Just Ask The Locals

Just ask the locals

The editors of Tulsa’s city magazine share a few of their favorite stops.

Talk of Tulsa

TulsaPeople is Tulsa’s award-winning city magazine that celebrates living, working and playing in Tulsa. Each year, readers of TulsaPeople voice their top picks for fun, food, body, shopping and services in the magazine’s A-List issue. Visit TulsaPeople.com/a-list to see what they consider the best of Tulsa.

First Friday Art Crawl

Whether you seek an out-of-the-ordinary date night or just want to experience some local culture, the First Friday Art Crawl is a must-do. The Tulsa Arts District — and most of downtown — is booming with restaurants, retail and galleries, but the energy experienced during First Friday is astonishing.

The art crawl kicks off at 6 p.m. on the first Friday of each month, inviting visitors to wander in and out of the district’s interesting businesses, galleries, restaurants and bars, many of which host free art exhibits and musical performances.

The crawl crowd is comprised of all ages and has been known to reach several thousand on nice evenings. Don’t miss live music at Guthrie Green and demonstrations at the Tulsa Glassblowing School, to name just a few First Friday activities.

Various venues along East M. B. Brady Street thetulsaartsdistrict.org

Kendall Whittier District

The more the merrier: That seems to be the motto of the flourishing Kendall Whittier area that is home to a growing collection of artists and businesses.

The Oklahoma Arts Council-certified cultural district is anchored by historic Whittier Square, which was at one time the oldest suburban shopping district in Tulsa. The neighborhood declined from the mid-1960s to ’80s and became a haven for adult-oriented businesses that eventually surrounded longtime staples Ziegler Art and Frame and Circle Cinema.

In 2010, the nonprofit Kendall Whittier Main Street was born and has helped change the KW landscape into a careful mix of restaurants, retail, nonprofits, studios and destination attractions. Recent newcomers include the eclectic vintage store Jo and June, the Beehive Lounge bar and Fair Fellow Coffee shop.

Near East Admiral Boulevard and North Lewis Avenue 918-633-1934 | historickwms.com

Mecca Coffee Co.

Walk through the doors of this Tulsa institution and enter a world synonymous with flavor and kitchen knowhow. You don’t have to be hip to shop at the 97-year-old store, but it will up your foodie street cred.

Some are attracted by the 130-plus kinds of bulk herbs and spices; you can buy as little as 1 ounce or as much as you desire. Others swear by the infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars, with flavors like Thai lemongrass mint, aged red apple, cilantro and roasted onion or Persian lime, in 60-750 ml bottles. The whole-bean coffee and loose-leaf tea supplies are impressive, too. A friendly barista can brew up your favorite latte or tea while you shop.

Mecca’s selection of barware, distinctive tableware, cutting boards, kitchen gadgetry and one-of-a-kind gifts make it a one-stop destination for finding the perfect gift for that foodie in your life, or an addition to your own discerning kitchen.

1330 E. 41st St. | 918-749-3509 meccacoffeeco.com

East 11th Street

For decades, Route 66 was America’s heartbeat. For many it never ceased to be cool, and others are realizing the untapped potential the thoroughfare still has for Tulsa.

A number of renovations are already underway along East 11th Street — part of the original Route 66 — and new businesses are flocking to the area. Catch some live tunes at Soul City gastropub, peruse the modern general store Jenkins and Co. or pop into interior designer Jill Croka’s showroom.

These new businesses are interspersed with local favorites like El Rancho Grande, Joseph Gierek Fine Art, the Lola’s Caravan food truck and much more.

East 11th Street from South Peoria to Delaware avenues

Fuel 66

Open since late 2016, Fuel 66 has quickly become a favorite neighborhood hangout. The bar and food truck court features rotating restaurants-on-wheels, loads of local beer options and a seasonal $4 cocktail. Check the website for a complete event and food truck calendar.

Inspired by the Mother Road, Fuel 66 is constantly updating and improving the site with amenities and art, such as the arrow installation reminiscent of the Route 66 icon Twin Arrows Trading Post in Arizona. A license plate wall, vintage hanging lights and mega-sized games make for an Instagram-worthy night. Baby-friendly, dog-friendly, roommate-friendly — this place truly is fun for the whole family, no matter who your family is.

2439 E. 11th St. | 539-664-6841 | fuel66tulsa.com

White Lion Pub

You might be in Tulsa, not England, but you definitely won’t regret getting your culinary passport stamped at White Lion, a hidden gem whose culinary fare can best be described as truly traditional. We’re talking fish and chips with mushy peas, bangers and mash, cottage pie, Cornish pasty, Welsh rarebit ... God save the queen.

With its dark red interior, cozy seating and nary a spot on the wall without a heraldic crest, old-world artifact or charming painting, White Lion is a spot for swapping stories with friends and knocking back pints of English and Irish ale for hours on end. The pub is a quiet, antique oasis for whenever you need a getaway — minus the jetlag. Fun fact: the front doors and much of the furniture were taken from the Harvest Mouse Pub in Lancaster.

6927 S. Canton Ave. | 918-491-6533