Downtown

By Laura Dennis

Downtowns are special. They are the economic engines of their regions. They provide a collective identity to a place and its citizens. Denser development breeds a creative energy, while supporting regional entertainment and cultural destinations. Their carbon footprints are smaller, while providing all the amenities needed for a vibrant and walkable lifestyle. But perhaps more than anything, downtowns are special because they are everyone’s neighborhood — to live, work and play. Downtown Tulsa is the innovative fusion of big city amenities and small-town comforts. Locals and visitors can go to world-class concerts at the BOK Center, watch a movie or participate in numerous healthy activities at the Guthrie Green urban park, explore the city’s historic Route 66 and art deco architecture, shop for local goods, or take in scenic views at numerous dining establishments. Whatever calls someone to downtown Tulsa, they can expect great food, friendly conversations, and enough events to fill a weekend or even a lifetime.

In 2020, an effort was launched by the City of Tulsa to create a strategic plan for a new downtown management organization to oversee enhanced service delivery in downtown Tulsa. After engaging more than 4,000 Tulsans through one-on-one interviews, roundtable discussions and a community survey, five common themes were identified as important areas of focus: Economic vitality; clean, safe and welcoming; beautification; mobility; and communications. In 2021, the Downtown Tulsa Partnership was formed by property and business owners, as well as civic leaders, to advocate for and champion the continued improvement of downtown. The Downtown Tulsa Partnership manages the downtown improvement district and provides enhanced maintenance, beautification and livability services, mobility and public realm planning, and marketing and place enhancement initiatives that result in a vibrant, inclusive urban neighborhood. Visit downtowntulsaok.com to learn more.

Outdoor dining

Outdoor dining continued to be a favored compromise for both diners and restaurant owners as the global pandemic lingered. Weekends on Main was one popular solution. Restaurants and venues along Main Street in the Tulsa Arts District offered outdoor street dining on the weekends by closing one block of the street to vehicle traffic. Designed as an attempt to offer more outdoor, physically distanced dining, the community quickly embraced the idea. Musicians joined in the act, too, such as the pop-up performance on July 2 by the Tulsa Peoples’ Orchestra. Ordinances allowing business owners to construct parklets continued into 2021. Parklets help reimagine and reuse on-street parking spaces to extend the sidewalk to provide new space for seats, tables or other public amenities. Parklets are built and maintained by an adjacent business and offer residents and visitors new opportunities to stop, sit and enjoy the surrounding neighborhood street life. Parklets increase street vibrancy and can improve the quality of life in Tulsa’s commercial corridors.

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Beyond the loop!

If a downtown area is considered the heart of a city, then the arteries that feed it live in a symbiotic relationship. One could easily say that Brookside, Cherry Street, the Pearl District, SOBO, North Greenwood and Kendall Whittier have very cool vibes representing an eclectic mix of everything from boho to Rodeo Drive with each having a unique soul of its very own. They, too, are seeing their fair share of revitalization and new construction.

Brookside, or “The Place to Be,” has seen a major facelift in the last few years with facades that seem to blend seamlessly together creating a sense of sophistication while shopping, dining or visiting. Cherry Street is another staple for those who frequent or live in midtown Tulsa. New construction mingles with historic structures with shops, restaurants and bars ready to welcome guests. The Pearl District has seen a true polishing. Its bohemian feel is a huge attraction, and renovation of existing buildings seems to be the key. The historic Church Studio will open after a years-long renovation and numerous brewpub and brewery headquarters reside in area.

In 2020 South Boston (SoBo) saw the renovation of existing restaurants with new additions on the way. The new DoubleShot Coffee House site continues to brew success.

The Kendall Whittier District is home to Circle Cinema, a vibrant artist community and the home of the Tulsa Farmers’ Market. Abutting the district is Mother Road Market, a nonprofit development featuring more than 20 restaurant and retail business concepts.

Downtown districts

There is much to see and do within Downtown Tulsa’s distinct districts.

ARENA DISTRICT The BOK Center, twice named “Arena of the Year” by the International Entertainment Buyers Association, has consistently received high-ranking numbers compared to numerous venues in the United States and overseas. Every season, the BOK Center and neighboring event space Cox Business Convention Center promises phenomenal experiences for Tulsa.

