What To Do in Tulsa This Weekend

Don't look now, but the holiday section of this weekend's rundown is as fat as St. Nick himself. You know what? Go ahead. Have a look. Then, try to figure out how you're going to do all on the list that appeals to you. It'll be a fun brain teaser for your Friday.

Besides Christmas stuff, there's tons going on in Tulsa this weekend, from live metal music to college basketball. Get your fill before Monday in this week's list of things to do in Tulsa, as heard every Friday morning on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley.

Tasha's Picks for the Weekend of December 4

Friday

First Friday Art Crawl
When: Friday, 6pm
Where: Brady District in downtown TulsaThe First Friday Art Crawl is like a pub crawl with added, visual benefits, no bar tab required. Start at Living Arts at 307 E. Brady and scuttle through downtown Tulsa's art district until you see the Club 209 sign, with stops at the Brady Artists Studio, Gypsy Coffee House, Tulsa Glassblowing Studio, Tulsa Artists' Coalition and Chrysalis Salon and Spa in between. For added awesomeness, this event is free and open to the public. (Photo from the Tulsa Glassblowing page on Facebook)

Saturday

Winter Wonderland
When: Saturday, 3:30pm
Where: River Parks at the 41st Street Plaza
Join the parents of Ttownmoms.com at this Christmas-light-studded event. The River Parks mascot, Spot, will be on patrol and live music will be available in plenty, as will hot cocoa giveaways. At sunset, lights strung around five, nine-foot trees will be plugged in and shining bright for all to see. After, Tulsa Walk Club will lead a parade of families down the path at River Parks, so bring your antler headbands and be prepared to be wrapped in garland. Attendees can show something they snagged from one of the Ttownmoms – a sticker, a tattoo and information cards will all work – at Joe Momma's Downtown and get 10 percent off their supper. Yum!

Sunday

Christkindlmarkt
When: Friday, 10am-7pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, noon-5pm
Where: German-American Society of Tulsa, 2301 E. 15th Street
Get your Christmas stollen fix this weekend at this holiday festival and market with the German-American Society of Tulsa. Look for domestic along with imported goodies, from nutcrackers and smoker-mannie to Christmas ornaments, food, music, puppet shows and a visit from the Christkindl and St. Nikolaus for the kids. Admission is free.

Music

Curious George Live!
When: Friday, 10:30am, 7pm; Saturday, 10:30am, 2pm; Sunday, 1pm, 4:30pm
Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave.
What kind of trouble will Curious George get into this time? Starring in his own original live musical, Curious George is on a mission. Think he can help Chef Pisghetti win a world-famous meatball competition? There's only one way to find out. Tickets are $14-29.

Nickelback Tickets On Sale
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave.
Tickets to see this Grammy-nominated Canadian band on April 24 are $35-85. Opening are Breaking Benjamin and Shinedown.

Trivium
When: Saturday, doors at 6:30, show at 7:30pm
Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main St.
Trivium is preparing to make a stop in Tulsa, all in attempts to carve their name into metal music's metaphorical Mount Rushmore. Chimaira and White Chapel will open. Tickets are $22.75 in advance, or $25.25 at the door.

Keepen It Real Band Live in Concert
When: Saturday, 7pm
Where: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street
Check out Tulsa's top jazz, blues and R&B musicians as they come together to benefit DVIS/Call Rape. A silent auction begins at 7pm, with the concert striking up at 8pm. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door.

Ida Red Grand Opening
When: Saturday, 7pm
Where: Ida Red, 3336 S. Peoria Ave.
Catch Red Alert, Ben and Noelle Kilgore and Admiral Twin, all well-known, sought-after local musicians, in concert at the new Ida Red (just up the street from the old one) and get a great deal at the same time. Everything in Ida Red will be marked down 10 percent during the party, not to mention what kind of damage you could do with the IR coupon in this week's Urban Tulsa Weekly. Plus, check out red treats and other yummies. And guess what – admission to the event is free.

