Volkswagen tops 2011 TOP SAFETY PICK Awards

Check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s press release below, which lists their TOP SAFETY PICKs for 2011. Volkswagen/Audi ranks highest, with nine models on the list… and the VW Touareg is the only large SUV to be included!

ARLINGTON, VA — Sixty-six vehicles earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s TOP SAFETY PICK award for 2011 (list follows), including 40 cars, 25 SUVs, and a minivan. TOP SAFETY PICK recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also must have available electronic stability control, a crash avoidance feature that significantly reduces crash risk. The ratings help consumers pick vehicles that offer a higher level of protection than federal safety standards require.

Last year the Institute toughened criteria for TOP SAFETY PICK by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test to assess protection in a rollover crash. The move sharply narrowed the initial field of 2010 winners. At the beginning of the 2010 model year, only 27 vehicles qualified for the award, but the number grew to 58 as auto manufacturers reworked existing designs and introduced new models. Now another 10 vehicles join the winners’ list for 2011. Two discontinued models drop off.

Front-runners: Hyundai/Kia and Volkswagen/Audi each have 9 winners for 2011. Next in line with 8 awards each are General Motors, Ford/Lincoln, and Toyota/Lexus/Scion. Subaru is the only manufacturer with a winner in all the vehicle classes in which it competes. Subaru earns 5 awards for 2011.

“Safety is a priority among this crop of winners,” Lund says. “From the start these manufacturers set out to design vehicles that would earn TOP SAFETY PICK, even though we’ve made it harder to win.”

The redesigned Volkswagen Touareg is the only large SUV to earn TOP SAFETY PICK for 2011. The Institute doesn’t normally evaluate SUVs this large, but Volkswagen requested crash tests to demonstrate the Touareg’s crashworthiness.

All 66 Winners
Large cars

• Buick LaCrosse, Regal
• BMW 5 series
• Cadillac CTS
• Ford Taurus
• Hyundai Genesis
• Infiniti M
• Lincoln MKS
• Mercedes E class sedan
• Mercedes E class coupe
• Toyota Avalon
• Volvo S80

Midsize cars

• Audi A3, A4
• Chevrolet Malibu
• Chrysler 200
• Dodge Avenger
• Ford Fusion
• Hyundai Sonata
• Kia Optima
• Lincoln MKZ
• Mercedes C class
• Subaru Legacy, Outback
• Volkswagen Jetta sedan
• Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
• Volvo C30

Small cars

• Chevrolet Cruze
• Honda Civic
• Kia Forte, Soul
• Mitsubishi Lancer
• Nissan Cube
• Scion tC, xB
• Subaru Impreza
• Toyota Corolla
• Volkswagen Golf, GTI

Minicar

• Ford Fiesta

Minivan

• Toyota Sienna

Large SUV

• Volkswagen Touareg

Midsize SUVs

• Audi Q5
• Cadillac SRX
• Chevrolet Equinox
• Dodge Journey
• Ford Explorer, Flex
• GMC Terrain
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Kia Sorento
• Lexus RX
• Lincoln MKT
• Mercedes GLK
• Subaru Tribeca
• Toyota Highlander, Venza
• Volvo XC60, XC90

Small SUVs

• Honda Element
• Hyundai Tucson
• Jeep Patriot
• Kia Sportage
• Subaru Forester
• Volkswagen Tiguan

VDub Xmas Session: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Gentle Ghost

VDub Session #9: Josh Sallee

VDub Session #8: Gentle Ghost & Brine Webb

VDub Session #7: Skating Polly

Gilt to offer $10,000 discount on 2011 Jettas

Want an AMAZING deal on a 2011 Jetta? As of Wednesday, December 15 at 11 am, Volkswagen will be selling three 2011 Jettas on Gilt.com for three consecutive days for the special price of $5,995. Yes, you’re reading that right. Volkswagen dropped the “1″ in front of the “5″ for this very special offer. That means you could save $10,000!

You can read more about the promo on Mashable.com.

VDub Sessions Episode 6: Daniel Walcher

VDub Sessions Episode 5: Penny Hill

VDub Sessions Episode 4: Bulletproof Tiger

3 Things You Should Know: Jonathan Fowler

We love Dave Morris. He covers cool stuff in Oklahoma like The Block Party, Norman Music Festival and… drum roll, please… Fowler Volkswagen. Thanks for the great video, Dave!

Naughty or nice, local music lovers get a holiday gift

It’s here! It’s here! Our holiday gift to local music lovers — Checking It Twice: The 2010 Nice People Holiday Companion!

We’ve been working with Nice People and several of our favorite local bands for the past few months on this project and are super stoked today to provide a free download… AND free vinyl copies… AND to announce a free holiday concert on December 11th.

Seriously, what could be better than 10 new holiday songs from some exceptionally talented Okie bands and a free concert to follow?

Download your free digital copy today and follow @fowlervw on Twitter or check out our Facebook page for updates on where and when you can pick up your vinyl copy.


Album Tracks:
The Boom Bang — The Coast of Christmas Trash
Kite Flying Robot and Brother Gruesome — Tell the Tale

Depth & Current — Xmas Feeling

Student Film — Slay Belles

Penny Hill — No Whiskey Snow Cone

Gang Starr Museum — Comanche Christmas Eve
Crocodile — Birthday Boy
Gentle Ghost — The Creature’s Eyes
Locust Avenue — At Christmastyme
Evangelicals — A Cruel Heart (On Christmas)

Local celebrities go all out for LEGO fashion show

We attended a “block” tie affair like no other on Friday night. The Block Party LEGO fashion show. If you missed it, here’s a little video recap from Dave Morris over at NewsOK (featuring our own Jonathan Fowler).

We enjoyed great refreshments from COOP Ale Works and Cheevers, got to mingle with local celebrities like Johnathan Kayne, Sherree Chamberlain and Liz Dueweke, and raised some money for early childhood education.

Oh, and we certainly couldn’t leave out this video of our good friend — and the genius behind The Spy Radio — Ferris O’Brien working it on the runway.

VDub Sessions Episode 3: Riley Jantzen

Here’s a lovely new adVANture with Riley Jantzen of Mayola.

