Things to Do in Choctaw

At Teaze Dance & Fitness, instructors draw from history to inform many of their classes—that's why you might see students channeling Bettie Page's famed burlesque twirls, or rehearsing disco moves on roller skates. During photo shoots, subjects drape themselves in feather boas and unfurl fans on antiquated furniture, emulating vintage pinups without enduring an old-timey cameraman's requests to smile and say "transcontinental railroad." Even the studio's performing troupe, the Oklahoma Showgirls, traverses time with their cancan, cabaret, and mod go-go routines. Just as they span the century with their titillating teachings, they welcome visitors of all ages and builds to participate, allaying anxiety with the fact that most of their students are beginners.

However, the staff embraces modern rhythms as well. They welcome guests to access their sultry side on 14 studio poles, where seven levels of pole-dance classes reveal techniques from basic spins to competition choreography. Their private parties entertain groups with empowering lessons on pole-, chair-, and lap-dances, and fitness options cover Pilates and barre workouts.

At RedPin Restaurant & Bowling Lounge, servers carry nacho orders over to lanes. Yet, these aren’t your typical pile of stale tortilla chips slathered in lukewarm cheese or Cheeez™—the squeezable pouch of dairy that kidz crave—these are pulled-beef nachos, homemade chips covered in ranch-raised chuck that's been slow roasted for hours. These kinds of delicious upgrades typify the venue's upscale bowling experience. The staff waits on players from the moment they're seated at 1 of 10 alleys, delivering their shoes and typing their names into the scoring system. As guests wait their turn, they can switch segments of a 60-foot video wall to broadcast their favorite shows or explore the three lounges spread throughout the game area.

Posh geometric furniture dots the entire space, from circular ottomans to the luminous, spherical pendants of the chandeliers. Embedded fragments of recycled red glass turn the bar top into a mosaic stage for martinis and pins trying to pass as oversize beer bottles. With its scenic views of the Bricktown Canal, a private room, and event dining plans, RedPin also hosts memorable special events for groups of varying sizes.

All meals arrive from the The Basement Modern Diner. Its menu highlights made-from-scratch, modernized renditions of bowling-alley cuisine: panko-parmesan breading surrounds the onion rings, and handmade burgers lead to desserts of whoopie pies and spiked milkshakes.

Now celebrating its 11th season with a residency at Civic Center Music Hall, Oklahoma City Repertory Theater continues to perform a diverse selection of new and classic plays. From time-tested farces by Oscar Wilde to swear jar-shattering scripts penned by David Mamet, City Rep’s history is filled with dramas, comedies, and musicals. Each show works to fulfill the company’s mission to "entertain, enlighten, and inspire."

With Western-themed labels and names such as Dustbowl chardonnay and Roadrunner syrah, the wines at Put a Cork in it announce their regional flavors on the bottle and on tasters' tongues. The selection of locally produced wines varies throughout the year, much like the selection of snowflakes on a movie set, although it typically includes about 15 blends and single-varietal bottlings for visitors to sample or purchase. Featuring dry, unctuous reds as well as fruity whites, the winery doesn't overlook any taste buds or sweet teeth.

The staff strives to maintain a relaxed environment by leading informal, yet informative, tastings for small or large groups, as well as hosting occasional live musical performances.

Starting in 1972, active firefighter Sam Oruch passionately introduced visitors to firefighter memorabilia and artifacts from Oklahoma City’s blaze-battling past. He gave his museum tour for 33 years—a tradition carried on today by the museum’s current staff. Today, guests can still admire a collection of more than 7,000 firefighter patches, explore a replica of a fire station from the early 1900s, and gaze upon the collection of fire trucks that includes one that dates back to 1910.

As guests enter, they pass the Murrah Memorial, which honors the bravery of rescue workers in the aftermath of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. The museum also boasts a collection of firefighting uniforms and The Last Alarm, a mural painted by Lynn Campbell that with images of the vehicles and industry-grade snowballs used to fight fires throughout American history.

Alouette's ace jewelers fashion a wealth of adornments from a stock of Japanese seed beads, African bone beads, and numerous semiprecious and natural stones, such as onyx and tiger-eye. With staff creations and costume jewelry, Alouette embellishes necks, wrists, and gills for a plentitude of styles and occasions. The team also assembles custom rings or bracelets that conform to patrons' visions, and lead several jewelry-making classes to demystify the bead-stringing arts. To widen the crafting community, Alouette partners with Oklahoma Mineral and Gem Society, gathering students together during monthly sessions for demos and group assistance, helping patrons decide what to make after swiping the Hope diamond.