Myriad Gardens

[ljbab728]

I went on a tour of the buildings at the Myriad Gardens with the AIA Central Oklahoma Chapter on Friday. We stopped at the restaurant and there was a group of three people outside of the building on the patio talking at one of the tables. The tour guide indicated that there was not an operator for the building at the time. One of the people at the table said that they were working on a restaurant for the building. It looked like one of the people was a chef and the other two were businessmen.

Good to know. Maybe the success of the recent pop up tornado relief effort there will inspire an operator to take it seriously.

[Pete]

There will be temporary food vendors in the gardens this summer.

I bet they'll do well.

[metro]

Also FYI there will be a Chef's Relief part 2 coming up soon, with Oklahoma Native Rick Bayless coming to town.

[HangryHippo]

There will be temporary food vendors in the gardens this summer.

I bet they'll do well.

I wonder if a regular rotation of vendors through that building would be better than setting it up as a restaurant for a single space. Something like seasonal markets year round, where the spring is regular farmers markets and lunches with those ingredients, like what they did at the Skirvin (maybe?). I'm just not sold on the idea of it as a restaurant.

[CCOKC]

I went to a few concerts in the park last year and would have loved to have just a cart selling cold water and some popcorn. I imagine if they had any kind of food during those events it would be quite successful.

[kbsooner]

Also FYI there will be a Chef's Relief part 2 coming up soon, with Oklahoma Native Rick Bayless coming to town.

Any idea on a date for this?

[tulsooner]

Someone needs to take notes from what is happening at Guthrie Green in Tulsa. On Wednesdays food trucks set up for lunch and it has been very successful. Also there is a small restaurant, Lucky's on the Green, that I feel could be a model for the Myriad Gardens, Lucky's on the Green | Guthrie Green.

[ljbab728]

Any idea on a date for this?

http://www.okctalk.com/food-restaura...estaurant.html

Final details are still not available.

[TAlan CB]

I recently got in touch with friends in the parks dept. and MG foundation to see what the current situation on the grounds maintaince. What they told me was discouraging. The Parks dept. staff has left as of last Thursday. The Foundation only has 1 part-timer taking care of the Conservatory, and 3 full-timers with 2 part-timers on the grounds. In over 25 years of visiting the Crystal Bridge Conservatory, I have never seen it in such a bad state of maintaince. Many unique species are dying on the 'wet' mountain (think waterfalls) due to lack of watering and watering with chlorine in it. Large private orchid donations are dying. Having worked at several plant conservatories, I can honesty say this is the worst maintaince I have ever seen. There is plant growth, but it is only the hardiest and most 'common' species. The 'unique' plant zones are not being maintained. As a 'Botanical Garden' the collection in the Crystal Bridge was the only thing that the Myriad Gardens was known for outside of OKC. The stream system is being allowed to 'clog' with plant fall (in nature this would flush downstream, inside it is a closed system and must be cleaned) and coins - which are often toxic. Also, displays like 'kites' are in the conservatory - like it was a flower glass house in some east-coast tea garden. The CB was designed as a 'natural' display and known for its interrior vista (sited in national publications for this very aspect), hanging kites destroy the vista. When I asked why this was happening, the sources could only give me their opinions. But the facts do seem to support what they say. The current director has 'no interest in the Crystal Bridge' and would as soon turn it into a wedding/tea garden. I pointed out that there was a 'conservatory horticulturist' advertised in their jobs posting, but was told the pay is very little, and no one of experience is considering it serious. Furthermore, I was informed that several of the current grounds employees are seeking employment with the OKC Parks dept. - for the same reason. Consequently, what grounds employees they have are poorly trained with little hort. experience or knowledge. When I inquired how such incompentence could be allowed to stay, I was informed that the director was a favorite of Larry Nichols and the park has been given generally favorable reviews by 'those who count'. Regardless of what 'others' say, I can see with my own eyes. This director does not care about the Crystal Bridge, she has taken a nationally recognized tropical conservatory and turned it into a back-yard weed patch. It is clear that she either does not know enough to manage a world-class facility, or does not care to. Either way, she needs to hire someone who does, or leave.
The plant damage I witnessed is not due to the 're-skinning'. I visited months after it was re-opened and took pictures, and have recently visited and took pictures. The rare plants of which I speak were doing well then, and are dead or dying now..... they survived months of plastic, paint, and workers in the winter - and can't survive her horticulture maintaince policy. That sounds purposefull to me.

