TulsaPeople July 2022

FLOWER POWER: TULSA GARDENS IN BLOOM July 2022

Tin Pan Tuesday at Cafe Olé

How to dine for less every day of the week!

Growing Darrell & Dolores Moorman Owners, Daris Contractors

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Thank you for trusting us with your healthcare.

Thank you to the readers of TulsaPeople for recognizing Saint Francis Health System’s service and commitment to the communities we serve.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all Saint Francis employees for their dedication to serving our patients and our mission.

We are proud to be named among TulsaPeople’s 2022 A-List in the following categories:

HOSPITAL:

HEALTH CLUB/GYM:

WELLNESS CLINIC:

PAIN MANAGEMENT:

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FIRST OKLAHOMA BANK PRESENTS

Leaders with Heart

LEGACY. VISION. IMPACT. Burt Holmes is a Tulsan to the core. His roots are firmly planted within the community, and his involvement long running.

As a serial entrepreneur, Burt has participated in sundry industries: banking, health, energy, and insurance.

He became a co-founder of QuikTrip Corp. with his longtime friend, the late Chester Cadieux.

He also founded his own insurance company the Holmes Organisation and sold it in 1998.

At age 90, Burt still goes to an office reserved for him at his former business.

When Burt sees a need, he feels compelled to do something about it. He knows he cannot help everybody all the time, but he can make a difference now and then, and so he tries.

Anyone who knows Burt knows he is not afraid to say what is on his mind. Beyond his outspoken exterior is someone who has a soft spot for giving generously, though it’s not something he calls attention to.

“I don’t overanalyze things. I don’t try to analyze why people are in poverty, but their needs need to be taken care of,” Burt says.

He has supported big and small organizations that aid education, homelessness, the arts, children’s services and more. Whether supporting the Tulsa Botanic Garden, smaller non-profits that aid the homeless, a north Tulsa foundation that provides after-school care to kids of mostly single-parent families or donating to Catholic Charities to help Afghan refugees, Burt’s impact can be felt everywhere.

“A lot of people really don’t care what’s going on in the world … There are givers and nongivers, and I can’t tell you why one is one way or the other. I do not know. But I just know there are a hell of a lot more non-givers than givers. The givers have to do it for everybody,” Burt says. “There’s no shortage of good works to be done in this world.”

He may have inherited a desire for giving from his father, who donated to various causes. His friend Chester Cadieux, likewise,

talked about the importance of tithing, and Burt listened.

“Burt is truly one of the most iconic, vibrant, and consequential people in Tulsa’s history.

His singular drive to benefit the community through his entrepreneurial endeavors - both in business and philanthropy - will positively impact all Tulsans for years to come. I’m honored to call him a friend,” says Tom Bennett III, President of First Oklahoma.

“Most community banks the size of First Oklahoma Bank or retail banks sit and wait for people to come to them to make loans.

Tom Bennett III and his group go out and gets loans. They don’t wait for business to come in,” Burt says. “That’s why I like it.”

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JULY 2022 | VOLUME 36 ISSUE 9

Roka’s burger night

7 CITY DESK A Tulsa family’s booming business.

Will Rogers’ family supports new film.

Philbrook welcomes Frida and friends.

Young entrepreneur supplies cannabis industry.

52 TABLE TALK Burgers and franks at Shaky Jake’s.

Recipes for summer grilling.

Cool down with bubble tea.

36 TULSA’S BACKYARD Oklahoma’s ecological regions are on display at four Tulsa garden attractions.

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE POLLARD | STORY BY BLAYKLEE FREED

45 DAILY DEALS Save a little money this summer with 23 daily specials at local restaurants.

BY NATALIE MIKLES

SPECIAL SECTION 57 Faces of the 918 ON THE COVER: Tin Pan Tuesday at Cafe Olé. PHOTO BY MICHELLE POLLARD.

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TulsaPeople JULY 2022

101 LIFESTYLE Getting spicy in Sand Springs.

Organization tips for summer break.

Getaway to Sapulpa.

Connie Cronley’s garden hose is vexing.

MICHELLE POLLARD; CITY DESK: GREG BOLLINGER: LIFESTYLE: MARTIN VECCHIO PHOTOGRAPHY

Venezuelan food in south Tulsa.

You deserve compassionate care.

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FROM THE EDITOR

Volume XXXVI, Number 9 ©2022. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, including created advertising in a proofed or printed stage.

O

ne of my simple pleasures during the

Eventually I make my way to Gathering Place,

workday is to take my lunchtime break

where grasses and wildflowers greet guests as

and walk. Depending on the day and my sched-

they enter the park from its northeast bound-

ule, it might mean a simple stroll around a few

ary. On p. 36, photographer Michelle Pollard’s

blocks or a longer jaunt through some of the

photos of the park in bloom earlier this late spring

nearby neighborhoods.

and early summer are a welcome sight. I hope you

Come summer, I habitually find my way to the

enjoy the photo spreads from four Tulsa garden

Midland Valley Trail, which is a decently shaded,

gems whose bouquets of flowers are truly for

paved strip where I feel safe to meander. The

every Tulsan to enjoy. Michelle’s talent is really

former railroad track turned 3-mile trail system

on display.

TulsaPeople Magazine is published monthly by

1603 South Boulder Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407 P: 918-585-9924 F: 918-585-9926 PUBLISHER Jim Langdon PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNITY RELATIONS Susie Miller EDITOR Anne Brockman DIGITAL EDITOR Tim Landes ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Blayklee Freed EDITORIAL CONSULTING Missy Kruse, The Write Company CREATIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER

Madeline Crawford Georgia Brooks Michelle Pollard Greg Bollinger

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Andrea Canada Josh Kampf Rita Kirk

links the East Village with Gathering Place.

Fellow office workers, dog walkers and exercise

Like everyone else these days, the economy

junkies say “Hello” as we take a break from our

is encouraging me to be more frugal with my

screens for some natural scenery. Along the trail

finances. Natalie Mikles tracked down some of

is a massive sycamore I tend to gaze at each time

the best daily specials and deals at Tulsa restau-

I walk by. Its trunk reaches for the heavens —

rants. Starting on p. 57, save some money on tacos,

at least it seems to me from my lowered vantage

pizzas, burgers and more on your next night out.

point. I think about all the shade it has pro-

Independence Day celebrations this month

vided its homeowners and how many decades of

will soon make their way into vacations before

Tulsa’s growth you could see from its branches. I

another school year begins next month. I hope

imagine how the surrounding area looked when

you take the time to kick back and relax some-

the tree took root. The neighborhood where it

where cool. Find some shade under a tall tree and

resides, Maple Ridge, was on the outskirts of

picnic for a spell. You deserve it. TP

town; clearly not today. Squirrels scurry through

CONTROLLER Mary McKisick DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Amanda Hall INTERNS Hadley DeJarnette Alexa Mostrom Madison Walters

MEMBER

TulsaPeople’s distribution is audited annually by

Langdon Publishing Company sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This issue of Tulsa People was printed on recycled fibers containing 20 percent post-consumer waste with inks containing a soy base blend. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally, meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. We can have a better world if we choose it together.

Disregard any TulsaPeople subscription solicitation that is not directly mailed from the Langdon Publishing office at 1603 S. Boulder Ave. Contact Langdon Publishing directly if you are interested in subscribing or renewing your TulsaPeople subscription.

the brush and songbirds sing from power lines and fence posts. When it’s as hot out as it is now, I tend to longingly look at some backyard pools where a noontime dip is almost too tempting to pass up. Instead I opt for another swig of water.

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TulsaPeople JULY 2022

Anne Brockman EDITOR

S AY N O T O H A T E

THE JACQUES AND NATASHA GELMAN COLLECTION OF 20TH CENTURY MEXICAN ART AND THE VERGEL FOUNDATION

Frida Kahlo had monkeys as pets, but Philbrook curators note monkeys were also popular in ancient Mexican art and culture. The red symbol she wears resembles the Aztec glyph “Ollin,” which, in Náhuatl, means earthquake or perpetual movement.

“Self-Portrait with Monkeys” by Frida Kahlo (1943)

FRIDA AT PHILBROOK “F

rida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism” opens July 6 in Tulsa and is anticipated to be one of the most popular in Philbrook’s history. In this self-portrait, Kahlo shows her connection to the earth by surrounding herself with plants and animals — a common theme in her work. Curators of the show say although her pose is formal, she honors pre-Hispanic cultures by wearing a huipil, an Indigenous blouse.

Read more on p. 24. TP

TulsaPeople.com

7

NOTEBOOK

BY STA F F

For more on Carr, see p. 12.

Sam Carr, left, with Mike Reilly, “Voice of IRONMAN”

NOMINATE A COMPASSIONATE TULSAN The Compassionate Tulsa Committee awards an individual, every month except July, in the Tulsa area whose compassionate action is particularly deserving of recognition. The public is asked to provide nominations at compassionatetulsa.com.

The committee was established in 2015 as part of the Human Rights Commission of Tulsa. Earlier that year, the Tulsa City Council signed and adopted the International Charter for Compassion.

HOMETOWN CHAMP The 2022 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon on May 22 drew competitors from all over the world, but the winner was 28-year-old Tulsan Sam Carr. He finished the course in nine hours, 22 minutes and 59 seconds, qualifying for a spot in the IRONMAN World Championship in October in Kona, Hawaii. Carr recently summarized his first-time IRONMAN competition.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? I’ve got four months to the next one (the IRONMAN World Championship). So hopefully I can carry some of the fitness over and not have to build up my training quite so much. I took a few days off (after the Tulsa IRONMAN). It was more out of necessity than giving myself a reward. But we’re back at it now.

SIGNATURE SYMPHONY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MAKES DEBUT Scott Seaton, left, was selected for the position and will conduct Signature Symphony at the Tulsa Community College Performing Arts Center for Education for its annual concert “4th on the 3rd: Spirit of America.” Pre-concert festivities will take place outdoors.

Find tickets and more information at signaturesymphony.org.

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TulsaPeople JULY 2022

Modus Executive Director Leslie Neal-Emery

DELIVERING DIGNITY In partnership with Catholic Charities and LIFE Senior Services, Modus announced the launch of a new service: Modus Delivers. Funded through an Innovation Grant from the Tulsa Area United Way, Modus Delivers was created as a way to deliver dignity and nutrition to homebound seniors.

Through Modus Delivers, volunteer drivers will deliver fresh groceries from the Catholic Charities food pantries to low-income seniors facing transportation barriers.

The initial pilot program will deliver groceries to 50 individuals referred by LIFE Senior Services. These first program participants will receive a grocery delivery once each week for one year.

If you’re interested in getting involved, you can donate to the program or apply to volunteer at modustulsa.org.

Although new participants are not currently being accepted, interested seniors may contact LIFE Senior Service for information on how to get involved in the future.

SAM CARR: DR. CHRIS BARNES; MODUS: ANNE BROCKMAN; SEATON: COURTESY

WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART? I’d say the swim was definitely the most challenging. That’s just not my strong suit. On the day, they actually changed the course because the water was so choppy. We did two shorter loops instead of one long loop. But even then, there was a part of the swim course where there were 2- to 3-foot swells. Some of the kayaks that were out there to help manage people were kind of losing control and getting out in the middle between the buoys, so it was a little chaotic. So I was definitely more comfortable when I got out of the water and I knew I could get on a bike and go as fast as I wanted.

Cycling was maybe not the least challenging, but the most familiar for me, just because I’ve spent a lot more time cycling and kind of know what my capability is. The run was also fun just because of the atmosphere. We were getting down to the final hours of the race and (feeling) the competitive nature of the situation we were in.

I came off the bike second and was chasing down the leader of the race, so that was exciting and motivating.

And then just having people out on the trail every quarter-mile or so — seeing people I knew out there cheering was pretty cool and fun.

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TULSA TULSA

JULY COMPILED BY ANNE BROCKMAN

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TulsaPeople JULY 2022

JULY 4 FOLDS OF HONOR FREEDOMFEST More than 80,000 spectators gather to watch this annual fireworks spectacular over the Arkansas River.

RIVER WEST FESTIVAL PARK, 2100 S. JACKSON AVE. DREAM KEEPERS PARK, 1875 S. BOULDER AVE. FREEDOMFESTTULSA.COM

JULY 29 “1964: THE TRIBUTE” For one night only, the Fab Four is back with chart-topping hits celebrating the musical talent of the Beatles.

TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 110 E. SECOND ST. TULSAPAC.COM

JULY 8 TANYA TUCKER Hear hits like “Delta Dawn,” “It’s a Little Too Late” and “Texas” as the country legend takes the stage in Tulsa.

THE COVE AT RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT, 8330 RIVERSIDE PARKWAY RIVERSPIRITTULSA.COM

JULY 29-31 TOKYO, OK 2022 The largest celebration of anime, Japanese and pop culture comes to downtown Tulsa for three days of fun.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, DOWNTOWN TULSA TOKYOINTULSA.COM

JULY 15-17 AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART Peruse hundreds of boutique vendors, artists and wares in air-conditioned comfort as this biannual shopping extravaganza returns.

SAGENET CENTER EXPO, 4145 E. 21ST ST. AAOTH.COM

JULY 31 ROCK AND RESCUE Hear local bands like Crow, Whirligig, Brad James Band and others while supporting the nonprofit animal rescue organization Paws in Need.

CAIN’S BALLROOM, 423 N. MAIN ST. PAWSINNEEDTULSA.COM

JULY 15-17 CIRCLE CINEMA FILM FESTIVAL Events include a Q&A with Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne, who co-directed a documentary about the band.

CIRCLE CINEMA, 10 S. LEWIS AVE. CIRCLECINEMA.ORG/CCFF

VISIT TULSAPEOPLE.COM/ABOUTTOWN FOR MORE LOCAL EVENTS AND A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF WEEKLY MUSIC LISTINGS EVERY MONDAY.

AFFAIR OF THE HEART: FLYING COLORS MEDIA; 1964: STEVEN GARDNER; TUCKER, GATHERING PLACE, TOKYO, CIRCLE CINEMA: COURTESY; BRAD JAMES BAND: PHIL CLARKIN

JULY 22 MOVIE NIGHT Grab the family, a blanket and snacks and head to Gathering Place for a free Movie Night on the Great Lawn featuring “How to Train Your Dragon.”

GATHERING PLACE, 2650 S. JOHN WILLIAMS WAY GATHERINGPLACE.ORG

paradise never sounded So Good.

Tickets On Sale Now

Tanya Tucker JULY 8 Australia’s Thunder From Down Under JULY 9 DAVID SPADE JULY 15 RONNIE MILSAP JULY 16 The Mavericks JULY 21 Justin Moore JULY 22 All performances subject to change.

Live Music 7 Nights a Week in 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar Fridays & Saturdays in Margaritaville!

Visit margaritavilletulsa.com for a complete schedule.

81st & RIVERSIDE • (888) 748-3731 • RIVERSPIRITTULSA.COM

BIZ WHIZ

Sam Carr

Operating Kent Fireworks is a family affair that includes Layne Fish, Pepper Fish, Brendon Fish, Tim Kent and Tyler Kent.

BOOMING BUSINESS KENT FIREWORKS NEARS TWO DECADES OF BUSINESS.

BY LUCAS BRADLEY

K

ent Fireworks is celebrating 18 years of business this summer, and the family affair is growing.

Jim Kent launched the family-owned and operated stand near Berryhill at 4503 S. 49th W. Ave. after volunteering with a local church’s fireworks stand. It was started to help fund their family racing teams but became something bigger.

