Sometimes, when my son and I have been cooped up in the house longer than we can take, we bundle up and head to Utica Square, here in Tulsa at 21st and Utica. The central courtyard is like the park, only with added window shopping for a certain retail-deprived mommy.
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.
Have you ever longed for a fun, easy-to-remember list of Tulsa's most unusual sights, restaurants, people and stories? Imagine the fun you could have in this town with a list like that, chock full of things to see, things to do and things to be proud of in T-Town.
In case you missed me this morning on the 2NEWS Midday Show giving the rundown of things to do with your kids in Tulsa this week, here are a few things to tuck into your calendar.
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.
Since the little gift shop at 119 S. Detroit Ave. is first in the minds of Tulsa's most savvy local shoppers, it might as well be first in the inaugural Tasha Does Tulsa Holiday Gift Guide, too.
Thanks to nosediving temperatures and our proximity to Turkey Day, it's really beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in T-Town.
Holiday activities are either getting started or ramping up starting Friday night, and there will only be more ways to enjoy the season as we press on toward the night of Santa's yearly trek across what are, thanks to our zany weather here in the great state of Oklahoma, the best weather radars in the country. The fat man doesn't get past nobody 'round these parts.
If you're not quite ready to get neck-deep in holiday cheer, there's plenty to do around town that's just about as far from Christmas as Independence Day. Check the music, art and sports circuits for ways to work out your wiggles before the workweek intrudes on a perfectly good Monday morning.
Where: Main Street Jenks; Lights On at RiverWalk Crossing Friday night, 5:30-8:30pm
In case the video above - which, by the way, has nothing to do with Jenks or Oklahoma but is practically required YouTube viewing at this time of year - can't manage to put you in the holiday spirit, carriage rides, Santa pictures and a holiday hometown parade are guaranteed to get the job done. There's even a little something for your wallet in all this Christmas craziness: It's a sales tax holiday weekend at participating Main Street Jenks shops, which means you get a discount equal to state and local taxes on all the gifts you buy this weekend. Woot! Don't forget to head to the Lion's Club at 211 N. Elm Saturday morning for a pancake breakfast. Get more details on Holiday Open House weekend here.
Saturday
Champagne & Chocolate Holiday Gala When: Saturday, 6-10pm Where: Living Arts, 307 E. Brady And you thought no one made corsets anymore. This weekend, take your chance to pore over works by 100 of the best artists in the state, including those of Nicole Moan, expert ceramic corset artist and craftswoman. Heck, you could even model a corset yourself – no, really, there will be an opportunity to do that at this event. Other original pieces have been priced to fit the holiday budget so that everyone can enjoy the privilege of the collecting of art. Plus, look for complimentary champagne and chocolates, plus hors d'oeuvres provided by Tulsa's finest local vendors and chocolatiers. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Patron tickets, which grant admission to a preview party and first dibs on all art work, are $250, all of which can go toward the purchase of art.
Sunday
Route 66 Marathon When: Sunday, starting at 7:30am, with the Expo Friday-Saturday Where: Veterans Park, 18th and Boulder; Tulsa Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A, 100 Civic Center It might be too late to start training, but it's not too late to register to run in one of the Route 66 Marathon runs. Get thee to the Health and Fitness Expo at Tulsa Convention Center Friday, 11am-6pm, or Saturday, 10am-6pm, to do the deal. Then, bright and early on Sunday morning (at 7:30am for full-, half- and relay-marathoners), lace up those sneaks and pound the pavement, baby. Good luck to all you gnarly runners out there, and don't forget to load up on lots of yummy carbs. I hear there's a pasta dinner at Dilly Deli Saturday night, starting at 5:30 where a trip through the pasta buffet runs $10 (be sure to call Fleet Feet at (918) 492-3338 to RSVP). At about 1/10th of a mile from the finish line, be sure to shield your eyes from the sun that will be gleaming from the chrome on dozens of classic cars on display in the Route 66 Marathon classic car show.
Music
The Greencards When: Friday, doors at 7pm Where: Emerson Hall at All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria Ave. Their fascination with American roots music, bluegrass especially, drew singer/bassist Carol Young and multiple string-instrument master Kym Warner and violinist Eamon McLoughlin to perform together. Now, with an Americana Music Award and a Grammy nomination under their belts, they're coming to Tulsa to play for us. Tickets are $15, or $13 for students.
Dirtfoot with Randy Crouch When: Friday, 7pm Where: Flytrap Music Hall, 514 E. Second Street The only front porch, whiskey swillin', foot stomping, gypsy, punk, country, grumble, boogie band in the land – and one of my personal and very favorite music acts, too. Randy Crouch opens. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
Gaither Vocal Band Reunited Tour 2009 When: Saturday, 6pm Where: Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Ave. The GVB got its start in the early 1980s with four guys singing around a piano backstage before a Bill Gaither Trio concert. Gary McSpadden, Steve Green, Lee Young and Bill Gaither were just having themselves a good ol' time, harmonizing on “Your First Day in Heaven,” when Bill decided they should try out their new sound on a live audience that very night. Now, a quarter-century later, you gospel lovers can reap the benefits. Tickets are $35.50 and $45.50.
Big Smith Live When: Saturday, doors at 7pm Where: Flytrap Music Hall, 514 E. Second Street Check out this band from Springfield composed of five cousins and a fiddle player, cranking out raucous acoustic music that captures the spirit of their native Ozarks. Tickets are $8, or $10 at the door.
Tulsa Symphony: The Music of America When: Saturday, 7:30pm Where: Tulsa PAC, Chapman Music Hall, 110 E. Second Street Get ready for some jazz, swing and showtunes in this exhibition of music Americana. Guest trumpeter Walter White put together the arrangements for all of the Great American Songbook selections performed for the evening, including artists from Gershwin to Ellington. Tickets are $10-65.