VDub Sessions Episode 2 — The Pretty Black Chains

How many folks and instruments did we fit into our second adVANture of the VDub Sessions? We thought we’d go for a new record — 9 people, 2 guitars, shakers, bongos, and a sitar… fun was had by all.

Thanks to Nathan Poppe for filming and special thanks to The Pretty Black Chains for bringing the sweet sounds. Hope everyone enjoys!

Spywagon hits the streets

Jonathan Fowler and Ferris O’Brien found this lovely ‘77 camper bus a few months back parked in an OKC driveway with a “For Sale” sign. Snatched it up, slapped some paint on it and transformed it into the smoothest live remote van in town.

The Spywagon

LEGO fashions to grace runway at ‘block’ tie optional affair

Love LEGOs? Love cool Oklahoma celebrities? Love supporting education? We do, too. That’s why we’re sponsoring Oklahoma’s first-ever LEGO fashion show on November 5. See the press release below for more info. And please come hang out with us at the event!

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 20, 2010) – Party organizers are hoping wardrobe malfunctions will not be an issue when models navigate the catwalk at Oklahoma City’s first ever LEGO fashion show scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5 at Toyscapes, located downtown at 700 Sheridan Ave. on Film Row in Oklahoma City’s historic Film Exchange district .

The LEGO fashion show is the central feature of Block Party, a fundraising event to benefit OKC Educare, an early childhood education center for underprivileged children.

A select group of designers, including Johnathan Kayne – of Project Runway fame – will “make it work” Tim Gunn -style by teaming up with local artists and clothiers to conceptualize and produce original, LEGO-inspired creations to be worn on the runway by professional models and local celebrities.

Design teams include:

• Desmond Mason with the Design, Housing and Merchandising Department from Oklahoma State University
• Stardeath and the White Dwarfs with War Paint Clothing Co.
• Sen. Andrew Rice with Spencer Stone Co .
• Ferris O’Brien (105.3 FM “The Spy”) with Hugh Meade & Nicole Moan
• Jim Roth with Spencer Stone Co.

Tickets are available at www.blockpartyokc.com. General admission is $75, reserved runway seating is $100, and VIP access with premier runway seating is $125. Seating is limited and advance purchase is required. Tickets will not be available at the door on the day of the event.
Food and beverages will be provided by Cheever’s and COOP Ale Works , and music by Kids at the Bar.

Fowler Volkswagen of Norman is the presenting sponsor for Block Party. Sponsors include: Cheever’s Catering & Events, QuikPrint, Anthony David Agency, COOP Ale Works, Innovative Event Solutions, Salon W and Critical Mass Productions.

ToyScapes is the venture philanthropy organization that manages the annual OK CityScape LEGO exhibit, open Nov. 6 – Dec. 31. Learn more at www.okcityscape.com.

VDub Sessions Episode 1: Taddy Porter

Here’s a peek at the newest Fowler Volkswagen/105.3 The Spy project promoting local music. The VDub Sessions. Seriously cool experience. Taddy Porter performing in the back of a ‘77 VW van with Nathan Poppe filming and Jonathan Fowler driving. The band sounds awesome and the footage looks amazing. So please enjoy and share with all your music-loving friends. And look out for more adVANtures to come!

Here’s something to pep you up

Need a cure for the Monday morning blues? Relive the glory of OU/TX with this quick video of our favorite pre-game festivities.

We’ve got Barons tickets. And we’re willing to share.

So did we tell you we’re giving away Oklahoma City Barons tickets throughout the season? We’ve even got tickets to the inaugural game on October 9th. We know you don’t want to miss it. So fill out an entry form. Quick!

And while you’re anxiously awaiting the results, here’s an interview with Barons VP John Allgood on what we can expect during Oklahoma City’s first season to host an American League Hockey team. Let’s break some ice!

OKC’s comedy scene is up and coming, no joke

We’re loving what the folks over at OKC Comedy are doing. Bringing in national acts like Paul F. Tompkins and Todd Barry. Creating more opportunities for local comedians. And now letting us interview them for our blog.

Here’s Part 1 of our interview with OKC Comedy co-founder BradChad Porter. This guy has a lot to say. And most of it is interesting. So check it out.

Norman arts scene attracts statewide conference

The Oklahoma Arts Council has selected Norman as the location for its 2010 Oklahoma Arts Conference. Check out the excerpt below from an email sent to potential attendees — they’re really helping to spread the word about Norman’s arts scene! And if you’re an artist or arts supporter, this event is definitely for you. So please consider signing up!

Just a few miles south of the state’s bustling, sprawling capitol, Norman is a tight-knit community possessing the charm and hospitality of a small town yet offering many of the amenities available in a large city. A community with a seemingly dual personality, Norman benefits from its inclusion in the metro yet stands distinctly on its own with plenty to offer citizens and visitors alike.

More than just a college town whose lifeblood is the mass of youthful energy buzzing nine months a year, the Norman community is alive and vibrant throughout every season. Long after the hangover of spring finals, Jazz in June brings out over 50,000 enthusiasts for several days of music under the warm summer evening stars. Complement that with the Performing Arts Studio’s Summer Breeze Concert Series, family-friendly museums that consistently draw good crowds, a plethora of art galleries, live music venues and locally owned restaurants serving inspired dishes and suddenly Norman stands up to its billing as the state’s third largest city, providing a full calendar of entertainment and activities to rival the state’s major metro centers.
Sounds like a great place to hold an arts conference.

For two days in October, Norman is exactly where hundreds of artists, arts organizations, community developers, educators, arts presenters and creative professionals from all parts of Oklahoma will converge.

Just off the recently transformed Interstate 35, with its prominent display of public art to make our commutes a little brighter, the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center plays host to this year’s conference. The center is a brand new, state-of-the-art facility perfectly suited to bring together members of the state’s arts community under one roof.

A short venture via the conference’s complimentary shuttle service takes one to Norman’s downtown arts district, site of the popular 2nd Friday Circuit of Art. It is there that on a Tuesday evening in October one can find dozens of unique dining options, locally owned coffee shops and boutiques, and of course a variety of art spaces and live musical performance venues.

