Tulsa Blogger Meetup, July 2010 Edition

There's more to blogging than twice-reheated coffee, bathrobes and pink bunny house shoes.

At least, I'm pretty sure there is.

From our first meeting in February, Tulsa Blogger Meetup was formed to strengthen the local community of independent, online publishers. We want to encourage excellence in local blogging, too.

We're also fans of giving ourselves a good excuse to get together each month for laughs, beers and the occasional, delicious noms.

We hope you'll join us for what's going on at TBM this month (full details after the jump).

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Discoveryland, Super Quiktrip, Pretty Bras and Skewered Apartments: Tulsa Blog Roundup

As I continue to sew up the final details on the next Tulsa Blogger Meetup (squee! Look for an announcement within the next couple of days), I realized that for anyone looking for a variety of interesting online reading, Tulsa's blogosphere provides.

At last count, Tulsa was home to more than 100 blogs, and those are just the ones to which I've been alerted and subscribe. Needless to say, then, in the pages of Tulsa blogs, there's something for everyone.

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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!

Miss Tulsa Burger Pageant

WE HAVE A WINNER!//Your votes are in and Miss Tulsa Burger has been crowned, ladies and gentlemen. Let me tell you, she's a blushing beauty.

Congrats, Miss Claud's! Wear the Miss Tulsa Burger crown proudly.

Runners up include Miss Fat Guy's at 2nd and Miss Gatsby's at 3rd. You go, ladies!

Thanks to everyone for voting, and be sure to send in your photo nominations for the next Miss Tulsa Burger Pageant!

*cue music* There she is...Miss Tulsa Burger...

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Did you know that it's National Hamburger Day? It's true.

And did you know that one of the many areas in which Tulsans are experts is the world of burgers? That's true, too. In fact, there's a blog based right here in T-Town that's all about the burgers. Plus, it's written by a guy named Joe. How could it not be awesome?

To honor this most beefy of days, I thought it'd be fun to dig through the TDT photo archives and host the first ever Miss Tulsa Burger Pageant, right here on TDT.

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Tulsa Historical Society Photo Show: A Preview

Have you heard about the new exhibit at Tulsa Historical Society? It's a showcase of the best photos in the Tasha Does Tulsa group of Flickr.

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Five Reasons Why Tulsans Should Use FourSquare

Whether you saw the FourSquare story on Fox23 this afternoon and you're here to learn more about FourSquare or you're a regular reader of TDT, I have just four words for you.

You should use FourSquare.

But, why? Here are five reasons.

1. You get to learn about what there is to do in your city in a whole new, more interactive way. Forget guidebooks, maps and calling every last buddy in your address book to find where the new hot place is to eat or hang out that night. Simply log on to FourSquare and see what your hip and cool buddies are up to. Sorry, but you'll just have to find a new way to annoy your friends other than calling them every time you're going out.

2. The more connected you are, the more hidden Tulsa treasures you'll find. The more happy, sunshiny Tulsans you add on FourSquare, the greater the chances you'll find the best and the most unique of what this city has to offer. We're talking about the best hole-in-the-wall dives, the best coffeeshops, the most delicious restaurants and the quirkiest landmarks. Finally you'll be that guy at the water cooler who's the most in-the-know about Tulsa's best and most secret finds.

3. It's much cooler than your old Gameboy. FourSquare isn't just a wayfinding tool - it's also a game. The more you use FourSquare, the more you earn these cool merit badges. After a certain number of check-ins, you get the newbie badge. When you visit another town and check in at a hip restaurant or cool coffeeshop there, you get an explorer badge. See where I'm going with this? These badges are a mark of honor (remember how you felt when you got your first Boy or Girl Scouts badge) and are a whole new way to totally pwn someone online. Or, however the kids are saying it these days.

4. You can follow along with and have mayorship fights with the likes of KRMG's Joe Kelley, Joe Momma's owner Blake Ewing, local jazz singer and hottie Olivia Duhon and, duh, me. See, when you use FourSquare to check in at your favorite locales, and when you check in more than any other FourSquare user at that same location, you become mayor. Ta-Da! I've been mayor of the Herman and Kate Kaiser Library for awhile now, and Joe Kelley rules a few Walgreen's and Reasor's locations with a firm hand, but nothing's saying you can't oust him. Because you wouldn't want to oust me. Would you?

5. If you own a small business or are looking for a job, it's just one more tool in your arsenal to win minds and influence people. FourSquare is great for me because it serves as an extension of my blog, the whole purpose of which is to help Tulsans find things to do in their city that they'll enjoy. But, say you own a hamburger stand and you'd love to see more foot traffic. Register your stand's location on FourSquare and offer a discount to users who check in (read: visit your hamburger stand and, odds greatly are, buy something) a certain number of times. Example: For every FourSquare user who checks in five times at your hamburger stand, s/he gets 50 percent off the next order. See? It's like a frequent customer card, only universal (anyone with a smart phone can participate in your deal), green (no need to print new cards when you run out or when your customers inevitably forget them) and, of course, way cooler.

