Rivers Edge June 2013 Issue by Rivers Edge Magazine

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Vol. 2 No. 1

Your guide to Business â&#x20AC;˘ Recreation & Living along Tulsa's River Corridor

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Summer Stage Art in the Park Rowin' on the River Spotlight on the Spotlight

June 2013 | 1

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From NatureWorks sculptures to paintings on concrete drainage covers – the RiverParks is dotted with art to see and experience. photo BY VERNIS MAXWELL

Articles and advertisements in River's Edge Magazine do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without expressed, written permission. River's Edge Magazine will be available on the website on the 1st of each month following the publication date. Copies may be mailed for a small fee to cover postage and handling. Annual postal subscriptions are available for $12.95 per year. Cost covers the postage and handling.

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Beverly Atteberry, attorney . . . . . . . . . 4 Boomerang Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Carbondale Church of Christ . . . . . . . 13 Contract Clerical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Dutton Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Honda of Bartlesville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Karen Money Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Keller-Williams Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Mark Griffith Funeral Home . . . . . . . . 12 Oklahoma Central Credit Union . . . . . 24 Red Fork Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Southwest Tulsa Chamber . . . . . . . . . 10 Spotlight Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Starlight Concerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Tulsa Dental Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Tulsa Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Western Sun FCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

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River’s Edge Magazine is published monthly by River's Edge Publications. It is a guide to Business, Recreation and Living along the Arkansas River corridor. It is distributed at no cost from downtown Tulsa to Jenks and from Brookside to Berryhill and at other select locations in the Tulsa metropolitan area.

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The Drunkard & Olio Dr. Matt Crain Publisher River’s Edge Magazine

A New Day

his issue marks the beginning of our second year of publication! I remember the warnings of potential advertisers who looked at us last year and said, “Come back when you have completed a year.” It was clear that they didn’t expect us to return. Apparently many do not. But it is a new day. Even though this new year brings you new ownership of the magazine, the same team who wrote about the bikers, cyclists, hikers, runners, shoppers and diners will continue to answer the question, “What shall we do this month?” The River Corridor offers Tulsa and surrounding areas a wealth of opportunities that answer this question month after month. While many spend hundreds of dollars leaving our region to search for beauty, fun and attractions, River’s Edge readers know you can save your travel money and invest in the good times right here around the River. I’ve watched and participated with great interest as the historic Crystal City Shopping Center (originally an amusement park as the first home for Tulsa’s Zingo rollercoaster) changed hands and began its revitalization. The Typros, the carnivals, and the faithful tenants of Crystal City each brought increasing confidence that something great could happen there again. As we watch the new roof and the new tenants who bring business and opportunity back to Tulsa’s Western Gateway to Route 66, let’s all support the new day dawning on Crystal City. Several phone calls and emails with roots in the River Corridor have asked about reading River’s Edge from a distant city.You may now subscribe for a year’s delivery to your door for only $12.95. We are looking at electronic delivery as well, so stay up on our progress...because it is a new day. ~

Enjoy your part of our SIXTY year history

Act on Stage, Volunteer on Show Night, Help out Behind the Scenes Join us every Wednesday night to find your part and learn the show. You could be the next star in one of our rotating casts. $15.00 per adult (12+), $13.00 for Seniors (62+), $10.00 for children. Call 918-587-5030 for reservations.The first 10 who mention River’s Edge when making their reservation get a special two for one rate.

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by Tracy LeGrand

Downtown Tulsa comes alive with new events and venues D owntown Tulsa is booming, blooming, and glowing. Downtown art has been part of Ttown’s allure since its first Art Deco flourish years ago. Currently, a plethora of opportunities exist for artimmersion, such as the Brady District’s frequent art crawls. Recent additions include more murals, flowers, and the open-air gathering place Guthrie Green, as well as the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa Hardesty Arts Center. Art connections are plentiful. Possibilities for Sunday afternoon outings include music and art vending at Guthrie Green along North Boston Avenue. The nearby Tulsa Glassblowing School offers much to appreciate, and the new

Beverly A.

Atteberry, P.C. Attorney-at-law 918-605-1913 1861 East 15th Street Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104 Fax: 918-744-6300 E-mail: beverlyatteberry@aol.com

4 | River’s Edge Magazine

Hardesty Arts Center is a destination in itself. Check out at the murals and quirky signage places like El Guapo’s Mexican Cantina near the Blue Dome District. Ann Patton’s latest article explores both the history and presence of art along the river corridor as that situation is in constant creative flux. One example is the NatureWorks’ turkey statue, currently at Tulsa Central Library, which will move this fall to a more appropriate place – Turkey Mountain. Walking through many of downtown’s districts, one can often hear live bands from various bars and venues.

This lively nightlife will be especially highlighted at the Center of the Universe Festival set for July 19-20, 2013 in the Brady Arts District. Bands will include OneRepublic, Neon Trees and many more. More flowers and other landscaping are the goals of the “Downtown Tulsa Digs Flowers” competition. The Tulsa Downtown Coordinating Council encourages property owners to display live plants in the seven downtown districts – Arena, Blue Dome, Brady Arts, Cathedral, Deco, East End and Greenwood. Artwork along the Boulder Avenue Bridge is now more visible at night, beginning at sunset when the bridge’s artwork is lit by a multi-colored light display that moves from south to north with color variation at timed intervals until sunrise. Special lighting is planned for a few holidays during the year, including red, white and blue lighting for July 3 and 4. For more ideas for things to do in Tulsa over the Independence Day holiday, see page 20. River’s Edge welcomes your input on ways to enjoy downtown. You can email us at editors@riversedgemagazine.com. ~

Guthrie Green on a Sunday in May. photo by vernis maxwell

An Economic Boom by Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr.

t doesn’t seem too long ago when Tulsa’s downtown area was struggling to survive, but our scenery has dramatically changed: downtown Tulsa is alive again. Our city is reaping the rewards from $710 million in simultaneous construction, with 50 new projects that are complete or underway – all despite the economic downturn our nation faced a few years ago. I’ve always felt a successful city is one that has a successful downtown, where citizens have a great place to live, work, and play with a lot of variety. Our iconic BOK Center, anchoring the heart of downtown, is a major catalyst for drawing visitors and Tulsans downtown for concerts, sporting events and other activities. It is ranked 13th in the nation in top arenas and 36th worldwide in total event ticket sales. ONEOK Field, home of Tulsa’s baseball team, the Tulsa Drillers, also has proven to be a huge attraction downtown. It has fueled the opening of new restaurants and other business in the Brady District, as well as the conversion of downtown

buildings into urban dwelling spaces. Property values in the Brady District are up 70 percent since 2000. New businesses in the area include the One Place mixed-use development, the Aloft Hotel, the 104-room Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Griffin Communications, owner of KOTV-Channel 6. A new downtown park - called the Guthrie Green - serves as a gathering place for outdoor concerts. The old Mathews Warehouse has become an art center, and the nearby Hardesty Arts Center is home of the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa. The renaissance in our downtown area is true and real, and our future is bright as we continue with our efforts in building a vibrant downtown. I invite you to watch a video highlighting the development success happening inside the limits of the City’s Inner Dispersal Loop at http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=tt8no0s5lSM&feature=youtube. Also, check out www. downtowntulsaok.com for upcoming events. ~

