Things To Do In Del City

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.

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.

In 1972, when most other 7-year-olds were building their baseball-card and bottle-cap collections, Jay Villemarette began collecting skulls. His lifetime hobby evolved into a full-time vocation in 1990 after he opened Skulls Unlimited, a one-of-a-kind bone-replica shop that earned the limelight on popular TV shows such as Dirty Jobs and Ripley's Believe It or Not!. By 2010, Jay's widespread success led him to establish the Museum of Osteology, which currently houses the largest privately held collection of osteological specimens in the world, with more than 300 skeletons and, most importantly, zero zombie sightings to date.

Education abounds throughout the 7,000-square-foot space as visitors investigate rare species, skulls, and skeletons from all corners of the world. The form and function of the skeletal system weave a common thread through each of the museum's exhibits, which showcase topics such as adaptation, locomotion, and specific categories of animals, including marsupials, birds, and reptiles. After exploring displays and begging skeletons for their teeth-whitening regimen, interim osteologists can visit the gift shop, where souvenirs, toys, and replicas of museum models are available to start personal collections.

One could say that 1996 was one of the worst years of Sara Alavi’s life. Within the span of months, she lost sight in her left eye, was diagnosed with MS, and developed a heart condition. Any one of those conditions could have debilitated her spirit, but Sara always lived by the mantra of “gratitude toward the gift of life and being grateful for our loved ones' lives.” That devotion to celebrating life led her toward the mind-calming and body-strengthening practice of yoga. After continued dedication to the ancient art, her eyesight returned and her health began to skyrocket.

Now a certified yoga instructor herself, Sara uses her earth-toned studio to host the bodies and minds of her students. Her yoga classes aim to improve bodily health by increasing blood flow and releasing muscle tension while stimulating the mind for sharper concentration and funnier Mad Libs. In the studio’s flower-curtain-lined healing room, Sara performs the raindrop massage: a combination of essential oils and reflexive therapy. She balances disrupted energy flows with reiki healing and assists at-home meditation with a guided relaxation CD.

Whether at the retail store or beneath the water's surface, Bluewater Divers' crew maintains a commitment to helping their customers live life to the fullest. The staff, which includes PADI-certified instructors as well as an aptly named director of happiness, leads scuba classes at heated pools, natural bodies of water, or inside their own imaginations. After students master beginner courses, instructors can help them obtain PADI certification for open-water diving in the deep blue or learn advanced skills such as rescue diving. It’s not uncommon for students to foster new friendships with other divers or their instructors, especially during the school’s regularly scheduled social events and diving trips.

An authorized dealer for many leading brands, Bluewater Divers’ staff keeps the shop filled with necessary scuba equipment and accessories. The crew also runs a demo department, which lets divers test gear before they commit to living inside a giant fishbowl.

The breadth activities at OKC Riversport is nearly as diverse as the natural terrain and wildlife that surround their locations. Adventure-seekers can test their mettle on the Air Express zipline and SandRidge Sky Trail, or explore the 13 miles of trails on a bike.

Like a cat equipped with scuba gear, OKC Riversport's visitors aren't relegated entirely to the land. Across Lake Overholser and the Oklahoma River, fleets of kayaks and standup paddleboards cut across the water. The sounds of drums fill the air as instructors teach students how to man the dragon boats—inspired by festive Chinese fishing vessels—or battle maritime knights. Pupils can discover a water sport for the first time or hone existing watercraft skills.