Headlines of the Week

Kevin Durant gives Oklahoma City another reason to love him
Thunder fans may have been upset with Kevin Durant after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. But when he says things like, “I let the city down,” how can you stay mad at him?
By Jenni Carlson
Oklahoman

DALLAS — He clanged one shot after another off the iron and dribbled the ball off his big, goofy feet and chucked the ball to the wrong team and tried to draw a foul on his rip move though it was obvious the refs weren't buying it, and you wanted to strangle Kevin Durant.

Admit it, Thunder fans. You were miffed at your superstar Monday night. You were peeved. You were hacked.

How could he play so poorly in so big a game?

Then Durant walked into the postgame interview room in the bowels of the Oklahoma City Arena looking like someone had stolen everything out of his signature backpack. He sat down, propped his head in his hand and told the world that he'd disappointed an entire population.

“I let the city down,” he said.

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Anthropologie clothing store coming to Classen Curve
Women's retailer Anthropologie will join Whole Foods in the Triangle at Classen Curve development in Oklahoma City.
By Jennifer Palmer
Oklahoman

Anthropologie is bringing its sophisticated, stylish clothing and accessories to Oklahoma City's Classen Curve.

The women's retailer will open its first metro-area store in February in the Triangle at Classen Curve, anchored by Whole Foods. The 60,000-square-foot shopping center at Western Avenue, NW Grand and N Classen Boulevard was developed by Chesapeake Energy Corp.

It is the first metro-area store for Anthropologie, owned by Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters. The retailer, known for its eclectic assortment of women's clothing and accessories, has 153 U.S. stores including one in Tulsa at Utica Square.

“When we toured Classen Curve and the Triangle at Classen Curve, we knew this was a special opportunity for Anthropologie to be part of a very unique and exciting retail development with tremendous architectural style and character,” said Lorraine Adney, director of Midwestern region for the McDevitt Company, international real estate consultants for the Urban Outfitters brands. “Our research confirmed that a vibrant and savvy local retail scene is expanding in Oklahoma City, propelled by a stable economy driven by the consistent creation of well-paying jobs the past three years.”

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Students concepts could help shape what lies ahead for Oklahoma City's Cox Convention Center
The debate over where to locate a new convention center in Oklahoma City isn't over yet, but that isn't stopping architectural students at the University of Oklahoma from proposing concepts for redevelopment of the current Cox Convention Center.
BY STEVE LACKMEYER
Oklahoman

The debate over where to locate a new convention center isn't over yet, but that isn't stopping architectural students at the University of Oklahoma from proposing concepts for redevelopment of the current Cox Convention Center.

The ideas presented by students led by architecture professor Hans Butzer and Blair Humphreys, a fellow with the Institute for Quality Communities, all call for the existing convention center to be eliminated, though some suggest looking at maintaining the underground parking garage.

While construction of a new convention center is almost a certainty with residents having voted to provide $280 million for its construction as part of MAPS 3, city leaders have not determined the ultimate outcome for the Cox Convention Center.

Butzer noted that on previous studies on connections between downtown districts, students repeatedly encountered the Cox Center as the single biggest hindrance to bringing everything together.

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NBA team is OKC's big draw at retail convention in Las Vegas
City officials, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber representatives and others gather at the International Council of Shopping Centers convention this week.
BY JENNIFER PALMER
Oklahoman

Business was booming at the Oklahoma City's Thunder-themed booth at RECon, the International Council of Shopping Centers annual convention in Las Vegas.

Giant cutouts of basketball star Kevin Durant and the team mascot Rumble the Bison were attracting a lot of attention at the convention, which began Sunday and continues through Wednesday. Retailers, developers and investors were more receptive than ever to meeting with Oklahoma City, said Mayor Mick Cornett, who attended the convention Monday.

He said in years past, it was difficult to get a meeting with the type of developer they wanted. “Now, we struggle to fit everybody in that wants to talk to us,” Cornett said.

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Oklahoma City's economy will benefit as two major horse shows agree to stay
BY RANDY ELLIS
Oklahoman

Two major horse shows have extended agreements to keep their events in Oklahoma City, officials of State Fair Park and the city announced this week.

The National Reining Horse Association has agreed to keep the NRHA Futurity & Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show at State Fair Park through 2013, while the American Quarter Horse Association has agreed to keep the Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show at State Fair Park through 2014.

The NRHA Futurity is the largest show in the sport of reining worldwide, with nearly $2 million in cash and prizes awarded annually.

'10 shows brought in $26.9M
Last year, the futurity featured about 1,500 horses, attracted more than 125,000 spectators and produced more than $16.9 million in direct spending into the Oklahoma City economy, officials said.

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