Eric and the Adams CD Release Party
When: Saturday, doors at 8pm
Where: Electric Circus, 222 E. First Street
Everyone who buys a ticket gets the debut disc of this indie pop rock band free at the show. E&A will play, of course, with guests Dante and the Hawks. Admission is $12. Support the local music scene and be there.

Ernestine Dillard and the Tulsa Praise Orchestra
When: Sunday, 5pm
Where: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street
If you haven't had the chance to be floored and brought to tears by this woman's incredible, powerful voice, I command you to jump at this opportunity. Listening to Ernestine sing is an experience that will stick with you for years to come. Tickets are $15 for general admission.

Arts and Theatre

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
When: Friday, 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2pm
Where: Tulsa Spotlight Theater, 1381 S. Riverside Drive
Join Tulsa Spotlight Theater, a local nonprofit and home of the The Drunkard and The Olio, the longest-running theatrical production in the U.S., for this latest addition to their Tulsa Childrens Theatre series. Just try not to get the Saturday Night Live version of The Chronicles of Narnia stuck in your head before you head out to this production. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and $8 for kids.

North Shore Fish
When: Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Chapman Theatre at The University of Tulsa, 800 S. Tucker Drive
These women work the production line, shaping and disguising unrecognizable frozen fish parts with batter and packaging them to ship out to the lowest end of the frozen fish market. Crazy thing is, their job security is falling out right from underneath them. Even so, this production claims to be an uplifting comedy about bravery in hard times. Tickets are $10.

Cinderella
When: Friday and Saturday, 8pm
Where: Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, 1800 S. Main Street in Broken Arrow
Check out a classic, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, complete with its hallmark originality, charm and elegance as it was when presented on TV in 1957 staring Julie Andrews. Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, $9 for students, $6 for children 12 and younger at this community theater, only 1,487 miles off Broadway.

“4 Elements” and “Whispering Houses” Art Openings
When: Friday, 5-9pm
Where: Living ArtSpace, 307 E. Brady
This show, featuring a range of media from wood and fiber to paint, includes work by artists Mel Cornshucker, Bill Derrevere, Ron Flemming Susan Moss Sullivan and Tunde Darvay. “4 Elements” features work made of natural elements: Fire, water, earth and wind. “Whipsering Houses” is a set of paintings created to tell stories, whether about love or Hungarian folk tales.

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School
When: Sunday, 6-9pm
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
You want burlesque performers? Notable artists? Musicians? All kinds of other beautiful, interesting people, modeling just for you? You got it. Skip evening service at church and bring your best pencils and $7 to Nightingale and get ready for a one-of-a-kind life drawing experience.

An Evening with Garrison Keillor
When: Sunday, 7:30pm
Where: Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Ave.
He started out as a part-time disc jockey, and now he's known by 11 million visitors for Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, a live, Saturday evening broadcast. This weekend he'll be in Tulsa, taking us on a trip through time to a simpler America, delivering humor all along the way. Tickets start at $45.50.

Sports

Grand American Arms Show
When: Saturday-Sunday
Where: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st Street
What gun enthusiast could stay away from more than 2,000 tables of these things? Admission is $12, parking is free.

Union v. Jenks
When: Friday, 7:30pm
Where: Chapman Stadium at The University of Tulsa
It's the seventh time in 12 years for these teams to meet in the 6A title game. Get to Chapman Stadium by 6 to help open the gates – the game starts at 7:30. Tickets are $7 for adults, or $5 for students.

ORU Women's Basketball
When: Saturday, 2:05pm
Where: Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis
Watch the Lady Eagles take on Southern Utah.

OSU Men's Basketball
When: Saturday, 3:05pm
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena at Oklahoma State University
Watch the Cowboys take on the UTSA Roadrunners.

ORU Men's Basketball
When: Saturday, 7:05pm
Where: Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis
Don't miss the Eagles as they take a second crack at Southern Utah.

Tulsa 66ers v. Rio Grande Valley
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: Tulsa Convention Center, TCC Arena, 100 Civic Center
Tickets are $8-23.