Here's more more about how to get started using FourSquare.
Find me on FourSquare.

Got more questions about FourSquare? Have a FourSquare success story or gripe? Sound off in the comments.

Tulsa Blogger Meetup III Ticket Sales End TODAY

Tomorrow's the big day for the Tulsa Blogger Meetup III event. Yesterday I announced our guest speaker, Erin Conrad, Tulsa-based photographer and winner of the 2009 Oklahoma Blog Awards in the Best Blog Design category.

It's okay. You can squee. You can bet everyone else reading this is.

Post-squee, be advised that today is the last day to secure your tickets to this event. If you plan to join us but don't yet have your tickets, head to the Tulsa Blogger Meetup site right now. There are only a hand full of tickets left, and they're available only until 2pm this afternoon.

Can I say that again? Ticket sales for Tulsa Blogger Meetup III end at 2pm this afternoon.

I released just 50 spots to this month's meetup, which is why without a ticket I can't guarantee you a seat. And no, a reply on Facebook doesn't secure your ticket to this event. Sorry, but you've gotta go through the Tulsa Blogger Meetup site. I want to make sure we don't overwhelm the nice folks at Siegi's with unexpected guests. Sausage might come out of their ears, which wouldn't be pleasant for anyone, I'm pretty sure.

If you want to come and you'd rather pay at the door, you can do that. Just make sure to tick that option when you're going through the check-out at the Tulsa Blogger Meetup site.

Here again are the event details:

Tulsa Blogger Meetup: The Third
When: 6:30pm
Where: Siegi's Sausage Factory, 8104 S. Sheridan Road
Included in the $12 ticket price: A buffet of house-made sausage with three sides and your choice of water and/or tea, plus a state-wide renowned blogger as our speaker and door prizes. Beer and wine are extra and are on you.

Hope to see you all there!

Tulsa Blogger Meetup III Speaker Announced

I don't know about you all, but something that continues to intrigue me since the first day I started blogging is good blog design. I've also been known to appreciate great blog photography.

In this month's Tulsa Blogger Meetup speaker, we get someone who has been recognized for excelling in both.

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Tulsa Blogger Meetup: The Third

The third monthly Tulsa Blogger Meetup is on the horizon, folks - the show gets on the road the evening of Thursday, April 22 at 6:30pm.

Since the last two occasions were downtown, I thought we'd mix it up a bit and send some love to the southtownies at the same time.

Guess where we're going.

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A Recap: Tulsa Blogger Meetup

Last night's Tulsa Blogger Meetup was the best yet.

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TONIGHT: Tulsa Blogger Meetup, Second Edition

Just a reminder: It's tonight.

See you there, my fellow bloggers, blogger wannabes and the blog curious. Come one, come all for great food and even better banter.

Order Up: Tulsa Blogger Meetup, Foodie Edition

Anyone who has eaten at Blue Dome Diner knows that it's not your typical, run-of-the-mill diner.

The diner food there is choice, of course. But there's a finer, gourmet side to this Second Street chow stop and caterer.

But, it's not the hoity-toity, display-case-only type of gourmet food.

It's the kind you wanna eat with your fingers.

As most of you know, the second-ever Tulsa Blogger Meetup will convene at Blue Dome Diner, at 313 E. Second (in downtown Tulsa on Second Street between Detroit and Elgin Avenues) tomorrow night. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

To cut down on confusion, hurt feelings and general anarchy, Brian and Jennifer, the catering and culinary geniuses at Blue Dome Diner, have offered us a killer, all-house-made catered menu.

Check out the options:

• Black Bean Burger (vegetarian)
• Turkey Burger
• Traditional Burger
• Or, one of each as a sliders plate

Sides:

• Blue Dome Diner's famous Tabouli
• Potato Salad
• Veggie pasta salad
• Home fries

See? A little something yummy for every tummy. Each plate with a burger choice and a side is $10, including water, tea or pop.

What I need you to do, Tulsa bloggers, is this:

• Step 1: Decide which burger you want or if you want the sliders plate.
• Step 2: Choose your side.
• Step 3: E-mail me your order (simply click the link) and do it quickly.

We want to follow the advice of our speaker for the evening, Mr. Brett McKay of The Art of Manliness, and be the best guests the Blue Dome Diner has ever seen. A great way to do this would be to have our orders in by midnight tonight, March 24.

I know that's short notice, but I wouldn't lay it on you guys if I didn't know you could pull it off. And I know you can. So here it is.

