“I have no idea where I’m going. I’m lost and I’m going to be late. They are never going to give me the internship!” These were the thoughts going through my mind as I headed to my interview with the Executive Director of the Plaza District Association, Kristen Vails. NW 16^th street was not a familiar place to me. Oklahoma City was not a familiar place to me. I grew up in a small town in NE Oklahoma. So my GPS and map on my iPhone were my most important tools moving to this “big city”.

I found the office with the very detailed instructions from Kristen and I wasn’t late. I was greeted by a girl who is far too young for such an impressive title. Her big smile was warming and jeans made me feel out of place. I had on a suit, heels and way too much make up.  I always did interviews in a suit. But after seeing her casual attire I wanted to change. I realized I did not dress the part for the job I wanted.

Luckily, Kristen saw something in me other than a pressed suit, loud heels and hairspray. I started a week later as the intern for the Plaza District. I met the business owners first. Pleasantly I was surprised by the wide mix of businesses. I enjoyed meeting the owners, their friends and families. All of the businesses were so unique and talented in their own way. I loved the colorful costumes at Bad Granny’s Bazaar; the rocker printed tees at War Paint Clothing Co.; the retro furniture at RetrOKC; the amazing art at DNA Galleries and the handmade products at Collected Thread…and so many more.

I enjoyed being back in a creative world with so many creative and talented people. In such a short time the Plaza District has inspired me–inspired me to go back to school and continue a dream I had in design. A dream I let die over the years but the Plaza District brought back to life.

I am proud to now work for the Plaza District Association as their District Relations and Marketing Coordinator. However, I am still fairly sure I earned my position by dressing up in an 80’s jumper and fanny pack for the Fanny Pack Fashion Show! Over coffee breaks at Elemental, we brainstorm the creative ideas to drive the district. Working with each business, I work to keep communication efficient with so much going on in the district. Whether it be social media, updating the website, event planning, research and all the many hats that come with non-profit work—I love this place.

Although I have not been with the district long it is a place I can call home–a place very dear to me and I love being a part of it’s growth and a part of the team!

-Lauren Reasor (Plaza Mom’s sidekick)

]]> http://www.plazadistrict.org/2012/02/plazalife-from-the-new-girl/feed/ 0 http://www.plazadistrict.org/2012/02/live-on-the-plaza-gets-lovely/ http://www.plazadistrict.org/2012/02/live-on-the-plaza-gets-lovely/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:25:36 +0000 plazadistrict http://www.plazadistrict.org/?p=810 Continue reading →]]>

LIVE on the Plaza gets LOVELY
Monthly artwalk celebrates romance with local twist

LIVE on the Plaza 2^nd Friday, presented and sponsored by Fowler Volkswagen of Norman, will be transformed into LOVE on the Plaza, celebrating this over commercialized holiday with a local twist! Whether you and your date are looking for a fun, quirky night out, or you’re hitting the town with friends, romance will abound by way of local art and creative flavor at LOVE on the Plaza.

The SPYwagen will be home to the LOVE on the Plaza photo booth from 7-9PM, so make sure you and your date (or friends, family or pup!) snuggle into the SPYwagen and capture the moment. Photos will be uploaded online for free online downloads, and prints available for sale. Special thanks to Maria Dru Photography, Fowler Volkswagen and The SPY for the LOVE on the Plaza photo booth!

Not afraid to show a little PDA? Snap your own smooches for the LOVE on the Plaza Kiss Cam! Post pics on twitter to @plazadistrict and @FowlerVW for your chance to win a prize courtesy of FowlerVW!

Just a sample of great Valentine’s gifts in the Plaza!

1. handcrafted ” Our Hearts Beat as One ” dolls,  Dig It!
2. “My favorite Work of Art” print, Collected Thread
3. “Get Naked” Dental Chew Sticks, Chasin’ Tail
4. 80′s Nostalgia Handmade Valentine’s Cards, Bad Granny’s Bazaar
5.”You’re a Fox” Card, Collected Thread
6. Plaza Rose, Urban Wineworks
7. “Broken Heart” shirt by Doin’ Fine, DNA Galleries
8. pink retro lamp, RetrOKC
9. Spring Awakening at Lyric Theatre
10. Permanent Displays of Affection, No Regrets Tattoo

Want to win the ultimate Plaza District Valentine’s experience? Just give a smooch, take a pic, and let us know! Fowler Volkswagen Kiss Cam contest is back this Friday at LOVE on the Plaza!

Fowler VW V-Day in a Box

$50 gift card to Collected Thread (buy your sweetie a gift!)
$50 Gift Card to Saints (buy your sweetie dinner!)
$50 to Urban Wineworks (buy your sweetie wine!)

