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
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The only Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Oklahoma
Luxurious Spa & Salon
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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
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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
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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
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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
6 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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
8 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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. 10 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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
BES T OF T ULSA 20 19 11
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.
12 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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
BES T OF T ULSA 20 19 13
Ando _1-2pg_TVoice_BoT2019_March26 copy.pdf
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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
M
Y
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. 16 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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. 18 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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
BES T OF T ULSA 20 19 19
102 EAST M.B. BRADY ST. 918-574-2710 WOODYGUTHRIECENTER.ORG
NEW SEASON, NEW TATE. SUPPORTING TULSA’S THEATRE THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
/TULSAAWARDSFORTHEATREEXCELLENCE
20 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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!
BES T OF T ULSA 20 19 21
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
22 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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
BES T OF T ULSA 20 19 23
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. 24 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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
tulsachamber.com
918-592-3382 1326 E. 3rd St. Tulsa, OK 74120
BES T OF T ULSA 20 19 25 Tulsa Talks Pod Cast Tulsa Voice- 4.375 x 1.5.indd 1
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
26 BES T OF T ULSA 20 19
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.