SPRING ADVENTURES including ‘Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks’ at Tulsa Botanic Garden through May 4
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STEINWAY PIANO GALLERY
3402 S. Peoria Ave. Tulsa, Ok 75105
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FIRST OKLAHOMA BANK PRESENTS
Leaders with Heart
INTEGRITY. COMPASSIONATE. INSPIRATIONAL.
After nearly four decades in the energy industry, Larry Payne has built a career defined by leadership, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to people. Today, as President of LESA & Associates LLC, Payne continues to share his expertise through private energy consulting.
Larry’s career spanned midstream operations, commodity trading, risk management, transportation, and marketing. He worked across crude oil, refined products, and natural gas liquids, steadily progressing through various assignments before becoming president of a midstream company. Retirement did not slow his pace. In addition to consulting, he has served on the boards of two public companies and one private equity firm.
Army, including one year stationed in Vietnam. In 2000, his family relocated to Tulsa following a job transfer. What began as a tentative move quickly became home, and they have lived in the area for over 25 years.
demonstrated not only their generosity, but their collective investment in the success of their youth.”
Outside of work and service, Larry enjoys golfing, fishing, and traveling. He notes two memorable hole-in-ones and a 51-pound king salmon caught in Canada.
Larry credits lifelong relationships and the influence of mentors and exceptional work colleagues for shaping his leadership philosophy. “I firmly believe that honesty, integrity, respect for others, kindness, and a generous heart are the most valuable attributes one can possess… Showing respect to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, builds trust and fosters understanding. By taking the time to genuinely listen, I can appreciate different perspectives and learn from those around me.”
Before entering the workforce, Larry earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA and served three years in the U.S.
He and his wife are passionate about education and mentorship, partnering with their alma mater to fund scholarships and a gap program for students who have exhausted financial aid options. They have been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Tulsa Day Center, the TCC Foundation, and Metropolitan Baptist Church, where they are engaged in outreach programs that provide scholarships, food assistance, youth initiatives, and summer reading programs.
Larry’s traces his heart for service to everyone in his life who’s modeled selfless actions and compassion. “When a young person from my hometown went to college, it became a source of pride for the entire community… Townspeople would come together to offer their support, often contributing $5, $10, or $20 to help college students with expenses. This gesture
“I’ve always believed that the true measure of leadership is found in the positive impact someone makes on others, both professionally and personally. Larry’s influence extends far beyond his successful career; it’s the people he uplifts and the trust he builds that define his legacy,” says Tom Bennett Jr., Executive Chairman of the Board for First Oklahoma.
When asked what sets First Oklahoma Bank apart, Larry points to its people and purpose: “First Oklahoma Bank distinguishes itself from other financial institutions through its exceptional approach to customer service and community focus.”
OKLAHOMA'S FUTURE PHYSICIANS START HERE
Our mission to educate Oklahoma’s future physicians for rural and underserved populations is stronger than ever.
The Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine has been impacting our state’s health for 50 years and counting. It began in 1972 in Tulsa and is now one of the top osteopathic colleges in the nation. In fact, U.S. News & World Report has given us a #1 ranking two out of the last three years for graduates practicing in health care shortage areas.
We are training physicians in the heart of Tulsa and in rural Oklahoma at our Cherokee Nation campus in Tahlequah.
To learn more about our mission and impact, visit medicine.okstate.edu.
7
CITY DESK
New neighborhood music venue. Larger-than-life LEGO creations. Heated rivalry at ONEOK Field. Tulsans take on Paris Fashion Week.
LIFESTYLE
Cherry Street’s new bookshop. The West End (of Route 66). It's tomato time! Connie’s decorative eggs.
candy delights. A foodie festival. Provisions provides prime products. Sichuan, spice and everything
‘Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks’ at Tulsa Botanic Garden
PHOTO BY GREG BOLLINGER
EDITOR’S LETTER
Makayla Morgan (left) is a junior at Riverfield Country Day School who recently spent a week interning at Langdon Publishing. She joined Editor Lauren Rogers (right) and Managing Photographer Michelle Pollard at Amelia’s Wood Fired Kitchen during a photoshoot for the March issue.
In 2004, Adam McKay ’s “Anchorman: e Legend of Ron Burgundy” changed my life. It was de nitely not the most age-appropriate movie for a 7-year-old, but it left me wanting to be just like Christina Applegate’s character, Veronica Corningstone. Of course, I’ll always laugh at the joke about Paul Rudd ’s character’s cologne (“60% of the time, it works every time”), but younger me watched the lm from Corningstone’s perspective. e way she refused to shy away from challenges — like rampant workplace sexism — was inspiring, and she introduced me to a career that could put my love of writing to use.
A few years later I got the chance to test drive Corningstone’s job at Junior Achievement of Oklahoma’s BizTown program, where I spent a day as the Cox Business news anchor. is toe-dip into the “real world” rea rmed to 10-year-old me that this path was the right one, and it gave me valuable experience that helped set a foundation for my professional life. So now, almost two decades later, I am delighted to see that JAOK is still providing those opportunities as the organization turns 60. You can read all about JAOK’s impact over the last six decades and its upcoming leadership change on p. 37.
Considering how these in uences showed me what I wanted to do with my life, I was thrilled when Langdon
Publishing got the chance to participate in River eld Country Day School’s internship program in February. is initiative allows River eld juniors to spend a week shadowing in the eld of their choosing.
We were matched with Makayla Morgan, and it was a delight to have her bright insight at the o ce. One of her tasks was to compile this spring’s plantrelated events you’ll nd on p. 13. She also came along to a few photoshoots for our March issue, including the one with Executive Chef Terra Rubio at Amelia’s — where we snagged the photo you see above. Now, we have an intern from Tulsa Community College on the team, Kamron Williams, whose zeal for journalism is infectious.
If you are interested in helping develop Tulsa’s next generation, there are countless ways you can get involved. For inspiration, I’ve provided three nonpro ts with ongoing volunteer opportunities for adults that require varying levels of time commitments below.
Lastly, it’s time to vote in the 2026 A-List Readers’ Choice Awards. Head to tulsapeople.com/a-list to let us know your favorites April 1-12. anks for picking up this issue, and enjoy! tp
Lauren Rogers EDITOR
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT LOCAL YOUTH
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF OKLAHOMA Become a Big and meet with your Little two to four times a month for a few hours at a time. There are three main mentoring formats: community matches, site-based matches and big couple matches. bigoklahoma.org
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF OKLAHOMA With 20-plus programs for students from elementary through high school, JAOK provides a variety of opportunities to fi t volunteers’ busy schedules. oklahoma.ja.org
READING PARTNERS TULSA Spend just over an hour per week helping students gain lifelong literacy skills. Tutoring typically takes place between 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Thursday. readingpartners.org
TulsaPeople Magazine is published monthly by 1603 South Boulder Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407 P: 918-585-9924 F: 918-585-9926
Hundreds of thousands of bulbs are beginning to bloom at the Tulsa Botanic Garden, but blossoms are not the only thing on display this spring. Read all about the traveling exhibition gracing the garden on p. 12.
JENKS STUDENT RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN C-SPAN DOCUMENTARY CONTEST
In March, Jenks High School senior Adilei Brown was named a 2026 second-prize winner in C-SPAN’s annual StudentCam competition for her documentary on food insecurity titled “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Is that Possible on an Empty Stomach?” Over 4,000 middle and high school students from the U.S. and abroad entered the contest and were challenged to explore the American story through the lens of the Declaration of Independence as the nation celebrates the historic document's 250th anniversary. Watch Brown’s thought-provoking short film as it airs throughout the day on C-SPAN's networks April 4 or at c-span.org.
— STAFF REPORTS
THE WRITE STUFF
Tulsa LitFest returns this year April 23-26 for a wide range of diverse, bookish events at multiple venues featuring local and visiting writers.
“Tulsa LitFest is an opportunity for writers and readers (regardless of age or genre) to come together to inspire and be inspired,” says Eric Howerton, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Poets at OSU-Tulsa. “ e creative talent we have in our city, state and region is truly overwhelming, and we hope that Tulsa LitFest serves to platform the vibrance of our local arts community in a way that feels inviting to everyone.”
A joint e ort between the Center for Poets at OSU-Tulsa, Tri City Collective and Magic City Books, this year’s festival will explore the intersection of environmentalism and writing with poet Ken Hada . Writer Daniela Naomi Molnar will also deliver a keynote titled “Wild World, Wild Words.”
Perhaps the highlight of the four-day festival is the book fair taking place April 26 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. With over 70 authors and publishers slated to attend, Samantha Ryan — book fair organizer and local author “Pride” and “ ese Are Not My Final Words” — says this iteration has grown substantially from last year’s in both the amount of attending writers and space.
“ e book fair is important to the community for a few reasons. e rst is the ability for readers to meet authors faceto-face and hear their stories while supporting local art, but secondly, for authors to have the chance to meet one another,” Ryan says.
Most events are free; nd a full festival schedule at tulsa.okstate.edu/poets-writers/litfest. — MADISON WALTERS
MEMORY LANE
Q&A WITH JOY HARJO 40 YEARS OF TULSAPEOPLE
In June 2019, internationally renowned performer and writer of the Muscogee Nation Joy Harjo began her first of a remarkable three terms as U.S. Poet Laureate. The Tulsa native was thrust into a whirlwind of speaking engagements across the country which came the same year that she published her ninth collection of poetry, “An American Sunrise.” As Harjo celebrates releasing her new album “Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace” on April 24, TulsaPeople reflects on a conversation writer Mason Whitehorn Powell had with Harjo for TulsaPeople’s April 2020 issue. The interview explores how the artist was adjusting to her esteemed national title.
I FOUND A MAJOR THEME IN THIS NEW COLLECTION: REMEMBERING. HOW DOES THE EARTH HELP US REMEMBER? Well, the earth bares everything. It’s like in the mother poem, “Washing My Mother’s Body.” See, poems always teach me something. I don’t always know it’s going to happen, and I learn by writing. I realized in writing that mother poem, I have that moment where I talk about the mother’s earth body, her body of earth memories being let down into the earth, because being returned to the earth, it belongs to the earth.
I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT THE IMAGE OF THE MAP IN THAT POEM AND THE SERIES OF MAPS. I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW A MAP IS AN ABSTRACTION OF A PLACE IT REPRESENTS, OR A MAP IS ALSO A COLONIAL DEVICE. HOW DID YOU APPROPRIATE THAT IMAGE? YOU MENTION MAPS SEVERAL TIMES IN “AN AMERICAN SUNRISE.” I didn’t realize I did, but I’ve always been intrigued about: How do you make a map of the soul? Or, how you make a map of history when there are so many moving parts? So many parts have been left out of an agreed-upon map. I think about it a lot.
I even called one of my books of poetry “A Map to the Next World” (published in 2000). For me, a map is a way of finding meaning or tracing meaning through — you can trace it generations, through roads, through time, through rivers. It struck me there especially, being back in the Southeast, how the rivers are roadways and that the Trail of Tears coming east to west was also the trail of American music, which also came on those same roads.
To learn more about how OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center is transforming cancer care for northeast Oklahoma, visit StephensonCancerCenter.org/Tulsa.
Stephenson Cancer Center
TULSA 10
APRIL
COMPILED BY MADISON WALTERS
April 3
LEON LIVE!
Hosted at Cain’s Ballroom, this annual birthday celebration in honor of the late and great Leon Russell features a lineup of Tulsa’s best musicians like Taylor and Isaac Hanson, Casii Stephan, Cody and Desi Clinton, Jacob Tovar and more. cainsballroom.com
April 4
HOOKED AND BOOKED LOCAL AUTHOR EVENT
Join NEFF Brewing for an Oklahoma bookish event that will feature local authors and vendors, as well as giveaways. Hooked and Booked
April 7-12
"MAMMA MIA!”
“MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again” is coming to Tulsa PAC for a small run of performances that will make you laugh and want to dance. celebrityattractions.com
April 10
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Chandler Park’s yearly Earth Day celebration returns with its trash fashion show, where attendees are invited to create outfi ts with reusable materials. Chandler Park
April 11
TULSA INDIAN CLUB’S SPRING FESTIVAL
Taking place at Jenks Riverwalk, this annual event features a variety of Indigenous food, arts and crafts, live music from artists and more. tulsaindianclub.org
April 15
DUMPLING FEST
Experience different restaurants and dishes that include Chinese soup dumplings, Indian kofta, Korean mandu, Nepalese momos, Mexican tamales and more at various restaurants in this at-your-own-pace food tour. tastingplatesyvr.com
April 16-20
WORLD AXE & KNIFE THROWING CHAMPIONSHIP
Head to WeStreet Ice Center for the most thrilling showcase of skill, competition and more as the World Axe & Knife Throwing Championship makes its return to Tulsa. World Axe Throwing League
April 19
“THE OUTSIDERS”
Circle Cinema invites you to get your flix on Route 66 with a screening of “The Outsiders: The Complete Novel Edition.” circlecinema.org
April 2
TULSA DRILLERS SEASON OPENER
Tulsa Drillers opens up its season with a matchup against the San Antonio Missions at ONEOK Field, so come on out and cheer on Tulsa's team. milb.com/tulsa
April 25-May 31 (Saturdays and Sundays) OKLAHOMA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
Step back in time to 1569 England and celebrate the much-anticipated return of the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival. okcastle.com tp
IN BLOOM
It’s all connected
Unique exhibition at Tulsa Botanic Garden builds bonds between humans and nature.
BY KIRSTEN LANG
From towering hummingbirds to blooming spring owers, thousands upon thousands of LEGO bricks are bringing nature to life at the Tulsa Botanic Garden this spring.
“Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks” opened in March and runs through May 4. e larger-than-life exhibition blends art, science and storytelling to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems and humankind’s relationship with nature.
Created by renowned New York artist Sean Kenney, the award-winning exhibit features more than 20 sculptures built from thousands — and sometimes even tens of thousands — of LEGO pieces. One of the largest works depicts a hummingbird hovering over a trumpet ower, standing more than 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
Each sculpture highlights environmental themes such as conservation, predator-prey relationships and protecting wildlife habitats. Informational signs also reveal how many LEGO bricks were used and how long each piece took to create.
Gina Holloway, marketing manager for Tulsa Botanic Garden, says the exhibition illustrates an important message about the natural world.
“Nature Connects shows how nature and the world are interconnected,” Holloway says. “Just as LEGO pieces interconnect, everything in nature is interconnected in a delicate balance.”
She says bringing the exhibition to Tulsa aligns closely with the Garden’s mission.
“By combining the universal appeal of LEGO with messages about conservation and the natural world, we’re staying true to our mission and o ering a unique family experience,” Holloway says.
e exhibit is displayed throughout the Garden during its annual spring celebration, Tulsa Botanic BLOOMS!, when more than 250,000 bulbs including tulips, daffodils and hyacinths burst into color across the landscape.
Beyond the sculptures, several programs are tied to the exhibit this spring. Schools can book eld trips connected to STEAM curriculum provided by Tulsa Botanic
Garden, giving students a chance to explore both engineering concepts and ecological themes.
“ e exhibit allows students to observe artistic creativity and structural ingenuity while making connections to real-world environmental challenges,” Holloway says.
Tulsa Botanic Garden is also o ering free admission to Title I schools for eld trips, as well as free entry for SNAP and WIC recipients throughout 2026, while tickets last.
Tulsa Botanic Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the exhibition’s limited engagement. tp
FOR THE CALENDAR
APRIL 3, 10:30 A.M.
The garden will host its First Friday Horticulture tour to highlight the month’s buds and blooms.
APRIL 11, 10:30 A.M.
The Tulsa Opera visits the garden for Treefort Story Time, suitable for children 10 and younger.
On view through May 4 at the Tulsa Botanic Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive, the “Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks” exhibition has visited nearly 100 cities since 2012.
Spring flings
A roundup of local plant sales and bloom events.
COMPILED BY MAKAYLA MORGAN
Through May 4
TULSA BOTANIC BLOOMS!
Tulsa Botanic Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive Times vary • $15 for adults; $10 for children
The annual Tulsa Botanic Blooms features a crescendo of color with over 150,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other spring-flowering bulbs. tulsabotanic.org/tulsa-botanic-blooms
April 1-30
AZALEA FESTIVAL
Various locations in Muskogee Various times • Free admission
This month-long celebration will feature a variety of activities, including the Azalea Parade, 5K and fun run, and Flower Power Bicycle Ride. muskogeeparks.org
April 3-5
ART IN BLOOM
Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Road
Times and prices vary
Art in Bloom is a museum-wide experience showcasing stunning structures made by local floral designers that are inspired by the architecture and art of Philbrook. philbrook.org/visit/bloom
April 10-11
NATIVE PLANT WEEKEND
Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Road
Times and prices vary
Guests can purchase native plants grown by Philbrook horticulturists, connect with community members doing work to protect our wildlife and habitats, and go on guided tours to see native plants in the gardens. philbrook.org
SPRINGFEST
Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park, 2435 S. Peoria Ave.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free admission
This event is a celebration of gardening and horticulture, offering a wide range of educational programming, beautification and historic preservation opportunities. tulsagardencenter.org/springfest
April 11
BLOOM ON BLVD:
A HAUS OF KITT EXPERIENCE
WOMPA, 3306 Charles Page Blvd.
4 p.m.-1:30 a.m. • Prices vary
This blooms-themed music and art festival celebrates the power of shared moments. Ring in spring with local artists and vendors at this immersive experience featuring two performance stages. @hausofkitt
GARDEN PLANT SALES
Robinson Ranch, 2505 E. 141st St., Bixby
9 a.m.-1 p.m. • Free admission
Meet Kat Robinson, owner of Robinson Ranch, and stock up on veggies and herbs to plant in your garden. Fresh-cut flowers from the farm will also be available. robinsonranchveggies.com
SPRING FLING
Redbud Festival Park,
109 N. Main St., Owasso
10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free admission
The Spring Fling is a family-friendly event featuring Master Gardeners, product demonstrations, plant sales, kids’ crafts and various food trucks. cityofowasso.com/769/Spring-Fling
April 17-19
SPRING HOME & OUTDOOR LIVING EXPO
Tulsa Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri.-Sat.,
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. • Free admission
Head to Expo Square to find spring deals from a variety of vendors. While there, enjoy an engaging display of model trains by the Tulsa Garden Railroad Club. springhomeexpo.com
April 18
SAND SPRINGS HERBAL AFFAIR AND FESTIVAL
Downtown Sand Springs, Near Broadway and Main Street
8 a.m.-4 p.m. • Free admission
There will be over 150 vendors offering a great selection of medicinal, culinary and decorative herbs, as well as live entertainment.
Herbal Affair
April 18 and May 4
TULSA AREA IRIS SOCIETY SHOW
Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park, 2435 S. Peoria Ave.
