It is 2010. Oklahoma City, with a population of 580,000, boasts one of the best downtowns in the southwest, and is the talk of many who visit Oklahoma City. Close to 35,000 residents live downtown, mostly high income. Bricktown, well established, has integrated itself with The Triangle district, The Hill residential area, and the medical district. Lower Bricktown has given way to river-side residential developments. It was in 2009 that the Cottonseed Oil Mill was demolished after relocation to make way for more residential and retail development. Many of the structures line extensions of the Bricktown Canal. The water taxi has surpassed tourists and is used by residents and those who work downtown. The popularity of the Native American Cultural Museum has stemmed many new attractions along the river, including a resort, a boardwalk and concert pavilion.
The former Amtrak station has been converted into a museum dedicated to rail history in Oklahoma. By 2015, it will serve as a passenger station for metro rail service.
The Bricktown Reggea Fest (my favorite) has been expanded to a five day festival, as well as the Blues & Barbeque Festival. Several movies have been filmed in Bricktown as well as downtown, and the deadCenter Film Festival, as well as Festival of the Arts, regularly attracts coverage from the national media.
Bricktown's annual 15 million visitors makes it one of the most visited historic entertainment districts in the nation. It is home to several breweries, concert venues, two hotels, several movie studios and a music studio. Several national artists have made visits to Bricktown to perform live on radio for Oklahoma City and the nation, before dining in Bricktown and shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue in The Triangle, a residential district with an average household income of $93,000 a year.
It is where Oklahoma City comes to play. It is where Oklahoma, and the nation, come to play.
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