Best of OKC

Best of OKC 2015: Places

Places2

Written by Greg Elwell, Brittany Pickering, Jennifer Chancellor, Kory B. Oswald, Taylor Duane and Kaley Patterson. Photos by Mark Hancock, Garett Fisbeck, Keaton Draper and Gazette Staff.

 

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Volunteers from Life Christain Academy and South Moore Hight School work with donations in the Volunteer Center at Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. mh

Best Place to Volunteer

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

One in four children and one in six adults in Oklahoma do not know where their next meal will come from. These could be the children in a teacher’s classroom or a person you passed on the streets during a commute to work. Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma provides enough food to feed more than 110,000 Oklahomans every week, which is why Gazette readers voted the organization Best Place to Volunteer in OKC.

2. Central Oklahoma Humane Society

3. Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity

Worth mentioning: Infant Crisis ServicesSunbeam Family Services


Best Free Entertainment

Best of OKC 2015: Places
H&8th in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 27, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

H&8th Night Market

Hudson Avenue between NW Sixth and 10th streets

OKC’s premier food truck event began in 2011, drawing a crowd of 200 to the area around Hudson Avenue and Eighth Street. Today, it is one of the country’s largest food truck events and boasts monthly crowds of 20,000-40,000, making it a model for similar festivals in other cities. It features an array of the city’s most popular local trucks and live music, a vendors’ market and even valet parking for your bicycle. And the best part about H&8th Night Market is that admission and entertainment is free.

2. Festival of the Arts, downtown

3. Sonic Summer Movie Nights at Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave.

Worth mentioning:Arts Council of Oklahoma City’s Twilight Summer Concert Series at Myriad Botanical Gardens, Myriad Botanical Gardens


Best Live Music Club

University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Lab

100 E. Fifth St., Edmond

University of Central Oklahoma’s Jazz Lab is a little slice of the New Orleans jazz scene tucked into a quiet corner of an OKC suburb. For 15 years, it has offered local music aficionados and students a chance to see internationally famous musicians in a smaller, more personal setting and allowed local bands to play in a professional venue. By day, it serves as a learning center for UCO’s music students as well as a world-class recording studio, but at night, it gives patrons a music experience they can’t get anywhere else in the metro.

2. Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E. Sheridan Ave.

3. The Blue Note Lounge, 2408 N. Robinson Ave.

Worth mentioning: Blue Door, Don Quixote Club


Best Concert Venue

Chesapeake Energy Arena

100 W. Reno Ave.

If you want to see some of the hottest touring acts in music, Chesapeake Energy Arena is the place to be. It’s one of the largest venues in OKC and regularly hosts Top 40 artists from around the world and classic acts from the heyday of rock — that’s right; you can see Lil Wayne and Def Leppard in the same venue! As you get comfy in the stadium seating, you and more than 16,000 of your friends can rest easy knowing that when it comes to concerts, the ’Peake knows what it’s doing.

2. The Zoo Amphitheatre, 2101 NE 50th St.

3. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave.

Worth mentioning: Diamond BallroomMyriad Botanical Gardens


Best Dance Club

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Gordon and Marsi Haave dance it up at Groovy's on a Saturday Night. mh

Groovy’s

5705 Mosteller Drive

You don’t have to spend your club nights in a bar playing the same music as the other three down the street with the same people you see every time you go out. Groovy’s is a local club venue unlike any other. Patrons of all ages dance the night away every Wednesday-Saturday to music from the last five decades on a packed dance floor. You’ll be sad when you hear “Last call!” and realize you actually do have to leave the party eventually.

2. The Copa, 2200 NW 40th St.

3. Cowboys OKC, 2301 S. Meridian Ave.

Worth mentioning: Club One 15Dollhouse Lounge & Burlesque


Best Karaoke Bar

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Krystal Mowrer sings karoke at Nancy's 57th street Lighthouse which is winner of best place for karoke 2015. shot in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, August 5, 2015. (Keaton Draper)

Nancy’s 57th Street Lighthouse

5708 N. May Ave.

Are you itching to belt out Journey songs at the best karaoke bar in the city? Do you believe you could give Dr. Dre and Eminem a run for their money? Want to make all the drunk people depressed by singing with Radiohead about how you’re just a weird “Creep” who doesn’t belong anywhere? Well, that last one’s a little bit of a downer, but you don’t need to look any further than Nancy’s 57th Street Lighthouse, an OKC favorite for years.

