[timcxt]

Sweet. I have looked up some pictures on here and seen some of the river and etc.

I have heard of some places go stay away from but whats the really bad area to live in or just stay away from? I have found a lot of apartments in north OKC and some downtown.

Also any good furniture shops in OKC? We won't be bring much of anything with us. So we will have to buy new bedroom bed and etc.

[okcpulse]

Originally Posted by timcxt

Sweet. I have looked up some pictures on here and seen some of the river and etc.

I have heard of some places go stay away from but whats the really bad area to live in or just stay away from? I have found a lot of apartments in north OKC and some downtown.

Also any good furniture shops in OKC? We won't be bring much of anything with us. So we will have to buy new bedroom bed and etc.

There is a four square mile area in north OKC between Britton Road, NW 122nd, Broadway Extension and Western that has gotten pretty bad. It was once a decent middle class area, but it has gone downhill. Also stay away from sections of NE OKC and an area of OKC straight west of downtown along 10th Street. Del City is not bad but is just unappealing. South OKC, bordered by I-40, I-35, I-240 and I-44 is a mixed bag. Some areas are quiet, others get a lot of property crime, mostly break-ins when no one is home.

For furniture, check out Bob Mills Furniture. The furniture mecca is along Reno west of I-44 and north of I-40. Mathis Brothers is pricey and the sales people will swarm you, but the selection is vast. Mattress Firm also has locations in OKC.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by okcpulse

If you are in OKC, also visit Crown Heights, Edgemere Park and Mesta Park.



Older parts of Oklahoma City only really began emerging 15 years ago. Correct, there is no solidly nice part of older OKC, however older areas have been making serious inroads thanks to OCU, Paseo, the Asian District and MidTown.



Very true, both are growing at basically the same rate. Between 2006 and 2009, the OKC MSA grew 4.5%, Tulsa's MSA grew 4.1%. OKC is catching up quickly where shopping is a concern mostly due to the Classen Curve and Penn Square Mall. Also opening in OKC this summer is Outlet Shoppes at OKC, which will offer everything from Brooks Brothers to Saks Fifth Avenue of 5th and Banana Republic Outlet.



In addition to Whole Foods, Sunflower Farmer's Market is opening a location in OKC this fall. Coming early 2012 to Edmond is Uptown Grocery, which will be the same concept as HEB Central Market in The Woodlands, TX. Already open is Crest Fresh Market in SW OKC.



Classen School of Advances Studies in OKC and Harding Charter Prep, both magnet schools, outranked Booker T Washington in Tulsa, but not by much. Based on the national rankings, both metros were balanced.

39, Classen School of Advanced Studies, Oklahoma City, 5.569
68, Harding Charter Prep, Oklahoma City, 4.615
73, Booker T. Washington, Tulsa, 4.495
392, Edmond North, Edmond, 2.507
497, Edmond Memorial, Edmond, 2.292
729, Edison Prep , Tulsa, 1.931
734, Norman, Norman, 1.915
933, Jenks, Jenks, 1.665

Oklahoma City recently selected a site for its new downtown elementary school.



Until you have had to put up with the supersprawl that is Houston, Oklahoma City as "sprawling so much" doesn't even begin to compare. Remember, too, swake that prior to 1956, Oklahoma City was only 85 square miles with less than 300,000 people.

Not disputing you, swake. Just wanted to add to what you may have missed. I only made this post because most of my inlaws in Tulsa had zero clue of the following happenings in OKC...

- Whole Foods opening a location
- Sunflower Farmer's Market opening a location
- A new 50-story skyscraper was going up
- Oklahoma City is getting a real outlet mall
- That two Fortune 500 energy companies exist in OKC

Heck, if it weren't for me, they would have never guessed that Hobby Lobby, Braum's and Sonic are all OKC based companies.

Always very informative. Lets not forget Heritage Hills and the up and coming Plaza district area. There really is so much going on in OKC currently that its impossible for me to keep up. I can totally understand how the eastern population could also have trouble w absorbing what is really happening here.

On another note..
Tulsans are totally oblivious to the art scene in OKC and I work w all the major art organizations. I remember when we had our momentum show in tulsa at a lubys and then we all enjoyed Applebys afterwards. Gross.
Two nice old museums is a wonderful cover for what is really missing. And truly the Gilcrease isnt spectacular by any means. The Fred Jones is a better museum by a long shot. I had the opportunity to enjoy the Fred on a daily basis while I was getting my MFA at OU.

[debzkidz]

As far as just driving through the 2 cities, yes Tulsa looks better. OKC is not a lot to look at from the highways, but once you get off and explore the various neighborhoods, I think your wife will like what she sees.