All you have to do to enter is:

-come to LOVE on the Plaza this Friday!
-snap a photo of your smooches (with your date, friends, family or pup!)
-tweet the photo to @FowlerVW and @plazadistrict with the hashtag #KissCam (if you only have Facebook, just upload to Fowler VW’s FB page!)

Pucker up those lips and we’ll see you Friday!

Cole Dewey Designs: Beautiful flower arrangements for Valentine’s Day, deliveries available. Get your order in today for something special and unique from Cole Dewey Designs! Call to make your order today at (405).208.1978 http://www.coledeweydesigns.com/

Saints: Valentine’s Day featuring a wonderful 3-course meal. First Course includes Garlic Stuffed Mussels. Second Course is a choice of either a Cherry Wood Smoked Duck Breast with red wine reduction with colcannon and asparagus -or- Pan Seared Sea Scallops with foie gras beurre blanc with a smoked mushroom barley risotto and asparagus. And finally, dessert includes a White Chocolate Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese icing and toasted macadamia nuts.  $35 a person. Reservations required, call (405).602.6308. http://www.saintsplaza.com/

Urban Wine Works: A Valentine’s Day 5-course meal. The first course includes a Urban Cobb Salad with smoked-hickory bacon. Second course is an Italian Wedding Soup. Next continues with Barbecue Shrimp. The forth course is a Petit Sirah Pollo, a farfalle pasta made with one of the house wines with a side green beans. And finally, dessert includes Chocolate Decadence Cake made with three types of chocolate.  $60 a couple, Reservations required, call (405).525.WINE. Do not miss out on Urban Wine Works paired wine flight for additional $10, romantic live music and of course flowers. http://www.urbanww.com/

Collected Thread: Partnering with Birdie Flower Shop with $55 bouquet and necklace from Collected Thread! Pre-order by contacting Collected Thread today! 405.557.1141

DNA Galleries and Collected Thread: The two neighbors have teamed up for an awesome Valentine’s Thunder Package! The package includes a Thunder T-shirt, Thunderwear, Thunder buttons, ‘Fear the Beard’ Thunder Flask and a Thunder sticker. All this gear for a sweet $65! DNA- (405).371.2460 1705 B NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 Collected Thread- (405).557.1141 1705A NW 16^th Street.

February Events

Dig It: 10% off a special item every Tuesday during the month of February.

Bad Granny’s Bazaar:Feb 10^th: LIVE on the Plaza, 8PM Backroom with Stranglets
Feb 11^th: 8PM Backroom with Seahaven (from Canada) and Local Friends
Feb 24^th: 7PM Backroom with Kubla Kahn, 2X4, Eloi Eloi and Manipulate the Ghost
Feb 25^th: 7PM Backroom with Tiger Lily and Found In Atlases
Feb 28^th: Art’s Movie Night from 7p to 10p. This month’s featured movies is sponsored by Dig It and featuring are independent foreign horror films.

The Society: Feb 9th: 8PM, Refresh At The Society, live music by Brianna Gaither, The Motha Folkin Soul, Braylon Warr, and Hayden Bedwell and art photography by Rachel Waters.
Feb 19th: 6PM, Life Drawing: Study and Sketch Session with live models. $20, Reservations required. 

No Regrets Tattoo: $40 candy heart Tattoo special February 12^th. First come, first serve! (405).702.0088

Oklahoma City developer makes blighted apartments next target

Over the past several years Jeff and Aimee Struble have either lived or worked in the 16th Street Plaza District, and have led much of its redevelopment.

BY STEVE LACKMEYER slackmeyer@opubco.com    9

Published: January 25, 2012

Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-developer-makes-blighted-apartments-next-target/article/3643179#ixzz1kUUUawkl

Our Valentine to you is free coffee–a full coffee bar thanks to Cafe Evoke Coffee Catering!
We would love for you to come sip with us! 

Monday February 6th from 7:30 to 9:30 AM at Convergence Collective (1755 NW 16th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73106) 

NON-PROFIT/COMMUNITY GROUPS: Each month LIVE on the Plaza will feature and allow 2 groups to have booth space. Please submit your information and desired setup date to  info@plazadistrict.org. Groups will be permitted as space is available.

ARTISTS/OUTDOOR MARKET- please see the 2012 LIVE on the Plaza Outdoor Artist Application for more information here. Due February 17th. If you have missed the deadline, please sign up on our email list to be notified for 2013 Call to Artists:

Call to Artists Signup From

FOOD VENDORS- Please contact info@plazadistrict if interested in vending. Only mobile food vendors will be considered. Vendors accepted must be inspected by City/County Health at the Event and pay Special Event fee ($29) to OKCCH

MUSICIANS- The Plaza District Association does not book live music for LIVE on the Plaza, the individual businesses book their own musicians. Please contact a business if you are interested in performing. Please do not email Plaza staff about booking information.