Though sometimes standing in the shadows of a rather large football stadium, the Norman arts and cultural scene has much to offer. It is this emerging arts scene that creates the perfect environment for conference goers to learn from experts in their fields, find inspiration, or just enjoy a Tuesday night out among friends.

Like local art? Like parties? Then join us at The ONE Party!

Here in Norman, we have a pretty amazing arts scene — due in large part to the support of the Norman Arts Council. Through their financial and volunteer support, we get to enjoy things like the Norman Music Festival, 2nd Friday Circuit of Art, Sooner Theatre, Medieval Fair, and Chocolate Festival.

And on September 23rd, we’ll get to enjoy one more event and one more opportunity to help the NAC help local artists. The ONE Party. It’s going to be a big one — with a galleried art show, live performances, a showcase of local restaurants and custom cocktails.  So please buy your tickets today and show your support for the arts in Norman. You’ll feel good AND have fun. Promise.

Fowler VW Grand Opening, Dustbowl bring crowds to Norman

Thanks to all who came out to our grand opening and Dustbowl Arts Market in Norman on Saturday! Here’s a recap of the day.

Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Norman Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Cindy Rosenthal

 

Grand Opening Photos 

Norman’s Blackwatch Studios plays showcase for Akon and Dr. Dre

Blackwatch Co-Founder: Jarod Evans

Fowler VW recently heard a rumor about the folks over at Blackwatch Studios playing a showcase for Akon and Dr. Dre. So we got in touch with Blackwatch co-founder Jarod Evans to get the scoop. Here’s what Jarod had to say:

“Our good friend Ben Kilgore had been receiving a lot of interest from Jimmy Iovine (the president of Interscope Records).  Looooong story short… AKON had been pumping Ben’s stuff to Jimmy for a while trying to get him to fly us out and play a showcase for the label in LA. Funny enough, AKON played it for Dr. Dre one day while they were testing a new version of his headphones (the Dr. Dre Beats). Dre flipped out about it and next thing you know, we’re flying out to play a showcase for Jimmy and a bunch of rappers.

We flew to Atlanta (where AKON is from) and rehearsed the set with him and his crew. They were presenting the whole thing to Jimmy, so they just wanted to make sure the set was performed at maximum potential. AKON’s stylist also wanted to “define our image” so we went shopping all through Atlanta with the full AKON possee and got new clothes that were to their liking (I had to go on stage with a crazy jacket with a “half-hood” on).

Anyway… the showcase went great. Timbaland was also there. And Interscope is pursuing a future with the band (which currently has no name). CRAZY.”

Fowler VW presents… FREE comedy show w/Kyle Kinane

Hey, this guy is coming to OKC on Tuesday. And he’s funny. Come check out his FREE show at 10 pm at the 51st Street Speakeasy, compliments of Fowler VW and OKC Comedy.

Seven Tummy makes funny for Fowler VW

For the past few months, Fowler VW has been working with local video production company Seven Tummy on some fun YouTube videos. We think these folks are super cool and talented. So we wanted to share their story with all our friends. Check out our interview below with co-founders Erin McHenry and T.J. Clark.

What exactly is Seven Tummy and how did it get started?
Let me start by saying what Seven Tummy is not: Seven Tummy isn’t a production company in the traditional sense. We are more creative content producers that use the “one man band” style of production that is popular these days (except our band is a trio). Our trio is a multi-instrumentalist band of writers, photographers, producers, directors, actors, editors, designers, and more than can see an idea from beginning to end and create video content that is fresh and friendly to contemporary media, both social and traditional.

That’s the long version anyway. The short version would be “we make funny for the internet.”
Seven Tummy, quite simply, was started out of the need to do something. On a personal front, we were three laid-off creatives who didn’t want to go soft while unemployed. Professionally, we felt there was a void of web-style video content being created locally. We had a couple ideas for shows and lots of time on our hands so, basically, we just said “let’s do it.”

How did you come up with the name Seven Tummy?
We got kids to feed. We have seven children between the three of us, hence seven tummies that need to be fed (not counting our spouses and ourselves, of course, but the children come first. We do it for the children).

What other projects have you all worked on?
Rock Rulz, a music geek-out show was the first web-show we released. Soon to follow was Mondo Tulsa, a “Daily Show” style news show about current events in Tulsa, fun local business interviews and just random riffs on whatever the heck Rob wanted to rant about.
We have an entire laundry list of projects that we want to launch too, including a game show, a movie review show, music videos for local bands, and other variety shows/podcasts for more local businesses.

Tell us about your experience working with Fowler VW.
Working for Fowler VW has been amazing. Jonathan has given us so much creative control, pretty much just saying “make me laugh.” Jonathan’s humor spectrum is pretty wide so it’s been a blast stretching out to the far out realms of comedy. Volkswagen has such a fun vibe and history, too, so it’s a great subject matter for us. If nothing else, it gives us a great reason to make Rob dress funny and speak in a, uh… “German” dialect. Oh and also we got to show everyone the “Wiggle” in the name of VW. That alone has made it all worth it.

Erin, I know you and Jonathan go way back to film school at OU… got any fun stories on him?
As far as funny stories on Jonathan, I think he might actually have some funnier stories on me unfortunately. However, what is interesting about Jonathan and my relationship with each other is I remember the first class I had with him,”Guerilla Filmmaking.” I remember seeing him when I walked into class and noticing, “wow, that’s a nice looking fellow and I like his shoes.” As soon as class started, our teacher asked us to write a movie in order of “shots.” Instantly, Jonathan and I started to argue and disagree, and I knew who I wasn’t going to sit by for the rest of the semester. However, when it came to committing to final projects, there we were coincidentally interested in the same documentary on the race riots, which later won us a filmmaking award.  Instantly, I found out that Jonathan and I had very similar bizarre senses of humor.  Jonathan is my “brotha from anotha motha.”

What do you love about Oklahoma?
People call Oklahoma the “heartland,” but according to TJ, he has always seen it as the stomach. We get so much culture from surrounding areas filtered though our borders. Then Okies, being the way we are, take that influence, digest it, and do it the way we want. It’s literally a melting pot of ideas and history, fronted by that sooner pioneer spirit that makes us rowdy cowboys testing the rules. Only in Oklahoma can you find dudes like Garth Brooks and Wayne Coyne, masters of their specific genres, living side by side. We have unbearable cold in the winter and scorching humid heat in the summer. Oklahoma runs the scope, man.

