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 Good times in Oklahoma CityThe state capital's vibrant downtown delights visitorsBy Les Thomas  Spring erupts at Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City. RELATED
IF YOU GO ...Lodging:
Attractions: YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(Southern Living It's a season of renewal here. All around you can see the results of the Metropolitan Area Projects plan. Passed in 1993, the effort helped turn downtown into a fun destination for visitors. New attractions blossomed, including the Ford Center arena where the NBA New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets are playing many of their home games this spring. Frolic on FridayMore like an elegant high-rise than a chain hotel, the new downtown Courtyard by Marriott puts you in the middle of the activity. Weekend rates for two start at $109. Two-step over to Bricktown for dinner and music. Check out the liveliest new attraction, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill. The 450-seat restaurant serves a whopping 16-ounce chicken-fried steak and country gravy ($15) made with the Oklahoma singer's favorite recipe. The main stage features top acts performing nightly. See the sights on SaturdayTo experience more of OK City's Western flavor, ride over to the stockyards district. Saddle up at a table at Cattlemen's Steakhouse for delicious huevos rancheros -- eggs and beans atop a corn tortilla with a side of salsa ($4.75). Browse for Western wear at Langston's and other shops located on Exchange Avenue. Look for boots at Little Joe's Boots. Range out to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum For more shopping with a local flavor, slip over to the Paseo Arts District. Paintings, pottery and sculptures fill studios in Spanish-style buildings from the 1920s. Grab a Sooner burger smothered in Cheddar and hickory sauce ($8) at The Deep Deuce Grill and then breeze into Bricktown. Hop on a water taxi for a trip along the Bricktown Canal. The boats travel past restaurants, shops, and the new Oklahoma Centennial Land Run Monument. Cruises cost $6.50 ages 6 and up, $1 ages 5 and under. Special events go on year-round at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The AAA Oklahoma RedHawks start play in early April. Even the cheapest seats ($6) put you close enough to hear players chatter. For ticket info call (405) 218-1000 or visit www.oklahomaredhawks.com Soak up more of the charm of Bricktown over dinner at Nonna's, a cozy restaurant built inside a 90-year-old warehouse. Start with roasted Camembert cheese ($14) that's large enough to share. Pastry cases filled with fresh-baked treats add a sweet ending to your meal. Bedazzled on SundayTake a short stroll to Myriad Botanical Gardens You'll find another dazzling show of color at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Don't leave town without pausing to reflect at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Copyright 1996-2005 SOUTHERN LIVING Magazine. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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) -- Oklahoma prepares to mark its centennial in 2007, but you don't have to wait that long to enjoy a good time in the capital.
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