Devon presents the 11th annual Downtown in December

Oklahoma families can enjoy a plethora of holiday activities this winter at the 11th annual Downtown in December. Downtown in December is presented by Devon and made possible by generous sponsorships from local businesses and organizations.

“Downtown Oklahoma City has been our home for more than 40 years,” said Wendi Schuur, Devon’s director of public and community affairs. “Many Oklahomans have incorporated ice skating and other activities into their family’s holiday tradition, and we are delighted to work with Downtown OKC, Inc. and other downtown businesses to provide even more opportunities for families to come downtown and experience a festive atmosphere and abundant activities.”

Downtown in December is a 40-day series of family-friendly holiday events, most of which are offered free of charge to the community. The events and attractions will run from Nov. 23, 2012 through Jan. 1, 2013. For more information and a complete schedule of activities, visit DowntowninDecember.com.

SandRidge Tree Lighting Festival kicks off the holiday season

Join us at the SandRidge Tree Lighting Festival on Friday, Nov. 23 from 6-8 p.m. at the Third Base Plaza outside Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Mickey Mantle Drive.

Guests will enjoy live music, food and fun as Mayor Cornett lights the Christmas tree for the season. Santa will be at the festival to take free professional photos with the kids, which are printed on site immediately.

Local band Banana Seat will provide live music for the evening as guests snack on Harkins’ popcorn, Nonna’s cookies and sip hot cocoa. There will even be a face painter for the kids and live ice carving! Some lucky festival guests will also receive a free copy of a special holiday CD titled "Songs for the Season," presented by DOKC, Inc. and the Oklahoma Chevy Team Dealers, featuring 12 local Chevy Music Showcase artists sharing custom arrangements of their favorite holiday songs.

Festival attendees may also enjoy free Bricktown Water Taxi Rides between 6 and 9:30 p.m.  This event is free and open to the public.

Devon invites Santa to downtown OKC for the holidays

Families are invited to visit Devon’s Saturdays with Santa during this year's Downtown in December. Guests of all ages will enjoy free holiday entertainment each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Nov. 24 through Dec. 22.

Meet Santa and his crew, write letters to the North Pole, create your own holiday crafts and enjoy holiday musical entertainment. On select Saturdays, a few of Santa’s live reindeer will join the fun and families can even play in snow flurries! It's all happening at the Devon Rotunda (333 W. Sheridan Ave.) Admission is free.

Following is a schedule of activities:

November 24 - Toyland
December 1 - The North Pole
December 8 - A Christmas Carol
December 15 - Whoville
December 22 - Let it Snow

Visit DowntownInDecember.com for more details... and don't forget to 'like' Devon's Saturdays with Santa Facebook page!

Chesapeake Snow Tubing offers thrills to holiday adventure-seekers in Bricktown

Cruise down one of the country’s largest manmade snow tubing slopes at Chesapeake Energy’s Snow Tubing at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. This snowy adventure is one of the most popular events at Downtown in December, presented by Devon Energy and this year, the slope is better than ever.

“Over the field we go” will have new meaning as riders slide from the ballpark’s upper deck all the way to the field on a hill of manmade snow. The snow tubes and snow are even provided in sunny weather, and for those seeking less of an adrenaline rush, a second, smaller slide will have children and moderate thrill seekers dashing through the snow.

Chesapeake Snow Tubing is open Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24 – Dec. 16 and open daily between Dec. 20 and Jan. 5. Hours of operation vary day-to-day and admission is $10 for each 90-minute session. Session size is limited, but guests may book private parties in advance by calling (405) 218-1000. Session times, holiday hours and online ticket sales are available at DowntownInDecember.com.

OneMain Financial lights up the Bricktown canal

OneMain Financial’s Bricktown Canal Lights will brighten your Bricktown experience as you stroll the canal and enjoy the dining and shopping along downtown OKC's premier entertainment district. 

“As a community lender, our roots go back 100 years and so does our commitment to the customers we serve and communities where we live, work and do business,” said Casey Balke, OneMain Financial District Manager. “So, we are proud to once again be the title sponsor of the Bricktown Canal Lights – a growing holiday tradition that recognizes, entertains and brings our neighbors together.”

The OneMain Bricktown Canal Lights will be on display from Nov. 23, through Jan. 1. Also, check out the Free Water Taxi Rides on certain nights of the week throughout the season.

Catch a free holiday movie, courtesy of Continental Resources

Every Monday night at 7 p.m. throughout the Downtown in December season, Continental Resources will host Free Movie Mondays at Harkins Theatres in Bricktown. To attend the free screenings, all you have to do is sign up online. Check out the movie lineup:

• Nov. 26 - Polar Express [sold out]
• Dec.  3 - Arthur Christmas
• Dec. 10 - White Christmas
• Dec. 17 - It’s a Wonderful Life
• Dec. 24  - Miracle on 34th Street
• Dec. 31 - Home Alone

The first movie is already full and the rest are guranteed to fill up quickly... so keep checking DowntownInDecember.com to sign up for upcoming movies!