“Plus, if Oklahoma is the stomach, that makes Texas the butt. And I like that.”-T.J. Clark

Blackwatch Studios, Dustbowl create perfect storm for local artists and musicians

Dustbowl Arts Market and Blackwatch Studios have joined forces to showcase Oklahoma’s creative talent on Campus Corner in Norman on August 28th.

Local artists and crafters will be hocking their goods on Buchanan Street from 10 am to 7 pm and local musicians will be rocking out in the Hideaway Pizza parking lot from noon to 11 pm.
Dustbowl co-organizer Reese Truesdell said the arts market and music festival offer community encouragement that spurs young artists.

“I believe that Dustbowl is a stepping stone rather than the summit of local art and creativity,” Truesdell said. “We want to inspire others to create their own opportunities. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would be creating or making art if Norman didn’t have events like these.”

Here at Fowler VW, we’re proud to sponsor this FREE event.  And we hope you come out and enjoy all the amazing music below!

Evangelicals

Colourmusic

The NON

Native Lights

Jacob Abello

Pretty Black Chains

Samantha Crain

Sherree Chamberlain

Brine Webb

Unwed Sailor

Brother Gruesome

VW movie recommendation: Annie Hall

One of the best movies of all time features some wild rides in a Volkswagen Beetle. Remember Annie Hall? Not only was there a cool VW cameo, but also fun cameos by younger versions of Paul Simon, Christopher Walken and even Jeff Goldblum. We highly recommend taking a break from the summer heat and chilling out with this Woody Allen masterpiece!

Norman Music Fest folks in new Joaquin Phoenix movie?

We hear the documentary on Joaquin Phoenix becoming a hip hop star will finally be released in September. And we’re hoping the folks over at the Norman Music Festival (including our GM Jonathan Fowler) made the final cut. Anyone else remember this masterpiece?

Fowler V-Dub gets some luv

We love, love, love our customers! And they gave us some love back at a recent customer event. See what they had to say about their Fowler VW experience and then come by and check us out for yourself!

Get into the Independence Day spirit at The Spirit Shop

Beer: The Spirit Shop's top pick for Fourth of July celebrations.

I seriously love The Spirit Shop. Over the past eight years of being legal, I’ve never been let down by Spirit Shop Managing Partner Matt Sterr. All I have to say is “fruit forward” (the only wine lingo I know) and he whips around the shop presenting the most delicious cabs, syrahs and pinot noirs that my measly 15 bucks can buy. And believe it or not, $15 goes a long way in The Spirit Shop. Although the shop has top of the line wines priced in the hundreds, they have a darn good selection of everyday wines for every budget.

With Fourth of July celebrations right around the corner, we talked with Matt about the shop and a few of his recommendations.

When did The Spirit Shop get started?
My father started The Spirit Shop in September of 1976. I was born October 9 of the same year, so this year both the store and I turn 34.

You always have great wine recommendations – tell us about how you came to know so much about wine.
I basically grew up around the business. Though I wasn’t allowed in the store to work until I was 21, I was always around wine growing up. In addition to reading quite a bit (books, periodicals, winery and critics blogs), I meet with winemakers and owners frequently to talk about their wines. Most importantly, I taste new wines almost every day. In a busy day, I might try over a dozen new wines.

For those of us who’d like to learn more about wine, what do you recommend?
The single biggest recommendation I can make to learn more about wine is simply to drink more wine. Tasting new and different wines is by far the best way to educate your palate and your mind. Reading is great too, but like anything else, nothing beats first-hand experience when it comes to building a solid knowledge about wine.

What are some of the best wines in your shop right now in various price ranges?
There are so many good wines in store right now at all prices. For serious collectors we have the 2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington. This winery is currently Robert Parker’s favorite cab producer in the U.S, and he gave the ‘05 100 points, which is a very rare feat for any wine, no matter what the price. This one isn’t cheap, selling for around $200, but it is an heirloom wine and will cellar for 30-plus years. On the more everyday end, I am really excited about the new Louis M. Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. This one got 90 points from Robert Parker and is selling for $13. It’s a great example of a really well-made wine that you can have every day. These are examples of good quality at both ends of the price scale, but we stock thousands of different wines and have most anything at any price just depending on what someone is looking for.

What’s your favorite wine? beer? cocktail?
I would be hard pressed to ever pick a favorite wine, but the best wine I’ve tried this year was the Owen Roe Chapel Block Syrah from the Columbia Valley. There were only 359 cases made and we were lucky enough to get one, but you can’t find it now. For beer, I love things like Pilsner Urquell, Sam Smiths, Great Divide, Ayinger and I’m really into the Boulevard Smokestack Series right now. In the summer, I drink gin martinis or gin and tonic – I like Bombay Sapphire from England or Hendricks from Scotland. I also like Maker’s Mark Manhattans in the summer.

What are some of your recommendations for Fourth of July celebrations?
The Fourth of July is a big beer holiday. People like to be outdoors for a BBQ, or be out on the lake or in the park for fireworks. So this is a weekend we run some pretty deep specials on beer in cans. Tecate, Dos XX, Stroh’s and Pabst are all cans that will be on sale this weekend that you can take with you wherever you are going on the Fourth.

What do you love most about Norman?
Norman is a special place because it is a confluence of education, art and culture that you don’t get a lot of in this part of the country. Many here are either educators or students, so naturally these types of people are predisposed to try and learn about new things. This carries over to food and wine, so there is always a new person looking to expand his or her horizons when it comes to discovering new wines. I’d also like to encourage everyone to come out to some of the Summer Breeze shows this summer at Lion’s Park and Andrew’s Park – it’s a great music series that gets better every year and something we are proud to sponsor. Bring a cooler!

McNellie’s Norman offers authentic World Cup experience

It was kind of strange walking into a bar at 8:30 in the morning. But fellow soccer fans and the staff at McNellie’s Norman made it feel like a real European pub event — only with Bloody Marys and biscuits and gravy instead of Guinness and corned beef and cabbage.

