Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

[Zim]

Anyone here, live there? Care to tell me a bit about it?

My company might move out there, so I was wonder what the music scene was like and housing.

And any good music stores?

Thanks for any info.

[buddaman71]

Howdy.
Here's the deal:
It's windy, dry and hot in the summer. Just accept that.
The city is getting better all the time. We have about 1.1 million population in the metro area, so it's not like it's tiny. The city itself covers a HUGE land area.
Bricktown is cool and the music scene is actually pretty diverse with a strong quirky/indie rock section (Flaming Lips are based here, so that type scene)
Lots of really nice casinos around if you want to play in that scene. I personally play 2-4 nights a week and turn down gigs all the time due to my day gig.
There are a couple cool blues joints with open jams and a strong roots/Red Dirt scene, and some decent jazz. Definitely more than just country music.

In just the last few months, we've had Joe Bonamassa, Tommy Emmanuel, John Mayer and several other cool guitar acts in town. OKC also has a strong theatrical Lyric Theater-type scene and OKC University has produced some of the top opera and Broadway singers of the last few decades.

We have a decent GC and this KILLER boutique store near my home in Yukon, which is far west OKC. www.reddirtbrothersguitars.com
It's an awesome store with Tom Anderson, PRS guitars AND amps, /13, Fender Masterbuilt custom shop, etc...

The cost of living is a fraction of what you are probably used to and you can buy a gorgeous new mini-mansion in the upper $200k range, so there's that.
(Very nice older homes in the 2000+ ft2 size can be found all day long for $150k)
Overall OKC is populated with kind, courteous, generous people who work hard and rock it up on the weekends.
We are a young city and still growing and have managed to get through the Great Recession in MUCH better shape than most of the country.

PS: I've lived in different parts of the country (including stays in DC, Indiana, Naples and Miami) and all I can say is, where you are is what you make it.
I'm happy here and enjoy raising my kids here.

http://www.okgazette.com/p/12730/Default.aspx
http://www.bricktownokc.com/index.asp
http://www.block42.com/

If you relocate, hit me up on a PM and I'll show you around and we'll get a beer or three.

Cheers,

Jason

PS: bands are ALWAYS looking for a good bass player!

[TwoTubMan]

Does Frontier City still exist?

[buddaman71]

yes with quite a few upgrades over the years.
basically a smaller Six Flags.

http://www.frontiercity.com/

[Zim]

Thanks for the insight. My wife and I love your band!

What are gas prices like there?

[buddaman71]

Thanks!!!

We might actually be looking for a bass player in the next few months, so......

I filled up this morning @ $ 1.59/gal.
It's been $ 1.50-1.80 for the last few months.

[Zim]

Thanks!!!

We might actually be looking for a bass player in the next few months, so......

I filled up this morning @ $ 1.59/gal.
It's been $ 1.50-1.80 for the last few months.


I doubt I'll be there too soon... :cry: But I'd gladly hold down the bottom end for you guys if I get there!

But $1.59! WOW! It is $2.99-$3.49 in this area!!!

What about Midwest City? And areas around Tinker AFB?

[buddaman71]

Tinker AFB is massive and basically a city in itself (40,000-50,000 or so) I design and install quite a few AV and videoconference systems out there.
Midwest City/Del City (Mid-Del) is basically east central OKC, just east of I35 along I40 to the far east border of the OKC Metro area. The areas right around Tinker are older and more congested, but some REALLY nice properties within 15 minutes east of the main Tinker gate. Choctaw, OK is a small city that is basically the far east side. Older homes, but really nice, affordable acreages to build gorgeous homes for a very affordable amount of $$. We've REALLY noticed a reverse Grapes of Wrath migration of connected extended families who left in the 30's and 40's and are now returning to OKC from all over due to the recession and affordable housing and land.

Nice, family-owned homebuilder: http://www.richardsonhomesok.com/

[Zim]

OK, looks like this moving faster than we thought. My wife flys out Sunday to start things out and I'll be headed that way in the end of May or so.

