Our First Trick-Or-Treat

Tonight, my husband, my pumpkin-clad son and I set out to score some candy in our first-ever trick-or-treating trip as a family.

We thought we'd hit a house or two and have to trudge home to the howling and screaming of our stranger-shy two-year-old. But no. Quite the contrary, actually.

Read the rest of this spooky post on my blog at Ttownmoms.com.

Tulsa Run 2009: In Photos

Days like today are perfect for three things. Football is one of them. Trick-or-treating is another.

The third, of course, is running.

The start gun sounded bright and early this morning to kick off Tulsa Run 2009, the annual celebration of health and fitness in downtown and Midtown Tulsa. It's the oldest and largest run in the state, and after 31 years, it only got better today.

The reason I found myself behind the starting line at Tulsa Run for the third year almost in a row (had to miss a year, thanks to being heavily pregnant in 2007) was that I love the energy that's created by the thousands of people raring to run through the streets of my favorite part of this city. Running through a sea of humanity is an experience like no other. If you've never done it, it sounds unremarkable. To those who have, though, it's even more exciting than the free Marshall beer waiting behind the finish line.

Well, almost more exciting than the free Marshall beer behind the finish line.

Here's an idea. How about I stop rambling and show y'all some photos from this year's Tulsa Run? I promise they're better than Uncle Remus's vacation slides.

For more Tulsa Run photo fun, head to the Tasha Does Tulsa page on Flickr.

Congrats to all you Tulsa Runners out there. You ran a stupendous race this morning. Now, go eat something to harden your arteries. All the free candy you snagged at the finish line this morning would be a good start.

What to Do in Tulsa This Weekend

I hope you have your costumes steamed, pressed and dry cleaned, Tulsans, because this weekend, Halloween arrives.

We all share those memories of bone-chilling All Hallows' Eves of yore – you remember, the time you decided to be Superman or Tinkerbell the year the temperatures plummeted to 29 degrees. You won't be wishing for a Sasquatch costume this year, kids. Temperatures will reach into the low 60s on Saturday, and the worst things are going to get is a balmy 40 degrees.

If you're taking the ankle-biters (not the Kibble-eating kind - well, not usually) out for some trick or treating, take a minute and refresh yourself on Halloween safety. I know, I know, I'm being a total mom. Even so, it's better to be safe than sorry.

As for the rest of you: Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Which, when it comes to this town, doesn't really leave much out.

As heard every Friday morning on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley, here's the rundown on what to do in Tulsa this weekend. Happy Halloween, everybody.

Friday

Vincent Price Double Feature
When: Friday, 8:30pm
Where: Gardner's Used Books, 4421 S. Mingo Road
Give yourself goosebumps with these two classics: House on Haunted Hill, the 1959 film starring none other than Vincent Price as the shadowy character who offers five strangers $10,000 if they can stay a whole night in a house with a reputation for murder; and The Last Man on Earth (1964), in which Price plays Dr. Morgan, the only survivor of a worldwide plague of the undead. The showings are free, but get around early – seating is limited. Oh, and don't forget to dress up for the costume contest.


Saturday (Happy Halloween!)

BooHaHa
When: Halloween
Where: Brookside
Starting bright and early at 8am, the main strip of one of Tulsa's most beloved historic neighborhoods will be transformed into a Halloween runway. The Kids' Zone opens at 11am, and trick-or-treating gets into gear at high noon. The pet costume contest will commence in the Food Pyramid parking lot at noon, followed by the children's costume contest. Don't miss the Thriller Dance Class at Ida Red at 2; then, stick around for the annual BooHaHa Parade at 3pm, from 33rd-49th Streets. It's all free and open to the public.

Sunday

Dia de los Muertos Arts Festival
When: Sunday, 2-11pm
Where: Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 E. Brady
Celebrate life, culture and family at this arts and heritage party. Traditionally, relatives hold vigil by a decorated altar, often at a grave site, to remember those who have died. The Tulsa Dia will feature an array of Hispanic food, music and artists. Don't miss performances by Mariachi Tulsa, Salsa Rhythm Project and Fire Dancers & Drummers. Admission is $5, and kids 12 and under get in free. Just don't show up an hour late. Daylight Savings time ends at 2am Sunday morning, so do remember to, as they say, fall back one hour.

Halloween

Understatement of the year alert: There's much going on in Tulsa this Halloween. For the sake of your sanity, I'll separate the All Hallows' events into two categories: For the Kids and Grown-Ups Only.

For the Kids

Tulsa Corn Maize
When: Now-Nov. 8; Wed-Fri, 5-10pm; Sat, 10am-10pm; Sun, 12-6pm; Closed Mondays; Haunted Maize open at dark Fri-Sat., Fall Break and Halloween
Where: 32506 E. 61st Street in Broken Arrow
There's more to do at the Tulsa Corn Maize than just get lost. Let me count the ways: a paintball shooting range; campfires; a haunted maze; a cow train; hay rides; rubber ducky races; and a corn box (you have to see it to believe it). Admission is $6 per youth aged 4-12, free for kids 3 and under and $8 for adults.

Haunted Castle Halloween Festival
When: Friday and Saturday; Hours 6-10pm
Where: The Castle at Muskogee, 3400 Fern Mountain Road
Fun for kids and the young at heart alike, The Castle delivers nine spooktacular events, ranging from not-so-scary to really-really-scary, across a 60-acre Halloween-themed park. From the sinister, fog-shrounded forest to the carnival atmosphere of Halloween Land, everyone is sure to find performances and activities they'll never forget. Check out the ticket combos, which are printable from your desktop and range $15-$25, on The Castle Web site.

Camp Cute & Spooky
When: Friday, 7-9pm
Where: Discoveryland!
Kids 10 and under can hit the trail to west Tulsa for an evening of great Halloween fun at Discoveryland!'s entertainment complex. Catch everything from a trick-or-treat trail through a lighted enchanted forest to a haystack jump to the "Monster Mash" dance stage. Admission is $6 (or $5 for the crafty among you who head to Quiktrip or Incredible Pizza for those $1 off coupons) and includes all activities. Don't forget to don those costumes.

HallowZOOeen
When: Oct. 27-Halloween, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum
Get wild this Halloween and bring your boys and "ghouls" to trick-or-treat at the wildest neighborhood in town. A spooky, but not too scary, Halloween adventure is planned at this 20th annual HallowZOOeen. Get treats at Goblin Stops, play games and see zoo mascots as you roam the trick-or-treat trail. General admission is $7 (or $6 for members), and kids under 2 and not trick-or-treating will be admitted free. Don't forget to bring that extra pillowcase.

Hallowmarine
When: Oct. 27-31, 10am-6pm (last paid admission is one hour prior to closing)
Where: Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks
Great ready for Halloween on the high seas - the Oklahoma Aquarium is spooky (and salty!) with carnival games, a trick-or-treat trail, haunted feed shows and plenty of pirates handing out tricks and treats. Admission is $7 per youth, $10 per adult.

Pumpkin Party & Parade
When: Friday, 10am-10:45am
Where: Whiteside Community Center
Head to Whiteside for a parade, play games and enjoy a few snacks with friends. For ages 2-5 years. All participants must be pre-enrolled, so call Whiteside soon. Admission is $6.

Mummy and Son Halloween Dance
When: Friday, 6pm
Where: Bixby Community Center, 211 N. Cabaniss Ave.
At this second of annual Mummy & Son Halloween dances there will be dance competitions along with costume contest for those who dare to dress up. Plenty of refreshments will be on hand, the DJ Connection will provide the tunes. Cost is $5 per person.

