That's all good and well, but add me to the camp that feels pretty well connected to what goes on here in town and somehow seemed to miss almost everything big going on in the MG this summer. They don't self-promote very well.

Sometimes, if you're interested in knowing what's going on, you need to be a little proactive instead of waiting for someone to reach out to you. I think if you visit here very often you would be well informed.

Urban Neighbors and Downtown OKC both have e-mail newsletters that have a lot of information about what is going on downtown. The Gazette is another good option.

I doubt there are many who want to shift maintenance and operating budget to promotional budgets. And I agree with Betts...instead of waiting for someone to come get you off the couch, use just a little initiative to look. The info is out there now.

Sometimes, if you're interested in knowing what's going on, you need to be a little proactive instead of waiting for someone to reach out to you. I think if you visit here very often you would be well informed.


I doubt there are many who want to shift maintenance and operating budget to promotional budgets. And I agree with Betts...instead of waiting for someone to come get you off the couch, use just a little initiative to look. The info is out there now.

We have, right now in this city, Paseo, Plaza, Midtown, Uptown, Deep Deuce, Film Row, Adventure District, 9th Street, and ten thousand other parks/venues/neighborhoods/restaurants/bars all competing to bring people to their events, but MG should expect their audience to specifically seek them out? No thanks. I think most people are going to go to the events and support the organizations in front of them.

Granted I don't know how successful they've been this summer or whether they've met expectations. The only point I wanted to make was to agree that from my small sample size opinion, it doesn't seem like word gets out about MG events as well as any of the above organizations.

Get a twitter account. Follow Downtown OKC, Myriad gardens, Midtown, Uptown, DD, Film Row, the Zoo. That should be more than enough information. And you only have to check one feed, that is updated live.

That's the beauty of social media. You can follow/like whatever interests you, so you have a custom built feed having only the information you want to see in one place.

Or you can be like some I know....sign up for the information and then they get upset at all the email they get and unsubscribe or get it sent to spam. Then they complain they never know what is going on. LOL.

I think Mr. St. John brings up a good point. Why jump him for making a simple observation?

I think Mr. St. John brings up a good point. Why jump him for making a simple observation?

I don't think that offering suggestions equates to jumping someone.

Granted I don't know how successful they've been this summer or whether they've met expectations. The only point I wanted to make was to agree that from my small sample size opinion, it doesn't seem like word gets out about MG events as well as any of the above organizations.

I 100% agree. A nice website with a routinely updated calendar of events would be a great way for them to promote what they're doing. Especially for those of us that won't be utilizing Twitter/Facebook.

http://www.myriadgardens.org/index.php?event-calendar

http://www.myriadgardens.org/index.php?event-calendar

Thanks! Don't know how I managed to miss this. I retract everything negative I've ever said about MBG.

nice shot:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8311/7966605276_197f060a54_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/7966605276/in/photostream)

photo by Marvin Bredel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/with/7966605276/)

Fred Jones Foundation donates $75,000 to Myriad Gardens Foundation in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/fred-jones-foundation-donates-75000-to-myriad-gardens-foundation-in-oklahoma-city/article/3712013)

very nice closeup of the Thunder Fountain:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7990428531_8792d65121_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/7990428531/in/photostream)

photo by Marvin Bredel (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marvinok/)

So what was Steve's press conf about?

Yoga in the morning:

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/523745_533835879966256_1426511321_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=533835879966256&set=a.370973272919185.111033.153146858035162&type=1)

That's a nice view. Though I'd rather go strolling through the park than stretching my old ligaments.

Hmmm yes indeed...Very nice views! The scenery is amazing.


--

The park looks good too.

"Okay, girls, we're meeting here today so that I could show you a visual of position 32.....observe the bandshell....that's your spine, okay...?"

Hmmm yes indeed...Very nice views! The scenery is amazing.


--

The park looks good too.

Oh you hound dog. You're supposed to be looking at the trees... THE TREES, dammit!
:wink:

(ok, so I noticed the "other" nice view too -- but hey, I was trying to keep this joint high class, ya know?)

Shakespeare in the park:

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/310168_10152112138675018_1564650993_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152112138675018&set=a.10151322494875018.806305.38179815017)

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the Crystal Bridge, and Devon Tower is the sun.
(apologies to the Bard)

The story of the root sculpture at the MBG:

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/196615_534876613195516_1229258713_n.jpg

Found here:
Don Narcomey Roots Sculpture Process | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.534875973195580.144110.153146858035162)

Oh you hound dog. You're supposed to be looking at the trees... THE TREES, dammit!
:wink:

(ok, so I noticed the "other" nice view too -- but hey, I was trying to keep this joint high class, ya know?)

hahaha. Fantastic posts.

Catch was talking about the nice view of the sun reflecting off the building in the background. I don't know what you guys are talking about. :D

Catch was talking about the nice view of the sun reflecting off the building in the background. I don't know what you guys are talking about. :D

Yes we'll go with that!!