Yee Haw!

[derekd]

I am from OK, and lived in OKC, Edmond and Del City for over a decade. I would echo everything buddaman has said. When I was there, Bricktown was still relatively undeveloped, but I have been there a number of times since (dad still lives there), and it is pretty cool.

I read one time that OKC is the 3rd windiest city in the nation. The wind blows constantly, which makes Lake Hefner one of the best sailboating lakes in the country, if you are into that.

I think it is the cheapest city in the country to live. Hey buddaman, is that old guitar store just south of downtown still there? I wanna say it was on Western, just south/underneath I-40. Always seemed to have a few cool vintage peices there.

[jrjones]

[QUOTE=buddaman71;8106275]Howdy.

We have a decent GC and this KILLER boutique store near my home in Yukon, which is far west OKC. www.reddirtbrothersguitars.com (http://www.reddirtbrothersguitars.com)
It's an awesome store with Tom Anderson, PRS guitars AND amps, /13, Fender Masterbuilt custom shop, etc...
[QUOTE]
+1 for reddirtbrothers! I've done business with them before! AWESOME guys!

[Bankston]

I played a couple of shows in OKC. What I remember was that everyone I met was exceptionally nice and the women were busty.

[buddaman71]

DerekD
Horn Trader music is still around on I40 and Western. :)
You should see the kite surfers on Hefner! They come from other states and even countries. I've seen guys get 30-40' of air. It's insane, but awesome to watch.
When it IS calm, eating at Pearl's Lakeside patio watching the giant orange sun set with a couple dozen of sailboats silhouetted is pretty gorgeous for our crazy landlocked state.

Bankston
Compared to the other places I've lived and worked extensively, (upper Midwest, DC, LA) I think the people here are just ridiculously nice and polite and fun and have extroverted, larger-than-life Southern-style personalities. OK girls are pretty fun!


One thing I've always found very interesting about the geography of OK is that it's incredibly diverse. Everyone pictures it as only dusty, flat and dry, but really that's the western half of the state. NW is rolling plains, SW is desert-ish, SE OK is very lush forest and part of the Ozark mountains. I've read that OK is second only to California in the number of geographical systems.

[steve_man]

Well...it's in Oklahoma...which automatically kills it for me...:) Most of my family is from there...so it's not my fave place on the planet...

[Apartment 11]

Cool... I was just thinking about starting a similar thread for Tulsa, OK. Good thing I found this. Thanks to the OP.

Ok, I don't mean to hijack this thread but to prevent me from starting another thread like this can someone who's lived in both Tulsa and OKC tell me which you prefer? I'm planning to move to OK sometimes this year but not exactly sure where in OK. As of now I'm leaning towards Tulsa as all my family lives there. Is the cost of living and lifestyle about the same? Pros/cons for both?

I haven't been to OKC but I've been to Tulsa a few times the last two years.

[90wreck]

I played a couple of shows in OKC. What I remember was that everyone I met was exceptionally nice and the women were busty.
This would be all I needed to know if I thought about moving there.
Seems like a pretty cool town. I checked out the links and I was impressed.

[Gas-man]

I lived there from '95 to '98, so I'm a little out of date, but...

I really dug it. Very down to earth and nice people. I think my rent was like $150 and I had a garage apartment in back of a huge house that no one lived in. I could ROWCYO all day and night.

Norman is a great college town and is very close.

OU has one of the most beautiful campuses in the world in my not-humble opinion.

[Stratobuc]

I liked Stillwater better, the co-eds were much nicer to us.

I lived in OKC for 13 years from '76 to '89. I have a lot of friends there and they tell me the music scene is a lot better now.

[slimponey]

if you move there make sure to take part in the all skeleton march that the flaming lips host each year, looks like a blast

[Zim]

Oh, we are for sure on our way, unless something out from left field happens.

