Giving Back

'Tis the season for long waits at return counters, cringe-worthy weigh-ins and the crafting of resolutions.

It's also that time of year when we look to support our most beloved organizations while also reducing our taxable income by making our last charitable donations for the year.

At the Ball house, this means a few frigid hours of me bending over boxes in the garage in attempts to figure out which of our belongings can go and which can stay.

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What to Do in Tulsa This New Years Eve, 2009 Edition

New Years Eve 2009: It's kind of a big deal. A New Years Eve this special comes around just once in a blue moon - literally.

In Tulsa, it'll be more than a reason to get smashed and wear glasses shaped like the numbers 2010. We're known as one of the most philanthropic communities in the country, and we really show our stuff on this holiday - several of the events I have listed below benefit a nonprofit. Consider the opportunity to give back yet another reason not to stay home with the crock-pot of nacho cheese and Totino's this year.

Besides gawking at the blue moon, here's what to do in Tulsa on New Years Eve 2009.

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This Week in Tulsa Parenthood

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.

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Fashion: Help Me Out Here.

I just don't get it, y'all. Fashion, that is. If I expect to go out into public and not cause traffic accidents with my self-inflicted ensembles, I need help when it comes to putting together an outfit. If its not an I Heart Tulsa shirt, jeans and tennis shoes, you can assume that I'm going to need some assistance.

Please. I beg of you, Tulsa. Come to my house, bring a full-length mirror (what, did you think I actually owned one already? Ha!) and, for the love of all that is good and holy, help me. I need you. I need you badly.

Especially troublesome for me and my puny sense of fashion is the holiday party outfit. To get a feel for what's acceptable this year I've been scouring the Web sites of my favorite stores. Thing is, I have a few questions, along with a concern or three.

Help me out over at my blog on Ttownmoms.com.

Tonight, Tonight

I'll be doing something a little out of the ordinary tonight.

Instead of donning my stretchy pants and lounging at some coffeehouse somewhere or leisurely sipping wine at a cafe or working feverishly on the weekend rundown (which is the real way I usually spend my Thursday nights, but not this time - it's already done! It goes live later tonight, so keep your eyes open), I'll be ticking off the merits of spandex and nylon as I attempt to shimmy into a little black cocktail dress.

Why would I do such a thing? Because tonight I'll be at Cain's Ballroom presenting a Tulsey award to who the people of Tulsa believe to be the top Civic entrepreneur in this here town, right alongside the pretty face known as Ben Sumner.

Ben and I are nominated for Tulsey awards, too, along with a few dozen other T-Towners who spend their days making stuff up and then, sometimes wild-eyed and sometimes on little-to-no sleep, act on their crazy ideas.

This second annual Tulsey Awards ceremony, presided over by Mayor Kathy Taylor, is part of Tulsa's celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Taking place two days after Mayor Taylor's Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, the crown jewel of this week of events to both facilitate and show off local businesspeople, the Tulsey Awards are to the People's Choice Awards as the Spirit Award is to months' worth of preparation, presentation, general gnashing of teeth and $30,000 of cold, hard cash in prize/seed money.

True to the spectacle that people's choice awards tend to be, the Tulseys will resemble the format of the Academy Awards, except with less cleavage. I think. Actually, I'm not sure. This is my first time out, and I don't really know what to expect. There could be boobs everywhere a person looks tonight, for all I know.

See for yourselves (and help me by using your mind powers to will me to not fall off my heels) by showing up at Cain's Ballroom tonight, 423 N. Main Street, at 7pm. Everyone gets in free, and I bet there will be plenty of Chex Mix available.

In case awards ceremonies aren't your thing, there are a ton of other things to do tonight. Check it out:

Joe Momma's Birthday Party

When: All day until close tonight

Where: Joe Momma's Downtown, 112 S. Elgin Ave.

We've all heard that old adage that 90-something percent of new restaurants fail within a year. That old one-liner doesn't apply to ultra-hip, super-yummy Tulsa pizza parlors in downtown Tulsa, apparently. Help owner Blake Ewing and the Joe Momma's gang celebrate 365 days in business by stopping by the shop at 112 S. Elgin Ave. for a free piece of birthday cake and the chance to win prizes and enter giveaways. Hang around until 9pm to catch a free edition of that game that Joe Momma's is helping to make a Tulsa institution, live trivia. Then, order a late-nite pie and relax to the tunes of Ben Kilgore at 10pm.

Philbrook Museum: Facebook Fan Free Day and Third Thursday

When: 10:30am-8pm

Where: Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Ave.

Not only is admission free for all of Philbrook's nearly 7,500 fans today, but it's also Third Thursday. The program this time? Design Decoded, a look into the world of industrial design through the works of Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, Yves Behar and others part of the Kravis collection now at Philbrook. First thing this evening, starting at 5:30pm, take the design challenge and use the materials provided by the folks at Philbrook to create your own mini-chair. Then, hear curator David Hanks' insight into the influence of design in our lives. At the end of the evening, prizes will be awarded for the best chair. Not that you need me to tell you, but be sure to pick up a drink at the cash bar. A glass of wine or two will help when you and your beautiful face are asked to pose for the next series of Philbrook ads - a photographer will be on site shooting for the next campaign.

Oklahoma Ink

When: 6-8pm

Where: Harwelden Mansion, 2210 S. Main Street
Guarantee your holiday gift is original and won't someday double as firewood - give signed copies of books by Oklahoma authors. The 5th annual Oklahoma Ink is the book fair that raises funds for the Tulsa Press Club scholarship fund, do you can do your Christmas shopping at the same time you support future journalists. Oklahoma authors attending this year have written books ranging from mysteries and histories to tales of business success and politics. Find a complete list of authors on the Oklahoma Ink Facebook page.

Jenks Lights On

When: 6pm

Where: Downtown Antique District of Jenks, OK

The Jenks shopkeepers have decorated their windows with the theme of “A Christmas Night of Lights.” Grab your friends, family, and neighbors and hit Main Street Jenks as Travis Meyer, Chief Meteorologist with KOTV Channel 6, will lead the countdown to Lights On live at 6pm. Don't forget to hop on a carriage ride, and be sure to catch entertainment provided by Jenks High School’s vocal performance group, The Trojanaires.

Latte Art Throw Down

When: Sign up at 6pm, competition at 7pm

Where: Topeca Coffee,

Think you can pour a mean milk foam heart? Get your shot at some prize money and bragging rights for a mere $5 entry. And, in case you didn't know, latte art is an exciting spectator sport. If you're going to be sitting down with a cup of coffee this evening anyway, why not get in on the ruckus at Topeca?

