TulsaPeople September 2026

BRAND-NEW BOOKSTORE • MEET A LOCAL DENIM DESIGNER • RESTAURANT WEEK TURNS 20

September 2026

PLUS

JEREMY JOHNSON, CHIEF CULINARY OFFICER AT THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA

WHAT’S COOKING AT THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA

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OSU Orthopedics & Sports Medicine 744 W. 9th St. #100, Tulsa 918-631-8877 | osumedicine.com

Contents SEPTEMBER 2026

VOLUME 40 ISSUE 11

7 CITY DESK A fair chat at Expo Square Comedy crew screens sketches A folklore frequency Tulsa Oilers mark a milestone

28 STICKING A FORK IN HUNGER Oklahoma leads the U.S. in child food insecurity; the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is fighting back.

BY TIFFANY HOWARD

35 LIFESTYLE A new third space Discover Hawaiʻi’s biggest island Dive into denim Connie feels spleeny

47 TABLE TALK Burgers, hold the beef From planes to private dining FarmBar fusion Blue Whale ale

SPECIAL SECTIONS 56

TulsaPeople Home

62

Top Real Estate Professionals

79

Home Remodeling Showcase

BRAND-NEW BOOKSTORE • MEET A LOCAL DENIM DESIGNER • RESTAURANT WEEK TURNS 20

September 2026

TULSAPEOPLE SEPTEMBER 2026 PLUS

JEREMY JOHNSON, CHIEF CULINARY OFFICER AT THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA

From horse shows to sprint car races to the Tulsa State Fair, Expo Square stays action-packed year-round. Ahead of the upcoming 11 Days of Awesome Oct. 1-11, Amanda Blair — who recently took over as CEO — discusses how all this activity impacts Tulsa on p. 12.

4 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

ON THE COVER Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma Chief Culinary Officer Jeremy Johnson with Poached Cod with Risotto Florentine PHOTO BY MICHELLE POLLARD

GREG BOLLINGER

WHAT’S COOKING AT THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA

2 1ST A N N UAL

CHEROKEE ART MARKET

JOIN US THIS OCTOBER 10 – 11 Come celebrate authentic Native American artistry, honor its artists and discover your connection to Native culture and expression – through art.

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO TULSA

CONTENTS

EDITOR’S LETTER

A

s someone actively searching

Iron Gate, is taking place Sept. 24 (find a

very specific requirements),

which supports the Food Bank of Eastern

to buy her fi rst home (with this month’s Fall HOME

section was particularly interesting to

see come together. Per usual, this special

edition explores visionary properties across

town, from a historic Sand Springs stunner (p. 73) to a fi rst-place winner in the 2026 Tulsa Parade of Homes (p. 58).

On p. 68, writer Grace Wood dives

into an exquisitely intentional kitchen renovation by Huntington Design, and writer

throwback on p. 8). And Restaurant Week, Oklahoma’s Food for Kids programs, is

taking place Sept. 18-27. Assistant Editor Tiff any Howard caught up with the

food bank’s CEO Jeff Marlow and Chief

their essential work, and how Food for Kids initiatives are projected to serve 1.8 million

meals to 25,000 children in the 24 counties over the next year (p. 28).

If you’re looking for a wonderful excuse

to go out for a bite to eat (or several bites!),

performed on the market on p. 66. Not

and the upwards of two-dozen participat-

unrelated, on p. 70, writer Robert Evatt

takes a close look at how area developers

and the City of Tulsa are locally addressing the complicated shortage of housing not

impacting only our city, but communities across the country.

Th is issue also highlights several anni-

versaries across the 918. The Tulsa Global

Alliance is celebrating 50 years of strength-

ening international relationships (read more

TulsaPeople Magazine is published monthly by

Culinary Officer Jeremy Johnson to discuss

Laura Dennis checks in with local realtor May West to look at how recent listings

Volume XL, Number 11 ©2026. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, including created advertising in a proofed or printed stage.

you can learn more about Restaurant Week ing eateries at tprw.org. To make this year extra special, the website will host a poll asking diners to let us know which spots

were their favorites in a few select categories — so don’t forget to cast your vote!

1603 South Boulder Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407 P: 918-585-9924 F: 918-585-9926

PUBLISHER PRESIDENT VP COMMUNITY RELATIONS CONTROLLER

Jim Langdon Juley Roffers Susie Miller Mary McKisick

EDITOR DIGITAL EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR INTERNS

Lauren Rogers Madison Walters Tiffany Howard Kamron Williams Mary A. Smith Michael Searles

CREATIVE DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER

Madeline Crawford Allyssa Reeder Michelle Pollard Greg Bollinger

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Andrea Canada Melissa Givens Josh Kampf

As always, thanks for reading. If there’s

anything you’d like to see in an upcoming

MEMBER

issue, feel free to reach out to me at lauren@langdonpublishing.com. tp

TulsaPeople’s distribution is audited annually by

on p. 16) and the Tulsa Oilers are about to kick off their 75th season on the ice (over

a 98-year history, learn more about that on p. 20.)

Meanwhile, two TulsaPeople-inspired

nonprofit fundraisers turn twenty this year,

Lauren Rogers EDITOR

and you can participate in both this month.

Langdon Publishing sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner.

This issue of TulsaPeople was printed on recycled fibers containing 20% postconsumer waste with inks containing a soy base blend. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally, meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. We can have a better world if we choose it together.

Stay connected at TulsaPeople.com.

Visit for exclusive stories, giveaways, music and event listings, photo galleries and our weekly e-newsletter.

6 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

Your city. Your magazine.

Delivered to your door.

Subscribe and get 12 issues of TulsaPeople delivered directly to your mailbox for just $20.

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Langdon Publishing’s information technology services are managed

by ImageNet Consulting, whose support helps TulsaPeople Magazine continue capturing and sharing the people, history and cultures that define our city. From preserving our archives to protecting decades of Tulsa stories and photography, ImageNet has proudly supported our business for more than a decade.

MICHELLE POLLARD

Cooking for a Cause, which benefits

City Desk NEWS

CAUSES

PASSIONS

GREG BOLLINGER

ALL ABOARD! Is there something in the water? Ten years after losing its former boathouse to a fire, the Tulsa Rowing Club is full steam ahead as members prepare for fall regattas.

Operating from their recently rebuilt facility at River West Festival Park, the club welcomes adult rowers of all levels who want to hone their skills.

Learn more on p. 22.

TulsaPeople.com 7

CITY DESK

NOTEBOOK

Current members of the Brady Orchestra, also known as Bradio (left to right): Kevin Flint, bass; George Barton, vocals/guitar; Mike Wilson, vocals/keyboards; Rod Clark, brass/leader/arrangements; Eric Grimshaw, percussion; Peter Mayo (holding a photo of late operatic tenor Enrico Caruso), music director/grand piano; Pat (Trick) Savage, guitar/arrangements; Dave Johnson, trumpet; Judge Porter, drums; Victor Anderson, sax; Max Wisley, vocals. Not pictured: EZ Mireles, Hammond B-3.

LAST HURRAH OCT. 1-3 In December 1977, the City of Tulsa put the Tulsa Municipal Theater (known today as the Tulsa Theater) at 105 W. Reconciliation Way up for bid following the completion of the new-at-the-time Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

Peter Mayo — a fourth-generation member of the Mayo family, which shaped the early Tulsa skyline with developments including the Mayo Building, the Petroleum Building and the Mayo Hotel — learned about the sale from a friend, attorney Eric Grimshaw, who saw the announcement while perusing the Tulsa Daily Legal News.

“It was not prominently advertised,” Mayo says of the auction. “You kind of had to know where that section of the paper was.”

In the decades prior, the theater hosted internationally recognized performers like the Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso, whose ghost is rumored to still linger there. Peter Mayo’s father John Burch Mayo, who helped establish the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra, frequently visited the performance hall himself — with family in tow. The city-owned asset had been renovated and restored over the years through bond issues passed in 1917, 1930 and 1952, but the younger Mayo feared — with more than 20 years following the last round of repairs — that the structure would face demolition if he did not step in.

On Jan. 14, 1978, the Tulsa World reported that the Tulsa City Commission approved the sale of the

MEMORY LANE

40 years of TulsaPeople

theater to Mayo, the only bidder, at $37,777, who planned to convert the building into a nightclub and entertainment hub.

Over the next seven years, Mayo renovated the building, completing work in 1984. The following year, he launched a cabaret series featuring performers like Harry Belafonte, Glen Campbell, Paul Williams and Eric Grimshaw. “It was a subscription series,” Mayo explains. “You had to buy a ticket to all four or five shows.”

It was a family affair — his mother, Allene Oliphant, and uncle, Charles Oliphant, assisted with promotion.

The effort not only brought in crowds of Tulsans, but also notable names like Walmart founder Sam Walton, who made the trip to Tulsa to enjoy live music with his wife, Helen.

Now that the building is under new ownership since last year, Mayo has put together a threeday celebration Oct. 1-3 packed with local talent, nostalgia and special events to commemorate the countless memories made in the space under his care for four-plus decades.

“I want to give something back to the community that has supported Tulsa Theater all these years,” Mayo says. “It’s a look back at the time spent there, and a celebration of being able to keep the building open all those years.”

Festivities will include performances by Mayo’s own band, the Brady Orchestra (also known as Bradio), along with other Tulsa artists Henry Zoellner, Annie Ellicott, The Moody Dudes and more. Mayo is also producing a throwback video for the event, which will highlight footage and even some family photos captured throughout the theater’s 112-year history.

Learn more and reserve admission at mayofinalencore.com. – LAUREN ROGERS

FOND FOOD MEMORIES

The 2013 Cooking for a Cause participants: Chefs Lia Lewis, Platt College; Michael Minden, Michael V’s Restaurant and Bar; Ludger Schulz, Ludger’s Cakes; Tiffany Poe, Grandview Bed and Breakfast and Plum Delicious: Mediterrasian Mobile Eats; Greg Bossler, Sushi Alley Izakaya; Dru Palazzo, Naples Flatbread; Jin Baek, Sushi Alley Izakaya; Grant Vespasian, Oaks Country Club; John Briscoe, McGill’s; Jonathan Moosmiller, Southern Hills Country Club; Justin Thompson, Juniper, Tavolo and Prhyme Downtown Steakhouse

8 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

In 2006, TulsaPeople Magazine partnered with the Appliance Gallery by Metro Builders Supply (now Metro Appliances & More) to host a series of cooking demonstrations by top Tulsa chefs to raise funds and awareness for Iron Gate. In the effort’s early days, each class was offered at $60 per person. The first event took place at longtime Tulsa staple The Chalkboard.

Guests got to observe as Chalkboard’s then-executive chef, the late Paul Caplinger, prepared green chili-oyster soup with roasted corn, braised buffalo short ribs with sage polenta and Cowboy Coffee Crème Brûlée. There was plenty of wine to enjoy, too, courtesy of Parkhill’s Liquor and Wines, which provided the perfect pairing for each course.

Twenty years later, Cooking for a Cause has a different format, but still benefits the same charitable cause. You can join Iron Gate at The Vista at 21 (21 N. Greenwood Ave.) to try dishes from the chefs representing restaurants from all across the city. Learn more at irongatetulsa.org/cookingforacause. – STAFF REPORTS

MAYO: COURTESY; COOKING: TP ARCHIVE

20 years of Cooking for a Cause

Explore a Holland Hall education!

Sign up for a Welcome Wednesday Open House Scan the QR code to learn more

(539) 416-8294 hollandhall.org

Private tours are offered Monday through Friday. Tours are by appointments only, call (539) 416-8294 to schedule a tour.

CITY DESK

TULSA 10

SEPTEMBER COMPILED BY MARY A. SMITH

September 5 TULSA FOOTBALL VS OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY Football season kicks off strong with an anticipated follow-up to The University of Tulsa’s 2025 defeat of Oklahoma State, breaking OSU’s 23-game winning streak against Tulsa. tulsahurricane.evenue.net September 6-10 GREENWOOD FILM FESTIVAL Taking place at OSU - Tulsa, the Greenwood Film Festival will feature the works of Dennis Y. Delemar, Justin Ervin, Charlamagne Tha God, Shawn Antoine II and more. greenwoodfilmfestival.com September 10-19 AMERICAN MINIATURE HORSE REGISTRY NATIONAL SHOW Take the family to Expo Square and spend the day spectating at the largest competitive championship in the world for miniature horses, the AMHR National Show. exposquare.com/events September 16 CASTLE | MEDICINE HORSE | GLÓRACH Throw on your best chains — metal trio Castle is coming to Whittier Bar. The show includes Indigenous Tulsa-based band Medicine Horse along with Tulsa’s glórach. thewhittierbar.com September 17 CENTENNIAL BLOCK PARTY Cascia Hall and Monte Cassino will celebrate their 100th anniversaries alongside Ascension St. John with a festive block party takes featuring food truck vendors, inflatables, live music and more. casciahall.com/celebrating-100-years

September 18 ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA Join John Paget and Michael Wallis at Circle Cinema for the Oklahoma premiere of the film “Route 66: The Main Street of America” to hear stories detailing the lives of Mother Road dreamers and doers across many communities along Route 66. circlecinema.org

2025 Festival Americas

VISIT TULSAPEOPLE.COM FOR TULSA 10 WEEKLY RUNDOWNS.

September 26 FESTIVAL AMERICAS The Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce presents its annual immersive festival at Guthrie Green with more than 30 different cultures represented through local food trucks, musicians, makers and more. guthriegreen.com 10 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

September 19 INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY – EXTRAVARRGANZARR Catch Jack Ketch & The Bilge Rat Bastards live at Boman Twin Event Center (2909 S. Sheridan Road), along with Merlin Mason, Johnny Detox, Labadie House and Machine in the Mountain. bomantwineventcenter.com September 20 CREATIVE SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY Explore new photography techniques on your smartphone with Anitra Lavanhar. Hosted at Contemporary Arts of Tulsa, tickets are available for purchase online. catulsa.org tp

COURTESY OF THE TULSA AREA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / CHRISTINA LATTANZIO

September 17-19 TULSA GREEK FESTIVAL — 66 YEARS ON ROUTE 66 Enjoy Greek food, music, dancing, vendors, educational tours and more family fun at this annual festival celebrating Greek culture and traditions. tulsagreekfestival.com

PARADISE NEVER SOUNDED So Good

Tickets On Sale Now!

LOS TIGRES del NORTE SEP 5 GENE SIMMONS SEP 10 PATTI L a BELLE SEP 17 GABRIEL IGLESIAS SEP 19

To Purchase Tickets Visit RIVERSPIRITTULSA.COM

or Call 888.748.3731

8 3 3 0 R I V E R S I D E P A R K W AY T U L S A , O K 74 13 7

SCAN TO SAVE YOUR SEATS

Entertainment schedule subject to change.

Must be 21 to enter.

CITY DESK

IN CONVERSATION (We’re) always looking forward and making sure we continue the investment in Expo Square.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THERE IS A FOCUS ON CONTINUED INVESTMENT INTO THESE FACILITIES? The Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex stays busy all year round, and the importance of the equine and livestock facilities to Expo Square are much larger than just Expo Square. They are an economic engine for Tulsa County, and our events put more heads in (hotel) beds than a lot of venues do. We’re very fortunate to have the facilities that we have today that bring people to Tulsa and invest in our community, because that’s what grows and makes our whole community thrive.

(Event attendees are) eating in our restaurants, they’re shopping at our shopping centers. You know, Lowe’s is right next door to us. They’re always going over there to get supplies, and so really again, it’s about the economic engine that we are for Tulsa County.

The new CEO at Expo Square

BY LAUREN ROGERS

I

n late May, Expo Square announced that longtime staff member Amanda Blair would take over as CEO following the retirement of Mark Andrus, who had held the position since 2008. Starting with the facility in 2005 as assistant manager in the ticket office, Blair worked her way up through the organization, taking on oversight of operations at the Tulsa State Fair in 2009 before becoming chief operating officer in 2014.

She took a moment to sit down for a conversation about Expo Square, which is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic Golden Driller statue this year. She also shared a preview of the upcoming 11 Days of Awesome at the Tulsa State Fair.

12 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

HOW HAS EXPO SQUARE GROWN SINCE YOU FIRST JOINED THE TEAM? My goodness, where to start? Most of the change has been physical change. We’ve done a lot of investment into this property.

Back in 2005, we were just starting a lot of our construction and completing some of it ... We like to say, “There’s never a finish line,” but it’s very true because (the events we host) are always pushing us to be better, and to make sure that we continue investing into the facilities, the infrastructure.

In 2005 we were just completing some of the new barns with the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex. Then around 2007 and 2008, Central Park Hall and the Exchange Center came online, and those were new consumer event spaces that we built ...

WHAT DO YOU THINK MIGHT SURPRISE PEOPLE THE MOST ABOUT EXPO SQUARE? I think a lot of people don’t realize that we build small cities almost every weekend. And again, it goes back to how busy the complex is. On these 240 acres, we can host anywhere from three to five events during one weekend, and so there’s just always a lot of activity.

Whether we do have an equine show (in the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex), we may have over here (in the SageNet Center) some type of a consumer show ... There’s just always something going on. tp READ MORE OF THIS CONVERSATION AT TULSAPEOPLE.COM.

GREG BOLLINGER

Amanda Blair

THE TULSA STATE FAIR IS COMING UP OCT. 1-11.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT THIS YEAR? There will be several new attractions.

We’ve got the Roaring Riptide. We are going to have the Wheel of Agriculture, which will be an agriculture game show.

We will have (acrobats on) sway poles, (which) kind of bend toward the audience, and they’re really big.

We also have America 250, we’re really highlighting and celebrating that this year. Some of the America 250 elements that we’ll have are the Freedom Truck, a mobile museum about America 250. We’ll also have the Stars, Stripes, and State Fair nights, which will be Tues., Oct. 6, and we’ll have a full celebration with Colt Ford doing an Americana performance. We’ll have fi reworks that evening.

Ev e n be fore it makes a SO U ND , it makes a STATEME N T .

STEINWAY PIANO GALLERY 3402 S. Peoria Ave. Tulsa, Ok 75105 T E L (918) 516-1853

WWW.STEINWAYPIANOS.COM

TULSA

CITY DESK

Members and affiliates of the local comedy group troublestart. Back: (left to right) Alex Clair, Kels Cooper, Eric Sorrels and Mary Grace Moser. Front: Cade Thomas.

We’ve got trouble Tulsa comedy group shares second season of sketch series.

BY FAITH HARL

I

f you scroll for long enough, you may just find yourself in a corner of the internet where a Victorian ghost child, sentient toaster and roommate talent show collide. These punchlines are the hallmark of award-winning sketch comedy group troublestart, on full display in their self-titled lineup of recurring short videos available to stream on YouTube.

Billed as “chaotic comedy for chaotic times,” “troublestart” the series premiered in July 2025. It was co-created by Cherokee

14 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

fi lmmaker Cade Thomas, who directs, produces and edits each episode, along with his best friend and actor, Alex Clair.

Centered on the antics of a close-knit group of friends living in Tulsa, the sketches feature a rotation of local creatives and comedians. Since releasing the fi rst five-episode season, troublestart’s YouTube channel has amassed over 75,000 views.

Having directed feature fi lms and documentaries including “Ribbon” and “(Tulsa

Underground)” Thomas wanted to make something light-hearted while also paying homage to early internet culture. “(troublestart) didn’t have to be this highly perfect thing,” Thomas explains. “(I could) re-learn, sort of, the art ... of being able to make things quickly for the sake of creating.”

Following the fi rst season of sketches, troublestart also produced four short fi lms.

The group’s fi rst short fi lm, “governor wilcox is a dead man,” was awarded Best Director and Best Screenplay at Oklahoma City’s 48 Hour Film Project in 2025. In July, one of troublestart’s short fi lms, “hey, pumpkin,” landed a spot in the Okie shorts block at the 2026 Circle Cinema Film Fest.

Local improv comedian Mary Grace Moser, who plays the lead in “hey, pumpkin,” describes appearing on the big screen as “surreal.”

“When my name was on screen and people cheered really loud, I was like ‘ahhh!’” Moser recalls from the short’s premiere. “It was really exciting and has kind of fueled me to do more.”

Building on the momentum from “hey, pumpkin,” set to be released on YouTube in November, Moser and her fiancé Eric Sorrels teamed up with Thomas and Clair to write another season of “troublestart.”

The group officially released the fi rst episode last month at a live variety show at Drifters Theater. The episode, which focuses on Clair’s character as he moves in with a new roommate and includes appearances from Tulsa-area comedians Evan Hughes and Kels Cooper, became available to stream on YouTube Sept. 1.

Moser says the sketch comedy group is a safe space for her to be creative. “What I’ve learned (from) working with troublestart is you can do whatever you want,” she adds.

“There’s nothing stopping you from taking an idea or joke and making it a whole episode.”

