Myriad Gardens

[UnFrSaKn]

June 16th. 7:22 on the June time lapse, I was sitting there and was like, "What the heck is this?" I'm on the hill and I see all these people dancing around. Immediately the idea of this video popped in my head.

[OKCisOK4me]

most interesting.....

[urbanity]

Commentary: A place for people

http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/ar...or-people.html

[OKCisOK4me]

It'd be more impressive if the guy Humphreys mentioned, actually wrote the article.

Speaking of that interactive thunderstorm fountain, any plans for it to open during this heatwave? Probably not going to be any fun in October, when the grand opening is...

[Larry OKC]

^^^
Overheard some folks today talking about how we are getting July/Aug weather in June so they think we are going to be getting Sept/Oct weather in July/Aug. We can hope!!

That said, wonder if the I.T.F., will have a winter mode where you can create your own ice storm? LOL

[betts]

Looks like there's a problem with the restaurant:


A restaurant likely will not open in conjunction with completion of the $34 million makeover of Myriad Gardens this fall. The only bidder for the restaurant project, the Deep Fork Group, sought to open a casual burger restaurant — the sort of operation several local operators advised would be the best fit for the revamped gardens.

Read more: http://newsok.com/selection-of-opera...#ixzz1RO16a4yT

[king183]

Looks like there's a problem with the restaurant:


A restaurant likely will not open in conjunction with completion of the $34 million makeover of Myriad Gardens this fall. The only bidder for the restaurant project, the Deep Fork Group, sought to open a casual burger restaurant — the sort of operation several local operators advised would be the best fit for the revamped gardens.

Read more: http://newsok.com/selection-of-opera...#ixzz1RO16a4yT

City officials at the time said they were following the advice of a national consultant, Manask Associates.

Ben Hiatt, who led the Manask study, said his study did not suggest a white tablecloth restaurant.

“Our study said a casual facility would be in the best interest of the gardens,” Hiatt said.


So what the heck is going on? Is the city lying about it, are they incompetent, is there some kind of odd miscommunication going on? They cite a study conducted by consultants as the reason for their decision vis-a-vis the restaurant and then the leader of the study says, actually, no, that's not what we recommended at all.

[lasomeday]

I don't understand why they added a Children's garden and a dog park for the convention goers? This is such great planning by the city!

[betts]

It seems rather silly to have a white tablecloth restaurant in the middle of the park. People should be able to walk up to the restaurant if they're using the park and how many people would go to a park in a suit or dress? If we'd had the budget for the casual restaurant then I could understand it, but now it needs to be something less formal. However, I don't think hamburgers are the ideal menu for a park. It would be better to have an ecelectic menu with a lot of salads, wraps, sandwiches and an occasional burger thrown in. I still think Cheever's or La Baguette would be the perfect restaurant for the park. In both of those restaurants you could feel comfortable in jeans or a dress.

[Larry OKC]

While elements of the MG aren't going to be utilized by every Convention attendee, they might notice that the area is available and they might add it to their mental checklist of things to do if they decide to come back to visit us on their own (and bring the family and pet). If not, the MG renovations weren't just done for C.C. guests or visitors in general (even though it is a top tourist draw), it was conceived to be more used by the locals than say the MAPS 3 Park (where it was envisioned that it be seen and utilized by visitors since it is between the major N/S entry points into DT and as planned in C2S, would be seen by every C.C. attendee.

[Larry OKC]

Betts:

What I am thinking the rational behind it was they are hoping for higher per ticket revenue that would be brought in by that kind of upscale place (but not necessarily higher sales, can easily make that up in quantity). That and if you factor in they are probably planning weddings etc, it could be a logical "package deal" where reception etc could be held. Just thinking out loud, and not advocating for or against it. I agree that a casual place could be much more successful/utilized but can see the need for both (too bad they cut it down to one).