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The river city: From Tallasi to Tulsa

RiverParks Art in the Park

by Ann Patton

photo by vernis maxwell

Editor’s note: With this article, the River’s Edge continues a series about the heritage and little-known lure of the Arkansas River at Tulsa, part of a forthcoming book - The Tulsa River. ©Ann Patton 2012 and 2013.

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chance visitor strolling along Tulsaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s River Parks might be startled

by the super-sized bronze menagerie along the banks of the Tulsa River.

Here a giant Osage cougar lurks on a dead tree, ready to lunge. There, a Shiras moose bellows not too far from two racing prairie wolves. To the north, a brooding frog waits to be kissed; to the south, a ferocious alligator seems to be all mouth and teeth, perhaps longing for a pair of skittish whitetail deer. A pheasant takes flight to elude a ravenous bobcat, turkeys preen in full feather, and a family of bears frolics in a fountain. continued next page

NatureWorks statues decorate the river trails including this one at 71st Street and Riverside Drive.

A visitor has to wonder how it came to be, this bronze zoo of heroicsized bronze Nature Works monuments that stand guard along the full length of the river’s east bank park. They are all part of a tradition of art in the park that began at least 40 years ago….

Jubilee ’73: the mother of Mayfest On a May weekend in 1973, hundreds of artists, craftsmen, and performing troupes swarmed over the Civic Center Plaza on a high bank of the Tulsa River, sharing the festivities with dancers, musicians, puppets, international foods, a Pied Piper parade, and an explosion of 700 balloons. It was “Jubilee ’73,” Tulsa’s first arts festival, spearheaded by the Junior League of Tulsa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the League and Tulsa Little Theater, as well as the 25th anniversary of the Tulsa Philharmonic Society and

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Photo by Vernis Maxwell

Tulsa Opera. Jubilee ‘73 was destined to continue and evolve over more than 40 years to become the city’s largest and most popular annual festival, Mayfest. It was all part of a year-long celebration of Tulsa’s 75th birthday, ExcelEbration. In truth, 1973 was a pinnacle year for Tulsa. As one of the 100,000 people who flocked to downtown Tulsa for three free days of fun, you could go on an archeological dig, visit a children’s zoo, or hear Sammy Davis, Jr. at the Tulsa Assembly Center. Young matrons festooned it all with loving care, placing large yellow marigolds in little pots that snaked in long, golden lines to welcome visitors to the Civic Center Plaza.

Park as art A few blocks away, others were dreaming up a miles-long linear working work of art, the Tulsa River Park. As the park slowly took shape over years, planners gracefully shaped the

park from raw materials of tree and trail, overlook and resting spot, water and sand, shade and sun. It was slowly becoming, as Mayor Bob LaFortune had envisioned in 1973, a beautiful place to stroll, run, or bike and enjoy the natural world. Where money was tight or problems loomed, they improvised. Ugly utility blocks of concrete dotted the park and could not be removed; RPA Director Jackie Bubenik sponsored a contest for artists to turn them into little works of art. No money to build trails? No problem: they mobilized civic clubs, runners and bikers, businesses, and volunteers to raise funds, grade the routes, spread gritty hard surfaces, prune and plant trees. Some celebrated the Arkansas for what it is, a fickle, ephemeral prairie river, given to fits of flood and drought, running when and where it chose through ribbons of green. Other longed to turn it into a lake, controlled by dams and surrounded by shops, hotels,

restaurants, and harnessed for economic development. It’s a debate that continues today. Leonard Eaton, the first River Parks Authority chair, was certain the river needed a dam somewhere around the pedestrian bridge, but the project was fraught with problems. The river was a machine moving tons of silt and sand every year; it was a moving target that meandered at whim; the water was heavily polluted; planners were hamstrung by pesky flood regulations; and there was no money. Voters kept turning down various schemes for dams and lakes. It was quite a challenge. Eaton and others mobilized a coalition around the dream of a lake and low-water dam and offered a bold plan supported by Jim Inhofe, then in the mayor’s office. The goal, Inhofe said, was to tame the river. To that end, they would sell part of West Bank River Parks to Lincoln Properties for an apartment project. It was a calculated business transaction. Some people loved the idea, others hated it; it was not easy.

Save the River Parks A Save the River Parks Committee begged the authority board not to sell off west bank land to finance a dam, and the board sought to keep the land and find other funding sources. “I read in the paper that they were going to help finance the dam by selling off a huge park area that was supposed to be public land,” remembered Larry Silvey, one of the committee organizers. “A group of people met at our home and decided this was something that had been decided by an upper echelon of government, and we thought there were better ways of financing a low water dam than to give away (sell) public property. Their idea was to give up all this public land on the west bank, clear down to where

the floating stage is now. We did get them to decrease the size by about a third, so I guess we were partially successful.” Eaton spearheaded private fund raising. “The controversy became so heated, there were times we wondered if we would overcome the opposition. But we never thought of backing down from the project,” remembered John Piercey, then Inhofe’s city development director. Jack Zink, a Tulsa philanthropist, was much involved in the fund raising, Eaton remembered. “Jack had an airplane and took 25 people to the Indianapolis car race to raise the money. We all had a grand time. On the trip coming back, Jack said, ‘By the way, the price of this trip is $100,000.’ So everybody kicked in. And we named it Zink Lake.” Eaton personally talked to every concerned landowner along the river in the vicinity of the proposed dam. “I saved B.B. Blair for last,” Eaton said. The Blair mansion fronted a wide green expanse on the river north of 31st Street. Eaton knew Blair was focused on the river, even logging changes in flood levels. Blair’s opinions could make or break the plan, and he had raised objections. “He took me to a swing on the porch, and I said,‘Mr. Blair, here is what we are planning to do.’ He said, ‘You’re not from here.’ I said I had come from New York; he wanted to know what college, and I said Cornell. He stuck out his hand: ‘Cornell Class of ’18.’ He became a supporter and gave us money to build what we named Blair Fountain, near the dam.” By 1983, a decade after River Parks was born, the community rallied for a huge celebration to dedicate a lake, low-water dam, fountain, and grand river plaza around the eastern end of the pedestrian bridge that now spanned the Tulsa River.

