Bike tours help you get up-close-and-personal with OKC

Have you ever wondered what that crazy sculpture is called? Have you ever wanted to dazzle your friends with your intimate knowledge of our city's rich history? Check out the Downtown OKC Bike Tours. It's fun and it's free.

Each tour is led by an expert guide who will reveal the people, places and stories that have made Oklahoma City rich with culture. As opposed to simply driving through downtown, bike tours give you a more in-depth look at neighborhoods and buildings. The casual atmosphere of the tours allows for more questions and interaction with the experts guiding the tours.

Tuesday, Oct. 2 - History tour, Bob Blackburn, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society
Tuesday, Oct. 9 - Public art tour, Peter Dolese, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City
Tuesday, Oct. 16 - Architecture, Anthony McDermid, Founding Principal at TAP Architecture

The tours begin at 6 p.m. Each one lasts approximately one hour and will cover about 2.5 to 3 miles. The tours are free, but space is limited, so sign up today.

For more information, visit downtownokc.com or call 405.235.3500.

Who's who downtown?

Meet Jabee - an Oklahoma City native who performed his first rap at age 7 and hasn't looked back since. He's one of Oklahoma's fastest rising stars and a staple in the downtown OKC music scene.

Your ‘Cool’ music video featuring OKC made headlines after it premiered at the 2011 ADDY Awards. What inspired you to write that song?
The inspiration was OKC and the idea came from Brian Winkler. I met with him, Steve Jones and Maureen Horton to discuss the collaboration. After that meeting I just explored my vision of OKC, got with Denver Duncan and we just started writing. (See the video here.)

Locals can see you performing at downtown hot spots like IAO Gallery, Urban Roots and the Mustache Bash. What’s your favorite downtown venue?
I love playing at the Mustache Bash, and IAO is awesome too, I love  playing there when I can, any place downtown that will allow me to rock, I love!

What’s your favorite downtown lunch spot?
For lunch I like Coney Island, or that new pizza spot next to the IAO, Joey's Pizzeria, for dinner.

If you had one hour to spend $1,000 in downtown OKC, how would you spend it?
I'd buy the closest seats I could get to the floor at a Thunder game for my mom and me.

What would you do if you could be the Mayor for one day?
I would try and put Christmas lights on the trees of East side of MLK Boulevard during Christmas time.

Where can we find you when you’re not working? What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend or a Sunday afternoon?
If I'm not on the road or at a show, I like to sit at home chill and watched Snapped. And on Sundays I like to go to the Cage basketball tournament games at the downtown community basketball court.

Jabee's latest track, "Stephanie," produced by EL-P will be released on vinyl soon. But you can check out this sneak preview online. If you like what you hear, follow Jabee on Twitter to get the latest news about his upcoming release party. You can also hear more music at iamjabee.me or iamjabee.bandcamp.com. 

The Movie Clubbed takes on Skatetown U.S.A.

First of all, let us explain The Movie Clubbed...

The Movie Clubbed is comprised of local funny men Greg Elwell (Oklahoma Gazette food critic), Spencer Hicks (OKC Comedy, The Lost Ogle), Rod Lott (Oklahoma Gazette film critic, FlickAttack.com), Brian Winkeler (Bastard Road, Robot House Creative) and Richard York (American Boyfriends, Oklahoma Gazette).

Back in March, they took the Oklahoma City Museum of Art's film program to a whole new level: they performed live comedy commentary to one of the worst science fiction films ever made -  ZARDOZ. The event was sold out. The Movie Clubbed received rounds of laughter and applause.

For their second go-round of live movie mockery on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m., the five members of The Movie Clubbed present the 1979 rock and roller disco movie of the year, Skatetown, U.S.A.

You really really won't want to miss it, so get all the details on the OKC Museum of Art website. 

Are BREW ready?

Head to the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Friday, September 28 for an evening of craft beers, great food and good times at Beerfest presented by Miller Lite. What's better than a night out with friends, a good brew in hand and live music from local favorite, the Jason Young Band?

Other events taking place during the evening include a raffle, a silent auction benefitting Warriors for Freedom, games and a major league baseball watch party. The gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the band goes on at 7:00 p.m.

Featured beers available for purchase include: Redd's Apple Ale, Leinenkugel Lemon Berry Shandy, Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Miller Lite, Coors, Coors Light, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Boulevard Wheat, Boulevard Single Wide I.P.A. and Shiner Bock.

Advance tickets are $10 and include a Beerfest koozie. Plus, the first 500 tickets sold will include a free Beerfest t-shirt! Tickets at the door are $15 and include a Beerfest koozie. Designated driver tickets are also available for $5 and include a Beerfest koozie and unlimited soft drinks. Get more information about Beerfest or click here to purchase your tickets online. 

SchlegelFest is almost here!

You're invited to the 5th Annual SchlegelFest on Sunday, Oct. 7 from 12 - 5 p.m. at 900 N. Broadway. There will be free drinks and beer and food from Big Truck Tacos and Mutt's Amazing Hot Dogs!

