NEWSLETTERvol. 1 | issue 1

EXPERIENCE LOCAL EXPERIENCE 16TH

This newsletter is provided by the Plaza District Association to inform, motivate and inspire the community around it.

Keep it local all year round

Lyric raises money for Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

In the Spotlight

Picture Puzzle “Plaza Quotes” Upcoming Events Who are we?

Pg. 2

Many of you have seen the little plastic “Keep it Local” cards be-ing used at places like Cuppies and Joe, Iguana Mexican Grill, Collected Thread, Iron Starr Urban BBQ and so many more. Here’s a little scoop on how it works and why you should start keepin’ it local! I had the pleasure of meeting the brains behind the operation, Keep it Local co-founder, Bryce Bandy. Bandy, along with his busi-ness partner Chris Branson launched the Keep it Local OK idea in early 2010 to promote growth within Oklahoma City and bring attention to all the amazing creative minds we have right here! Since it’s birth, the small busi-ness has grown to gain national attention. The vision of Keep it Local is to encourage consumers to shop, eat at local, independent businesses to keep our economy strong and productive. Brandy and Branson saw the idea of promoting local businesses in cities such as, Austin, Texas and wanted to bring the same concept to Oklahoma City.

Keep it local all year round

Pg. 3

Keep it Local has over 130 local businesses that have partnered with them which include stores in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Norman and Midwest City. “We give people the tools and incentives to shop local”, said Bandy. A one time purchase of $10.00 in turn will save you hundreds of dollars by using your card at all your favorite OKC hot spots. You can purchase a Keep it Local card at Elemental Coffee Co, Blue 7, and several other locations. The 2012 card was designed by local artist Mauricio Cremer. This year Keep it Local is launching some new tools to make shopping even easier! A free iPhone app is now available which was built by local developer Steve Baranski of Komorka Technology. And early next month a gift registry to register for all your gift needs such as birthday, house warming, graduation, wedding, baby etc.. will also be available to let all your friends and family know which local store they can find your perfect gift. Article & Photos by: Maria Dru

DuringthefirstrunofLYRIC’SA CHRISTMAS CAROL, presented by Devon Energy last December, Lyric and its generous patrons raised over $18,000 for Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The Regional Food Bank of Okla-homa’s mission is “Fighting Hunger...Feeding Hope.” Hope is what inspired Lyric audiences to help the food bank last month. In Oklahoma, one in four children strug-gles with hunger every day and Okla-homaisthefifthhungrieststateinthe

Lyric raises money for Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

Lyric’s Ex-ecutive Director, Paula Stover & Artistic Director, Mi-chael Baron with Regional Food Bank of Okla-homa’s Executive Director, Rodney

nation, where more than 600,000 Okla- homans are unsure about where their next meal will come from. During the 20 performance run in Lyric’s 279 seat Plaza Theatre this past holiday season, Lyric invited patrons at-tending the show to donate monetarily what they wish to help this important and vital organization. After each show, actors stood at the theatre doors offering their Victorian wool top hats as a way to accept do-nations from Lyric’s generous patrons on their way out to the Plaza Theatre lobby.

Pg. 4

Lyric’s

patron’s raised

$18,002.38 for Regional Food Bank of Okla-homa, equaling the amount of 90,000 meals for hungry Okla-homans. “I chose the Regional Food Bank asLYRIC’SACHRISTMAS CAROL holiday beneficiarythisyear because their mission is deeply tied to the production’s message of help-ing those in need,” says Lyric’s Artis-tic Director, Michael Baron. “I’m truly thankful for the generous spirit of our audiences and the entire Lyric staff for making this holiday season a better one for those Oklahomans who needlessly face hunger every day.” BeforethefinalperformanceofLYR-IC’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL on De-cember 31, 2011, with the entire cast of the show on stage,

Pg. 5

Paula Stover, Lyric’s Executive Director, and Baron presented Rodney Bivens, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Executive Director, a check for the full amount of $18,002.38. “Lyric’s generous patrons helped provide countless Oklahomans with two of life’s most basic needs- food and hope,” says Bivens. “I can’t think of no more meaningful gift. Thank you to Lyric and its patrons.”