12-4 p.m. • Free admission
This is an annual exhibition by the Tulsa Area Iris Society in which the group displays iris blooms in full peak. tulsairis.org
April 25
JENKS HERB AND PLANT FESTIVAL
Downtown Jenks, Main Street between First and Third Street
8 a.m.-4 p.m. • Free admission
This yearly event will feature a variety of activities, including workshops, plant sales and more. jenksgardenclub
www.TraversMahanApparel.com 61st & Yale • KingsPointe Village
Friday 5 - 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Rhema Ninowski Rec Center, BA
Sponsored by Economy Lumber Company Tulsa, Oklahoma 918-835-4933 | elctulsa.com
Silver screen anniversary
BY JANE ZEMEL
Clunky speakers clinging to car windows may have been replaced by FM radios, but going to the drive-in still feels as American as baseball and apple pie. In 1951, Tulsa’s own Admiral Twin Drive-in opened with “Oh! Susanna” starring Rod Cameron “ at went fast,” says owner Blake Smith of the 75 years that followed. His father, Richard Smith, had worked “the movie circuit,” owning and managing movie theaters throughout the Midwest
before buying the Tulsa drive-in in 1987. Upon purchase, he also hired 20-year-old Blake as manager.
“(My father) put everything he had into it,” Blake says. “Opening night, there were huge lines to get in.”
Blake remembers getting to take friends to see movies at the theater in the late 80s and 90s. “(It) made me a little bit cool,” he says. In 2000, he took over the family business.
e drive-in itself is an icon, made famous in 1983 when it was featured in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic lm “ e Outsiders.” In 2010, a re sadly destroyed the original wooden screens, but the theater reopened with steel screens in 2012.
Drive-ins have survived megaplexes, Blockbuster, Redbox and now streaming, because they o er more than just a movie — going to the drive-in is an experience.
“In the 1980s and early 90s, people would be there two or three hours before the show to spend time as families,” Blake says.
Despite their enduring popularity, however, fewer than 300 drive-ins remain in the U.S., operated mostly by legacy owners with no drive-in-interested heirs. “ e land is worth way more than the business,” Blake laments. He speculates that most of his fellow drive-in owners face a similar reality, driven by a love of the tradition rather than pro ts.
Today, the Admiral Twin is a summer tradition for many families. Beginning this year, the long lines at the concession will yield to a faster self-serve process. “It is essentially a cafeteria line where you select your items and pay at the end,” Blake explains.
To commemorate its 75 years, an anniversary celebration on May 29 will feature “ e Outsiders” and “Cool Hand Luke.” Fans will be able to buy special Admiral Twin merch to mark the theater’s landmark birthday.
Since the Admiral Twin is o Tulsa’s original Route 66 alignment at 7355 E. Easton St., the special evening will have a tie-in with the Route 66 Capitol Cruise May 30. “With all the cars coming in for the Route 66 Capitol Cruise event, we think people might want to show o their vehicles,” Blake explains. “So, we’re planning to host a car show where anyone interested can bring their car and display it.” e Twin’s season opens April 3 and runs through Halloween. Admission is $10 for adults; $5 for kids ages 3-11; free for 2 and under. tp
Blake Smith, owner of Admiral Twin Drive-In. The theater, which turns 75 this year, will kick off their 2026 season April 3.
GREEN GOBBLIN’
Local business uses ‘kid’ labor
Goats are hitting the trails at Turkey Mountain this spring. River Parks has recruited the herd to restore the urban wilderness area’s natural ecosystem by devouring invasive plants across hundreds of acres of land. The hungry team belongs to Green Collar Goats, an eco-friendly goat-scaping service based in Tulsa and the brainchild of Daniel Rose Passionate about regenerative farming, Rose had worked with every other type of grazing animal before acquiring his first set of goats in October 2025. “One of the great uses of goats is that they eat brush and invasive plants, but they don’t really eat grass,” he explains. “It allows the grasses to regrow, which is what holds the soil in.”
To herd his goats, Rose uses geo-fencing, a location-based technology that allows him to set up virtual parameters for where his goats can roam. Each goat wears a special collar that emits a warning sound if they near a designated boundary. “It really changes how I’m able to manage (the goats) in a way that’s practical and scalable,” he adds.
Initially, Rose wasn’t sure if there was enough demand for goat-scaping in Tulsa. However, he
experienced an outpouring of interest that led him to launch the business a year earlier than planned. Known for traversing mountain tops, goats are especially helpful with clearing elevated, rocky areas that terrain equipment can’t reach.
Last year, the goats took to the rugged landscape at Turkey Mountain’s Rock Yard. Within a month, the goats cleared 7 acres overrun by Chinese privet that had grown four feet tall.
After taking a short break over the winter, Green Collar Goats will return to River Parks to clean up the west bank of the Arkansas River. The goats may also make an appearance at the Keystone Ancient Forest and Oxley Nature Center.
Rose hopes to continue bringing sustainable vegetation control to municipalities and private property owners across the state.
“It’s been a really unique opportunity to bring the idea of land stewardship ... into a more urban area,” Rose shares. “It’s also just an enjoyable and fun experience for people to see the goats roam and graze.”
To learn more about Green Collar Goats, check out greencollargoats.com. — FAITH HARL
Entrepreneur Daniel Rose employs grazing goats to control clients’ overgrown vegetation.
App-solutely covered
Local meteorologist provides 24-hour weather coverage via app and streaming channels.
BY ROBERT EVATT
We know April showers bring on the May owers, but as Okies we also know they can bring nights spent hunkering down in empty bathtubs as the tornado sirens wail outside. It’s during these times with family and beloved pets huddled near that we seek out those knowledgeable, familiar voices that keep us safe, and one of those voices in local meteorology is Mike Collier
For Collier, meteorology isn’t just a job — it’s a lifetime fascination.
“I have loved weather ever since I was a little kid,” he says. “I was so fascinated. I would watch e Weather Channel constantly.”
ough he retired from weather reporting at KJRH in May of 2024 to be able to spend more time with his wife and three young children, Collier didn’t want to let down those who had come to rely on him during his 20-plus years of covering Green Country weather — especially during severe storm season. at’s why he’s created MCWX, a free weather app for mobile devices that is speci cally designed to alert
users of any bad weather approaching eastern Oklahoma.
To create MCWX, Collier collaborated with Huntsville-based Baron Weather, a weather data provider he relied upon back in his TV reporting days. e MCWX app utilizes state-of-the-art equipment paired with AI technology to be able to better determine wind speeds and rotation, even detecting smaller cells that can produce a tornado in more rural areas.
“Large areas of rotation are easier to identify; it’s the smaller, tighter areas that are more di cult, and our app is designed to highlight those quickly,” Collier says.
In addition to the app, MCWX has also launched the only local, round-theclock streaming weather channel that can be accessed on all types of devices — from mobile and desktop browsers to television platforms such as Roku (search “Mike Collier” or “MCWX” and download it for free; service also coming soon to Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV). Users can see Collier, Bud Ford and other local meteorologists providing live weather updates throughout the day, and live
coverage when severe weather hits. Storm Chaser Mike Scantlin is also a part of the MCWX team and provides live feedback during active weather situations as well. If electricity goes out during a storm, users can still continue to stream the live coverage through the app on their mobile devices.
“I want to be where everybody’s at, and not stuck on one medium,” Collier says.
To date, the MCWX app has been downloaded over 100,000 times, and the streaming service gets several million views per month. Collier also has more than 500,000 followers across his social media accounts — @mikecollierwx on Instagram, Facebook and X, and @tvmikecollier on TikTok.
“I appreciate the loyal viewers of eastern Oklahoma,” he says. “I really owe everything to them, so I can’t thank them enough.”
Collier is also quick to thank the local sponsors that have helped make MCWX possible and continue to support it today. In the near future, he plans to spread MCWX’s coverage to include Oklahoma City. Learn more at mikecollierwx.com. tp
After more than 20 years of weather reporting for KTUL and KJRH, Chief Meteorologist Mike Collier continues to keep Tulsans weather aware — especially during severe storms — through his MCWX app and 24/7 streaming channel. MCWX utilizes the same highly accurate technology as the local news stations.
FASHION
Passport to Paris
their
BY JULIE WENGER WATSON
Last month, stylists Julie Hudson and Jane Huggins packed their brushes, bobby pins and passports to y to France for Paris Fashion Week. While there was plenty of glamour, this was a working trip for the identical twins and co-owners of iidentity Salon, 2731 S. Harvard Ave. e pair worked with Lead Designer and Stylist Jay Marie Fischer to style trendsetting coi ures backstage at what’s considered one of the most in uential and prestigious events in the global fashion industry. Hudson even had the opportunity to create her own look during the week’s Hair Couture show, where stylists get to pick their model to show o a unique hair design.
is wasn’t the rst time the sisters have found themselves at the heart of haute couture. As salon owners and stylists, they have a long association with professional hair product brand Bumble and Bumble. On two previous occasions, the company has invited them to join their team of stylists at New York Fashion Week to craft innovative hairstyles for the event.
Not only are these experiences tremendous opportunities for Huggins and Hudson, the knowledge and connections they gain while rubbing shoulders with elite stylists from across the world also bene ts their customers and their sta .
“It’s just another way to ll your bucket of creativity,” Hudson says. “When you go out and do these things, it’s so inspiring to the client. at’s where the trends are being set. Our clients want to know what’s new, and there’s no better way to tell them what’s new then to go to Paris Fashion Week, do the hair and say, ‘that’s what’s on the runway.’”
iidentity has its own apprentice program, as Hudson and Huggins believe mentoring is an important part of the work they do. Industry newcomers who have their license can assist seasoned stylists to learn the diverse skills needed to build a successful career in hair care.
“We just want to open the door of opportunity for any of our employees to do more and bigger things. Our industry has so much to o er,” Huggins says. “Hair dressing is rewarding. It’s a long-lasting career where you can make a great income and have the freedom to travel, teach and mentor — all while raising a family.” tp
Twin Tulsa hair stylists take
talents to Paris Fashion Week.
Above, Matrix Educator Michelle Lowrie (center) with Julie Hudson and Jane Huggins — the twin co-owners of iidentity Salon who recently styled hair behind the scenes at Paris Fashion Week. Bottom left, a model walks the runway displaying a couture hair design by Hudson. Bottom right, Hudson and Bumble and Bumble Educator Brooke Rogers style a model's hair backstage.
Catering For Any Occasion
Building intrigue
New social media series showcases iconic architecture.
BY MACY GOODNIGHT
Dedicated to preservation and education, the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture recently debuted a new video series showcasing the historical and architectural signi cance of individual buildings.
“Tulsa’s Architectural Treasures with Tom McCarthy” premiered on TFA’s Instagram (@tulsa.architecture) and Facebook (Tulsa Foundation for Architecture) accounts in early January
Introducing MALINDA
BLANK, TFA executive director
In January, Malinda Blank was named executive director of the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture following a nationwide search to fill the position. Blank served in the role for 7 months in an interim capacity, having originally started with the organization as an archivist four years ago.
and will continue to drop new episodes through April 23. Produced in collaboration with the Tulsa Storytelling Lab, the series features eight digital episodes that explore and highlight some of our city’s most celebrated landmarks, hosted by retired Los Angeles Times and AP journalist Tom McCarthy
“I’ve been an architecture bu for many years, exploring the designs and styles in other cities where I’ve lived and worked —
mostly Washington, D.C. and Chicago,” McCarthy explains. “Tulsa has interesting architecture to talk about.”
After returning to Tulsa, his hometown, in 2016, McCarthy decided to go from being a TFA member to a full- edged volunteer following his retirement. “I give quite a few tours; I research a fair number of them,” he says. “I’m a pretty active member of the group and have gotten more deeply into it.”
Each three-minute-or-less episode in the new TFA series presents McCarthy o ering an in-depth look at landmark buildings to intrigue both architectural enthusiasts and history lovers, as well as introduce a new audience to the beauty of Tulsa and its architecture. e reels are layered with heavy research, delivered with a charm and zeal no doubt in uenced by McCarthy’s career of storytelling.
“What we’re trying to accomplish here is to make Tulsans more familiar with their history and more familiar with the culture and the architecture we have here so they’ll keep it (and) preserve it,” McCarthy says.
Malinda Blank , newly appointed TFA executive director, says the Rick Stevesstyle snippets are designed to make architecture approachable.
“We want to make information and love of architecture accessible to everybody,” she explains. “With the video series, we’re really just excited to expand our educational programming, and this is our chance to provide essentially free educational material on downtown Tulsa’s built environment for the masses.”
To Blank, what stands out most about the initiative is the engagement the videos have generated. “I’m blown away by how many people are saying what they’ve learned, and the conversations that can come out of people’s memories,” she says. “ ese videos have sparked interest about Tulsa’s architectural signi cance and the work TFA is doing to (reach) a new audience.” tp
“Every day here is different, which I absolutely love,” she says.
Her entire career has been dedicated to nonprofi ts, during which she has served on multiple boards and worked in development, programming and volunteer management, as well as archival and collection management.
As executive director, Blank is responsible for ensuring the nonprofi t continues advancing strategic initiatives including advocating for the preservation of Oklahoma’s signifi cant architec-
ture, facilitating educational programs and expanding access to the TFA archives. Many of these efforts — from guided tours to document digitization — rely on the work of longtime volunteers who donate their time and talent to the nonprofi t.
“I say this all the time, but TFA has the best volunteers in the world,” Blank says. “We couldn’t do what we do without them.”
To learn more about TFA and how to get involved, visit tulsaarchitecture.org. tp
Malinda Blank, executive director of Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, with former journalist and TFA volunteer Tom McCarthy. McCarthy is the host of TFA’s new video series that explores Tulsa’s historic buildings.
‘Soil Capital of the World’
Kitty Gang Family Foundation combines composting e orts and art to grow sustainability practices in Tulsa.
BY ONIKAH ASAMOA-CAESAR
It’s not uncommon to nd James “Compost Malone” Taylor, one of the main driving forces behind the Kitty Gang Family Foundation, driving around in his 2000 Toyota Tacoma with his dog, Mayhem, picking up food scraps and co ee grounds around Tulsa. As a group of community activists, Taylor and the other members of KGFF work quite literally at the grassroots level to build a more sustainable city through e orts such as its Scraps Community Composting service.
“We do weekly food pickups from a whole slew of di erent neighborhoods right now, and from a few di erent restaurants,” says Taylor, who is also a board member for the Oklahoma Compost and Sustainability Association.
Utilizing an empty lot turned community garden in e Heights neighborhood — which became the rst small-scale composting permit exemption in the state last year — the KGFF team works to process the scraps into nourishing compost. Once nished, the compost is available for purchase to the public (look for it soon at the Tulsa Farmers’ Market), and also donated to gardens across Tulsa, including e Heights Community Garden, an educational garden at Emerson Elementary School, and a new community garden in Crosbie Heights.
If you ask Taylor, gardening is a form of art, and dirt is his medium. In fact, many folks who dedicate their time to KGFF are artists, and art has a strong tie-in to both
their community and composting-minded goals. e group often hosts art-based events as a way to not only bring people together, but also to spark more conversation and engagement around sustainable concepts.
“Kitty Gang brings the community a mix of creativity and care by combining urban composting with community art gatherings,” says Jarett “J Buckets” Boss, who serves as the group’s creative director. “We turn everyday waste into fertile soil and everyday spaces into places of expression, bringing people together to connect, create and nurture both the environment and each other.”
e group is deeply committed to the Tulsa community, often lending their support or creative services/installations to events like Tulsa Tough’s Cry Baby Hill race and local art festivals. Every December, KGFF also hosts a huge coat drive Christmas party, during which they collect blankets and warm clothing for organizations like Emergency Infant Services, Coats for Kids and the Tulsa Day Center.
e dream for KGFF? To rebrand Tulsa from the “Oil Capital of the World” to the “Soil Capital of the World.” And if you get the chance to meet the team or see their work up close, you just might start to believe it’s possible.
“While we are still building, I see a future where food waste diversion and composting supports Tulsans coming together to grow nutritious foods and feed the bodies and souls of our communities,” says Ellie “9 Lives” McCracken, the nonpro t’s president.
“What I want for Tulsa is for people to be surprised at how e ectively we’ve decentralized our waste management and our ability to grow food and medicine for people, because Tulsa is the perfect size,” Taylor adds. “You can really make waves in a city this size, all the way to the point where other cities will look at how we got there.”
Individuals interested in getting involved with KGFF can help with scraps pickups and/or compost processing, or sign up to have their scraps collected once per week (suggested donation of $25/month) at scraptulsa.org. Businesses can also partner with KGFF to develop and adopt more sustainable practices and arrange for food waste pickup.
To learn more about the group’s mission visit kittygang.org, and to keep up with community activities check out their Instagram, @kittygangproductions. tp
Jarett (JB) Boss, creative director of the Kitty Gang Family Foundation, with the nonprofit's president Ellie McCracken and treasurer James Taylor at KGFF's composting site in The Heights neighborhood. A main focus of KGFF is collecting scraps from homes and businesses to turn into nourishing compost.
Bedlam Baseball is back
OSU and OU return to ONEOK Field along with homegrown talent.
BY JOHN TRANCHINA
The last Bedlam Baseball game played at ONEOK Field in downtown Tulsa occurred in 2022, but it’s back again this year on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m., and Drillers President Mike Melega couldn’t be happier.
With the University of Oklahoma now in the Southeastern Conference and Oklahoma State University remaining in the Big 12, the teams don’t play conference games anymore, so it took a couple of years to get this classic matchup back on the schedule.
“I started with the Drillers in ’94 and it was a tradition,” Melega says. “We hosted Bedlam Baseball for the rst time in 1991, and hosted games basically every season for 30+ years. en going into the pandemic, and Oklahoma State getting their new
stadium and OU leaving the conference, it’s just kind of fallen apart.”
e Tulsa Drillers will kick o the day of baseball with a game at 12 p.m.
Following the rst game, gates will re-open for Bedlam around 6 p.m. Fans will need di erent tickets to attend each event.
“ e Drillers have a very casual baseball experience; (their fans are) here for the experience and people-watching, and the food and the mascot and the Dippin’ Dots, and all that good stu ,” Melega explains. “ ese (collegiate fans), they’re here because OSU’s going to be on the uniform, and OU’s going to be on the uniform.”
Melega noted there are usually a few more OSU fans in the stadium than OU fans, and most everyone is dialed in on the action. “If you’ve never been to one of these games, the thing that’s so great about them
is the fans are so into it,” Melega explains. “When the rst pitch goes, concourses really do clear out pretty quickly, and people are really locked in to what’s going on between the lines.”
