Night Food Market in Downtown OKC

[ljbab728]

Mom will love the Big Truck Taco. As for me, I don't know what is out there interesting for me to eat. Hope there will be plenty of tables and chairs. I will try to take mom out there and I will for sure bring my camera to catch ABLE agents in the act, especially those with loaded guns. Does anyone know if pets are allowed? I'm worried that an agent may draw a gun on the poodle.

You're welcome to bring your fish, Thunder.

[Thunder]

You're welcome to bring your fish, Thunder.

No, I want to bring the poodle. He need to learn how to accept and use the frickin leash.

[BBatesokc]

There were no tables or chairs at the last event and I seriously doubt there will be any at this one. We took folding chairs. Also, Big Truck isn't going to be there until later in the evening.

[metro]

Mom will love the Big Truck Taco. As for me, I don't know what is out there interesting for me to eat. Hope there will be plenty of tables and chairs. I will try to take mom out there and I will for sure bring my camera to catch ABLE agents in the act, especially those with loaded guns. Does anyone know if pets are allowed? I'm worried that an agent may draw a gun on the poodle.

The Big Truck tacos are realllll big, bigger than your poodle. Don't worry about the other food.

[Urban Pioneer]

Great event turn out from what I can tell. Our group really enjoyed it.

[ljbab728]

No bombings, arrests, or riots. Everything went well. LOL

http://newsok.com/h8th-outdoor-food-...ad_story_title

[Thunder]

We didn't get to go. Mom was hungry, so we ate elsewhere. One advice from mom, which is seriously correct, is that the event is way too late. 8pm is not ideal. Next time, they need to set up at 6pm. Also, go with the seasonal time, too, because it will be getting darker early soon.

[ljbab728]

We didn't get to go. Mom was hungry, so we ate elsewhere. Once advice from mom, which is seriously correct, is that the event is way too late. 8pm is not ideal. Next time, they need to set up at 6pm. Also, go with the seasonal time, too, because it will be getting darker early soon.

Thunder, I agree. They should give some consideration to opening earlier at the next event unless there is some specific reason why they can't. Many people eat late but there are many like your mom who eat early and just can't wait that late to have a meal so they would choose not to attend. Whether it's dark or light out is inconsequential. 6PM might be too early to get set up but I think 6:30PM or 7PM should be feasible.

[kevinpate]

napped through it. Probably would of set an alarm if I had known Dillingham and Horseshoe Road were going to be there.

Sounds like a good time was had.

[Thunder]

Thunder, I agree. They should give some consideration to opening earlier at the next event unless there is some specific reason why they can't. Many people eat late but there are many like your mom who eat early and just can't wait that late to have a meal so they would choose not to attend. Whether it's dark or light out is inconsequential. 6PM might be too early to get set up but I think 6:30PM or 7PM should be feasible.

ljbab728,

6pm is not too early to set up. 6pm is a perfect time to open. Most "9 to 5" jobs are done by 4pm or 5pm. They can either go straight to the event or go home to change clothes, pick up the kids, or whatever before heading out that way. They can start setting up at 4pm and that is not too early for them. This is only once on every last Friday monthly. They can do it. Just look at the Great State Fair of Oklahoma and how they do it for nearly 2 weeks by being open to serve around 10am. Like I said, open at a proper earlier time will extend the event through longer hours and that bring in hundreds, if not thousands, more hardcore cash.

[Thunder]

McLarty said the city/county health department, ABLE Commission and the city need to embrace the emergence of food trucks and markets like H&8th and adapt local laws to prevent a repeat of the August shutdown.

Yeah, I bet the agents were there...hiding...deeply undercover with their guns loaded and hidden. Too bad for them as they stood there...watching helplessly...and cried deeply in pain. LOL!!!

“This is going to happen — get used to it,” McLarty said. “This is important. It starts to create an identity for an area like this. It provides pieces of the puzzle Oklahoma City is looking for. These events are going to spread.”

