Oklahoma City is undergoing a transition. To put it nicely, some would call it a renaissance. More realistically, I’d call it an identity crisis.
As a 22 year resident, I’ve seen this city slowly begin to blossom into what I always hoped it would become: a hip, modern metropolitan full of food trucks, green spaces, contemporary art, and overpriced rooftop cocktails. However, there’s another side to Oklahoma City that’s quite the opposite. Unfortunately, that’s often the side that many outside of the city know. Mention Oklahoma City to a foreigner, and the name conjures up images of Kevin Durant and tornadoes, but also perhaps cowboys, conservative values, and Mary Fallin.
But as someone who had seen this city develop, I’ll be the first to say OKC has surely developed an edge. And I’m happy I’m here to discover it. As someone who had their hearts set on moving to a hipster mecca (i.e. Austin, San Francisco, Portland…really any city with high average rent and an abundance of brunch spots with mason jar mimosas) post-graduation, I was worried I wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience the culture I’d hoped for here. But the city hasn’t disappointed. If you’re looking to get a glimpse of the future of the city, there’s no better place to start than Midtown. After a long Thanksgiving weekend of family time and home-cooked food, I spent my Sunday afternoon with Midtown OKC’s Holiday Pop-Up Shops. You can check them out at the corner of NE 10th and Hudson. They’re easy to spot, because they’re shops that pop up. Like actual tents.
The area has gotten into the Holiday spirit, complete with a giant Christmas tree. And if you haven’t found the perfect tree for your living room yet, they’ve got more reasonable sized ones there to purchase as well.
The pop-up shops will run through December 28th, featuring local businesses with all sorts of merchandise. Odds are, you’ll find a lot of expensive artisan candles and (my favorite) equally impressive candy.
Once I saw a bag of goodies containing potato chips, pretzels, chocolate, AND caramel, my post-holiday attempt at healthy eating had to be postponed a day. Sorry, waistline. Maybe we’ll meet again after New Years. Goodies like the ones pictured can be found at Dutch and 42nd Street Candy Company.
The Holiday Pop-Up Shops run until December 28th, with different local shops appearing each weekend. If you can brave the cold, it’s a perfect Sunday afternoon date. Pop over to Bleugarten next door for a food truck lunch and a cold brew, or if you feel like a little warmer environment sounds better, there are tons of great local restaurants within walking distance.
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