Inspired by fresh perspectives on the team, Thomas describes this new season as “a lot more ambitious,” while staying true to troublestart’s DIY roots. “Being able to return to what troublestart is is really fun, because it’s just friends making things, and that’s what’s beautiful about it,” he shares.

To get in on the laughs, follow @troublestart on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, where the group will release more episodes in September and October. tp

GREG BOLLINGER

COMMUNITY

’T FORGET:

LADIES, DON

Some things are just part of your routine — and your yearly well-woman exam should be part of that, too. It’s a chance to check in on your physical, mental and emotional health and take care of the person who keeps everything moving.

Schedule your yearly well-woman exam today.

ascension.org/StJohnWomens © Ascension 2026. All rights reserved.

CITY DESK

Tulsa Global Alliance staff, board members and volunteers (left to right): Senior Director of Citizen Diplomacy Bob Lieser, Tulsa-Beihai Chair Shiqing Huang, Board Chair Michelle Barnett, Tulsa-Beihai Immediate Past Chair Alpha Zhang, Tulsa-Mwanza Chair Gretchen Mudoga, Tulsa-Celle Chair Sandy Dizdar, Executive Director Micah Keyan, Tulsa-San Luis Potosí Chair Clark Frayser, Immediate Past Board Chair Kaitlin Flinn, Tulsa-Utsunomiya Chair Phil Sharp, TulsaZelenograd Chair Garrett Gibson, and Tulsa-Kaohsiung Chair Rex Burnett. Not pictured: Tulsa-Amiens Chair Julien Feral and Tulsa-Tiberias Chair Chloe Chapel.

Five decades of citizen diplomacy Tulsa Global Alliance celebrates 50 years of strengthening international relations.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON 16 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

F

or 50 years, Tulsa Global Alliance staff and volunteers have been changing the world one handshake at a time. Th is nonprofit organization focuses on building global community through its nine international sister city partnerships, professional and educational exchanges, global education programs, and support for international business development. At its core, TGA is all about diplomacy, but not the kind that always requires embassies and consulates.

“Citizen diplomacy is the idea that diplomacy is too important to be left only to professional diplomats, that all citizens have a right and responsibility to help shape United States’ foreign relations,” says Bob Lieser, TGA’s Senior Director of Citizen Diplomacy.

According to Lieser, citizen diplomacy might mean opening your home to somebody from another country, or sharing your work experience. It could also be as simple as offering directions to a group of international tourists at a national park or airport.

Each “diplomatic” act is an opportunity to present our country in a positive light.

In 2025, TGA and its contingent of volunteers coordinated international exchanges for 281 professionals and students, representing over 55 countries.

The organization also facilitated over 50 outbound student exchanges, partnered with Gathering Place to put on the park’s Global Gatherings events, displayed booths for Tulsa’s sister cities at a school fair for over 500 Eisenhower International School students and coordinated 161 professional meetings. All of that diplomacy is good for the city’s bottom line, too. Last year, TGA’s local economic impact approached one million dollars.

TGA’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.

In July, Sister Cities International recognized TGA’s “excellence in fostering international relationships, cultural exchange, economic development and community engagement” by honoring the organization with the “Best Overall Program” award during SCI’s 70th Anniversary Homecoming in Washington D.C. It was TGA’s fourth time to receive this prestigious acknowledgment in the category of cities with more than 300,000 residents.

“It’s such a privilege and honor to represent our culture and help shape global connections with people all over the world in a lasting way,” says Micah Keyan, TGA Executive Director.

On Oct. 8, TGA will celebrate its 50th anniversary during the Global Vision Awards Gala at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa - Warren Place. Th is year, former president and retired professor of political science at The University of Tulsa Robert H. Donaldson will receive the Raymond & Nancy Feldman Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Tulsa Fire Department will be recognized with the Outstanding Organization Award for its decades of professional exchanges with Tulsa’s sister cities.

“Tulsa and Oklahoma have been very welcoming to international visitors over the years. That’s one thing that I continue to see and to be impressed with as I’ve done this job,” Lieser says. “The people of Oklahoma and the people of the United States are really the best representatives and the best advocates that we could have.”

For more, visit tulsaglobalalliance.org. tp

GREG BOLLINGER

APPLAUSE

Make someone’s day!

Got an hour?

Volunteering just one hour a week can change someone’s life. Join us!

Scan or visit mowtulsa.org for details

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CITY DESK

Dive into folk music lore with Tulsa musician Olivia Harding’s “Folk Files” podcast, which airs the third Friday of each month.

‘We’re all given a voice’ Local musician empowers communities through folklore and a music club.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON 18 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

D

elving deep into the twisting roots of folk music, local musician Olivia Harding’s “Folk Files” podcast explores the origins of everything from sea shanties to murder ballads. It seems like a natural fit for the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and Tulsa transplant who has a passion for history and a musical circuit that includes plenty of Renaissance fairs.

Now in its third year, the monthly podcast recently became part of the BGS Podcast Network — a curated audio collection from the popular media community, The Bluegrass Situation.

Co-founded by actor and musician Ed Helms, The Bluegrass Situation focuses on American roots music, culture and lifestyle. It’s a wonderful opportunity to grow her audience.

“My main goal is expanding an interest in and a knowledge of folk music,” she says.

“I want to make sure there is access. Th is is our music. It’s the music of the ‘folk.’ It doesn’t belong to any specific person.”

Growing up, Harding’s parents encouraged her love of music. Her father’s tastes run to world music, and her mother is a huge Bob Dylan fan. Although Harding says neither parent is a professional musician, she believes both are gifted amateur vocalists. Harding’s interest in folk music dates to her undergrad days at Brown University, where her eclectic academic pursuits resulted in a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Early Modern Studies, as well as membership in the school’s pirate crew, the aptly named “ARRR!!!” — an acapella group dedicated to preserving and performing historical folk, labor and maritime music.

Harding is also a founding member of Music the Gathering. Formed in New York, the group plays traditional folk music and original fantasy folk. Before going on hiatus, the band toured the U.S. for six to eight months every year, primarily playing Renaissance festivals, including the Castle of Muskogee’s.

“As part of our tour, we spent six weeks in Tulsa every year, and that’s where I met my partner,” Harding says, referring to Tulsa musician Aaron J. Morton.

The two dated long distance until Harding moved to town from her home in Brooklyn in 2024. Since arriving, she and Morton formed their folk duo, The Wanderlast, and Harding also started the Tulsa chapter of Singing Resistance — a grassroots movement that uses collective singing as a tool for nonviolent protest, community care and solidarity.

“Th rough (Singing Resistance), I’m giving ‘baby’ voice lessons,” she says. “I’m basically teaching people how to improve their stamina when they’re singing or chanting and going to protests.”

Harding says folk music is important because it’s always been used to send news, give warnings and rally people, and she believes everyone should be introduced to old recordings of folk music.

“It’s a reminder that we’re all given a voice, and that we should all sing,” she says.

Find Folk Files on folkfilespodcast.com as well as podcast platforms including Apple Music, YouTube and Amazon Music.

To learn more about the Tulsa Chapter of Singing Resistance, check them out on and @singingresistancetulsa. tp

GREG BOLLINGER

MUSIC NOTES

3 DAYS OF MUSIC, FOOD & “MAYO”MENT OCTOBER 1

HENRY ZOELLNER MOODY DUDES SWAN LAKE GENTLEMEN’S SOCIETY OCTOBER 2

ROLLING IN THE 80’S RADIO FLASH BRADY ORCHESTRA WITH SPECIAL GUEST JOHN ELEFANTE OCTOBER 3

KAREN NAIFEH & HONOR ORCHESTRA KARAOKE CONTEST WITH STEPHANIE OLIVER ANNIE ELLICOTT BRADY ORCHESTRA WITH SPECIAL GUEST JOHN ELEFANTE

CITY DESK

SPORTS

The Tulsa Oilers against the Idaho Steelheads on Jan. 31. The Oilers will take on the Allen Americans at the WeStreet Ice Center during an exhibition game Oct. 10.

Pucks and pride With a 98-year legacy, Tulsa Oilers Hockey skates into 75th season.

BY JOHN TRANCHINA 20 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

STEELHEADS: BRENDAN STEEVES PHOTOGRAPHY; TEAM PHOTO, COLISEUM: MUSEUM OF TULSA HISTORY

H

eading into their 75th season on the ice next month, the Tulsa Oilers Hockey team has been through a number of different iterations over the past 98 years. With a rich history dating back to their fi rst season in 1928, the Oilers have been a fi xture on the local sports scene over the decades, even though there were a few gaps along the way.

The team has enjoyed many positives over that time, winning multiple championships and featuring Hall of Famers and other National Hockey League veterans playing parts of their careers here, as well as some negatives such as leagues folding, arenas burning down and team ownership collapsing in the middle of their 1984 season.

The latest version of the Oilers has been active since 1992, making 2026-2027 their 35th consecutive season. General Manager Taylor Hall, who is entering his 23rd year with the franchise (four as a player from 1992-96, following his NHL run with the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins), points out that the team will certainly be highlighting the milestone all season.

“We’re definitely going to take a walk down memory lane,” Hall says. “We’ll be talking about all the history over the 90-plus years back to the ’20s and all the trials and tribulations.”

It all starts with a special season opener on Oct. 17 against the Allen Americans, which will also be 75th Anniversary Hat Giveaway night. The kickoff celebration will feature the team’s new jerseys and shine a spotlight on a new anniversary logo.

The Oilers started play back in the 1928-29 season, skating in the American Hockey Association. The team even won the league championship in each of its fi rst three seasons of existence, playing out of the Tulsa Coliseum — later called Avey’s Coliseum — which was located downtown at the corner of East Fifth Street and South Elgin Avenue.

The AHA, along with the Oilers, ceased operations in 1942 for the duration of World War II. It returned as the United States Hockey League in 1945 and played through 1951, when the league folded.

Soon after that, the Coliseum burned down when it was hit by lightning. Tulsa then had no team — or arena — until 1964, when the Oilers joined the Central Professional Hockey League (later called the Central Hockey League), skating at the newly built Convention Center downtown.

They won championships in 1968, 1976 and 1984, the CHL’s final season. That year, the Oilers also earned the title as “a team without a home,” because the Oilers’ ownership went bankrupt mid-season, and the CHL took over the club’s operation.

The Oilers actually finished the last six weeks of the season, including the playoffs, headquartered at the University of Denver.

For most of the Oilers’ history up to that point, they played leagues considered one rung below the NHL, and many times were affi liated directly with NHL clubs.

Among the top-level hockey dignitaries that played with the Oilers were: Hockey Hall of Famers Duke Keats (who played 85 games for Tulsa from 1928-31) and Clint Smith (64 games in 1947-48, when he also served as head coach); legendary coach Pat Quinn (140 games, 1964-65 and 1967-70); goaltending great John Vanbiesbrouck (36 games, 1983-84); longtime NHL coach (currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets) Rick Bowness (217 games, 1975-82); and current Vegas Golden Knights President George McPhee (110 games, 1982-84).

The Oilers returned in 1992, when the CHL reformed as a lower-rung minor league. Led by Hall on the ice, they claimed the CHL Championship that fi rst year of 1992-93.

“It was incredible,” Hall recalls, having scored 35 goals and 80 points in 58 games that season. “The fan support was off the charts. People had missed hockey so much.

We were fi lling up the Convention Center every night and ... we ended up winning the championship, so the city was just electric about hockey coming back. I was blown away.”

Hall is still ranked seventh in Oilers team history with 269 points (124 goals, 145 assists) over his four seasons in Tulsa.

He is proud of the city’s hockey history.

“Very few cities have been able to maintain a team as long as we have,” Hall says.

“75 years is a real honor, it shows what kind of a fan base we have here.”

Now, Hall shares the Oilers are enjoying an era of growth with owner Andy Scurto, who purchased the team in 2021.

“He’s taken our organization to new heights that we’ve never been before,” Hall explains. “We’ve got not only the Oilers Ice Center, but we’ve got the WeStreet Ice Center — we just added two new sheets of ice two-and-a-half years ago, so youth hockey, adult hockey, figure skating, is thriving in Tulsa.”

With momentum continuing to build, Hall is excited about the future for hockey in Tulsa.

“I think the key thing is, as we meet new hockey fans in Tulsa, nobody really realizes that we’ve been around this long,” he says.

“It’s hard for people to fathom. It’s really an incredible story, and we’re very fortunate to be able to have it continue to thrive and do well.” tp

Above: Members of the Tulsa Oilers hockey team circa 1935. Below: A 1935 hockey game was between Tulsa and Kansas City at the Coliseum, which was declared a total loss after a fire in 1952.

CITY DESK

SPORTS

On Saturday mornings, you can find members of the Tulsa Rowing Club launching from their boathouse at River West Festival Park for community rows on Zink Lake.

Ya gotta regatta Tulsa Rowing Club welcomes new members and gears up for fall competitions.

BY FRASER KASTNER 22 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

GREG BOLLINGER

T

he Arkansas River I grew up with was more of an eyesore than a place for recreation. It’s hard to imagine anyone rowing a boat in the swampy trench I remember from my childhood.

“The joke was we’re not the Tulsa Rowing Club, we’re the Tulsa Running Club,” says Board Member and Coach Micah Hartwell. “For the period of time Zink Lake was empty and the dam was broken, to train, we either had to go out to the Port of Catoosa where The University of Tulsa practices, row on the ergometer, or run.”

But just as the Zink Dam has transformed the Arkansas River into a new, more inviting destination, the Tulsa Rowing Club is back on Tulsa waters and making an effort to bring in novice and advanced rowers alike.

“We don’t care what your background is, if you’ve rowed before or not,” says Hartwell. “We just want you in the boathouse because this is a beautiful sport.”

Recently I joined the Tulsa Rowing Club at their boathouse for one of their 7 a.m. Saturday morning community rows. This is an event for rowers of all levels to get more time on the water, where newbies can pair up with experienced members for guidance and instruction. Hartwell was kind enough to take me out on a two-man sculling boat and show me a little about the sport.

We carried the boat — or “shell” in rowing terminology — down to the dock and lowered it into the water. The gunwales (upper edges of the vessel) sit about 2-4 inches above the water, and the whole thing measures roughly 11 inches across at its widest point, making the process of getting in and out somewhat delicate.

Rowing is a pretty intimidating sport at fi rst.

Getting it right is a matter of coordinating the movement of your entire body, from maintaining the right sequence of motions to keeping the correct angle of the wrist. I think in our entire lap; I probably had two or three good strokes.

My forearms are still sore as of typing this.

Still, I had an amazing time, and I would definitely recommend checking out the Tulsa Rowing Club. The Arkansas River seems totally new from that angle, and the view of Tulsa in the morning light is gorgeous.

Tulsa Rowing Club offers Learn-to-Row classes for beginners, with classes tentatively scheduled for the fall (exact timing will be determined based on water level and weather patterns).

Full memberships with the Tulsa Rowing Club run $360 for an entire year, which comes with full access to a state-of-the-art boathouse, indoor rowing machines, world-class coaches and everything you need to become a full-on regatista.

The Tulsa Rowing Club’s fall racing season kicks off with the 2026 Oklahoma Regatta Festival in Oklahoma City Oct. 2-4. You can learn more and keep up with club news at tulsarowingclub.org. tp

’ COMIN’ NOVEMBER 2026!

Dr. Cliff Robertson President & CEO, Saint Francis Health System 2026 Chair, Tulsa Regional Chamber

The hundreds of physicians, nurses and executives who Dr. Cliff Robertson and his staff recruit to Saint Francis Hospital from across the country tend to have one thing in common.

Their perspective of Tulsa is typically askew.

“One thing we’ve learned is that many people simply don’t know Tulsa, and often what they do ‘know’ reflects the uncreditable and intangible sort of material available on the internet,” said Robertson, president and CEO of Saint Francis Health System.

“Once they visit, they’re often surprised by the good news about Tulsa: the quality of life, affordability, culture and opportunity they find here. Talent is the foundation of economic growth, and if Tulsa wants to continue growing, we must do a better job telling our story beyond our region.”

That is why Robertson made creating a shared talent resource a priority of his tenure as 2026 Chamber chair.

He is working closely with the Chamber to develop a website called “Livin’ Tulsa,” whose secret sauce will be its mountains of curated information about the Tulsa region.

one access to the same high-quality information and content about our community.

“Instead of dozens of organizations telling different versions of Tulsa’s story, we can present a consistent, compelling message about why people should build their careers and lives here.”

One of the featured components of Livin’ Tulsa, scheduled to debut in November, will be the Tulsa Toolbox, which will contain information about cost of living, neighborhoods, education, healthcare, recreation, arts and culture and community amenities.

Robertson is confident that the website will heighten the city’s visibility as a haven for business professionals.

“Long-term, we want the site to become Tulsa’s digital front door, the place where prospective residents, job seekers and their families can discover everything our community has to offer,” he said. “Success will mean more people choosing Tulsa, stronger talent pipelines for employers and a stronger regional economy.”

“For many employers, especially small and mid-sized organizations, building recruitment materials about Tulsa can be difficult and expensive,” he said. “This resource gives every-

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CITY DESK

BENEFITS

SEPTEMBER CHARITABLE EVENTS COMPILED BY TIFFANY HOWARD AND KAMRON WILLIAMS

4-7 Lemon-Aid 2026 Benefits Tulsa Changemakers. thelemonaidproject.org 10 Bingo Bash Benefits Tulsa SPCA. Tulsa SPCA Gold Medal Gala Benefits Special Olympics Oklahoma. sook.org/gala Rally for Rescues Tennis Tournament Benefits Animal Aid of Tulsa. animalaid.org/donate/rallyforrescues Reconciliation in America National Symposium Benefits John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation. jhfnationalsymposium.org Vision Dinner Benefits Tulsa Community College Foundation. tccfoundation.org Western Days Benefits Saint Simeon’s Foundation. sswesterndays.org 11 80s BMX Gala Benefits USA BMX Foundation. usabmx.com Golf Tournament Benefits Skiatook Paws and Claws Animal Rescue.

SPACAR Animal Advocates of OK

Motorcycle Run Benefits Joys to the World. joystotheworld.org/events Red Line Gala Benefits Tulsa Firefighter’s Benevolent Fund. tulsafirefund.com VERSES Benefits Ruth G. Hardman Adult Literacy Service. tulsalibrary.org/verses 15 Fr. Perez Ladies Doubles Tennis Tournament Benefits Cascia Hall Preparatory School. casciahall.com 17 Flight Night Benefits Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance. flightnight.tulsastem.org Indian Summer Auction Benefits Owasso Team Native Rams Booster Club. teamnativerams.com Rise Together Dinner Benefits Stand in the Gap Ministries. standinthegap.org/risetogether2026 18 Bingo Night Benefits Owasso Community Resources and Bailey Education Foundation. baileyeducationfoundation.com Day of Caring Benefits Tulsa Area United Way. tauw.org/our-work/day-of-caring Shootout Against Hunger Benefits John 3:16 Mission. john316mission.org/events

Trivia Night Benefits City Lights Foundation of Oklahoma. citylightsok.org

Uncorking the Cure for MS Benefits National Multiple Sclerosis Society Oklahoma. nationalmssociety.org

Wobbles for Wishes Benefits Make-A-Wish Oklahoma. wish.org/oklahoma

WALTZ (21+) Benefits Tulsa Zoo. waltzonthewildside.org

12 Day Gala: Women Walking in Wisdom Benefits Women Helping Other Women. whownetwork.org

18-27 Restaurant Week Benefits the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. okfoodbank.org

Heroes Hope Gala Benefits Heroes Hope. heroeshope.net

19 Black Trivia Fundraiser — Through the Decades Benefits Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority community programs. akaaco.com Laps for Little Ones Benefits Little Light House. littlelighthouse.org

Spirit of Will Rogers Gala Benefits programs of the Will Rogers Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Tulsa foundations. tulsarotary.com

Portrait of Hope Gala Benefits The Stonebrook Project. thestonebrookproject.org

Turn Tulsa Gold Benefits Building All Children, Inc. buildingallchildren.org

Stacked Deck Benefits Resonance Center for Women. stackeddecktulsa.org

Wine and Roses Benefits Woodward Park’s educational programming and beautification. tulsagardencenter.org

Walk to End Alzheimer’s Benefits Alzheimer’s Association Oklahoma Chapter. act.alz.org Woofstock Benefits Oklahoma Alliance for Animals. animalallianceok.org 19-20 Bike MS: Oklahoma Benefits National Multiple Sclerosis Society. events.nationalmssociety.org

26 Blitz Build Benefits Green Country Habitat for Humanity. greencountryhabitat.org/2026-blitz-build Cow Thieves and Outlaws Reunion Benefits Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve. woolaroc.org Dinner on the Farm Benefits A Bigger Table Foundation. abiggertable.foundation

Flower Show Benefits Tulsa Garden Club. tulsagardenclub.org

Kaleidoscope Ball Benefits Emergency Infant Services. eiskball.org

19-Oct. 31 BOOtanical! Autumn Festival and Pumpkin Patch Benefits Tulsa Botanic Garden. tulsabotanic.org

MIC’D: Giving Hope a Voice Benefits Tulsa Lawyers for Children. tlc4thechild.org

22 Bunco for a Cause Benefits theMission Center of Owasso Center and Bailey Education Foundation. baileyeducationfoundation.com Cuisine + Cars Benefits The Common Good. cgtulsa.org 24 Blackout Banquet Benefits NewView Oklahoma. nvoklahoma.org/event/blackout Cooking for a Cause Benefits Iron Gate. irongatetulsa.org

HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS SPONSORED BY TULSAPEOPLE.