It should be an entertaining game, as both teams are once again enjoying excellent seasons. As of this writing, OU was 14-2 on the season and ranked No. 12 in the nation. During a stretch from late February to early March, OSU won 11 of 12 games to improve to 12-4.
e teams have actually already played each other once this year back on Feb. 14, when the Sooners rolled to a 10-1 victory as part of the Shriners Children’s College Showdown fundraiser at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Junior in elder Avery Ortiz scored OSU’s only run in that contest, but it ended
Bedlam Baseball returns to Tulsa April 14 at 7 p.m., giving OU and OSU fans alike a chance to support their teams in Tulsa. “It’s usually a little bit heavier to OSU,” Drillers President Mike Melega says of past fan breakdowns, including the last Bedlam game hosted at ONEOK Field in 2022.
up being his last game until very recently as he su ered a hamstring injury late in the game. Ortiz, a graduate of Union High School, is excited about coming back home to play in the Bedlam game.
“It’s always cool to come back to your hometown and play in front of the people that you love, seeing some old friends and family,” Ortiz says. “And then obviously, you have OU vs. OSU, a big in-state rivalry.”
He expects to have “a bunch” of friends and family in the stands watching him.
“I think that just makes it a little bit more fun,” he says, “having a solid group of people supporting you.”
Ortiz credits his time at Union with helping him develop into the player he is today.
“I’d gone to Union my whole life, so growing up in the Union baseball program was huge for me,” he says. “I learned a lot from (Union coach) Shawn Newkirk and the sta there. I still talk to them, they’re always just checking in on me.”
Ortiz notes that he’s not only been to ONEOK Field many times as a fan to watch Drillers games, but he also played there once in high school.
“Union High School played Bixby High School there in 2022, so I’ve played at that eld before (and am) pretty familiar with it,” he says.
After batting .222 last year in just 17 games as a sophomore after missing most of the season due to injuries, Ortiz was expected to be a big part of the Cowboys this season, so it’s been a bit disappointing he hasn’t been able to get on the eld much due to another injury. But barring any unforeseen setbacks, he should be in ne form by the time the Bedlam game hits Tulsa.
To fans looking to buy tickets to the game, Melega points out that the Sooners are the designated home team.
“OU’s the home team, so they’ll be over on the rst base side, and OSU will be over on the third base side for the game,” Melega says. “So if people are buying tickets online, they always want to sit over by their own teams’ dugout.”
Individual tickets start at $11.50 for lawn seats and $22.50 for seating bowl seats. ere are also club seats available starting at $37.50. Visit milb.com/tulsa to purchase tickets. tp
Oklahoma State University junior infielder Avery Ortiz graduated from Union High School and will be back in Tulsa for the Bedlam game this month.
House music
A new intimate listening room in Tulsa
BY FAITH HARL
Robert Kleven and Kim Altier are in bed by 10 p.m. most nights, but that hasn’t kept them from enjoying high-quality live music. Last year, the couple started welcoming acts from across the region into their midtown home for intimate concert experiences.
“We joke, because at our age we have found that we often aren’t up late enough to see a lot of music,” Kleven says, laughing. “We have our shows at a (more) reasonable evening hour than a lot of live music venues.”
To connect with musicians, the couple joined the Listening Room Network, a leading promoter of house concerts. For their rst show last May, Kleven and Altier opened their doors to Texas-based funk-folk duo McLeod Nine. Since then the pair has continued to bring a steady lineup of artists into their home, including Oklahoma singer-songwriter and e Voice contestant Jordan Rainer. ough Kleven and Altier love providing a space for good music, the real motivator is supporting musicians by helping them earn
a living wage. As a self-taught drummer, Kleven understands the challenges that touring artists face. He grew up playing in bands and even performed at Cain’s Ballroom with a group of hip-hop artists in the ’90s.
“I’ve had many friends who have done (music) full time for a living, and it’s a constant struggle,” he shares. “Some (musicians) can play as good as anyone that has made it, but they just haven’t quite got the break. If I can contribute to that, have fun doing it, and get to sit and enjoy the music in my living room, heck yeah!”
“We saw it as a way to help artists brand themselves in a di erent market,” Altier adds, also noting that 100% of the money from the concerts goes to the artists.
Kleven and Altier are in the real estate industry by day, but their recreation time has long been dedicated to music. Both are originally from Austin, Texas, and Altier loved to attend Kleven’s shows back when he was in a blues band there. Moving to Tulsa in 2011, the couple has always kept an assortment of musical equipment and instruments in the house, holding many romping karaoke nights in what they dubbed their “music room.”
“Kim and I would go in there and sing for hours,” Kleven recalls.
When house concerts came back onto his radar via a social media post in late 2024, Kleven remembered the nights he and his band would play in homes back in Austin. “I thought, ‘this is a way to expose people to original music (and) expose musicians travelling to the Tulsa music scene,’” he says. “(I) knew that I would take the care to do it well, understanding the perspective of the musician.”
Entirely donation-based, each house concert centers on creating an intimate experience for both the guests and musicians. Kleven lends his personal PA system, and Altier creates a spread of home-cooked food.
“Some of the people that have come have never experienced anything like it before,” Kleven says. “It’s about creating a comfortable environment where we can sit down, have fun and just listen to the music.” eir next show is April 24 and will feature Aaron English, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and pianist. To learn more check out Kim and Robert’s Music Room on Facebook. tp
For a little more than a year, local couple Kim Altier and Robert Kleven have been showcasing live performances from their home, calling their venue Kim and Robert’s Music Room. On March 14, they welcomed former contestant on The Voice, Oklahoman Jordan Rainer.
Heart map
Indigenous artist’s third album explores themes of cultural identity, community and family history.
BY JULIE WENGER WATSON
This month, artist Kalyn Fay (Cherokee Nation, Muskogee descent) releases her third fulllength album, “ ᎠᏫᏒᏅ,” which means “garden” in Cherokee. Her rst record in seven years, it’s a beautiful collection of ten original tracks that highlight her talents as a songwriter, as well as her ethereal vocals.
“I’ve been working on these songs since I released my last record,” Fay says. “It’s been a long time and a labor of love.”
Much of Fay’s music explores themes of home — both longing to escape from it and wanting to return. She says this album is centered in her Indigenous identity, taking inspiration from the work of Native poet and musician, Joy Harjo.
“Joy Harjo says there’s a map buried in your heart, and when you’re trying to nd your way back home, you just point back to that map. So, the rest of our life, we’re trying to return home to our ancestors, or to who buried that map inside of us,” she says. “I found that really compelling, and I re ected on that sentiment of, ‘What’s my map look like? What’s that thing that always points me back home?’”
e album’s title track, “Garden,” might hold the answer.
“I thought a lot about my family home in Tahlequah and my grandpa, my eduda,” she says. “He had a garden behind this rickety old shed he’d built, and it kept growing even after he’d passed. It grew for years, and we would play in it. I always think that space is like my map. It’s like this natural space was my family, the space that grows even when I don’t always have time to take care of it. at’s kind of the overarching theme: How do I honor that relationship? How do I do my best with what I’ve been given right now? How do I carve a path that’s better for the people who come after me?”
“ ᎠᏫᏒᏅ ” is out April 3, with an album release show planned for April 24 at VFW Post 577, where Fay will be joined by musicians JD McPherson and Nick Shoulders For more on Fay and to check out her summer touring schedule visit kalynfay.com, or @kalynfay on Instagram. tp
Local musician Kalyn Fay, seen here at Philbrook Museum (2727 S. Rockford Road) in front of “Her Favorite Color is Pink” by Cheyenne artist Ann Craig, will release their third album this month.
McBirney Family Weddings
BY MICHAEL OVERALL
In one of Tulsa’s earliest socialite weddings, Vera Clinton married Irish immigrant James H. McBirney at her family’s rural home near Red Fork on June 6, 1901.
It was a modest celebration with a short list of guests and a private ceremony presided over by the groom’s father, a Methodist minister. But it marked the union of one of Tulsa’s most eligible bachelors with one of the area’s most notable debutantes, with Clinton described in the local social pages as a “lovable lady” with “an attractive personality.”
e bride’s father, Charles Clinton , was one of the rst ranchers to settle in
the Arkansas River valley and built a large house near Red Fork in 1886, which seemed palatial by frontier standards. Standing near what is now Clinton West Elementary School, the home included 10 rooms and a broad, shady porch, where the wedding party posed for photographs.
e bride’s brother, Dr. Fred S. Clinton , added to the family’s prominence by opening one of Tulsa’s rst medical practices and helping nance the city’s rst successful oil well, laying the foundation for Tulsa’s oil boom.
e groom, meanwhile, came to Tulsa in 1897 to accept a bookkeeping position and play as pitcher for the city’s rst base-
ball team. By the time he married Vera, he was a 31-year-old assistant cashier at First National Bank, where he was “well-known for his courteous treatment of all those who had business with him,” according to a local newspaper.
Less than three years after the wedding, McBirney became one of the founders of the Bank of Commerce, which helped nance Tulsa’s rapid growth in the 1910s and ’20s. As Commerce’s president, he became known as the “Dean of the Banking Industry” in Tulsa but also branched out into real estate development with the 10-story McBirney Building, which opened in 1928; it is better known
Above, James Hugh McBirney (second from left) and Vera Mary Clinton (center) on their wedding day in 1901 with family, including the groom's father Reverend Hugh McBirney (far right). Right, Robert Marion Hardy and Dorothy Vera McBirney at McBirney Mansion on their wedding day in 1940. From left, Vera Mary Clinton McBirney, Robert Marion Hardy, Dorothy Vera McBirney and James Hugh McBirney.
HEART BALL The American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Ball on Feb. 27 centered on the story of survivor honoree Parker Lee Helmerich, 2, who underwent open heart surgery and received a heart transplant within the first year of his life. In a moving video played during the evening’s program, event Co-chairs Faith and David Helmerich shared about the emotional 347-day journey they spent in the hospital with their son before he was finally able to go home. This year’s event also celebrated 41 Sweethearts and Mavericks — local teens who collectively contributed more than $180,000 to the year-round Tulsa Heart Ball campaign. In total, the campaign raised $900,000 to benefit heart and stroke research, prevention and education, as well as local community health programs in Tulsa. (Parker is pictured above with his father David Helmerich, Audrey Helmerich Glaser and Jono Helmerich.)
today as the former Parker Drilling headquarters at ird and Main.
e same year that the McBirney Building was established, James and Vera McBirney moved into their 12,000-plussquare-foot mansion overlooking the Arkansas River south of downtown. e Tudor Gothic landmark featured 10 bedrooms, stained glass features, oak paneling, a marble replace and even an elevator.
e McBirneys’ own daughters held their respective weddings a decade apart: Martha McBirney wed David M. Bradley in 1930, and Dorothy married Robert Marion Hardy in 1940. e Tulsa Daily World described the latter event as one of the most important social occasions of the year. Hundreds of white owers decorated the candlelit drawing room, where distinguished guests enjoyed an evening of food and music.
e three weddings across generations marked Tulsa’s progress from a dusty frontier town to the Oil Capital of the World, a city that had grown more than one hundredfold since James and Vera were married. e mansion remained in the McBirney family until 1976 and, after its conversion to an upscale bed-and-breakfast, became a well-known wedding venue. In more recent years, it has returned to use as a private residence, but it remains one of the most recognizable historic homes in Tulsa.
James McBirney died June 8, 1944, at age 74. Vera McBirney died March 7, 1975, at age 95. Dorothy McBirney Hardy, a community activist who helped lay the groundwork for Tulsa’s Goodwill Industries, died in 1967 at age 64. Martha McBirney Bradley ultimately moved to Evergreen, Colorado, where she passed away at age 73 in 1980. tp
RED RIBBON GALA On the night of Feb. 28, 100 pounds of confetti rained down over Arvest Convention Center’s grand hall following the announcement that a record-shattering $1,656,905 had been raised to support Tulsa CARES — a nonprofit serving low-income individuals living with HIV and Hepatitis C in the community. Event Co-chairs Ben Stewart and Emily Stewart, pictured above with Tulsa CARES CEO Carly Wignarajah (center), celebrated by dancing the night away alongside the other 750-plus guests in attendance. The evening also saw longtime Tulsa CARES champion Bob Stewart named as this year’s Patricia G. Chernicky Luminary Honoree.
A bride at McBirney Mansion on her wedding day. The Museum of Tulsa History identifies her as likely Martha McBirney, who married David M. Bradley in 1930.
April charitable events
COMPILED BY TIFFANY
HOWARD
1-30
World Wish Month
Benefi ts Make-A-Wish Oklahoma. wish.org/oklahoma
Every Thursday Evening Bingo Night
Benefi ts programs for veterans. American Legion Billie A. Hall Post 17
2
Boots on the Bayou Bash
Benefi ts Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tulsa. thebashtulsa.org
Mentorship Matters
Benefi ts Junior League of Tulsa. jltulsa.org
3-5
Art in Bloom
Benefi ts Philbrook Museum of Art. philbrook.org
4
Black Excellence Ball and Banquet
Benefi ts The Black Excellence Scholarship Program. Black Excellence Ball & Banquet
Mayo Mix 2026
Benefi ts Mayo Demonstration School. mayomix2026
Spring with the Bunny
Benefi ts Tulsa Zoo. tulsazoo.org/bunny
7
William Booth Society Gala
Benefi ts The Salvation Army. southernusa.salvationarmy.org/ tulsa-area-command
9
13th Annual Founders
Dinner
Benefi ts Iron Gate. irongatetulsa.org/events
Appetite for Construction
Benefi ts the HBA Charitable Foundation and Workforce Development. tulsahbacf.com
President’s Council Dinner Concert: featuring Sarah Coburn, Jana McIntyre, and Abigail Raiford Benefi ts Tulsa Opera. tulsaopera.com
29
Backpacks and Bites Benefi ts Joy in the Cause. joyinthecause.org
Newsmakers Luncheon
Benefi ts Association for Women in Communications Tulsa. awctulsa.org
World Wish Day
Benefi ts Make-A-Wish Oklahoma. wish.org/oklahoma
30
Legacy Award Dinner
Benefits Greenwood Cultural Center. greenwoodculturalcenter.org
TULSA EXPO SQUARE SAGENET CENTER
6 FSS OPEN SHOWS
FREE
6 ALL -BREED OBEDIENCE TRIALS
6 ALL -BREED RALLY TRIALS
3 ALL -BREED DOG SHOWS
8 FAST CATS (THURSDAY - SUNDAY)
2 OBEDIENCE AND RALLY SHOW N’ GO (WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY)
3 JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP
3 4-6 MONTH BEGINNER PUPPY
2 FIT DOG WALKS (SATURDAY & SUNDAY)
3 NATIONAL SPECIALTIES (THURSDAY)
2 NATIONAL OWNER HANDLED SERIES
KID ZONE
1 SANCTIONED B MATCH ALL BREED, MISC. & FSS (THURSDAY)
1 NOHS REGIONAL (FRIDAY)
1 BEST-BRED-BY EXHIBITOR COMPETITION (SATURDAY)
1 BEST PUPPY COMPETITION (FRIDAY)
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Fun activities promoting responsible dog ownership, AKC Patch program & Fun Photo Booth located in Vendor Row. Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday
PEE WEE SPECIAL ATTRACTION
For kids 5-9 years old, Sat. only, signup 8-11 am, entries limited. Must be accompanied by an adult. A dog will be provided if needed.
MULTIPLE SPECIALTY CLUB SHOWS & SUPPORTED ENTRIES INCLUDE
Greater Tulsa Non-Sporting Dog Club • Cocker Spaniel Club of Tulsa • American Manchester Terrier Club Northeast Oklahoma Shetland Sheepdog Club • American Pointer Club • Tibetan Spaniel Club of America Chow Chow Club, Inc. • Doberman Pinscher Club of the Indian Nations • American Bullmastiff Association • Papillon Club of Tulsa • Natural State Golden Retriever Club • Irish Setter Club of Central Oklahoma• Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America Working Dog Club of Oklahoma, Inc. • Oklahoma Sporting Dog Club, Inc. • Hound Club of Oklahoma • Golden Retriever Club of the Ozarks • Irish Setter Club of Greater Tulsa • Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of Texoma • Pomeranian Club of OK • Tibetan Spaniel Gulf Coast Association • American Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club • Tibetan Spaniel Club of America Sooner Dachshund Club • Orange Blossom Tibetan Spaniel Club of Florida • Central Oklahoma Collie Club
SPONSORS
‘THE VATICAN OF THE BALLET WORLD’
Tulsa will soon take the stage at the Royal Opera House, marking a full circle moment for one British Tulsa Ballet soloist.
BY LAUREN ROGERS
Following the presentation of “Marilyn” April 29-May 3 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa Ballet is taking their talents to London to showcase “Made in America” at the Royal Opera House May 13-17. Tulsa Ballet Artistic Director Marcello Angelini admits that he is still in disbelief about this dreamcome-true opportunity.
“Every now and then I will wake up and look on the website of the Royal Ballet. And sure enough, when I get to May, I see Tulsa Ballet performing there,” he says. “That’s the thing that keeps me believing it is true.”
Considering the scope of the Royal Ballet compared to Tulsa’s own prestigious company, his need for reassurance is easy to understand.
“You are talking about the house of the Royal Ballet, which is probably the largest ballet company and probably the best ballet company in the world,”
Angelini explains. “Imagine that we operate on a budget of (roughly) $8.5 million. They operate on a budget of around $227 million.”
Every year, the Royal Ballet invites two or three foreign companies to be a part of their roster. This season, along with the Tulsa Ballet, the Royal Ballet will welcome the Paul Taylor Dance Company from New York. Paul Taylor, Angelini notes, “is one of the pillars of American dance.”
Tulsa’s invitation came after a chance conversation between Angelini and Director of the Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare at the 2023 Jacob’s Pillow dance festival in Becket, Massachusetts. The multi-week event, according to Angelini, is “probably the most important American dance festival.” That year, the Tulsa Ballet was delivering the coveted closing program. O’Hare was in attendance to inspect the site and get a feel for the event ahead of the Royal Ballet’s 2024 debut in the same position.
“We talked after the show, and I asked him, ‘Hey, what do you think about inviting Tulsa Ballet to perform at the Royal Ballet?’ And I was kind of joking, and he said, ‘Yeah, let’s do that,’” Angelini recalls. “Well, we are doing it.”
THERE AND BACK AGAIN
This won’t be the first time in the U.K. for Tulsa Ballet Soloist Edward Truelove. Hailing from Filey in North Yorkshire, Truelove has been practicing ballet since he was three years old. Encouraged by his mother to pick up a physical activity, Truelove chose dance to be different from his older brother, who played soccer.
While he enjoyed being one of the only boys in dance class as a kid — which frequently landed him prominent roles and lots of attention — Truelove remembers not seeing any adult male dancers perform until he was around nine or ten, when he saw video examples shared by his ballet teacher. This
Tulsa Ballet Soloist Edward Truelove (left) will dance in the company’s production of “Marilyn” at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center before heading to the Royal Opera House days later to take the stage at Linbury Theatre. “I don’t feel like we’re going to be out of place there,” he says in regard to the quality of the prestigious performance group, which is led by Artistic Director and Tulsa Hall of Famer Marcello Angelini (right).
helped him understand that ballet could be more than just a childhood sport.