Fun for kids
Ride through the bike safety obstacle course and learn tips for Halloween provided by Safe Kids Oklahoma. Enjoy a bounce house, face painting and pumpkin decorating! Hear about how to get your family active with Oklahoma's most inspiring 12-year-old, Mason Harvey from Strive for 85.

Fun for adults too

Besides the free beer, gather around as Schlegel staff demonstrate bicycle maintenance and triathlon clinics. Meet vendors and sample new products. Also, join in supporting non-profit organizations and purchase raffle tickets for fantastic prizes ranging from local gift cards to great gear... maybe even a bike!

Get all the details at schlegelbicycles.com.

U.S. Navy Band Performance this weekend

The U.S. Navy Band will perform live on the Myriad Botanical Gardens Grand Lawn this weekend, Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. The performance is free and open to the public. Don't miss it - we heard they're really good!

Oklahoma Regatta Festival

Oklahoma City’s premier fall event, the Oklahoma Regatta Festival is a four-day celebration of rowing, kayaking, dragon boating, stand up paddle boarding and family fun on the Oklahoma River. This year’s festival will take place Thursday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 30 and includes the blū VIP Party, Oklahoma City University Head of the Oklahoma racing, OGE NightSprints…and a family festival featuring live music, a children’s area, food from some of Oklahoma City’s best restaurants, a wine garden and a front row seat for all the racing! Here's a rundown of some of the events. For full details, visit OklahomaRiverEvents.org. 

Oklahoma Regatta Run
The Run is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Boathouse District located at Lincoln Blvd. and S.E. 6th Street south of Bricktown. Part of the annual Oklahoma Regatta Festival, the certified run is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Cost to participate in the Oklahoma Regatta Run is $25 and each runner will receive a race t-shirt. For more information and to register, visit oklahomariverevents.org.

blu VIP Party
The blu VIP Party is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Devon Boathouse at S.E. 6th St. and Lincoln Blvd in the Boathouse District. This year’s event, themed blu galaxy, will feature delicious food, beverages, and live entertainment in a relaxed, hip environment. The blu VIP Party starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets to the party, visit blu2012.org.

Help clean up the Oklahoma River!
To prepare for the event, volunteers are planning to gather to help clean up the river before visitors from around the country come visit.The clean-up is happening Sept. 22 from 9-11 a.m. All are welcome! For more information visit the Oklahoma River Cleanup Facebook page.

The Myriad Gardens is about to announce something big!

The Fred Jones Family Foundation and the Myriad Gardens are making a major announcement this Friday, Sept. 21 at 10:45 a.m. The announcement will take place within the Children's Garden at the Myriad Gardens and everyone ia invited to attend.

Get checked out at the library

Sign up for speed dating at the library and get checked out! Bring a book you love or loathe as a conversation starter and begin a new chapter in The Book of Love.

Three sessions will be available for two different age groups:

• Oct. 4, 6-8 p.m., ages 30-40
• Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m., ages 41-55
• Oct. 20, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., ages 56+

Each session is free, but space is limited, so register online at MetroLibrary.org today to reserve your spot.

Knees up, mates!

Mark your calendars for Friday, Sept. 21. The cool kids at ACM@UCO will host their first ever British Invasion Dance Party at 8 p.m. at the Performance Lab (329 E Sheridan).  

Come hear the SpyFM DJs E-Roy from the Toaster Brunch and Kenworth from Freakbeat Radio as well as live music from The Lost Boys (featuring various ACM@UCO students).

The event is totally free and open to the public. Get all the details at the British Invasion Dance Party event page on Facebook. 

Bag it!

The film Bag It has been garnering awards at film festivals across the nation. What started as a documentary about plastic bags evolved into a wholesale investigation into plastics and their effect on our waterways, oceans, and even our bodies.

Join us tonight, Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. for a screening of Bag It at Elemental Coffee (815 N. Hudson). For more info, visit the event page on Facebook. 

Also, we were told there would be popcorn...

Get cycle-savvy

Learn how to practice safe bicyling at the next Tuesday Topics seminar on Tuesday, Sept. 25 from noon-1 p.m.  at the Downtown Library. 

This seminar feature a panel of experts who will answer essential questions about questions about bike safety, how to get into cycling, the Spokies bike share, OKC bike trails, rules of the road and more! 

Panelists include Steve Schlegel (owner, Schlegel Bicycles), Steve Swanson (manager, Schlegel Bicycles), Randy Entz (Transportation Planner, City of Oklahoma City), Cassi Poor (Project Manager, Alliance for Economic Development) and the panel moderator will be John McLaughlin.

The best part is... all Tuesday Topics seminars are free and lunch is provided! All you have to do is RSVP at 405.232.3382.

Public Strategies has a tasty way to support a great cause

Public Strategies is hosting a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night Walk.” The Walk is Saturday, Oct. 20, but you can start helping now!

From now until Oct. 19, local food trucks will be parked in front of their building at 3 East Main in Bricktown. There will be a $1 upcharge per entree, which will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Check out the schedule for the next few weeks so you can eat some tasty food and support a great cause!

