http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8321347831_7213882b4f_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8322409182_40cedc8ea0_c.jpg

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Thanks... got a million of them, just no time to post.

I'm honored you think so... flattery will keep them coming :)

Post 1083, 1085, 1087, 1090, and 1095 looks like something right out of National Geographic... no joke

Steve and I have visited about them in the past... He is always welcome to them.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8321326505_1df0c36f79_c.jpg

Wow

I know I sound like a broken record, but this is what I enjoy every evening while my work mates are stuck in traffic!

I try to match the wine selection with that evening's sunset colors. :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8322409182_40cedc8ea0_c.jpg

Should contact Terex and sell them the rights to that photo ;)

Preferably something local. I see small local diners in many urban neighborhoods that I visit.

Something like Ozzie's or The Diner or Hassler's (all in Norman) would do well for most any neighborhood.

I'm still waiting for Old School Bagels to find a downtown location. I thought LEVEL would be perfect, but at the time I talked to Richard about it, he had two possible concepts lined up already. So far, no news about what is going in in that space, so perhaps it would be something worth revisiting.

Visited Level today to get some more information about possibly living there. The guy we talked to was very nice and mentioned that the vacant space on the first floor would be a restaurant and bar. He didn't say the name of the restaurant or even what type it would be, but he did say it would open by the summer.

From prairie to concrete canyon:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8486180163_d00f8828b8_b.jpg

Nice shot OKCisOK4me. Love how the area is turning out.

I love the fact that the tallest building on the newest urban street is only 7 stories.

It beats one to two stories. There are plenty of residential urban streets in other cities that are no more than four stories too. I prefer Georgetown and Greenwich Village to any of the CBD highrise streets in either city personally.

It beats one to two stories. There are plenty of residential urban streets in other cities that are no more than four stories too. I prefer Georgetown and Greenwich Village to any of the CBD highrise streets in either city personally.

Philadelphia was the first city that gave me this sensibility. I'll take Rittenhouse Square, South Street, and Society Hill any day over the CBD.

It beats one to two stories. There are plenty of residential urban streets in other cities that are no more than four stories too. I prefer Georgetown and Greenwich Village to any of the CBD highrise streets in either city personally.

Agreed. The area in LA where my brother lives is mostly four story buildings with a few other types interspersed and I love going out for walks there.

Nice shot OKCisOK4me. Love how the area is turning out.

Thank you Jon!

Philadelphia was the first city that gave me this sensibility. I'll take Rittenhouse Square, South Street, and Society Hill any day over the CBD.

this

Surely you guys now aren't griping about having large businesses wanting to be in large buildings in proximity with each other and facilitating doing business together. Now that the suburbs have been damned, are we now saying that a central business district is evil too? Perhaps all a society needs is apartment buildings, restaurants and bars in a grid and no higher than 4 stories with nothing but streets and sidewalks. Who needs jobs, right?

I don't think anyone is saying that at all, Rover. But as far as aesthetics goes, nothing is more cozy to live in than buildings built to the human scale with sufficient density.

I would live in Deep Deuce or the East Bricktown apartments anyday against living across the street from Devon Tower. Devon Tower is an amazing office building, but I would not want to live next to it. It's built for business not pleasure, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Catch, I agree. I just was responding to the ones comparing it to the CBD. The CBD has its appropriate place. Even in heavily urbanized areas there are areas more suitable and appropriate for one set of activities than others. The limited height and scale for the more residential/mixed use areas is great, but not really the same as what should be expected in the CBD.

Catch, I agree. I just was responding to the ones comparing it to the CBD.

They weren't comparing it to the CBD, they were contrasting it to the CBD.

http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/rcccon1.htm


If you compare two things you tell how they are alike. If you contrast two things you tell how they are different.

They weren't comparing it to the CBD, they were contrasting it to the CBD.

http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/rcccon1.htm

Did this really just happen?

LOL

They weren't comparing it to the CBD, they were contrasting it to the CBD.l]

I notice you choose ONE of the definitions...the one that fits your purpose. Lol.

a : to examine the character or qualities of especially in order to discover resemblances or differences

Did this really just happen?