Pg. 6

E-mail Lauren Reasor at info@plazadistrict.org with the correct answer and you will be entered into a drawing to win a Plaza District T-shirt.

About Picture Puzzle: A collection of pictures within the Plaza District. Guess the location. Win a prize.

In the SPOTLIGHT: Kelli & J.D. Epperson JD and Kelli Epperson have been a huge part of the Plaza community, support-ing all the local shops and volunteering when help is needed. They began attending Plaza Live in 2008 shortly after they started dating, admit-ting to only missing two since they fell into the scene. “I remember when the cool thing was heading to the east or west coast, for me the people who stuck around is what makes up this community,” Kelli said. “We are just in love with Oklahoma City!” Art covers the Epperson’s home and they would happily name off the local artist that did it. This one is by Dylan Bradway (DNA Galleries), that one’s by Dusty Gilpin (LIVE), oh and Tanner Frady (LIVE); the list could go on from there. Lets not for-get the tattoos the couple received from No Regrets or the shirt JD was wearing fromWarpaintandofcourse,thehugespraypaintpieceKellididduringagraffiticlass by Collected Thread. Their involvement doesn’t stop there; together they have attended many shows at the Lyric and the Society, were models in two fashion shows by the Vel-vet Monkey and volunteering at booths for Plaza Live. “I really hope the Plaza brings new life to the community and draws people of all types together even if they’re not into the ‘art scene’ per se,” Kelli said.

Picture Puzzle: Where was this photo taken?

Pg. 7

“PLAZA QUOTES”What is your favorite thing about the Plaza District?

Tyler Boren, 25“Oklahoma needs places for artists like me to show their work and have the opportunity to be seen.”

Robin Chase, 36“It’s built up into this great neighborhood, this whole place feels so alive.”

Shayla Hall, 20“No Regrates, I got my tattoo there, love that place!”

Kenny Deason, 34“The community and friends, everyone is like family, it builds the core around here.”

Tricia Dameron“It’s one of the few pet friendly communities.”

Chris Memmert, 31“It’s a very eclectic group of people, it brings all these amazing things together.”

Pg. 8

EVENTS

1 2Shelton Pool

Film Night

3

4 5 6 7 8Dead End Alaska

Tokophobia

9 LIVE on the

PLAZA!

10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 Community Meal

Life Drawing

19 20 21 22Parlor Art Show

Custom Toy Show

23 24Photography

25 26 27 28 29 30 31Songwriting

March

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

ART FUSION STUDIO

BAD GRANNY’S BAZAAR

BLUE STAGE STUDIOS

COLE DEWEY DESIGNS

COLLECTED THREAD

CONVERGENCE

DIG IT!

DNA GALLERIES

EVERYTHING GOES

FINCH CREATIVE GROUP

GALLERY 1612

GUATEMALAN IMPORTS

ISTVAN GALLERY

KEEP IT LOCAL OK

LYRIC THEATRE OF OK

MAYA TRADING CO.

MIDWESTMEDIA

NO REGRETS TATTOO

PAULA & CO.

RETROKC

SAINTS

WARPAINT CLOTHING

STUDIO FJ

THE SOCIETY

URBANOLOGY

URBAN WINE WORKS

VELVET MONKEY

Opening of “Spring Awakening”

DAVE/Kiltro

Partner & Friends

Fashion Show

Learn to knit

Saint Patty’sat SAINTS

Vintage Jewelry Class

A Book Affair

Pg. 9

Mission Statement: The Plaza District Association works to

develop the Plaza District as a vibrant commercial district where arts,

local business and neighborhood

community thrives.

Kristen Vails, Executive Director

Lauren Reasor, District Relations and Marketing Coordinator

Grace Hancock, Bookkeeper

STAFF

1618 Gatewood | Oklahoma City, OK 73107 | 405.367.9403email us | follow us @plazadistrict

President, Aimee Ahpeatone

Vice President, Jeff Stuble

Secretary, Amanda Bradway

Treasurer, Stephen Kovash

Lou Kerr

Deborah Minard

Keith Rinearson

Gene Voth

Lindsay Zodrow

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

INTERNSMaria Atkinson, Blog

Amber Pyle, Newsletter