Clearly Oklahoma City

This Valentine’s Day, everyone’s going to be heading out to romantic little restaurants or cooking intimate little dinners.  Buying flowers, giving chocolates, and exchanging other gifts are all traditional Valentine’s Day events, but what about those who want to do something a little different?  Here are some Valentine’s Day ideas that are unique to OKC.

Looking for something to do in Oklahoma City this February?  Here are a few things going on in the city.

02/01 – New Frontiers exhibit opens at the OKC Museum of Art and runs through April 11

02/02 – OKC Thunder vs. Hawks at the Ford Center

02/03 – 02/14 – Fools at the Jewel Box Theatre

02/04 – 02/06 – Mauritius at the Carpenter Square Theatre

02/04 – 02/07 – Romeo & Juliet by OK Shakespeare in the Park at the OCU Kirkpatrick Center

One of Oklahoma City’s most popular events, An Affair of the Heart craft show returns February 12, 13, and 14.  The event is held at the OKC fairgrounds at 10^th and North May Ave.  The doors are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.  Admission is $6.00 and is good for all three days.  Trust me, you’ll need three days to see everything offered!  An Affair of the Heart is huge.  The show is spread out over seven different buildings and features more than 1,000 different booths.  Various OKC radio personalities will be on hand in several of the buildings to provide entertainment and music while you shop.

Last year, I mentioned that a local Harry Potter group was hosting their first annual charity ball near the new year.  Well, this year, the Oklahoma Wizards League (OWL), is back, and they’ve moved their ball to the day before Valentine’s Day.  While last year’s wizard rock extravaganza was called the Yule Ball and was winter-themed, this year, the theme is Carousing With Cupid.  Once again, it will feature some of the top wizard rock bands from around the country.  This year’s concert will be hosted by the one and only Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, the only Hogwarts professor to acknowledge Valentine’s Day in the book series.

Well, the weather certainly brought a surprise for Oklahoma City on Christmas Eve! I woke up early to go visit my grandparents, and what did I find? Blowing, swirling snow. It wasn’t sticking, however, and I thought it would be no problem to drive in. While visibility was certainly bad at times, I left early enough that it wasn’t horrible. After spending several good hours with family, I was ready to head back home and attend another Christmas Eve function.

What, a post about New Year’s Eve already?  If you’re like me, your thoughts haven’t made it past next week, let alone past the holidays.  However, it’s never too early to make your New Year’s plans, especially if those plans are going to include attending Opening Night 2010, Oklahoma City’s huge celebration.  Every year, thousands of people pour into Bricktown for food, fun, live performances, and, of course, to see that giant ball drop at midnight.  That’s not an exaggeration, either—attendance at last year’s event was over 70,000!

In addition to the events listed below, remember that the Downtown in December events will be going on all month.  Check out my other posts to see what OKC has planned for the holidays.

Dec 2 – deadCENTER film night at the XO Lounge

Dec 2 – Light the Campus at Oklahoma City University

Dec 3 – Territorial Christmas Celebration at the Harn Homestead

Dec 3-5 – A Very Merry Pops at the Civic Center

Dec 4 – OKC Thunder vs. Celtics at the Ford Center

Looking for something to do this December while you’re in Oklahoma City?  I already mentioned the free trolley and boat rides earlier, but they’re just a small part of the overall Downtown in December event that’s coming to the Bricktown area.

No holiday celebration would be complete without a huge tree decorated with bright lights, so that’s where you should start your downtown OKC adventure.  The SandRidge Christmas Tree is located north of Kerr Park, and it’s huge.  Head over to the Myriad Botanical Gardens after checking out the tree and spend some time strolling through the magical wonderland they’ve created.  There are enough lights to make it easy to see at night while not so many that it’s blinding.

If you’re going to be in Oklahoma City during the holiday season, you might want to take advantage of the free trolley and boat rides.  These free rides are being offered as part of the 8^th annual Downtown In December program.  The downtown trolleys will be free to ride starting November 29 and will continue through December 31.  The Oklahoma Spirit Trolley gives visitors the opportunity to explore everything downtown Oklahoma City has to offer without worrying about parking or dealing with the traffic.  You can find more information on the trolley routes and schedules at www.gometro.org.

As the holiday season begins here in Oklahoma City, I’d like to take a short minute to remind everyone that the season isn’t just about buying gifts, eating a lot of food, and spending time with friends and family.  The holiday season is also about giving back and about remembering and helping those less fortunate.  OKC, like all major cities, has its share of homeless, jobless, and those who have fallen on hard times.