2. Henry Hudson’s Pub, several metro locations

3. Cookie’s, 2304 N. Western Ave.

Worth mentioning: By George TavernDon Quixote Club


Best Art Gallery

Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO) Gallery

706 W. Sheridan Ave.

IAO Gallery’s particular mission — showing art that is “intellectually or aesthetically provocative or experimental in subject matter or technique” — gives it the distinction of being one of the most interesting and eclectic galleries anywhere. Since 1979, IAO has provided a professional space in which experienced and up-and-coming contemporary artists can display socially relevant works. It’s located in the historic Film Row district and hosts music performances as well as artist talks and exhibitions.

2. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St.

3. The Howell Gallery of Fine Art, 6432 N. Western Ave.

Worth mentioning: JRB Art at the ElmsKasum Contemporary Fine Art


Best Museum

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

415 Couch Drive

From dazzling traveling exhibits to its permanent collection of Dale Chihuly glass — one of the largest in the world — Oklahoma City Museum of Art is a metropolitan museum with something to suit everyone’s artistic tastes. OKCMOA has been the city’s destination museum since 1945 and features a large selection of American and European art. It also has the distinction of being one of the only art house movie theaters in the state, showing world-renowned films from all over the globe every week.

2. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St.

3. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St.

Worth mentioning: Museum of OsteologySam Noble Museum of Natural History


Best Fine Jewelry

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Left, Coleman and Mitchell Clark at BC Clark Jewelry in Downtown OKC. mh

BC Clark Jewelers

several metro locations

If you’ve lived in Oklahoma through at least one holiday season, you’re familiar with BC Clark Jewelers’ catchy jingle insisting that “jewelry is the gift to give ’cause it’s the gift that’ll live and live.” (It’s stuck in your head now, isn’t it?) But do you know it’s the best fine jewelry shop in OKC? The store was established in 1892 in what was then Indian Territory and has provided the metro with quality fashion jewelry, watches and engagement and wedding rings ever since.

2. Lewis Jewelers, 2705 S. Interstate 35 Service Road, Moore

3. Naifeh Fine Jewelry, 9203 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

Worth mentioning: Huntington Fine Jewelers, Mitchener-Farrand


Best Vintage, Thrift or Resale Store

Bad Granny’s Bazaar

1759 NW 16th St.

There’s no thrift store in the metro as eclectic as Bad Granny’s Bazaar in the Plaza District. It’s full of clothing, accessories and homeware that would even impress your good granny and rival all the treasures she has stored up in the attic. Do you spend your days dreaming of finding a fringed leather jacket as glorious as Macklemore’s? Then why are you still reading this? You and your hipster friends need to hurry up and pop some tags at this gem.

2. Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, several metro locations

3. Uptown Thrift, 2215 SW 74th St.

Worth mentioning: Nearly New, RINK Gallery


Best Men’s Clothier

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
Blue Seven in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

Blue Seven

7518 N. May Ave., Suite A

In the past few years, men’s fashion has melded dressed-up and casual and resulted in a polished, cool look that would make even James Dean jealous. Blue Seven carries everything from socks and boots to quality button-up shirts and denim and has kept up with trends while maintaining a penchant for individuality. It is a premier destination for men who like to keep things casual while still looking like they actually showered.

2. Mr. Ooley’s, 1901 NW Expressway, Suite 1023A

3. Spencer Stone Company, 6492 Avondale Drive, Nichols Hills

Worth mentioning: Steven Giles, Trade Men’s Wares


Best Women’s Clothing Boutique

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
Blue Seven in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

Blue Seven

7518 N. May Ave., Suite A

Whether they need to find a flirty dress and some funky new jewelry to wear to a festival or a new pair of jeans and sandals to lounge around in for the rest of the summer, women know that Blue Seven is a one-stop shop. Each trip to Blue Seven promises established essentials and loads of unexpected surprises, making it the best women’s boutique in the city for the last few years.

