Tasha Does Tulsa

Parking for Dfest

2008-07-24T15:15:00.000-05:00

I think some people shy away from spending time downtown because they think there is no parking available.

Well, maybe the kind of parking available in suburbia where you step out of your car, take a few steps and you can walk into your destination isn't widely available, but there is certainly plenty of places downtown to store your wheels.

Source: Tulsa Police Department. Click to enlarge.

I hope most of you will make it downtown this weekend for Dfest, Tulsa's premier music event and conference. Dfest officials estimate about 60,000 will show up downtown for some music this weekend, and 60,000 music fans can't be wrong.

You can still buy two-day passes for $30, which is next to nothing to pay for the level of entertainment that will be available during the course of the weekend. If you wait until the day of the event (starts tomorrow, gates open at 4, with first shows at 6), you'll have to shell out $40.

How often can you pay for an entire weekend's worth of entertainment for less than the price of a tank of gas? Especially entertainment that rocks.

The Most Lifeless Intersection

2008-07-23T20:16:00.007-05:00

Google Streetview

I overheard someone say once that the S. 51st Street and Memorial Drive intersection is "the most lifeless intersection in Tulsa."

I have thought about that comment a lot. At times, I've been convinced the person was correct. Two strip-style shopping centers riddled with national chains, a Shell station, not anyplace where I'd be enticed to dine, two lanes going in all directions, pedestrian lights about 30 seconds long, and a cemetery comprising the entire southeast corner.

It doesn't get more lifeless than a cemetery, you know?

Then I began to think of Tulsa in a new way. I've wandered the city by foot, car and mind, thinking of T-Town in terms of its intersections. Some are as happenin' as they come - 31st and Peoria, 1st and Archer, 71st and Memorial (like it or not, it's there). Others...well, others - 51st and Mingo, 9th and Boston - make me sad.

I also began to think of what exactly makes an intersection hip, or what sends it straight to lifeless-ville. Where's the tipping point, exactly? Does it happen when a chain, often too large in scale and discouraging of pedestrian activity, moves in on one of the corners? Does a cool independent restaurant or retailer have the capability of singlehandedly transforming a "lifeless" intersection into a hotspot (I think Elliot Nelson has answered this question with a resounding "yes," but think for yourself)? If so, what are the other parts of the formula to creating a hip hub of an intersection?

What would lists of lifeless and happenin' Tulsa intersections look like?

Feel free to weigh in on this in the comments section. If nothing else, give it some thought.

Hola, Eloté

2008-07-22T20:20:00.003-05:00

I had the most delicious beef nachos today for lunch, and guess what - I don't feel one little bit guilty about it.

At about noon today, a few co-workers and I mosied down to Eloté Café and Catering, in the space that once housed Nelson's Buffeteria at 514 S. Boston Ave., where the menu is centered on owner and chef Libby Auld's spin on Mexican cuisine that she coined "Fresh-Mex." I had my choice of familiar, south-of-the-border dishes from tacos to quesadillas to puffy tacos, all made with fresh ingredients.

The menu at Eloté is big on healthful food, which brings me back to my nachos: they were flavorful, light and not overly filling, a far cry from the greasy, heavy nachos I order at basketball games and Taco Bueno. Not that there isn't a time and a place for everything, including greasy, heavy nachos, but I'm trying to rid this world of some of my presence right now. Eloté can be good for those of us staring longingly at those skinny jeans.

One of my co-workers had the puffy tacos, one beef and one chicken, with eloté (roasted corn-on-the-cob served with a spicy, citrus aioli) and black beans. Puffy tacos - or "pouffy tacos," as another customer mistakenly and hilariously called them - could be closely compared to those Indian taco things available at the fair and Mayfest, only they're usually much smaller, and the range of ingredients varies much more widely. I've had the puffy tacos from Eloté once before, so it was fun watching someone else experience their fresh, pico-topped fabulousness.

It's hard to get rid of a $10 bill at this place. My co-workers and I each ate for $6-$7, including a drink. Considering that several entrees feature two sides, and since my plate of nachos was more than enough for two to share, any price less than $10 would be a great value.

Yet another reason to brag on Eloté: it's just a hop, skip or a jump from the offices of most folks who earn a living downtown. No gas money required.

Libby, the owner and chef, seems to be suited for the business. Both times I've been to Eloté, she has flitted between the kitchen, the dining room and the hostess stand, saying hello and checking in on everyone in between. Best of all, she can cook. I like that in a restaurant owner.

Eloté Cafe and Catering has the official Tasha Does Tulsa seal of approval, which means that if you mention this blog when ordering, you'll receive a fabulous prize. Not really. Unless you actually do.

Hosting an Out-of-Townie

2008-07-20T08:30:00.024-05:00

I got to play hostess to a friend who came in from out of town Saturday.

Actually, having moved from Tulsa to a distant, remote land of Indian casinos, a total lack of edible take-out and zero QuikTrip availability, she not only knows her way around Tulsa quite well, but she knows exactly what she wants to do when she gets here.

So, rather than allowing me to feel like a dignified know-it-all, she led me around my own dang town all Saturday long. She also insulted me, flashed me (many times) and bought me clothes along the way.

Without further ado, this is my friend:Come on, don't be shy.
That's Amanda. Sorry I blew out all the color in your face, Amanda. I'm still getting the hang of my camera, Amanda. Thank you for understanding, Amanda.

In those pictures, she's getting ready to split a delicious lunch of sausage and mushroom pizza with me at The Stonehorse Cafe in Utica Square. That pizza continued Stonehorse's flawless track record of supplying me with fall-on-the-floor amazing food.

The dining room is cozy, too:That's half of the dining room. Hey, so what if there's not much seating? You won't need a seat at Stonehorse; you'll be too busy flailing about on the floor in fits induced by overwhelming deliciosity.

The bar area. Lovely, huh?

We fell into Stonehorse only after spending the previous hour at Ihloff Salon and Day Spa, also in Utica Square. Amanda will come clear from land-of-no-shopping just to get her hair trimmed there.
See that? That's a smack-bottom awesome hair cut.

That is...well, that's me. Not even an Ihloff stylist can rein that in.

Amanda was dead-set on spending the day shopping for new pants. Since the first of the year, Amanda has lost 20 pounds and 4 pants sizes, so pants that fit are now in rare supply at her house. Punk.

This is what Amanda looked like last Halloween: See her there, hiding her body behind a Nike sweatshirt and a lovable attitude? Sad. Just pitiful.

By the way, I am nearly five months pregnant in that photo, so if you make fun of me for being fat, well, you're mean.

Here's the last photo I have of us from back in the good ol' days when I weighed less than her...
...which was nearly three years ago.

Sigh.

Here's what she looks like now:So hot that she can even pull off one of those dresses that looks like a UPS uniform. She wanted me to put, "What can brown do for you?" under this photo, but I thought that might come off, I don't know...racist.

Can you tell Amanda likes to try on LOTS of clothes? Yeah. She's sort of awful to shop with, at least for a girl who wouldn't name shopping to her top-ten list of favorite pastimes. In fact, shopping is on my top-fifty list of favorite pastimes, right under washing pacifiers for the third time in a day and looking down at the scale in the morning only to realize I outweigh Amanda by 30 pounds.

Sigh again.

Amanda's shopping prowess comes in handy enough, I guess. She helped me find a super-nice suit jacket that had been marked down nearly 90 percent. It's a good thing she was with me, or else I might have purchased something more along the lines of: This. Ooooohhhh this.

That suit is real. I found it at Stein Mart, right here in T-Town, during a self-piloted shopping trip. I didn't buy it, but I should have. My kitchen is now decorated in pineapples, solely because of this photo and the family joke it has become.

After three or four hours of blitz-style shopping activity, I had to bail. That's kind of hard when the Woodland Hills shopping mall is this busy:
I go to the mall maybe - MAYBE - three times a year, so I was sort of caught off guard by the size of the crowd. All of these people can't believe that the best thing to do in this town on a Saturday afternoon is to go to the mall...

Can they? I don't know. I did for a day, I suppose. But it was all Amanda's fault.

Bike to Work Day

2008-07-18T11:56:00.003-05:00

I hear today is Mayor Kathy Taylor's Bike to Work Day:

Not that I don't love trees, baby seals or clean air for Tulsa, but...that's my idea of biking to work, right there.

Be a Green Traveler

2008-07-17T11:30:00.003-05:00

Have any of you guys seen this?It's INCOG's Green Traveler. It's a pretty cool deal. After signing up, which is easy as pie, you can search for anyone looking for a rideshare according to where you live, where you work, where that person works, your commuting times, and more. You can even tell the system whether it'd be cool with you to rideshare with a smoker.

A few Tulsa employers have put Green Traveler on their Intranet systems to make rideshare finding easier for employees, and other employers have taken steps to help employees find coworkers with whom to carpool via the Web-based version of the program.

It's free to register, and who knows, carpooling could be a wonderful experience.

Case in point: When I learned I was about to be a baby momma, I decided to start carpooling with a coworker to assist my husband and my efforts to stock pile some cash for our soon-to-be kiddo. Until I got to the ultra-hormonal nesting stage in the middle of my eighth month and could no longer grip the door handle hard enough to deal with her New York-style of driving, our carpool contributed to a friendship that grew very close by the time my doctor told me to lay off work and have a baby instead.

When you drive to work and back with someone each day, you learn all about him or her. You have chances to talk about anything and everything, from the merits of vegetarianism to spouses to issues of faith. Carpooling was an enriching experience for me in that I gained a close, life-long friend out of the deal. Plus, I didn't drive, so I got to look out the window a lot. I like that.

Even if you don't use Green Traveler - but you should at least register so you can get a look at it, because it's pretty darned neat - try to carpool every now and again. You'll be enriched and, if nothing else, you'll learn something about yourself.

Like that when your carpooling buddy inexplicably turns on the heater full blast on the way home from work on the 20th of August and you're pregnant and your clothes don't fit and you're in a constant state of sweat-astic, you must go into the house and promptly barf up everything you ate for the past three weeks. I know that about myself now, and I'm better for it.

DoubleShot is DoubleAwesome

2008-07-16T19:57:00.008-05:00

Man, that was a nerdy title. Please don't slap me - I'll do better next time.

Nerdy title! Next time you're in a tiled bathroom or other space in which you practice your echoes, shout those two words as loudly as you can, with as much staccato as you can muster. You'll be pleased with the results.

Right now! Stop that! Silly. I would say that if you could guess the movie from which that quote comes, you'd win something. Well, you won't - except for maybe a nice pat on the back. From yourself.

The only person who wins something today is Jeff Shaw of Bounded Rationality. He correctly guessed where the picture from this post was taken. While there were a few good guesses, the ceiling of The Philtower was spot-on.

Guess what I got him. A pound of Ethiopia Moka Stag coffee from DoubleShot Coffee Company. Yay! Cherish it, Jeff - that's some good bean.

Speaking of the DoubleShot, I love it. The guy who runs it, Brian Franklin - self-dubbed "roastmaster general" - is cool, too. He's got a lot going on right now. There's the DoubleShot blog, the podcast, running for children, and oh yeah, that little coffee company on Boston:

Let's go back to that running-for-children thing.

Brian is running in the Leadville 100 August 16 to raise money for Coffee Kids, which helps coffee farming families in need. You folks can pledge via Internet money per mile that he runs at Leadville, and after the race you can donate the total amount that you pledged to Coffee Kids.

"Hopefully it will raise some money for this great cause, which is really close to my heart," he said. "And make my run more than just a run in the Rocky Mountains."

P.S. - Brian runs a lot.

The website to make pledges: www.CoffeeIlluminati.com

The charity: www.CoffeeKids.org

The blog where he will keep his efforts updated: CoffeeIlluminati.blogspot.com

Cool beans! Sorry. Had to bookend my nerdy title with a lame ending.

Fresh Tuesday

2008-07-15T19:55:00.005-05:00

Aaron suggested that I make my homemade margherita pizza for dinner tonight.That's not it. That's my chicken bacon ranch pizza. I'm just trying to prove that I do in fact make pizza entirely from scratch. How a photo will help you realize this, I don't know.

Anyhow. I decided some super-fresh tomatoes were key to the success of my pizza margherita. Rather than head to the grocery store, I stopped here:
That's the downtown farmers market. Not only did they have tomatoes for $2/pound (they're about 20 percent more than that at your local grocery right now), but they also had these:
Those are the prettiest peaches I've ever seen, I'm pretty sure. I'm going to have to fan myself.

This is the downtown farmers market's second year, and from what I can tell, business is good. I counted seven booths and vendors offering everything from potted herbs to vegetables to fresh, local meat to handcrafted goods, and one or two vendors offered lunch. After I'd purchased my tomatoes and chatted up the farmers (these farmers/vendors were wonderfully sweet and frank - I like that), I stood around and enjoyed the weather for about five minutes. During that time, which was at noon or so, I noticed that about 30 individuals wandered through the row of tents on Williams Green. That's a pretty darn good audience for a small farmers market:
See those little tents? That's it - that's the downtown farmers market.

It's open until October every Tuesday 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Don't forget about the other farmers markets in the Tulsa area - we've got 'em four days out of the week all over town.

Mmm mmm mmm - you just haven't lived until you'd had a garden-fresh, Oklahoma tomato. Especially on my homemade pizza.

A Guessing Game

2008-07-14T21:20:00.004-05:00

Check this out:Oooo. Aaahhhh.

If you can guess where this photo was taken, you win a prize. Not a very big prize, but a prize nonetheless. And recognition. And maybe a few extra gold stars next to your name in the Book of Life.

In keeping with the sacrilege theme, don't even try to look away from this:
In case you didn't read about it in the paper, it finally happened: Chester kicked the bucket. Like, six months ago. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

If anyone would need extra gold stars in the Book of Life, it'd definitely be that naughty, wayward little fish.

Yesterday, In Pictures

2008-07-13T13:27:00.014-05:00

We had a lot to do yesterday. Birthdays to celebrate, babies to welcome into the world and photograph, housework. But, we managed to take some time out to go see this:

That's the center of the universe. What are the odds that the center of the entire universe would be in my hometown? You know, it's probably not the actual center of the universe, but I like thinking that my world is at the center of things. Because it is.

Wait! Don't leave yet. The center of the universe is cooler than it looks, especially when someone decides to sidewalk chalk all over it. When you stand on the edge of that circle you see up there, you can hear the echo of the sound your voice makes when you're saying all kinds of dumb things like, "Haaaallooooowwww," and "Kaw! Kaw kaw!!" and "Hey, Aaron, will you take a picture of me like THIS?" as you bend over and look at your spouse from across the center of the universe from between your knees.

Thing is, there aren't any walls near that circle that seem capable of reflecting sound. So, it's cool and mysterious and mind-boggling.

Especially when you're on a date. Picture this: it's late, you had dinner and you went to see a cool band or something, and you've decided to take your date on a pitstop by the center of the universe before heading home. You decide it would be cool to go in for a smooch (my papa is the only person cool enough to say smooch, so don't repeat it...unless you're me), and whadoyaknow, you can hear your disgusting kiss sounds magnified by a seeming hundred times, and they're bouncing all over the place, maybe even to non-center-of-the-universe areas, like Hong Kong or New Zealand.

On second thought, don't do this. Save your goodnights for the front porch, or wherever it is you yahoos do that sort of thing.

After we exhausted all entertainment that could be had at the center of the universe, we drove by this:
It's gonna be done soon. There should be a night where everyone who brings a roll of duct tape gets in free.

Hey, just tryin' to help out by making a thoughtful suggestion.

While we were downtown, we also saw two or three instances of this:
Someone's having a good time puzzling everyone - or reenacting that scene from Big Fish over and over, one of the two.

We were hungry at that point, so we stopped in at The Local Table and had this:
Pardon the munched-upon look, but we couldn't help ourselves. No lie: this cuban panini is the best sandwich I've had in many, many moons. We'd hit a huge run of bad luck lately trying to get a decent meal that's worth our hard-earned cash when we go out, but we hit the jackpot yesterday. At about $7, this sandwich is a steal.

You know that saying, if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy? Just as a mother's unhappiness can quell the good mood of an entire family, so can her happiness over (finally!!) finding a 100-percent satisfying lunch lighten the spirits of her spouse and spawn.
See?

Later we had to go to Red Lobster to celebrate the July family birthdays (three of them, Lord help us - actually, Lord help them, since three of us have October birthdays, and we demand much nicer and many more gifts). I say "had to go" because...well, let me put it this way. What I had at Red Lobster was no cuban panini from The Local Table.

Have I convinced you yet that that little sandwich is a God-send and could sprout wings at any moment and fly over to some schmuck's table to be eaten with less appreciation and love because, well, maybe angel sandwiches have a tendency to do that sort of thing?

Here's where the Red Lobster wait staff sang to the birthday kids:
I love it when wait staffs sing the Happy Birthday song. There's always a little of this going on:
Classic.

Random Google Searchings

2008-07-12T09:39:00.001-05:00

Ever get on Google and do random searches? I don’t – no, never (especially not when I should be working or doing laundry or flossing my teeth) – but apparently, some people do.

According to my little stat counter, these are some Google and Yahoo! searches that have recently landed unsuspecting, unwitting souls at this blog:

Oklahoma trips on a tank full around Tulsa (love this idea – someone should write about it. Like me. Maybe I will – after I wash all 500 dirty burp rags that have taken over our house)
Chicago style pizza Tulsa (more than one search)
Fun stuff to do in Tulsa on a date (a little more on this here pretty soon)
Mcnellys bar Tulsa, OK (more than one search – and nearly every time McNellie’s shows up in a Google search that leads someone to my site, whoever is searching is a misspelling fiend of sadness and loathing)
Stuff to do in Tulsa
Fun things for kids to do in Tulsa OK
Everything today is ugly buildings (huh?)

And strangest of all: Does mac and cheese make you poop

Not that that’s my area of expertise, but…no. Quite the opposite, actually.

Here are some Tulsa spots for which folks have been searching specifically lately:

Cherry Street Coffee House (on this blog here.)
Umberto’s Pizza (“ “ here.)
Savastano’s (“ “ here.)
Creek Nation Casino
The Pie Hole

It’s fun to spy on people, isn’t it? That’s why I’m always throwing in words like “bomb” and “human shield” during phone calls – to give whoever is listening a little fun.

Lavender Festival, with a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Chaser

2008-06-08T14:25:00.002-05:00

My little family (plus 1 - Meme came along) made the drive to Lavender Hill Farm yesterday for its 6th annual Lavender Festival.

I was having a great morning. We aimed to arrive at the festival at about 10, an hour after the opening. I got myself ready early so I could get the baby fed, changed, dressed and packed. I got to eat breakfast and drink a full cup of coffee. I even packed a sack-full of stuff I needed to return to Wal-Mart.

In all my preparedness, I forgot to make sure the battery was in the camera. I almost cried when I realized.

Not really, though in these recent months of late nights and raging hormones, I've cried over less. We had a good time at the festival, even if I don't have photos to prove it.

Lots of vendors were plying wares and whatnots, especially lavender plants, dried bunches and bath products. Lots of jewelry makers and plant and herb growers were set up, too, and there was some food and sweets available as well - namely, pulled pork sandwiches and lavender lemonade.

The winery set up a wine tasting table at the far end of the festival, sort of behind the building in which the winery actually is and in a place that wouldn't have been visible from the vendor and lavender farm section of the festival had it not been for the swarm of folks bulging out from the corner of the building.

The actual lavender farm section was smack in the middle of the festival. I was surprised by the size of the plot. For some reason, I had imagined cascading hills crammed with flowering lavender plants, not as far as the eye could see, but at least for a longer distance than I could walk in 30 seconds. The lavender hadn't flowered, and there really wasn't much of it planted, at least from what I could see. I'd heard rumors that festival patrons could pick their own lavender, but I guess that was either never a feature of the festival, or they just don't do it anymore.

A friendly suggestion for the folks in charge at the festval: Maybe next year the winery could set up in the middle of the vendors section. That way, the throng of people rushing the wine tasting table could sip their samples while shopping around, rather than feeling like they have to sip while standing in line for another sample since there isn't anything else to do without making the five-minute walk back to where the vendors and live entertainment are. The vendors would make more money, I bet, which could attract more vendors, which could help grow the festival, which could bring more visitors...you see where I'm going with this. Nothing but sunshine and rainbows and, duh, lavender and wine.

Not that we didn't have fun at the festival, but the long, scenic drive to and through Stone Bluff was, for us, the most enjoyable leg of our trip. The countryside is green and lush, even if most of the trees look a little lopsided, thanks to that oft-scorned December ice storm. The little shops that have sprung up along 191st Street in response to the traffic generated by Lavender Hill Farm and Winery and Stone Bluff Cellars were fun to peep in on as we drove by, as were the yard sales that had set up in anticipation of the festival goers.

We went to The Brook afterward for burgers - well, Aaron and Meme had burgers. I had the buffalo chicken sandwich, which is my favorite thing on the menu there as well as one of my favorite things to eat anywhere. I get it with the mac and cheese. It's junk food the way the good Lord intended.

If you missed the lavender festival, head over to The Brook for that buffalo chicken sandwich. It'll make you feel better. It will also make you feel really, really full - bonus.

First Family Outing

2008-06-05T07:07:00.011-05:00

Guess what I've been doing for the past four months.

That's my puppy. That's also totally beside the point.

Since February I have gone from this:
To this: To this:To taking care of this (Lord help me):And finally, to cuddling and cooing with this:
Hello, Golden Age of Babyhood, a.k.a. the period between about three months and the point at which the little guy goes mobile. In the name of all that is good and holy, let the fabric of time warp to make this time last longer than the 2.5 seconds it will seem like it lasted a year from now.

Now that we're pretty much done with the night wakings and spit-up rockets, it's time I get my new little family out to re-explore Tulsa. I say "re-explore" because it's been a really long time since I've been both a citizen of this city as well as part of a "traditional" family unit. I'm sure there are lots of new things going on now for families and kids that I was too early to enjoy.

I also know that my little isn't going to remember one gosh-darned thing about anything we do from now until he's about two. But, everyone has that trip to Disney World or someplace that they don't remember because the trip took place too early in life - safely beyond the veil of nothingness and no-time that infancy represents when we all get older.

In a way, I'm kinda glad my little won't remember this time. Or the time I bonked his head on the door jamb. Or the corner of the hallway. Or on the lampshade. Or with an empty can of Diet Dr. Pepper.

The can was empty, I swear!

Ah, parenthood. Anyway. I'll be getting my parenting skills on this weekend at the sixth annual Stone Bluff Lavender and Wine Festival. It's Saturday from 9-4, and according to the event flier, there will be lots of lavender goods to sniff and fondle, as well as yummy food, opportunities for wine tasting and entertainment. Adults pay $5 to get in, and kids under 12 are free.

"Free" meaning they gain entry to this festival at no charge. Not that they don't cost anything. Because they do. Just a little.

For more information (such as directions on how to get to this place - it's not totally out of the way, but the directions on the event flier seem like they'll come in handy once we head out), visit www.lavenderhillfarm.net.

See you there!

Oklahoma Survey

2008-01-11T07:54:00.000-06:00

I found this survey today trolling around MySpace. It was called, Oklahoma Survey (Stole This From My Cousin Kim). Ha!

Forget answering the questions, since the questions have a lot to say on their own. My personal favorites are #s 13, 14, 18 and 28. Enjoy!

1. Where in Oklahoma have you lived?
2. Where is your fave place to chill in Oklahoma?
3. Have you ever been on a boat in Lake Texhoma?
4. Do you go camping?
5. Do you use the word "y'all"?
6. Have you ever owned a truck?
7. Have you ever had heat exhaustion?
8. How many Oklahoma snows have you witnessed?
9. Have you ever ice skated indoors?
10. Have you ever squirted one of your parents with a water gun?
11. Whats your favorite Oklahoma sports team?
12. Do you like the city or the country?
13. Have you ever been sprayed by a skunk?
14. Have you ever run over an armadillo?
15. Have you ever been to a Hornets Game?
16. Have you ever been to a Blazers or Oilers game?
17. Have you ever attended the State Fair?
18. What's your favorite Mexican food restaurant?
19. Have you ever had Shiner beer?
20. Have you ever been on a hayride?
21. Have you ever ridden a horse?
22. Were you in 4-H or FFA?
23. Which place in Oklahoma has the best scenery/view?
24. Which grocery store do you shop at?
25. Have you ever partied in a barn?
26. Have you ever partied in a pasture?
27. Do you like keg beer?
28. Are you Baptist?
29. Have you ever been swimming in a river or creek?
30. Have you ever been on the Illinois River?
32. Is your high school big?
33. Have you ever been to Tulsa?
34. Who is your favorite Red Dirt band?
35. Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull?
36. Have you ever been to the rodeo?
37. Do you own a cowboy hat?
38. Finally, what's your favorite thing about Oklahoma?

Saturday Lunch at Sand Springs Station

2008-01-07T18:48:00.000-06:00

My Meme (grandmother) and I finally stopped in at Sand Springs Station for lunch Saturday afternoon.

I say “finally” because we have driven by the corner at 28 E. Broadway together for years, spying on the restaurants that have filled the space and saying again and again, “We’ve gotta go eat there some Saturday, when we have time to sit back and enjoy it.”

Unlike the other inhabitants of this unique corner space, which was originally the Sand Springs trolley station, Sand Springs Station seems like it might hang around. Offering simple, café-gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, the restaurant always has at least a few cars parked outside. Meme said that on Saturday mornings all parking spaces adjacent to the corner are occupied – not a bad turnout for a bagel or pasty breakfast.

I’m pretty sure Sand Springs folks turn out at the Station just as much for the nostalgia of the space as for the cuisine. Lunching there with Meme, a Sand Springs native, was a special experience, since she had stories of how she and her grandmother used to catch the trolley just outside of where we were sitting. An entire wall of the restaurant is covered in old photos of the station.

For lunch, Meme ordered the bacon avocado sandwich ($5.50), while I opted for the fettucini alfredo with grilled chicken breast ($5.99 on the lunch menu, without the chicken). I’d order either dish when I make my second visit, which I aim to make soon. The service was prompt and friendly, and everyone who walked into the dining room seemed to know someone else inside, which I really love in a cafe.

I wonder if the Station is packed with high school kids on the weeknights, since it offers Topeca coffee, an array of coffee drinks, café-type sweets and free WiFi. If Sandites are going to Tulsa coffeeshops for study dates, they really are missing out on a chance to support a local gem and save gas money at the same time.

Sand Springs Station is open Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lunch starts at 11 a.m., and dinner at 5 p.m. Anyone who can give me a review of either the pie or the dinner menu gets a bag of beans from Topeca, on me.

Turning Over a New...Fish?

2007-12-28T11:13:00.000-06:00

Blogger: Natasha

Chester has had a tough couple of weeks.

I’m pretty sure he’s not going to make it, especially since I’ve stopped feeding him.

I mean, he’s really been dragging this whole dying thing out. It has been time for him to go to the big fish tank in the sky for, according to my calculations, six months now; I’m just greasing the wheels.

Let’s allow Chester’s impending death to symbolize a re-birth of this blog. The following are some changes you’ll see to Tasha Does Tulsa, starting with the very next post:

More pictures. A Best Buy salesperson, a.k.a. my little sister, sold me and the hubby a digital camera recently. Now that I know how to use the camera, I’m going to use it to benefit this blog.
Shorter, more frequent entries. Easier and more enjoyable for you to read, easier for me to write. Thus!
Now, it’s your blog, too. Since I’m having a baby in a few short months, and since the experiences of the current Tulsa Does Tulsa crew do represent just our experiences, I’m opening this blog to whoever has something to add to it. Send write-ups and accompanying photos to tashadoestulsa (at) gmail dot com; I promise to do only light editing as long as you promise not to send inflammatory, third-grade-level writing and inappropriate photos.
Better format. I’m still thinking on how to do this, but do look forward to a Tasha Does Tulsa blog that’s easier to read and navigate.

Ta-da!

Some entries to look forward to:
• Natasha Gets a New Office Fish
• Geocaching: A Great Way to Get to Know Your Town
• The Poop on Having a Baby in Tulsa

Got an idea for what type of fish I should get? Leave a comment – otherwise, start sending me your accounts on how to best do Tulsa, and I’ll get ‘em posted!

Run, Tulsa, Run

2007-10-26T17:48:00.001-05:00

Blogger: Natasha

As of this writing, there are 15 hours, 9 minutes until the start of the 2007 Tulsa Run.

For those of you who have been training for months in anticipation and preparation for this race, GOOD LUCK! For the rest of you, you have 15 hours, 9 minutes to get to the start line to cheer these troopers on! I bet it's an amazing thing to watch. I'll find out tomorrow, since I ran the 5K last year and didn't know much about the Run before that. To run the race is definitely an amazing experience.

BONUS: There's beer and candy at the finish line. Seriously.

Cover Band Hilarity

2007-10-23T09:41:00.000-05:00

Blogger: Mos Jef

Out of complete boredom and morbid curiosity, I have created a poster searching for people that want to start a Hall & Oates cover band. While I still think this is a fantastic idea, I'm really just interested in what kind of responses I would get.

I posted these all over town. Let's all pray that I get tons of responses. This could potentially be the funniest thing ever.

Vote 2-Day

2007-10-09T10:09:00.000-05:00

Blogger: Natasha

Assuming you've educated yourself on the issues, don't forget to vote on the river proposal today.

Voting is, for me, one of the ultimate and funnest ways to do Tulsa. Voting isn't just a responsibility; it's a privilege. You - yeah, even you - have the opportunity today to have your voice heard. Heck, you might even have the chance to paint yourself in blue/green or black/red, dress up and drive some of your friends to the polls (pit stop at The Full Moon for lunch, anyone?).

Okay, cutting the crap. Polls are open until 7 this evening, so no excuses - GO VOTE!

We Win: TDT is Best Culture Blog 2007

2007-10-06T19:17:00.000-05:00

Though we couldn't be at the pizza party/Okie Blog Awards get-together today at Hideaway Pizza - some of us were visiting family, some of us were celebrating Natasha's birthday at Whispering Vines, and yet another was kicking ass at the Zoo Run - we still managed to bring one home:

Thanks to our fellow Oklahoma bloggers for your votes. We promise we'll stop doing Tulsa long enough to come to next year's Blogger Roundup.

Tulsa Zoo Run

2007-10-06T13:12:00.000-05:00

Blogger: Mos Jef

This morning Tulsa had its 38th Annual Zoo Run. This year broke last year's record for most participants. Go Tulsa! It was a good time for everyone involved. I'm not sure exactly how many people were running in the event, but I pre-registered earlier this week and I was number:

That makes this run the 2nd oldest running event in Tulsa, and the 6th largest race in the state. The zoo's American Airlines tent served as the post-race hospitality area. Food and beverages from great Tulsa-area establishments were provided for all participants. Post-race activities included live music from a DJ, face painters, clowns, and massages. Once the race was over, all runners and spectators could enjoy a free day at the Tulsa Zoo.

Some animals were pretty pumped up about the event:

Others didn't seem so interested:

Others were too busy hanging out to even watch:

If you'd like to get involved in Tulsa-area running events, you should join the Tulsa Running Club. It's a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the benefits of running and walking by providing social, financial, and moral support to Tulsa and the surrounding communities and to establish camaraderie among runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. You can fill out a membership form at tulsarunningclub.com (or click the link).

Me? I'm not there for the camaraderie. I was talking trash and hauling ass. Just like in the last event, I finished 3rd in my age division (25 - 29 years old) despite shaving 45 seconds off my time. I'm almost positive it's the same two guys that beat me at the last event. I'm going to have to kill them. Training to beat them will just take too much effort. I'm going to make it look like an accident. I've already decided how -- posionous dart frogs:

Anyway, it was a good time. These events make running a lot of fun, and running is good for the body.

Doing the Tulsa State Fair

2007-10-04T20:38:00.000-05:00

Bloggers: Natalie and Party Brenda
("T" is for...Tulsa? Okay.)

Ah, the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the Tulsa State Fair. Welcome to TDT’s Live Team Coverage of the Tulsa State Fair, with your hosts: Party Brenda and Natalie.

We met up Sunday evening and headed out to the Fairgrounds. Keep in mind that our complete and total purpose of attending the fair was to eat. So, if you’re looking for commentary on the livestock, the rides or really anything else, we’re not your girls.

Here’s a rundown of our fair experience.

6:25 p.m. Say hi to Party Husband, who is working as a member of the esteemed Event Staff at Disney on Ice. We listen to his lament of having seen the show seven times. Brenda takes his cash, but she gives him a kiss, so it all works out.

6:35 p.m. First food stop: jumbo corn dogs.

6:47 p.m. Ribbon potatoes. Stop at covered eating area to people watch. Comment from Natalie on the “special” sort of people that tend to gather on the Midway at the fair.

7:10 p.m. Enter Expo Center to browse for things we don’t need. Discussions about hot tubs, RVs, jewelry cleaner, gutters, ugly furniture and pools ensue.

7:16 p.m. Visit Natalie’s friend Elizabeth at the KTUL booth.

7:18 p.m. Decide to look at refrigerators, as Natalie may be in the market for one soon.

7:19 p.m. Guy hits on Natalie in the refrigerator area. We run away.

7:20 p.m. Consider a Strawberry Newberg. They are expensive. We move on.

7:22 p.m. Our favorite annual stop at the fair: Wedding Cake Competition. One of the cake decorators is running around saying, “There’s something wrong with the judging,” over and over. We ignore her and point at the cute baby on the floor.

7:23 p.m. Cake observing.

7:34 p.m. Bored with the Expo Building, we move outside to get some dessert.

7:36 p.m. It starts raining. We stop under another corn dog stand for shelter.

7:40 p.m. Darting from food trailer to food trailer to stay out of rain.

7:42 p.m. Discussion about whether Party Brenda should win a giant grizzly bear for Kyle. Conclusion that it would probably cost her $547 to win said grizzly bear.

7:45 p.m. Seek shelter under another food trailer. Notice that it is a trailer for pineapple whip and dip cones. Score!

7:49 p.m. Head to the car. Really raining now.

7:52 p.m. Safely in the car. And, home we go.

All in all, it was an excellent fair experience, though probably fairly (haha – no pun intended) short by most standards. Considering our purpose was to eat, and your money (and your appetite) doesn’t go too far at the fair, I’d say we accomplished our objectives within a reasonable amount of time.

The weather is supposed to be very nice this weekend, so go on out to the fair! Just watch out for the goons on the Midway.

Just for Fun: Notes from Natasha

List of stuff eaten by TDT girls (Party Brenda, Natalie and Natasha) at the Fair up until Oct. 4:

-Garlic Chicken Burrito
-4 bottles of water
-Cheese on a Stick (I wait all year for the Fair, just to partake of this bit of arterial hell)
-Brownies with pudding from the Strawberry Newberg people
-Indian Taco
-Large iced tea
-Fudge from somewhere in the MIO (Made in Oklahoma) building
-Two jumbo corn dogs
-Ribbon potatoes
-Two Pineapple Whip and Dip Cones
-Buttered Corn on the Cob
-Strawberry Newberg

Yeah, so I’m 4 ½ months pregnant and can put away food in a fashion unmatched during my pre-pregnancy life, but the girls and I came together and managed to eat enough food to fill one of those smelly-like-child-barf garbage cans at the good ol’ Tulsa State Fair this year. Who knows, we may go back this weekend to eat yet more of that food that, while delicious, also greases the intestinal tract.

TDT Staff note: How many of you have seen the cover of the most recent Urban Tulsa Weekly? The title of the cover story is, “Pie High: Pizza Is the New Hamburger.” Give it a read. The Quest must have been a pretty damn good idea – cover-worthy, it seems.

It's Not All Sour Grapes

2007-09-12T21:46:00.000-05:00

Blogger: Natasha
(photo credit: Sarah Nicodemus)

This has been a tough year for local wineries. After the late freeze this spring and the heavy rain this summer, several vineyards in northeastern Oklahoma don't have much of a crop this year.

Since 2000, the number of wineries in the state has jumped from 4 to 48. Winery presence in Oklahoma surged after the passage of SQ 688, which allowed wineries to bypass distributors and wholesalers to ship directly to liquor retailers and restaurants. SQ 688 has since been declared unconstitutional. Soon, HB 1753 came along to reinstate a prior regulation of alcohol distribution within the state such that Oklahoma wineries are free to ship to customers outside the state, but not to those within Oklahoma borders.

So, without a business relationship with a distributor – which is hard to come by, since a distributor often has to choose between pushing small quantities of specialty wine from local entities and pushing large quantities of consumer wine from much larger enterprises with leveraging power - a local winery cannot sell its juice to in-state customers from anywhere but its headquarters or local festivals. As logic would have it, vineyards don’t thrive in urban centers. When a winery is stuck on a vineyard in Bristow, Haskell or Vinita, it doesn’t get much foot traffic.

Consequently, most of the state’s wineries and vineyards can’t subsist on the grape-growing and wine-making business alone. Vineyards and wineries like Stone Bluff Cellars near Haskell and Whispering Vines Vineyards and Winery, which has been sprouting near my old stomping grounds in west Tulsa since 2002, support their winemaking businesses by hosting or setting up displays at events and festivals that attract rushes of agri-tourists.

Might be a pain for some of the folks in the Oklahoma winemaking business who’d rather hone a centuries-old craft than play customer service all day, but these events open the art and craft of the winemaking process and wine culture to everyday people in the community.

Here is a frequently updated list of such events. Whatever your opinion on the regulation of alcohol in Oklahoma, find time to head out to the boonies, find a few of these wineries and enjoy their wine tastings and fall festivals. Many of them feature tastings for free, fancy meals and live entertainment. And, oh yeah: they have lots and lots of yummy wines, and they're happy to let you try as many as you'd like.

My favorites/recommendations:

Stone Bluff Cellars near Haskell hosts some of the nicest wine and food pairing events in the Tulsa area, and lunch is served on the grounds Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Just think: good wine made from grapes grown on the country land that surrounds you, gourmet food, a view of the Tulsa skyline and wonderful people. I mean, the owner is a guy named Dr. Bob. Who couldn’t love that?

I just have two words to say about Nuyaka Creek Winery in Bristow: Petite Pecan. The best pecan pie in the world would have a hard time holding a candle to this fortified wine, which is 24 percent alcohol. Hint: sample it in a small(er) glass. Also, have a taste of the specialty at Nuyaka Creek Winery, the Elderberry Wine. I don’t need to suggest that twice.

Merlot Vines at Nuyaka Creek Winery (photo from NCW Web site)

Last but not least, take a Saturday afternoon to drop by Whispering Vines Vineyards and Winery, 7374 W. 51^st St. Late last week I stumbled upon Dean and Doreen Riesen and their vineyard and winery, which opened quietly this spring. After giving me a taste of several of his favorite wines, Dean took the time to tell me how the business he shares with his wife got to where it is today, rough spots and all. Dean and Doreen are some of the most darling folks – come to think of it, I find most winery people quite darling, especially after I’ve been hanging around for awhile.

Not only was the wine fabulous (I recommend the Cabernet Sauvignon and Muscat Canelli), but the grounds are beautiful. The Riesens plan to host wine parties with live entertainment on the deck out back of the winery once fall hits. Take my advice: plan to attend at least one of them.

During the spring and fall, day travelers could make a weekend out of visiting the Green Country vineyards and wineries. Who says we need a bunch of concrete and air conditioning at the river to have a good time in Tulsa? Whichever box you’ll be checking Oct. 9, make an effort to enjoy the community as it exists. As this blog has proven, there’s plenty to see and do in T-town.

P.S. - From Tasha, Party Brenda, Chester, Natalie, Chris, Sarah, Jeff and Aaron, thanks for nominating Tasha Does Tulsa for Best Culture Blog, a subcategory of the 2007 Okie Blog Awards! We’re glad you enjoy our antics.

My Labor Day Weekend: An Essay by Party Brenda

2007-09-04T18:57:00.000-05:00

Blogger: Party Brenda
(photo credit: Chris Boldini, or something)

So, this weekend was Labor Day weekend. It was also a perfect opportunity for Tulsans to get out there and enjoy the town a little more than usual.

The weather was just wonderful, especially in the morning hours – or, so I hear. Party Brenda slept in. If there is one thing I enjoy more than a good karaoke party it is sleeping in.

Get Your Shop On

Anywho, I had a great weekend. I meet up with some friends and ate dinner at P.F. Changs in Utica Square. It was delicious. Then we strolled around trying to catch some Labor Day specials. I bought a great little white dress on sale, and some unmentionables too. Ha! Wouldn’t you like to know? I just love Utica Square and the wonderful outdoor environment they’ve created there.

After we were tired of walking around and a little sweaty ‘cause it had warmed up quite a bit by then, we all headed over the Osage Casino at the End of the Yellow Brick Road, I mean the L.L. Tisdale. I usually don’t like spending time in a casino (I’m broke), but my friends assured me I would have a good time. Plus, they have a bar.

A Party Favor

So, we went! May I just say, it is so nice that they have speakers in their parking lot! The place was packed and we had to park out in BFE, but with the speakers pumping out the classic music master pieces of the eighties we had a little added bounce in our step to the front door.

We walked inside and I immediately felt as if I had already smoked five cigarettes. I guess that appeals to some people. My friend Jack lit up first thing. The security guards that met us at the front entrance were very pleasant. They even offered Jack a light.

I only had three dollars to spend, so I wanted to find a low-bidding machine. I was telling my friends that I had played a pretty fun slot machine with my Party Grandma not that long ago. I can’t remember the name of it, but it’s a little more interactive than most slot machines and also not as complicated and number-y as others.

Well, I now hate that game because it devoured my first dollar in less than five minutes. Ah well. We moved on.(photo credit: WMS Gaming)

Jack was telling us about this game he’d played for hours one day called “Super Jackpot Party.” I immediately became interested ‘cause, you know, I like to party! The game starts out like most computerized slot machines by having you pick the number of lines and how much you want to bet and yada yada yada, BUT, if you get three party symbols anywhere on the screen…

You get to have a party.

Balloons fall from the top on the screen and party blower noise maker thingys are blown, and then Disco Inferno starts playing on the speakers. I was so excited to have this party. Then the screen fills with wrapped gifts that you get to open by touching the screen. The gifts contain anything from extra credits at multiple levels, to whack a party pooper game, to a dance-off, to multiplying all the credits you had already won, etc. The best part is that you get to keep selecting gifts until you select a “party pooper” gift. The party pooper comes in and, of course, ends the party by saying something really stupid like, “Shouldn’t we all be studying?” Or, a cop will come in, and we all know how much of a party pooper one of those can be.

The game was awesome, is what I’m getting at. I spent a little more time on this one with my remaining two dollars, but I was really temped to withdraw some more cash from my checking account.

Then, we went to the bar…watched some football games and drank some Corona. Yum. Good Times.

In Conclusion

The things I wish I could have done this weekend were:

A. Buy more new clothes;

B. Drink some iced coffee at the Coffee House on Cherry Street;

C. Spent a little more time by the pool…or, just outside in general. It was beautiful.

Oh! And…

D. Hang out with my BFF Natasha. I guess she was kinda being a party pooper herself this weekend. I’m sure we’ll all hear what she’s been up to here on the blog soon.

So, in conclusion, I hope everyone found their own special little way of enjoying the long weekend. I did. We can only hope that the winter will be filled with extra icy, deadly conditions so that we don’t have to go to work all those days and we can stay home and make my award-winning cheesecake and hot chocolate.

Good-bye, summer. We will miss you. Oh, and hey, summer? See you at El Guapo later for some roof top drinks. Love it. Party On!

Natasha’s note: I was really busy being pregnant this weekend. Party Brenda and I get to hang out at Coffee Jesus tonight. Good thing there's no full moon...