Check out the photos below and our interview with manager Shane Ballou. And don’t forget to come on out to McNellie’s for the U.S. vs. Algeria game next Wednesday, June 23 at 8 am!

Welcome to McNellie's Norman!

The Bar Crowd

U.S. Soccer fans Becky and Amanda

Mitchell’s Jewelry shines in downtown Norman

With the summer sunshine comes wedding and anniversary season. For our readers who may be thinking about purchasing something shiny to celebrate,  below are some tips and gift recommendations from Gina Mitchell at Mitchell’s Jewelry in downtown Norman.
And don’t forget about their new “Some Like it Hot” promotion — Shop at Mitchell’s June 1st through June 26th. If the temperature reaches 100 degrees at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City on July 4th, 2010, every jewelry purchase from June 1st through June 26th is absolutely free.
With so many people having anniversaries in the summertime, what are some of your gift recommendations?

Kirk Kara Pendant

You are right that summer weddings translate to summer anniversaries. We see lots of wedding ring upgrades for anniversaries – women and men. Many times the diamond from the original wedding ring is mounted as a pendant and a completely new wedding ring is created and given for the anniversary.
Our Antwerp diamond trips and events in the store are proof positive that diamonds are indeed the gift to give. Our Kirk Kara and Elma Gil bridal line feature gorgeous rings for the first time bride as well as for the anniversary upgrade. It is lovely to hear stories about couples buying what they could afford when they were first married and then seeing them choose something so fabulous for an anniversary.
Diamond pendants and earrings from the Kirk Kara line are also very popular anniversary gifts. For those already wearing a Kirk Kara wedding ring, the pendant and/or ring is the perfect complimentary piece.
A beautiful strand of pearls is a great gift too. We have pearls in every color, size and length you can imagine. My favorite pearl strand is an elegant strand of large white pearls. It was an anniversary gift to me after my daughter wanted the pearls I had been wearing for years. The pearls she now wears were my “starter pearls” and it was time for me to upgrade!

Scott Kay Bracelet for Men

Men also love receiving jewelry for their anniversary gifts! Scott Kay has a great line of men’s jewelry and the cuff links and bracelets are much loved for our customers. Upgrading is also popular for the husband’s wedding band. Platinum and alternative metals such as Scott Kay’s Cobalt are often preferred. We also recommend engraving the anniversary date or some special words inside the rings.

What are some tips for guys who want to buy jewelry for their significant others?
Everyone should have a Wish List at Mitchell’s Jewelry! Wish Lists are an important part of what we offer — we even have fridge magnets that say I have a Wish List at Mitchell’s Jewelry! Ask her to go in and select some things she might like. I can promise you she will be happy to oblige!
We encourage our customers to have several items so that the giver can surprise the recipient, but also because a Wish List may be used for occasions small and large. For instance, a gift to celebrate a new career might be a simple yet sophisticated pair of hoop earrings, but the birth of a child might be a gemstone ring. A diamond upgrade is a fabulous idea for anniversaries.

Rose Gold Set

If there isn’t a Wish List, we ask questions to help us determine what she might like. Does she mix white and yellow gold together or is most of her jewelry one or the other. Does she love new trends? The newest trend in jewelry is rose gold so that would be a great choice. Does she wear a watch every day? Our Michele watch line is fabulous and has interchangeable bands for every style and every occasion. How about bracelets? How about layering bracelets? Are her ears pierced? Does she have the classics? Diamond studs, hoops?
Our point of sale provides a history of items purchased from us and we often use that to suggest new items. For instance, if she already has a great strand of white pearls then we might suggest a beautiful diamond enhancer. If she has a white gold bracelet, layering another rose gold and diamond bracelet would be a great match. Our Michele watch line is very popular and the bands are interchangeable so you can give the watch and a band now and give her other bands in the future. How about upgrading the diamond earrings she wears every day? We have a great trade up policy that allows you to trade in any diamond for a larger diamond and receive exactly what you paid toward your upgrade.

Michele Watch

Not sure about what is in her jewelry wardrobe? Give her something that you like. Once we see what you are leaning toward, we can show you similar items. Our cases are full of beautiful items, but each one is hand picked by someone at our store so we are familiar with each piece. Jewelry is a sentimental gift and very seldom do we have exchanges but even then we make it easy and make sure she has something she loves.
Jewelry tends to have a story behind it… what are some of the most memorable stories behind pieces you’ve sold?
November Giveaway: This past November we gave away over $100,000 in jewelry because OU held OSU scoreless in the first half of the football game. Several of our dear friends and long-time customers were HAPPY HAPPY fans that day.
Diamond Giveaway: Each time Newt travels to Antwerp, we give away an Antwerp diamond. Newt always calls the winner to ask if they want to get a bigger diamond, and since there is a 7 hour time difference, sometimes he wakes up our lucky winner. During this call the winner seemed particularly groggy and then when Newt told him he won, he started yelling, “I love you man!”

Kirk Kara Wedding Rings

September Drawings: We have been open since September of 1981, so each September we have a gift certificate drawing with each purchase. This September will be our 29th year in business so there will be $29,000 in gift certificates available in denominations of $25 up to $5000. One year during our drawing, a young couple came in and had taken all their money out of savings and pooled it together to buy wedding rings. They were so sweet and when the total with tax was more than they had, Newt told them he would pay the tax and not to worry. Then they drew and the amount was exactly the cost of the rings! They didn’t have to spend one penny of their own money! The bride-to-be cried! It was one of our most lovely memories and we were so very happy for the couple.
And one more… The couple was having pictures taken and the groom-to-be had a Kirk Kara engagement ring in his pocket. She had no idea he would propose during the photo session!
What’s your favorite piece of jewelry that you personally own and why?

