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Monthly Archives: March 2016

Let the games, play and band begin…Celtic Renaissance Faire

Late last year the City and USAO tossed around the idea of collaborating on bringing Shakespeare back to the time of Shakespeare.  Outdoor performances were quite common during the renaissance.  But to really provide the community as well as visitors from out of town Visit Chickasha and the tourism department wanted to provide a full-day of fun for all ages.

It looked like mid-March we were going to have to cancel with the multiple budget cuts to USAO due to the lack-luster economy Oklahoma is currently facing.  However, leaders of both groups came together anCelticthirdflyerFinald paired down the plan and will be forging ahead.

The day will begin with Celtic games to be held on the backside of Shannon springs park at 10 am.  Beginning at noon and until 2 pm, various performances and skits will be held around the park to remind us all of a time gone by, where actors filled the streets and performers were always on the main stage no matter the stage of their choice.

Beginning at 2 pm the entertainment truly begins with the performance of “Taming of the Shrew”. The play written around 1590 to 1592 focuses around a mischievous nobleman who tricks a drunken tinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is a nobleman.

The plot then depicts the dating relationship between Petruchio and Katherina “the shrew”.  In the beginning she is an unwilling participant in the relationship but he tempers her with various psychological torments or “the taming” until she becomes compliant.  To find out the rest of the story and the subplots, well you’ll have to be in the audience.

We will be enlisting the help of some directors from Oklahoma City to choreograph the “fight scenes” and look forward in the future to applying for some grants to build this into one of the greatest festivals of its kind.  And if you’ve seen “Taming of the Shrew” before, well you haven’t seen it in Chickasha or at least not in a very, very long time or at the park.

The end of this entertainment filled day will be a performance by a Celtic Band.  Throughout the day the crowd can enjoy traditional  American food as well as turkey legs, Scottish eggs (let’s just say there will be a line for these) as well as plenty of brew of both the alcohol kind as well as milder root beer for adults and kids alike.

We look forward to telling you more about this great event closer to time.  If you are a performing artist, actor or actress, please contact us at 405-880-3460 or USAO at 405-574-1310.

Something Sweet…ShortyCakes Bakery

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The key to getting the best selection is to come early, as the 12 plus foot of displays goes quickly with Shorty Cake’s reputation for put the sweet in sweet treat.

For those of us who have been around Chickasha for awhile, most people remember a little shop that was filled with sweet surprises located where the McDonald’s building is in Downtown and 4th. called Tully’s Bakery.  As a kid I loved that place.  From sweet treats, cakes and “Cowboy Cookies” no matter what you ordered it was bound to be a crowd-pleaser.  After it closed, there has been a void off and on in Chickasha for retail front bakeries.

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From regulars to newbies, ShortyCakes has a steady business throughout the day, Some come for just lunch, but very few can resist the idea of walking out with out some sugary goodness. Others know what goodness is in the displays and simply order a dozen.

One baker, Samantha (Sam) Mills, saw this void too and after having made cakes, cupcakes and cookies from her home for customers and friends decided it was time to grow her business with a storefront since frankly she had outgrown her family kitchen.  Her original location was off the beaten path and although she had a good following, it was hard to get stop in business and much like her family kitchen had little room for expansion.

When Steel Velvet moved earlier this year it opened up some new retail space.  Steel Velvet owner, Holly Fulton, suggested to her friend that she move to her old spot because it had plenty of room to grow and plenty of visibility on Chickasha Ave.  And with Holly’s renovations and similar taste in style it was a relatively easy move, minus adding the kitchen.

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Mills make sure that each of her cupcakes is adorned with just the right amount of icing and the special final touch that makes each look like the grand treat that they are.

Although Mills had a few renovation obstacles thrown her way and didn’t get to open as planned before Valentine’s Day in her new location, Shorty Cakes Bakery has not missed a beat of business.  Routinely Shorty Cakes will sell out once and sometimes twice a day.  Cupcakes are the staple to her storefront and are served in a variety of flavors including s’mores, cotton candy, Italian Cream, pineapple upside down, salted caramel and many, many others.

However, don’t miss the opportunity to have her bake something larger for you.  She makes beautiful custom wedding, birthday and event cakes for kids, military, elegant to rustic, etc.  I have had the pleasure of eating her cakes and sweet treats often as many of my friends and well frankly myself (haven’t met a cupcake I haven’t liked yet) are frequent customers.  One weekend I saw the exhausted baker out and about on a Sunday and asked about business.  She had turned out 32 cakes that week and had sold out numerous times throughout the week of cupcakes.  Although exhausted she was loving and enjoying every minute of seeing

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All cakes and adornments are handmade to make each recipient feel extra special. The attention to detail is amazing.

her dreams come true in downtown Chickasha.

A new addition with the expansion is lunch.  For $4 she serves a from scratch meal.  These meals along with a listing of the day’s flavors of cupcakes are listed on her facebook page ShortyCakesBakery daily as well as often shared onto Chickasha Buy, Sell or Trade on facebook.

