True hipsters love places like OKC and, say, Omaha. Living in Williamsburg, Portland or Austin is so over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlGqN3AKOsA

Yeah, this isn't really a big deal. It's a website I'd never heard of doing a top 10 list on a subject most people don't care about. Top 10 lists are so common that you can drown in them.

OKC has a lot of room for improvement in areas like walkability, bikeability, and mass transit. These are real things we could work to improve. Vintage stores and vinyl record stores don't matter at all. I'm sure we've got an abundance of western wear locations that put San Francisco or Seattle to shame. The preference of one type of cultural style over another is not something we should be concerned with. Better to establish our own identity than to run around trying to copy the latest fad.

If we really want to make improvements in our national perception, OKC should work with surrounding cities and counties to limit suburban sprawl. Every new neighborhood built in the central Oklahoma area must have sidewalks and parks included in it. We need to transform our city into a place where people can walk. The biggest problem OKC has is not a lack of hipsters, it's too many fat people. If we make walking and exercise easier, something you don't have to drive 5 miles to the gym to do, the health of our citizens will gradually improve.

This is not good press for OKC. The hipster fad is all the rage right now for young people and hipster cities are the cities young, educated professionals are gravitating to. It's not surprising though OKC has such a low rating in that category as conservative as it is and the fact there isn't one district that has critical mass which is friendly to the creative class.

I don't think it's the hipster fad that is causing people to gravitate to anyplace in particular. My young educated, professional children laugh at hipsters. But they like walkable, urban areas with great restaurants and clubs. Who doesn't? I do too. It's not just about hipsters, but rather what appeals to everyone. And, Oklahoma City is at least trying to get there. The Plaza District should be a hipster delight. It's just that places like Chicago have 10 Plaza Districts.

Don't Portland my OKC!

Hipsters are but one small component of our large, diverse metropolitan area. Others are boomers, oldsters, racial minorities, LGBT, financiers, goat ropers, intellectuals...

The under-thirty, fixie-riding, skinny jeans-wearing people drinking coffee, staring at laptop screens and working on a $5 million Kickstarter idea for another app - they're a visible stereotype but I don't think that they're economically or socially significant. I'll gladly be proven wrong, but I don't think that more of them will contribute to a growing, vital, significant city.

Don't Portland my OKC!

Hipsters are but one small component of our large, diverse metropolitan area. Others are boomers, oldsters, racial minorities, LGBT, financiers, goat ropers, intellectuals...

The under-thirty, fixie-riding, skinny jeans-wearing people drinking coffee, staring at laptop screens and working on a $5 million Kickstarter idea for another app - they're a visible stereotype but I don't think that they're economically or socially significant. I'll gladly be proven wrong, but I don't think that more of them will contribute to a growing, vital, significant city.

Hipsters are attracted to the type of dense, pedestrian friendly environment most of us would like to see more of in OKC. Hipsters don't make a growing, vital, significant city but they are attracted to those types of cities. The top cities in the country for young professionals right now like Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin, etc are also hipster meccas.

OKC simply doesn't have that kind of draw for the twentysomething demographic.

I don't think it's the hipster fad that is causing people to gravitate to anyplace in particular. My young educated, professional children laugh at hipsters. But they like walkable, urban areas with great restaurants and clubs. Who doesn't? I do too. It's not just about hipsters, but rather what appeals to everyone. And, Oklahoma City is at least trying to get there. The Plaza District should be a hipster delight. It's just that places like Chicago have 10 Plaza Districts.

The Plaza district needs to reach critical mass. Right now, though its getting there, Blue Dome and Brady in Tulsa are ahead, significantly.

I, too, think OKC is suffering from a lack of hipsters.
(and a surfeit of suits)
http://www.bobdenver.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Maynard-G.jpg

However, this "cultural imbalance" can be corrected, without the assitance of Wayne Coyne and his Posse, and doing just that should be the first order of the day. or the tomorrow (a.k.a. "manana" with the squiggle).

(do you really believe that it is only a "coincidence" that "Gilliagan's" real name involved "Denver"? =)

If we really want to make improvements in our national perception, OKC should work with surrounding cities and counties to limit suburban sprawl. Every new neighborhood built in the central Oklahoma area must have sidewalks and parks included in it. We need to transform our city into a place where people can walk. The biggest problem OKC has is not a lack of hipsters, it's too many fat people. If we make walking and exercise easier, something you don't have to drive 5 miles to the gym to do, the health of our citizens will gradually improve.