2. Lush Fashion Lounge, 14101 N. May Ave.

3. Lucca Fashion Boutique, several metro locations

Worth mentioning: Bow & Arrow BoutiqueThe Black Scintilla


Best Place to Find the Perfect Gift

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Pick out a gift at On a Whim. mh

On a Whim

5850 N. Classen Blvd.

This boutique is stocked full of gorgeous gifts for every occasion. Whether you’re on your way to a party or you’re registering for a wedding or baby shower, On a Whim has you covered. This shop is so full of fine china in a wide variety of patterns, candles, makeup and beauty supplies and trendy dresses, shoes and jewelry that you will find yourself making up excuses to stop in and buy yourself a little treat just for being so awesome.

2. Blue Seven, 7518 N. May Ave., Suite A

3. Plenty Mercantile, 807 N. Broadway Ave.

Worth mentioning: Collected Thread, DNA Galleries


Best Place for Continuing Education

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Gaylord Hall on OU Campus. mh

University of Oklahoma

660 Parrington Oval, Norman

Thirty thousand students learn from nearly 3,000 faculty members and study everything from engineering to linguistics at the University of Oklahoma (OU) each year. With a nationally famous athletic department, a sprawling campus, renowned medical and law programs and a wealth of undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs, it’s not hard to see why OU is OKC’s favorite university. The Princeton Review agrees and has repeatedly named OU one of the best academic and cost-effective schools in the country, and it’s right here in the metro.

2. University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond

3. Oklahoma State University at Oklahoma City, 900 N. Portland Ave.

Worth mentioning: Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City Community College


Best Place to Get Cosmetic Surgery

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK

Dr. Tim R. Love, M.D.

11101 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 104

Whether the effects of aging are making you uncomfortable, your nose identifies just a little too much with Rachel Green’s old nose or you’re interested in reconstructions, Dr. Tim. R. Love is here help. One of OKC’s most respected cosmetic surgeons, Dr. Love has experience in a range of surgeries, from face-lifts to breast augmentation and reconstruction. And you can rest easy knowing that Dr. Love is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

2. Shadid Plastic Surgery Associates; Dr. Derek Shadid M.D., 13820 Wireless Way

3. Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates; Dr. Erik J. Nuveen M.D. D.M.D., 2100 NW 63rd St.

Worth mentioning: Jones Plastic SurgeryDr. Juan A. Brou, M.D.


Best Place to Get an Aesthetic Update

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK

Dr. Tim R. Love M.D.

11101 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 104

Are you envious of model and reality star Kylie Jenner’s voluptuous new lips? Want to get rid of those pesky eye crinkles and stress wrinkles? Afraid to be put under but still want to look and feel like you did ten years ago? Want a transformation without the hassle of an invasive procedure? Dr. Tim R. Love can still help you. In addition to cosmetic surgery, Love offers a number of nonsurgical procedures including Botox injections, Fraxel laser treatments and even hair implants.

2. Laser Light Skin Clinic, 15316 N. May Ave., Edmond

3. Advanced Aesthetics, 14001 McAuley Blvd., Suite 150

Worth mentioning: Dr. Juan A. Brou, M.D.Mariposa MedSpa


Best Bicycle Shop

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
Al's Bicycles in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

Al’s Bicycles

several metro locations

If your bicycle needs a tuneup or you’re in the market for a new ride so you can enjoy all of OKC’s new trails and bike lanes, look no farther than Al’s Bicycles. Its shops carry an array of bikes for all your riding needs, whether you’re hitting the trails, riding back and forth to work or into learning BMX tricks with your friends. Al’s has two locations in OKC, one in Edmond and one in Norman to serve your cycling needs in whichever part of the city you’re pedaling through.

2. Schlegel Bicycles, 900 N. Broadway Ave.

3. Wheeler Dealer, 2729 NW 50th St.

Worth mentioning: Charley’s Bicycle Laboratory, Melonbike


Best (National or Regional) Retail Establishment You Wish Was Locally Owned

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
Target in Oklahoma City, Monday, Aug. 3, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

Target

several metro locations

Target has absolutely everything. We like to pretend it’s a local store while we walk around for hours and spend all our money on things we didn’t know we needed before we walked in. And with six locations in the metro, it’s pretty difficult to ignore — especially when its glowing red sign and the smell of popcorn, coffee and great deals are calling your name. Why oh why can’t Target be local?!

