OKC Daily Images

The Black Chronicle

2011-02-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

"The Black Chronicle" is the our Black newspaper and it's been dishing out news since 1979. More info can be found here.

Cautionary Flowers

2011-02-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

Hippies

2011-02-14T04:54:00.000-06:00

The hippie store

Not Taken Yesterday

2011-02-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Ah, greenery. How refreshing! (taken at a roadside garden shop last summer)

Not Abominable Snow Puppy

2011-02-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Abominable Snow Puppy

2011-02-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

I know this is technically a bad, blurry picture, but I think it's funny.

Our whole week

2011-02-05T10:09:00.000-06:00

American Indian Cultural Center and Museum

2011-01-31T05:33:00.000-06:00

It's under construction.... They've had some financing problems, but it's almost finished. Below is a pic of what it's going to look like once it is finished.

A little more industrial

2011-01-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Bejewelled Bison

2011-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

One of OKC's many artistic, near life-size bison statues.

Harn Homestead Barn

2011-01-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hudson Essex Motor Cars

2011-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

Does every downtown still bear signs from businesses long passed?

Inside Looking Out

2011-01-24T10:53:00.000-06:00

Very modern house

2011-01-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

Classen Tower

2011-01-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Used to be offices. Now it's condos.

A Catholic School Door

2011-01-21T06:00:00.002-06:00

One of the entrances to the Bishop John Carroll School.

Just Because

2011-01-20T06:00:00.001-06:00

The House of Clay

2011-01-19T06:00:00.003-06:00

I used to pass The House of Clay everyday for a year when I was a kid and I had no idea what it was. Well last week I went inside, and I learned that The House of Clay sells clay pots. Gasp! Who would have thought? Below is an example of some of their clay pots. And they have pottery classes and you can sit inside the shop and paint your clay pot. Cool!!! I think the kids and I are gonna have to do that one day.

MLK vs. Marcus Garvey

2011-01-18T06:00:00.002-06:00

I wen to my old elemetary hoping to take a pic of it for MLK day, but they changed the name to Marcus Garvey. :-(
Oh well, a school by any other name is still a school.

MLK Day

2011-01-17T06:00:00.003-06:00

Happy MLK Day. Here is a picture of a street sign. I know big deal right. I was a kid when they changed the name of this street to MLK Ave. and we thought it was a very big deal. I was raised by my grandmother for a few years and she stayed a few blocks from the street. So when I think of MLK day, I think of this street sign, my grandmother, and the elementary I attended called MLK elementary.

The Front of the Hot Dog Park

2011-01-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

I hope they reopen this place pretty soon. I started craving hot dogs when I saw this.

Rainbows and Hot Dogs

2011-01-15T18:16:00.000-06:00

This is on the side of a closed down restaurant named "Hot Dog Park." I thought this would be a fitting picture since it's the middle of January and it was a beautiful, balmy 60 degrees out today.

Red Light

2011-01-14T06:00:00.002-06:00

Remember my recent post on Kamp's 1910 Cafe? Well, this is not it.
This historic location has been in constant change over the past several years - seems every time I go something is different, the menu, the owners, the interior, the hours... I imagine soon it will settle into a pattern. Although I still cry with longing for my favorite ever sandwich that was on the menu in 2006 (oh well). It's currently a sandwich/deli shop, and recently re-did the interior so that it now has a snazzy section for the night life's bar/club scene. And that, my friends, is all I know.

Colorful Graffiti

2011-01-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Found it in a parking garage some time back...

Urban Agrarian Market

2011-01-12T06:00:00.002-06:00

You may or may not recall my post about the OSU-OKC Farmer's Market, and how I adore it, but unfortunately for me, I'm usually unable to go on Saturday mornings. (Having adult responsibilities can be so blah!) Lucky for me, I found the Urban Agrarian Market, open on Sundays. They are much smaller than OSU-OKC, but I mean... it's JANUARY, what do you expect? I thought the mushrooms were pretty enough for pictures, and went home with some loot that includes a fine lookin' chicken!

Chilly Day at the Park

2011-01-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

We received a dusting of snow Sunday and Monday, so I took a brief walk in the park. This park is in Bethany, on 50th and Rockwell.

