CLASSEN INN | OKLAHOMA CITY

Here we are in 2020, and staycation is the new vacation. As a travel-loving girl, I’ve been finding ways to recreate the excitement and revitalization of taking a trip and finding new experiences, including a virtual wine tasting and a drag show/sangria-making class by Drag Taste in Portugal. While these Zoom experiences surprisingly gave me the feeling of travel, I was more than thrilled when given the chance to spend the night at Oklahoma City’s newest little gem, Classen Inn. A change of scenery and real-life experience was just what I needed!

THE HOTEL

Classen Inn is a retro drive-up motel that simultaneously takes you back in time and makes you feel like you’ve hit the jackpot for ultra-cool modern design. The vivid color! The jungle wallpaper! The mod furniture! The mini Frigidaire! The cheeky snacks! I haven’t stayed in a hotel with this much personality in quite some time… maybe ever!

We checked in at The Superette, which doubles as the lobby and a quirky little bodega filled with snacks, bevs and beauty supplies—everything you need to enhance your stay. The funky, comfy chairs and wine selection that could excite any self-appointed enthusiast demand for you to open a bottle and stay a while. With bottles ranging from about $15 - $30 and a Palm Springs-style patio just outside the door, you better believe I’ve found my new happy hour spot and bottle shop!

THE ROOM

Opening the door to my room was like diving into a treasure trove. There was statement wallpaper, furniture, and art as well as personal details everywhere you looked. My friend and I were lucky to stay in the adjoining queen rooms with our own private patio, to boot! The rooms were spacious and the snack selection was perfection. I especially enjoyed the electric teapot and punny teas by The TeaBook in the morning.

THE LOCATION

Classen Inn’s location is fantastic. Even though I drive past it almost daily, it was fun to create a full staycation experience by sticking to the nearby neighborhoods. The Inn has bikes available for guest use, which makes it even more fun to stay downtown as you pedal through the modern homes of SoSA to Midtown or over to West Village and Film Row. After enjoying our wine in The Superette, we went to a late (and socially distanced) dinner at The Jones Assembly and had a night cap on our private patio. In the morning, we headed just a few blocks over to Elemental Coffee, which (as you know) has one of the best cookies in town!

THE COOKIES

You didn’t think I’d do my first hotel review and NOT include a cookie, did you? You’ve seen how beloved the sea salt chocolate chip cookies at Elemental Coffee are through my previous posts and the bike tour with Ride OKC, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a new addition to their cookie case today. They had an edible cookie dough bite! The flavor of their classic cookie topped with rich chocolate and sea salt, created the perfect sweet treat to top off a delicious brunch. Don’t miss this bite on your next trip to Elemental!

THE EXPERIENCE

Classen Inn is a can’t miss for OKC locals and travelers alike. Its personality is unparalleled. I can’t wait for my next visit and will see you at The Superette soon!

CAFE DISCO | OKLAHOMA CITY

What happens when you take the sweetest treat in France and throw in a splash of an American classic? A new intercontinental delicacy, that’s what.

Cafe Disco has given us a gift, Oklahoma City. They have perfected both, the French macaron and an edible chocolate chip cookie dough, and combined them to create one perfect little bite. Let’s get to the details!

The Cookie Dough Mac

• This macaron is Cafe Disco’s August special so (first thing’s first), you’ve got to get there soon to enjoy it!

• The macaron cookies are baked with a basic almond flavor. They are light, uniform in texture and appearance (little critique I received from The Great British Baking Show) and allow the cookie dough filling to shine.

• They nailed the cookie dough filling with a classic, equal-parts-white-and-brown-sugar taste and tiny chunks of chocolate to round it out.

• Don’t worry—the dough is safe to each. And guess what? The mac and dough are both gluten-free!

The Cookie Tour Stop

Cafe Disco is a cute little macaron shop in nestled in the heart of Downtown Oklahoma City. Their specialties are Macs (macarons) and Capps (cappucino), which is a pretty perfect pairing if you ask me. The owner, Amanda Sakurai, has a passion for macarons and it shines through the care she takes to present them.

When you visit Cafe Disco, you walk into Oklahoma City’s historic Main Street Arcade to find an airy bistro with a rainbow of macarons waiting to be chosen from the case. With a comfy pink couch and tables built for two, Cafe Disco is the perfect place to sit and catch up with someone you love.

As for flavors, I’ve yet to find one I haven’t enjoyed. Of course I’m obsessed with this month’s special, but strawberry, honey lavender and chocolate with salted caramel have all given me the heart eyes.