2. Anthropologie, 6100 NW Grand Blvd.

3. Nordstrom Rack, 1741 Belle Isle Blvd.

Worth mentioning: Forever 21, West Elm


Best Family In-State Staycation

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Goats in the Childeren's Zoo area at the Oklahoma City Zoo. mh

The Oklahoma City Zoo

2101 NE 50th St.

Lions and tigers and bears — oh my! And don’t forget the elephants, primates, reptiles, seals and birds! When Oklahoma residents want to feel like they’ve taken a trip to an exotic location but don’t want to deal with the hassle of traveling, they head to The Oklahoma City Zoo. One of the top zoos in the country, it is home to more than 1,800 animals and offers countless educational activities for the whole family.

2. Beavers Bend State Park, 435 OK-259A, Broken Bow

3. Turner Falls Park, US-77, Davis

Worth mentioning: Broken Bow Lake CabinsGrand Lake o’ the Cherokees


Best Local District

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Bricklined Mickey Mantle Drive. mh

Bricktown District

Area west of S. EK Gaylord Boulevard, around Reno Avenue

OKC has spoken! Bricktown is the district to rule them all! In the past few decades, it has seen extensive revitalization and has become the city’s destination for date night, a night out with the girls, a fun day trip with the family or even a quiet afternoon stroll alone. It boasts a canal, dozens of restaurants, a movie theater, a bowling alley and a ballpark. Bricktown is also home to numerous holiday celebrations, festivals and concerts that help make it one of OKC’s favorite and busiest districts.

2. Midtown District, area surrounding Ninth Street and N. Walker Avenue

3. Plaza District, NW 16th Street between Classen Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue

Worth mentioning: Paseo Arts DistrictUptown 23rd District


Best Adult Entertainment Establishment

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
at the Boom in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

The Boom

2218 NW 39th St.

You haven’t experienced all OKC has to offer if you haven’t been to The Boom. It’s located in the city’s LGBT district and attracts revelers of all kinds — no matter their sexual orientation — six days a week. The Boom’s Sunday Gospel Brunch is legendary, and you won’t find a better dinner show in the city. What are you waiting for? Go dance the night away with your friends and maybe even some fabulous drag queens.

2. Dollhouse Lounge & Burlesque, 210 E. Sheridan Ave.

3. Night Trips, 220 S. Vermont Ave.

Worth mentioning: Little Darlings, Red Dog Cafe


Best New Retail Establishment to Open After 6/1/14

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Employee Ashley Liddell staigntens apparel on the racks at The Factory. mh

The Factory

1100 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 103

Trendsetters consider The Factory the best new shop to open in the past year, and it isn’t hard to see why. The Factory carries stylish statement pieces perfect for any occasion, whether you’re dressing for a fancy party or just hanging out with friends. It also stocks an array of men’s formal and casual clothing and men’s and women’s accessories, hats and shoes. Plus, Thunder fashion king Russell Westbrook shops there, so you know it’s full of classy statement pieces.

2. Out on a Limb, 1710 NW 16th St.

3. Vintiques Market, 219 W. Main St., Norman

Worth mentioning: Sara Kate StudiosThe Black Scintilla


Best Nonprofit

Central Oklahoma Humane Society

7500 N. Western Ave.

Everyone in Oklahoma loves animals, and nobody loves them more than Central Oklahoma Humane Society. If you want to foster or adopt a dog or cat or just want to donate some of your time or money to help out Oklahoma’s little furry friends, the humane society is the place to do it. It also offers spaying and neutering services in addition to its mission to end needless animal euthanasia. That’s what makes it OKC’s best nonprofit.

2. Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, 3355 S. Purdue Ave.

3. Infant Crisis Services, 4224 N. Lincoln Blvd.

Worth mentioning: Sunbeam Family Services, Inc.The Bella Foundation


Best Vapor Shop

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
OKC Vapes in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

OKC Vapes

3710 NW 50th St.

Vaping and vapor shops have been rapidly growing in popularity, but OKC Vapes is one step ahead of the game. Never heard of vaping before? Where have you been?! Don’t worry; employees at OKC Vapes have the answers to all your questions. Are you already a vaping enthusiast in need of the latest and greatest technology? OKC Vapes has a wide selection of advanced vapors and accessories. Wherever you stand in the world of vaping, OKC Vapes is the place to go for your vaping needs.

