Tasha Does Tulsa

Monday, June 28, 2010

4th of July 2010 Events in Tulsa

Get your 4th of July celebration groove on with these Tulsa-area events.

Arnold's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers: A West Side Story

Hamburgers run through the garden, served in a yellow paper wrapper and sealed with a toothpick.

Soft drinks served in frosty mugs. Crispy, piping-hot onion rings.

The best chocolate malt in town, served with a dollop of whipped cream.

What I'm talking about here is, of course, Arnold's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers.

A Tulsa Kid's Splash Pad How-To

The city of Tulsa manages over 130 parks, and 31 of them offer water playgrounds. Just think - that's a splash pad for every day of the month, all right here in Tulsa.

It's also a lot of water park to navigate all on your little lonesome. To help out, a certain kiddo would like to offer his guide to Tulsa splash pads to all of you - he just loves to be of service.

Miss Tulsa Refreshment Pageant: Which is Tulsa's Most Refreshing Summertime Treat?

UPDATE//The pageant judges have spoken!

Despite much speculation from the TDT Facebook community that Braum's actually has the better cherry limeade, the Cherry Limeade from Sonic beat out all other tasty Tulsa refreshments and accepted the crown this morning with humility and grace. Feel free to visit her between 2-4pm today for happy hour, when you can take her home for half price.

The QuikTrip 49-cent drink won the title of first runner-up, with a frosty glass of Weber's root beer taking third place.

Thanks, all, for voting! Have a refreshing day, T-Town style.
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Now that the first week of summer has smacked us upside the head with a 100-degree-plus heat index every day this week, we Tulsans are all thinking of ways to stay cool. An easy way to do that is from the inside out, with a tasty, local refreshment.

But, which gets the job done best? To find the answer, say hello to the first-ever TDT Refreshment Pageant, a showcase of some of Tulsa's most refreshing refreshments and icy-cold treats.

Be sure to vote for your favorite after the jump.

Dreaming in Red, White and Blue: Erin Sees Tulsa

With July 4th less than two weeks away, my eyes have started noticing all the red, white and blue that surrounds us.

Where to Find Cigars in Tulsa

The recession might have put some members of the Tulsa business community in last season’s neckties or put a hold on that man cave renovation, but one thing is for sure: No one is giving up his cigar.

There’s nothing quite like a fine cigar and scotch on the rocks at the end of a long week at the office. The taste that can range from a sweet, floral grassiness to wood and leather can put the troubles of the boardroom miles away.

Thanks to the local selection of fine cigars — who knew the Tulsa area offers nearly a dozen cigar shops and counting? — there’s no need to try one’s hand at smuggling hand-rolled Cubans or, worse, going without cigars altogether.

Get the list on the High Life page in this week's edition of Tulsa Business Journal.

Street Eats Fill a Market Void

They’re a mark of every major metropolitan city: vendors of street fare, set up along busy thoroughfares where hungry downtowners rove for midday sustenance.

Suddenly, these vendors are on seemingly every corner in Tulsa’s central business district, especially hot dog cart operators, numbering about half a dozen businesses within the IDL.

Grab some napkins and chow down on the rest of the story on the Food page in this week's issue of Tulsa Business Journal.

Monday, June 21, 2010

The Brook: This Is Summer

You know how when fall and winter start to come around that you notice you crave things like chicken pot pie and bread pudding and generally heavy, food-for-the-soul-type stuff?

And how when spring arrives the first thing everyone wants is anything besides chicken pot pie and bread pudding? And how you feel like if you have to eat another piece of citrus you might just cry your eyes out? You need real fruit, by George!

Well, me, too. And when summer (and 90-plus percent humidity) is in the air, I get to craving one thing.

Father's Day 2010 in Tulsa

Looking to show Dad a weekend on the town to celebrate all that he's done for you over the years? Here are some ideas for things to do together.

The Sno Cone Mystique: Erin Sees Tulsa

While the official first day of summer is June 21st, for me summer always begins the day I eat my first sno cone.

