TulsaPeople October 2025

THE DOWNTOWN ISSUE

‘THE OUTSIDERS’ TAKES THE STAGE DINING AND LIVING IN THE IDL

STORIES UPON STORIES

A LOOK AT THE BUILDINGS THAT SHAPE TULSA’S SKYLINE

CARING FOR ORANGE COUNTRY

Care that goes beyond isn’t just what we say, it’s what we do. Our services at OSU Medical Center in downtown Tulsa and OSU Medicine clinics in Tulsa and surrounding communities provide patients with the respect and thoughtful care they deserve. From our low-wait-time emergency room and experienced surgeons to labor and delivery, primary care and more, you can trust the dedicated health care professionals at OSU Medicine. When you seek care at OSU, you’ll find our culture is like one big family — and we’ll treat you like one of our own.

Discover why orange is the answer and learn more about how we are caring for Orange Country at orangecountry.okstate.edu/medicine.

THIS IS ORANGE COUNTRY

OSU MEDICAL CENTER | OSU MEDICINE CLINICS

OSU CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES

Jay Krottinger, Patricia Chernicky and Ryan Jude Tanner are Tanninger Entertainment, a Tulsa-based entertainment firm working to help produce and finance shows on Broadway, the West End and beyond, as well as build and create new projects for both the stage and screen. The trio is photographed at the Will Rogers High School auditorium.

CITY DESK

Hold on at Gravity Bear.

Elote’s new karaoke rooms. A Halloween event roundup. New downtown art installation.

LIFESTYLE

A Route 66 trip to Illinois. Checking in on your cyber health. Sinclair Building’s transformation. Connie Cronley gets spooked.

Roasted veggies are on the menu.

Late-night dining downtown. Mayo Hotel’s new restaurant. Maestro opens in Santa Fe Square.

My rst love of magazines came from Highlights, the kid-friendly collection of stories, games and puzzles I would thumb through at my pediatrician’s o ce. (Shout-out to the late great Dr. Stephen Adelson!)

Over the years I would come to cherish any copy of National Geographic for its photographs of faraway lands, people and animals. It was like a passport for a kid from Tulsa.

In college, my subscriptions to Spin and Rolling Stone provided weekend relaxation and a chance to learn more about the music and artists who de ned my generation. It helped fuel my dreams of working in radio or as a music video director. Print journalism found me after college. Today my subscriptions to Southern Living and Oklahoma Today show my evolved priorities.

My name rst appeared in TulsaPeople in 1997 as part of the annual American Heart Association Sweethearts and Mavericks spread. My rst magazine byline was printed in 2009.

Over the past 16 years at TulsaPeople I have had countless experiences that prove just how special Tulsa is; I’ve been shown time and time again just how interwoven this city and its people are. I’m de nitely one of the folks who call Tulsa “Small-sa.”

More importantly, I’ve made lifelong connections and friendships via my reporting and editing work at TulsaPeople, which is perhaps what makes it most di cult to say that this is my last editor’s letter, as I will depart for a new role outside journalism once this issue goes to press.

ank you to each and every one of you, our loyal readers. Your support, story ideas and critiques have always been welcome and heard. As I hand the metaphorical red pen over to my colleague Lauren Rogers,

I encourage you to reach out to her with ideas for what you want in TulsaPeople. Her talented editorial team is energized with fresh ideas and perspectives to continue telling the stories of Tulsans. After all, this is your city magazine, and it will enter its 40th year next month.

at legacy is spearheaded by Founder and Publisher Jim Langdon and a team of dedicated journalists who strive to educate, entertain and enlighten with every issue in print and online.

is is the annual Downtown Issue, a time for us to focus on all the happenings in our city’s core. ere’s a new art installation facilitated by the Urban Core Art Project in the Plaza of the Americas, an oftenoverlooked public space along Denver Avenue (p. 8). ere are new businesses like Gravity Bear Bouldering Gym and new ventures for longtime spots like Elote (p. 26). ere are community members improving their neighborhoods (p. 18) and organizations dedicated to the preservation of our iconic structures (p. 16). Our downtown skyline is celebrated in a special spread (p. 40) and several new spots for food and drink can be found in our Table Talk section (p. 73).

My love of magazines can only be matched by my love of Tulsa. Keep reading. And thank you for everything. tp

Anne Brockman EDITOR

City Desk

NEWS CAUSES PASSIONS

Gravity Bear is a new bouldering gym in downtown’s East Village. Its name was a result of lots of brainstorming by owner Parker Simms . “Gravity is something that unites us, brings us together, something we all have in common; yet something we all fight against while climbing,” he says. “Bears are communal creatures, they stand for loyalty, strength and gentle ferocity. Plus, I just love bears.” tp

Gravity Bear’s Head Routesetter Armen Avanessian

URBAN UPGRADES

Downtown Tulsa offers a kaleidoscope of surfaces and spaces just waiting to be transformed with works of art, and Urban Core Art Project is working to enhance our cityscape by providing opportunities to experience our historic downtown through a new lens.

Established in 2012, UCAP partners with diverse groups of local organizations — as well as internationally known artists — to create site-inspired temporary art installations in the urban landscape.

Some of UCAP’s past installations include TRACE — the motion activated solar light display at Tulsa’s Center of the Universe — by local artists Geoffrey Hicks and Grace Grothaus Grimm; and artist Patrick Dougherty ’s three larger-than-life “PRAIRIE SCHOONERS” on Chapman Green, which were made from sapling branches Dougherty harvested locally.

“The focus is to bring enlivenment to the urban core of Tulsa, to engage pedestrians and local people while also bringing foot traffic to the area,” says UCAP’s Sophie Sevenoaks . UCAP’s goal, she further explains, is to activate spaces in the heart of the city; encouraging visitation, community engagement and economic development, ultimately breathing life into empty spaces through adaptive reuse.

UCAP invited local artist Richard Zimmerman to design and implement the organization’s next — and fifth overall — installation that opened in September at the Plaza of the Americas, 702 S. Denver Ave.  "Assembly" highlights his expertise and work in sculpture using found objects and materials.

“I like to make site-specific works that are made for particular locations, whether indoor or outdoor, considering the space and how visitors will move through it,” Zimmerman says. “I would hope this work resonates with viewers and makes them feel something in the space. This work is comprised of a lot of found objects that I picked up around Tulsa, which are not recognizable as the original objects, but are transformed. When planning, I started thinking about making forms with these things you find around the city and how they come together to create something else.”

Zimmerman chose the site because he lives and works downtown, walks past the park regularly and found inspiration there. The installation will be on display for approximately one year.

If you are interested in getting involved, visit ucaptulsa.com. Find more of Zimmerman’s work at richardzimmermanstudio.com. — MACY GOODNIGHT

FUNDING OKPOP

WILL ROGERS STAGE FOUNDATION PRESENTS ‘CAROUSEL’

The Will Rogers Stage Foundation will present the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Carousel” in concert at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the historic high school auditorium, 3909 E. Fifth St.

Leading the cast are baritone Robert Mellon as Billy Bigelow and soprano Abigail Raiford as Julie Jordan. Mellon has previously performed in Tulsa, most recently in Tulsa Opera’s 2022 production of “The Italian Girl,” and Raiford was raised in Tulsa by two opera performers.

Fellow cast members include several known to local audiences: Sam Briggs , Margaret Stall, Christiaan Bester and Maddie Breedlove Cathy Venable is music director and will conduct the 34-piece orchestra.

The semi-staged “concert” format means the primary focus is on the musical numbers with a projected set. “The Will Rogers Stage production of ‘Carousel’ gives our audience the unique opportunity to hear this glorious music the way it was originally intended to be performed and enjoyed,” Venable said in a press release.

The performance also will incorporate the “Carousel” ballet sequence by an ensemble from the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education.

Tickets start at $32.48 and can be purchased at willrogersstage.com. — FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Oklahoma Museum of Pop Culture is $2.16 million away from completing its $36 million fundraising campaign. The Tulsa Arts District project took a major step forward in 2023 when the State of Oklahoma committed $18 million, contingent on an equal private match by fall of that year. OKPOP Foundation’s Heart and Soul Campaign has raised $15.8 million from a wide range of donors — from tribal nations and foundations to local families and individuals. With the deadline fast approaching, those who want to be part of this legacy can donate at okpop.org. — FROM STAFF REPORTS

Richard Zimmerman is the artist behind “Assembly,” the newest installation of the Urban Core Art Project.

CHEROKEE ART MARKET

OCTOBER 11 – 12

Twenty Years of Native Artistry Refined. Resilient. Revered.

Celebrate two decades of honoring and showcasing authentic Native American art and artists. Join us and find your connection to Native culture and expression — through art.

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO TULSA

TULSA 10

OCTOBER

COMPILED

BY

MADISON WALTERS

Oct. 16-19

ZEECO OKTOBERFEST

Willkommen! Bringing together international and local German bands, Bavarian delicacies and bier, arts, crafts, games, competitions and kids’ activities like the Dachshund Dash and costume parade, Zeeco Oktoberfest is fun for the whole family at River West Festival Park! tulsaoktoberfest.org

Oct. 4 FESTIVAL AMERICAS

Festival Americas at Guthrie Green celebrates Tulsa’s vibrant Latin American community! Guests can enjoy traditional dishes, music, art exhibits, street markets, kids’ activities and more. facebook.com/festivalamericas

Oct. 11 OWASSO HARVEST FESTIVAL

At Redbud Festival Park round up the family and celebrate autumn with this full day of free attractions, entertainment and fun including axe throwing, petting zoos, touch-a-truck, music and so much more. facebook.com/owassoharvestfestival

Oct. 11 TULSA UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL

Embrace the weird and watch a lineup of local independent films at TUFFest held at Cabin Boys Brewery, where you can also meet the filmmakers themselves. thetuffest.com

Oct. 11-12 CHEROKEE ART MARKET

Celebrating its 20th year, Cherokee Art Market at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is your opportunity to admire and collect the newest artwork from more than 150 nationally renowned Native artists. cherokeeartmarket.com

Oct. 13 TULSA NATIVE AMERICAN DAY

Dream Keepers Park will host a celebration of Indigenous cultures with traditional music and dancing, vendors and more. facebook.com/tulsanativeamericanday

Oct. 16-25

ARABIAN HORSE ASSOCIATION U.S. NATIONALS

Expo Square welcomes back the most prestigious Arabian horse show in North America. Numerous events featuring amateur and professional riders are open to the public. arabianhorses.org

Oct. 17 HYMN FESTIVAL

The Plymouth Choir from First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, brings a message of hope in a hymn festival at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. The choir will sing music by Margaret Bonds , André Thomas and conductor Tom Trenney bostonavenue.org

Oct. 21 “AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER” IN CONCERT

Attendees will be immersed in a two-hour performance at Tulsa Performing Arts Center as a live orchestra brings the show’s iconic score to life, paired with visual highlights from the series. celebrityattractions.com

Oct. 23-26 TU HOMECOMING

Head to The University of Tulsa for a plethora of Homecoming activities like TU on Tap, the bonfire and the big game between the Golden Hurricane and the Temple Owls. tualumni.com/homecoming tp

THROUGH NOV. 2

PUMPKIN TOWN

During the day, enjoy fun farm attractions for the whole family including a corn maze, petting zoo and pumpkin patch. Insanity Farms, a haunted attraction, is open every Friday and Saturday night in October for mature audiences wanting to be scared!

6060 S. Garnett Road • pumpkintownfarm.com

OCT. 2, 9, 16, 23 AND 30

BOOTANICAL EXPERIENCE

Tulsa Botanic Garden’s Children’s Discovery Garden transforms into an enchanting garden for BOOtanical Experience!

Tulsa Botanic Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive • tulsabotanic.org

OCT. 3-5 AND 10-12

“EERIE ACADEMY”

Tulsa Spotlight Children’s Theatre presents its fall performance of “Eerie Academy,” a family-friendly comedy about the art of haunting.

Tulsa Spotlight Theater, 1381 Riverside Drive • tulsaspotlighttheater.com

OCT. 3-NOV. 1

EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

THE HAUNTED CASTLE HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

The Castle of Muskogee is Oklahoma’s largest Halloween attraction with over 62 acres of spine-chilling thrills and family-friendly fun. Free entry, attractions require a ticket. The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W. Fern Mountain Road • muskogeeokcastle.com

OCT. 3-4, 10-11, 16-19, 23-26, 30-NOV. 1

HEX HOUSE

Inspired by a true story from Tulsa’s past, this site hosts multiple haunted attractions that are sure to make you scream. 5610 W. Skelly Drive • hexhouse.com

OCT. 3-4, 10-11 AND NOV. 8

THORNS AND ROSES WALKING TOUR

Immerse yourself in local history, ghost stories and folklore as you explore Broken Arrow’s original hospital and basement morgue.

Rose District, 222 S. Main St., Broken Arrow • tulsaspirittour.com

COMPILED BY MADISON WALTERS

OCT. 10

OK, SO STORY SLAM: FEAR

This monthly storytelling competition is hosting a special Halloween edition with the theme of “fear.”

Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 E. Reconciliation Way • oksotulsa.com

OCT. 11

OWASSO HARVEST FESTIVAL

Round up the family and celebrate autumn with this day full of petting zoos, carnival rides, inflatables, contests, food, live music and more.

Redbud Festival Park, 109 N. Main St., Owasso • facebook.com/owassoharvestfestival

OCT. 16-18

HELLERWEEN

Heller Theatre Co.’s annual horror-themed short play festival is back again this year for scares and laughs. 101 Archer, 101 E. Archer St. • hellertheatreco.com

OCT. 18

BROOKSIDE BOOHAHA

This is Oklahoma’s largest Halloween parade, so dress up in your best costume and get ready for inflatables, candy, face-painting, contests and more. Various locations in Brookside. • tulsaboohaha.com

OCT. 19

DOUBLE FEATURE AT THE DRIVE-IN

Head to Admiral Twin for its special Halloween screenings featuring “Freddy vs. Jason” and “Jason X.” Admiral Twin Drive-In, 7355 E. Easton St. • admiraltwindrivein.com

“EVIL DEAD” IN CONCERT

“Evil Dead” In Concert is a live-to-film experience that thrills and chills, resurrecting Sam Raimi’s beloved cult classic in a way audiences have never seen before. Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St. • cainsballroom.com

OCT. 17-18 (DAYTIME ONLY) AND 24-25, 31 (NIGHTTIME)

HALLOWMARINE

This fantastic, indoor trick-or-treating event is fun for all ages, so prepare to collect candy and look at the aquarium’s 10,000 aquatic creatures. Don’t miss the pirate diving show!

Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium Drive, Jenks • okaquarium.org

OCT. 17-19 AND 24-26

HALLOWZOOEEN

HallowZOOeen Days features access to the entire zoo decked out in spooky decorations and trick-or-treat areas, while HallowZOOeen Nights are a bit spookier and lets guests explore the zoo after dark.

Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. N. • tulsazoo.org

OCT. 23

PAWSTOBER FEST

A dog-friendly celebration for the whole family, so don’t forget to come dressed up for the costume contest. There’s a pet costume contest, too!

Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa, 5151 E. 51st St. • mealsonwheelstulsa.org/events/pawstoberfest2025

OCT. 24

WHITESIDE PARK HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL

This family-friendly event is packed with exciting activities, including costume contests, carnival games and endless fun for children of all ages.

Whiteside Park,4009 S. Pittsburg Ave. • tulsaparks.recdesk.com

OCT. 25

“MUSIC FROM THE SHADOWS ”

“Music from the Shadows” explores the eerie, poetic and otherworldly through an intimate opera music experience. Tulsa Opera, 1610 S. Boulder Ave. • tulsaopera.com

“POLTERGEIST”

“Poltergeist” is coming back to the big screen for one night only and includes a Q&A with James H. Spencer, production designer of the film. Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis Ave. • circlecinema.org

OCT. 26

NOSFERATU UNDEAD

Paul Bielatowicz’s multimedia musical experience breathes new life into the iconic 1922 silent horror film “Nosferatu.”

Vanguard Tulsa, 222 N. Main St. • thevanguardtulsa.com

OCT. 29

SPOOKY SIPS

Join the Vault for witchy drinks, dark spirits and a little mischief at its cocktail class.

The Vault, 620 S. Cincinnati Ave. • vaulttulsa.com tp

Hailey Briggs

Oklahomans for Equality’s new executive director

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Hailey Briggs found her way to the Sooner State courtesy of graduate school at Oklahoma State University. After two years serving in the Peace Corps she moved to Tulsa to work for City Year, an education nonprofi t dedicated to improving student success and specializing in strong programming, educator supports, leadership and workforce development, and community engagement. In July she was named executive director for Oklahomans for Equality. We met earlier this summer at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center — the oldest and largest queer community center in Oklahoma — to talk about her new role and her hopes for the organization.

YOU MET YOUR WIFE, LESLIE BRIGGS, WHILE AT OSU, BUT YOU BOTH HAD A DREAM TO SERVE IN THE PEACE CORPS. TELL ME ABOUT THAT. I went to Azerbaijan as a youth development specialist. That’s where I learned how to engage community in a very deep and intentional way to build programs.

It wasn’t going to be the Hailey show; it was going to be, “here’s a community that I have to learn context for and be deeply integrated into in order to add value in this space.” I think that was really where I started to understand just the mechanics around that, and also where I got very good at operating in discomfort. Because you are often operating in less than ideal conditions, specifically in Eastern Europe in the winter. So I did that, and then came back to Tulsa. My wife had served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, and came back around the same time. (We) have been here for the last 11 years, and in my opinion, (I’m) a full Tulsan now.