2. Vapor World, 8911 SE 29th St.

3. Liquid Vapor Lounge, 6608 N. May Ave.

Worth mentioning: Captivape, Party Moore


Best Place to Meet a Hipster

Best of OKC 2015: Places
David Hanon says he's not quite sure what a hipster is, as he hangs out at the Plaza District recently. mh

Plaza District

NW 16th Street between Classen Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue

The Plaza District is the hipster’s paradise, so if you’re looking for the hipster of your dreams, you’re likely to find him or her hanging out here. Guys with beards and girls in vintage clothing spend their free time roaming the retail shops, dining establishments and performance venues that make up the Plaza District. Let one of them tell you about a band you’ve never heard of over lunch at one of the district’s many food joints.

2. Paseo Arts District, Paseo Street from 28th Street and N. Walker Avenue to 30th Street and N. Dewey Avenue

3. The Mule, 1630 N. Blackwelder Ave.

Worth mentioning: Empire Slice House, The Pump Bar


Best Place to Buy a New Vehicle

Bob Moore Auto Group

several metro locations

Everyone knows that buying a new car can be a stressful experience. Thankfully, Bob Moore Auto Group is here to make the entire process a little less painful. Its knowledgeable employees will show you a wide selection of fresh-from-the-factory Audis, Cadillacs, Jeeps and more. They’ll have you cruising the streets in a perfect brand-new ride in no time.

2. Fowler Auto Group, several metro locations

3. Bob Howard Auto Group, several metro locations

Worth mentioning: Diffee Auto Group, Hudiburg Auto Group


Best Place to Buy a Used Vehicle

Bob Moore Auto Group

several metro locations

Not looking for a brand-new ride? Bob Moore Auto Group happens to be the No. 1 choice for pre-owned vehicles too. You’re guaranteed to find something you like among its huge selection of used cars and trucks, all at reasonable prices. You’ll drive off the lot feeling confident in your purchase with the help of Bob Moore’s expert staff.

2. Fowler Auto Group, several metro locations

3. Bob Howard Auto Group, several metro locations

Worth mentioning: Diffee Auto GroupHudiburg Auto Group


Best Place to Buy Workout Gear

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Mannequin decked out to "run" back to school at Red Coyote on the Classen Curve. mh

Red Coyote Running and Fitness

5720 N. Classen Blvd.

Red Coyote knows what it’s doing when it comes to fitness. This locally owned shop will find you the perfect running shoe with its fit analysis system, hook you up with a dietician to help you achieve your wildest nutrition dreams and have you dressed head to toe in top-of-the-line workout gear. With a wide selection of only the best fitness brands and a staff bursting with product knowledge, Red Coyote is the ultimate go-to for all things fitness.

2. MetroShoe Warehouse, 2210 W. Memorial Road, Suite A

3. OK Runner, several metro locations

Worth mentioning: Charley’s Bicycle Laboratory, Fit Circle


Best Place to See or Be Seen

Oklahoma City Thunder game

Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave.

With a seating capacity of 18,203, it’s no wonder that an OKC Thunder game at Chesapeake Energy Arena won this category. Where else can you be seen by more than 18,000 people while watching your favorite NBA team dominate the court? So get decked out in your best Thunder gear and cheer on your team along with an arena chock-full of your closest friends.

2. The Bleu Garten, 301 NW 10th St.

3. Bricktown, downtown area around E. Reno Avenue

Worth mentioning: Fassler Hall, Plaza District


Best Place to Spend Adult Time That Is Kid-Friendly

Oklahoma City Thunder game

Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave.

There are few activities that are pleasurable for both parents and children alike. The McDonald’s playground offers no entertainment value for adults, but a Thunder game is fun for the whole family. Kids admire professional athletes, and they’ll love watching Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in action while Mom and Dad enjoy the game. Plus, if your little ones are 2 years old or younger, they get into Chesapeake Energy Arena for free.

2. The Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 NE 50th St.

3. H&8th Night Market, 815 N. Hudson Ave.

Worth mentioning: Myriad Botanical GardensThe Bleu Garten


Best Place to Take a ‘Selfie’

Best of OKC 2015: Places
OKC Thunder vs the Grizzlies, 4-29-2014. sc

Oklahoma City Thunder game

Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave.