24 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

25 Center Experience Benefits The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. tulsacenter.org

St. Jude Walk Oklahoma Benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. stjude.org Tulsa Metro Walk Benefits American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. afspwalks.donordrive.com/Tulsa Tulsa Race for the Cure Benefits the Susan G. Komen Foundation. komenoklahoma.org 27 D.I.G.: Day in the Garden Benefits Tulsa Botanic Garden. tulsabotanic.org/calendar Tulsa Buddy Walk Benefits Down Syndrome Association of Tulsa. charity.pledgeit.org/tulsabuddywalk

PICME PHOTOBOOTH AND NEAT MEDIA HOUSE

3 RECHARGE Benefits The Sustainability Alliance. thesustainabilityalliance.org/recharge

CITY DESK

BENEFITS

RINGMASTER GOLF AND GALA On Aug. 7, 96 players participated in a golf tournament at the Cherokee Hills Golf Course as part of the 10th annual Tulsa State Fair Ringmaster’s Golf and Gala. That evening, close to 400 guests gathered in Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa’s Sequoyah Ballroom decked out in denim and bling to match the evening’s “Jeans and Jewels” theme.

One of the highlights of the night — which also featured live music, as well as live and silent auctions — was an interactive photobooth where attendees could have their picture taken with Skiatook FFA member Aspen Soules and her sheep, Peanut Butter. Pictured here with the gala’s emcee Travis Meyer, Soules will show Peanut Butter as an exhibitor during October’s Tulsa State Fair.

Pictured above are FFA students and event volunteers Sheridan Soules, Brynna Herndon, Maggie Griswold, Bria Herndon and Steele McNiel at the event.

Overall, the day’s events raised $155,000 to benefit the agricultural youth of Oklahoma through the Tulsa State Fair Ringmaster Scholarship Fund.

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SPONSORED EDITORIAL

Put Your Home Equity to Work This Fall

F

all is a great time to tackle home improvement projects. In many cases, this means homeowners may tap into their home equity to help finance the improvements.

Whatever the project, careful financing is as important as choosing the right contractor or materials. Here’s a breakdown of three common loan options for home improvements.

HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT (HELOC) A HELOC offers flexibility for homeowners who want ongoing access to funds. Instead of getting a lump sum, a HELOC offers a revolving line of credit

that can be used as needed during a borrowing period, usually five to 10 years.

This can be useful for projects completed over time.

With a HELOC, you pay interest only on the amount borrowed, not on the full credit line. Rates are often lower than unsecured loans, and interest may be taxdeductible depending on how the funds are used. As balances are paid down, funds become available again.

A HELOC is secured by your home.

Borrowing against your equity decreases the amount of your home you own outright and may affect your proceeds if you sell.

Because interest rates are often variable,

payments can fluctuate over time. Your minimum payment could decrease or increase significantly over the life of the loan. It’s essential to ensure your budget can accommodate potential rate increases.

HOME EQUITY LOAN For those who prefer predictability, a home equity loan may be a better option. It offers a one-time lump sum repaid over a fixed term, usually five to 20 years, at a set rate.

Monthly payments remain consistent, making it easier for budgeting.

Home equity loans are ideal for projects with a defined scope and cost, such as a roof replacement, a kitchen remodel or

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

accessibility upgrades. They typically offer lower rates than credit cards or personal loans, and interest might be tax-deductible in certain situations.

Like a HELOC, your home acts as collateral. Borrowers should consider how additional debt aligns with their financial goals and ensure they are comfortable with the long-term commitment.

CASH-OUT REFINANCING Cash-out refinancing replaces your current mortgage with a larger new loan.

The difference between the two is paid out to you in cash, which you can use for renovations or other major expenses.

This option can offer access to substantial funds at mortgage-like interest rates and consolidates borrowing into a single monthly payment. It can be appealing to homeowners who can secure a favorable rate and plan to stay in their home long enough to offset the closing costs.

Refinancing resets your mortgage timeline and may increase total interest

paid. It also decreases your equity, which could be an important factor as life circumstances and housing markets evolve.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT OPTION Investing in your home is rewarding when your financing strategy aligns with both immediate needs and future plans. Talk with a local Arvest lender about your options to find the right solution. Since home equity is often a homeowner’s most valuable asset, consult financial and tax professionals before moving forward.

Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Loans subject to credit approval. Arvest and it’s associates do not provide tax or legal advice.

Tabitha Smith (NMLS# 1178176) is vice president and consumer lending sales manager for Arvest Bank - Tulsa Region and can be reached at tlsmith@arvest.com.

Oklahoma leads the U.S. in child food insecurity; the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is fighting back.

STICKING A FORK IN HUNGER

BY TIFFAN Y HOWARD • PHOTOS BY MICHE LLE POLL ARD

F

or Jeremy Johnson, chief culinary officer at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, food and cooking have always been an integral part of his story. As a kid, he spent a lot of time either barbecuing at his father’s hip or going in the back kitchen doors of some of Tulsa’s most iconic bygone restaurants including Full Moon Cafe, Goldie’s and Charlie Mitchell’s Restaurant and Pub. “My dad always had an industry job, but he didn’t just cook — he did events as well,” Johnson says. “I grew up at Gilcrease Museum. He did events there, put up art displays, and he would work in the kitchen, too.”

Attending culinary school at the Art Institute of Atlanta after graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, Johnson later came on board with the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma in 2013 as the Mobile Eatery Manager. When he first applied for a

28 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

position with the Food Bank, however, he admits he had an assumption that many people in the community may still hold today.

“I had the misconception that the Food Bank was this soup kitchen, right?” he says. “But then, when I got to my first interview and they were like, ‘No, we have a food truck here, and we want you to run the food truck.’ I was like, ‘Okay, tell me more!’”

From his first day on the job, Johnson began to realize that every practice at the Food Bank — from the food being prepared in the kitchen to the ways it reached the community — was driven by dignity.

“We don’t serve anything we won’t eat ourselves,” he says. “That’s the number one rule in our kitchen — we feed with dignity here.”

During his initial interview with former executive director Eileen Bradshaw, Johnson says she asked him how many times he would go out to eat in a week. “I was like, ‘two or three, maybe more.’

And she said, ‘The type of food I would like for you to put out, I want it to resemble that because a lot of the people we feed don’t have that luxury of eating out every other day or even once a week.’

So, I’ve always taken that and kept that close with me.”

Stepping into the role of chief culinary officer at the Food Bank in 2024, Johnson’s office came with a meaningful view. Looking out the window, he explains he can basically see the whole timeline of his adolescence.

“This office means a lot to me because I went to middle school here,” he says, pointing out the window to Carver Middle School. Across the street, he adds there’s a shelter he and his mother and two siblings found refuge in when he was 12. A confluence of factors — his parents separating, his mother getting into a bad car wreck — led to a short three-month stay.

“We weren’t necessarily homeless or transient, but my mom having three kids, they took us in for about three months and took care of us,” he says, adding that he often visited Rudisill Regional Library, which was right across the street. “That’s how I actually found out and learned so much about Tulsa and north Tulsa in general.”

In high school, Johnson became a part of the leadership corps at John 3:16 Family and Youth Center, which is also less than two miles from the Food Bank. As part of the corps, Johnson participated in a myriad of programs including summer camps where lunches and snacks were provided by the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Summer Meals program.

Fast-forwarding to present day, Johnson himself is now the culinary lead behind multiple massive meal-providing initiatives run by the Food Bank, including Summer Meals.

According to Hunger Free Oklahoma, nearly 7 in 10 Oklahoma students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, which means many kids right here at home face long summer days of hunger. But by distributing healthy breakfasts, lunches, snacks and multi-day meal boxes across 24 eastern Oklahoma counties (at locations such as parks, apartment complexes and summer camps), Johnson says the Food Bank provided 12,000 meals per day this summer — 750,000 in total.

“It means a lot to me that I can use my talents to serve the community, not only our service area and the whole state, but for me — really — this area in general, because it’s what raised me and turned me into who I am,” he says.

RESTAURANT WEEK GIVES BACK Summer Meals is one of the core initiatives that make up the Food Bank’s Food for Kids programs, which benefit directly from September’s annual Tulsa Restaurant Week. Running Sept. 18-27, this year’s Restaurant Week will mark the 20th anniversary of TulsaPeople Magazine creating the fundraising event and working in close collaboration with the Food Bank to celebrate culinary excellence across Tulsa while also fighting hunger.

“Oklahoma now has the highest rate of child food insecurity in the nation,” says the Food Bank’s CEO Jeff Marlow. “That’s why our Food for Kids programs are so important.”

This year, more than two dozen of Tulsa’s top restaurants will participate in Restaurant Week 2026 by offering curated prix fixe menus, special items and regular menu items that include an automatic 3% donation to the Food Bank. All donations will be matched up to $25,000 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

“With the match from GKFF, every dollar that is coming from our restaurants is being doubled, so this is a perfect time for the community to go out and support (the Food Bank),” Marlow says.

Not only does Restaurant Week align nationally with Hunger Action Month, but it’s also when schools are coming back into session. Marlow explains that, since breakfast and lunch at school may be the only two guaranteed meals some children receive in a day, Restaurant Week proceeds go toward initiatives helping to fill gaps where kids might miss a meal, such as Food Bank-stocked pantries available in schools across 24 eastern Oklahoma counties. At many of the pantries,

Above: Tulsan Jeremy Johnson became chief culinary officer for the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma in 2024.

Below: The Food Bank’s President and CEO Jeff Marlow, center, talks with volunteers.

Visit okfoodbank.org for volunteer and giving opportunities.

deep freezers have also been installed to provide nutritious and creative frozen meals prepared by Johnson and his team.

“If somebody needs to come in because they need some extra (food), it’s welcomed. And the way we set it up, it’s in a very dignified way where you don’t feel like you’re going in feeling shame that you’re having to get help,” Marlow says.

Kids Cafe is another avenue through which the Food Bank is able to supply even more healthy food to children through after-school programs and other community sites. The program helps fill the gap between school meals and home by providing shelf-stable meal boxes and hearty “super snacks” to fuel after-school activities, homework and the evening ahead.

For weekends and holiday breaks, the Backpacks for Kids program helps ensure children have access to food when school meals aren’t available. “They’re taking food home so they can

have something that gives them fuel and nutrition, because children shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” says Marlow, adding the backpacks are filled with shelf-stable, easy-to-eat meals and snacks.

Thanks to a landmark new venture called FEEDOK — a statewide partnership between the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust — schools across all 77 Oklahoma counties will now receive nutritious, chef-designed frozen meals for students. Made possible by a $9.4 million TSET Legacy Grant, FEEDOK aims to provide approximately 1.7 million meals over the course of the next three years, expanding from 20 schools to around 200 by 2028.

“More than 1 in 4 Oklahoma children — 27.3% — are food insecure. Those numbers demand a response, and FEEDOK is part of that response,” Marlow says.

TulsaPeople.com 29

Marlow and Johnson have worked at the Food Bank together since 2013.

“IF SOMEBODY’S OUT THERE AND THEY’RE READING THIS, DON’T FEEL ASHAMED TO NEED TO ASK FOR HELP OR LOOK FOR HELP. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE HERE FOR.” –JEFF MARLOW, FOOD BANK OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA CEO 30 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

YES, CHEF! The last time TulsaPeople caught up with Marlow in 2024, he was eight months into his transition from executive vice president and executive chef — a position he had held since 2013 — to his new role as CEO. In the year prior, he’d overseen the design and opening of the Food Bank’s new 12,000-square-foot kitchen. Capable of producing 15,000 meals per day, the massive food-prep facility was an integral part of a $28 million-dollar overall renovation that also expanded warehouse space to handle 50 million pounds of food annually.

“When I got the opportunity to lead this organization as the CEO, there was never doubt in my mind that (Johnson) deserved the opportunity (to become chief culinary officer),” Marlow says.

“He has taken that kitchen and turned it into his kitchen, and his team, and their style now.”

Recently recognized as one of the top 40 food service professionals in the world by REALITY/iTrek and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Johnson — along with his team of 10 dedicated culinary employees and an army of volunteers — continues the Food Bank’s legacy of shattering assumptions when it comes to what is possible for a food bank.

“We were one of the first food banks to have a kitchen,” says Johnson. “Having a CEO that was

the former executive chef, and also being under his tutelage for the last 12 1/2 years, we’ve kind of transformed the way of normal food banking.”

During the 2023 renovation, the addition of a 12,000-square-foot walk-in freezer significantly increased the Food Bank’s capacity to accept perishable donations and store frozen food for various programs. In the kitchen, cold-prep rooms and new state-of-the-art equipment allow staff and volunteers to quickly and efficiently prepare, package and flash-freeze freshly made meals.

“We produced 271,000 prepared meals last year, but that number will grow dramatically this year with the launch of FEEDOK,” Marlow says.

“Most of what we prepare in our kitchen are frozen meals,” adds Johnson, noting a big reason for that is to create accessibility for households that may only have a microwave. “We have a current rotation of eight menu items into which we are incorporating farm fresh produce, and we’re making 4,000 of those every two days.”

The daily logistics of overseeing the sheer amount of prepared food coming out of the Food Bank’s kitchen would make anyone’s head spin — except for Johnson. On top of menu planning for the programs the Food Bank provides in the community — from working with the Red Cross to provide disaster relief, to cooking for charitable partners’ fundraising events, to government feeding programs — Johnson also spearheads the culinary efforts behind Table 24.

Launched last year, Table 24 is one of the Food Bank’s social enterprise ventures that offers catering and event services to bolster operational funding. Named for the 24 counties the food bank serves, Table 24 can cater either pre-set or customizable menus for events of all types.

“Tulsa — and our surrounding area — is very giving, but the need is so high, and we understand that donor fatigue is real,” Marlow says. “We have the talent, we have the capacity, we have this state-of-the-art kitchen ... So why not do something to create some revenue here?”

Marlow notes that, when they were workshopping the idea for Table 24, they knew people would inevitably ask “Who did the food?” and would be surprised to learn it was the Food Bank. Rather comically, Marlow imagines their response — “‘The Food Bank?!’” he exclaims. “‘What’s the Food Bank know about catering an event like this?

I thought they were serving franks and beans!’ And so we said, ‘All right, to truly do this right, we probably need our own brand.’”

Serving elegantly crafted menus that include vegan options, Table 24’s services can be booked for an off-site event or in the Food Bank’s on-site ballroom, which has the capacity to host 150 seated, or 200-225 as a cocktail-style party.

“In our ballroom we’ve done weddings, memorials, graduations, baby showers, birthday parties, basically anything you want to celebrate,” Johnson says, noting tables, chairs, and full set-up and breakdown are included.

Johnson and Marlow are also excited about a second upstairs ballroom currently under construction that will allow the Food Bank to hold large conferences and more.

“It will be able to house 450 people for an event, and the ROI on that will not only be just the revenue that we’re going to make from events, but we’re hoping we can also partner with other nonprofits that have galas and fundraising events,” says Marlow.

SHORTENING THE LINE According to a 2023 CBS News Money Watch report, 61% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck — a razor-thin edge leading many to seek out food bank support, even if it’s just once or twice a year.

“One of the biggest myths, I think, is that people utilizing our services are those just looking for a handout, but that is not even a percentage of who we serve,” Marlow says. “It’s seniors that did everything right their entire career, but their pension went away, their investments ... It’s children, people with disabilities. I mean, the list goes on and on and on of what hunger truly looks like.”

“Hunger does not discriminate,” adds Johnson.

“It does not have a color, a religion ... In an instant, things can be taken from you. People aren’t lifelong recipients (of the Food Bank’s services). A lot of things are situational.”

Marlow notes many of the Food Bank’s customers work two jobs and are still barely scraping by — they make too much to qualify for SNAP, but not enough to cover basics if an emergency comes up like needing to replace car tires or stay home from work if a child gets sick.

“To eliminate a lot of this, we’ve got to pay livable wages, and then all these social programs that people need will go away dramatically, hugely,” adds Marlow.

Last year, to help inform policy decisions and optimize assistance programs, the Tulsa Area United Way released a comprehensive research study titled “ALICE in Oklahoma: A Study of Financial Hardship.” Born out of the United for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) movement spearheaded by United Way of Northern New Jersey, TAUW’s analysis found that nearly half of Oklahoma’s 1.6 million households struggled to afford basic necessities in 2023.

“For a single person, just for basic needs, you have to make $18.75 an hour, and for a household of four, it’s around $78,000 (annually),” Marlow explains. “But for a household of four to get kicked off of SNAP, all they have to do is make more than $38,000 a year.”

The result of that $40,000 gap? A whole lot of potential hunger that can cause a ripple effect of systemic issues, including making it difficult for children to learn at school.

“Sometimes we see generational families in poverty,” Marlow says. “From a strategic standpoint, we are working and doing things by addressing food first, but also working with key partners and the community, and looking at data that also says these are the things we need to focus on to not only feed the line, but shorten the line over time. It’s going to take changing a generation, and that doesn’t happen overnight.”

Meanwhile, as the Food Bank works with community partners to identify potential long-term solutions to end hunger, it remains committed to supporting Oklahomans in need every day.

“We’re all here doing one thing, and it’s making sure that our most vulnerable Oklahomans and our Oklahoma neighbors don’t go without food,” Marlow says. “If somebody’s out there and they’re reading this, don’t feel ashamed to need to ask for help or look for help. That’s what we’re here for, and that’s what the network of all of our amazing partners are standing ready to serve.”

To find the closest meal program or food pantry to you, visit okfoodbank.org/pantry-finder. For more information on Restaurant Week 2026, including participating locations, go to tprw.org. tp

Above: Culinary Program Manager Iranne Campbell. Middle: As part of the national Feeding America network, the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma supports a network of more than 700 community-based pantries and meal programs across its 24 counties. Through various partnerships with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, the state’s two major food bank locations combat hunger across all 77 counties in the state. Below: In addition to Table 24’s catering service, Johnson also oversees the Food Bank’s other two social enterprises — Tiny’s Big Cookies and T-Town Tacos (a partnership with Youth Services of Tulsa). Learn more about these two delicious initiatives at tinysbigcookies.com and t-towntacos.com.

TulsaPeople.com 31

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

The church building upon completion in 1926.

Trinity Episcopal Church Celebrates 100th Anniversary in Downtown Tulsa

BY JOHN M. SHARP

F

or 100 years – since 1926 – downtown Tulsa has been enhanced by the Gothic beauty of Trinity Episcopal Church at the corner of 5th Street and Cincinnati Avenue. The first Episcopal church service in Tulsa was held in a private home in 1903.

As the congregation grew, services moved to the Masonic Hall on First Street with communion held at the Christian Church located at 2nd Street and Boulder Avenue.

In 1906, the site at the corner of 5th and Cincinnati was purchased and a simple brick and shingle structure was erected by the church at a cost of $3,500.

A unique feature of the new church was its pipe organ, the first in the city.

One year later Tulsa’s population

had grown to over 7,200 and Trinity’s congregation to 170 communicants. The parish became self-sustaining in 1908 and called its first rector, The Rev. Gilbert A. Ottman.

By 1919, Tulsa’s population had swelled to 72,000, and Trinity had grown to be the largest Episcopal congregation in eastern Oklahoma. The members approved construction of a new building and when the church’s third rector, the Rev. Rolfe Crum, arrived in 1920, he suggested a building campaign to finance the new church. Within a year, $85,000 had been raised. Among the contributors were some of Tulsa’s early oilmen and business leaders including Harry Sinclair and his brother Earle, W.G. Skelly, banker Otis McClintock, and Tulsa World

owner/publisher Eugene Lorton, a member of the building committee.

The old church building was razed and ground broken for the new church in December, 1921. The cornerstone was laid in 1925 with full Masonic ceremonies, and upon completion of the building the formal dedication was held on May 9, 1926.

Trinity’s fourth rector, the Rev. Albert Saunders, arrived in 1926 and created the plan to pay-off the church’s indebtedness of $300,000. The debt was fully paid in 1947 and the building consecrated by the bishop of Oklahoma, the Right Reverend Thomas Casady, on Trinity Sunday, 1948.

