Change, however, has been slow. For 50 years, the living conditions have been part of the history connected to the area generally bounded by NE 23rd Street to NE Fourth Street and from Lottie Avenue/Stonewall Avenue to Interstate 35 and long known as the John F. Kennedy district. In the 1960s, the Oklahoma City Council […]
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Posted inFood & Drink
A new Empire
Along with co-owner and chef Avery Cannon, Cope opened the newest restaurant in the district, Empire Slice House. The pizza joint hopes to blossom into a solid late-night dining option at 1734 NW 16th St. It is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, except Sundays, when it opens at 4 p.m. Cope and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Paying complements
Theresa Hurt But when the directors of the In Your Eye Studio and Gallery in the Paseo Arts District took a good hard look at these artists’ works, they knew Townley and Hurt were kindred spirits and the perfect pair for their latest exhibit, Complementary Colors. “Complementary Colors is not necessarily a collaboration between Theresa […]
Posted inMusic
’Live and well
It’s a common occurrence within urban sprawl: Historically thriving neighborhoods succumb to Father Time as new developments arise, businesses relocate and the activity of city-dwellers inevitably shifts from one area to another. Until recently, Oklahoma City’s Plaza District — the mile-long strip along 16th Street between Classen Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue — was merely another […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A joyful vision
Photo: Mark Hancock “I certainly want to do all I can to advance John’s vision. He was a community-builder,” Belt said of her husband, who died in March. That’s a vision tied up in John Belt’s desire to provide Oklahoma City with an arts district, being an anchor for the Paseo Arts District, promoting artists […]
Posted inArts & Culture
High Society
Greg Simkins When Jerrod Smith opened The Society’s doors two years ago, the Plaza District venue was meant to be a community-driven art space that would also function as a studio for himself and a couple of other artists. But, to be honest, he wasn’t sure it would last one year, let alone two. “I […]
Posted inMusic
Boyz to Men
The music made by Oklahoma City’s The Hitt Boyz isn’t exactly what founding members/guitarists Will Ogletree and Adam Thornbrugh intended: to be the next At the Drive-In or Mars Volta. Instead of fighting what came natural, the two decided to roll with the punches. “We wanted a high-energy, punk-rock band, but when we started writing, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Sunday fun day
The most burning question that visitors to the Plaza District had before April was, “What about brunch?” according to Cayla Lewis, district communications coordinator. After a meeting of the district’s organizers and stakeholders, an answer emerged: Plaza Sunday. Launched in the spring, the event takes place the first Sunday of each month to give families […]
Posted inMusic
It might get loud
Copperheads Photo: Doug Schwarz To paraphrase Kiss, Oklahoma City loves it loud. It loves it so much so that the Okie Noise Fest, a free, nine-hour tribute to turning it up to 11, returns Saturday, this time to OKC, after a successful launch at Norman’s Opolis a year ago. Fest co-founder Robert Layton, front man […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Southwest’s best
Jim Keffer’s Food for Thought Using sculpture, photography, painting and cardboard, four artists created works to portray their individual perspectives of the American Southwest for JRB Art at The Elms’ current exhibition. Joy Reed Belt, gallery owner and curator, selected artists Shirley Thomson-Smith, Jim Keffer, Jenny Gummersall and Jason Cytacki for the Art of the […]