What To Do in Tulsa This Weekend

If you heard my picks for what to do in Tulsa this weekend on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley this morning, you've probably found your way here to TashaDoesTulsa.com, hungry for more. Take heart, Tulsa doers - like Domino's and Pizza Hut, I deliver.

Good thing my picks are still hot and fresh when they reach your door. Plus, they're calorie-free, guaranteed.

Tasha's Picks for the Week of Aug. 7

Gatesway Balloon Festival

When: Today, 4-11 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
Where: Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs, 20900 S. 4200 Road (Click for directions)

As you're driving around Tulsa this weekend, you might wonder what's up with all the balloons in the sky. It's not a bird, it's not a plane - it's the 14th annual Gatesway Balloon Festival.

This was one of my favorite family traditions when I was a kid, back when the festival was in Broken Arrow. Now it's at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, and the festival has grown to include more than 30 balloons, all here from across four states, as well as balloon competitions, balloon rides, live entertainment, a car and motorcycle show, arts and crafts and tons of kids and family activities. Oh, and a flame-throwing contest. You can't forget about the flame-throwing contest.

Whether you're looking for romance or an experience to share with your kids that they'll treasure for a lifetime, you can't beat the balloon glow. See that photo above of the giant, illuminated balloons? Believe it or not, being there in person is about 20 million times better. The balloons give off a romantic glow, and the bright colors distract the kids long enough for you and the significant other to work in a few smooches.

Admission and seating at the Gatesway Balloon Festival is 100% free. Visit the Gatesway Web site for a complete event schedule and for more beautiful photos of hot-air balloons.

Absolute Best of Tulsa Music Awards

When: Tomorrow night, 7-10 p.m.
Where: Cain's Ballroom

More than 85,000 votes have decided the winners that will be announced as the best of the best in Tulsa music at Cain's Ballroom tomorrow night.

What Urban Tulsa Weekly is calling a colorful circus of crazy musicians, zealous fans, local scenesters celebrities, artists and photographers will feature local acts like Callupsie, Dead Sea Choir, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, My Solstice and Vandevander, plus me and Urban Tulsa arts writer Holly Wall live tweeting from the event.

Come to witness the battle for the titles of best artist, best band and dozens of other categories as the hippest of Tulsa's hip crowd converges upon a T-Town treasure of a music house for one of the rockin'-est parties of 2009.

Turnpike Trauma 2009

Where: Broken Arrow Roller Sports, 551 W. Oakland
When: Sunday, 9 a.m. with the first matchup at 11 a.m. and the final at 7 p.m.

Watch the Oklahoma Victory Dolls of Oklahoma City, Tornado Alley Roller Girls of OKC, and Tulsa's own Green Country Roller Girls and others duke it out on the flat track for the title of roller derby champ. You can buy a whole seat for $20, but you'll only need the edge.


Music

Friday Concerts at LaFortune Park
When: Tonight, 7-9 p.m.
Where: The Gardens of LaFortune Park, off of 51st Street just west of Hudson

Bring lawn chairs and a picnic dinner and mellow out to the tunes Radio Soul. Admission is free.

Rhythm on the River
Where: 41st Street Plaza at RiverParks
When: Tonight, 6:30 p.m.

Like the outdoors? Love free, live music? Get it all at the new 41st Street Plaza at RiverParks with performer Scott Cannaday tonight. If you forget to pack dinner and drinks, don't worry - concessions will be available.

Steve Miller Band
Where: SpiritBank Event Center
When: Sunday, doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.

This great-American rock band will blow into Bixby Sunday evening, just in time to get the week off to a rockin' start. Remaining tickets are $39.50-$47, but if you hurry, you might be able to snag a few seats for $25. See SpiritBank Event Center online for details.

Brian Haas Benefit Concert

Where: Fellowship Congregational Church, 2900 S. Harvard Ave.

When: Saturday, with music at 7; happy hour reception starting at 5

Catch the latest album release show for Petting Sounds: An Improvised Symphony for Solo Piano, along with drinks, a light buffet, live music and a silent auction. The show benefits the Carrie Dickerson Foundation, dedicated to promoting safe alternative energy for Oklahomans and surrounding states.

Art/Theater

Second Saturdays at Philbrook Museum
When: Saturday, 10:30-4 p.m.
Where: Philbrook Museum, off of Peoria between 21st and 31st at 2727 S. Rockford

Get into the hands-on art projects available on Second Saturdays at Philbook Museum, or go on a scavenger hunt. While you're there, feel free to bring along your easel and take advantage of the beautiful gardens there – you can't beat that view, if you're a landscape artists. Or, take a walking audio tour that includes the history of the Phillips home, family and gardens. It's all free, free, free.