Make a Wish Party With a Purpose

When: 7-9pm

Where: Clubhouse Bar & Grill, 105th and Memorial in the SpiritBank Event Center

Grab your big, gold hoop earrings from the eighties and all those tulip rings you collected in the nineties and point the car toward Bixby, friends, because it's time to turn that tired jewelry into the stuff of dreams. Tulsa Gold & Silver will be on site to make the gold-to-cash conversion so that you can pass your greenbacks to Make a Wish Foundation of Oklahoma. Especially if you want to support kids who might survive their illnesses to become immensely talented food photographers and bloggers by granting their wishes for such things as a trip to Disney World, it's a great place to give.

What to Do in Tulsa This Weekend

It's going to be unseasonably warm this weekend – highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s, if you can believe it – and it's your solemn responsibility to enjoy the noodles out of it. Good thing there are plenty of events rocking this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Tulsa to help you do that.

In this weekend's set of events, you've got your cage fighting and microbrewed beer-inspired events; your fashion shows and vampire book signings; your country music legends and your battle of the bands. Choose wisely, Tulsans. There's a little something for everybody.

Read on for the complete rundown as heard every Friday morning on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley: What to do in Tulsa this weekend.

Tasha's Picks for the Weekend of November 6

Friday

First Draft, Fifth Edition
When: Friday, 5:30pm
Where: Blue Dome Diner, 311 E. Second Street
There's still time to get your tickets to the fifth edition of one heckuva beer tasting event, this year at the spacious Blue Dome Diner. Come for the beer – more than 40 varieties of craftbrew, including several from Oklahoma's five microbreweries – and stay for the food, the wine (yes, wine – homemade, even), the people and the celebrity-judged t-shirt contest. All proceeds benefit the Tulsa Press Club Foundation, which grants scholarships to journalism and communications students. Get your tix at Tulsa Press Club, 415 S. Boston Ave., or call (918) 583-7787.

Saturday

Wings Over Tulsa/Freedom Hangar Dance
When: Saturday, 9am-3pm; 5-10pm
Where: Tulsa Technology Center, Riverside Campus, 801 E. 91st Street
The weather couldn't be more perfect for an event that will take you back to the romantic and turbulent 1940s. Take the kids to see historical aircraft flights and displays, vintage cars and military vehicles, historical displays and reenactors and the veterans' hall of honor. Then, plan to take up some valuable floor space at one of the biggest swing dances in the country at the Big Band Era event of the year, the Freedom Hangar Dance. If you don't know what to do with that space, grab some free swing dance lessons starting at 5pm. Dinner is served at 5pm (don't forget to pre-order), the pre-show live music and patriotic salute is at 6pm and the 18-piece Sounds of Music Orchestra will strike up at 7pm. In between dances, there's shopping for mementos to be done at the PX. Buy tickets to the dance, which are $17.50 or a table for $150, at the gate or on the caftulsa.org. Admission to Wings Over Tulsa is $5, or $3 for seniors and military in uniform. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Sunday

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School
When: Sunday, Nov. 8, 6pm
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
You want some of the funniest people in Tulsa modeling just for you? You got it, and that meeting of theatre and life drawing is right here in Tulsa. Skip evening church service and bring your best pencils and $7 to Nightingale Theater Sunday night and get ready for a one-of-a-kind life-drawing experience. Dr. Sketchy's resident emcee Hilton Price welcomes fellow stand-up comics Corey Douglas and Daniel Fritschie to the state as models for an evening of comedy, posing and the unexpected.


Music

Hed PE
When: Friday, doors at 6pm, show at 7
Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street
Now embarking on the Insane Clown Posse Bang Pow Boom Tour, featuring Trip C, INFAMOUS and with SMOKE they gave their offering. Tickets are $16.

Freedom to Soar
When: Friday, 8pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second Street
Gospel is in the water here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and this weekend it'll also ring the rafters in Chapman Music Hall. Gospel artist James Fortune, whose hit single “I Trust You” spent more than 25 weeks at the top of the Billboard Gospel charts, will share billing with the women of RiZen, a group that brings R&B and soul to traditional gospel music. Tickets are $10-20.

Battle of the Bands with YAMS
When: Saturday, doors at 11am, performances begin at 11:45am
Where: Tulsa Community College Metro Campus Auditorium
Join this year's celebrity judge Jason Gilardi, fomerly of the alternative band Caroline's Spine, in judging local bands' musicianship, visual presentation, originality, audience response and professionalism. The winning band wins studio recording time and a professional band photo session. Audience participation will be encouraged – in fact, it'll be used to judge the winning band. Look also for some serious raffle prizes. This event benefits the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Alan Jackson
When: Saturday, doors at 6pm, show at 7:30
Where: BOK Center, 200 N. Denver
Imagine being a music star so great that one in every two households in the U.S. Holds a record of yours in their collection. Alan Jackson is that star, and he'll be rocking out in Tulsa this very weekend. Ticket prices are $49.75-$69.75.

Hank III and Assjack
When: Saturday, doors at 7pm, show at 8
Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street
Featuring opener Those Poor Bastards. Tickets are $21.25 in advance, $23.25 at the door.

Dallas Brass
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, 701 S. Main Street
This group, a blend of traditional brass instruments with drums and percussion, won't let you simply sit back in your chair and stare at them through your opera glasses. They want you to be part of the production. Tickets to this brass version of the percussion show Stomp are $20.

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second St.
If you've always thought you could have kept up with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as they danced to fiddles and drums below decks of the Titanic, this weekend is your chance to prove it. Alasdair Fraser, long regarded as Scotland's premier fiddle ambassador, joins Natalie Haas, a young west-coast cellist, to create the sound of a full Scottish dance band with just two instruments. Tickets to the show are $28. If you seek to become a master of strings yourself, don't miss the two-hour workshop with Fraser and Haas that starts at 2:30. Tickets are $15.

Travis Miner and Rick Fortner
When: Sunday, 5pm
Where: Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street
Tickets in general seating are $15, and spots at reserved tables are $20.

Oklahoma Swing
When: Sunday, 5:30pm
Where: Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main Street
This event, which annual honors outstanding individuals who live their lives up to the standards of Will Rogers, will this year salute Vince Gill. There will be world-class country-style entertainment, sure, but there will also be a roast-and-toast in honor of Vince. Proceeds go in part to Blue Star Mothers of America, Oklahoma Chapter 1. Tickets are $125. Presented by the Rotary Club of Will Rogers.

Great Music, Great Spaces
When: Sunday, 6pm
Where: Boston Avenue Methodist Church, 1301 S. Boston Ave.
Following a commentary on the architecture of BAMC, Tulsa Symphony Chamber Players will perform pieces from Tulsa's (first) heyday: poems by Dame Edith Stilwell, first performed in 1926; and Octet for Wind Instruments by Igor Stravinsky, first performed in 1923. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling (918) 596-7109. Pay $45 to see the entire Great Music, Great Spaces, which includes TSO concerts in the PAC Gallery as well as the opulent Crystal Ballroom in the newly opened Mayo Hotel.