It's true. It's not really summer until I've been satisfied with the sticky sweetness that is a sno cone from Josh's Sno Shack.

Want Free Tickets to Tulsa Blogger Meetup/Tulsa Tweetup Thursday Night?

Ever wondered just exactly how much awesomeness would ensue if the folks from Tulsa Blogger Meetup showed up with the folks from Tulsa Tweetup at the same place, at the same time?

Wonder no more. It's happening. And very, very soon.

As in, tomorrow.

The deadline to order discount tickets was last Wednesday, but if you missed out, or even if you've already purchased your tickets, here's a way to snag a ticket for free.

Shop local, shop local, shop local. It's a mantra we're all hearing a lot lately, especially here at TashaDoesTulsa.com.

Okay, right? If we want to improve our quality of life as residents of this city, we're supposed to shop local. We get it.

But, now what?

An easy way to get rolling on the shop-local train is to do some creative and thoughtful shopping for gifts. Since this Sunday is Father's Day, you've got the perfect opportunity to jump-start your efforts. Here's a list of places to start looking for a gift for the dad in your life, categorized by type of dad.

Steak Stuffers Striptease

DJ, cue the Honky Tonk Badonkadonk music.

Homerun for the Homeless: VIDEO! (Watch Only If You Enjoy Stories of Childhood Humiliation)

I hope you'll consider supporting me and my grand-slamming ways by donating to the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless on my page on the Homerun for the Homeless website. Every little bit counts - you'd be surprised by what the Day Center can do with just $1.

It's amazing, really. Thanks to their efforts, you don't need to give a lot to help a lot.

But, if I'm the first participant in the game to raise $1,000, I get a trophy. And I like trophies. I like trophies a lot. So any support you could lend, I'd appreciate it.

Also, I'll let you hold the trophy. Hope you won't mind washing your hands first.

See you at the ball game!

What: Homerun for the Homeless Celebrity Fundraiser Baseball Game
When: Thursday, June 24, gates at 6pm, game at 7pm
Where: ONEOK Field, 201 N. Elgin Ave.
How much: Tickets are $5; Kids under 12 get in free (yay, free!)

Monday, June 14, 2010

New for Tulsa Moms This Week: Cake-a-licious Playdate and Giveaways, Kids' Pick of the Day

How to Eat a Cupcake at Merritt's Bakery

A cool part of my job is that, when I'm sharing with you all the best ways to get down with T-Town, sometimes I get to take a moment and show off my kid. It's mostly because he's the one who most often gets dragged along when I go on Tulsa-doing rampages, and it's also because he hasn't yet figured out how to work the camera - at least, not in the shooting sense.

Besides, y'all would much rather look at him than me. Hands down. For sure. Trust me on this one.

What I'm trying to say is, not only do I get to blog about Tulsa goings on, but I also get to mommyblog, especially over at Ttownmoms.com. As seen on today's Midday Show on KJRH Channel 2, here's what's going on at Ttownmoms.com this week.

Not Your Namby-Pamby Local Food Week: OK Local Food Week 2010 Starts Today

Confession: I have sort of a thing for good food. Surprise!

Truth is, I think about it pretty much all the time - how I could make it, how I could eat it, what I could write about it, how it greases the wheels of society.

Good thing Local Food Week 2010 has rolled around.

My Darling, My Brewburger

What happens when you put the shell of a former Braum's location, handmade burgers and a entrepreneurial south Tulsa family in a jar of awesome sauce and toss to cover?

Brewburger, that's what.

It's June and Bob and Sandy McBratney out at Stone Bluff Cellars - just southeast of Tulsa in Haskell - say the vines are letting them know that it'd be nice if they could be picked later this summer.

And, their crop will be abundant.

Meaning, they need our help.

For my Foodie Readers: Win Tickets to No Reservations: An Evening with Anthony Bourdain

UPDATE II//Since the first winner never came forward, I asked the powers that be at Random.org to select another winner for these delectable Bourdain tickets:

The 36th contestant was...