NatureWorks monuments Over the years, many people created very personal monuments along River Parks to commemorate people and things they treasured. Many are modestly tucked away in quiet corners that mean something special. Others trumpet unforgettably. “NatureWorks started with a little foursome: Col. Tiny Tomsen, Bill Cox the auto dealer, Bob Hawkins the Braniff guy in Tulsa, and myself,” remembered Ken Greenwood, one of the founders of NatureWorks. “We were all very different, but we all had the same idea, to create a walking sculpture garden along River Parks.There was nothing out there then, but they got over that when they saw the quality of the artists.” Nature-lovers all, they created a local, volunteer-run nonprofit to erect super-sized wildlife sculptures along continued next page

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Under the leadership of RPA Director Jackie Bubenik, ugly concrete utility blocks were transformed into works of art. COURTESY OF THE RIVERPARKS AUTHORITY

the river corridor through Tulsa. “Beau Champ Selman helped us get it started; he was a state senator. He was wonderful,” Greenwood said. Annually since 1994, NatureWorks has sponsored larger-than-life, realistic bronze wildlife monuments that punctuate the River Park’s east bank, between roughly 11th and 101st Streets. Including a few at other locations around town, they have created 23 monuments thus far, to honor individuals or groups that voluntarily promote strong wildlife conservation values and have received the NatureWorks Wildlife Stewardship Award. Private donors provide funding, and NatureWorks commissions the artists. All are donated to the City of Tulsa. Like any work of public art, the sculptures have advocates and detractors. But without question, for people driving Riverside Drive or enjoying River Parks, the statues are unforgettable. The first monument was “Plains Grizzly,” a raging bear by sculptor Jim Agius, placed in 1994 near Gilcrease Museum and dedicated to Harold C. Stuart. The second was a classic Southern Bald

Eagle by artist Mike Sughroue, perched in River Parks near 31st and Riverside Drive a year later to honor Jack Zink. Others range from a brooding buffalo by Stephen C. LeBlanc in River Parks at Denver Avenue (honoring Joseph C. Williams) to Jim Gilmore’s “Bruins RiverPark Picnic” of a bear family picnicking in a stunning fountain at 71st and Riverside, which honors Robert E. Lorton. Like the other examples of art in the park, NatureWorks monuments honor a generous spirit of Tulsans determined to enhance their Tulsa River, in the best sense of civic engagement. The monuments join other works, such as the recent heroic-sized sculpture depicting east meeting west at the Route 66 Welcome Arch at 11th Street, to enrich the most important work of art, the river itself and the parks along its banks. On sunny days, when runners, bikers, and families play along its banks, the river is a faithful friend. But the time would come, on a cloudy October day, when the Tulsa River would do what rivers inevitably do….

For a detailed map of art along the River Parks trails, visit www.riversedgemagazine.com.

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S ood pie

Smokin’ on Cherry Street

e love a restaurant with personality, and Smoke oozes personality into the food and air. Smokers, nonsmokers and lovers of smokey food, rejoice! As a former smoker - the worst kind of non-smoker - the only smoke Madam wants to smell is of food being loved by the chef, and that is amply the case. The food is a unique take, divinely inspired, spectacular looking, smelling, tasting and even mouth feeling! Besides innovative food and drink, Smoke has a comfortable space, the Cigar Room, where smoking is mandatory (at least on a second-hand basis). If we were to wont to do the nasty deed, this would be the restaurant for it. The Cigar Room has a glassed-in wall displaying a selection of good cigars for those who don’t bring their smokes with them. Small, bar-height tables and chairs for two or three, a sofa, and two large overstuffed chairs offer smokers a luxe spot to puff away the time inoffensively.The room has its own, separate, air filtration system. Above the Smoke Room door is a sign with a quote from Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865). “It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” We so heartily subscribe to the theory from our relationships with people to our relationships with restaurants; you must balance the bad with the good and hope for more good! At first we thought the Cigar Room would be a good private room for a small, casual party without smoke, but on entering the empty room one

lunchtime, we still smelled the stale smoke from the night before. Yuck, but if Madam still smoked…nirvana! The majority of the menu is worth the trek from South Tulsa, or from anywhere else for that matter. Locally sourced food inspired fresh takes on many favorite dishes. Lamb sliders are a menu favorite - little goat-cheese burgers - juicy and so savory, with flavors that even picky cheeseburger purists wolf down happily. The French fries are nothing to write home about, but no one seemed to mind, given the burgers. Madam’s favorite meal is the smoked trout salad. Chunks of boneless trout drip with spicy dressing over fresh greens and crunchy nuts and fruit - what is not to like? We seriously recommend sitting at the bar to eat, as we’ve had nothing but stellar service for food and drink in the bar whether we’re drinking alcohol or not. During one luncheon visit, we observed two ladies at the end of the bar sharing a huge cheeseburger and fries. They clearly enjoyed every enormous bite and were not made to feel weird about sharing a meal. The bar waitstaff creates a relaxed feel for all that transpires. Our waiter informed us it was his first day. His knowledge belied that newness. We can only say our experiences with the main room waitstaff have been less positive and, in a recent incident, not tip-worthy. Since Food Spies have table-waiting experience, we are generally opposed to a no-tip policy for any reason, but if we did not feel so strongly, we would have made an exception.

Food Spies is a South Tulsa-based family team of fervent foodies who refuse to ‘play nice’ and will only call it like they taste it. Food Spies reports on their culinary adventures in River’s Edge and other publications nationwide.

