Added: 01/23/2006 |
A Norman Date, Want To See My RadarLying just south of Oklahoma City and laying claim to the title of third largest city in the state of Oklahoma, Norman is home to the large and thriving University of Oklahoma. In addition, the city is an international leader in the field of meteorology via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL).
NSSL researchers work to improve early warning systems for outbreaks of all types of severe weather, appropriate for a facility based in a state annually plagued by tornadoes. The first Doppler radar devices were developed at NSSL and the laboratory made considerable contributions to the NEXRAD system. Via the work of this institution many lives are saved each year and our understanding of our planet's climate and weather systems are greatly improved.
The second major presence in Norman, the University of Oklahoma, was founded in 1890, The University has more than thirty thousand students and more than two thousand faculty members. For a student in Norman, girl or boy, the choices of a program of study are myriad. The school offers 154 programs at the bachelor's level, 152 at the master's, and 74 at the doctoral level.
Not surprisingly this science and education-based presence in the city makes Norman an especially vibrant community with a large number of young, single professionals. A Norman date might easily start with a pick-up line like, "come up and see my radar screen" or "what's your major."
Seriously though, there are numerous venues in the community for people to meet and interact. On the cultural level the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art would make for a "safe" first Norman date where a permanent collection of more than eight thousand objects will surely give even the most tongue-tied Normal girl something about which she can strike up a conversation with her date.
With forty-four top restaurants in the city available for that first Norman date, a cuisine is available for even the most discriminating palate. There are five local movie theatres, and remember, Oklahoma City is just a short drive away. Between the two cities there are plentiful dance and night clubs and multiple sports venues (by season) to make planning a Norman date much easier.
Norman, like many satellite cities of thriving urban areas, has managed to retain some of its small town qualities while living in the orbit of a cosmopolitan city with all its modern amenities and possibilities. All college towns have a relatively fluid population as senior classes graduate and new freshmen arrive each fall. This only adds to the vibrancy of the local environment. In such a community as Norman, "date" is just a synonym for "opportunity."
As both a college and a science town, Norman is an important part of the greater Oklahoma City metropolitan area and has almost one hundred thousand permanent residents to its credit. In addition, as the county seat of Cleveland County, Norman exercises considerable influence over the political management of the surrounding area.
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