Rob Zombie
When: Sunday, doors at 6:30pm
Where: Brady Theater, 105 W. Brady Street
Know a guy named Robert Bartleh Cummings? No? How about Rob Zombie? Same guy, same great modern Renaissance man. With special guests Nekromantix and Captain Clegg and The Night Creatures. Tickets are $35-$42.50.


Arts

Jason and the Argonauts
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second Street
True to the spirit of the Eddie Murphy movie, only two actors perform all the parts in this original production by Visible Fictions of Glasgow, Scottland. As the story goes, Jason and his “crew” must sail on the Argo to the other side of the world to find the Golden Fleece and bring it back to reunite his people. Tickets are $8.

God and the Ironing Board
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
“In the beginning there was man” - and he screwed us! Check out three players – a matriarch, a gay man and a mental health patient – as they tell their real-life stories in the context of a play. Tickets are $20 Friday and Saturday, $10 on Sunday.

Open Studio Party with the Garden Deva
When: Friday, 11am-8pm; and Saturday, 10am-6pm
Where: Garden Deva Sculpture Company, 317 S. Trenton Ave.
It takes someone special to be able to make a living as an artist long enough to throw a 10-year anniversary open studio party. Lisa Regan, the one and only metal sculpture artist known as Garden Deva, whose work adorns gardens public and private throughout Tulsa and, indeed, the entire U.S., is this homegrown special someone. Check out local food, art and music and fire dancing – yes, fire dancing - all day, all for free this weekend. Lots of Tulsa vendors, including the Garden Deva herself, will be on hand to help you out with that lengthy Christmas shopping list.

Museums on Us at Philbrook
When: Saturday, Sunday, 10am-5pm
Where: Philbrook Museum, 2424 S. Rockford Road
Flash your Bank of America credit or check card and visit the museum free this weekend – that's a savings of $30 for a party of four adults. Things to check out while you're there: the Art in Miniature and Auspicious Vision exhibitions, the Exploding Collages workshop for kids aged 6-12 at 1pm and Guys and Dolls in the Saturday Matinee at 1pm. If you can, grab lunch at la Villa Restaurant, which serves food more than worthy of serving within the walls of a space like Villa Philbrook.

American Art in Miniature
When: Now-Nov. 8
Where: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road
Bring a magnifying glass, folks, because these little works of art, limited in size to 108 square inches, are definitely worth more than a squint. More than 180 American artists are represented in this exhibition, continuing through Sunday. Get a preview of the pieces on the Gilcrease Museum Web site.


Sports

OSU v. Iowa State
When: Saturday, 2:30pm
Where: Ames, Iowa
Catch it on Cox Cable Channel 8.

OU v. Nebraska
When: Saturday, 7pm
Where: Lincoln
Catch it on Cox Cable Channel 8.

TU v. Houston
When: Saturday, 6:30pm
Where: Chapman Stadium

Pinto Horse Association World Show
When: Now-Sunday
Where: Expo Square in the Ford Truck Arena, 4145 E. 21st Street
Hundreds of horses, ponies and miniatures will compete for World Championship titles in this international event. Look also for a trade show featuring jewelry, tack, trailers and everything in between, along with glittering evening entertainment like the Denny Tuttle Memorial Versatility Showcase.

Freestyle Cage Fighting
When: Saturday, 7pm
thWhere: Osage Event Center, 951 W. 36th Street North
See Shonie “Mr. International” Carter go after OKC's “Mad Dog” Macias, two former top UFC fighters, this weekend at Osage Event Center in a mixed martial arts smackdown. A full dozen fights will feature fighters from Tulsa, McAlester, Pryor, Coweta and Fort Gibson. And don't miss the two female bouts, either. Tickets start at $30.

Tulsa's Mock Marathon and Half
When: Saturday, 7:30am
Where: Veterans Park, 18th & Boulder
Wish you could practice for the Route 66 Marathon, kicking off at Veterans Park later this month? Actually, you can. Head to Veterans Park early on Saturday to try your legs at 22 miles or, if you're holding back, 13.1. This is a casual run – no commemorative t-shirts or timing gear – and the cost is a donation of $5.


Other Stuff

American Girl Fashion Show
When: Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 10am; Sunday, 1pm
Where: Junior League of Tulsa, 3633 S. Yale Ave.
If the girl in your life is into anything and everything American Girl (and what girl isn't?), you'll rue the day you didn't take her to the Junior League's American Girl Fashion Show. Get started Friday night with the Patron Party, complete with dinner, a silent auction and gifts for all the girls in attendance. Saturday kicks off the fashion shows, starting at 10am and continuing at 1pm and 4pm. The fun continues Sunday with shows at 1pm and 4pm. The Saturday and Sunday shows both feature local models and include a gift for all girls, as well as refreshments. Tickets to the patron party are $50, and general seating at the Saturday and Sunday shows is $30. Buy tickets by phone by calling (918) 663-6100.

Tulsa Health Department H1N1 Walk-In Clinics
When: Saturday, 9am-12pm
Where: Expo Square Exchange Center
There's nothing worse than spending an exciting, event-filled weekend sick on the couch. The next worst thing might be standing in line waiting to be inoculated, but still, it's the second-worst thing. Plus, it'll ensure that you're healthy and ready to do Tulsa during the weekends to come. The vaccine is available to these groups: All children aged 6 months-18 years; pregnant women; frontline heathcare workers; custodial parents of infants less than 6 months of age; persons 19-64 years of age with chronic medical conditions. The Tulsa Health Department will continue to hold walk-in clinics as the supply of the vaccines increase, so continue to check back at their flu hotline at (918) 595-4500 for details. It wouldn't hurt to follow THD on Twitter, either.

Vintage Tulsa Show
When: Saturday, 9am-5pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm
Where: SpiritBank Event Center in Bixby, 10441 S. Regal Boulevard
If you like garage sales, you're going to love the Vintage Tulsa show. It's 35,000 square feet of collectibles, antiques, toys, books, pottery, glassware, records, dolls, clothing, furniture and, if you can believe it, more. Admission is $5 for adults, parking is free and kids under 12 get in free. Don't forget to snag the $1 off coupon from the Vintage Tulsa Show Web site before you head to Bixby.

Fall Furry Scurry
When: Saturday, 10:30am-12:30pm
Where: Hicks Park, 3443 S. Mingo Road
Dubbed a cornucopia of canine cavorting, this event is a fun-filled morning for dogs and their owners. Check out the 1/2- and one-mile fun runs, local pet-friendly businesses with booths full of goodies to ogle, doggie games and door prizes. Registration for the fun run is $15, but everything else is free and open to the public.

