Posted by Dennis Spielman

Great Bowl of Fire and Improv

It’s the day you show your love for your country by blowing up a piece of it! (Yes, I stole that joke from the Simpsons.) Since it’s too late for me to talk about places to see fireworks, for this week’s Something Sundays I’m featuring the Jerry Lee Lewis “Great Bowl of Fire” drink from Michael Murphy’s Dueling Piano Bar. Located at 25 S. Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, the Dueling Piano Bar show consists of a few piano players who take the stage in rotations while performing a rip roaring, request driven show, that includes comedy and roasts of other guests friends all in a smoke free environment. I could go about the place, but I want to save that for our video segment that will be released soon.

The Great Bowl of Fire is their most popular 80 oz bucket drink, which are designed for 4 to 6 patrons. They do other flavors in the bucket including Long Island Ice Tea, margarita’s, and other specialty drinks. The cost is $24.

HOWEVER, Michael Murphy’s Dueling Piano Bar’s next day to be open is Thursday, so you will have to wait until then before you may tackle this massive drink with your friends. Mhahahaha! I’m so evil and speaking of being evil there’s a new Villain: The Musical full length performance out. Watch the show here on YouTube.

After taking some suggestions from the OKC Improv audience at Ghostlight Theatre Club, Villain: The Musical creates the completely improvised, completely evil musical that becomes: “The Villainous Machine of Sir Pistachio’s Gelato Shop.” This Saturday, June 26, 2010 show featured the vocal and improvisational talents of: Cristela Carrizales, Buck Vrazel, Clint Vrazel, and Stf Bidelspach, who also multitasked as the main musician (but not the sole musician this time!) of this epic musical show.

If that’s not enough improv for you, I also published Twinprov’s April 23, 2010 Show and Twinprov’s Rap City May 1, 2010 Show.

If you feel like such a sinner from watching these shows, then watch The MiDolls do their Nun archetype show here on YouTube. If you want to watch any of these improv videos later, you can find them archived on the Improv Troupes page. Enjoy the four full length improv shows!

Read More

Posted by Dennis Spielman

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Father’s Day is this Sunday and if you need gift ideas, we’re here to help again. Just as I did for our Mother’s Day Article, I got some suggestions for gifts from some of the past businesses we’ve featured. Although we haven’t featured many businesses that cater to guys, we did gather some good ideas.

The self-proclaimed Daddy’s girl, Keri Monier of Mister Rabbit, suggests some vintage t-shirts. “Mister Rabbit has a great variety of shirts in a range of colors and sizes for the special man in your life,” Keri said. “For casual dads, we have unique vintage graphic tees, and for your fancier fellow, we have an assortment of vintage pearl snaps.” If you’re stumped by his size and desires, Keri suggests a Mister Rabbit Gift Certificate.

If you’re Dad is a OU fan, Becca Chansolme of Violet Avenue Boutique has a ‘Sooners’ Letter Sign composed of photographs from different every day objects make the letters to these decorative signs. You can also buy letters to spell out his name. Also in the Norman area the Candy Basket has various initial glassware and other items that make great gifts. Pick up some candy too from there. If you need a card, swing to Campus Corner and get one from Cookies and Cards.

Lindsay over at Collected Thread has “prints by Kennedy Prints!, Father’s Day cards, Local is for Lovers shirts, and some journals.”

A different route to travel is to offer to take your Dad out for a night of laughs. Check out our Comedy Around OKC episode for ideas. You can be creative by creating a “certificate” that you’ll take him out to a show.

If you’re going to be outdoors grilling or picnicking with your Dad this Sunday, Keri suggests picking up “a scrumptious bottle of wine from a local winery.” It’s a thoughtful gift you’ll both enjoy.

Read More

Posted by Dennis Spielman

Can I keep it?

Hop over to Mister Rabbit (2411 N. Guernsey Ave. in OKC) and enter the Pippin + Pearl room to find this unique monster t-shirt. Mister Rabbit shop owner, Keri Monier, models the “Can I Keep It?” t-shirt along with a hand bag and hair piece from Pippin + Pearl.

Just a quick back story on Pippin + Pearl. Pippin + Pearl is the cooperative of three creative brains, Erin Cooper, Lanie Barrett, and Jennifer Woods. They’ve been creating all kinds of handmade and upcycled products for their own individual businesses until May 2010 when they launched a single line of products under the name, Pippin + Pearl.

For more on Mister Rabbit, be sure to watch our Shades of Fashion episode.

On the subject of keeping things, you know what I would like to keep? An award from Oklahoma Gazette’s Best of OKC! Fill out the Gazette’s Best of OKC survey and put Uncovering Oklahoma as your favorite local web site! We’re already pretty awesome with our talent archive (which includes full comedy shows and music performances), date ideas, events, and of course we show you all sorts of cool places and things throughout the state.