Halloween Carnival
When: Friday, 6-7:30pm
Where: Whiteside Community Center
Join the ghosts and goblins at Whiteside for a fun, safe Halloween experience. Admission is $5 for kids aged 2-8, which includes unlimited game play. Adults are admitted free.

Fun & Games on Main
When: Halloween, 6pm
Where: The Farmers' Market, 418 S. Main Street in Broken Arrow
There's nothing like coming home from a night of trick-or-treating to a toilet papered house and smashed pumpkins. Don't get mad - do something about it. Heighten crime awareness this Halloween and still have a good time on Main Street in Broken Arrow. Look for the special Katy engine from Union Pacific Railroad, a magic show, performances by the BA Hip Hop Cops and free food from Reasor's and Blue Bell Ice Cream. Plus, the Green Country Roller Girls will be handing out candy. Killer!

Halloween Night at the Winery
When: Halloween, 4pm
Where: Stone Bluff Cellars
Bring your little ones to a scenic Oklahoma winery for some Halloween fun. Snag some cupcakes and cider for the kids and a more bitter brew for yourself. Don't forget to get your photo taken with the Wine Gnome - very spooky indeed.

Annual "Pumpkin" Hunt
When: Halloween, 5:30pm
Where: Central Park in Broken Arrow, 1500 S. Main Street
Guess how many "pumpkins" (read: plastic eggs with Halloween goodies inside) will be hidden in Central Park this year, just for kids ages 1-7 to hunt? 4,000, that's how many. It's all free and open to the public, and the kiddos are encouraged to come in costume. Stick around for the Main Street Merchants Night Out Against Crime, which packs free activities, food, safety and crime prevention information all into one fun-filled evening.

Halloween Carnival
When: Halloween, 6-8pm
Where: Chamberlain Park
Join the Chamberlain Park Staff and community volunteers for a sook-tacular time. Little ghosts and gouls can participate in carnival games, get candy and have fun. Ages 1-12 are welcome, and everyone gets in free.


Grown-Ups Only

Psycho Path Haunted Attraction
When: Now-Halloween; 7-11pm
Where: 15157 E. 106th Street North in Sperry
The woods are shrouded by a blanket of fog. All you can see is the narrow path taking you deeper and deeper into the darkness, where creatures wait behind every twist and turn. Your blood suddenly runs cold - you've realized there's no turning back. The Psycho Path may be your only way home. Yikes! When there's a haunted path, a spooky ride-through and a haunted house, there's sure to be scares and screams for all. Tickets range $8-40; visit the Psycho Path site for details and ticket sales.

The Hex House
When: Friday, 7:30pm; Halloween, 7pm
Where: Southeast corner of 71st and Memorial, next to Incredible Pizza
Hex House claims to be Tulsa's only extreme haunted attraction. One thing's for sure: It's not for children. Not for the faint of heart, Hex House promises to stupefy and terrify.

Halloween Glassblowing
When: Friday-Sunday during store hours
Where: Tulsa Glassblowing, 19 E. Brady
For the low, low price of $45, anyone aged 12 and older can walk right in to Tulsa Glassblowing on Brady and whip themselves up a good lookin' glass pumpkin or witch ball. The possibilities, they are endless - and spooky, too.

Scream Country Haunted Forest
When: Friday-Halloween, 7:30-11pm
Where: Deep in the woods of Drumright
Located deep in the woods, haunting more than 40 acres of dark, twisting forest, Scream Country will be scaring the pants off Oklahomans for the 12 year in a row in 2009. See the haunted forest, the haunted house (a.k.a. Dead Block, the world's first maximum security zombie prison) and the corn mayhem, all with one ticket. Admission is $18, or skip the line and pay $35 for a scream pass.

Vampire Prom Nite Murder Mystery
When: Halloween, 7pm
Where: Whispering Vines Vineyard & Winery, 7374 W. 51st Street
Solve the murder and win a bottle of award-winning, Oklahoma-grown wine, not to mention bragging rights. These three-hour shows sold out last year, so get your tickets now. Tickets are $59.95 and includes dinner, the show, tax and tip.

Tulsa Ballet's Dracula
When: Now-Halloween at 8pm; Nov. 1 at 3pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center (Check out that link for a video preview of this ballet)
Lavish sets, haunting music and ghostly lighting ignite the spirit of evil in this theatrical ballet, Dracula. As if we needed an excuse to travel back to 19th century Transylvania, the Tulsa Ballet is offering Tulsans the scenic route. Music will be by Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. Tickets range $20-$70.

All Hallows Hangover
When: Friday, 6:30pm
Where: Rose Bowl Event Center, 7419 E. 11th Street
See My Solstice, Congress of a Crow and TRANNY will perform. General admission tickets are $10, or $12.25 at the door.

The Seven Deadly Sins: An Evening of Sinfully Fun Poetry
When: Friday, 8pm
Where: Living ArtSpace, 307 E. Brady
Living Arts invites you to the Brady District this Hallows' Eve for a sinful night of wayward poetry from Tulsa's best wordsmiths: Tony Brinkley, Mia Wright, Confidence Omenai, Tony Henley and others. Wear a costume portraying the sin of your choice, and don't forget to stick around a performance by the Portico Dans Dance Troupe.

Halloween Party for Adults at The Canebrake
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: The Canebrake, 33241 E. 732nd Road in Wagoner
The Canebrake is here this Halloween to prove this holiday isn't just for kids. Grab your friends and (adult) loved ones and head to Wagoner county for some grown-up time, complete with music and door prizes. And hey, just because you're a grown up doesn't mean you don't get to don a killer costume. A $5 admission donation goes to Wagoner Animal Guardian Society.

Prick or Ink Tattoo Festival
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: SpiritBank Event Center in Bixby
A temporary tatt just not going to cut it this Halloween? Check out tattoo artists, live tattoo competitions and live music all All Hallows' Eve weekend long in Bixby. Look also for the daily performances by the mind-boggling antics of The Lucky Daredevil Thrill Show. A single day pass is $25, or get the three-day pass for $50.

Brady Fall Arts Festival
When: Halloween, 10am-6pm
Where: Brady Outdoor Stage, 300 N. Main
Think you can handle 50 local artists? How about enough food and music to make you scream? It's all at Brady Fall Arts Festival all day on All Hallows' Eve. Presented by Local Art Matters.

Arsenic and Old Lace
When: Halloween, 1pm
Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Road
In this 1944 madcap romp starring Cary Grant, Mortimer Brewster, a mild-mannered drama critic, learns on Halloween that his two kindly and loveable aunts have been poisoning people with elderberry wine. Corpses can turn up in the most unusual places in Brooklyn.

Free Thriller Dance Class
When: Halloween, noon-3pm
Where: Ida Red Boutique on Brookside, 3346 S. Peoria Ave.
You know you've always wanted to learn it - it's the Thriller Dance, the moves that the late Michael Jackson made famous. This Halloween, thanks to the folks at Studio 1 on Cherry Street, you have the chance to learn it for free. Find your way to Ida Red on Brookside for the class (starting at 2pm), along with a special Halloween set by local band The Red Alert (starting at noon) and a costume contest (starting at 3pm).

Have a Spicy Halloween
When: Halloween, 4-10pm
Where: Elote Cafe & Catering, Fifth and Boston
It's no secret that Elote is one of the hottest, spiciest places to dine in downtown Tulsa and this Halloween, nothing's changed. Head to the little Fresh-Mex cafe at Fifth and Boston for a costume contest complete with prizes, along with a spookylicious adult beverage. Yum.

