I wouldn’t want to presume to know what comes to mind when you picture Oklahoma City, but if I could take a stab at it, I might say your mental tapestry is adorned with scenes of saloon-style bars, mechanical bulls, cowboy boots, and the like. And, of course, those things do exist in bulk in this mecca of cowboy culture, but it also has pockets of unexpected gems.

One of those areas is the Plaza District, a quaint little neighborhood just northwest of downtown filled to the brim with vintage shops, various boutiques, a handful of bars and restaurants, and a few other ditties worth checking out. It’s honestly a spot where you could easily lose track of time and end up spending the whole day, if not the evening.

I’m not sure if I would go so far as to say the vintage shops are the biggest draw to the Plaza District, but I might place like a $5-10 bet on it (and I’m cheap, so that’s saying something). The crown jewel is easily Bad Granny’s Bazaar, which gets a ton of points for its name alone — and then truly lights up the scoreboard once you head inside.

If you’re a real vintage fiend, I would suggest blocking out at least an hour, maybe two, for Bad Granny’s. The store is primarily split into two wings, let’s call them, but also has more than its fair share of nooks and crannies brimming with vinyl records, cassette tapes, old cameras, and all sorts of knickknacks. The real reason you’re here, though, is because of the clothes, and a literal treasure trove awaits in that regard. Let’s just be straight up here: I rarely buy clothes — like maybe three or four items in a calendar year, I’m saying — and yet even I couldn’t walk out of there empty handed.

My wallet was also a little lighter after stopping in down the street at Dog Daze Vintage, a newer outfit (ha! because, you know, they sell vintage clothes) on the corner of 16th and Blackwelder Avenue. The selection, not to mention the space, is much smaller than Bad Granny’s, but don’t let that fool you: Dog Daze has a ton of quality pieces in stock. I ended up walking away with a knit polo and a pair of slacks (or pants, to the lay person).

Stops were also made at Dig It Boutique and Magoo’s Attic — two other vintage clothing spots along the main drag of the Plaza District — but, while tempted to purchase even more, my inner cheap-and-crotchety-old-man kept me from pulling the trigger on a sick 1970s Star Wars poster, as well as a wool pullover. Alas, you win some, you lose some.

As you may imagine, there are other wares to peruse in the Plaza District aside from vintage clothing. Por ejemplo, you might opt to pick up a new art piece at DNA Galleries; get some new kicks or a unique statement piece at Grinmore; or lather up with some handcrafted soaps available at the Local Lather Refillery, where you may even run into owner Meg Rinehart, she of the ginger-colored hair, who could not be sweeter.

Once you’ve had your fill of shopping, there will be several spots to address that inevitable rumbly in your tumbly. Empire Slice House, for one, is armed to the teeth with New York-style pizza. Mexican Radio, which, contrary to popular belief, is not a record store specializing in Mariachi music, is a colorful spot serving up tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and the like. And then you also have places like Rad Bar, which serves up burgers and other pub-type fare (and looks like it was ripped straight from early 2000s Nickelodeon), as well as Ma Der - Lao Kitchen, a nationally recognized Laotian restaurant where you can get your hands on things like steamed catfish and fried pork spare ribs.

What’s that now? You’re wondering what there is to do in the Plaza District after dark? Well, in addition to the aforementioned Rad Bar, which bills itself as an artsy dive bar inspired by the street art of the neighborhood, there’s also Up-Down OKC, an arcade bar with dozens of retro games and an even larger selection of craft beers; Scorecard Sports Bar, a small dive with pool tables and darts where your dollar will likely go a little further; and Oak & Ore, a slightly more upscale gastropub with rotating taps from local, independent breweries.

And for those who like a little entertainment with their adult beverages (or who might like to skip the adult beverages altogether), you have the option of catching a show at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, which produces classical and contemporary musicals, as well as new works and plays, or inject a little spontaneity into your night with a stop at OKC Improv, which puts on shows and also offers classes.

There is even more to discover in the Plaza District and the surrounding areas, of course, but I’m not an index or an encyclopedia; you gotta do some of the work yourself, you know? That’s more than half the fun of traveling, fam.

Okay, byeeee.

-LTH