“I thought, well this is kind of exciting. It’s kind of a fun thing — we get to visit with friends and neighbors,” he says. “It just really intrigued me.”

After a stint with a partner, the Kent family went from receiving 25% of sales to owning the stand outright in 2007. “We’ve done our own thing ever since. It progressively grew into a pretty good little business,” he says. It’s more than a side hustle, as the Kent family’s main gig is Kent Construction, putting them in the remod-

12

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

eling business when they’re not selling sparklers.

Now it’s the next generation’s turn to keep the torch — or punk — burning. “(The kids are) grown up now and are big enough that they can sell and have a good time. But now, they get to choose (the inventory) and what they figure they’re going to sell.”

So far, Kent says, it’s working. “They’re pretty good. They’ve put us on the web. They’ve taken it to another level,” he says.

“Last year, it was so hard to get fi reworks,” Kent says. “The year before last, we ran out about 7 or 8 in the evening on the 4th of July. Last year, we ran out on the 3rd.”

While inventory’s still scarce, Kent says he thinks they’ve lined up what they need for this year. Shoppers can peruse the stand’s selection online at kentfi reworks.com. TP

Tulsan Sam Carr is the recent winner of the 2022 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa triathlon, but his wife, Jessie, might be the real MVP. “Our daughter was born in November, so we were sleep deprived and short on free time, but my wife graciously let me continue training at the expense of sleep and some of the other stuff getting done around the house,” Sam says.

The 28-year-old project engineer at a local glass fabrication plant estimates he spent about 15 hours a week training for the IRONMAN, which typically meant running, cycling and swimming three or four times a week. At some point, he began two-a-day workouts, fitting them in when he could.

“It was a lot of 4 a.m. alarm clocks and going for a run or swim during lunch, but I made it work,” he says. “I’m super grateful I was able to do that with the support of my family.”

Sam was a first-time IRONMAN competitor — making his win even more impressive — but Jessie completed an IRONMAN in 2019 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Sam recalls the inspiring energy of the event and says seeing Jessie compete with her father cemented IRONMAN as an item on his bucket list.

Since it can be a logistical hassle to travel with triathlon gear, Sam says he was happy to have the prestigious competition come to him this past May. He adds that being able to practice on the course in advance gave him a home-turf advantage. This past month, he also participated in Tulsa Tough.

“Tulsa has done a great job of drawing some of these big profile events,” he says. “I think it’s really good for the city.” — MORGAN PHILLIPS

KENT: GREG BOLLINGER; CARR: DR. CHRIS BARNES

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PASSIONS

THE ‘WILL’ TO FILM

Read more of this story at TulsaPeople.com.

WILL ROGERS’ FAMILY APPROVES NEW TULSA MOVIE PROJECT ‘WILL TO WIN.’

BY TIM LANDES

W

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TulsaPeople JULY 2022

Jennifer Rogers Etcheverry is working to preserve the legacy of great-grandfather Will Rogers.

and I just started shadowing him and wanting to learn more.”

The more she learned the more she felt a responsibility to take the lead in preserving her great-grandfather’s legacy for generations.

“It means a lot to me only in the fact that I have children and grandchildren, and I want them to know who he was, I don’t want them to have to learn. I want them to grow up knowing,” she says. “It’s the family’s responsibility to keep him alive. I think we need to be involved and be a part of it, and to make sure things are accurate.”

“Will to Win” is a fictional story about Will Rogers High School student Sky Forest, a soft-

ball player who made a promise to her late parents that she’d win a state championship and receive a college scholarship, but the school cuts the sport.

Will Rogers becomes her imaginary guide in her quest to join the baseball team and achieve her goals.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of it because they didn’t have to ask me,” Rogers Etcheverry says.

“For them to have the blessing of the family speaks volumes, and to be able to give them the blessing speaks volumes, because lots of projects have come across the table, and they always want the family’s stamp of approval. Th is is the fi rst one to get it.” TP

JW PHOTOGRAPHY

ill Rogers is making headlines again and it’s about his return to the big screen — this time as a character in a locally made feature fi lm.

Emmy-winning Kirkpatrick and Kinslow Productions, based in Tulsa, has optioned the rights to the novel “Will to Win” by Tulsan and best-selling author Jim Stovall. It is slated to start fi lming in 2023.

It marks the fi rst fi lm to be endorsed by the Will Rogers family, led by Will Rogers’ greatgranddaughter Jennifer Rogers Etcheverry.

Will Rogers, a Cherokee Nation citizen, was born in Oologah in 1879 and left home to work rodeos before joining traveling shows where he showed off his roping tricks. From there he became a vaudeville star, one of the biggest Hollywood actors of his generation as well as a social commentator who dominated the newspapers and radio waves with his witty banter. He died in a 1935 plane crash at the age of 55.

Rogers Etcheverry’s grandfather Jim Rogers was around 21 when his dad died. The amount of media attention that came with the tragic accident was enormous. She speculates this led to the family shutting down all talk about Will’s worldwide fame.

“To be the son of the one of the most famous people in the world, and then be so young. Then your whole life you have that on your shoulders. I can’t even imagine what it was like for him,” she says. “I can’t even fathom the magnitude, and he was just so quiet and so humble. My dad (Kem Rogers) was the same way. My dad was very hardworking, never handed anything. And we just didn’t talk much about it.”

Then came a 1991 family trip to Broadway that changed everything.

“My grandfather took the whole family to New York to the ‘Will Rogers Follies,’ when it debuted on Broadway, and there were 13 of us,” Rogers Etcheverry says. “I remember sitting there, and I couldn’t believe it. I had no idea that I was related to this person. So, thank goodness my grandfather lived in Bakersfield (California) where I live,

a Foodie’s

Paradise

We’ll Show You Around Springfield!

We know where to get a bite—whether it’s fresh, farm-to-table foods served at locally-owned restaurants or a close encounter with a shark at Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium.

We love our city and know the best places to eat, drink and play.

See you in Springfield, Missouri!

Point your smartphone camera at this QR code to find out more about things to do in Springfield.

POSTGAME

Nathan Pickard, founder of 9b Corp, one of three certified B corps in Oklahoma

Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum, PGA pro Jhonattan Vegas, Steve Sparks and Astros TV announcer Todd Kallas

STILL FEELING THE SPARK FORMER MLB PITCHER STILL FOUND AT THE BALL FIELD.

BY STEPHEN HUNT

B

aseball has been central to Steve Sparks’ existence for most of his life, fi rst as a Tulsa youngster and later at Holland Hall. Then, for nine big-league seasons (19952004), he was a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, Oakland A’s and Arizona Diamondbacks. Now he’s on the radio with the Houston Astros.

Fans might not know that another sport — bowling — was a big part of his life while growing up in Tulsa. Two relatives owned the Rose Bowl, so he spent ample time at the famous bowling alley. “Coming back from junior college, I painted the roof by myself,” Sparks says. “Got a bunch of bowlers still in our family,” including a cousin who owns an alley in Owasso and another who is a longtime employee of downtown’s Dust Bowl.

From an early age, Sparks envisioned himself reaching the big leagues, a dream he realized April 28, 1995, when he debuted as a reliever for Milwaukee against Oakland. “When I heard my

16

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

name, I remember my knees felt weak and I could hear my chest pump,” Sparks recalls. “It was the weirdest thing. When I went through the bullpen doors, I got a real sense of calm. I was focused on the job at hand. I was grateful for where I was but couldn’t wait to go out and compete.”

In the fourth inning, the 29-year-old retired the side, including striking out future Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson for the final out.

“When I got into the dugout, I started thinking what had transpired,” he says. “I was much more nervous that second inning.”

Now in his 10th season as an analyst on Astros radio, his love for the game remains strong.

“I feel very fortunate,” says Sparks, who has lived in Sugar Land, Texas, for the past 20 years.

“When you’re having fun working, that’s the best-case scenario. I’ve got a great seat for these awesome games. It’s a game I fell in love with when I was 3 and dreamed of getting a chance to play. Being around it in my upper-50s, it’s a dream come true.” TP

In 2018 Tulsa data analyst Nathan Pickard quit his job with Williams to focus on helping nonprofits.

After seeing the need for data analytics in Tulsa and researching B corps — businesses that focus on benefiting their employees and communities instead of creating profit — he began 9b Corp.

9b Corp collects and translates data for companies that do not have the time, resources or training to do it themselves. 9b Corp focuses on what can be done to positively impact employees, make them a livable wage, benefit them and how to better the community. “I think most of us come to this company because we don’t want to look at our last week and say we gave 40 hours of our time to something we don’t believe in,” Pickard says of its nine full-time employees. (A few examples of well-recognized B corps are Ben and Jerry’s, Patagonia and Gap’s Athleta.)

At least 75% of 9b Corp clients serve members of the Tulsa community; this includes mainly nonprofits and a few businesses that are committed to making the community a better place.

Becoming a certified B corp can be challenging. 9b Corp spent three months completing the application and waited a year becoming certified.

“We came up with a good process for the certification, and we think we could help others with that, as well,” Pickard says.

Companies that want to purchase products or hire workers go to the global B corp website, bcorporation.net where B corps are registered.

There, companies can find products and vendors that prioritize community aid over the bottom line.

— ALEXA MOSTROM

SPARKS: COURTESY; 9B: GREG BOLLINGER

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17

CHANGEMAKERS

Nicole Torres and Regan Whitehead own Forever Linked 918 and now lease studio space at 114 W. Commercial St. in Broken Arrow. A grand opening is planned for July.

Flourish Homes resident Alex Hagans and Founder Beth Reinwald

‘CRAZY FAITH WALK’ TULSAN PROVIDES A HOME, SUPPORT FOR YOUNG WOMEN. STORIES BY ALEXA MOSTROM

I

n 2021 Alex Hagans decided to sell some belongings and go on a “spiritual journey” from New York to Oklahoma. She felt she was supposed to come and did so, knowing she potentially would be sleeping in her car.

After her father convinced Hagans to fi nd shelter, and several internet searches, she found Flourish Homes.

Flourish Homes is a nonprofit home for women ages 18-25 who are in danger of experiencing homelessness. Its mission? To help these young women receive the healing and guidance needed for them to “flourish.”

Beth Reinwald received the vision for this home while working in outreach for high school students. After being encouraged to do it full time, she began research in 2013, studying nonprofits like Mercy Ministries in Arkansas.

In 2019 Flourish Homes inherited the Manna House program of Tulsa-based James Mission, which had been providing help for homeless and foster families, and donated the resources it had acquired to Flourish Homes. “They probably saved us years of work,” Reinwald says.

18

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

Flourish Homes opened its doors in October 2020 and has served approximately 35 women.

“It’s just a crazy faith walk,” Reinwald says of opening the home she credits with preventing incarceration, trafficking and homelessness.

Once accepted, residents must get a job within 30 days, volunteer, help with chores and attend courses such as fi nancial and GED classes, Bible studies and even a sexual trauma support group.

Hagans hopes to attend Oral Roberts University after she completes the program in October.

“Being at Flourish has truly given me an understanding that if we can build selfawareness, then we can make the necessary changes to unlearn behaviors and enjoy life even as we are adulting,” she says.

Reinwald hopes the community will support Flourish Homes’ mission and care about these girls as much as she does.

“I want them to know God loves them and that they’re valuable and that their past doesn’t defi ne their future,” she says. TP

What is a good way to memorialize a friendship, relationship or memory? Forever Linked 918 has a unique way to keep people connected.

The Tulsa-based jewelry operation, run by best friends Regan Whitehead and Nicole Torres, opened in November 2021 and began getting noticed on social media in January 2022.

Forever Linked 918 is a “welded jewelry experience” that uses 14-karat gold-filled chains which are cut to fit the customer. The chain can be a bracelet, anklet, and necklace and charms can be added if desired.

“Go as tight or as loose as you want so whatever fits you perfectly, and then we weld them on so you don’t have a clasp, you don’t have to take them on and off, they are just on,” Whitehead says.

Whitehead and Torres first got the idea for the business two years ago from TikTok and decided it was something they wanted to start in Tulsa.

“We both have totally different careers (Nicole is an occupational therapist; Regan is a mom and entrepreneur), we’re not in the jewelry business or welding business or anything like that,” Whitehead says. So a lot of preparation went into the venture.

After months of researching and practicing welding techniques, Whitehead and Torres began making their custom welded jewelry.

The pair take their business to pop-up shops in Tulsa and surrounding areas several times a month, as well as offer private events and scheduled appointments.

“We’ve gotten to celebrate a lot of different occasions and that has been really cool,” such as birthdays, weddings and graduations, Whitehead says. “We love to be able to celebrate or remember someone that has passed with our customers.”

In order to “get linked” with a friend or family member, DM Forever Linked 918 on Instagram to set up an appointment. TP

GREG BOLLINGER

Charmed life

tickets NOW ON SALE PHILBROOK.ORG/FRIDA The Exhibition is organized by the Vergel Foundation and MondoMostre in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL).

Support for this project is provided in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a grant from the Flint Family Foundation, and support from donors to Philbrook’s Exhibition Series.

Diego Rivera, & Mexican Modernism MEMBER PREVIEW: June 25–July 3, 2022 PUBLIC: July 6–September 11, 2022

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19

THEN AND NOW

The building Holberton now calls home started in 1921 as Bascom and Freeman Machinists. In 1922 it became the home of W.W. Everett Auto Repair, C&H Auto Repair and Central Machine Co. It slowly evolved into W.W. Everett Auto Repair until 1934 when it became a storage site for Quality Milk Products Co. In the ensuing decades it was used as a storage site and private garage.

Today, after renovations that benefitted from the Historic Tax Credit Project program, it is the site of Holberton School, a school for computer science.

EXTRA CREDIT

HOLBERTON SCHOOL BUILDING EXEMPLIFIES THE BENEFITS OF HISTORIC TAX CREDITS.

BY ALEXA MOSTROM

20

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

wood,” Hood says. “We replicated that window system exactly for the new windows.”

When the process of restoring the building began, it was already listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making some of the projects easier. A developer tends to have a plan of what needs to happen to a building on the Register, but it must go through the National Park Service and State Historic Preservation Office to make sure the building is being preserved appropriately.

Since 2006 Oklahoma has matched federal tax credits when it comes to revitalizing historic properties. Th rough the Historic Tax Credit Project program, the buildings get renovated for newer businesses while keeping the classic Tulsa style. The owners of these buildings can receive a percentage off of their taxes.

These projects do good things for Tulsa’s economy since every dollar inspires “$11.70 of economic activity,” according to the Tulsa

Foundation for Architecture, and the projects themselves create more jobs for citizens.

Some other Tulsa buildings that used Historic Tax Credits are the Mayo Hotel and the former Tulsa Paper Co. warehouse that is now home to the Woody Guthrie Center and the Bob Dylan Center.

“If it weren’t for Historic Tax Credits, you wouldn’t see a lot of the development that is happening in downtown currently,” Hood says. TP July 11 HOLBERTON SCHOOL TOUR 10 a.m. Tulsa Foundation for Architecture’s Second Saturday Walking Tour will feature the Historic Tax Credit transformation concerning the building that is Holberton School. Tickets are $20 for nonmembers, and children 12 and under are free to tag along on the tour. Visit tulsaarchitecture.org

GREG BOLLINGER

A

building in downtown Tulsa dating back to 1921 has served Tulsans for years — fi rst as a warehouse for automobile machinists, then a storage facility for Quality Milk.

Now it is home to a school for tech and coding students. Shane Hood, director of design and marketing for W Design, was on the team that converted the building at 15 N. Cheyenne Ave. into Holberton School.