Teach a Friend to Home Brew Day
When: Saturday, 10am-4pm
Where: High Gravity Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies, 7164 S. Memorial Drive
Yes, it's too early for Christmas music on the radio, but it's not too early to get in the gift-giving mood – that goes double for the gift of beer. Join High Gravity owners Dave and Desiree Knott at Teach a Friend to Brew Day. Members of the High Gravity Homebrew Club, along with men and women of FOAM (Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers – a lucky acronym, if I've ever seen one) will be set up in front of the store giving demonstrations and helping you with your burning beer brewing questions. Pizza will be provided and new home-brewers can take advantage of discounts the day of the event.

If I Were Going, I Would Go To...
When: Saturday, 11:30am
Where: Tulsa-City County Libraries
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 Utsunomiya, Japan, head to Owasso Library; San Luis Potosi, Mexico, will be at Collinsville Library; Zelenograd, Russia, at Martin Regional; Tiberias, Israel, at Herman & Kate Kaiser Library. These programs will feature music, food, traditional dress, games and more. These events are free and are all-age appropriate. Check back next weekend for more Sister Cities fun.

Tempted Book Signing
When: Saturday, 2pm
Where: Borders, 2740 E. 21st Street
Did you know the authors of the House of Night Series, including the runaway hit, Tempted, are a mother-daughter team from right here in T-Town? They've been on tour since late last month, but they'll be sticking closer to home this Saturday, so get your copies and your squealing voices ready.

Fall Drum Circle & Potluck
When: Saturday, 7pm
Where: Living Artspace, 307 E. Brady
If drumming is therapeutic, then this event just might heal your inner child. At the very least, you'll have a ton of fun. Bring a dish, a drum if you have one and enjoy some of Tulsa's best drumming community. Cost is $3.

Booksmart Tulsa: Ayelet Waldman
When: Sunday, 10am
Where: Congregation B'nai Emunah, 1719 S. Owasso Ave.
Think you could use some parenting lessons? Don't come to Waldman for PC advice. She just wrote the book on bad mothering entitled, you guessed it, Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace. Waldman, a mother of four, will bring to T-Town her views on motherhood that are so controversial that they caused a near mommy attack on Oprah. Admission is free, but it'd sure be nice if you brought two childrens' books with you for donation to McClure Elementary. Don't miss it.


Movies

Disney's A Christmas Carol
When: Opens Friday
Just in time to kill the buzz of your first eggnog of the year, Ebenezer Scrooge bursts into theatres, starting Christmas with usual miserly contempt. Starring the rubber faced Jim Carrey (who else?). Rated PG.

The Fourth Kind
When: Opens Friday
Aliens! A psychologist unwittingly discovers some of the most disturbing evidence of alien abduction ever documented. Starring Milla Jovovich. Rated PG-13.

The Box
When: Opens Friday
An unhappily married couple find a small wooden box on their doorstep. Surprise! It contains instant wealth. Problem is, it also instantly kills someone the bearer doesn't know. Bummer. Starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. Rated PG-13.

Coco Before Chanel
When: Opens Friday
Where: Circle Cinema, 12 N. Lewis Ave.
Even Coco Chanel had to pay her dues on the bottom rungs. This movie portrays Chanel's life from its obscure beginnings to the heights of the fashion world. Starring Audrey Tautou. Rated PG-13.

Kid Flix: Where the Red Fern Grows
When: Saturday, 2:30pm
Where: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 Gilcrease Museum Road
Set in the Ozarks of Oklahoma, this is the story of a boy growing up with the dream of owning hunting dogs of his own. After working and saving, he makes his dream come true. Help the kids learn the importance of love, friendship, persistence and faith. Admission is free. Rated G.

Guys and Dolls
When: Saturday, 1pm
Where: Philbrook Museum, 2424 S. Rockford Ave.
Gamblers, gangsters and the Save a Soul Mission are just part of what's in store in this comic musical. Starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons.

We'll Keep Drinking Until We Get It Right

Picture this: An unfamiliar place, grungy with urban decay. A room crowded with people, crushes of thirsty reporters and PR people lurking in every corner. The clanging of bar glasses and more brew than you could shake a stick at.

Also, a sea of beer-themed t-shirts. Hey, don't threaten me with a good time.

There's still time to get your tickets to the fifth edition of one heckuva beer tasting event, going on right here in Tulsa this Friday (Nov. 6) night, not at the traditional First Draft location, but instead at Blue Dome Diner on Second Street.

Come for the beer, stay for the food, the wine (yes, wine - homemade, even), the people and the celebrity-judged t-shirt contest. All proceeds benefit the Tulsa Press Club Foundation, which grants scholarships to journalism students, the poor souls.

It's okay, though, you bright, eager, young journalism students. As long as beer is still part of working in journalism, it's okay. If the folks at Tulsa Press Club have anything to say about it, the beer ain't goin' no where.

Get your tickets at Tulsa Press Club, 415 S. Boston, or call 583.7787 to save your spot. As always, drink responsibly. Also as always, have fun and make merry.

The Tulsa Slice of the Coupon Craze

Looking for coupons, discounts, deals and steals in Tulsa's indie scene this week? Try these on for size.

More than 170 Tulsa-area stores and restaurants. Buy gifts for your loved ones this holiday season with the Family & Children's Services Care Card. You get 20 percent off the things you need (and want) while giving $50 to F&CS clients in need. The Care Card is available for purchase at several of the participating shops and eateries (click here for a full list), or at the F&CS central office at 650 S. Peoria. Don't delay - that juicy discount is good only until Nov. 8.

Yokozuna. Get a small carafe of hot sake for $2 to celebrate the grand opening of the newest, decidedly swankiest addition to the Elliot Nelson empire of Blue Dome District eateries.

Car Trends. Get 10 percent off on any in-stock item excluding labor, sale items and special orders as found on the Tulsa People Web site.

Dog Dish. Get $5 off any $20 purchase at the friendliest pet store in the Farm Shopping Center at 51st and Sheridan with the coupon found on the Tulsa People Web site.

Emerge Medical Day Spa. 20 percent off any spa service at the home of that Emerge claims is Tulsa's only non-surgical face lift, as found on the Tulsa People Web site.

Desi Wok. Get a free appetizer with the purchase of any two adult entrees and two beverages at one of Tulsa's favorite Indian/Asian restaurants with the coupon on page 29 of the Oct. 29 edition of Urban Tulsa Weekly.

Utica Square. Between now and Nov. 26, go to UticaSquare.com to sign up to win one of three $100 Utica Square gift certificates. Winners will be notified right after Thanksgiving, just in time for holiday shopping.

Gardner's Used Books & Comics. Get 20 percent off your next purchase at this bookstore housing more than 2 million (yes, two million) books, CDs, DVDs, videos and gifts under $6.95 with the ad on page 61 of the Oct. 29 edition of Urban Tulsa Weekly.

Backwoods. Present the ad on page 41 of the November 2009 issue of Oklahoma Magazine to get 25 percent off any one item. The offer is good through Dec. 31, so it'd be a great way to snag a holiday gift for that loved one who loves the outdoors.