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, OKLAHOMANS FOR EQUALITY HAS DEALT WITH THE PANDEMIC, INFLATION, THE RETIREMENT OF A LONGTIME DIRECTOR, THE NEWS OF EMBEZZLEMENT BY A VOLUNTEER AND PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR FUNDRAISING SUPPORT. HOW ARE YOU NAVIGATING THIS TIME, AS WELL AS ENSURING YOUR SUPPORTERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALLIES KNOW OKEQ IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK?

I think even before me … there has been a lot of work over the last two years to make sure some of the systems that just weren’t in place … are in place to make sure there is protection of the folks who operate here, whether that’s staff or the community members who engage here within the center. That we’re being good stewards of the money that is coming in here to support this work. … There has been a lot of work to make sure those systems are in place and that some of the issues that came up with the embezzlement, things like that, will not happen in the future.

WHAT DOES THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR LOOK LIKE HERE AT OKLAHOMANS FOR EQUALITY? A lot of that internal culture work — how we all operate and coexist within the organization, and starting to think through both. I come from a program background, and so really making sure the work we’re doing today is excellent and consistent, and we can speak to our impact and share that story with the larger community. The existing programs today, making sure that those mechanisms are in place, making sure our volunteer facilitators have the support they need to feel equipped to support and facilitate their groups and programs, and then to start work with our community partners to start to design and innovate new programming here at the center. I think, specifically, not just to grow the overall programs, but to fill gaps that we’re seeing currently exist and that we anticipate folks within our community are going to need based off external services that are disappearing.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT AT THIS MONTH’S PRIDE? The 2025 Pride Festival and Parade will be a one-day celebration on Oct. 11, taking place on Pride Street downtown. Festival gates open at 10 a.m., with the parade kicking off at 4 p.m. and an evening full of events and performances to follow. We are thrilled to welcome an incredible lineup of both local icons and nationally recognized artists, musicians and performers. Guests can look forward to appearances from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” stars Irene the Alien, Kerri Colby, Lady Camden and Adore Delano. For those looking for an exclusive experience, VIP ticket holders will enjoy exclusive access to our VIP Lounge, featuring a private and intimate comedy show from nationally acclaimed comedian Kristin Key. At a time when the 2SLGBTQIA+ community continues to face challenges and active targeting, this year’s Pride is focused on bringing our diverse community and allies together to celebrate joy, resilience and care. Our goal is to connect people with resources, foster meaningful support and ensure we move forward together, stronger than ever. tp

In July Hailey Briggs was named executive director of Oklahomans for Equality, which is headquartered at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center at 624 E. Fourth St.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA WELCOMES

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Daniel H. Wilson

UTulsa alumnus Daniel H. Wilson is a Cherokee citizen, Tulsa native and the multiple New York Times bestselling author of technothrillers such as “Robopocalypse,” “The Clockwork Dynasty” and “The Andromeda Evolution” (an authorized sequel to the Crichton classic). He earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science from The University of Tulsa in 2000. He received a doctorate in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as master’s degrees in machine learning and robotics. His next novel, “Hole in the Sky,” has already been picked up by Netflix.

PRESIDENTIAL LECTURE SERIES

Sponsored by The Darcy O’Brien Endowed Chair and UTulsa’s Oklahoma Center for the Humanities

Lorton Performance Center Book signing to follow

Based on real science and Wilson’s unique background, first contact comes to life through a Native American lens with adrenalinecharged, stunning results. “Hole in the Sky” is a propulsive read that asks probing questions about nonhuman intelligence, the Western mindset and humans’ understanding of reality.

Free admission. Free parking. Open to the public.

Register for priority seating. utulsa.edu/pls

UTulsa is an EEO/AA institution, including disability/veteran. TU#25371

Decades of deco

Nonprofi t marks 3 decades of signifi cant preservation and education work.

BY SARA PLUMMER

As one of the founders of the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, architect Ted Reeds knows how special and unique this city’s buildings are.

“I’ve traveled all over the world and seen a lot of great cities. In terms of just the sheer number of quality buildings and homes in a city of our size, no one can touch us,” says Reeds, who also serves on TFA’s advisory board.

Interim Executive Director Malinda Blank says TFA was founded in 1995 as an advocacy organization focused on the preservation of historic buildings in downtown Tulsa, which at the time saw a lot of structures razed, neglected or abandoned.

“Tulsa has one of the largest concentrations of buildings in the art deco style in the country,” Blank says. “About one third of the original art deco buildings in Tulsa have either been demolished or signi cantly changed.”

TFA has evolved a lot since its founding 30 years ago, just as Tulsa has grown and changed.

“With this great resurgence in downtown Tulsa there’s an interest in not only working there, but living downtown,

enjoying nightlife downtown, being able to take your family downtown. All of those things have brought people back to wanting to know the history,” Blank says.

On Oct. 9, TFA will host Skyline Soiree, a rooftop architecture crawl to six di erent buildings in downtown Tulsa including the Hyatt Place, Mayo Hotel and Tulsa Club Hotel, as well as three rooftops and terraces closed to the public: Mid-Continent Tower, Philtower Building and the Reunion Building. Each location will have a cash bar as well as snacks and food from 6-10 p.m.; general admission tickets are $100 (members $75).

Blank says she hopes people take a closer look at the structures around them and see them as more than just the materials they’re made from.

“We all experience di erent things in our communities in di erent ways, but a building is there. We all see it, we all share it. And I think that’s part of what brings us together,” she says. “It represents our history, our art and our community. You can tell so much about who a city is by what their buildings are. I think it just speaks to us as a community.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tulsaarchitecture.org. tp

TULSA TRIBUTE

Unveiled at the end of July, a massive 30-by-80-foot banner installation now hangs on the east side of the Davenport Lofts, paying colorful tribute to Tulsa’s storied history and intrepid, pioneering spirit in arts, music and culture.

The banner is a gift to the city of Tulsa by Davenport Lofts, Leigh and John Reaves , and Kathy and Jeff Weaver The head-turning work of art — which the Reaves originally commissioned as a 32-by-84-inch art piece — was created by New York and Miami-based artist Peter Tunney

“Tunney’s artwork had always been an inspiration for the Reaves,” says Chad Renfro, project manager and interior designer for Davenport Lofts, “and there was talk of doing a mural or banner on the east side of The Davenport. Upon a visit to Tunney’s studio, they began to share the vision they had for this piece with Peter.” Tunney became inspired by the vision and by Tulsa, creating the original piece for the Reaves. It was then reproduced and printed locally by Lindmark Companies and installed by Brandon Davis of B-Outdoors, with help from Ventaire Corp.

The installation is more than just a colorful addition to the Davenport Lofts. “It’s a beautification of the arts district, but also a show of true alliance within the arts community,” Renfro says. “We hope it brings more collaboration between local and international artists and showcases Tulsa’s vibrant art scene.” — MEGAN TURNER

Ted Reeds and Malinda Blank on top of the Mid-Continent Tower terrace, one of six locations in Tulsa Foundation for Architecture’s Skyline Soiree.

Peter Tunney’s Tulsa-inspired artwork hangs on the east side of Davenport Lofts, 216 N. Main St.

Williams Route 66 Marathon is more than a race. It’s one of Tulsa’s signature events, bringing in visitors from 50 states and multiple countries to race around our headquarters city.

Set your own pace and enjoy downtown Tulsa’s Art Deco architecture, historic Route 66, the University of Tulsa and beautiful neighborhoods.

Join us November 22-23 as we Rock the Route.

Sign up to participate or volunteer at Route66marathon.com.

williams.com | NYSE: WMB

Old space, new heights

Belafonte and other Crosbie Heights spaces on

BY LAUREN ROGERS

When driving Charles Page Boulevard it’s hard not to lock eyes with the surreal sea creature at 306 S. Phoenix Ave. Home to concerts, art shows, community meetings, nonpro t events and more, the mural-adorned building is now known as Belafonte, but has previously gone by names like e Blue Jackalope and 306 Community House.

Originally built in 1935 as a furniture store, the building then spent decades as the ird and Phoenix Church of Christ. e congregation eventually sold the church in 2003 to pediatrician and real estate investor

the rise.

Dr. Miriam Mills. en a Crosbie Heights resident, Mills had stepped in to make sure the neighborhood diversi ed its o erings.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it, but I didn’t want it to be turned into a bar,” Mills explains. “ ere was already a neighborhood bar.”

Mills invested tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours over several years to bring the building into the 21st century as a catalyst for community. She collected a few neighboring lots, including 302 S. Phoenix Ave. and 311 S. Phoenix Ave., to ensure she would have parking available for potential future visitors.

Mills was approached by Tulsa entrepreneur Chris McCabe about selling the building in late 2022.

“(At the time) he was having house concerts at his home,” Mills says.

Formerly one of Tulsa’s most intimate venues, Vox Pop was the alter ego of Chris and Erin McCabe’s living room. e house music venue welcomed 68 shows over eight years, with its nale taking place this past March. e homeowners had been considering alternative options for future shows when Chris brought Mills to a Vox Pop show in 2022 and inquired about 306 S. Phoenix Ave.

After a few months of courtship, Mills was impressed enough by the McCabes’ vision that she was willing to sell. With Mills’ blessing, the McCabes purchased 306 and 302 S. Phoenix Ave. in April 2023.

ey operate Belafonte in partnership with Will and Charis Retherford

e new owners invested in lighting for local art shows, a sound system for music performances and put in an additional restroom and expanded the stage. ey turned a closet into a kitchenette leading to the enclosed backyard, and fenced in the sideyard to the north. Additionally, they turned the basement into a green room.

“ e versatility of the space is something we want to bring out,” says Jarret Boss, Belafonte’s lead cultural architect. “We like the diversity of having some comedy shows and some art-based things and some interactive things that really lend to a di erent experience every time people come out.”

Since most Belafonte visitors come from outside of Crosbie Heights, the team is working to nd more ways to engage with neighbors. One active project is the restoration of the community garden at 311 S. Phoenix Ave., which the McCabes recently purchased from Mills. “ ere’s power in us working together,” Chris says. “ ere’s a spirit of collaboration, instead of competition, that we’re trying to tap into.”

ere are two more McCabe initiatives on the way at 1301 W. Archer St. One side of the building will be a bodega called CH | OP (pronounced “chop”) which plays on acronyms for Crosbie Heights and neighboring Owen Park. e other side will be a home goods store called Mary’s, named after Mary Partridge, a Muscogee woman whose 160-acre allotment is now the Crosbie Heights neighborhood. tp

Above, Belafonte owners Erin and Chris McCabe stand inside the historic venue. Inset, the name Belafonte references the ship from the Wes Anderson film “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.” McCabe says he was “inspired by a scene in the film where Zissou takes his crew in a submersible vessel and observes all kinds of crazy sea life, much like the four-eyed fish on the north side of the building.”

Red dirt roots

Musician-focused Red Dirt Relief Fund marks $1 million in giving; annual Skinnerfest this month.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

Much of the music world is what those inside of it refer to as the “gig economy” — lots of short-term, part-time work and few traditional corporate bene ts like retirement plans and health insurance. Unfortunately, this means many who work in the industry are just one emergency away from nancial instability.

Over a decade ago, Katie Dale and Red Dirt Rangers’ John Cooper saw a need for a safety net to assist those individuals in Oklahoma’s music community experiencing unavoidable emergencies. So, in

2012, the nonpro t Red Dirt Relief Fund was born. Since then, the organization has served more than 851 music creators in 100 Oklahoma communities, providing over $1 million in aid through individual grants.

RDRF has helped people with medical bills and emergencies, living expenses, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and accidents — like the one Tulsa band Cli diver experienced in 2023 on the road to Las Vegas, when an industrial-sized chain link from a passing semi-truck crashed through the driver-side window of the tour van, striking and critically injuring bassist Tyler Rogers

Oct. 12

SKINNERFEST

Red Dirt Relief Fund will host the 10th annual Skinnerfest at Mercury Lounge, 1747 S. Boston Ave., and Venue Shrine, 112 E. 18th St., from noon-9 p.m. The event celebrates the life and songwriting tradition of Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer Tom Skinner who died in 2015 and is considered one of the forefathers of Red Dirt Music. The 21-plus event raises money for RDRF’s Emergency Financial Assistance Fund and features an allOklahoma lineup of songwriters and full bands, as well as brunch to start the day. For more information, visit reddirtrelieffund.org/skinnerfest.

Fortunately, Rogers survived and fully recovered from the freak incident, but the cost of his medical care was signi cant.

“When we put the call out for any resources to aid the band in their recovery, Red Dirt Relief Fund answered, and answered immediately,” recalls Joe Giordano, Cli diver’s manager and founder of 918 Management. “Red Dirt Relief Fund is essential.”

RDRF grew exponentially during COVID, when the system RDRF had in place allowed it to e ciently deliver emergency nancial assistance to the many music industry individuals who found themselves unemployed due to the pandemic. Funders, like George Kaiser Family Foundation, came forward to support RDRF’s mission.

“ at’s when we stepped to the next level,” says Dale, RDRF’s executive director. “We were able to impact a lot more people and a lot more communities, and more people learned about us. e organization grew again, organically.”

Dale is proud of what the organization has achieved, and she continues to explore new partnerships and opportunities to further help the demographic it serves. While there are other organizations out there doing similar work, Dale believes RDRF’s approach is unique because, in most instances, the support is delivered quickly and directly to the applicant.

“Rather than acting as their big brother, it was the intention of the original board, which was mostly musicians, to try to lend some sense of dignity to this process,” she says. “People are hesitant to ask for help, and it can be very humbling, so we want to try to meet people where they are, with respect.”

Visit reddirtrelie und.org for more information. tp

Editor’s note: Julie Wenger Watson is a board member of Red Dirt Relief Fund.

Johnny Mullenax performs at 2024 Skinnerfest, a fundraiser for Red Dirt Relief Fund. On Sept. 16, RDRF was honored with the Music Cities Award, a global competition launched in 2020 that recognizes and celebrates music in economic, social, environmental and cultural development across cities worldwide.

Jamie Tovar, Thomas Trapp, Katie Dale, Ashley Kirkley and Jared Tyler

License to thrill

KISS tribute band Dressed to Kill has been entertaining crowds for 20 years.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

If you long for the glory days of glam rock, when performers paid as much attention to costumes and makeup as they did ri s and lyrics, Tulsa’s Dressed to Kill is for you. Since 2005, DTK has brought its KISS tribute experience — complete with high-heeled boots, plenty of spandex, face paint and even a few pyrotechnics — to venues, fundraisers and private events around the region. e performance is more than impressive visuals; the band prides itself on its musicianship, too.

“Everyone in the band is a good musician with a lot of experience,” says DTK co-founder Gregg Shipman (bass, vocals) who, in full stage makeup, looks remarkably like KISS bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons.

In addition to Shipman, DTK’s current lineup includes Mickie Knight (lead guitar, vocals) and ad Timothy (vocals, rhythm guitar). Although Shipman appreciates and respects the talent and skill of each of his bandmates, he says the band’s newest

member, drummer and vocalist Jason Gilardi, is likely the most familiar to music fans. In addition to being the son of the now-deceased actress, singer and former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello, Gilardi was the drummer for ’90s alt-rock band Caroline’s Spine. at band had several charting radio hits and even opened on a few occasions for (the real) KISS in the mid-90s.

“He’s just a beast on drums, and we’re super lucky to have him,” Shipman says.

Shipman’s own music roots run deep. His father, Dale Shipman, performed with his uncles as the Shipman Brothers in the ’60s and ’70s. According to Shipman, the band had ties to Tulsa Sound musicians like J.J. Cale. Although Shipman played with his dad from an early age, it was Shipman’s cousin Donnie who turned him on to KISS in the late ’70s, at the tender young age of 8.

“It sounded really cool, and it sounded really fun,” Shipman recalls. e music hooked him, but it was the “Alive II” album

OKM MUSIC’S OKTOBERFEST RETURNS OCT. 4

cover, with its photos of the band in all their made-up glory, that reeled him in.

“I’m like, ‘What are these guys? Are these real? Are they aliens? Are they monsters? Is that their real skin? What’s going on,’” he laughs. “It was kind of scary, but at the same time, it was really intriguing.”

DTK’s musicians are now in their 40s and 50s with kids, grandkids and day jobs, but the joy of performing has never left.

Although their tour schedule has slowed a bit, they still perform a few times a year in Tulsa, as well as gigs across the region. It’s still a thrill when they walk through a crowd.

“People’s reactions are great,” he says. “You can see in their face that they’re allowing themselves to enjoy the illusion that they’re hanging out with their favorite band when they see somebody who looks authentically like (KISS guitarist and vocalist) Paul Stanley walking by them.

eir faces light up like they’re kids.”

Visit dtkrocks.com for more information. tp

The 13th annual Oktoberfest returns to downtown Bartlesville for a celebration of music, food, games and family fun. Tulsa musicians Grady Nichols and King Cabbage Brass Band are set to perform, along with traditional German music by Blaskapelle. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $10; children under the age of 18 are free. Visit okmmusic.org for more details.

Tulsa-based KISS tribute band Dressed to Kill will perform on Dec. 13 at The Vanguard.

ART SPOT

Coloring community

Local watercolorists of all skill levels fi nd both community and a creative outlet.

BY MEGAN TURNER

The Green Country Watercolor Society will return to Utica Square’s annual Art in the Square event on Oct. 4. e event is an opportunity for GCWS members to display their original watercolor pieces and help attract visitors — as well as potential new members — to learn more about the organization’s mission and sense of community it gives participants.

“We have been around for around 20 years,” says Win Noren, current GCWS president. “Our purpose is to provide artists with the opportunities to grow in their watercolor skills and to help the community understand the value of the medium.”