“I remember one day just thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do for the rest of my life,’” he says. “And I just so easily made that decision.”
By age 13, Truelove was committed to pursuing ballet as a profession. This meant he would have to intensify his training, so he began to explore options to attend a fine arts school to hone his skills. Not only would he have to try out to get into these schools, he also needed to secure scholarships to help his family afford the expenses associated with this type of elitelevel education, which included tuition, room and board, dance attire and other incidental costs.
“I remember me and my mom driving for hours and hours after school some days to go and do these auditions,” he says.
Truelove ultimately received a government-funded scholarship to attend Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Tring, Hertfordshire, as a live-in student from age 14-19.
“I was on the ballet and dance course but we were also living there with people who were doing just musical theater, some people were doing just an acting course, and some people were training just to be musicians,” he explains. “I was really lucky that I got to make friends with all people in different genres of theater and performance, which was really unusual.”
Following the completion of Truelove’s training, his instructor Jeremy Kerridge reached out to Angelini — who has U.K. connections through his time as a principal dancer with England’s Northern Ballet Theater — to set up a virtual audition. The COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing at the time, so it was not feasible for Truelove to audition in person.
“I remember his audition because it was one of the worst auditions ever,” Angelini recalls of the remote experience. “Edward kept disappearing from the camera. He had to learn the combinations from a TV because he was doing class in real time with us, but because of the size and the shape of the studio, every now and then he would disappear from view ... But we could see there was something interesting about him, and so we ended up hiring him, and he has actually been rising through the ranks.”
Over Truelove’s past four years with the Tulsa Ballet, he has risen from the second company to apprentice, then to Corps de Ballet, before landing his current position as a soloist and securing the opportunity to perform at one of the ballet world’s most revered venues.
“I’d say the Royal Opera House is like the Vatican of the ballet world, or the Mecca,” Truelove says. “It’s almost like a holy space for us.”
In real homecoming fashion, Truelove’s family will be in the audience at the Royal Opera House. While his parents have traveled across the pond to see Truelove on stage in Tulsa, his brother has not been able to make the trip. Truelove’s London appearance will be the first time his brother will see him perform as an adult.
“For (Truelove) to be back in his country, dancing at the Royal Ballet, and actually dancing one of the lead roles is already something very special,” Angelini says, “but the fact that his parents are going to be there seeing him in London at the Royal Opera House is really the closure of a major circle.”
‘MADE
IN AMERICA’
This is the second international tour in two years for the company. Last summer, the Tulsa Ballet performed for Italian and German audiences, earning standing ovations that stretched for up to fi ve minutes. The three-part “Made in America” program, which the company also performed in Europe last year, features two pieces (“Divenire” and “Remember Our Song”) that were commissioned for the Tulsa Ballet, making them uniquely Okie.
“Going to London, to the home of some of the best choreographers of the last century, the best company in the world, and bringing repertory that everybody else can bring is — I mean, it’s a good idea — but on the other end, it doesn’t really represent who we are in the United States, and especially Tulsa, Oklahoma, at this particular time,” Angelini explains.
The show begins with “Classical Symphony” by Yuri Possokhov, the Choreographer in Residence for the San Francisco Ballet. This piece allows the Tulsa Ballet to demonstrate “the way American dancers are very energetic (and) fearless, and it has a super high energy feel,” Truelove says. “It has explosive, very precise classical music which is beautiful as well.”
Possokhov’s key inspiration for the piece was his former instructor at the Moscow Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Peter Pestov. With this in mind, Truelove is looking forward to being able to dedicate his performance of the piece to his own past instructors who are planning to see him at the Royal Opera House, including Kerridge.
Up next in the triple-bill program is “Divenire.” The artist behind it, Nicolo Fonte, came to Tulsa in 2022 to create the piece, which premiered in Studio K that fall.
“Nicolo has done many pieces for us, and many pieces for all the top European and American companies,” Angelini says. “He is one of the best choreographers of his generation.”
Truelove was among the original cast Fonte used to choreograph the piece. “It’s like a suit made for us,” he notes.
The set concludes with “Remember Our Song” by Andy Blankenbuehler, the three-time Tony award winner who choreographed “Hamilton,” among other shows. Angelini refers to him as “the king of Broadway.”
“One of the things that makes art in America so vibrant is Broadway, and he is the top Broadway choreographer of our time,” Angelini says.
The piece, which Blankenbuehler created with the Tulsa Ballet in 2018, tells a story through music and movement. “It’s about a crew, and it’s about longing in this scary time that they’re away at war and they’re longing for their loved ones,” Truelove says. “It’s very theatrical.”
REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY
Among what surprised Truelove the most about Tulsa upon his move here was the level of support for the ballet in the community. Named the state’s official cultural ambassador in 2007 by former Governor Brad Henry, the Tulsa Ballet is dedicated to exemplifying Oklahoma excellence both locally and abroad. Angelini notes that the “Made in America” program is designed to do just that.
“We go from something very classical, to something more contemporary, to something that is pure Broadway,” Angelini says. “This program has something that represents our country, something that represents our community, our city, our state — and we’re going to take it to London.”
The diversity of the set not only offers attendees a wide array of styles to enjoy, but it also demonstrates the Tulsa Ballet’s expertise in multiple areas.
“There’s not really any company in London, or any theater you can go to, where you can see three styles that are very different,” Truelove says. “You can go and see a classical ballet one night. Then you can go to another theater and see a musical, and go to another theater and see a contemporary show. But in one evening, to see the same group of people dance these three totally different styles to the same high standard is really unusual, and I think it will surprise the audience.”
With the performance just weeks away, Truelove sees this as an opportunity to repay the British ballet community for the financial support he received with his education.
“I feel like, in that small way, I can give something back to the people of London.”
After the London tour concludes, wrapping up the 2025/2026 season, Truelove will spend time with his family in the U.K. before returning to prepare for a stacked 2026/2027 Tulsa Ballet lineup. The company’s landmark 70th season will kick off in September and include shows like “Cinderella,” “Swan Lake” and “Romeo & Juliet.” tp
Edward Truelove and Tulsa Ballet Demi-Soloist Yuki Toda perform “Divenire” by Nicolo Fonte.
IN CONVERSATION WITH
ANDY FUSCO
Meet (probably) the youngest-ever executive director at the Tulsa Garden Center
BY LAUREN ROGERS
Woodward Park’s Daffodil Hill was in full bloom when our photographer Michelle Pollard and I met Andy Fusco, the new executive director at the Tulsa Garden Center. Based out of The Mansion at Woodward Park, 2435 S. Peoria Ave., the Tulsa Garden Center is dedicated to serving as the horticultural headquarters for Tulsans. The nonprofi t offers an array of educational and recreational opportunities — from Sunset Slowdowns in the Teaching Garden on the second Tuesday of every month to the 71st annual SpringFest taking place April 10-11. Fusco, once an intern at the Tulsa Garden Center, served as the organization’s director of horticulture for four years before being named executive director in July 2025.
We started out the interview with a photoshoot, joking about how many Tulsans share the memory of taking high school senior photos in the same gardens, including Fusco, a 2008 Union High School grad. He went on to earn his bachelor’s in film studies at The University of Tulsa, landing in Brooklyn for about a year before he returned to Green Country in the mid-2010s to be closer to family. With “The Pioneer Woman” being one of the largest filming projects in the area at the time, Fusco spent a lot of time driving between Tulsa and Pawhuska before shifting gears entirely. That’s where our conversation picks up.
SO, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SWITCH CAREERS? The (Oklahoma) film industry was not what it is today, and so really the only thing I was working
consistently on was “The Pioneer Woman” up in Pawhuska ... I had just bought a house in Tulsa, and I was wanting to put down some roots and one weekend, I was just flipping through probably a TulsaPeople or something, and saw (an article saying) Tulsa Community College had a horticulture program. I had always gardened growing up. Gardening was always a big hobby. And I was like, “maybe that’s what I want to do,” go back to school, study horticulture.
So that’s what I did ... And my first semester at TCC, they were like, “oh, yeah, we’re shutting the program down.” I think that article was probably kind of a last gasp try to get an influx of students, but it didn’t really work. But they allowed us for two years to take as many classes as they would offer, and I still didn’t know quite what I wanted to do. I just wanted a piece of paper with horticulture on it. At that time, one of the teachers over there was Cherlyn Reeves , who now owns her own landscaping company (Innovative Outdoor Living), but she had been an intern at the teaching garden under Barry Fugatt and she said, “I don’t know what you’re doing this summer, but they’re looking for an intern, and you should go apply.” And so, I did, and I got it — and that’s the summer I was working at the Teaching Garden. I was like, “Oh, this is the type of plant work I want to do, work in public gardens.” I really loved the public aspect of it, and the people aspect of it.
DID YOU SEE YOURSELF BECOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DURING YOUR INTERNSHIP HERE?
No, not at all. I thought one day, maybe, I could be a cool director of horticulture somewhere. And when I was in grad school (at Oklahoma State University) — this would have been two years after that internship — they have you do all of these projects where it’s like, “What’s your five-year plan?” And in that, the five-year goal was to be a director of horticulture. And then I was a director of horticulture two years later. Then a few years ago, I started thinking, “Could I eventually? Would I ever want to make that next step?”
Some people don’t ever want to make that leap. They like to stay in the plant world ... I started kind of toying with it and talking with a professional mentor about it, and it was like, “Yeah, maybe one day.” But I think what was important is that I had done a little bit of that work, so when the opportunity presented itself, I felt confident in stepping into the role.
So, I recognize that I’ve gotten here probably a lot younger than I expected to, but I think it brings a unique perspective to the role. I don’t take lightly the fact that this organization has been around longer than my parents have been alive ... And a lot of our constituents have been coming to the Garden Center for a very long time. And so, in a lot of ways, many of them have a certain type of agency here that I don’t have just based on that. So I find that really humbling, the give and take of that, and listening to everybody’s perspective, but also knowing that I was hired to do a certain role. Sometimes pushing an organization forward means making tough decisions, but if you understand all those perspectives, you hopefully can communicate it in a way that brings everybody along.
Thanks to new paved paths opening up more plant vendor space in the arboretum, This year’s SpringFest April 10-11, running 9 a.m.-3 p.m. both days, will be the biggest and most accessible yet. For overflow parking, Tulsa Garden Center will offer a free shuttle service from All Souls Unitarian Church. Learn more about the event at tulsagardencenter.org/springfest.
HOW HAVE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES CHANGED IN THIS NEW ROLE? As director of horticulture, I was in charge of all of our horticulture and education initiatives. I was officially over the Teaching Garden program and volunteer program, as well as any type of horticulture initiatives we were pursuing in the park. The arboretum was a big chunk of my work, curating a plant list, getting it approved through the city ... And we often work closely with the city gardeners to figure out what their needs are.
Now, because of my expertise, I still do a lot of that, especially in this last year’s transitional period. I was kind of still playing both roles. My role today is still pushing those projects forward, but more building the team that can push the projects forward, as well as finding the resources ... (and) making sure that we’re a viable organization for many years in the future.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SPOT IN THE GARDENS? The Teaching Garden is kind of our pride and joy, but there’s a specifi c spot within the Teaching Garden that’s always been my
favorite. On the ramp that goes around the pond, there’s a spot where it starts to switch back. You can turn around and look back down across the pond. There used to be a redbud that you could sit under — it has died, but we’re working on a replacement tree for it — and you look through another redbud, and, all four seasons, there’s a slightly different viewpoint. The water is fl owing there so that you get a nice auditory experience as well.
When I was an intern, the capstone of the intern summer program is, we have volunteer monthly meetings where we bring in speakers, and the intern always does the meeting in July ... That was the first big public speaking engagement that I had ever done, and I was so nervous. So, the morning of the presentation, I got here early and sat and just had a moment to myself in that area of the garden. Then I came over here, and did the presentation. It was well-received; it’s an easy audience. But, you know, that spot is probably my favorite. tp
The University of Tulsa’s McFarlin Library launches annual membership to engage the general public.
BY MADISON WALTERS
MICHELLE POLLARD
Intentionally located at the center of campus, The University of Tulsa’s McFarlin Library (2933 E. Sixth St.) exudes Gothic grandeur from its pointed arches, stained-glass windows and ornate fireplaces, with distinctly Oklahoma touches like its sandstone walls.
At McFarlin’s dedication in June of 1930, guest speaker J. L. Rader, a University of Oklahoma librarian at the time, noted that “the library is the only unbiased force left in the world ... the only place where one in quest of knowledge may go and pursue his studies without outside in uences being brought to shape his opinion. e library presents every side of a question without itself taking sides, leaving the reader to form his own opinions.”
As the institution rounds the corner on 100 years of service, McFarlin Library seeks to foster connections with folks both on and o campus through the new McFarlin Tower Guild — an annual membership program designed to support the preservation and promotion of the nearly 100-yearold institution. Depending on the chosen tier, members can gain access to services like special event noti cation, author talks, circulation privileges and much more.
“Libraries are the heart of the community,” says Jill Kre t, the R.M. and Ida McFarlin Dean of Libraries at e University of Tulsa. “ e McFarlin Tower Guild is our way of connecting McFarlin to the broader Tulsa community.”
Launched in spring 2025, the McFarlin Tower Guild o ers two tiers: a core membership and a premium membership. Kre t, an architect of the program, aims for the Guild to dispel potential perceived barriers.
“I don’t want people to think that, because we’re a private university and we’re a private library, that we’re closed o or not available,” she explains. “I’m trying to break down that idea and let people know that we welcome them to be part of our community through the Tower Guild.”
e Tulsa transplant has lived here for nearly 12 years and has worked at TU since 2023. Before joining the team at TU, she worked in digital collections at Florida International University.
“Since moving here, I realized we have access to all the things I did while living in Miami and New York, but the parking’s better,” she says. “We are really lucky that we live in a community that is as vibrant in terms of the amount of activities that we have, and McFarlin Library is nding its footing to becoming more of a space for these events.”
e core McFarlin Tower Guild membership comes with a subscription to the program’s newsletter, special event notications and an invitation to the Guild’s annual meeting. Other perks included with the $50 annual fee are members-only shopping times at McFarlin’s semi-annual book sales, as well as opportunities to volunteer with the library. Undergraduate and graduate students can participate at this level for a discounted rate of $15
e premium option, $100 annually, provides all the core membership bene ts, in addition to a developing roster of book clubs, author talks with an emphasis on local writers and even library circulation privileges, which grants access to one of the city’s longest continuously running catalogues.
TU alumna Laurie Brumbaugh is a proud premium member of the McFarlin Tower Guild. “I always felt a special connection to McFarlin Library,” she says.
Graduating in 1978 with a degree in criminal justice, Brumbaugh has served in multiple leadership roles at the university throughout the years including on the TU Board of Trustees, the TU Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Kendall College Board of Visitors and more.
“When the Tower Guild was formed, I was excited for the opportunity to support the programs and activities of the library in a new way,” she says. Brumbaugh feels the membership helps keep her “in the loop on the latest McFarlin Library news and happenings,” including upcoming author talks and its semi-annual book sale on April 25.
Modeled after the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System’s sale, literary lovers won’t want to miss the opportunity to ri e through hundreds of books ready for a new home. Items for purchase are former library books or donated items from sta . Ahead of the sale, members will get a special preview before the general public gets the chance to shop. Customers can pay with cash, card or tap payment.
e Guild’s next event is free for members and available to the public with the purchase of a $20 ticket. On April 21, McFarlin Library will host author and poet (as well as Tulsan) Sasha Martin, for a
PHOTOS BY
“I don’t want people to think that, because we’re a private university and we’re a private library, that we’re closed off or not available. I’m trying to break down that idea and let people know that that we welcome them to be part of our community through the Tower Guild.”
— JILL KREFFT, R.M. AND IDA MCFARLIN DEAN OF LIBRARIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
special evening event as she discusses her book “Life from Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family and Forgiveness.” e narrative tracks Martin’s journey as she grapples with identity, anger and grief by cooking and eating a meal from every country over the course of 195 weeks. Fittingly, the Guild will serve a sampling of snacks from around the world at the event.
e library will host another foodforward event the following week on April 28: Books and Bagels.
“Books and Bagels is a great way to connect with the literary world right here in Tulsa,” Kre t says. Getting its start in fall 2024, Books and Bagels has featured a growing list of local authors to discuss contemporary works and their relation to current events. Each session o ers an inviting and open space for attendees to ask questions and gain insight into the research and writing process while also enjoying a light breakfast. Past speakers have included the likes of Danielle Macdonald, Ph.D., Don James McLaughlin, Ph.D., Robert B. Pickering, Ph.D. and more, discussing a wide range of topics from history and science to current events and everything in between.
e April 28 event will feature Boris Dralyuk , Ph.D., an English and creative writing professor at TU known for his award-winning Russian translation work. Dralyuk will explore his translation of “Sidetracked: Exile in Hollywood” by
Alexander Voloshin, which releases April 21. e poetry book chronicles Voloshin’s life as a former White Army o cer and his escape from post-revolutionary Russia, as well as his life as an extra during Hollywood’s heyday.
While the McFarlin Tower Guild library gives book lovers a way to actively support maintaining and growing McFarlin’s facility and collection, Kre t hopes the Guild helps remind anyone interested in visiting McFarlin that the library is welcome to o campus guests.
“We’re open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. People can walk in and just come enjoy our study rooms and browse our collections,” Kre t says. “Our Special Collections are open to the public as well. You can go on our website and make an appointment.”
With McFarlin Library’s centennial on the horizon in 2029, Kre t is excited to see the membership program continue to develop. “By the time we get to (the library’s centennial), our McFarlin Tower Guild membership is going to be such a robust group,” she says. “ ere’s going to be a lot of fun activities for the centennial, including tours of the library.”
To learn more about the McFarlin Tower Guild and the library’s upcoming events, visit utulsa.edu/academics/mcfarlin-library, or check out McFarlin’s Instagram at @utulsamcfarlin. tp
Jill Krefft is the first woman to serve as the R.M. and Ida McFarlin Dean of Libraries at The University of Tulsa. Taking on the role in 2023, Krefft recently helped launch the institution’s new McFarlin Tower Guild annual membership program as an avenue for engagement with more Tulsans off campus.
Fifth grade students from Hilldale Elementary School participate in BizTown — a popular Junior Achievement of Oklahoma program that gives students the chance to spend a full day immersed in adult roles. The JAOK campus, located at 3947 S. 103rd E. Ave., now offers two Experiential Learning Centers where students can access the BizTown simulation, as well as additional programming.