LOL

Haha, totally reminds me of this web address:

Let me google that for you (http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=did+this+just+happen%3F)

Catch, I agree. I just was responding to the ones comparing it to the CBD. The CBD has its appropriate place. Even in heavily urbanized areas there are areas more suitable and appropriate for one set of activities than others. The limited height and scale for the more residential/mixed use areas is great, but not really the same as what should be expected in the CBD.

I was just saying that personally, I prefer Notting Hill, Georgetown or Greenwich Village to CBD highrises for aesthetics. But, that's personal preference and I totally understand people preferring the CBD. In fact, the reason I own a Brownstone is because my dream was always to own one on the east coast somewhere and it became obvious that wasn't likely to happen anytime soon. That's the housing height that most appeals to me. That being said, if I didn't have dogs, I would totally consider living in one of the City Place flats. The views must be amazing.

Heard today from a source familiar with the group that owns level that the Panchinko Parlor is taking the open restaurant space. Has anyone else heard that?

Heard today from a source familiar with the group that owns level that the Panchinko Parlor is taking the open restaurant space. Has anyone else heard that?

Steve has heard that, as he mentioned here:

http://www.okctalk.com/food-restaurants/20872-pachinko-parlor-3.html

I heard from Richard that it will NOT be a sushi place.

$90,000 building permit today to build out the restaurant space.

Owner listed as Rich Haynes.

$90,000 building permit today to build out the restaurant space.

Owner listed as Rich Haynes.

I wonder if this is the same Rich Haynes that was associated with Johnnie's...?

I wonder if this is the same Rich Haynes that was associated with Johnnie's...?

Yes, and with Pachinko Parlor and West.

I'm hearing the concept will be a mix of all those with lots of big screen TV's.

Yes, and with Pachinko Parlor and West.

I'm hearing the concept will be a mix of all those with lots of big screen TV's.

That would be one interesting mix. (#9s with sriracha and garlic mashed potatoes...)

Well, I hated Pachinko Parlor so I hope that's the smallest part of the mix. : )

West is pretty good. I'm not from here, so I just don't "get" Johnnie's. Hopefully the new location will be great. That location will make it very popular (and within a short walk for my lunch break).

Nice little blurb about the Runkels (Matt and Sara) at okmag.com

Sara Kaplan and Matt Runkel - Oklahoma Magazine - April 2013 - Tulsa, OK (http://www.okmag.com/April-2013/Sara-Kaplan-and-Matt-Runkel)

http://www.okmag.com/images/cache/f0650a648a467c55d7feaa80344b06c6.jpeg

Which, in turn, is part of a more general article about people taking up residence in downtown OKC and Tulsa:

Going Up! - Oklahoma Magazine - April 2013 - Tulsa, OK (http://www.okmag.com/April-2013/Going-Up)

From okc.biz:


Rick and David Haynes are opening a sports bar concept in Deep Deuce sometime in the late summer or early fall. The brothers are the owners of Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler and West Restaurant.

Located at N.E. Second and Oklahoma, the yet-to-be-named sports bar will be in the Level Apartments business complex. Rick Haynes says the concept will bear the Johnnie’s name as part of the name, but no final decision has been made yet.

“We will have Johnnie’s burgers,” Rick Haynes says, “but we’ll also have some high-quality sports-bar fare, things that aren’t on the Johnnie’s menu.”

The concept will have a full-service bar, several televisions, a patio with grills and a mezzanine level for private parties. The facility is 4,000 square feet, including the mezzanine. It also will feature garage parking with direct access to the restaurant for guests.

Cool. This will be great to have in an urban neighborhood. They must think the Johnnies name is what it once was however.

From okc.biz:

interesting .. because I believe that the Aloft has plans to open an 809 sports grill across the streert

interesting .. because I believe that the Aloft has plans to open an 809 sports grill across the streert

Just posted this in the Aloft thread (news from okc.biz):

two other sports grills will be located inside the new aLoft Hotel at the corner of N.E. Second and Walnut Avenue. WXYZ and 2nd on 2nd will focus on healthy comfort food, burgers, soups and salads.