I'm staying here to the end of May to let my wee one grad from her first year of school. I mean, what kind of ass would I have to be to pull her out of the last month? She is so looking forward to her graduation and it would crush her to leave now.

[MERCYFULFATE]

im in Norman whch is around 15 miles from OKC. its a College town and the music scene is and always has been happening. Buddman is correct on all accounts as well. things are pretty good here. wasnt so good after the oil bust though.lol Cmon down!

[MERCYFULFATE]

I lived there from '95 to '98, so I'm a little out of date, but...

I really dug it. Very down to earth and nice people. I think my rent was like $150 and I had a garage apartment in back of a huge house that no one lived in. I could ROWCYO all day and night.

Norman is a great college town and is very close.

OU has one of the most beautiful campuses in the world in my not-humble opinion.


Yes Sir!

[TwoTubMan]

OKC just hasn't been the same since Foreman Scotty died.

[zombywoof]

Forget OKC - head down the road to Norman.

I lived in Norman for alot of years but that was a long time back - when the Flaming Lips were playing locally. Then again, I don't have a clue what the heck the place is like nowadays.

Ya might check to see if Underpass Sally is still hanging at 23rd Street (or was it Lincoln) in OKC - ugliest hooker to ever put on a pair of hot pants.

[Greggy]

Well, I flew in then out in February on business. I can vouch for the cleanliness of the airport. Stayed on the west side of town. Seemed like a nice and clean city to me. And yes it was windy. Wife and I drove thru during autumn 2007 on our way to New Mexico. Was driving a small convertible sports car. The wind nearly blew me off the highway on more than one occasion. Tornado alley yessir.

[Zim]

I guess I'll buy a kite?

[zombywoof]

Anybody remember Ace Pawn? Guitars everywhere and some flippin good ones.

[TD_Madden]

yep...used to go to 23rd Street Music, and Rock World as well...but that was in the late 70's

[Freeman]

I lived in Edmond in the late 70's,early 80's and worked at Driver Music.Both in Edmond and in Bethany. Have lots of good memories of the times and the people. Okie's are really OK.

[ford]

I've driven through a couple of times. I could handle living there.

[steve_man]

Cool... I was just thinking about starting a similar thread for Tulsa, OK. Good thing I found this. Thanks to the OP.

Ok, I don't mean to hijack this thread but to prevent me from starting another thread like this can someone who's lived in both Tulsa and OKC tell me which you prefer? I'm planning to move to OK sometimes this year but not exactly sure where in OK. As of now I'm leaning towards Tulsa as all my family lives there. Is the cost of living and lifestyle about the same? Pros/cons for both?

I haven't been to OKC but I've been to Tulsa a few times the last two years.

I'd prefer Tulsa...nicer town, IMO.

[Zim]

I'd prefer Tulsa...nicer town, IMO.

That may be, But I'm going to be working @ Tinker AFB. So that will be a wee bit out of the way, lol.

[buddaman71]

Tulsa is a nice town, but just like all cities, there are nicer and older parts of both T-town and OKC.

[Hacksaw]

Tulsa is a nice town, but just like all cities, there are nicer and older parts of both T-town and OKC.

I alway liked OKC more, more of a party town, and Tulsa as laid back. :)

Always have a blast in OKC. :D

[Zim]

Well, wife is in the air on the way to get things rolling.

[buddaman71]

Good luck and safe travels Zim.
Drop me a PM when you get here and settle in and we'll have a beer.
Jason
:)

[Zim]

Good luck and safe travels Zim.
Drop me a PM when you get here and settle in and we'll have a beer.
Jason
:)


You know I will! My wife is looking at a place to rent in Choctow (spelling) this week (plus a few others, but that is our 1st pick). Not sure if we will be buying, since it is only a 3 year contract for now.

Thanks for all the help Jason! Means a lot. And thanks to everyone else that chimed in.