Southern Agriculture. Remember man's best friend this Christmas and use the coupon of page 55 of the November 2009 issue of Oklahoma Magazine to get $7 off any purchase of $25 or more.

The Crossing Wine & Spirits. Use the coupon on page 103 of the November 2009 issue of Oklahoma Magazine or on page 66 of the November 2009 issue of Tulsa People to get 10 percent off your next wine purchase.

Star Jewelers. Hoping for a different kind of ice storm this year, ladies? Leave this site open next time you leave the computer desk. Spend $150 at Star Jewelers between now and Dec. 22 and get your choice of a free gift, valued at $100.

Holiday Hints Coupons. Check back at TulsaPeople.com from now until Christmas for special holiday coupons and values from TulsaPeople advertisers. Be sure to sign up for the TP Prize-A-Day Holiday Giveaway, too. When Tulsa People says the word "giveaway," they don't mean it in a casual sense. With a chance every 24 hours to win prizes like a $100 gift card from Moxie, a $300 Bungie High Back office chair from BCBC Modern and killer restaurant gift certificates, you might just get a not-so-little something extra under the tree for yourself this year.

What fantabulous Tulsa-specific deals did you come across this week?

So Many Drafts

The Tulsa Press Club Foundation’s headlining fundraiser has a lot more to flaunt this year than just a change of venue.

Read more about this thirsty event and get the scoop on Tulsa's newest pedal-powered lunch delivery business in the food page in this week's edition of Tulsa Business Journal.

What to Do in Tulsa This Weekend

The leaves are turning, the northerlies are blowing and the falling pecans are better than springtime, softball-sized hail at keeping me awake at night.

Yep, fall is in full swing here in T-Town. Everything seems ablaze at the home of the Center of the Universe, the Golden Driller and more art deco architecture than you can shake a stick at.

Wait - Tulsa. My home town. At the center of the entire universe. Ha! Who knew?

Needless to say, there's lots going on in a town of such great gravity (and pecans). As you do every Friday morning when you listen for weekend stuff to do on the KRMG Morning News with Joe Kelley, mark up your itineraries now with the most exciting events in Tulsa from this week's edition of the Weekend Rundown.

Tasha's Picks for the Weekend of Oct. 23

Friday

Oktoberfest Tulsa
When: Thursday-Sunday
Where: RiverWest Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave.
Break out your lederhosen, folks - it's time for the chicken dance. At this year's Oktoberfest, get your fill of everything from kids' activities and carnival rides to bratwurst and, for the first time ever at Oktoberfest Tulsa, locally brewed beer. If you head out on Friday, be sure to swing by the Ttownmoms.com booth and find me. I'll want to give you a good old-fashioned howdy.

Saturday

Thrill the World 2009
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: in Claremore
What could be more gratifying than landing in the pages of the Book of Guinness World Records? You have what looks like a really good chance at doing just that this weekend, practically in your own backyard. The Thrill Claremore project is part of the larger Thrill the World, a worldwide attempt to break the World Record for the Largest Simultaneous Dance using Michael Jackson's hit, “Thriller.” The goal? To get 270,000 Thriller dancers grooving at once, all to beat a record set in 2002 by 197,569 Canadian elementary school students doing the Hokey Pokey. Be nice and pre-register, and don't forget to show up at 5:30pm (wearing a zombie costume, of course). You'll want to be organized undead, after all. Proceeds of the event benefit the United Way.

Sunday

Music on the Lawn
When: Sunday, 3pm
Where: Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria Ave.
One of the things I love dearly about this city is its rich history. It's a bit strange, yes, and even tragic and shady in certain spots, but no one can deny that it's captivating. Get your fill of Okie-style history this weekend at the grand opening of Your House, My House, a hands-on exhibit sponsored by Tulsa Children's Museum. Mid-Life Crisis Band will bring the tunes as long as you bring a picnic basket and some buddies. This event is free and open to the public – mmm, just the way I like it.

Music

KISS Tickets
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: BOK Center
KISS has added five more dates to their North American tour, and Tulsa has been given the green light to get ready to rock. Tickets to the Dec. 8 KISS concert in Tulsa at the BOK Center go on sale this weekend. Prices range $29.50-128.

Mute Math
When: Saturday, doors at 7pm
Where: Cain's Ballroom
Don't miss this Grammy-nominated group, declared by Alternative Press as “the #1 band you need to see live before you die.” Tickets are $23.25 in advance, $29 the day of the show.

Bob Dylan and His Band
When: Saturday, doors at 7pm
Where: Brady Theater, 105 W. Brady
This American pop and folk and poetry and painting and songwriting icon and general Renaissance man will be rockin' right here in the Brady District this weekend. Tickets are $49.50 and $59.50.

The Music of Italy
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Watch Tulsa Symphony break out its version of The Italian Job. Maestro David Lockington, music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, returns to conduct a concert of music from or inspired by Italy. Tickets range $10-65. Be sure to catch the pre-concert at 6:30 with Lockington, y'all.

Drive-By Truckers
When: Sunday, doors at 7pm
Where: Cain's Ballroom
Drive-bys and truckers - didn't think they went together, did you. James McMurtry and Taddy Porter are openers. Tickets are $15.


Halloween

Get Zombified!
When: Friday, 4:30-5:30pm
Where: Martin Regional Library
Learn survival strategies with local zombie expert Chris Askers as he leads a discussion on zombie history and biology and shows how to produce realistic-looking injuries. For teens. Preregistration is required. Call 669-6340 to register.

Psycho Path Haunted Attraction
When: Now-Saturday; Oct. 29-Halloween; 7-11pm
Where: 15157 E. 106th Street North in Sperry
The woods are shrouded by a blanket of fog. All you can see is the narrow path taking you deeper and deeper into the darkness, where creatures wait behind every twist and turn. Your blood suddenly runs cold - you've realized there's no turning back. The Psycho Path may be your only way home. Yikes! When there's a haunted path, a spooky ride-through and a haunted house, there's sure to be scares and screams for all. Tickets range $8-40; visit the Psycho Path site for details and ticket sales.

The Hex House
When: Now-Saturday, 7:30pm; Oct. 28-30, 7:30pm; Halloween, 7pm
Where: Southeast corner of 71st and Memorial, next to Incredible Pizza
Hex House claims to be Tulsa's only extreme haunted attraction. One thing's for sure: It's not for children. Not for wimps or the faint of heart, Hex House promises to stupefy and terrify.

Halloween Glassblowing
When: Anytime during October
Where: Tulsa Glassblowing, 19 E. Brady
For the low, low price of $45, anyone aged 12 and older can walk right in to Tulsa Glassblowing on Brady and whip themselves up a good lookin' glass pumpkin or witch ball. The possibilities, they are endless - and spooky, too.