Grown-Up Trick or Treat
When: Halloween, 6-8pm
Where: Brady Outdoor Stage, 300 N. Main
If you think your costume has what it takes to get the treats and leave the tricks, hit up the Brady Merchants Association at the Grown-Up Trick or Treat this Halloween. The fun kicks off just at sundown.

A PlayDate Halloween
When: Halloween, 8pm
Where: Allen Chapman Activity Center at University of Tulsa, 800 S. Tucker Drive
What is Play Date? It's an alternative to the typical night out, that's what. On the agenda: Drinks, food, music, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. After all, and as the saying goes, you don't stop playing because you get old; you get old because you stop playing. Pay $10 to get through the door, and don't forget to wear that titillating costume.

A Rocky (Horror) Halloween
When: Halloween, 8-10pm
Where: Brady Outdoor Stage, 300 N. Main
This first-ever Halloween celebration of its kind promises to be a day of art, entertainment and frightful partying. First, check out the Halloween Musical Extravaganza by Crossland, voted best party cover band in this year's Absolute Best of Tulsa Music Awards. Then, at 10pm, stay tuned for a screening of The Rocky Horror Show. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate. $100 will buy a VIP package, which includes stage-front seating, a Props Pack full of everything you'll need to participate in The Rocky Horror Show) and admission to the late night VIP cast party.

35th Annual Freakers Ball
When: Halloween, doors at 7pm
Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street
Back in '74, a group of folks wanted to put together a wild night of costumes and music. Good thing for you that they're still partying down at Cain's Ballroom 35 years later, making the Freakers Ball the longest running costume contest in the state. Need more convincing? Nearly two dozen local acts will be rocking the monster mash. Tickets are $10 at the door, $9 in advance.

Spider Ball
When: Halloween, 8pm
Where: Enso's and IDL Ballroom, downtown at First and Detroit
If you can monster mash with the best of 'em, get ready to boogie at the first annual Spider Ball, a dance party so big it'll take two clubs to contain it. At Enso's will be Steve Cluck doing his deejay thing, and IDL will feature a live performance by PDA and hot spins by DJ Synthcon. The event is free, but you must be 21 or older to attend, and you have to come in costume - that, or black and white clothing only. A full liquor bar will be ready to rock so, as the Facebook event page for this event says, "bring your sexy."

Halloween Ball
When: Halloween, 8pm
Where: The Marquee, 222 N. Main Street
There will be plenty of music to be had at this little Halloween shindig, that's for sure - no less than six deejays will be rocking the house at The Marquee Saturday night until 2 am. Look also for a costume contest, giveaways and cash prizes. Admission is $5 with a costume, $7 without, and anyone with a Freakers Ball ticket stub gets a discount on the door price, too.


Music

The David Crowder Band
When: Friday, doors at 7pm, show at 8
Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street
If you think you don't like church music, then you haven't heard The David Crowder Band. This six-piece Waco-based Christian electronic rock and worship band promises to rock Cain's no less than what it deserves. Tickets are $30 in advance or $32 at the door.

Signature Symphony: Sam Harris
When: Friday and Saturday, 8pm
Where: Tulsa Community College VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st Street
Sam Harris, star of Broadway, screen and recording, returns to Tulsa to share his talent with the hometown crowd. Tickets are $27.50-$49.

Primal Swing
When: Sunday, 5pm
Where: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street
When it comes to those cravings we all have for good music, there's no going wrong with a concert at the Jazz Hall of Fame, right in our own backyard in downtown Tulsa. If you're looking to get primal this Sunday, call the Jazz Depot on First Street at (918) 281-8600 for a ticket or five.

K.O.D. Tour featuring Tech N9ne
When: Sunday, doors at 7pm, show at 8:15
Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street
“No negative energy – that is the remedy.” You can say that little bit of Tech N9ne wisdom again, and I bet on Sunday night, you will. Tickets are $25 in advance or $27 at the door.

Theater

So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2009
When: Friday, doors at 6:30pm, show at 7:30
Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave.
See your top ten perform live on stage as the SYTYCDT (!) tour waltzes, tangoes and krumps its way to T-Town. Tickets are $38.50-56.

Tap Dogs
When: Friday, 8pm
Where: Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, 701 S. Main Street
It's part theatre, part dance and part rock concert – it's Tap Dogs. If this rough and tough reinvention of tap is good enough to sell 12 million seats worldwide, then it's more than good enough for your Friday night. Tickets are $25-45.

Side Show
When: Friday and Saturday, 8pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second Street
Who doesn't love a tale of conjoined twins? This musical, nominated for four Tony Awards, tells of the twins' search for survival and love through both the high and low points in their search for careers in vaudeville. The best part? This musical is based on a true story. Judging by the popularity of reality television shows, we all love that very, very much. Tickets are $30.

Boy Gets Girl
When: Friday and Saturday, 8pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second Street
Got stalkers? Then this is the production, presented by Playhouse Theatre, for you. Questioning the assumptions at the very heart of romantic pursuit in the context of a blind date gone sour – frighteningly so. Tickets for this show, which is recommended for mature audiences only, are $25.

The Exonerated
When: Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Heller Theatre @ Henthorne, 4825 S. Quaker Ave.
Don't miss the drama of the true stories of six former death row prisoners who were released from prison after their convictions were reversed. Take a closer look at their false accusations, wrongful convictions and eventual exoneration. Tickets for this show, intended for mature audiences only, are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and college students.

Comedy Showcase @ The Nightingale
When: Sunday, doors at 7:30pm, show at 8
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
It's not yet Thanksgiving, but A Murder of Comics is bringing the turkeys early. TU's pride and joy, Jack Merrywell, headlines what promises to be a night of uproarious laughter, and he's bringing the likes of my buddies Jay Dee and Justin McKean with him. Drinks and snacks will be there, and so should you. Tickets are $5.


Sports

TU Homecoming Game at SMU
When: Halloween, 1pm
Where: H.A. Chapman Stadium
TU's homecoming and Halloween collide this year, and the result promises to be so much fun, it's scary. Join in the tailgating festivities on Chapman Commons, complete with trick-or-treating, food and music, and cheer on the home team as it takes on the Mustangs from University Park, Texas.

OSU v. Texas
When: Saturday, 7pm
Where: Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater
Catch the Cowboy fun on Cox Cable Channel 8.

OU v. Kansas State
When: Saturday, 6pm
Where: Norman

Tulsa Run
When: Halloween
Where: Downtown Tulsa
Kids and adults alike can dress up and run in Tulsa's favorite way to burn a few hundred calories, the annual Tulsa Run. It all gets started bright and early (and chilly!) Halloween morning, with a finish line festival, including candy bars for the kids and warm coffee and cold beer for grown-ups, waiting at the end.

U.S. Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show
When: Now-Oct. 31
Where: Expo Square
What's this little horse show about? It's about being the most prestigious North American championship in the Arabian show horse industry, that's what. This event offers Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses while both amateur and professional riders or handlers compete in competitions from halter and native costuming to western and hunter classes. Believe it or not, this horse show also offers world-class shopping and barn parties.


Other Stuff

The Pioneer Woman at Dwelling Spaces
When: Friday, 3pm
Where: Dwelling Spaces, 119 S. Detroit Ave.
The event starring the celebrity accidental country girl held at Tulsa Historical Society Tuesday night was a huge hit. So huge, in fact, that BookSmart Tulsa ran clean out of books. Good thing Ree Drummond, the one and only Pioneer Woman, agreed to hang out at Dwelling Spaces Friday afternoon to sign books for those who didn't get a chance to chat and snag an autograph. Books are $27.50. Find out more about Ree at Confessions of a Pioneer Woman.