Tues, Sept. 18 – Frank’s Wurst, 11am-2pm
Wed. Sept. 19 – Taste of Soul Eggroll, 11am-2pm
Thurs. Sept. 20 – Smokin’ Okies, 11am-2pm
Fri. Sept 21 – Roxy’s Ice Cream Social, 3pm-5pm
Mon. Sept. 24 – Taste of Soul Eggroll, 8:45am-9:45am
Tues. Sept. 25 – Frank’s Wurst, 11am-2pm
Wed. Sept. 26 – Roxy’s Ice Cream Social, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Thurs. Sept. 27 – Smokin’ Okies, 11am-2pm
Wed. Oct 3 – Taste of Soul Eggroll, 11am-2pm

Seat check Saturday

Seat Check Saturday will be held in the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Certified child safety technicians will be on hand to check car seats for proper installation and advise parents and caregivers how to choose the right car seats and install them properly in vehicles. This event, part of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office's participation in Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 16-22), is free to the public.

A limited number of car seats will be provided by State Farm on a first-come-first-serve basis. Proof of state assistance is needed for free car seats and the child needs to be present or within 8 weeks of due date to be to be properly fitted for a car seat.

Get more information about child passenger safety here.

Final free ride day for ozone alert season is Sept. 21

Oklahoma City has experienced a record number of 19 ozone alert days this summer. We’ve also seen a 15 percent increase in the rise in gas prices during the months of July and August. To help combat the rising expense and reduce air pollution, Metro Transit will be offering its final free ride on Friday, Sept. 21. Any time on Sept. 21, on any route in the greater Oklahoma City metropolitan area, METRO Transit bus rides are free for everyone.

More Commuting Options On Horizon

METRO Transit is conducting an informal survey to understand how employees in Oklahoma City regularly get to and from work. Your input is important and will help determine areas to consider for future commuter routes and its service frequency. It's also important to know how likely you are to use a new commuter service and under what conditions.

Your voice matters to METRO Transit, please take a moment to complete this short survey.

Other downtown news

OKC named in top 100 best communities for young people (KFOR)
Oklahoma City has been named on a list of communities which recognize that make youth, well-being and education top priorities.

More on the Kevin Durant restaurant: Developer will seek OK of plan for site in Oklahoma City's Lower Bricktown: early promises compared to actual development (NewsOK)

A Closer Look at The Edge (NewsOK)
Construction is set to begin next month on The Edge, perhaps the most ambitious downtown housing project to date in terms of scale, amenities and finish.

Preliminary plans for downtown Oklahoma City parking garage revealed (NewsOK)
Preliminary designs for a new 750-space parking garage south of City Hall unveiled Wednesday show a nod toward nearby landmarks and a mix of modern architecture.

Alley seen as key to latest MidTown Renaissance development in Oklahoma City (NewsOK)
Work is under way in Oklahoma City to transform the old Guardian Garage and an adjoining alley in MidTown into housing and retail.

Other downtown events

Art Moves, Presented by Devon, various locations, ongoing

Cell phones in summer, [Artspace] at Untitled, ongoing

The Art of Golf, OKCMOA, through Oct. 7

Sept 19, Movie Night, Downtown Library

Sept. 20 - Cocktails on the Skyline, OKCMOA

Sept. 20 - Noon Tunes performance by Ali Harter, Downtown Library

Sept. 21-22 - World Neighbors' Journey Around the World & WorldFest, OKC Farmers Public Market

Sept. 21-23 - Blue Man Group, Civic Center Music Hall

Sept. 23 - AIDS Walk OKC, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark

Sept. 24, Tai Chi for Better Balance, Downtown Library

Sept. 26 - City Rescue Mission's Impact Hunger Food Resource Center Grand Opening

Sept. 27 - Cocktails on the Skyline, OKCMOA

Sept. 27 - Frankie Valli, Civic Center Music Hall

Sept. 27 - College Night, OKCMOA

Sept. 27 - Noon Tunes performance by UCO Ensemble, Downtown Library

Sept. 28-30 - Oklahoma Regatta Festival, Boathouse District

Sept. 30 - Downtown Home Tour

Oct.1, Tai Chi for Better Balance, Downtown Library

Oct. 2, Downtown OKC Bike Tour (History)

Oct. 3, Movie Night, Downtown Library

Oct. 9 - Downtown OKC Bike Tour (Public Art)

Oct. 9-14 - Les Miserables, Civic Center Music Hall 

Oct. 10, Movie Night, Downtown Library

Oct.11 - Drop-in Drawing, OKCMOA

Oct. 15, Tai Chi for Better Balance, Downtown Library

Oct. 16 - Downtown OKC Bike Tour (Architecture)

Oct. 17, Movie Night, Downtown Library

Oct. 27- Canterbury Choral Society opening concert, Civic Center Music Hall

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.

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211 North Robinson
Suite 225
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405.235.3500

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