The Trinity Church architect was the noted George Winkler of Tulsa who also designed Holy Family Cathedral, First

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

The Rev. Rolfe Crum

The Rev. E.H. Eckel

Presbyterian Church, the Tulsa County Courthouse, the Mayo Hotel, and the original Central High School at the corner of 6th Street and Cincinnati Avenue, among other significant structures. The original sketches show a square centre tower rather than the slender church spire that was actually installed. As construction progressed, these plans were set aside possibly because the church was unable to acquire the necessary property along Fifth Street, or because of tight finances. The altar from the original 1906 church building was installed in what is now known as the Lady Chapel in the north transept. In 1930, the Vestry approved $1,065 for an altar for the Bishop Brooke Chapel in the south transept.

This chapel is named in honor of Oklahoma’s first Episcopal Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Francis Key Brooke, who was the grand nephew of Francis Scott Key. The Burnham Studio of Boston was commissioned to create the four Great Windows, located over the high altar, balcony and the north and south transepts.

These windows illustrate four of the major principles of the Apostles’ Creed. The Studio also made the ambulatory windows along the aisles on the lower north and south sides of the Nave. The north windows portray some of Jesus’ parables, and on the south, some of His miracles.

The pulpit and pews in the chancel are all carved hardwoods and original to the church. Replacing the original organ was a three manual Austin organ costing $10,000.

Many additional changes have taken place since 1926. These include the installation of a magnificent Moller Organ Opus 9606 in 1962. It was designed by Dr. Thomas Matthews, Dr. Thomas Matthews

The Rev. Jack Powers

Trinity’s renowned organist, choirmaster and composer (1960-1995). The organ is considered one of the finest in the region.

It boasts some 4,700 pipes ranging in size from six inches to a 32-foot Bombarde, and a pedal range of 2.5 octaves. Also installed at the time was an antiphonal organ with a majestic and ear-pearcing trompette fanfare (8-foot) with horizontal pipes. It is at the back of the church above the balcony and below the west window.

The upper or clerestory windows were executed by Frederick Cole of Canterbury, England, who was director of the stained glass restoration at Canterbury Cathedral after World War II. The ten articles of the Apostles’ Creed are shown in double panels. Over the steps leading into the chancel is a Rood Beam, installed in 1977, to honor the life and ministry of the Rt. Rev. Chilton Powell, Bishop of Oklahoma (1953-1977), and his wife. A carved oak reredos, which stands behind the high altar, was commissioned by the Rev. Dr. E.H. Eckel, Trinity’s fifth rector (1930-1958), and was carved in Oberammergau, Germany by Anton Lang, and installed in 1951.

Trinity has been a leader in both the ecclesiastical and civic communities. Dr. Eckel envisioned “boxing the compass” with Episcopal churches and his dream became a reality with Trinity establishing St. John’s (south), St. Luke’s (east), St. Matthew’s in Sand Springs (west), and what is now St. Aidan’s (north). The church, also under Dr. Eckel's leadership, championed the creation of St. Simeon’s Episcopal Home in 1960, and established the first downtown day care for children, the Trinity Day School. Trinity has received national recognition for its Iron Gate Feeding Ministry

The Rev. Dan Morrow

which has grown from its original location in the basement of the church building to its own free-standing building on Archer Street in near north Tulsa. As a non-profit, Iron Gate serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week—and also provides a food pantry—to Tulsa’s homeless population. It was founded by Trinity parishioners Keenan Barnard, Gene Buzzard, and the Rev. Jack Powers who stepped out of a Bible study class and encountered a hungry homeless man. Making the man a sandwich that day was the beginning of the Iron Gate Street Feeding Ministry at Trinity. After operating for 41 years in the basement of Trinity “near the church's Iron Gate,” the non-profit service organization moved to a newly constructed, self-standing building on Archer Street in downtown Tulsa in 2019.

For more information on Iron Gate go to irongatetulsa.org.

Trinity’s rector since July of this year is the Rev. Dan Morrow who was selected after serving as rector of the Church of the Ascension in Munich, Germany. He previously served the Episcopal church in California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Fr. Morrow is a native of Sand Springs.

Above the entrance to Trinity is carved “Mine House Shall Be Called A House of Prayer For All People.” Trinity clearly has fulfilled that mission over its first 100 years in downtown Tulsa.

The celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Trinity’s church building will be held on Sunday, September 20th. Past priests of the parish have been invited to join the celebration at the 10:30 a.m. service and a 5:00 p.m. Evensong service celebrated

by Oklahoma Bishop Rt. Rev. Poulson C. Reed. All are invited to attend the anniversary events.

John Sharp was baptized at Trinity Episcopal Church in the spring of 1945. He has served the parish in some capacity since 1953, including 20 years as clerk to the Vestry.

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Storytelling space

Find a bookstore, listening room and community hub wrapped into one at Palomino Books and Music, 2411 E. Admiral Blvd.

The shop, owned by husband-and-wife duo Agalisiga “Chuj” Mackey and Paloma Lopez, offers books for all ages, along with goods by local artists and plenty of vinyls. Peruse selections like “Anvdvnelisgi (Performers),” produced by local filmmaker Jeremy Charles, which features several Cherokee performers including Mackey ($30 on vinyl, $15 for a CD), or “ᎠᏫᏒᏅ (Garden),” from Cherokee-Muskogee singer-songwriter Kalyn Fay ($30 on vinyl).

MICHELLE POLLARD

LEARN MORE ON P. 36.

TulsaPeople.com 35

LIFESTYLE

STOREFRONT

S H O P FAV O R I T E S

Picture book “We are Grateful (Otsaliheliga)” by local author Traci Sorell introduces Cherokee vocabulary and syllabary ($17.99; available in Spanish and English).

“Lucha Libre: The History of Mexican Wrestling” ($35).

Golden Driller handmade felt ornament by local artist Zuri Louise ($10).

More than a bookstore Only a few months since opening, Palomino Books and Music is already making its mark.

BY MICHAEL SEARLES 36 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

P

aloma Lopez is a dedicated educator and award-winning author; her husband, Agalisiga “Chuj” Mackey, is a country-folk musician who performs in the Cherokee language.

Going into their mid-20s, they wanted to collaborate on something new while uniting their artistic disciplines.

PALOMINO BOOKS AND MUSIC

2411 E. Admiral Blvd. • 918-641-4296 Tues.-Sat.,10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun.-Mon., closed

MICHELLE POLLARD

Owners Agalisiga Mackey and Paloma Lopez with their puppy, Azul

Outlined in vibrant peach trim both inside and out, Palomino Books and Music opened on July 1 in the Kendall-Whittier District, fusing its co-founders’ Mexican and Cherokee heritages to create a diverse, collaborative community hub.

“We’re a bookshop,” Lopez says. “But really, I think we’ve become — or we’re becoming — a storytelling space.”

On one side are multicolored shelves, brimming with Indigenous, Hispanic and LGBTQ+ authors, as well as a variety of Spanish-language and bilingual children’s books. Across the room is a vinyl record display, mostly fi lled with Oklahoma-based musicians. Soon, Lopez and Mackey hope to display paintings and other works from local artists.

Despite being raised outside of Tulsa, they never questioned where they would open the store.

“I’ve always felt Tulsa is the place I come to connect,” says Mackey, who grew up in Tahlequah and would meet family from Bartlesville for lunch, dinner or day-trip activities in Tulsa. After living in California and New Mexico, Lopez sees Tulsa, and especially Kendall-Whittier, as a hub for Indigenous, Latino and Chicano art communities.

“It just fit naturally because our family’s blended, and the blend of this particular city kind of reflects that,” she says.

In the back of the store, Palomino’s unique amalgamation of culture, language and storytelling reaches synthesis through the listening room. Every month, the mixed-use space — which is available for public use — hosts intimate concerts, presentations, language classes and free workshops on basketry, pottery or weaving.

“We really wanted to make sure we had a place for people to come in, where they can express themselves,” says Mackey.

With Cherokee language records, bilingual literature and deep community roots, Palomino is quickly establishing itself as a multicultural, multidisciplinary trailblazer that continuously puts local, Oklahoma creatives front and center.

Visit palominobooksandmusic.com to learn more and see the listening room schedule. tp

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It comes from everyday things like old accounts, insurance refunds, and uncashed checks.

Checking takes less than a minute.

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TulsaPeople.com 37

LIFESTYLE

BEYOND CITY LIMITS

Kona coastline view of Kailu-Kona

Big Island vibes Head to Hawaiʻi’s largest island for sand and sun.

N

o passport is required to get a taste of the tropics via the United States’ largest archipelago. Dubbed the Big Island, the warm season on the Island of Hawaiʻi runs from May through October, making early fall an ideal time to explore the destination’s lush rainforests, active volcanoes and pristine beaches.

The biggest hurdle of visiting Hawaiʻi is getting there. To optimize your air travel, you can book an overnight fl ight itinerary with United that takes you from TUL to Kona International Airport. Th is route, which includes a layover in Denver, gives you a chance to catch some Zs on the nearly eight-hour fl ight to KOA. Before booking your stay, keep in mind that the Big Island has eight of the world’s 13 climate zones; however, the coastline is generally split between the wet (or windward) climate to the east and the dry (or leeward) climate to the west. For sunshine and warm temps, head to Kailua-Kona (or “Kona” for short), one of the island’s main tourism hubs located along the western coast.

38 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

Once the vacation spot for Hawaiian royalty, Kona is rich in Polynesian culture, featuring a bevy of historical sites, a teeming downtown district and oceanside views. Just 10 minutes from its downtown is Hale Maluhia Country Inn, an intimate, family-owned retreat that offers five unique rooms and two standalone cottages.

The Big Island is one of the only places in the U.S. where coffee can be grown year-round. You can trace the journey from seed to cup by touring one of the island’s working coffee farms, such as Hala Tree Coffee Farm or the Mountain Thunder Coffee plantation.

You also won’t want to miss the chance to see one of the world’s only green sand beaches — Papakōlea Beach, located on the southernmost part of the island. You can access this pristine spot via a 5.5-mile roundtrip hike. While it’s worth the trek, make sure to stock up on water and sun protection if you opt to hike.

For more outdoor recreation, spend a day at the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes

National Park, where visitors can traverse volcanic summits and witness active eruptions from designated overlooks. Or, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, swim with the manta rays on one of Kona’s night snorkel tours.

No vacation to Hawaiʻi is complete without experiencing its world-class cuisine. Serving breakfast and lunch, Kalikala Cuisine offers Hawaiian Waffles made with pineapple and served with homemade lilikoi (passionfruit) syrup, fresh-squeezed local fruit mimosas and other tropicalinspired dishes.

Huggo’s is also a Kona classic. Founded in 1969, the oceanside restaurant serves fresh-caught seafood, cocktails and desserts, with happy hour running every day from 4-5 p.m.

Renowned as paradise on earth, Hawaiʻi is sure to impress even the most traveled visitor. While there, make sure to respect the island’s unique culture and ecosystems.

Leave no trace, support local businesses, and embody the “aloha spirit” by treating others with kindness and respect. tp

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TulsaPeople’s 40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONTINUES WITH 6 TULSA STATE FAIR GIVEAWAYS! ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY #17:

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TulsaPeople.com 39

LIFESTYLE

FASHION

David and Cassandra Bizzaro are the duo behind BZRO Clothing, a locally based, sustainable fashion brand that specializes in denim.

Behind the seams BZRO clothing makes an indigo-dyed splash.

W

hen David Bizzaro learned that every seven minutes a pile of clothing the size of Mount Everest is thrown away, the shocking statistic cemented the mission of his fashion line BZRO Clothing: to produce sustainably constructed garments meant to last a lifetime.

“One of the ways that we’re combating fast fashion is by not carrying any stock.

Every time you make an order through us, that’s when that garment gets made,” Bizzaro says. “Another thing we do, is that currently every bit of fabric that I’m ordering is either dead stock or vintage/antique denim that I’ve located myself.”

40 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

The Emmy award-winning puppeteer, whose resume includes shows like “The Muppet Show,” “Muppets Mayhem,” “Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant” and more, fi rst discovered his penchant for making clothing when he designed a jacket for a puppet of his during the pandemic. After Bizzaro posted the jacket online, a few of his followers asked if he would ever be interested in taking commissions for people. “I had the realization that if I can make clothing for puppets, surely I can make clothing for a human being,” he says.

His fi rst human-sized creations were a jacket for himself and a dress for his wife, Cassandra. From there, friends

began reaching out with ideas for custom garments. Once COVID restrictions on the television and fi lm industry started to loosen, David put design work on the back burner. But he returned to it when the Writers Guild of America and SAGAFTRA strikes halted television production once again.

He decided to sustainably create a hat made from leftover puppet materials and put it on Etsy. It sold immediately. From there, he started to diversify his offerings — adding bags, jeans and more to his repertoire. As BZRO Clothing found its footing, Cassandra jumped into the project, helping to run the online store and to

MICHELLE POLLARD

BY MADISON WALTERS

oversee marketing aspects, using her experience from her job as NYU Stern School of Business’ senior director of marketing and communications.

“David and I kind of feel like a momand-pop shop, because, quite literally, we’re parents of a four-year-old, and also parents to this brand,” Cassandra says.

Following a move to Tulsa in 2021 to be closer to family and friends, David realized through his continued research into denim that the material could be considered American folk wear. So, he applied to the Artists Creative Fund (a program by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and Creative Arkansas Community Hub and Exchange) to help showcase denim as a folk art. The designer’s project proposal — creating a denim jacket entirely from scratch using 1800s workwear techniques — was one of 20 selected by the organization for the 2024-2025 cohort.

“I just threw myself in. Before starting that project, I’d never actually woven a single piece of cloth,” he says. “But I knew that if all of our ancestors were doing this back in the day for their own clothing, then surely, I could figure this out in the age of iPads.”

Creating the jacket took roughly four months. For this project, David hand-dyed the yarns via a chemical process from natural indigo that was grown in El Salvador, wove the yarn into denim on a vintage loom, drafted sewing patterns and handsewed the seed-to-stitch piece.

Th rough his research, David found that his jacket might be the fi rst handwoven denim jacket produced in the U.S. since the 1800s. “I reached out to the Smithsonian.

They said, ‘We don’t have any record of another being done.’ I also reached out to a Levi’s historian and she said the same thing,” he says.

While BZRO Clothing currently operates out of Mixed-Use Space Tulsa (2417 E. Admiral Blvd.) the duo plans to open a downtown storefront in 2027, where David hopes to host workshops related to puppetry and fashion.

“Throughout my career, I’ve had a lot of people in my life that have shared their knowledge with me; the best thing you can do as a young creator of any kind is to watch somebody work,” he says. “I want those interested in what I’m doing to be able to see what I’m doing — to ask questions.”

If you’re interested in commissioning attire from BZRO Clothing, head to bzroclothing.com for more information.

Follow along on @davidbizzaro for more updates. tp FIND MORE OF THIS STORY AND PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF BIZZARO’S WORK WITH THE JIM HENSON COMPANY AT TULSAPEOPLE.COM.

Above, David originated the role of Gerald Teeth Sr. in “The Muppets Mayhem.” A poster of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem hangs in his workspace. Below, BZRO Clothing also offers denim tailoring services like hemming, waist adjustment, buttonhole mending and other basic repairs.

TulsaPeople.com 41

LIFESTYLE

MUSINGS

42 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

Feeling a bit spleeny

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

volatile around the world it’s knocking the Earth off its axis. It divides us as bitterly as the Civil War. And yet, it’s nothing new.

It’s certainly nothing new in this country.

In 1630 Puritans enacted a law prohibiting “strangers ... with intent to reside.”

Early colonies took aim at Catholics (especially Jesuit priests), Quakers and the poor. After the 1849 Gold Rush in California, growing anti-immigrant sentiment culminated in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. President Calvin Coolidge supported the Johnson-Reed Act of 1924 banning Asian immigration because, as he said, “America must remain American.”

In 1965 the Hart-Celler Immigration Act effectively reframed Mexican migration as “illegal.”

A friend, librarian by training and avid reader by choice, is keenly interested in the art of literary translation. Translation, I read recently, is the art of ferrying words across borders. Although the subject doesn’t interest me particularly, I listen to my friend carry on about it because she is my friend.

We seem to know how to treat people we care about. People we don’t know, people who are different — that’s more difficult.

No wonder the world’s great religions — Christianity, Judaism, Islam — all admonish us to welcome the stranger. Easier to hear than to do.

One of the things I enjoy about my friends of different nationalities is the tiny spin they put on English pronunciation. A Latina friend pronounces some words that begin with “s” as “es.” As in, “Es-Spain” and “es-soccer.” A Russian friend tends to enunciate the “ed” suffi x, as in “chopp-ed beef.” My Vietnamese colleagues often speak English with brevity and directness not unlike a telegram. Sometimes, it’s startling but funny. Here’s an example — Her: How many books you write a year?

Me: Oh, it takes years to write one book.

That’s a problem.

Her: What you do for money?

Me: Well, that’s another problem.

Which brings me back to Julia Ward Howe and writing. It makes me feel, to use a more Southern word, peckish. Meaning slightly hungry and maybe cranky. tp Award-winning journalist Connie Cronley is the author of three books of essays — “Sometimes a Wheel Falls Off,” “Light and Variable” and “Poke a Stick at It” — and the biography “A Life on Fire: Oklahoma’s Kate Barnard.” She has been writing TulsaPeople's "Musings" since 2010.

ALLYSSA REEDER

I

’ve been feeling a bit spleeny.

I didn’t realize it because I didn’t know the word. But once I discovered it — a New England term meaning peevish, irritable and prone to hypochondria — I thought, “Yeah. That’s it. That’s how I feel.”

I came across the word when I was reading an article about Julia Ward Howe in the Atlantic magazine. She was the woman who wrote the poem “Battle Hymn of the Republic” to rouse patriotism among the Union for the approaching Civil War. It was set to the tune of the marching song “John Brown’s Body” and became enormously and enduringly popular.

Howe was an abolitionist, a suff ragist, a trained opera singer and a writer married unhappily to a man who discouraged her writing. Having a downer like that in the house is enough to depress anyone. I can tell you for a fact, writers are easily discouraged.

When she submitted the poem to the magazine in 1862, she wrote the editor, “I am sad and spleeny, and begin to have fears that I may not be, after all, the greatest woman alive.” I think much of her spleenish mood was brought on by the war. I know mine is. A heavy national atmosphere is oppressive and hard to shake.

I read a recent Gallup poll that 28% of Americans are proud of our diversity. I don’t know what to make of that statistic.

What about the other 72%? Not proud?

Displeased? Disinterested?

I grew up in an Oklahoma small town so white bread our idea of diversity was the two Jewish families that lived there. Ever since, I’ve been pleased to have friends and colleagues of diverse ethnicity. I heard an economist once ask, “Why would you want to know only people who are just like you?”

I am distressed to see that immigration in all its iterations — migration, asylum, refugees, birthright — is a subject so

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GRAND LAKE Enjoy turn-key, contemporary lake living in this updated 4th-floor, 3bed, 3-bath condo overlooking Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.

Offered fully furnished, it features open-concept living, designer lighting, an expanded kitchen island with white quartz counters, custom closets, a redesigned laundry room with an LG WashTower, and Travertine flooring throughout the living areas, primary suite, and patio.

Includes a new energy-efficient Lennox HVAC system (Oct 2025).

Located near Shangri-La Resort and golf course. 57425 E Highway 125 2024. $749,000.

SAND SPRINGS Built by Concept Homes in 2004. Vaulted living room looking north. All one level with kitchen open to diining nook and living area. All appliances remain with home.

9279 Black Oak Ln, Sand Springs. $365,000.

MIDTOWN This meticulously maintained Maple Ridge classic combines timeless storybook charm with an updated granite kitchen, multiple living areas, and three upstairs bedrooms. Located blocks from The Gathering Place, the home features a serene backyard deck and extensive 2025 updates, including a new roof, driveway, and water-sealed basement.

1218 E 30th Pl, Tulsa. $615,000.

TulsaPeople.com 43

McGraw Realtors

Beautiful Tul;sa Homes For Sale!

4739 S Lakewood Ave ($322,000) Fantastic opportunities await in Park Plaza V! This 4-bedroom, 2bath home sits on a beautiful corner lot and features a cozy den with a fireplace, refinished spaces, and a kitchen equipped with updated appliances and a pot filler. Plus, enjoy a bonus backyard ADU with its own room, bath, and kitchenette—ideal for guests, extended family, or a private home office.

3922 E 34th St ($274,500) Charming Midtown living! Located in the Eisenhower 2nd Addition near Patrick Henry Elementary, this 4-bedroom, 2-bath home boasts exceptional curb appeal and gleaming, newly refinished hardwood floors. Features a light-filled living combo, functional kitchen, and a spacious primary suite.

JOE LAND 918-232-1306 JLAND@MCGRAWOK.COM

NEW LISTINGS IN JENKS!

