The Linnaeus Teaching Gardens: From The Secret Tulsa Treasures File

Did you know that Tulsa is the site of a 1.5-acre teaching garden? It's true. It's called the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens, and since the summer of 2006, it can be found in Woodward Park at 21st Street and Peoria Ave., just east of the Tulsa Rose Garden. And guess what - you can see it free, and it's open to the public six days a week.

Also? It's beauty and serenity and information and volunteers are totally gonna blow you away. This ain't no garden-variety garden, people.

I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. Backing away from the pun machine in 3, 2, 1...

Until you can pay a visit to the Linnaeus Teaching Gardens to experience if for yourself, I'm gonna let my two-year-old lead us on a virtual tour of sorts.

Ready? Me, too. Let's go.

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16 Ways to Keep Cool in Tulsa this Week

Temperatures don't look too forgiving here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this week - highs are charted to be in the mid- to upper-90s until beyond the seven-day forecast - but that doesn't mean that your only choice for entertainment is to camp out next to the nearest air conditioning vent.

There's still tons of ways to get out on the town and have a great time, all without breaking a sweat. Here are a few ideas.

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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.

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Free Summer Kids' Film Festivals in Tulsa for Summer 2010

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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Looking for the biggest party in Tulsa this Thursday?

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.

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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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Children's Summer Reading Program at Tulsa Library

There's just something about a library. I don't know if it's the quiet, the smell of old books or the crackle of a plastic book jacket, but libraries, they're magical.

I thank programs like the Children's Summer Reading Program for making me into a loyal library patron. I even worked in a library once. Now, I'm the mayor of the Herman and Kate Kaiser Library branch of the Tulsa City-County Library on Foursquare.

And that's some big-time stuff.

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A Challenge for Tulsa Moms and Dads This Summer

During a recent read-through of my favorite Oklahoma blogs I came across this post from Shawna Simpson over at Moving4Life.com. She has a challenge for parents with kids home from school this summer: Spend 24 hours on the move with your family.

Get more info on the challenge over at my blog on Ttownmoms.com.

Summer's 5th Night 2010 at Utica Square

There's no question that Tulsa's Utica Square, on 21st Street between Utica and Yorktown, is a beautiful place, even when my then-15-month-old son did his little break dance last year on its freshly manicured lawns that, as marked, are not to be walked upon.

Oh, well. Whatareyagonnado. It's still a beautiful, peaceful place for live music, trampled grass or not.

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Bikes, Balls and You

No, this isn't some kind of accident awareness class for men. Actually, it's the best and one of the biggest play dates in town, and it happens tomorrow at Whiteside Community Center (just west of 41st and Yale) from 9:30-10:45am with Ttownmoms.com.

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Oxley Nature Center: A Full Moon Walk

You're not going to see a Mary K. Oxley Nature Center billboard anytime soon. Oxley doesn't boast several buildings full of fancy exhibits or concession stands selling souvenir sodas at $7.50 per or splash pads as far as the eye can see.

Really, there's just a bunch of trees. And grasses. And critters.

And lots and lots of opportunities to teach your kids valuable lessons about the world around them.

Moon Walk! Read about our first trail hike at Oxley on the night of a full moon on my blog at Ttownmoms.com.

Luna moth photo from the Oxley Nature Center Facebook page.

Bixby BBQ 'n' Music Festival: The Southie

Yesterday with my new role as Southie Extraordinaire at TDT in mind, I e-mailed a friend of mine who is a member of the Rotary Club of Bixby asking him if I could have back stage access to the judging of the barbecue at the Bixby BBQ ‘n Music' Festival this weekend.

He passed me on to the people in charge of the judges for the festival, and a few hours later I found out that not only did I get access, but I get to be one of the judges.

Booya!

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How to Take Your Kids to An Art Gallery (and Beyond)

Regular TDT contributor, Tulsa Business Journal Senior Editor and Urban Tulsa Weeky Arts Writer Holly Wall has a post for us today that's a must-read for all Tulsa parents with young kids. Newsflash: There's no need to relinquish one's pre-baby life for day after day at at the local Gymboree. Holly doesn't just tell us why, but how. Take it away, Holly!

Being both a gal about town and the mother of a very active toddler, I’m frequently asked about kid-friendly activities in Tulsa. And when I am, I kind of chuckle. Not because it isn’t a relevant question — it is, for sure — but because I’ve never thought to ask it myself.

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Family Friendly Restaurants in Tulsa: TDT Friday Advice Column

As someone who blogs about things to do in Tulsa, I field lots of questions about the city and all the stuff there is to do within its borders.

While I'm cool with answering these questions on Facebook, Twitter and by e-mail, I also highlight an FAQ every week with a post here at TDT. I'm sure the folks who pose the questions aren't the only ones who would benefit from their answers.

The following question is one I get via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, in person, ESP and smoke signals at least 727 times each week. Just kidding. I don't have ESP. But I really do get this question often, so read on - odds are, you've either asked me about it or you've wondered it to yourself.

Q. Help! I need a list of family-friendly restaurants in Tulsa.

A. You've come to the right place.

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Owen Park: Tulsa's Oldest

Sometimes it feels like my son and I go to the same parks day after day, week in and week out. We tend to wimp out and frequent the ones nearest our house, even though there are literally hundreds of parks in the area to explore.

So, late last week, we hit Sonic for milkshakes and then hit the trail for Owen Park, Tulsa's first and oldest.

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How to Feed Sushi to a Toddler

It doesn't seem to matter if sushi looks like this Crunchy Philly Roll:

Or this California Roll (on the left):

Or this Lisa Roll:

My son just isn't enthusiastic about sushi.

See?

Though it doesn't always end well, I do have a process for trying to coerce my son into trying foods that are foreign to him (though as much as this family eats sushi, especially from Sushi Train at 51st and Harvard, I don't quite see how we can classify it as a "foreign food"). For what it's worth, here's how it goes.

Get my 1-2-3 method for introducing new foods to toddlers on my blog at Ttownmoms.com.

ONEOK Field: A Home Run for Tulsa Families

After spending a good part of the weekend there, I can attest that ONEOK Field, the new home of our Tulsa Drillers, is one of the most family-friendly destinations in Tulsa. Part of why is the packed schedule of promotions available there.

Learn about what's going on for kids and their caregivers at ONEOK Field, including what's going on today (yep, baseball players work even on Sundays), on my blog at Ttownmoms.com.