Oklahoma City, In the Press

[PhiAlpha]

I am not sure where they found it, but I laughed when I saw the lead image on the website, it is the photoshop they made of what a zip like crossing might look like. However the line they photoshoped in ended up be several hundred feed away from the towers (one of which you can see is connected to nothing in the background), if I remember right the person is/was one of the OKC staff on the kiddie zip line that is like 10 feet off the ground and 30 feet long near the base of the main zipline tower from an earlier promo photo of the Blue Cross/Shield playground opening.

Didn't notice this at first...that's hilarious.

[LocoAko]

Ouch.

America?s Most and Least Attractive People- Page 14 - Articles | Travel + Leisure

[White Peacock]

Ouch.

America?s Most and Least Attractive People- Page 14 - Articles | Travel + Leisure

Locals did get credit for being friendly and for being excellent drivers.

wat

[adaniel]

Ouch.

America?s Most and Least Attractive People- Page 14 - Articles | Travel + Leisure

Ya know, I LOVE OKC and will defend it to the ends of the earth, but I gotta say it is not a fashionable place. Don't get me wrong, I embraced OKC's casual style when I was there; I had lots of flip flops, OU/Thunder T shirts aplenty, and at least 2 pair of cowboy boots. Now that I am in Dallas which is pretty much LA-lite it's dawned on me how frumpy I am.

But I completely disagree with Miami and Charleston SC being 1 and 3 most fashionable. When I was in Miami, it was full of muscle shirt wearing, gel-hair douches and girls (they call themselves chongas) who thought they were hot, complete with ill fitting clothes in an odd attempt to show off their boobs and ass. Charleston was one of my favorite cities to visit, but going there it felt like I was back at an OU fraternity party. Lots of middle aged men dressed like frat stars and the women were attractive but non-descript SEC Sorority clones. Some may like that look but it's not for me.

So if this is the standard we are supposed to be at, then don't change, OKC. Keep wearing that stained Thunder shirt and flip flops with pride!

[LocoAko]

Locals did get credit for being friendly and for being excellent drivers.

wat

Yeah, I don't know... Friendly yes. Good drivers? Nasomuch. (And how does that relate to being good looking, anyway?)

[White Peacock]

Yeah, I don't know... Friendly yes. Good drivers? Nasomuch. (And how does that relate to being good looking, anyway?)

I've never understood the friendly part either, honestly. But I really disagree with the good driver bit. OKC is probably the worst collection of drivers I've ever experienced myself. I moved back here from Oregon in 2007; about two weeks later, I was in an auto accident when an uninsured driver blazed through a red light. About three years after that, I was in another auto accident when a yuppie in a giant SUV blazed through a red light (that one was devastating).

Also, no idea how it relates to being good looking. I guess it's the equivalent of "I should introduce you to my friend. She's fat and her teeth are f*cked up, but she's so sweet and outgoing!"

[Motley]

The only thing objective in that list is the fact that OKC is underserved in retail. If you gauge cities by dress to determine attractiveness, San Diego would not be that high. It is the land of tee shirts, shorts, and flipflops, every day of the year. Heck, I am an attorney and wear shorts to work most days, but I do put wear boat shoes instead of flipflops.

[bchris02]

The only thing objective in that list is the fact that OKC is underserved in retail. If you gauge cities by dress to determine attractiveness, San Diego would not be that high. It is the land of tee shirts, shorts, and flipflops, every day of the year. Heck, I am an attorney and wear shorts to work most days, but I do put wear boat shoes instead of flipflops.

I think high-end retail per capita was a huge factor in this list. Charleston SC has a lot for a city it's size. They have a few stores even Charlotte doesn't have. OKC on the other hand pulls way below its weight in this area. By no means am I saying everyone should spend a lot on clothes, but a metro area of 1.3 million people should have a lot more higher end retail options than OKC does (in all sectors, not just clothing).

[Motley]

Really 90% of the shops and restaurants are the same in OKC as in Dallas or San Diego. However, OKC lacks that top 10% of stores and destination venues. One really nice destination shopping center with a Nordys and H&M and Traders and a few other select stores, like Restoration Hardware and Crate and Barrel, would be all it takes. Add a Costco somewhere, and you would have it all. It's all coming pretty soon, I bet, if you have a developer willing to build a really great looking shopping venue that meets the expectations of those retailers. Belle Isle could certainly have been that place. Hopefully Chisholm Trails will be if they do it right.

[warreng88]

Really 90% of the shops and restaurants are the same in OKC as in Dallas or San Diego. However, OKC lacks that top 10% of stores and destination venues. One really nice destination shopping center with a Nordys and H&M and Traders and a few other select stores, like Restoration Hardware and Crate and Barrel, would be all it takes. Add a Costco somewhere, and you would have it all. It's all coming pretty soon, I bet, if you have a developer willing to build a really great looking shopping venue that meets the expectations of those retailers. Belle Isle could certainly have been that place. Hopefully Chisholm Trails will be if they do it right.

