In case you haven’t heard, there’s a film festival going on. It’s deadCENTER’s 15th anniversary and Oklahoma City is more hoppin’ and happenin’ than ever before, which means you better be out there taking advantage of it all. That being said, you can bet your ass that we’ve got a list for you. Here are some great downtown places to mix, mingle and be merry during intermissions.
Near Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Here you have Kitchen No. 324 just three blocks east and one block north. Hit them up if you need a jolt to stay awake (whether that’s in the form of espresso or a sugary pastry) or just need a place to hang and enjoy a great downtown view. Got a bit more time to kill? Head up to Midtown for farm-to-fork fare at Ludivine, where the menu changes day by day and the cocktails are garnished with the likes of fresh-picked basil and clove-studded brûlée orange. If you’re in need of a place to bring the afterparty, look no further than R&J Lounge and Supper Club, where late-night brunch begins at 11 p.m. I recommend going for the green chile breakfast casserole and a house-made Bloody Mary (for realz). Classic signature drinks like the R&J Sour and the Old Fashioneds are served there all day long as well.
If you’re feeling weak after all the film-watching and garden-lounging (poor thing), FLINT and The Colcord Hotel are literally within crawling distance. Grab a seasonally inspired cocktail on the patio, or kick back inside the cool lobby of the Colcord. If you want to venture out a bit, trek east on Sheridan Avenue and you’ll hit Bricktown Brewery (burgers and beer) and TapWerks (more burgers and a lot more beer). However, a deadCENTER weekend isn’t complete without wandering through Film Row, so hitting up Joey’s Pizzeria and exploring the local happenings would be another solid option.
Near Harkins Bricktown Theatre
A ton of restaurants, bars and hangouts are within spitting range (if you’re into that sort of thing) of Harkins. There’s Bolero for strong sangria and tasty tapas, Fuzzy’s if you’re in need of some greasy grub, In the Raw if wasabi’s calling your name, and KD’s if you just want to chill in a fun atmosphere for a bit. If you’re not in a hurry and want a more laid-back scene though, I’d make the trip north into Deep Deuce for top-shelf brown liquor at WSKY Lounge or a killer plate of poutine at Slaughter’s Hall.