“There are features you’re going to have to maintain and keep, and we researched what the building was originally,” Hood explains, retaining all the original interior and exterior masonry, brick and stone. The building also features original wood columns, beams and original warehouse light fi xtures, plus the original fi re door.

“When we started cleaning up the building, we found the existing storefront/window system at the front of the building under some old ply-

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21

COMMUNITY Tournament founder Jake Miller poses with a 20-pound striped bass he caught while fl y fi shing the Arkansas River.

Walking to work is one way to reduce Ozone levels.

CASTING FLIES TO CATCH BIG BASS INAUGURAL PAT DALY INVITATIONAL A STATEWIDE BASS FLY FISHING TOURNAMENT

BY TIM LANDES

G

et to tying those fly lures and working on your fly casting.

The inaugural Pat Daly Invitational is an Oklahoma bass fly fishing tournament from July 15-17. Tournament founder Jake Miller says it is named after Oklahoma conservation leader Pat Daly, a Tulsan who died in 2021, “to commemorate Pat’s legacy of fishing and conservation efforts in regard to warm-water bass fisheries.”

It is a podium-style tournament where points are awarded for the longest three fish caught in four bass categories: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass and striped bass. The tournament champion will be decided by total points accrued across all categories.

“I really like that anglers who want to win will have to get out of their comfort zones,” Miller says. “Most fly-fishing anglers who target bass are really good at catching one particular type of bass, but the angler who will become the overall tournament champion will have to also make it happen with the other species of bass as well.”

22

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

Eligible bass can be caught in any public Oklahoma water on fly rods and fly imitation lures. Bass can be caught by wading or boat access. Registration costs $50 and can be done online at the Trout Unlimited Tulsa Chapter’s website, tu420.com.

“The best part about fly fishing for bass is that anybody can do it with minimal equipment. You don’t have to have boats or a lot of gear to be competitive in this tournament,” Miller says. “Since everyone has to catch their fish from public waters for it to count, it really levels the playing field. There are probably good bass-saturated waters within a 30-minute drive for most folks in the state, so I really hope that a bunch of folks sign up to have a shot at some really great prizes (like brand new fly rods), and to support a really great cause as all proceeds go to local conversation projects.”

An awards ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. on July 17, at Miller’s Heirloom Rustic Ales, 2113 E. Admiral Blvd, with live music, special beer releases and food trucks until 9 p.m. TP

As temperatures rise, so does the risk of ozone pollution, which can have damaging effects on life forms at ground level — but Tulsa’s Ozone Alert Program has some insight on how to reduce ozone-forming emissions.

Ozone is made of three oxygen molecules and occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere where it blocks some of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. On the ground, emissions from gas vapors, combustion engines and chemical vapors combine with other pollutants, says Clinton Johnson, manager of Indian Nations Council of Governments regional sustainability programs.

High temperatures, minimal cloud cover and little wind provides the conditions for ozone to form on the ground. “So, with summer comes Tulsa’s Ozone Alert Season,” Johnson says.

He explains a few human health hazards include airway inflammation and increased chances of lung infection and permanent damage.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issues an Ozone Alert when air pollution levels and weather conditions indicate heightened risk.

“On those days, children, the elderly and individuals with asthma or other respiratory issues are especially at risk and are advised to stay indoors,” Johnson says. “People can help reduce ozone levels voluntarily.” On Ozone Alert Days and whenever possible, Johnson suggests: • Don’t drive.

• Work remotely, or bike or walk to work.

• If you need to use a vehicle, try the bus, or carpool. Limit trips.

• Don’t get gas. If you must, fill up after sunset.

• Use electric, battery-powered or manual equipment. — BLAYKLEE FREED

FISH: COURTESY BRYON HELM; AIR AWARE: GREG BOLLINGER

AIR AWARE

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Tulsa Arts District is home to retail and service shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, galleries, museums, parks, private businesses, residences and historic music venues.

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23

ART SPOT

FREE TO LOVE FRIDA

PHILBROOK’S SUMMER EXHIBITION BRINGS MEXICAN MODERNISM TO TULSA.

BY BLAYKLEE FREED

T

24

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

Philbrook curators Christina Burke and Rachel Keith

“Diego on My Mind (Selfportrait as Tehuana)” by Frida Kahlo and “Sunflowers” by Diego Rivera are oil on canvas paintings from 1943.

who has worked at Philbrook for 15 years. Keith, Philbrook’s deputy director for audience engagement and cultural affairs, works with both teams to connect what’s outside and inside and points out some of the odes to Kahlo and the Mexican modernists.

In the south garden, large terracotta pots are brimming with succulents like one could find at La Casa Azul, Kahlo and Rivera’s home in Mexico City. Sunflowers follow the evergreen tree line. Beyond the trees, across Crow Creek, a field of sunflowers will sprout into a maze visitors can walk through.

“Sunflowers, in particular, were symbols of war in Mexico going back into ancient times, and a lot of Aztec warriors had a sunflower on their shields. The ancient Aztecs and contemporary Nahua call it the shield flower,” Keith

says. “People in Mexico seeing (“Sunflowers” by Rivera) would have caught that reference to war — or to the protection of a shield. It was painted in 1943 at the height of World War II. These kids playing under the shelter of the sunflowers — it’s a really powerful image.” TP July 6-Sept. 11 FRIDA KAHLO, DIEGO RIVERA AND MEXICAN MODERNISM Timed entry tickets available with museum admission.

9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday.

Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road. philbrook.org

CURATORS: GREG BOLLINGER; PAINTINGS: THE JACQUES AND NATASHA GELMAN COLLECTION OF 20TH CENTURY MEXICAN ART AND THE VERGEL FOUNDATION

here’s a new little blue house peeking through the trees in the gardens at Philbrook Museum of Art. No one lives there; rather, the humble abode is a mini replica of 20th century artist Frida Kahlo’s Mexican home, La Casa Azul. Philbrook staff built the structure as the horticulture team tended the gardens, planting sunflowers, marigolds and other flora reminiscent of the residence and the art created by its resident.

Similar plants also can be found in the art on display inside included in an exhibition opening July 6, Kahlo’s birthday. “Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism” will include paintings, drawings and collages by Kahlo, Diego Rivera and other Mexican modernists like Carlos Mérida, Gunther Gerzso and Maria Izquierdo. The exhibit includes more than 100 photographs that tell the story of their lives together, starting about 1920 after the Mexican Revolution ended and continued through the mid-century until Kahlo’s death in 1954, Curator Rachel Keith says.

Mexican modernism encompasses work by artists “who were essentially working to create a sense of national pride and unity after this really difficult period,” Keith says.

Kahlo and Rivera are a focal point to introduce visitors to the culture and history of Mexico and to the broader Mexican modernist movement, she notes. “They were both incredibly politically engaged and motivated by this love for their country, and especially for the people, to honor it and build a stronger future.”

Keith and Curator Christina Burke went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2021 to scout the exhibit in its previous location, something they try to do whenever possible. “Scouting it out can be really important, not only to get a sense of the individual works, but also how they go together the different sections or groupings,” Burke says.

“If it’s a large work, or three dimensional, how does that translate to our space? Because all galleries are different.” Keith notes the Denver Art Museum hosted the show after Albuquerque, and staff was particularly generous in sharing their experiences and insights.

Burke says one of Philbrook’s biggest differences from other American museums is the gardens, with 30 acres of curated outdoor spaces.

Within the last few years, collaborating across museum departments has been a focus — especially in connecting the galleries with the gardens, says Burke, curator of Native American art

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25

ART SPOT

Joe Erwin

Tulsa artist Tari Nobles, inset, crafts bird figures from up-cycled materials.

‘THE BIRD LADY’

LOCAL ARTIST REPURPOSES ITEMS INTO INTRICATE BIRDS. STORIES BY ETHAN VEENKER

J

unk drawers are something of a staple for homes, full of bits and bobs that likely will never see the light of day. However to local artist Tari Nobles, such a hodgepodge can be something more. She sees art in family heirlooms or adored knickknacks that others have destined for garage sales or giveaways.

Nobles, an artist of more than 10 years, isn’t limited by one medium. In fact, one could say her medium is in repurposing.

“This funky guy has everything on him,” she says of a wooden bird with a brooch, some small spoons, bits of tape measure, springs and a tiny hat that erupts into a dainty orange plume. Smaller than a crow but larger than a sparrow, this piece is most elaborate among the dozen in the cases she rents at Windsor Market, 6530 E. 51st St. There’s no specific name for each bird, but they all are unique in their own rights. Nobles started decorating wooden birds roughly three years ago — a natural evolution from decorating birdhouses. Soon after, she started sourcing beautifully painted handmade bird models from “a lady and a man” whose identities she’s loath to reveal for fear of putting a kink in her supply 26

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

chain. Nobles estimates she’s crafted between 75 and 100 birds.

In that time she’s certainly found her niche.

Namely at Windsor Market and Royce Myers Gallery, 1706 S. Boston Ave. Nobles’ birds have drawn customers from out of state.

“People will say, ‘Th is is the fi rst place we want to come to when we come to Tulsa,’” says Ken Rudzienski, Windsor Market manager, before retrieving a Nobles original from his office: A scissor-tailed flycatcher (with scissors for a tail).

It takes Nobles two or three days to complete each bird, starting with gathering materials from estate sales, antique shops and so forth. Then she dresses the bird, literally, with the recycled items adorned by drilling them in or gluing them on. Prices range from $100 to $350.

In many ways, this work has become her identity. Nobles can hardly contain her laughter as she recounts something her husband, George, once said to her: “Tari, you’re the bird lady; and I’m the bird lady’s husband.” Bird lady: She wears that title proudly, like a great crest of bright speckled feathers. TP

Bullies are a fact of life, and those of us unlucky enough to have known one often recall those experiences for years. Far less common is the inverse.

On March 15, local comedian and Jenks native Joe Erwin uploaded a video to TikTok (@joe_erwin_comedy) in which he responds to the prompt, “What’s a terrible thing you did as a child that you feel really bad about as an adult?”

For Erwin, that was repeatedly stealing pizza from Dylan Cain at lunch at Jenks West Elementary in first grade. “I remembered it, you know, 15 or so years later, and it’s affected me,” Erwin says. He didn’t understand the seriousness of pizzastealing as a kid but fessed up in his video, which has garnered more than 12.7 million views at press time. A rush of media interviews and television appearances ensued, and followers of the story wanted one thing: Erwin and Cain to reunite over pizza.

After some yearbook sleuthing, Erwin managed to get Cain’s last name, contact him through social media and set a date to do just that. The duo met up on May 14 for a day of pizza and hanging out.

“This kind of thing doesn’t happen very often,” Erwin says, reflecting on both the video’s popularity and meet-up. See how it went on his YouTube channel Joe Erwin Comedy, and catch Erwin at local open-mic nights where he’s honing his craft of stage comedy. TP

GREG BOLLINGER

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27

ART SPOT

Rachel Dazey of Dillon/Rose teamed up with chef Cat Cox to host dinners to create community through a shared meal. One of Dazey’s handmade rings is baked in the sourdough loaf.

SOURDOUGH’S SPECIAL INGREDIENT ONE LUCKY DINER LEAVES DINNER WITH A NEW RING.

J

ewelry from Dillon/Rose holds a special place in the memories of Tulsans who have popped the question or commemorated a milestone with local artist Rachel Dazey’s creations. Dazey has, in a sense, fostered meaningful experiences since she started making jewelry, but she also creates them, hosting small classes where people can make their own cuffs.

However, one of her latest events is interactive in a new way. Dazey partnered with local baker and chef Cat Cox for a monthly “Hidden Gem” dinner as an opportunity to create community through a shared meal and conversation.

Cox preps the meal with local ingredients, and one lucky diner goes home with one of Dazey’s rings, which has been baked into an artisan loaf of sourdough.

The idea is to bring people together. “Our work is about relationships,” Dazey says. “If we work together, we can create better systems of living and a more enjoyable experience of life.”

Working together is central to Dazey, who co-owns her business with husband Seth. The two are partners in every sense of the word. As busy parents of two young children, the couple 28

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

works together to juggle the demands of their personal and professional lives. “Dillon/Rose, the name of our business, comes from Seth’s middle name and my middle name,” she says. That’s the short story. “The longer story is that our work is about relationships, and symbiosis (in) relationships — how there’s always this give and take between people.”

Dazey learned to weld and make jewelry when the couple was traveling through Mexico, trading her fi rst bracelets for a meal of tacos.

The Dazeys make an effort to be involved members of their community, creating jewelry lines that speak to specific social issues and donating a percentage of sales to related causes.

“Social justice and activism have always been really important to us,” Dazey says. “It’s been the key to our individual journeys. It’s really important to us that it’s part of our business ethos and our creativity. Having a partnership where we both want the same thing makes us so much stronger.”

The next dinner on July 13 is fully booked, and those interested in signing up for a dinner can email love@dillonrose.net.

For more information, visit dillonrose.net. TP

EMILY STEWARD

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

Dillon/Rose co-owners Rachel and Seth Dazey

CANNACULTURE

Arshad Lasi, 23, is CEO of Nirvana Group, which encompasses Nirvana Novelties and Gifts, Nirvana Cannabis Dispensary and Argent Cannabis Distribution.

HOME GROWN

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR EXPANDS HIS FAMILY’S BUSINESS AND AMERICAN DREAMS.

BY BLAYKLEE FREED

TIM LANDES

I

nside a plain, unmarked building on Tulsa’s stretch of Route 66, local business owners shop a wholesale facility with neat rows of colorful glass pipes twisted into various shapes, boxes of rolling papers in dozens of sizes and brands, smoking accessories, novelty items and even skateboard decks.

It’s also home to one of the largest cannabis distributors in the region, and it all grew from a local family-owned smoke shop.

The vision was 23-year-old Tulsan Arshad Lasi’s. Now CEO of Nirvana Group, which encompasses Nirvana Novelties and Gifts, Nirvana Cannabis Dispensary and Argent Cannabis Distribution, Lasi was behind Nirvana’s expansion into a cannabis dispensary and distributer with more than 1,000 cannabis-

related products that wind up in scores of dispensaries across the state. Argent Cannabis partners with area growers to sell cannabis products wholesale to local dispensaries and businesses nationwide. Argent also is behind many of the national cannabis brands sold in Tulsa.

Lasi’s interest in business fi rst manifested in high school and grew from there. “A couple of friends and I started a T-shirt business (Toucanny) — a clothing brand of sorts, it was animal themed — and we would give 10% to the World Wildlife Fund,” Lasi says. While running Toucanny, he interned at ZT Corporate, a Houston-based wealth management and health care fi rm. Then he launched his own agency, geared toward advertising for health care providers in Houston. “And around the same time, my

dad (Imran Lasi) got this cold email about a cannabis property in Michigan for sale, and we were super excited. We had this interest in cannabis at the time.”

That time was 2017, one year before Oklahoma voters legalized medicinal cannabis with State Question 788. The Michigan business didn’t pan out, but they kept looking. “We spent the next couple of months touring America looking for a cannabis business license we could take over, to get our feet in the door,” Lasi says, “but nothing seemed to click.”

Eventually they realized the family experience running Nirvana Smoke Shop, which his parents Imran and Gulzar Lasi opened in 2011, gave them a good foothold to open the dispensary when medicinal cannabis legalized.

Lasi’s parents were born in Southeast Asia in India and Pakistan and grew Nirvana from the ground up. “My dad immigrated to America at a very young age, he was around 19 or 20 years old.

