The real and imaginative adventures of Dennis Spielman

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Talimena National Scenic Byway - photo by Dennis Spielman

Talimena National Scenic Byway

On Sunday, my wife and I visited the Talimena National Scenic Byway to see the fall foliage. I made this one-minute video highlighting some of the experiences one can enjoy along this road trip.

Here are a few of my favorite photos I captured as well.

Talimena National Scenic Byway - photo by Dennis Spielman

Talimena National Scenic Byway - photo by Dennis Spielman

Talimena National Scenic Byway - photo by Dennis Spielman

A Hiking Trailing Trail along the Talimena National Scenic Byway - photo by Dennis Spielman

Talimena National Scenic Byway - photo by Dennis Spielman

If you’re planning a road trip adventure along the Talimena National Scenic Byway, I do have a few tips.

  • Make sure you have a full tank of fuel as there aren’t any gas stations directly along the byway.
  • When driving, be prepared for steep inclines, sharp turns, and sudden changes in speed. Pay close attention to road signs.
  • Bring food and drinks. There are no restaurants directly on the byway.
  • Use the bathroom before you start because there are lovely views but there are few bathrooms, most of which are part of the campgrounds.
  • Pack appropriate clothing and gear for whatever activities you want to enjoy.
  • Have fun!

  • Cafe Cuvée - photo by Dennis Spielman

    Café Cuvée

    Café Cuvée is an approachable French-style bistro in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Midtown District. They serve French classics in a comfortable atmosphere that’s fitting for meeting with friends, business, bunch, and date nights. A special trait of Café Cuvée is their table-side service where they prepare dishes like their Dover Sole in front of you.

    In this Uncovering Oklahoma interview, we hear from Kurt Fleischfresser, the Culinary Director of Coury Hospitality; Shawn Rogers, General Manager of Ambassador Hotel; and Taylor Desjarlais, Executive Chef, Café Cuvée.

    I filmed this video on Monday afternoon, a slow time, and so we used several staff members to fill in as patrons. In the opening shot with the four dishes, they made me a shared plate so I was able to sample everything. I never had Dover Sole before and it was good!

    I have my November video plans laid out, which include a few new places.

    Riverscream - photo by Dennis Spielman

    RIVERSCREAM

    Oklahoma City’s Boathouse District has been struck by terrestrial gamma-rays, transforming RIVERSPORT into RIVERSCREAM. Help contain the zombies before they escape and terrorize the city by maneuvering the challenges on the six-story Sky Trail to find explosive transformers proven to reverse the effects of the gamma-rays.

    Mike Knopp, OKC Boathouse Foundation Executive Director; and John Riggs, Senior Director, Operations and Events share what courageous citizens can do at the family-friendly RIVERSCREAM on Fridays and Saturdays in October.

    I had fun filming this story on Friday. I believe it was Mike’s idea to have a zombie in the background for the interview and it was my suggestion that the zombie attacks him at the end. I’m happy with the creepy fog shots I was able to obtain. With my camera, I couldn’t harness up and do the sky trail, however, there was a spiral staircase that I was able to use and get some great shots. As both Mike and John said in the video, climbing the sky trail at night is a different experience.

    For more Halloween attractions and events, be sure to check out Uncovering Oklahoma’s Halloween Guide.

    Fries at Hopdoddy - photo by Dennis Spielman

    A Minute with Hopdoddy

    Dennis here for a Minute with Hopdoddy. Hopdoddy Burger Bar describes themselves as “a creative, from-scratch burger and beer joint with a friendly neighborhood vibe.” I was invited to the opening of their second Oklahoma location at Chisholm Creek in Oklahoma City where I tried two of their burgers, the parmesan truffle fries, Oreo Milk Shake, and lemonade. All of which I have to say was delicious and I’m thankful that they had paper towels at the table.

    Dinner at Hopdoddy - photo by Dennis Spielman

    Fun Fact: They can booze up all of their milkshakes for you. On the subject of booze, they also have a selection of local and regional craft beers to go with your meal. While Hopdoddy is in several states, they do source items locally, including making their buns in-house.

    The Ahi Tuna Burger from Hopdoddy - photo by Dennis Spielman

    Now for the Burgers. Wanting something different, I ate two of their untraditional burgers, the Llano Poblano and the Ahi Tuna, with the latter tasting like sushi in burger form with an added crunch from the nori chips. The Llano Poblano had Applewood Smoked Bacon, Tillamook Pepper Jack, Seared Poblanos with chipotle aioli.

    The Llano Poblano Burger from Hopdoddy - photo by Dennis Spielman

    If you want something unique for a burger or a new burger joint to visit, consider checking out Hopdoddy.


    This video is for a new segment I’m calling A Minute With Series, in which I’ll be doing short videos about interesting things to consider visiting.

    Whiteout photo by Dennis Spielman

    Whiteout by Erwin Redl

    New Uncovering Oklahoma story on Whiteout, an installation by artist Erwin Redl that uses a grid of 550 suspended LED bulbs to animate Campbell Art Park next to Oklahoma Contemporary. The bulbs turn off and on according to a computer program, creating a series of moving patterns that work in tandem with the surrounding environment.

    I had a fun filming this light installation last night. In addition to this video, I had also planned to do a story on the Scantuary Haunt, however, they were hit by a tornado. Later tonight, weather permitting, I’m doing another Halloween themed story on the new RIVERSCREAM.

    Page 37 of 78

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