Pearl Necklace

Well it is so hard to choose because as you might imagine, I love jewelry. I wear my pearls often, but my Kirk Kara wedding ring, a white ceramic Michele watch with rose gold and diamonds, a charm bracelet and my diamond stud earrings are my go-to items most every day.
But my favorite piece would have to be my Kirk Kara ring. In February of 2007, we were set to host our first Antwerp Diamond event in our store. We had been in our new home just a year and I was lobbying Newt for a sprinkler system and for dozens of others items to feather our new nest. It never occurred to me that I might be receiving a new diamond even though February is my birthday month and, of course, Valentine’s Day. I loved the ring that I had and thought the diamond was beautiful.
Newt insisted that I simply look at some diamonds to see if anything caught my eye since we had such an amazing selection available. I did love cushion cut diamonds… I looked at a few that were the size Newt thought might work, but Ryan (our store manage AND my cousin) wanted me to look at a radiant cut diamond he thought I would like. IT WAS SPECTACULAR! And bigger than what Newt had in mind. I was blown away but wouldn’t have even thought about such an upgrade! I assumed that perhaps Newt might have another smaller diamond in mind when he asked if there was a Kirk Kara ring that I might want. Now the excitement took over and any thoughts of a sprinkler system quickly faded!
Newt didn’t really say much after I showed him a couple of rings and by the time Easter weekend rolled around, I wasn’t even thinking about the ring. And then I opened my jewelry box and THERE IT WAS! I was blown away! The fabulous radiant cut Antwerp diamond was mounted in the most beautiful Kirk Kara ring.
Mitchell’s has been owned and operated in Norman since 1981… what do you love most about living and working in Norman?
Newt is a Norman High graduate. Newt’s parents also graduated from Norman High. Norman is home. Norman is still small town to us because it is our friends and family that are living here with us in Norman. We serve generations of the same family. That is an honor that we take very seriously. It means everything to us that we serve the community that allows us to be part of their celebrations and most important occasions. We love to see our customers at sporting events, at school events, the grocery store, the dry cleaners, etc. Our customers are our friends and we consider ourselves lucky when those friends come through the doors at 218 East Main.

Nominate peeps for Fowler VW’s Peace, Love & Happiness Award!

Portrait by Scott Henderson

Who contributes to the peace, love and happiness of your community? We want to know! Fowler Volkswagen is accepting nominations for its Peace, Love & Happiness Award. Local artist Scott Henderson will paint super amazing portraits of the winners on the south wall of our shop for all to see! Check out details below… and please nominate your favorite peeps by this Thursday, June 17!


What is the Peace, Love & Happiness Award? An award recognizing those who contribute to the peace, love and happiness of our community.

Who’s eligible? Business owners, artists, musicians, community volunteers, etc. Pretty much anyone who has a positive impact on our community.

How do I nominate someone? Send names, contact information and why they deserve the award to VWFowler@gmail.com.

When will the winners be announced? The 2010 awards will be presented at Fowler Volkswagen’s grand opening celebration in late August.

What do winners receive? A super amazing portrait painted on the south wall of our shop by local artist Scott Henderson. Check out his work.

2013 Golf E-Motion Electric Car Coming To US

Volkswagen has entered the war of electric cars by introducing one of its own. It will commensurate as part of the Golf series, Volkswagen’s number one seller worldwide. The VW-2013 Golf E-motion Electric car is one of the most greatly anticipated cars. The vehicle is equipped with a lithium battery having a capacity of around 26.5 kilowatt hours and is expected to generate as much as 270 Newton meter in torque from the start.

The car has a driving range of more than 100 miles and of course is dependent on a number of factors. Obviously, using the heater and the radio will use the battery much faster; so calculating the range is going to depend on many factors. It can reach a speed of around 85 miles per hour and has shown enormous capacity to save energy while on ‘sail’, that is when the driver lets go of the gas pedal once the car has got a forward impulse. The VW-2013 Golf E-motion Electric car is coming to US and will definitely please the environmentalists with its no nonsense zero emissions approach. It can even recover some of its energy by regenerative braking, a technology becoming more and more trendy these days.

The five door vehicle can accommodate 5 people easily and has a weight of around 3,300 lbs. It can do 0-60mph in less than 12 seconds and has a top speed of 85mph, this having been limited due to battery constraints. It is expected that around 500 such vehicles will be tested before a large scale production is started in 2013. It should then be available in the US and around Europe. However, while such cars will definitely reduce the Carbon dioxide emission, a major concern that remains to be sorted out is where the electricity will be supplied from. Incentives will likely encourage owners to investigate energy sources such as solar or wind if they want the VW – 2013 Golf E-Motion Electric Car to run exclusively on renewable resources.

Two guys, some records and a pizza place: The true life story of Guestroom Records

OK, so maybe no one else remembers that old ’90s show — Two Guys, a GIRL and a Pizza Place. But it was my favorite show as a 16-year-old girl with a huge crush on Ryan Reynolds.
You know what else is my favorite? Guestroom Records. And it all started with two guys who loved music and worked at Pizza Shuttle.  Check out our interview below with Guestroom Records co-owner Travis Searle.

When and how did Guestroom get started?
We opened our first shop in July of 2003 in downtown Norman.  For a year and a half previous to opening, we ran a small distribution/door-to-door record shop.  We would collect names and phone numbers and call folks when we got in monthly orders and take them around various homes.
Justin Sowers and I met while living in the dorms at OU and worked up our business plan while driving pizza for Pizza Shuttle.  Decided that we both had the same good idea — and that two intelligent music fanatics would have a better chance to succeed than one.  When the shop was ready to open, we put our entire personal music collections (Justin had about 1,200 LPs and 400 CDs, I had about 1,500 CDs and 400 LPs) into the shop to give us a great opening used stock.  It’s been fairly uphill since then.

What made you decide to expand to Oklahoma City?
From the onset, we had the belief that at some point we would outgrow our Norman location and need to open a second store.  We didn’t really want to move to Tulsa, Denton, etc. Fortunately for us, the current location of Guestroom OKC (3701 N. Western) came up for rent in February 2007.  The price was right, the location was fantastic and the space was just what we needed.  We sort of hit a plateau in Norman and knew that the needs of music lovers and collectors were not being met 100 percent in Oklahoma City.  Made sense to us then and our sales numbers (roughly 25-35 percent larger than Norman store) show us that it still makes sense.

