Happy Holidays

Well, the holidays treated me much like they do every year. After months of anticipation, the actual merrymaking of the season is so short-lived and always leaves me feeling a bit teased for more holiday pleasure.

Fear not! Holiday activities aren't halting yet.

Pending the removal of the last bit of Blizzard '09, the festivities of Downtown in December will be in full swing tomorrow.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is working diligently to clear pathways for those of you who might have a hankering for the arts tomorrow.

Also, the skating rink will still be up and ready for skaters.

If you aren't in the mood to prepare food for those out of town guests, remember that The Wedge is open, and a great representation of the delicious foods OKC has to offer.

As for tonight, if you are in need of a good workout after all the food you've consumed, hit up Kamp's for a wonderful dance party! The celebration is for Dance Robots Dance 4-Year Anniversary Party w/ Jeremy Dawson of Shiny Toy Guns! It's guaranteed to be a good time, as always.

There's also a full lineup and $5 cover at The Conservatory, and they're open at Paralogia and VZD's if you need to pop in and get a cocktail after dealing with your family.

Be safe and stay warm.

And until next time, get out there and enjoy your city!

The Hidden Castle is waiting...

As a lover of music, I generally tend to adopt a few bands and follow them as avidly as possible.

My New Shirt is one of those bands for me, and they are quite fantastic. Currently they're working on getting together an album. Finding time for studio is difficult since they all work full-time jobs.

However, when a gig pops open, they eagerly accept the chance to showcase their beautiful music.

Last night was no different, and they happily accepted an invitation at The Hidden Castle in Norman, Oklahoma.

Now, with a name like The Hidden Castle, one does have to assume the worst. We did, and all the way to the gig wondered what would come of the night. Rumored to have one of the best stages and sound systems, The Castle offered the most important quality in an unseen/unplayed venue.

Upon arrival the confusion was perpetuated, as The Hidden Castle was quite literally a castle. Really the only thing missing was a moat and possibly a dragon, but who really needs a dragon around anyway?

The door man was very helpful and friendly, as well as the owner. They worked for over an hour fine tuning during the set up, and the end product was a clear, solid sound.

The venue itself has some charm. There are comfortable booths and plenty of chairs. There are some pool tables in the back to provide entertainment for those who need to move around a bit.

The decorations, though a bit lacking, weren't a complete distraction. Since they've only reopened a few weeks back I'll cut them some slack. Same for the bar. All they currently have is beer (domestic $2 and imported $2.50). The owner let us know they'll soon have a full bar.

Rite On played after My New Shirt, and they were a fun, energetic band. I think you can catch them all around the city, so check out their Facebook for upcoming shows.

All in all The Hidden Castle left me with a good feeling. My New Shirt was invited back, so I'm excited to head back down in a couple of months and see their progress.

Just an FYI: I've been told that The Hidden Castle used to be Buzz's Subs. So if you want to drive by and see the joint, or if you want to make a trek down to see some music, that should get you there.

Until next time, get out there and enjoy the city!

That's Why They Call It Hidden Treasure

What is a city, but the people; true the people are the city. -William Shakespeare

It's really high time I come out.

It's been weighing heavily on me for several months now, so I'm going to be completely honest with you.

For years, just like most forward-thinking, artistically driven, culture-seeking people, I've planned my escape from Oklahoma. I've spent more hours than I care to reveal plotting and planning, bashing this state I call home.

Several months back, on my way home from the Plaza District, I was struck with a very funny feeling. It literally overtook me, and I was unable to return home. Instead I took a detour down 36th street to Western Avenue, my favorite street in the city.

After about 30 minutes of intense driving, I realized the feeling that had overcome me was that of contentment. A smile lit up my face as I made my way home that night, and I resolved to make the best of this fantastic little (and growing) city.

For you naysayers, take heed.

This year, Forbes voted Oklahoma City as the most recession-proof place to live.

Also, Lonely Planet lists OKC as one of the best made-over cities in the US. With the excitement of MAPS3, the recent legislation passed in OKC for overall city improvement, things will only get better from this point out.

These are both attractants when one considers a place to live, a place to call home.

Whether you are actively planning your departure, considering a life sublime in the OKC metro, or currently letting your roots grow, you'll need things to do to feed your passions and grow you into a better individual.

That's where I come in! Who is this girl? you might ask yourself.

Well, I'm sure there are lots of things I'm not, but to be quite frank, I'm much more concerned with those things I am and will be.

That being said, I'm likely one of the coolest people you'll meet. I think home is where your heart is, which is with those who you love. I actively surround myself with the most interesting, intelligent, and thoughtful individuals, and we hang out in the coolest places.

So, this will be a blog of recommendations. I stay pretty social, even during the week, and I'd like to challenge you to enjoy this city you call home (for however long that will be).




**sorry about the ridiculous video**

This is what my week looks like:

Monday - My New Shirt and P.S. Conductor at The Venue OKC (This place is in the Plaza District, right where Convergence used to be.)
Tuesday - Paralogia Ultra Lounge (Admittedly a bit douche-y on the weekends, during the week you can enjoy free parking, excellent music, and an art/indie crowd.)
Wednesday - took the night off, but my first choice would have been the best weekly dance party in OK, Robotic Wednesdays, which is now at Kamp's. If you don't know where Kamp's is, then you should probably figure that out soon.
Thursday - The holidays are conflicting with my social calendar! I won't be there, but a great option for Thursday is the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Couch Lounge. They have a lovely gathering of fantastic people, set in a relaxing and artistic environment.
Friday - I'll be mixing business and pleasure at my favorite venue in the city, The Lobby Bar.
Saturday - I plan to get my humanitarian on with a Cycle-a-Thon at my gym, Aspen Penn Square.
Sunday - Oklahoma City Museum of Art is offering free admission for the month of December. For those of you who aren't already members, you should take advantage of that.

Remember that it's Downtown in December! There are many things to choose from for the weekend if you need more ideas.