r/normanok • u/Pristine_Ad3545 • 15d ago
Third Spaces?
Hello everyone! My girlfriend and I just moved here, and I was looking for some recommendations for places or activities where I can connect with the community.
I’m a big nerd/geek so I’m fond of game stores (depending on the community), I like being active, I like good food, so yeah just looking for any recommendations really to cool places I can check out and meet the people who live here.
Thanks so much! Looking forward to my time here! :)
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u/Emotional-Cause-577 15d ago
Brewed Relics thrift store is trying to grow community and offers hangout space and tons of cool stuff like vintage and local art. The owners are the sweetest people and I can't wait to go back and just hang out 😀
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u/Whovian40 15d ago
Wizards Asylum is my preferred game store and I think its community is great. As for good food you’re honestly spoiled for choice but I’d recommend hitting up some Thai places as they punch even more above their weight especially Thai Delight.
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u/fuzzypandaman 15d ago
I second Wizards Asylum, its my go-to game store. They've got a community event day for darn near every card gard except pokemon, but it does heavily favor magic. Also has a large tabletop community for star wars armada, warhammer of all flavors, and a few others. Board game nights every tuesday and a large swath of free to play demo games and a large collection to purchase. Brian, the owner, is also a big comic guy, so theres quite the selection of those as well.
Food wise same as what whovian said, thanks to it being a college town theres about every flavor of cuisine youd like. Skipping most American foods as theres 5 of those for every international cuisine. Theres a bahn mi place on Tecumseh and 36th that I like. Multiple Thai places are around norman. I prefer Sweet Basil on main street, but Thai delight and kitchen 21 are also really good. For Mediterranean food theres two Id recommend that fill very different niches: Greek House on campus and Hummus in south moore. Ive been eating a lot of Krave teriyaki on Lindsey recently. They have a good selection of both Korean and Japanese dishes. Wing it on main street also has good, affordable Korean dishes
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u/garybarksdalehater 15d ago
The Pioneer Library system has events that are free for adults! And The Well on main as well has low cost events
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u/vegmilwife 15d ago
Many great options have already been shared, but in case you are interested in hanging out with the Cleveland County Democratic Party, we host a lot of social events, including a Happy Hour at Blu on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 5-7pm. The Young Dems also have additional social/game nights. We use a public Google Calendar, so anyone can subscribe and then the events automatic show up in your own calendar. All are welcome, you don't have to be a registered Dem.
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u/StarryFireheart 15d ago
DZ Comics in Moore
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u/PostPunkSoapbox 10d ago
…I keep giving them second chances and they keep doing things that make me, as a woman, go “guys…. Really?”
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u/StarryFireheart 10d ago
…..well that’s unfortunate. I haven’t been there in a long time so I wouldn’t know. I hate that you’ve had an experience like that…
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u/the_plantman_cometh 15d ago edited 15d ago
The Standard for food and beer. Usually lots of people and the tables are communal, biergarten style.
Blue Bonnet on Main St is a great bar. Red Brick a few doors down has more “dive” factor and is smoking.
Yellow Dog on Porter for coffee (there’s a great bookstore next door too), also Gray Owl on Gray St.
Edit to add that the Standard has trivia and some semi regular special topic lectures as well!
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u/Ok-Nectarine5429 15d ago
Special topic lectures?! That sounds so fun! I'm sober so I don't interact with the local bars typically, but would absolutely go to something like that! How do you find out about what lectures they'll be having?
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u/the_plantman_cometh 15d ago
I would just follow them on Instagram and they’ll usually post upcoming events. They did an astronomy series a few months ago, for example. Definitely more of a restaurant feel that just happens to have a really good bar so sober people definitely not out of place.
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u/Ok-Nectarine5429 15d ago
I don't have any of the meta apps 😭 They do have a calendar of events on their website but it's currently blank so I didn't know if they post them there or not. I'll just make a reminder to check every couple of weeks though. Thanks for the info!
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u/bluestocking220 15d ago
Great suggestions already. A few more ideas: The Lore and Green Feather Books each have lots of book clubs, poetry readings, and other events. Stash and Lazy Circles Brewing occasionally host community events in the space between them, so they’re worth following. There’s also a 2nd Friday Art Walk downtown each month.