REAL WORLD 101
Junior Achievement of Oklahoma celebrates 60 years of impacting school-age youth through engaging programs while also saying a bittersweet farewell to its longtime president.
BY MARNIE FERNANDEZ AND TIFFANY HOWARD • PHOTOS BY MICHELLE POLLARD
The presses at BizTown’s Cherokee Phoenix newspaper are heating up as an EOFT (end-of-field-trip) deadline looms, and fifth grader Berkeley is feeling the stress — the paper’s photographer has gone off on a shopping break, the editor has writer’s block and the printer has mysteriously slipped into “sleep mode.” Not to mention all the ads that still need to be uploaded.
Luckily, reporter Zaila is halfway done with her story on her Hilldale Elementary classmates’ experiences so far at Junior Achievement of Oklahoma’s fully immersive BizTown simulation, at which they are getting to play adult roles for a day. According
to Zaila’s report, Ryan, the CFO of ONEOK, says he loves “getting to be in an adult’s shoes,” and that his tasks include “helping people with their gas pipes so they don’t explode.” He also notes his favorite movie is “Avatar.”
Across the way at JD Young, CEO Veronica is signing checks and checking the computer to make sure Garrett has completed his deliveries to surrounding businesses. From QuikTrip and Reasor’s to Bank of Oklahoma, all of BizTown is abuzz with employees working to complete their tasks so they can receive their paychecks and enjoy some hardearned Chick-fil-A.
Amidst the flurry of activity, the town’s elected
mayor Brooklin pauses her duties to comment on what she’s learned so far during this experience.
“When we see adults doing things that are hard, and we don’t think they are struggling, they are, because most of us here are struggling to understand it, too,” she says.
Elected by her classmates in the days leading up to the class’s BizTown field trip, Brooklin adds, “I just think that if I can make the right decisions then everybody will do the best they can to work at their jobs and do the best they can.”
Geared toward fifth graders, BizTown is arguably Junior Achievement of Oklahoma’s most well-known program.
fell into this category. We believe this is where we can have the greatest impact, by teaching workplace skills and providing financial literacy education.”
“We are social workers at heart,” Beeler adds. “We really try to place our emphasis on these students, to make sure they have choice-filled futures and meaningful lives.”
Inspiring through Education
Junior Achievement focuses on three core pillars: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. While they offer more than 20 programs for students ranging from kindgergarten-12th grade, JA has three flagship programs: JA BizTown for 4th-6th grade, JA Inspire for middle school and JA Finance Park for high school.
Opening JAOK’s BizTown in 2003 at their east Tulsa campus (3947 S. 103rd E. Ave.), Irvine says they estimate nearly 200,000 students have been served in that facility. The program’s popularity has been so great that JAOK just cut the ribbon to open the brand-new Scott H. Filstrup Experiential Learning Center, which houses a state-of-the-art second BizTown for the campus. The new center means JAOK can now host two different schools for the BizTown simulation at the same time — doubling student access to the high-demand resource.
Like BizTown, JA Inspire starts with classroom curriculum and then culminates in an immersive learning experience. The JA Inspire expo is a huge, 2-day event at which students from all over Oklahoma participate in hands-on activities and get the opportunity to work with equipment or tools used on an actual job. Irvine notes the most recent expo, held at the SageNet Center in February, saw over 150 organizations from across the state, representing career paths ranging from skilled trades and manufacturing to cybersecurity, architecture, health care and much more.
“Students rotate through career stations while we try to give them a glimpse of what’s possible,” Irvine says. “College, trade school, straight to work, military, we want them to know all of the options available for their future.”
“They spend 12 classroom days preparing for their visit to BizTown, applying and interviewing for jobs, learning about the different roles they play as citizens, workers and consumers in their community, and how those roles relate to the free enterprise system,” says incoming President Erica Irvine, who has been serving as the organization’s COO. “They also develop money management skills, understand basic business and develop soft skills of communication and teamwork.”
Irvine recalls a recent interaction with a bank employee who spoke to BizTown’s long-term impact.
“He saw I worked for Junior Achievement and immediately began gushing about how much he loved BizTown, and how his experience with Junior Achievement had one of the biggest impacts on his education.”
Stories like these are quite common as JAOK heads into its seventh decade of helping
school-age youth learn valuable life skills while preparing them for the workforce. Founded in 1919 by a group of businessmen in Springfi eld, Massachusetts to prepare young people for adult success, Junior Achievement came to Oklahoma in 1966.
“I started working here in 1998, fell in love with everything about it and never left,” says longtime President Shannan Beeler, who is retiring this month after 28 years of service.
When Beeler began her career at JAOK, they served 7,500 kids per year in five counties. Fast-forwarding to present time, the organization served over 65,000 students during the 2024-2025 school year, a number that represents 286 schools throughout the state.
“We place priority in service to those schools with high free and reduced lunch rates,” Irvine explains. “Last year, 66% of the students served
Originally begun as a small career fair with 800 students in 2019, the mammoth expo has now grown to 8,000 Tulsa student participants, and close to 10,000 statewide.
“Career exploration is now a requirement for middle schoolers,” Irvine says. “We have the resources to provide this opportunity when most schools would struggle with providing it due to lack of funding and staffing.”
With the state’s addition of financial literacy requirements to graduate high school, JA Finance Park, a classroom-based curriculum teaching 14 different financial literacy concepts, helps meet that standard.
“We help students learn basic skills such as budgeting, filling out forms, applying for loans, establishing credit and finding a job, just to name a few,” Irvine says. “Then the students spend a day at the JA Finance Park, a realistic on-site community, and practice what they’ve learned by developing and committing to a personal budget.”
Above, local businesses and organizations, such as the Tulsa Oilers, can sponsor spaces within both of JAOK’s BizTown facilities (the newest of which opened in February) to encourage students to explore their future Tulsa career options. Below, outgoing President Shannan Beeler (left) — who has been at the organization’s helm for 28 years — with longtime JAOK volunteer Amber Deramus (center) and incoming President, Erica Irvine (right).
“WE TRY TO GIVE THEM A GLIMPSE OF WHAT’S POSSIBLE. COLLEGE, TRADE SCHOOL, STRAIGHT TO WORK, MILITARY, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW ALL OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR THEIR FUTURE.”
—ERICA IRVINE, INCOMING PRESIDENT OF JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF OKLAHOMA
The course equips students with foundational personal finance skills, while the simulation allows students to see first-hand the long-term impact of their education, savings and credit decisions.
“This program helps fill a gap that they aren’t receiving in their standard high school curriculum,” Beeler says.
Community-driven
In addition to the flagship programs, JA offers several other programs focusing on everything from entrepreneurship and business communication to financial literacy.
“All of the programming we run requires volunteer engagement,” Irvine says. “We work with more than 4,000 volunteers throughout the state to help us with our programs.”
Amber Deramus , a longtime JAOK volunteer as well as senior vice president and compliance officer for Regent Bank, got her start with JAOK by helping with one of their classroom programs.
“I grew up in west Tulsa, and I didn’t have a lot growing up,” she says. “I learned a lot about money and financial planning when I started my career in banking, and I wanted to share my knowledge with students from similar backgrounds. I spend most of my volunteer time focusing on the lower-income schools, as they need it the most.”
Deramus, who has served on the JAOK board since 2017, has seen first-hand the impact the organization has made on students.
“One of my favorite ‘light bulb’ moments was from a group of boys I was working with at JA Finance Park,” she says. “One of the boys picked a job that paid $57K annually, and he was so excited because he was going to use it to buy a Mercedes Benz. (But) after going through the day having to pay bills, establish credit and pay taxes, the boy somberly realized that $57K just doesn’t go that far. That was such a great testament to the power of JA.”
Deramus has volunteered for every JAOK program throughout her 15 years of service.
“I believe in the mission wholeheartedly,” she says. “I support JA in every way that I can, whether through classroom work, the flagship programs, serving on the board or helping with the fundraisers.”
JAOK is a nonprofi t and relies exclusively on private donations and grants.
“We have many corporate partners that support our mission not only financially, but also with
volunteer time,” Beeler says. “We also depend on grants from different family foundations, and host two large fundraisers each year: a golf tournament and a bowl-a-thon.”
Passing the baton
Looking back over her storied career, Beeler has a tough time narrowing down her proudest accomplishments, but bringing many of JA’s signature programs to Oklahoma is at the top of the list.
“When I began 28 years ago, I helped start a capital campaign to raise funds for the JA BizTown building,” she says. “And after 23 years, we’ve outgrown that space!”
Another milestone for Beeler is bringing JA Finance Park to Oklahoma.
“The company who helped start JA Finance Park (nationally) didn’t have a presence in Oklahoma, so we couldn’t utilize their resources,” she says. “We had to literally start it from scratch and build it on our own, so I am pretty proud of that.”
Although Beeler is retiring, she feels confident in JAOK’s future, as Irvine was actually one of the first employees she hired four months after she started.
“Erica has been there from the beginning — and has had her hand in every part of the organization,” Beeler says. “We’ve had this succession plan in place for several years now, and I have all the confidence in the world that JA will continue to thrive under Erica’s leadership.”
As JAOK enters into a new chapter, Irvine says she is looking forward to continued growth within JA and their new facilities.
“We just opened the OKC BizTown building, and I can’t wait to see that grow and serve more students,” Irvine says. “I also look forward to deepening our relationships with the school districts and becoming more integrated into their curriculum.”
Though the organization’s 60th anniversary strikes a bittersweet note with Beeler’s retirement, Irvine is confident in the legacy she leaves behind.
“Shannan has provided tremendous leadership and growth to this organization, leading it for nearly half of its time in existence,” she says. “She leaves us set up for peak growth and tremendous impact going forward.”
For more information on how to get involved with Junior Achievement of Oklahoma, visit oklahoma.ja.org. Free online resources can also be found at connect.ja.org. tp
Students Makinah (left) and Zaila (center) worked at the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper during Hilldale Elementary’s BizTown field trip. Right, parent volunteer Stephanie helps out.
Cylan was a Cox Business radio DJ for the day.
Brooklin was elected BizTown mayor by her classmates.
ONEOK employee Jace cashes his paycheck at Bank of Oklahoma.
REAL WEDDINGS
RECENT WEDDINGS FEATURING LOCAL COUPLES
Casey McCreery and Sarah Power
OCTOBER
10, 2025
THE SETUP
Bride’s hometown: Tulsa
Groom’s hometown: San Bernardino, California
How the couple met: Initially at The University of Tulsa as students in Bill Hinkle’s advertising class. Years later, the couple were reintroduced to each other by a mutual friend, Matt Faeth.
Bride’s profession: Graphic designer and project manager for a media company based in Seattle, Washington.
Groom’s profession: Certified public accountant who specializes in auditing at Eide Bailly.
Wedding day weather: A little warm for October, with a sudden and short rainfall during the reception. No precipitation was in the forecast.
Favorite details: As a graphic designer, Power enjoyed designing the wedding invitations. The couple baked their own cakes, too!
What makes the wedding unique: The pair made a conscious effort to support local, women-owned businesses throughout their backyard wedding and reception.
THE DETAILS
Ceremony and reception site: Their Lortondale neighborhood home
Bridal gown: Jenny Yoo from Found Love Bridal in Oklahoma City
Bridal jewelry: Dillon Rose
Menswear: Pinpoint Resource
Wedding cake: Baked by the couple
Caterer: Libby Billings
Music: Cody Brewer and Olivia McGraw, DJ Doc Free Invitations/programs : Sarah Power (the bride)
Flowers: Okie Floral Co.
Makeup: Hannah Hudspeth
Hair: Taitem Ivy and Matoba Lauritsen
Favors: Heirloom Rustic Ales beer with a personal label designed by Jessica Roux
Rentals: Party Pro Rents
Bridal Suite: Lady Lorton House
Photographer: Emily Steward
Garrett Allan and Megan Nichols
MARCH
8, 2025
THE SETUP
Bride’s hometown: Sapulpa
Groom’s hometown: Tulsa
Bride’s profession: Emergency room nurse
Groom’s profession: Construction project manager
How they met: While Allan went to Union and Nichols went to Cascia Hall, they crossed paths in high school through the Tulsa Youth Rowing Association. After dating for two years, the young couple broke up during their first year of college due to distance. They reconnected in June of 2020 after running into each other at 3 Tequilas on Brookside. The pair agreed to have lunch the next day and picked up right where they left off. What he loves most about her: “No matter how bad of a day I have had, Megan’s presence and personality alone brighten me up and bring me back to earth. This is one of the many reasons I know she has always been the one for me.”
THE DETAILS
Ceremony and reception site: Harvest Farm Event Center
Bridal gown: LaMariee Boutique
Bridesmaid dresses: Birdy Grey
Bridal jewelry: Heirlooms from the bride’s maternal grandmother, Katherine North (Grandma Kay)
Groomswear: Indochino
Rehearsal dinner site: Stokely Event Center
Music: DJ Connection
Wedding cake: Whole Foods, Berry Chantilly
Caterer: Silver Dollar Catering
Wedding planner: Maddie and McKenzie Harrison
Invitations/programs: Adrienne Allan
Flowers: Crooked Roots Design
Makeup: Shaina Zeff Makeup
Hair: Madison Hahn, @alteredbymadison
Photographer: Bethany Grace Photography
Alan Sandoval and Shelby Lynn Stephens
NOVEMBER 1, 2025
THE SETUP
Bride and Groom’s hometown: Tulsa
Bride’s profession: Owner of Mom’s Closet (soon to be known as Looped), a local resale shop
Groom’s profession: Computer Engineer at Etherflow How the couple met: By swiping right
The courtship: Stephens and Sandoval met in June of 2021, just a few weeks before Stephens was to move to Denver, Colorado. During those two weeks, both having recently graduated from college, the pair spent almost every evening together. Once Stephens had settled into her new home in Denver, Sandoval went up for a visit.
After hikes in the mountains and exploring the city, they decided to make their long-distance relationship official. From there, Sandoval would take every opportunity to visit Denver, with Stephens returning home to Tulsa any time she had a chance. Only a few months into their relationship, Sandoval moved to Denver to join Stephens. The two built a life in Denver together for about a year and a half before moving back to Tulsa, getting engaged a few years later.
Favorite date: For their last hike in Denver, the couple spent the day exploring Emerald Lake Trail, taking moments to stop and reflect on the memories made while living in Colorado. Afterwards, the pair made their traditional stop at Idaho Springs for a meal at Clear Creek Cidery and a dip at Indian Hot Springs — a beautiful goodbye to that chapter of their lives.
THE DETAILS
Ceremony and reception site: The Springs Tulsa
Bridal gown: Facchianos Bridal and Formal Attire
Jewelry: It’s A Mood Jewelry, Jewelry by Jacqui
Wedding cake: Corie’s Kitchen
Caterer: Supermercado Don Quijote
Music: Mariachi Orgullo de Americas, The Paul Roper Band
Flowers: The Flower Shoppe
Rentals: ABCO
Photographer: Complete Wedding and Events
Laci Lynn and Thomas Taggart
SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
THE SETUP
Bride’s hometown: Bartlesville
Groom’s hometown: Tulsa
Bride’s profession: Former high school English teacher; current graduate research associate and doctoral student at University of Oklahoma - Tulsa
Groom’s profession: Nurse
How the couple met: Through a mutual friend. First by chance at Nothing’s Left Brewery in September 2023, where Lynn left an impression that carried through to their next encounter that December at a karaoke party at Welltown Brewing. Determined to get Laci’s phone number, Taggart performed three songs that night (“Stacy’s Mom,” “Mr. Brightside” and “All The Small Things”).
The proposal: Taggart proposed on a mountain hike in Colorado, surrounded by trees turning yellow for autumn. Wedding day weather: “It couldn’t have been more perfect,” the bride says. While rain started to pour at the end of the reception, the couple did their final dance to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” which Lynn says “felt like a moment out of a movie.”
THE DETAILS
Ceremony and reception site: DreamWater Ridge
Bridal gown: Alyssa’s Bridal
Offi ciant: Brian Flake, the couple’s mutual friend who introduced them
Wedding cake: Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery
Caterer: Ellis Hospitality
Music: DJ James Wood
Wedding planner: Sydney Wood, Save Your Date Coordinating Flowers: Toni’s Flowers & Gifts
Photographer: Taylor Rene Co.
Relax, Rejuvenate, Rethink
everything from Weddings, Corporate & Religious Retreats to Team Building and Festivals
Christina Dwyer and Elijah Pybas
DECEMBER 18, 2025
THE SETUP
Bride and groom’s hometown: Broken Arrow
How they met: As young kids at church, but didn’t get close until adulthood
The courtship: Started dating in February of 2024
Favorite date: Three standouts — a Disney bar crawl, dining at Hemingway and watching a cozy movie
Transportation: The groom’s Porsche
What the bride loves about the groom: “I love how grand he does everything, no matter if it’s loving me, or a friend or working on a project, everything he does is 200% of his heart and energy.”
What the groom loves about the bride: “I love how passionately she cares about my well-being.”
THE DETAILS
Ceremony and reception site: Marland Mansion
Bridal gown: Custom made, tailored by Tatiana’s Alterations
Bridesmaid dresses: House of CB
Bridal jewelry: Etsy, Lox & Chain
Makeup: By the bride
Rehearsal dinner site: Maple Ridge Grocer
Wedding cake: Cake Palate Designs, LLC
Caterer: Cheekyburger
Offi ciant: Pastor Ben Calmer
Music: Curated by the couple
Wedding planner: Vee Franklin
Invitations/programs: SPEAKEASY
Flowers: Designed by the couple
Hair: Vee Franklin
Favors: Matchbooks and chocolates designed by SPEAKEASY
Photographer: Emily Morgan Photography
VENUE GUIDE
Find the perfect space for any occasion with our venue guide, your shortcut to discovering stunning locations and planning unforgettable experiences with ease.
Visit TULSAPEOPLE.COM/DIRECTORIES for the updated 2026 Venue Guide, Catering Guide and other informative directories.
ALL SOULS UNITARIAN CHURCH
2952 S. Peoria Ave.
918-743-2363 • allsoulschurch.org
Event rental contact: Jerry Burleson, JBurleson@AllSoulsChurch.org
Capacity: Mother Road Market has dedicated space for intimate small gatherings to large festive parties.
TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN
3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive 918-289-0330
tulsabotanic.org
Event rental contact: events@tulsabotanic.org
Capacity: Call for information.
CATERING GUIDE
every event effortless and delicious with our guide for simple planning and impressive
CATERING BY PARTYSERVE™
3902 E. 15th St. 918-748-0111 x2108
partyserve.com
Catering capacity: Unlimited Additional Information: Best-In-Class, budget minded, bespoke, and creative award winning catering and event services.
JUSTIN THOMPSON CATERING
1115 S. Lewis Ave., Suite A (918) 779-6333
tulsacatering.com
Catering Capacity: We can cater any sized party!