Generation Bridge in Concert When: Saturday, 10pm Where: Club 209, 209 N. Boulder If the word “unplugged” describes your music more than how you like your blankets at this time of year, head to Club 209 for a set by this local acoustic duo. There's no cover charge, and there's plenty of local art on the walls of ogle.
The Rev. Cortez Rex in “The Rev. James Cleveland Story” When: Sunday, 5pm Where: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street General admission seating is $15, or $22 for a chair at a table of reserved seating.
I Musici de Montreal with Guest Pianist Katherine Chi When: Sunday, 3pm Where: Tulsa PAC, John H. Williams Theatre, 110 E. Second Street This chamber orchestra of 15 musicians presents a vast repertoire, extending from the baroque to the contemporary. The orchestra presents a busy schedule of over 100 concerts per session per season throughout the world, including three prestigious series in Montreal. The program will include Mozart: Divertimento in D Major; Elgar: Serenade for Strings in E Minor; Chopin: Variations in B-Flat Major on Mozart's La ci darem la mano; Dvorak: Serenade for Strings in E Major. Tickets are $25.
Social Genosyde, StArBox, The Dancing Bear, Colin and Scott Band and More When: Sunday, doors at 6pm Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street Also with Joy Kasper, The Fiascos and Milos Fare. Admission is $12.
Arts and Theatre
The Rivalry When: Friday, 7:30pm; Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 1:30pm, 7:30pm Where: Gilcrease Museum, Tom Gilcrease Jr. Auditorium, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road Get ready, history buffs, because some of the most famous debates in U.S. History, namely the 1858 debates between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, will come to life this weekend. The Vincent Downing Theatre Company will bring its full cast from off-Broadway performances at The Irish Repertory Theatre for the Tulsa performances. Tickets are $30, or $25 for members and $8 for students.
Indwelling: An ORU Dance Concert When: Friday, 7:30pm; Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm Where: Oral Roberts University, Howard Auditorium, 7777 S. Lewis Ave. The ORU Dance department kicks off its season this weekend with a diverse collection of dance works from the historical Pas de Quatre to fresh, contemporary works to flamenco, rhythm tap and new works from the fundamentals and advanced choreography courses. Tickets are $10, or $7 for students and seniors, and are available via the Mabee Center ticket office.
Elektra When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm Where: TCC Van Trease PACE, 10300 E. 81st Street Looking for a Greek name for your baby? Choose here: Set in the city of Argos a few years after the Trojan war, this tragic play by Sophocles is based around the character of Elektra and the vengeance that she and her brother Orestes take on their mother Clytemnestra and step-father Aegisthus for the murder of their father, Agamemnon. I'd go with Agamemnon if I were you – it's very stately. Tickets are $10.
The Crucible When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm Where: Tulsa PAC, Liddy Doenges Theatre, 110 E. Second Street Abigail returns again to turn life in Salem upside down – or, rather, hang it in the gallows. Presented by Theatre Tulsa. Tickets are $15. Tickets are $15.
The Shape of Things When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm Where: Tulsa PAC, Charles E. Norman Theatre, 110 E. Second Street If you always thought John Milton might have been onto something with that whole Paradise Lost schtick, check out this modern-day tale of the fall of man. After a chance meeting in a museum, Evelyn, a sexy, aggressive artist and Adam, a shy, insecure student become embroiled in an intense love affair. What could possibly go wrong? Tickets are $25.
Born Again Yesterday When: Sunday, 7pm Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street For anyone who knows the comedian Justin McKean and thinks he's a funny guy, just wait until you see him play 12 different characters, from hardcore Christian fundamentalists to God himself, all in one production. This play is for anyone who can identify with a man recovering from a childhood in a household run by fundamentalists. Tickets are $10.
Loony Bin Locals When: Sunday, seating starting at 7:30, show starts at 8pm Where: The Loony Bin Comedy Club, 6808 S. Memorial Drive A full 20 comics will take the stage this Sunday in a show of Tulsa's newest up-and-comers with the city's hottest rising stars. Guests 18 and up are invited to the R-rated show. A full menu of drinks and noshes will be available. Admission is $5.
Sports
Fall Finale Horse Show When: Friday-Sunday Where: Expo Square, Built Ford Tough Arena, 4145 E. 21st Street The show, presented by the Oklahoma Hunter & Jumper Association, is recognized by all three organizations. It's even rated an “S” schooling show. Big awards will be at stake for competitiors.
Cliff Keen Tulsa Nationals When: Friday-Saturday Where: Expo Square Pavilion, 4145 E. 21st Street Purportedly the oldest, most prestigious junior wrestling event in the world (I guess the wresters of ancient Greece don't really count), more than 2,000 wrestlers aged 4-16 years and hailing from about 40 states will converge upon Tulsa to get their smack down.
8 on 8 Flag Football Tournament When: Saturday, 10am-5pm Where: Haikey Creek Park, 113th and Garnett Road This isn't your Craigslist 8 on 8 football tourney, folks. In this case, there's a pretty serious cash prize - $1,000, to be exact, plus free entry into the next tournament. Entry per team is $250 for a max of 12 and a minimum of 8 players; brackets will be in double elimination format. There are prizes for second and third place, too – and trophies! - and there's still time to register at OffYoCouch.com.
OU v. Texas Tech When: Saturday, 11:30am Where: Lubbock
TU v. Southern Miss When: Saturday, 6:30pm Where: Hattiesburg
Oilers v. Wichita When: Sunday, 4pm Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave. Check out Tulsa's home hockey team take on the team from Wichita. Stay tuned for the post-game skate with players. Doors open an hour and a half before each game and there are plenty of options at BOK Center for supper; if you're hungry, showing up early for Oilers games is the way to go. Tickets are $10-30.
