The "this has nothing to do with Tulsa" mega-post

[Red Arrow]

That is a seriously ugly building. Damn.

NO SH!T Sherlock.

[Laramie]

Event showcases Asian food, culture

Pics taken Saturday June 15, Asian Night Market Festival, Photos published in the Oklahoman June 17, 2019 [SARAH PHIPPS, PHOTOS/THE OKLAHOMAN]

                   
Tamii Souna performs a Lao style of dance Saturday during the Asian Night Market Festival at Military Park in Oklahoma City.

                   

Zonly Looman paints during the Asian Night Market Festival.


                   

Members of the Vien Giac Buddhist Temple Lion Dance troupe entertain guests during the lion dance competition.

Military Park, Oklahoma City

The "Brothers in Arms" sculpture honors those who fought during the Vietnam War. The monument is designed to show the brotherhood that developed between the American and the South Vietnamese soldiers.   The monument is located in Oklahoma City's Military Park, 1200 NW 24th Street, near North Classen Boulevard.

[Laramie]

Norman, Oklahoma

THURSDAY, June 20                                       
Jazz in the Park                                       

FRIDAY, June 21
Jazz Under The Stars

SATURDAY, 22
Blues Under The Stars

Brookhaven Village & Andrews Park:  http://www.jazzinjune.org/schedule/

         

[Laramie]

Saturday - JUNE 29, 2019

JUNE • Stars & Stripes River Festival: https://www.riversportokc.org/events/stars-stripes-river-festival/

[Laramie]

OKC'S CANAL ZONE

After 20 years, change remains constant along Bricktown Canal

By Steve Lackmeyer, Business writer

When the canal first opened, it held the promise of restaurants to come, but the old brick warehouses were still in various stages of renovation and nothing but dirt surrounded the canal where Lower Bricktown is today.

Visitors on this 20th anniversary can choose among more than a dozen restaurants; a handful of nightclubs, including a dueling piano bar; a bowling alley; laser tag; two entertainment centers; a miniature golf course; a 16-screen movie theater; and gift and retail stores

OKC'S CANAL ZONE  http://digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/default.aspx

An estimated 7.5 million people visit Oklahoma City throughout the year, according to Lindsay Vidrine, vice president of destination marketing for Visit OKC. Many of those visitors make a stop or several on the canal.

The Brickopolis miniature golf course is a popular attraction along the Bricktown Canal on a summer evening. [DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN]

Canal continues to draw crowds:
By Kaelan Deese, Staff writer

The Bricktown Canal is celebrating 20 years in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City this year, where it continues to entertain crowds of all ages.

Built in 1999, OKC's canal flows between a sprawling strip of diverse restaurants, entertainment and family-fun venues for locals and visitors alike, with walkways and water taxis available for transport along the waterway.

"When we got to our hotel, I was surprised by how modern everything looked around the area. I'm excited to learn more about Oklahoma's history on the taxi tour," said Stephanie Boyd, who traveled from Louisiana to bring her kids to the National Beta Club Junior Convention held this year in downtown Oklahoma City.

"I didn't know what to expect coming to Oklahoma, but it honestly feels like New York," said Brendan DeGal, a student attending Beta's robotics competition.

An estimated 7.5 million people visit Oklahoma City throughout the year, according to Lindsay Vidrine, vice president of destination marketing for Visit OKC. Many of those visitors make a stop or several on the canal.

"Summers are by far our busiest time in the city," Vidrine said.

One recent visitor was surprised by the hospitality that she experienced during her trip.

"Being from Louisiana, I am used to strangers being polite and kind but so far I have experienced nothing but greatness from the people of Oklahoma," Synthia Jesse said.

In addition to a water taxi ride, families often enjoy activities like playing mini golf, visiting an indoor arcade, bowling or watching a movie.

With restaurants including longtime tenants Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse and Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill, there's no shortage of places to visit and things to do.

There are also landmarks and points of interest that are highlighted by the taxi guides along the canal.

The Centennial Land Run Monument is a spot to see some of the many bronze statues located alongside the waterway.

The monument showcases 38 sculptures of cowboys, horses and wagons in commemoration of the opening of the Unassigned Land in Oklahoma Territory with the Land Run of 1889.

Authorized by city council on July 31, 2001, more additions to the monument are planned until 2020.

A "party like it's 1999" event is planned for Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. as part of the canal's 20th anniversary celebrations, hosted by Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership.

Numerous businesses around the waterway will be celebrating with special deals and activities for all ages.

Oklahoman:  Sunday, June 23, 2019

[joiei]

Norman, Oklahoma

THURSDAY, June 20                                       
Jazz in the Park                                       

FRIDAY, June 21
Jazz Under The Stars

SATURDAY, 22
Blues Under The Stars

Brookhaven Village & Andrews Park:  http://www.jazzinjune.org/schedule/

         

I find we have enough free music events happening here in Tulsa that driving down to OKC is not that appealing.  Guthrie Green. 

[rebound]

  I find we have enough free music events happening here in Tulsa that driving down to OKC is not that appealing.  Guthrie Green. 

Laramie tends to over-post mundane OKC events.   I understand  (and am interested in) major happenings in OKC, but small weekend events and such isn't notable  to a Tulsa crowd.

[Laramie]

Heartland Payments tower progress...

The steel skeleton structure has reached its full height.

