I've heard rumblings that Elliot Nelson might be working to move some of his successful Tulsa concepts to OKC/Norman, including the Dust Bowl and Fassler Hall. Would be great for OKC if true because both of those places are great.

Looks nice betts. The sort of upscale casual bar/lounge thing is not real predominant here... wish it was. Probably the closest we have to that are some of the restaurants' bar areas on Western.

I've heard rumblings that Elliot Nelson might be working to move some of his successful Tulsa concepts to OKC/Norman, including the Dust Bowl and Fassler Hall. Would be great for OKC if true because both of those places are great.
Would be great additions

Looks nice betts. The sort of upscale casual bar/lounge thing is not real predominant here... wish it was. Probably the closest we have to that are some of the restaurants' bar areas on Western.

Agree, okc doesn't seem to do this well. It's usually all restaurant or all smokey bar. Wish some of our restaurateurs would incorporate more bar area and lively spaces in their restaurants.

I've heard rumblings that Elliot Nelson might be working to move some of his successful Tulsa concepts to OKC/Norman, including the Dust Bowl and Fassler Hall. Would be great for OKC if true because both of those places are great.

Are you cracking a wise one, or actually serious?

I went to Club One15 on Saturday. I was mostly impressed. It's clear they put a ton of work into fixing that place up. It's very nice inside and has a separate bar/eating area and a dance area that has a ton of quality lighting (two walls of LED), a great sound system, and good DJs. They also had some girls dancing, similar to clubs in Miami. That was the one part I didn't like. They seemed out of place. The drinks are fairly priced--my Blue Moon was only $3.00. I would say it was at 40% capacity, which is probably disappointing to the owners for a Saturday night, but I would expect them to slowly pick up pace. Relative to the other places in Bricktown I've been to, it was, by far, the most "big city" club experience.

Are you cracking a wise one, or actually serious?

I've heard from several people that work for him, but it's hard to tell how much stock to put in what they're saying. One rumor was the Nelson was buying a couple buildings on the south side of Main in Norman for Fassler and the Dust Bowl. One on the first floor and the other on the second floor... Again, just take it for what it's worth. A rumor.

Have those Tulsa ventures been under-performing?

Have those Tulsa ventures been under-performing?

No. I think they're doing fine. These would be 2nd locations, not moves.

If you've been wondering about Club One15 in Bricktown, you can check out my latest dining review of the new concept here:

http://www.okclocalvore.com/2012/07/30/review-clubone15/

Alright, so I need to try that before I leave..

Thanks. I love a great crab cake. Sounds like I need to check it out.

I'm becoming a crab cake snob. Can't wait to see how club one15's holds up.

I'm becoming a crab cake snob. Can't wait to see how club one15's holds up.

Rococco's are my local favorite. I like a touch of horseradish.

Soonerguru,
I realize this is an Oklahoma forum, but if you ever get near Maryland, try their crab cakes. Maryland is famous for them. I'm not a huge fan but they were awfully good. You should ask the locals if you get up there. It's like any place, not every restaurant will make great crab cakes.
C. T.
I'm becoming a crab cake snob. Can't wait to see how club one15's holds up.

Soonerguru,
I realize this is an Oklahoma forum, but if you ever get near Maryland, try their crab cakes. Maryland is famous for them. I'm not a huge fan but they were awfully good. You should ask the locals if you get up there. It's like any place, not every restaurant will make great crab cakes.
C. T.

I've been there twice in the last year. Baltimore / Maryland is the gold standard by which I judge all crab cakes. I agree Rococo's is pretty damn good, but it had more breading and less crab than the best ones in Baltimore. La Baguette had one as a special appetizer that I thought was pretty good too. Believe it or not, I had a bad crab cake in Baltimore, but I learned to find the best ones while there. I'll reserve judgment on Clubone15's version until I try it.

Annapolis has some restaurants with excellent crab cakes as well.