“I love the immediacy of it and the ow and softness that it creates,” says Jerry Wade, longtime member of GCWS and a retired commercial artist. Wade, who primarily enjoys painting landscapes, is one of around 20 GCWS members who will display their watercolor works at Art in the Square. Visitors to the GCWS booth near

Walgreens can expect to nd a wide variety of framed and unframed pieces, original prints, cards and smaller pieces for sale, with options at every price point.

e GCWS currently has 58 Tulsa-area members, all from various parts of Tulsa and its neighboring cities. at number has grown signi cantly in the past two years, since Noren rst became a member, expanding from 40 to almost 60 members. Skill levels range from beginners to those with decades of experience, making the group an inviting space for all levels of painters.

e club o ers multiple opportunities for members to practice their skills and learn new ones. “We always host a national artist for a three-day workshop,” Noren says. “ is year we are also o ering six workshops led by our members as a low-cost way to paint together.”

Meetings are held at Arts @ 302, 302 S. Main St., Broken Arrow, at 10 a.m. on the second ursday of every month. Find more information at greencountryws.com. tp

In May 1998, TulsaPeople Magazine highlighted Susan Ellerbach, Helen Jo Hardwick , LeAnne Taylor and Suzanne Wallis on its cover for their contributions to the city through their work as journalists, public relations professionals, fundraisers and more.

Since her cover story, Ellerbach retired in 2020 from the Tulsa World where she spent 35 years working — from news reporter to executive editor. During her time with the newspaper, she received a plethora of prestigious awards, including being recognized as a Tulsa Press Club Media Icon, as well as with the Pinnacle Award from the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and YWCA.

Hardwick served as the marketing director for over 20 years at Resonance Center for Women until she retired in 2007. One year later, she received the Saidie Award, a lifetime achievement recognition from the Association for Women in Communications Tulsa. She died in 2023.

With more than 40 years in Oklahoma broadcasting, Taylor has become a household name for her commitment to local news. The two-time Emmy Award winner is also well-known for her advocacy work for breast cancer awareness after having survived it herself. You can still see her anchor “6 in the Morning” each weekday on News on 6.

In 2018, Wallis released “Art Deco Tulsa,” a book celebrating Tulsa’s enduring art deco legacy. She and her husband, Michael, can often be found exploring the Mother Road. The pair has been a force in helping to immortalize and revitalize the iconic roadway. — MADISON WALTERS

Jerry Wade is a member of the Green Country Watercolor Society, which will be displaying and selling members’ works during the Oct. 4 Art in the Square festival at 1709 Utica Square.

By the bard

Tulsa Shakespeare Co. seeks to enrich theater community.

BY LAURA DENNIS

This fall, Tulsa Shakespeare Co. and eatre North will present its rst co-production of Shakespeare’s “Othello” on Oct. 18-19 and 25-26, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s Liddy Doenges eater.

Brock England , founder and creative artistic director of Tulsa Shakespeare Co., says the collaboration “just made sense” after learning through the grapevine that eatre North had attempted to stage “Othello” in 2020 but was shut down due to the pandemic.

“We didn’t want to step on any toes being the newcomers,” he says. “ ey agreed to partner with us, which is a big deal because it lends us a lot of credibility, and it’s just a fantastic opportunity.”

For eatre North, Executive Director Maybelle Wallace says the joint e ort gives their company an opportunity to perform for a new audience and the exciting prospect of exploring di erent genres. “Shakespeare is iconic,” she says. “I believe our audience and actors should get to experience it.”

England moved to Tulsa with wife Rachel in 2021 from Austin, Texas, where they both were involved in the local theater scene. He says they were surprised to nd Tulsa lacked an active Shakespeare Company, so he founded TSC in August 2023.

“We want to produce early modern and classical drama to enrich the culture of Tulsa’s theater community,” England says. “Our goal is to harness Tulsa’s history and cultural diversity to build a repertory theater company that contributes to the city’s economy, edi es the population and allows artists of all skill levels to grow in a professional setting.”

Besides theater productions, Tulsa Shakespeare Co. o ers adult-level acting classes on how to decode Shakespeare’s text and how to use blank verse, England says. He adds that their education arm also includes local school visits to bring enrichment activities and resources surrounding classical works like Shakespeare’s to students.

TSC is funded by grants, sponsorships and a growing donor base. England says the number of shows depends on the cost and audience demand. “We want to make it special,” he says. “Limiting the number of performances means you’ve only got a few chances to see it, so it gets audiences in the door.”

As for the partnership with eatre North and future potential collaborations, England says it’s the end goal. “We want our theater community to grow and thrive together.”

Visit tulsashakespeare.com for more information. tp

ON EXHIBIT

Art exhibit “Oklahoma Visionaries” is back at Liggett Studios Oct. 10-30 for its 2025-26 biennial iteration to highlight local artists who are guided by personal vision, not necessarily formal training or conventional practices.

Co-curator Steve Liggett explains that visionary artists, often self-taught, are contemporary folk artists who might not identify as artists in the traditional sense. “Our hope is we will be able to encourage visionary artists to keep working and to help Oklahomans to understand their importance,” he says. Pamela Hodges co-curates the exhibit.

The show has evolved from its inaugural installation, expanding to include photos of seven Oklahoma site-specific works, in addition to the physical artwork displayed in the gallery at 314 S. Kenosha Ave.

One such site is Ed Galloway ’s Totem Pole Park outside of Foyil, Oklahoma. The park is home to iconic sculptures that pay homage to Native American totem poles, and it’s a crucial piece to the story behind the “Oklahoma Visionaries” show. Guest artist Erin Turner restored multiple works at the park, and her encounters with these sculptures inspired her photomontage series that will be on display in “Oklahoma Visionaries.”

The show will move to Stillwater (Nov. 6-Dec. 6), then Chickasha (Feb. 13-March 13). — BLAYKLEE FREED

Theatre North Executive Director Maybelle Wallace and Tulsa Shakespeare Co. Founder Brock England, center, at a rehearsal for their October production of “Othello.”

“What images have left us with” (2025) by Erin Turner. 20-by-13.3-inch digital photomontage.

Bouldering and beyond

Downtown’s Gravity Bear Bouldering Gym o ers the physical and social elements of climbing in a communitydriven space.

STORIES BY MARNIE FERNANDEZ

Elote opened its three karaoke rooms in mid-June. The rooms are open 11 a.m.-10 p.m., MondayThursday; and 11 a.m.-midnight, Friday-Saturday. Additionally, Elote hosts free karaoke in its bar for those 21 or older from 8 p.m.-midnight, FridaySaturday.

When Parker Simms arrived in Tulsa four years ago, he wasn’t planning to stay long term, let alone open a new business.

“I moved to Tulsa because my kids were here, and I had no plans to stay once they graduated,” Simms says of his kids who are now 13 and 15. “But I am an avid climber, so I joined the local climbing gym. In seeing how many people would be there at any given time, I began to do some research and realized Tulsa could easily support another climbing gym.”

The East Village building where Gravity Bear Bouldering Gym now resides is more than 100 years old and has been retrofi tted into an urban oasis of fiberglass walls and colorful holds.

“No matter where you live in the greater Tulsa area, everyone is 15-20 minutes from downtown,” Simms says. “It was a no-brainer. Then we found this location and just knew it was the right space.”

Gravity Bear features several bouldering walls, a full gym, coffee shop and cafe-style seating with Wi-Fi to encourage people to stay and visit.

“The difference between a climbing gym and bouldering gym is you don’t need equipment or be roped-in to participate,” he says. “We have the same holds and same walls, but ours only go up 15 feet.”

Simms’ passion is climbing, and he has visited climbing gyms all over the world.

“Each one is different, but the community itself is very similar.”

It was important to Simms to incorporate the social aspect of the sport as well as the physical.

“Bouldering is more community-driven than climbing,” he says. “So, we designed the gyms to emphasize flow and circulation — to encourage community building.”

Before moving here, Simms was active duty Army stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas, and Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Currently, Simms has no plans to leave Tulsa as he has grown to love the city.

“Everyone here is so welcoming and supportive,” he says. “I don’t think I could have followed my dreams in any other place.”

For information on hours, passes and membership options, visit climbgravitybear.com. tp

Karaoke all the time

Stage fright? No problem! Want to sing at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday? Of course! Elote Cafe, 514 S. Boston Ave., offers a whole new way to experience the magic of karaoke.

Elote owner and entrepreneur Libby Billings is no stranger to thinking outside the box. Her downtown cafe started the local Luchador wrestling craze and the always-sold-out drag queen brunches. Billings has now transformed the back of her restaurant into three themed karaoke rooms.

“I wanted to bring something fun and unique to downtown,” Billings says. “There are private karaoke venues all over the world, but none in Tulsa.”

Each room has a different theme: The Blue Room, Grandma’s Room and the Retro Room. Guests can browse the bilingual song library right from their phones and create their own playlists. Each suite includes mics, TVs, speakers and full food and drink service.

The Blue Room can hold up to six guests; Grandma’s Room and the Retro Room can each hold up to 12. Reservations are strongly encouraged, especially on weekends, however walk-ins are welcome if space allows.

“Private karaoke is all about joy, camaraderie and hitting the high notes with the people you love,” Billings says.

For more information on hours and rates, visit elotetulsa.com. tp

Owner Parker Simms, Gym Manager Chandler Green and Head Routesetter Armen Avanessian at Gravity Bear Bouldering Gym, 618 E. Third St.

Hotly debated

James Maxwell’s decisions on downtown continue to reverberate today.

BY MICHAEL OVERALL

The day before he took o ce, Mayor-elect James Maxwell was not even in Tulsa. He’d gone to Dallas.

Having clinched the election in April 1958 at the age of 31 — the youngest person ever to win a mayor’s race in Tulsa — Maxwell led a delegation of 17 local ocials to an urban renewal clinic sponsored by the American Council to Improve Our Neighborhoods.

Cities across the country were facing a growing challenge from suburbia. Freeways were under construction. Shopping malls were pulling retailers away from Main Street. And housing developments were sprouting ever farther into what used to be the countryside.

Tulsa, of course, was no exception. e Skelly Bypass, known today as Interstate 44, was already open with the Crosstown and Broken Arrow expressways in advanced stages of planning. Northland had joined Utica Square to give shoppers an alternative to the old Central Business District, while Ranch Acres and the Patrick Henry neighborhood were luring homebuyers as far south as 41st Street.

e trip to Dallas, and the sheer size of the group that Maxwell took with him, sent a clear message about his priorities. After returning, he took the oath of o ce during a brief and informal ceremony on the afternoon of May 6, 1958, and almost immediately set to work on putting together a comprehensive master plan for downtown development.

Known as “A Plan for Central Tulsa,” Maxwell’s vision included a modern Civic Center for municipal government, a Central Library, a pedestrian mall along a stretch of Main Street and an Inner Dispersal Loop to channel tra c in and out of the area — all of which became reality over the next couple of decades.

In 1959, Maxwell created the Tulsa Urban Renewal Authority, a predecessor of today’s Tulsa Development Authority,

to begin acquiring blighted properties and clearing sites for new construction. Early targets included dilapidated buildings along the Frisco Railroad, and property acquisitions began by 1961.

e process eventually created some of Tulsa’s most recognizable landmarks, including the 52-story BOK Tower, the Performing Arts Center and the Williams Green. But it also led to the demolition of some of the city’s most historic buildings, including the luxurious Bliss Hotel, the iconic Hotel Tulsa and the art deco-styled Medical Arts Building.

Born on May 12, 1926, Maxwell volunteered for the Army during World War II and served in Burma (Myanmar), India and China. In 1950 he graduated from Oklahoma State University and joined his father in running a ower shop, where he remained politically unknown until he ran for mayor.

Maxwell lost his bid for re-election in 1966 and went back to running the ower shop, later becoming a lobbyist and consultant in Washington, D.C. By then, of course, he had left an indelible mark on Tulsa, but his legacy remains hotly debated. He gets a lot of credit for the way downtown evolved in the late 20th century, but the urban renewal e orts he promoted also receive a lot of blame for turning landmarks into parking lots, dividing the city and displacing residents and businesses — especially in the historic Greenwood District.

No doubt he did what he thought was best.

“I love this city,” he said once, “and if I have made any contributions to it, I’m glad I did while I was young enough and strong enough to do it.”

He died Oct. 18, 1984, at age 58.

e downtown convention center was named after him from 1985 until June 2013, when Cox Communications acquired the naming rights. Today it is known as Arvest Convention Center. tp

James Maxwell walks down a sidewalk on Fourth Street near its intersection with Boston Avenue in September 1960.

1-30

Autumn in the Botanic Garden

Benefi ts Tulsa Botanic Garden. tulsabotanic.org

1-Dec. 8

Toys for Tots

Benefi ts Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots campaign. toysfortots.org

2 Champions of Health Gala

Benefi ts Oklahoma Caring Foundation. championsofhealth.org

Go Red for Women Luncheon

Benefi ts American Heart Association. goredforwomen.org

Hospitality Under the Stars

Benefi ts Hospitality House of Tulsa. hhtulsa.org

Tatas, Tinis and Tennis

Benefi ts Oklahoma Project Woman. oklahomaprojectwoman.org

Top of the Town

Benefi ts Oklahoma Veterans United. okvetunited.org

3 The Canopy

Benefi ts Up With Trees. upwithtrees.org

Links to Independence Golf Classic

Benefi ts Ability Resources. abilityresources.org

Rock Paper Scissors

Benefi ts The Pencil Box. thepencilbox.org

4-11

Rally Cry Kick-off and Fitness Challenge

Benefi ts the Demand Project Tulsa. thedemandproject.org

October charitable events

COMPILED BY MADISON WALTERS

4

1940’s Hangar Dance

Benefi ts Tulsa Air and Space Museum. tulsamuseum.org

Bright Lights

Benefi ts Sangha Men’s Recovery Community. sanghatulsa.org

Kaleidoscope Ball

Benefi ts Emergency Infant Services. eistulsa.org

Oktoberfest

Benefi ts OKM Music. okmmusic.org

5

Tulsa Buddy Walk

Benefi ts Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa. dsat.org

6 Drive Fore the House Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tulsa. rmhctulsa.org

Restore Hope Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Restore Hope Ministries. restorehope.org

Tulsa Hall of Fame

Benefi ts Museum of Tulsa History. tulsahistory.org/hof

9 A Concert Under the Stars

Benefi ts Blessings to Share Foundation. facebook.com/ blessings2share

Porch Party

Benefi ts Lindsey House. lindseyhouse.org

Silver Link Awards

Benefi ts Public Relations Society of America — Tulsa Chapter. prsatulsa.com

Skyline Soiree

Benefi ts Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. tulsaarchitecture.org

Some Like it Hot

Benefi ts Tulsa Glassblowing School. tulsaglassblowing.org/ some-like-it-hot

Taste of Brookside

Benefi ts Youth Services of Tulsa. yst.org/taste-of-brookside

10

Hope Rising Gala

Benefi ts Project Hope Worldwide. projecthopeworldwide.org

Trivia Night

Benefi ts City Lights Foundation of Oklahoma. citylightsok.org

11

Annual Charity Gala

Benefi ts Good Samaritan Health Services. goodsamaritanhealth.org

Zoo Nights

Benefi ts Tulsa Zoo. tulsazoo.org

11-12

Brush Creek Bazaar

Benefi ts Teen Challenge of Oklahoma. brushcreekbazaar.com

12

Skinnerfest

Benefits Red Dirt Relief Fund. reddirtrelieffund.org

Stay Gold Gala

Benefi ts The Outsiders House Museum. theoutsidershouse.com/ staygoldgala

13

Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Operation Hope Prison Ministry. ohpm.org

Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Broken Arrow Public Schools Foundation. bapsfoundation.org

EDITOR'S

Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Red, White and You. markallenchevytulsa.com/ charity-golf-tournament. htm

Pink Ribbon

Benefi ts Oklahoma Project Woman. oklahomaprojectwoman.org

14

President’s Council

Dinner Concert

Benefi ts Tulsa Opera. tulsaopera.com

16

Light the Night

Benefi ts Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. lightthenight.org

17

Fore the Vets Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Eagle OPS Foundation. eagleops.org

Moonstruck

Benefi ts Clarehouse. clarehouse.org

Putts for Mutts

Benefi ts Skiatook Paws and Claws Animal Rescue. skiatookpawsandclaws.com

17, 24

Pirates and Princesses Dinner

Benefi ts Tulsa Zoo. tulsazoo.org

17-19, 24-26

HallowZOOeen

Benefi ts Tulsa Zoo. tulsazoo.org

17-18, 24-25, 31

HallowMarine

Benefits Oklahoma Aquarium. okaquarium.org

18

20th Anniversary

Onstage Gala Dinner

Benefi ts Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. tulsasymphony.org

Oklahoma Congenital

Heart Walk

Benefi ts The Children’s Heart Foundation. childrensheartfoundation.org

Walk to Defeat ALS

Benefi ts ALS Association. als.org

19

Veterans Memorial

Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Tulsa Elks Lodge Veteran Community. facebook.com/ tulsaelkslodge

Wine Experience

Harvest Dinner

Benefi ts Philbrook Museum of Art. philbrook.org

21

Conserving the Green Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Natural Resources Conservancy. conservingthegreen.com

23

Hope Floats

Benefi ts New Hope Oklahoma. newhopeoklahoma.org

Pawstober Fest

Benefi ts Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa’s pet food program. mealsonwheelstulsa.org

Trivia for a Cause

Benefi ts Pause4Paws. pause4pawsok.org

24

Corks and Kegs

Benefi ts The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. cff.org/chapters/easternoklahoma-chapter

Tailgate for a Cause

Benefi ts USA BMX Foundation. usabmxfoundation.org

24-26

PhilBOO

Benefi ts Philbrook Museum of Art. philbrook.org

24-Nov. 2

Care Card

Benefi ts Family and Children’s Services. carecardok.com

25

Mutt Strut Benefi ts Domestic Violence Intervention Services. dvis.org

Poker Run Benefi ts Griffin Promise Autism Clinic. thegriffi npromise.org

Run the Streets Woolaroc 8K Benefi ts Run the Streets mentoring program. woolaroc.org

26

Museum Gala Benefi ts Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. jewishmuseumtulsa.org/ gala2025

27

Cheers to Joy Benefi ts Joy in the Cause. joyinthecause.org

Golf Tournament

Benefi ts Little Light House. littlelighthouse.org

Tee It Up for Tim Memorial Golf Tournament Benefi ts Oklahoma Parkinson’s Alliance. oklahomapa.org

28

Bunco for a Cause Benefi ts Soft Landings Parrot Rescue and the Bailey Education Foundation Scholarship program. baileyeducationfoundation. com

Pearl House Gala Benefi ts Pearl House. pearlhouse.org

29

Stories of Hope Luncheon

Benefi ts Hearts for Hearing. heartsforhearing.org

The Tulsa Indian Club, the city’s oldest Native American cultural organization, hosted its ANNUAL POWWOW on Aug. 16-17 at Arvest Convention Center. More than 2,500 people gathered to help preserve and promote the cultural heritage of North American Indian Tribes, as well as honor ancestors who came before them. Over 50 tribes were represented at the event. TIC is also committed to promoting greater health awareness, education and economic development for the Native American community. Pictured is the Muscogee Nation Color Guard in a ceremonial parade.