Additional Information: Featuring elevated cuisine and beverages inspired by concepts within the Justin Thompson Restaurant Group.
MCNELLIE’S GROUP CATERING
608 E. 3rd St. 918-442-2993 catering@mcnellies.com
Catering capacity: Unlimited
Additional information: McNellie’s Group Catering is Tulsa’s go-to catering service that offers full-service catering and event planning that specializes in weddings, corporate events, special events, and non-profits.
Sierra Ellis Photography
VOTE YOUR FAVORITE
TO THE 2026 A-LIST AND YOU COULD WIN ONE OF THREE FABULOUS PRIZES!
FIRST PLACE PRIZE
$500 PACKAGE includes a $250 gift certificate for Travers Mahan plus dining gift cards for Sushi Hana and Boston Title & Abstract!
SECOND PLACE
PRIZE
$250 PACKAGE includes a $100 Poppi’s Spa gift card plus dining gift cards for Sushi Hana and McNellie’s Group!
THIRD PLACE PRIZE
$150 PACKAGE includes gift cards for Barons on First and Bourbon Street Café! FINAL VOTING ROUND VISIT APRIL 1-12 TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESSES IN THESE FIVE AREAS: DINE LOCAL • FUN
Designers Lynn Knight Jesse and Hannah Harrinton
B U S I N ES S E S
Y EA R S O R MO R E
TULSAPEOPLE CELEBRATES LEGACY BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MADE THEIR MARK IN TULSA FOR THE PAST QUARTER-CENTURY OR LONGER.
The locally owned institutions featured in the following pages provide a vital economic foundation for our city and are known for their overall excellence, creating loyal customers, business success and longevity.
The Bros. Houligan
Since 1987, Tulsans have been coming in droves to The Bros. Houligan for their hearty, freshly prepared dishes and menu mainstays like their award-winning chicken fried steak. You can still find it — and all the comfort food classics — at 4848 S. Yale Ave.
“We began as a small bar seating 28 in 1987, slowly morphing into a family friendly restaurant known for its entrees like deep fried catfish, fried gulf shrimp, grilled steaks, burgers and, of course, our legendary chicken fried steak,” says owner Patrick McMurchy. “Our longevity is thanks to our customers, as well as a staff that does its best to provide quality food and personable service at a reasonable price.”
The Bros. Houligan became famous beyond Tulsa’s city limits when its chicken fried steak recipe was featured in Southern Living Magazine’s cookbook “Off the Eaten Path.” First-timers and veteran “Houligans” rave about the restaurant’s special recipe green beans. Its cottage fries, waffle-cut fries served with a side of gravy, are the stuff of legend. The motto at The Bros. Houligan is “Eat More Gravy” and once you get your first taste you’ll know why.
Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant boasts a full bar, their own locally brewed Bros. Houligan Brown Ale on tap courtesy of Cabin Boys Brewery and plenty of seating to catch the big game with a side of comfort food.
Brandon Reavis-Funk, Corin Richardson, Conor McMurchy, Patrick McMurchy, Corwin Moore, Brian Trufitt.
GH2 Architects, LLC
GH2 Architects, LLC, was founded in Oklahoma in 1973 and won its first award from the American Institute of Architects in 1974. Over the years, the firm expanded, opening a Tulsa office in 1992. Now headquartered in the historic Greenwood District inside a building designed by its own architects, GH2 also maintains offices in Oklahoma City, Denver and Phoenix.
The internationally recognized architecture and design firm is passionate about delivering transformative design through exceptional client service. GH2 provides fully integrated in-house architecture, interior design and landscape architecture services. Additionally, GH2 offers several specialty services, including master planning, cost estimating and LEED consultation.
GH2 has completed thousands of projects across more than 17 practice areas. The diverse nature of the firm’s work demonstrates the team’s deep knowledge base and broad perspectives available at clients’ disposal. The GH2 team is united by core
values of legacy, opportunity and community. The GH2 legacy is defined by world-class design and exceptional client service, with a company culture of empowerment and opportunity, and a team that cultivates community.
One of the main ways GH2 has impacted the communities it serves is through its work with many local non-profit organizations. In Tulsa, GH2 has designed projects for entities including the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Iron Gate, and Family and Children’s Services. GH2 takes pride in its work with local schools, having worked with many districts across Green Country.
GH2 has evolved from a sole proprietorship into one of Oklahoma’s largest architectural firms. Now in its third progression of ownership from within, GH2 has grown organically over time, with 120 team members across its four offices. The firm’s leadership team includes Kala Ade, Sara Andrews, Michelle Bergwall, Daryl Bray, Jeremy Carlisle, Megan Chinowth, Andrew Colbert, Mindy Gray, Cara Hall, Michael
GH2 Team Members
BOK Center OneOK Club - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Anne & Henry Zarrow YMCA - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Hall, Christina Harris, Timothy Herzer, Morgan Holt, Steve Jaggers, Eric King, Thea Lawson, Kevin Oyler, Jamie Prashaw, Emily Sappington, Chris Seat, Nicole Shay, Daniel Smith, Nick Spriggs, Whit Todd, Robert Wadsack, Tyler Wallace and Alicia Wohl.
In addition to developing effective design solutions for its clients, GH2 is committed to developing and supporting its team members. GH2 fosters a studio environment where individuals are empowered to pursue their passions and develop a unique expertise. As a teaching firm, GH2 provides young professionals with comprehensive training and real-world experience by entrusting them with design challenges and client interactions throughout each project phase. Community engagement is important to the firm, with GH2 team members participating at every level — from volunteer efforts to serving on various boards and advisory committees.
Alongside its clients, GH2 has been recognized with more than 150 industry and design awards. These awards include multiple merit and honor awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), awards for historic preservation projects, awards for technical specifications and multiple awards from construction industry groups.
GH2 is a three-time recipient of AIA Eastern Oklahoma’s Firm of the Year Award, and also received the Firm of the Year Award from AIA Central Oklahoma. Interior Design Magazine has included GH2 on their Rising Giants List for the past seven consecutive years, and in 2025, GH2 was added to their list of Healthcare Giants. These awards recognize the firm’s contributions to the community and the profession through leadership, vision and design.
Northeastern State University School of Optometry – Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Driller Plaza and Entry at Expo Square - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Final Touch Commercial Cleaning
For 41 years, Final Touch Cleaning has been driven by a single mission: to serve. From clients to employees and the Tulsa community, the company’s commitment to people is at the heart of everything they do. Final Touch has always viewed its clients as family, nurturing long-lasting relationships built on trust, care and mutual respect.
Founder and owner Sandra Mullins reflects on the company’s success: “We are a team of professionals with a proven track record in this region, delivering our services with integrity and consistently exceeding expectations.” Final Touch’s dedicated team of more than 280 experienced staff members cleans over 10 million square feet each night. Many have worked together for years, including several with 30+ years of experience. Their hard work and expertise have been key in building the company’s solid
foundation and fostering strong, successful partnerships.
At Final Touch the focus has always been on people. The company prides itself on fostering a positive work environment where employees are valued, supported and empowered. Many team members have been with the company for decades, contributing to the close-knit culture that sets Final Touch apart. This sense of unity and loyalty extends beyond the company itself, with FTCC also making a meaningful impact on the local community.
As Final Touch celebrates its 41st anniversary, its dedication to the people it serves — whether employees, clients or community members — remains unwavering. The company’s legacy is built on trust, teamwork and a passion for serving those who matter most.
Chelsea Hanoch, Lindsay Henderson, Jackie Vu, Brooke Taylor, Madi Page
Sandra Mullins
ImageNet Consulting
ImageNet Consulting was founded in Oklahoma in 1956 as Southwest Typewriter Company. As times and technology changed, so did the name. Southwest Typewriter Company began a legacy of providing superior solutions, products, and service. Over the years, the company experienced constant innovations in office equipment and communication technology. As the copy machine revolution began in the 1970’s, ImageNet supplied clients with the products that met their budgets and provided the best solution. Through the generations, the company continues to utilize the platforms of leading technology companies to maximize efficiency and lower costs for clients.
Today, ImageNet Consulting is an industry-leading and award-winning Managed Services powerhouse. “With over 60 years of experience in the technology and business consulting industry, we have built a reputation for providing cutting edge technology to our clients with dependable expertise and strategic guidance along the way,” says Alan Webb, Oklahoma Market president.
ImageNet works with companies of all shapes and sizes and from every industry.
ImageNet is an Oklahoma based company, and has a presence in 7 States with 19 locations. “While Managed Print is one of our core business offerings, we have evolved to a true IT Solutions company,” notes Webb. “Our customers now additionally rely on us for Enterprise Content Services, Audio Visual
Solutions, 3 D Printers and Managed IT Services” says Ben Berghall, Director of Managed IT Services.
“Audio Visual (AV) has been our fastest growing segment of our business,” notes Webb, “we’ve proudly become the premier AV company in Oklahoma.” Kyle Kempf, manager of the company’s AV Services, invites those interested in AV to visit ImageNet’s office in Tulsa to see the products and options available”.
ImageNet’s Managed IT solutions team of over 40 individuals provide small and medium size clients across multiple verticals essential IT services from 24/7 help desk support, network and server management, data backup, disaster recovery to critical cyber security. “It is difficult for small and medium businesses to keep up with all the cyber security threats” says Berghall. That’s why ImageNet has invested heavily in people and technology to help businesses secure their networks, computers and end-users. ImageNet Managed Security Services includes: Automated server and workstation protection tools backed by 24/7 threat hunting teams, cybersecurity end-user awareness training, and email protection and threat monitoring.
As Webb and Berghall reflect on their 16 years with ImageNet, they have seen the company grow from a few hundred employees to almost 500 in seven states. “We welcome you to stop by and see our showroom” says Webb, “and learn more about the products and services we offer our business clients.”
ImageNet leaders include: Ben Berghall, VP of Managed IT; Andrew Newell, Tulsa Sales Manager; Kyle Kempf, VP of AV; and Alan Webb, Oklahoma Market President.
Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa
Since 1976, Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa has played an important role in improving access to healthcare for Native people living in the Tulsa area. What began with a single part-time physician has grown into a comprehensive healthcare organization serving more than 14,500 active patients each year from more than 130 different federally recognized tribes.
For nearly five decades, IHCRC has grown alongside the community it serves. As needs have changed, the organization has expanded its services and strengthened partnerships to better support Native people in an urban setting. Today, more than 180 dedicated staff members work together each day to ensure patients have access to coordinated care and culturally informed services.
To help meet the growing demand for services, IHCRC
recently completed a major expansion, adding more than 62,000 square feet of new clinical space. The expansion strengthens several existing programs while also creating opportunities to introduce additional services that further support patient health and recovery.
One of the newest additions is physical therapy, providing patients with greater access to rehabilitation services that support mobility, recovery and long-term wellness. Occupational therapy and speech therapy services are planned for the near future, further expanding IHCRC’s ability to provide comprehensive rehabilitation care in one convenient location.
As IHCRC approaches 50 years of service, the organization continues to build on its legacy while looking ahead to the next chapter of providing high-quality care to Native people and families across the region.
Moore Funeral Homes and Fitzgerald Funeral Service
When James Herbert Moore opened his funeral home in 1932, he had no idea his company would become the largest funeral provider in Oklahoma. More than 90 years later, Moore has grown with Tulsa, both in the number of locations — five in total — and in the scope of services.
What have not changed are Moore’s core values — as well as the family at the helm. “Our mission is to provide excellent care to the deceased and their families and to help create tributes that remember, honor and celebrate the lives of those very special people,” says Joseph P. Moore, owner and grandson of the company’s founder. “We give our families the highest level of personal and professional care during one of the most difficult times of their lives.” Unique services offered include an onsite crematory, to ensure that all aspects of cremation are performed properly and with dignity.
Additionally, Moore offers special veterans’ services and an extensive aftercare program — including online resources and weekly grief support groups. Moore’s pre-planning services lock in today’s prices and provide peace of mind. These offerings,
plus a commitment to service, have resulted in excellent reviews on family satisfaction surveys. Moore Funeral Homes and Fitzgerald Funeral Service’s motto is to provide extraordinary service at a fair and affordable price.
Moore/Fitzgerald maintains strong community involvement, both individually and corporately. The company takes special pride in its 35 full-time, dedicated and professional staff members, many of whom have been with Moore/Fitzgerald for more than 10 years and have experience working with families of all faiths. “Our families have come to know that we’ll be here when they need us,” Moore says.
Recently Moore further expanded services by opening a 2nd family center. In addition to the family center at the Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, there is now a lovely 1700 square foot family center at Moore’s Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st St. At these family centers, families and friends can continue to share memories and celebrate the life of their loved one while having refreshments or a meal at a reception following the memorial service.
Jeff Tutt, LaFonda Ehlers, Koby Creason, John Wilson, Chris Penn, Lynne Moore, Terry Hamm, Joseph Moore.
Oklahoma Disaster Restoration
Oklahoma Disaster Restoration (ODR) is a familyowned and operated business in Tulsa. Founded in 1988, ODR employs technicians who are certified in disaster restoration and reconstruction services.
“Our company utilizes state-of-the-art technology and equipment, and a highly trained staff for perils such as fire, water, sewer, mold and bio-hazard,” says Jay Stokes, co-owner of ODR with his wife, Tammy Stokes, who is owner and general manager. “We do personal property restoration and reconstruction on homes that have been through those perils.”
OKLAHOMA DISASTER RESTORATION OFFERS:
Rapid Response Disaster Mitigation The ODR team responds to calls within an hour, 24 hours a day. Callers talk to a live person with the experience to guide them through what can otherwise be a traumatic situation. We are a first responder for your disaster!
Quality Workmanship ODR’s team is highly skilled in treating water and smoke damaged items, and offers a commitment to satisfaction and happiness with the outcome.
Turn-key Repairs & Remodel Many ODR clients take advantage of our full service offerings from water, fire or mold mitigation services, personal property processing to home repairs after the loss. ODR will be your General Contractor for your home repairs and remodeling needs. While your home is under ODR repair, take the opportunity to also do those renovations you have been desiring in your home.
Commercial Restoration ODR is the one to call for your business property needs, too. Our seasoned project managers have the experience to put a business back together quickly with less down time. ODR also helps small and medium businesses plan ahead by setting up Emergency Response Plans to prepare for unexpected disasters. ODR helps you keep your business open.
“The difference is in our people and company culture. ODR is a great company for our employees. We invest in our team making our members more valuable to us, their families, and our customers,” notes Tammy Stokes.
Jay and Tammy Stokes
Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits
Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits has been family owned and operated in the same location since Oklahoma repealed prohibition in late 1959. Owned today by the motherdaughter team of Mary and Emily Stewart, the store is well known for its extensive wine collection, craft beer and spirits, and its excellent customer service offered by a friendly and knowledgable staff.
“We specialize in food and wine pairings and helping our customers put together dinners, parties and celebrations,” says Mary Stewart. “We also take pride in our amazing crew. No matter the day or time, there is always someone here to help answer questions.”
Ranch Acres makes it easy for event needs, whether it’s a wedding, holiday party, private gathering, or any other social function. The Ranch is your destination for event bulk ordering. Let the Ranch be your go-to store for catering drink needs. If you need specialized event bulk ordering, please call the store and let us know…we are happy to be your “go to” for catering drink needs.
Ranch Acres encourages patrons to check out the store’s specials each week on social media. Customers are also invited to sign-up for “The Ranch’s newsletter” to learn about special happenings and to receive discount coupons.
Back Row: Evan Bogle, Damon Daniel, Tommy Ball, Cody Greene | Front Row: Val Lindsay, Mary Stewart, Emily Stewart
Renaissance Hardwood Floors
In 1982, Tom Nicklas founded Renaissance Hardwood Floors, a family-owned company that has become a trusted name in hardwood flooring installation, refinishing and repairs. Today, his son, Duston Nicklas, continues the legacy, leading the company from its headquarters in Tulsa while serving clients across Oklahoma.
“We take pride in being a family-owned company with deep community roots in the greater Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas,” Duston says. Renaissance’s expert craftsmen bring dream floors to life while ensuring they stand the test of time. Elegance and quality define every project, with custom designs handcrafted from the finest materials. The team stays ahead of industry trends, mastering everything from intricate to minimalist designs. “No matter the style, every Renaissance hardwood floor is crafted with exquisite detail,” Duston says.
Beyond beauty, Renaissance floors are designed to enhance every space with distinctive accents and lasting durability. Dedicated to innovation and customer satisfaction, the company has established itself as a leader in the hardwood flooring industry. Clients immediately experience the difference when they step onto a Renaissance floor — where artistry meets craftsmanship.
“What sets us apart isn’t just the installation,” Duston explains. “It’s the design, precision and attention to detail that transform every floor into a masterpiece.”
Let Renaissance’s experts create a floor that not only enhances your space but tells a story of quality and craftsmanship.
550 W. 125TH PLACE S., SUITE 300, GLENPOOL | 918-298-4477
3608 E. I-35 FRONTAGE ROAD, EDMOND | 405-431-9393
RENHARDWOOD.COM
Woodland West Animal Hospital and Pet Resort
The Woodland name in veterinary care traces back to 1966, when Ross Clark, DVM, founded Woodland Animal Hospital in Tulsa. What began as a single-doctor veterinary practice grew into a respected name in animal care throughout Oklahoma.
Over the following decades, Clark expanded the Woodland brand by opening seven additional Woodland veterinary hospitals across the Tulsa and Edmond areas, mentoring many veterinarians along the way.
In 1989, Ross and Linda Clark expanded their vision by opening Woodland West Pet Resort, creating a dedicated facility focused on boarding and pet hospitality. A few years later, they opened Woodland West Animal Hospital, further expanding veterinary services under the Woodland name.
Clark later grew his influence in the veterinary industry nationwide. In 1996, he founded National Pet Care Centers, a veterinary hospital network that expanded to 72 hospitals across the United States before being sold in 2004. Following that sale, Woodland West Animal Hospital and Woodland West Pet Resort remained in Clark’s ownership, continuing their long-standing presence in Tulsa.
Today, the two businesses operate side-by-side on South Union Avenue while maintaining separate ownership. Woodland West Animal Hospital is owned and operated by veterinarians on staff, with Mike Jones, DVM, as hospital director. The hospital serves dogs, cats and small exotic animals.
Next door, Woodland West Pet Resort is overseen by Ross and Linda’s son Kent Clark. The resort provides boarding, daycare, grooming and training services in the largest pet resort facility in Oklahoma. Pet owners can stay connected with their pets through livestream cameras while they are away.
Woodland West Pet Resort was recently recognized as Family-Owned Business of the Year by the Tulsa Regional Chamber, reflecting the Clark family’s long-standing commitment to serving Tulsa’s pets and their owners.
