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Things to do and see in Oklahoma City

If you're arriving early or staying an extra day after the conference, take time to visit some of Oklahoma City's cultural gems and urban amenities.

American Banjo Museum
9 E. Sheridan Ave., Bricktown
Open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults $6, Seniors $5, Children $4, Children under 5 are admitted free
A national treasure in downtown Oklahoma City, the American Banjo Museum is a world-class facility dedicated to preserving and promoting the music and heritage of America's native musical instrument - the banjo.

[Artspace] at Untitled ? E.CO
1 N.E. 3rd Street, Downtown Oklahoma City
Open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday
Free Admission
Located just a few blocks northeast of the Skirvin Hilton Hotel, [Artspace] at Untitled is a contemporary art center designed to stimulate creative thought and new ideas through the presentation of exhibits focusing on national and international artists. The E.CO exhibit will be on display from October 26, 2012 through January 5, 2013. Curated by Claudi Carreras, this exhibition brings together photographic projects by twenty European and Latin American photographic collectives, each tasked with crafting a visual essay about one of the most important topics of our day, the environment.

Bricktown
Take a historic district with a compelling namesake nestled in the heart of Oklahoma City, couple it with a great variety of unique and exquisite restaurants, retailers and entertainment venues, then power it by the millions of people that visit the area every year and you'll begin to understand the importance of Bricktown. Once an abandoned warehouse district, Bricktown is now a much sought after destination for locals and tourists alike. The breathtaking canal lends itself to the picturesque look and feel of the district and the signature red brick architecture updated with modern day renovations keep the history and spirit alive, reminding us Bricktown is once again the hub of Oklahoma City.

Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO Gallery)
706 W. Sheridan, Downtown Oklahoma City
Open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6:00 p.m.
Free Admission
Founded in 1979 by three poets as a grass-roots alternative arts organization, IAO Gallery is committed to sustaining and encouraging emerging artists in all media who are intellectually and aesthetically provocative or experimental in subject matter or technique.

Istvan Gallery and Blue Sage Glass Studios
1218 North Western Ave.
Open Tuesday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Istvan Gallery at Urban Art features the work of emerging and established Oklahoma artists in an atmosphere designed to be comfortable for art collectors as well as art lovers who might otherwise be intimidated by the idea of visiting an art gallery. It is a space where the public can enjoy and understand art. Owned and operated by glass artist, Andy Boatman Blue Sage Studios offers the public an opportunity to observe how glass art is created.

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma? The Mystery of Irma Vep
1727 N.W. 16th Street, Oklahoma City (in the Plaza District)
October 10 ? 27. 2012
Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Lyric Theatre ticket office: 405-524-9312
Founded in 1963, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma is Oklahoma's only professional year-round musical theatre company. For almost 50 years, Lyric has produced classic and contemporary musicals and plays featuring both nationally known Broadway stars and local favorites. In The Mystery of Irma Vep, two actors take on all the roles with dozens of lightening quick costume changes in Charles Ludlam's high-camp comedy. This sidesplitting spoof pokes fun at all that is ridiculous in Gothic horror, Victorian melodrama, and classic movies, plus it's a contender for the funniest American play of the last quarter-century.

Myriad Botanical Gardens
301 W. Reno, Downtown Oklahoma City
One of the more amazing sites in the Oklahoma City metro area, the Myriad Botanical Gardens is a 17-acre, nationally-renowned paradise of exotic plant life, tropical terrain and beautiful landscapes. In 2011, the Myriad Botanical Gardens underwent major renovations. New features include spacious entry plazas, a Children's Garden, new visitors' information center, a grand event lawn & pavilion, a Dog Park, seasonal activity plaza, and numerous awe-inspiring water features.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
1700 N.E. 63rd Street, Oklahoma City
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: Adults $12.50, Seniors and Students with ID $9.75, Children $5.75, Children 3 and under admitted free
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is America's premier institution of Western history, art and culture. Founded in 1955, the museum in Oklahoma City collects, preserves and exhibits an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts while sponsoring dynamic educational programs and ground-breaking scholarly research to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of our American West. More than 10 million visitors from around the world have sought out this unique museum to gain better understanding of the West: a region and a history that permeates our national culture.

Oklahoma City Ballet ? Director's Choice
Civic Center Music Hall,
October 20th and 21st, 2012
Ticket office: 405-848-TOES (8637
Make plans to see Director's Choice, which will feature the Oklahoma Premiere of the following performances: Anthony Tudor's Lilac Garden, Nicolo Fonte's Left Unsaid, and
Margo Sappington's Cobras in the Moonlight.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art
415 Couch Drive, Downtown Oklahoma City
Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays and Major Holidays.
Tickets: $12 for Adults, $10 for Seniors, Children and Students with I.D., $5 for Military with I.D. and Free for Members.
Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art serves over 130,000 visitors annually from all 50 states and over 30 foreign countries and presents exhibitions drawn from throughout the world. The Museum's collection covers a period of five centuries with highlights in European and American art from the nineteenth through twenty-first centuries, a growing collection of contemporary art, and a comprehensive collection of glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly. The Museum boasts the region's premiere repertory cinema, which screens the finest international, independent, and classic films, and is home to the Museum School, which offers classes for students of all ages as well as art camps for children. Amenities include the Museum Store, a roof terrace, and the Museum Cafe, a full-service restaurant, offering lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, afternoon tea, a full bar, and catering services.

The Plaza District
Located on 1700 Block of NW 16th Street between Classen and Penn
Most businesses are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Plaza District is a neighborhood commercial district boasting Oklahoma CIty's local arts flavor. The Plaza District is home to art galleries, studios, retail shops, restaurants, and creative services. Visit these local businesses owned by young, creative entrepreneurs and attend performances at the renovated Plaza Theatre for Lyric at the Plaza. Be sure to check out the artist-made retail businesses, a quality custom tattoo shop, a local salon favorite, and many shops for vintage and retro finds. This district, once blighted by urban decay now boasts a renewed energy embraced by Oklahoma City's youth and diverse culture.

The Paseo Arts District
Located at 28th & North Walker Ave, to 30th and North Dewey Ave.
The historic Paseo Arts District is the oldest arts district community in Oklahoma City. Today, a vibrant group of artists with substantial involvement and support from the larger community continues to build the district into one of the most creative art venues in the country. The Paseo is now home to 17 galleries and more than 60 artists, all within walking distance. Intermingled with the galleries are fabulous restaurants, a coffee house, clothing boutique, gift shop, and theatre.

Red Earth Museum
6 Santa Fe Plaza (Just Southeast of the Skirivn Hilton main entrance)
Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free Admission
The Red Earth Museum hosts a respected permanent collection of more than 1,400 items of Native American fine art, pottery, basketry, textiles, and beadwork. Exhibits feature widely acclaimed traveling exhibitions, as well as such prized permanent exhibits as the Deupree Cradleboard Collection.

Questions?
For more information contact Molly O'Connor, cultural development director, at (405) 521-2013 or molly.oconnor@arts.ok.gov.