Tulsa Area United Way hosted its DOWNTOWN DECO CHALLENGE on Aug. 23. For every person or pet who passed under the balloon arch, presenting sponsor Price Family Properties donated $100, up to $100,000. Festivities also included music, food and games. During the event, Jackie Price Johannsen (president of PFP and chair of the 2025 TAUW fundraising drive), right, presented Alison Anthony (president and CEO of TAUW) with a check for $100,000. The event concluded with TAUW announcing its 2025 fundraising goal of $26,026,653.

Approximately 110 guests gathered at Agora Event Center on Aug. 26 for MADAM PRESIDENT, the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa’s recognition event for extraordinary women in our community. This year’s honorees include Nuceka Chatman, Wendy Thomas, Catheryn Ackenhausen, Tralynna Scott, Rep. Amanda Clinton, Rep. Melissa Provenzano, Tracy Spears, Angela Sivadon, Sarah Hansel and Denise Henry. Funds raised at this event go toward the organization’s work in helping to promote voter registration, candidate forums and more.

Legacy makers

MUSEUM OF TULSA HISTORY NAMES 7 TO THE TULSA HALL OF FAME.

BY ROBERT EVATT

Each year, the Tulsa Hall of Fame inducts a new class of Tulsans who have outstandingly contributed to Tulsa’s economic and cultural success. But narrowing that list down to just a few inductees each year is a tall order, says Daphne Dowdy, development director for the Museum of Tulsa History.

“We consider an ever-growing list of people who have been nominated over the decades,” she says. “More extraordinary folks are added each year. Just when you think, ‘Surely that’s every interesting story in the city,’ you meet another incredible person.” A con dential group — museum sta , board members, museum members and Tulsa Hall of Famers — reviews the preserved list and nominations from the community to name inductees.

During a black-tie dinner a air on Oct. 6, the Tulsa Hall of Fame will welcome seven new inductees into their ranks. ese include Marcello Angelini, the artistic director of Tulsa Ballet; G.T. Bynum, Tulsa’s 40th mayor; Jim Halsey and Minisa Crumbo Halsey, representative to Country Music Hall of Fame inductees and a multimedia artist, respectively; Pierce Norton, president and CEO of ONEOK, with his wife Debbie, a retired surgical nurse; and Pat Woodrum, former head of Tulsa City-County Library and co-founder of Tulsa Botanic Garden.

Oct. 6

TULSA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY AND DINNER

Southern Hills Country Club, 2636 E. 61st St. 5:30 p.m., cocktails; 6:30-9 p.m., dinner and ceremony; 9-10 p.m., nightcap and live jazz. Tickets — $400 Benefi ts the Museum of Tulsa History.

2025 Tulsa Hall of Fame inductees: standing, Marcello Angelini, Pierce and Debbie Norton, G.T. Bynum; seated, Jim Halsey and Minisa Crumbo Halsey, Pat Woodrum

Marcello Angelini

Angelini, a former professional dancer since age 17, is starting his 31st season as artistic director at a much-changed Tulsa Ballet. Under his guidance, what was once a respected regional organization that sometimes struggled to keep a full roster of dancers has become one of the ve most signi cant dance organizations in the United States. Its dancers perform ballet classics as well as international premieres of new performances crafted by some of the most talented dance creators in the world.

What’s more, Tulsa Ballet is continually invited to perform at the most famous ballet organizations worldwide — next year, it will be one of three companies performing at Royal Opera House in London.

During Angelini’s tenure, Tulsa Ballet has opened multiple new dance schools across the city, providing a place for everyone from children learning ballet for the rst time to young adults pursuing careers in the art.

Angelini says he frequently gets o ers to work at other ballet companies in bigger cities, but when asked what keeps him in Tulsa, his immediate reply is “Tulsa.”

“ ere is something about this city, the donor community, the audience, that is infectious,” he says.

at’s part of why he believes being named to the Tulsa Hall of Fame was “the greatest possible honor.”

“I’m honored and humbled that the work we’ve done at Tulsa Ballet has had an impact, and people are able to see what we’re doing for the community,” he says.

G.T. Bynum

If you’ve even glanced at local news in the past 17 years, you’ve heard of Bynum.

Former Mayor Bynum began his political career in 2008 when he was elected to the Tulsa City Council. Serving the city during a recession caused him to face numerous families of city employees that had just been laid o . at experience helped motivate him to seek the city’s highest o ce.

“I originally ran because I did not want my kids growing up in a city that was comfortable with a slow decline,” he says.

Bynum was elected mayor in 2016 with a high enough margin to avoid a runo , and immediately set to work. Just a few of the milestones set under his two-term leadership include the creation of Zink Lake, building Gilcrease Museum a new home, attracting Amazon and other large employers, shaping downtown with the Arena District Master Plan, establishing a rainy day fund that helped Tulsa endure the pandemic, helping Tulsans recover from the damaging June 2023 storm, and the

approval of the largest street beauti cation program in the city’s history.

“My hope for our country is in local government,” he says. “ at’s where there are incentives to solve problems together, rather than engage in debates along partisan lines.”

Bynum says he was so surprised to hear he was named to the Tulsa Hall of Fame, he had to ask three times to make sure he understood what they were saying.

“To be included is such an honor, and a testament to what my team did,” says Bynum, who is now vice president of community and government a airs at Saint Francis Health System.

Jim Halsey and Minisa Crumbo Halsey

For this married couple, life is art.

Jim has dedicated 75 years of his life — and counting — to managing, representing and booking a dizzying array of musicians, including Roy Clark , Reba McEntire, e Judds, Clint Black , Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard , Dwight Yoakam, Roy Orbison and Leon Russell, just to name a fraction of his catalogue.

Meanwhile, Minisa, the daughter of artist Woody Crumbo, channels her Citizen Potawatomi and Muscogee heritage into her internationally recognized art, which includes painting, silversmithing, photojournalism, writing and teaching.

Jim’s work has taken him across the world, including a memorable 1976 performance by Roy Clark and e Oak Ridge Boys in the Soviet Union. But he’d rather focus on his overall life goal than any individual detail.

“For the last 75 years, I’ve tried to make people’s lives better through music and art,” Jim says.

As for Minisa, she says she draws from the Native American medicine wheel relationship with the creator, using what materials are provided by Mother Earth in her work.

She acknowledged the same tradition when asked of her reaction to being named to the Tulsa Hall of Fame.

“I’m honored as a representative of the Native American community,” Minisa says. “Speak from the heart, mind, body and spirit as to what is important to the whole.”

Pierce and Debbie Norton

e Nortons’ story begins not in Tulsa, but at the University of Alabama’s Student Government O ce.

“We weren’t born in Tulsa, but we got here as soon as we could,” Pierce says.

Pierce’s four-decade career in oil and gas reached new heights in 2014 when he

was named the rst president and CEO of ONE Gas, and again in 2021 when he became the 17th president and CEO of ONEOK.

Debbie’s path was inspired by care and creativity. She started as a full-time mom, then became a surgical nurse, substitute teacher and a small business owner before retiring. Ultimately, she attributes her successes in each of her pursuits to a simple philosophy: listening and service to others.

Pierce and Debbie continue to invest time and energy into strengthening the greater Tulsa area, with Pierce most recently serving as a tri-chair for the Tulsa Area United Way’s record-breaking centennial campaign in 2024.

“Tulsa is an extraordinary city, made remarkable by people who choose to do extraordinary things,” the Nortons said in a statement. “ e stories of past and present honorees show how community spirit and philanthropy can inspire a ripple e ect across an entire community. We are grateful to live in a city known for its profound generosity.”

Pat Woodrum

Woodrum developed a love of books while growing up in Parsons, Kansas.

“ ere was a library four blocks from my house,” she says. “I always enjoyed going there.”

After moving to Tulsa in 1964 with her husband, Clayton Woodrum, she immediately joined Tulsa City-County Library as head librarian of the former Woodland View branch. During her 32year career with TCCL — 21 of which were spent as executive director — she helped establish everything from a summer reading program for children to the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award, which brings groundbreaking authors to Tulsa every year.

Woodrum retired from the library at 55, but her story wasn’t over. Since she and Clayton share a love of gardening, she enrolled in the Oklahoma State University Master Gardeners Program. But the hobby quickly became a new opportunity to serve.

“ e head of the program kept saying he had a dream that Tulsa could have a botanical garden of its own,” she says.

With the help of many others, Woodrum established the Tulsa Botanic Garden and served as its rst executive director. e garden is now one of the largest in the country at 170 acres, featuring a lake, ve garden areas and a multipurpose building.

Woodrum says being named to the Tulsa Hall of Fame is an honor.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to give back to this community that Clayton and I love so very much,” she says. tp

MUSICAL BEHIND

Tulsa-based Tanninger Entertainment helps bring Broadway stories to life — including S.E. Hinton’s cult classic novel.

BY LAUREN ROGERS

The Tony Award-winning musical “The Outsiders” kicks off its North American tour this month with a highly anticipated six-day run at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Oct. 7-12.

Based on the iconic novel by Tulsa’s own S.E. Hinton, the show premiered on Broadway in spring 2024 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The musical had been in development for years, originally being announced in 2019 but seeing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That actually worked in our favor,” explains Patricia Chernicky of Tanninger Entertainment, a Tulsa-based entertainment firm working to help produce and finance shows on Broadway, the West End and beyond, as well as build and create new projects for both the stage and screen. “(The showrunners) just kept honing the whole project, and it just got better and better and better.”

Tanninger Entertainment is among the list of producers who worked to bring the show to life, which also includes Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, The Araca Group, actresses LaChanze and Angelina Jolie, and the original “Outsiders” film director Francis Ford Coppola under American Zoetrope.

The trio of Tulsans behind Tanninger Entertainment — Jay Krottinger, Ryan Jude Tanner and Chernicky — became involved with the musical at its beginnings in 2019. Established that same year, Tanninger Entertainment was the formal result of a yearslong friendship and working relationship between the three producers; prior to uniting with Chernicky under the Tanninger name, Krottinger and Tanner had helped to produce Broadway shows from 2011-2019 as Square 1 Theatrics, with Chernicky investing in their shows during that time.

“When we founded Tanninger, we asked Pat to consider joining us as partner,” Tanner says. “She’s more family than friend or partner ... she also gave us a huge amount of legitimacy.”

“Tulsa is our home. Our lives are deeply, deeply rooted here. A big part of our lives includes our philanthropic portfolio, which has been a constant in our relationship. If any of our work de nes who we are, it’s this part.”

—RYAN JUDE TANNER

Jay Krottinger, Patricia Chernicky and Ryan Jude Tanner photographed at Will Rogers High School. Both the Broadway and North American touring cast of “The Outsiders” visited the alma mater of author S. E. Hinton during their trips to Tulsa.

SETTING THE STAGE

While attending graduate school for theater at the University of Central Oklahoma, Krottinger helped set the foundation for Tanninger’s musical production work in 2011 with his involvement in developing “Flipside: The Patti Page Story.” The 2012 musical followed the soft-spoken singer from Claremore’s wildly successful journey as a recording artist, and it played off-Broadway at the acclaimed 59E59 Theaters in New York City.

“At that time, we were in need of hiring a legal counsel to represent us for that project. And that’s when we got introduced to the production of ‘Pippin,’” Krottinger explains. “That was the very first Broadway production we produced.”

Since working on “Pippin,” a 2013 Tony Awardwinning revival project, Krottinger, Tanner and Chernicky have helped facilitate global box office sales of over $700 million through “The Outsiders” and other projects including “Memphis the Musical” (2014 Olivier Award nominee, Best New Musical), “Waitress” (2016, Tony Award nominee, Best New Musical), “Come From Away” (2017, Tony Award nominee, Best New Musical) and “Oklahoma!” (2019, Tony Award winner, Best Revival of a Musical)

“We had been raising money for projects on a one-off basis, meaning that when we would get involved to produce or co-produce a production, we would go to our investors and pitch the project and seek resources as an investment one at a time,” Krottinger explains. “We were trying to think of a more unique way in which we could pool money into a fund and do multiple investments and make it risk-averse so it was a bit more attractive for our investors.”

This led to Tanninger Entertainment’s 2019 establishment, which allowed Chernicky to fully leverage her expertise as a Certified Public Accountant to lead their investment strategy after years of working alongside Tanner and Krottinger to support up-and-coming shows.

“Since then, we’ve embarked on two entertainment funds to help funnel resources so we can not only produce but also invest in other projects,” Krottinger says. “If there’s any way possible that we can participate in a project that has an Oklahoma tie, we’re going to do our very best to participate as long as we believe it’s a viable project.”

It was an easy decision to get involved when the Tanninger team heard about plans to bring “The Outsiders” to Broadway, especially since Krottinger, who grew up in Tulsa, shares a personal tie to the source material.

“Our neighbors Jimmy and Barbara, who used to babysit me, are actually related to Susie Hinton,” he says. “Jimmy is Susie’s cousin and he actually inspired the story of ‘The Outsiders.’”

in July at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center are “The Outsiders”

and crew, including Director Danya Taymor, Tyler Jordan Wesley (Dallas Winston), Travis Roy Rogers (Darrel Curtis), Corbin Drew Ross (Sodapop Curtis), Jaydon Nget (Two-Bit), Emma Hearn (Cherry Valance), Mark Doyle (Bob), Jackson Reagin (Paul), choreographer Rick Kuperman, Nolan White (Ponyboy Curtis), Bonale Fambrini (Johnny Cade), Jordan DeAndre Williams (Ponyboy Curtis, understudy) and choreographer Jeff Kuperman.

A NEW DIRECTION

Krottinger explains that the delayed debut of “The Outsiders” musical caused a scheduling conflict with the show’s original director Liesl Tommy, who left the production to direct the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” starring Jennifer Hudson

“That put our general partners into a unique position to really vet, at that juncture, the right group of creatives to be involved in the rest of the development,” Krottinger says. “Through several different interviews and one-on-one interactions with Susie Hinton and also the writing team for the music and lyrics, we landed on Danya Taymor.”

Krottinger notes that at the time, Taymor’s primary experience had been in directing traditional plays, making “The Outsiders” the first musical she ever helmed.

“The way you go about directing your musical is not necessarily how you direct a play,” Krottinger says. “A play director, and the way they see things on stage and the way that they’re going to direct is very different from the way you direct a musical, and (Taymor) executed that at the highest level.”

“She brought a new vision to the piece that really focused on getting the story as well as the music right,” Tanner adds.

Taymor took home the Tony for Best Direction of a Musical in 2024 for “The Outsiders,” and went on to receive a second consecutive Tony nomination this year for Best Direction of a Play for “John Proctor is the Villain.”

She visited Tulsa several times throughout the development of the show — first in 2022 to draw inspiration for set design. She then returned with the principal cast of the Broadway production in January 2024. This past July, she came through town again with the cast of the North American tour, which she is also directing.

“Tulsa is an incredibly special place for us who have been making ‘The Outsiders’ musical now for many years,” Taymor said at the July press conference at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center revealing the stars of the North American tour. “To bring the principal cast here and allow them to be in your city and to see these places, and to get to just be the part of where the story was created is so important to us. This is such a special story.”

Krottinger credits the Broadway cast’s January 2024 visit as “an authentic springboard into the next steps,” as rehearsals began just one week later.

“I don’t think that the depths of which you experience the cast on stage would be what they are if it had not been for the visit to Tulsa,” he says.

TIMELESS TALE

As the young cast members — many of whom are in their late teens to early 20s — made their visits to Tulsa, Krottinger draws a parallel to the up-and-coming actors who came to Tulsa decades ago for Coppola’s 1983 film adaptation.

“That movie launched the careers of so many prolific actors we know today,” Krottinger says. “This musical, particularly opening on Broadway, launched the careers of 16 young actors who, under normal circumstances on Broadway, would not have the opportunity to do so at such a young age.”

The Tanninger team agrees the show, which received four Tonys in 2024 including Best New Musical, Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim) and Sound Design (Cody Spencer), has a multi-generational appeal.