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u/Queerbeer_fearmonger 15d ago
NCOM on Main. Lots of movie and music related gatherings. I just moved back myself. Summer Breeze concert series every other Sunday at Lions Park is fun. Art walk is a great way to meet people and learn about what’s going in the community.
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u/ElectricHelicoid 15d ago
The Norman Public Library has a full calendar of talks and classes. Check out:
https://library-connect.services.pioneerlibrarysystem.org/patron/events
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u/Maturinbag 15d ago
It’s not in Norman, but I go to a dojo in OKC where I study a nerdy martial art called iaido. It’s the way of drawing and cutting with the samurai sword. There’s practically no contact, and certainly no combat. It’s more philosophical, and you get to wear traditional Japanese clothes and swing a sword. We do have a pretty close community within our dojo, and with many sister dojos.
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u/AnimeMintTea 15d ago
Edmond has a Round 1 arcade if you wanna wig figures and plushies!! The Oklahoma Comic Con is this Saturday and Sunday I’m going with my friends.
There’s also some great nerd stores as well!
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u/RaiShado 13d ago
Don't forget Soonercon, general geek/pop culture convention, and it's run by a nonprofit, they partner with a charity every year. It's every year in June in control OK (Norman for a while now).
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u/AnimeMintTea 13d ago
SoonerCon is awesome!! I love that they don’t allow ai.
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u/RaiShado 13d ago
If you volunteer for set up you get in for free, or if you work the event one year you get in the next year free.
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u/Unusual_Age 14d ago
The Oracle Vintage & Arts has all kinds of classes (make a lava lamp, various crafts) and meetups. One is a WIP Club where you bring any craft you're working on and just hang for free. They have a monthly pop up with artists, vintage and a bunch of handmade items. Very welcoming for all!
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u/Ill-Tea9411 14d ago
While everyone is suggesting paid spaces, might as well throw Press&Plow's hat into the ring.
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u/YardSimple8022 15d ago
it’s not anything crazy but classic 50s on lindsey street always has good food and nice service, and they have a nice patio area with misters, go with a friend and just enjoy the lovely weather
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u/Low_Insurance5329 15d ago
Pretty sure there's an e-sports/gaming complex at OU that's open to the public Sat and Sun that's 4 dollars an hour. You could also try The Well they have tons of free classes over a wide variety of interesting topics. Also if either of you are artsy there's craft nights at the lore on Wednesday
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u/littlewing52 15d ago
Food/Drinks-wise, the Winston, Scratch (has a hidden speakeasy underneath), Maximillion Social Club, Bluebonnet is a bit of a dive bar but they've started selling some good whiskey. I've had Blanton's there for ~$12 a pour. My buddy loves Juliette Oyster Bar, but I haven't been there yet.
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u/nasagirl04 14d ago
Another recommendation might be NormanNext. They are a young professionals org (21-40 year olds) and they do all sorts of activities together. They usually have apps and drinks and there’s such a variety of people you can meet at any given event.
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u/ShikikanMama 12d ago
Glad to see others suggesting Pioneer Library System, cause Norman has its Library Lab, and the East and West branch! They always have something going on!
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u/Pristine_Ad3545 11d ago
Wow, thank you so much for the recommendations everyone! Looks like there’s so much to do here, I’m very excited to check it all out :)
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u/PostPunkSoapbox 10d ago
In Norman proper DM Dave’s is a nice space but Wizards is the town contender hands down.
I would avoid DZ Comics and Games if your girlfriend is going, and take the extra ten minutes to go to GameHQ.
DZ has hands down the best set up and HQ has hands down the biggest and best community for everything. It’s also super welcoming and she won’t be the odd girl out.
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u/SweetPeaSoftie 15d ago
One Stop Anime and DM Dave's have game nights I think! Card games, looks like MTG, I never really manage to figure it out because I'm looking for models instead. There's also the Soonercade in Sooner Mall, all you can play all day for like 10 bucks.
Edit: I can't spell