Sidewalk Astronomy
When: Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 7pm
Where: BassPro Broken Arrow, 101 Bass Pro Drive; RiverWalk Crossing in Jenks, 300 Riverwalk Terrace
Did you know that it's the International Year of Astronomy? Well, it is, and the Astronomy Club of Tulsa is ready to help you get hip with the cosmos with their public observing events. Simply head toward the giant telescopes.

Oklahoma Reptile Expo
When: Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
Where: Tulsa Select Hotel, 5000 E. Skelly Drive
If you hit the ceiling at the mere thought of a lizard or a snake, then I'd advise against staying at the Tulsa Select this weekend. Everything from turtles to cage supplies will be showcased this weekend, and everyone over the age of 13 gets to see it all for a five spot (kids 6-12 pay $3). Just remember: Show coordinators are not responsible for injuries or damage. Yowzas.

City of Tulsa Mayoral Candidate Forum
When: Sunday, 4pm
Where: Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. Fourth Street
PFLAG, the Tulsa chapter of the League of Women Voters and Oklahomans for Equality are set to host a Tulsa mayoral candidate forum. Let's hope you're set to attend. All mayoral candidates have been invited to attend, and a reception will follow.

Movies

Michael Jackson's This Is It
When: Opened Wednesday, Oct. 28
In this season of the Thriller dance, be sure to catch this rare glimpse into the final days of Michael Jackson, compiled from an estimated 80 hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage. Rated PG.

Who Needs Guttering

As I was saying, who needs guttering when, on days like this drizzly one we're having in Tulsa today, we can do this:



Come on. You know you want to. It's not too cold, it's not too muddy and, hey, it's almost Friday. Find a way to run around in the rain like a kid gone berserk today.

My Favorite Fall Place

Today I unwittingly spent the morning at my favorite place to soak up the season - Memorial Park Cemetery, in southeast Tulsa at the corner of 51st and Memorial.

See, I don't routinely spend my morning hours wandering around historic cemeteries snapping photos. It's just that, today, I drove by Memorial Park and was floored by the color bursting forth from the place. I just had to pull in and set off through these gorgeous trees on foot.

Wow. Can you blame me?

Then, as I was leaving, my car died. In a cemetery. The week of Halloween. Oh, the irony.

I thought that while I was waiting around to find out what the heck is wrong with my wheels, I'd share these loverly - *sings "loverly" a la Audrey in My Fair Lady* - photos of what is, in my opinion, one of the best places for a short drive, stroll, meander, weather balloon ride or whatever else strikes your fancy when you're craving some serious fall foliage viewing.

Plus, Memorial Park Cemetery is a pretty rich place when it comes to Tulsa history. This cemetery, which sprawls over 260 acres that were well outside the city in the year of its founding during the oil boom in 1927, is now the site of some 54,000 graves. Some of the city's oldest names - Helmerich, Marshall, Mayo and Mabee, just to name a few - are found there, immortalized in stately mausoleums, statues and monuments. Plus, Memorial Park is reportedly the resting place of the larger-than-life Bob Wills, as well as comedian Sam Kinison.

And you thought 51st and Memorial was a cultural dead zone. Ha! Pun totally (and shamefully) intended.

Where in the area do your falltime drives take you?

So Many Drafts

The Tulsa Press Club Foundation’s headlining fundraiser has a lot more to flaunt this year than just a change of venue.

Read more about this thirsty event and get the scoop on Tulsa's newest pedal-powered lunch delivery business in the food page in this week's edition of Tulsa Business Journal.

The Pioneer Woman Comes to the Big City (Tulsa!)

Look what landed on my doorstep last week.

Why, hello there.

Eek! *assuming squee pose* Could it be?

It is! It's finally here! My very own copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl!

Whew. I'm gonna be sore in the morning after all that exclamating.

The arrival of this book, penned and expertly illustrated by none other than Ree Drummond, Oklahoma's own Pioneer Woman, heralds and even more exciting happening.

Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman herself, the same Pioneer Woman about whom I was just speaking, is coming to the big city. That is, OUR big city.

And, guess when. TOMORROW NIGHT. As in, about 27 hours from right now.

It's okay. You can squee. Squee, and the world squees with you; squee not, and you squee later, all alone in your room, and you look like a real dorkus.

The folks at Tulsa Historical Society and BookSmart Tulsa are in a tizzy preparing for Tuesday night's visit, which promises to be one of the most exciting and sensational and tear-soaked book release parties this town has ever seen. It all gets kicked off at 7pm at THS at 2445 S. Peoria Ave.

Anyone who reads Confessions of a Pioneer Woman – and if you don't, then for heaven's sake, you should – has long been anticipating her forthcoming cookbook, based on the section of her blog, The Pioneer Woman Cooks!

In case you've been a very naughty and misbehaved Web geek and haven't been reading Confessions, allow me give you the rundown: Long ago (i.e., sometime in the nineties), Bartlesville native Ree Drummond, a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman, fled where she was working in Los Angeles and made a pit stop in Oklahoma while she enrolled in law school up north. She unexpectedly met a fourth-generation cattle rancher, a.k.a. Marlboro Man, a.k.a. member of the prominent Osage County Drummond family that has been ranching in northeastern Oklahoma long and hard enough to be known as one of the wealthiest landowners in the entire country, and the two fall in love. Before Ree knows it, she's married, living on the Drummond ranch and is headed toward motherhood.

And they all lived happily ever after. Okay? Okay.

The first time I visited the cooking section of this hugely popular blog was in 2007, not long after Ree had traded in her blogging training wheels and was headed skyward on the whirlwind incline toward 14 million page views per month, the size of her current readership. I'd logged on at the advice of Have Spork, Will Travel blogger, Amanda, my official recipe-trading buddy and harbinger of all things hip. I resisted at first, but as with all seemingly hairbrained Amanda suggestions, I eventually came around.

The first Pioneer Woman recipe I ever made was Penne a la Betsy. Back then, I had no idea who this Betsy person was, or why someone would name a pasta recipe after her. All I knew was that the dish involved tomato cream sauce – something I'd always wanted to learn to make – and lots and lots of basil. Oh, and shrimp. I love shrimp on a regular day, but when I was perusing this recipe I was about six months pregnant, and shrimp sounded, let's say, positively wed-able.

Ree wasn't kidding when she wrote that her years spent on a ranch cooking to please the steak-and-potatoes-loving Marlboro Man created recipes that could earn a girl a wedding proposal. My husband and I had just celebrated our three-year anniversary when I made Penne a la Betsy for dinner, and he was about ready to haul me back to Eureka Springs for an impromptu vow renewal ceremony.

That he was ready to haul me anywhere, especially that many miles east, is really saying something. I wasn't one of those cute, spindly little pregnant girls.

No, sir, no, I was not. While I was pregnant was the first time in my life I kept bacon and red meat in the fridge, and thanks in large part to Ree's fat-is-tasty ethos, I knew how to use it.

The recipes in the cookbook are divided into five sections – Starters, In the Morning, Dinner (Translation: Lunch, along with instructions for a complete Sunday Dinner), Supper (Translation: Dinner, along with how to put together a Cowgirl Dinner Party) and Sweets. Each recipe is, of course, beautifully photographed in that distinctively Pioneer Woman way – at every step and start and aside and possible hangup and, at last, the end.

Guess what is the first thing everyone says when I talk to them about The Pioneer Woman Cooks? Things like, “I love how she shows each step of the process with a photo!" and "All those photos let me know I'm on the right track.” I second those motions.