“Everybody of all generations is familiar with this book,” Chernicky says. “They’re still reading it in school, and they’re reading it all over the world.”

Photographed

North American tour cast

“When you’re at the show, there’s everyone from (ages) 14 or 15 through 90,” Tanner explains. “You can hear grown men — you know — sniffling.”

Tanner attributes the emotional reactions in part to Taymor’s story-driven directing and powerful base material.

“It is a storytelling experience that surprises people, because so often they think of (‘The Outsiders’) as maybe the film, particularly younger folks and folks who didn’t grow up in Oklahoma,” the Illinois native says. “I didn’t read the book until later in life, I was only familiar with the movie. And so, to now see it on a stage in this format, told this way, was really pretty groundbreaking in terms of what Danya has done … the multi-dimensional aspect of it is just really extraordinary.”

Krottinger adds that thematic elements of the show help set it apart from other productions on Broadway.

“There’s something extraordinary that happens when you experience the musical — there’s a visceral, tangible, relatable exchange that one has when they see and experience on stage in front of them, particularly for men, brotherly love,” he says. “I think it’s difficult for American men to connect with other men in a way which isn’t distracting to the fact that it’s just friendship. And there is so much brotherly love in the way the story is told, that I think it really resonates with audience members of all ages, but in particular, those who struggle with being able to connect with their emotions and feelings that they’ve never experienced before. And that’s more to Ryan’s point, you know, you hear grown adults who probably would not necessarily cry at a musical — the entire story resonates with them.”

BUILDING EXCITEMENT

Now that the musical is being taken on the road, the production is eager to reach new audiences.

“In every market that this tour shows up, young people who are reading the book or have seen the movie, or now, know the musical and the music, are going to get to see and experience it in their own communities,” Krottinger says.

At the July cast announcement, Taymor echoed the excitement.

“To be able to now bring this across the country to places, to people who may not be able to travel to New York to see the show, but who love this story, or people who are going to discover the story for the first time, is so special,” she said. “And obviously we would not be able to start any other place besides Tulsa.”

Many of the touring cast members met each other for the first time during the July visit to Tulsa. The reality was beginning to set in for Nolan White, who is portraying Ponyboy Curtis on the tour.

Playing Ponyboy, he says, “it’s daunting, because it’s so iconic. I’m excited to find my own spin on it — see what we can do differently. Because Danya is all about giving the actor freedom … She’s given us so much great advice already.”

“It’s really surreal to actually be in the setting of the story,” Jordan DeAndre Williams , who also will portray Ponyboy for certain performances, says. Both actors were most looking forward to visiting Admiral Twin Drive-In to see “Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

Tulsa Performing Arts Center CEO Mark Frie says the July visit provides the cast an extra layer

of context. “To be able to go to The Outsiders museum, the Admiral Twin and Rogers High School is a bonus most actors aren’t able to experience,” he explains.

Launching the tour in Tulsa “just feels right” to Frie. The venue anticipates large crowds for each showing.

With the popularity of the show, Frie encourages fans to be careful of third-party ticket scalpers and to “always purchase tickets at tulsapac.com.”

COMING SOON

Tanninger Entertainment is not only excited the show is making its way to Tulsa, but they are also proud the production has put a Tulsa story in the spotlight in New York City and beyond.

“There was this really incredible response that people couldn’t believe this town that we all care so much about was now having a new light set on it in ways that maybe we hadn’t even had a thought of or thought were possible,” Tanner says.

“The name Tulsa is said over and over and over and over in a Broadway house,” Krottinger adds. “We couldn’t ask for a better way to advertise for and to promote Tulsa, Oklahoma.”

Looking ahead, Tanninger Entertainment is working on several projects, including one with another Oklahoma legend.

Tanner remembers being at a nonprofi t event in Dallas when he received a text message from an unknown number.

“I’m sitting at the table and I click it, and it’s a video of Kristin Chenoweth backstage,” Tanner says, “asking for the three of us to come look at her new show.”

“When the Queen calls, you answer,” Krottinger says of the Broken Arrow native.

The entire Tanninger team visited New York for a reading of the new Broadway-bound musical “The Queen of Versailles.”

“There was Kristin Chenoweth, and there was (composer and lyricist) Stephen Schwartz , and here we were getting to be involved in their next project,” Tanner remembers. The team is co-producing the show, along with being involved in its development and financial backing.

Based on TV personality Jacqueline “Jackie” Siegel, “The Queen of Versailles” begins previews Oct. 8 at the St. James Theatre in New York City.

Tanninger is also involved in the recently announced development of “Oh l’amour – The Erasure Musical,” which will feature music and lyrics of the iconic British synth-pop band duo Vince Clarke and Andy Bell of Erasure. The production is being developed in partnership with Sony Music Publishing.

Krottinger is thankful to be a part of bringing these larger-than-life productions to audiences year after year.

He says Broadway “is a very, very hard business, but it’s exhilarating … We are so lucky that we get to participate in once-in-a-lifetime moments.” tp

Krottinger, Chernicky and Tanner at the April 2024 opening of “The Outsiders” on Broadway.

OCTOBER 1

OCTOBER 21

NOVEMBER 4

Brown Bag It: Kyle Dillingham

TPAC

OCTOBER 3

David Pogue: Demystifying AI and Tech Trends for Everyday Life

TULSA TOWN HALL

OCTOBER 4

Avatar: The Last Airbender – The 20th Anniversary

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

OCTOBER 25

Richard Thomas in MARK TWAIN

TONIGHT!

20th Anniversary Celebration with Emanuel Ax

TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

OCTOBER 7–12

The Outsiders

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

OCTOBER 18–26

Othello

THEATRE NORTH &

TULSA SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

OCTOBER 21–22

Sugar Skull: The Musical

TPAC

NOVEMBER 22

Dog Man: The Musical CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

NOVEMBER 8

Holst’s The Planets

TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

NOVEMBER 13

Sam Harris: Beyond the Rainbow with Music Direction by Michael Orland

TPAC

NOVEMBER 22–23

Maxwell Quartet

CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

OCTOBER 25–26

Isidore String Quartet

CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA

OCT 30–NOV 2

Romeo & Juliet: Forever

PEMBROKE PLAYERS

OCT 30–NOV 2

Giselle

TULSA BALLET

NOVEMBER 4–7

Channeling Our Ancestors

TPAC

Straight No Chaser: Holiday Road

TPAC

NOVEMBER 14

Peter McBride and Kevin Fedarko

TULSA TOWN HALL

NOVEMBER 14–16

Rent

THEATRE TULSA

NOVEMBER 18–23

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas the Musical

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

DECEMBER 4–23

A Christmas Carol

AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY

DECEMBER 7–21

The Nutcracker

TULSA BALLET

BOSTON AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1301 S. Boston Ave.

15 stories

Considered to be one of the best examples of art deco architecture in the United States and designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the

LOOK UP!

BOK TOWER

ADDRESS: 1 Williams Center

OPENED: 1976

52 stories

Designed by Minoru Yamasaki (architect of the World Trade Center) to be a half-scale homage to the Twin Towers.

The 40-foot-tall pyramidal roof is adorned with 16,000 Imperial English clay tiles and topped by a giant copper lantern. In 2003, neon lights that had originally graced the lantern were restored.

THOMPSON BUILDING

ADDRESS:

20 E. Fifth St.

OPENED: 1923

15 stories

Known for its distinctive penthouse cupola and five-story steeple, this building is the second tallest Beaux-Arts high-rise in Tulsa, after the Mayo Hotel.

Fifth Street and Boston Avenue

MID-CONTINENT TOWER

Tulsa has a rich architectural past, with many of its downtown buildings a reflection of the oil boom that transformed the city in the early 20th century. “When I look at Tulsa’s skyline, I see chapters in our city’s history,” says Malinda Blank, interim executive director for Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. “Each building is telling a story about where we have been and where we are going through its architectural style and design.” From soaring art deco towers to luxurious apartments, these structures represent Tulsa’s diverse skyline and distinctive architectural styles within the Inner Dispersal Loop.

STORY BY MEGAN TURNER PHOTOS BY GREG BOLLINGER

ADDRESS: 401 S. Boston Ave. OPENED: 1918 36 stories

Began as the 16-story-tall Cosden Building, 20 additional floors were cantilevered over the original structure in 1984. Both the original and new sections of the lobby use Italian marble, Calacatta Vagli Rosato, hand-selected from the same quarry 66 years apart.

ADAMS APARTMENTS

ADDRESS: 403 S. Cheyenne Ave. OPENED: 1928 13 stories

Constructed by businessman I.S. “Ike” Mincks and named the

CITY HALL/ONE TECHNOLOGY CENTER

ADDRESS: 175 E. Second St. OPENED: 2001 15 stories

Originally the headquarters of Williams Communications Group,

ONG BUILDING

ADDRESS: 624 S. Boston Ave.

OPENED: 1928 10 stories

One of the first art deco buildings in Tulsa, even though that term had not been defined at the time of its construction; it is an excellent example of Zigzag art deco with its elaborate details on both the exterior and interior

320 S. BOSTON BUILDING

ADDRESS: 320 S. Boston Ave. OPENED: 1917 22 stories

The tallest building in Tulsa for nearly four decades before it was surpassed in 1967 by the Arvest Tower. From 1967-1973, the building’s cupola would act as the “Weather Teller” for

ONEOK

ADDRESS: 100 W. Fifth St. OPENED: 1984 17 stories

Originally designed to be the tallest building in the state with 52 stories, ONEOK Plaza was halted mid-construction after an oil bust, but was later completed with 17 stories. The building’s structure is still capable of meeting its intended height. tp

OUR FAMILY IS READY TO FEED YOUR FAMILY

FACES OF Downtown 2025

TulsaPeople is proud to present Faces of Downtown, a special sponsored editorial section telling the stories behind a variety of locally owned businesses who help make downtown Tulsa thrive.

We hope you find this presentation informative and useful.

Commercial Lending Arvest Bank

Arvest has been a dedicated financial partner to downtown Tulsa since 1991, embodying its mission of “People helping people find financial solutions for life.” As one of the largest privately-owned banks in the U.S., Arvest is committed to fostering community and supporting the businesses that drive the local economy, from individuals and families to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Arvest offers a wide range of financial services, including equipment finance solutions and term loans for capital expenditures and investments. The bank is also an approved and experienced Small Business Administration lender, providing 504 and 7A loans to those making a difference in the community. Arvest deeply believes in the value of community and in the value of downtown Tulsa. Member FDIC.

ARVEST BANK

502 S. Main St. | arvest.com

Blue Sky Bank

Blue Sky Bank is proud to celebrate one year in its renovated downtown Tulsa branch at 320 S. Boulder Ave., continuing our commitment to the city’s thriving community. The 120-year-old, 100% Oklahoma-owned bank, with assets exceeding $1 billion, is committed to providing personalized entrepreneurial support that meets the evolving needs of both business owners and individuals.

“Downtown Tulsa is a hub of culture and growth, offering us the opportunity to connect with a diverse range of individuals and businesses in this vibrant city,” says Brian Schneider, president and CEO of Blue Sky Bank. Gentner Drummond is principal owner of Blue Sky Bank and its 17-branch network across Oklahoma and Texas, where each local branch’s team is ready to serve customers’ needs.

BLUE SKY BANK

320 S. Boulder Ave. | 833-712-4700 | bluesky.bank

Commercial Insurance

INSURICA TULSA

INSURICA TULSA

INSURICA Tulsa has evolved from its historic beginnings as Joe West Company in 1919. Over those 106 years, the agency has grown through acquisitions and organic growth. Today, with over 50 employees, the insurance agency is anchored in downtown Tulsa with over 17,500 square feet of space in Towers at 1437 South Boulder Avenue. Other offices are located in Sand Springs and Grove.

INSURICA Tulsa has evolved from its historic beginnings as Joe West Company in 1919. Over those 106 years, the agency has grown through acquisitions and organic growth. Today, with over 50 employees, the insurance agency is anchored in downtown Tulsa with over 17,500 square feet of space in Boulder Towers at 1437 South Boulder Avenue. Other offices are located in Sand Springs and Grove.

“We provide risk management services to our customers, and we do it first by understanding their individual businesses,” said Joe Sanchez, the company’s Tulsa branch manager. “Once we understand a business, we then access markets that offer competitive and comprehensive insurance programs—along with claims and loss control services—that best relate to the business. Our goal is to uncover solutions that lead to improved insurance coverage and at a dollar savings for our clients.”

The longtime local insurance agency provides specialization in the areas of manufacturing, schools and municipalities, energy, financial institutions, aviation, professional liability, food related businesses, law firms and employee benefits for large and small groups.

“Additionally, we offer our clients a variety of medical plans, voluntary products, and other employee benefit plans from carriers and vendors across the United States.”

for our clients,” said Tim Driskill, previous owner and a member of the Joe West team since 1986. “Additionally, we offer our clients a variety of medical plans, voluntary products, and other employee benefit plans from carriers and vendors across the United States.”

The agency offers a variety of other professional services including plan administration and legislative compliance assistance, custom communication offerings, web-based human resources tools and access to specialized pharmacy benefits expertise.

“We provide risk management services to our customers, and we do it first by understanding their individual businesses,” said Joe Sanchez, the company’s Tulsa branch manager. “Once we understand a business, we then access markets that offer competitive and comprehensive insurance programs—along with claims and loss control services—that best relate to the business. Our goal is to uncover solutions that lead to improved insurance coverage and at a dollar savings for our clients.”

The longtime local insurance agency provides specialization in the areas of manufacturing, schools and municipalities, energy, financial institutions, aviation, professional liability, food related businesses, law firms and employee benefits for large and small groups.

“Our objective as experienced insurance professionals is to uncover solutions that lead to improved insurance coverage and dollar savings for our clients,” said Tim Driskill, previous owner and a member of the Joe West team since 1986.

“Our objective as experienced insurance professionals is to uncover solutions that lead to improved insurance coverage and dollar savings

The agency offers a variety of other professional services including plan administration and legislative compliance assistance, custom communication offerings, web-based human resources tools and access to specialized pharmacy benefits expertise.

Among the noted specialists within the firm are: Guy Griggs who manages INSURICA’s large school insurance program; Thom Jenkins who manages IRMG Swiss RE’s energy business bringing international business experience to Tulsa and who assisted in developing response plans and risk analysis for public utilities in Florida following Hurricane Andrew; Joe Sanchez whose career includes extensive work in London; Mike Pacholick who has large account experience with the largest brokerage in the US including expertise in the asphalt industry with its unique exposures; Alondra Morales who is the firm’s bilingual specialist; Tim Martin who provides in-house loss control services to clients.

Among the noted specialists within the firm are: Guy Griggs who manages INSURICA’s large school insurance program; Thom Jenkins who manages IRMG Swiss RE’s energy buisness bringing international business experience to Tulsa and who assisted in developing response plans and risk analysis for public utilities in Florida following Hurricane Andrew; Joe Sanchez whose career includes extensive work in London; Mike Pacholick who has large account experience with the largest brokerage in the US including expertise in the asphalt industry with its unique exposures; Alondra Morales who is the firm’s bilingual specialist; Tim Martin who provides 600 in-house loss control services to clients; and Kevin Brown from Grove.

Inset: Joseph Sanchez, Kevin Brown of Grove, Carson Griggs of Sand Springs

Left to right: Dawn Reside, Michael Pacholick, Thom Jenkins, Robyn Gaddis, John James, Alexis Grummert, Renee Miller, Jennifer Helms, Tim Driskill, Jeff Cleveland, Alondra Morales, Guy Griggs, Andy Soares, Blake Williams, Trina Morales, Sylvia Hyde, Tim Martin, Gavin Bates, Stacey Rudd and Bobbi Jo Kerr.

Inset: Joseph Sanchez, Kevin Brown, Carson Griggs

Left to right: Dawn Reside, Michael Pacholick, Thom Jenkins, Robyn Gaddis, John James, Alexis Grummert, Renee Miller, Jennifer Helms, Tim Driskill, Jeff Cleveland, Alondra Morales, Guy Griggs, Andy Soares, Blake Williams, Trina Morales, Sylvia Hyde, Tim Martin, Gavin Bates, Stacey Rudd and Bobbi Jo Kerr.

BIG NEWS!

SECOND PLACE

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE

FIRST PLACE

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE COVER

Madeline Crawford and Greg Bollinger

FIRST PLACE

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION/GRAPHIC

Ashley Guerrero

SECOND PLACE

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Michelle Pollard

SECOND PLACE

OUTSTANDING COLUMN/COMMENTARY

Connie Cronley

SECOND PLACE

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE STORY

Tim Landes

THIRD PLACE

OUTSTANDING MAGAZINE COVER

Madeline Crawford, Michelle Pollard, Tim Landes and Anne Brockman

HONORABLE MENTION

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Madeline Crawford

COMMUNITY UPDATE

FY 20242025

DOWNTOWN TULSA PARTNERSHIP

MISSION

Downtown Tulsa Partnership champions a prosperous and vibrant central neighborhood

VISION

Downtown Tulsa is the region’s center of commerce, culture, and community

Since its founding in 2021, Downtown Tulsa Partnership has become a critical driver of progress, action, and shared vision, leaving lasting mark on the heart of our City. We are:

» Providers of essential services and caretakers of public assets

» Thought leaders on issues and opportunities shaping Downtown’s future

» Stewards of projects, spaces, and places, that matter

» Advocates for policies, partnerships, and resources that drive progress

DTP remains guided by four foundational principles: that Downtown should be welcoming, economically resilient, active and beautiful, and guided by community.