Completely agree. I've gained some weight since moving to OKC simply because its difficult to find places to walk. Most places don't even have sidewalks so if I want to go for a walk on my lunch break I really can't unless I want to walk the stairwell.

About this city's national perception, that will unfortunately forever be somewhat tied to what goes on at 23rd and Lincoln. If our state legislators ever decide to come into the modern era, then just maybe that will help our image. As the capital and largest city of Oklahoma that for the most part is in sync with the rural areas of the state, the image of our city is intertwined with our state's politics.

I've gained some weight since moving to OKC simply because its difficult to find places to walk.

I'm thinking that if you're using that as an excuse, you're not really serious about your weight. LOL

I'm flipping through my new April issue of PC World and there's a big write up about the best & worst tech-friendly cities. Here's a couple of charts, sorry for the quality, I just snapped them with my iPad Mini. The articles aren't online yet. 2 Oklahoma Cities in Top 10 Least Tech-Friendly Cities.


http://oi46.tinypic.com/2hdqlpx.jpg

-

http://oi46.tinypic.com/jl2ntt.jpg

-

Daily tweets per 100 people has to be one of the silliest measures of being tech friendly I've ever heard of.

Vintage stores and vinyl record stores don't matter at all.

Some people say vinyl sounds better than CDs, but I remember vinyl sounding best for annoying pops, ticks and scratches.

Daily tweets per 100 people has to be one of the silliest measures of being tech friendly I've ever heard of.

I guess Silicon Valley wasn't very tech-friendly twenty years ago when twitter, facebook, public wifi, home & wireless broadband, etc. didn't even exist.

The media will pretty much use any criteria they can to paint a specific set of cities consistently in a negative light. OKC is one of those cities. They will also use criteria just as silly to praise their darling cities (Portland, Seattle, Austin, etc). Re-enforcing a stereotype must get them good ratings or something.

The media will pretty much use any criteria they can to paint a specific set of cities consistently in a negative light. OKC is one of those cities. They will also use criteria just as silly to praise their darling cities (Portland, Seattle, Austin, etc). Re-enforcing a stereotype must get them good ratings or something.

Huh? OKC has received tons of positive press in the last four or five years.

Let's just chalk up this list as being too flaky to be taken seriously.

I guess Silicon Valley wasn't very tech-friendly twenty years ago when twitter, facebook, public wifi, home & wireless broadband, etc. didn't even exist.

Well, in my opinion, cities that show the highest rates of tweets per 100 people are cities where people just have too much spare time on their hands. LOL

Well, in my opinion, cities that show the highest rates of tweets per 100 people are cities where people just have too much spare time on their hands. LOL

Exactly, as in high unemployment rates.

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Nice video hightling the efforts put forth to improve and address obsesity in OKC.

Oklahoma City in top ten of Best Places for Young Adults:

Best places for young adults 2013 - The Business Journals (http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2013/03/austin-san-jose-and-washington-are.html?s=image_gallery)

Has been it top ten for awhile now.

Oklahoma City in top ten of Best Places for Young Adults:

Best places for young adults 2013 - The Business Journals (http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/on-numbers/scott-thomas/2013/03/austin-san-jose-and-washington-are.html?s=image_gallery)

It always bothers me seeing a skyline picture without the Devon tower. It's been done for almost six months now. You can't get a more recent picture?

The Oklahoma City diet - Video on NBCNews.com (http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51312667/#51312667)

It always bothers me seeing a skyline picture without the Devon tower. It's been done for almost six months now. You can't get a more recent picture?

Most of these slide shows use a Pre-Devon skyline shot from that same angle. In my opinion, prior to the Devon tower that was one of the worst angles for skyline photos.

Has been it top ten for awhile now.

Sorry. I won't share it if it comes up again.

..

Sorry. I won't share it if it comes up again.

We may "has been it top ten for awhile now", but I never read or heard about it. So, thank you for posting.

Sorry. I won't share it if it comes up again.

It wasn't a criticism. Just saying we have held the position for several years now. It is good news we are recognized yet again.