Owner Jim Thompson says aLoft will have a 7,500-square-foot meeting and banquet space for catering, as well. In addition, a 3,750-square-foot, ground-floor space is available for lease to an independent restaurateur. The hotel is scheduled to be open in late August or September.

I think there will be a bit of burger overload in the neighborhood, especially since Deep Deuce Grill has a great burger. We'll see if all these concepts fly! I'm still sad we couldn't get Old School bagels to our side of the tracks. It would be nice to have a restaurant with an Asian orientation somewhere nearby. I could be mollified a bit if the Johnnies concept includes the Doodle roll from Pachinko, however.

It's a good thing I moved out of that hood. It would be dangerous for my health to have Johnnie's theta burgers and chili cheese burgers within walking distance!

Still haven't found any chili cheese burgers as good as Big Ed's. :(

Still haven't found any chili cheese burgers as good as Big Ed's. :(

Rons?

Rons?
I second that.

Do the restaurant operators in this town think of anything but HAMBURGERS. I love them as much as the next person, but there has to be a limit.

Do the restaurant operators in this town think of anything but HAMBURGERS. I love them as much as the next person, but there has to be a limit.

Seriously - 3 sports bars within 50 feet of each other? Sheesh

Do the restaurant operators in this town think of anything but HAMBURGERS. I love them as much as the next person, but there has to be a limit.

That's funny. In one thread we have a poster outraged about how restaurant operators always include steak on their menu & in this thread the complaint is about how restaurant operators can't think of anything other than hamburgers.

This corner is definitely going to be over saturated with "pubs".

Now just think of whoever moves in the area with something different, they're going to strike gold.

Cough cough, chinese food.

This corner is definitely going to be over saturated with "pubs".

Maybe this is the conception of one of OKCTalk's Holy Grails ... a (wait for it) bar district. Cue the angelic choir.

Maybe this is the conception of one of OKCTalk's Holy Grails ... a (wait for it) bar district. Cue the angelic choir.

I actually thought this earlier. I'm more fond of UpTown being our "bar" district, although DD is a lot closer to Bricktown & it would probably make a pretty decent draw for that reason.

That's funny. In one thread we have a poster outraged about how restaurant operators always include steak on their menu & in this thread the complaint is about how restaurant operators can't think of anything other than hamburgers.I was just thinking that. People are funny. ;)

I quite love the bar district in my backyard (Bricktown). I think Deep Deuce has a chance to be less focused on one niche and more well-rounded with amenities. Nothing concrete right now I can share but there are lots of plans for Deep Deuce and they will really elevate the whole area. I'm convinced that Deep Deuce will be a model community in a few years not just for Oklahoma City, but for this part of the country. I'm crossing my fingers anyway.

If what you say is true, then I'm on board. I would love to make myself part of the Deep Deuce community someday & it really has my interest, more so than before, if what you are referring to comes about. I'll cross my fingers along with you.

This corner is definitely going to be over saturated with "pubs".

Now just think of whoever moves in the area with something different, they're going to strike gold.

Cough cough, chinese food.

Agree - I think DD will soon have the critical mass for a quick pizza-by-the-slice place too. I hate having to go up to whole foods for my fix. Something like NY Pizza & Pasta in Norman I think would do exceedingly well here. And maybe they'd be open on Sunday too!

I quite love the bar district in my backyard (Bricktown). I think Deep Deuce has a chance to be less focused on one niche and more well-rounded with amenities. Nothing concrete right now I can share but there are lots of plans for Deep Deuce and they will really elevate the whole area. I'm convinced that Deep Deuce will be a model community in a few years not just for Oklahoma City, but for this part of the country. I'm crossing my fingers anyway.

I'm with you here. Finally had a chance to try out skinny slim's too - what a neat place! I'll be going back for sure. Can't wait til they have food!

NY Pizza would be a great addition in this area.

NY Pizza would be a great addition in this area.

Yes. Absolutely. Let's make this happen.