Allied Arts

On Today’s Center Stage: Oklahoma City Zoo

With the weather taking a turn for the better, I’m craving outdoor activities. Since I moved back to OKC, I’ve wanted to check out the zoo and see all of its changes.

I’m particularly excited about the new Children’s Zoo. The Children’s Zoo, which opened just about 2 weeks ago, is a 2.5 acre, $8 million facility featuring special exhibits designed just for kids. The Children’s zoo offers plenty of ways for kids to interact with the animals, including a special area for children to feed and pet furry and feathered friends.

CityCard holders receive 2-for-1 admission to the zoo (or 50% off single admission), so the family can go for a discounted rate. And the zoo is open on Sunday, if you’d like to do a fun family activity on Easter day (maybe you can have a family competition…the first to see a REAL Easter bunny, wins!).

Check out the Oklahoma City Zoo by visiting www.okczoo.com. And get your CityCard at www.okcitycard.com.

And I love this photo from NewsOK.com. It shows Adrana Kennedy, 7, taking photos of the goats of all of the goats at the Children's Zoo.

As I hope you all know, Allied Arts is in the middle of its annual fundraising campaign. From the end of January to mid-May, we raise support for 20 local arts groups.

It’s our goal to raise $2.85 million this year and we only have 6 weeks left. Will you help?

One of the easiest ways you can help is by joining our Facebook Cause. In the next week or so we’ll be introducing something cool through our cause (you’ll have to stay tuned to find out more!).

Of course, you can also donate directly to Allied Arts through our Web site. If you give $50 or more, you’ll receive your OKCityCard, chock full of discounts and deals across the metro area.

Your single gift to Allied Arts impacts 20 local arts groups, including the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Science Museum, Prairie Dance Theatre and the Oklahoma Children’s Theatre.

Thanks for your support!

Most people would argue that a girl could never be a BBQ connoisseur, but I think that I may actually fit that bill.  Growing up, my dad took me to every great BBQ restaurant that was within a 100 mile radius of our vacation destination (I’m talking, we once drove over 2 hours out of our way to go to Salt Lick).  That being said, Oklahoma City's own Iron Starr Urban BBQ ranks among the best on my list of great BBQ establishments.  Why, you ask?  Here you go:

• Amazing meat and sauce – smoked to perfection
• Incredible sides – fancy mac & cheese (YUM), Southern fried okra, special corn bread, you know the drill
• These items speak for themselves – beef tenderloin wedge salad, BBQ pork tacos (I got them when they were a special one evening), seven layer chocolate cake, $10 rack of ribs on Sundays.
• Cool atmosphere – brick walls, wood floors, contemporary and comfortable
• 15% off with my OKCityCard

If you haven’t tried Iron Starr, you are missing out on some of OKC’s best BBQ.  Hurry on over to 36th and Shartel and be sure to bring your appetite!

Check out Iron Starr at http://www.ironstarrbbq.com/

For today’s CityCard Spotlight, we have put one of our member agencies, Oklahoma City Ballet, on center stage in honor of their upcoming performances.

This weekend, Oklahoma City Ballet is performing Future Voices, a choreographic showcase that offers dance lovers in Central Oklahoma a unique experience.  Highlighting the choreographic works of five local dance professionals, Future Voices will combine the brilliant talents of these choreographers with those of the OKC Ballet dancers to create an innovative performance. 

Another unique aspect of this series is that it will be performed at the historic Plaza Theatre.  The 270-seat theatre provides an intimate setting for the performances and will allow the audience to engage in the action in a new way.  There will also be a question and answer session with the choreographers following each performance.

Use your OKCityCard to receive 2-for-1 admission to Future Voices.  To purchase and pick up tickets, visit the OKC Ballet office at 7421 N Classen or call 848-TOES (8637). 

Oklahoma City Ballet is on the move!  Don’t miss this unique dance experience! 

www.okcballet.com – Facebook: Oklahoma City Ballet – Twitter: @okcballet

The weekend is here again and there are activities galore to keep you busy!  I’ll just let you see for yourself:

All My Sons – Opening Weekend!
@ Carpenter Square Theatre
http://carpentersquare.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

40th Annual Festival of Spirituals
Saturday
@ Cimarron Opera
http://www.ccocopera.org/

Andrew Polk Exhibit
@ City Arts Center
http://www.cityartscenter.org/

Biting the Apple
Friday and Saturday
@ IAO
http://iaogallery.org/
20% off admission with OKCityCard
(get in free when you volunteer - click here!)