It wasn't a criticism. Just saying we have held the position for several years now. It is good news we are recognized yet again.

Just curious, but do you know what our rank has been in previous years? Higher? Lower?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130407/LIFE/304070027/0/homecoming/?odyssey=nav%7Chead

We're a boomtown, per Bloomberg.

The Top 12 American Boomtowns (http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/finance/news/the-top-12-american-boomtowns-134810207.html?.intl=us&.lang=en-us)

We're a boomtown, per Bloomberg.

The Top 12 American Boomtowns (http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/finance/news/the-top-12-american-boomtowns-134810207.html?.intl=us&.lang=en-us)

Here's the list:


1. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
2007 Population: 1,598,161
2011 Population: 1,783,519
Percent Change: 11.60 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 3.26%


2. New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, Louisiana
2007 Population: 1,030,363
2011 Population: 1,191,089
Percent Change: 15.60 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 2%


3. Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina
2007 Population: 1,047,629
2011 Population: 1,163,515
Percent Change: 11.06 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 1.49%


4. San Antonio, Texas
2007 Population: 1,990,675
2011 Population: 2,194,927
Percent Change: 10.26 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 1.47%


5. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas
2007 Population: 5,628,101
2011 Population: 6,086,538
Percent Change: 8.15 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 1.55%


6. Washington, D.C. Metro Area
2007 Population: 5,306,565
2011 Population: 5,703,948
Percent Change: 7.49 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 1.46%


************************************************** ***********
7. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2007 Population: 1,192,989
2011 Population: 1,278,053
Percent Change: 7.13 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 1.44%

************************************************** ***********


8. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee
2007 Population: 1,521,437
2011 Population: 1,617,142
Percent Change: 6.29 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 1.37%


9. Portland-Beaverton Oregon, Vancouver Washington
2007 Population: 2,175,113
2011 Population: 2,262,605
Percent Change: 4.02 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 5.23%


10. Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, North Carolina
2007 Population: 1,651,568
2011 Population: 1,795,472
Percent Change: 8.71 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 0.14%


11. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
2007 Population: 6,145,037
2011 Population:*6,526,548
Percent Change: 6.21 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 0.84%


12. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California
2007 Population: 1,803,643
2011 Population:*1,865,450
Percent Change: 3.43 ... GDP Compound Annual Growth: 4.37%

Oh, and here's the methodology used (for those curious):

"Bloomberg Rankings analyzed population and real (inflation-adjusted) data on gross domestic product
for 360 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).

MSAs were ranked on the increase in population and real GDP compound annual growth rate and given
a point score from 1 to 100. The two ranks were added together and divided by 720, the highest possible
total, to create the final score.

The list was then winnowed to areas with at least 1 million residents as of 2011 that showed an increase
in both population and real GDP from 2007 to 2011. Census population estimates for the ranking are
as of July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2011."

Here is a very cool article on cnn.com about a woman who almost finished the Boston Marathon and chose to run the OKC Memorial Marathon. It is a novel, but a good read none the less:

Opinion: In Oklahoma City, a run to finish what she started - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/30/opinion/sutter-oklahoma-city-run/index.html?iref=allsearch)

Here is a very cool article on cnn.com about a woman who almost finished the Boston Marathon and chose to run the OKC Memorial Marathon. It is a novel, but a good read none the less:

Opinion: In Oklahoma City, a run to finish what she started - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/30/opinion/sutter-oklahoma-city-run/index.html?iref=allsearch)

I agree it's a great article and I read every word. Someone was actually bitching about the length in the comments. It seems we're so shallow anymore.
The story was incredibly inspirational and the home touch from the writer made it all the better.

I agree it's a great article and I read every word. Someone was actually bitching about the length in the comments. It seems we're so shallow anymore.
The story was incredibly inspirational and the home touch from the writer made it all the better.

Did you see the douche commenting about his gun rights being taken away?

I agree it's a great article and I read every word. Someone was actually bitching about the length in the comments. It seems we're so shallow anymore.
The story was incredibly inspirational and the home touch from the writer made it all the better.

I have to admit, long articles are why I like a good text to speech program on my computer

Did you see the douche commenting about his gun rights being taken away?