Well, I've never been to this club -- and likely won't, since I'm not a clubber. But... since the thread has come up, I'll just gratuitously toss up some pics (what I do best).

outside:
http://c308991.r91.cf1.rackcdn.com/SiteFiles/Venues/6806/ae0cf5c8-cd70-4da7-8362-b5d419e1f800.jpg

inside:
http://clubone15.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/One15_2147.jpg

(you'll have to supply the insanely loud thumping beat with your own imagination...)

ok, one more for good measure:

http://clubone15.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/One15_1673.jpg

from their website
Club One 15 – OKC's restaurant ultra lounge with DJs and live music! (http://clubone15.com)

Definitely not a place for an unkempt vagabond like myself, but it looks like a neat set-up.

Great point. OKC has a massive gay population but since the decline of Angles, gay nightlife here seems to have atrophied.

I am not gay but I used to be heavily into the club scenes and multiple cities and my best friend was gay so I have somewhat of a knowledge of the trends. Huge gay dance clubs aren't near as popular as they used to be, even in larger cities. Atlanta lost their main gay club and they have a massive gay community. Another large city I lived in went a couple years without a gay club and everytime one opened up it didn't last. It is somewhat a result of the increased acceptance of homosexuality gays no longer feel their nightlife has to be completely segregated. What works these days is a straight oriented but gay friendly club. Maybe have gay-oriented nights but keep it straight friendly as well.

I am not gay but I used to be heavily into the club scenes and multiple cities and my best friend was gay so I have somewhat of a knowledge of the trends. Huge gay dance clubs aren't near as popular as they used to be, even in larger cities. Atlanta lost their main gay club and they have a massive gay community. Another large city I lived in went a couple years without a gay club and everytime one opened up it didn't last. It is somewhat a result of the increased acceptance of homosexuality gays no longer feel their nightlife has to be completely segregated. What works these days is a straight oriented but gay friendly club. Maybe have gay-oriented nights but keep it straight friendly as well.
I knew some younger gay males in Austin who lamented the fact there wasn't "gayborhood" in Austin like there was in Dallas and other big cities and there really wasn't a big gay club (that I knew about) like the large dance clubs that used to dominate the scene, most were more pub like and scattered around. Most of the older gay people that I knew had no issue with it and liked that fact that being gay in Austin wasn't accepted didn't require their "own area".

With how sharp this place looks on the inside, they need to step up the window dressing on the outside. That logo is fugly.

I haven't been in there since it was Varsity. Amazing the difference.

I haven't been in there since it was Varsity. Amazing the difference.

I miss the Varsity so much, PLEASE Aubrey, bring the Varsity back to CLassen Curve!!!!!!! I beg you!

With how sharp this place looks on the inside, they need to step up the window dressing on the outside. That logo is fugly.

My sentiments exactly.

I miss the Varsity so much, PLEASE Aubrey, bring the Varsity back to CLassen Curve!!!!!!! I beg you!

I went to Varsity all the time, but it's not Aubrey's fault that it closed down. Yeah, Chesapeake was demoing the building that it was in but Varsity closed down because the owners got into a pinch. I blame it on switching from Bingo to Blackout. Thursday nights went downhill majorly after months of blackout. The only other nights that were interesting were Sundays and Mondays (Penalty Payoff). Hard to say it'd even be the same owners as before but I too would like to see the concept brought back. On a side note...I am talking about the one near Western & NW 63rd. The one in Bricktown was lame...


Oh, and Carmen Electra is coming to Club 115 this Friday, October 26th.

2/12/2015

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8590/16327831097_1ae26c6958_c.jpg

They are painting the brick black.

Oh God.

Don't faint; it's only paint. That building's facade is an abomination, anyway. Hopefully at some point soon the building gets a new facade or is replaced entirely.

Welcome to Paint-town!

Who's next?

Yea actually this isn't as bad as it sounds. The existing paint or whatever they had over the brick was a pastel, thick clay-looking paint that looked pretty horrid.

This is what it was before:

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2735/R020026775001oA.jpg

When I say "don't faint it's only paint" I was mostly just saying it because it's fun to say and was often used by my friend Ron Frantz when he was Main Street architect for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Rest assured that the City will hammer them for painting without going to BUDC.