What are your top five favorite albums of all time?
It changes pretty regularly.  I could narrow it to 30-ish that would stay the same.  As of today my favorite albums are something like this:
Neutral Milk Hotel — In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
The Ramones — Rocket to Russia
Thee Oh Sees — Help!
Mika Miko — We Be XUXA
The Replacements — Let It Be

What new music are you listening to right now?
Again, it changes every day.  This week, I’m digging the new albums by The Black Keys, LCD Soundsystem, Ty Segall, David Cross, Tobacco, Thee Oh Sees, Rainbows are Free, Woods, Roky Erickson, The National… geez too many to list.  Come ask me in person and I’ll give you an updated rundown of what’s worth hearing.

What are some of your favorite local bands?
There are so many great local bands in Norman and OKC!  Here’s what I can think of off the top of my head — The Boom Bang, Rainbows are Free, Brother Gruesome, Shi**y/Awesome, Mayola, Student Film, Gang Starr Museum, Penny Hill, Jacob Abello, The Starlight Mints, Gentle Ghost, Depth & Current, Evangelicals, Early Beat… there are lots more but I don’t want to take up a gigabyte.

What’s in the future for Guestroom?
More of the same… but with mustard!  We’re holding pat on opening another shop for the meantime.  We’re concentrating on maintaining quality in the stores and working on our record label (Guestroom Records Records).  Future plans include hosting more shows, throwing more parties and figuring out time travel.

What do you love most about Oklahoma?
Tough one to answer.  It’s definitely NOT the weather.  I’d say it’s probably the number of awesome people I get to see on a daily and weekly basis.  The scene is pretty fun currently.  I wish there were more independent businesses to support, but they’ll come with time.  Thanks for keeping it local.

2010 Volkswagen Passat Komfort Wagon – Engineered For Komfort And Performance

The current market has a broad selection in the “all-in-one” category.  SUV’s downsized for efficiency are called Crossovers, and passenger cars upsized for utility and family are called Wagon’s.

 What’s a Wagon?
The wagon has come a long way from being an oversized burden to drive car – now it’s what everyone wants because it’s a little bit of everything all wrapped up into one nice package.

The sporty style of the 2010 Passat Wagon is just as fun to drive as it is useful.  Trips to the grocery store are no match and hauling things like strollers and other items that can occupy significant space make daily errands a bit constricting.

The Passat is what some might consider an entry level luxury wagon, but what it comes down to is refinement – simplicity – functionally complete.


Organized for Komfort.
That’s what you get with the Passat, because frankly choice just dilutes the core competency of a well designed and practical car.  Cars that try to lather you with luxury are marginally competent in terms of performance, whereas the Passat at it’s core is as solidly performing as one might expect.

While performance these days is crucial, it only feels right when the rest of the cabin gives off an ambience that puts you into the desire to drive as often as you get the chance.

If you’re into gadgets then VW is your kind of car.  The combining of storage compartments and cup holders gives your imagination a taste of what great engineering can do when properly examining the solutions it offers.

Heated bucket seats, lumbar support, 60/40 split, and all the creative compartments will keep you as organized as ever.

Suggested MSRP is $28,755 and for all the Passat brings to the table it’s a real value looking across the market.

deadCENTER Film Fest alive and kicking 10 years later

Fowler VW just got the best interview ever from deadCENTER Film Festival COO Kim Haywood. Check it out. And don’t miss out on this year’s festival in downtown Oklahoma City, June 9-13!

 
This is deadCENTER’s 10th anniversary — can you tell us a little about how this all got started and how it’s progressed over the past decade?
deadCENTER began as a simple idea to unite the local film community. What started with a two-day event and a handful of films at one venue has now grown to a five-day event with over 100 films at seven locations throughout downtown Oklahoma City. We’re bigger, better and ready to take over the world!

What are some of the most memorable films you’ve screened over the years and why?
A huge turning point for deadCENTER was in 2007 when we screened The Flaming Lips documentary, “UFO’s at the Zoo.” Over 1,800 people turned out for the free outdoor screening. And you know what? They all came back the next year and told all their friends! That year marked a major change in that people FINALLY knew about us. Total world domination isn’t ours just yet, but it’s close. Soooo, close.

On the deadCENTER website, it says the festival was designed to “inspire growth in the local film industry and energize visiting film professionals.” Can you give me a couple of success stories related to your mission?

I’ll give you my FAVORITE story. And I’m serious about it being my FAVORITE because I wrote FAVORITE in all caps. Two years ago, a young talented filmmaker came to deadCENTER for the first time. He had a script and the desire to make a great independent film, but didn’t have all the puzzle pieces to make it happen. This young gent showed up at the festival, networked his rear off and met the crew he needed to help make his project. And now his film, “The Rounder Comes to Town,” will be screening his first film at deadCENTER this year.

You’re a filmmaker yourself… Can you tell us from an Oklahoma filmmaker’s perspective why deadCENTER is so important?
Networking, networking, meeting chicks, networking. To stay invested in the local film community, you have to stay engaged. deadCENTER is the one point during the year when people from around the state and country converge to watch films, talk about films, and drink beer while watching and talking about film. A filmmaker has to have this kind of community and opportunity to meet others like them in order to do what they love…make movies! And meet chicks.

What are some of your favorite deadCENTER memories?
In 2008, Wayne Coyne and his fellow Flaming Lips band mates erected a circus tent downtown to show another of their projects, “Christmas on Mars.” It rained. A lot. The tent was filled with deep, thick mud. There was no escaping it. But everyone was super chill and watched the film in spite of the conditions. Another was during my very first fest as an “official” employee. The sprinklers at the outdoor screening came on at the beginning of the film. Most people think back at what a hilarious set of circumstances that was. I think back and experience, just for a moment, a little bit of the panic attack I had that night while watching a sprinkler turn on directly under someone and their lawn chair. Hahahahaha…..gasp!

What are the big films and events planned for this year?
We’re super stoked about being one of two festivals screening the Mat Hoffman documentary, “The Birth of Big Air.” Mat will be there and I can’t think of a better way to kick off the fest than with a local hero. Our opening night film, “Ondine,” stars Colin “Hubba-Hubba” Ferrell and our closing night film, “Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission,” will be out of this world. Pun totally intended. And let’s not forget our kickin’ panel series at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Lots of big super secret people will be there. But I’m not talking. Mwhahahaha!

