Get a Downtown in December preview at the next Tuesday Topics

Next week, the OKC Downtown College and the Downtown OKC, Inc. staff will present a free Tuesday Topics lunchtime seminar about Downtown in December.

Downtown in December, presented by Devon, is a 40-day series of holiday events and attractions in the heart of Oklahoma City, November 23 through December 31. It's a one-of-a-kind winter experience that features thrilling outdoor ice skating, snow tube rides, visits with Santa Claus, a festive 5K, free water taxi excursions, and a new outdoor winter market, all surrounded by twinkling holiday lights. Most events are free of charge and there is an open invitation for all to attend.

Come learn about all 21 Downtown in December events and what it takes to produce them at The Downtown College's Tuesday Topics series, Tuesday, November 13 at noon in the Friends Room at the Norick Downtown Library. Pizza will be provided for all pre-registered guests. As an added bonus, we'll give away special prizes to a few lucky attendees, including passes to the Devon Ice Rink and Chesapeake Snow Tubing.

Call 405.232.3382 or email info@downtowncollege.com to reserve your place.

Aerosmith rocks the Chesapeake Arena tonight

If you thought you saw Steven Tyler in Bricktown last night, you weren't mistaken. (See the evidence on the OKC Central blog!)

Aerosmith kicks off second leg of The Global Warming Tour tonight, Nov. 8 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The opening act for the tour is Cheap Trick. 

Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.com. For VIP ticket packages, including opportunities to meet band members, backstage tours, great tickets and more, visit Aeroforceone.com.

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.

RAW indie arts awards is back

The 4th Annual RAWards will be hosted at Club One15 in Bricktown on Thursday, Nov. 8 beginning at 7 p.m. The event will be hosted by Ryan Drake with special guests Jenn Scott, Kristen Vails and Sharon Tabb as the judges for this live showcase.

RAW: natural born artists is an independent arts organization that gives artists the opportunity and the outlet to showcase their work in their local area. Oklahoma City will showcase visual art, film, fashion, music, hair and makeup artistry, photography, models and performing arts.

Guests will be able to cast their votes to nominate the winner in each category. The winners will be able to represent Oklahoma in a national competition where they can be honored in Los Angeles to receive a career boosting prize.

Tickets are available online for $15 and at the door for $20 the day of the event. It will be cocktail attire with a cash bar, so come out and support the local arts! For more info, visit rawartists.org/oklahomacity.

Ignite OKC - enlighten us, but make it quick!

Ignite OKC is a community-driven networking event that connects people of diverse backgrounds and knowledge through a series of entertaining, rapid-fire presentations. From techies to non-profits, to entrepreneurs, there's something to learn and share for everyone.

Presenters get 5 minutes and 20 slides that keep advancing - no matter what. It's an exciting way to satisfy your curiosity, meet local innovators, and spark new interests. Ignite OKC - enlighten us, but make it quick.

Ignite OKC 4 will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the Civic Center Hall of Mirrors from 6-10 p.m. This year, Ignite OKC is partnering with Creative Oklahoma, and Ignite OKC 4 is the official after party for the State Of Creativity Forum.

Visit the Ignite OKC website at igniteokc.com for more information, speaker roster, and tickets, or find us on Twitter or Facebook. We also have a YouTube channel featuring past Ignite OKC talks.

Fighting Alzheimer’s disease with art and science

According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, which is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Dr. Jordan J.N. Tang, will present a lecture, “Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease with Art and Science,” at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m.

The lecture will present a brief overview of the science and medicine being developed to treat Alzheimer’s patients and the important role the arts play in the treatment of this disease. Dr. Tang will also take a look at cases of artists affected by Alzheimer’s disease and illustrate how they continue to be creative even when under emotional stress or having lost the ability to communicate verbally.

“Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease that robs people of their brains. We must fight it with all the resources at our disposal. Scientists are working hard to come up with a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and are making progress toward that goal,” Dr. Tang said. “It is important that art outreach programs like the one at OKCMOA bring artistic activities to people suffering from the disease. Such creative activities enrich their lives and help to ease emotional strain from the disease.”

Dr. Tang heads the proteins studies research program with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Originally from Taiwan, Tang came to Oklahoma in 1955 to earn his master’s degree at Oklahoma State University, and later, a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. In 1957, Tang joined OMRF, where he became one of the world’s leading experts on proteases, a group of proteins crucial to human health. For more than 50 years, his discoveries have led to breakthroughs in the treatment of such diseases as stomach cancer, hypertension, AIDS, and Alzheimer’s. He is the only Oklahoman ever to receive the Alzheimer’s Association of America’s highest research prize – the $1 million Pioneer Award.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Call (405) 278-8237 or email RSVP@okcmoa.com to reserve your space. Seating is limited.