12111 S. 18th Ct. | Vacant Lot ($45,000) Prime 0.4-acre lot located in a quiet, established cul-de-sac within Jenks School District.

Beautifully treed setting offering the ideal location to build your dream custom home.

12112 S. 18th Ct. | Vacant Lot ($45,000) Adjacent 0.4-acre cul-de-sac lot in a built-out Jenks community with no HOA. Lush tree coverage and paved road access provide maximum privacy and value.

11206 S. Birch St. | $320,000 Beautiful 2-story home in a sought-after Jenks Schools neighborhood featuring a main-level primary suite, rich hardwood floors, granite kitchen countertops, and a versatile upstairs game room with 3 additional bedrooms.

Enjoy a covered patio and fully fenced backyard with easy highway access

SCOTT COFFMAN | 918-640-1073 SCOFFMAN@MCGRAWOK.COM 44 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

McGraw Realtors

MOVE-IN READY LIVING IN THE HEART OF TULSA! 4303 S Lakewood Ave, Tulsa 4 beds | 2 baths | 1,821 sq.ft. | $260,000

Come see this one if you want true move-in ready living in the heart of Tulsa. Fresh paint, updated fixtures, beautiful flooring, and refreshed kitchen and baths make the home feel clean, current, and instantly comfortable. The layout is wonderfully functional, featuring a walk-in pantry, walk-in closets, and smart storage throughout. Outside, you’ll find the largest yard on the block, complete with an extended patio and a roomy storage shed. And yes—the shed grill and playset stay. A unique front courtyard creates a charming, private welcome the moment you arrive.

RESIDENTIAL | LAND | FARM | INVESTMENT

LauraBryant 918.693.2961

lbryant@mcgrawok.com

918.808.4780

mkeys@mcgrawok.com Scan here to view more listings!

1029 E 38th Place | $965,000 5 Beds | 6 Baths |3,925 sq.ft.

2773 E 28th St, Tulsa | $775,000 4 Beds | 3 Baths |3,084 sq.ft.

4331 S Norfolk Ave, Tulsa | $378,900 3 Beds | 3 Baths | 1,945 sq.ft.

3631 S Gary Pl, Tulsa | $499,000 4 Beds | 3 Baths |2,384 sq.ft.

4655 S Trenton Ave, Tulsa| $238,900 3 Bed | 1 Bath | 1,345 sq.ft

Scan here to view more listings!

7785 Forest Ln, Tulsa |$1,399,000 5 Bed | 5 Baths |4,692 sq.ft.

4211 S Cincinnati Ave, Tulsa |$835,000 5 Bed | 4.5 Baths |3,494 sq.ft.

304 S 76th Street | $589,000 4 Bed | 3.5 Baths | 3,247 sq.ft.

1535 N Boston Avenue |$199,000 2 Bed | 2 Baths | 925 sq.ft.

12011 S Vandalia Ave, Tulsa| $735,000 4 Bed | 3 Baths | 2,970 sq.ft.

2009 E 2nd Street | $195,000 2 Bed | 2 Baths | 1,432 sq.ft.

TulsaPeople.com 45

RESTAURANT WEEK CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

SEPT. 18-27

barserra.com

malfienoteca.com

dillydiner.com

elginparkbrewery.com

howdyburger.com

yokozunasushi.com

fantasticmrkims.com

mapleridgegrocer.com

mcnelliesgroup.com

redlightchicken.com

taverntulsa.com

Table Talk DINING

FOOD

DRINKS

Food from the heart

MARY A. SMITH

Earlier this year, Sri Lankan Chef Reshan Koralage launched Ceylon Table, a curated private dining concept which highlights original recipes passed down by his family for generations including Chicken Kottu, a rich and resourceful Sri Lankan street-food staple traditionally made by chopping and stir-frying roti with chicken, vegetables, spices and curry. Learn more about Koralage and Ceylon Table on p. 49.

TulsaPeople.com 47

TA B L E TA L K

DINING OUT

No beef here Ruby D’s Burger Joint serves up plant-based junk food that diners can feel good about eating.

BY JARED S. GLEATON

The Drive-In burger features two plant-based, smash onion patties and is loaded down with mustard, vegan cheddar, plant-based bacon, pickles and sweet-and-smoky Ruby Sauce.

48 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

MICHELLE POLLARD

R

uby D’s downtown vegan burger and junk food joint has been cleaning up in TulsaPeople’s annual A-List Readers’ Choice Awards the past couple years, and it’s easy to see why. With a menu chock-full of cheesy, saucy, dunk-ably decadent options, the plant-based establishment fi lls a muchneeded hole in Tulsa’s restaurant landscape.

Owners Fernando and Kortnie Martinez are seasoned professionals when it comes to executing popular foodie concepts around town. Prior to opening Ruby D’s, the couple spent three years operating popular Cajun food truck The Bayou.

“We were pretty much living a food trucker’s dream,” Kortnie says.

But behind that success, the long hours and intense heat of food-truck life were taking a toll. Kortnie had been vegetarian since childhood, while Fernando began removing meat and dairy from his diet because eating lighter helped him feel better in the heat. As the couple learned more about plant-based living, they became increasingly uncomfortable serving animal products.

They initially hoped to continue The Bayou while developing a plant-based concept, but at the time substitutes for shrimp, fish, sausage and the meats used in the food truck’s popular muff uletta did not meet their standards. Rather than offer diminished versions of dishes customers loved, they created What the Vegan, a monthly Mother Road Market pop-up centered on 100% plant-based burgers and familiar comfort food.

“People think vegan food is salads and quinoa bowls,” Kortnie says. “There’s noth-

ing wrong with that, but that’s just really not what we do. We do comfort food.”

Kortnie’s main challenge was menu development: Could nearly every burgerjoint favorite be recreated without animal products? The pop-ups eventually led to Ruby D’s, named after the Martinezes’ daughter, a burger-loving, sauce-dunking young diner whose difficulty digesting meat and dairy helped influence the restaurant’s direction.

Fernando, a lifelong Tulsan, manages the front of the house at Ruby D's, while Kortnie oversees the kitchen. Walking into the restaurant, it feels like a 1950s drive-in pushed through an ’80s and ’90s color palette. Black-and-white checkerboard floors establish the diner’s foundation, while hot-pink walls, turquoise accents and matte-black finishes create a louder, more contemporary identity.

The food is a wild ride too, as the 100% plant-based options are mind-blowingly good. For their standard burger, Ruby D’s uses patties made by Dr. Praeger’s, a New Jersey-based vegetarian meal and snack company.

“We chose Dr. Praeger’s because it’s (made from) minimally processed, real ingredients. It’s an actual veggie patty that tastes great,” Kortnie says, noting Ruby D’s also offers other plant-based meats by Rebellyous Foods and Impossible Foods.

“The benefit of a plant-based burger versus beef is the size of the carbon footprint,” she adds. “Plant based burgers use 75-99% less water to produce, and 86-90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions ... Overall, it’s better for your health with no saturated fat, no cholesterol and is still packed with protein without sacrificing flavor.”

A good introduction to Ruby D’s is their Drive-In Burger, which stacks two Dr. Praeger’s patties with onions, pickles, mustard, plant-based bacon and a dairy/ nut-free cheese sauce. The flavor of tangy pickle arrives fi rst, followed by mustard and onion, while the deeply browned crust on the patties contributes to the burger’s savory depth. The potato and cassava-based cheese adds a buttery richness reminiscent of American cheese.

Order the Mac Bombs for a tasty accompaniment — the crispy fried exterior surrounding a soft, buttery macaroniand-cheese center is perfectly offset by Ruby Sauce (Ruby D’s tangy, smoky house sauce). If you’re more of an onion rings person, the “O Rings” pair a crunchy coating with tender onion and your choice

Above, Kortnie and Fernando Martinez. Bottom left, Mac Bombs with Ruby Sauce. Bottom right, vegan chili cheese tots topped with jalapeños.

of signature sauce (ranch, ketchup, BBQ , honey mustard or Ruby Sauce).

One of the menu’s most substantial offerings is the vegan chili cheese tots, which retain a crisp exterior layered beneath smoky chili, kidney beans, onions and cheese sauce.

Th is past February, the couple revived The Bayou through pop-ups at Mother Road Market and other events, now presenting its Cajun food through a plantbased lens. Improved alternatives have allowed them to recreate favorites, including a muff uletta with plant-based ham, salami and cheese.

For Kortnie, the progression feels full circle: The Bayou built the trust that encouraged longtime customers to try plant-based food at Ruby D’s, and the revived Bayou brings the journey back to where it began.

“You don’t have to be vegan to eat here,” she says. “If you can choose more plantbased more often, that’s how we can heal the planet a little bit.” tp

Ruby D’s Burger Joint 12 W. Fourth St. • 918-574-8732 rubydsburgerjoint.com Daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

TulsaPeople.com 49

TA B L E TA L K

WHAT’S COOKING?

Left: Chicken Kottu, commonly prepared on a hot griddle at street stalls throughout Sri Lanka, is known as much for the rhythmic sound of its preparation as for its bold flavors.

Right: Chef Reshan Koralage’s Fermented Rice Hoppers undergo a 24-hour fermentation process after Koralage grinds the rice flour himself by hand. The result is a delicate, bowl-shaped hopper with crisp edges and a soft, airy center, a staple deeply rooted in Sri Lankan cuisine.

Tableside tradition Sri Lankan chef cooks up cultural experiences at underground pop-ups.

W

hen Sri Lankan Chef Reshan Koralage sets a table, whether through his most recent business venture or otherwise, his focus remains fi xed on how his dishes will be experienced by others.

Perhaps the commercial pilot training which brought Koralage to the United States in 2013 gives him a unique ability to transport people through food. Utilizing ingredients indigenous to his island home country, Koralage can transport any hungry heart over 9,000 miles across the globe without leaving downtown Tulsa.

Before settling down in Tulsa, Koralage lived the majority of his life in the seafood capital of Sri Lanka, Negombo, where he was born and raised surrounded by the Indian Ocean and bustling fish markets — which heavily influenced his approach to cooking. “Many of the recipes I use today are passed down from my mom and grandmother,” he says.

Launched earlier this year, Koralage’s curated Ceylon Table private dining popups highlight original recipes rooted from his core memories. He already sold out two five-course wine dinners in January and April at Gregor Donnini’s Boston Title and Abstract, for which he worked

50 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

alongside BTA Chef Roque Heidler and Sommelier Pablo Aguilar of WiNE is FOOD. The team intentionally paired each course with international wines, creating a fi rst-of-its-kind professionally crafted Sri Lankan wine dinner in Tulsa.

“My goal is to bring Sri Lankan flavors into the fine dining world, while preserving the authenticity and soul of the cuisine,” Koralage explains. “Sri Lankan food carries thousands of years of history, tradition and technique.”

Given the country is situated southeast of India, Sri Lanka’s culinary history reflects the influence of maritime trade with Portuguese, Dutch and British elements.

Koralage shares that Sri Lankan cuisine remains relatively underrepresented in fine dining when compared to French cuisine and says he aims to “give it the recognition and platform it deserves.”

Each dish Koralage presents is made from scratch and requires intensive preparation by hand.

“Many Sri Lankan dishes are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, with rice, rice flour, coconut and traditional cooking methods at the heart of the cuisine,” Koralage says. “Our spice blends are made from scratch using whole spices that we

roast, grind and blend ourselves, and traditional clay-pot cooking plays an important role in the experience. We don’t cut corners.

The ingredients, techniques, aromas and process matter just as much as the final presentation.”

With every meal Koralage presents, he takes special care to uphold Sri Lankan practices, rather than caving to fit western convention.

“For me, fine dining isn’t about changing Sri Lankan food to make it fit into another culinary tradition,” he says. “It’s about taking the traditions we already have and showcasing them at their highest level.”

For his April dinner, Koralage partnered with Aguilar and Boston Title and Abstract to host a fundraising dinner for The Tristesse Grief Center. The effort raised more than $10,000 for local families navigating loss. “That experience reminded me that food and hospitality can make an impact far beyond the table,” Koralage says.

Ceylon Table plans to continue incorporating philanthropy into future events while building its intimate Sri Lankan culinary experiences.

To book Ceylon Table's services and stay informed about upcoming events, visit theceylontable.com. tp

MOHR: MICHELLE POLLARD

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARY A. SMITH

FarmBar's Chef de Cuisine Caleb Mohr

The Mohr the merrier FarmBar chef de cuisine takes hospitality to another level.

BY JARED S. GLEATON

A

t multi-James Beard Awardrecognized FarmBar, Chef de Cuisine Caleb Mohr’s cooking begins with care: for the farmers who grow the food, the cooks beside him and the guests gathered around the table.

Mohr's passion and creativity become especially visible during moments no menu can plan. For example, when a guest had saved for months to celebrate his 21st birthday, the team expanded his meal from five courses to 10.

“I want people to feel welcomed and seen and home,” Mohr says. “Safe and fed and loved.”

His path began with a different kind of care. He entered the University of Central Oklahoma in 2014 to study biomedical engineering. But granular engineering work and upper-level mathematics were not for him.

Mohr stepped away, worked retail and reassessed his goals. In 2018, he began culinary school at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.

During his fi nal semester, he trained under Chef Amélie Darvas at Michelinstarred Aponem l’Auberge du Presbytère in Vailhan, France, before graduating that December. His instinct to understand how

things worked had found another medium.

“I think of it like the difference between painting something beautiful using storebought oil paints versus grinding your own pigments and making your own paint with linseed oil,” Mohr says of cooking with fresh, farm-sourced ingredients.

He joined FarmBar in March 2023 and became chef de cuisine in March 2025.

He oversees purchasing, labor and menu execution while collaboratively developing menus with his kitchen team that includes Christian Wieczorek, Nick Atkinson, Sarah Malum and Amara Gray. That same spirit drives FarmBar’s chef collaboration dinners, Tulsa’s fi rst dedicated, regularly scheduled chef collaboration series produced by one restaurant. Co-owner Linda Ford handles logistics, while Mohr and his team select chefs, shape the menus and cook beside them. Visiting chefs work within FarmBar’s commitment to sourcing 90-95% of its ingredients locally, making each typically eight-course dinner an exchange of ideas rooted in Oklahoma agriculture.

The series builds community from home outward, bringing in Tulsa-based Cherokee chef and forager Bradley Dry; chefs Erik Fabrizius and Garrett Lewis of Tulsa’s Old Dog; Oklahoma City chef Jesse Gomez; and nationally recognized guests including Indigenous chef and advocate Loretta Barrett Oden and Jake Potashnick of Chicago’s Michelin-starred Feld.

Though the 2026 season has ended, passion projects continue with more relaxed activations bringing area culinary minds into the FarmBar kitchen. On Sept. 1, Chefs Joel Bein and Amanda Simcoe of the Meat and Cheese Show will visit to present a special meal.

“We’re using the fall as an opportunity to work with more local Tulsa chefs, treating it less like a formal collaborative dinner where we’re flying someone in, and instead viewing it as ‘cooking with friends,’” Mohr explains. “The dinners are meant to be less formal for guests and more laid back, giving my team the chance to just have fun in the kitchen with our local culinary community.”

Looking forward to autumn, Mohr is dreaming of Georgia Candy Roaster squash, Arkansas figs, chestnuts and Texas olives he hopes to cure for an exceptionally dirty martini. At home, he cooks Chicken Kiev and slow-cooked “grandma food.”

Learn more about FarmBar and all their special events at farmbartulsa.com. tp TulsaPeople.com 51

TA B L E TA L K

WHAT THE ALE?

Cabin Boys co-owners Austin and Lisa McIlroy partnered with the City of Catoosa to produce a new ale dedicated to supporting the city’s beloved Blue Whale.

Blue Whale brew

New Cabin Boys beer uplifts Catoosa’s smiling Route 66 roadside attraction.

STORY AND PHOTO BY TOM GILBERT

F

or decades, the Blue Whale of Catoosa has been a popular stop for travelers along historic Route 66. Earlier this year, the Oklahoma landmark received a significant upgrade which included the addition of a dedicated visitor center just in time for the Route 66 Centennial. To celebrate the kitschy icon's upgrade, a new year-round beer is now available from Cabin Boys Brewery is now on the market.

The Blue Whale Lemon Wheat Ale is a collaboration with the City of Catoosa and Cabin Boys Brewery. Th is unique partnership helps uplift the attraction while giving tourists a memorable taste of Oklahoma.

“It’s a natural fit,” says Cabin Boys Co-owner and Master Brewer Austin McIlroy. “The cabin my dad and I built —

52 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

the one our brewery is named after — is only about a mile from (the whale). Our company’s story really began in Catoosa.”

McIlroy says his family initially sought to open their brewery in Catoosa before launching their Tulsa brewing operation.

“When the city reached out about creating a Blue Whale beer, it was an easy ‘yes,’” McIlroy says.

The collaboration is in part a fundraiser for the attraction, with 1% of proceeds from every Blue Whale beer sold dedicated to helping maintain the Blue Whale and its surrounding amenities. The beer is available on draft at Cabin Boys’ downtown and Pearl District locations, as well as in four packs at eight local Reasor’s. You can also find it at several area bars, restaurants and liquor stores. It will eventually be sold at the whale, too.

“(Th is beer partnership) creates a lasting relationship,” McIlroy explains.

“Hopefully it’s a small contribution today that becomes much larger over time.”

The decision on what type of beer was almost as big as its namesake. The icon attracts visitors from around the globe, so Cabin Boys wanted an approachable beer that said “Oklahoma.”

“We wanted something that would appeal to people from everywhere while still being a little quirky,” says Cabin Boys Co-owner and Art Director Lisa McIlroy.

“Just like the Blue Whale itself.”

They decided on an American lemon wheat ale, a 5.5% alcohol by volume beer which Lisa believes complements the experience of visiting the attraction.

“When you’re standing by the pond on a sunny Oklahoma afternoon, you want something refreshing,” she says. “The lemon gives it a little brightness and makes it feel fun.”

Knowing that this brew could serve as the ultimate Oklahoma souvenir, Cabin Boys approached designing the can artwork with just as much intention as developing the beer. Lisa personally photographed the Blue Whale before illustrating the label in Cabin Boys’ signature watercolor style.

“I wanted people to immediately recognize it as the Blue Whale,” she says.

That meant including every detail — from the portholes and slide to the City of Catoosa cap perched on the whale’s head.

One element that isn’t done right on most renditions of the whale is the tail.

“The city told us they always cringe when artists draw a traditional whale tail that points upward,” Lisa said. “The Blue Whale’s tail was actually designed as a diving platform, so it’s fl at. I had to make sure we got that right.”

The brewery has also hinted that Blue Whale-themed craft sodas are already in development, which will offer families a non-alcoholic souvenir.

Meanwhile, Cabin Boys is preparing for fall with its fan-favorite Oktoberfest lager. The brew has returned with the same award-winning recipe, and is available on tap as well as in four packs. The brewery will celebrate the festbier release during its Sept. 19 Oktoberfest Party at 1717 E. Seventh St., where you can also try the Blue Whale Lemon Wheat Ale. tp

FEATURED FOOD PARTNERS: Absolute Cheesecake Chef Kaylyn Borens

BOK Center and Arvest Convention Center Chef Devin Levine

Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma Chef Jeremy Johnson

Doctor Kustom Chef Alex Figueira

JOIN IRON GATE AND TULSAPEOPLE for the 20th annual event featuring delicious tasting menus prepared by talented Tulsa chefs and restaurants! All proceeds benefit Iron Gate: Tulsa’s largest stand-alone soup kitchen and grocery pantry.

Thursday, September 24, 2026 at The Vista at 21 Tickets and sponsorships available

Glacier Chocolate Iron Gate

Chef Damien Jacob

Justin Thompson Catering Chef Justin Thompson

Le’Roux’s

Chefs Renauld and Gabbie Porter

Lil Momma Cakes Chef Bernita Marshall

Rise Souffle’ Chef Jake Robison

Simply De-Lish Catering Chef Tylisha Oliver

The Tavern/Bull in the Alley Chef Austin Plumlee

The Vault

IRON GATE 501 W. Archer, Tulsa, OK 74103 • 918-879-1702 irongatetulsa.org/cookingforacause

Chef Alan Varner

Vintage Wine Bar Chef Cliff Caldwell

LAST LOOK

TULSA TIME WARP

1960s image of the Addressograph-Multigraph Corp. branch office and service department along the 1600 block of South Main Street in downtown Tulsa.

Tech transitions

I

n 1960, the then-Cleveland-based Addressograph-Multigraph Corp.

— a giant in the business machines industry — began construction on a stand-alone office building along South Main Street in downtown Tulsa. The company, which started in the 1930s, developed mechanical labeling, addressing and duplicating devices that were utilized in many offices and agencies around the world.

Th is new structure became their fi rst permanent office in Tulsa since beginning business operations in the city. The twostory branch office was built by Albert G. Kulp, a Tulsa attorney and real estate

54 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

developer. The move consolidated the corporation’s operations in Tulsa and included a transfer of the Varityper Corp., a subsidiary, all into the same building.