Patrons:
Catheryn Koss                                     Shawn Null                            John and Susan Hogan
George McQuistion                           Ryan Holbrook                                  John Belt
Robert Breeding                                Janet Seefeldt                                  Shop Good
Benny Jacobs                                      John Milner                                  Jessi Garrett
Melauna Wescott                              Marc Barker                        Chris and Cyndi Thomas
Randy Cassimus                               Brett Deering                                  Isaac Gray
Sara Jacobson                                  Richard Payne

Individual:
Jeff Struble                                         Cindy Goble                                   Lindy Adams
Allison Bailey                                    Nicolle Franklin                               Anny Castoro
Mike Ramsey                                    Marilyn Fisher                                   Marla Hice
Marlena Vair                                   Amelia Bardwell

Happy 2012 Plaza friends! 2011 was an awesome year for the District especially for our friends at Keep it Local, but they need your help to continue their growth!

Many of you have seen the little plastic “Keep it Local” cards being used at places like Cuppies and Joe, Iguana Mexican Grill, Collected Thread, Iron Starr Urban BBQ and so many more. Here’s a little scoop on how itworks and whyyou should start keepin’ it local!

I had the pleasure of meeting the brains behindthe operation, Keep it Local co-founder, Bryce Bandy. Bryce, along with his businesspartner Chris Branson launched the Keep it Local OK idea in early 2010 to promote growth within Oklahoma City and bring attention to all the amazing creative minds we have right here! SInce it’s birth, the small business has grown to gain national attention.

The vision of Keep it Local is to encourage consumers to shop, eat at local, independent businesses to keep our economy strong and productive. Bryce and Chris saw the idea of promoting local businesses in cities such as, Austin, Texas and wanted to bring the same concept to Oklahoma City.

Keep it Local has over 130 local businesses that have partnered with them which include stores in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Norman and Midwest City. “We give people the tools and incentives to shop local”, says Bryce.

A one time purchase of $10.00 in turn will save you hundreds of dollars by using your card at all your favorite OKC hot spots. You can purchase a Keep it Local card at Elemental Coffee Co, Blue 7, and several other locations.

The 2012 card was designed by local artist Mauricio Cremer. This year Keep it Local is launching some new tools to make shopping even easier! A free iPhone app is now available which was built by local developer Steve Baranski of Komorka Technology. And early next month a gift registry to register for all your gift needs such as birthday, house warming, graduation, wedding, baby etc.. will also be available to let all your friends and family know which local store they can find your perfect gift.

For more information about Keep it Local you can visit their website, new site designed by local web mastermind James Harber of Studio FJ.

Be sure to follow them on Twitter @keepitlocalok and like them on Facebook!

Stay Fit and Eat Great Food at Saints!

Now that the holidays are over, the pressure is on to keep resolutions of exercise and healthy eating. Saints’ Irish Pub right here in the heart of the Plaza, not only offers a great selection of craft beer, wine and liquor, but they are also fully supplied with delicious menu items!

Saints’ executive chef, Eric James Brown, cooked up some awesome entrees which are  not only delicious, but nutritious as well! Eric has been professionally cooking for nearly a decade, but has enjoyed doing so most of his life.

Our first item is the Smoked Salmon Salad. This house smoked Applewood salmon is served on a bed of spring mixed greens, with red bell peppers, candied walnuts and a ginger citrus vinaigrette.

Next we have the Veggie BLT. Though the name is deceiving, you won’t find a trace of pork in this delectable appetizer. It consists of Applewood smoked mushrooms placed on top of a roasted garlic spread, topped with tomatoes, basil chiffonade served on toast points.

And as a main course the Meat and Veg. With the meat and veg you get 6oz of juicy beef tenderloin, along side a carrot, parsnip puree, served with roasted seasonal vegetables.

Stop in Saints’ today to try one of Chef Eric’s delicious bites and be sure to ask you server for a great beer pairing!

First LIVE on the Plaza of 2012!

Be sure to not miss our very first LIVE on the Plaza of the year! This Friday, January 13 from 7-11pm, though it may be chilly outside, the Plaza will have plenty of exciting things going on.

The grand opening of “The Parish” will warm you up with a free expresso bar via Elemental Coffee Co and warm your heart with live music from Barling, John Parker Milsap, Gabriel Hancock, and Melissa May.

Come show off your pipes down at Paula & Company Realty as they host and 80s karaoke night with chances to win tickets to Lyric Theatre’s new performance, Xanadu!

The Society will be putting on a Life Drawing study and sketch session from 6-9pm, $20 to participate.

Plus live music, and plenty of featured local artists all over the District!

Don’t miss out, see you Friday!

*All photos taken by Maria Atkinson of mariadru photography.