Besides great wines and beers, the bar has a long counter set with vodka and rum macerating in big vats with everything from pears to ginger. The list of specialty drinks that they make from these confections is impressive, and the drinks are worth the trip alone. Unique and tasty, you might find yourself going home to recreate your own vats of goodness. But you absolutely must love, or seriously not mind, darkness. It is dark everywhere. Even in the washrooms, where men apparently only need one sink to the ladies’ two. That seemed odd to us and momentarily conjured up some unpleasant thoughts as to the reasoning behind that (hopefully architectural). In the powder room there is this absolutely, wish-we-hadone-at-home, giant mirror, but it is so dark, the utility of it is sadly lost. Since one is not likely to be packing one’s own floodlight, Madam sure wishes the Management will shed light on this in the future. Brunch, not until 11 a.m.! We can See Smoke on page 23 June 2013 | 11

Photos by Eric Sacks

Rowin’ on the river by Tracy LeGrand

Nationally-ranked Tulsa Rowing Club Juniors row, row, row their boats into championships in a sport a person can participate in for life. The world-class athletic organization is headquarted in River West Festival Park in downtown Tulsa in the Arkansas River. Neil Bergenroth has coached the teen rowers for more than a decade and says the TRCJ’s summer plans include both camps for younger kids and competition in the United Kingdom at the Henley Royal Regatta. Another point of pride is the girls’ team’s ninth-place national award at U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals. Three club members hold ultra distance rowing world records. Home Based Business Owner? Tired of Working Overtime? Need Some Help?

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Comprised of 70 student athletes from 16 different Tulsa-area high schools, the TRCJ offers a supportive-yet-challenging environment for young adults to come together and represent the city of Tulsa, says Bergenroth. “We are excited at the prospect and opportunity to take our program to the international level,” he says. “This will be the first time that a group of high school student athletes from Oklahoma have had the opportunity to race at Henley, and we are proud to represent Tulsa this June. We will row our very best, given the historical significance of this trip.We wish to thank our generous supporters for sharing in our vision and for helping make this trip possible for us.” For details, including annual fundraiser events and open learn-to-row sessions, contact Bergenroth at 918-906-5233 or visit www.tulsarowing.org/juniors.

June 2013 | 13

by Sarah Crain Featured columnist Sarah Crain studied Music and Theater throughout school and has two associate degrees from Tulsa Community College in Music and Theater. In 2002, Sarah decided to start her own business in an attempt to avoid the life of a “starving artist.” This allowed her the ability to make a living while enjoying the freedom to perform from time to time. Sarah has appeared in several Tulsa shows including Fiddler on the Roof, Once Upon a Mattress, & Jekyll & Hyde throughout her performance career, and currently writes music in her off-time.

hen I was in high school, I was offered a summer job at the Sacramento, CA Music Circus. Having studied music and theater for several years, I was excited to say the least. I had never worked for a theater company before and the possibility of meeting the stars, or potentially “being discovered” was all I could think about for weeks. OK, so I ended up selling concessions before the show and at intermission, but I learned a lot from simply observing my surroundings. The program’s design was to setup a tent in downtown Sacramento with an “in-the-round” or arena-style stage and run eight musicals in eight weeks, taking only Monday off for the load-in and load-out process.The actors and actresses prepared for the show in a separate building off to the side, and when it was time for their entrance, they would exit the building and walk right in front of my concession stand toward whichever isle they had been instructed to enter the tent. I found it fascinating to watch them prepare to enter for their scenes. They would fluff their costumes and hair; some would pace reciting lines, while others simply stood there chatting with each other until they heard their

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cue. I didn’t meet any stars or producers, but I was proud to be a part of the process. In theater, there are no small parts, even if you are indirectly involved with the show. I am reminded of this summer job when I think of Tulsa’s Summer Stage extravaganza. Though Music Circus only ran eight shows in eight weeks on one stage compared to Summer Stage’s 24 shows on four stages, the concept is very similar; hundreds of actors and actresses, producers and directors, stagehands and choreographers descending upon the theater, bringing different shows to the community each week. My favorite aspect of Tulsa’s Summer Stage is the wide variety of shows presented. There will be jazz music, belly dancing, musicals, concerts, dance shows, cabaret performances, and even a couple of family shows. Steve Lancaster will perform a family magic show on Sunday, June 18, and the talented Rebecca Ungerman stars as the Queen in “Queen Cleofis Comes Home” on Saturday, June 15. The LOOK Musical Theatre Company will present “Side By Side by Sondheim,” featuring all of Steven Sondheim’s greatest hits June 16, 23, and 28, and let’s not forget “Hello Dolly” and “Little Women.”

I had the honor of performing in the 2010, 2011, and 2012 Summer Stage performances with the Tulsa Folkloric Dance Theater and can’t wait to see what they are doing this year. Shadia Dahlal had a vision over 10 years ago to bring “out-of-the-box” musical theatre to the Tulsa area with original scripts and amazing dancers. Her vision in past years was to write a script that would weave a story around the dances her girls performed. This concept took the monotony out of the typical dance show where the audience usually watched dance number after dance number with nothing but silence in between. In 2011, they partnered with the Salvation Army and presented a script centered on the homeless, and last year the Alzheimer’s Association with story about a character named Ruth who reminisced about her youth as a triple threat in her moments of lucidity. This year the show is called “Dhadkan,” which means ‘heartbeat’, and is based on the concept that dance and music are the heartbeat of the human soul. Whether you like music, theatre, dance or magic, this year’s Summer Stage has a show for you. Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased online or at the PAC box office.

Spotlight on Tulsa’s

Spotlight Theater

by Tracy LeGrand

o ahead and shout at the actors on the stage – hiss and boo, applaud the hero or throw a tomato – you’re allowed! The audience participates at Tulsa Spotlight Theatre’s weekly presentation of The Drunkard. It’s the longest running play in the country.The curtain rises every Saturday night as it has since Nov. 7, 1953 at 1381 Riverside Drive, in an iconic, Bruce Goff-designed Art Deco gem overlooking the Arkansas River. “There is a growing need in Tulsa to define our presence to the tourists of our country,” says Sue Wiedemann, Spotlight spokesperson. The theater is

among downtown’s Art Deco splendors and must be preserved or it will be lost. Donations are encouraged and simply attending the play - and having fun helps the campaign drive. “We take the edge off anything resembling refined theater by emphasizing the comic elements of speech of the 1890s and some stage movements,” says Wiedemann. “We not only encourage, we almost demand, audience participation. We even sell fake rotten tomatoes to toss at the villain! Over the years, we have returning patrons, mostly because we consider ourselves the best family entertainment anywhere in Tulsa. The evening begins at 7:15 p.m. with

a sing-along, followed by a talent show at 7:30 p.m. After a short intermission - perfect for ordering more food or drinks and a bathroom break - we start The Drunkard at 8:10 p.m.” Passionate volunteers fuel the fun and Wiedemann says “We have our weekly cast rehearsal every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. We always welcome folks in to see what we are about, and encourage them to become involved.” Get reservations and details at 918587-5030. River’s Edge wants to hear your thoughts and memories about this longtime Tulsa tradition, as our coverage of the Olio will continue in the coming year. Email editors@riversedgemagazine. June 2013 | 15