The property contained office space for salesmen as well as a demonstration service center, the Varityper training school and a Multilith camera department.

Many machines the company sold were predecessors to modern-day printers, scanners and computer software. The Tulsa branch employed around 45 staff members and primarily served northeastern Oklahoma and southern Kansas from this location for the next two decades.

Due in part to major advancements in digital printing and scanning technology, the Addressograph-Multigraph Corp., (later AM International) fi led for bankruptcy in 1982, which left the space temporarily vacant. Following the departure, many businesses ultimately utilized the office space as business suites.

The building’s second story was expanded and renovations occurred throughout.

By the late 1990s until 2011 it operated as the Tulsa command headquarters for the Salvation Army. Today, it continues to be utilized as an office building by businesses including Securian Financial. tp

BERYL FORD COLLECTION TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY

BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS

Creating livable style for 33 Years

JULIA KIRKENDALL Founder & Owner

LUXURY FULL-SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN Residential • Commercial - New Construction - Renovations - Furniture & Styling

Ready to begin?

Scan to submit a Design Request.

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AWARD-WINNING NEW BUILD

* KITCHEN MAKEOVER * SAND SPRINGS STUNNER

FALL 2026

A PEEK INSIDE

Home Remodeling Showcase

918.298.4477

RenHardWood.com

Contents FALL 2026

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 2

58 MODERN SOUL, TIMELESS TAKE Take a peek into a recent Tulsa Parade of Homes winner.

BY LAURA DENNIS

66 WHAT MONEY CAN BUY Tulsa’s housing market rewards preparation.

BY GRACE WOOD

68 A KITCHEN BUILT FOR GATHERING Discover the details of a transformative project

by Huntington Interior Design.

BY GRACE WOOD

70 ‘THE MISSING MIDDLE’ Initiatives by local developers and the City of Tulsa address the lack of medium-density housing options.

BY ROBERT EVATT

73 HOME IS WHERE THE STORIES ARE The Byerly home in Sand Springs reflects a lifetime of love, as well as the touch of multiple well-known local figures.

BY TIFFANY HOWARD

76 DESIGN MINDS Patrick “Pat” Fox was an architect of social consciousness and artistry.

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

MICHELLE POLLARD

SPECIAL SECTIONS 62 Top Real Estate Professionals 79 Home Remodeling Showcase

This award-winning midtown home was crafted with charm at the forefront. Take a peek inside on p. 58.

ON THE COVER A thoughtfully updated 1928 home on Rockford Avenue, part of the Home Remodeling Showcase.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE POLLARD TulsaPeople.com 57

Homeowners Johnathon Kok and husband Mike Ryan worked with the team at Epic Custom Homes to craft a new-build home without sacrificing character.

Modern soul, timeless take Take a peek into a recent Tulsa Parade of Homes winner.

W

hen interior designer Johnathon Kok and husband Mike Ryan set out to plant roots in the charming midtown Tulsa neighborhood of Bryn Mawr, they had no intention of building what would become a distinguished fi rst-place winner in the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa 2026 Parade of Homes.

The couple initially sought an existing home that possessed the potential for modern conveniences, while simultaneously

58 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

being able to retain its historic character.

They fell in love with a vintage Tudor-style home that fit their vision for a complete remodel of the interior. But after two years of culling local building codes and structural estimates and finding layers of hidden issues, the math became clear: remodeling the aging structure would cost far more than simply starting over.

While it was hard to watch their home fall on demolition day, it nevertheless reinforced the tough decision they’d made. “(When) you look at the water being

pumped out of the basement because it had flooded, termites flying in the air, mold on wood boards ... You just see all of the problems you wouldn’t see if you hadn’t done the demolition,” Kok recalls.

Determined to respect the historic streetscape, Kok designed a home that would honor traditional style — avoiding an outof-place monstrosity that would clash with the architectural lineage of Bryn Mawr — while still providing the comfort of updated amenities. To execute what some might call an ambitious endeavor, the couple part-

MICHELLE POLLARD

BY LAURA DENNIS

The kitchen combines nostalgic details like polished brass-rosette finishes and parquet floors with high-end luxury elements like the custom, $16,000 vintage-style stove and Gucci marble countertops with double ogee edging.

nered with Epic Custom Homes, a certified custom home building company.

BUILDER-DESIGNER SYNERGY A demolition and rebuilding project of any nature can present daunting challenges for homeowners, from complex city utility reconnections — like cutting back old sewer lines and correctly compacting former basements — to navigating local permitting departments. The Epic team stepped in to handle these heavy tasks, guiding the project through a six-month permit delay and maintaining close coordination with City of Tulsa inspectors, soil engineers and specialty contractors.

Unlike the typical build process homeowners often experience — where they are left to navigate disjointed, third-party vendors on their own — Epic meets clients with a fully integrated service outfit. Epic provided the structured business framework and on-site execution needed to see the

project through, but they also walked Kok through the selection process step-by-step, providing full transparency through shared schedules, open-invoicing and thoroughly solving real-time issues on-site. The streamlined, big-picture processes employed by Epic alleviated much of the high stress associated with infi ll projects like this one.

“It’s very unusual,” Kok shares. “I’ve been in the industry a long time, and there are so many things that (Epic does) to provide comfort for the client. And it helps them build more efficiently.”

Kok brought his own uniqueness to the dynamics of this project. Where most homeowners rely heavily on 2D floor plans and third-party architects, Kok came prepared with a complete design mockup that included 3D renderings, light-accurate spatial layouts and a clear, overall vision.

“He wasn’t just a client — he was a problem solver,” says Epic Superintendent Blake Howard, who managed construction on

the project. “He had construction knowledge and design vision that allowed us to problem-solve in real time, on site. It was a joy and a gift to work with him.”

HISTORY MEETS MODERN CRAFTSMANSHIP Harmoniously blending vintage charm with upscale contemporary elements in this project required innate intentionality. Refusing to chase short-lived design trends, Kok insisted on maintaining the architectural integrity of a Tudor-style home. A nonnegotiable was staying true to the hickory and cinnamon-colored brick exterior, an iconic standard of the Midtown neighborhood, and ignoring multiple suggestions from outsiders to paint it white. Kok integrated the landscaping with exterior home design, including cast-stone accents, mahogany front doors and custom Pella wood windows and doors to mimic early 20th-century craftsmanship.

TulsaPeople.com 59

A FIRST-PLACE FINISH Th is year’s Parade of Homes featured more than 100 recently constructed houses in 15 price categories, representing the work of 40-plus builders in the Tulsa region. When the judges announced Kok’s home as the fi rst-place winner in its division, Howard and his team perceived the victory as a testament to the value of quality and intentional craftsmanship over square footage.

One of the out-of-state judges, a veteran builder with over a decade of experience nationally judging homes, admitted to the Epic team they had received his fi rst perfect score of 10, praising the exceptional build and overall design.

“It was validating,” Howard reflects.

“You don’t have to supersize a house to impress; one of the most important pieces of feedback received from neighbors and (parade attendees) was that the home was ‘human sized.’ It made everyone feel comfortable the moment they walked in.”

As for Kok, he says the recognition was an unexpected honor. “I was shocked,” he says. “I felt very happy that I was able to make an impact within the industry because so much new construction looks the same regardless of who builds it.”

Kok advises anyone considering their own Midtown demolition and custom rebuild to start with a long-term plan.

“Create a story for the property,” he says.

“If you’re planning to live in your home for 60 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

The Epic Custom Homes team along with the homeowners. From left to right: Amy Hughes, Blake Howard, Jyna Murdoch, Kirk Murdoch, Mike Ryan, Johnathon Kok, America Haws and Rob Walker

An interior designer himself, Kok provided his own design mockup early in the planning process with Epic Custom Homes complete with 3D renderings, light-accurate spatial layouts and a clear vision for the home.

(more than) 20 years or forever, (invest in) 100-year, quality materials. Over time, that saves you money on your investment versus buying quick products that fail at the 15- or 20-year mark.”

Howard adds some crucial advice from a builder’s perspective: find an integrated service team as early as possible, one that offers a builder, vendors and designer who are aligned from the start.

As Epic Owner Kirk Murdoch puts it, “Epic’s success comes from managing custom-home design choices and budgets together through our design team, 3D plans and walkthroughs, in-store selection support and customer-facing project management tools.”

Howard encourages future homebuilders to enter the complex, custom process with trust, patience and a willingness to troubleshoot in real time. Each project serves as its own “prototype,” and unexpected site conditions, design adjustments and permit delays are bound to occur, he says.

Having open communication and flexibility can allow construction hurdles to become potential solutions — Kok and Ryan’s home serves as a resounding example. Th rough intentional textile choices, a deep fidelity to historic aesthetics and a collaborative builder-owner partnership, Kok and the team at Epic have brought to life a modern masterpiece that appears to have always belonged to the heart of Midtown Tulsa. tp

MICHELLE POLLARD

The home’s interior emulates an air of established elegance, opposed to the sterile, “new build” feel one might expect. Deep millwork, rich crown molding, and a systematic usage of symmetry and asymmetry create an intimate scale in the almost 4,000 square-foot space. Nostalgic nods in the details — like push-button light switches, polished brass-rosette finishes and parquet floors — are juxtaposed with the high-end luxury of a custom, $16,000 vintage-style stove, Gucci marble countertops with double ogee edging and hand-sourced, imported wallpaper from Israel.

“Almost every person who walked in during the Parade of Homes asked, ‘Is this a rebuild or a remodel?’” says Epic Selections Manager America Haws. “It doesn’t have that typical new-build feel because Johnathon really leaned into traditional crown molding and detailed millwork.”

Functional, everyday upgrades were prioritized, too. Having moved from a nearby, 1926 rental with an unventilated kitchenette, Kok looks at the state-of-theart, up-to-code, properly ventilated kitchen and says it might be his favorite feature.

“Having the ability to cook and ventilate food well, it’s a thing I think a lot of people take for granted when they have it,” he shares.

Tulsapeople's Top Real Estate Proffesionals

Angela Cozort

Ann LaGere

Anna Brooks

Belinda Tucker

Brenda Smolen

Brian Daussess

Chris Noel

Craig Demuth

Crystal Hogan

Diana Patterson

Don Burns

Emily Rojas

Estella Alverez

Jeff Henson

John Raegan

John Smucker

Katy Houchin

Laura Bryant

Laura Hawkins

Lewanna Shaw

Lisa Rogers

Mary Kris Kollman

Micah Tjeersdma

Mike Keys

Parr Jill

Rachel Close

Sherri Sanders

Stephanie Joy

Steve Russell

Toni Bales

Bingham Case Lassman

Grunewald and Associates

www.mcgrawrealtors.com

Lawrence and Kelley Team

Woodward Group

918-592-6000

TOP REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS The residential real estate professionals presented here in company groupings represent the top individuals whose total volume (listings plus sales) totaled at least $7 million, and top teams whose total

volume totaled at least $10 million. The following pages include professional profiles and display ads purchased by Top Real Estate Professionals to inform readers of their services. Lists are based on 2025 total volumes.

INDIVIDUAL THE AGENCY Philip Shain

CHINOWTH & COHEN Brad Borem Cindy Morrison Gayle Roberts-Pisklo Taylor Bay Kristi Reed Tonya Ellison Missy Hagin-Pittman Melissa Mansfield Amos Radlinger Tiffany Webb Jen Miller-Morrow Kristi Russell Allison Kamm Megan Forehand Carmen Plunk Keli Smith Alisha Cooper Cindy Rodgers Montse Torres Natalie Richardson Vicky Watkins Austin Kirkpatrick Katie Mackey Kay Sullivan Susie Genet Kristee Barlow Christina Gnose Jill Taylor Val Gaudet Paula Templeton Lee Hurst Jennifer Wykoff Tanner Phillips Katrina Moore Jessica O'Connell Carrie DeWeese Marilyn Morenz Donna Posey Deb Wilmoth COLDWELL BANKER SELECT Trish Allison Maria Chupp Janet Vermillion Jeanette Bagrosky Paula McGuire Sally Mulready Kristin Winton Khup Naulak 62 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

Caroline Gorinsky Huesler Alexis Oakes Stephen Hester Suzanne Mobley Tammy Luczak Janice Koss Jeff Cannon Kimberly Brewer Amy Main John Pellow Theresa Cox Laura Richmond Christine Swart Michelle Bradshaw Tammy Salerno Karla Meislahn Andrea Chenoweth Brendan Gottula CONCEPT REALTY Robert Kleven Krysten Termin EPIQUE REALTY Robin Wilson EXP OK Amanda Dudley Amber Dollar Jennifer Samuelson Hannah McCullough Darryl Baskin Brooke Burger Jamie Sontag KELLER WILLIAMS ADVANTAGE Kara Folkins Holly Berry Jamie Goodnight Andrea Pinney Carol Pankey-Davis Elizabeth Beaubien Amy Cavallin Adam Callaway May West Lisa Schula Kathryn French Amberly Bell Vicky Olson Jen Sanders Braxton Thomas Siera Elliott

KELLER WILLIAMS PREMIER Darren DeLozier Juli Sunday Edwards Heather Brewster Misty Cowan Kim Cox Melissa Watt KELLER WILLIAMS PREFERRED Garywayne O'Dell Kristyn Morris Caleb Branson Chet Wilson Brittany Bryan Heidi McMurray Muhammad Asad Cody Young Lori Liston Dana Horton Mary Ruffin MCGRAW REALTORS Katy Houchin Laura Bryant Mike Keys John Ragan Angela Cozort Diana Patterson Don Burns Rachel Close Laura Hawkins John Smucker Micah Tjeerdsma Chris Noel Belinda Tucker Mary Kollman Anna Brooks Stephanie Joy Steven Russell Sherri Sanders Craig Demuth Estella Alvarez Ann Lagere Lewanna Shaw Brian Dausses Lisa Rogers Brenda Smolen Jill Parr Crystal Hogan Toni Bales Emilly Rojas

REALTY ONE GROUP DREAMERS Joanna Ford RE/MAX RESULTS Kevin Lynch Kim Parker Marie McManus Brett Friesen James Wood Lee Ann Pierce Amy Whitmarsh Tonya Jarvis Anne Gift Rosetta Britton Shannon Vaughn John Broostin Kath Williams SHEFFIELD REALTY Allison Sheffield WE CONNECT OKLAHOMA Mark Bullock

TEAMS

CHINOWTH & COHEN Tiffany Johnson Homes Alli Hayes Real Estate Group COLDWELL BANKER SELECT G7 Ranches The Rainwater Team Jay Miller Team The Slemp Team The Jenkins Team Jeb Perry and Asssociates Maureen Kile Team The Alicia Parker Team The BK Team Beverly Jeanes Team Pollard/Sams Team Corrie Egge McGuire-Cooley Team Kevin Rhoades Team Nico Real Estate Group Turn Key Realty Group Martin-Bakovic Real Estate Bonnie & Chantal Gross The Michelle Jansen Group Hildebrandt Home Team Your Key to Home Team

EXP OK The Magnolia Group Scissortail Sirens and Scrubs Allways Realty Group KELLER WILLIAMS ADVANTAGE Ary Land Co Aussie Real Estate Team The Wolek Group Heckenkemper Team BayneBrook Group Amber Davis Home Team Pritchett Team Elite One Realty Proffitt Premier Home Team KELLER WILLIAMS PREMIER Shields and Co. Gillette Markham Group Colt Realty Group Home Connection Team Dailey Properties The Paramount Group Triad Team Red Fox Realty Group KELLER WILLIAMS PREFERRED Rentz Team Brian Frere Inc Ratzlaff Team Home Town Home and Land BIG GUY Home Team Ashley Group MCGRAW REALTORS Grunewald & Associates Woodward Group Bingham, Case, Lassman Henson Home Team Lawrence & Roberts Real Estate Team Rise Home Team RE/MAX RESULTS Hearts to Home Team Dream Home Team Summit Group Golden Home Team Preferred Team Pierce Properties

KELLER WILLIAMS REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS

ARY LAND CO

BRAXTON THOMAS

CAROL PANKEY-DAVIS

CAVALLIN GROUP

HOLLY BERRY

JACKIE PROFFITT

JAMIE GOODNIGHT

SIERA ELLIOTT

OLSEN TEAM

DARREN DELOZIER

COLT REALTY GROUP

SHIELDS AND CO.

THE PARAMOUNT GROUP

DANA HORTON

ELITE ONE REALTY

JEN SANDERS

GARYWAYNE O’DELL

FOLKINS REAL ESTATE GROUP

ELIZABETH BEAUBIEN

KATHRYN FRENCH

AUSSIE REAL ESTATE TEAM

ANDREA PINNEY

HECKENKEMPER TEAM

MAYFOLKINS WEST KARA

LISA SCHULA

BAYNEBROOK GROUP

PRITCHETT TEAM

THE WOLEK GROUP

DAILEY PROPERTIES

GILLETTE MARKHAM GROUP

HEATHER BREWSTER

HOME CONNECTION TEAM

JULI SUNDAY EDWARDS

KIM COX

MISTY COWAN

RED FOX REALTY GROUP

TRIAD TEAM

BIG GUY HOME TEAM

ASHLEY GROUP

AMBERLY BELL

AMBER DAVIS HOME TEAM

ADAM CALLAWAY

HEIDI MCMURRAY

BRITTANY BRYAN

BRIAN FRERE INC

HOME TOWN HOME AND

KRISTYN MORRIS

LORI LISTON

MARY RUFFIN

CALEB BRANSON

MUHAMMAD ASAD

CHET WILSON

RATZLAFF TEAM

CODY YOUNG

RENTZ TEAM

What money can buy Tulsa’s housing market rewards readiness.

I

n recent years, Tulsans looking to sell their homes could count on multiple offers and quick closings. But according to Keller Williams Advantage Realtor May West, that’s not the norm anymore.

“The days on the market are growing, so we’re spending more time prepping each listing before it goes live,” she says. “Homes aren’t moving as quickly, and sellers aren’t always getting their dream price.”

In some cases, she’s had to tell sellers that homes bought in 2022 simply aren’t worth what they paid for them — a hard message to deliver, but one that reflects how far the market has shifted.

West doesn’t call it a buyer’s market just yet, however. “We’re somewhere in the middle, but we’re slowly moving in that direction,” she explains.

Homes are still selling for about 98% of list price, up from about 96% at the end of last year, according to West, but only when they’re priced and prepped correctly. Well-positioned listings can go pending within days; others might sit for weeks.

Interest rates continue to drive much of the market, West explains. With rates holding steady rather than dropping, fewer buyers are entering the market, and those who are are more cautious, running all the numbers before committing.

“You rarely see buyers just jump on a house these days,” she says. “They’re carefully weighing

all parts of it — ‘Can we afford this? Will it put us over our budget? What will the bills be like?’ They don’t want to get into a new home and have to do a ton of repairs.”

Buyers also have more leverage once they decide to buy. Sellers are agreeing to cover closing costs within days of listing a home — a request that used to take weeks to even consider, West notes.

While today’s buyers have less purchasing power because of higher interest rates, they have something they haven’t had as much of in recent years: options. More inventory and greater negotiating power mean buyers can take their time and be more selective before making an offer.

That shift has raised the bar for sellers. West says she encourages her clients to make small home improvements and repairs, and take the time to declutter and stage their home before the listing goes live.

“Staged homes are selling better because there’s a lot of inventory on the market right now — sellers have to find a way to stand out from all the competition,” she says. “When a house feels updated and ready to go, it gets much better feedback.”

West highlights that one of the simplest updates with the biggest payoff is swapping outdated light fixtures. “It’s one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to modernize a home,” West explains. “A seller can easily make a dated home

feel more fresh and new by updating old fans and light fixtures.”

Despite the slower pace, West isn’t concerned about Tulsa’s long-term outlook. Tulsa, she says, doesn’t experience the dramatic swings common in many coastal markets: “Think of a teeter-totter, and Tulsa’s right in the middle. It barely moves.”

That steadiness, paired with a steady stream of newcomers relocating to the city, keeps her optimistic. “Tulsa is definitely the place to be, and the place to buy real estate,” West says.

West’s best advice for buyers is to find the right agent before finding the right house. “Work with an experienced agent who knows the market you want to buy in,” she advises, since a good agent can find off-market and firm-exclusive listings buyers wouldn’t find on their own.

Once buyers are working with someone, she encourages them to separate must-haves from nice-to-haves before they start touring homes.

“Your home isn’t going to have everything you want,” she says. Buyers who stay flexible about cosmetic details, like paint colors or whether a home has a fireplace, often have a smoother search than those who get hung up on features they can update later.