Thursdays may be of particular interest to some as she serves a wide selection of gluten-free sweets for those with gluten allergies or gluten-free diets.  Knowing some people with these restrictions, this has been particularly pleasing to some who rarely get to enjoy the sweet life that many of us do.

Her eclectic decor of cable and wire spools along with a fun reading and chatting area in the front made from pallets and filled with sunshine is a fun spot to catch up with friends or quietly enjoy reading a book or catching up on social media before returning to work or to school.  Mills hopes this area, in particular, will attract some of the college students who are looking for some place off campus to crash, visit and eat with friends and fellow students.

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The private room off the main dining area is a great opportunity to have a shower, birthday party or any special group event. Check with Sam on details.

The final piece that really put the icing on the cake (no pun intended) was a room off the main retail and dining area that allows for private parties, including parties where kids can decorate their own cupcakes, etc.   If you haven’t ventured down Chickasha Avenue in downtown Chickasha lately, well you are really missing out.  Stop in and see Sam or her mother and enjoy a sweet treat in the middle of a hectic day or take a break and reward yourself from all the retail shopping now available downtown.

ShortyCakes Bakery is located at 522 Chickasha Ave. and is open M-F from 11 am to 5 pm.

Egg-cellent Ideas and Activities for Saturday for kids

This weekend is packed full of activities all over the county, but particularly in Chickasha.  From carnivals to 10,000 eggs in one location to an egg hunt at the park there are lots of options and varied times.
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Bible Baptist Church is hosting a carnival from 11 am to 1 pm at their church, which is located at 226 S 29th St.  An egg hunt will begin promptly at 12:15 pm.

Another fun option is Grand Assembly of God’s “Easter Eggstravaganza”.  This event begins at 10 am and end at noon.  It will feature over 10,000 hidden eggs, cake walk, live bunny petting, giant inflatables, carnival, free hot dogs and popcorn, puppets and face painting.  Grand Assembly of God is located at 102 E. Almar Drive.

Life Church will be hosting “Easter at the Park” at 1 pm.  They will be hosting an Easter Egg hunt with the eggs hidden in Shannon Springs Park.  Take advantage of this one and bring a blanket or chairs and have lunch along the water or along the playground areas of the park.  Shannon Springs Park is located at 2400 S. 9th St.

Disclaimer: We realize there may be other events scheduled for Saturday.  However, these were the one’s that we were given and details provided.  Please, we encourage you to comment and suggest others if you know of them.

Tourism Take-Aways {March 2016 – WK 3}

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Happy Stems is a very refreshing and fun place to visit and pick out a special gift for a friend or for that matter, even yourself.

Something succulent and something a little different.  This seems to be a growin’ theme down on Chickasha Avenue.  And the latest business is no exception.  Happy Stems, a flower and succulent shop,  is in the back of another great new boutique shop that has opened at 422 Chickasha Avenue. It’s grand opening was last Thursday and was simply that, just grand.

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Happy Stems Owner Amy Simer, helping customers, pick out the perfect succulents for their own unique arrangement.

The quaint little shop is filled with shelves with unique containers filled with fun little arrangements in wooden bowls, hanging containers, metal buckets, antique containers and dish gardens.  Shoppers can choose from succulent arrangements already designed by owner Amy Simer or can totally create their own to fit their own interests and likes.

Amy, a former CVTC employee, found herself wanting to explore her dreams of her green thumb and take her creative design from just print and web media to flowers and plants.  She came home and told her husband she was ready to make the leap and leap she did.  Within weeks her dreams fell into place and she hasn’t missed a step since then.

Currently floral arrangements require 24 hr notice, however, don’t let that shy you away from using her for your fresh floral design.  She currently has a few arrangements in store to showcase her talents in that area as well as her facebook page that reflects her work.

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These wristlets and rings were simply stunning. Makes me wish I had something similar to adorn my wrist or hand when I was attending prom.

Amy is focusing on unique designs and trends in all areas from succulent gardens to floral arrangements.  The newest trend in corsages for prom are actually slap wristlets and floral rings.  Her work is impeccable and you can truly see that she not only wants her customers to be happy but that she truly enjoys her work.

Afraid you don’t have a green thumb?  Don’t be nervous about it.  I can tell you from personal experience succulents do no require that much care and are great plants for those of us who are not going to be featured in “Better Homes and Gardens” anytime soon.

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Want to start out small? The containers range from wine corks with magnets to this sweet bucket to very large containers.

Succulents are misted about once a week and require very little water, just misting.  In fact, if you water them too much it actually puts them at risk of dying.

Have a special container?  Amy will also design your arrangement in any container you bring to her as well.  It truly is specialized to you, if you want it to be.

If you happen to find yourself downtown, please take a minute to stop in.  Amy will be happy to design something unique to you, a friend for a gift or assist you with picking out the perfect already prepared arrangement.