While You’re There

The Arcade is home to more than just Cafe Disco. You’ll also find a gorgeous nail salon and OKC’s most Instagram-worthy bar. Bar Arbolada (known affectionately as Abracadabra by my friends) has the coolest vibe as well as refreshing cocktails on a summer day. It’s a local favorite for a casual happy hour or special celebration. It’s also within walking distance to another one of my most-frequented places, the Civic Center Music Hall. What? Did we just plan your next girls’ night? Mani/pedis at Revel 8, pre-show Macs and Capps at Cafe Discco, a fabulous musical or ballet, and then post-show drinks. BRB, texting my friends with the plan…

In the meantime, why don’t you dance your way downtown and try this gem? I’ll see you there!

Ida Red General Store

Cookie Dough Milk Shake & Okie Dough | Tulsa

Ida Red General Store was another stop on the Tulsa Cookie Crawl.  It was our last stop, in fact, and I fell in love!  It’s a good old-fashioned soda fountain with Oklahoma-themed gifts and apparel cute enough to make even a Texan want to buy it.  (I know those are strong words, Texans, but if you visit Ida Red I think you’ll agree.) 

For the Cookie Crawl, Ida Red created edible cookie dough dubbed “Okie Dough.”  A true classic chocolate chip, the dough had great texture, sweetness and a great chip-to-dough ratio.  It was light and tasty.  Unfortunately, you’ll have to catch Okie Dough when it’s on special, but it’s worth looking for!

The staple they have on-hand is their cookie dough milk shake.  YUM!  It had chunks of cookie dough and was topped off with whipped cream and a cherry.  I decided that when one is cookie crawling, there’s no need to cut back on calories.  This is always true for Cookie Touring, as well.  The shake was thick, milky and delicious.  It’s a nice way to mix it up when you’re craving cookies and ice cream.  Might as well just blend it all together!   

THE COOKIE TOUR STOP

As I mentioned, Ida Red is a general store and soda fountain.  Their staff was the friendliest I’ve found in Tulsa, so grab a barstool at the soda fountain and chat a while!  They gave us great recommendations and an extra special experience.   Aside from friendly faces, this store boasts a fantastic selection of Oklahoma swag.  If you’re looking for a souvenir, this is your go-to spot.  

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

Ida Red sits just across the street from Antoinette Baking Co., so there is no shortage of sweets on that block.  I recommend that you create your own Cookie Tour and visit both stops!  Maybe do yourself a favor and visit some of the other creative shops in the district in between—your stomach will thank you.  

Signature Chocolate Chip | New York City

On my last visit to NYC, DŌ Cookie Dough Confections was on my must-try list.  I had heard about it, watched a story on the TODAY Show, ogled their Instagram for months... I was GOING to try this dough. 

Their neon says it best, “dreams dough come true!” This safe-to-eat dough was my idea of a perfect bite.  Chip-to-dough ratio?  On point.  Sweet vs. salty?  Totally balanced.  The signature chocolate chip was classic in every way. I am in love.

A word of warning - it was RICH.  Remember how you used to leave a considerable amount of cookie dough in the mixing bowl and claimed you “couldn’t get it to scrape off” with a spatula?   And then do you remember proceeding to miraculously scrape it off and eat every bite?  Was that just me? When I baked cookies last week?  Okay... anyway! Eating a scoop of DŌ is just like that. It tastes exactly the same and, if you’re not careful, can feel exactly the same, too.  I had one scoop and it was more than enough.  But if you’re brave - go for that triple scoop!  Try every flavor.  Carpe diem!

THE COOKIE TOUR STOP

DŌ is located in Greenwich Village and, like most NYC Cookie Tour stops, it’s a tiny little store.  It’s also a very cute little store!  It rivals my hometown favorite for a happy interior, so you know I lit up when I walked in.  It’s a tight squeeze and there will likely be a line when you arrive.  We had the luckiest trip - there weren’t long lines for any of our cookie stops!  We waited a few short minutes, selected our scoops, and scooted on out the door.  Even if we would’ve had to wait longer, it would have been worth it!

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

Greenwich Village is rife with unique restaurants and local flair.  Washington Square Park is just steps away from DŌ, so I recommend walking that way to find a place to sit.  You’ll see the arch and cross another must-see off your list while you enjoy your scoop.

I also saw several sandwich boards for some fantastic brunch deals in the area.  I’m curious, though, about a sign for a restaurant that had bottomless mimosas for 90 minutes.  Is this a thing in New York? Because if someone instituted this rule in OKC my friends would definitely get kicked out. And does the 90 minutes start when you order or when you get your first mimosa?  Who’s timing?  Do they say “glasses down!!?” Must you drop your champagne flute like it’s a pencil after a standardized test?  New Yorkers - if you can help answer these questions, I may go for a 90 minute brunch prior to my next cookie dough stop.

Enough about my brunch questions.  Let’s get to those cookie dough stats! Enjoy that fresh-out-of-the-mixer taste, my friends!