Tulsa Corn Maize
When: Now-Nov. 8; Wed-Fri, 5-10pm; Sat, 10am-10pm; Sun, 12-6pm; Closed Mondays; Haunted Maize open at dark Fri-Sat., Fall Break and Halloween
Where: 32506 E. 61st Street in Broken Arrow
There's more to do at the Tulsa Corn Maize than just get lost. Let me count the ways: a paintball shooting range; campfires; a haunted maze; a cow train; hay rides; rubber ducky races; and a corn box (you have to see it to believe it). Admission is $6 per youth aged 4-12, free for kids 3 and under and $8 for adults.

Haunted Castle Halloween Festival
When: Friday-Saturday; Oct. 29, 30 and Halloween; Hours are 6-10pm
Where: The Castle at Muskogee, 3400 Fern Mountain Road
Fun for kids and the young at heart alike, The Castle at Muskogee delivers nine spooktacular events, ranging from not-so-scary to really-really-scary, across a 60-acre Halloween-themed park. From the sinister, fog-shrounded forest to the carnival atmosphere of Halloween Land, everyone is sure to find performances and activities they'll never forget. Check out the ticket combos, which are printable from your desktop and range $15-$25, on The Castle Web site.

Scream Country Haunted Forest
When: Friday-Saturday; Oct. 30-Halloween, 7:30-11pm
Where: Deep in the woods of Drumright
Located deep in the woods, haunting more than 40 acres of dark, twisting forest, Scream Country will have been scaring the pants off Oklahomans for the 12 year in a row in 2009. See the haunted forest, the haunted house (a.k.a. Dead Block, the world's first maximum security zombie prison) and the corn mayhem, all with one ticket. Admission is $18, or skip the line and pay $35 for a scream pass.

Costumes
When: Now-Saturday, 8pm; also, 2pm on Saturday
Where: Linnaeus Garden Barn, southeast corner of Woodward Park
Rather celebrate the sweetly spooky side of Halloween than the ghastly and the goulish? Costumes, a Halloween musical by local actors and musicians, might just be the thing for you. The audience is encouraged to come in costume, and the walkway-lit garden will be open for exploration during intermission. Tickets are $10, which is donated to Tulsa Garden Center. Make reservations by calling 746-5125. Thanks to Tulsa People for publicizing this song-worthy event.

Camp Cute & Spooky
When: Saturday; Oct. 28, 29 and 30, 7-9pm
Where: Discoveryland!
Kids 10 and under can hit the trail to west Tulsa for an evening of great Halloween fun at Discoveryland!'s entertainment complex. Catch everything from a trick-or-treat trail through a lighted enchanted forest to a haystack jump to the "Monster Mash" dance stage. Admission is $6 (or $5 for the crafty among you who head to Quiktrip or Incredible Pizza for those $1 off coupons) and includes all activities. Don't forget to don those costumes.

Owasso Harvest Festival
When: Saturday, 11am-9pm
Where: Centennial Park in Owasso, 15301 E. 86th Street North (park at Owasso High School and ride the shuttle to the festival)
This festival, held in conjunction with the Oklahoma State Chili Cook-Off, packs an entire day of activities for the entire family. Look for hay rides, a costume contest, a scarecrow contest, pumpkin carving, face painting, balloon art, a car show and, of course, chili tasting. It's all free and open to the public.

Barktoberweenfestivary
When: Saturday, 1-3pm
Where: Dog Dish, in The Farm Shopping Center at 51st and Sheridan
Dog Dish is celebrating its lucky seventh anniversary, and we, along with our four-legged friends, are all invited. In this party – the anniversary, Barktoberfest and Howl-oween rolled into one – features a costume contest, Oktoberfest fare for our furry friends and, of course, pupcakes. Look also for complimentary canine hors d'oeuvres and door prizes.

Vampire Prom Nite Murder Mystery
When: Saturday, 7pm; Oct. 31, 7pm
Where: Whispering Vines Vineyard & Winery, 7374 W. 51st Street
Solve the murder and win a bottle of award-winning, Oklahoma-grown wine, not to mention bragging rights. These three-hour shows sold out last year, so get your tickets now. Tickets are $59.95 and includes dinner, the show, tax and tip.

Catch more info on all the Halloween goings on, right here at TashaDoesTulsa.com. Check here for pumpkin patches, here for kids fun, here for grown-ups fun and here for anything and everything free – and spooky.


For the Kids

Starry Safari
When: Friday, 6pm-Saturday, 9am
Where: Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum
Ever dream of waking up to the roar of lions, the barking of prairie dogs or the howling of monkeys? This weekend, you'll get your chance. Become a Tulsa Zoo member and head for Mohawk Park for a not-so-typical camp out, a stargazing activity featuring the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium and the Nature Exchange show, Xtreme Science Live. Campers will be fed dinner and breakfast, and they'll have the run of the zoo train and enjoy carousel rides, evening docent chats, marshmallow roasting and songs and tales around the campfire. Call the Zoo at (918) 669-6603 for more details and to reserve your spot.

Mother & Son Dance
When: Friday, 6:30-8pm
Where: Owen Park Community Center, 560 N. Maybelle Ave.
Moms, aunts, grandmas and older sisters, now is your chance to teach that boy to dance. Enjoy games, cookies and punch and, of course, lots of dancing to music by a live deejay. Cost is $5 per couple.

OK Video Game Exhibition
When: Saturday, 9am-5pm
Where: SpiritBank Event Center
If the kids won't crawl out from the hole they dug in Bueno and Burger King wrappers around the TV and game console, catapult them (don't ask me if this is legal, because if it's not, I don't want to know) to SpiritBank Event Center this weekend. Check out classic/retro gaming, game tournaments, arcade games and vendors and exhibitors buying, selling, trading and, of course, showing off. Admission is $5, and kids 7 and under get in free.

Route 66 Pecan & Fun Fest
When: Saturday, 10am-5pm
Where: The Nut House in Claremore, 26677 S. Highway 66
'Tis the season for pecan pickin', my fellow Okies. Get your grabber-on-a-stick and head to Claremore this weekend for everything from a pecan pie eating contest to an open car show. That's all free and open to the public, and if you stick around until 8 that evening, you can ditch your clodhoppers at the Route 66 Sock Hop. Tickets to the dance are $15.

Smith Farm Marketplace Health Fair and More
When: Saturday, 10am-1pm
Where: Smith Farm Marketplace, in Owasso just off of HWY 169 and 96th Street North
Looking for a free way to get healthy? Thanks to St. John Owasso and medical providers from St. John Health System, anybody and everybody can head to Owasso this weekend to scope out free health goodies, scads of info and health screenings. The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be there, too, along with fire engines, ambulances and, weather permitting, a LifeFlight helicopter fly-in and landing. Look also for the Jupiter Jump and the chance to win prizes from the radio remotes and Smith Farm Marketplace merchants during the event.


