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Posted by: Matthew

NewsOK

By George Lang

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday, my wife Laura and I observed the greeting-card holiday with a Friday evening officially dedicated to dinner and “whatever.” But what we experienced was a kind of living, breathing love letter to our amazing, evolving city.

Our first stop was dinner at Matthew Kenney OKC, the first tenant at Classen Curve. If anything is emblematic of the change in Oklahoma City, it is the emergence of Classen Curve in a city segment that previously felt like an ellipsis between Belle Isle and Nichols Hills. This high-end retail area is so markedly different from any other in the city that it is likely to shift the traffic flow, particularly for people looking for the kind of experience that used to mean three hours of driving.

But while the clean lines of Classen Curve’s architecture set the tone for a new experience, Matthew Kenney OKC was the payoff, with its extraordinary raw food cuisine. As a vegetarian with pescatarian privileges, the unbelievable pho and coconut curry at Matthew Kenney OKC made me think that I could go all the way as a vegan if only I could prepare food as amazing as the chefs in that raw-food laboratory. Add to that the modern elegance of the surroundings and the superb service, and we could not have asked for a more excellent and head-turning experience.

Then we juxtaposed our new, modern dinner date with Love on the Plaza in the Plaza District, an area that represents all that can be done with the right dedication and perseverance by talented people. When Laura and I moved to the city from Norman in 1995, we lived on Carey Place in a duplex just below Michael Ivins of the Flaming Lips. Back then, you didn’t walk the two blocks down to 16th street unless you were looking for violence.

But Lyric Theatre led the way with their space, and I was astounded by all that was there, including the grand opening of Warpaint Clothing Company, the new store and clothing line started by Derek Knowlton of the Pretty Black Chains. Then we went to Keith Rinearson‘s beautiful PhotoArt Studios. There were tons of people at the Plaza that night, and it was amazing to see the transformation of this area into a destination for the creative class.

It was a great night to be out on the town and to be in love with each other, and with our city. Right now, we’re just feeling a little smitten with the place.

http://www.newsok.com/article/3440226?custom_click=columnist