Skate, Rattle & Roll When: Sunday, doors at 6pm Where: Broken Arrow Roller Sports, 551 W. Oakland It's roller derby time! Watch the Green Country Roller Girls take on Central Arkansas Roller Derby (C.A.R.D.). Tickets are $12 at the door, $10 in advance and kids aged 12 and under get in free.
Holiday Stuff
Turkey Tea Party When: Friday, 10am Where: Whiteside Park, 4009 S. Pittsburg Ave. Load up the kids and head to Whiteside Park in south Midtown to make turkeys and remember the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday. All participants must be pre-registered, so be sure to call the park at (918) 746-5040 to sign up. Kids aged 2-5 are welcome. Cost is $6.
Lights On at Riverwalk Crossing When: Friday, 5:30-8:30pm Where: Riverwalk Crossing in Jenks Check out what the Riverwalk might look like if it doubled as a runway. Plus, visit Santa, catch performances by the Jenks Dance Academy and carolers and snag a carriage ride.
Salvation Army Angel Tree Lighting and Ceremony When: Saturday, 3pm Where: Woodland Hills Mall, 7021 S. Memorial Drive Get warmed up for next week's Lights On event at Utica Square by stopping by Woodland Hills Mall this Saturday to watch a giant angel tree go up in lights. Don't forget to pick a few angels off the tree while you're at it. You get the warm fuzzies, the angels get a Christmas. It's a good trade, I'd say.
2009 Festival of Trees When: Sunday, 10am-Dec. 13 Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Ave. Get excited about the holidays by basking in the glow of dozens of artfully decorated Christmas trees in one of Tulsa's world-class art museums. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this celebration, the Philbrook's Festival of Trees. Don't forget to snag one of the FoT commemorative pins from the Philbrook Gift Shop, a place to keep in mind when it comes to shop for stocking stuffers.
Capitol Christmas Tree @ Philbrook When: Sunday, 3-5pm. Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Ave. Every year, a different state is selected to provide the massive Christmas tree that sits outside the U.S. Capitol. This year, for the first time, the lucky tree is a Blue Spruce from Arizona. The 85-foot giant will make its way across the country, stopping in Oklahoma to stand tall at Philbrook Museum. Stop by yourself and sign a message on the trunk that will go all the way to Washington D.C.
Other Stuff
An Affair of the Heart When: Friday, 9am-6pm; Saturday, 9am-6pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm Where: Expo Square, QuikTrip Center, 4145 E. 21st Street Dozens of Tulsa billboards wouldn't lead you astray. We've all been hearing about An Affair of the Heart, a show of nearly 700 booths of arts, crafts, antiques, collectibles, accessories and gourmet foods. Sounds to me like a one-stop shop for a Christmas shopping jumpstart. Show admission is $6 and is good for all three days.
Continental Antique Show When: Friday, 10am-6pm; Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, 11am-4pm Where: Expo Square, Central Park Hall, 4145 E. 21st Street If there's one thing Oklahomans know, it's antiques. Plenty of oldies-but-goodies will be displayed for perusal this weekend at Tulsa's fairgrounds. Admission is $6 for adults and seniors, and children under 12 are admitted free.
Public Star Party When: Friday, 5:30pm Where: Mounds Observatory Bet against the forecast for cloudy skies by heading out to Mounds for this big leaguers of star parties. Enjoy the view through several different types of telescopes, some bigger than you are, and hear talks by members of the Astronomy Club of Tulsa. Families are welcome, but mind thine children. To find the observatory, check out this map.
11th International Transgender Day of Remembrance When: Friday, 7:30pm Where: Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. Fourth Street Join the international transgender community in recognizing the victims of anti-transgender hatred, prejudice and violence. Special musical guests are Council Oak Men's Chorale and Sisters in Song, with clergy from the faith community participating. This service publicly mourns and honors the lives those who might otherwise be forgotten.
30th Annual Martha Gragg Doll & Toy Show When: Saturday, all day Where: Expo Square Exchange Center, 4145 E. 21st Street Demi Moore apparently isn't the only one who collects lifelike dolls. Parking is free, admission is $4.
Creative Cartoons When: Saturday, 1pm Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Ave. Calling all cartoon lovers: Hang out with Andrea Wamble, the creator of Shrek, and learn how to create your own crazy cartoon character. Wamble comes to Philbrook from Dallas where she was the creative director of the accredited art school Art-A-Rama. Cost is $7, of $5 for members.
Introduction to Encaustic Painting When: Saturday, 1pm Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Ave. Ever painted with beeswax? If not, this is your chance. Encaustic paintings use melted beeswax, resin and pigments to create an amazing surface that can be built up to create translucent, yet textured, layers. All skill levels are welcome. Cost is $40, or $32 for members.
Meet Illustrator Lane Smith When: Saturday, 3pm Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Ave. Jump all over this rare opportunity to meet Lane Smith, the Tulsa-born children's book author and illustrator best known for his work in The Stinky Cheese Man, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and Hooray for Diffendoofer Day. Smith will show examples of his illustrations, demonstrate his drawing technique and talk about his life as an illustrator. Stick around after for a book signing. Reservations are required, so get on the phone to (918) 748-5320 to sign up.
Movies
The Twilight Saga: New Moon When: Opens Friday Bella Swan delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of, only to find herself in greater peril than ever before. Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, a.k.a. hot wolf boy. If you're a mom in need of a night out, join the gals of Ttownmoms.com at B&B Sapulpa Cinema 8 Theater at 7:10pm and bask in the teenage flashbacks. Rated PG-13.
The Blind Side When: Opens Friday Sandra Bullock stars as a well-to-do suburban mom who forms an unlikely friendship with a teen she takes in from the other side of the tracks. Rated PG-13.
Planet 51 When: Opens Friday The sudden arrival of an alien – an American astronaut named Captain Charles – wreaks havoc among the little green inhabitants of a distant planet stuck in the throes of that played-out, cheerfully innocent rendition of 1950s America. Rated PG.