Seek out Sonic Segway Santa this season

Keep an eye out for Santa as he tours downtown events on his Segway and delivers goodies for both kids and adults. You never know when Santa might be just around the corner with special holiday giveaways and treats.

This year, he is also traveling around town with a Verizon Galaxy tablet to take photos and email them to you. Follow @downtownokcinc on Twitter to learn when and where Santa will be.

Who's who downtown

This week's Who's Who features Matt and Sara - co-owners of downtown's new grocery store, Native Roots Market (131 NE 2nd Street in Deep Deuce). Everyone is invited to celebrate the opening of this highly anticipated market at a ribbon cutting event tomorrow, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. 

Tell us a little bit about Native Roots Market.
Native Roots Market is a full service grocery store--kind of a throw back to the corner store style grocers of the days before mega-marts. We've carefully curated our selection to offer the best products available. About a third of our inventory comes from Oklahoma farmers and artisan food makers. The next thing we look for is family-owned and independent companies, whether that's the small family farm in Blanchard that makes goat soap or the fair trade olive oil cooperative in Palestine. We like to work with vendors that treat their workers like family and share our values of community support! Oh, and we have a killer Spice Bar & Deli...Chef Tim is ready to feed the whole neighborhood and Spice Cowboy Doug can mix you up any spice blend you can imagine!

Why is it so important to shop local, anyway?
Well, we could write a book in answer to that question! But mostly it's about building local communities and economies. Everyone gets the chance to vote with their dollars everyday - we choose to help our neighbors.

What’s do you like most about your job?
Eating and sharing food with our neighbors 

Not only does your family do business on the ground floor of LEVEL Urban Apartments, you live at LEVEL too. What’s the best part about living and working downtown?
So many things to love: Myriad Gardens, not commuting, the recycling chute in our building, great public art. Also, Matt's family has deep roots in OKC, so it's exciting to be living and working in the same area that his grandfather and great, great grandfather worked. 

If you were trapped on a deserted island and could only take one downtown restaurant with you, which one would you take and why?
Just one, really? Got to say the Wedge in Deep Deuce. Pizza & beer is always the perfect meal and the fenced-in patio outside is great for our kiddo to run around.

Where can we find you when you’re not working? What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend or a Sunday afternoon?
Walking anywhere (generally to get coffee at Coffee Slingers or Elemental) with our daugher Stella and our 130 pound dog Monty (yes, he's on twitter, @DeepDeuceDogOKC).

For more info about Native Roots Market, visit nativerootsmarket.com. Also check out this recent Native Roots feature on NewsOK.com!

A Streetcar We Desire

On Tuesday, Nov. 20, the OKC Downtown College will host a free luncheon seminar featuring an update on the plans for downtown’s upcoming streetcar system. Jim Robertson of Jacobs, the streetcar planning consultant, will present, along with a few added comments by the MAPS3 Project Office and COTPA/METRO Transit.  The event is sponsored by the Oklahoma Alliance for Public Transportation (APT). 

Food and drinks will be provided complements of APT for those who RSVP by 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 19. To reserve your spot, contact the OKC Downtown College at 405.232.3382 or info@downtowncollege.com. 

The Tuesday Topics Series is sponsored by OKC Downtown College, Allegiance Credit Union, Downtown OKC Incorporated, and the Norick Downtown library.

Thunder up!

Hey Thunder fans! Mark these dates on your calendar:

Friday, Nov. 9 - Detroit Pistons / OKC Thunder, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 11 - Cleveland Cavaliers / OKC Thunder, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 14 - Memphis Grizzlies / OKC Thunder, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 18 - Golden State Warriors / OKC Thunder, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 21 - L.A. Clippers / OKC Thunder, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 26 - Charlotte Bobcats / OKC Thunder, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 28 - Houston Rockets / OKC Thunder, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 30 - Utah Jazz / OKC Thunder, 7 p.m.

Visit nba.com/thunder to view the full schedule.

Go support your OKC Barons

It's true... there's never been a better time to check out an OKC Barons game. Mark these dates on your calendar so you don't miss the action:

Friday, Nov. 16 - OKC Barons vs. Milwaukee Admirals, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 17 - OKC Barons vs. Milwaukee Admirals, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 21 - OKC Barons at Texas Stars, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 24 - OKC Barons at Charlotte Checkers, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 25 - OKC Barons at Charlotte Checkers, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 29 - OKC Barons at Houston Aeros, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 30 - OKC Barons at Houston Aeros, 7:05 p.m.

Visit okcbarons.com to view the full schedule.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is coming through OKC

Visit the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree as it comes through Oklahoma City on its way to Washington, D.C.!