Back to Work Monday Buildings

2011-01-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

Gloomy Day

2011-01-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

It's supposed to snow late tonight. And get "cold as *#@%!", I believe, is the technical term.

Ice on Lake Hefner...

2011-01-08T09:45:00.000-06:00

And good ol' red Oklahoma clay.
That ice will probably get a bit thicker tomorrow when the weather turns bad.

All American Fitness

2011-01-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

This is the All American Fitness located on 104th and South Western. I only took an outside picture because in order to get a tour I had to sign a very long release form. I declined and left the building. But from what I saw the facility looked decent. I did notice their sign advertised 24 hours, but their schedule says the facility is only opened 24 hours Monday through Thursday.

Of the facilities I toured the this week, the only one that made me want drop my YMCA membership was the Aspen Athletic Club. The classes looked super fun and there were lots of them. The decor was beautiful, and the employees were super nice.

The Health Food Center

2011-01-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

Right next to Anytime Fitness, is the Health Food Center. Above is a pic of their Juice Bar. They also have a sports nutrition section, as well a wide variety of organic produce and groceries.

Anytime Fitness

2011-01-05T16:28:00.000-06:00

This is the Anytime Fitness facility on I-240 and Penn. Some Misc. Facts:

-They don't offer group classes.

-The faiclity is open 24 hours, but if you want to have 24 hour access, there is a price increase.

-They used to have a pole dancing in the back, but they converted it into a club that can fit 300 people.

Southern Athletic Club

2011-01-04T05:37:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the fuzzy pic. The IPod Touch pictures aren't nearly as nice as the IPhone pics. Above is the sign of the Southern Athletic Club, the first gym I ever joined. It's literally three minutes from my house, and it's where I first took a Les Mill's Body Pump Class (my favorite group exercise classes).

The Big Kids' Area

Aspen Athletic Club

2011-01-03T09:33:00.000-06:00

This is the Aspen Athletic Club. It's located at the Penn Square Mall. I go there all the time and pay the place no attention (It's connectected to the mall, but it has a seperate entrance from it). Well I did yesterday and I even went in and looked around. It has three floors, only the top two are used and it has a beauituful yellow, purple and green color scheme on the inside.

It's much larger than any of they Y's that I've been too. If you're a weight lifting enthusiast this place is for you. They also seemed to have a great selection of yoga classes: Hot yoga and power yoga!

The Day Care Room (Taken with my iPod)

The Hot Yoga Room

Extra Notes:
-I was shown around by a sales rep (Randy) but he didn't give me any heavy sales pitch. I was in and out in five minutes.
-Right now they are having a $19/month special
-Day care is $10 extra
-A day pass is $13. I might buy one of these and try the hot yoga.
-They also have a class called "Treading" that are on treadmills. I've never heard of that before. That's another cool reason to buy the day pass.

Happy New Year! Now Let's Get To Work!

2011-01-01T17:26:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, Yall. This is the first year where I don't have to add weight loss to my new year resolutions. Yeah! For all of you who do, I decided to post a few pics of some of the local gyms. This is one of my three favorite Y's, The Midtown YMCA. It's also one of the smallest Y's. The gym, as I understand it, was built mainly for St. Anthony's Hospital employees but it's available to all Y members. It has one of the best Zumba instructors, Tamara, and she teaches there on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I live on the south side, but I'll drive twenty minutes to attend one her classes. BTW, it's located in the Plaza Court. So right after I workout, I head over to McNellies, Cafe Brasil, or Kaisers ~~to sabotage all of my hard work~~ for lunch.

Year of OKC Images

2010-12-31T06:00:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!

OKC's official festivities are downtown, with loads of bands and performances and bar happy hours, fireworks and of course the ball *lifting* (not dropping, from what I hear). I've never been - we do a private shindig.

According to Blogger Stats, the following were our five most viewed posts of the year.

1. Devon Energy Building Construction, April 5th

2. Will Rogers Botanical Gardens and Arboretum, May 16th

3. Graffiti Art, August 9th

4. Ghouls Gone Wild, Oct. 25th

5. Connie's first post, Jan. 30th

This was our first year of doing a daily photo blog, or really a daily anything blog, and it's been fun. And some of you guys actually READ our blog, how cool is that? Thanks, you guys!