Why should people come to deadCENTER?
Because 10,000 of your friends will be there. You don’t want to feel left out do you? Remember that one time in high school? Right. You don’t want that to happen again.

2nd Friday Circuit of Art

Despite the drizzle, last weekend’s 2nd Friday Circuit of Art provided plenty of sizzle.

Over at MAINSITE Contemporary Art, we joined the crowd checking out works from Oklahoma artists Tom Toperzer and Paul Medina. Then we headed over to the Form+Function Lab across the street and enjoyed some interactive improvisational art.

Here’s what we saw:

"Clear Evidence: A Quiet Visitation" by Tom Toperzer

"Man in the Middle" by Paul Medina

LIVECRAFT Improv Orchestra at Form + Function Lab

"Wannabes" by Deborah Brackenbury

OK film group Seven Tummy debuts VW vids

Here are some funny videos that pretty much have nothing to do with Volkswagen, but we pretty much love them anyway — so much so that we put our name on them.

NMF Wrap-Up Part 7: OK Victory Dolls

The Oklahoma Victory Dolls really got the party started at Norman Music Festival 3. Here we are at Guestroom Records with Sara and Tonya talking about their favorite NMF bands and what’s next for VD.

NMF Wrap-Up Part 6: Hot Wheels

As an NMF3 sponsor, Fowler Volkswagen got all interactive with its advertising and handed out VW Hot Wheels to the kiddos hanging out at the Kids Stage. Then we set up a homemade racing ramp and enjoyed the ensuing chaos.

NMF Wrap-Up Part 5: Those Darlins

These chicks were a riot. We actually got to take a break to check out their NMF show in between chasing down the Dirty Projectors and it was awesome. Awesome as in they sounded great, looked great and were throwing rotisserie chicken into the crowd. Also awesome in that they gave us a really fun interview after their set.



NMF Wrap-Up Part 4: Norman Allen

We found Allen on the streets and don’t know much about him, except that he’s lived in Norman for 43 years. But, boy, did he have some insightful things to say about the past, present and future of Norman’s music scene.

NMF Wrap-Up Part 3: Edan

Personally, alternative rapper Edan was my favorite NMF3 performer. Maybe it’s because he was really nice and signed my Echo Party record. But it’s probably because he was just a totally amazing performer. Seriously — if you like old school hip hop with a new twist, you will love him, too.
However, Edan’s performance never would have happened, if not for Fowler VW GM Jonathan Fowler’s heroic efforts to track down Edan’s lost luggage. In short, Delta lost Edan’s gear. Jonathan was responsible for picking Edan up at Will Rogers airport in OKC, so he subsequently became responsible for the lost luggage. It didn’t show up at the airport until an hour before Edan’s performance. So Jonathan booked it to and from OKC, pulling up to the Main Stage in downtown Norman just minutes before Edan was set to take the stage. There were a few technical difficulties due to a lack of time to set up, but it was still an amazing show.
Next time you’re in the shop, ask Jonathan how fast he was driving on his way back to Norman.

NMF Wrap-Up Part 2: Dirty Projectors

OK. I’ll admit it. This is not my best interviewing work. And it’s a real shame because Dirty Projectors hadn’t done any interviews since January, so we had an opportunity to get a scoop of some sort.
But the interview was a bit complicated by the fact that their manager had originally told the NMF PR team that they wouldn’t be available for any interviews whatsoever. The PR team stalked them down during their dinner at Blu anyway. We thought we had them talked into it until I pulled out the Flip cam. Then Angel Deradoorian said they’d rather do the interview in their dressing room an hour later.
We went to their dressing room under the Sooner Theatre stage an hour later and found out they were at their hotel instead. So we lined up a mole to call us when they got there.
They finally showed up at 8:00 and we mysteriously showed up five minutes later. Their manager told us to come back in 15. We were almost going to call it quits, but were enjoying our backstage view of The Non’s show so much that we decided to wait it out and give it one last shot.
Upon making our last trek down to their dressing room, totally expecting another letdown, we were excitedly greeted by their manager. He had lined up an interview with drummer Brian McOmber and bassist Nat Baldwin.
Brian and Nat led us to a dressing room, proceeded to put on a wig and a hoopskirt that were randomly hanging on a rack, and kindly offered us a beer. I knew this wasn’t going to be a serious interview. So I threw them generic softballs and ended up with a generic interview. My bad.
To their credit, though, Brian and Nat were extremely nice. Even after I confessed that the NMF PR team drank a good deal of their rider beer (Choc 1919) the night before. They even made a point to say hi when we ran into each other again the next morning at Gray Owl Coffee and pointed out that I had on the same awesome TV on the Radio shirt as a guy in their entourage. Angel, Amber and Haley beamed when I told them they sounded amazing at their show. Now that would have made a great video.

NMF Wrap-Up Part 1: Wayne Coyne

We took lots of great videos at the Norman Music Festival this year and wanted to kick off our NMF wrap-up with Wayne Coyne.

We sort of stalked Wayne Coyne at The Non’s NMF show. We got word he was at the show, rushed to the Sooner Theatre, spotted him in the audience, didn’t let him out of our sight, and then followed him backstage after the show. He was gracious and eloquent and our favorite interview of the day.

Side Story No. 1 — The beer came from his wife Michelle’s purse.

Side Story No. 2 — Wayne and Michelle wanted backstage during the Dirty Projectors’ show, but security didn’t recognize Wayne. Fowler VW GM Jonathan Fowler saw it all go down, so he went over and let them in. A few days later, Wayne ends up sitting next to Jonathan and his family at a Thunder playoff game and Wayne comes up to him and shakes his hand. It made Jonathan’s year.

Side Story No. 3 — Security also didn’t recognize Dirty Projectors frontman Dave Longstreth, so they kicked him out of the backstage area. Jonathan rushed over and gave Dave his all-access pass. Then security tried to kick Jonathan out. It took some pleading, but the walkie talkie and NMF staff t-shirt finally convinced them.