Different angles of how the finished tower will appear.

[swake]

Heartland Payments tower progress...

Seven stories is now a tower?

[rebound]

Seven stories is now a tower?

Hey,  the first "skyscraper" was only ten stories.  But that was in 1885, so...   

[Laramie]

What's new with NBA arenas:

New Gathering Spaces

There has been a trend across major sports of adding more gathering spaces to facilities. That has particularly held true around the NBA and NHL, thanks to renovations that have made them a focal point of their projects.

Technology Upgrades

In order to help connect fans while providing the latest in audio and video production, several arenas have received technology upgrades. Many renovations have resulted in new videoboards and new audio systems, with upgraded Wi-Fi often factoring in as well, but a few in particular have stood out.

Localized Concessions

Upgrading physical stands and incorporating technology in some form, such as self-serve kiosks or mobile ordering, are fairly commonplace in renovation projects. An increasing trend is also seeing teams emphasize local food offerings in their revamped concessions, giving event goers a taste of the city.

Future Upgrades for Chesapeake Energy Arena $8,865,000:

Passage of the Oklahoma City 2017 General Obligation Bond election provides $8,865,000 for the purpose of repairing, renovating, remodeling, improving, equipping and furnishing the City's Downtown Arena.     Yes    21,106    50.68%  -  No    20,542    49.32%

Thunder Alley:  $10 million development.

If approved by the Urban Renewal Authority, the proposal calls for construction to start by spring 2020 with an opening a year later. Randy Hogan, who developed Lower Bricktown and East Wharf, said Tuesday the complex is designed to create a year-round attraction that can host summer basketball camps, corporate events and festivals.

Youtube video Thunder Alley Entertainment District:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iaE-33HKdo

Localized Concessions would be the next area we would need to address for The Peake.

What else is needed to keep our downtown arena up to date?

Sources:    Current Trends in NBA and NHL Arena Renovations:  https://arenadigest.com/2018/11/28/current-trends-nba-nhl-arena-renovations/

Thunder Alley entertainment complex proposed for downtown OKC:  https://oklahoman.com/article/5627534/thunder-alley-proposed

[Laramie]

 

Oklahoma City Convention Center Complex, Omni Hotel & Convention Center Garage will overlook Scissortail Park

Meet in OKC | The Newest Meetings Destination video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewgYxukipM4

Construction on the 70 acre Scissortail Park; 40-acre Upper Park will open at the end of September with a three-day grand opening celebration; meanwhile work continues on the 30 acre section south of the Oklahoma River beyond Skydance Bridge.



These 3 pics, via OKCTalk shows how massive the $288 million convention center complex looks.  Construction continues on the 200,000 sq. ft. exhibition hall, 45,000-square-foot meeting space, 30,000-square-foot ballroom.  A $30 million, 1,000 space parking garage with an additional 500 spaces for surface parking will add to the available parking in OKC's core.


Work continues on the $235.5 million 605 room, 17 story Omni Headquarters convention hotel. A total of 738 rooms will be available for convention goers with the recently completed 133 room Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites by Tulsa developer Andy Patel. Omni holds the 'hotel development option' to develop a new hotel on the 4 sq block site of the Cox Convention Center (Old Myriad CC), once demolished.

Modern $136 million OKC Streetcar routes 5.6 miles along Midtown, Automobile Alley, Scissortail Park, Convention Center Complex, Chesapeake Energy Arena & Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.


As MAPS 3 Initiative wraps up its $777 million of construction projects along with the $235.5 million Omni Hotel, construction will begin on $967 million general obligation bond approved in 2017 that will provide construction on streets, bridges, drainage control, transit, traffic control, ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Civic Center complex, city maintenance, parks & recreation.   $3 billion in public-private MAPS-Bonds construction development projects will boost Oklahoma City's economy into the turn of 2020.

Hotel room count will increase to 4,650 rooms, with housing in the core approaching 6,000 units.

Oklahoma City's MAPS IV initiative will be presented before the voters in 2020; expected to place over $1 billion plus initiatives will include a proposed expansion of Oklahoma River development, Bricktown Canal,  $100 million State Fair Coliseum & a $65 - $80 million state of the art Soccer-American football stadium.

[Laramie]

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243rd Independence Day

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Hope you have an enjoyable & safe 4th of July.   Take your time on the roads today, stay focused fellow Tulsans, allow yourself plenty of time for travel; those of you visiting lakes, observe all safety rules & regulations.

--Always in my heart, Laramie

[Laramie]

Two new restaurants opening in Paseo District.


FRIDA Southwest, the new American/southwest restaurant and bar by Humankind Hospitality, is in the midst of training and will open later in July in the Paseo District.
Link via OKCTalk:  https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=625-Gorgeous-Frida-Southwest-nears-completion

                                       Paseo Arts District:  NW 28th & Walker Ave. to NW 30th St. & Dewey Ave.


Gun Izakaya opens Friday in the Paseo.
Link via OKCTalk:  https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=626-Gun-Izakaya-opens-Friday-in-the-Paseo

Oklahoma City Free Visitors Guide:  https://www.visitokc.com/about-okc/okc-districts/paseo-arts-district/

[Laramie]

Starting construction on the 9th floor of this 17 floor structure.
Join the discussion at OKCTalk.com: https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=35905&page=84&p=1081310#post1081310