Art & Copy When: Opens Friday Where: Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave. Got a special place in your heart for advertising? Whether or not we want to admit it, we all do – even if it only shows on Super Bowl Sunday. Catch this film about the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time – people who have profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry.
A Serious Man When: Opens Friday Where: Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave. It's 1967 and Larry Gopnik, a physics professor at a quiet Midwestern university, just learns his wife is leaving him for one of his more pompous acquaintances. His brother sleeps on his couch, his son is a nightmare and his daughter steals money from his wallet to save up for a nose job. What's to do but consult three different rabbis in search of the state of being of the mensch – a serious man?
Troll 2 When: Friday, 11pm; Saturday, 11pm Where: Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave. The original boogeyman is back – again, and this time it's from the 90s. Show up at Circle Cinema in your jammies to take part in the Tulsa tradition that is the Midnight Movie – plus, some of the best of the good bad cinema.
If you work or live in downtown Tulsa, odds are that you have seen this man:
It seems sometimes that it can't be too cold or windy or rainy for the Guitar Man, reportedly named Chris, to break out his guitar and belt out some 1970s rock classics.
I don't work downtown anymore and I with much remorse and gnashing of teeth have come to terms with the fact that I don't live downtown, either. So, when I do go downtown, I like to find Chris and toss him a word or two of encouragement. Also, I videotape him. It's my little way of hoarding the good times.
In case he's not out today, here's your fix of the best darned Ted Nugent cover ever, by none other than Chris the Guitar Man.
It's the weekend, good buddies, and you know what that means – it's time to cut loose and read the lengthy list of events Tulsa has to offer before 8am on Monday. While headbanging. Because cutting loose and reading a long list seem somewhat at odds. And because the eve of Friday the 13th is upon us and what could possibly go wrong?
The weather won't be the beauty pageant we've enjoyed in recent weeks, but there will be plenty to do from underneath a roof. Tons of music and theatre are flooding the dance halls and playhouses this weekend, and then there's everything from early holiday shopping with Tulsa's naughtiest crafty chicks to Tulsa's largest Lebanese food festival to enjoy. You're sure to be well-cultured, entertained and, most importantly, in my opinion, well-fed.
Little House on the Prairie When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday, 2pm and 7pm Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Chapman Music Hall, Who doesn't remember the morality tales as presented in the Little House on the Prairie books or television shows as integral parts of his or her childhood? Now Melissa Gilbert, the one and the same as the star of the TV series, helps to bring the story to the stage in her role as Ma. Tickets are $25-60.
Saturday
McNellie's Pub Run When: Saturday, 3pm Where: McNellie's Public House, 401 E. First Street Two words, beer aficionados: Guinness challenge. That's what the folks at McNellie's mean when they talk about exercise, and the Pub Run is how they let the community join the fun. Choose the four-mile or the one-mile fun run, both starting and ending at McNellie's and winding through the historic Brady and Blue Dome Districts. Anyone who can glug three 12-ounce Guinness pints during the four-mile run and still beat out all others wins a coveted $300 house account at McNellie's. Following the race will be entertainment and, you guessed it, more tasty beverages. Visit Fleet Feet to register, or register on race day. Cost is $20 before race day, $25 the day of.
Sunday
Hafli When: Friday and Saturday, 11am-9pm; Sunday, noon-3pm Where: St. Antony Orthodox Church, 2646 E. Sixth Street Ah, Lebanese food – one of my very favorite world cuisines. You can bet the folks at St. Antony will be fighting me, along with 2,000 other hungry people, back all weekend long, thanks to Hafli, Tulsa's largest Lebanese food festival, dinner and bake sale. There's more going on at Hafli, Arabic for “party” or “celebration,” than food - tours of the beautiful church, for one - but that's still what it's all about. Look for grilled chicken breast served over St. Antony's famous Hashwa (a blend of rice, beef and almonds), cabbage rolls, hummus, pita bread, Greba butter cookies and, of course, lots and lots of baklawa (yes, baklawa, something of a Lebanese version of baklava). Adults pay $12.50 for the meal, and kids 12 and under pay $5. Leaving with a bag full of food and baked goods is highly encouraged.
Music
Ghostland Observatory When: Friday, doors at 7pm Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street Compared to everyone from Freddie Mercury to Daft Punk to David Bowie and self-described on its Web site as BALLSY (yes, in all caps), this south Austin band is sure to please their Tulsa neighbors. Tulsa's own DJ Moody will open. Tickets are $27 in advance, $29 at the door.
Darius Rucker When: Friday, 7pm Where: Osage Event Center, 951 W. 36th Street North We can all hear Cuba Gooding Jr. saying it: “No, I am not Hootie.” Darius, however, is, and he's coming to Tulsa fresh from winning New Artist of the Year for his album, “Learn to Live” at the CMA's earlier this week. Tickets start at $35.
Rave On: A Buddy Holly Tribute When: Friday, 7:30pm Where: Robson Performing Arts Center, 101 E. Stuart Roosa in Claremore The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rollings Stones, Bob Dylan – they all owe a little something to Buddy Holly. Catch this tribute concert for $25-45.
Symphony Safari When: Saturday, 2pm and 3:15pm Where: Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th Street North The sounds of the Tulsa Zoo are unmistakable: The roar of the lion, the hoot of the chimpanzee, the toot of a trumpet. Wait, what? You read correctly. This weekend a symphony of sounds of the animal kind and otherwise will spill forth from the new Chapman Event Lodge at America's Favorite Zoo, thanks to two performances by Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. After, meet the musicians and learn about the instruments they play. Plus, thanks to a partnership with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma, any child or “Little” is admitted free with paid adult admission.