He was doing any job he could, as most immigrants do. But he had a knack for (business), and he would eventually manage gas stations and convenience stores,” Lasi says. “He was able to get a few of his own gas stations and convenience stores with some partners and saved up enough money to venture off to do the smoke shop on his own. (Well, with) my mom, basically they’ve worked together their whole lives, so they’ve always done everything together.” Lasi was born in India and went to grade school for a few years in Tulsa before moving to Houston. His dad frequently split time between the two cities for work. In January 2019, when Nirvana Cannabis Dispensary opened, Lasi did the same.

“I would go to school in person, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, take the last fl ight out Wednesday night (to Tulsa), work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, take the last fl ight out Sunday and then go to school Monday morning,” Lasi says of his schedule at University of Houston. “I did that for about six months.” Then managers and other staff were hired to help with the workload. With staff in place, Lasi can focus on running the business side of things, like payroll, orders and keeping track of some 15,000 products. And he can focus on finishing school.

“Initially I felt like my degree (in marketing and management) was just something I needed to do for my parents, but then I realized there is a value to that education, and it does create a sense of professionalism,” he says. “It’s a different kind of experience … you learn a lot of concepts and principles.” Lasi adds it’s helpful to see his hands-on experience translated into business terms. When the pandemic shut down in-person classes, Lasi switched to online classes, and he now lives in Tulsa, though he still spends time in Houston. He’s scheduled to graduate at the end of the year. TP TulsaPeople.com

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MUSIC NOTES

CLIFFDIVER co-lead vocalist Joey Duffy Brad Absher and the Superials released its debut album “Tulsa Tea” in June.

TULSAN BRAD ABSHER RELEASES HIS FIRST RECORD IN SEVEN YEARS. STORIES BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

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ith a nod to both his Oklahoma and Louisiana roots, Tulsa musician Brad Absher and his band the Superials celebrated the release of their debut album, “Tulsa Tea,” with a concert and crawfish boil last month at the historic Cain’s Ballroom. The album, out on the nonprofit Horton Records label, was produced by Chris Combs and recorded at Paradise Studio on Grand Lake, the studio previously owned and made famous by Tulsa Sound legend Leon Russell and his Shelter Records label. It’s Absher’s fi rst release in seven years, as well as his fi rst effort with this particular band.

The record is a reflection of both the joyful and painful times in Absher’s life. Absher and his wife, Amy, lost their only daughter, 24-year-old Madison, in 2016. For Absher, this album has been one way to process the grief.

“That just shut me down for a long time. That’s why it’s been seven years since I’ve put a record out,” Absher says. “That’s where the one song ‘Goodbye for Now’ comes from. I wanted to try to exorcise that. It’s talking about being sad and about hope.”

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industry has played more than a minor role in the musician’s life.

“Oil has kind of been the central theme,” he says. “My father was in the oil business, and then my wife was in the oil business. She just retired after 35 years with Chevron.”

Growing up, Absher’s dad worked in the Gulf, and the family lived for a time in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where a young Absher soaked in the region’s music. He landed back in Grove for his high school years and came to Tulsa and was a regular on the local music scene in the ’80s and ’90s before moving to Houston for his wife’s work.

Th ings have come full circle with his recent return to Tulsa, and Absher is enjoying the opportunity to reunite with old friends and work with some of the younger musicians like producer Combs.

“I’m so old school,” Absher says, “that anytime I can bring in anything new that helps me get my point across, then I’m all for it.”

For more information, visit bradabshermusic. com. TP Editor’s note: Julie Wenger Watson is a board member of the nonprofit Horton Records.

CLIFFDIVER hit the ground running this year with a new album and U.S. tour that includes opening dates for pop-punk rockers Bowling for Soup and Less Than Jake.

The aptly named “Exercise Your Demons” was released in May on Los Angeles’ SideOneDummy Records, an independent label known for helping launch bands like Flogging Molly and Gogol Bordello into the national spotlight. The band swings back through their home state on Aug. 2 for a show in Oklahoma City.

Co-lead vocalist Joey Duffy is thankful for these opportunities — and grateful to be alive to enjoy them. “I turn 35 this summer, and I joined the band at 30. My 30s have been by far the greatest time of my life. I’ve finally come into my own with who I am,” Duffy says. He quit drinking about a year ago. “That’s been the biggest change. I love getting older because I never planned to be. All of this is a bonus, and it’s a pretty cool bonus. It’s never too late to completely change your life.”

Mental health issues are an underlying theme of the new album, and both Duffy and fellow lead singer Briana Wright, who joined the band in 2020, are open about their own struggles. Despite the heavy topic, the message is one of hope, strength, resilience and survival. Duffy credits the band for helping him through the darker times.

“I feel so blessed by their friendship and that they never gave up on me when things got really dark,” Duffy says. “They’re my family, and I wouldn’t be here without them. I’m eternally in their debt for their friendship, love and support.”

More information at cliffdiverok.com. TP

ABSHER: PHIL CLARKIN; CLIFFDIVER: TREY KARNES

JOY AND PAIN

TULSA BAND ON NATIONAL TOUR

MUSIC NOTES

Tulsa pianist Donald Ryan kicks off the Music Sandwiched In series in June at Tulsa City-County Library.

LUNCH WITH LEGENDS FREE MUSIC SERIES SHOWCASES LOCAL AND NATIONAL TALENT. STORIES BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

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wice a month in June and July, Tulsans can spend their lunch breaks at Central Library downtown listening to live performances varying from jazz to Western swing.

“Music is almost like eating,” says Shelby Eicher, a National Fiddler Hall of Fame member.

“If I don’t play music, I get hungry for it, and I really miss it. I really can’t go without it.”

Eicher is among upcoming performers in Tulsa City-County Library’s Music Sandwiched In Series, which started in June and continues this month with performances from clarinetist David Carter and Brazilian percussionist Ricardo Coelho de Souza on July 11 followed by jazz and Western swing legends Eicher and Tommy Crook on July 25. The series kicked off in June with performances by Tulsa pianist Donald Ryan, and a poetry-piano pairing with author Connie Cronley and pianist Anna Norberg.

Tiff any Howard, TCCL generalist library associate, says starting the summer performances with Ryan has become tradition for the annual series, but selecting the other artists was a collaborative effort. Howard worked with Nancy Sies of SIES Incorporated to identify possible performers. From that list, Howard and Adult Services Manager Rebecca Harrison chose engaging artists with a variety of specialties who they felt would most likely resonate with audiences.

Eicher looks forward to reuniting with Crook on stage. “Tommy is really in retirement, and I’m dragging him out of it,” says Eicher of this gig with his longtime friend and frequent music collaborator. The musicians met close to 40 years ago.

“When I was on the road with Roy Clark, we’d go see Tommy play when we had a night off,” Eicher recalls. “Tommy and I both grew up playing square dances. He’d played square dances with fiddle players, and I’d been playing fiddle with Roy Clark. Tommy blew me away.”

Crook, who’s played with musicians like J.J. Cale and Merle Haggard, is well known on the Tulsa music scene for his mastery of fi ngerstyle guitar playing. Eicher, who spent 15 years touring with the legendary Roy Clark, is a multi-instrumentalist whose talents extend to fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Although both men are jazz aficionados, their repertoire is diverse.

“I don’t think you could stump us,” Crook says. “We play all kinds of music.”

According to Eicher, the duo will play everything from jazzed-up Johnny Cash covers to Latin melodies and Western swing during their library performance.

TCCL’s “Sandwiched In” series is coordinated

by Adult Services at Central Library and funded by the Tulsa Library Trust. For more information, visit tulsalibrary.org. TP

Dr. View performs in June at Mercury Lounge, 1747 S. Boston Ave., as part of Select Showcase.

TECH, MUSIC AND COMMUNITY Music and tech unite when Mercury Lounge hosts the Select Showcase featuring ATF, Golden Ones and Cam James on July 21. The concert is part of a free, monthly series in collaboration with the nonprofit Tulsa Creative Engine and Tulsa-based tech startup Fansub. Designed to highlight Tulsa’s diverse musical talent, it provides an opportunity to build community around local artists and the city’s music scene.

“Supporting our local talent is vital to the continuation of a scene that has been building for generations,” Mercury Lounge co-owner Bobby Dean Orcutt says. “Without a great local scene and music economy, a city loses some of its cultural identity. National acts are great, but local artists tell you a story about where you’re from and going.”

Orcutt says collaborating with TCE and Fansub helps the venue invest in young and emerging artists, which he believes is vital for the growth and sustainability of Tulsa’s music scene.

Michael Lombardi, Fansub’s chief marketing officer, describes the tech company as a platform to help creators manage their booking and marketing.

“Through Fansub, an event organizer or an artist can come in, create an event, ticket it, stream it, market it and capture the data,” he explains.

Orcutt is enthusiastic about this marriage of art and tech. “It’s exciting to see more creative ways of encouraging artistic growth, as well as a path toward making that a career, come from the collective thinkers and doers in Tulsa.” TP

CHARITABLE EVENTS COMPILED BY A M A NDA H A LL

9 Route 66 Native Arts Festival Benefits Route 66 Native Arts Alliance.

RT 66 NATIVEARTSALLIANCE . COM

Terrarium Bowl Workshop Benefits Tulsa Botanic Garden.

TULSABOTANIC. ORG

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Mita’s Foundation Gala Nearly 250 people joined Mita’s Foundation to celebrate four leaders in the local Hispanic community on May 21 at the Mayo Hotel. Yolanda Charney, Rita Gallardo, Francisco Ibarra and Martha Zapata were recognized for “being the unsung heroes who go above and beyond the call of duty,” said Tina Peña, president and CEO of the nonprofit. Their charitable work and philanthropical spirit reflect the life of the Peña family’s late matriarch for whom Mita’s Foundation was founded.

Funds raised will provide medical and educational services and supplies for Mita’s Foundation’s clinic and trade school in the impoverished village of Santa Rosa de Quives in Peru. The organization also runs a soup kitchen in Peru and purchases food to feed the hungry in Puerto Cancas.

1. Honorees Yolanda Charney, Rita Gallardo, Francisco Ibarra and Martha Zapata with Tina Peña (center), president and CEO of Mita’s Foundation 2. DJ Alfredo Sampayo provided music for Latin dancing.

3. Sisters Emily and Josselyn Dancourt performed a lively Peruvian folk dance.

4. Michael Grogan, FOX 23 meteorologist, and Analilian Vasquez, entrepreneur/philanthropist, served as emcees.

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at the Mansion Benefits Tulsa Area United Way. TAUW. ORG

15 Zoo Nights: On the Rocks Benefits Tulsa Zoo.

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TULSAZOO . ORG / ZOO - EVENTS / TZ 21

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Madam President

Lip Sync Battle PATHWAYSOK . ORG

Bowl for Kids’ Sake Benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.

BIGOKLAHOMA . ORG

29 Zzzs in the Seas Benefits Oklahoma Aquarium.

OKAQUARIUM . ORG

The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa hosted Madam President on May 5 at Agora Event Center. The annual event honored 11 Tulsa women “who could be president” for their contributions to the Tulsa community while guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Proceeds supported LWVMT, a hub for information on candidates for public service, election updates, nonpartisan issue overviews, position papers and more.

1. Honorees (back row) Lyn Entzeroth, Whitney Cipolla, Marcia Bruno-Todd, Sharon King Davis, (front row) Brenda Nails Alford, Eunice Tarver, Ebony Johnson, Sharon Bishop-Baldwin and Mary Bishop-Baldwin. Not pictured are honorees Lori Roberts and Sara Hill.

2. Madam President Co-Chairwoman Lindsay Wright, chief strategy officer for Tulsa Community College 3. Lynn Staggs and Karin Lackey, Madam President 2022 committee members 4. Honoree Brenda Nails Alford and Madam President Co-Chairwoman Andrea Pemberton

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30 Dodgebrawl Tournament Benefits winning team’s charity of choice.

BOKCENTER . COM / DODGEBRAWL BENEFITS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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MADAM PRESIDENT: MELENA WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY; MITA’S: EDNA R. BAUTISTA

Benefits Pathways Adult Learning Center.

WHO BUILDS OPPORTUNITY IN TULSA? OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY’S VISION FOR TULSA IS BOLD, EXPANSIVE AND INNOVATIVE. We’re hard at work developing a world-class workforce for tomorrow’s industries and educating the next generation of health care professionals. Our groundbreaking research addresses society’s most pressing needs, while our mission of service gives us purpose.

With two medical school campuses, an urban academic campus, 26 clinics, multiple research centers, and a downtown academic health care campus — including a veterans hospital, teaching hospital and psychiatric hospital — OSU is impacting lives every day, in every corner of our community.

When it comes to investing in Tulsa’s very bright future,

ORANGE IS THE ANSWER.

Rev. Kara Farrow has been a part of the Fellowship Lutheran Church, 6727 S. Sheridan Road, ministry staff since 2002.

She was ordained and installed at Fellowship in July 2019.

COFFEE WITH

REV. KARA FARROW SOUTH TULSA REVEREND ON HER AND GOD’S ROLE IN A TIME OF CONFLICT AND GRIEF. STORY AND PHOTO BY TIM LANDES

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n Friday, June 3, Fellowship Lutheran Church Rev. Kara Farrow stood among numerous other Tulsans at John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park as she shared in the grief over the June 1 mass shooting at Saint Francis Health System.

She told the dozens in attendance how after a series of sermons in response to recent mass shootings she found herself wanting to “yell into the Heavens ‘Really, Jesus? Anything we ask you’re going to do it? Because nothing is happening. It’s not stopping. When will the madness stop?”

One week after the vigil, Farrow met for coffee at Topeca Coffee, 110 N. Elgin Ave., Suite 120, to discuss what moved her to attend and speak at the park.

ON ATTENDING AND SPEAKING TO THE COLLECTIVE TRAUMA OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WAR IN UKRAINE AND NUMEROUS RECENT MASS SHOOTINGS, INCLUDING ONE AT HOME ... My goal was to leave people with a sense of hope and a sense of peace in the midst of confl ict, turmoil and despair.

What do we do when all we have is despair, when our prayers are going unanswered, when

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bad things keep happening and we have more questions than answers, more doubt than faith, what do we do in those times? Giving people a little bit of grounding because when we’re in those situations everything just feels chaotic, like it’s spinning out of control. How do we fi nd our grounding? As a pastor, that grounding is found in Scripture. It is found in Christ.

It’s found in something greater than ourselves, who is working for our good. So that was my goal that day. It’s my job to meet them where they are.

ON THE “THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE DOING NOTHING” COMMENTS ... I used a quote in my (June 5) sermon, (Scottish Baptist evangelist and author) Oswald Chambers said, “To say that prayer changes things is not as close to the truth as saying prayer changes me, and then I change things.” I talked about how that’s the purpose of prayer. We pray to be brought close to God and infused with God’s love so we can then go and work for change and make things happen. Prayer changes us so we can change things. So that’s our responsibility in response to prayer — we can’t just let it sit there. We have a responsibility on the

other side of that. That’s the only way things are going to change.

ON THE THOUGHT OF “WHY IS GOD ALLOWING THIS STUFF TO HAPPEN?” ... It’s like when someone dies and the very worst thing that you can say to somebody after a loved one dies is “Oh, well, you know, it’s all a part of God’s plan.” That’s not helpful ... Like the chaos of the world. I don’t believe this is a part of God’s plan. I just don’t believe it. I think God wants wholeness for us like shalom. God wants unity even in the midst of adversity. God loves us so much. Violence is not of God, and death is not of God. “THE QUESTION IS, ‘WHERE IS GOD IN THE MIDST OF IT?’” ... It’s not that God caused it, but where is God in the midst of it? I think God is right there with us in the midst of it. That’s where we find our hope and our comfort and our peace. Lutherans adhere to a theology of the cross, believing that you find Christ in suffering and not necessarily in glory. Some denominations might put Christ in a crown and on the throne with all the pomp and circumstance. We relate to a Christ that’s on the cross or that enters into our suffering. TP

TIM LANDES

After the tragedy at Saint Francis Health System on June 1, the community gathered two days later for a vigil at the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park.