This time last year

2010-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Today it is supposed to be in the sixties, but at this time last year we were recovering from Oklahoma City's first official blizzard. I was in Tulsa at the time, but I returned home to find my back porch looking like this. It looks like a snow tidal wave, sweeping everything along with it.

High Rise

2010-12-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

When I was young my father was a traveling salesman. This shot reminds me of something one of his country customers said to him one day, oh so long ago, about why he would not visit Oklahoma City.

"I'd get a crick in my neck lookin' up at them tall buildin's!"

Coffy's Coffee

2010-12-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is a coffee shop on 16th St that I have been intending to try for quite a while. I went there on a Sunday morning early, and had the place to myself. Isn't it beautiful and cozy with the morning light coming in? I went back a couple days later and took a yoga class. They have a beautiful, tiny yoga studio just out of sight to the left of this shot. It's such a friendly place, I know I'll be back.

Kamp's 1910 Cafe

2010-12-27T06:00:00.001-06:00

Kamp's 1910 Cafe is a new incarnation of an old business. The Kamps have been OKC business owners since the early days (1910 is named in honor of the opening of Kamp's deli on Classen, that very same year). They have recently moved from Kamp's on Classen to Kamp's downtown, by the railroad tracks, where Java Dave's used to be, touting an all new vibe and menu.

My lunch was lovely. And I was just in love with the cute (and tasty) little pies with the 1910 marked on top!

WHAT THE HECK!!! ARG!!!

2010-12-26T06:00:00.002-06:00

I had posts scheduled for Sunday and Monday, but they didn't post! They aren't even saved as drafts! What the heck? ARRG!

Anyhow, this was the solstice eclipse last week! We watched it in the backyard with blankets and champagne.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

First National Bank building

May Ave and Grand Blvd.

Sand Ridge Christmas Tree?? The big fancy one downtown.

On Robinson Ave

First National Bank Building (again)

The Skirvin

Sandridge Energy's Decadent Destruction

2010-12-24T06:00:00.002-06:00

There is something about the demolition of buildings that really feeds that small part of me that likes chaos and destruction. It was very exciting to watch them use a little bity ball to tear down this downtown building bit by bit. It was lots of fun to watch.

Sandridge Energy, the facilitators of all of this decadent destruction, plans to tear down a total of six buildings. This much construction/destruction has not been seen in Oklahoma City since the 1970's. One of the six buildings that they're destroying, is the oldest surviving building in Downtown (well it was anyway).

It was suggested that I post some Christmas pics. I don't have any of those, but I hope you guys have a Happy Christmas, don't go into debt, don't kill anyone in your family over a burned turkey, and all that good cheer and stuff.

Breaking Dawn

2010-12-23T09:28:00.000-06:00

The sunrises in OKC over the past couple of days have been so beautiful.

Rocky

2010-12-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

Fly

2010-12-21T06:00:00.001-06:00

Row, Row, Row

2010-12-20T06:00:00.001-06:00

Come to My window

2010-12-19T20:55:00.000-06:00

Christmas Shopping

2010-12-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

I saw these in an antique store and took a picture to remember them by. They were a perfect Christmas gift for a certain someone, but I had to go home and ponder whether or not they were too risque. When I decided to get them, I went back and they were gone! The least I can do is share the giggle I got out of them with you guys.

Monorail

2010-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Sadly, the monorail does not run anymore - in fact they tore down most of its track - they just left it there as a landmark. It was just a few years ago that I was riding it! :(

Lights on Broadway

2010-12-15T06:01:00.000-06:00

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

2010-12-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

OKC is 50 and sunny this week, and next week. So this is me, reminiscing about the epic snow and ice storms we had the last couple of Decembers. The cold, danger, and power outages I am not so fond of, but the snow days, fires, and beautiful white Christmases are aspects of that weather worth missing. This picture is from December 2-3 years ago, when we were out of power for 3 days... and out of water, since our apartment complex had to operate the plumbing with an electric pump! Snow > Ice.