A great way to keep me happy will be to bring sufficient funds with you to buy the meal you order. If you place an order tonight and tomorrow unforeseen circumstances arise to prevent you from consuming your delicious Blue Dome Diner supper and rubbing elbows with the best bloggers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, please e-mail me right away so I can adjust our ticket.

On parking: There should be plenty of it along Second Street, as well as on Elgin Avenue and Detroit Avenue. If turnout at this event is anything like it was at the first Tulsa Blogger Meetup, you might have to walk a tiny bit, but not far.

Cool? Cool.

See y'all downtown tomorrow night!

Tulsa Blogger Meetup, Take Two

If you didn't make it to the first Tulsa Blogger Meetup (and especially if you did), be sure to come out to the Blue Dome Diner on March 25. It's there you'll find Tulsa Blogger Meetup, Second Edition.

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Behind the Scenes at KJRH Channel 2 with Ttownmoms.com

I get a lot of questions about how I like being on TV and radio. Rather than tell you, I'll just show you.

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2009 Okie Blog Award Winners Announced

Below are the highlights for the Tulsa side of the Turnpike on the big news at the Oklahoma Blog Awards Web site.

Congrats to all the winners, runners-up and nominees. Blogging is so important these days to how people learn about Oklahoma and what we can learn about ourselves. To anyone out there thinking that blogging sounds like fun, I say this: Do it. It's hard work (more than a lot of folks think, but that's true about darn near everything, isn't it?) and it's demanding of one's time, but it's worth it.

So worth it.

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Today in Tulsa Blogs

From time to time I find that I've spent an entire morning reading blogs. With all the banter and pontificating and re-telling and general memoir yumminess, it's hard to keep from it from time to time (read: more often that it makes me comfortable to admit. There's dishes and laundry and baby-raisin' to do around here, after all).

Everyone - that is, unless you're still one of those people who ask, "What's a blog?" and if you are, odds would have it that you're not reading this, anyway - has their vices when it comes to blog reading. Mine is The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Did you all see the Beef Stew with Mushrooms she posted today? Lord. Have. Mercy. On my thighs. Because that's right where a recipe by Ree Drummond typically heads - at least, that's true in my case. That all of the recipes on her site now print with ease thanks to HP, my hodgepodge, finders-keepers cookbook stuffed in a three-ring binder left over from college is expanding. Also, my second chin, it is screaming. These days, it's really been throwing its weight around.

Good thing second chins don't get a vote in my house. Stand down, chins!

Speaking of second chins, Hillary over at Life Yoga, a one-woman Tulsa yoga studio that specializes in private and small classes, has a set of resolutions we should all heed now if we don't want to be making lofty vows to ourselves to lose weight and get in shape come the morning of Jan. 1. While I personally have a hard time giving up all of the comfort food that's available around holiday time, I like Hillary's idea of starting family traditions to stay trim.

Start new family traditions. This year my mom and I came up with an idea to start taking a walk every holiday after our meal. We took an hour long walk a few hours after Thanksgiving lunch. All the boys were taking a nap anyways- so we didn't miss a thing and got to spend some great time together. And lets face it- we live in Oklahoma, it's probably going to be 70 on Christmas anyways...

However you choose to spend your holiday just know that it is an excuse to get together with your family and friends- not to eat whatever you want with no consequences. You will feel much better if you follow these simple steps- and will be able to make a much better New Years resolution than losing weight.

Okay, okay, Hillary, I give up - no five slices of pie in one day this Christmas for Tasha. Thanks for working to keep us healthy, woman.

For all my knitting friends, be sure to put on your creative thinking caps and enter to win a 500-yard skein of organic, fingering-weight merino from the folks at Clear Creek Lavender. The prompt: Name the new colorway. You have until noon or so on Wednesday.

77 Counties has a striking image of my beloved Theta Pond. I spent many an afternoon sketching and dodging bird poop at that pond instead of studying in the library, where I should have been. If you haven't yet checked out the 77 Counties project, do it now. The photos are choice.

My pal Carrisa over at And So She Blogs has a valuable lesson for all of you who forget to lock up (I live with one, too, Carrisa - we should start a support group). Plus, she's got delicious, buttery, sweet-smelling baby photos.

Michael Bates - or, as I like to call him, Bates (actually, I call him, "He Who Knows," but usually only in the confines of my feeble little mind) - has a reminder about tonight's showing of the newest Jack Frank show, Tulsa A-Z. Head to Batesline for details, and be sure to tune in.

Jeff Shaw over at Bounded Rationality has a review of a new restaurant downtown. I tried it a few weeks ago and I, too, give Zorba's Greek Grill two thumbs up.