Her advice for sellers: prepare. “The first two weeks your home is on the market are your biggest window of opportunity,” West says. “The more legwork you do before listing, the better your chances of selling quickly.” tp

1302 Terrace Drive SOLD PRICE: $335,000 ACREAGE: 0.29-acre lot SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,965 This red brick home is just minutes from Cherry Street, Mother Road Market and Utica Square. It offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage with updates throughout, including a brand-new roof and fresh interior paint. A large, covered patio and pergola create an ideal setup for outdoor entertaining.

1414 E. 19th Street SOLD PRICE: $487,000 ACREAGE: 0.15-acre lot SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,012 Located in the Swan Lake Historic District, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom home retains original character alongside recent updates, including fresh landscaping. The fully finished basement includes a laundry room and additional flex space that could serve as a home office, guest suite, gym or playroom.

12521 S. Fulton Ave. SOLD PRICE: $570,000 ACREAGE: .0.28-acre lot SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,163 Located in the gated Estates at the River community, this two-story home was built in 2022 and offers four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. Tall ceilings and natural light fill the open kitchen and living area, ideal for hosting. The three-car garage adds extra storage.

66 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

VAST MEDIA

BY GRACE WOOD

CO NGR ATUL AT IONS

TO

O UR

TU LSA

A R EA

TOP AGENTS & TEAMS

CONG RATUL AT I ON S

TO

OU R

T U LSA

A R E A

TOP AGENTS & TEAMS

2026

TOP AGENTS & TEAMS

2026

2026

Thank you for the Tulsa C O NG R A T helping U L A T Ipeople O N S live T Obetter O U across R TU L SA A Rarea.

EA

Thank you for helping people live better across the Tulsa area.

Thank you for helping people live better across the Tulsa area.

The G7 Group

The G7 Group

The Rainwater Team

The Rainwater Team

Jay Miller Team

The Slemp Team

The Jenkins Team

Jay Miller Team

The Slemp Team

The Jenkins Team

Jeb Perry & Associates

Maureen Kile Team

Jeb Perry & Associates

Maureen Kile Team

The The Jay Miller The Jeb Perry & Maureen Kile The Rainwater G7 Group Team Jenkins Team Associates Team Slemp Team Team The Alicia The Beverly Pollard/Sams Corrie McGuireThe Nico Real Rhoades Team Parker Team BK Team Jeanes Team Team Egge Team Cooley Team Estate Group

The Alicia Parker Team The Alicia Parker Team Turn Key Realty Group

Turn Key Realty Group Turn Key Realty Group Jeanette Bagrosky

Jeanette Bagrosky Jeanette Bagrosky Suzanne Mobley

Suzanne Mobley Suzanne Mobley

The BK Team The BK Team MartinBaković Team

MartinBaković Team MartinBaković Team Paula McGuire

Paula McGuire Paula McGuire Tammy Luczak

Tammy Luczak Tammy Luczak Christine Swart

Christine Swart

Christine Swart

Beverly Jeanes Team

Pollard/Sams Team

Corrie Egge Team

McGuireCooley Team

Beverly Jeanes Team Bonnie & Chantal Gross

Pollard/Sams Team The Michelle Jansen Group

Corrie Egge Team Hildebrandt Home Team

McGuireCooley Team Trish Allison

The Rhoades Team Maria Chupp

Bonnie & Chantal Gross

The Michelle Jansen Group

Hildebrandt Home Team

Trish Allison

Maria Chupp

Bonnie & Chantal Gross Sally Mulready

The Michelle Jansen Group Kristin Winton

Hildebrandt Home Team Khup Naulak

Trish Allison Caroline Gorinsky Huesler

Sally Mulready

Kristin Winton

Khup Naulak

Sally Mulready Janice Koss

Kristin Winton Kimberly Brewer

Khup Naulak Amy Main

Caroline Gorinsky Huesler John Pellow

Janice Koss

Kimberly Brewer

Amy Main

John Pellow

Janice Koss Michelle Bradshaw

Kimberly Brewer Tammy Salerno

Amy Main Karla Meislahn

John Pellow Andrea Chenoweth

Michelle Bradshaw

Michelle Bradshaw

Live well with Coldwell.

Tammy Karla Salerno

Tammy Salerno

Meislahn

Karla Meislahn

Live well with Coldwell.

Live well with Coldwell.

Caroline Gorinsky Huesler

Andrea Chenoweth

Andrea Chenoweth

The Rhoades Team

Maria Chupp Alexis Oakes

Alexis Oakes Alexis Oakes Theresa Cox

Theresa Cox Theresa Cox Bryce Gottula

Nico Real Estate Group Nico Real Estate Group The Vermillion Group, Inc.

The Vermillion Group, Inc. The Vermillion Group, Inc. Stephen Hester

Stephen Hester Stephen Hester Laura Richmond

Laura Richmond Laura Richmond

CBryce B S E L E CT.C O M Gottula

Bryce Gottula

C B S E L E CT.C O M C B S E L E CT.C O M

A kitchen built for gathering Midtown remodel balances Tudor bones with a bold, customized update.

BY GRACE WOOD 68 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

COURTESY KACEY GILPIN

Huntington Interior Design paired a black chevron-paneled island, warm wood cabinetry and a custom hood with the home’s beamed ceiling and leaded glass windows for a look that’s bold, yet true to the home’s English Tudor framework. The island and refrigerator surround are Cristallo Sunshine quartzite, fabricated by Eurocraft Stone.

A built-in Miele coffee maker — one of homeowner Regina Mullennix's favorite upgrades — sits near the range, where a matte black pot filler adds convenience to everyday cooking.

At the sink, black-and-brass fixtures echo the vent hood and pendant above, tying the kitchen’s finishes together. All plumbing fixtures are from Heatwave Supply. Stained white oak cabinetry, fitted with brass cabinet hardware from Home Hardware, wraps the kitchen’s perimeter and is complemented by the quartzite backsplash. Glass-front cabinets, fitted with cabinet glass from Robinson Glass, display the family’s crystal and stemware within reach of a small prep sink for mixing drinks.

W

hen Regina and Berry Mullennix built their midtown Tulsa home in 2007, they fashioned the kitchen to match the English Tudor style outside.

Nearly two decades later, however, that kitchen no longer fit the family’s needs.

“While the space was functional, it no longer reflected the homeowners’ personal style or the way their family wanted to gather, cook and live today,” says Tracy Huntington, owner and principal designer of Huntington Interior Design in Tulsa.

Prior to Huntington’s redesign, updates made elsewhere in the house — new lighting, new furniture — had already nudged the home toward something more contemporary. The kitchen, still ornate and heavy with color, was the last piece to catch up.

“I wanted to get away from that rustic, oldworld elegance and move toward something that still felt traditional, but modern and clean,” Regina says.

Rather than arrive with a Pinterest board, Regina brought Huntington a desired feeling: something distinctive, elegant, enduring and full of personality — a place for lingering and togetherness, where the cook never feels disconnected from the rest of the room.

She pointed to a recent game room that Huntington ID crafted for another client,

which features layered textures and bold materials, as a touchstone.

“Regina embraced a more daring design approach and trusted our team to create a space that balanced beauty, function and individuality,” Huntington says.

That trust shows most in the kitchen’s centerpiece: a custom island wrapped in handcrafted chevron paneling, concealing drawers so seamlessly most guests never notice the storage.

“It serves as a visual anchor, adding warmth, texture and craftsmanship while naturally drawing people together,” Huntington says. The design team worked closely with Woodstock Cabinet Co. to bring the island to life. Countertops and backsplash are Cristallo Sunshine quartzite, its soft amber tones and delicate veining shifting with the light throughout the day.

When the team faced the challenge of making the refrigerator disappear into the room rather than interrupt it, they extended the same stone into its surround. “Sometimes, the most successful design solutions are not the ones that stand out, but the ones that make a space feel effortlessly cohesive,” Huntington says. Updated appliances, pull-out shelving behind cabinet doors and a large prep sink keep the space functional, while new under-cabinet lighting complements the kitchen’s existing pendants.

The vent hood cover especially captures how creative problem-solving defined the whole renovation. Regina and Huntington priced antique brass hoods first, but at the scale the kitchen needed, the cost was out of reach. Contractor Sean Cox had carpenter Brian Myers build a wood box instead; Moody Metal Fabricators wrapped it in sheet metal, and Broken Arrow Powder Coating matched the metallic finish to the pendant lights overhead.

“It saved us thousands of dollars, and it’s beautiful,” Regina says. “Everyone came together to make sure I had everything I wanted out of the kitchen and stayed close to my budget.”

The project took just over a year from first sketch to final installation — time Huntington put to good use. “Th is project reinforced the value of slowing down and allowing a design to evolve,” Huntington says. “Rather than chasing a single idea from the start, we explored a wide range of materials, textures and architectural details, giving ourselves the freedom to refine each decision until it felt exactly right.”

Today, the kitchen functions exactly as intended: a warm gathering place for family dinners, making morning coffee and enjoying a glass of wine with neighborhood friends. “It was the missing puzzle piece,” Regina says. tp TulsaPeople.com 69

‘The missing middle’ Initiatives by local developers and the City of Tulsa address the lack of medium-density housing options.

As cities across the United States face housing shortages, Tulsans find creative solutions. Red River Development recently completed this luxury rental home community in Jenks.

I

t’s not just bad vibes or doomscrolled hot takes — there really is a shortage of affordable, quality housing. According to Zillow, there is an estimated deficit of 4.7 million homes available nationwide.

The situation is the same for apartments and rental homes, especially for the growing number of individuals and families with low incomes that are priced out of newer properties. The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports 70 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

a 7.2-million-unit-shortage of affordable rental homes available to renters with extremely low incomes — meaning those with incomes at or below either the federal poverty guideline or 30% of their area median income, whichever is greater.

Th is affordable housing shortage has been a long time in the making for a variety of reasons. Sources like the Economic Policy Institute attribute this situation to the slowdown of new homes being built in response to the 2008 Great Recession.

In the decade that followed, not enough new homes were being built to meet demand, not just in Oklahoma, but in every state in the country. Other contributing factors range from increasing building costs, restrictive zoning, demographic shifts to the suburbs and lagging wages. All of these factors together have given rise to a new term: the missing middle.

In short, those facing the biggest problem finding a good place to live are those best served by medium-density housing

GORRELL, HUGHES, RED RIVER: MICHELLE POLLARD; JENKS HOME: COURTESY

BY ROBERT EVATT

options such as duplexes, tri-plexes, townhomes and smaller apartment complexes.

For decades, builders concentrated on building low-density, spacious homes in the suburbs or high-density mega apartment complexes. That situation is the same in Tulsa, says Travis Hulse, director of housing with the City of Tulsa.

“In general, what has been built over the last several years is large, single-family homes or larger multifamily apartment complexes,” he says.

Medium-density options tend to be more affordable than large single-family homes and luxury apartment complexes while still providing quality places to live. Without them, lower-income workers have no place to go.

Truly addressing the housing shortage requires addressing the missing middle.

Fortunately, local housing and real estate companies are starting to recognize the demand and are taking steps to develop medium-density options that are both affordable and comfortable.

REFRESHING APPROACHES Sometimes, “affordable” is the only good thing about an older rental property. A low monthly price might try to cover for a fi lthy exterior, long-deferred maintenance, nightmare neighbors and a landlord who takes an eternity to fi x a broken toilet.

But John Gorrell, co-founder of Gorrell Hughes Capital, along with Jeff Hughes, says older properties can still provide a quality living experience at an affordable price. He and Hughes are purchasing older apartment buildings in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Kansas, fi xing them up, and providing a greatly improved experience for renters.

“We consider ourselves value-add managers,” he says. “We go in there and improve the properties for the residents.”

Gorrell believes that fi xing up existing properties is a faster and more costeffective way to serve the missing middle than building new medium-density living spaces from scratch. Their company’s strategy is to buy properties that may have been neglected but still have a lot of life to them.

Gorrell Hughes Capital’s two Tulsa apartment complexes are River Ridge, which was built in 1948 in the Riverview District by the Arkansas River, and The Coliseum, a downtown apartment building constructed 101 years ago. Since Gorrell took over managing the two properties, he’s seen what happens when older units get new life — apartments that once had occupancy rates drop to 70% or below due to poor conditions and a bad reputation are now fully booked.

Gorrell Hughes Capital co-founder John Gorrell at the Coliseum Apartments, 625 S. Elgin Avenue, a 101-year-old complex which Gorrell Hughes recently revitalized.

Brothers Steven and Ryan Watts teamed up to form Red River Development to help address a lack of single-family rental homes.

“We want to make sure that it’s a nice, livable experience for everybody,” he says.

“And when you do that, you attract a more stable clientele. Now we have long-term residents that have been there for, you know, two, three, four years that don’t leave.”

Today, the two fully-leased properties are inhabited by a variety of professionals, including service workers, downtown workers and teachers.

Gorrell believes that targeting the missing middle isn’t just a way to improve quality of life, it also makes good business sense.

“The middle part of the market is the biggest, and the most resilient,” he says.

“That’s why we decided to target it.”

Their average apartment renovation is $10,000 per unit for costs such as updating appliances, painting exteriors, redoing

parking lots that have broken concrete or trip hazards, updating clubhouses and replacing roofs.

Gorrell and Hughes are continuing to seek out properties in Tulsa and beyond that could be diamonds in the rough, partly due to the investment opportunity, and partly due to the fulfi llment that comes from helping underserved workers.

“When we come in, we have residents telling us that they were getting ready to leave, but they now love living there,” Gorrell says.

DIVERSIFYING STOCK Steven Watts has developed a variety of real estate projects through Rose Rock Development, including the Vandever Lofts and the now-multifamily Adams Building, both in downtown Tulsa.

TulsaPeople.com 71

72 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

Two of the 18 different preapproved housing plans from the T-Town HOME. Above, the Berkeley is a fully wheelchair adaptable, one-bedroom cottage perfect for aging in place. Below, the Carroll, a house-sized building designed under the International Building Code, contains four one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments.

NEW PLAYBOOK The City of Tulsa has also joined the efforts to address the affordable housing shortage with a unique approach to streamlining residential development.

The T-Town HOME (Housing Options Made Easy) Catalog is a collection of 18 different preapproved plan sets for housing options, ranging from detached single-family units to multifamily developments.

Using these, developers can skip the time and money that get tied up in seeking approvals and immediately get to work on new construction, Hulse says.

“Each of the plans were pre-reviewed to hopefully eliminate any surprises or concerns during the permit review process,” he says.

The catalog is designed to make housing development faster and less expensive without sacrificing comfort and quality. But at the same time, it incorporates a degree of customization and flexibility to ensure each new home fits the needs and aesthetics of its neighborhood. Plans include a list of allowable variations, such as exterior materials, roof pitches, ceiling heights, and window

and door arrangements, so that builders aren’t stuck making the same cookie-cutter design all over town.

“Developers can make changes and even propose variations to the plans,” Hulse says.

The idea for the T-Town HOME Catalog fi rst came about with the creation of the Mayor/Council Housing, Homelessness and Mental Health (3H) Task Force in 2023. Hulse says that preapproved housing plans soon emerged from discussions on how to address the three issues and became part of the task force’s detailed recommendations.

In addition to addressing the missing middle problem and providing more Tulsans with affordable and appealing places to live, Hulse says the catalog could help fi ll in long-vacant lots with housing that respects the character of the neighborhood, as well as assist up-and-coming development companies and keep them building for years to come.

The T-Town HOME Catalog is meant to be a living document, with the potential for new plans to be added over time as needs arise, Hulse says. tp

BERKELEY: FLINTLOCK LTD, CO.; CARROLL: KRONBERG URBANISTS + ARCHITECTS

While these developments definitely fi lled a market demand and helped downtown Tulsa evolve, he realized there were other housing needs that weren’t being addressed — though plenty of people embrace apartment living, others yearn for a less dense experience where they can relax and not worry about people above and below them.

“No one’s really building the entry-level bungalow-style homes anymore,” he says.

“Everyone’s building 2,500-square-foot, two-car garage houses with all these features that cause homes to not be entry-level.”

Steven teamed up with his brother, Ryan Watts, to create a new solution: entire communities of individual, single-family homes for rent.

Their new company, Red River Development, is now building these communities of homes throughout Oklahoma and the region. Earlier this year the two brothers sold a community they’d built in Jenks, and they’re in the early stages of developing a new community in Bixby.

The inspiration behind their work is simple — combine the benefits of apartment living with traditional home living.

Ryan says each of the homes, which can range in size from 750 to 1,250 square feet, include up to three bedrooms, private back yards and individual garages. “(These developments) provide the resident a new-home experience without the cost and burdens of home ownership,” he says, adding that Red River’s management company, Trulo Homes, will take care of maintenance and upkeep. As a result, Ryan estimates that the total monthly cost is roughly $1,000 less than owning and maintaining a similar-sized home.

Trulo Homes’ communities also include apartment-style amenities, such as a clubhouse with community spaces and gyms, playgrounds and dog parks.

Steven says their developments attract a combination of younger professionals that are transitioning out of apartment living and empty nesters who are looking to downsize and offload home maintenance.

So far, their communities have mostly stayed full, with an estimated occupancy of 95% — which is above the average apartment occupancy rate.

Part of their communities’ appeal is the growing number of people nationwide who are opting to rent rather than own. Ryan says that proportion continues to shift to rentals, especially with rising purchase costs and the fallout from the late 2008 housing crisis.

“It’s reshaping the housing landscape,” he says.

The Watts brothers, who grew up in Tulsa, believe the demand for rental home communities will continue to grow, and their company plans to keep building across the region to meet it.

Home is where the stories are The Byerly home in Sand Springs reflects a lifetime of love, as well as the touch of multiple well-known local figures.

BY TIFFANY HOWARD TulsaPeople.com 73

Custom artwork — such as this still life done by (now deceased) Eureka Springs artist Mary Sims — adorns almost every wall of the Byerly home, and trinkets and souvenirs from around the world are artfully displayed throughout.

The home's 1-acre-plus backyard is an oasis of flowers and herbs. Growing multiple types of basil, homeowner Sandi Byerly often shares the fragrant bounty with the Little Venice restaurant just down the street.

74 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

MICHELLE POLLARD

A

nyone could walk into the near 100-year-old Sand Springs home of Sandi Byerly and instantly know it’s a place where love has grown all the way down into the very foundation, where memories are embedded in every wall like rings on a tree.

It’s the little details that give it away — the portraits of children long grown still hanging in the living room, the bunny rabbits painted in front of a little bedroom fi replace upstairs, along with the name “Sarah” in curly script.

Then there’s the warmth of the kitchen; a deep-red brick hearth hovers protectively over a range top where a tea kettle is perched just so, the white-tiled backsplash behind it hand-painted with wildflowers by local artist Ronda Roush. On the ceiling, hand-hewn wooden beams hung with woven baskets and copper cookware give the room a French farmhouse feel. A large black granite island centers the room, hinting at the many thousands of meals prepared and shared there.

“Th is is the time clock for the old Commander Mills (textile plant),” Byerly says, indicating a wooden structure attached to the side of the hearth. When she pulls the brass lever in the front, it makes a satisfying ding sound. “My kids, my babies, grew up doing that coming in and going out.”

Byerly explains the home was built in 1928 by a family with the last name of Pafford, and that Mr. Pafford had worked for Commander Mills. When Byerly and her late husband Tom moved to Sand Springs from Oklahoma City in 1978, they told real estate developer Montie Box they were looking for “something with character.” Box — with whom they would develop a lifelong friendship — showed the couple the two-story red brick home on Main Street, which they purchased for $56,000.

Byerly was 30 years old when she and Tom moved in, and they welcomed their fi rst son Shawn two years later. A 1984 renovation of the home — which was largely spearheaded by well-known Tulsa architect Pat Fox, who passed away earlier this year — included a total redesign of the backyard and kitchen, as well as the primary bedroom and bathroom.

In the years that followed, the fourbedroom, four-bathroom home fi lled with the sounds of even more little footsteps as three adopted children — Sarah Elizabeth, Freddie and Adam — joined the family. Over the years, the Byerlys also acted as guardians to other Sand Springs youth needing support, repeatedly opening up their hearts to all who needed it.

“I was meant to be here, to do those kinds of things and help people,” Byerly says. “I’ve been blessed 300 times over by

that, by just having this home, and the things I have. (Th is home) is a receptacle, it’s just giving it back to God.” Moving from room to room, one can’t help but imagine what it might have been like to grow up there — particularly when it comes to the basement. A stone fi replace gives the room a warm, “stay awhile” air, while a bathroom built to look like a real outhouse brings fun and playfulness to the space. Along the east wall, a knotty pine bar area outfitted with soda fountain taps, built-in syrup pumps and shiny Hungarian crystalware speaks of homemade ice cream sundaes and past parties.

“Th is house was the house for all of my kids’ friends to be,” she says. “I was thinking today, ‘How many kids have we had in this home that made all of these memories with us?’ Because it wasn’t just our kids; it was half of Sand Springs’ kids ... I laughed my head off with them. And adults, too.”