There are lots of arts festivals here, including the giant one OKCPulse mentioned. It is amazing. But there is also a festival each Memorial Day weekend in the Paseo which is very good also. It features lots of local artists. I believe there is one each year at OCCC ( referred to as "O triple C",Oklahoma City Community College) There are several others in the area as well, in most of the surrounding towns. I know Edmond has one which focuses on mostly local artists.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by debzkidz

As far as just driving through the 2 cities, yes Tulsa looks better. OKC is not a lot to look at from the highways, but once you get off and explore the various neighborhoods, I think your wife will like what she sees.

There are lots of arts festivals here, including the giant one OKCPulse mentioned. It is amazing. But there is also a festival each Memorial Day weekend in the Paseo which is very good also. It features lots of local artists. I believe there is one each year at OCCC ( referred to as "O triple C",Oklahoma City Community College) There are several others in the area as well, in most of the surrounding towns. I know Edmond has one which focuses on mostly local artists.

The Paseo basically has a small art fest the first friday of every month called artwalk. All the galleries participate w wine/food/music and it typically draws over a thousand each time. The Plaza also has multiple fests and like the Paseo you will find a vibrant decent art scene that compares better with larger cities than Tulsa does. OKC has competing art districts! Enough said.

[timcxt]

Everyone has provided a lot of information. Our big thing is the local artist support and art related things. I want my wife to have a chance and be happy. It seems to have a lot of artist in the city and surrounding areas. A big plus for us.

It seems like OKC has a lot going for it. We will try to stop in OKC on our way back from Dallas but time is tight this time. I can't wait to make a visit to just OKC very soon. My wife is excited as well.

[swake]

Originally Posted by okcpulse

If you are in OKC, also visit Crown Heights, Edgemere Park and Mesta Park.
Older parts of Oklahoma City only really began emerging 15 years ago. Correct, there is no solidly nice part of older OKC, however older areas have been making serious inroads thanks to OCU, Paseo, the Asian District and MidTown.

Really, I remember being with my dad looking at houses in Heritage Hills, The Paseo and Mesta Park and the like and realtors talking about those areas "emerging", and that was more than 25 years ago. They really look much the same as they did then. The areas around OCU and The Paseo may actually be worse.

Originally Posted by okcpulse

Classen School of Advances Studies in OKC and Harding Charter Prep, both magnet schools, outranked Booker T Washington in Tulsa, but not by much. Based on the national rankings, both metros were balanced.

39, Classen School of Advanced Studies, Oklahoma City, 5.569
68, Harding Charter Prep, Oklahoma City, 4.615
73, Booker T. Washington, Tulsa, 4.495
392, Edmond North, Edmond, 2.507
497, Edmond Memorial, Edmond, 2.292
729, Edison Prep , Tulsa, 1.931
734, Norman, Norman, 1.915
933, Jenks, Jenks, 1.665

I think you missed that Newsweek had new rankings this week, and expanded the criteria in an attempt to better reflect the a school’s overall effectiveness. The old ranking were almost purely on AP classes.

26 – Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (statewide residential magnet school, not part of a local school system)
108 – Booker T Washington (Tulsa Public Schools)
431 – Jenks High School (Jenks Public Schools)
453 – Dove Science Academy (Charter – Tulsa Public Schools)

No other Oklahoma schools ranked in the top 500.

America's Best High Schools - Newsweek

Originally Posted by okcpulse

Until you have had to put up with the supersprawl that is Houston, Oklahoma City as "sprawling so much" doesn't even begin to compare. Remember, too, swake that prior to 1956, Oklahoma City was only 85 square miles with less than 300,000 people.

Oklahoma City certainly does not sprawl like Houston. Thank God.

As for local art in Tulsa, you should probably contact the Tulsa Artists Coalition and the Arts and Humanities Council, they should be able to give you more information specific for your wife.

TAC Gallery
Home - Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa

[debzkidz]

It's really pointless to argue of schools anyway, since the OP mentioned in post #30 I believe, that they have no children and probably will not in the future. His questions about schools were for himself, and finishing his degree.

[swake]

Yes, Tulsa is lagging in higher education overall. TU is the best school in the state, but quite expensive.

See if your degree is offered at OSU Tulsa, OU Tulsa or NSU Broken Arrow. If not, that probably makes your decision for you.

[timcxt]

Them 3 colleges do offer my program but ou Tulsa And ous Tulsa only offer certain classes during the semesters. Nsu does offer most programs and classes I need all year.