Michael, I couldn't agree more. E-mail me ASAP to claim your tickets.

Again, thanks to all for playing.
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UPDATE//Winner, winner, gourmet chicken dinner!

The 31st to enter was...

Sounds good to me, jillwhitney! E-mail me ASAP to claim your tickets.

(Note: In the event I don't hear from the winner by 10am on the day of the show, I'll choose another winner at random.)

Thanks to all for entering. And maybe force - wait, I mean the food - be with you.

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If you don't have the foggiest idea who the heck Anthony Bourdain is, you might want to skip this post and head over to find out what else is going on in Tulsa this weekend. It's okay. I won't get mad. You totally have my permission.

But if you do know who the heck Anthony Bourdain is...

Color Your World: Erin Sees Tulsa

This city is alive with color. Every direction we turn we can see it. Every where we look, we can soak it in.

Power Lunch: La Villa at Philbrook

When we heard La Villa — the restaurant at Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road — was boasting a new look, we knew we had to stop by to check it out.

In four words, we’re glad we did.

Read the whole review on the Food Page of this week's edition of Tulsa Business Journal.

How to Start a Hyper-Local Blog and Why I Started TDT: A Peek Into My Bloggy World

Here at TashaDoesTulsa.com, I field lots of questions.

Besides inquiries as to where the best make-out spots are in Tulsa (I'll give you some tips, but not from my personal stash - those secrets are hard-won and if you were me, you wouldn't share them, either) and on whether you should go to the gun show at Expo Square or to the tire kickin' on Route 66 that weekend, I'm often asked why the heck I do what I do.

Here are a few explanations.

Wine, Women & Shoes. Wanna Go? Win tickets here.

UPDATE//Ladies and gentlemen, we have some winners!

I love how you all never go easy on me in these contests - you know, the ones in which I ask you to pour out your heart and soul for everyone, including lots and lots of strangers, to see.

I really appreciate you all for doing that. I was touched by what each of you had to say about the amazing women in your life, and each was another reminder to me why I love blogging so much. Hearing your stories and the tales of your experiences is such a pleasure.

Though I want to give each and every one of you a ticket to the swank that's gonna go down at Wine, Women and Shoes this weekend, I said I'd pick the author of my favorite story as a winner, and that Random.org could choose a winner, too.

So, here was the story I chose:

The remarkable woman depicted in this story aside - because all of the women about whom the contestants wrote are remarkable in their own way, and I wasn't about to judge these stories based on some presumptuous quantification of their merits - I enjoyed how this story read almost like a tall tale, like a portrait of Super Mom, and how the numbers - 11 births, 9 children, 5 potatoes and a hand full of cheese - painted a picture in my mind.

So, Sunshine, e-mail me ASAP with which night you'd like to attend Wine, Women and Shoes. Congrats!

And now for the Random.org winner: Contestant No. 5!

Wow. I really love Brigid's story, too. E-mail me and we'll get you squared away with tickets.

Again, thanks to everyone so, so much for playing. Send love to those amazing women in your lives.
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Now that you have your plans for this weekend all sorted out (or, if you don't, this link is an easy way to fix that), let's think about next weekend for a minute or five.

About the post title - no, this isn't a rich Frenchman's if-you-were-trapped-on-a-desert-island request. In fact, it's one of my favorite Tulsa fundraisers, and it's all to support YWCA Tulsa. The name tells a lot about why I'm so crazy about this event.

Berry Pickin' in Tulsa

"Where can my kids visit a farm and pick their own berries?" It's summer, and that's one of the most oft-asked questions here at TDT lately.

I have to say, I'm so, so glad that you're asking. Picking berries with the kids isn't only an easy and satisfying way to spend time together as a family, but it's also great for building bright minds and healthy bodies. Plus, freshly picked berries is one of the most magical taste adventures there is. Ask anyone who's had a just-picked strawberry, or a cobbler made from the blackberry bush out back. It's heaven in a Pyrex pan.

After the jump is a list of berry farms in the Tulsa area at which you and your kids are welcome to pick to your heart's content.