The selfie has been dominating social media for a while now, and everyone knows that the place you snap your selfie is a deciding factor in the number of Instagram likes it receives. For maximum social media praise, ditch the mirror pic and snap a selfie while having a blast at an OKC Thunder game. You’re sure to earn the envy of all your social media followers while also showing your love for the team.

2. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave.

3. Vast, 333 W. Sheridan Ave.

Worth mentioning: O Bar at the Ambassador Hotel, Skydance Bridge


Best Place to Pay It Forward

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Boxed food donations in the warehouse at Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. mh

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

3355 S. Purdue Ave.

Fighting hunger isn’t easy, but Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is doing an exceptional job. Every week, it serves meals to more than 110,000 hungry Oklahomans with the help of volunteers and community support. You can pay it forward and help fight hunger by volunteering to serve meals, donating money or organizing a food drive.

2. Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, 5005 S. Interstate 35 Service Road

3. Jesus House OKC, 1335 W. Sheridan Ave.

Worth mentioning: Knuck’s WheelhouseS&B’s Burger Joint


Best Pet-Friendly Patio

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Shogun the dog at Bleau Garden soaking up some sun in Oklahoma City. Best place to take your dog 2015. Wednesday, August 5, 2015. (Keaton Draper)

The Bleu Garten

301 NW 10th St.

Dogs are part of the family too, and that’s why you should eat at The Bleu Garten, where the food is delightful and dogs are welcome as long as they’re on a leash. Open every day but Monday, The Bleu Garten offers a changing selection of the city’s best food trucks as well as a full-service liquor bar in an outdoor dining environment unlike any other in Oklahoma. This venue is open year-round with shaded seating and misters in the summer and heaters in the winter.

2. Louie’s Grill & Bar Lakeside, 9401 Lake Hefner Parkway

3. Picasso Cafe, 3009 Paseo St.

Worth mentioning: Sauced on Paseo, The Pump Bar


Best Place to Treat Your Pet

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
Barking dog bakery in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

Barking Dog Bakery

10455 N. May Ave.

When it comes to spoiling pets, Barking Dog Bakery has it down to a science. It offers gourmet treats ranging from cupcakes to popcorn that are prepared with love and the highest quality ingredients. It also has hand-picked products like luxury shampoos and conditioners, locally made leashes and collars and more for that special dog or cat in your life. Whether it’s your pet’s birthday, a reward for a job well done at the vet or just to show some love, Barking Dog Bakery has what you’re looking for.

2. Edmond Dog Park, E. 33rd Street and Rankin Terrace, Edmond

3. A1 Pet Emporium, 2911 W. Britton Road

Worth mentioning: K9 University, Midtown Vets


Best Place to Get a Home or Auto Loan

Best of OKC 2015: Places
4626 NW 39th Expressway. mh

Tinker Federal Credit Union

several metro locations

As much as we would all like to never need to borrow money, sometimes it’s unavoidable. When you need extra cash for that new house or car, Tinker Federal Credit Union will help you out with low interest rate loans and financial guidance. As the largest credit union in Oklahoma, TFCU has provided more than 305,000 members with financial excellence for nearly 70 years.

2. Bank of Oklahoma, several metro locations

3. BancFirst, several metro locations

Worth mentioning: Oklahoma Employees Credit Union, Weokie Credit Union


Best Place to Celebrate an Anniversary or Birthday

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
Cheever's Cafe in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Aug 5, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

Cheever’s Cafe

2409 N. Hudson Ave.

If you want to please that special someone in your life on their birthday or an anniversary, you’ll take them to Cheever’s Cafe. It offers comfort food with a twist and a fabulous selection of wines. Nothing says “Happy birthday!” or “Happy anniversary!” better than a menu complete with Cheever’s chicken-fried steak and bleu cheese potato chips. The restaurant is popular, so be sure to make reservations for your celebratory night.

2. Paseo Grill, 2909 Paseo St.

3. Red PrimeSteak, 504 N. Broadway Ave.

Worth mentioning: Ranch Steakhouse, Vast


Best Casino

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Riverwind Casino, 2013. mh

Riverwind Casino

1544 W. State Highway 9, Norman

No one likes to go to the casino and lose, which is why Riverwind Casino is your best bet. Whether you’re into the entertaining electronic games or you’re looking for a high-stakes poker match, Riverwind has it all with 17 poker tables, 19 table games, off-track betting and more. Not only is it the most rewarding casino in OKC, but it also offers excellent hotel accommodations so you have a place to crash after a long night of gaming. If you’re feeling lucky, head to Riverwind Casino.