Something else I like about Ree's philosophy on food: Her recipes are the most approachable and accessible I've seen anywhere, save this three-page-long pancake cookbook I had when I was three. Want to know how to dice an onion? Through baby steps and scads of photos, Ree can teach you. Always wanted to know how to make delicious pulled pork? With humor and humbleness, Ree can teach you.

I think women my age (a.k.a. Gen Y, a.k.a. Babies Raised on the Food Network) get intimated in the kitchen from time to time. We've been known to run businesses, marathons and busy households, but when it comes to cooking a meal, it's the basics we're lacking.

Thanks to an aforementioned food media empire, we all know how to make Retro Metro Fancy Tuna Casserole (go ahead, click it – I couldn't make that up) and Parmigiano and Herb Chicken Breast Tenders and Paprika Open Face Lasagna. Ha! Kids' stuff, that. But, when it comes to a non-Crock Pot version of the Perfect Pot Roast or Ribeye Steaks or Basic Breakfast Potatoes or Braised Brisket or, heck, even Buttermilk Biscuits (an all-new Pioneer Woman recipe in The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook), we don't know a whisk from a gravy separator.

Ree's new cookbook is a line thrown out to those of us drowning in a sea of lists of complex, hard-to-find ingredients, missing steps, over-simplified instructions and general snooty food jibber-jabber.

Power to the people! Or something.

Thanks to the little recipe collection at The Pioneer Woman Cooks! and, now, in full color and beauty and gloss in my very own kitchen, I know tons more about how to whip up a good, Oklahoma-style meal.

The best news? Thanks to all I've learned by looking over Ree's shoulder for the past two years, my grandmother will now eat dinner at my house. Before she'd politely decline and order in. At least now I can serve her something that won't have her smiling politely when she comes to see us.

Drummond's 256-page, hardcover cookbook includes snippets of her hilariously self-deprecating commentary on ranch life, along with those wonderful recipes I've been going on about.

Starting tomorrow night, it'll sell for $27.50. A.k.a. the price of a modest dinner out, a.k.a. the price of a small tank of gas in Oklahoma last summer, a.k.a. the price of a mega-pack of the good diapers.

Ah, the things I've come to know in the past two years.

Another reason the book release party at Tulsa Historical Society is so special is because we're the first of Ree's 18-stop, 14-state book tour. Not the second stop, not the stop before she heads home to the ranch in Pawhuska – no. We're the very first stop, y'all. Cool, huh?

See you there, ladies and gents. Be like me and get to the party fashionably early. That is, unless you enjoy standing during book readings and missing out on choice giveaways and food samples.

The Tulsa Slice of the Coupon Craze

Looking for coupons, discounts, deals and steals in Tulsa's indie scene this week? Try these on for size.

Yummies

• Molly's Landing. Who doesn't love them some Molly's Landing? Just imagine what it'd taste like if you had a $10 or $15 coupon. Get yours by signing up for the Molly's Landing e-newsletter.
• Lambruscoz to Go. Follow Lambruscoz on Twitter for exclusive deals and lunch specials. Also, check out soup page on L's site for more bargain hunting.
• Kupcakz. Sign up for the newsletter and regularly receive coupons good at this local bakery. Example: Buy one cupcake, get one half off; $3 off one dozen cupcakes. Score! Plus, Chef Doreen is now offering her Halloween cupcakes, featuring an assortment of her most popular flavors. Preorder those before the 28th. Check Kupcakz out at 71st and Mingo, as well as at their new kiosk in Woodland Hills Mall.
• High Gravity Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies. 10% off a starter kit. Page 9 in this weeks edition of Urban Tulsa Weekly. Plus, check out the sale section of the HG site.
• Reasor's. Check out the Made in Oklahoma section of the Oct. 21-27 ad, featuring yummy stuff like Head Country BBQ sauce, Bar S Hot Dogs and Shawnee Mills mixes. Follow Reasor's on Facebook and Twitter for even more discounted yumminess.
• QuikTrip. $1 off any sandwich or wrap at your favorite QT location.

Halloween

• SpotLite Magic & Costumes. $5 off a $25 purchase.
• Camp Cute & Spooky. Get coupons for $1 off admission to this kids' Halloween festival at Discoveryland! at area QuikTrip and Incredible Pizza locations.
• Scream Country Haunted Forest. Text FEAR to 91011 to win tickets. Boo! And I mean that in a good way.

Shops

• Gardner's Used Books & Music. 20% discount with coupon printed on page 57 of this week's edition of Urban Tulsa Weekly.
• C&J School Uniforms Inc., 4950 S. 79th E. Ave. 10% off total purchase, as found in the Oct. 2009 edition of Kids' Directory.
• My Little Dollhouse, 3017 E. 91st St. 30% off any one boutique item, as found in the Oct. 2009 edition of Kids' Directory.
• Kuts 4 Kids by William, 8122 S. Lewis Ave. $1 off a haircut, as found in the Oct. 2009 edition of Kids' Directory.
• All Things Maternity, 1525 S. Main in Broken Arrow. 20% off any purchase before Halloween, as found in the Oct. 2009 edition of Kids' Directory.
• Diva Girlz Studio, 2908 E. 15th St. 10% off Emporium purchase, as found in the Oct. 2009 edition of Kids' Directory.
• Fairy Tales Children's Shoppe, 7768 N, Owasso Expy in (of course) Owasso. 10% off total clothing purchase, as found in the Oct. 2009 edition of Kids' Directory.

Assorted Fun

• Startup Weekend Tulsa. Got an idea for a new business up your sleeve? Then you'd better free up your calendar Nov. 13-15 and plan to be downtown for the first-ever Startup Weekend Tulsa collaborative seminar. Use coupon code "swearlybird" to get 20% off the registration price. This works only until Friday, so get a move on.
• Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium. Get $2 off the price of adult admission, good for up to four adults, thanks to Cox. Expires on Halloween.
• Bergan Pets. Check out the Web site of this Monkey Island-based company to take pet-related surveys in exchange for the chance to win free stuff. Think of it as a way to talk mindlessly about your favorite pet to someone who not only wants to listen, but also wants to shower you with free doggy and kitty things. Make sure to follow Bergan on Facebook and Twitter, too, for giveaways galore.
• Reasor's. For your viewing pleasure, new release rentals are 99 cents every Monday, including Blu-ray.
• Geek Rescue. If you went to Oktoberfest this weekend and you got one of those green 21+ wristbands, tuck it away for $5 off the next time your computer needs repaired, courtesy of Geek Rescue.
• Fine Airport Parking. Putt or shoot for a day of free parking. Don't forget to snag some free popcorn, drinks and newspapers on your way home or to your flight.

What Tulsa-specific coupons and discounts did you come across this week? Tell us all about 'em in the comments. We'll love you forever.

Fill in the Blank

Sometimes I get a wild hair and decide it'd be a good idea to post a random question on Twitter and Facebook for everyone to ponder, poke fun at, print and flush down the toilet or maybe, if I'm lucky, consider answering.

Thursday I posed, "Fill in the blank: Tulsa is home to ________." An innocent enough question, I thought. I bet I'd get five responses, give or take a response. Or five.

I certainly didn't think that question would open the floodgates of public opinion. Within an hour or so I had 30 responses on Facebook and 23 more on Twitter. Those are solid numbers 'round here, especially considering I wasn't even giving anything away.

I loved the range of attitudes about life in Tulsa reflected in what people had to say about this city as a home, whether to family or great food or the worst roads to ever criss-cross the American prairie.