[betts]

You're right about the weddings, Larry. I have a friend who wanted to get married in the Gardens next spring. She found out there are 180 people on the waiting list already! I think Union Station will also be a popular place for receptions once the central park is done and hope we'll have a restaurant there as well. I guess that's one reason I suggested La Baguette, even though they might not be willing to come back downtown. They've got the white tablecloths, but they're not over the top elegant. Rather more continental, I think. It's the kind of place you could have a reception, but also might not feel awkward if you walked in in jeans and a nice t-shirt. They've got a great range of items, from salads to foie gras to steaks.

[swilki]

Has anyone been do the Main Street Gardens park in downtown Dallas? I was just there last month and thought it was nice. Much smaller then the MG, but it did have a great little cafe. It was called the Lily Pad and had everything you would need from Breakfast Tacos to Beer. I would be in favor of something like this opening in MG - http://www.yelp.com/biz/lily-pad-cafe-dallas. The prices where great and the quality was good and best of all it didn't have any tablecloths.

[UnFrSaKn]

EDIT: Went ahead and put this in the Myriad Gardens thread as well.

I have no idea where else to put this, but I really wish there was more creativity like this in downtown or at least attract folks who are this creative.

Perhaps the new Central Park??

Paris Town Hall







Stockholm

[ljbab728]

EDIT: Went ahead and put this in the Myriad Gardens thread as well.

I have no idea where else to put this, but I really wish there was more creativity like this in downtown or at least attract folks who are this creative.

Perhaps the new Central Park??

Paris Town Hall







Stockholm

I love the whimsy from the second video. Things like that make public areas much more fun and attractive.

[Larry OKC]

POSITIVE POST ALERT

That was for RC, hope he sees it...LOL

Awesome...love it...thanks for the pics!

[rcjunkie]

POSITIVE POST ALERT

That was for RC, hope he sees it...LOL

Awesome...love it...thanks for the pics!

Much better Larry, I'm proud of you. LOL

[jbrown84]

Having a "white cloth" restaurant in a park isn't unprecedented (See: Central Park and Bryant Park in NYC). But it may not be right for Myriad Gardens. I don't think burgers are the best idea either. I'm glad their holding out for a better option.

[jbrown84]

I don't understand why they added a Children's garden and a dog park for the convention goers? This is such great planning by the city!

Huh??

[rcjunkie]

Huh??

Maybe it's the heat!!

[ljbab728]

Huh??

Double Huh?? LOL

Don't forget the ice skating rink when worrying about what all of those convention goers won't want to do. And they certainly won't have time to attend Shakespeare in the Park so that water stage improvement was useless too.

[rcjunkie]

Double Huh?? LOL

Don't forget the ice skating rink when worrying about what all of those convention goers won't want to do. And they certainly won't have time to attend Shakespeare in the Park so that water stage improvement was useless too.

And why wut the fish back in, who has time to feed fish when your here for a convention.

[mcca7596]

Maybe I'm pointing out what's already understood, if so, sorry...

I think lasomeday's intent was to imply that the features at the Myriad Gardens will not be able to be used to their full potential. That is to say because there will not be a dense residential area south of the Gardens, as could have been if an alternate location was chosen for the convention center. I don't believe he was criticizing the merit of these features themselves.

[ljbab728]

Maybe I'm pointing out what's already understood, if so, sorry...

I think lasomeday's intent was to imply that the features at the Myriad Gardens will not be able to be used to their full potential. That is to say because there will not be a dense residential area south of the Gardens, as could have been if an alternate location was chosen for the convention center. I don't believe he was criticizing the merit of these features themselves.

I think that was exactly what he was doing. He was implying that anything done to the park that wouldn't benefit or attract convention visitors was a waste of taxpayer money.

This was his exact statement:

"I don't understand why they added a Children's garden and a dog park for the convention goers? This is such great planning by the city!"

If he had any other motive in mind it wasn't evident and should have been made clearer. While I believe there would have been much better uses for that area, It would have required very large high rise residential buildings to have achieved a dense residential area south of the Gardens. That wasn't going to happen anyway. The dense residential is going to happen further south eventually when it happens.

[mcca7596]

Ok, I took it as he didn't care about what appealed to convention goers, rather that convention attendees will take up space in an area where residents could have lived and created their own "neighborhood park".