I visited there this early spring and was blown away by how well it has been planned and executed. Large, well kept, landscaped walkways, a good mixture of old and new architecture, period and kitsch, art and commercialism.

As much as I smirk at its sewer like canal with Disney-esque pontoon boats guided by bloated, blathering middle aged carnies ("on your left note the multi screen theatre established in 2008...."), it still serves as the leather thread that ties it all together. All the boats were filled and constantly running because of the OU/OSU game nearby, visitors for a softball tournament, early visitors for a concert etc. Visitors, visitors, visitors.

We impulsively stopped at a candy store in a 1920's era storefront (I never buy candy, anywhere, anytime) and ended up buying several bags of crazy chocolate flavored goodies. Had a pitcher of Sangria outdoors at a busy warehouse turned upscale restaurant overlooking the ballpark and the canal and was seated quickly, with good service.

Walked a half mile over to the oversize bronze sculptures representing the Land Rush that were very well done near the Bass Pro (Tulsa tax dollars no doubt helped) and all with little fuss. People like this place. We could have spent the day there and not have visited all the offerings. Sometimes a "big city" feel is a fun thing.

And that is the difference. Their goal was to attract throngs. All kinds of throngs. They planned for it and they executed the plan. Our goal appears to be in line with what we are more likely to achieve and more attuned to our city's personality. Ours is not that rigidly planned and appeals to a younger, edgier, more selective demographic. You almost have to fit into our demographic to enjoy Brady, whereas Bricktown serves multiple populations.

There's parts of Bricktown I like, but for the most part, it lacks a coziness that BD & Brady have, though the BD and Brady relationship is clumsy for reasons stated by SXSW.  I don't know it's a lifestyle orientation so much.  If you are hinting that these districts have more of an appeal for a younger demographic, I can see where you could draw that conclusion with the bars and some of the smaller retail operations.  The entertainment options though really offer something for all ages, like sports and four good size concert/performing arts venues offering something for every taste.  I like to see some of the retailers like Lee's and Fleet Feet moving to the area.  Those two stores will also appeal to a broad demographic as I see runners and cyclists ranging from just nearly out of diapers to the '80's (about ready for diapers again )

[heironymouspasparagus]

I had forgotten that Dean did the pizza commercial music!

And George's Mommy did it first!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6i83V6mpUM

And GaGa did the Americano version!  Love it!!

[carltonplace]

"Big Night", is a great movie!  Everyone who enjoys food should watch it at least once..

one of my faves, you'll be starving for a good meal when the credits roll. 

[we vs us]

one of my faves, you'll be starving for a good meal when the credits roll. 

I always feel bloated and hungover.  But it's still a good flick.

[Kenosha]

Everybody knows that the Rosemary Clooney version is the correct version.