BLUE DOME DISTRICT The Blue Dome District is one of Tulsa’s favorite entertainment districts. People of all ages come to dance at Whiskey 918; consume brats, beer and duck fat fries at Fassler Hall; get authentically fresh seafood at Peacemaker Lobster and Crab Co.; a locally sourced meal at Juniper; munch on gourmet donuts at Hurts Donut Co.; or enjoy classic arcade games at The Max Retropub.

CATHEDRAL DISTRICT Downtown Tulsa is home to many beautiful and historic churches, cathedrals and chapels, some of which are on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks. Thousands of Tulsans visit downtown weekly for services and programs as the churches continue to accommodate growth by expanding their presence. In addition, the Cathedral District is home to Tulsa Community College’s Metro Campus where Tulsans all over town can seek higher education goals. Public Service Co. of Oklahoma is a cornerstone of the district, and a neighboring community partner.

DECO DISTRICT Downtown Tulsa’s Deco District has some of the greatest examples of art deco architecture in the nation. These cultural treasures bring people from all over to marvel at what some locals may take for granted. Tours led by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture regularly fill up exploring the historical architecture, the underground tunnel system and the beauty of some of Oklahoma’s most memorable skyscrapers.

EAST VILLAGE DISTRICT The East Village District, centered at East Third Street and South Kenosha Avenue has emerged with a variety of new opportunities, including residential and commercial, as well as dining and entertainment experiences. Like its surrounding districts, the East Village is experiencing a boom in residential living, retail and office options.

HISTORIC GREENWOOD DISTRICT Dubbed America’s “Black Wall Street” by Booker T. Washington, the 35-block Greenwood District surrounded the corner of North Greenwood Avenue and East Archer Street and became a prosperous center for commerce in the early 1900s. When the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 destroyed much of the district, the community rebuilt from the ashes. Today, the Historical Greenwood District showcases its heritage through the Greenwood Cultural Center, the Mabel B. Little Heritage House, the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, and numerous memorials and murals depicting reconciliation and resilience. The Greenwood Rising history museum opened in 2021 of the 100-year commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

TULSA ARTS DISTRICT The Tulsa Arts District has morphed into an eclectic collection of entertainment, restaurants, offices, retail, residential and arts establishments. Home to the popular Guthrie Green, ahha, Woody Guthrie Museum and more, the Tulsa Artist District continues to grow and transform. Construction continues on the 50,000-square-foot OKPOP Museum, which will be devoted to Oklahoma music, film, comics, TV and literature. Joining the other museums in the district, the Bob Dylan Center is set to open in May 2022 and will allow the public to interact with items in the collection of Bob Dylan Archives.

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The parklet program was created to complement the existing sidewalk cafe program, which allows businesses to use a portion of the public sidewalk for expanded outdoor dining. Similar to the parklet program, the sidewalk cafe program helps create a sense of vibrancy among the streets of downtown Tulsa. As you travel the streets of downtown Tulsa, stop and enjoy a meal, coffee or beer outside on the sidewalk or nearby parklet. You’ll be glad you did. To see a full list of restaurants and bars offering outdoor dining options, visit downtowntulsaok. com/outdoordining.

Grab a beer

Downtown Tulsa has long been known for its restaurant scene, but the past few years have brought a variety of breweries to the neighborhood. Eerie Abbey Ales is downtown’s newest brewery and is located in the heart of the Deco District at 507 S. Main St. Eerie Abbey Ales specializes in Belgian style beers and has a large taproom with an outdoor sidewalk cafe space. Elgin Park is the place where sports, beer and pizza meet. Located across the street from ONEOK Field, Elgin Park offers a selection of house drafts to accompany its menu of pizza, sandwiches and ballpark snacks. Stop by on a Thursday night for discounted pints of house brewed beer.

NEFF Brewing, located at 321 S. Frankfort Ave., is a destination for craft beer enthusiasts in the region. As the only gluten-free brewery in the area, the beer is “brewed for everyone” and has won national awards for its beer. NEFF Brewing also features a gluten-free kitchen offering a full menu.

Welltown Brewing is located at 114 W. Archer St. and boasts one of downtown Tulsa’s best rooftop patio views. In addition to the skyline views, the brewery is known for their adventurous brews and out-of-the-box event ideas.