Both Woodland West Animal Hospital and Woodland West Pet Resort work closely with local rescue organizations, providing discounted services that reduce barriers to pet adoption. The facility is also approved to care for working dogs from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Tulsa Police Department when their handlers travel.
Together, the two businesses continue a tradition of care that has spanned nearly six decades.
ABC Equipment Rental
ABC Equipment Rental has been dedicated to renting and selling quality power tools and construction equipment in Tulsa since 1952. ABC offers a wide variety of products, to rent including excavators, skid steer loaders, boom lifts, scissor lifts, forklifts, telehandlers, appliance dollies, aerators, garden tillers, jack hammers, compaction equipment, heaters, pressure washers, plumbing equipment, and concrete equipment. Big and small we try to rent it all.
“Our company works with contractors, home-owners, landscapers, manufacturers, building maintenance personnel, and all types of construction personnel.” said Charles Hewett, the owner of ABC. “We constantly strive to provide our customers with solutions to get jobs completed. The right tools and the right equipment help insure a job well done. We rent solutions.”
ABC Rental began in 1952 four blocks from the current location at 2910 East 15th Street. Charles Hewett’s father Tim Hewett, a Vietnam War veteran, purchased ABC in 1977. Charles Hewett, who became president of ABC in 2015, and then owner in 2019,
Service Manager Joshua Blankenship, Operation Manager Wendell Edd, who has 41 years of service, Sales Manager Chris Rust, Owner and President Charles Hewett, Fleet Manager Brad Burgess.
has expanded the business with a second location at 9222 E 21st Street. The second location has a large lot where the company stocks the larger equipment in the fleet.
“I am extremely proud to own a business that has served the greater Tulsa area for 74 years,” said Charles Hewett, “and to have built a reputation among our customers for reliability, helpfulness and knowledge of equipment.”
Airco Service Inc.
Airco Service Inc. has evolved significantly since its start in 1961 as a small, home-based HVAC business founded by Tulsans John R. and Louise Boyce. Following incorporation in 1979, the growing company gradually added new services such as attic insulation, electrical work and plumbing, to better serve homeowners.
While the company continued expanding its service areas and partnerships with major retailers and organizations, leadership transitioned to the second generation of the Boyce family in the 1990s, and later to the third generation. Today, led by the founder’s grandsons Austin and Chase Boyce, Airco has grown into a multiservice home comfort company serving customers across Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Airco takes pride in its customer-focused and transparent sales approach. Airco’s comfort specialists begin each consultation by asking questions to understand the homeowner’s needs. This collaborative process allows them to recommend tailored solutions and empowers clients to make informed decisions at their own pace.
A locally rooted company, Airco supports regional charities, participates in fundraising events and encourages employees to take part in initiatives that benefit the community. The company also maintains active engagement with local business and civic organizations, including the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Austin Boyce and Chase Boyce
Empire Fence Company
Empire Fence Co. has become the familiar face to turn to for all your fencing needs. This year, Empire Fence proudly marks its 71st anniversary, a significant milestone reflecting decades of service to their customers and community.
Nathan Nelson, who serves as President/CEO of the company, honors the rich history of the fence company his grandfather, Bob Richison, founded in 1955. “It was an honor of a lifetime to spend over 20 years of my life working alongside my grandfather, learning the ins and outs of the family business, and growing it together,” notes Nathan.
Nelson and his incredible team remain committed to leading a legacy company built on excellence. Over the years, Empire Fence has built a solid reputation of offering customers quality products and excellent service at a fair price. Since its inception, Empire Fence has sought to foster lasting relationships with their customers, vendors and those in the community. The company partners with
22 N. GARNETT RD, TULSA, OK 74116 | 918-437-1671 |
local organizations and nonprofits and hosts quarterly outreaches to provide free fence repair services for widows and single moms. “Our community-minded approach is just part of our DNA at Empire because we believe to whom much is given, much is required,” Nathan notes.
Empire Fence has become the leading company for residential and commercial fencing throughout northeast Oklahoma. “As we look to the future, we promise to build not only fences, but lasting relationships for decades to come,” added Nathan.
Jim Blankenship Quality Collision Repair
Jim Blankenship and his wife, Elizabeth, are proud that their downtown auto body repair business has been successful in Tulsa for over 50 years.
Blankenship purchased the company in 1975 from auto dealer Bob Spraker. “I had worked with my parents in their body shop starting at age 14,” says Blankenship, a 1960 graduate of Tulsa Central High School who attended TU and served in the National Guard before going into business.
“It has been our pride over these many years to provide our customers with the highest quality of collision repair, striving to achieve excellence on every job,” he says.
Blankenship is proud to have trained and mentored many students from Tulsa Technology Center and Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology over the years.
“We thank our loyal customers through the years, and our new ones!” says Blankenship.
Jim Blankenship
Ray Hynes, Pia McBride, Nick Robinson, Linda Dover, Juanita Trujillo, Nathan Nelson, Mary Nelson, Josie Villarreal
Monte Cassino School
Celebrating their 100th anniversary this upcoming school year, Monte Cassino has been in the same location at 2206 S. Lewis Ave. since the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph Monastery opened the school at the request of the Diocese. Over the century, the school has been an all-girls boarding school, a junior college, a high school, and currently serves as a co-ed PreK3 through eighth-grade model.
After 99 years under the Benedictine Sisters of Saint Joseph, the school is now governed by its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2025. However, the overall mission remains the same: providing a quality Catholic Benedictine education to those who desire one. The school’s core Benedictine values continue to influence leadership and educators in instilling a love of learning and developing students of high moral character.
As Monte Cassino rounds out 100 years of faithfully serving students, the school is eager to celebrate and reminisce with alumni and their families. Former students and their relatives are encouraged to contact alumni@montecassino.org to receive invitations to Centennial programming.
We B Trees
Led by ISA Certified Arborist Tim Nall and his wife, Barbara, since the couple founded the business in 1995, We B Trees’ full-service team provides expert tree care for Tulsans. With a deep understanding of Tulsa’s urban forest, the We B Trees team is committed to safety, quality and service. Over the years, We B Trees has developed an expertise with Oklahoma’s native species, and regional stressors like drought, ice storms and extreme wind events.
From pruning to hazardous removals, We B Trees is prepared to use rigging for minimal site impact, provide rapid storm damage response and recommend plant health care treatments for declining trees — including cabling and bracing to extend structural life in mature specimens. The team also offers complete stump grinding for residential yards, commercial landscapes and public spaces. We B Trees’ greatest tie to the community is through volunteering
with organizations like the Rotary Club of Tulsa and the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa. We B Trees is especially proud to kick off each spring with an annual appearance at the Home & Garden Show. The company credits its decades of longevity to its dedication towards cultivating lifelong client relationships through dependable availability and a heartfelt drive to steward the city’s green spaces.
Left to right: Skyler Cardenas, Whitney Upton, Trevor Haynes, Tim Nall, Barbara Nall, Omar Caracheo, Ron Roberts, Taylor Melone
HOME HEALTH TRENDS
CHURCH MERCH
Celebrate rockstar Leon Russell’s legacy during the Church Studio’s Carney Fest May 1-2. An array of musicians will kick off the annual event May 1, followed by another day of performances May 2 at The Church. Head to carneyfest.com to learn more, purchase tickets and shop swag. tp
"Sanctuary of Sound” by Teresa Knox ($59); Leon Russell T-shirt ($40); The Church Studio magnet ($4.99); Leon Russell 1972 button ($4); The Church Studio logo mug ($11.99); Leon Russell gold lapel pin ($9.99); I love Leon button ($4); Hand crafted music note plate ($14.99); Top Hat earrings ($18) and The Church Studio sticker ($3.99).
Tomato tips
Expert advice from a Tulsa County Master Gardener
BY ALLEN ROBINSON
Generally thought of as a vegetable, tomatoes are actually a fruit since they develop from a ower and contain seeds. is popular plant produces proli cally, with the results being low in calories and high in Vitamin C. Tomatoes can easily be grown in pots or other containers if in-ground is not an option for you.
For optimum tomato production:
• Select a site with full sun coupled with fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
• If experiencing challenging soil conditions, consider a raised bed.
• Consider a drip irrigation system to target moisture directly to the roots and not the plant leaves (which can cause disease).
• Spread mulch around the plant to control weeds, reduce moisture evaporation and maintain a more consistent soil temperature.
• To limit leaf production and encourage fruit production, use a slow-release fertilizer that is lower in nitrogen content and higher in phosphorus and potassium (i.e. a 1-3-3 ratio, respectively).
• Water at a rate of 1 inch per week from May-June, and 2 inches per week from July-Sept.
• Avoid using herbicides if possible.
Tomatoes ripen primarily due to the production of a natural plant hormone called ethylene gas and exposure to optimal temperatures (68-77°F), which produces red pigments like lycopene and carotene. Higher summertime temperatures (70s at night to 90s in day) will inhibit red pigment production, thus causing the fruit to turn yellow-orange or stall in ripening. At this point, pick and bring the fruit indoors to continue ripening. tp
ank you to Tulsa County Master Gardeners for their expertise in this subject matter. Allen Robinson has been a Master Gardener since 2010.
DID YOU KNOW? Originating as small, yellow, berry-like fruits growing wild and high in the Andes mountains of western South America, tomatoes were likely first domesticated in Mesoamerica around 500 B.C., being bred into a larger, sweeter fruit. Spanish explorers then introduced them to Europe in the 16th century, which later spread to North America in the 18th century.
THE TWO BASIC CATEGORIES OF TOMATOES ARE:
DETERMINATE
(ROMA, LITTLE NAPOLI, PLUM REGAL, CELEBRITY, TINY TIM, ETC.)
These produce fruit all at once, then stop. They are more compact with a lower plant stature, which makes them excellent as patio plants. If not planting in-ground, use 5-gallon or larger pots (12-18 inches deep) with drainage holes.
INDETERMINATE
(BETTER BOY, EARLY GIRL, SUNGOLD, ETC.)
These produce fruit all season that typically contain more seeds. They have a taller, more vine-like stature and can
Route 66 in California
Nature, Hollywood glamour and the End of the Trail
BY KRISTI EATON
With more than 300 miles, California’s stretch of the famed Mother Road is a mix of nature, city life and old school Americana.
Shortly after entering the state from the east, roadtrippers will hit Mojave National Preserve, made up of 1.6 million acres of sand dunes, Joshua trees and wilderness. Next up is Barstow, a remote desert town home to Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch. is playful stop along Route 66 was established by the late artist Elmer Long , who had grown up frequently camping in the Mojave Desert with his father Elmer Long , Sr. e father and son would collect objects they found during these trips, many of which Long inherited upon his father’s death. Long used these to make the rst of many colorful “trees” you’ll nd at this quirky destination, and he was inspired to keep creating more sculptures by welding together vintage toys, bottles and other scraps. e ranch is now run by Long’s son, Elliot
To the southwest, San Bernardino o ers up two museums for those interested in history. e San Bernardino County Museum showcases Native American crafts, mining equipment displays, a steam locomotive and the area’s citrus history. en the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art at California State University San Bernardino is home to more than 500 artifacts tracing 4,000 years of Egyptian history.
San Bernardino is also home to the rst McDonald’s restaurant. Although the original building was torn down in the 1970s, there is now a museum dedicated to the history of the restaurant chain on the site.
California Centennial Events
As you begin getting closer to the Los Angeles area, there are many historic sites to visit. In Pasadena — the original end of Route 66 — you can stop for a spa treatment at e Langham Huntington, built in 1907. Farther west, you will nd the Hollywood Cemetery, the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and the Beverly Hills Post O ce. In Hollywood, check out the Walk of Fame or head to a taping of one of your favorite shows. Formerly known as Grauman’s Chinese eatre, TCL Chinese eatre in Hollywood is the largest IMAX auditorium in the world. Built in 1927, the near-100-year-old venue continues to be used for star-studded movie premieres.
EXPLORE
ROUTE 66
As we celebrate the Route 66 centennial this year, TulsaPeople is exploring mustsee Mother Road attractions and activities in each state along the historic highway.
Route 66 concludes at the lively Santa Monica Pier, or at least symbolically it does thanks to the “End of the Trail” sign at the pier. tp
APRIL 30 (SANTA MONICA): THE GREAT ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL CONVERGENCE — This multi-state road trip-style celebration kicks off in Chicago on April 11 and culminates April 30 at 5 p.m. on the Santa Monica Pier. gr66cc.com
JUNE 20-21 (PASADENA): PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL — More than 500 artists from Southern California will create murals to commemorate the anniversaries of Route 66 and Colorado Boulevard. pasadenachalkfestival.org
The Santa Monica Pier has been embraced as the end of Route 66 for decades, but the “End of the Trail” sign was not installed until 2009.
Make
Springfield, Mo
Whether you explore hidden gems, kayak the Ozarks waterways or get nostalgic at the Birthplace of Route 66, you make the call and set your own pace. Here in the City of the Ozarks, it’s all about making it your own.
Happily ever after
Couple lives their bookstore-owning dreams on Cherry Street.
BY ABIGAIL SINGREY
The love story shared between Melodie and Jared Coulter is one for the books — literally. Meeting in 2020 and bonding over their shared passion for reading and all things literary, the two were later married during a whimsical wedding ceremony at Magic City Books in May of 2024. e couple’s wedding owers were provided by Gas Petal Flower Co. — a foreshadowing detail of great importance to the plot of the Coulters’ developing story as booksellers themselves.
Having dreamed of owning a bookstore together almost since the beginning of their relationship, Melodie and Jared had rst imagined a vintage camper packed with paperbacks, rolling across town as a tiny traveling bookshop. Deciding to shelve that dream, they listed the camper for sale; that very same day, the Coulters went for co ee on Cherry Street and saw a “For Lease” notice in the window of none other than the former Gas Petal Flower Co.
“It felt like a sign,” Melodie says. e couple reached out, signed the paperwork and set to work transforming the space into Meadow Market Books — a bright, cozy shop stocked with a thoughtful mix of new and used titles alongside bookish gifts and accessories made by local makers. Reader recommendations are front and center, giving the shelves a personal, community feel. For Melodie, a local author herself, one priority was nonnegotiable: dedicating space to spotlight and support fellow local writers.
“I want it to feel like we’re Tulsa’s living room,” Melodie says, noting that Meadow Market hosts a book club called the Living Room. Meeting once a month in the shop, the group’s book picks range in genre but always have a tie to Tulsa. is month, grab a copy of local author Samantha Ryan’s “Pride” and discuss it at the Living Room’s next meeting April 26.
Besides its book club, Meadow Market o ers other in-store events such as comedy and improv nights, and also has plans to add an audiobook walking club. For more on this tiny Tulsa bookstore and its mighty calendar of bookish events, visit meadowmarketbooks.com. tp
SHOP FAVORITES
Protect your Kindle with a crocheted sleeve from Mae June Crochets. $15
Get creative with “Side Quests and Shenanigans,” a guided, collaborative creativity journal from local artists. $20
Sip on a Mood Brü mocktail while getting caught up on your reading. $5
At
children
Melodie and Jared Coulter opened Meadow Market Books at 1514 E. 15th St. in January. Melodie is an author herself, with a poetry collection called “Paper Rings” and a historical fiction novel called “Clever, Clever Woman.”
My Aunt Blanche sat on the sofa and crocheted for 76 years. All day, every day. She never moved. She also made other needle crafts: a decorative cover for a tissue box, a lady in a full skirt to hide an extra roll of toilet paper, macramé plant hangers, pot holders.
I thought of Aunt Blanche when someone told me recently about a big resurgence in hand crafts. Evidently they are now appreciated as healthy endeavors that help calm us in this jingle-jangle world that seems to get more jangled every day.
If that were true, my Aunt Blanche would have oated in serenity. But no — not her. She had a peppery personality, a recracker temper and was armed with a crochet hook. On the other hand, how explosive might she have been if she hadn’t done needlework all day long?
Maybe I need a hand craft because I could use a heavy dose of calm. Some days I long for Biblical rage and the power to smite. I would smite with Old Testament vengeance. I would use the word “ye” as I smote them, crying out, “O ye oppressors of the weak and helpless so heartless and cruel in your brutality. is I will not abide.”
I would smite the masked and armed ICE enforcers. I would smite those who authorize the attacks. I would smite those in authority who stand by silently, heeding
A little kindness
BY CONNIE CRONLEY
not my appeals for mercy and change. “O ye of no moral core,” I would call out, “I will smite thee at the ballot in November.”
My anger is not new, but neither does it boil steadily. I have known periods of calm. One of the most peaceful was during a “pysanky” (Ukrainian egg decorating) class at my church. e teacher was the late artist Tom Manhart, a University of Tulsa art professor and talented pysanky artist.
He gave us a mini tutorial in this ancient art, its symbolic colors and messages. Originally, only adult women practiced pysanky, passing the skill from one generation to another. e folk art existed before Eastern Slavs adopted Christianity, but over time, the painted eggs became associated with Easter.
Our one-session class was designed to be an exercise in external meditation. Instead of chattering among ourselves, someone read a short spiritual message for us to ponder as we worked quietly. Tom moved among the class softly praising the work, complimenting talent. When he came to me, he was silent. Finally, he said, “I love the energy of this.” Such kindness.
And now I will tell you a story so sweet and pure, I wouldn’t believe it if it had not happened to me. is year began with horror on horror on horror: Iran, Ukraine, Venezuela, Gaza, Greenland, Sudan.
e daily news came at me like a blunt
instrument. In late January during Tulsa’s single-digit weather, I was snowbound in my house growing despondent watching the TV coverage of Minneapolis street protests. en one day, I received a letter addressed to “resident.” It was from a man who said that last summer while visiting his daughter, he walked past my house and admired my garden. He enclosed a packet of yellow and tangerine cosmos seeds from his own garden. e letter was from Saint Paul, Minnesota. I burst into tears. He had mailed it January 20, between the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. at day, the Arctic low in Saint Paul was minus ten degrees with steady winds blowing in another round of snow. at day, from such brutal weather and amid political chaos, a stranger sent me ower seeds.
About the same time, I found what’s left of my energetic Ukrainian egg decorating so many years ago. Some shells are broken, but some are not.
Surely the letter from Minnesota and the surviving Ukrainian eggs are signs of divine hope. Surely. tp
Award-winning journalist Connie Cronley is the author of three books of essays — “Sometimes a Wheel Falls O ,” “Light and Variable” and “Poke a Stick at It” — and the biography “A Life on Fire: Oklahoma’s Kate Barnard.” She has been writing TulsaPeople "Musings" since 2010. TulsaPeople.com
The Guild of Tulsa OperaPresents
The Opera Ball of Tulsa
A SOCIAL & EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM
Meg Marie Andresen Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Jared Duane Andresen
Lola Kendall Bain Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Alan Kendall Bain
Sophia Lane Ballard Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Jonathan Mark Ballard
Athena Gabrielle Breese Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Nick Jackson Breese
Virginia-Grey Ann Buck Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
John Marshall Buck
Caroline Lorise Cohlmia Daughter of Dr. & Mrs.