Cleats for kids

Cleats for Kids was founded by Mark and Stacy McDaniel in October 2011. As parents of three children who play sports, they saw and heard story after story of kids who could not play without getting help to acquire shoes, clothing and equipment. They saw a need which no organization in their community was meeting and their vision for Cleats for Kids was born:

• To help kids play sports and live an active lifestyle by providing the necessary shoes, clothes and equipment.
• To give kids opportunities to build character and learn teamwork by playing sports. 
• To keep old shoes clothes and equipment out of landfills by recycling them for a second life with local kids.
• To involve kids in kids in helping other kids and giving back to their community.

Head to the Downtown Community Basketball Court (at the SW corner of Reno and Hudson) on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon to donate new and gently-used athletic shoes and equipment to young athletes in need. The first 100 donations will get a free Cleats for Kids t-shirt.

The collection event will have a tailgate atmosphere complete with the Moore High School Drumline, and Francis Tuttle's culinary team providing a themed "birthday cake" to celebrate one year of Cleats for Kids, among other surprises.

For more info, visit okcleatsforkids.org.

Thunder up in Bricktown

To celebrate the return of the Thunder, several Bricktown restaurants are offering special deals. Here's a list of the best specials. Check 'em out:

Pearl's
Enjoy $2.00 Thunder Bud Light pints during home game days

Club One15
Get free valet parking before the game! $1.15 domestic Drafts from pre-game to end game. $10 Thunder Box -includes a One15 burger with waffle fries and a domestic draft.

The Melting Pot
Celebrate the Thunder post-game at The Melting Pot’s Reverse Happy Hour while the Bricktown traffic clears. Half-priced cheese and chocolate fondue will be featured in the bar area after the final buzzer. (Tables available for families.)

Tapwerks
1/2 price appetizers and $2 domestic drafts from 4-7pm

Texadelphia
Upgrade to a 23 oz Big Sexy for just $1 more

Fuzzy's Taco Shop
1) Thunder Fishbowl called the Thunder Fadeaway
2) Orange & Blue 60 oz Margarita with a sunken 22 oz. Heubert's Thunder Up beer!

Toby Keith's I Love this Bar and Grill
Enjoy 1/2 price appetizers and $4 domestic pitchers after every home game.

Bricktown Main Street Parking (21 E. Main St.)
Park on Thunder home game nights for just $5!

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.

Rediscover the Montgomery

You're cordially invited to rediscover the historic Montgomery building in downtown OKC on Thursday, Nov. 8. From 3:30 - 6:30 p.m., The Montogomery Events Center (500 W. Main) will treat downtowners to hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and entertainment.

To attend, simply RSVP to blair@themontgomeryeventcenter.com or by calling 405.601.9451.

Other downtown news

Bike Boom (Oklahoma Gazette)
OKC bicycling get a boost from the creation of special bike lanes and expansion of downtown’s bike-share program.

A Basketball Fairy Tale in Middle America (New York Times)
New York Times piece about the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Devon Energy prepares to celebrate first Christmas at new Oklahoma City headquarters (NewsOK)
Christmas bulbs, pine cones wrapped in red ribbons and lights are going up with care — and the assistance of a crane — at Devon Energy Center.

Osler Building's conversion to boutique hotel set to start in December in Oklahoma City (NewsOK)
MidTown's Osler Building, empty since it was acquired by MidTown Renaissance Group in 2006, is set to reopen next year as the latest addition to the Ambassador Hotel chain.

Barbershop will be part of renovated Braniff Building in Oklahoma City (NewsOK)
A “New York style” barbershop will begin operating alongside Kitchen No. 324 on the ground floor when Oklahoma City's Braniff Building reopens this winter.

Oklahoma City Thunder to debut new unis (KOCO)
Alternate uniforms to be worn Friday night versus Detroit

Other downtown events

Art Moves, Presented by Devon, various locations, ongoing

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

Nov. 8-11 - Mary Poppins, Civic Center

Nov. 8 - OKC Thunder at Chicago Bulls, 7pm

Nov. 8 - Film: The Dust Bowl, OKCMOA

Nov. 8 - Brown Bag Lunch Speak Series: Wreath Making, Myriad Gardens

Nov. 9 - OKC Thunder vs. Detroit Pistons, 7pm

Nov. 9-25 - Richard III, Reduxion Theatre

Nov. 9-11 - Film: Farewell My Queen, OKCMOA

Nov. 11 - OKC Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 6pm

Nov. 11- The 7 Project Release Show with O Fidelis and Jabee, ACM@UCO Performance Lab

Nov. 12 - OKC Thunder at Detroit Pistons, 6:30pm

Nov. 13-15 - Lord of the Rings Marathon, Downtown Library

Nov. 14 - OKC Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies, 7pm

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

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

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

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 - 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. 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. 8 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Chesapeake Arena

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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