Thanks,
~Cleet

[themadcaplaughs]

Is there a disproportionate number of members from OK on this board? I would suggest looking into a place in Bethany, it's a clean and safe part of the OKC metro that keeps you close to the city, and it is not much further than Choctaw.

[Zim]

Is there a disproportionate number of members from OK on this board? I would suggest looking into a place in Bethany, it's a clean and safe part of the OKC metro that keeps you close to the city, and it is not much further than Choctaw.

Will look there as well. At this point, it has been what ever we can find on Craigslist or google searches that lead to all kinds of rental/reality places.

Also, do you guys happen to know any good child care places or someone private to watch our 5 yr old before/after school and during the summer M-F? She is a great kid and takes care of herself for the most part and plays well with others or by her lonesome....

[SpaceFlunky]

been here 10 years, the wife and i plan on buying a house. Like all cities it has it's good and bad parts.

[Elias Graves]

I grew up in Oklahoma and have lived here in OKC most of my adult life. Lived in Dallas and St Louis for a while as well.
OKC is a nice place. Choctaw is pretty convenient to Tinker. Old Germany retaurant is a must in Choctaw.
Norman isn't too far from there either. That's definitely a good place for music, as is bricktown.
Head west of town a ways to El Reno and check out El Reno Vintage guitars. Great place. Red Dirt Brothers in Yukon is on the way to El Reno. Make a trip and go to both.
GC isn't too close to Choctaw. You could probably hit Yukon easier.
Sailing is definitely big here. Lake Thunderbird and Lake Hefner are both good places. I have a Hobie Cat myself. Plenty of fun.
In the fall, make a road trip east to the Talamina drive to see the foliage.
Make sure your AC works. We're coming up on summer. Ugh.
Buy your beer at the liquor store, not the supermarket. You'll thank me later.
Visit the Bricktown Brewery if you like good beer. They make it on the premises and it is good stuff.
I'll join in the tour guide invite. Drop me a line if interested.
Sorry, can't help you with the child care.

EG

[VanR]

Been through OK a few times. I remember the women as being fine.

[Cap'n Fingers]

Been through OK a few times. I remember the women as being fine.

and hot as the summer is long. :dude

[VanR]

and hot as the summer is long. :dude

Yeah. I stopped at a quickmart on the side of I-40 and I was like "look at all the good looking women" And that was just the ones that were working there. Got some JoJos and some fried chicken gizzards and got out of there before the wife hit me.:eeks

[themadcaplaughs]

I would really suggest checking out Lone Wolf Guitars, they get some interesting things in.

[SpaceFlunky]

I would really suggest checking out Lone Wolf Guitars, they get some interesting things in.


the owner is a dick and everything is over priced. Avoid if possible.

When i was 15 and didnt know any better he charged me 2 times the value of an amp. I went in there with my mom to buy my first tube amp and got screwed.
I went back there a few times, less and less every year.
Not too long ago (10 years later) i went in there to see if he would work on my ampeg vt40, i told him i had the parts already and i just needed someone to do the work. He took offense to this and yelled at me till i walked out the store. The other employee there apologized for him when i was walking out. When i got in my car he came out and tried to stop me to apologize bbut i just kept driving. It would have been fine if he would have just said, "no, if you are gonna get it worked on here, i have to buy the parts for you"

If he is a member here im sorry, delete me post. Otherwise....well ya know.

[Stratobuc]

"Buy your beer at the liquor store, not the supermarket."

You forgot to mention, no full-strength cold beer. Its either hot from the liquor store, or cold 3.2% from grocery store. Nothing like an unrefrigerated shelved beer.....

[Zim]

Ok, we leave for there today. See y'all soon!

[buddaman71]

Be safe man.
See you soon.
Jason

PS: Lone Wolf is one of the weirdest guitar shops ever. I remember I walked in once in the early 90's with $ 2,500 in cash in my pocket to buy a nice Martin acoustic. The owner never said a word and just stared, unblinkingly, at me for about 5 minutes while he was eating a bowl of oatmeal. Seriously, it was the creepiest retail experience I've ever had. I was young, but well-dressed, and at the time owned a recording studio with thousands of dollars worth of super high-end guitars and amps. Bizarre.