Theater

Side Show
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm
Where: Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Who doesn't love a tale of conjoined twins? This musical, nominated for four Tony Awards, tells of the twins' search for survival and love through both the high and low points in their search for careers in vaudeville. The best part? This musical is based on a true story. Judging by the popularity of reality television shows, we all love that very, very much. Tickets are $30.

Dear Nebulon
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm
Where: Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth Street
Recorder, locally famous for their costuming and sad robot lullabies, will collaborate with Tulsa playwright extraordinaire John Cruncleton to produce a one-hour visual presentation. Tickets are $7.

Finders Creepers
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm
Where: Sapulpa Community Theatre, 124 S. Water
Two boys pack up and hit the trail to spend the weekend with their Uncle Bob, only to discover that he's a mortician and there's a funeral scheduled for Monday. It's not long before things start to go bump in the night. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. Reservations are required, so call the theater at 227.2169 before heading out.

The Exonerated
When: Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 8pm
Where: Heller Theatre @ Henthorne, 4825 S. Quaker
Don't miss the drama of the true stories of six former death row prisoners who were released from prison after their convictions were reversed. Take a closer look at their false accusations, wrongful convictions and eventual exoneration.


Sports

OU v. Kansas

When: Saturday, 2:30pm
Where: Lawrence
Watch the Sooners take on the Jawhaws on Cox Cable Channel 8.

OSU v. Baylor
When: Saturday, 11:30am
Where: Waco
Don't miss the Cowboys smackin' down the Bears this weekend.

U.S. Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show
When: Now-Oct. 31
Where: Expo Square
What's this little horse show all about? It's about being the most prestigious North American championship in the industry of Arabian show horses, of courses. This event offers Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses while both amateur and professional riders or handlers compete in competitions from halter and native costuming to western and hunter classes. Believe it or not, this horse show also offers world-class shopping and barn parties.

Oklahoma Boulderfest
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Chandler Park, 6500 W. 21st Street
Want to hang someone off the side of a rock? Hey, don't threaten the Chandler Park Climbers Coalition with a good time. The CPCC is gearing up for the second annual Boulderfest, an outdoor rock climbing festival features food, music, overnight camping and a whole lot of “bouldering.” Keep in mind, this event is for experienced climbers only, but it's worth a day at Chandler to check it out.

Spaghetti Dinner for Route 66
When: Friday, 7pm
Where: Spaghetti Warehouse, 221 E. Brady
Make plans now to join Fleet Feet Tulsa in downtown Tulsa for Williams Route 66 Marathon Night. This dinner promises to be a great chance to obtain insight into the race and needed final prepartions, thanks to the advice of experienced marathon runners (a.k.a. super humans) and leaders in the running community. Plus, there will be lots of carbs in attendance. Who's to argue with that? Don't forget to RSVP.

Oilers Opening Game
When: Saturday, 7:35pm
Where: BOK Center
It's here! Tulsa's own hockey team will take on the Wichita Thunder in its first home game in the 2009-2010 season. Tickets are $10-30. Plus, it's Big Al bobble head night. Plus, Oilers Ice Girls. Have I said enough? See you there.


Benefits

Red Ribbon Run
When: Saturday, registration at 7:30am; 1-mile fun run at 8:30am; 5K run at 9am
Where: Starting and ending at Riverside Drive and 31st Street
Whether your group is looking for a last practice before the Tulsa Run the morning of Halloween, or for just a nice Saturday morning event, check out what's going on at Riverside and 31st this weekend: The eighth annual Red Ribbon Run, benefitting Tulsa-based nonprofit Operation Aware. The run is part of the national Red Ribbon Week, which celebrates the choice to live drug free. Plus, runners get free massages and the chance to take home sweet prizes. Preregistration for $15 is available today (Friday) at the Operation Aware office, 7226 E. 41st Street, and race day registration for $20 starts at 7:30am Saturday. The race is free for students aged 11 and under.

Laps for Little Ones
When: Saturday, 8am
Where: Cascia Hall Track
The Little Light House is a Christian center of development for children aged birth to six years with special needs. It's mission is huge, and so is its need for your help. Do your part by running or walking around the track at Cascia Hall this Saturday. To register, to sponsor a runner or even to participate as a couch potato (now, this is my kind of running event), visit The Little Light House on the Web.

Mission Run
When: Saturday, starting at 9am
Where: Fifth Street, downtown Tulsa
Get revved up for the Tulsa Run next weekend by running for the homeless this weekend. Mission Run, which will benefit the John 3:16 Mission, features everything from a fun run (starting at 9:50am) to a 10K (starting at 9:45am). The course starts on Fifth Street between Elgin and Frankfort, and awards and prizes will go to the quickest. Race day packet pickup and registration will be at First Baptist Church downtown starting at 7am.

MDA Bad (Bikers Against Dystrophy) Ride
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: Registration at Myers-Duren
Donate a minimum of $25 to ride in this biggest, baddest ride around. Check out this annual fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Association, which features a ride, prizes, food and fun, all for a very worthy cause. Don't miss the afterparty at SoCo's Sports Bar & Grill for lunch and prizes, including a weekend getaway.


Other Stuff

Big Rig Expo
When: Friday-Saturday, 10am-6pm
Where: Tulsa Convention Center
If you like big trucks, you'll love what's going on at Tulsa Convention Center this weekend. Check out the Four Aces Truck Competition on Saturday at 10, and don't forget to try your luck on winning a 2010 Chevy Camaro RS. Admission to the exhibits is free, but the some of the educational workshops come at a cost. Check out Big Rig Expo online for more details.

WWII: A Day of Living History
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: Helmerich Library, 5131 E. 91st Street
This weekend brings history buffs the opportunity to explore the life of a WWII solider as created by the re-enactors of the 45th Infantry Division. See original military equipment, uniforms, period personal effects, vehicles and other memorabilia from the home front. Plus, visit with WWII veteran guest speakers.

Harvest Art Faire: Potters, Paints and Posies
When: Saturday, 10am-3pm
Where: Downtown Tulsa at 15th and Boston
Check out the “Little Square” at 15th and Boston, which boasts not only Mrs. DeHaven's Flower Shop, believed to be the oldest existing business in T-Town, but also The Gadget Company, another little shop with mind-boggling ties to Tulsa. Showcased there will be more than two dozen local artisans, as well as the debut of the newest rose varieties available this winter and holiday season. Admission is free, and pets (leashed, of course) and kids (both leashed and unleashed) are welcome.

350kies Take a Stand for Climate Action
When: Saturday, 2pm
Where: Centennial Park, Sixth and Peoria
Who's not on the green team these days? Now's the time to take part in what might turn out to be the largest day of climate change activism ever, consisting of 2,000 communities in more than 150 countries. The Tulsa event will feature a bike ride around downtown Tulsa, a collaborative art project, a group photo and speakers. Plus, all the cool kids will be there.