Dethklok/Mastodon When: Saturday, doors at 6pm Where: Brady Theater, 105 W. Brady Street Dethklok and Mastodon are joined by guests Converge and High on Fire to complete the set of bands with the best names ever. Tickets to see these moniker masters are $29.50-39.50.
Yesudas in Concert When: Saturday, 6:30pm Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, John H. Williams Theatre Like Marni Nixon did for Deborah Kerr, Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn in those classic American movie musicals we all know and love, Yesudas records songs for Indian movie actors to which to lip-sync on camera. Thing is, Yesudas doesn't toil in obscurity. In fact, he has won seven National Film Awards and 34 State Awards. Presented by South Asian Performing Arts Foundation. Tickets are $40.
Travis Tritt When: Saturday, 7pm Where: Osage Event Center, 951 W. 36th Street North No one can sing me to sleep with a soulful rendition of “Anymore,” or pull off a full-fledged mullet, quite like my boyfriend Travis. Go bask in the down-home glory this weekend. Tickets are $30.
Ian Moore & the Lossy Coils When: Saturday, doors at 7pm Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street With his most recent record described by the St. Louis Post Dispatch as, “a progressive pop-rock tour de force,” this songwriter and guitarist looks to bring on the droves. The Televised will open. Tickets are $13.
The Lettermen When: Saturday, 8pm Where: Tulsa Community College VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st Street 50 years. 18 gold albums. 10,000 sold out shows. That's Tony Butala, Donovan Tea and Mark Preston, also known as The Lettermen, and they're in Tulsa this very weekend. Celebrate an evening of music while supporting Signature Symphony's educational and music outreach. Tickets are $25-45.
Bob Wiles Benefit Concert When: Sunday, doors at 4pm Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street Enjoy music at this charity concert by the Red Dirt Rangers (who will be celebrating 20 years together), Tom Skinner Science Project, The Saltines, Neverly Hillbillies, The Round-Up Boys, Joe Baxter, Split Level Rambler and more. It's all free and open to the public, and donations are accepted. Check out the live and silent auctions, too. Proceeds go to help musicians in need.
Great Music, Great Spaces When: Sunday, 2pm Where: The Mayo Hotel, 115 W. Fifth Street Following a commentary on the architecture of this newly renovated downtown jewel, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra Chamber players will perform music of the period that saw the Mayo Hotel through her glory days. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling (918) 596-7109.
University of Tulsa Jazz Band When: Sunday, 5pm Where: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street With a history as a primordial pool of Tulsa music talent, it'd be wise to be in the audience in this concert. You could say you knew them when. Tickets are $15 for general admission seating, $20 each for reserved table seats.
Art and Theatre
Life x 3 When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Charles E. Norman Theatre As if dinner parties at your home weren't stressful enough, imagine the chaos if your guests showed up a full day early. Yikes! Revel in the mayhem of three distinct tellings of this nerve-wracking scenario. Presented by ORU Theatre Department. Tickets are $15.
The Crucible When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Liddy Doenges Theatre, Abigail returns again to turn life in Salem upside down – or, rather, hangs it in the gallows. Presented by Theatre Tulsa. Tickets are $15.
Elektra by Sophocles When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm Where: Tulsa Community College VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st Street Looking for a Greek name for your baby? Choose here: Set in the city of Argos a few years after the Trojan war, this tragic play by Sophocles is based around the character of Elektra and the vengeance that she and her brother Orestes take on their mother Clytemnestra and step-father Aegisthus for the murder of their father, Agamemnon. Agamemnon is my personal fave. Tickets are $10.
The Spontaniacs! Improv When: Friday, 8pm Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street If you thought the scary stuff was over with Halloween, think again. The Spontaniacs! Invite you to the Appleton family reunion. Ew – I just got the shivers at the mention of those last two words. Admission is $5.
Crayons Improv Live When: Friday, 8pm Where: Agora Coffeehouse, 4959 S. 79th E. Ave. Don't miss this last Agora show of the year, complete with the full cast. Including Twin-prov from OKC as special guests. Show up early to participate in Live Event Trivia, starting at 7:30pm. Admission is $5.
Second Saturday at Philbrook Museum When: Saturday, 10:30am-4pm Where: Philbrook Museum, 2424 S. Rockford Place Bring the whole family and enjoy hands-on art projects, a scavenger hunt and a family-friendly tour of the museum. Art appreciation class couldn't beat this if it tried.
Born Again Yesterday When: Sunday, 7pm Where: The Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street For anyone who knows the comedian Justin McKean and thinks he's a funny guy, just wait until you see him play 12 different characters, from hardcore Christian fundamentalists to God himself, all in one production. This play is for anyone who can identify with a man recovering from a childhood in a household run by fundamentalists. Tickets are $10.
Sports
Women's Professional Rodeo Association When: Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 6pm Where: Expo Square Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex, 4145 E. 21st Street The group that got its start in 1948 as a group of Texas ranch women who wanted to add a little color and femininity to the rough-and-tumble sport of rodeo is bringing a rodeo to Tulsa of the likes only a modern-day association of more than 2,000 members and $3 million in barrel racing prize money could deliver. Tickets are $15.
Tulsa Gun Show When: Saturday-Sunday, 8am-6pm Where: Expo Square QuikTrip Center, 4145 E. 21st Street When you come to this gun show, you'll see a lot of pointy things and weapons that go boom, not a lot of non-gun related stuff or flea market garbage. Both levels of the QT Center will be filled to the brim with weapons to make your trigger finger hum with anticipation. Admission is $10 for adults, $3 for children under the age of 12.
Oilers v. Rapid City When: Friday, 7:35pm Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave. Doors open an hour and a half before the game, so come early and have a bite to eat at one of the many yummy food stops at the BOK Center. Plus, it's ladies night! Ladies get discount tickets, free chair massages and what the Oilers site is calling other special perks. Guys, you have our attention. Tickets are $10-30.