PILLARS OF WORK

DTP thanks and recognizes the partners and members supporting our programs and services at the highest levels:

110

Amtra

Anne

Arvest

Ascension

Atento

BlueCross

Forvis Mazars Frederic Dorwart Lawyers PLLC

GableGotwals

George Kaiser Family Foundation

GH2 Architects

Griffin Media Hall Estill

Helmerich & Payne

Inclined Productions, Inc

Inventure

KKT Architects

Langdon Publishing / Tulsa People

McNellies Group

Metropolitan Tulsa Investments LLC

Miller-Tippens Construction Mix 96.5

Nabholz Construction Corporation

Narrate Design

Neek Films LLC

NYU Tulsa PartnerTulsa

Phillips Theological Seminary Poppi’s Spa and Lounge

Powersource Productions/ BranjaeMusic

Premium Parking

Promise Hotels

Resolute PR

Rumbledrum LLC

Sharp Development

Solid Roots

Stand-By Personnel

TGI Promo

The Avery Kitchen & Bar

Topeca Coffee

Trinity Episcopal Church

Tulsa Arts District

Tulsa Automatic Music

Tulsa City-County Library

Tulsa Community College

Tulsa Creative Engine

Tulsa FMAC

Tulsa Innovation Labs

Tulsa Regional Chamber

Tulsa Remote

Tulsa Service Year

Tulsa Tours

TYPROS

Updog Yoga

Wallace Design Collective Williams

Youth Services of Tulsa

Clean & Safe Operational Services

Downtown Tulsa Partnership’s Clean & Safe Teams are the frontline of creating a welcoming environment for everyone who lives, works, and visits Downtown. Their work extends far beyond routine maintenance — it represents daily dedication to keeping the heart of our city clean, accessible, and safe.

Beautification & Asset Management

Maintaining and enhancing Downtown’s shared spaces is core to DTP’s mission. In FY25, our team advanced projects that improved greenery, lighting, safety, and cleanliness, delivering visible results for long-term impact.

423,466

15,825

planted, an $48k investment

2,764 Tags removed from public assets

20 New enclosed trash cans with public art wraps installed

Urban Development

DTP is committed to growing our City by transforming Downtown in ways that balance the needs of people, the economy and the physical environment. In FY25, we made significant progress in expanding our reach to deliver impactful planning, public realm projects, and business development projects.

Community Events

Activating public space through events is one of the most visible ways DTP brings Downtown to life. FY25 programming celebrated creativity, wellness, business growth, and community pride.

Communications & Marketing

Telling Downtown’s story is central to building pride and drawing people in.

In FY25, DTP grew its communications reach, expanded digital engagement, and strengthened Downtown’s brand as a vibrant, welcoming neighborhood.

Safer Together is a new and growing coalition of partners working toward the same goals. The group includes municipal government, law enforcement and first responders, the business community and philanthropy, and social services agencies. Some partners are doing tactical work and others are simply helping get the word out. Everyone has a role.

Safer Together is a series of actionable priorities. It’s a public information campaign. It’s a collective commitment to foster a Downtown where all people feel safe, welcome, and supported whether they live, visit, or do business here. Safer Together presents a comprehensive framework to address community safety through a balance of visible presence, improved coordination among partners, advocacy, and enforcement when necessary. It also includes environmental practices such as ensuring clean and active public spaces and ensuring safety through environmental design.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

Enhanced Safety and Security

Increase visible safety coverage across Downtown, especially in high-traffic areas, to deter and enforce criminal activity, address negative perceptions about safety, and respond effectively to moments of need.

Improved Quality of Life

Address the root causes and impacts of unsheltered homelessness, mental health crisis, and immediate public environmental needs to enhance the overall quality of life for all stakeholders.

Community Engagement

Build trust and positive relationships with Downtown stakeholders including residents, businesses, and visitors, through active public information sharing, coordination, and meaningful engagement.

CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

CHAPMAN GREEN

5TH STREET ALLEY ACTIVATION

BRUSH ARBOR GROVE DOG PARK

With Care Card, you give a little and get a lot. GIVE a $60 donation, and GET a Care Card to save up to 20% with 200 local retailers and restaurants. This year, 100% of your $60 Care Card donation benefi ts Family and Children’s Services Holiday Assistance program, which provides gifts, necessities and hope to FCS’s neediest families, turning a stressful season into a joyous one. Purchase cards only at carecardok.com. HIGHLIGHT

BIXBY

Twisted Soul Sisters

13160 S. Memorial Drive

BROKEN ARROW

1907

115 E. Fort Worth St.

J. Spencer 831 E. Kenosha Ave.

Magnolia Soap 201 S. Main St., #201

Moody’s Jewelry 2013 W. Kenosha Ave.

Papa John’s Pizza 904 N. Elm Place

Papa John’s Pizza 6323 S. Elm Place

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE 1746 S. Elm Place

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE 1034 E. Lansing St.

Summer’s Market Home

Decor and Gifts* 1925 S. Elm Place

BROOKSIDE/PEORIA AVENUE

Barre3 Tulsa* 3419 S. Peoria Ave.

Black Optical 3524 S. Peoria Ave., Suite D

Edible Arrangements 3311 S. Peoria Ave.

Ida Red General Store 3336 S. Peoria Ave.

The ISO Club 3734 S. Peoria Ave.

Jara Herron Salon and Medical Spa

3410 S. Peoria Ave., Suite 300

JIMMY’S CHOPHOUSE 3348 S. Peoria Ave.

Joie de Vie Interiors 4224 S. Peoria Ave., Suite 2

Lambrusco’z Deli 1344 E. 41st St.

MALFI ENOTECA* 3410 S. Peoria Ave., Suite 200

Mecca Coffee Co. 1330 E. 41st St.

Pure Barre Midtown

3807 S. Peoria Ave., Suite M

Ribbons on Peoria 3525 S. Peoria Ave.

Stash Apparel and Gifts 3636 S. Peoria Ave.

Total Pilates 3749 S. Peoria Ave.

CHERRY STREET/ 15TH STREET AREA

Black Sheep Boutique 1345 E. 15th St.

Cherry Street Jewelers 1609 E. 15th St.

DUVALL ATELIER 2204 E. 15th St.

Luminate Clinic 1723 E. 15th St., Suite 100

Luxe Nail Bar 1302 E. 15th St.

MAC Collection Boutique 1325 E. 15th St., Unit 106

Magnolia Soap 1325 E. 15th St., Suite 102

Modern Cottage 1325 E. 15th St., Suite 104

MORGAN’S GLAM BOUTIQUE * 1606 E. 15th St.

CLAREMORE

The Cozy Cottage 416 W. Will Rogers Blvd.

Papa John’s Pizza 502 S. Lynn Riggs Blvd.

DOWNTOWN TULSA

Antoinette Bakery and Cafe 207 N. Main St.

Ida Red General Store 208 N. Main St., Suite 208A

ISLA’S KITCHEN 404 E. Archer St.

JAMES E. MCNELLIE’S PUBLIC HOUSE 409 E. First St.

JUNIPER RESTAURANT 324 E. Third St. Made 219 E. Archer St.

MAGPIE 415 E. 12th St., Suite B

PRHYME 111 N. Main St.

EAST TULSA

Papa John’s Pizza 10829 E. 31st St.

Visions tile and stone inc. 6801 E. 14th St.

HARVARD CORRIDOR

Ann Arthur Outerwear

3023 S. Harvard Ave., Suite J

DOG DISH 2803 S. Harvard Ave.

Empire Optical 3220 E. 21st St.

The Inviting Place 3215 E. 21st St.

Kiddlestix Toy Store 3815 S. Harvard Ave.

Moody’s Jewelry 1137 S. Harvard Ave.

Papa John’s Pizza 2802 E. 11th St.

Papa John’s Pizza 5111 S. Harvard Ave.

Pierpont’s Bath and Kitchen 1914 S. Harvard Ave.

Premier Popcorn 3215 S. Harvard Ave.

The Salon on Harvard 3315 S. Harvard Ave.

Signs Now 3229 S. Harvard Ave.

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE 2610 S. Harvard Ave.

The Top Drawer 3303 E. 32nd Place

JENKS

Cedar and Lily Clothier 121 E. Main St., Suite 105

Lenny Lane 106 E. Main St.

Motley Market * 114 E. Main St.

Platinum Style Interiors 1124 W. Main St.

KENDALL WHITTIER Clear. 2207 E. Sixth St.

T.A. Lorton 555 S. Zunis Ave.

ZIEGLER ART AND FRAME 6 N. Lewis Ave.

KINGSPOINTE VILLAGE

Luxe Nail Bar 4820 E. 61st St.

TRAVERS MAHAN MEN’S APPAREL

6034 S. Yale Ave.

Wild Birds Unlimited

Nature Shop 5960 S. Yale Ave.

MEADOW GOLD DISTRICT

Ella + Orchid 1019 S. Quincy Ave., Suite B

JENKINS AND CO. 1335 E. 11th St., Suite E

Umber 1416 E. 11th St., Suite 2

MOTHER ROAD MARKET AREA

Anybody’s Guest * 2219 E. 11th St., Suite 3

The Gadget Co. 1207 S. Lewis Ave.

Hasty Bake 1313 S Lewis Ave.

Mythic City 1102 S. Lewis Ave., Suite E

Willamina 1207 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 100

ONLINE/BY PHONE AIRCO SERVICE aircoservice.com

Ashley Hewitt

Photography ashleyhewittphoto.com

Nielsen’s Gifts nielsensgifts.com

Peace, Love and Cookies peaceloveandcookiestulsa. com

OWASSO

Papa John’s Pizza 12402 E. 86th St. N.

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE 9255 N. Owasso Expressway

Surceé Gifts and Home 9455 N. Owasso Expressway, Suite CB

PEARL DISTRICT Family and Children’s Services Thrift Store 724 S. Utica Ave.

Garden Deva Sculpture Co. 1326 E. Third St.

LivyLu + LivGoods 1316 E. Sixth St.

MIDTOWN YALE AVENUE

The Chizel 3310 S. Yale Ave.

Nothing Bundt Cakes — Midtown Tulsa* 5501 E. 41st St.

Perini Eyecare 4002 S. Yale Ave., Suite B

RENAISSANCE ON MEMORIAL

J. Spencer 8303 S. Memorial Drive

Peek a Boo Baby 8283 S. Memorial Drive

RIVERSIDE AREA/ KINGS LANDING

J. Cole Shoes 9930 Riverside Parkway

SAPULPA

Papa John’s Pizza 12174 S. Waco Ave.

SHERIDAN CORRIDOR/ THE FARM

Moody’s Jewelry 5045 S. Sheridan Road

Perini Eyecare 7104 S. Sheridan Road, Suite 4

The Silver Needle 6068 S. Sheridan Road

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE 6501 E. 71st St.

The Uniform Shoppe Inc. 6044 S. Sheridan Road

Vincent Anthony Jewelers 10038 S. Sheridan Road

SHOPS AT SEVILLE

Canterbury Lane Gifts 10021 S. Yale Ave., Suite 107

Glacier Chocolate 10051 S. Yale Ave., Suite 103

Nelson’s Clothier 10051 S. Yale Ave., Suite 105

SOBO AREA Cohlmia’s 1502 S. Cincinnati Place

The Velvet Willow 1645 S. Cheyenne Ave., Suite B

SOUTH LEWIS AVENUE

Moody’s Jewelry 7015 S. Lewis Ave.

Saint Amon Baking Co. 8156 S. Lewis Ave., Suite E

SOUTH MEMORIAL DRIVE

Luxe Furniture and Design 10545 S. Memorial Drive, Suite A

Papa John’s Pizza 8010 E. 106th St., Suite 105

SOUTH YALE AVENUE

Amber Marie and Co. 4932 E. 91st St., Suite 106

The Cook’s Nook 9146 S. Yale Ave., Suite 110

Ida Red General Store 9146 S. Yale Ave., Suite 215

Jara Herron Salon and Medical Spa 9168 S. Yale Ave.

Learning Express Toys 9146 S. Yale Ave., Suite 202

Pardon My French 9168 S. Yale Ave., Suite 160

Pure Barre South Tulsa 8921 S. Yale Ave., Suite C

Reading Glasses To Go 7123 S. Yale Ave.

Twenty Twenty Eyecare 7408 S. Yale Ave.

TULSA HILLS

SOUTHERN AGRICULTURE 7836 S. Olympia Ave.

UTICA SQUARE AREA

Amber Marie and Co. 1876 Utica Square

Big River Footwear 2030 Utica Square

Cedar and Lily Clothier+ 2052 Utica Square

The Dolphin Fine Linens 2048 Utica Square

Ediblend Superfood Cafe 2050 Utica Square

Gearhead Outfi tters 1948 Utica Square

Glacier Chocolate 1902 Utica Square

Hicks Brunson Eyewear 2020 Utica Square

Ihloff Salon and Day Spa 1876 Utica Square

J. Spencer 1730 Utica Square

L’Occitane En Provence 1760 Utica Square

The Lolly Garden 2046 Utica Square

Margo’s Gift Shop 2058 Utica Square

Midtown Dermatology 2424 E. 21st St., Suite 340

Moody’s Jewelry 1812 Utica Square

Muse Intimates 1876 Utica Square

Pavilion 1826 Utica Square

Queenies 1816 Utica Square

WILD FORK 1820 Utica Square

WOODLAND HILLS MALL AREA Get Stitchin’ 6022 S. Memorial Drive, Suite A

Kendra Scott 7021 S. Memorial Drive, Unit 0156

Luxe Nail Bar 10125 E. 81st St.

Soap 7021 S. Memorial Drive, Suite 182 Moody’s Jewelry 8140 E. 68th St.

and Ski Sports 6808 S. Memorial Drive, Suite 200

TOAST to the HOST

Smart strategies from a local pro to guide you through the holiday hosting season.

BY NATALIE MIKLES

There’s something magical about gathering family and friends around your own table during the holidays. But for many, the thought of hosting feels overwhelming — too much to plan, too much to cook, too much pressure for everything to look perfect. Local cookbook author and entertaining guide Tracy Edmiston of The Cook’s Bookmark says it doesn’t have to be that way. With a few smart strategies, you can pull off a holiday gathering that’s beautiful, personal and, most importantly, enjoyable for you, too.

Start with a plan

The holidays are not the time to attempt a complicated souffle or an hours-long culinary experiment. Instead, Edmiston suggests leaning into recipes you know and love.

“Make sure to choose recipes that are in your comfort zone and cooking ability,” Edmiston says. “Let the ingredients do the work for you and invest in a few high-quality pantry staples.”

For Edmiston that includes Muraglia extra virgin

Tracy Edmiston is a cookbook author and owner of The Cook’s Bookmark, a curated culinary service. Learn more at thecooksbookmark.com.

olive oil, Olivier VSOP balsamic glaze, Maldon sea salt flakes, Tellicherry peppercorns, Kerrygold butter and in-season fresh produce.

When it comes to appetizers, resist the urge to overcomplicate. Instead of a sprawling charcuterie board, try Edmiston’s formula: one cheese, one meat, one cracker and one fruit. Aged Gouda, Genoa salami, sourdough crackers and red grapes are her go-to combination.

Welcome with warmth

The first few minutes set the tone for the whole evening. Greet guests at the door, guide them in with direction and give them a drink. Edmiston calls this the “three Gs.” Having a festive cocktail prepared or a self-serve drink station helps guests relax right away. Just don’t leave them to figure it out themselves. Pour that first glass for them so they feel at home.

Add personal touches

Holiday gatherings become memorable and special when they feel personal. But a thoughtfully set

table doesn’t need to be elaborate. Have fun creating a table with items around your house, like candles, fabrics, greenery or pinecones. Place cards instantly make guests feel celebrated, and simple floral arrangements add color.

Mix homemade and local

Remember — you don’t have to do it all.

“If the thought of roasting a turkey is giving you a headache, then source it out,” Edmiston says. “Make it easy on yourself; cook and prep what you love and source the rest out.”

In fact, she says it can be a point of pride to share your favorite local bakery’s tart or pie from the farmers market. Balance the meal by cooking the dishes you love most and letting local businesses help with the rest.

Hosting doesn’t have to be about perfection. With planning, a few quality ingredients and the willingness to let local shops lend you a hand, you can create a holiday party that’s not just memorable for your guests, but joyful for you, too. tp

Season to sip

Every good party needs a signature sip. From The Cook’s Bookmark, Tracy Edmiston suggests a festive cocktail — something sparkling, seasonal and easy to make in batches. Offering one special drink alongside wine and nonalcoholic options keeps things simple for the host while adding a touch of holiday cheer.

Here’s one of her favorites from her book “The Cook’s Bookmark: A Creative Guide to Hosting Brunch.” — NATALIE MIKLES

ELDERFLOWER SPRITZ

Makes 10 (4-ounce) servings

8 ounces St. Germain elderflower liqueur

6 ounces lime juice (chilled)

18 ounces Champagne (chilled)

8 ounces club soda (chilled)

In a pitcher, combine the St. Germain, lime juice, Champagne and club soda, and gently stir. Let the foam settle. Pour into a glass. Serve immediately. For the holidays, a sprig of rosemary is a festive touch.

Special thanks to Magpie for pitcher.

Gifter’s delight

From self-care fanatics to bookworms, master the art of thoughtful gifting this year with themed presents from local retailers.

BY MEGAN TURNER

BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK:

Shop for your favorite bibliophile at any of our local bookstores: Magic City Books, 221 E. Archer St.; Gardners Used Books, 4421 S. Mingo Road; and Book and Bloom, 115 E. Dallas St., Broken Arrow.