PPS: www.reddirtbrothersguitars.com in Yukon is a must for TGP-ers in the OKC area. One-off Fender Masterbuilts, Tom Anderson, PRS, /13, Orange, etc.

PPPS: There are indeed some gorgeous women around here, especially in Norman, Edmond and Nichols Hills. Native born Oklahoma women have a "look" to them, especially the small town farmer's daughters with big smiles, blond hair and big lovely eyes and lips. Eastern OK has some gorgeous German-Cherokee women that are just exotic and beautiful as well.

[joemilitello]

Hey Buddaman- I was reading this thread, and you mentioned "Red Dirt" as a music style. What is Red Dirt?

Just curious- sorry for the thread hijack. Never been to OKC, but it sounds pretty cool.

[Cap'n Fingers]

Hey Buddaman- I was reading this thread, and you mentioned "Red Dirt" as a music style. What is Red Dirt?

Just curious- sorry for the thread hijack. Never been to OKC, but it sounds pretty cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dirt_%28music%29

[joemilitello]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dirt_%28music%29


Thanks, Cap'n!

Edit: I learned something new today!

[Zim]

Well, I'm here. We drove straight through with stopping the 1st night for about 5 hrs at a toilet bowl of a "hotel" somewhere in Indiana I think. and a truck stop for 1 hr last night.

Nothing says "WTF was I thinking" than leaving around midnight after a 3 day hurry pack/load a 22 foot truck down 2 flights of stairs and then drive the 1250+m straight through with a bored 5 yr old next to you the whole way. While towing a car on a flatbed too"
Took 3 days because the buddy from work stiffed me. I paid him $50 to help me after work, he sends a text saying "I'll be there in 15min w/ my buddy" and never showed and refused to return my calls or texts. I know he is ok, cause I called my old boss to see if he made it into work, where he dodged me again. He pulled such a HUGE douche bag deal on me.

Tomorrow I got to start unpacking the truck.... I did some today, but, with only 1 hr of sleep in the last 40 hrs, just isn't gonna cut it.

I'll catch up with you guys later. So far, I'm digging the area. Ate at "Chedders" tonight. Food wasn't bad, the prices were killer. Service on the other hand...

I'm learning so quirks already, like, why does OK/Midwest city need you to come down and show 2 forms of ID, copy of the lease, $150 for deposit/app fee and told that it will be "sometime next week" before they can turn on the water? It took less to rent the moving truck. Just needed a credit card and a Driver License.

Sorry for the ramble and any poor grammar/mis-spelled words, I'm out of it right now.

But here is to OKC, OK area so far :beer

[Hacksaw]

Welcome and glad you made it!

Soon you will be having a blast and a new accent. :)

[Ricman]

Welcome and glad you made it!

Soon you will be having a blast and a new accent. :)

Hopefully the blast ain't a twister, eh, brother?

[Zim]

lol, thanks guys.

BTW, forgot to ask.

Can you guys recommend a good place to pick up a good fridge for not a lot of $$? I have budget of around $700-800 I think. (Have to check my expenses when my head is on clearer)

Another quirk. We leased a house that includes ALL NEW Kitchen appliances, but not a Fridger? Really? That was a bit of a shock. I always though "fully equipped kitchen" would mean the fridge too :facepalm I guess not. Went round and round with the Realtor about that one. But I suppose that is a OK thing? :huh

[gururyan]

I prefer living here in Tulsa, but I do go to OKC on occasion for shows or a trip to the art museum (Tulsa doesn't have a modern art museum, damn it). Tulsa is not as flat and is a quick jump into some decent lakes and rivers.

[Hacksaw]

Hopefully the blast ain't a twister, eh, brother?

ya.. we both been there, done that! I am still cleaning up!



:wave

[eoshreds]

Welcome!