T-Town Showdown When: Saturday, 8am-10pm Where: Expo Square Pavilion, 4145 E. 21st Street If you think football is big in Oklahoma, you've never been to a high school cheerleading competition. This showdown will give the curious a taste of the enthusiasm, with a generous dose of jazz hands. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children and seniors, and kids under five get in free.
OU v. Texas A&M When: Saturday, 6pm Where: Norman
OSU v. Texas Tech When: Saturday, 7pm Where: Boone Pickens Stadium
Oilers v. Mississippi When: Saturday, 7:35pm Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver Ave. Again, the doors open an hour and a half before the game, so swing in early and grab some sushi, barbeque and even cupcakes. Tickets are $10-30.
TU v. East Carolina When: Sunday, 7:15pm Where: Chapman Stadium
Other Stuff
Startup Weekend Tulsa When: Friday-Sunday Where: ONEOK Plaza, lower level Get ready for the greatest attack ever staged by the buzzwords of the business world. Except this time, the attack comes not in the name of the mean guy on The Matrix, but rather for that seed of a business venture idea that's been taking root in the back of your mind. This 54-hour event in the presence of some of the top creative minds in this city could make it sprout. Registration is $75, or enter promo code SWTASHA to get $20 off.
Bead Renaissance Show When: Friday and Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday, 10am-5pm Where: Expo Square Exchange Center, 4149 E. 21st Street Calling all jewelry makers and bead enthusiasts! This is an Expo Square-sized show of all things that sparkle and shine. Parking is free, and so is admission.
Native American Day at Iron Gate When: Friday, 8:30am-10:30am Where: Iron Gate at Trinity, 501 S. Cincinnati Ave. Chiefs and tribal representatives from Cherokee, Creek and Osage Nations will spend the morning at Iron Gate making that food no one can get enough of: frybread, along with a full Native American menu, all served cafeteria style like the breakfast gods intended. Get around early to attend this most Oklahoman of breakfasts; reports say 600 hungry people showed up last year and that it's likely to be even crazier in 2009.
Cuddle Monster Party When: Friday, 5pm Where: Dwelling Spaces, 119 S. Detroit Ave. Kids all over Tulsa have enjoyed Cuddle Monsters since they made their debut downtown at Dwelling Spaces, and now the family of monsters is growing. What more could you want for a cause for celebration? Snacks and beverages and plenty of good times will be on hand, as will the plushies we Tulsa patriots have grown to know and love.
Literati Indie Book Fair When: Saturday, 11am-5pm Where: McBirney Mansion, 1414 S. Galveston Ave. Calling all readers: Skip the big-box book stores and meet your favorite up-and-coming Oklahoma authors this weekend in one of Tulsa's most treasured historic mansions. Admission is free.
If your kids (or, secretly, you) love Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, head downtown for this third meeting of the book club for the cool kids, which will feature the book. Everyone gets to learn to make pizza dough, a favorite activity for the kiddos, and arts and crafts will be on tap along with the book reading. Plus, parents and kids will get their chance at some excellent door prizes from hip retailers Gaga-a-Gogo, Dwelling Spaces and Shoe Gypsy. The best pizza in town, a good book, cute kids and drool-worthy door prizes? Yes, please.
Fresh Roast Gift Expo with Tulsa Craft Mafia When: Saturday, 2-7pm Where: Fresh Roast, 81st and Harvard One look around at the mall and it's plain to see that it's officially the holiday season, but don't you dare buy another gift card. Get out of that rat race and head to Fresh Roast for a gift boutique from the hands of Tulsa's favorite handy girls, the Tulsa Craft Mafia. Saturday kicks off the opening weekend of this event, which runs through to Santa's launch date to provide your loved ones something they'll actually love this year. Look also for live music, a special TCM coffee blend and craft demos. Keep your eye on Tulsa Craft Mafia and this blog for more news about holiday crafting sessions with the girls.
Autumn Harvest Bistro Dinner at Stone Bluff Cellars When: Saturday, 5:30pm Where: Stone Bluff Cellars, 24145 E. 191st Street in Haskell Make your way to the tasting room for hot artichoke dip and a complimentary glass of wine. Dinner, whipped up by the chefs of Silver Spoon Catering, will be served at 6pm. On the menu is a creamy tomato bisque, chicken in wine sauce, French apple pie and, of course, much more. At $42.50 per plate, this is more than drinks and dinner – this is an experience. Call Stone Bluff for reservations.
PlayDate When: Saturday, 8pm Where: Flytrap Music Hall, 514 E. Second Street 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.
Seeking Sitters Family Fun Fest When: Saturday, 10am-2pm Where: Whiteside Park Gymnasium, 4009 S. Pittsburg Ave. If you've ever been curious about Seeking Sitters, what I like to think of as the grown-up, modern-day, Tulsa-centric version of The Babysitters Club, make sure to be in Midtown Saturday for a chance to get to know the babysitting team. Seeking Sitters will host plenty of entertainment for the kids, including a Jupiter Jump, face painting, prizes and giveaways. Plus, I'll be there hanging out with the fabulous ladies and gents of Ttownmoms. Swing by and say hi.
Antique Glass and Pottery Show and Sale When: Saturday at 10am-5pm; Sunday, 11am-4pm Where: Tulsa Convention Center Exhibit Hall A, 100 Civic Center I don't know about you, but I have a thing for Depression Glass. Downtown is going to be full of it this weekend, thanks to this show. Look for that and a lot more, including linens, postcards, costume jewelry and other small collectibles. Admission $3.50, which is good for both days.
If I Were Going, I Would Go To... When: Saturday, 11:30am Where: Tulsa City-County Library locations Did you know Tulsa has eight sister cities in this world? It's true. This weekend, your kids can explore a few of them with Tulsa's libraries. For Celle, Germany, head to Broken Arrow Library; Beihai, China, will be at Zarrow Regional Library; Kaohsiung, Taiwan, at Rudisill Regional Library; and Amiens, France, at Kendall-Whittier Library. These programs will feature music, food, traditional dress, games and more. These events are free and are all-age appropriate.