Dr. Preston Phillips, one of the four victims, served as a board member for the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation. Mourners also celebrated the lives of Dr. Stephanie Husen, Amanda Glenn and William Love.

Top left, images of the victims sit on easels allowing vigil attendees to spend time with them. Bottom left, John Hope Franklin Center’s Vanessa Adams-Harris consoles a co-worker of Dr. Preston Phillips with Rev. Dr. Lee Butler. Right, one woman carries pink roses and many wear pink in rememberance.

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A magnolia tree (Magnolia grandiflora) blooms at Tulsa Botanic Garden.

TULSA’S

BACKYARD Oklahoma’s ecological regions are on display at Tulsa’s garden attractions. Each offers something special, from showing possibilities for home landscapes to restoring ecosystems and educating along the way. Exploring these four sprawling gardens will show that Green Country has never been more lush with life in all its varieties.

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Tulsa Botanic Garden 3900 TULSA BOTANIC DRIVE | TULSABOTANIC.ORG

Tulsa Botanic Garden offers unique plants you might never see otherwise from its location in the Osage hills.

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1. Visitors to Tulsa Botanic Garden can go inside the Spring Giant, a concrete sculpture in the Children’s Discovery Garden. The area is a multi-sensory experience and includes some plants you can touch as well as outdoor musical instruments.

Horticulturist Jeffrey Fox notes the instruments form a mixolydian scale (commonly used in jazz and blues music). Many garden staffers have horticulture degrees or have studied ecology, but Fox earned a music composition degree in addition to ecology. “I felt like ecology was very scientific. Music composition was very artistic, and what better place than a botanic garden to combine art and science?” Fox says. He quotes former CEO Todd Lasseigne, “He called gardening the slowest of the performing arts.”

2. Violet canna lily (Canna sp.) leaves unfurl in the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Floral Terraces. Its flowers should bloom between now and September, though some flowers were in bloom as early as June.

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3. Bird of Paradise shrub (Caesalpinia gilliesii) blossom in the terraces. Fox notes: “A part of our mission is to try experiment a little bit, see what works and what doesn’t so that we can then (share that information) with visitors.”

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Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park 2435 S. PEORIA AVE. | TULSAGARDENCENTER.ORG

See the possibilities for your own backyard or community garden at Tulsa Garden Center’s Teaching Garden at Woodward Park.

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1. The gardens are maintained by Director of Horticulture Andy Fusco (pictured), Garden Manager Leigh Taylor and over 100 volunteers. “Every Monday, each garden has its own team, and depending on the workload or whatever time of year it is, 50-60 volunteers (help with) various parts of the garden,” Fusco says.

2. Siskiyou Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa ‘Siskiyou’) 3. Burgundy hearts redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Burgundy Hearts’) hangs over a pond inside a rock garden. Fusco loves the water features in the rock garden and even played a part in constructing one of the benches near the waterfall when he was an intern in 2017. The garden has a calming effect in addition to its educational opportunities. “I had to give a presentation later that summer, and I was really nervous about it, so that morning I actually came up here,” he says. “I like the way that you can see through the redbud, which is one of my favorite plants (plus) just the water flowing and the shade.”

4. Purple oxalis (Oxalis triangularis)

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5-6. Colors of iris (Iris spp.) blooms in the Tulsa Area Iris Society beds span the rainbow. Tulsa Area Iris Society is one of 19 different plant societies involved with TGC.

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Philbrook Museum of Art 2727 S. ROCKFORD ROAD | PHILBROOK.ORG

The art at Philbrook is not limited to inside the museum.

The grounds span 25 acres and include a trail through various curated areas with flora that ties into exhibits like “Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism,” which opens July 6.

1. The reflecting pool and tempietto are frequented by both human and avian visitors. “Some of the interesting things we have that I love (to see) are the Eastern bluebirds. We have quite a few of those,” Director of Horticulture Sheila Kanotz says. “We recently had a donor build and give us two purple Martin houses,” so expect to see a variety of birds on the grounds.

2. Silver and gold pacific chrysanthemum (Ajania pacifica) 3. Flowers lining the Terrace include zinnias (Zinnia elegans Dreamland™ Mix F1). Kanotz says each of the main garden areas will have Mexican Modernism exhibit tie-ins — “whether it’s a component based on plants that were in their artwork or in their garden at La Casa Azul or it (illustrates) a typical Mexican garden. “Or even flipping that and asking, ‘What if Frida lived here in Oklahoma? What would she plant in a garden here?’”

4. Coneflowers from the Echinacea genus include the purpurea and pallida species in the East Formal Garden 5. Drumstick allium (Allium sphaerocephalon) 6. Japanese climbing-hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala) 7. Canna lily (Canna sp.)

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Gathering Place 2650 S. JOHN WILLIAMS WAY | GATHERINGPLACE.ORG

A stroll through Gathering Place reveals the varied ecosystems of Oklahoma and attracts visitors from the Arkansas River.

1. Visitors can take in some of Gathering Place’s 16 acres of wildflowers, including the yellow coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) 5

2. Variegated Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’) 3. Water features at Gathering Place not only attract small mammals, but they also bring a variety of birds like the blue heron, which fish from shallow water, and redwinged black birds, which like to hide in the cattails along the shore.

4. Water lily (Nymphaeaceae family) is among the 1.2 million plants and shrubs and 400 species in the park.

5. Gathering Place staff aims to both curate educational and fun outdoor experiences but also to help restore area ecosystems with plants, according to Stacie Martin, director of horticulture and operations. “We have a lot that are nitrogen fixing, which means roots and bacteria take the nitrogen from the air and converts it into a usable form for plants,” Martin explains. “Then we also continuously grow different types of milkweed for the monarchs and different species of flowers for pollinators like — oh, look at the little turtle!”

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6. Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Blackbird’ [Nothowlee]) TP TulsaPeople.com

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DINE LOCAL...

...You will enjoy an innovative and exciting culinary experience by partaking in the unique vision of a local owner/chef. ...You will feed your soul when supporting locally-owned restaurants who are laboring to get back on their feet after the effects of the pandemic.

Ancient Grains Salad Dried Figs, Blueberries, Dates, Arugula, Apiced Pecans, Champagne Vinaigrette

Fried Oysters with Creamed Spinach & Pernod, Shrimp Cocktail and a JCB Martini

Hand-Carved Steaks

Colorado Lamb Rack Pistachio Jalapeño Apple Mint Relish, War Eagle Grits, Sautéed Asparagus

USDA Prime Ribeye with D’affinois Potatoes and Asparagus Durant & Booth Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with our house made cocktail sauce.

2038 Utica Square | 918-744-4280 Pologrill.com

319 East Archer, Downtown | 918-482-2596 FrenchHen.net

6058 South Yale | 918-388-8080 DineMcGill’s.com

Thank You for Dining at Locally-Owned Restaurants!

THE TAVERN’S SUNDAY NIGHT FRIED CHICKEN DINNER

Daily deals Save a little money this summer with 23 daily specials at local restaurants.

STORY BY NATALIE MIKLES | PHOTOS BY MICHELLE POLLARD AT THE END OF A LONG DAY, LETTING SOMEONE ELSE MAKE DINNER IS SOMETIMES JUST WHAT WE NEED. For many, dining out is for weekends, when we’re ready to let someone else do the cooking and the dishes. But restaurants know one way to lure us in on weekdays is with specials. A few dollars off a pizza, half-price burgers or kids-eat-free deals are a big help to the budget when dining out.

These deals typically catch on with word of mouth, and savvy diners know they can pick a restaurant to get a good deal every day of the week. We’ve talked to some of those penny pinchers, and to restaurant managers, to find some of the best deals in town. Some of these deals made our cut because of the good price. Others made the list because they’ve become Tulsa staples, nearly iconic in the Tulsa restaurant world.

This is a list you’ll want to save for those days when no one can decide where to eat or on days when you’re trying to save a little money.

Here are some of our favorites.

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SUNDAY The Tavern Here’s one that’s become a Tulsa tradition. Strike up a conversation about the best fried chicken in Tulsa, and the Tavern is bound to be mentioned. Part of its mystique is that it’s only served on Sunday nights after 5 p.m.

This is the classic grandma’s Sunday night family meal of your dreams — crisp fried chicken, whipped potatoes with bacon gravy, peas and a biscuit, all for $20.

201 N. MAIN ST.

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PRHYME BURGER

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MONDAY Savastano’s A whole pizza for $8 is unheard of, but not on Monday nights at Savastano’s, which is known for its deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. On Mondays the $8 one-topping pizza deal is for the thin-crust pizza. It’s a good opportunity to see how they do thin crust, with toppings blanketed with cheese and baked into the crust. This deal is for both dine-in and carryout.

8211 E. REGAL BLVD., SUITE 109

Peppers Grill Start the week off right by taking the kids to Peppers in Utica Square. Mondays are “kids eat free” days, with one free kids’ meal with each adult meal purchased.

Kids can choose from a cheeseburger, enchilada, chicken strips, quesadilla and more, while parents can dig into fajitas, veggie taco salad, turkey melt or so many other great choices.

1950 UTICA SQUARE

Fassler Hall

PRHYME The Monday blues won’t get you down when you know PRHYME’s half-price bar menu is on the horizon.

Everything on PRHYME’s bar menu is half price Monday nights. That includes such delicacies as fried escargot, burgers, steak frites and king salmon burger on a brioche bun. The bar itself is a great downtown spot for a date night or catching up with friends in a chic atmosphere.

111 N. MAIN ST.

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You get a sausage! And you get a sausage!

Everyone can have a sausage with the Monday special at Fassler Hall. From 11 a.m.-midnight on Mondays, all sausages are half price. This is a great way to sample several sausages or split several among friends. That puts most sausages at around $4 each and includes everything from cheddarwurst to lamb sausage to hot Italian to bratwurst.

304 S. ELGIN AVE.

CHICKEN STREET TACO, CHICKEN SOPE AND GORDITA FROM CAFE OLÉ

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TUESDAY

Empire Slice House Pizza by the slice is perfect for lunch. And $4.25 is just about as good as it gets, especially when you get a huge slice of Empire pizza. On Tuesday, try the Notorious P.I.G. with pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon and Canadian bacon. That’s a whole lot of pig. Or try the Rocksteady with blue cheese crumbles, bacon, red onion and a balsamic drizzle.

417 N. MAIN ST.

Cafe Olé Tin Pan Tuesday is the can’t-miss special from 4 p.m. to close on Tuesdays at Cafe Olé. Mix and match for $2.50 each from a menu including street tacos, gorditas, empanadas and roasted chile mollete. Also on the menu: $3 Tecates.

3509 S. PEORIA AVE.

Stone Mill BBQ and Steakhouse Did someone say, “All you can eat?” Come hungry on Tuesday nights for all-you-can-eat barbecued ribs for about $16 at Stone Mill. This deal comes with two sides, such as coleslaw, fried okra, baked beans or potato salad. The tender ribs are smoky-sweet.

2000 W. RENO ST., BROKEN ARROW TulsaPeople.com

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THURSDAY Tim’s Midtown Diner The last Thursday of the month is Indian taco day at Tim’s Diner, the new name of the longtime Tulsa favorite, Phill’s Diner. When Phill Hughes decided to retire, Tim Shadlow took over, buying the restaurant from Hughes but keeping the classic diner menu. Shadlow added some of his own creations, including authentic Indian tacos. A great, traditional Indian taco is hard to find, so we’re thrilled to find it on Tim’s menu.

3310 E. 32ND ST. BRICKTOWN BREWERY’S BARBECUE CHICKEN PIZZA

Roppongi Bricktown Brewery Half price? Yes, please. Make Wednesday night a pizza night at Bricktown Brewery. You can’t beat a half-price pie, especially with the hand-formed, rustic-style, wood-fired pizzas at Bricktown. We’re partial to the Yard Bird with pulled, roasted chicken, peppered bacon, mushrooms, three cheeses and a unique barbecue mustard sauce. Normally $13.95, this pizza is a steal at just about $7.

3301 S. PEORIA AVE. | 9409 E. 71ST ST.

Roka Happy hour specials are a great way to save on food and drinks. But scooting out of the office in time to take advantage of the special isn’t always easy. Roka has solved that problem with an all-day happy hour every Wednesday. That means discounts on select drinks and appetizers all day to get over the mid-week hump. Roka’s pan-seared potstickers, tempura veggie rolls, lemon blossom cocktail and $4 glasses of wine are all part of the deal, plus much more.

1616 S. UTICA AVE.

Elote It’s hard to find good food as inexpensive as Elote’s puffy taco night deal. On Wednesdays, chicken and veggie puffy tacos are $2.50 from 4 p.m. to close. This is a tremendous savings, as the tacos are normally in the $9-$10 range for two puffy tacos. Sides aren’t part of the deal, so if you want to splurge a little, order the elote on or off the cob, sweet potatoes or rice and beans.

514 S. BOSTON AVE. 48

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Ramen at Roppongi is good any day of the week, but we especially like it on Thursdays when it’s half price starting at 4 p.m. We’re talking pork, chicken, miso and vegan ramen bowls. Treat yourself to some of the best shaved ice in town for dessert.

601 S. BOSTON AVE.

Shaky Jake’s If you need another reason to check out Shaky Jake’s, we’ve got one for you. Franks are half off on Thursdays, and these hot dogs are unlike any you’ve had before. These are piled-high franks requiring a knife and fork. Shaky Jake’s also has $1 wings on Wednesdays and half-off appetizers on Tuesdays and Fridays.

121 N. ASH AVE., BROKEN ARROW

INDIAN TACO AT TIM’S MIDTOWN DINER

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KEO’S HAPPY HOUR $6 HOUSE MARTINI

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FRIDAY KEO It’s hard to find restaurant deals on Friday nights.

Everyone is ready to go out to eat, so there’s no need for restaurants to incentivize. But KEO’s happy hour specials from 4-6 p.m. on appetizers and drinks also are available on Fridays. Super good deals include $5 and $6 glasses of wine, $4 Sapporo and a $6 house martini with lemongrass-infused vodka and pear vodka. We also love the street vendor skewers of coconut chicken with peanut sauce for $5 and the lemongrass beef skewer for $6.

3524 S. PEORIA AVE. | 8921 S. YALE AVE. 845 E. KENOSHA ST., BROKEN ARROW 50

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Nelson’s Buffeteria If you’ve lived in Tulsa long enough, you know about Nelson’s famous chicken fried steak. “Hello, chicken fry!” But fewer people know about Nelson’s daily lunch specials, including some of the best catfish in town, served every Friday. Along with chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken and drip beef, which are always on the menu, Fridays are for fish. Both catfish and baked cod are available on the line, and both are worth the trip.

4401 S. MEMORIAL DRIVE

Neives’ Mexican Grill Three words: Free. Queso. Friday. That’s right, every Friday is free queso Friday at Neives. This pepperjack queso with spinach and pico is addictively good. Dig in with chips, or pour a little over some of the best tacos in Tulsa: Neives’ Nacho Mama’s Tacos — flour tortillas filled with chicken, beef or pork, then deep fried and topped with cheddar cheese and lettuce.