George Shaker Cohlmia
Kennedy June Cooper Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Bradley Patrick Cooper
Claire Alexandra Cottom Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Darren Michael Cottom
Cullinan Lee Darby Son of Mr. & Mrs.
Michael Ryan Darby
Anna Hattie Dougherty Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Paul Edward Dougherty
Opera Ball Committee 2026
Kate Davis, Honorary Chair Sarah Dougherty, Chair
Piper Bain Ashleigh Boedeker Karissa Cottom Shana Mahan Jacqy Rooney Sarah Stewart Amy Westbrock
From The Guild of Tulsa Opera: Danette Dillon, Pres ident & Katherine Haskell, Vice President, Opera Ball
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
Katherine & Henry Haskell
Scott & Margee Filstrup
Hillary & Timothy Jenney
Jane Scisson Grimshaw
Vivienne Lee Lanier Fravel Daughter of Dr. Dustin Donn Fravel & Mrs. Christina Lanier Fravel
66 Years of Tradition
2026 Debutantes & Squires
PRESENTED MARCH 7, 2026, AT THE MAYO HOTEL
Emerson Kate Jenney Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Timothy Eric Jenney
Ella Brinlee Mahan Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Travers Sparks Mahan, III
Anna Isabella Pereira Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Zacarias Michael Pereira
Reese Sky Rooney Daughter of Lt. Col. & Mrs.
Daniel John Rooney
Harper Elizabeth May Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Joseph May
Ashley Elizabeth Richer Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
John Thomas Richer
William Strom Son of Mr. & Mrs.
John Robert Gorrell
Madeline Kate Westbrock Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Michael Raymond Westbrock
Mia Daniele Rooney Daughter of Lt. Col. & Mrs.
Daniel Elliot Smolen Opera Ball 2027 The Mayo Hotel March 27, 2027
Daniel John Rooney
Emma Rose Whitfill Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Troy William Whitfill
Future Debutantes, Squires, & friends of Opera are invited to join the Opera Ball Program. Visit www.TGOTO.org or Email TulsaOperaGuild@gmail. com for more information.
John Christian McMahon Son of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Jason McMahon
\ Colette Clair VanTrease Daughter of Mr. & Mrs.
Philip Dean VanTrease
Cort
Ford Elliot Smolen Son of Mr. & Mrs.
LUXURY PROPERTY GROUP
Call any of the Luxury Property Group Realtors about one of these homes, or any property that you have an interest in. We will provide you with superior personal service with the highest integrity. TIM HAYES 918 -231-5637 thayes@mcgrawok.com SHERRI SANDERS 918- 724-5008 ssanders@mcgrawok.com
GORDON SHELTON 918- 697-2742 gshelton@mcgrawok.com
JENKS EAST
Beautifully updated South Tulsa home on a spacious .3-acre corner lot with circle drive, sideentry garage, and tons of upgrades throughout. Features include a granite & stainless kitchen, soaring entry, spa-like primary suite, versatile game room, and a private backyard— convenient to shopping, dining, River Parks, and the Creek Turnpike in Jenks East schools. 8710 S Delaware Pl. $394,900.
HOLLIDAY HILLS
Stunning, fully renovated Holliday Hills home in the sought-after Carnegie school district. This 4-bedroom, 3.5bath residence blends classic charm with modern upgrades, featuring a brand-new kitchen with custom cabinetry, gas range, and stylish finishes that open seamlessly to the main living area. Thoughtful updates throughout include new thermal windows, doors, electrical, plumbing, PVC sewer line, tankless hot water, insulated walls and attic, and an all-new roof (2025), offering peace of mind and energy efficiency. Set on a spacious lot with Hardy plank exterior, new gutters, and a new back fence, this home delivers turnkey living in one of Tulsa’s most beloved neighborhoods— close to parks, shopping, dining, and more. 3822 E 56th Pl Tulsa $415,000
South Pointe Estates on Beautiful Grand Lake! This is the entire package including furniture, lifts and everything you will need to have a great time at the lake. This three bedroom, two and a half bath lakefront home has top of the line finishes such as hand scraped hardwoods in the open living space, wood burning fireplace, incredible wood island in the kitchen, granite and all stainless steel appliances, outstanding views of Grand, covered deck on the entire lake side of home, hot tub, outdoor firepit and the most awesome 50x50, 2-slip dock with a great enclosed fishing hole with HVAC, bug b gone system on both the home and dock and the dock has a FAA Helipad. So hop on your helicopter and come to the lake and enjoy this beautiful, gated neighborhood, the views and the great experience that Grand has to offer!
$1,375,000
SOUTHERN HILLS
This Ranch style home is located in a cul-de-sac across from Southern Hills CC. Remodeled kitchen with all wood Kraft-Maid cabinets. Light & bright with the kitchen open to the vaulted ceiling den with wood burning fireplace. Doors open to the covered, screened patio. Interior painted recently.5819 S Delaware Place, Tulsa. $579,000
THE VILLAGE
Custom built by Don East, a well known Tulsa home builder, is a prime example of his personal style and taste. He built this home in 2000 and used it as his primary dwelling and office. Make an appointment to view this one of a kind home and why he loved it so much. Tucked into a corner of The Village, a gated community just off Memorial and 101st Street. 10135 S 78th East Ave. $489,000
Table Talk
DINING FOOD DRINKS
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF CANDY
Local vendor Clouds Cotton Candy Creations makes events extra special by spinning a classic treat into artful designs. With many flavors to choose from like maple, chocolate, white citrus, birthday cake, banana and more, it’s impossible to only try one. Read more about Clouds and the mother-daughter duo behind the operation on p. 86. tp
All that and dim sum
BY JUDY ALLEN
As far as restaurant o erings, Tulsa has always had a solid foundation of ChineseAmerican classics, but Hiya Chili represents a growing movement toward regional authenticity. If you take a drive down 71st Street near Woodland Hills Mall, you’ll nd a spot that’s helping quietly — and spicily — rede ne Tulsa’s Chinese food scene.
Hiya Chili, which occupies the space once home to the beloved Fuji Sushi, isn’t your typical neighborhood takeout joint. Owners, and husband-and-wife team, Qishou Jiang and Dong Chen have transformed the interior with design elements imported directly from China, signaling right away that they’re here to
o er something authentic. Jiang’s menu is a love letter to the bold, tongue-numbing and vibrant avors of Sichuan cuisine. Whether you are a heat-seeker or a dim sum devotee, there is a seat at the table for you.
e “Chili” in the name is no marketing gimmick. For those who crave the signature “mala” (numbing-hot) sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, the Sichuan Chili Chicken is an absolute rite of passage. It arrives at the table as a mountain of golden, deep-fried chicken pieces buried under a generous blanket of dried chili peppers and peanuts. If you prefer your spice with a side of silkiness, Spicy Mapo Tofu o ers that deep, fermented bean paste richness that de nes the region’s comfort food.
But don’t worry if your spice tolerance is more “mild” than “wild.” e menu is massive, featuring crowd-pleasers like garlicky dry-fried string beans, salt and pepper shrimp (crispy, savory and perfect for sharing) and stir-fried beef with cilantro.
While the Sichuan heat is the star of the show during the week, the weekends bring a di erent kind of magic to the dining room. Jiang and Chen are experts in the art of dim sum, the Cantonese meal made up of small plates chosen from a cart stacked high with metal or bamboo steamers. In 2014, the couple took over the popular Guang Zhou Dim Sim restaurant near e University of Tulsa and served the college crowd their version of dim sum until the restaurant closed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But dim sum is nally back in Tulsa, and from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Hiya Chili serves up a dedicated dim sum menu.
It is one of the few places in Tulsa where you can nd authentic har gow (crystal shrimp dumplings), siu mai, and u y BBQ pork bao. I visited during dim sum hours with a small group including my goddaughter Clare, who studied Mandarin in college. We left the ordering to her and she nailed it. We were over the moon for the potstickers, pork soup dumplings, sweet egg buns, sticky rice and pork rice balls, and were awed when the Mapo tofu arrived in a large, sizzling ceramic dish. Paired with string beans and scallion pancakes ordered from the menu, we had plenty to eat among the four of us. I returned with another group of less-adventurous diners, and we shared a delicious assortment of Shanghai noodles with shrimp, shredded pork with sweet and spicy sauce, and more dumplings.
Chef Jiang doesn’t shy away from traditional ingredients like lotus root and wood ear mushrooms, or more adventurous house specials like Dry Pot Frog, Salt and Pepper Pork Feet and Sichuan Spicy Blood Curd. e atmosphere strikes a perfect balance: it’s modern enough for a date night, but the service is warm and unpretentious, making it just as suitable for a quick Wednesday lunch. Whether you’re there for the numbing spice or the delicate dumplings, Hiya Chili is a vibrant reminder that some of the best avors in Tulsa are hidden in plain sight. tp
Hiya Chili’s Sichuan Chili Chicken, deep-fried chicken pieces cooked with a generous amount of dried chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns and chopped peanuts.
Giveaway Date: June 28, 2026
Tickets on Sale Prize: Get your ticket by April 3 for a chance to win a $5,000 gift card, courtesy of Moody’s Jewelry
Early Bird Prize: Get your ticket by April 24 for a chance to win a trip for two to the Country Music Awards in Nashville, TN, including flight and hotel, courtesy of K95.5
Bonus Prize: Get your ticket by June 5 for a chance to win a 2026 Ford Bronco, courtesy of Dream Day Foundation, Bill Knight Ford, and Silo Hill Customs and Off Road
WHAT’S COOKING?
A sugar-spun story
Mother-daughter duo brings the art of a cotton candy creations to local events.
BY JORDAN COX
In a world where you can be anything, be kind. But if you can be two things, also be a cotton candy spinner.
“The best part is seeing people of all ages stop, smile and feel like a kid again when they watch sugar spin into something magical,” says Autumn Worten, who runs Clouds Cotton Candy Creations along with her 14-year-old daughter, Delaney Reid
The mobile pushcart serving up custom cotton candy shapes was born in 2024, after Worten and Reid saw Ratatouille-shaped cotton candy that a friend had posted on social media while traveling. The pair had never seen anything like it, so they decided they should bring the customizable confection to Tulsa.
Worten, a graduate of Booker T. Washington high school and marketing professional, traveled to Orlando with Reid to begin to hone their sugar-shaping skills before also bringing in a trainer from Michigan. Their first local event was Carver Middle School’s eighth grade prom.
“We were surprised by how excited the chaperones were about the cotton candy!” Worten says. “We loved being part of so many of their prom photos and memories, and many came back for seconds...and thirds.”
Clouds’ customers get to watch as the sugary strands are shaped into whimsical creations such as hearts, flowers, seasonal designs like the Grinch, and even bespoke requests. For a private event, Worten shares that a client requested a Victorian-inspired mannequin with glowing cotton candy hair.
“It took quite a bit of trial and error to figure out how to structure the cotton candy and make it glow the way they imagined, but that challenge pushed us to get creative,” Worten says. “It became one of the most talked-about pieces at the event.”
Worten admits the learning curve of spinning cotton candy was steep, but she stuck with it and now has a team of spinners alongside Reid. “You’re not going to be good at anything if you don’t start and aren’t willing to suck first,” she says. “We’ve worked through everything from permits to unpredictable humidity to scaling the business. Facing challenges has actually been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey because it reminds you how many people are rooting for you.”
For Worten, Clouds is more than sugar; it’s about creating experience, community and what she calls “the transfer of joy” — seeing the awe on someone’s face when she hands them a spin creation. “That moment never gets old to me,” she says.
Look for Clouds at Tulsa spring-time events like Philbrook Museum’s Art in Bloom April 2-5, Tulsa Garden Center’s SpringFest April 10-11 and The Church Studio’s Carney Fest May 2. You can also book their mobile cart for private events through their Facebook or Instagram (@cloudscottoncandycreations). tp
BIG BITE RETURNS
APRIL 18
Back for its fourth year, Big Bite is a vibrant celebration of our state’s culinary scene, gathering food lovers and more than 30 restaurants, bars and breweries in one lively atmosphere.
Big Bite’s emphasis is on local talent, with chefs from renowned restaurants across the state offering their creative takes on a wide variety of cuisines. Attendees can sample everything from brunchy bites and craft beer to exotic fusion dishes and cocktails before voting on their favorites in the following categories: Best Bite, Best Sip Boozy, Best Sip Zero Proof and Best of What’s Around.
“Our mission is to highlight the very best of what Tulsa and Oklahoma have to offer in the culinary and mixology arts,” says Phil Kaiser, who co-founded Big Bite with Scott Carr of Flywheel Tulsa, which organizes the festival. “This year’s Big Bite will take place in the heart of the Tulsa Arts District, in a newly renovated building that is part of the tremendous new development currently going on in that part of town.”
There are two different ways to experience Big Bite: opt in with an all-inclusive GA ticket ($95), or spring for the VIP package ($195), which includes champagne and caviar, early access to food and drink vendors, extra hands-on workshops and tastings, a swag bag and more. “And you won’t want to miss our second annual Adult Big Wheel race,” Kaiser adds, “where local corporate execs will attempt to outmaneuver each other to win the gold!”
Visit fl ywheeltulsa.com/big-bite to purchase tickets. Use code TULSAPEOPLE for a 10% discount. — JUDY ALLEN
Autumn Worton and her daughter, Delaney Reid, are the imaginative minds behind Clouds Cotton Candy Creations.
A scene from last year’s Big Bite food festival.
‘Tastemakers’
Provisions Fine Beverage Purveyors brings elevated products to Tulsa, including wines by ‘The Lowdown’ star Kyle MacLachlan.
BY TOM GILBERT
In an industry typically dominated by big brands, Tulsans Kala and Scott Large — owners of Provisions Fine Beverage Purveyors — have created something unique when it comes to beverage distribution within the state of Oklahoma. e products it supplies aren’t just something in a box or bottle; they are part of a culture of establishing relationships and building friendships.
“ e fact that we are both family- and locally owned sets us apart from other huge distributors who sell big corporate brands,” Kala says, adding that they typically only work with other family-owned wineries and distilleries.
Provisions has been a wine and beverage distributor based in Tulsa for over 10 years, selling over 1,500 items to restaurants, bars, liquor stores and country clubs. With a focus on working with multigenerational farmers and vintners, Kala says they are careful to choose suppliers who support sound ecological practices and biodiversity, and that 98% of Provisions’ portfolio is organic and/or sustainable.
“We’re trying to do our part to make Oklahoma better,” Scott adds.
O cially launching Provisions in 2015, the Larges now employ nearly 20 people. eir mission is to convey that wine isn’t just wine; it is a point of connection that links people together, one that is woven into traditions and celebrations the world over.
“Wine is nature, culture, beauty and time,” Kala says. “It’s not just alcohol. It’s all the goodness of the earth and humanity in a living, evolving sip.”
e couple emphasize the importance of traveling and seeing what other cities are doing in order to continue to bring new, desirable products to the state.
“We’ve been called tastemakers over the years because we’re passionate about contributing to the Oklahoma food and beverage scene by bringing both the fresh innovative stu that we’ve discovered, and the renowned legendary stu that we’ve pursued,” Kala says.
One of these “legendary” pursuits includes Provisions’ recent connection with “Twin Peaks” star Kyle MacLachlan, a name likely also familiar to Tulsans through his recent role as troubled gubernatorial candidate Donald Washberg in Sterlin Harjo’s “ e Lowdown,” which lmed in Tulsa and the surrounding area. Outside of acting MacLachlan co-founded a winery called Pursued by Bear in Walla Walla, Washington, and thanks to Provisions, MacLachlan’s wines can now be found at LoFi, Ava June, Parkhill’s Warehouse Liquors and Wines, Ranch Acres, and Old Village Wine and Spirits.
“We’re huge ‘Twin Peaks’ and Kyle MacLachlan fans, and I had reached out years ago about bringing in his wines, but the timing wasn’t right for one reason or another,” Scott says. “When Sterlin let me know that Kyle was going to be in ‘ e Lowdown,’ I reached out again and he and his sales manager were excited to nally get started with us.”
He adds that, not only are MacLachlan’s wines highly awarded, but MacLachlan himself is also “one of the nicest people you could ever meet.”
“He spent half a day with us at our o ce during a sales meeting and sat around and answered questions about wine, food, lms, TV, etc. He also showed up for our big tenth anniversary tasting last May and poured his wines and chatted with trade attendees for several hours,” Scott says.
After celebrating 10 years in business, the couple say they are more energized than ever — committed to reconnecting communities, supporting independent producers and inviting younger generations to discover wine without intimidation.
“We’ve got an incredible team right now, and we’re all working really hard to make wine and spirits exciting and accessible to the next generation,” Kala says.
To learn more about Provisions and its products, follow @provisionsok on Instagram, and look for the Provisions logo on the shelves of local wine and spirit retail stores. tp
Kala and Scott Large, pictured below, are the owners of Provisions Fine Beverage Purveyors. As a small family- and locally owned company, Purveyors’ purchasing decisions are driven by passion rather than quotas.
Sinclair Service Station
BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS
Kansas pharmacist turned oilman Harry F. Sinclair arrived in Tulsa in 1912 to be closer to the Oklahoma oil elds on which he held leases. He grew his wealth over the following years and, by 1916, formed the Sinclair Oil and Re ning Corporation.
During the 1930s, the Sinclair brand ourished thanks to the successful advertising campaign of “Dino” the large green dinosaur, as well as the development of fully branded Sinclair service stations that soon crisscrossed the country.
In 1939, one of these service stations opened along Route 66 near South Jamestown Avenue on the residential out-
skirts of Tulsa. It was considered a “master” or “super” service station, which provided drivers full service options such as refueling, uid checks, tire, tube and engine maintenance, and even a car wash by attendants.
Along the Mother Road, this type of Sinclair service station was popular and easily recognizable due to their standardized architectural style — a Spanish Eclectic design with white stucco walls, green tiled roof, large pillars and decorative arches. A canopy covered the service bay and featured green decorative tile and Sinclair signage.
e service station near South Jamestown Avenue had many owners over
the years, who leased it out to a variety of operators. e station remained a liated with Sinclair until the late 1950s and remained a service station until the early 1970s.
Despite various owners, very little alterations have been made to the building except updated garage doors and the removal of the gas pumps. e building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
It is an excellent example of Sinclair Mission-style stations heavily developed during the 1930s. Today, it houses Rossi Brothers Remodeling, who have been at the location since the late 1990s. tp
Sinclair service station, which opened in 1939, is located along East 11th Street (historic Route 66) and South Jamestown Avenue. Signs shows the name E.L. “Ernie” Freeman, who was one of the first lessees of the station. The building has been home to Rossi Brothers Remodeling since the late 1990s.