MORNING RITUAL EXCHANGE:

Get your bestie’s morning going with a bag of beans ($18.50) from local coffee purveyor Shades of Brown, 3302 S. Peoria Ave.; a selection of loose-leaf tea (prices vary) from H20 Oasis Float Center and Tea House, 6564 E. 51st St.; and a new mug ($20) from Made, 219 E. Archer St.

MAKE IT A MOCKTAIL NIGHT:

Pick up NA spirits and beers — like the Tulsa-based Mood Brü — at Ranch Acres Wine and Spirits, 3324 E. 31st St. Pair them with some new, colorful glassware, such as Beatriz Ball double old-fashioned glasses ($22.50 each) from Magpie, 415 E. 12th St., Suite B.

SELF-CARE SUPPORT:

Treat yourself or your favorite person to some self-care therapy with a Barefoot Dreams blanket ($158) from The Dolphin, 2048 Utica Square; a puzzle ($26.99) from Ida Red, 3336 S. Peoria Ave.; a Twig by Nest Goods candle ($32) and matchstick holder ($20) from Jenkins and Co., 1335 E. 11th St., Suite E. tp

Photos By: Rachelle Celeste

THOMPSON CATERING

(918) 779-6333

tulsacatering.com

Catering

Additional

Additional

ALL SOULS UNITARIAN CHURCH

2952 S. Peoria Ave

918-743-2363 • allsoulschurch.org

Event rental contact: Hunter Jameson, HJameson@allsoulschurch.org

Capacity: Sanctuary: 400, Chapel: 70, Garden: flexible

THE BLACK BARN AT SPAIN RANCH

732 E. 116th St., Jenks, OK 918-691-3040

spainranch.com

AMBASSADOR HOTEL TULSA, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

1324 S. Main St. 918-382-6028 • ambassadortulsa.com

Event rental contact: tulsasales@ambassadorhc.com

Capacity: 10 to 60

Event rental contact: Ella Dominy, ella@spainranch.com Capacity: 100

GAST EVENT CENTER

1429 Terrace Dr. 918-744-6997

gasteventcenter.com

Event rental contact: Sara Gonzales Capacity: up to 200

HERMAN & KATE KAISER YMCA

5400 S. Olympia Ave.

918-446-1424

ymcatulsa.org/hkeventplanning

Event rental contact: Summer Knox, sknox@ymcatulsa.org

Capacity: 300

LIVING ARTS OF TULSA

307 E. Reconciliation Way

918-585-1234

livingarts.org

Event rental contact: Gallery Manager, info@livingarts.org

Capacity: 280

ONEOK FIELD - HOME OF THE TULSA DRILLERS

201 N. Elgin Ave. 918-744-5998

tulsadrillers.com

Event rental contact: events@tulsadrillers.com Capacity: 10–8,000+

PRHYME DOWNTOWN STEAKHOUSE

111 N. Main St. 918-794-7700

prhymetulsa.com

Event rental contact: dine@prhymetulsa.com

Capacity: 70

THE STEEL BARN EVENT CENTER

7440 E. 340 Road, Talala, OK

918-814-2456 • thesteelbarneventcenter.com

Event rental contact: Michelle Todd

Capacity: 300

WESTREET ICE CENTER

4143 S. Yale Ave.

918-252-0011 • westreeticecenter.com

Event rental contact: privateevents@tulsaicecenters.com

Capacity: Dedicated space for small gatherings of 10 to large festive parties of 2,500.

THE CAMPBELL HOTEL & EVENT CENTERS

2636 E. 11th St. 918-744-5500

thecampbellhotel.com/hotel-events

Event rental contact: John-Michael Benardello

Capacity: 225

GLENPOOL CONFERENCE CENTER

12205 S. Yukon Ave., Glenpool, OK

Phone: 918-209-4629 • glenpoolconferencecenter.com

Event rental contact: Katlyn Yarbrough, kyarbrough@cityofglenpool.com

Capacity: flexible, up to 500

LAFORTUNE STUDIO AT THE TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

110 E. 2nd St. 918-596-7111 tulsapac.com/lafortune-studio

Event Rental Contact: info@tulsapac.com

Capacity: 200

Available for rehearsal dinners, receptions, and parties.

MOTHER ROAD MARKET

1124 S. Lewis Ave.

motherroadmarket.com

Event rental contact: events@motherroadmarket.com

Capacity: Mother Road Market has dedicated space for intimate small gatherings to large festive parties.

OSAGE CASINO HOTEL

951 W. 36th St. N. osagecasino.com/events/

Event rental contact: 877-246-8777

Capacity: Up to 26,000 sq. ft. of flexible banquet space.

STATION 13

3924 Charles Page Blvd. 918-810-6765 • station13tulsa.com

Event rental contact: Jackie Potter, jackie@jpottercollective.com

Capacity: 500 Indoor/Outdoor

TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN

3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive

918-289-0330

tulsabotanic.org

Event rental contact: events@tulsabotanic.org

Capacity: Call for information.

Visit TULSAPEOPLE.COM/DIRECTORIES for the updated 2025 Venue Guide, Catering Guide and other informative directories.

Lifestyle

HOME HEALTH TRENDS

Coaster to coaster

Show off your civic pride with Tulsa-centric coasters, which can be found at Ida Red General Store, 208 N. Main St., and Made, 219 E. Archer St. ($10 at each).

Both downtown merchants are again participating in Care Card, a promotion by Family and Children’s Services that offers discounts at 200 local restaurants and retailers. This year, 100% of the $60 Care Card donation benefits the nonprofit’s holiday assistance program. Find a complete list of participating retailers on pgs. 52 and 54. tp

DOWNTOWN LIVING

The Exchange at Sinclair opens 64 new luxury apartments.

BY LAUREN ROGERS

One of downtown Tulsa’s first multi-story developments kicked off a new era as a luxury apartment complex with a ribbon cutting in May. The Sinclair Building at 6 E. Fifth St. is now The Exchange at Sinclair, touting 64 apartments renovated with care to complement the Beaux-Arts style of the original 1919 structure.

“Protecting and restoring the building’s historic features was a top priority,” says Danielle Goolsbay, community and property development manager for Carpathia Development, which manages the building. “We had to work closely with the City and neighboring properties to close Fifth Street for crane operations, allowing us to install new rooftop equipment and load materials into the building.”

In its heyday, the building served as the headquarters for Sinclair Oil for 30 years and remains tied to the infamous Teapot Dome scandal involving founder Harry Ford Sinclair. In 1994, Preservation Oklahoma added the Sinclair Building to its “Most Endangered Buildings” list. The Ross Group purchased the 80,324-square-foot office building in early 2021, and began construction the following year to transform it into living space.

“The Ross Group faced several challenges including installing the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) equipment, which was particularly challenging due to existing structural constraints, which required meticulous coordination,” Goolsbay says. “Additionally, there was limited space available for storing materials both before and during the installation process.”

Goolsbay also shares that the elevator shaft had to be enlarged to accommodate a codecompliant elevator, but that the team was excited about the opportunity to bring the project to life.

“Imagine a bustling, thriving downtown where everyone has the chance to live, work and play in an exciting urban environment,” Goolsbay says. “We just wanted to be a part of that spark for growth.”

The pet-friendly apartments are designed with comfort and convenience in mind, with many boasting views of the surrounding cityscape.

“Each apartment features spacious layouts adorned with high-end finishes, including hardwood floors, quartz countertops and custom cabinetry,” Goolsbay explains. “You’ll also find brand-new stainless-steel appliances and full-size washers and dryers in every unit.”

The Exchange also offers rentable storage options and fi tness centers equipped with interactive workout mirrors and Peloton bikes. Several units are still available for rent.

Visit theexchangeatsinclair.com for more details. tp

The Sinclair Building at 6 E. Fifth St. sat empty for more than two decades before being transformed into 64 one- and two-bedroom units. Views of the surrounding Deco District and the building’s unique Beaux-Arts flourishes can be found throughout the spaces. Charming details of the original architecture, including wood floors throughout, combined with updated finishes in the kitchen and bathrooms allow for comfortable modern living.

Digital dilemmas

In honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, local experts weigh in on staying cyber healthy.

BY MARNIE FERNANDEZ

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

What was once a seemingly harmless pastime has now become an epidemic. Studies show the more time spent online (social media, gaming, online shopping, etc.) leads to increased feelings of anxiety and depression.

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” says Dr. Matthew Sharp, chief medical o cer at Tulsa’s Parkside Psychiatric Hospital. “Social media provides the sense that other people’s lives are better, or we are somehow missing out. But it’s just not the real world.” e solution might seem obvious — spend less time online. But Sharp says it’s not that simple.

“It’s an addiction,” he says. “People get addicted to that rush of dopamine from a like, share or follow, and like any bad habit, it can be tough to break.”

Youth are the most susceptible to having mental health issues. Misconceptions about expected appearance online can result in eating disorders and body dysmorphia

that can a ect both boys and girls equally, Sharp says.

“Since the increase in social media use, we have seen cases of girls with eating disorders and boys who abuse steroids skyrocket,” he adds. “ eir brains aren’t fully formed, and they see things online and think it’s real without questioning.”

Sharp recommends parents set guidelines — rst for themselves, and then for their children.

“It’s hard to tell your child to stay o their phone when they see you on it just as often. It is our responsibility to set adult expectations for use of all things,” he says.

He suggests setting a pre-determined time for screen time each day, and for parents to have passwords to all apps so they can monitor their child’s online activity.

“Parents have to be involved and regulate what their child consumes online,” Sharp says. “Until we can ip the algorithm with positive content, it’s the best way to protect them.”

CYBERSECURITY

Long gone are the days of the badly worded, grammatically atrocious email from a “Nigerian prince” asking for money. With the rapid rise of technology, today’s scams are becoming much harder to spot.

“Hackers have become extremely sophisticated, which makes it more di cult to di erentiate between what is real or not,” says Stephen Demsky, divisional chief information security o cer for ImageNet Managed IT Services, who keeps people and companies safe online for a living.

When trying to identify if something is a scam, Demsky says context is key.

“When you receive a text, email or even voicemail from a familiar organization or company, ask yourself, is this normal? Would this company normally contact me this way? en you always verify,” Demsky says. “Take the extra minute to call and ask them directly.”

Historically, using a complex password was a strong line of defense in the cyberworld, but these days Demsky warns it’s not nearly as e ective as it used to be.

“Passwords are dying,” he says. “Even a strong password can be defeated by a simple phishing email or keylogging malware.”

Demsky recommends everyone have a password manager — a secure online vault accessible by one long and complicated master password (usually a phrase that has meaning to that person) that stores separate passwords for each of their accounts. Wired and PC Mag both name 1Password, NordPass and BitWarden as their favorites in 2025.

But Demsky’s No. 1 piece of advice? Multi-factor authentication.

“I know it’s an extra step that people don’t want to do,” he says. “But that extra step can make the di erence between not losing your money or even your identity.”

As far as social media goes, Demsky warns people to not overshare information.

“ is may seem like a no-brainer, but people do it all the time,” Demsky says. “If you post a photo, take an extra minute to make sure no personal information is showing, like an address, or other identifying factors that a hacker could use to nd more information about you.” tp

Get your kicks

Route 66 covers 301 miles in Illinois, a state full of Mother Road attractions.

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

Outside the Art Institute of Chicago, at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Adams Street, sits the starting point of historic Route 66. Snap a picture with the eastern starting/end sign there. About a dozen blocks to the west is Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant, a breakfast and lunch spot that has been open since 1923. It’s a great place to grab breakfast or lunch while seeing Windy City sites.

ere are several must-see historic lling stations in Illinois: Ambler’s Texaco gas station in Dwight, Standard Oil in Odell,

Some of Illinois’ Route 66 Centennial Celebrations

Sprague’s Super Service in Normal, West End Service Station in Edwardsville and Soulsby’s Shell service station in Mount Olive. All bear their own unique style and date to the golden age of Route 66.

Joliet, an o cial satellite city for the Route 66 Centennial Kick-o in April, is home to the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. e Old Joliet Prison was made famous in “ e Blues Brothers” and is one of several must-see sites.

Stop in Pontiac and see 20-plus large murals dotting the town. Each display re ects the city’s economic, social and

EXPLORE ROUTE 66

As the centennial for Route 66 nears in 2026, TulsaPeople takes you to each state for some of its must-see Mother Road attractions and activities.

political past. e Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum is home to the legendary Bob Waldmire experience and exhibit. Waldmire was an artist, Route 66 trailblazer and preservationist whose Volkswagen bus is on display, along with a wide assortment of his artwork.

Since 1924, the Ariston Cafe in Litch eld has greeted customers with American, Southern, Italian, Greek and Mexican dishes. As one of the oldest continually operated Route 66 restaurants, it’s a must-stop for any Mother Road traveler. Try the hot beef sandwich!

Illinois claims an eclectic collection of “World’s Largest Roadside Attractions.” In Collinsville, see a giant catsup bottle. In Lincoln, snap a sel e with the statue of Abraham Lincoln that sits in the driver’s seat of a large covered wagon reading a law book.

While in Spring eld, be sure to try a Horseshoe, an open-face sandwich featuring a meat of your choice, covered in a pile of French fries and topped with homemade cheese sauce (think of Bartlesville’s hot hamburger … but with cheese rather than brown gravy!). Several restaurants have them on the menu, including Motorheads and Lulu’s Diner.

Southwestern Illinois is known as the Great Rivers and Routes region, as it’s the only place Route 66 meets the Great River Road. ree rivers are nearby: Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois.

Before hitting the Missouri state line, take a pit stop at the landmark Chain of Rocks Bridge. Originally opened in 1929, the structure contains a 30-degree turn midway across the mile-long bridge that crosses the Mississippi River. e bridge closed to vehicular tra c in 1968 and reopened to the public as part of the Route 66 Bikeway in 1999. tp

APRIL 30, 2026 — Route 66 Centennial National Kick-Off Satellite City Celebration in Joliet SEPT. 25-27, 2026 — International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield NOV. 11, 2026 — Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Statewide Conference and Centennial Celebration in Springfield

Pontiac, Illinois, is home to more than 20 large murals — perfect for a photo opp. The state Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum at 110 W. Howard St. boasts the world’s largest painted Route 66 shield on its facade.

MOTHER ROAD Meetsthe River Road

Celebrate 100 years of road tripping in the only place in America where the Mother Road of Route 66 meets the scenic beauty of the Great River Road. Follow the neon signs to the It’s Electric Neon Sign Park, dine at historic Route 66 roadside cafes, take a walk through the river bluffs and prairies and relax with a glass of locally crafted wine beside the Mighty Mississippi River.

Your one-of-a-kind adventure begins at www.RiversandRoutes.com.

October in Oklahoma — Boo!

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

Oh, October, how do I love thee?

I love you to the depth and breadth and height my wobbly short-term memory can reach.

I love you because you’re not August. Or even September, which is an August wannabe.

I love you because you’re not February, who comes in coyly all Valentines and romance and then turns on us like the Queen of Ice.

I love you for your apples, pumpkins, World Series, gaudy sunsets and the purpleand-green coleus that ballooned in my garden, lording it over the blooming annuals. Most of all, I love you for Halloween. Halloween used to be kid stu , but now it is a major American holiday with 70% of adults celebrating, spending about $12 billion and elaborately decorating our homes.

I live in a midtown Tulsa neighborhood with streetlamps and sidewalks, perfect for trick-or-treaters. ey nd us by the hundreds, like ocks of crows descending on a corn eld. e street is thick with ghosts and ghouls, adults trailing along.

We have an ethnic mix of trick-ortreaters, painstaking and witty about costuming. Last year, the girls seemed to favor pretty Disney characters, and several boys waddled in enormous, in atable dinosaur costumes. A couple of little girls came as Cher from the movie “Clueless.” One small boy wore a suit, carried a briefcase and told me he was going as an accountant. Come to think of it, an accountant with bad news can be pretty frightening.

I like to stand at the picket-fence gate and talk to them about their costumes as I hand out the treats. is year I will hand

out the wholly unhealthy treats — sugary sweets or processed salty snacks — and have a second conversation with them, an imaginary conversation. It will be an apologetic monologue.

“Ooooh, you are so scary,” I will say to the little Frankenstein monster.

To myself I will say, I owe you an enormous apology. You and all the other children of Oklahoma. And so do all the adults of this state. Public education in Oklahoma is rated No. 50. Shame on us for letting that happen to you. Shame on us for not insisting on immediate change.

“You’re Elsa from ‘Frozen!’ Such a beautiful gown! And a great crown.”

I’m sorry for the teacher shortage. e State Board of Education has had to approve 2,227 emergency teaching certi cates for the school year. at is a completely unacceptable situation. Shame on us for budgeting such low teacher salaries.

“Yuck,” I will explain to the delighted little boy with fake blood and gore dribbling down his face.

I don’t know why we adults aren’t out in the streets storming Oklahoma’s equivalent of the Bastille. Why we aren’t waving protest signs with the determination of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo in Argentina. Why we aren’t standing in protest as resolute as the women of the Black Sash in South Africa. Why we aren’t demanding that our elected o cials shovel every dollar they can nd to public schools and per-pupil expenditures. And I mean immediately.

“What a great robot costume! I love the ashing lights.”

I wish you had time to let me tell you about Kate Barnard , the rst woman elected to state o ce in Oklahoma and famous for championing public education. She said, “ e child is the state’s greatest resource.” She had great moral courage and integrity. Moral courage is an old-fashioned trait of elected o cials.

Sometimes the witches, cowardly lions and ying monkeys aren’t in costume.

ey’re giving the children candy instead of education. ere are some Glinda the Good Witches among us, but they have no magic wand to change education. at’s why along with Tootsie Pops and Reese’s cups I’m giving you a little voter’s registration card to remind you, when you come of age, one of the most powerful things you can do for public education is vote. tp

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.