10309 E. 61ST ST.

BURGER NIGHTS Tulsa is a burger town. You know it by the number of hamburger restaurants and world-famous burgers we’ve put on the map. And you know it by the number of restaurants offering weekly burger deals. Here are some of our favorites.

Baxter’s Interurban Grill It’s honey pepper bacon burger Monday for lunch or dinner at Baxter’s. This big, juicy burger is just $8 and comes with a side. Rhetorical question: Does anyone choose anything besides fries?

717 S. HOUSTON AVE.

Roka Most people don’t come to Roka for a hamburger.

That is, unless it’s Tuesday night. That’s when the Roka burger, with kung pao sauce, bell peppers, mushrooms and onions, is just $6.

1616 S. UTICA AVE.

George’s Pub

ALBERT G’S SMOKED CHICKEN SPECIAL

Wednesday is pint and burger night at George’s, a friendly neighborhood pub in Jenks. The George’s burger, a half-pound black angus burger with pickles, onion, tomato and lettuce is $8 on Wednesdays.

108 N. FIRST ST., JENKS

McNellie’s

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SATURDAY Albert G’s Loyalists might revolt if Albert G’s ever took the smoked chicken off the menu. It’s something they’ve come to expect and has been a staple for more than a decade. The famous half chicken is smoked to perfection, and is available every Wednesday and Saturday night. It’s not on the regular menu. But — if you know, you know. It’s $12 for a half chicken. And don’t forget the tabouli.

2748 S. HARVARD AVE. | 421 E. FIRST ST. | 7588 S. OLYMPIA AVE. TP

It’s the original, the classic, the one that birthed burger nights near and far. Wednesday nights may forever be McNellie’s burger and fries nights. It’s the night you can get a really great burger and fries in a lively English pub setting for just $5.

409 E. FIRST ST. | 7031 S. ZURICH AVE.

Flo’s Burger Diner Flo’s calls Thursday its magical day. A day when a magic wand is waved and customers can choose any burger (and these are big, loaded burgers) with any side and a bottomless drink — all for $13.

The possibilities are endless: bacon cheeseburger with Spanish fries, chili cheeseburger with fried dill pickle chips, old fashioned hamburger with haystack onion rings or any other number of options.

2604 E. 11TH ST.

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W H AT’S COOK ING

GRILLED VEGGIES WITH BASIL VINAIGRETTE Serves 6

1 pint cherry tomatoes 1 pound fresh asparagus, ends snapped 4 zucchini or yellow squash, cut into slices 2 bell peppers, sliced (or a handful of mini bell peppers, halved) 1 (8-ounce) container mushrooms 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch slices 1 bunch green onions Olive oil Salt and black pepper Basil Vinaigrette

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Th read tomatoes, leaving room between each, onto skewers.

Brush vegetables with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill zucchini, peppers, mushrooms and eggplant about 5 minutes on each side. Grill tomatoes, asparagus, peppers and onions about 3 minutes on each side.

Remove all vegetables from grill, and brush with vinaigrette while they’re still hot. Arrange on a serving platter, on top of salad greens or as a side dish. Serve with remaining vinaigrette.

BASIL VINAIGRETTE

2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed 1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place all ingredients in a food processor, and process until smooth. Add more olive oil if needed to reach the right consistency.

SUMMERTIME GRILLED CHICKEN Serves 6

Hot off the grill

1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce Zest from 2 lemons 4 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard 2 minced garlic cloves 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 2 pounds chicken breasts

t’s that time of year when we want our food fresh, colorful and hot off the grill.

Vegetables just taste better in the heat of the summer when they’re at their peak. Whether they’re from the farmers’ market, the grocery store or your own backyard, there’s nothing like a summertime ripe tomato, crisp zucchini or hot peppers.

Here are a couple of recipes you’ll want to make this month. One for grilled vegetables that are delicious on their own but even better when placed on lettuce greens with a tangy vinaigrette and a sprinkle of feta cheese and pine nuts. We also love a universal summertime favorite: grilled chicken. Th is one has tons of flavor from the marinade. Serve it with grilled or roasted potatoes or alongside those vegetables.

Th is is what summertime cooking is all about. — NATALIE MIKLES

In a bowl, mix all marinade ingredients together, whisking until fully combined. Pour over chicken in a shallow bowl or in a Ziploc bag.

Marinate 4-6 hours.

Preheat grill to medium heat. Cook about 6 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the chicken. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Let rest 5 minutes before serving and cutting.

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CHEERS!

Shaky Jake’s Burgers and Franks is open 3-9 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, and 3-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday.

It’s located at 121 N. Ash Ave. in downtown Broken Arrow.

BA Bramble becomes burger joint at night

Smoked old fashioned

MICHELLE POLLARD; SHAKY JAKE'S: TIM LANDES

Prime pairing Randy Turley and Gregg Carlson are longtime cigar people. Over the years they’ve been to many cigar lounges and bars, picking up the things they loved about certain places and things they wanted to avoid. Then, they decided to open Churchill’s Cigar Lounge, 3334 S. Peoria Ave., in November 2021. It is named for famous cigar-lover Winston Churchill and heavily influenced by the cigar lounge at Caesar’s Palace.

There is something great going on every day of the week, from sports night and ladies’ night to the popular Midweek Mixology classes put on by guest mixologist JD Colbert, to live music Thursday through Saturday. Check its Facebook page for updates on weekly events.

Non-smokers will be pleasantly surprised at the lack of smoke in the building. “We really wanted to make sure we had great ventilation,” says Jennifer Feather, Carlson’s fiancée and acting general manager. Women account for about 35%-40% of Churchill’s patrons. “We wanted to make sure this is a female-friendly atmosphere where men can bring their wives or dates.”

Cigar newbies are welcomed and encouraged. Bartenders help assist in cigar selection and drink pairings. Churchill’s also hosts a monthly Cigar 101 class taught by local cigar expert James George.

If you are thinking cigar-lounging sounds like a cool-weather activity, think again. Churchill’s has a patio for sipping a sunset cocktail and enjoying a smoke (or not) outside.

Visit churchillscigarlounge.com for more details. — GEORGIA BROOKS

Johnna Hayes didn’t expect the opening of Shaky Jake’s to be so emotional.

But this restaurant, named for her grandfather, is about more than burgers and fries. After a tumultuous year with the closing of Celebrity Restaurant, Hayes, owner of the three Bramble locations as well as Bird and Bottle, felt the tears falling as she spoke to Shaky Jake’s staff on opening day.

Hayes’ grandpa, Jim Capshaw, nicknamed Shaky Jake, owned bars and restaurants for years, and is the inspiration for the new concept from the Three Sirens Restaurant Group.

“These are dramatic burgers — over-the-top, Instagram-worthy burgers,” Hayes says. “Everything’s a little extra. I don’t want a hot dog to ever be picked up. I want everything to have to come with a steak knife and fork.”

Hayes says this in an almost mischievous way, but she also knows dining out is about experience and has created unique ones at each of her restaurants.

Part of that experience at Shaky Jake’s is sharing space with the Broken Arrow Bramble.

The idea for Shaky Jake’s came during the height of COVID-19, when Hayes did her fair share of worrying over the future of her restaurants and the restaurant industry in general.

It was a conversation with Capshaw that put things into perspective.

“My grandpa said, ‘I made it through the Depression, and you can make it through this. You’ll pull through. You’ll be all right and come out the other side,’” Hayes says.

That conversation helped her reevaluate things. She considered what she could do without expending capital. That’s when the idea for using the Bramble in Broken Arrow, which closes at 2 p.m., came into play. Hayes had seen the idea of dual-purpose restaurants done successfully in New York City and believed it could be done in Tulsa.

Each of the Bramble locations will become dual-purpose restaurants. Shaky Jake’s is first. This summer, the Bramble’s East Sixth Street location will make the evening swap into a Mexican concept, Holé Molé. And by fall/winter, the Bramble’s Jenks location will share space with a hot chicken concept, Hot Chicks.

After the Broken Arrow location closes at 2 p.m. each day, the staff has an hour to turn the Bramble into Shaky Jake’s. Franks and burgers are the main attraction. You’ll also find fun appetizers, like loaded fries, Cuban egg rolls, mojo pork nachos and Cap’s onion rings — a family recipe — complete with the tangy flavor of Shaky Sauce.

Also not to be missed are the wings, which are brined, smoked and then fried.

“We have smokers in all of our Brambles, so we thought we should do smoked wings and then flash fry them,” Hayes says.

Some of the most popular burgers and franks so far include the Buffalo Burger ($14) with two patties, blue cheese, buffalo hot sauce, fried onion haystack, pickle and mayo.

For hot dogs, the Tijuana Dog ($11) is a favorite, with a bacon-wrapped frank, grilled peppers, avocado aioli and mustard. — NATALIE MIKLES TulsaPeople.com

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A LA CARTE

Cha Bubble Tea

Summer sippers 3 COOL SPOTS FOR BUBBLE TEA When you’re not sure what you’re in the mood for, Cha Bubble Tea is a good place to start. The menu here ranges from strawberry lemonade with orange popping bubbles to taro smoothies with boba. If you’re a coffee lover, try the Vietnamese coffee with boba. Cha has many tea flavors including honey jasmine, passionfruit green tea, oolong and lemon black tea. The smoothies are a good option for kids.

Try a caffeine-free piña colada smoothie, mango smoothie, or a coffee or mocha smoothie for an afternoon reset.

8246 E. 71ST ST. | 918-806-6855

HEY BOBA

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If the summertime heat has you down, you need an icecold pick-me-up. Bubble tea is one of our favorites for a sip of something sweet, and Hey Boba is one of the best.

The mango tea with kiwi popping boba is a favorite with a burst of flavor. Those little bubbles — chewy tapioca pearls — add a pop of fun to any drink. The coconut bubble milk tea and taro milk tea also are great. Hey Boba also has delicious little bites, like crab rangoon or fried dumplings.

6942 S. LEWIS AVE. | 918-292-8236 Kung Fu Tea has been a happy addition to KingsPointe Village. This fun shop has a menu that makes you want to try one of everything. The most popular drink is a freshly brewed Earl Grey with sugar and milk powder. This milk tea is a favorite and even better with coffee bubbles. Kung Fu’s punch tea is full of fruit flavors, like rosehip, blueberry or grapefruit, and is combined with jasmine green tea.

Choose a topping for any tea. Bubbles are a classic, but you also can load up with herbal jelly, red beans or pudding.

5956 S. YALE AVE. | 918-561-6057 — NATALIE MIKLES

La Tertulia

NEW RESTAURANT

The winners from TulsaPeople’s annual A-LIST Readers’ Choice Awards are fresh faces and places in Tulsa’s dining scene.

La Tertulia 311 E. Second St. 539-525-0853 latertuliarestaurant.com Oakhart Barbecue 1644 E. Third St. oakhartbbq.com TXMZ (Tacos x Mezcal) 39 E. 18th St. 918-764-8666 txmztulsa.business.site Basque 114 N. Boston Ave. 918-442-2996 basquetulsa.com Wildflower Cafe 1306 E. 11th St., Suite F 918-764-8843 wildflowercafetulsa.com

TRY THIS! NO. 1 SELLER The Pabellon Arepa (pictured) is a bestseller.

Stuffed inside the cornmeal cake is shredded beef, black beans, plantains and cheese. Drizzle with the traditional green sauce for a kick. $7.50.

SANDWICH CONTENDER The Patacon ($12.50, chicken; $13.50, beef) is a distinct sandwich. Rather than bread, fried plantain envelopes ham, lettuce, cabbage, tomato, cheese and the customer’s choice of chicken or shredded beef.

SOUND BITE

KALA MCLENNAN Take 2: A Resonance Cafe, 309 S. Main St. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? I’m a food prep and food cook, and I also serve the food.

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR SANDWICH ON THE MENU? The World Famous Drip Beef.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANDWICH ON THE MENU? The drip beef (laughs). It’s just so good.

The bread is so soft and the roast beef always has such good flavor.

MICHELLE POLLARD; SOUND BITE: TIM LANDES

CELEBRATE Next month the restaurant will mark three years. It is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m., MondaySaturday. El Arepaso carries several beverages and candies from Venezuela and other Latin America countries.

PABELLON AREPA

from El Arepaso Venezuelan Cafe 8036 S. YALE AVE. | 918-430-3136 | ELAREPASOVENEZUELANCAFE.COM

WHEN YOU CHANGE IT UP WHAT ARE YOU GOING WITH? The Take 2 Club. I like the way it’s put together. It’s just perfect.

WHICH PIE IS THE MOST POPULAR? It’s a tie between chocolate almond and peanut butter pie.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU EATING? The peanut butter pie.

Take 2: A Resonance Cafe is operated by Resonance Center for Women, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The cafe is open to diners and is a positive, educational environment where women recently released from prison can find immediate employment and learn valuable skills.

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Your best summer ever awaits with memories to be made around the campfire and unexpected adventures to be discovered.

Welcome to Camp Long Creek at Big Cedar Lodge. b i g c e d a r. c o m

Accounting • Luxa Enterprises Addiction Recovery • GRAND Addiction Recovery Center Audio Visual Technology • ImageNet Aviation • Christiansen Aviation Bakery • Nothing Bundt Cakes Business Banking • Security Bank Catering • Ludger's Catering Coffee Shops • Coffee House on Cherry Street Commercial Insurance • Insurica Tulsa/Joe West Commercial Real Estate • McGraw Commercial Properties Commerical Real Estate Appraisals • Green Country Appraisals Community Banking • First Oklahoma Bank Convention Centers • Cox Business Convention Center Drywall • Drywall Specialists Inc. Family Entertainment • Andy B's Family Law • Bundy Law Office Female-owned Restaurant Group • Three Sirens Restaurant Group Fencing • Empire Fence Festivals • Castle of Muskogee Financial Planning • Chisholm Trail Wealth Planning Hair Salon • Coco & Rose Salon | Spa Healthcare • Saint Francis Health System Heating, Air Conditioning, Electric and Plumbing • Airco Services IT Services • JMARK Lumber • M&M Lumber Management Consulting • Arrowhead Consulting Marble and Stone Countertops • Eurocraft Granite & Marble Mortgage Lending • Waterstone Mortgage

Every business has a story to tell.

Outdoor Entertainment • Jandebeurs Motor Sports Park Payroll Processing and Tax Compliance • Red River Payroll Pet Boutique • Dog Dish Piano Showrooms • Steinway Piano Gallery Property Management • McGraw Property Management and Leasing Residential Real Estate • McGraw Realtors

TulsaPeople is proud to present our sixth annual edition of “FACES OF THE 918,” a special sponsored editorial section that tells the stories behind a variety of locally owned businesses serving “the 918.” Each profile features owners and/or employees of 46 Tulsa-area companies with a description of their business.

We hope you find this presentation informative and useful.

Each company represents a select business category. Single-page and half-page profiles are presented alphabetically by category in two groupings.

Rural Healthcare • Wagoner Health Staffing and Workforce Management • Barracuda Staffing Streaming TV • Black Wall Street TV Network Sushi • Sushi Hana Title Services • Commercial Title & Escrow Services Tree Service • We B Trees Tourism • Tulsa Regional Tourism Wedding and Event Venues • Station 13 Windows and Doors • The Womble Company/ Pella Windows and Doors of Oklahoma Wine and Spirits • Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits Women’s Boutique • Ella & Orchid Wound Care • Tulsa Wound Center TulsaPeople.com

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THE FACE OF HEALTHCARE The Children’s The Face of Healthcare

THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Hospital at AT SAINT FRANCIS Saint Francis

With a focus on family-centered care, The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis is eastern Oklahoma’s only hospital dedicated to the unique healthcare needs of infants, children, and teens.