By Tracy LeGrand

Photos by Vernis Maxwell

Changes comng to River West

enovations are moving forward for River West Festival Park – located at 701 W. 21st St. near South Jackson Avenue just west of the 21st Street Bridge - to make the property more parking-friendly and multi-purpose, officials say. Because ground will not be broken until after Oktoberfest 2013, upcoming festivals will not be impacted by the construction. And, if the project progresses as planned, the upgrades will be completed in time for Oktoberfest 2014. Home to Starlight concerts, Tulsa Rowing Club and several major annual events, the property needs to become more flexible, says Tonja Pitzer, community relations director for the River Parks Authority. The goal is to make the venue and its facilities more accessible, usable and desirable all year-round. Construction will not impede Wonderfest (known last year as Blue Rose Riverfest) set for August 9-10. “We’re going

16 | River’s Edge Magazine

to have more than 20 bands,” says Barry Durbin, Wonderfest promoter. “River Parks has been helpful to us in moving our event from the east bank to the west bank at River West Festival Park and we’re excited to be one of the last events at the old amphitheater before it is torn down.”

The River Parks Authority and the City of Tulsa have engaged Dewberry to produce the new design. Dewberry architect Dominic Spadafore says the concrete amphitheater, basketball courts and floating stage will be replaced by new amenities including a new, land-based multi-purpose area that can be used as a stage but will not block the view of the downtown Tulsa skyline. They are also planning a playground; more green spaces; storage and utility improvements; new restrooms that are similar in size to those at 17th Street and Riverside Drive; a more attractive entrance into the park that will also serve as a dropping-off point for remote parking purposes; and a 250-footlong, 20-foot-wide lighted bridge connecting the west bank to an existing peninsula forming the lagoon area. The planned changes are funded by revenue from Tulsa’s municipal 2006 third-penny sales tax, and have a project budget of approximately $6 million. Dewberry’s Tulsa Office Director Bruce Henley says that

Fun abounds at the River West Festival Park. Left and bottom photos by Vernis Maxwell. Photo at right courtesy photo.

the improvements will optimize what he says is one of the very best views of downtown Tulsa. “It is an exciting project, especially when you consider the enhancements it will mean for daily, regular usage of the trails,” says Henley. “The trail improvements along Westport are projected to occur about the same time, and the trail piece across the park will be the final piece of full trail improvements from 21st Street Bridge to Southwest Boulevard. It will make this portion of the trail as nice as what is already on the east. “The bridge is being designed to go between the festival site and the peninsula along the lagoon area,” says Henley. “It will mean closer interaction with the waterway and will be an iconic landmark also visible from the east side. It is meant to engage people on the trail more with the waterway, while giving more control of the trails system when festivals are going on, as currently the trails are usually shut down during festivals. The bridge will allow the option of leaving the trails open so that bikers and joggers don’t have to turn around and go back the way they came during festivals.” Parking is the concern of the Wednesday Night Bicyclists, who currently use the park’s parking lot as a launching site and post-ride gathering spot.The popular Wednesday night rides will be able to continue in that location

after the park is renovated. However, officials say some modifications are needed to create better circulation for buses and vehicles to transfer from remote parking to a drop-off circle drive at the entry point. Also, “because of that new circulation path, it displaces some parking so we’re adding some parking to the north and west along the perimeter of the park,” says Henley. “That gives us a net-even on parking spaces.” Parking issues are also the concern of the Community Action Project of Tulsa County that is overseeing improvements to the residential areas surrounding the park. “CAP-TC redevelopment project at West Tulsa Park will cause the need for alternative parking facilities for events at West Festival Park and for the cyclist club activities,” says City of Tulsa Director of Planning and & Economic Development Dawn Warrick. “The small area plan for the Eugene Field neighborhood is really focused on revitalization of the neighborhood and discusses connectivity and infrastructure improvements that will serve the area. Some of those

improvements include modifications to street sections to include a significant number of on-street parallel parking spaces that will support park events/ users as well as neighborhood activities and day-to-day resident needs. “The plan recognizes the tremendous asset West Festival Park provides, not only the neighborhood but the entire region and anticipates it continuing to serve in that capacity,” says Warrick. “The proposed new street connection is not part of the project that is currently in design for River Parks.The small area plan, however, calls for a future connection that would rebuild part of the street grid that was removed due to various development projects through the years. This would be an east/west street that carries traffic basically from Southwest Blvd through the neighborhood to the West Festival Park area instead of having to route all traffic around the perimeter on Jackson or 23rd. But it is important to clarify that this street connection is not part of the project moving to construction within the coming months.” Matt Meyer, Director of the River Parks Authority says that he is definitely pleased to finally be moving forward with this major public improvement of the West Festival Park. The City of Tulsa will be advertising construction bids on the project this summer. The finished product will depend on budget considerations and final City approvals. June 2013 | 17

Back to the

west side n

o matter where on earth he is, all roads lead back to the west side ofTulsa for novelist,inventor and self-described military brat, Mike Clowes. “I have deep roots in Red Fork and will always consider the west side home,” says Clowes, a graduate of Georgetown University-International Affairs, and Armed Forces Command and Staff College. Growing up, his passions were hunting, fishing, and chasing girls. Today, Clowes travels the world for the military and represents Lockheed Martin. With two books published to date – We the People and Blood Mountain - Clowes writes what he knows and says “Being a soldier was instilled in my subconscious by my brother at an early age.” He began by writing technical articles for Aviation Digest and Army Aviation Magazine. “I flew the AH1G Cobra Attack Helicopter, accruing over 1,200 combat hours in Vietnam. So any writing I did, didn’t really start until I was an adult.” Clowes’ inventions include Tank-In-A-Bag, a three-dimensional tank simulator used for advanced helicopter pilot training. His latest initiative is an aerosol spray that he says not only kills spiders, but dissolves their webs. Clowes is not the only member of his family with notable works in the

by Meisha McDaniel

Mike Clowes at home.

COURTESY photos

Southwest Tulsa community. He says, “My grandfather was co-founder of Red Fork Bank, now the Peoples Bank of Oklahoma. He also was instrumental in the creation of the Magic City Greyhound racetrack.” A graduate of Daniel Webster High School, Clowes will attend the 75th DWHS Reunion on June 8 where he will sign copies of his book. Fifteen percent of all book sales benefit the DWHS Scholarship Foundation.