TU Men's Basketball
When: Sunday, 2pm
Where: TU Reynolds Center, 3208 E. Eight Street
The Hurricanes take on Ohio.

OSU Women's Basketball
When: Sunday, 2pm
Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena at Oklahoma State University
Go get Copping State, Cowgirls.

OU Men's Basketball
When: Sunday, 6pm
Where: Lloyd Noble Cener, 2900 Jenkins Avenue in Norman
The Sooners take on Arizona.

Holiday Stuff

Christmas Lights in Tulsa
When: Now-Christmas
Where: All over Tulsa
Good thing there are plenty of ways to see this year's Christmas lights in the Tulsa area, and more than one of them includes cookies and hot chocolate. Check 'em out.

Bass Pro Shop's Santa's Wonderland
When: Now-Christmas Eve; Monday-Friday, 5-8pm; Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, 1pm-5pm
Where: Bass Pro Shop, 101 Bass Pro Drive in Broken Arrow
Hunt down over 3,500 square feet of holiday magic, all for free. With elves, moving trains, arcades and free crafts every weekend. Kids can even get a photo taken with Santa – for free, of course.

The Santaland Diaries
When: Friday and Saturday, 8:15pm; Sunday, 2:15pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second Street
We have a somewhat different type of Christmas tradition at our house. Sandwiched between all the Christmas carols iTunes can hold, we listen to David Sedaris's The Santaland Diaries, an autobiographical account of a 33-year-old's eventful foray into life as an elf at Macy's in Manhattan at Christmastime. See the story, a welcome antidote to holiday-cheer fatigue, acted out live this weekend, thanks to veteran actor Mike Pryor. Note to parents: This event is recommended for mature audiences only. Tickets are $30.

The Children's Nutcracker
When: Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 2pm and 7pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Tulsa Community College Van Trease PACE, 10300 E. 81st Street
It's the lucky seventh season of The Children's Nutcracker, presented by South Tulsa Ballet, and this year the cast is 400 strong, featuring kids aged 4-18. Choreographer Pamela Farry believes every child who auditions should have a part, creating the opportunity for every kid who want to to have his moment in the spotlight. Tickets start at $10.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
When: Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Clark Theatre, 11440 E. Admiral Place
A couple struggling to put on a Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventive, awful kids in history. Plus, this is the last show to be performed at the Admiral location, Clark's home for the last 30 years, so don't miss it. Call (918) 669-6455 for tickets.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
When: Saturday and Sunday, 2pm
Where: Charles Page High School PAC, 500 N. Adams Road in Sand Springs
All the stuff I mentioned above, only in in the heart of Sand Springs. Tickets are $5 plus two or more nonperishable food items. Food donations go to Sand Springs Community Services.

Usonian Gingerbread House Building for Kids
When: Friday, 4:30pm
Where: Price Tower Arts Center, at 510 S. Dewey Ave. in Bartlesville
If you're a Frank Lloyd Wright fan – if you live in northeast Oklahoma, it's hard not to be – then pack up the kids and head to Bartlesville this weekend to create your own gingerbread house in prairie style. The class, which is $10 per, will be hosted by pastry chef Sandy McLelland. Reservations are required – call (918) 336-4949.

Festival of Lights Christmas Parade
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: Starting at Adams Road and Pecan Street in downtown Sand Springs and heading north to Second Street
Check out this nighttime, lighted Christmas parade just northwest of Tulsa, up and running for the past 26 years and attracting upwards of 20,000 parade-goers. I hear the watch the parade is at the Triangle next to the judges station. Oklahoma Speaker of the House Chris Benge is this year's parade marshal, so head out and say hi.

Joy to the World: A Musical Celebration of Christmas
When: Friday, 7:30pm
Where: Oral Roberts University, Christ's Chapel, 7777 S. Lewis Ave.
This musical event will feature a live orchestra, choir and other performers. Admission is a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to Salvation Army. Arrive early for a children's open house at 6:15pm, complete with games, hands-on activities and refreshments.