Key pediatric services include the following: 24/7 Pediatric Emergency Center

Neurosurgery

The St. Jude Affiliate Clinic

Ophthalmology

The Henry Zarrow Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Adolescent Medicine Allergy/Immunology Cardiology Child Abuse Pediatrics Cystic Fibrosis Clinic Eating Disorders Endocrinology/Diabetes Care

Oculoplastic Surgery Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery Orthopedic Surgery Otolaryngology (ENT) Pathology Pediatric MRI Pediatric Stroke Team Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Gastroenterology

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

General surgery

Pulmonology

Genetics

Radiology

Hematology/Oncology

Sickle Cell Clinic

Intensive Care/ECMO/CRRT

Sports Medicine

Neonatal Transport Team

Trauma Care

Neonatology

Urology

Neurology

Wound Care Clinic

At Saint Francis Health System, our mission is to extend the healing ministry and presence of Christ in all we do.

Proudly, The Children’s Hospital extends that mission to children throughout our region. For more information, please call 918-502-6000.

6161 SOUTH YALE AVENUE 918-502-6000 SAINTFRANCIS.COM/CHILDRENSHOSPITAL

Larry Smith, CEO and Josh Cantwell, COO GRAND Addiction Recovery Center

The Face of Addiction Recovery

GRAND Addiction Recovery Center 12&12 Addiction Recovery Center has formally merged with Grand Lake Mental Health Center Inc. to form GRAND Addiction Recovery Center. “Our collective 80-plus years of expertise in mental health and addiction treatment creates a unified force like no other,” CEO Larry Smith says. “At GRAND Addiction Recovery Center, our single focus is to deliver an entirely new model of care that centers on two critical bedrocks: easier access to treatment and better long-term health outcomes.”

As the largest Comprehensive Community Addiction Recovery Center in Oklahoma, GRAND Addiction Recovery Center’s complete continuum of care provides multiple levels of treatment in the most suitable — and least restrictive — environments possible. This includes medically supervised detoxification, intensive residential treatment, expanded outpatient services featuring state-of-the art technologies that afford instant access to licensed mental health professionals to aid in relapse-prevention, transitional living, sober living for homeless veterans in recovery and, coming soon, 24/7 triage care.

GRAND Addiction Recovery Center is certified by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and holds Behavioral Health Care accreditation from the Joint Commission. When you’re ready to get real, get real recovery at GRAND Addiction Recovery Center.

6333 E. SKELLY DRIVE | 918-664-4224 GRANDADDICTIONRECOVERY.COM #GETREALRECOVERY

The Face of IT Services

JMARK For over 30 years, JMARK has provided award-winning information technology and cybersecurity solutions to help organizations increase the velocity of their success. With all that experience comes extensive expertise.

JMARK’s strategic services help businesses leverage technology to be more secure, productive and profitable. “We understand the challenges that modern businesses face and help them maintain continuity and efficiency, even amid the continual changes occurring in technology needs and expectations,” Principal Owner and CEO Thomas H. Douglas says.

“Our mission is to ensure that every organization has the right technology to support its vision and goals.”

JMARK offers comprehensive IT services designed to enhance operations and increase business success. “We have teams dedicated to specific verticals, which means that they know the software, needs and technology trends of those industries and that their teams can cross-collaborate to share expertise and experience gleaned from one industry to create innovative solutions for another,” President Chris Huels says.

JMARK also has functional teams who focus on particular IT functions, such as cybersecurity, network management, servers, backup, disaster recovery and continuity, help desk, cloud solutions, telecommunications, business intelligence and more. This allows those teams to stay aware of the latest developments in those areas and conduct research and development to continually refine JMARK’s offerings to create better value for its clients.

“We take a proactive approach to IT, with a focus on being a complete business support partner to our clients,” Chief Growth Officer Andy Whaley says. “Of course, we solve technology problems as they occur, but we also work closely with our clients to learn their business — their workflows, impediments, processes, as well as their short-term and longterm goals — so we can help them leverage their technology for improvements, innovation and growth.”

JMARK puts people before technology. “Everything we do, and every service we offer, is a reflection of our ‘People First, Technology Second’ philosophy,” Douglas says. This people-first approach to technology strategy empowers individuals and teams to be more dynamic, innovative, connected and efficient. “We love technology,” Huels says, “but we also understand IT is a tool that is most valuable when it helps people achieve their potential by doing their best work. That work facilitates business growth, increases opportunities, changes lives and accelerates success.”

5800 E. SKELLY DRIVE, SUITE 500 | 918-496-4223 JMARK.COM

Left to Right: Brad Prost, Karen Shipe, Robert Walters, Ryan Porter, Thomas H. Douglas, Scott Howell, Marty Tannen, Pat Turney, Jim Meyer, Jeff Bendure

The Face of Tree Service

We B Trees For 27 years, Tulsans have trusted the expert service of We B Trees for their professional tree care.

“We are a full-service tree company for Tulsa’s urban forest of established trees,” says Tim Nall, an ISA-certified arborist who owns and operates the business with wife Barbara. “We always do what is best for the tree and fits the homeowners’ desires for the tree.”

We B Trees offers fertilization, insect control, pruning, removal, stump grinding and more to the greater Tulsa area. The company’s subdivision, B Haulin’, provides a roll-off container and dumpster service.

We B Trees began with Tim, one crew member and one truck. Today it’s a thriving family-operated business. “We have seen many changes and had many people to help build us into the company we are,” Barbara says. “Trust and honesty are at the roots of our existence and always will be.”

Left hand page: Nala (Office Dog), Barbara Nall, Co-Owner; Tim Nall, Co-Owner; Whitney Fulkerson, Office/PHC Manager; Right hand side of the page: Steve Carroll, Mechanic; Omar Carracheo, Bucket Operator, Kierstyn Ramsay-Kunce, PHC/Field Biology/Office; Skyler Cardenas, Climber; Elise Howard, PHC/Entomologist

The company is fully insured and qualified to do any type of tree work.

“Over the decades, we have seen fluctuations in the economy,” Barbara says, “and we encourage all customers, especially today, to ensure their tree service provider is fully insured and qualified to tackle the job.” The We B Trees crew holds decades of knowledge and experience to provide unmatched quality regardless of the size or complexity, from pruning to tree removal.

“We have a passion for trees and a passion for Tulsa,” Tim says. “It has been our family’s greatest honor to provide quality tree care to the region for more than a quarter of a century. We plan to continue caring for Tulsa’s urban landscape for many years to come.”

P.O. BOX 9563, TULSA, OK 74157 | 918-446-3473 WEBTREES.COM

Back Row: Scott Morey, Alex Midgett, Andrew Newell, Jesse Blagg, Justin Robinson, Alan Webb; Front Row: Stephen Wade, Kyle Kempf, Cara Hummel

The Face of Audio-Visual Technology

ImageNet Consulting ImageNet Consulting has been at the forefront of every technological step in the modern workplace since our start in 1956 servicing typewriters out of a home garage. The Audio-Visual Division continues this tradition by providing innovative and creative solutions in a post-pandemic business environment.

ImageNet’s Audio-Visual Division has the expertise to implement effective technology into an office, classroom, or conference room. From our in-house cloudbased digital signage platform—Wallboard—to a large indoor and outdoor LED video wall solutions and simplified conferencing solutions, ImageNet’s consultative approach allows businesses of all sizes and verticals to successfully execute their technology goals to increase the business’s bottomline in the new era of business strategies and increasingly hybrid work environments.

“Our Audio-Visual team loves consulting with each individual client to help assist in planning, budgeting, dreaming, designing, installing, and maintaining professionally-designed and engaging technology solutions. With our agnostic

approach and long list of manufacturer relationships, each project is fully driven by the client’s unique use cases, budgets, and needs,” says Kyle Kempf, the director of ImageNet’s Audio-Visual offering.

“We provide our clients with cutting-edge technology and expert service that empowers their business to reach new heights,” says Andrew Newell, Tulsa sales manager. “A holistic solution that solves every business challenge is nearly impossible to imagine, but we’ve come close.”

“Whether you need to wow your audience or engage your employees, our AudioVisual solutions are custom fit to your style, needs and budget,” says Alan Webb, Oklahoma Market president. “Our engineers, technicians and consultants want to become your trusted business partner and help transform your organization.”

7231 E. 41ST ST. | 918-359-8602 IMAGENETCONSULTING.COM

Bill Christiansen with sons Bryan and Ken

The Face of Aviation

Christiansen Aviation Christiansen Aviation of Tulsa is one of the great business success stories in the general aviation industry. Founded in 1972 by Bill Christiansen in a small, rented building on the grounds of Jones Riverside Airport, the company is now a diversified enterprise offering flight training, aircraft rental, aircraft leasing, and maintenance.

“Renting that small building at Jones Riverside back in May of 1972 was one of the great decisions I’ve made in my life,” said Christiansen. “It was easy to see Tulsa was an aviation community...with Spartan Aeronautics, American Airlines, Flight Safety and now NORDAM based here”.

Today, in year 50 of the company, Christiansen Aviation is a diversified, full-service fixed base operator (FBO) offering a flight school and Cessna Aircraft sales, rental and leasing, and maintenance services at its footprint at Jones Riverside Airport in Jenks that includes a 60,000 square foot hangar and 16,000 square foot office building. Jones Riverside is now one of the most active airports in the United States.

The founder remembers business was good in the early years for the company, but things truly “took off for us in 1974 when we affiliated with Cessna Aircraft Company of Wichita”.

“The most important thing Cessna had going was the company produced small singleengine planes and also manufactured multi-engine corporate aircraft,” Christiansen noted.

“Cessna covered the whole gamut of general aviation airplanes. When I became a dealer for them in 1974, it was my first real hope that our company would be a long-term business.” The aircraft sales and leasing business, started in 1985, has been good for Christiansen Aviation and the company is now one of the largest single-engine Cessna owners in the country with clients that include universities and proprietary flight schools nationwide. “We own every aircraft in our fleet which enables us to offer some of the lowest prices in the country,”

Christiansen says. The company currently owns over 300 aircraft that are leased, and has sold planes worldwide from Kenya to Australia.

Bill Christiansen’s interest in aviation was created by learning to fly while a high school student in his native New Jersey. “I loved it and wanted to become an airline pilot,” he recalls, “but my mother insisted that I needed to go to college. So, I selected the University of Oklahoma because OU had a flight school.” He and wife Veretta met at OU and are proud graduates. After college graduation and service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Christiansen selected Tulsa as the place he wanted to live and work. “In addition to Tulsa having that great aviation heritage, our city has a low cost of living, a great quality of life, and great people,” he said. “It was an easy decision to come here. And I very much appreciate OU to this day for attracting me to the university which ultimately enabled me to plant-my-flag in Oklahoma”.

Christiansen is a proud supporter of Tulsa’s Air & Space Museum and served as its board chair for two years. “The museum is a great place to learn about Tulsa’s interesting history in aviation,” he emphasizes.

Today, Bill Christiansen is joined in the business by his two sons, Bryan and Ken Christiansen, who manage the fixed-base operation, fuel services and hangar facilities. “I could not have grown the business without the help of my two sons,” he emphasizes, “they have been a key to increasing our business over the years.” Bryan is a graduate of OSU while Ken is an OU grad. “And, Veretta is our family’s hero because she taught kindergarten for 24 years in Union and Jenks schools before her retirement.”

200 LEAR JET LANE | 918-298-6650 CHRISTIANSENAVIATION.COM

The Face of Business Banking

Security Bank Security Bank is built on relationships.

Behind each transaction is a story. A person reaching for a dream. An individual seeking to set their business idea into motion. A business owner ready to take the next step. Whatever the need, Security Bank invests in the financial growth and success of people while preserving community banking.

“Knowing our customers and building relationships is at the core of our business model,” says Security Bank Chief Executive Officer Dawne Stafford. “When we know their stories and listen to their needs, we can better serve them.”

Security Bank is a highly-experienced, deeply-committed, and customer-oriented team dedicated to finding pathways to help customers solve problems, identify opportunities and adapt through good and difficult times. Flexibility, reliability and personal attention are trademarks of Security Bank’s customer service.

“We treat people the way we want to be treated,” said Security Bank President and Chief Lending Officer Tom Gay. “We’ve built loyal relationships with our customers over the years because of who we are by nature: honest, caring and genuine.”

It’s a legacy built into Security Bank’s DNA by Security Bank founder and

Row 1: Staci Barrett, Tom Gay, Eric Bohne, Dawne Stafford; Row 2: Scott Wilson, Joshua Cole, Andrew Havens; Row 3: Shane Gibson, Austin Burkdoll, Gil Eacret

Chairman Eric Bohne who was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Bankers Association’s 50-Year Club for his service in the banking industry. His leadership built the foundation of Security Bank’s people-first business model, which he led by example. Bohne attributes his success to the smart and dedicated team he has had the fortune to work with. Together, they have made Security Bank a resilient and resourceful financial institution that believes success is achieved through the consistency of hard work, perseverance and life-long learning.

“My favorite part of working in the banking industry for 50 years has been helping people,” Bohne said.

This year marks Security Bank’s 22nd anniversary and their continued commitment to serve the Tulsa business community with their highest level of care.

Centrally located at 51st Street and Highway 169, they invite you to come experience the difference at Security Bank. sbtulsa.bank.

Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

10727 E. 51ST ST. | 918-664-6100 | SBTULSA.BANK | MEMBER FDIC

Robyn Gaddis, Jennifer Helms, LaShawn Stokes and John James of INSURICA TULSA’s Employee Benefits Department

The Face of Commercial Insurance

Insurica/Joe West Co. INSURICA has a reputation for excellence in the products and services it offers.

Along with a full range of brokerage services including employee benefits, property and casualty, it provides financial and retirement products and services.

In addition to its own professional staff and value-added services, the firm is able to provide a wealth of resources to its clients through prestigious national affiliations.

INSURICA uses three core principles to manage your employee benefits plans: professional value-added services based on strategic planning, five-star service and cutting-edge technology.

INSURICA is able to offer a variety of medical plans, voluntary products, retirement planning services and other employee benefits plans from carriers and vendors

across the United States. “We specialize in evaluating, negotiating with and recommending insurers and providers to our clients, and we employ rigorous selection criteria and performance objectives when considering a vendor,” says CEO Tim Driskill.

“Our agency also offers a variety of other professional services, including actuarial services, claims data analysis services, plan administration and legislative compliance assistance, custom communication offerings, web-based human resources tools and access to specialized pharmacy benefits expertise.”

CONTACT JENNIFER HELMS OR JOHN JAMES AT 918-660-0090 406 S. BOULDER AVE., SUITE 500 INSURICA.COM

Kalvin Burghoff, Warren Stewart, Dick Alaback, Drew Dossey, Julie Buxton, Neil Dailey, Gary Krisman, and John Gray

The Face of Commercial Real Estate

McGraw Commercial Properties McGraw Commercial Properties, was founded in 2008 and focuses on specializing in each of the main areas of commercial real estate including: office, retail & restaurant, industrial, land and multi-family.

MCP’s Brokerage & Property Management divisions work together to deliver comprehensive commercial real estate solutions, leverage of a large vendor database and several other benefits for the buyer, seller, tenant and landlord.

“This multi-tier approach allows us to form successful long-term relationships with our clients rather than one-off transactions,” Neil Dailey of McGraw Commercial Properties says. “Our longevity, reputation and experience make McGraw Commercial Properties a prominent commercial real estate brokerage and property management choice for a wide variety of clients. We currently help top Fortune 500 clients, co-broker transactions with other national firms to provide specialist-level

knowledge of our region to assist their clients, as well as help the individual investor or business owner to profitably expand their portfolio.”