Musical Light House

2010-12-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

You know those musical light houses... yep, we found a good one on 19th and Olie. That's it, up there! For a poor quality video, feel free to watch below.

OKC Lego CityScape

2010-12-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

For the past two years, EduCare has been recreating OKC in Legos for Christmas as a fundraiser. It's pretty impressive, with lights and moving parts, and is so worth the 5$ entry fee.

Here we have the capitol building and the memorial, all lit up...

The Thunder basketball game...

The Skirvin and Leadership Square...

The Plaza Court...

The Ghouls Gone Wild Parade!

The babies in St. Anthony hospital...

The Devon Tower already completed!

And I had to paste this picture of the Colcord, to compare with the real one!

Indoor Snow

2010-12-11T06:00:00.002-06:00

When I went Christmas shopping for fun handmade items Friday night, I found a delightful display at Collected Thread. White branches with little snow drops hanging from them make an indoor snowfall!

The SurvivorTree...

2010-12-09T06:00:00.005-06:00

at the OKC National Memorial

A Shack

2010-12-09T06:00:00.003-06:00

A Window with a view

2010-12-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Looks like a view of an insane asylum.

Let the Light Through

2010-12-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

Matt Hoffman Skate Park

2010-12-06T14:38:00.000-06:00

Tree!

2010-12-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

Fright or Enjoyment

2010-12-04T18:13:00.000-06:00

Is that a look of fright or enjoyment? I can't tell.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

2010-12-03T06:00:00.002-06:00

(These pictures are actually courtesy of my husband, whose camera far trumps mine for night time shots)
Trees at the campus for Chesapeake Energy are transformed into a magical land just for unicorns, pixies, and couples with mugs of hot chocolate at Christmas time!

Red-neck Windmill

2010-12-02T07:29:00.000-06:00

Some co-workers and I found this while out driving around one day. It's a ceiling fan painted up all shabby-chic-like and attached to a tree stump. We also wondered whether or not it was attached to a motor, because it was rotating at a steady speed when no wind was blowing.

Interesting Old Building

2010-12-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

A Favorite Hide Away

2010-11-30T06:00:00.002-06:00

This is my favorite single room in the city - formerly a bank lobby built in the early 1900s (it still has the old teller windows and signs for the vaults), it's currently empty. I can't fathom why it isn't being used for anything, nor why it's nearly always empty and alone when I visit it. But that's honestly part of its appeal. Faded beautiful, silent and echoey, dim-lighted and private, just waiting for a new function. Although part of me hopes that it stays this way forever, a museum piece, visited a few times a day by people who wander onto the wrong floor of the busy building it inhabits.

Update on Devon Construction

2010-11-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

The glass is going in, and the building has passed the nearby Colcord Hotel in height. Picture taken 2nd week of November...

The Pretty Things Peepshow

2010-11-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

OKC is lucky, because we are near Norman, which is the home of Donny Vomit of Coney Island fame! When he came home for the holiday, he brought the Pretty Things Peepshow with him, and they did a fantastic show at the Hi-Lo the night before Thanksgiving. I had a hard time not falling asleep before turkey time, but it was most definitely worth staying up until 1am in a crowded bar! Pictured above are Donny Vomit with nail, and sword swallower Heather Holiday with two swords.

Pretty Leaves!

2010-11-27T10:37:00.000-06:00

The Birds Will Play

2010-11-26T06:00:00.003-06:00

...When the Predators Are Away.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T10:48:00.000-06:00

In order to offset some of the calories I'll be consuming on this joyous holiday, I got up and ran the OKC Turkey Trot in below freezing weather. It was glorious!!! As an added bonus here is what I was wearing.

Please don't hate on the bow!

The Sculpture

2010-11-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

...at the Matt Hoffman Skate Park

Beautiful Fall

2010-11-23T06:00:00.002-06:00

This Old Building

2010-11-22T06:00:00.002-06:00

Welcom to the Jungle

2010-11-21T19:01:00.000-06:00

The jungle gym at the park off of the Robinson St. Bridge.

Free Trip to Heaven

2010-11-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Har Har.

