Arts Council of OKC Announces New, Free Daily Arts Program

Thanks to Art Moves, a new program produced by the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, downtown visitors and workers can enjoy workday lunchtime performances, demonstrations and conversations all for free.

Presented by Devon Energy, Art Moves will focus on the downtown lunchtime hotspots and offer up a variety of performances, art demonstrations and discussions. 

“I’m incredibly excited about our new Art Moves program – it’s going to offer arts-related programming to 30,000 people working in downtown Oklahoma City every day at lunch,” said Peter Dolese, Executive Director for the Arts Council of Oklahoma City. “This is a game changer, a real opportunity for downtown workers and visitors to get connected with the art scene in Oklahoma City without having to break out of their normal routines. We’ll catch them on their lunch break…giving them a daily dose of the arts! Our friends at Devon Energy are so generous to sponsor this program – we’re so thankful for their assistance.”

For more information, including a full schedule of events, visit the Arts Council's website or call (405) 270-4848.

Rediscover Myriad Gardens at the Festival on the Green

Rediscover downtown’s beloved green space all day Oct. 15 at Festival on the Green, the Myriad Gardens’ grand reopening celebration. The free event, which is hosted by the Myriad Gardens Foundation and Devon Energy, will feature live performances, hands-on children’s activities, a local Farmers’ Market, Zumba on the lawn, pet adoptions and more! Free Crystal Bridge tours will be provided on the hour and country music lovers will delight in a free Pat Green concert at 7:30 p.m. at the band shell.

New elements of the gardens include a band shell, grand event lawn, special event pavilion, seasonal ice rink and restaurant. The new children's garden is robust with interactive features such as a hedge maze, story tree, climbing play area and a splash fountain inspired by Oklahoma thunderstorms. The renovation of the 17-acre gardens is the first completed project in a series of significant downtown beautification initiatives implemented as part of Oklahoma City's Project 180.

Visit okcfestivalonthegreen.com for more information and to view a detailed schedule of events.

Barons Fans, Mark Your Calendars!

Come meet the team and the coaches at the Barons' Open House on Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 5 - 7:30 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center. Enjoy food, drinks, souvenirs, open access to the ice and a hands-on demonstration with the coaches. Complimentary parking is available at the Courtyard by Marriott.  Hope to see you there!

Mark your calendars! The home opener for the OKC Barons Pink Out is Oct. 15th at 7 p.m. presented by Mercy.  Everyone in attendance will receive a Barons Pink Out shirt. Get your tickets today at ticketmaster.com or call 232.GOAL (ext. 106).

Skirvin Hosts the Birthday Party of the Century

Five generations of Oklahomans and visitors from around the world have passed through the Skirvin in the past one hundred years. You're invited to celebrate the Skirvin's 100th Anniversary with a full week of events in October.

Beginning on Oct. 16, the week-long celebration will include special menus at the Park Avenue Grill that celebrate the history of the hotel, and themed parties that will take you back in time through the Roaring 20's, the Fabulous 50's and the Sensational 70's. Each event will feature a selection of dinner options, hors d'oeuvres and musical stylings to fit the eras. View the full schedule of events on the Skirvin Centennial website.

All net proceeds will benefit the Foundation for the Oklahoma City Public Schools and Homeless Alliance.

Youth Services for Oklahoma County Needs Our Help!

Did you know that 82% of Oklahoma City Public School students are eligible for free or reduced lunches? Over fall break, many of these students don't have access to nutritious meals.

Downtown OKC, Inc. is hosting a downtown food drive for the Youth Services for Oklahoma County - a non-profit organization that works to meet the basic needs of Oklahoma's teens and families.

Want to help? It's easy! Just stop by our office (211 N. Robinson, Ste. 225) by Oct. 28 to donate non-perishable food items and we'll deliver them for you. If you participate, you'll be entered to win a $25 gift card from McNellie's.

Thanks for helping us support a great cause!

Art is on tap at OKCMOA

Help support ARTonTAP, a tasting event for beer and art lovers on Friday, Oct. 14.  This year showcases over 80 different beers from around the world alongside great food, music by Born in November, and of course, fabulous art. 

ARTonTAP is held at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and features the Stella Artois Roof Terrace Beer Garden.  ARTonTAP is a certified ECO Gold event, after 99% of all waste at the 2010 event was either recycled or composted, and the event will continue to strive to upkeep its certification for this and future years.  All proceeds benefit the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s world-class exhibitions. 

Date: Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Where: Oklahoma City Museum of Art lobbies and roof terrace

Cost: Tickets are $45 for museum members, $50 for non-members. Last year this event sold out, so buy your tickets today!

Information: Call 405.236.3100, ext. 207

Race for the Cure in OKC

Whose Life Are You Running For?  Your mother's? Your sister's?  A friend's? ...Are you running for your own life? 

No matter whose life you're running for, the Susan G. Komen Foundation wants to see you at the Race for the Cure® on Oct. 15.

Registration begins at 7 a.m. at the RedHawks Ballpark in Bricktown and the first race begins at 8 a.m.  Participants may also show their support in non-competitive races, family walks or the kids dash. All funds from the Komen Race for the Cure® go to research, education, screening and treatment programs.

Find out more about the race and the schedule of events.

Show your support for the this year's Race for the Cure by purchasing an engraved brick in Bricktown.  For every brick sold, the Bricktown Association will donate $40 back to the Central and Western Oklahoma affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  Race for the Cure Bricks will be installed on the SE corner of Mickey Mantle and Sheridan. Bricks cost $89 and include 3 lines of text and 12 characters per line (which includes spaces).