Movies
2012 When: Opens Friday We've all seen the wide-eyed documentaries about the Mayan calendar that predicts an end to the world in 2012. This movie adds Hollywood to make the nightmare complete. Starring my boyfriend John Cusack and Jenny McCarthy's best buddy, Amanda Peet. Rated PG-13.
Pirate Radio When: Opens Friday By playing rock 'n roll they were standing up against the British government who did everything in their power to shut them down. This group of eight rogue DJs hopped on a boat in the middle of the North Atlantic and played rock records and broke the law, all for the love of music. Groovy, man. Rated R.
The Cove When: Opens Friday, 7:30pm Where: Circle Cinema, 12 S. Lewis Ave. Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renown dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan, to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health. Rated PG-13.
Sunday Matinee Films at Gilcrease When: Sunday, 1:30pm Where: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road Catch a back-to-back showing of The Southeastern Indians and Legacy of the Mound Builders. The showing is free with paid museum admission and open to the public.
I went about it all nonchalantly, thinking a user or two would join the group and add their takes on the quintessential Tulsa photo, the skyline shot.
We do have a pretty nice skyline, it's true. But much more became of this Flickr group than the old hat. That it has more than five dozen members, plenty of whom are professional photographers, and 600 photos helps to diversify things a little.
Besides sticking the group button in the sidebar here at TashaDoesTulsa.com, I've been enjoying the photos added to this group from behind closed doors, more or less. It's not that I'm selfish or that I didn't learn to share in kindergarten (really, I didn't - I had to learn that life lesson later, much later). What matters is that now, folks, I'm sharing.
If you guessed that this is the neon sign at the Mayo Garage downtown, just a skip and a jump from the newly renovated Mayo Hotel, then you guessed right. Now, go have yourself a cookie.
Anyone seen the Mayo Hotel sign ablaze in the night sky? My friends who live downtown (of whom I am intensely jealous) say it can be seen for miles around.
By art house film. I used to walk down this street every week day. Photos like these make me want to rent an office downtown. Or, at least, eat lunch there everyday.
By ~munson~, an IRL friend who has the prettiest hair I've ever seen, IRL and otherwise. Think Minnie Driver, but curlier and shinier and bouncier. You'll have to ask her directly for a chance to see it.
What? Did you really think I could make it through a Tulsa photos post without including a shot of a gloriously sloppy sandwich from a legendary local BBQ joint? Surely you didn't think that. You're rational humans.
By BrettMorrison. Last night I innocently showed this photo to my husband, an underground Minolta patriot, which earned me a fifteen minute "discussion" on tiltshift photography.
An interesting person, my husband. I learn the most unexpected things from him in the most unexpected ways.
Thank you to everyone who continues to add photos to the TDT group on Flickr. Thanks to you, I didn't get any laundry done last night, and the dishes from dinner are still in the sink, but my mind is now a more colorful place. My personal concept of how Tulsa looks has been altered.
See the rest of my picks of the crop, and feel free to add a few of your own photos. Because if you don't, I might just have to leave the couch. No one wants that. That is, if no one is me.
Military service is a tradition in a lot of Oklahoma families (including mine - that's my husband up there, on a patrol through New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina), so it's no wonder that Veterans Day is a pretty big deal here in these parts.
Our city hosts the fifth largest Vets Day parade in the U.S., after all, and our VFW and American Legion posts are abuzz on this day every year with honorary breakfasts, luncheons and good old-fashioned fellowship.
Check out these opportunities in Tulsa to remember, honor and celebrate our military men and women of yesterday and today.
Free breakfast. VFW Post 577, at 1109 E 6th Street, in the shadow downtown Tulsa, is serving a free breakfast today starting at 7am, continuing to 9:30am. No need to be a veteran to attend - just come hungry, because everyone is welcome. On the menu is scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscuits, and gravy, along with coffee, milk and orange juice.
Parade. The Veterans Day parade in downtown Tulsa, the nation's fifth largest, promises to line Boulder Avenue, all under the banner, "Home of the Free Because of the Brave." This year's parade marshall is Paul Andert, a veteran of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, recipient of the silver star, three bronze stars and two purple hearts and the author of the book, Unless You Have Been There. The parade starts at 11am at Main and Third.
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?
Looking for deals in Tulsa's indie scene this week? Try these on for size.
Yummies
Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum, Taco Bueno and Burger King. Donate $1 at Taco Bueno or Burger King and get a coupon booklet worth $20 in discounts at Tulsa Zoo, Bueno and King. Benefits Operation Roadtrip: Giraffes at Tulsa Zoo. Yay, new giraffes!
Cosmo Cafe. Join the e-mail list and the VIP Birthday Club to score sweet discounts way more than just one special day a year.
Assorted local eats and shops. Look on the back of your latest Tulsa PAC ticket stubs - deals are sometimes printed on the back. For example, on the back of our tickets to Jellydots (a kids' band that played in Tulsa late this summer) was printed a BOGO entree coupon good at indie downtown restaurant El Guapo's Cantina. Yum!
The Stock Pot. My favorite Tulsa restaurant supply store and more. Get $5 off any purchase of $25, or $10 off any purchase of $50 or more in the latest ValPak.
Ihloff Salon & Day Spa. Follow Ihloff on Twitter and Facebook and get access to salon and spa specials and discounts. The latest example? A complimentary application of renewing lip treatment to, what else, plump and hydrate those smackers.
Have you heard about the giant party happening along the east bank of the Arkansas this weekend?