Shakespeare in the park:

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/310168_10152112138675018_1564650993_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152112138675018&set=a.10151322494875018.806305.38179815017)

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the Crystal Bridge, and Devon Tower is the sun.
(apologies to the Bard)

That looks more like Richard II than Romeo and Juliet, but pretty funny!

There is an application before the Downtown Design Review Committee to allow mobile carts and kiosks to sell snacks, drinks and souvenirs in the Myriad Gardens.

Seems like a great idea to me, although there are water fountains around.

Shakespeare in the park:

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/310168_10152112138675018_1564650993_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152112138675018&set=a.10151322494875018.806305.38179815017)

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the Crystal Bridge, and Devon Tower is the sun.
(apologies to the Bard)

This is kind of sad.

The story of the root sculpture at the MBG:

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/196615_534876613195516_1229258713_n.jpg

Found here:
Don Narcomey Roots Sculpture Process | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.534875973195580.144110.153146858035162)

Nice pic of the root sculpture in front of the Crystal Bridge:
http://distilleryimage5.s3.amazonaws.com/22d92eacfc5d11e1a3f21231381313a9_7.jpg

.
It's Pumpkinville today at the gardens

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/308046_541229389226905_1331197365_n.jpg http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/546841_541229552560222_95792325_n.jpg http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548322_541229505893560_860799896_n.jpg

What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 13, 2012: Check out Pumpkinville at the Myriad Gardens | BAM's Blog (http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/2012/10/13/what-to-do-in-oklahoma-on-oct-13-2012-check-out-pumpkinville-at-the-myriad-gardens)

A lady named Rachel visited Pumpkinville at the gardens and posted a number of really nice pics:

Pumpkinville | Pencil Shavings (http://www.pencilshavingsstudio.com/2012/10/pumpkinville)

Bales of hay, candy-corn striped teepees, cider presses, and, of course, loads and loads of pumpkins. Love the black cat pumpkin.

Going on daily until Oct. 31 at the MBG.

Edit: newsok also put up an article on this:
Pumpkinville produces smiles at Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/pumpkinville-produces-smiles-at-myriad-botanical-gardens-in-oklahoma-city/article/3720970)

(best line from that article: “You keep them busy, that's the secret to good kids — you keep them busy,” :wink: )

.
It's Pumpkinville today at the gardens

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/308046_541229389226905_1331197365_n.jpg http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/546841_541229552560222_95792325_n.jpg http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548322_541229505893560_860799896_n.jpg

What to do in Oklahoma on Oct. 13, 2012: Check out Pumpkinville at the Myriad Gardens | BAM's Blog (http://blog.newsok.com/bamsblog/2012/10/13/what-to-do-in-oklahoma-on-oct-13-2012-check-out-pumpkinville-at-the-myriad-gardens)

They have my 1941 Ford Tractor as part of their pumpkin patch display. Still runs like the day it was made.

2762

(yet) another nice Pumpkinville shot:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8106806479_20bfe89d7c_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/myshaofengwang/8106806479)

photo by myshaofengwang (http://www.flickr.com/photos/myshaofengwang)

Watched a very cool 'drone' quadrocopter flying over the Myriad Gardens. Couldn't tell if it was MG related or Devon Tower related content. Took video of the copter, but you can't really see it well in screen grabs..... so I thought I'd share this one.

http://imageshack.us/a/img835/253/myriadgardensdrone.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/myriadgardensdrone.jpg/)

2812

View from Vast.

A few more nice pics:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7765819360_9025c98c2c_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/4ytchoose/7765819360/in/photostream)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7765817540_c499431076_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/4ytchoose/7765817540/in/photostream)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7765815212_fdd7f712f8_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/4ytchoose/7765815212/in/photostream)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8423/7765813520_2ee8958319_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/4ytchoose/7765813520/in/photostream/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/6958835876_81eb981a4f_c_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/4ytchoose/6958835876/in/photostream)

photos by sweetwaterok (http://www.flickr.com/photos/4ytchoose/)

That last picture shows why those complaining about the potential even spacing of trees in part of the Central Park area should not be complaining. It gives a great sense of comfort and space when done correctly.

Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread, but I noticed the other day that the koi have been restored to the MBG lake. Not sure how recently it was, but I am in the gardens with some regularity and had not noticed until last week. Just as I had remembered, some of them are whoppers. I was itching to grab a bamboo fishing pole and get to work, but restrained myself.

They were there at the Arts Festival, my nephew fed them for about an hour.

Shows how observant I am sometimes.

Check out the list of pop-up shops that are going to fill the restaurant space up this year. Full Circle appears to once again be testing the downtown retail climate. Maybe some of these guys, as well as Blue Seven and others, will consider a downtown location if they do well in a few more pop-up test runs..