SPICEWOOD VILLAS

Immaculately kept one-owner villa in the gated community of Spicewood Villas, offering the elegance and finishes you’d expect from a milliondollar home. Highlights include soaring ceilings, hand-scraped hardwoods, chef’s kitchen, safe room, and a luxurious primary suite with a spa-like bath and custom closet. With a new roof, whole-home generator, 3-car garage, and professionally landscaped backyard, this South Tulsa property blends comfort, style, and convenience near shopping, dining, medical, and golf. 9607 E 102nd Place S. $559,000

TIM HAYES 918 -231-5637 thayes@mcgrawok.com

GORDON SHELTON 918- 697-2742 gshelton@mcgrawok.com

MAPLE RIDGE NORTH

The Percy/Elliott House is available for the first time in almost 50 years! This Historically significant home is recognized as Bruce Goff’s initial design in Tulsa and is called the “House with a Secret” as Bruce Goff was only a teenager when he designed the home. This majestic two-story home is listed in the book “One Hundred More Tulsa Homes” and is located in Maple Ridge North. Generous vestibule when you walk into the house and double doors open to the large scale and Impressive formal living room and formal dining room. An updated kitchen gives you granite counter tops and stainless-steel appliances with an eating area in the kitchen. 312 E 19th Street. $1,145,000.

SHERRI SANDERS 918- 724-5008 ssanders@mcgrawok.com

DIANA RILEY PATTERSON 918- 629-3717

dpatterson@mcgrawok.com

GRAND LAKE

Experience breathtaking bluff views of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees from this 4-bed, 3-bath home in the gated Eagles Nest community on Disney Island. Situated on 1.21 acres with 160 feet of shoreline, the property features expansive outdoor living areas, a cantilevered deck, and luxurious amenities including a fitness center, sauna, surround sound, and updated kitchen appliances. With large lake-view windows, multiple balconies, new HVAC, and stunning landscaping, this home offers the perfect blend of comfort, style, and lakeside living just minutes from Cedar Port Marina. 530 Eagle Nest Drive. $1,200,000

MIDTOWN

Ranch style homes provided an easy floor plan to raise a family. This home has a huge lot for adding another wing or a pool! 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms and an open kitchen. Midtown is at your doorstep! 4523 S Lewis Ave. $460,750

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. Extra space upstairs could be finished out! 5819 S Delaware Place. $595,000

THE FOUNTAINS AT BIXBY luxury without

Single-Level

Lock-and-Leave

Timeless

Energy

Community

Location

Bedrooms

Features

Neighborhood –

Table Talk

DINING FOOD DRINKS High

Aspirits

gave and sugar cane spirits are the stars of the cocktail menu at Maestro, the latest concept from Aaron Post and Relentless Hospitality Group.

The Margarita Picante is Post’s take on the spicy margarita with guajillo- and pasilla-infused tequila blanco made in-house. “It’s just as flavorful as it is spicy,” Post says of the drink that also has centerbe liqueur, chili syrup, Persian and Key limes, mint and cucumber.

The Caipirinha is the national drink of Brazil. Maestro’s version is the Caipirinha da Terra, getting its earthy notes from beet and turmeric, with a punch from mezcal de ensamble, cachaca, turbinado sugar and lime. It also can be made nonalcoholic. tp

Elevated taste

Vintage vibes and delectable dishes found at 1925, the Mayo Hotel’s new restaurant.

BY JUDY ALLEN

Tomato and burrata crostone

If you’re looking for a restaurant in Tulsa that feels special but never stu y, 1925 at the Mayo Hotel is a fantastic pick. Tucked inside one of the city’s most historic buildings — the iconic Mayo Hotel, which opened in 1925 — this spot isn’t just about eating (although the food is pretty special), but rather enjoying a slice of Tulsa’s past while having a great night out.

Walking into the Mayo Hotel and its grand hall, you can’t help but feel a little fancy — the hotel gives Gatsby vibes. 1925 has all the art deco charm you’d expect from a restaurant in the Mayo with its high ceilings, cozy leather furniture and plenty of gold accents to keep things glamorous without going overboard.

Tulsa’s Snyder family (who operate under Brickhugger LLC) purchased the hotel in 2001, restoring it completely and reopening it in 2009. ere have been a few other restaurants in the space since reopening — such as Trula and e Boiler Room.

1925, which opened earlier this summer, may feel like a step back in time, but the modern menu o erings make this a true Tulsa gem. “I encourage my team to adopt the 65th Wedding Anniversary mindset,” Executive Chef and Culinary Director Cameron Werry says. “ at means every dish we create should be prepared with the same care, reverence and intention as if it’s being served to a couple celebrating 65 years of love and commitment.”

To start, Werry says not to skip the jumbo lump crab cake. “Growing up on the West Coast and studying in San Francisco, I’ve always had a deep love for seafood,” he says. It is made with lump crab meat, pan-seared and served with a white anchovy remoulade and apple-fennel slaw. Other starters (which are great sharable options) include a cheese and charcuterie board, butter-poached beef carpaccio and Peroni beer-battered lobster. A trio of salad options are available with optional chicken, shrimp or seared tuna.

For mains, the fried half chicken takes the spotlight. “It has a real ‘wow’ factor when it’s presented tableside,” Werry says. e beef tenderloin with wild mushroom con t on a bed of creamy smoked potato hash was a winner on the night we visited, as was the braised pork belly, generous and meaty on a grits-like corn puree. ere is a sh option (black cod when we visited) and a vegetarian wild mushroom Bolognese.

For dessert, the ourless chocolate torte is rich and fudgy, but not too sweet, served with Amaretto-laced crème anglaise. Other options include cheesecake with g and walnut jam and burnt orange sauce, and a seasonal creme brulee.

Above, fried half chicken with zucchini pickles; right, beef tenderloin with smoked potato puree and charred cipollini onions; below, cheesecake with fig and walnut jam atop a burnt orange sauce

e drinks menu is impressive, featuring classics like the Boulevardier and Brandy Alexander, as well as modern spins on these classics, such as the 1925 Old Fashioned and the Oklahoma Smoke Show, a raicilla mezcal-based cocktail named after a popular Zach Bryan song.

“ e Snyder family fully embraced all of my ideas,” Werry says. tp

1925 AT THE MAYO HOTEL

115 W. Fifth St. • 918-895-8484

1925atthemayo.com

Bar opens daily at 4 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m. Closes at 10 p.m., Sunday-Wednesday, and midnight, Thursday-Saturday.

COOKING?

Roasting success

The Tulsa Farmers’ Market is a great place to find fall root vegetables for roasting. The market is open year-round and runs from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturdays in the fall and winter at 1 S. Lewis Ave.

Roasting vegetables like delicata squash, Brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes is one of the pleasures of October cooking. You get all the cozy vibes — crispy edges, deep caramelized sweetness and earthy fall aromas — plus a burst of seasonal avor that tastes like autumn on a plate. Toss them with couscous or orzo for lunch or scatter them over arugula with a maple-mustard vinaigrette for a dinner salad that’s especially good with grilled salmon.

Just remember the golden rule of roasting: don’t crowd the pan. Piling vegetables on top of each other traps steam, leaving them limp instead of deliciously browned. (If you’re roasting a lot, use two sheet pans.) Give everything a coating of olive oil, a good pinch of salt, your favorite seasoning — paprika, garlic, rosemary — and a drizzle of balsamic.

Roasting works its magic by drawing out the natural sugars in vegetables, creating that irresistible balance of sweet and savory. High heat is key for golden edges without overcooked centers. Cut your vegetables into similar sizes so they cook evenly, and don’t be afraid to experiment with combinations. Sweet carrots are delicious with earthy beets, and Brussels sprouts pair nicely with onions or apples. For extra avor, top with parmesan cheese, smoked salt, panko breadcrumbs or toasted pumpkin seeds. — NATALIE MIKLES

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND SWEET POTATOES WITH GARLIC AND SMOKED PAPRIKA Serves 4

1 head cauli ower, cut into bite-size pieces

1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or foil. In a large bowl, toss cauli ower and sweet potatoes with olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, rosemary, salt and pepper until well coated.

Spread vegetables in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast for 25-30 minutes, tossing once, until tender and goldenbrown at the edges.

Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with parsley before serving. tp

Linger over LUNCH

Anyone who works or lives downtown knows how exciting it is when a new restaurant opens. And when it’s a locally owned cafe with fresh-made lunch options, it’s especially good news.

Magic City Cafe opened earlier this year in the Kennedy Building, 321 S. Boston Ave., and has been a popular spot for healthy sandwiches, wraps and salads, plus hot specials and indulgent sweets.

“Our goal is to bring downtown Tulsa a convenient, welcoming spot for truly good food — something quick, healthy and thoughtfully made,” says Cindy Quigley, who owns Magic City Cafe with her husband, Kenneth Quigley

Customer favorites include the chicken salad sandwich, based on Kenneth’s grandmother’s recipe and made with roasted chicken, celery, diced apples, toasted pecans and mayo. It’s served on a croissant with fruit. Another favorite is the roast beef and sharp cheddar cheese sandwich.

Finding a place with good snacks (something besides a bag of chips or a candy bar) isn’t easy during the workday, and that’s one area where the Quigleys ll the gap. Sides like tabouli are served by the cup, making it easy to bring back to the o ce. Magic City Cafe also has a great snack mix of cashews, almonds, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, extra-large Virginia peanuts, raisins and M&Ms.

Magic City Cafe is open 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday. Starting at 1 p.m. on Fridays, the Quigleys have a “happy hour” where everything remaining in the cold case is sold at 50% o . “Once sold out,” she says, “we close for the weekend.”

— NATALIE MIKLES

WHAT THE ALE

OUT OF THE PARK

Drawing on years of brewing knowledge and experience, Lucas Dewell is hitting hopped-up homers as Elgin Park’s full-time brewer and strengthening the brewery’s beer fan base.

“I control a little bit of every aspect, from ordering ingredients to working with suppliers,” Dewell says. “It feels like it’s my own little brewery that I get to run.”

Elgin Park’s biggest sellers can depend on the time of year, but Slow Pitch IPA, Elgin Park Lite lager and Put Me in Kolsch battle for the top spot.

Dewell’s personal favorite is a specialty brew — High and Inside Cold IPA, which is hopped as if it were an IPA, but fermented with a lager yeast.

A graduate of Oklahoma State University who began making beer in 2012, Dewell started working at Marshall Brewing Co. fresh out of college doing nearly every job they had, such as cleaning kegs, working the bottling line and eventually brewing beer. Learning from Eric Marshall ’s traditional German styles gave Dewell a great basis for brewing.

“Moving to Elgin … you have to learn what passion-project beers you may have that may not fall into your sports bar patronage,” Dewell says. “Educating staff and all of our customers on beer styles, I feel like I’ve even seen a shift in how sales can go.

“When a seasonal (beer) goes, everyone misses it as soon as it’s gone. That’s when I hear about it. So I know that everyone really enjoys how much we rotate through different styles and try to keep things fresh besides our core beers.” — TOM GILBERT

Magic City Cafe’s Kenneth and Cindy Quigley; inset, club sandwich, chicken salad sandwich and blackened salmon wrap

Lucas Dewell is the brewer at Elgin Park, 325 E. Reconciliation Way.

A LA CARTE

Midnight munching

Late-night downtown dining go-tos

THE TAVERN is a laid-back yet refined gastropub known for food like fish and chips, roasted chicken, macaroni and cheese, and cocktails. Open until 1 a.m. on weekends, it’s a great place to enjoy a late-night burger (a Tavern favorite that’s discounted every night of the week) or snacks like bacon popcorn or tuna poke after a show downtown. Sitting at the bar is fun for people-watching. 201 N. Main St. • 918-949-9801 • taverntulsa.com

Part bar, part live music venue, THE HUNT CLUB is a favorite Tulsa Arts District hangout. Its solid late-night menu includes street tacos and burritos. And after 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, there’s breakfast! The best is a five-cheese breakfast melt, perfect for pairing with a bloody Mary or beer. Open until 2 a.m., it’s a short walk from most downtown venues, making it an easy spot to keep the night going. 224 N. Main St. • 918-599-9200 • thehuntclubtulsa.com

Pop in for late-night elevated bar food at RABBIT HOLE, an eclectic, fun space with a small but curated menu. You’ll find the usual suspects — burgers and wings — alongside street tacos, fried pickles and quesadillas. Our pick: the Nacho Fries — hand-cut crispy fries loaded with queso, pico and choice of chicken or carne asada. It’s perfect for sharing over drinks. 116 S. Elgin Ave. • 539-664-4232 • facebook.com/rabbitholetulsa — NATALIE MIKLES

CURATION AND REFLECTION

Aaron Post is no stranger to downtown entertainment. He opened Valkyrie, a curated whiskey-forward cocktail lounge 13 years ago, and St. Vitus, an electronic music dance club serving craft cocktails, in 2019. With the July opening of Maestro he’s expanded his hospitality group with the introduction of a robust food menu and a focus on agave and sugar cane spirits. “These can be the most agrarian of distilled spirits,” Post says. Everything in Maestro has been carefully chosen by Post, who created the cocktail program, and consulting chef Alfredo Nogueira. “We strive to give people and products the representation they deserve,” Post says, adding that many of the products Maestro uses are sustainably produced and/or made without shortcuts. “We work to represent that labor through education and ethical practices.” That same intention carried over into the design of the space by Kate Wallace Helm, and the branding and art curation by Nic Annette Miller Local artist Yatika Fields designed three murals that are reminiscent of agave fields in Mexico.

The food menu consists of 13 dishes. Small bites include crab croquetas, papas bravas (fries drizzled with salsa and aioli and a sprinkling of herbs) and tuna ceviche. Larger plates range from the Frita Cubana (a chorizo-spiced beef burger served with an egg, cheese, onion, aioli and a pile of crispy shoestring fries) to the Picanha (a wagyu sirloin steak with chimichurri, avocado and radish) and Arroz con Mariscos. “It’s risotto meets paella,” Post says of the dish featuring Valencia rice, scallops, shrimp, mussels and chives. — ANNE BROCKMAN

The Tavern’s bacon popcorn

Maestro’s Arroz con Mariscos

SEAFOOD

Nice catch! These fi ve winners — tops in TulsaPeople’s annual A-LIST Readers’ Choice Awards — are where to go when craving seafood.

WHITE RIVER FISH MARKET

1708 N. Sheridan Road, 918-835-1910 1105 E. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow, 918-449-0347 whiteriverfi shmarket.com

BODEAN

3376 E. 51st St. 918-749-1407 bodean.net

RED DOOR GRILLE

5964 S. Yale Ave. 918-551-7652 reddoorgrille.com

FISH DADDY’S GRILL HOUSE 10624 E. 71st St. 918-307-1388 fdtulsa.com

SISSEROU’S

107 N. Boulder Ave., Unit C 918-576-6800 sisserousrestaurant.com

from BOSTON TITLE AND ABSTRACT

522 S. Boston Ave., Suite B • 1918-301-0744 • bostontitleandabstract.com

DINNER IS SERVED One of the restaurant’s elegantly executed entrees is its Osso Buco — a braised venison shank with cannellini bean ragu, celery root custard, Belgium Quad lacquer and a black truffle granola as garnish.

WHO’S WHO Boston Title and Abstract’s menu is curated by Executive Chef Roque Heidler and assisted by Sous Chef Adam Leonard. The restaurant recently welcomed Maître D’ and Sommelier Pablo Aguilar, who curated the new 100-bottle wine list.

THE SECRET’S OUT Open since 2018, the fine dining restaurant’s alleyway entrance and basement setting contribute to its sleek, speakeasy vibe. tp

Red Door Grille’s shrimp and grits

TIME WARP

Labor of love

On Dec. 11, 1921, the Rev. Rolfe Pomeroy Crum, a recently appointed priest for Trinity Episcopal Church of Tulsa, led a small parade of parishioners and onlookers through the streets of downtown to a mostly cleared site at Fifth Street and Cincinnati Avenue to break ground on a new church.

Just a few days earlier, the congregation bid farewell to its old brick church of 16 years on the same site. e only remaining piece of the church was the building’s historic cornerstone, which was used by Crum as a pulpit during the groundbreaking and eventually reseated in the new church.

In front of a crowd of 400 members,

he shoveled a large piece of earth precisely where the altar of the new Trinity church would rest, and promised swift construction on the estimated $300,000 edi ce. At the time, the church had only raised one-third of the total cost.

Construction was able to begin due (in part) to a fundraising campaign held earlier in the year called “Beautiful Trinity.” Additional money was raised by o ering members of the congregation or prominent citizens an opportunity to make a personal contribution to the building itself. A total of 58 features of the building’s interior and exterior — including doorways, windows, columns and more — could be sponsored to help with construction costs.

After months of construction and nearly two years of meeting at the Majestic movie theater, Trinity’s rst service at the new church was held in the basement on June 4, 1922. A temporary roof was added to the substructure, and the congregation continued to meet there during a nearly 14-month construction hiatus.

By late summer 1924, construction nally began again thanks to additional fundraising campaigns, but the struggle to build the structure and stay true to deadlines dragged on. e church began to take shape by 1925. Crum moved to a new parish in Texas but would return for the church’s formal dedication in May 1926. tp

STORY AND COMPOSITE IMAGE BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS

Construction workers and the Rev. Rolfe Crum pose for a photograph outside the northwest exterior of Trinity Episcopal Church in 1925. The building was still under construction but nearing completion. It was designed by Tulsa architect George M. Winkler.

MICHAEL B. JORDAN PHOTOGRAPHED IN NEW YORK CITY

CHEVRON COLLECTION