Brick sales are limited to the first 100 participants. Please note that we can't guarantee installation before the 2011 Race for the Cure events.

Thanks for your support!

American Banjo Museum Hosts the Original Wildcat Jass Band

The Original Wildcat Jass Band will perform at the American Banjo Museum on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.  The concert includes a pizza/salad buffet and soft drinks.

Hailing from Tuscan, Arizona, this world-renowned band is comprised of six outstanding jazz musicians who perform traditional New Orleans and Chicago jazz in a style that is both true to its roots and entertaining. 

Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy the American Banjo Museum. With more than 300 instruments, the museum contains the largest collection of banjos on public display and is the only facility in the world dedicated America’s native musical instrument.  The museum’s core collection of instruments are the ornately decorated banjos made in America during the Jazz Age of the 1920’s and 30s. As entertainment of the 20s and 30s was a flamboyant “in person” experience, the banjos from this era featured a decorative and ornate design, with exotic woods, inlays of ivory and mother-of-pearl, jewels, as well as hand carving and painting, which makes each banjo a work of art in itself.

Seating is limited, so purchase your tickets in advance for $20 by calling the American Banjo Museum at 405.604.2793. The museum is located in Bricktown at 9 East Sheridan.  For more information, visit americanbanjomuseum.com

St. Anthony Hosts MidTown Market Every Friday

The MidTown Market at Saints, a farmer’s market-style outdoor offering, will be located in the hospital’s East Plaza at Walker and 9th Street. The MidTown Market at Saints has new hours, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., each Friday through October.  All members of the community are invited.  Plenty of free parking is available adjacent to the market.

The first day of the MidTown Market at Saints includes offerings of the following: Free range eggs, chicken, lamb and beef from local ranchers, yogurt and cheeses from a completely pasture-based dairy, and Earth Elements line of Oklahoma Whole Wheat products (tortillas, crusts, and rolls). Elemental Coffee will be on hand preparing cold-brew coffee and selling their freshly roasted beans. Produce will be centered around salad greens, spinach, rainbow chard, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, spring garlic and onions. Prairie Thunder Bakery will offer  loaves and baguettes.

Stay tuned for more information about "Truck or Treat" - a special family event that will take place on Oct. 28.

The Exchange Hosts Manly Festival on Film Row

The Exchange would like to invite you to Manifesto, a festival in downtown Oklahoma City that celebrates the modern man. This unique event, the first of its kind in our state, will take place on historic Film Row on Oct. 15-16.

Two blocks will be closed off to make plenty of room for an upcycled art challenge, fortune readings by the gang at The Lost Ogle, WWF-style and Lucha Libre wrestling, a hot wing eating competition, a living moustache museum and more!
 

Think of it like this…it’s an over-the-top weekend of all things guys like.  Learn more!

[Artspace] at Untitled Presents Exhibition by John-Paul Philippe'

Representing an exciting project that features the art of a former Oklahoman, InDesign: The Art of John-Paul Philippe' will be presented at [Artspace] at Untitled from Oct. 14 to Jan 7.

The exhibition is based on ths success of two past concepts - Roots & Ties, which brought home nationally-recognized artists who had their beginnings in Oklahoma, and Function & Design, that assembled teams of local artisans working on collective design projects.

John-Paul Philippe' first gained international success in the field of design for the interiors he created for the Barney's stores world-wide. For his Untitled exhibition, he will create site-specific installations to show with a selection of paintings, prints, sculpture and murals.

For more information, visit the [Artspace] at Untitled website.

Deep Deuce Presents 2nd Annual Music Fest

On Saturday, Oct. 15  from 2 - 11 p.m., Deep Deuce, known for its rich and historic jazz history, will celebrate its 2nd Annual Music Festival.  

The festival will feature legendary jazz & blues bands as well as other genres of music to represent the current diversity of the district.

To celebrate the revitalization of the Deep Deuce District, the festival highlights a wide array of local performing artists, visual artists and musicians, while providing interactive art education for the community.

The festival is located at NE 2nd Street from Russell Perry to Central and is open to the public.

See you in Deep Deuce!

2011-12 Thunder Schedule Released

Get ready to Thunder Up with the newly released 2011-2012 Thunder schedule.

The Thunder will open the regular season at the L.A. Lakers on Nov. 1 and will play its home opener Nov. 4 against the Indiana Pacers. The Thunder will appear in 27 nationally televised games.

See the full schuedule on the OKC Thunder website.

Haunt the Oklahoma River

Come aboard if you dare!  After-dark voyages will set sail on the Oklahoma River as we enter the Halloween season. Delicious hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, costumes and prizes make for a frightully fun evening.

Date: October 14 - 29, 8 p.m.

Location: Meridian Landing (4345 SW 15th, OKC)

Admission: $35 (reservations are required)

Information: okrivercruises.com or 405.702.7755

Warm Up and Give Back

Get a deal on some of the most unique designs in OKC while supporting a great cause.

Visit A Story of Hope (120 N. Robinson) between Oct. 7 and 14 because all bags and scarves are 15% off. The proceeds from this sale will benefit Feed The Children.

Follow A Story of Hope on Twitter (@aStoryofHope) to learn about the latest deals.

Project180 Update

Don't frown if you're coming downtown! Look below to learn 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

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

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