Civitans Annual Christmas Parade
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: Main Street Broken Arrow
Bundle up, grab some earmuffs for the kids and head to Main Street Broken Arrow for a Holly Jolly Christmas, the theme for this year's holiday Christmas parade. It's all free and open to the public.

Cascia Christmas Walk
When: Saturday, 11am-4pm
Where: Various locations in Midtown
This event, the holiday home tour to end all holiday home tours, benefits Cascia's financial aid program. The Christmas Walk houses will feature floral designs and decorations true to the season, along with Cascia students singing carols. Stop by Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center to grab a hot beverage and to bask in the holiday splendor and yet more carols. Then hit the gym for a Christmas gift boutique, where more than 60 vendors will be peddling gift baskets, poinsettias and wreaths. Lunch will be catered 11am-3pm. Tickets for this event, along with the performance of Scrooge (see below), are $15, or $10 for the home tour only, and are available at any home on the tour.

Free Holiday Cartoons
When: Saturday, 1pm and 2pm
Where: Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave.
Load up the kids to catch holiday cartoons at Tulsa's indie movie theater – one at 1pm in English and more at 2pm in Spanish. Cool, huh? Plus, it's all absolutely free.

Lights On at Whittier Square
When: Saturday, 5:30-7pm
Where: Whittier Square, Admiral and Lewis
Like tamales? If you're hungry for some Saturday night on your hunt for some killer Christmas lights, here's where you need to be. Check out also crafts and games and a visit from Santa for the kids.

Claremore Christmas Parade
When: Saturday, 6pm
Where: Downtown Claremore
Be sure to bring a nonperishable food item to donate in exchange for this nighttime, lighted Christmas parade. Don't be too shy to wave at Santa, kids.

Holiday Yappy Hour
When: Sunday, 11:30am-1pm
Where: The Dog Dish, 6502 E. 51st Street in the Farm Shopping Center
Who could forget man's best friend at the most wonderful time of the year? Santa will be on hand and ready for pics, and artist Lisa Jewell will be on hand to customize her hand-painted ornaments for your pup. Don't let your best friend miss out on K-9 Hors' Devours. A suggested donation of $3 will go to Oklahoma Alliance for Animals to help Tulsa's homeless pets have a happy holiday.

Scrooge! A Musical
When: Sunday, 2pm and 6pm
Where: Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center, 2520 S. Yorktown Ave.
The students of Cascia Hall are putting a new spin on the classic 1970s film musical, “Scrooge.” This time, the setting is in the trendy, London underground. Mind the gap and take a ride on this classic Christmas story. Tickets start at $5.

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for Advent
When: Sunday, 5pm
Where: St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, 5635 E. 71st Street
Prepare for the season with readings and carols by some of the most heavenly voices in Tulsa, the choir and choral scholars at St. D's.

Wynonna, A Classic Christmas
When: Sunday, doors at 6pm
Where: Osage Event Center, 951 W. 36th Street North
Tune in for a country Christmas with this Nashville superstar. Miss Wynonna will be joined by Palmetto State Quartet which, by chance, features her pop, Larry Strickland, who was a former member of Elvis Presley's background quartet. Tickets start at $40.

All I Want for Christmas Is Murder
When: Sunday, 8pm
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
This evening's entertainment, packed with adult-themed content from a range of comedy styles, will feature nine of Tulsa's best stand-up comics. Tickets are $5.

Other Stuff

Carson and Barnes Circus
When: Friday, 4:30 and 7:30pm; Saturday, 4pm and 7pm; Sunday, 1:30 and 4:30pm
Where: Expo Square Pavilion, 4145 E. 21st Street
The circus is in town, Tulsa. Tickets on opening day (Friday) are $5, with kids under two admitted free – that's a heckuva deal compared to the $17 for adults and $10 for children that will be charged for admission on Saturday and Sunday.

Tulsa Dog Training Club Winter Agility Trial
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Expo Square, Super Duty Arena, 4145D E. 21st Street
Woof, woof! Calling all dog lovers: Come to Expo Square this weekend to cheer on the pooches as they defy gravity and do tricks.