Hey Armed Agents!!! Read this and shove it! HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Woot! Go, Go OKC! I hope next month grows bigger. The more this happens, the bigger it will get. :-D

[dankrutka]

I stopped by at about 11pm. It was cool. Big Truck wasn't there when I left close to midnight. There weren't a ton of people near the food trucks. A lot of people made their way to the Ludivine bar. It was packed. I hope the event continues...

[Steve]

The lines for the food trucks started dying down about 10:30 p.m., but there were still people buying from the trucks when I left about 11 p.m.

[ljbab728]

ljbab728,

6pm is not too early to set up. 6pm is a perfect time to open. Most "9 to 5" jobs are done by 4pm or 5pm. They can either go straight to the event or go home to change clothes, pick up the kids, or whatever before heading out that way. They can start setting up at 4pm and that is not too early for them. This is only once on every last Friday monthly. They can do it. Just look at the Great State Fair of Oklahoma and how they do it for nearly 2 weeks by being open to serve around 10am. Like I said, open at a proper earlier time will extend the event through longer hours and that bring in hundreds, if not thousands, more hardcore cash.

Thunder, they could open at 8AM if they wanted to. That isn't the point. A 6PM start would put many people trying to arrive during the evening rush hour so an extra 30 to 60 minutes would make things easier for everyone and still not be late. I still agree that an 8PM start may be too late unless there is a specific reason that hasn't been explained for a late start.

[kevinpate]

So,running 8ish to 11ish, what was the general demographic who showed?
Mostly 20-40ish singles/couples? Families? nesters? I imagine the former, but as I was napping that's purely a guess.

[Steve]

It was a very mixed crowd; families, kids from Wilson Elementary (not kidding), high school kids, southsiders, northsiders, empty nesters, young professionals, retirees, the alternative crowd, civic leaders, reporters mourning the end of a great story.....

[CuatrodeMayo]

...a dude on a bike with a preschooler...

[kevinpate]

... reporters mourning the end of a great story.....

Nah, you're more than capable. You can likely get another story or two out of it.

[Thunder]

Kevin, I am wondering if Steve got an inside tip or something. End of a great story... So, the great story was the success of the food festival. Maybe its not meant to be monthly? Lets stay tuned.

[metro]

Something no one has mentioned yet, the 8pm-2am hours. I imagine the event was mainly geared towards creating a more vibrant, interesting NIGHTLIFE in OKC, not geared as much to the family crowd at 1am in the morning. Lots of you complain about OKC not having any late night dining options, and someone tries to organize a trendy event to cater to this segment of the market, and the same people complain about the hours.

[soonerguru]

Something no one has mentioned yet, the 8pm-2am hours. I imagine the event was mainly geared towards creating a more vibrant, interesting NIGHTLIFE in OKC, not geared as much to the family crowd at 1am in the morning. Lots of you complain about OKC not having any late night dining options, and someone tries to organize a trendy event to cater to this segment of the market, and the same people complain about the hours.

I agree completely. We took our child and she had a great time. There were seniors there. The event is intended to be a late-night event, something we have woefully little of in this town. The hours are fine.

[ljbab728]

I agree completely. We took our child and she had a great time. There were seniors there. The event is intended to be a late-night event, something we have woefully little of in this town. The hours are fine.

I agree that the closing hours are fine which accommodates the late-night people. I just think they are eliminating some people who would be very interested in going with an earlier start. It actually is possible to accomplish both objectives. I'm glad your child enjoyed it but it's a rare child who doesn't mind waiting that late to eat.

[Thunder]

The max they can do is about 8 hours with an hour lunch. Start at 6pm and close at 2am. Its perfect. This is up to them if they want to make more money or not.

[dankrutka]

Maybe they should stay open until 2:30am and see if they can catch the post-bar crowd. People that stay at the bar until close are often looking for food...

[CurtisJ]

Maybe they should stay open until 2:30am and see if they can catch the post-bar crowd. People that stay at the bar until close are often looking for food...

I think this decision is based on question "is the extra money worth the extra abuse?". I like a small tastey snack after a night out at the bars as much as the next drunk, but I never envy the sober folks on the other side of the counter...