Yeah, that was a bit much. I don't understand why people bring that up on articles & topics that have absolutely nothing to do with gun-rights. His comment didn't even make much sense because it had nothing to do with what he quoted from the article.

It was a fantastic article though. Read every word of it as well.

Yeah, that was a bit much. I don't understand why people bring that up on articles & topics that have absolutely nothing to do with gun-rights. His comment didn't even make much sense because it had nothing to do with what he quoted from the article.

It was a fantastic article though. Read every word of it as well.

Never, ever, EVER read comments on any news story. It will ruin even the most inspiring of story. Blog post, subscriber-only content, okay maybe, since the pool of readers is much smaller. Most news story is bound to attract every bored/unemployed goon with an opinion and a keyboard.

Since everyone is sad today due to the Thunder and the weather, how about some good news:

OKC #5, Tulsa #1 for Young Entrepreneurs: Where Are New York And San Francisco On The Top 10 Cities For Young Entrepreneurs? - Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2013/04/29/where-are-new-york-and-san-francisco-on-the-top-10-cities-for-young-entrepreneurs/)

Yawn, OKC yet again has nations lowest unemployment: Oklahoma City posts nation's lowest unemployment rate | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-posts-nations-lowest-unemployment-rate/article/3805239)

Good to see Oklahoma getting attention on these lists, especially Tulsa at #1. Just a few years ago, neither city would make it on these lists.

Still don't understand however why none of these publications can ever post a more recent skyline image that includes the Devon tower.

The 10 Most Redneck Cities in America (http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/10-most-redneck-cities/)

Oklahoma City got third most redneck city in the nation. This article is quite insulting but its the type of press OKC usually gets.

The 10 Most Redneck Cities in America (http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/10-most-redneck-cities/)

Oklahoma City got third most redneck city in the nation. This article is quite insulting but its the type of press OKC usually gets.

Not sure what you've been reading, but this isn't really true lately.

The 10 Most Redneck Cities in America (http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/10-most-redneck-cities/)

Oklahoma City got third most redneck city in the nation. This article is quite insulting but its the type of press OKC usually gets.

?

I don't know that this article is insulting so much as it is just stupid. I mean, it was supposed to be a fun article, but s/he made it into a quasi-scientific one that just doesn't work once you read the criteria.

The 10 Most Redneck Cities in America (http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/10-most-redneck-cities/)

Oklahoma City got third most redneck city in the nation. This article is quite insulting but its the type of press OKC usually gets.

Bchris02, with all due respect you can't possibly be taking this article seriously. Even the tone of this is written in a half joking way.

I mean, I am wearing a pair of cowboy boots as I type this, and I am the furthest thing from a redneck.

And Atlanta is the most redneck city in the US? Please.....

I've been incredibly impressed with the great national press we get in newspapers like the NY Times and Forbes Magazine. This is just a silly blog. Big whoop.

I tend to agree with this, especially given all of the negative things that could be written about us. The Atlantic has also had some pretty good write-ups about OKC as well.

I definitely think with the Thunder, starting with their run in 2010, a lot of journalists have taken a second look at us. Before the Thunder, we had a great things going on but it was hard to see a story about OKC not concerning, the bombing, tornadoes, etc.

What in the World? An America that works - CNN.com Video (http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/06/08/exp-gps-0609-witw.cnn.html)

What in the World? An America that works - CNN.com Video (http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/06/08/exp-gps-0609-witw.cnn.html)

Wow! What an incredibly inspiring commentary from Fareed Zakaria. I knew he was impressed with Oklahoma City because on local TV news when he gave the OU commencement address he said he didn't really know exactly what to expect, but sure not this! He said Oklahoma City was an inspiration. Now, with this video commentary it's obvious he wasn't blowing smoke for the locals, he really meant it! Wow.

I liked Fareed anyway for his common sense on CNN. It's refreshing for his rabid centrism that shows he is a thinker, seems like a great guy too.

I wish we could imbed CNN videos and videos from other websites other than YouTube, or maybe we can and I just don't know how.

Thanks for posting, LocoAko!

I don't ever do this, but I gotta *bump* because you have to see the video from CNN that LocoAko posted.

I don't ever do this, but I gotta *bump* because you have to see the video from CNN that LocoAko posted.