I love the idea of using this space for pop-up retail..... almost even more than I like a restaurant here. This is also how we should be using those historic buildings in the way of the new MAPS park.

There's not much I would love more than to see Full Circle expand or relocate to downtown - and I don't want to be a wet blanket here - but I am pretty certain they are not testing the retail climate downtown, nor do I see Mr. Tolbert ever bringing it down here. I think others on here could back me up on this. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. My read on the restaurant is that they were unable to entice other (currently downtown) restaurants to run the place even during the holidays, and that Mr. Tolbert - probably the man who most cares for MBG - swooped in and saved the day.

Now, as far as Blue Seven, I could DEFINITELY see Caleb with a permanent downtown presence one day...

Steve's article today mentioned that the Devon rink alone draws 30,000 (!) during the season, and they are expanding it by 20%.

It's almost to the point we could consider a second rink downtown, as the one always seems completely packed out.


Anyway, love this pop-up shop idea. I know they also hope to have some vendor carts during the warmer months in the gardens.


Temporary eatery, pop-up shops are set to open at Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/temporary-eatery-pop-up-shops-are-set-to-open-at-myriad-gardens-in-oklahoma-city/article/3728547#axzz2BsPLkmwi)

Yep, this vendor idea is fantastic. I think it would be wise to give it a "test run" for the entire year. We know the upscale dining concept probably won't work for this building, but the idea of a little cafe (something along the lines of Camille's maybe?) would probably be a hit in the park as long as they made seasonal menu adjustments for the fall and winter like what's currently proposed (cider, hot chocolate, etc.). Add in a few small pop up shops and you've got a year round hit. At least in my opinion.

For the restaurant space, perhaps a short-term solution would be an OKC gift shop / visitor's center with a simple cafe?

Urbanized is right. The Myriad Gardens, along with Stage Center, are very near and dear to Tolbert - he literally inherited the mission ensuring the Gardens' survival from the father of the gardens himself, Dean A. McGee. The pop-up shop is his way of promoting the gardens as a destination.

nice shot of the water fountain/cascade/perpetual motion/stair-step/waterfall whatever-you-call-it-thinga-majingy:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/7123295271_13906495fe_b_d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69532947@N00/7123295271)

photo by SwissEd (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69532947@N00)

taken back in the spring

btw, I imagine that this thing is turned off during the cold months?

Anyway, love this pop-up shop idea. I know they also hope to have some vendor carts during the warmer months in the gardens.

Temporary eatery, pop-up shops are set to open at Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/temporary-eatery-pop-up-shops-are-set-to-open-at-myriad-gardens-in-oklahoma-city/article/3728547#axzz2BsPLkmwi)

http://www.downtownindecember.com/portals/0/Images/DID2012/DOKCWinterMarketFinal_1.jpg (http://www.downtownindecember.com/OUMedicinePresentsWinterMarket.aspx)

I think the downtown Winder Market (http://www.downtownindecember.com/OUMedicinePresentsWinterMarket.aspx) that will take place Dec. 7-9 will be the first real trial run of this idea. Curious that this event was not mentioned in Steve's article.

btw, I imagine that this thing is turned off during the cold months?


It was on a few days ago, I will walk by it tonight and check. But I too, was wondering why it was still full of water while it has been below 32 easily several nights. I am thinking it is probably heated to stay above freezing?

Okay it was on again tonight.

However when I went by around 9:45pm - the water looked to be receding down into drains. So I think it may just drain itself @ a certain temperature and be stored in some type of underground tank. Or perhaps this is just a nightly occurrence and the water is still heated.

Go back after the winter solstice, aka, the end of the world, and see if the fountain is still operating then. It's still warm enough outside for the thing to operate now.

I know it's still quite warm, but when will the ice rink open up? I heard Dec 1..

Downtown OKC - Downtown in December > Devon Ice Rink (http://www.downtownindecember.com/DevonIceRink.aspx)

I love the Winter Market idea, but I wish it was longer. Philly has a Christmas Village that runs all Decemeber. It was pretty neat. On a side note, it is wierd how in Philadelphia it is called "Christmas" and in OKC it is called "Winter". Is that because it is sponsored by a public university in OKC?

Christmas Village in Philadelphia | Welcome (http://www.philachristmas.com/)

I love the Winter Market idea, but I wish it was longer. Philly has a Christmas Village that runs all Decemeber. It was pretty neat. On a side note, it is wierd how in Philadelphia it is called "Christmas" and in OKC it is called "Winter". Is that because it is sponsored by a public university in OKC?

Christmas Village in Philadelphia | Welcome (http://www.philachristmas.com/)

The WAR ON CHRISTMAS continues!

Just kidding.

Philly has traditions. We don't necessarily.

Philly booed Santa Claus.

philly has traditions. We don't necessarily.

lol

I went to the Myriad Gardens for the first time tonight. It looked wonderful all dressed up in lights with the ice rink.

pics? :D