2010-11-18T06:00:00.003-06:00

Just a small part of an exceptionally long mural on the outskirts of Bricktown. If memory serves, it is along Robert S. Kerr Blvd, and its addition was part of the centennial celebrations in 2007.

The Crow and the Apple

2010-11-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Huge sculpture downtown - probably two stories tall.

Colcord Elevators and Mail Drop

2010-11-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Just because it's beautiful.

The Colcord

2010-11-15T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'll be safely stashed in my California hotel by now. This is the Colcord Hotel in downtown OKC - surely 100 years old if it's a day.

Free Baby!

2010-11-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

When I drove by this my thought was, "Free baby? Where? What's a baby Grimpy?" Yep. I don't speak gangsta, fo sho.
On a side note, all of my posts this week will be pre-scheduled. I'll be in Sacramento for work.

Fall Colors

2010-11-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Anyone who tells you that Oklahoma isn't pretty... is full of malarky!

Milk Bottle Building

2010-11-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Milk Bottle building is a historic building in the Asian district on Classen. I really like my artsy angle, but thought I'd be nice and give you the whole view...

Guess What This Place Is?

2010-11-12T06:00:00.002-06:00

Where do you think this place is? A museum, a movie theater, a boutique, or maybe an antique store. If you guessed any thing other than a candy store then you guessed WRONG! Yep, the above is just one pic of the new sweet shop named Pinkitzel. This store is like Bricktown Candy Company, Sara Sara Cupcakes, CoCo Flow and a boutique all wrapped up one cool looking store. More pics below:

I have to say though, none of the the employees smiled at all while I was there. How can you not smile when you work in such an awesome place???

Sara Sara Cupcakes

2010-11-11T18:15:00.000-06:00

In the spirit of Coco Flow, I give you another sweet shop. This is the extremely white, clean, and oh so pretting sitting area in Sara Sara Cupcakes. This has to be one of the coolest interiors I've ever seen in OKC.

Deep Deuce Music Festival

2010-11-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

The festival was held on October 8, 2010. It was a perfect day to sit in the grass and listen to some Jazz.

CoCo Flow

2010-11-09T22:13:00.000-06:00

It's National Novel Writing Month and in between trying to write 50,000 words before the end of the month and my kids, I completely forgot to post yesterday. So dear readers, for my oversight, I present you a truffle from CoCo Flow located in Bricktown. My son and I chose to get a truffle called the Ghanian (something) in honor of him being half Ghanian. It was Yummy. I'm loving the new dessert specialty shops that are popping up in OKC.

Eat More Chicken

2010-11-07T21:26:00.000-06:00

This pic was taken at last month's Race For the Cure.

One Last Touch of Summer

2010-11-06T23:05:00.000-05:00

Fall is upon us,. The leaves are beginning to change color and fall to the ground. In remembrance of summer, I'm giving you flowers.

Weekend Activities

2010-11-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

Children doing a jumprope exhibition at Rose State College's cultural festival, just a few short weeks ago.

Honk for Peace

2010-11-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

You Matter

2010-11-03T06:00:00.002-05:00

Go Vote Today!

2010-11-02T06:40:00.000-05:00

A delightful mural in the plaza district. Reads "The important thing is to do and nothing else, be that what it may."

Back to Work Monday Buildings

2010-11-01T16:11:00.000-05:00

Downtown on Robinson Avenue, in front of the Leadership Square building.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

Our Pumpkin

2010-10-30T22:41:00.000-05:00

Do you need this?

2010-10-30T10:16:00.000-05:00

In case you can't see it, reads:

"For immediate relief of: Halloween mayhem, fake Frankensteins, plastic spiders and fake blood. Directions for use: Snap off into single pieces and throw at suspects from the nearest window. Break into bigger pieces and throw if suspect returns with big brother or a large wooden object. If truly desperate hand over entire bar to these extortionists and retire."

The End is NIgh

2010-10-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

Really...It's the end of my week of posing!

Cookie Monster Rocks!!!

2010-10-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

Villa Teresa's Fall Carnival

2010-10-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Villa Teresa's principal looking GLAMOROUS!!!