:D Yeah, it was really great, and I was shocked to see it randomly on something like CNN which will obviously be seen far and wide. Great press! I knew he was the commencement speaker at OU but I didn't see any of the positive stuff he said to the local press - any links? Thanks!

What in the World? An America that works - CNN.com Video (http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2013/06/08/exp-gps-0609-witw.cnn.html)

Awesome video!!

That was a very nice video. Good to see some positive press after the recent devastation.

Great video. I'd only ask that someone (Will - are you listening?) make available more current stock video of the city.

The 20 Best Cities in America to be Young, Broke and Single - Money Under 30 (http://www.moneyunder30.com/best-cities-young-broke-single-8800#UifVt3qDKw9lLqXz.01)

OKC got #10 for best city to be young, broke, and single

Oklahoma City second most patriotic city in U.S., according to website - Oklahoma City - OKC - KOCO.com (http://www.koco.com/oklahoma-city-second-most-patriotic-city-in-us-according-to-website/-/9844716/20646458/-/mw2t66z/-/index.html)

According to foursquare, OKC is the 2nd most patriotic city!

The 20 Best Cities in America to be Young, Broke and Single - Money Under 30 (http://www.moneyunder30.com/best-cities-young-broke-single-8800#UifVt3qDKw9lLqXz.01)

OKC got #10 for best city to be young, broke, and single

No surprise there. We were recently ranked #7 best city for new college grads by apartments.com

You would be surprised how many younger people I know who have relocated to this area.

I didn't know where to put this and didn't want to start a new thread for this. A great piece from the Edmond Sun!

"Economist: Communities must be proactive for better futures
James Coburn
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Preserving cultural and educational development will be key for Edmond and communities along Interstate 35 to secure their upward trend in economic development that is evident from San Antonio, extending north through Oklahoma City to Kansas City, said Russell Evans, executive director of the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute.

“It’s going to hinge around the labor supply having the appropriate skill set to thrive in an innovative economy,” said Evans, assistant professor of economics at Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University.

Edmond is part of a megalopolis, a term used by economists when referring to leading economic regions in the U.S. The I-35 megalopolis is a leader in economic growth, Evans said this week at the Edmond Economic Development Authority’s 4o’clock 4cast.

“It’s true for Edmond as it is for Oklahoma City or Oklahoma as a whole, is identifying some core areas to develop around,” Evans said. “So the longevity of the energy industry, I still think is important to develop around.”

Councilman Nick Massey had asked Evans what could go wrong to derail economic development. What could go wrong is if a large oil and gas company would relocate away from the region, Evans said.

For Edmond, Evans said the community must continue being proactive and encouraged to build a core of economic activity that spurs further growth. The City of Moore has made it clear for several years that they do not want to be the hub of economic activity, he continue"

- See more at: Economist: Communities must be proactive for better futures » Local News » The Edmond Sun (http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x134961041/Economist-Communities-must-be-proactive-for-better-futures#sthash.CavAw1lL.dpuf)

The Weekend Interview With Bob Funk: Where the Jobs Are?and How to Get One - WSJ.com (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324492604579087044033601178.html)

Bob Funk, the CEO of Express Personnel, is the feature interviewee in the Wall Street Journal this weekend. Reading between the lines, there could be a possible business expansion opportunity in the cards for OKC with Express.

Oklahoma City Thunder's ranking among (2013 year) major professional sports franchises (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL):

1. Memphis Grizzlies
2. San Antoino Spurs
3. Indiana Pacers
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Arizona Diamonbacks
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
8. Anaheim Ducks
9. Ottawa Senators
10. Baltimore Ravens

2012 Oklahoma City Thunder ranked No.1.

Ultimate Team Rankings - All Sports - SportsNation - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/teamrankings?year=2013/_/sport/nba#table)

Oklahoma City Thunder's ranking among (2013 year) major professional sports franchises (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL):



Ultimate Team Rankings - All Sports - SportsNation - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/teamrankings?year=2013/_/sport/nba#table)

Please tell me how Memphis beats San Antonio when San Antonio ranks in the Top 10 (out of 122) in all but 1 category (where they ranked 12th) and Memphis shows very poorly in others.

I don't really care, but when the data presented seems to make the best case for the 2nd place team, I call BCS on this garbage.