When: Friday, Nov. 16, 2-3pm
Where: Myriad Botanical Gardens Boulder Fountain (Robinson & Sheridan)

Come celebrate this annual holiday tradition and enjoy:

• Visits with Santa Claus
• Free apple cider
• Giveaways for free ice skating tickets
• Learning about the tree’s journey and the National Forest Service

At the event, attendees may also bring a toy to donate to Toys for Tots or coats and nonperishable foods to give to our local Rotary clubs. Track the location of the tree as it travels across the U.S. at capitolchristmastree2012.org or on Twitter at @CapitolTree2012.

Bring your pup to the Downtown Dogs playgroup

Urban Neighbors, downtown OKC's neighborhood association, invites all downtown dogs (and their humans) to join “Downtown Dogs!” On the first and third Thursday of every month, Urban Neighbors will gather at the Myriad Gardens Dog Park for a yappy hour right after work.

From 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., let your dog play while you meet your neighbors and learn about downtown’s neighborhood association.

...Just a reminder, if you plan on walking to the park, don’t forget to pick up after your pet!

Other downtown news

Bricktown Holiday Inn Express back on track in Oklahoma City 
Plans for a Holiday Inn Express in Bricktown are back on track with a new developer and more ambitious designs in Oklahoma City.

Devon Energy prepares to celebrate first Christmas in new headquarters
Preparations for the first Christmas at the new 50-story headquarters for Devon Energy are well underway.

Temporary eatery, pop-up shops are set to open at Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City
A temporary eatery and pop-up shops are set to open this winter as part of the expanding Downtown in December festivities at the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City.

Sefolosha Visits, Donates to CHAPPS Program

Other downtown events

Art Moves, Presented by Devon, various locations, ongoing

American Moderns, 1910–1960: From O’Keeffe to Rockwell, OKCMOA, ongoing

Nov. 15 - Downtown Dogs, Myriad Gardens Dog Park, 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 15 - Happy Birthday, Georgia O'Keeffe, OKCMOA

Nov. 16 - Native Roots Market Ribbon Cutting, 10 a.m.

Nov. 16 - OKC Thunder at New Orleans Hornets, 7pm

Nov. 16 - A Perfect Finish, wine and food tasting, Boathouse District

Nov. 16-18 - Discover the Dinosaurs, Cox Convention Center

Nov. 17 - Natural Creations Jewelry, Myriad Gardens

Nov. 17- Blazing Colors with a French Twist, Civic Center

Nov. 18 - OKC Thunder at Golden State Warriors, 6pm

Nov. 19 - Wiz Khalifa Concert, Chesapeake Energy Arena

Nov. 19 - Tai Chi for Better Balance, Downtown Library

Nov. 20 - Straight No Chaser Concert, Civic Center

Nov. 20 - Tiny Tuesdays: Thanksgiving Crowns, OKCMOA

Nov. 21 - OKC Thunder vs L.A. Clippers, 6:30pm

Nov. 23 - Devon Ice Rink opens, Myriad Botanical Gardens

Nov. 23 - OKC Thunder at Boston Celtics, 6:30pm

Nov. 23 - Holiday River Parade, Boathouse District

Nov. 23 - Rick Ross, Meek Mill and Wale, Chesapeake Arena

Nov. 23 - Turkey Trot, Myriad Gardens

Nov. 24 - OKC Thunder at Philadelphia Sixers, 6pm

Nov. 25-Jan. 1 - North Pole Winter Wonderland Holiday Exhibit presented by OG&E, Myriad Gardens

Nov. 26 - OKC Thunder vs. Charlotte Bobcats, 7pm

Nov. 28 - OKC Thunder vs. Houston Rockets, 7pm

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 - Real Music Weekend, OKCMOA

Nov. 29-Dec. 1 - The Christmas Show, Civic Center

Nov. 30 - OKC Thunder vs. Utah Jazz, 7pm

Dec. 3 - OKC Boulevard presentation, Coca Cola Event Center, 5:30pm

Dec. 6 - Downtown Dogs, Myriad Gardens Dog Park, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 7-9 - OKC Ballet's The Nutcracker, Civic Center

Dec. 8 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Chesapeake Arena

Dec. 20 - Downtown Dogs, Myriad Gardens Dog Park, 5:30 p.m.

Project180 Update

Don't frown at the construction downtown... let us show you how to get around!

Visit the Project180 website or check them out on Facebook and Twitter

Be informed and prepared for traffic changes downtown by joining the Project180 mailing list

Get the Project180 weekly map here

Check out the Downtown Traffic Advisory updates. This list provides a summary of downtown streets expected to be under construction for the next few weeks.

Connect with Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc.

Like us on Facebook: Downtown OKC, Inc.
Follow us on Twitter: @DowntownOKCInc

211 North Robinson
Suite 225
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.235.3500

downtownokc.com