Happy Birthday, Webster! June 8th Daniel Webster’s High School’s 75th Birthday Celebration includes a full day of events at the DWHS campus is located at 41st Street and Union Avenue in west Tulsa. The includes a Show & Shine car show, silent auction, bands, dancing, food, video of the school’s history, Hall of Fame presentations and much more. Details at 918-369-5993 or 918-734-4000.

18 | River’s Edge Magazine

A Tale of the Route 66 Village by Tracy LeGrand

he Route 66 Village is a tale of trains, toil, and transportation. Tulsa’s five-acre outdoor transportation-themed attraction sits on the west edge of the Tulsa city limits and directly across the old Historic Route 66 roadway from Daniel Webster High School. Towering over all is the nation’s tallest oil derrick and scattered like gems are pristinely restored train cars. The destination location draws Mother Road travelers literally from all over the Earth who use either of the Village’s two front doors one at 3700 Southwest Boulevard - and the other on Interstate 244. Transportation is the constant theme of the birth and growth of Tulsa, says David Breed,Village board member. The Village has always been a big part of Tulsa’s ongoing transportation heritage.The project started with a derelict Frisco locomotive, long displayed at Tulsa Zoo, then taken to the SKOL railroad yards in Owasso and eventually left to rust in pieces.The story goes even further back than that and is well exemplified by Mike Massey,Village board member. “I grew up in a railroad family and listened to my grandfather’s and dad’s experiences, especially regarding locomotive steam engines in the 1940s,” says Massey. “When we got the opportunity to bring the Frisco 4500 to life again, I thought ‘why not?’ And it’s all just grown from there into a landmark tourist attraction and educational opportunity to share the sights, sounds and the smoky smells of train travel.”

Future plans depend on funding, volunteers “We are in a beginning stage and have big plans and little funding,” says board member Richard Ryan. “We want to share this story of how various forms of transportation have influenced our local history.Also, gas and petroleum have played an important role, as this museum sits on one of the first oil leases in the area.” Eventual plans include presenting this great heritage with displays and a chronological timeline. The ‘Red Fork Depot’ will serve multiple purposes of an office, restroom, gift shop, and timeline exhibition. The train cars will be refurbished, including the interiors. Displays planned include gas station exhibits including one from the Model T era, the different generations of pump jacks from oil fields, and rebuilt trolley cars that ran in downtown Tulsa in the 1920s and 1930s.

Other upgrades planned include an old western general store with ice cream soda shop, the refurbishment and installation of a 1901 wooden boxcar, airplane exhibits, a 1949 Ford Panel Truck used on the Railway Express Agency, a covered picnic area, geological displays, a pre1950s gasoline truck and more Route 66 memorabilia. The Village was funded from donations and about $400,000 in Oklahoma Centennial grants to construct the 154-foot-tall Red Fork Centennial Derrick structure and another $400,000 from Vision 2025. Since then,Village members raised about $1.2 million in private funds and materials such as several tons of donated dirt.The monetary figure doesn’t count the endless donated labor. Village volunteers will soon unveil a Capital Campaign to fund the depot construction and to pay off some additional acres that will soon be donated to the City of Tulsa. Other exciting developments include the participation of Webster High School graduate and architect Keith Robertson to design Village upgrades. Robertson is also relocating his business – KDR Architecture – in nearby historic Red Fork. Village board members like David Yowell and volunteer project manager Roy Heim are constantly working to promote the project and recruit talented volunteers like Ed Massey and Bob Craine. The efforts are paying off, as, in the last three years, visitors from Spain, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and other countries have stopped by to take photos. Many visitors report seeing the Meteor from Interstate 244 and finding their way off the highway for a walk through the Route 66 Village. To learn more or to donate including volunteering, contact Heim at crimedet@aol.com or visit www.route66village.org.

June 2013 | 19

by Meisha McDaniel

FreedomFest

20 | River’s Edge Magazine

PHOTO BY NOAH SINGER

set for July 4th

his year’s 2013 ONEOK FreedomFest will be the largest and most explosive 4th of July Celebration yet! Come light up our nation’s liberation at the largest celebration in Oklahoma, right here in the heart of downtown Tulsa. Special highlights include a U.S. Air Force Flyover at 8:43 p.m. along the Arkansas River. “River Parks Authority has produced Tulsa’s July 4th fireworks show each year since 1976,” says Tonja Pitzer, River Parks spokesperson. “This year, activities and entertainment are planned at four venues near the Arkansas River on Wednesday, July 4 - the River West Festival Park at 2100 South Jackson Ave.; Veterans Park, 18th Street and Boulder Avenue; Blue Rose Café/ Elwood’s at 1924 Riverside Drive. Live entertainment will also be available near the Pedestrian Bridge at 31st Street and Riverside Drive.” With attendance up 25 percent, 100,000 guests are expected to attend this year near the Arkansas River. With a newly constructed viewing area along Riverside, guests should have more room to relax for the fireworks show than in previous years. There will be even more free activities for children, and other family-oriented fun to expect this year. Guests can also enjoy the new west bank trail, the Blue Rose Café, and River West Festival Park for entertainment. Sponsors provide free kids activities, including a rock climbing wall, inflatable jump stations and lifts on a tethered hot air balloon. Families looking for an affordable alternative on the 4th of July should head out to Riverside, pull up some chairs and enjoy the show! For details on street closings, parking, entertainment and other helpful information, visit www.riverparks.org/freedomfest.

This colrumn is pulled from Ken Childress blog that he writes regularly about Turkey Mountain and other choice places for an early morning run. Read more from Ken at www.trailzombie.com or at www.tatur.org.

by Ken Childress

miles to go before I sleep . . . Each year, more and more Tulsans are leaving their couches, TVs, and Xboxes to venture outside to explore the Great Outdoors, and for many, that is no more than a drive to 71st and Elwood Avenue to the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness. On most weekends, this 2.5 square mile plot is a playground to trail runners, mountain bikers, and hikers who enjoy over