For all you history buffs out there, boy, do I have a blog for you: Historic Tulsa. Check out three recent posts on midtown mansions: Parriot Mansion, Carl K. Dresser House (read: Tulsa wedding central) and Moore Manor, on the same tract as the Creek Nation Council Oak, the fabled birthplace of Tulsa. I love those old photos, don't you all?

The always snarky Irritated Tulsan has 25 Uses for Leftover Turkey. Here's a preview: Use No. 24 is pothole filler. Use No. 12? Monopoly game pieces. Use No. 1? Unmentionable here on this mostly family-friendly blog. Check it out - you won't be sorry.

Ever get the hankerin' for horseback riding? Ron over at Route 66 News has a little somethin' for ya - Route 66 Riding Stables. Check out his photos and review. While you're there, have a look around the site. Ron writes about everything from restaurants on Route 66 to Route 66 property for sale. It's a great resource and an even better read.

All these holidays got you thinking it's finally time to learn to boil water? Learn that and more in the cooking classes at The Stock Pot. Check Tulsa Food Blog for offerings and times.

Did you miss Garden Glow at Philbrook last Saturday? No worries - you can catch some pics over at What's Up @ Philbrook, a blog about Tulsa's world-class museum at 2424 S. Rockford, updated daily.

Speaking of Tulsa's world-class museums, take a virtual tour of the one on Gilcrease Museum Road, thanks to Yogi at Yogi's Den.

To what Tulsa and Oklahoma blogs are you addicted? Share and feast upon links in the comments.

TDT Holiday Gift Guide: Fresh Blend Handmade Boutique

Tulsans have more than one option when it comes to holiday shopping. There's Wal-Mart. There's Tar-jay. And, of course, there's the mall.

Or, you could opt out of the whole made-for-the-masses scene. As the natty girls at Tulsa Craft Mafia said, don't battle it out - shop with a mug of something tasty in one hand.

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And the Winner is...

Pick No. 2 in the first annual Tasha Does Tulsa Gift Guide was a signed copy of The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man. The book is an outgrowth of the hit blog, The Art of Manliness, penned by Tulsans Brett and Kate McKay.

As it turns out, I'm not the only lucky duck to have Brett and Kate as readers here at TDT. The McKays were nice enough to sign and send along a copy of this book for me to give away here at the blog. They didn't even know their pithy, highly useful guide to all that is man was going to be part of the gift guide anyway. Funny how things turn out, especially when the small, small world that is Tulsa, Oklahoma, is part of the picture.

Anyway. The point is, there's a winner among us today.

Folks, your personal tips for maximum manliness had me in stitches. I'm going to have to jot them down on a piece of notebook paper and tuck them into my own copy of TAoM, as a sort of community-produced appendix. Thanks for making me laugh (yet again). In my mind, a good sense of humor is a true mark of manliness. In that respect, each of you has, I'm sure, 92,000+ black, curly hairs on your chest.

While there were many more than 16 comments/entries, only that many - just a little more than half - made it in before the deadline of 8pm on Friday. Better luck next time to those of you who missed the cut-off time. I was glad to read your tips for manliness anyway, though.

Congrats, Holly!

Amen to that, sister. Any time there's grilling to be done, especially, my man won't let me near animal consumables, either. A pity since grilling is way fun, but less work is less work, right? Right. E-mail me to claim your prize, little missy.

Thanks to everyone who entered. Keep your eyes on this blog for news about when the McKays will make an appearance to talk manliness and sign copies of TAoM. Hint: It's soon. Very soon.

TDT Holiday Gift Guide: The Art of Manliness

For several months now I've been walking in on my husband at the computer, poring over a certain Web site. Many a chore has gone undone. Many a meal has gone cold.

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Tulsa Photos Galore

Once I finally figured out the social media platform to which photo geeks so lovingly refer as Flickr enough to be able to use it without causing anyone any life-threatening injuries, I thought it'd be cool to make a Tasha Does Tulsa Flickr group, a place for T-Towners to pile photos they shot while shuffling around town.

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.

Feast thine eyes:

By Wade from Oklahoma. The color - oh, the color.

By robertdx. Now you know what you've been missing when you decide to stay home from the homecoming festivities at the University of Tulsa.

If you can tell where this next photo was taken, odds are you are a born-and-raised Tulsan.

By okbeatnik, who is also doing a great job tackling the photo project, 77 Counties.

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.

Working downtown is the best.

By leftturn99.

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.

By bouldinshots.

Guess where this shot was snapped:

By Shannon Hall. No, really, guess. I want to see if you can figure it out.

By cooknken.

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.

Anyone in the mood to go to the drive-in?

By Wade from Oklahoma.

Look! It's the gardens at Philbrook - in miniature.

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.