I think The Trianlge might be that area. There is a lot of land between Whole Foods/Anthro/West Elm and 63rd street. The question is: will Glimcher build it? They are in a holding pattern now, but if everything keeps filling up in CC, it might be in their best interest to build new to suit. I don't see a Costco going in there, H&M is already rumored to be at QSM (although, I don't consider that upscale) and TJ's at The Triangle, but the others could fill that void and the income in that area is enough to perk up the ears and pockets of retails stores, one would think.

[Motley]

Costco needs to be in a big box area, not a nice shopping center.

Putting aside the ocean, mountains, and weather, what San Diego has that OKC doesn't (but could have), is not the stores, per se, but shopping centers that are nicely designed and inviting. We have lots of little shopping centers and districts with central courtyards filled with tables and outdoor furniture, firepits, and typically a fountain that little kids can run through and play in. There is usually a coffee shop nearby and people sitting around having coffee and lots of dogs on leashes. These little urban centers don't have any better stores than in OKC, but they do have atmosphere and are stylish and architecturally interesting.

[bchris02]

Costco needs to be in a big box area, not a nice shopping center.

Putting aside the ocean, mountains, and weather, what San Diego has that OKC doesn't (but could have), is not the stores, per se, but shopping centers that are nicely designed and inviting. We have lots of little shopping centers and districts with central courtyards filled with tables and outdoor furniture, firepits, and typically a fountain that little kids can run through and play in. There is usually a coffee shop nearby and people sitting around having coffee and lots of dogs on leashes. These little urban centers don't have any better stores than in OKC, but they do have atmosphere and are stylish and architecturally interesting.

This sounds like the typical Charlotte shopping center. What OKC needs is something that is a combination of that and Utica Square. Utica is above anything that OKC has but it doesn't quite have that inviting design that you speak of. There have been developments like that proposed in OKC before but for whatever reason they were cancelled or down scaled. Hopefully Chisholm Creek actually makes it happen.

[Mike_M]

Retail is one part of it, but it's really just residuals of OKC's blue collar culture. It's just not a thing to dress nice here yet. It's slowly shifting as we get more white-collar jobs and national employers, but It's still totally acceptable to show up to a swanky restaurant for a special occasion wearing a pair of levi's and a "nice" t-shirt.

No lie, I remember seeing a guy (probably mid 50's) COURTSIDE at a Thunder playoff game (right next to the bench so he got plenty of air-time) wearing an OU polo, kakhi shorts, and flip flops with socks. That sadly is the perfect picture of Oklahoma's "1%".

OKC's retail isn't horrific, it's just bleh. One or two stores usually dominate a particular style or price point, so no one is really competing for your business. Lack of competition makes OKC's retail landscape pretty lukewarm, which hurts when one of the nation's top shopping cities is 3 hours away.

[bchris02]

OKC's retail scene is pretty bad for a metro area this size. If this were Wichita it would be more acceptable. I have been trying to be as positive as I can but I have to call this how I see it. You are right in that lack of competition really hurts the retail scene at all levels. I think that is starting to change as OKC is slowly making its way onto the radar of national retailers, but this city was completely ignored for so long it's going to take time to catch up.

[Mr. Cotter]

Anecdotal evidence:

My Mom lived in Edmond for about 10 years after living in the Dallas area for most of her adult life. After she had been in Edmond for about a year, a longtime friend of hers from Dallas stayed for a weekend. After seeing what my Mom would leave the house in (things like...jeans...) the friend was worried that my Mom had "let herself go" by not putting on full makeup to go to the grocery store.

OKC is a lot of things. It is not stylish, and I"m okay with that,

[traxx]

Costco needs to be in a big box area, not a nice shopping center.

Putting aside the ocean, mountains, and weather, what San Diego has that OKC doesn't (but could have), is not the stores, per se, but shopping centers that are nicely designed and inviting. We have lots of little shopping centers and districts with central courtyards filled with tables and outdoor furniture, firepits, and typically a fountain that little kids can run through and play in. There is usually a coffee shop nearby and people sitting around having coffee and lots of dogs on leashes. These little urban centers don't have any better stores than in OKC, but they do have atmosphere and are stylish and architecturally interesting.

This. If you were to go back and read my old posts, you'd see that I've long been a crtic of how shopping centers are designed (or their lack thereof) in the greater OKC metro. For the most part, shopping centers in this area are just a string of store fronts directly facing the road. No courtyards. No people places for folks to gather, have coffe or hang. No amenities etc.

No lie, I remember seeing a guy (probably mid 50's) COURTSIDE at a Thunder playoff game (right next to the bench so he got plenty of air-time) wearing an OU polo, kakhi shorts, and flip flops with socks. That sadly is the perfect picture of Oklahoma's "1%".

Dean Blevins

[Laramie]

Anecdotal evidence:

My Mom lived in Edmond for about 10 years after living in the Dallas area for most of her adult life. After she had been in Edmond for about a year, a longtime friend of hers from Dallas stayed for a weekend. After seeing what my Mom would leave the house in (things like...jeans...) the friend was worried that my Mom had "let herself go" by not putting on full makeup to go to the grocery store.