Read More

Posted by Dennis Spielman

Bottle Cap Jewelry

During my visit of the Paseo Arts Festival, I entered the The Dusky Jewel Vintage. Located at 514 N.W. 28th inside the Avalon Building, second floor, in the Paseo District in Oklahoma City, The Dusky Jewel sells recycled vintage pieces, clothes, and accessories. One of their custom made items, and this week’s Something Sunday feature item, are their bottle cap jewelry in the form of pins, magnets, and necklaces.

Artwork inside the bottle caps is produced by Sharalee Stephens. Some of the pictures seen on the caps can be seen on her web site. You can click on any of the pictures here to see a larger more detailed version. The designs do change out and there are many other designs.

Prices range from $5 to $25. If you want to buy one of these unique pieces of jewelry, The Dusky Jewel’s summer hours are Friday and Saturday 12 – 8 and on Sundays from 1 – 5.

Read More

Posted by Dennis Spielman

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Don’t panic. Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9th, so there is plenty of time to get a gift. I’ve contacted several of the retail businesses we’ve featured on their thoughts for gift ideas.

“We have a store full of girl-y gifts!” Gyan Galoob of The Candy Basket writes. “For Mother’s Day, we have chocolates, of course, but we also have some special Mother’s Day cookies, some plaques for Mom, and various gifts related to Mother’s Day.” However, Gyan shares that the best gifts that she’s received were “the handmade cards and any handmade anything.” She also adds that photographs are the best.

Still in Norman we have the Violet Avenue Boutique. Owner, Becca Chansolme, suggests their Archipelago bath & body products. “It is a light grapefruit scented product line that is perfect going into summer. We have Hand Creme, Body Souffle, Body Wash or Lotion.” Though if you want a gift that will last and go places, get a travel coffee mug (initial or plain). “It’s great for amost any mom and is $19.50.”

For those in Oklahoma City, Keri Monier of Mister Rabbit finds Mother’s Day to be a great excuse to shop. “For Mister Rabbit Moms, we have darling spring aprons, jewelry, and vintage accessories, and if you’re unsure of what to buy there’s the gift that keeps on giving, Mister Rabbit Gift Certificates!”

Keri also has some exciting news about an upcoming change to her store. “Beginning May 1st, we are devoting our front room to local artists, to be dubbed Pippin and Pearl. Lots of great finds for mommies and their kiddos, including, unique handmade clothing and purses, jewelry and hair accessories.”

Keri says that her favorite gift she gives to her mom is the gift of pampering. “My hard-working mother receives a pedicure alla moi every year, then we order Chinese take-out and sun in the back yard.”

Over at Collected Thread, Lindsay Zodrow recommends their vases by Cynthia Varden for a gift for mom. “They are unique and would go with most styles,” says Lindsay. For gifts Collected Thread doesn’t carry, she suggested “some chocolate from Cocoflow or some loose leaf tea and a teapot from t, an unrban teahouse on May and Grand next to Blue 7.”

If you want the gift to be helpful to your Mom and the local art community, buy an Allied Art’s OKCityCard. I personally bought one for my Mom for her birthday. She uses it when she goes to Cafe 7, one of her favorite places to eat.

On the subject of food, Jazmo’z Bourbon Street Café in Bricktown is another place to take your Mom for lunch or dinner. Don’t forget Cuppies & Joe, Cookies and Cards, Rick’s Fine Chocolates, and Sweet Cherry’s Sugar Art Bakery for some sweet treats.

Don’t procrastinate too long. Some of the businesses we’ve mentioned aren’t open on Sundays. If you’re still unsure on what gift to get, as Keri put it, “anything bought locally is the BEST gift for Mom.”

Read More

Posted by Dennis Spielman

It’s OKC Improv!

The premiere of our Comedy Around OKC episode starts off with our segment on OKC Improv! OKC Improv is Oklahoma’s first ongoing professional showcase of local and regional improv comedy and theater. Ali Heidari interviews producers, Clint and Buck Vrazel, on what OKC Improv has to offer. Also included with our interview is a clip from the OKC Improv All-Stars where they perform an improvised musical based on the Twilight series.

But wait! There’s more! This video features the premiere of Uncovering Oklahoma’s new title credit sequence!

OKC Improv is having two shows this Saturday. At 8pm Stillwater’s own Cueless will be returning to the OKC Improv stage followed by the impressive Villain: The Musical. Then at 10pm The MiDolls, Oklahoma’s first all-female improv group, continue their conquest of the world with a nun-themed show followed by a new Twinprov show called Rap-City, in which the Vrazel brothers merge story-telling with hip-hop beats.

Tickets for each performance are $10, cash at the door. Reservations are encouraged because they expect to sell out. Be sure to watch our video and check out the episode page for more details and pictures.

We still have more segments planned for our Mystical Journeys episode. We’re just working on two episodes at the same time because we are awesome!

Read More