20 miles of well-established trails stretching from the 71st Street nearly to I-44, and from Hwy 75 to the Arkansas River. A very detailed map is posted for viewing near the trailhead, and at two different kiosks on each end of the mountain with four different loop trails are marked, allowing for treks of one, two, four, or five miles, and there are several other mapped trails

from which to choose. For new explorers of Tulsa’s wilderness, it would be best to start with a short loop. While four miles on paved trails along the river is an easy walk or jog, trails have jagged rocks, sneaky roots, rascally stumps, and usually enough shortbut-evil hills to considerably slow your pace. Tackle a four-mile loop and tucker out after 30-40 minutes of hiking, you could be two miles away from the parking lot with no shortcuts back. Getting caught way into the woods as the sun is setting, especially if you don’t have a light with you, can be a scary proposition. After a hike or two, you’ll know what pace you can comfortably maintain and what distance you can safely do. During warmer months, it’s extremely important to carry water with you. Other than at the main parking lot, there are no drinking fountains on the trails. Most trail runners use handheld water bottles with hand straps or hydration packs, which can be bought at any running store. Bringing something to eat is a good idea as well, if you’re going for a longer trek. Granola bars,

nuts, or trail mix are easy to carry. Trail runners and bikers often use GUs, Shot Blocks, or Honey Stinger Waffles. I recommend carrying a cell phone and camera as Turkey Mountain always make picturetaking easy. The Yellow Trail, a four-mile loop, is a favorite to most users and boasts stunning views of the Arkansas River and the metropolis to the east. The return trip on the Upper Yellow aka the Ridge Trail, takes you by one of the Turtle Rocks. This gentle giant is one of a pair on Turkey--his mate is about a mile away on the south end of the mountain. The trails can help you brush up on your geography. Believe it or not, there are replicas of almost every state in the union. Finding rocks shaped like states like Kansas or Colorado is an easy task, but two of the best state stone replicas are the Oklahoma Rock, and the Texas rock. I might add that the Oklahoma Rock is considerably bigger than Texas! The west side of Turkey Mountain has several picturesque places as well. Rock City is

on the northern part of the Snake Trail. It’s a good rest stop during a good run or ride, and would be a good place for a picnic. Just north of Pepsi Pond is Pepsi Falls. Right now, the water level is low, but if we ever get caught up on our rainfall, the falls are beautiful after a good shower. If you don’t mind a bit of bush whacking, just east of the concrete bridge over Mooser Creek are the Mooser Creek Bluffs. Very few people know about this place, but there may soon be a new trail cut to make this accessible. This weekend, pack a few snacks, fill a couple of water bottles, put your trail shoes on, and come explore one of the best attractions in Tulsa--the Wilderness of Turkey Mountain.

June 2013 | 21

Jun calendar June 01 Social Distortion + Broncho, 7:30 pm, Cains Ballroom, www.cainsballroom.com June 01-02 Tulsa Athletics vs. Houston Regals (soccer), times vary, Driller Stadium, Expo Square, www.tulsa-athletics.com Tulsa Pride Block Party & Parade, times vary, Downtown Tulsa, , www.okeq.org June 02 Dual Pianos Ragtime featuring Adam Swanson & Max Keenlyside, 2 pm, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com Red Dirt Rangers 25th Anniversary Tour, 2 to 6 pm, Guthrie Green, www. guthriegreen.com June 03 Passion Pit + Cults, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www.cainsballroom.com June 04 Gogol Bordello + Bombino, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www.cainsballroom.com Oklahoma Chautauqua: The Roaring Twenties (Living History Performances), Noon to 9 pm, OSU-Tulsa, 700 N. Greenwood Avenue, www.travelok.com

June 07 First Friday Art Crawl, 6 pm, Brady Arts District, West Brady St. Downtown, www. livingarts.org Vintage Tulsa: Oil Barons Ball, 7 pm, Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria, www.tulsahistory.org June 07-09 Leake Car Auction, 9 am daily, Expo Center, Expo Square, www.leakecar.com June 08 Philbrook Muesum of Art (free admission Saturday with family activities), 10 am to 5 pm, Philbrook Muesum of Art, www. philbrook.org Oklahoma Defenders vs. Salina Bombers (indoor football), 7:05 pm, Tulsa Convention Center, www.bokcenter.com Tulsa Tough, (all day), Guthrie Green, 111 E. Brady St., www.guthriegreen.com Oklahoma Urban and Sustainable Garden Plant Sale, NA, Tulsa Garden Center, www.tulsagardencenter.com June 08-09 Cacti and Succulent Society Show & Sale, NA, Tulsa Garden Center, www. tulsagardencenter.com Tulsa Area Daylily Society Show & Sale, NA, Tulsa Garden Center, www. tulsagardencenter.com

June 04-July 07 Disney’s The Lion King, times vary, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com June 04-July 07 Reflections of Design (photo art show), NA, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com June 05 The Staves + Musikanto, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www.cainsballroom.com June 06 Brookside Rumble & Roll, 7 to 10 pm, Brookside District, 26th to 33rd on S. Peoria, www.rumbleandroll.com Adventure club + Flinch, OnTronik, DJ Squirt D, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www. cainsballroom.com

June 07-09 Tulsa Tough Ride & Race, times vary, Downtown Tulsa, , www.tulsatough.com

22 | River’s Edge Magazine

June 08-09, 13-16, 19-23, 27-30 Fair Meadows Live Racing, times vary, Fair Meadows Race Track, Expo Square, www.exposquare.com June 09 Summer of Strange Tour 2013 + five others, 6:30 pm, Cains Ballroom, www. cainsballroom.com Monophonics, Paul Benjaman Band, Pilgrim, 2 to 6 pm, Guthrie Green, www. guthriegreen.com June 10 Lamb of God + Decapitated, Ancients, 6:30 pm, Cains Ballroom, www. cainsballroom.com June 11-16 Shakespeare in the Park, 8:30 to 10:30 pm, Guthrie Green, www.guthriegreen.com June 13-16 Old Red on the Head / Jesus for the Defense, times vay, Tulsa PAC, www.

tulsapac.com June 14 Jason Ferguson CD Release Party+ five others, 6 pm, Cains Ballroom, www. cainsballroom.com The Cheril Vendetti Experience, 8 pm, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com Tulsa Shock vs. Minnesota Lynx, 7 pm, BOK Center, 205 S. Denver, www. bokcenter.com June 14, 16, 21, 23 Treasure island (Children’s Theatre), 7 pm, The Spotlight Theater, www. spotlighttheater.org June 14-15 2013 FIVB World League Volleyball, 7 pm, Tulsa Convention Center, www.bokcenter. com