2. Winstar World Casino and Resort, 777 Casino Ave., Thackerville

3. Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, 777 Grand Casino Blvd., Shawnee

Worth mentioning: Newcastle Casino, Remington Park Racing & Casino


Best Place to Geek Out

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Geek out at Science Museum Oklahoma. mh

Science Museum Oklahoma

2100 NE 52nd St.

In the nearly 60 years since it opened, Science Museum Oklahoma has become the metro’s ideal geek playground. With unique exhibits, a planetarium and the impressive Dome Theater with a screen 70 feet in diameter, there’s no better place to get your geek on. You don’t even have to be a science wiz to enjoy this place. In June, the museum opened CurioCity, a 20,000-square-foot exhibition that is bigger than most standalone children’s museums. Its displays integrate science and art, resulting in a learning experience that visitors easily mistake for fun.

2. Full Circle Bookstore, 50 Penn Place, 5000 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

3. Guestroom Records, several metro locations Worth mentioning: Empire Strikes BooksNew World Comics


Best Place to Pick Up Your Gazette

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Pick up your Gazette at Jimmy's Egg at NW 16th and May Avenue. mh

Jimmy’s Egg

several metro locations

Whether you’re nursing a hangover or tackling an omelet before work, Jimmy’s Egg has what you need to start your day right, including your current issue of Oklahoma Gazette. There isn’t a better way to kick-start your day than with endless coffee, a huge plate of fried eggs and a way to learn about your city’s coolest and most current nightlife. With around 10 metro locations, it is as accessible as your mother’s house, except it’s better because the folks at Jimmy’s Egg won’t nag you about your shortcomings.

2. Byron’s Liquor Warehouse, 2322 N. Broadway Ave.

3. City Bites, several metro locations

Worth mentioning: Party Moore, Sushi Neko


Best Pub Quiz/Trivia Night

Best of OKC 2015: Places
The Garage Burgers & Beer, in Midtown. mh

The Garage Burgers & Beer

several metro locations

With a handful of locations from which to choose, there is hardly a night of the week that you can’t play trivia at The Garage Burgers & Beer. Get your friends together, check eatatthegarage.com for the nearest location and trivia night and then fill up on ale and hamburgers while you push your brainpower to win $20 cash and bragging rights. It even offers prizes for second and third place!

2. 51st Street Speakeasy, 1114 NW 51st St.

3. Henry Hudson’s Pub, several metro locations

Worth mentioning: Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Company, HiLo Club


Best Place to Get Needled

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Display cabinet of various ear plugs at 23rd Street Body Piercing in Oklahoma City. Best place to get needled 2015. Thursday, August 6, 2015. (Keaton Draper)

23rd Street Body Piercing

411 NW 23rd St.

With four in-house piercers and guest artists coming in from places such as New Orleans, 23rd Street Body Piercing earned OKC’s top vote for body modification. And it doesn’t surprise us here at the Gazette because the piercers there have more than 50 years of combined experience. It also claims to have the state’s only members of the Association of Professional Piercers and meets or exceeds Oklahoma State Department of Health safety standards.

2. Atomic Lotus Tattoo, 409 NW 23rd St.

3. No Regrets Tattoo, 1712 NW 16th St.

Worth mentioning: Beauty from Pain Tattoo & Art Studio, Bloodline Elite Tattoo


Best Place to Make the Most Out of Your Game Room or Pad

Best of OKC 2015: Places
6104 W Reno. mh

Hobby Lobby

several metro locations

With at least 10 metro locations and many more across the region, Hobby Lobby makes it challenging to find a more accessible store for your crafting and makeover needs. If you want to frame your latest concert poster or painting from a local artist, we challenge you to find a less expensive place in which to do it. Need some fabric or fake flowers? Hobby Lobby is your place to make the most of your home. You voted for it, and it won like that epic biblical face-off between David and Goliath.