Astronomy Club of Tulsa: Probing Particle Acceleration Processes in the Universe
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: Tulsa Community College Metro Campus in the Philips Auditorium, 909 S. Boston Ave.
What, did you think the Astronomy Club of Tulsa would get together and talk about their laundry? Dr. Gordon Emslie, the dean of the Oklahoma State University graduate college and a professor of high-energy physics, will be on hand to discuss his work. The Astronomy 101 topic will be how to find and observe astroids.

Father-Daughter Dance
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: Whiteside Recreational Center, 4009 S. Pittsburgh Ave.
What could be more precious than a father-daughter dance? Take this opportunity to make some memories this weekend. Tickets are $5 in advance, $8 at the door.

Broken Arrow Rotary Annual Pancake Breakfast
When: Saturday, 7am
Where: Central on Main, 210 N. Main Street
Eat breakfast before the Civitans Annual Christmas Parade (see the Holiday section) by joining the Broken Arrow Rotary Club for their annual pancake breakfast. Cost is $4.

Tulsa Flea Market
When: Saturday, 8am-4pm
Where: Expo Square, Exchange Center, 4149 E. 21st Street
If there's one thing Tulsans know, it's a flea market. Take advantage of an Expo-Square sized one, filled to the brim with antiques, collectibles, jewelry and more all day Saturday. Admission is free.

Art Blast @ Gilcrease Museum
When: Saturday, 10am-3pm
Where: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road
Learn about this Tulsa icon and his passion for collecting art and artifacts that eventually gave rise to what we see today at Gilcrease Museum. Kids are invited for a full day of activities at Gilcrease, including a treasure hunt to create their own art collections, their own works of art, enjoy live music, live performances family tours and a showing of the movie, “National Treasure.” Admission starts at $5.

Geraldine Brooks at Central Library
When: Saturday, 10:30am
Where: Central Library, Second Floor, 400 Civic Center
Geraldine Brooks is the winner of the Tulsa Library Trust's 2009 and Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award, not to mention an award-winning journalist and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. She'll talk about her life and writings – including “Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women” and “Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague” - answer questions and, of course, sign books. Copies will be available for purchase. Adults only at this event, folks.

Living Arts Pie Social
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Where: Living ArtSpace, 307 E. Brady
Living Arts invites all members to bring a pie of their choice to the first Living Arts Pie Day. All kinds of pies are possible of course, and given how creative the members of Living Arts tend to be, who knows what kinds of interesting and yummy deep-dish pastries will turn up. Not a member? Come anyway and learn more about Living Arts and how to become one of the pack.

Chippendales
When: Saturday, 7pm
Where: Osage Event Center, 951 W. 36th Street North
Get a look at a hunk-a-hunk of man – a whole troupe of them, actually – this weekend. Be sure to stop at the ATM for $1s. Tickets are $20.

Enso Grand Opening
When: Saturday, 4pm-2am
Where: Enso, 104 S. Detroit
Enso, the newest project of the man behind Dfest and the home of the already storied Guinness Milkshake, Tom Green, is opening its doors in the Blue Dome District for the first time this weekend. Catch music and, of course, delicious drinks at what promises to be a downtown bar scene mainstay.

Movies

Armored
When: Opens Friday
From Yahoo! Movies: A crew of officers at an armored transport security firm plan the ultimate heist to steal millions from their own company. Rated PG-13.

Brothers
When: Opens Friday
From Yahoo! Movies: When a Marine goes missing overseas, his black-sheep brother cares for his wife and children at home, with serious consequences. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire, it figures. Rated R.

Black Dynamite
When: Opens Friday, 7:30pm
Where: Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave.
Arsenio lives! He co-stars in this action comedy about one hero willing to fight “The Man,” who murders his brother, pumps heroin into local orphanages and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Catch the live Skype chat with Black Dynamite himself, Michael Jai White, at 9pm. The film is rated R.