June 14-15, 22-23, 25, 27, 29-30 Hello Dolly!, times vay, Tulsa PAC, www. tulsapac.com June 15 Butch Clancy + three others, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www.cainsballroom.com Rebecca Ungerman in Queen Cleofis Comes Home, 9 pm, Tulsa PAC, www. tulsapac.com Why CYN Sings Jazz, 7 pm, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com June 16 Steve Lancaster’s Family Magic Show, 2 pm, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com Tulsa Shock vs. Phoenix Mercury, 3:30 pm, BOK Center, www.bokcenter.com June 16, 23, 28 Side by Side Sondheim, times vay, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com June 20 Tulsa Shock vs. Chicago Sky, 11:30 am, BOK Center, www.bokcenter.com Tulsa Community Band, 7:30-8:30 pm, Guthrie Green, www.guthriegreen.com June 20-23 Tulsa Drillers vs. Northwest Arkansas Naturals, times vary, OneOK Field, www. milb.com June 21 Turnpike Troubadours + American Aquarium, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www. cainsballroom.com Two of a Kind, 8 pm, Tulsa PAC, www. tulsapac.com Queensrÿche, 7 pm, River Spirit Event Center, www.riverspirittulsa.com June 21-22 Juneteenth Tulsa, 6 pm to midnight, Guthrie

Green, www.guthriegreen.com June 21-22, 26, 29-30 The Drowsy Chaperone, times vay, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com June 21-23 The Boys Next Door, times vay, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com June 22 Tulsa Athletics vs. Liverpool Warriors (soccer), 6 pm, Driller Stadium, Expo Square, www.tulsa-athletics.com Tulsa Shock vs. Seattle Storm, 7 pm, BOK Center, www.bokcenter.com June 22-23 Wrong Way Broadway 2: Even Wronger, times vay, Tulsa PAC, www.tulsapac.com June 23 OCCJ: Tulsa Unites Concert Series, 2 to 6 pm, Guthrie Green, www.guthriegreen.com June 28 Lonestar, 7 pm, River Spirit Event Center, www.riverspirittulsa.com June 28-29 Relay for Life of Tulsa, 6 pm to 7 am, OneOK Field, 201 N. Elgin Avenue, www. relayforlife.org June 29-30 Tulsa Athletics vs. Houston Hurricanes (soccer), times vary, Driller Stadium, Expo Square, www.tulsa-athletics.com

June 30 Daughtry, 7 pm, River Spirit Event Center, www.riverspirittulsa.com

Event Locations BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Brady Theather, 105 W. Brady St. Cains Ballroom, 427 N. Main Guthrie Green, 111 E. Brady St. Henthorne PAC, 4825 S. Quaker Ave. Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Ave. Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road SpiritBank Event Center, 107th & Memorial Spirit Event Center, 8330 Riverside Parkway Spotlight Theater, 1381 Riverside Dr. Tulsa Convention Center, 100 Civic Center (4th & Houston) Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria Ave. Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria Ave. Tulsa Performing Arts Center (PAC), 119 E. 2nd St.

Featured Events Food Spies

tulsa area running/ CYCing events

continued from page 11

hardly wait that long. Please will you open earlier? The bacon is not for the faint of heart. In fact, your heart had better be able to take the stress, because you won’t be able to resist ordering the bacon. Hand-cut, thick (really, really thick) half strips. Smoked. Fatty. Decadent. A very healthy-looking young man seated next to us ordered the chicken fried bacon! He ate it with gusto. We are convinced we would have dropped dead with coronaries, if we had tempted fate by eating that! And, after all, we already eat unadorned bacon too much.We don’t need an even worse addiction. The biscuits were unexpectedly cakelike, but even so, most everyone but us seemed to take down these biscuits and gravy as though a famine were on the way! Avoid the Bread Pudding French Toast. Sadly, it only sounds good.The sourdough toast was mmmm, lightly smokey. Eggs cooked to perfection. The test of a chef is the ability to cook eggs perfectly. Their chef is the best. Weekday, hearty, blue-plate lunch specials are offered for only $8! If only we lived next door.

Running • 06.01.13 TATUR Mud Run - Kids 5-12 FREE, Tulsa

Run/Walk • 06.08.13 Run For Life Mud Run, Beggs

Run/Walk • 06.01.13 Stronger 5k and 1 mile fun run, Broken Arrow

Running • 06.08.13 Oklahoma Jaguars Pick ‘em Up and Put ‘em Down Classic, Tulsa

Running • 06.01.13 Fat Guy’s Burgers and Baseball 5k Run, Tulsa Running • 06.01.13 Fit Fest, Tulsa Cycling • 06.01.13 Tulsa Tour de Cure - we ride to STOP DIABETES. Register, team up, and fundraise! Tulsa Mountain Biking • 06.02.13 Osage Hills Mountain Bike Race, Bartlesville

the early years, the ride was “free,” hence the name. Participants discover the Sooner State to be far from flat with an abundance of diversity. Oklahoma is matched only Freewheel, June 2013 by Texas in having twelve separate Many call it, simply, “The Ride.” bio-regions represented within the Mark your calendars for Freewheel - state’s borders. Historically held the Oklahoma’s premier, weeklong bicycle first or second full week in June, touring event. The ride rolls through the route changes each year, but back roads, Indian reservations and small typically begins near the Red River, towns Oklahoma’s southern border with TexInaugurated in 1979, Freewheel as, and travels north to end just across has grown from a few hundred riders the Kansas state line. with minimal support to 1,000 ridDistances traveled each day can vary ers enjoying a weeklong trek from the from 50 to 75 miles, with an average Red River to the Kansas state line. In in the mid 60’s. There are usually a

Running •06.07.13 Moonlight 5K, Collinsville

Running • 06.14.13 Inola Run for St. Jude, Inola Run/Walk • 06.15.13 Footsteps of Faith, Sequoyah State Park, OK Running • 06.15.13 Chimi’s Diablo Dash, Tulsa Running • 06.16.13 Tatur’s Lipbuster Challenge, Tulsa Running • 06.22.13 Black Gold Days 5K & Fun Run, Glenpool

Cycling • 06.07.13 Saint Francis Tulsa Tough Ride & Race, Tulsa

few 100-mile (century) options offered during the week as well. Participants camp in rural communities and their gear is transported via semi truck while they ride to the next site.To learn more, visit www.okfreewheel.com.

June 2013 | 23

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The Red Fork Art Gallery & Studio Where artists come to play – to paint – to grow. • A variety of art classes are offered for ages 8 to adult. • W e accept commissions – just tell us what you want and we’ll paint it.

• W e have a large variety of art —including oils, acrylics, pastels, porcelain, watercolor, and jewelry — affordably priced.

The Red Fork Art Gallery and Studio is located in the heart of historic Red Fork.

4071 Southwest Boulevard Call 918.639.4811 for more information