Playdate Tulsa
When: Saturday, 8pm
Where: Flytrap Music Hall
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.

Nimrod's Conference for Readers and Writers
When: Saturday, 10am
Where: University of Tulsa, Allen Chapman Activity Center
If you're a writer – or a reader, for that matter – you can't miss this annual joining of the minds. This conference features a slew workshops and classes about everything from poetry and fiction to travel writing and fantasy, all taught by writers and lovers of words. Don't miss the readings at lunch, and don't – read: do not – miss the one-on-one editing sessions with Nimrod writers. Registration is $50. RSVP by writing the folks at Nimrod.

Kitchens a la Tulsa
When: Sunday, noon-5pm
Where: See the Kitchens a la Tulsa site for locations
If you're at home in the kitchen, you won't want to miss this self-guided tour of six new and renovated kitchens turning up the heat in Tulsa. The tour, which also comes with yummy morsels prepared by local chefs and food purveyors, benefits the Parent Child Center and the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless Clinic. Tickets are $10 in advance (the price increases $5 if you wait to pay at the door) and are available at the Day Center, 415 W. Archer.

Breast Impressions
When: Sunday, starting at 3pm, gala at 7pm
Where: Woodland Hills Mall
You've seen articles about it in all the newspapers and on all the local news shows – plus, you've seen me talking on Twitter and Facebook about how many owners of the casted boobies I found out I knew after they were on display in south Tulsa at Woodland Hills Mall. Now it's time for a runway fashion show, a gala and a live auction of some of those breast casts I mentioned before, all in the name of saving the ta-tas with Tulsa Project Woman. Tickets are $50.


Movies

Saw VI
When: Opens Friday
In this latest installment of the horror saga, Detective Hoffman emerges as the unchallenged successor of Jigsaw's legacy of terror. Rated R for grisly, bloody violence and torture. Plus, language. Yikes!

Astro Boy
When: Opens Friday
A young robot boy endowed with incredible powers embarks on a journey of acceptance and learns what it means to be a hero. Sounds like a fun flick, especially since my boyfriend Nicolas Cage is starring – bring the kids along. Rated PG.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampires Assistant
When: Opens Friday
In this newest John C. Reilly film, a teenage boy finds his destiny when he stumbles upon a vampire and his traveling freak show. Guess how this one ends (not that I know. I was hoping you would). Rated PG-13.

Amelia
When: Opens Friday
Hilary Swank somehow bears a striking resemblance to the pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart in this film about her as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Rated PG. For smoking.

Pecan photo from The Nut House in Claremore.

Fables, Fantasy & Fairy Tales

Tired of the same ol' Moms' Night Out plans? Here's an idea to change things up a bit: Call your girlfriends grab a few tickets to Ihloff Fall Collection.

"What the heck is that?" you're wondering. I know - I wondered that myself the first time I learned about the event a few years ago. It all starts with a New York-quality fashion show - think Sex and the City, only right in your backyard.

Read the rest of this story on my blog at Ttownmoms.com.

Anatomy of a Blogger

Just to further convince you from my last post that I am indeed the most needy candidate for a makeover at Ihloff Fall Collection this year, here's my most recent portrait.

This shot is like a diagram of the outward appearance of the average blogger. Check it out:

My fellow bloggers out there will totally back me up on this. From the naughty coffee cup to the hair that hasn't seen a dollop of shampoo in four days, I am the freaking poster child for full-time blogging.

Those of you out there who don't have your own blog, you're thinking about it now, right?

Right?

The best way to stop this madness is to forsake just one beer tonight and donate that money to Resonance Center for Women. Then, let Resonance know who most deserves the makeover of a lifetime come Oct. 22.

Be part a movement. Remove this eyesore from your city and donate right now. Everyone will thank you and laud your name in the streets and with monuments and parades and probably on Twitter, amen.

A Battle Royale

I'd like to jump right in today with three signs you might need a makeover.

Don't worry, this will be fun - fun like how jumping into a freezing cold pool fully clothed with your iPhone, full of irreplaceable photos, tucked away in your pocket is fun. Ready? Go:

1. You show your husband and old picture of the two of you and his frank, uninhibited response is, "Wow. You were hot."

2. When you go to a new hairdresser after not having a hair cut for at least eight months (maybe longer - no one is quite sure), her first question is, "So, you're a mom?"

3. Urban Tulsa Weekly hosts a contest based on a most unflattering photo of you. The game? Guess the ID of the columnist in the photo. One of the early guesses: Michael Bates.

No offense, Michael, but I was hoping we looked different enough that folks would be able to tell us apart. It's one thing to be accused of being one and the same with UTW arts writer Holly Wall (I've actually been quite flattered by the recent claims that we're actually one person pretending to be two); it's entirely another to be confused for, well, this:

Even though he does make pretty, pretty babies. But still - I'm a lady, he's a dude. I have longish hair and I wear a skirt from time to time; Bates sports a beard and wears a derby hat at Oklahoma Centennial reenactments.

And yet, there's confusion.

How better to exploit my apparent androgynousness and contest-worthy lack of remarkableness than to fight Holly for a makeover, all for the sake of my favorite Tulsa charity? Check it:

I've already convinced you that I'm the one in most need of some heavy-duty primping. All you have to do is head to Resonance Center for Women's home on Facebook. Once you're there, vote for my sad and lonely and makeup-coveting mug by hitting the donate button once or twice or five times.

Then, get on Twitter and tweet @ResonanceTulsa (or on Facebook and write on the wall at /ResonanceTulsa) that you voted for me. Because the girl who raises the most donations in her name by Oct. 15 gets a makeover.

And I really, really need a makeover. Apparently. So be sure you tweet @ResonanceTulsa that you donated in my name or else I could lose to that too-gorgeous-to-be-up-to-any-damn-good Holly Wall.

If I win, I not only get recreated by the Ihloff Salon & Day Spa Creative Team, the one and the same that's putting on the annual and always kick-ass Fall Collection, but I'll also get to strut my buffed-up stuff on the catwalk at this year's show, Fables, Fantasy and Fairy Tales: Once Upon a Time.

Plus, this all comes right in time for my birthday. I officially embark on my late 20s starting Monday, and Fall Collection isn't until the 22nd, but still. They're happening in the same month. Let us not split hairs.

All proceeds of this brutal smackdown benefit Resonance Center for Women, Tulsa's premier non-profit support center whose mission is to help women and their families become self-sufficient. All donations are tax-deductible.

Tickets to this year's Fall Collection are available at both Ihloff locations (Utica Square and South Memorial) and at Dwelling Spaces. They're $15 in advance.

Vote for me, friends. Because Michael Bates wants his identity back.