It's the first annual RiverRush, and from sunup to sundown, it's bringing a 5K run, an activity expo featuring a few of the many groups that meet at River Parks to work out and hang out, a fancy schmancy gala and what promises to be a helluva concert, courtesy of Grammy-Award winner Joss Stone, to the heart of Tulsa.
RiverRush celebrates the 35-year milestone of River Parks, which has grown and changed the looks of Tulsa's riverbanks tremendously over the course of more than three decades. One doesn't have to travel Riverside Drive for long to notice that the park is in the middle of of its most extensive renovation ever.
Anyone who hasn't been to River Parks to check out the miles of new, spiffy dual trails, new lighting and furnishings and the oh-so-refreshing 41st Street Plaza is sorely missing out.
Make plans to grab an arm-load of friends and get to RiverRush this weekend. Anyone who takes part helps to fund a signage program at River Parks. After all, River Parks is a big place, and sometimes newcomers could use some help finding entrances, directions, park guidelines and event information.
I mean, we don't want our visitors wandering aimlessly around our ground zero of the best outdoor recreation to be had in this town. That's just not what we all know and love as Tulsa hospitality.
Wait. I mentioned giving something away, didn't I? Something really, really good, I think I said. Do you remember that? Because I remember that.
Here 'tis: Thanks to the folks behind the RiverRush festival, I have four tickets to the RiverRush Joss Stone concert at the BOK Center to give to two worthy and lucky readers here at TDT.
I know, right?
The first reader to guess how many estimated visits River Parks receives from area residents and newcomers each year is an automatic winner.
If you're not the first with the correct answer, don't worry. Keep entering, and I'll let Random.orgpick a winner from all of the correct answers posted to this blog by Friday morning at 8am.
Want to better your chances for such choice tix (which are, by the way, valued at $75 apiece)? There's an app for that - a few, actually. Hop on Facebook, Twitter - whatever suits your fancy - and post about RiverRush and/or this giveaway and receive not just one, but five (FIVE!) extra entries.
Feel free to do this as many times as you like, on one condition: Anytime you post on Facebook or Twitter, come back to this post and let me know about it. Otherwise, I have no way of being sure that I know about each of your many attempts to snag this prize.
Fairness: It's my goal in this life. That, and cookies. Also, cake and pie.
Good luck, everyone, and I'll see you at RiverRush.
So, it's your little one's first time at the fair. Congratulations! Now it's time to find a kiddie ride and get the party started.
Before you haul out that 48-oz. hand sanitizer, the mittens, elbow pads and a helmet, consider these three proven steps to a successful first round on a certain and very famous kiddie ride, the old-fashioned carousel.
Step 1: Propose the idea of carousel ride No. 1 gently, but firmly.
Wanna know what else is going on at the fair this year? Here are a few snippets:
Hamburgers dressed like children. It's sick, really. Sick and wrong.
Turkey legs - a vast quantity of them. When you're at the fair, it seems every other person who walks by is gnawing on one of these babies. It's no surprise, then, that some folks start to suffer from...
Tryptophan-induced drowsiness.
Also, tryptophan-induced napping. Not that anyone would complain about such a thing. It's just a plain and simple fact of turkey leg consumption.
Here's an example of something I get to practice each year at the fair: Agoraphobia suppression.
You guys might not believe this, but actually, I'm a pretty shy and cautious person. I'm a hermit by nature. Going to the fair and throwing myself into the middle of a crowd helps. I like to call it the Band Aid approach. Try it: Apply a Band Aid to a tender area - the underside of your forearm, for example - and then rip it off, all the while smiling like an idiot.
See? Not so bad, is it?
Something else happening each and every year at the Tulsa State Fair: Parents getting roped into riding kiddie rides that spin 7,200 degrees about a central point and then pretending that they are not nauseated or afraid of the scary, clown-like decor that surrounds them - or, rather, invades their very being.
Anyone ever wonder how much trash is generated by the Tulsa State Fair? Me, too. If anything finds a way to figure this out, post it on your blog. Because you'll be famous for a day or so.
Look! It's the annual, high-flying, homemade turkey leg balloon! This is one of my favorite fair attractions. I seek it out each year. It makes me giggle.
Want a closer look?
Perfect-o, right? The high-flying, handmade turkey leg balloon is glorious to my soul.
Now, check this out:
Can't we all identify with what this trailer has to say? I mean, that's exactly what I would have liked to have said when I was full of Boulevard beer all those times I had to elbow my way through those crowded bars in LA to reach the stage to perform my encore.
I'm so glad someone out there understands me.
Again, feeling very understood at this moment. Who doesn't love honey, and lots of it?
Who doesn't love chocolate covered pickles, and lots of them?
Didn't quite work the same way the second time I said it, did it? Oh, well. Better luck next time.
Here's the Made in Oklahoma exhibit. Thanks to new digs and some extra space, MIO seems to be larger and more sprawling this year.
Something else going on at the fair this year: The threat and sometimes reality of undesirable fair weather.
Bring a sweater, a jacket and an umbrella along to the fairgrounds with you this year, folks. Things could get drizzly.
And who could forget that most visible aspect of the Tulsa State Fair: The rides.
One time, at summer camp, I rode one of those spinny rides with the swings, as pictured above. As some of you already know, difficulty with spinny rides runs in the family, so it wasn't long into the ride before I puked - that wasn't the unexpected part. What I didn't anticipate was that, by some weird and unforgiving law of physics, after the vomit exited my face, it sort of froze in the air such that nearly every kid on the ride with me that day got thwacked in the face by a floating cloud of my evicted and sundry stomach contents.
After that it was, needless to say, time to go home. The end.
The worst part? My parents made me go back again the very next day. And you wonder why I have agoraphobia.
Another thing that can be found at the Tulsa State Fair: Happy people.
Also, sad people.
Not to mention, angry people.
Don't mind them. Have fun at the fair this year anyway.
P.S. - I'm sorry I said vomit. If you need your space, I understand.