Here are some of my favorites:

• QuikTrip. And the Cain's.
• A generous community, willing to give their time AND money to those less fortunate.
• The best quality of life for young professionals anywhere in the country.
• More art, theater and music than you can get to.
• All who return from far-flung locales, having completed their spirit quest, ready to bring their hard-won knowledge and experience back into the fold.

Boomerangers. Tulsa's full of 'em. Folks just can't stay away.

I love how blogging and other forms of social media are interactive, which means readers have the opportunity to have their voices heard in a way traditional media has a hard time delivering. Some folks said Tulsa is home to:

• Corrupt politicians.
• Gaybashers, unfortunately. That is what comes to mind lately.
• A WNBA team that is doomed to fail.
• Potholes the size of my car.

I love how the quirkiness of this city comes out in responses to questions like these. Tulsa is home to:

• A plethora of churches.
• No more than two degrees of separation.
• 26 comments and nobody mentions the Center of the Universe? The Center of the Universe!
• The strange alongside the commonplace.
• The cutest bulldog ever, Bella.

Bella! I love it.

Get the full list of responses on Twitter and Facebook.

Now it's your turn. How would you fill in the blank?

What to Do in Tulsa This Weekend

The leaves are turning, the northerlies are blowing and the falling pecans are better than springtime, softball-sized hail at keeping me awake at night.

Yep, fall is in full swing here in T-Town. Everything seems ablaze at the home of the Center of the Universe, the Golden Driller and more art deco architecture than you can shake a stick at.

Wait - Tulsa. My home town. At the center of the entire universe. Ha! Who knew?

Needless to say, there's lots going on in a town of such great gravity (and pecans). As you do every Friday morning when you listen for weekend stuff to do on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley, mark up your itineraries now with the most exciting events in Tulsa from this week's edition of the Weekend Rundown.

Tasha's Picks for the Weekend of Oct. 23

Friday

Oktoberfest Tulsa
When: Thursday-Sunday
Where: RiverWest Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave.
Break out your lederhosen, folks - it's time for the chicken dance. At this year's Oktoberfest, get your fill of everything from kids' activities and carnival rides to bratwurst and, for the first time ever at Oktoberfest Tulsa, locally brewed beer. If you head out on Friday, be sure to swing by the Ttownmoms.com booth and find me. I'll want to give you a good old-fashioned howdy.

Saturday

Thrill the World 2009
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: in Claremore
What could be more gratifying than landing in the pages of the Book of Guinness World Records? You have what looks like a really good chance at doing just that this weekend, practically in your own backyard. The Thrill Claremore project is part of the larger Thrill the World, a worldwide attempt to break the World Record for the Largest Simultaneous Dance using Michael Jackson's hit, “Thriller.” The goal? To get 270,000 Thriller dancers grooving at once, all to beat a record set in 2002 by 197,569 Canadian elementary school students doing the Hokey Pokey. Be nice and pre-register, and don't forget to show up at 5:30pm (wearing a zombie costume, of course). You'll want to be organized undead, after all. Proceeds of the event benefit the United Way.

Sunday

Music on the Lawn
When: Sunday, 3pm
Where: Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria Ave.
One of the things I love dearly about this city is its rich history. It's a bit strange, yes, and even tragic and shady in certain spots, but no one can deny that it's captivating. Get your fill of Okie-style history this weekend at the grand opening of Your House, My House, a hands-on exhibit sponsored by Tulsa Children's Museum. Mid-Life Crisis Band will bring the tunes as long as you bring a picnic basket and some buddies. This event is free and open to the public – mmm, just the way I like it.

Music

KISS Tickets
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: BOK Center
KISS has added five more dates to their North American tour, and Tulsa has been given the green light to get ready to rock. Tickets to the Dec. 8 KISS concert in Tulsa at the BOK Center go on sale this weekend. Prices range $29.50-128.

Mute Math
When: Saturday, doors at 7pm
Where: Cain's Ballroom
Don't miss this Grammy-nominated group, declared by Alternative Press as “the #1 band you need to see live before you die.” Tickets are $23.25 in advance, $29 the day of the show.

Bob Dylan and His Band
When: Saturday, doors at 7pm
Where: Brady Theater, 105 W. Brady
This American pop and folk and poetry and painting and songwriting icon and general Renaissance man will be rockin' right here in the Brady District this weekend. Tickets are $49.50 and $59.50.

The Music of Italy
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Watch Tulsa Symphony break out its version of The Italian Job. Maestro David Lockington, music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, returns to conduct a concert of music from or inspired by Italy. Tickets range $10-65. Be sure to catch the pre-concert at 6:30 with Lockington, y'all.

Drive-By Truckers
When: Sunday, doors at 7pm
Where: Cain's Ballroom
Drive-bys and truckers - didn't think they went together, did you. James McMurtry and Taddy Porter are openers. Tickets are $15.


Halloween

Get Zombified!
When: Friday, 4:30-5:30pm
Where: Martin Regional Library
Learn survival strategies with local zombie expert Chris Askers as he leads a discussion on zombie history and biology and shows how to produce realistic-looking injuries. For teens. Preregistration is required. Call 669-6340 to register.

Psycho Path Haunted Attraction
When: Now-Saturday; Oct. 29-Halloween; 7-11pm
Where: 15157 E. 106th Street North in Sperry
The woods are shrouded by a blanket of fog. All you can see is the narrow path taking you deeper and deeper into the darkness, where creatures wait behind every twist and turn. Your blood suddenly runs cold - you've realized there's no turning back. The Psycho Path may be your only way home. Yikes! When there's a haunted path, a spooky ride-through and a haunted house, there's sure to be scares and screams for all. Tickets range $8-40; visit the Psycho Path site for details and ticket sales.

The Hex House
When: Now-Saturday, 7:30pm; Oct. 28-30, 7:30pm; Halloween, 7pm
Where: Southeast corner of 71st and Memorial, next to Incredible Pizza
Hex House claims to be Tulsa's only extreme haunted attraction. One thing's for sure: It's not for children. Not for wimps or the faint of heart, Hex House promises to stupefy and terrify.

Halloween Glassblowing
When: Anytime during October
Where: Tulsa Glassblowing, 19 E. Brady
For the low, low price of $45, anyone aged 12 and older can walk right in to Tulsa Glassblowing on Brady and whip themselves up a good lookin' glass pumpkin or witch ball. The possibilities, they are endless - and spooky, too.

Tulsa Corn Maize
When: Now-Nov. 8; Wed-Fri, 5-10pm; Sat, 10am-10pm; Sun, 12-6pm; Closed Mondays; Haunted Maize open at dark Fri-Sat., Fall Break and Halloween
Where: 32506 E. 61st Street in Broken Arrow
There's more to do at the Tulsa Corn Maize than just get lost. Let me count the ways: a paintball shooting range; campfires; a haunted maze; a cow train; hay rides; rubber ducky races; and a corn box (you have to see it to believe it). Admission is $6 per youth aged 4-12, free for kids 3 and under and $8 for adults.

Haunted Castle Halloween Festival
When: Friday-Saturday; Oct. 29, 30 and Halloween; Hours are 6-10pm
Where: The Castle at Muskogee, 3400 Fern Mountain Road
Fun for kids and the young at heart alike, The Castle at Muskogee delivers nine spooktacular events, ranging from not-so-scary to really-really-scary, across a 60-acre Halloween-themed park. From the sinister, fog-shrounded forest to the carnival atmosphere of Halloween Land, everyone is sure to find performances and activities they'll never forget. Check out the ticket combos, which are printable from your desktop and range $15-$25, on The Castle Web site.

Scream Country Haunted Forest
When: Friday-Saturday; Oct. 30-Halloween, 7:30-11pm
Where: Deep in the woods of Drumright
Located deep in the woods, haunting more than 40 acres of dark, twisting forest, Scream Country will have been scaring the pants off Oklahomans for the 12 year in a row in 2009. See the haunted forest, the haunted house (a.k.a. Dead Block, the world's first maximum security zombie prison) and the corn mayhem, all with one ticket. Admission is $18, or skip the line and pay $35 for a scream pass.

Costumes
When: Now-Saturday, 8pm; also, 2pm on Saturday
Where: Linnaeus Garden Barn, southeast corner of Woodward Park
Rather celebrate the sweetly spooky side of Halloween than the ghastly and the goulish? Costumes, a Halloween musical by local actors and musicians, might just be the thing for you. The audience is encouraged to come in costume, and the walkway-lit garden will be open for exploration during intermission. Tickets are $10, which is donated to Tulsa Garden Center. Make reservations by calling 746-5125. Thanks to Tulsa People for publicizing this song-worthy event.

Camp Cute & Spooky
When: Saturday; Oct. 28, 29 and 30, 7-9pm
Where: Discoveryland!
Kids 10 and under can hit the trail to west Tulsa for an evening of great Halloween fun at Discoveryland!'s entertainment complex. Catch everything from a trick-or-treat trail through a lighted enchanted forest to a haystack jump to the "Monster Mash" dance stage. Admission is $6 (or $5 for the crafty among you who head to Quiktrip or Incredible Pizza for those $1 off coupons) and includes all activities. Don't forget to don those costumes.

Owasso Harvest Festival
When: Saturday, 11am-9pm
Where: Centennial Park in Owasso, 15301 E. 86th Street North (park at Owasso High School and ride the shuttle to the festival)
This festival, held in conjunction with the Oklahoma State Chili Cook-Off, packs an entire day of activities for the entire family. Look for hay rides, a costume contest, a scarecrow contest, pumpkin carving, face painting, balloon art, a car show and, of course, chili tasting. It's all free and open to the public.

Barktoberweenfestivary
When: Saturday, 1-3pm
Where: Dog Dish, in The Farm Shopping Center at 51st and Sheridan
Dog Dish is celebrating its lucky seventh anniversary, and we, along with our four-legged friends, are all invited. In this party – the anniversary, Barktoberfest and Howl-oween rolled into one – features a costume contest, Oktoberfest fare for our furry friends and, of course, pupcakes. Look also for complimentary canine hors d'oeuvres and door prizes.

Vampire Prom Nite Murder Mystery
When: Saturday, 7pm; Oct. 31, 7pm
Where: Whispering Vines Vineyard & Winery, 7374 W. 51st Street
Solve the murder and win a bottle of award-winning, Oklahoma-grown wine, not to mention bragging rights. These three-hour shows sold out last year, so get your tickets now. Tickets are $59.95 and includes dinner, the show, tax and tip.

Catch more info on all the Halloween goings on, right here at TashaDoesTulsa.com. Check here for pumpkin patches, here for kids fun, here for grown-ups fun and here for anything and everything free – and spooky.


For the Kids

Starry Safari
When: Friday, 6pm-Saturday, 9am
Where: Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum
Ever dream of waking up to the roar of lions, the barking of prairie dogs or the howling of monkeys? This weekend, you'll get your chance. Become a Tulsa Zoo member and head for Mohawk Park for a not-so-typical camp out, a stargazing activity featuring the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium and the Nature Exchange show, Xtreme Science Live. Campers will be fed dinner and breakfast, and they'll have the run of the zoo train and enjoy carousel rides, evening docent chats, marshmallow roasting and songs and tales around the campfire. Call the Zoo at (918) 669-6603 for more details and to reserve your spot.

Mother & Son Dance
When: Friday, 6:30-8pm
Where: Owen Park Community Center, 560 N. Maybelle Ave.
Moms, aunts, grandmas and older sisters, now is your chance to teach that boy to dance. Enjoy games, cookies and punch and, of course, lots of dancing to music by a live deejay. Cost is $5 per couple.

OK Video Game Exhibition
When: Saturday, 9am-5pm
Where: SpiritBank Event Center
If the kids won't crawl out from the hole they dug in Bueno and Burger King wrappers around the TV and game console, catapult them (don't ask me if this is legal, because if it's not, I don't want to know) to SpiritBank Event Center this weekend. Check out classic/retro gaming, game tournaments, arcade games and vendors and exhibitors buying, selling, trading and, of course, showing off. Admission is $5, and kids 7 and under get in free.

Route 66 Pecan & Fun Fest
When: Saturday, 10am-5pm
Where: The Nut House in Claremore, 26677 S. Highway 66
'Tis the season for pecan pickin', my fellow Okies. Get your grabber-on-a-stick and head to Claremore this weekend for everything from a pecan pie eating contest to an open car show. That's all free and open to the public, and if you stick around until 8 that evening, you can ditch your clodhoppers at the Route 66 Sock Hop. Tickets to the dance are $15.

Smith Farm Marketplace Health Fair and More
When: Saturday, 10am-1pm
Where: Smith Farm Marketplace, in Owasso just off of HWY 169 and 96th Street North
Looking for a free way to get healthy? Thanks to St. John Owasso and medical providers from St. John Health System, anybody and everybody can head to Owasso this weekend to scope out free health goodies, scads of info and health screenings. The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be there, too, along with fire engines, ambulances and, weather permitting, a LifeFlight helicopter fly-in and landing. Look also for the Jupiter Jump and the chance to win prizes from the radio remotes and Smith Farm Marketplace merchants during the event.


Theater

Side Show
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Who doesn't love a tale of conjoined twins? This musical, nominated for four Tony Awards, tells of the twins' search for survival and love through both the high and low points in their search for careers in vaudeville. The best part? This musical is based on a true story. Judging by the popularity of reality television shows, we all love that very, very much. Tickets are $30.

Dear Nebulon
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
Recorder, locally famous for their costuming and sad robot lullabies, will collaborate with Tulsa playwright extraordinaire John Cruncleton to produce a one-hour visual presentation. Tickets are $7.

Finders Creepers
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Sapulpa Community Theatre, 124 S. Water
Two boys pack up and hit the trail to spend the weekend with their Uncle Bob, only to discover that he's a mortician and there's a funeral scheduled for Monday. It's not long before things start to go bump in the night. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. Reservations are required, so call the theater at 227.2169 before heading out.

The Exonerated
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm
Where: Heller Theatre @ Henthorne, 4825 S. Quaker
Don't miss the drama of the true stories of six former death row prisoners who were released from prison after their convictions were reversed. Take a closer look at their false accusations, wrongful convictions and eventual exoneration.


Sports

OU v. Kansas

When: Saturday, 2:30pm
Where: Lawrence
Watch the Sooners take on the Jawhaws on Cox Cable Channel 8.

OSU v. Baylor
When: Saturday, 11:30am
Where: Waco
Don't miss the Cowboys smackin' down the Bears this weekend.

U.S. Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show
When: Now-Oct. 31
Where: Expo Square
What's this little horse show all about? It's about being the most prestigious North American championship in the industry of Arabian show horses, of courses. This event offers Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses while both amateur and professional riders or handlers compete in competitions from halter and native costuming to western and hunter classes. Believe it or not, this horse show also offers world-class shopping and barn parties.