OKC is a lot of things. It is not stylish, and I"m okay with that,

Mr. Cotter, here's more Anecdotal evidence:

That's typical of Dallas women; they like to dress up, put on that wig, high heels and go shopping. My sister (Emma) was a lifelong Dallas resident, she worked for some of the riches women in the Dallas area. I remember one of her employers giving her a Lincoln Towncar because she wanted her maid to ride around in style. Emma had Victorian style furniture in her home (passed down) that rivaled that of the rich in famous. Some of the furniture looked as though it had never been sat on or used. Her employers would always redecorate every 3-5 years; Emma was always asked if she wanted what was being discarded.

My sister, Emma was a damn good cook. I wish I had gotten some of her recipes before she passed away. People just bragged about her cooking, baking (buttered yeast rolls) and meal preparation skills. I will never forget the breakfast sausage she would cook; those things sat out until they grew harry molds (cultured sausage she called them), her biscuits, rich eggs (had the rooster with them), sausage and gravy was the talk-of-the-town. She was compared to the best.

We use to love our trips to Dallas; Emma loved the Big 'D' and she was quick to let you know that everything was 'big' in Texas and she also liked little ole Oklahome' as well , everything was 'great big this and great big that' in Dallas. As her baby brothers, we couldn't help but smile, Emma loved Dallas, the Dallas Farmer's Market area was one of her favorites. 'Oklahome' has a smaller version of the Dallas market; however, for some reason the vegetables were not as good as the 'great big squash, garlic, tomatoes, onions, okra and the like they grew in Texas. Much to our dislike, she was right (correct); they grew huge vegetables in that black dirt in Texas. She couldn't figure out how we grew anything in this Oklahome' red clay.

Never forgot how clean a housekeeper Emma was; my oldest brother once made a joking comment that your draws (underwear) couldn't hit the bathroom floor; Emma was there to pick them up and put them in the washer.

I truly miss Emma & her husband Jim, who my oldest brother always described him as telling his wild 'Canterbury Tales.' Jim told some doozies...

Yes, Mr. Cotter, I got educated on DALLAS 24-7. We had nothing like Cartier's (precious fine jewelry) in Dallas. She burst out with laughter when she visited Zale's in downtown Oklahoma City--compared it to a 'thrift or rummage sale store.'

[Rover]

So, one more thread gets diverted into how low class OKC is.

I love how so many feed off stereotypes. LOL.

Laramie, you do know Zales is a Dallas operation, right?. And it isn't near OKC's finest jeweler. It is a mass merchandiser of jewelry.

[TheTravellers]

We used to go to Oakbrook Center when we lived in IL, pretty decent shopping center, interesting mix going all the way from Nordstrom to Auntie Anne's, would be nice to have one similar here...

Not sure if it's one of America's Premier Shopping Places, but this has a nice list of retailers and pics.

Oakbrook Center | America's Premier Shopping Places

[Mike_M]

To clarify, I don't want us to compare with Dallas. That is a special level of snobbiness and uber materialism that is almost unmatched, and their growth has been very forced and inorganic. I'm just saying it might be nice for us to upgrade from 'socks with sandals'.

But yes, back on topic.

[Mike_M]

It wasn't Dean Blevins, so that means there's at least 2 of those guys.

[Plutonic Panda]

To clarify, I don't want us to compare with Dallas. That is a special level of snobbiness and uber materialism that is almost unmatched, and their growth has been very forced and inorganic. I'm just saying it might be nice for us to upgrade from 'socks with sandals'.

But yes, back on topic.

I love it. Talk sh!t on a city that better than yours. OK. OKC will never become half of what is Dallas is, which is a world class, cosmopolitan city that is known world wide. When I talk about me living in Dallas, people say what a nice place. When I say I live in OKC, people say wow. Not in a good way. Houston is sprawled mess and Dallas is a cookie cutter, snobby city. Good work.

[bchris02]

Every city has a distinct personality. OKC will never be the fashion-conscious city Dallas is and that's OK. That just isn't this city's personality. That doesn't mean it shouldn't have higher-end retail options for those who want them. Major cities are diverse and they have options.

[Mississippi Blues]

I love it. Talk sh!t on a city that better than yours. OK. OKC will never become half of what is Dallas is, which is a world class, cosmopolitan city that is known world wide. When I talk about me living in Dallas, people say what a nice place. When I say I live in OKC, people say wow. Not in a good way. Houston is sprawled mess and Dallas is a cookie cutter, snobby city. Good work.

I'm not really the biggest fan of Oklahoma City for various reasons, but even I find your passive aggressiveness a little funny. In the time I spent in Dallas as a kid (varying months between 1999-2007) staying with my dad, I don't see what was said in Mike_M's comment that was so inaccurately portrayed that offended you so much.

[OKCisOK4me]

Dallas cosmopolitan....lol. sorry PluPan...