In addition to raising children and being highly involved in the Sand Springs community through volunteer work, Byerly owned The Garden Trowel gardening and herbal shop, and she also co-founded the Sand Springs Herbal Affair and Festival with celebrated florist Ruth Leib. With such green-thumbed pursuits on her resume, Byerly’s backyard is every inch the botanical paradise one might expect. Bursts of bright floral blooms, fragrant gardenias, winding stone pathways, bubbling fountains and sprays of aromatic herbs like lemon verbena and multiple types of basil make up the lush, colorful oasis.

To the right side of the yard, a glass-smooth pool sparkles beneath the Oklahoma sun. To the left, a whimsical wooden cabin — built by the Snelson family of Sand Springs in 1987— sits poised to welcome guests. A potting shed and large greenhouse round out the backyard, adding both function and charm to the 1-plus-acre space.

“Going out every morning and putting my feet in the dirt and grounding myself and walking around in my gardens is the best thing I’ll ever do,” Byerly says.

Now 77, Byerly’s zeal for life continues to bloom as bright as the zinnias in her backyard. But after all her years of working, she admits she may be ready to retire and settle into a little cottage somewhere.

“I feel very special that I got to live in this house,” she says. “I really want this whole thing passed on to someone who will love my backyard, who will love all my plants, someone who understands that the painted kitchen tile has a meaning and not break it up and take it out ... I hope the next family who chooses to live here feels the history and the love and memories of these walls and my yard.” tp

Above, the hearth in the kitchen is constructed from salvaged bricks from a former downtown Tulsa fire station, and the backsplash was painted by local artist Ronda Roush.

Right, the primary bathroom, designed by architect Pat Fox during the home’s 1984 renovation, holds a lot of sweet mother-daughter memories. “The bathroom was a great place to have beauty parties with all of Sarah’s friends spending the night,” Byerly recalls. “We’d put up pillows and blankets, lay down and do facials and that sort of thing.”

Below, Byerly says the cozy cabin for guests in the backyard has also been the site of many rousing past parties. “My oldest son went to Las Vegas, got a real 21 table and put it up here. Once he tried to make me ante up and I said ‘Alright, you can pay me rent for this place then.’ Needless to say he let me play for free,” she laughs.

TulsaPeople.com 75

Design minds Patrick “Pat” Fox was an architect of social consciousness and artistry.

P

at Fox stamped Tulsa with his creativity and compassion. As an architect, he was bold and adventurous. As a civic leader, he was committed to social justice and individual dignity.

Fox was born in 1947 in Shreveport, Louisiana, shaped by Southern sensibilities of good manners and Southern cooking. In high school he travelled the country racing go-karts. As an adult with an enduring love of cars, he bought and sold Porsches.

A summer-long tour of Europe with high school classmates gave him a lifelong devotion to artistic beauty and the wider world. He was an avid traveler and instilled artistic appreciation in all four of his children. “Everywhere you look you can find beauty,” he told them.

At the University of Arkansas, he studied architecture with E. Fay Jones, a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright, and adopted Wright’s professional vision. In the 1960s he embraced the civil rights movement and never let go.

Before he was one of Tulsa’s most significant architects, he was an urban 76 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

designer and neighborhood organizer.

He understood the effects of the interstate highway system on underserved communities, specifically Tulsa’s Greenwood District, and in the early 1970s he worked with Tulsa’s pioneering Model Cities Program of neighborhood planning. He helped organize and mobilize neighborhoods near north Tulsa, contributing to guidelines that today shape development and zoning decisions in 26 neighborhoods citywide.

After a brush with elected politics as a campaign manager, he took an off ramp to the for-profit sector and formed a business partnership in 1979 with openly gay architect Stephen Turner, a bold move in that closeted era. In 1987 he established Fox Architects and soared, designing hundreds of buildings in Tulsa and elsewhere with residential designs ranging from traditional to contemporary, some dramatic and spectacular. His memorable Tulsa residences include a 12,000 square foot French Normandy design surrounded by lush French gardens in midtown; a dramatic glass and steel modern on Reservoir Hill;

a Palladian-style home with exposed concrete walls designed for Eveyln Hatfield near Philbrook, so distinctive it was featured in the New York Times described as a “modernistic museum;” and perhaps most spectacular of all — a seven bedroom, eight bath, 12,000-square-foot painted stone country retreat in Bristow.

His understated personal style had a dash of flash: Cartier and Hermès watches and 150 pairs of shoes (zebra striped, hot pink, custom-made Italian, dozens of Hoka running shoes.) For years he literally saw the world through rose-colored glasses, wearing pink frames before switching to his signature big black rims as round as coffee cups. His Thanksgiving dinner was boiled shrimp piled on a table covered with newspapers.

Fox was witty and razor-sharp (New York Times crossword puzzle in ink) with a remarkable musical talent. He was known for his passionate stance on fairness, kindness, the Democratic party and MSNBC nonstop and loud.

He died January 21 at age 78, from the effects of a fall. tp

COURTESY

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

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Together, we offer an extensive suite of mortgage products designed to complement your sophisticated financial goals, including: Up to103%* financing for loans up to $1.25 million Up to 95%** re-financing for loans over $1 million Begin your journey with Blue Sky Bank private banking mortgage solutions.

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Awww, Thanks Tulsa!

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What a huge compliment to be a part of the A-List for 13 years in a row and the Hall of Fame.

Special thanks from the bottom of our hearts to all our customers that made this possible.

2016

From Design to Final Clean-Up renovationsbyhelms.com

This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. All loans, credit, and collateral are subject to approval. Restrictions and conditions may apply. Terms, rates, data, programs, information, and conditions are subject to change without notice and may not be available in all areas. Blue Sky Private Mortgage is a trade name used by Blue Sky Bank NMLS# 631507. *0% down payment for financing a single-family primary or secondary residence, up to a 7-year balloon loan with up to a 30-year amortization schedule, annual percentage rate may increase after consummation. **5% down payment for re-financing a single-family primary or secondary residence, up to a 7-year balloon loan with up to a 30-year amortization schedule, annual percentage rate may increase after consummation.

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2 6 T H A N N UA L

10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12 Noon-5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13

PRESENTED BY

YOUR HOME. OUR PROFESSION.

Each year, homeowners graciously open their doors, inviting you to tour remarkable remodeling projects throughout the Tulsa area. From stunning kitchen renovations and luxurious bathroom retreats to whole-home transformations and thoughtfully designed outdoor living spaces, every project demonstrates the value of professional remodeling, quality craftsmanship and innovative design.

As you explore each home, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the remodelers behind the transformation, learn about the process, discover new products and ideas and gather inspiration for your own home.

10 A.M.-5 P.M., SATURDAY, SEPT. 12 NOON-5 P.M., SUNDAY, SEPT. 13 ADMISSION: $10

5

Admission can be purchased on-site at each home on the tour.

Your admission provides entry to all participating showcase homes.

Children 12 and under free with paid adult.

4

1 PRESENTED BY:

Sand & Finish | New Construction | Remodel | Staircases

64

3 2

The 26th annual Home Remodeling Showcase, presented by the Remodelers Council of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa, is the premier showcase of newly renovated homes in Tulsa.

THANK YOU TO THIS YEAR’S SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE:

244

FEATURED PROJECTS

44

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1. The Buckingham Group 3316 S. Birmingham Ave. 2. Dana Build and Design LLC 4131 E. 41st Place 3. Day Homes LLC 3139 S. Florence Place 4. Hammer Stars 1904 S. Florence Place 5. Re-Bath and Simms Kitchens 1728 S. Rockford Ave.

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Delivered to YOUR door.

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Subscribe today and get 12 issues for only $20! Scan the QR code or contact subscriptions@langdonpublishing.com.

Celebrating over 25 years serving Tulsa!

9529-C E. 55 Pl. • 918.622.1000 roperfloors.com 80 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

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HOM E R E MODE L I NG SHOWCA SE

Professional prep What happens when a professionally trained chef outgrows an ordinary kitchen? You create a space worthy of the passion, precision and creativity that great cooking deserves.

The homeowners dreamed of a kitchen that would match the talents of its primary cook — a graduate of the prestigious Cordon Bleu School of Cooking. Although he loved preparing gourmet meals, the existing kitchen and breakfast room simply couldn’t support the techniques, workflow and organization required for serious culinary excellence. Every meal became a reminder that the room was holding him back instead of inspiring him.

The Buckingham Group accepted the challenge of transforming the existing footprint into a world-class culinary environment without expanding the home. Everything was taken back to the framing, providing a blank canvas for a complete reconstruction. Outdated cabinetry, appliances, flooring, walls and ceilings were removed, while the electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems were modernized to meet today’s performance standards.

The result is a stunning custom kitchen where beauty and function work together seamlessly. Premium professional-grade appliances, handcrafted custom cabinetry, thoughtfully organized storage and elegant display areas for treasured China collections create an environment that is as practical as it is breathtaking. Every detail was carefully planned to maximize efficiency, convenience and visual harmony while reflecting the exceptional taste and lifestyle of the homeowners.

Today, this remarkable kitchen is more than a place to prepare meals; it’s the heart of the home, designed to inspire creativity, entertain family and friends, and provide a lifetime of enjoyment.

It’s proof that when exceptional design meets expert craftsmanship, extraordinary living naturally follows.

PROJECT: Kitchen by The Buckingham Group ADDRESS: 3316 S. Birmingham Ave. MAJOR INTERSECTION: 31st Street and Birmingham Avenue

SUPPLIERS: Woodstock Cabinets, Heatwave Supply, Cramer Plumbing, Loper Painting, Abstock Electric *Companies in bold are members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa

BEFORE

The Buckingham Group is an award-winning, full-service, design-build company providing interior and exterior remodeling, and restoration services. Founded in 1981, it is recognized as one of the pioneers and current leaders in residential design-build remodeling in the Tulsa metropolitan area. Its scope of work includes kitchens, bathrooms, home entertainment rooms, home additions, whole house remodels, historic renovations, exterior transformations, outdoor kitchens, and window and door replacement.

Ed Kaplan | 918-624-2666 | bgtulsa.com | ekaplan@bgtulsa.com TulsaPeople.com 81

HOM E R E MODE L I NG SHOWCA SE

‘Wow’ moments

PROJECT: Bedroom, Bathroom, Outdoor Patio, Garage and Exterior

by Dana Build and Design, LLC ADDRESS: 4131 E. 41st Place MAJOR INTERSECTION: 41st Street and Yale Avenue

BEFORE

Stage one is complete on this 1958 mid-century modern home that looks like it is straight out of Palm Springs. Th is home’s transformation starts with a bold move — Oklahoma’s fi rst residential electric garage barn door, completely changing the face of the house. Dana reworked the landscaping, expanded the primary suite, built out an outdoor kitchen and remodeled the entire exterior. Inside, the primary bedroom gets its own “wow” moment: a stunning faux finishing by Carolyn Finch and a MCM mural wallpaper that spans the entire back wall for dramatic effect.

Th is is only stage one — more to come. Ready to reimagine your home? Reach out to Dana for a free consultation at 918-706-7868.

SUPPLIERS: Star Lumber, Overhead Garage Door, Sherwin-Williams, Winnelson, Ashton Granite, Carolyn Finch Faux Finishings *Companies in bold are members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa

Dana Day has been exceeding homeowners’ expectations for over 20 years as a builder/remodeler/designer. HGTV chose Dana to be its local remodeler on a series that had an episode in Tulsa in 2023. Dana exemplifies luxurious design with practical consideration.

She elevates your home with personalized features you never knew you wanted, and delivers a livable luxury you won’t want to live without. Dana takes the extra steps to ensure her clients’ projects are on time and within the budget parameters.

Dana Day | 918-706-7868 | danabuildanddesign.com | danathebuilder@gmail.com

82 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

(918) 437-WALL Proud Member:

Professional Drywall Service www.drywall-repair-tulsa.com

Remodeling?

“Leave the Heavy Lifting to Us!” Turn your remodeling projects into an opportunity to give back.

Green Country Habitat for Humanity’s Deconstruction Service will carefully disassemble and remove salvageable materials before your project begins, all at zero cost to you.

Schedule a Deconstruction Appointment or Pick-up: 918-359-5555

Your Donations

Build Homes

Sales from our ReStores directly fund the construction of homes in our community.

Donate

GreenCountryRestore.org Shop

Donate household furniture, appliances and building materials from your home, business, church or organization.

Impact

Shop at the ReStore and save big money on new and gently used items.

Habitat for Humanity builds more homes for families in the Green Country area.

TulsaPeople.com 83

HOM E R E MODE L I NG SHOWCA SE

Sophisticated charm

This 1950s home was expanded from 2,500 to 4,000 square feet in a way that was thoughtfully designed to seamlessly blend modern elegance with the original architectural character. New spaces include a private primary suite, scullery, expanded laundry room, dedicated dog room shower and an attached three-car garage. This property was further enhanced with an exceptional outdoor living area including a custom swimming pool with professionally designed fencing, which creates a seamless connection between indoor comfort and outdoor entertaining. Day Homes LLC honored the charm of the original ranch design while delivering the sophistication, functionality and craftsmanship of a truly custom luxury home.

PROJECT: Full Home Remodel, Addition, Outdoor Patio and Pool by Day Homes LLC ADDRESS: 3139 S. Florence Place MAJOR INTERSECTION: 31st Street and Harvard Avenue

BEFORE

SUPPLIERS: Day’s Building Material, Tulsa Overhead Door, Jack Wills, Rosser Midwest Stone, W Design, Cherokee Building Supply *Companies in bold are members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa

Since 1992 Day Homes LLC has been exceeding homeowners’ expectations and setting the standard for excellence in the Tulsa area with top-of-the-line craftsmanship and luxurious design. Its commitment to outstanding craftsmanship and elegant design, combined with practical solutions, ensures your vision comes to life beautifully.

Leslie Day | 918-671-0691 | dayhomesllc.com | ldayway@yahoo.com 84 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

A B O U T T OW N A-LIST CALENDAR FOOD + DRINK

ProSource Wholesale Of Tulsa

Redefining the industry, one home improvement project at a time ProSource® of Tulsa is the industry leader when it comes to understanding and meeting the unique needs of trade professionals and their clients.“We have a staggering mix of name-brand home improvement products, available at low wholesale prices thanks to our extraordinary buying power,” says Todd Adams, owner.

Trade pros and their clients will get an up-close look at an impressive floorcovering selection, featuring carpet, hardwood, laminate, stone, and luxury vinyl tile, as well as a vast array of kitchen and bath offerings, including cabinets, countertops, faucets, sinks, and so much more.

LIFESTYLE MUSIC LISTINGS DIRECTORIES & MORE! F I N D M O R E O F T U L S A PEO PLE AT

9811 E. 59 TH ST. | 918-252-7711 | PROSOURCEWHOLESALE.COM/TULSA TulsaPeople.com 85

HOM E R E MODE L I NG SHOWCA SE

Sweet studio

PROJECT: Detached Mother-In-Law Suite / Airbnb Remodel by Hammer Stars ADDRESS: 1904 S. Florence Place MAJOR INTERSECTION: 19th Street and Florence Place

BEFORE

Tucked behind a nearly 100-year-old midtown home, this detached garage spent decades as a makeshift mother-in-law suite before Hammer Stars, Inc. rebuilt it as a fully self-contained, incomeproducing guest studio. Warm midcentury finishes meet modern practicality across the 483-square-foot floor plan: color-changing accent lighting along the exposed beams, a fully equipped kitchen with high-end appliances that can make anything from a quick microwaved meal to the most elaborate recipe, a smart-controlled mini-split system and an EV charger out front. The once-cramped bathroom gave way to a bright walk-in shower with a wide-tiled niche, while a floating vanity with soft underglow lighting keeps the small footprint feeling open and polished. A built-in work desk, highspeed internet and full furnishings make the studio as comfortable

for a traveling professional as for visiting family. What was once the property’s biggest liability now earns its keep as Bella Luna @ Florence Park, a short-term rental welcoming guests to the heart of Midtown Tulsa, and proof of what a forgotten outbuilding can become.

SUPPLIERS: ProSource, Metro Appliances & More, M&M Lumber, Garbe’s, Ferguson Home and Sherwin-Williams *Companies in bold are members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa

This family-owned business established in 2014 is committed to building lifelong relationships with satisfied customers. Its highly motivated team is dedicated to constant communication, creative innovations and providing high-quality products to build your dream home, one project at a time. As general contractors, Hammer Stars facilitates turn-key remodels of all shapes and sizes.

Josh Zajac | 918-928-7205 | hammerstars.com | josh@hammerstars.com 86 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

HOM E R E MODE L I NG SHOWCA SE

Seamless luxury

PROJECT: Bathroom by Re-Bath of Tulsa ADDRESS: 1728 S. Rockford Ave. MAJOR INTERSECTION: 15th Street and Peoria Avenue

BEFORE

This stunning bathroom renovation in a 1928 Tulsa home showcases how historic charm and modern luxury can coexist beautifully.

Designed and completed by Re-Bath Tulsa, the remodel preserves the home’s timeless character while introducing elegant, spa-inspired features. Re-Bath custom natural stone extends seamlessly across the wall and shower, with large-format marble-look LVT tile, all complemented by classic white subway tile wainscoting that honors the home’s original era. A frameless glass shower with built-in niches, brushed gold fixtures and a freestanding soaking tub create a sophisticated yet inviting retreat. Updated lighting, custom finishes and a thoughtfully reconfigured layout maximize both functionality

and comfort while maintaining the architectural integrity of the space. The finished bathroom demonstrates how quality craftsmanship and intentional design can transform a historic home into a luxurious, functional space built for modern living.

SUPPLIERS: Jetta Corporation, Whitacre Glass Works, Ferguson Supply, Moen *Companies in bold are members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa

Re-Bath believes your bathroom is more than just another room; it’s where your day begins and ends and where you prepare for life’s biggest moments. They are passionate about helping homeowners create bathrooms they truly love. From personalized design guidance and premium-quality products to expert, professional installation, they make the remodeling process simple and stress-free. As a one-stop bathroom remodeling company, they bring your vision to life and create a beautiful, functional space can be enjoyed for years to come.

Glenn Simms | 918-488-0600 | rebath.com | info@rebathoftulsa.com TulsaPeople.com 87

HOM E R E MODE L I NG SHOWCA SE

Heart of the home

PROJECT: Kitchen by Simms Kitchens & Cabinetry ADDRESS: 1728 S. Rockford Ave. MAJOR INTERSECTION: 15th Street and Peoria Avenue

BEFORE

This beautifully remodeled kitchen renovation by Simms Kitchens and Cabinetry transformed the heart of a 1928 Tulsa home into a space that balances timeless design with modern functionality.

Custom inset cabinetry, elegant marble countertops with a full-height backsplash and a custom range hood create a sophisticated focal point, complemented by a brick accent and a professional-style range with a brass pot filler. The warm brass fixtures, integrated storage solutions, and carefully selected lighting elevate both form and function. Rich hardwood floors and a soft neutral pallet bring warmth and character throughout the space. Every element was carefully designed to create a kitchen that feels refined, inviting and highly

functional, demonstrating how quality craftsmanship and intentional design can transform a historic home into a space perfectly suited for today’s lifestyle.

SUPPLIERS: Forest Wood Floors, Metro Appliances & More, OneSource Windows, Showplace Wood Products *Companies in bold are members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa

Simms Kitchens is locally owned and operated by brothers Glenn and Curtis Simms. They offer fast, affordable and high-quality kitchen remodeling. Their process is designed to complete a project in an efficient time frame so home owners don’t have to live without their kitchen for weeks. At Simms Kitchens they understand that kitchens are the heart of every home.

Glenn Simms | 918-622-9927 | simmskitchens.com | info@simmskitchens.com 88 TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2026

RESTAURANT WEEK CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

SEPT. 18-27

MEALS THAT GIVE BACK.

Join Tulsa’s best restaurants as we celebrate Tulsa’s 20th annual Restaurant Week which benefits the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Food for Kids programs. Participating restaurants will offer special prix fixe menus, a specialty item, or their regular menus which will all include an automatic 3% donation to the Food Bank! In addition, donations will be generously matched up to $25,000 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

To learn more and see menu options.

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS INCLUDE*: Ava June • Barons on 1st • Bar Serra • Chimi’s (81st Street) • Coracle Coffee • Dilly Diner • Elgin Park Brewery Empire Slice House • Howdy Burger • il seme • LoFi • Malfi Enoteca • Maple Ridge Grocer • Mojo’s • Mr. Kim’s Red Light Chicken • Rise Soufflé • Rib Crib (Harvard) • Roka • Savoy • Society Burger (Cherry Street) • Sisserou’s The Hemingway • The Pump • The Tavern • The Vault • TXMZ Tacos X Mezcal • Yokozuna Downtown Blue Dome *As of 8/20/26

PR E S E NTI N G S P O N SO RS

S P O N SO RS E D BY

B E N E F IT TI N G

1523 EAST 15 TH STREET, TULSA