The Finch Formerly Known As Gold

7 November 2006

No parking for priest-driven ambulances

Mayor Cornett, some days back, tossed out the idea of renaming a couple of city streets for Vince Gill and Charlie Christian, and maybe a back alley in Bricktown for the Flaming Lips. The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer has been getting mail on the subject, and apparently to his surprise, Lips fans worldwide have voiced their support for Flaming Lips Alley.

Lackmeyer notes:

Fans from around the world argued the alley is an appropriate honor for the band and noted The Flaming Lips' humility and roots in the underground music scene.

They also correctly pointed out the band is intensely loyal to Oklahoma City. The Grammy-winning band's lead singer, Wayne Coyne, still lives in Oklahoma City, and his band regularly calls attention to its Oklahoma ties.

For years, Oklahoma City has struggled to discover its place in the world — something "hip" that no other city can claim. If fans across the world are to be believed, The Flaming Lips may very well be a key to Oklahoma City expanding its image beyond cowboys, Indians and oil wells.

Wendy Castro from Sacramento, Calif., was one of dozens of fans who pledged to make "pilgrimages" to Flaming Lips Alley.

The proposed Flaming Lips Alley runs between the BNSF tracks and Central Avenue Vince Gill Avenue in Bricktown. Right now, it's pretty much Dumpster City, though I suspect that a sudden influx of national attention might be enough to spark cleanup efforts.

Posted at 9:38 AM to City Scene


Are you talking about the alley between Sheridan and Main, the one that runs behind the Spaghetti Warehouse and such?

As a former deliveryman, I can tell you that those dumpsters provide the best places to hide a delivery van from the Daytime Parking Gestapo, despite the fact that the dumpsters are all marked 'NO PARKING'. In my 3 years of delivery, they never looked behind the dumpsters. I have 0 tickets to show for it.

I wouldn't suggest parking there at night during a Hornets game. You might find your car covering in garbage from one of the restaurants.

Posted by: Dan B at 5:19 PM on 7 November 2006

Sshhh... don't spoil it for everyone. :)

(Actually, if I read the map correctly, this is south of Sheridan, along the north edge of the ballpark.)

Posted by: CGHill at 5:33 PM on 7 November 2006