Brady Art Crawl
When: Friday night, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Starting at Gypsy Coffee House, 303 N. Cincinnati

Join the group of wandering art lovers as they wind through Tulsa's own art district along Brady. Head through the renovated warehouse that houses Wallace Engineering, the Mathews Warehouse, through the central Brady District and, lastly, Club 209.

Along the way, look for the Visual Arts Coalition Baywalk, which allows those on the art crawl to give their sneakers a rest and stop to chat with artists, some of them in situ. Stop by Tulsa Glassblowing Studio to play with fire and watch torchworkers create beadwork. Plus, there's wine involved. Who could ask for anything more?

Shark Week at Oklahoma Aquarium
Where: Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks
When: Until Sunday

A week of shark events in conjunction with “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel continues this weekend. Check out the presentations on feedings and chances to win prizes.

Harwelden Murder Mystery
Where: Harwelden Mansion, 2210 S. Main St.
When: Through Saturday, seating at 7 p.m.

Just when we all thought politics couldn't get more twisted, the Presidential retreat of Camp David is about to become the scene of a historic event: Namely, the wedding of the President to the Vice President. But, weddings tend to bring out the worst in some people; secrets are revealed and the bodies start to pile up. Tickets to this murder mystery are $45, which includes dinner, wine, beer and lots of good company. Call 584-3333, ext. 32, for reservations.

Sleeping Beauty

Where: TCC VanTrease PACE, 81st St. and US 169

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Presented by the South Tulsa Children's Ballet, this rendition of Sleeping Beauty features the debut of dozens of future stars of the stage. Catch it for $10-20; children under two are admitted free.

Project Alice

When: Tonight and Saturday, 8-10 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.

Where: Nightingale Theater, Monica Huggins Dance Theatre, 1416 E. Fourth St.

If you're into contemporary dance and multimedia performing arts, don't miss this interpretation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass," adapted and directed by Jennifer Alden. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for students, $10 for kids - bring cash because, like me, the Nightingale kicks it old school.

Other Stuff

Red Fork Down On Main Street

Where: Old Red Fork downtown near Ollie's Station Restaurant on Southwest Boulevard

When: Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Local food. Local fun. Local feel. Find it: Live music, Ollie's Station Restaurant Blue Plate Special, a farmers' market with that westside charm, the Global Garden's Kid Zone, art show and pie contest (yum). Look also for performances by Travis Kidd and Jay Falkner of South 40. Admission to this event is free, and parking and shuttling are available at Webster High School at 1919 W. 40th St. and at the OSU Women's Center, 2345 Southwest Boulevard. Head to the Red Fork Down On Main Street Web site for more details, including much more on what promises to be a killer pie contest.

Tulsa Talons Playoff Game
Where: BOK Center
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Tulsa's arena football team continues in the playoffs Saturday night as they take on Bossier-Shreveport. Tickets range $17-$75.

Owen Park Centennial Celebration
When: Tonight, 7-10; tomorrow starting at 8 a.m.
Where: Owen Park, 560 N. Maybelle

Look for Teen Town Dance tonight, and come out tomorrow for the fishing tournament and the groundbreaking for a new splash pad and playground. This celebration promises to be an exciting, fun-filled event for one of Tulsa's most treasured historic neighborhoods.

Tax Free Weekend in Tulsa
When: Starting tonight at 12:01 a.m.

Just in time for you folks still shopping for back-to-school clothes and shoes (but not school supplies, because they're not tax exempt - don't get mad at me, I don't make the rules) is the now-annual tax-free weekend here in T-Town. Many stores will be open early and late and will be offering special deals to get shoppers to come out out their hidey holes and spend some dough. Oklahomans save millions on by shopping on this holiday, even with exemptions on athletic clothing, school supplies and accessories. But, you can get a wedding dress tax free this weekend, so there's always that little bright point.

Playdate Tulsa
Where: Blue Dome Diner, 2nd and Elgin
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.

Looking for something to do this weekend that's off the beaten path? Look no further than the Blue Dome Diner, downtown at Second Street and Elgin Avenue. Starting at 8 Saturday night will be games galore, food, dancing and general splendid-time-havin', totally filling up the huge space in the back of BDD. Just try to find this much fun under one roof anywhere else in town for the PlayDate admission price of $10. Everyone, from singles to couples to groups, is invited because everyone likes to play.

August: Osage County
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center
When: Tickets went on sale Aug. 3; Show Jan. 26-31

Tracy Letts presents his Tony- and Pulitzer-award winning play about family strife set in rural Oklahoma. For mature audiences only, this promises to be a highlight of Tulsa theater in 2009.

50th Anniversary of the film, The Diary of Anne Frank

Where: Circle Cinema

When: Sunday, 2 p.m.

Celebrate the gold anniversary of this film by catching it free of charge at Circle Cinema Sunday afternoon.