Public art

Downtown Tulsa is home to much of Tulsa’s best-known public art, including murals, sculptures and more. While it’s fun to walk the streets of downtown Tulsa finding new art, here are a few places to start. Commissioned in 2019 by the Urban Core Art Project, the “Be the One” sculpture located in H.A. Chapman Centennial Green features a large 9 and 8. Stand in the middle of the two numbers to “be the one” and complete the area code. Nearby you will find the Tulsa Art Alley, a hidden art oasis between Fifth and Sixth streets and Boston Avenue and Main Street. More than 20 artists have their work featured in the art alley, including large-scale murals, mosaic work and photography. In 2021, two major installations debuted in downtown. “The Majestic” is the largest augmented reality mural in the world at 410 S. Main St. “Highlight” is an oversized sculpture outside the Cox Business Convention Center. Read more about these on p. 11. While you’re in downtown Tulsa, head to the Blue Dome District to see even more public art. The Grooper office building, located at 415 E. Third St., features two murals completed by nationally known mural artists. Inspired by Tulsa musicians, Denver-based artist Thomas Evans created a colorful tribute to Tulsa Sound on the building. On the other side of the building facing downtown Tulsa, you’ll find a detailed astronaut featuring the skyline painted by JEKS. It’s no surprise the Tulsa Arts District and Historic Greenwood District also feature plenty of murals and public art to see and enjoy. Living Arts of Tulsa works with artists each year to create new murals to commemorate Dia de los Muertos. Stop by to see the annual murals located in the alley near 307 E. Reconciliation Way. New to the Tulsa Artist District, ColorPop Studios unveiled a mural commissioned by Tulsa Arts Alliance featuring nods to the neighborhood. The mural is located on the side of The Chowhouse, located at 18 E. Reconciliation Way.

“The Majestic” is the largest augmented reality mural in the world and can be found at 410 S. Main St.

Left: Maker Space Coordinator Hector Arrazola (right) works with a staff member at the Maker Space in TCCL’s Central Library Devin Evans, coordinator of the Digital Literacy Lab at Central Library, sits in one of the Lab’s flight simulators. Photos by John Fancher.

Tulsa City-County Library

Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL), composed of 24 public libraries located throughout Tulsa County, provides informational, educational and recreational resources and services to more than 375,080 registered library cardholders.

The library is a learning center for students of all ages and backgrounds; a safe place to explore information and new ideas; employment and business centers for all to use, including the most underserved populations. Every day, TCCL helps change someone’s life for the better — whether it is providing free online tutoring for a student, connecting an entrepreneur to the resources that can help start a small business or helping parents improve their child’s or their own reading skills to better share stories with their family.

TCCL’s Resource Centers, which include the African-American Resource Center, American Indian Resource Center, Hispanic Resource Center and Genealogy Resource Center, among others, provide free resources — from books, music and DVDs to microfiche, vertical files and events. The Digital Literacy Lab and Maker Space, both at Central Library, feature classes and specialized equipment such as 3D printers, an Audio Lab, flight simulators, digitization tools and much more.

TCCL also offers a multitude of resources, programs and services to promote lifelong learning and help children grow up able to compete globally. Free examples include an online homework assistance service in English and Spanish; After-School Homework Clubs; Build A Reader storytimes; and an annual Summer Reading Program, to name just a few.

Through hundreds of community-led events each month in more than 40 meeting rooms across the Library system, TCCL brings community members together by giving local groups and thinkers the chance to convene and connect. From the Seed Library to long-running series like the Kiowa and Yuchi Language Classes or the annual Young People’s Creative Writing Contest, TCCL offers itself up as a communal haven for anyone trying to discover and grow. individuals who represent the diversity of the community, TCCL hosts programs such as: the biennial American Indian Writers Award; the annual Anne V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers’ Literature; the annual Books to Treasure program; the annual Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award; and the biennial Sankofa Freedom Award. Learn more about each at tulsalibrary.org/programs-andservices.

TCCL’s goals encompass great aspirations for Tulsa County’s economic development. TCCL’s Research Wizard is a unique service offering professional research and information gathering assistance to companies, organizations and individuals. The service designs tailored on-demand information products for its clients and delivers them on a fee basis. Visit researchwizard.org or call 918-549-7431 for more information.

To learn more about TCCL and all the great resources, services and programs it has to offer the community, visit tulsalibrary.org or call 918-549-7323.