Bigfoot expected to appear at Plaza Fest!

We’ve been studying up on our Bigfoot Observers Field Manual and it appears the conditions are ripe for a Bigfoot sighting at Plaza Fest on September 29.

According to the experts, a surefire way to attract the mythical beast is through awesome art, amazing music and delicious food trucks.

But to absolutely, positively ensure Bigfoot’s appearance at the Plaza Fest, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Stop by the Fowler VW booth, pick up some free treats and give us your best Bigfoot howl. You'll be entered to win some pretty cool stuff like:

• $50 Backwoods gift card
• $50 Forward Foods gift card
• $25 Elemental Coffee gift card
• Bigfoot the Monster Robot from Fisher Price
• Harry and the Hendersons Special Edition DVD
• Lots of cool VW camping gear
• Your very own copy of the Bigfoot Observer’s Field Manual: A practical and easy-to-follow step-by-step guide to your very own face-to-face encounter with a legend

According to our manual, Bigfoot is most likely to appear in the flesh between the hours of 3 pm and 6 pm! All ages welcome to participate!

Although it's technically classified, here's proof of the Plaza Fest Bigfoot sighting in 2011!

We're dubbing it up at the Plaza District on Friday!

Vintage Beetles, tricked out Jettas and even Spywagon 1 and Spywagon 2 will unite this Friday at LIVE on the Plaza for the first annual Dub the Plaza car show!

If you’re a Volkswagen enthusiast, car lover in general, or just looking for something free and fun to do on Friday night, come join us in Oklahoma City’s 16^th Street Plaza District!

We’ll have lots of great giveaways, too. Like free American Apparel t-shirts, VW penny racers, and hula hoops! It all starts at 7 p.m.!

Fowler VW hosts Food Truck Carnival to celebrate success

Maybe it’s the giant art mural on the side of its building. Or the classic green “Spywagon” toting a film crew and local musicians around town. Or the free annual Christmas album and concert featuring Oklahoma bands.

Whatever it is, Fowler Volkswagen has certainly struck a chord with Oklahomans and, in just two years of business, has become a top dealer in the state, region and nation.

Since its grand opening in August 2010, Fowler Volkswagen’s accomplishments have included being named No. 2 in customer service in the nation, being the top volume dealer in Oklahoma, being the top-selling Beetle dealer in its area, being selected to represent its area to Volkswagen of America President and CEO Jonathan Browning, being selected as one of 20 dealers nationwide to participate in a dealer marketing think tank, and being featured in leading trade magazine AutoNews for its nontraditional community relations efforts.

General Manager Jonathan Fowler said his team is accomplishing its goal to overcome the car salesman stereotype.

“We aim to lead a new generation of car dealers in creating positive, fun and even surprising car-buying experiences, one customer at a time,” Fowler said. “We’re also focused on sponsoring, promoting and creating new efforts that build on our state’s momentum. There are lots of creative people doing lots of creative things in Oklahoma. And we want to nurture the creativity that’s building a brighter future for our state.”

To celebrate its success and second anniversary, Fowler VW is hosting a free Food Truck Carnival from 12 to 2 p.m. this Saturday, August 18. Open to the public, the carnival will feature free lunch from America’s Favorite Food Truck Big Truck Tacos, Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs and Summer Song Ice Cream. The event will also include live graffiti art from local artists Dusty Gilpin and Tanner Frady; face painting, sidewalk chalking and hula hooping with the Oklahoma Victory Dolls Roller Derby; and free giveaways including American Apparel t-shirts, hula hoops and hacky sacks.

“As evidenced by Fowler Volkswagen’s accomplishments in just two years of business, we have some incredible customers and community partners, “ Fowler said. “The Food Truck Carnival is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to everyone for their support, loyalty and business.”

OKC gets totally STACHED tonight!

Our favorite purveyors of generosity are hosting one of our favorite OKC events tonight!  Shop Good’s annual Mustache Bash starts at 5 pm tonight on 9th Street in downtown Oklahoma City’s Automobile Alley. The free outdoor music festival will benefit Positive Tomorrows.

Shop Good is a clothing and accessories store located in the heart of Oklahoma City. The shop’s goal is to make looking great a little friendlier and giving back a little simpler, so every item in the store – whether it’s a pair of skinny jeans, a hand-poured soy candle or a giant cheeseburger wallet – is socially responsible, fairly traded and connected to a local or international community development project. Just check the tags on your favorite items to see how your purchase will contribute to a deserving charity or community, both here in OKC and around the world.

Here’s the ad we ran in support of Shop Good and the Mustache Bash in a recent issue of the Oklahoma Gazette.

Beat the heat with these ice chest recommendations from Matt Sterr

As a Volkswagen owner and the go-to guy for wine in the metro, Spirit Shop Managing Partner Matt Sterr certainly has good taste. In fact, Norman’s Spirit Shop stands at the top of stores both regionally and nationally as far as what’s available under one roof.

When he’s not hunting down the best cabs and zins or volunteering his expertise and goods for community events like the Norman Music Festival and La Tour du Vin, he’s spending time with his wife and two kids.

And when he’s enjoying summertime activities, here’s what’s in his ice chest.



The Spirit Shop's Matt Sterr



Best drink at the lake?

Cheap canned beer.  Schlitz is back to their original recipe, and it’s pretty good at the lake when it’s way too hot.

Best drink at a barbecue?

I like Zinfandel—the red stuff, not the pink stuff. To me, it’s the best all-around BBQ wine. It’s also quintessentially American, like BBQ.

Best summertime cocktail?

I love an Aperol Spritz—they go down so easy.  Three parts sparkling wine (prosecco or cava is best), one part soda and one part Aperol.  Serve on the rocks with an orange slice.

Best warm weather wine?

For when it’s hot out I think Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is very refreshing.  For a red I’d do a Beaujolais from France, it’s a red you can chill slightly to beat the heat.

Best beer for cooling off?

See answer #1. But if you don’t want to go cheap, trade up to Pilsner Urquell.  It’s been the best Pilsner in the world for several hundred years.



Best refreshment at an outdoor concert?

I typically like white wine at a summer outdoor show. Oregon Pinot Gris is great out of the ice chest.

Best name for a drink?

The Angry German is a pretty good one. One part amaretto, one part Black Haus schnapps, one part Jager, two parts Rose’s Lime and a dash of salt. Shake with ice and strain as shots. Be careful with this one.

Best drink to order when you want to impress someone?
I would advise you to just be yourself and drink what you like. Authenticity is probably more impressive than anything I could recommend.

Best drink for Volkswagen lovers?

People who I know who drive VWs (myself included) drink anything and everything.  VW drivers usually strike me as fairly open-minded and adventurous, and I think that carries over to what they drink.

Best thing to get at The Spirit Shop that you can’t get anywhere else?
Where should I start? If I had to pick only one, I might go with the 2005 Chateau Haut Brion. 100 points from The Wine Spectator, very hard to find outside of auction, and one amazing bottle of wine.  A little spendy for everyday, though.