2. RetrOKC, 1708 NW 16th St.

3. Mathis Brothers Furniture, 3434 W. Reno Ave.

Worth mentioning: Amini’s GalleriaKing’s Green Cleaning


Best Place to Work Up a Sweat

Best of OKC 2015: Places
A man sweats whis way up the trail at Hefner Lake. mh

Bert Cooper Trails (formerly Lake Hefner Trails)

Lake Hefner

The Bert Cooper Trails surround the lake and offer more than nine miles of asphalt trails that connect many of Lake Hefner’s recreational areas. Bike, walk or run wild on these trails — which are as wide as 12 feet in some parts — and you will see why it was voted Best Place to Work Up a Sweat. The trails also feature playgrounds, access to Lake Hefner Golf Course, picnic areas, fishing docks, sail boarding, a restaurant and ball fields — everything you might need to have fun in the Oklahoma sun.

2. YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City, several metro locations

3. 10GYM, several metro locations

Worth mentioning: Four Star FitnessZombie Bunny CrossFit


Best LGBT Bar or Club

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
at the Boom in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

The Boom

2218 NW 39th St.

Get your fill of dinner, drinks, dancing and drama — the fun kind! — at The Boom. The venue features a full-service kitchen and bar, Sunday Gospel Brunch with Kitty and Norma, Trashy Thursday, musical theater, female and male illusion revues, bingo and karaoke. The only thing missing right now is you. We’ll see you there.

2. HiLo Club, 1221 NW 50th St.

3. Copa, 2200 NW 40th St.

Worth mentioning: Partners 4 Club, Tramps


Best Pre-Game or Pre-Concert Spot

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Brewing vesels behind glass at Bricktown Brewery. mh

Bricktown Brewery

several metro locations

Founded in 1992, Bricktown Brewery offers its distinctive handcrafted beers, burgers made with Creekstone Farms beef (free of antibiotics, hormones and growth-promoting drugs) and Neuske’s bacon and plenty of pregame and pre-concert party space in which to unwind, wind up, rally fans and loudly boast about your crush on Oklahoma City Thunder mascot Rumble the Bison.

2. The Mont Restaurant, 1300 Classen Blvd., Norman

3. TapWerks Ale House, 121 E. Sheridan Ave.

Worth mentioning: Flint, Henry Hudson’s Pub


Best Post-Game or Post-Concert Spot

Fassler Hall

421 NW 10th St.

Fassler Hall serves huge mugs filled with your choice of over a dozen styles of German and English draft selections and countless bottled varieties of local, regional, national and international craft beers. Grab a Euro-style bench for you and your coed indoor soccer teammates while you revel in the brutal win you just scored. This post-game and post-concert party spot also features a Late Night Sausage Party special with half-priced sausages 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday.

2. TapWerks Ale House, 121 E. Sheridan Ave.

3. The Mont Restaurant, 1300 Classen Blvd., Norman

Worth mentioning: Flint, Red Piano Lounge


Best Rooftop (Bar or Restaurant)

Best of OKC 2015: Places
Things cooled off when the sun went down during the OKCMOA opening night rooftop party for the DeadCENTER Film Festival, 6-11-2015. Mark Hancock

Roof Terrace at Oklahoma City Museum of Art

415 Couch Drive

The masterpiece on display atop Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) is its gorgeous view of our downtown skyline. OKCMOA Roof Terrace also is home to Art After 5, held 5 p.m. each Thursday through summer. It features live music, cocktails and access to museum galleries. Cheers!

2. Packard’s New American Kitchen, 201 NW 10th St.

3. Cafe do Brasil, 40 NW 11th St., Suite 100

Worth mentioning: Fassler Hall, O Bar at the Ambassador Hotel


Best Boutique of Local Oddities

Best of OKC 2015: Places
GARETT FISBECK
Blue Seven in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015. (Garett Fisbeck)

Blue Seven

7518 N. May Ave.

This quirky, artistic, eclectic shop owned by Caleb and Julie Arter sells everything you never knew you needed. Open six days a week, Blue Seven is popular for its variety of Oklahoma-centric tees, jewelry, art, books and gifts. In fact, you’ll find its Just OK specialty shop nestled right inside this boutique location!

2. Bad Granny’s Bazaar, 1759 NW 16th St.

3. Plenty Mercantile, 807 N. Broadway Ave.

Worth mentioning: Craig’s EmporiumDNA Galleries


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