Oklahoma Boulderfest
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Chandler Park, 6500 W. 21st Street
Want to hang someone off the side of a rock? Hey, don't threaten the Chandler Park Climbers Coalition with a good time. The CPCC is gearing up for the second annual Boulderfest, an outdoor rock climbing festival features food, music, overnight camping and a whole lot of “bouldering.” Keep in mind, this event is for experienced climbers only, but it's worth a day at Chandler to check it out.

Spaghetti Dinner for Route 66
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: Spaghetti Warehouse, 221 E. Brady
Make plans now to join Fleet Feet Tulsa in downtown Tulsa for Williams Route 66 Marathon Night. This dinner promises to be a great chance to obtain insight into the race and needed final prepartions, thanks to the advice of experienced marathon runners (a.k.a. super humans) and leaders in the running community. Plus, there will be lots of carbs in attendance. Who's to argue with that? Don't forget to RSVP.

Oilers Opening Game
When: Saturday, 7:35pm
Where: BOK Center
It's here! Tulsa's own hockey team will take on the Wichita Thunder in its first home game in the 2009-2010 season. Tickets are $10-30. Plus, it's Big Al bobble head night. Plus, Oilers Ice Girls. Have I said enough? See you there.


Benefits

Red Ribbon Run
When: Saturday, registration at 7:30am; 1-mile fun run at 8:30am; 5K run at 9am
Where: Starting and ending at Riverside Drive and 31st Street
Whether your group is looking for a last practice before the Tulsa Run the morning of Halloween, or for just a nice Saturday morning event, check out what's going on at Riverside and 31st this weekend: The eighth annual Red Ribbon Run, benefitting Tulsa-based nonprofit Operation Aware. The run is part of the national Red Ribbon Week, which celebrates the choice to live drug free. Plus, runners get free massages and the chance to take home sweet prizes. Preregistration for $15 is available today (Friday) at the Operation Aware office, 7226 E. 41st Street, and race day registration for $20 starts at 7:30am Saturday. The race is free for students aged 11 and under.

Laps for Little Ones
When: Saturday, 8am
Where: Cascia Hall Track
The Little Light House is a Christian center of development for children aged birth to six years with special needs. It's mission is huge, and so is its need for your help. Do your part by running or walking around the track at Cascia Hall this Saturday. To register, to sponsor a runner or even to participate as a couch potato (now, this is my kind of running event), visit The Little Light House on the Web.

Mission Run
When: Saturday, starting at 9am
Where: Fifth Street, downtown Tulsa
Get revved up for the Tulsa Run next weekend by running for the homeless this weekend. Mission Run, which will benefit the John 3:16 Mission, features everything from a fun run (starting at 9:50am) to a 10K (starting at 9:45am). The course starts on Fifth Street between Elgin and Frankfort, and awards and prizes will go to the quickest. Race day packet pickup and registration will be at First Baptist Church downtown starting at 7am.

MDA Bad (Bikers Against Dystrophy) Ride
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: Registration at Myers-Duren
Donate a minimum of $25 to ride in this biggest, baddest ride around. Check out this annual fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Association, which features a ride, prizes, food and fun, all for a very worthy cause. Don't miss the afterparty at SoCo's Sports Bar & Grill for lunch and prizes, including a weekend getaway.


Other Stuff

Big Rig Expo
When: Friday-Saturday, 10am-6pm
Where: Tulsa Convention Center
If you like big trucks, you'll love what's going on at Tulsa Convention Center this weekend. Check out the Four Aces Truck Competition on Saturday at 10, and don't forget to try your luck on winning a 2010 Chevy Camaro RS. Admission to the exhibits is free, but the some of the educational workshops come at a cost. Check out Big Rig Expo online for more details.

WWII: A Day of Living History
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: Helmerich Library, 5131 E. 91st Street
This weekend brings history buffs the opportunity to explore the life of a WWII solider as created by the re-enactors of the 45th Infantry Division. See original military equipment, uniforms, period personal effects, vehicles and other memorabilia from the home front. Plus, visit with WWII veteran guest speakers.

Harvest Art Faire: Potters, Paints and Posies
When: Saturday, 10am-3pm
Where: Downtown Tulsa at 15th and Boston
Check out the “Little Square” at 15th and Boston, which boasts not only Mrs. DeHaven's Flower Shop, believed to be the oldest existing business in T-Town, but also The Gadget Company, another little shop with mind-boggling ties to Tulsa. Showcased there will be more than two dozen local artisans, as well as the debut of the newest rose varieties available this winter and holiday season. Admission is free, and pets (leashed, of course) and kids (both leashed and unleashed) are welcome.

350kies Take a Stand for Climate Action
When: Saturday, 2pm
Where: Centennial Park, Sixth and Peoria
Who's not on the green team these days? Now's the time to take part in what might turn out to be the largest day of climate change activism ever, consisting of 2,000 communities in more than 150 countries. The Tulsa event will feature a bike ride around downtown Tulsa, a collaborative art project, a group photo and speakers. Plus, all the cool kids will be there.

Playdate Tulsa
When: Saturday, 8pm
Where: Flytrap Music Hall
What is Play Date? It's an alternative to the typical night out, that's what. There will be drinks, food, music, Hungry, Hungry Hippos and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. After all, and as the saying goes, you don't stop playing because you get old; you get old because you stop playing. Admission is $10.

Nimrod's Conference for Readers and Writers
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: University of Tulsa, Allen Chapman Activity Center
If you're a writer – or a reader, for that matter – you can't miss this annual joining of the minds. This conference features a slew workshops and classes about everything from poetry and fiction to travel writing and fantasy, all taught by writers and lovers of words. Don't miss the readings at lunch, and don't – read: do not – miss the one-on-one editing sessions with Nimrod writers. Registration is $50. RSVP by writing the folks at Nimrod.

Kitchens a la Tulsa
When: Sunday, noon-5pm
Where: See the Kitchens a la Tulsa site for locations
If you're at home in the kitchen, you won't want to miss this self-guided tour of six new and renovated kitchens turning up the heat in Tulsa. The tour, which also comes with yummy morsels prepared by local chefs and food purveyors, benefits the Parent Child Center and the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless Clinic. Tickets are $10 in advance (the price increases $5 if you wait to pay at the door) and are available at the Day Center, 415 W. Archer.

Breast Impressions
When: Sunday, starting at 3pm, gala at 7pm
Where: Woodland Hills Mall
You've seen articles about it in all the newspapers and on all the local news shows – plus, you've seen me talking on Twitter and Facebook about how many owners of the casted boobies I found out I knew after they were on display in south Tulsa at Woodland Hills Mall. Now it's time for a runway fashion show, a gala and a live auction of some of those breast casts I mentioned before, all in the name of saving the ta-tas with Tulsa Project Woman. Tickets are $50.


Movies

Saw VI
When: Opens Friday
In this latest installment of the horror saga, Detective Hoffman emerges as the unchallenged successor of Jigsaw's legacy of terror. Rated R for grisly, bloody violence and torture. Plus, language. Yikes!

Astro Boy
When: Opens Friday
A young robot boy endowed with incredible powers embarks on a journey of acceptance and learns what it means to be a hero. Sounds like a fun flick, especially since my boyfriend Nicolas Cage is starring – bring the kids along. Rated PG.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampires Assistant
When: Opens Friday
In this newest John C. Reilly film, a teenage boy finds his destiny when he stumbles upon a vampire and his traveling freak show. Guess how this one ends (not that I know. I was hoping you would). Rated PG-13.

Amelia
When: Opens Friday
Hilary Swank somehow bears a striking resemblance to the pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart in this film about her as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Rated PG. For smoking.

Pecan photo from The Nut House in Claremore.