Final Sunday Film Screening
@ IAO
http://iaogallery.org/

Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands – Final Weekend!
@ Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
http://www.mgmoa.org/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Alfonso Ossorio: Gifts from the Ossorio Foundation
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

JASON PETERS | Anti.Gravity.Material.Light
The final days! Closes April 11!
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

What Does a Curator Do? Three Curatorial Models
Panel Discussion - Saturday
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art in partnership with OVAC
http://www.okcmoa.com/

The Couch Lounge
Thursday - $5 after 5 pm!
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/

French Animation Showcase – Film
@ Oklahoma City Museum of Art
http://www.okcmoa.com/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

Storytime: Musical Adventures
Sunday
@ OKC Philharmonic
http://www.okcphilharmonic.org/
2-for-1 admission with OKCityCard

An Evening with Harvey Pratt
Lecture - Friday
@ Science Museum Oklahoma
http://sciencemuseumok.org/

Science Museum Oklahoma is hosting a lecture that showcases a really cool way that art is used in science and crime-solving.  Patrons will have the opportunity to spend “An Evening with Harvey Pratt” and learn about police forensic art.

Harvey Pratt is the state’s only full-time forensic artist and works for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.  His artistic talent and expertise in human anatomy makes him an asset in solving crimes of every scale.  Pratt has worked on cases such as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, James “Whitey” Buldger and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing.

Pratt’s lecture will give a comprehensive look at forensic art and cover skull and soft tissue reconstructions, age progression and witness description drawing.

This FREE lecture will be this Friday, March 26th.  There will be a reception at the Whodunit: The Science of Solving Crimes exhibit from 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm.  Harvey Pratt’s lecture will begin at 7:00 pm.  Please RSVP to communications@sciencemuseumok.org because seating is limited.

You can get a sneak peek at Pratt’s work by visiting http://www.harveypratt.com.

On Today’s Center Stage – The Paper Lion

I feel like I literally grew up with The Paper Lion. Sounds funny, but growing up in Edmond, The Paper Lion was the place to go for gifts and stationery. And it still is. My mom used to shop there and now I do too.

I’m a bit of a stationery snob, so I start by checking out The Paper Lion’s high quality paper products. I always stop in the jewelry corner next and then head over to the home décor section last. It’s hard gift shopping at The Paper Lion, because you usually find something for yourself too!

On top of having such a cool store, The Paper Lion has an awesome staff. They’re trendy without being pretentious, and they all seem to have innate design savvi-ness (is that a word?).

The Paper Lion is a new CityCard partner and we’re so thrilled to have them. With your CityCard, you’ll 15% all Paper Lion goods (except special orders).

Check out The Paper Lion on facebook by clicking here. And get your CityCard by visiting www.okcitycard.com.

One of The Paper Lion’s latest goodies is Fat Daddy Sweets. Here’s a quick pic of one of Fat Daddy Sweets’ truffle creations!

Cuppies & Joe has mastered coziness and comfort: they serve up delicious desserts with a side of milk (or coffee) in a quaint home setting on 23rd Street.

If you are a cupcake connoisseur, you’ll certainly want to put Cuppies & Joe to the test. And pass the test they will. With made-from-scratch recipes and a wide variety of flavors, Cuppies’ cuppies will surely become one of your go-to dessert spots.

The culture at Cuppies & Joe makes it a great place for studying, reading or catching up with friends. They offer free Wi-Fi and comfy seating.

And if you’re in a birthday or party time crunch, pick up a dozen cupcakes and just try to pass them off as your own (you will be discovered – they’re way too pretty/good/amazing for the average Joe to have made them).

Check out their cupcake menu online (http://www.cuppiesandjoe.com/menu) and CityCard holders, take advantage of your “buy 1 Cuppie and 1 drink, get the second Cuppie free” offer.

To get your CityCard, visit www.okcitycard.com. And check out these AMAZING pink lemonade cupcakes...they are totally a work of art!