Not sure that surface is brick. It was painted before.

Also, the building is owned by the Brewers and they should know better than to allow this without proper approvals.

It's not brick. It's cinder block. It would be pretty tough to make look good no matter the color used. It's probably a tenant paint job.

It was painted Black with Grey accents. I think it looks really sharp!
The club is being renovated. They dj booth was moved back down to the stage in the main room. They're going to put carpet down in the front room and take out the dance floor that is in there, as well as add more couches in an effort to make it more comfortable and inviting.
I dj every Friday and Saturday in the smoking lounge, Plush, and it is being remodeled also.

When I say "don't faint it's only paint" I was mostly just saying it because it's fun to say and was often used by my friend Ron Frantz when he was Main Street architect for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Rest assured that the City will hammer them for painting without going to BUDC.
What's Ron up to now, haven't heard from him years. I got to know him when he came into Triangle A&E when I worked there....back in the hand drawing/rendering days.

Double post

What's Ron up to now, haven't heard from him years. I got to know him when he came into Triangle A&E when I worked there....back in the hand drawing/rendering days.
People | The Institute for Quality Communities (http://iqc.ou.edu/people/)

Still making Oklahoma towns and cities better places. He's a true pioneer in that regard.

People | The Institute for Quality Communities (http://iqc.ou.edu/people/)

Still making Oklahoma towns and cities better places. He's a true pioneer in that regard.
I remember when he took over the Main Street program, he definitely had a passion for it even when he was in a conventional practice.

Here's the debated color...10437

For some City-ordinance context:

§ 59-7150 BRICKTOWN CORE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

B.

(2) Staff may review and issue Certificates of Approval for the following:
(a) Modifications or alterations to a structure or site where the impact of the proposed change is less than 10% of the site or structure being modified.
(b) Revisions to submittals previously approved by the Bricktown Urban Design Committee where the changes impact less than 20% of the project.
(c) Painting of the exterior of any previously painted structure, subject to the following conditions.
1. Staff approval shall be limited to paint colors of off-white, or medium-to-dark shades of red, brown, or green; for trim or hardware, the above colors may be used as well as black or gray.
2. In granting an approval, Staff shall determine that the proposed paint colors complement the red brick character of the district, provide an appropriate color scheme for the subject property, and are compatible with adjacent properties.

Granted, this is NOT a brick building and is not historic to the District... but these rules have been in place for about 20 years if I recall correctly. It's not something new...

Here's the debated color...10437

That's atrocious.

Oh I guess that is grey.. At night it looked all black, or close to it.

I think it looks better than the ugly pink it used to be. That is a very difficult building to actually make look good without spending some significant time on it doing something like a mural.

Looks white & gold to me...

Not my favorite but its better than it looked before.

I actually like the colours. Looks very big city vibe to me.

Everything doesn't need to be red-brick in Bricktown.

Looks white & gold to me...

Like.

I got replaced by a jukebox in the Smoking Lounge. I wonder if Jason thought he was going to make money in there instead of having to pay a dj. Why would you put dollars into a jukebox when there is free music in the next room? I feel bad for the bartender in there, it was quiet and very empty when I stopped by.
Oh well, I submitted a mix to Phil at Room 222, that place seems like it will be more up my alley.

New ownership and new look for this club (from https://twitter.com/BricktownOKC):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CL1ZzvnUAAAxBBO.jpg:large

While I'm long past the club going days, I really liked the initial concept for this place as a high end club. I think they dropped the food option pretty quickly, but I remember hearing it was good. Anyone been recently? Is it supposed to be high end? Pretty successful?

I got replaced by a jukebox in the Smoking Lounge. I wonder if Jason thought he was going to make money in there instead of having to pay a dj. Why would you put dollars into a jukebox when there is free music in the next room? I feel bad for the bartender in there, it was quiet and very empty when I stopped by.
Oh well, I submitted a mix to Phil at Room 222, that place seems like it will be more up my alley.

What's your style? Do you have a soundcloud account?