There's something very unlikely going on downtown these days.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJNNeoge9I/AAAAAAAABkI/Ud7t4H3jels/s1600-h/4186181051_8879148da6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJNNeoge9I/AAAAAAAABkI/Ud7t4H3jels/s640/4186181051_8879148da6.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/">Photo from chrisdscott on Flickr</a></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a name='more'></a></i></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Actually, it's more than just one unlikely thing. There's ice skating, for one - yes, ice skating. In the middle of downtown Tulsa. It's ice skating not known in these parts since the ice rink was torn out of the Williams tower.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For two, there's a beautiful, giant Christmas tree. In fact, it's the largest in the state of Oklahoma.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://gallery.rjbphoto.com/Holidays/Winterfest-2009/winterfestpano/747005450_YyaTs-M.jpg" /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/">Photo from robertdx on Flickr</a></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMswX9P5I/AAAAAAAABj4/7Y8Cq_jnUFk/s1600-h/4186182159_cc870c2855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMswX9P5I/AAAAAAAABj4/7Y8Cq_jnUFk/s640/4186182159_cc870c2855.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/">From chrisdscott on Flickr</a></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See?<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then there's the hot chocolate, the hot food, the live entertainment, a Segway Santa and the horse-drawn carriage rides.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's even a Zamboni.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://gallery.rjbphoto.com/Holidays/Winterfest-2009/IMG0168/747006628_ppGH3-L.jpg" /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJHjPRuKrI/AAAAAAAABjY/roqMmfmmydA/s1600-h/4205456486_c80bc7b4f6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJHjPRuKrI/AAAAAAAABjY/roqMmfmmydA/s640/4205456486_c80bc7b4f6.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/">Both photos from robertdx on Flickr</a></span></i><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These curious goings on are all part of <a href="http://www.bokcenter.com/general.asp?id=168">the second annual Arvest Winterfest, a celebration of all that is holiday time in downtown Tulsa at Third Street between Denver and Frisco Avenues</a>, right next door to the <a href="http://bokcenter.com/">BOK Center</a>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://gallery.rjbphoto.com/Holidays/Winterfest-2009/IMG0277/747013450_6wJBS-L.jpg" /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/">From robertdx on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Better than skating indoors to My Endless Love (well, maybe), patrons of Winterfest have the opportunity to skate beneath one of the most beautiful skylines in the country and next door to <a href="http://tulsabusiness.com/article.asp?aID=83500366.1515314.652808.8829724.4683736.810&amp;aID2=50207">Tulsa's very own world-class arena</a>. Skaters can bring their own skates, sure, but there's plenty of skates available for rent at the rink, which was expanded to 60' by 150' this year.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJImnBf_iI/AAAAAAAABjg/VvkH2y6qVmM/s1600-h/4204698345_42d461ce7b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJImnBf_iI/AAAAAAAABjg/VvkH2y6qVmM/s640/4204698345_42d461ce7b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/">From robertdx on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMeQhXAtI/AAAAAAAABjw/95-MnArOIYA/s1600-h/4186943654_104b829385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMeQhXAtI/AAAAAAAABjw/95-MnArOIYA/s640/4186943654_104b829385.jpg" /></a></span></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/">From chrisdscott on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJVNrx92HI/AAAAAAAABkY/T_qaq7gYO_I/s1600-h/mc_blog_winterfest03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJVNrx92HI/AAAAAAAABkY/T_qaq7gYO_I/s640/mc_blog_winterfest03.jpg" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://cooperphotog.com/"><i>By Michael Cooper</i></a></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kids are welcome at Winterfest, of course.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJM_f5SAsI/AAAAAAAABkA/q-imX1HQ7tw/s1600-h/4186181229_275a2f8e41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJM_f5SAsI/AAAAAAAABkA/q-imX1HQ7tw/s640/4186181229_275a2f8e41.jpg" /></a></span></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/">From chrisdscott on Flickr</a></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div>Especially cute ones in adorable, pink winter weather gear.<br /><br />And precious, leggy little boys and their protective older sisters.<br /><br />I want more babies. Someone hold me back. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJVhWxp5PI/AAAAAAAABkg/a5lxt6NvDKQ/s1600-h/mc_blog_winterfest06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJVhWxp5PI/AAAAAAAABkg/a5lxt6NvDKQ/s640/mc_blog_winterfest06.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cooperphotog.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>By Michael Cooper</i></span></a><br /></div><br />Winterfest seems to have been a huge draw for couples. After all, ice skating has always made for a great date night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMIoToMQI/AAAAAAAABjo/x7UTcfgOwWg/s1600-h/4186943822_a2567271ca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMIoToMQI/AAAAAAAABjo/x7UTcfgOwWg/s640/4186943822_a2567271ca.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisdscott/">From chrisdscott on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJMeQhXAtI/AAAAAAAABjw/95-MnArOIYA/s1600-h/4186943654_104b829385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />Oh, the passion. The love. The fire. The - wait. What was I talking about?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, yes. Winterfest. That's right.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gallery.rjbphoto.com/Holidays/Winterfest-2009/IMG0152/747006120_yJZHu-M.jpg" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/robertdx/">From robertdx on Flickr</a></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ooo - bokeh. Pretty.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Winterfest is a great place to get one's fill of Christmas lights, too. The trees lining the sidewalk outside the BOK Center are it in blue, and the mammoth Christmas tree is, of course, bedecked to the nines.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJHjPRuKrI/AAAAAAAABjY/roqMmfmmydA/s1600-h/4205456486_c80bc7b4f6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div><br /><br />Think you might want to give this Winterfest thing a try while all your friends and relatives are in town visiting? Well, you can - you could even go after Christmas dinner, if you wanted.<br /><br />The ice rink will be open from 5-10pm, and skates are $8 per person. If you have your own skates, it's just $5. Kids under the age of three get in for $5, too.<br /><br />Or, if you're lucky, you could go for free.<br /><br />I have here in my grubby little hands (hey, cut me some slack - I've been baking)&nbsp;<b>four passes for ice skating at Arvest Winterfest</b>, good through Jan. 4. I also have <b>four vouchers for hot chocolate</b>. Plus, I have <b>a certificate for a complimentary horse-drawn carriage ride for four</b>, valid any Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening until the close of Winterfest the first week of January. <br /><br />If you wanna win this handsome little prize package, here's what you have to do:<br /><br /><b>Head to the comments and describe your fanciest ice skating move</b>. I'm not talking about what you can do in real life. I want to know about your fantasy skating skills, the ones you pull out on the skating rink in your mind when the mean girls from high school come to watch. Whether it's a triple lutz with a half-twist in reverse or a break dance on ice, I want to know about it. Lay it on me.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJUrY3k9uI/AAAAAAAABkQ/A06z2aA5A-o/s1600-h/mc_blog_winterfest12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzJUrY3k9uI/AAAAAAAABkQ/A06z2aA5A-o/s640/mc_blog_winterfest12.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.cooperphotog.com/">By Michael Cooper</a></span><br /></div></div><br /><br />I'm going to give the Random.org gods a rest this time and choose what I find to be the most creative answer.<br /><br /><b>BONUS: Anyone who takes photos or video of themselves attempting to perform their fantasy ice skating moves gets preferential consideration. </b>Simply leave a link to your mad ice skating media in the comments as your entry and you will soon enjoy fame and...well, fame. Fame will have to be good enough.<br /><br />One entry per person, please. Enter before Dec. 24 at midnight to be eligible win. I'll announce the winner here on this blog at some point on Christmas Day.<br /><br />Good luck, everyone. And think <i>jazzy</i>.<br /></div>