Is your house overrun with kids who are out of school for the summer? Are you coming up short on cash to keep them entertained? Here, Tulsa parents, are two cost-free, air-conditioned, cinematic solutions:

The Free Summer Kids' Film Festival out at Riverwalk Crossing in Jenks, 600 Riverwalk Terrace;
The Free Film Festival for Kids in July at Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave.

Get out your calendars, parents, because here comes the line-up.

Tulsa Shock: A Mom at a Professional Women's Basketball Game

Often, I wish I knew more about sports. I wasn't one of those kids who was ferried to a plethora of sports activities after school and on weekends. I went to dance, music and band classes, yeah, but basketball, soccer and softball? Not so much.

So, when I find myself at a major sporting event here in Tulsa, whether it's at ONEOK Field or the BOK Center, I often find myself also in cluelessville.

Thanks to the One2One Network, my husband and I were invited to last Friday's Tulsa Shock game vs. the Minnesota Linx at the BOK Center.

Running Toward the Neon Lights: Erin Sees Tulsa

Nothing stops me dead in my tracks quite like a neon sign.

Well, that might be a slight exaggeration. Let me rephrase: Nothing stops me dead in my tracks quite like a neon sign when I have my polaroid camera on board.

The Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden: From the Insider Files

How's this for being a TDT reader and, thus, an insider expert on the best of what there is to do in this wonderful city: Not only do you know that there's an Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden and that it's right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but you also know about it before it even fully exists.

Opera Underground

While I make it a habit to seek out our city’s arts activities, I sometimes find those you stumble upon are the best experiences.

Wanna go fishing with me this Friday?

For the 33rd year in a row, Tulsa-based Zebco - arguably the most famous brand in fishing - will stock 10,000 fish in LaFortune, Mohawk and Jenks' Veterans ponds. And this Saturday, any Tulsan who so desires can show up at these ponds and fish to their heart's content. It's all part of Zebco's Take Me Fishing Day.

The kicker? No fishing license is required. No, really. Plus, the fish are tagged and, when they're caught, they can be redeemed for prizes.

If you're like me and you love to fish, be sure to put this event on your calendar for this Saturday, June 5 from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.

But, here's what I want to know: What are you doing Friday morning?

Remember when I told you all that the Summer's Fifth Night event was on again for 2010? And that you all should go to the next show? And the one after that?

And do you remember that I told you all to do that because Summer's Fifth Night is a huge pot of free music, prizes and giveaways and a chance to hang out in the open air with your best buds and family, all tossed in some spicy awesome sauce?

Apparently, I'm not the only one who agrees with the awesome sauce part.

Calling all Tulsa Bloggers: A Social Media Smackdown

Ever wondered just exactly how much awesomeness would ensue if the folks from Tulsa Blogger Meetup showed up with the folks from Tulsa Tweetup at the same place, at the same time?

Wonder no more. It's happening. And very, very soon.

Come one, come all of the Tulsa blogosphere and Twitterverse to ONEOK Field June 17. We'll talk social media on the terrace, drink $1 beers together, cheer on our Tulsa Drillers and generally geek out.

Tickets to this Tulsa social media smackdown - $6 for seating on the terrace at ONEOK Field - are on sale now. The number of the group, discounted tickets are limited and are only on sale until June 16, so if you think you might like to come...

...go ahead and reserve your tickets now.

Grab your Drillers t-shirts and baseball caps, my fellow Tulsa Web jockeys - see ya'll there!

Get Tulsa Tough: 17 Ways

There's a Tulsa Tough t-shirt that reads a little something like this: Like that thing they do in France, but in Tulsa.

I'm always a fan of simplicity, and that pretty much sums it up.

Well...sorta.

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Been There, Done That

Monday, June 28, 2010

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Friday, June 25, 2010

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Monday, June 21, 2010

Friday, June 18, 2010

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Monday, June 14, 2010

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Friday, June 11, 2010

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Monday, June 7, 2010

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Friday, June 4, 2010

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Friends, Sponsors & Goodies

Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr.