Best of Tulsa 2019

Y O U R W I N N E R S I N F O O D & D R I N K , A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T, A N D M O R E .

Thank You,TULSA

Reserve your stay in paradise today Endless gaming excitement Two casinos under one roof– ® ® River Spirit & Margaritaville

Fine-dining excellence ®

The only Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Oklahoma

Luxurious Spa & Salon

Pamper yourself in our relaxing retreat

Beautiful river views Luxurious resort hotel

Caribbean-style pool Soak up some sun

Awesome live music ®

5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, ® Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville , Paradise Cove Theater

8330 RIVERSIDE PARK WAY TULSA , OK 74137 888-748-3731 • RIVERSPIRIT TULSA .COM

PROUD RECIPIENT OF

ENJOY SOME OF THE BEST DINING TULSA HAS TO OFFER

MCNEL L IE’S m c n e l l i e s . c o m

PROBA BLY T UL S A’S BES T PUB 1S T & ELGIN

YOKOZUN A y o k o z u n a s u s h i . c o m

DOWN TOWN’S BES T SUSHI 2ND & DE T ROIT

FAS SL ER H A L L f a s s l e r h a l l . c o m HOUSEM A DE S AUS AGES A ND A GRE AT BEER GA RDEN 3RD & ELGIN

EL GUA P O’S e l g u a p o s c a n t i n a . c o m

EN JOY ME XICA N FOOD A ND M A RGA RITA S ON DOWN TOWN’S ONLY ROOF TOP PATIO 1S T & ELGIN

T HE TAV ERN t a v e r n t u l s a . c o m

FINE DINING IN T HE T UL S A A RT S DIS T RICT M AIN & M.B. BR A DY

DIL LY DINER d i l l y d i n e r. c o m

BRE A K FA S T SERV ED A L L DAY LONG 2ND & ELGIN

EL GIN PA RK e l g i n p a r k b r e w e r y. c o m

PIZZ A , HOUSE-BRE WED BEER, WINGS, 60 + T V S ELGIN & M.B. BR A DY

THE TULSA VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY Y O U R W I N N E R S I N F O O D & D R I N K , A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T, A N D M O R E .

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon EDITOR Jezy J. Gray CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Blayklee Freed, John Langdon CONTRIBUTOR Cassidy McCants 1603 S. Boulder Ave. Tulsa, OK 74119 P: 918.585.9924 F: 918.585.9926

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Madeline Crawford GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Georgia Brooks, Morgan Welch PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Bollinger

©2019. All rights reserved.

PHOTO BY VALERIE WEI-HAAS Dishes from Best of Tulsa 2019 winners: Elgin Park, The Tavern, Yokozuna, El Guapo’s Cantina, and McNellie’s – all part of McNellie’s Restaurant Group. McNellie’s Restaurant Group celebrates 10 years this year. They’ve won more BOT awards than any other company or group since 2013.

AD SALES MANAGER Josh Kampf INFORMATION ON NOMINATING AND VOTING: The Tulsa Voice readers are responsible for the nominating and voting for the Best of Tulsa awards. After annual nominations in January, the top five most-nominated entities move on to our final ballot. Voting ended February 28. The top three choices in all categories are presented here.

PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNICATIONS Susie Miller CONTROLLER Mary McKisick DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Amanda Hall RECEPTION Gloria Brooks

RECYCLE THIS Glass Bottles and Jars

FOLLOW US @THETULSAVOICE

VISIT US ONLINE AT THETULSAVOICE.COM/BOT2019

NOT THAT Tires

Take tires to a tire recycling facility or schedule a bulky waste pickup with the City of Tulsa.

Glass bottles and jars are perfect for recycling, but tires are NOT acceptable for the blue recycling cart.

LEARN MORE AT

4 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19

tulsarecycles.com

YOU ALWAYS PLANNED ON ADOPTING A NEW DOG.

(You just didn’t plan on also needing a new couch.)

Some expenses in life you know are coming. Others come out of nowhere. That’s why it’s good to have both a checking and savings account, so you can keep cash on hand for the things you want to buy and the things you have to buy. Open an account online in as little as five minutes. And let us help you plan for life.

Checking | Savings | Lending | Retirement www.bankofoklahoma.com © 2019 Bank of Oklahoma, a division of BOKF, NA. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

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FOOD & DRINK

BEST OF TULSA 2019

FINALISTS: Merritt’s Bakery, Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery

BEST DELI Jason’s Deli FINALISTS: Bill and Ruth’s, Trenchers Delicatessen

BEST MEXICAN El Guapo’s Cantina FINALISTS: Calaveras Mexican Grill, El Rio Verde

Marshall Brewing Company brewed its first batch of beer in April 2008, when the only brewery around was Choc Beer Company in Krebs, nearly 100 miles away. In the 11 years since, there’s been a massive explosion of beer culture in Tulsa and the rest of Oklahoma. “It’s been really cool to see. The law change back in October really opened the doors and allowed for new opportunities,” said brewmaster and founder Eric Marshall.

Marshall and his crew have been keeping especially busy the past year: They’ve renovated their old building, opened a new taproom, and installed a canning line. They’re currently working on a beer garden outside the taproom, which is sure to be in high demand. “It’s been a wild ride. There had never been a brewery here brewing beer stronger than 3.2.

BEST BREWERY FINALISTS: Cabin Boys Brewery, Prairie Artisan Ales

BEST TAPROOM FINALISTS: Cabin Boys Brewery, Heirloom Rustic Ales

We kind of had to blaze our own path,” Marshall said.

He came to love beer culture and brewing while studying in Germany. He was amazed by how beer was “interwoven with their society and their support of the local community.” When he came back, Marshall realized he didn’t really want to sit at a desk the rest of his life. Then the stars aligned with an apprenticeship in Germany and a stint at a Pennsylvania brewery before coming home to Tulsa to try it on his own—to much success.

“I love what we’ve created,” Marshall said. “I’ve got a great group of people that work for me. One of the main purposes of the brewery was to create something Tulsans could be proud of and take ownership in. There’s still a long way to go, but the momentum is amazing.”

BEST SEAFOOD White River Fish Market FINALISTS: Bodean Restaurant & Market, Nola’s Creole & Cocktails

BEST INDIAN India Palace FINALISTS: Desi Wok, Tandoori Guys

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BEST GROCERY STORE Reasor’s Foods FINALISTS: Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s Originally opened in 1963, Reasor’s has grown to 18 locations and more than 2,500 employees in Oklahoma.

BEST SANDWICH Phat Philly from Phat Philly’s FINALISTS: Reuben from Trenchers Delicatessen, The Trencher from Trenchers Delicatessen

BEST BURGER Fat Guys Burger Bar FINALISTS: Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili, The Tavern Nothing beats Fat Guys’ endless options for burger customization.

REASORS, PHAT PHILLY’S: VALERIE WEI-HAAS; ROBOT: GEORGIA BROOKS

BEST BAKERY Antoinette Baking Company

Marshall Brewing Company

CHEERS TO THE BEST!

PROUD SPONSOR OF ©2019 OILFIRE RYE WHISKEY & LIQUEUR, 35% ALC/VOL (70 PROOF). A TRUE TULSA, OKLAHOMA RECIPE. OILFIRE.COM PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. AVAILABLE IN THESE FINE ESTABLISHMENTS: FIFTEENTH STREET WINE & SPIRIT • GRAND VIN BOTTLE SHOP • PARKHILL AND PARKHILL SOUTH LIQUORS & WINE

BEST CHICKEN Chicken and the Wolf FINALISTS: The Brothers Houligan, Charlie’s Chicken

BEST NEW RESTAURANT Nola’s Creole & Cocktails FINALISTS: Chicken and the Wolf, Duet Nola’s brings the Big Easy to Cherry Street. Drop by for classics and specialties like Hoodoo Étouffée and Bourbon Street Baby Backs—all of which pair beautifully with Nola’s famous Hurricane.

Andolini’s Pizzeria BEST PIZZA

FINALISTS: The Brook Restaurant & Bar, Charleston’s The Bros’ massive chicken fry, addictive cream gravy, and endless sides are a Tulsa tradition.

BEST STEAK Mahogany Prime Steakhouse FINALISTS: Bull in the Alley, Prhyme: Downtown Steakhouse Mahogany’s flame-broiled steaks are a cut above the rest.

BEST ITALIAN Mondo’s

BEST TACO Tacos Don Francisco

BEST JAPANESE / SUSHI Yokozuna

FINALISTS: Dalesandro’s Italian Cuisine, Ti Amo

FINALISTS: Elote Cafe & Catering, Torchy’s Tacos

FINALISTS: In the Raw, Osaka

The Aloisio family has served handcrafted Italian recipes to Tulsans since 1969.

The Coffee House on Cherry Street BEST COFFEE SHOP

Authentic carnitas, pastor, lengua, and more always satisfy at Tacos Don.

Lone Wolf BEST KOREAN

FINALISTS: Brookside By Day, Dilly Diner

BEST BREAKFAST

FINALISTS: 918 Coffee, Shades of Brown

BEST FOOD TRUCK

BEST OPEN MIC

BEST VIETNAMESE

FINALISTS: The Fur Shop, The Gypsy Coffee House

Yokozuna excels with dozens of sushi options, as well as ramen and tons of fusion dishes.

Tally’s Good Food Cafe

FINALISTS: Korean Garden, Seoul Bistro

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FINALISTS: Albert G’s, Oklahoma Joe’s With a dedication to Tulsa’s own Hasty Bake Ovens, Burn Co. is Green Country ‘cue.

FINALISTS: East Village Bohemian Pizzeria, Hideaway Pizza

FINALISTS: Lone Wolf, Mr. Nice Guys

BEST BARBECUE Burn Co. Barbecue

FINALISTS: Pho Da Cao, Ri Le

BEST DINER

FINALISTS: Brookside By Day, Dilly Diner

CHICKEN AND THE WOLF: FORSYTHE CREATIVE; ANDOLINI’S, TALLY’S: MICHELLE POLLARD; LONE WOLF: VALERIE WEI-HAAS

BEST CHICKEN FRIED STEAK The Brothers Houligan

VOTED TOP 3

Best New Restaurant Best New Bar Best Small Venue Best Nightclub

*Best Get-You-a-Place-That-Does Both

Kilkenny’s Irish Pub BEST SERVICE FINALISTS: Bull in the Alley, Hideaway Pizza

FINALISTS: Whole Foods Market, Big Al’s Healthy Foods Fauxrizo tacos, curry chickpea salad sandwiches, and power salads make Chimera a veggie-friendly destination.

BEST THAI Lanna Thai FINALISTS: Keo, My Thai Kitchen Lanna Thai curries and stir fries have been local favorites since 1998.

Hideaway Pizza BEST TAKEOUT PIZZA FINALISTS: Andolini’s Pizzeria, Mazzio’s

BEST FAMILY DINING FINALISTS: The Brook Restaurant & Bar, Charleston’s Tie-dyed and tried and true, Hideaway has been around for 62 years, now serving seven locations in the Tulsa metro.

Their ATW pizza—topped with pepperoni, sausage, and veggies—is a must.

BEST BARTENDER Chloe Willhite – Valkyrie FINALISTS: Hank Hanewinkel III – MixCo, Lynn Robertson – The Starlite Chloe Willhite fell in love with bartending more than three years ago and has been working hard to pursue the craft ever since. She landed at Valkyrie just over a year and a half ago, where she feeds off the spirit of downtown Tulsa. “It’s like being in a bubble of awesome energy and creative forces, especially at Valkyrie—the team and people make it special for me.

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BEST RESTAURANT FOR LOCALLY-SOURCED INGREDIENTS Elote Café & Catering FINALISTS: Amelia’s, Juniper Greenwood Farms, Eden Veggies, and others are among Elote’s local sources for meats and produce.

BEST MEDITERRANEAN Laffa FINALISTS: Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Zoës Kitchen Laffa traffics in robust flavors that will expand your culinary map.

Try the falafel during lunch!

I get to learn every day from all my coworkers, who are super knowledgeable.

Getting to make drinks for the people of Tulsa is the highlight of my workday— to experience the locals, hear their stories, create relationships, and build camaraderie with business owners, teachers, entrepreneurs, and people coming through town who didn’t even know what Tulsa had to offer,” Willhite said.

Valkyrie flaunts more than 700 bottles for the perfect craft cocktail, aiming to create a unique culture and experience for customers. “Tulsa is growing, changing, evolving, and the culture is bringing a lot of life to the industry and downtown,”

BEST BRUNCH FINALISTS: SMOKE. On Cherry Street, Dilly Diner

BEST LATE NIGHT DINING FINALISTS: Tacos Don Francisco, The Tavern

BEST BLOODY MARY FINALISTS: James E. McNellie’s Public House, SMOKE. On Cherry Street

BEST COCKTAILS Valkyrie FINALISTS: Hodges Bend, Nola’s Creole & Cocktails

she said. “It’s very humbling to be able to work at such a cool establishment—and I don’t think I would have enjoyed this work as much if it weren’t in Tulsa.”

VALERIE WEI-HAAS; ROBOT: GEORGIA BROOKS

BEST VEGETARIAN / HEALTH FOOD Chimera

Voted Best Coffeehouse & Best Open Mic!

WINNER!

Thank you for voting us

Best Italian!

WINNER!

SPECIALTY COFFEE & BAKERY sourcing local farms

SINCE 2006

Breakfast | Brunch | Lunch Pies, Cakes, Cookies, Muffins & More

• Baked Fresh Daily • Since 1969 the Aloisio family has served family recipes from Napoli and Abruzzi Italy. Come and enjoy our home cooking paired with fine wine and crafted beers.

Full service bar.

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS & CARRY OUT 918.561.6300 • 3410 S. Peoria Ave.

Custom orders for gluten free, vegan, and regular folks, too!

Serving Brunch Mon. - Sat. 7am - 12pm & Sun. 7am - 1pm

1502 E. 15th St. (918) 779-6137 thecoffeehouseoncherrystreet.com

Thanks Tulsa for voting us

THANKS TULSA,

BEST BEST Take Out Pizza

Family Dining

we feel the love!

BROKEN ARROW LOCATION COMING SPRING 2019!

OPEN LATE-NIGHT ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY UNTIL 4AM

1305 S. Peoria • 918-382-7428 • phatphillys.com

17 Locations Statewide | HideawayPizza.com

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BEST CHINESE P.F. Chang’s FINALISTS: Golden Gate, Pei Wei

BEST PATIO Blue Rose Cafe

BEST DIVE BAR Soundpony FINALISTS: Arnie’s Bar, Cellar Dweller

BEST BAR FOR SMOKERS Arnie’s Bar FINALISTS: James E. McNellie’s Public House, Sharky’s

BEST LIQUOR STORE Parkhill’s Warehouse Liquors & Wine FINALISTS: Deep Discount Liquor & Wine, Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits

BEST CHEF Ben Alexander – The Tavern

James E. McNellie’s Public House offers more than 350 beers—72 of which are on tap—as well as monthly beer menus, specials, and take-home pint nights. For beer lovers on a budget, they also have a half-price deal on Oklahoma drafts every Tuesday, 4-7 p.m. But they don’t just deal in pints—the food menu at McNellie’s is extensive, with delectable appetizers like pulled pork nachos, Peking duck wings, and fried pickle chips, alongside main events ranging from more traditional Irish/English cuisine (think fish & chips and cottage pie) to familiar American bar eats (chicken fingers, steak & fries, grilled chicken, mac & cheese). And they have sandwich/wrap options aplenty—including their Original McNellie’s Charburger, which you can get with fries for $4 every Wednesday night.

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE BIG GAME Elgin Park

James E. McNellie’s Public House BEST BEER SELECTION FINALISTS: Bricktown Brewery, Roosevelt’s

BEST BAR FOOD FINALISTS: Elgin Park, Fassler Hall, R Bar & Grill

BEST SPOT FOR DAY DRINKING FINALISTS: Fassler Hall, Roosevelt’s

BEST NEW BAR Rabbit Hole Bar & Grill

BEST WINE LIST Vintage Wine Bar FINALISTS: Doc’s Wine and Food, Polo Grill Vintage’s beautiful new location continues its dedication to boutique wineries from around the world.

FINALISTS: James Schrader – Palace Café, Justin Thompson – JTR Group

FINALISTS: Bricktown Brewery, Buffalo Wild Wings

FINALISTS: Duet, Foolish Things Bar and Biscuit

Ben Alexander has taken the gold three years running, so you know he’s doing something right.

With house-brewed beer and bar food favorites, Elgin Park is a great place to cheer on your team.

Live music and delicious food make Blue Dome’s Rabbit Hole a crowd favorite.

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The original downtown location (409 E. 1st St.) has paved the way for the newer South Tulsa location (7031 S. Zurich Ave.) along with a spot in Midtown OKC. The downtown pub has four separate rooms: two at ground level and two—one of which is a tucked-away game room—upstairs. Their annual St. Patrick’s Day block party is always a hit, but you don’t need a holiday to enjoy a pint or two in the afternoon—which is why, in addition to Best Bar Food and Best Beer Selection, McNellie’s also took home the award for Best Spot for Day Drinking. The McNellie’s Group is the creative force behind tons of other local favorites—like El Guapo’s, Fassler Hall, Dust Bowl, Elgin Park, Dilly Diner, and The Tavern—so if pubs aren’t your thing, they’ll be sure to take care of you elsewhere.

MCNELLIE’S, ELGIN PARK: VALERIE WEI-HAAS; BEN ALEXANDER, RABBIT HOLE

FINALISTS: El Guapo’s Cantina, Roosevelt’s

BEST WINE LIST

WINNER!

“While the wine list is as boutiquey and interesting a one as you’ll find in a similar place in New York or San Francisco, the staff are so friendly and unpretentious that you feel like you’re getting away with something.”

— David Wondrich, the James Beard Award-winning author of Imbibe!, naming Vintage to his global top ten list

324 E . 1S T S T. | 918.76 4.9255 | W I N EBA R T U L SA .CO M

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Ando _1-2pg_TVoice_BoT2019_March26 copy.pdf

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3/25/19

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THANK YOU TULSA Winner: Best Pizza, Best Food Truck

Thank You TULSA!

Top 3 Best Carry Out

Tulsa, Cherry Street | Tulsa, Downtown Jenks | Broken Arrow | Owasso

WINNER! One of Americaʼs Top 10 Pizzerias – TripAdvisor

East of Harvard on 31st St.

918.747.1171

Andopizza.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

PIZZA C

COCKTAILS

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The Wine Capital of Tulsa for Over 40 Years

CM

MY

Great selection of Craft Beers on Tap & Daily Specials.

CY

CMY

BEER

K

STG Gelateria

Downtown Broken Arrow, On Cherry Street in Tulsa

Thank you, Tulsa!

VOTED BEST PATIO

GELATO ESPRESSO FRESH PASTA STGItalian.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 14 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19

Casual dining, cocktails, and craft beer at 19th and Riverside on one of Tulsa’s best river view patios.

Follow us:

Bluerosetulsa

Check our Facebook Page for Live Music!

1924 Riverside Drive • 918-582-4600 • bluerosecafetulsa.com

YOUR VOICE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER

Voted Best Thai Cuisine. Thank you, Tulsa!

Experience Bold, Authentic Thai Flavors…

7227 S. MEMORIAL • 918.249.5262 • LANNATHAITULSA.COM • FIND US ON

THANK YOU TULSA! Voted Best LGBTQ+ Bar & Best Night Club 1778 UTICA SQUARE 918-624-2600 OPEN MON-SAT, 10-6

T U L S A’ S P R E M I E R E D A N C E C L U B

124 N. Boston Ave 918-584-9494 clubmajestictulsa.com

Thank you, tulsa, for voting us best BBQ five years in a row!

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE 2017

THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE 2016

500 S. Riverwalk Crossing, Jenks | 1738 S. Boston Ave. | www.BurnBBQ.com | BES T OF T ULSA 20 19 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BEST OF TULSA 2019

BEST VENUE FOR LIVE LOCAL MUSIC FINALISTS: The Colony, Guthrie Green

BEST PLACE FOR DANCING FINALISTS: Club Majestic, Whiskey 918

BEST LOCAL PODCAST Tulsa Talks FINALISTS: Opinions Like A-Holes, Pub Talk The podcast from our sister publication (TulsaPeople) features fun, fascinating interviews with, well, Tulsa people.

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releasing their critically-acclaimed eponymous full-length debut in 2015, followed by last year’s Yes, This is Killing Us. (The duo has plans to start recording again this April.) They’re grateful to be in Tulsa with organizations like the Woody Guthrie Center, Guthrie Green, and Tulsa FMAC—“They put a drive behind us,” Desi said. “Tulsa has a rich music history. I think people are saying, ‘It’s time to wake this up again, to celebrate Tulsa.’”

Do they find it difficult being married and playing together professionally? “It’s really not that much different—being in a band with someone is

FINALISTS: Bad Behavior by Broncho, Born on Black Wall Street

by Steph Simon

almost like being married. We’re used to being together all the time. We also give each other space. The hard part is giving the marriage the attention it deserves,” Cody said. And Desi agreed: “It’s a lot of togetherness, but I wouldn’t want to be doing it with anybody else, as cheesy as that sounds. It’s a safe place for me—performing next to someone who loves me no matter what.”

Club Majestic

BEST LGBTQ+ BAR FINALISTS: Soundpony, Yellow Brick Road BEST NIGHTCLUB FINALISTS: Duet, Soundpony

BEST ART SHOW / EXHIBITION OF 2018 Blue Dome Arts Festival FINALISTS: The Experience – ahha, Tulsa International Mayfest Blue Dome Arts Festival celebrated local art, music, and more for 15 years. R.I.P.

BEST ANNUAL FESTIVAL Linde Oktoberfest FINALISTS: Blue Dome Arts Festival, Tulsa International Mayfest Linde Oktoberfest has been filling bellies with beer and Bavarian delicacies for over 40 years.

BEST STAGE SHOW OF 2018 “Wicked” at Tulsa PAC – Celebrity Attractions FINALISTS: “The Nutcracker” at Tulsa PAC – Tulsa Ballet, Jack White at ONEOK Field

BLUE DOME, WICKED: COURTESY; ROBOT: GEORGIA BROOKS

Cain’s Ballroom

Desirae (Desi) Roses and Cody Clinton started playing together in 2010, following three years of dating. Cody’s band had just broken up, and he was working on a solo project—then he heard Desi singing in the shower, and he immediately asked her to come to the studio.

She was hesitant, but agreed to record and perform at the release show. They learned some covers together and started playing local gigs and festivals—and got married right in the middle of it all.

“People were receptive to whatever we were doing, so we thought we’d keep going,” Desi said. They did just that,

BEST LOCAL ALBUM OF 2018 Yes, This Is Killing Us

by Desi & Cody

An urban park and event space in the heart of Tulsa’s Art District.

WINNER!

THANK YOU, TULSA!

FOR A LIST OF EVENTS AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY MISSION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE

guthriegreen.com

#guthriegreen

BEST MOVIE THEATER Broken Arrow Warren Theater BEST KARAOKE The Starlite

BEST SMALL VENUE The Vanguard

BEST CASINO Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

FINALISTS: Elote Café & Catering, Rabbit Hole Bar & Grill

FINALISTS: Duet, Mercury Lounge

FINALISTS: Osage Casino Downtown Tulsa, River Spirit Casino

FINALISTS: Theatre Tulsa, Tulsa Symphony

The Starlite’s supportive crowd and fabulous, sparkly backdrop heighten any performance.

The Vanguard is an intimate spot to catch local bands, national tours, festivals, and more.

A museum, casino, hotel, and venue, the Hard Rock is the place for an entertaining staycation.

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE Tulsa Performing Arts Center

BEST GALLERY ahha

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT Shuffles: Board Game Cafe – Questionable Company

BEST LARGE MUSIC VENUE BOK Center

BEST PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY Tulsa Ballet

FINALISTS: BOK Center, Guthrie Green

BEST COMEDY NIGHT Loony Bin Comedy Club FINALISTS: Blue Whale Comedy Festival, The Fur Shop

BEST RECORD STORE Starship Records & Tapes FINALISTS: Josey Records, Spinster Records

FINALISTS: Black Wall Street Gallery, Living Arts With “The Experience,” ahha brought immersive and interactive art to the delight of all who enter.

FINALISTS: Soundpony – Trivia with Jack, The Starlite – 918 Trivia Questionable Company causes some serious head-scratching all over town, and Shuffles is the perfect setting.

FINALISTS: Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa Performing Arts Center The BOK has become a city landmark over the last decade, featuring arena-ready acts night after night.

Gathering Place BEST PARK

BEST PICNIC SPOT

FINALISTS: Guthrie Green, Woodward Park

FINALISTS: Guthrie Green, Woodward Park

BEST FAMILY OUTING

BEST ALL-AGES VENUE

BEST MUSEUM Philbrook Museum of Art

FINALISTS: Tulsa Zoo, Tulsa Botanic Garden

FINALISTS: BOK Center, Cain’s Ballroom

FINALISTS: Gilcrease Museum, The Outsiders House Museum

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS

BEST FREE ENTERTAINMENT

FINALISTS: The Center of the Universe, Mother Road Market

FINALISTS: First Friday Art Crawl, Guthrie Green

The much-anticipated Gathering Place has quickly exceeded Tulsa’s expectations.

Blending the spirit of a public park with the scope and scale of an amusement park, Gathering Place offers state-of-the-art playground equipment, the cozy Williams Lodge with its two-story fireplace, the QuikTrip Great Lawn—featuring free concerts—the ONEOK Boathouse (where you can rent kayaks and canoes), sport courts, a skate park, and more.

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HARD ROCK, PHILBROOK: COURTESY

FINALISTS: AMC Southroads 20, Circle Cinema

GOOD FOOD • GOOD DRINKS • GREAT COMEDY

THANK YOU TULSA!

BEST

WINNER!

COMEDY NIGHT!

6808 S. Memorial Ste. 234 • 918-392-5653 tulsa.loonybincomedy.com

ArtsTulsa.org

4/29

5/18

7/4

11/22

4 ways to support 40!

Find out more about each event and the 40 arts organizations you support by attending even one event!

An Arts-Forward Organization for an Arts-Forward City

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102 EAST M.B. BRADY ST. 918-574-2710 WOODYGUTHRIECENTER.ORG

NEW SEASON, NEW TATE. SUPPORTING TULSA’S THEATRE THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

/TULSAAWARDSFORTHEATREEXCELLENCE

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THANK YOU

M. Lockwood Porter Communion In The Ashes

Featured in Billboard

Out March 29 on Black Mesa Records blackmesarecords.com

For continuing to support national touring Broadway and voting WICKED as BEST STAGE SHOW! Be the first to know what we’re bringing next – register your email address at www.CelebrityAttractions.com. ww

Best Museum

Thank you, Voice Readers!

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AROUND TOWN BEST PLACE TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW Central Library FINALISTS: Gathering Place, Philbrook Museum of Art

BEST HEALTH / FITNESS CENTER YMCA FINALISTS: Planet Fitness, Sky Fitness & Wellbeing

Whether you’re on foot or a mountain bike, with a furry friend or a human pal, Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area is the perfect place to go for a daytime hike, bike, or casual stroll.

If you’re looking to get your heart rate up—or simply to get away from the city without going too far—this River Parks treasure on the west bank of the Arkansas River occupies more than 600 acres, with miles of dirt trails, two big ponds, covered park pavilions, trees, boulders, iconic bronze wildlife structures (“Rio Grande Turkeys” and “Rocky Mountain Bighorn” greet visitors at the entrance), and more—all just few miles from downtown Tulsa.

Turkey Mountain is purposefully kept a bit on the wild side in order to set it apart from the various flat, manicured trails along the river and

Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area BEST PLACE TO HIKE FINALISTS: Chandler Park, Gathering Place

BEST PLACE TO GO WITH YOUR DOG FINALISTS: Gathering Place Dog Nights, River Parks

throughout the city. The area offers four trails: three dirt trails and one paved. You’ll find the main trailhead, providing access to all four, just north of the 71st Street bridge and just east of Elwood Avenue. Choose wisely: while the Red Trail is an easy 0.8-mile loop, the Blue Trail loop is a moderate 1.5 miles, and the Yellow Trail loop is quite a bit longer and more difficult at 4.4 miles. (Check the maps before you set off—and take plenty of water for yourself and your pups.) In looking ahead to the future of the “untamed oasis” that is Turkey Mountain, the River Parks Authority hosted a public planning meeting in Feb. 2019 to discuss management, preservation, and programming for the area—with more meetings and opportunities for public input planned for the future.

BEST RUNNING / ATHLETIC STORE Fleet Feet FINALISTS: Academy Sports + Outdoors, Runner’s World

BEST FOOT RACE / RUN Tulsa Run FINALISTS: The Color Run, Route 66 Marathon

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BEST BIKE SHOP T-Town Bicycles

BEST PLACE TO STRIKE A (YOGA) POSE Guthrie Green

BEST PLACE FOR CYCLING River Parks

FINALISTS: Phat Tire Bike Shop, Tom’s Bicycles

FINALISTS: Be Love Yoga Studio, SALT Yoga

FINALISTS: Cry Baby Hill, Gathering Place

Since 1991, T-Town Bikes has helped Tulsans find the bike that suits their needs.

Guthrie Green’s skyline setting is serene—and with free yoga classes, the price is right.

With killer views and trails, River Parks is great for a scenic cruise or a lengthy workout.

TURKEY MOUNTAIN: MORGAN WELCH; GUTHRIE GREEN: VALERIE WEI-HAAS; RIVER PARKS: DESTINY JADE GREEN; ROBOT: GEORGIA BROOKS

BEST OF TULSA 2019

ART | HISTORY | CULTURE Visit the oldest tribally-owned museum in the United States

Tuesday - Saturday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

918-287-5441 819 Grandview Avenue Pawhuska, OK

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BEST SALON Ihloff Salon and Day Spa FINALISTS: Raw Elements, Z Studio

FINALISTS: I-44 Antique Mall, River City Trading Post In addition to their selection of one-of-a-kind items, Retro Den also offers collaborative home styling.

BEST PLACE FOR PEOPLE WATCHING Tulsa State Fair FINALISTS: Gathering Place, Walmart It takes all kinds to make the world go round. See them all at the Tulsa State Fair.

Mayo Hotel BEST VIEW The Penthouse Bar FINALISTS: Blue Rose Cafe, In the Raw on the Hill

BEST HOTEL FINALISTS: Ambassador Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino The historic Mayo Hotel dates back to 1925. Today, it’s a swanky downtown destination for visitors, and the rooftop view from its Penthouse Bar keeps the locals coming back for more.

BEST ELECTION RESULT Passage of State Question 788 FINALISTS: The Blue Wave, House Representative John Waldron In 2014, a grassroots group of activists started Oklahomans for Health, an organization with a mission of “serving Oklahomans through cannabis legalization efforts, patient education, citizen advocacy, and legislative action.” This led to petition efforts to get medical marijuana on the ballot, which saw success in 2018 with State Question 788.

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BEST LOCAL GIFT Ida Red FINALISTS: Boomtown Tees, Glacier Confection Ida Red offers gift options that will leave recipients asking, “Where did you get this?”

BEST NONPROFIT George Kaiser Family Foundation FINALISTS: Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, John 3:16 Mission Through programs and developments, George Kaiser executes his vision of a more vibrant and inclusive Tulsa.

Frank Grove of Oklahomans for Cannabis (now President of the Drug Policy Reform Network of Oklahoma) was among these hardworking activists. “Back then we never could have foreseen what’s happening now. When we wrote the second petition in 2016, we envisioned delays in implementation, significant drawbacks, and lots of changes to the core language, and the reality in 2019 is that none of that really happened. The biggest erosion has been for employee protection.”

Grove and his fellow organizers have been pleasantly surprised by how the legislature has reacted, and by Oklahoma’s forward momentum on the issue.

Chelsea Kennedy, regional organizer for

FINALISTS: Goodwill, Kohl’s

BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE Goodwill FINALISTS: Cheap Thrills, Vintage Vault

BEST TATTOO PARLOR Brookside Tattoo and Piercing FINALISTS: Black Gold Tattoos & Piercings, Tulsa Tattoo Co.

SQ 788 (Oklahoma City), was amazed by how quickly dispensaries started popping up after the law was enacted.

“It’s been a rough, long road, but really good—even today going to a dispensary blows my mind. I won’t lie that I was nervous as heck on election night, but once we saw the early vote had been won, I became more confident,” she said.

It was a human and a team effort that made this happen—the petition was not paid for by a wealthy individual or donor organization—and people are still working to answer the public’s questions and to ultimately “keep pushing the Overton window toward more liberal, more rational drug policy,” according to Grove.

MAYO, IHLOFF: COURTESY

BEST ANTIQUE STORE Retro Den

BEST CLOTHING STORE Dillard’s

Arrive Early. Stay Late.

The Tulsa Arts District is home to retail and service shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, galleries, museums, parks, private businesses, residences and historic music venues. Plan to arrive early and stay late in the Tulsa Arts District!

*Best Place For A Night On The Town Top 3 Best Free Entertainment – First Friday Art Crawl

THANK YOU!

facebook.com/TulsaArtsDistrict @TulArtsDist

TOP 3 BEST LOCAL GIFT!

#TulArtsDist

TheTulsaArtsDistrict.org

114 S Elgin Ave • 918.938.6000 boomtowntees.com /boomtowntees

LISTEN UP!

TULSA TALKS

is TulsaPeople’s podcast on Tulsa’s community & culture.

Subscribe for FREE on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Spotify!

Live Music Friday, April 12th Sale begins at 10 AM 4-5 PM Tim Todd 5-6 PM Jason Swanson

Episodes are released the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.

Sponsored by:

Saturday, April 13th 10-11 AM Donovan Fite 11-12 PM Jesse Aycock 12-2 PM Zoey Horner 2-4 PM Whisky Misters 4-5 PM The Lonelys 5-6 PM Autumn Shade

20% off all garden art! (not including custom orders)

YOUR PARTNER IN PROSPERITY

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918-592-3382 1326 E. 3rd St. Tulsa, OK 74120

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3/4/19 1:21 PM

BEST AUTHENTIC KOREAN Korean Garden

EDITORS’ PICKS WHAT WE LOVED IN 2019

BEST LISTENING ROOM Woody Guthrie Center Theater

BEST AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE Ri Le’s BEST NEW FUSION RESTAURANT Umami Fries BEST ADDITION TO THE BAR SCENE The explosion of local craft brewery taprooms

BEST TABLES TURNED Steph Simon’s “Upside” music video at Brady Mansion BEST NEW TTV SATELLITE OFFICE DoubleShot at the Rookery

BEST SPOT FOR AN 80S PINBALL SHOWDOWN The Max

Thank you, modernized liquor laws!

BEST ACRONYM FOR A BUSINESS OWNER’S LAST NAME New Era: Fine Fermentations (Jonathan Neff)

BEST PLACE TO CATCH A DRAG SHOW The ReVue

BEST GROUP LUNCH DESTINATION Mother Road Market

BEST INSPIRATION OVER DRINKS (FOR THE SOUL) Gilcrease After Hours BEST INSPIRATION OVER DRINKS (FOR THE MIND) The STEMcell Science Shop’s Think & Drink series at Heirloom Rustic Ales

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BEST PLACE TO CHANNEL YOUR INNER DON DRAPER Cigar Lounge at SMOKE. Woodfire Grill

BEST PLACE TO BUY A VINTAGE GUITAR Guitar House BEST NEW MEANS OF TRANSPORT Lime and Bird scooters WORST NEW MEANS OF TRANSPORT Lime and Bird scooters BEST POOL River Spirit Casino BEST PLACE FOR A NIGHT ON THE TOWN Tulsa Arts District

BEST REASON TO ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM Tulsa Drillers taking the Texas League Championship for the first time in 20 years

BEST GET-YOU-APLACE-THAT-DOES-BOTH Duet. Killer food and cocktails upstairs– jazz and comedy downstairs. Duet is the ultimate two-part harmony.

BEST RENOVATIONS Osage Casino PETTIEST GRIEVANCE Gathering Place traffic complaints

DOUBLESHOT, REVUE: VALERIE WEI-HAAS; MOTHER ROAD: FORSYTHE CREATIVE; DRILLERS: TIM CAMPBELL; DUET: MICHELLE POLLARD; ROBOT: GEORGIA BROOKS

BEST TASTE OF BROOKLYN ON ROUTE 66 Jane’s Delicatessen

Thank You!

For Once Again Honoring Us with Your Vote BEST OF TULSA 2019

Best Chicken Fried Steak

15TH & ATLANTA Serving Tulsa Since 1987

49TH & YALE www.broshouligan.com

Thank you for voting us Best Casino in the 2019 Tulsa Voice “Best of Tulsa” awards.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is THE place to play in Oklahoma. Around here, the game never ends, the night stays young and there’s always time for an encore!

Often Imitated. Never Duplicated.

I-44 Exit 240 | 800.760.6700 | HARDROCKCASINOTULSA.COM

Know your limits. Gambling problem? Call 800.522.4700.