[TAlan CB]

One very disturbing bit of trivia, I was told that the leaving (city park employees - or former - as many are retireing) horticulture employees would not be allowed to even volunteer inside the Crystal Bridge.

[HangryHippo]

I commented on this very issue months ago. It was very clear things were headed downhill quickly. Good luck getting it addressed in this city though.

[Pete]

From the MG Facebook page:

Today, at 11, we will break ground on our amazing, fabulous new Meinders Terrace, which will be a beautiful outdoor wedding space, and also a great shady spot to chill over lunch or with a delicious iced coffee...we've got dignitaries, ceremonial shovels and Herman and LaDonna Meinders will be on hand to turn the first earth!

[Anonymous.]

Terrace thing seems a tad gimmicky, but I have not seen it.

If you have ever had a chance to meet him, you know Herman is a great guy. Very cool for him to do this downtown.

[Praedura]

Just a GORGEOUS picture:



This was taken, of course, in Portland... or Seattle... you know, somewhere in the pacific northwest where all the rains produce that rich, dark forest greenery...

Nope! Oklahoma City, baby!

[traxx]

^^Very nice pic

[UnFrSaKn]

Devon Energy Center Aerials (July 26 2013) - a set on Flickr

[UnFrSaKn]

Myriad Gardens (July 26 2013) - a set on Flickr

[ljbab728]

Does this mean that the Thunder Fountain is actually working again?

[CuatrodeMayo]

Yes and no. From what I understand, it is running, but only for testing reasons. There are no lights, sounds, or cycling. Just continual water. The cones are blocking off broken pieces of concrete.

So far, in the two summers we had this fountain, it has spent more time being broken than it has been operational.

I've never seen the fog/misters actually in use since the first weekend it was open. Unless they saw the photographs from that weekend, most folks probably don't even know it has/had that capability.

[soonerguru]

Yes and no. From what I understand, it is running, but only for testing reasons. There are no lights, sounds, or cycling. Just continual water. The cones are blocking off broken pieces of concrete.

So far, in the two summers we had this fountain, it has spent more time being broken than it has been operational.

I've never seen the fog/misters actually in use since the first weekend it was open. Unless they saw the pics from then, most folks probably don't even know it has/had that capability.

It's sad because this was my favorite feature of the restored Myriad Gardens. Too bad.

[soonerguru]

One very disturbing bit of trivia, I was told that the leaving (city park employees - or former - as many are retireing) horticulture employees would not be allowed to even volunteer inside the Crystal Bridge.

Wow. Vindictive.

[DelCamino]

Only if you want to believe a one-sided tale from a disgruntled ex-employee.

[DelCamino]

Great news for the restaurant:

Negotiations have completed for a five-year lease with Peter and Sheree Holloway, owner/operators of Boulevard Steakhouse, Cafe' 501 and the Martini Lounge for a restaurant to be called The Park House. Estimated opening by November 1. The Park House will serve lunch and dinner and will have a full bar. Project architect is Elliott+Associates. Specific menu is on-going.

Additionally, a seasonal restaurant called The Ice House, will open in September. The Ice House will be located in the smaller building just north of the large restaurant building. It will be open eight months a year and will be closed during ice skating season. The Ice House will serve, get ready for this, authentic Nic's burgers along with fries and shakes.

[mcca7596]

Nice!

[CuatrodeMayo]

What!!!