McGraw Commercial Properties’ Multi-Family Sales Division has experienced exponential growth since the 2019 merger with Winfield Property Management.

The merger provided the Multi-Family Sales Division the ability to offer investors a reliable means of rent collection, accounting and asset protection after the acquisition.

McGraw Commercial Properties, based in Tulsa, has enjoyed success putting commercial customers together across Oklahoma for years. Now, we look forward to doing the same thing as our company has grown to Arkansas, Colorado and Texas.

4105 S. ROCKFORD AVE. | 918-388-9588 | MCGRAWCP.COM

The Green Country Appraisal Service team includes President Timothy M. Glass and Christine Peck.

The Face of Commercial Real Estate Appraisals

Green Country Appraisal Service Green Country Appraisal Service is celebrating 41 years of appraisal and consultation work for various banks, government entities, lawyers and individuals.

Commercial properties appraised include retail, restaurants, offices, churches, industrial, multi-family, mixed-use, vacant land, cattle ranches and conservation easements throughout northeast Oklahoma.

Timothy M. Glass, MAI, SRA is the company president and a licensed appraiser in the state of Oklahoma. In 2000, he was the president of the Green Country of Oklahoma Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. Nationally, he has served on the Regional Ethics and Counseling Panel of the Appraisal Institute. The National

Association of Realtors has awarded Glass with the Realtor Emeritus designation in recognition of valuable and lasting contribution to the real estate profession and the community.

The company’s secretary, Christine Peck, has been with the firm for 33 years and handles word processing, research of local market trends and report publishing.

Together, Green Country Appraisal’s team provides comprehensive appraisal reports for lenders, buyers, sellers and estate settlement.

1703 E. SKELLY DRIVE, SUITE 101 | 918-744-5744

First Oklahoma Bank Chairman and Co-CEO Tom Bennett, Jr. with President and Co-CEO Tom Bennett III

The Face of Community Banking

First Oklahoma Bank Leaders of First Oklahoma Bank are laser focused when it comes to serving customers and understanding their financial needs.

They know that building strong banking relationships requires active listening, treating people with respect, fairness, and expediency. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, First Oklahoma bankers worked around-the-clock to help hundreds of small businesses survive the pandemic by providing loans through the government’s Paycheck Protection Program.

Today, they continue to work tirelessly to help customers pursue financial dreams of buying a new home, expanding or starting a business, and building their wealth and savings.

Rest assured, whenever you call First Oklahoma, you will be greeted by a person (not a pre-recorded message) who can answer your question or direct you to the right banker. First Oklahoma bankers know the heartbeat of the community,

understand its economy and make all decisions locally. Deposits made with First Oklahoma Bank stay within the community and help it grow.

Established on Nov. 4, 2009, with the vision of creating a “better bank,” First Oklahoma yearly has surpassed benchmarks to become the fastest-growing new bank in assets.

We invite you to “Move Up to Better Banking” and discover what so many others already have experienced.

4110 S. ROCKFORD AVE., TULSA 100 S. RIVERFRONT DRIVE, JENKS 918-392-2500 | FIRSTOKLAHOMABANK.COM MEMBER FDIC

Darius Boone, Jamie Noble, Angela Boswell, Tashus Jones, Heather Anderson, Executive Sous Chef Sarah Leavell, Theo Williams, Executive Chef Devin Levine, Sarah Tierney, Michael Calvin, Alison Letsos, Harrison Kinkade, Jennifer Thornton

The Face of Convention Centers

Cox Business Convention Center Host an event in the heart of Tulsa and wow the attendees.

Located in the Arena District in downtown Tulsa, Cox Business Convention Center is a modern and award-winning venue providing over 275,000 SF of flexible event space, including Oklahoma’s largest banquet space at over 41,000 square feet.

Whether it’s an intimate event for 30 or over 5,000 attendees, CBCC offers Savor… an in-house catering service led by Executive Head Chef Devin Levine, who was voted Chef of the Year twice; achieved one bronze & two silver medals in American Culinary Foundation competitions; and was voted Best Country Club Chef in Oklahoma. He is assisted by Executive Sous Chef Sarah Leavell, who is an ACF bronze and silver medal winner in the hot foods category.

Hosting an event at Cox Business Convention Center also extends to ASM Global’s highly experienced technical service team allowing extravagant AV and IT expectations to be met.

Owned by the City of Tulsa and managed by ASM Global, the venue is located less than 15 minutes from Tulsa International Airport and is within walking distance of over 2,000 hotel rooms and 70 plus diverse restaurants in a one-mile radius.

100 CIVIC CENTER | INFO@ASMTULSA.COM COXCENTERTULSA.COM

Aaron Bundy

The Face of Family Law

Bundy Law Office For over 15 years, Bundy Law Office has focused on family law while always emphasizing customer service and the client experience.

The family law firm offers an easy-to-use intake process powered by artificial intelligence, text notification updates for clients, automatic document generation and free guest wifi — services offered by professionals in other fields but overlooked by many law firms.

“We offer a great deal of information, so our clients understand the process and timeline for their situation,” founder Aaron Bundy says. “We show them we are giving them our all in our office, during negotiations and if needed in the courtroom.”

The firm’s work is primarily in family law, with a special criminal defense practice in Oklahoma’s tribal courts. Aaron Bundy is ranked in the leading directories

of professionals in the Private Wealth space, including the 2022 Chambers Family/ Matrimonial: High Net Worth and the Spear’s 500 Family Lawyers Index, which showcases the top providers of legal services to High Net Worth individuals.

While keeping busy on client matters, the firm’s attorneys continue their growth and help others.

“We are dedicated to our craft and our own professional development, and we give back to the legal community by mentoring and teaching other attorneys,” says Bundy, who currently serves as the president of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

2509 E. 21ST ST. | BUNDYLAWOFFICE.COM

Johnna Hayes

The Face of Female-owned Restaurant Group

Three Sirens Restaurant Group Step inside a Three Sirens Restaurant Group concept and co-owner Johnna Hayes wants to ensure everyone feels welcome and has a good time.

“Whether you be a party of the LGBTQIA community, practice different faiths or come from other regions of the world, we want our establishments to be a comfortable place for you to be you,” Hayes says. “I’ve always wanted our spaces to make you feel at home. I must credit my staff for doing that for folks.”

Bird and Bottle is the home to the $4 martini and will soon include Market31 a couple doors away.

Bramble Breakfast and Bar is in Tulsa, Jenks and Broken Arrow. All three close in the early afternoon and will become a different concept for evening dining.

Bramble BA already switches to Shaky Jake’s Burger and Franks. The Tulsa location will switch to Holé Molé starting later this summer. Bramble Jenks also will be Hot Chicks starting this fall.

Three Sirens Restaurant Group is a woman-owned restaurant group comprised of owners Hayes and Debra Zinke. Meghan Zich and Dayden Yarnell oversee operations that includes over 125 employees and growing.

“You’re only as good as the people around you and to me, that’s what makes Three Sirens group special,” Hayes says.

Find Three Sirens Restaurant Group on Instagram: @birdandbottletulsa @bramblebreakfastandbar @holémolétulsa @mar31ket @shakyjakesburgersandfranks

The Face of Financial Planning

Chisholm Trail Wealth Planning Access to good and bad ideas are always at your fingertips, which often leads to a cloudy vision of your financial picture.

Chisholm Trail Wealth Planning™ was formed to better align the financial stewardship of our current and future clients with their values. The three founding partners were united around a shared vision for better serving our marketplace with comprehensive planning and fiduciary relationships. Fulfilling this commitment takes a team, which led Bob Skaggs, Joe Kreger, & Matt Longan to merge their individual practices to fulfill this vision. Teamwork is the fuel to turn this vision into reality.

Chisholm Trail is a multi-generational wealth planning firm dedicated to helping families and businesses align their goals and resources with their values. We take a comprehensive approach to organize your wealth planning goals and forecast the journey ahead. Through our collaborative engagement we give clients the clarity and confidence to tackle whatever the trail forward

Front Seated: Tripp Owen & Luke Werth; Second Row: Kristin Nylander, Tiffany Graham, Janelle English, & Barbara Ingargiola; Back Row: Bob Skaggs, Joe Kreger, Matt Longan

may present. We approach every client relationship with a long-term bond. We strive to honor each client’s values, while remaining diligent and loyal to them and their goals.

Chisholm Trail’s capabilities include Fee-based Planning, Customized Advisory & Wealth Management services, Executive Benefits, Qualified Plans, Business Succession Strategies, Estate and Legacy Planning, Retirement Distribution, Charitable Giving, Risk Management and Education Planning.

The world can be hard to understand, your financial plan doesn’t have to be.

201 S. DENVER AVE., SUITE 500 | 918-497-1167 | 918-497-1130 TULSA.NM.COM

Charmaine Berlioux

The Face of Hair Salon

Coco and Rose Salon | Spa “With 20 years in business as a boutique salon, we’ve been given the opportunity to give our clients the highest quality service in a warm and inviting atmosphere with stylists who take the utmost pride in what we do,” says Charmaine Berlioux, owner of Coco and Rose Salon|Spa and stylist for nearly 30 years.

The Brookside salon’s highly trained stylists are experts in balayage coloring and specialized hair cutting techniques, and keep tabs on the newest hair styles and color trends. “We’re a group who are consistently committed to what’s current in our trade,” she says. Treatments like lash extensions, lash lifts and tints, and waxing are available, too. Customers can find top-of-the-line styling products from Davines and Alter Ego, which are optimal for healthy, vibrant hair.

The welcoming environment is designed for pampering and luxury while providing the best in customer service. “When each client leaves Coco and Rose, we want them to leave with anticipation for their next visit to see us,” Berlioux says. After two decades in business, Berlioux and her colleagues welcome new clients and appreciate the support of longtime clientele. “We love you, Tulsa, and are forever grateful for your continued patronage,” she says.

1332 E. 41ST ST. | 918-749-2232

M&M’s Sean Stevens and Whitney McKellar-Stevens with Jim McKellar

The Face of Lumber

M&M Lumber M&M Lumber in Tulsa has been a leading provider of quality wood products for the residential and commercial construction industries since 1964 when the company was established by Jim McKellar, Sr. and partner Ernest Miller. At the time, there were 42 other lumber yards in Tulsa.

McKellar, Sr., a Seabee in the U.S. Navy, had gained experience running a lumber mill while serving in Guadalcanal. After discharge, he returned to Oklahoma and worked at several lumber yards.

Today M&M Lumber is located on 9 acres at the corner of 47th Street and Mingo Road and is locally owned by the McKellar family. It is a full-service retail lumber yard focusing their inventory towards the need of the contractor, as well as the homeowner.

The company proudly offers a broad selection of products including Western Red

Cedar, Treated Yellow Pine, Douglas Fir, wood siding, insulation, windows, doors, hardware, and a full line of nails for your pneumatic tools. High quality Western Red Cedar products manufactured by Western Forest Products (WFP) is one of their specialties, by offering cedar dimensional boards as well as Free of Heart Center cedar timbers.

By having a complete door shop, M&M can take care of your specific door, moulding, millwork, and special-order needs. They also have specialty items such as marine plywood, fire treated lumber and plywood, poplar, red oak, maple and alder boards. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to noon.

4711 S. MINGO ROAD | 918-627-1926

HELPING YOUR ORGANIZATION GET IN SHAPE!

The Face of Management Consulting

Arrowhead Consulting

First Row: Gretchen Mowry, Andrea Pemberton, Kuma Roberts, Callie Hummel; Second Row: Mark Slatcher, Austin Dobbins, Kris Reynolds, Dalton Metzer; Back Row: Shane Cox, Jon Land, Bruce Jordan

Arrowhead consultants act like “personal trainers” for organizations but instead of working on arms, legs and core, they provide solutions to strengthen a company’s people, processes and tools.

STEP 1: GET ON TRACK WITH AN ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT (OHA) Arrowhead Consulting eliminates the confusion and frustration stemming from not knowing where to start by providing a data-driven plan that focuses on the right improvement efforts.

STEP 2: TAKE YOUR RESULTS TO THE NEXT LEVEL Once the prescriptive plan is developed from the OHA, Arrowhead provides custom consulting solutions to achieve your strategic goals.

STEP 3: SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT Arrowhead offers a free 30 minute consultation to discuss the OHA, training options or other consulting needs that you might have.

ARROWHEAD CONSULTING | 5314 S. YALE AVE., SUITE 500 918-631-7321 | ARROWHEADCONSULTING.COM

Front Row: Patty Chumbley, Mickey Dollens, Teresa Eisenman, Kerrick Draper, Briza Turrubiartes, Matthew Hoes; Back Row: Ronda Perkins, Melinda Patterson, Roberto Arellanes, Kim Atzbach, Mike David, Joey Scott, Valdemar Sanchez, Dora Quiones; Not Pictured: Kendall Basore, Jessica David, Tanya Dickinson, April Wright

The Face of Mortgage Lending

Waterstone Mortgage The local housing market today has become so competitive among active buyers, Waterstone Mortgage has developed a Platinum Credit Approval (PCA) program to enable its customers to confidently present a compelling offer to avoid losing “our perfect home” to another buyer.

The PCA involves a Waterstone Mortgage underwriter reviewing a customer’s credit, income and other documentation to determine the mortgage loan amount the customer is financially capable of repaying. The loan is then fully credit underwritten before the customer begins to make offers on homes. The process provides a competitive advantage because the only remaining items left to accomplish after loan approval are the appraisal and title work in advance of closing.

“Our mortgage loan customers like the Platinum Credit Approval process because it enables them to know how much house they can afford before starting

the home search process,” said Kerrick Draper, branch manager for Waterstone Mortgage in Tulsa.

The PCA program also enables home buyers to shop with more confidence because it is nearly as strong as an all-cash offer.

“With a PCA from Waterstone Mortgage, a customer has the ability to lock-in an interest rate before shopping around for a home,” Draper noted, “and because the loan will be fully credit underwritten prior to your accepted offer, the entire loan process will proceed more quickly and the buyer can get into their new home sooner.”

To learn more details about the benefits of the Platinum Credit Approval program at Waterstone Mortgage, call 918-236-2951 or visit Waterstone-Tulsa.com.

5705 E. 71ST STREET, SUITE 100 | 918.236.2951 WATERSTONE-TULSA.COM

EQUAL HOUSING LENDER. SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL AND LOAN PROGRAM GUIDELINES. WATERSTONE MORTGAGE CORPORATION (NMLS #186434) IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF WATERSTONE BANK SSB. (NASDAQ: WSBF). STATE OF OKLAHOMA LICENSEE EXEMPT.

Emily Bollinger with Dennis

The Face of Pet Boutiques

Dog Dish Question: You recently moved the store. Tell us what’s new about Dog Dish!

“The pandemic made it clear to me that I needed to examine the business and—for the future—try to make it as stable as a retail store can be. So, we purchased property at 2803 South Harvard and converted a former gas station into our new store. We opened in January, 2022,” said Emily Bollinger, owner.

“Our new store has a fenced backyard that is a dream come true for us... we’ve been utilizing it in various fun ways such as sharing it with pet rescue organizations, pet professionals, and pet parents. You can usually find pet adoptions taking place every Saturday, dog water play on the weekends, workshops with other businesses here and there, and we’ve also started renting out the yard for pet birthday parties—or any kind of pet get-together”.

“The newest addition inside the store is a dog Frozen Yogurt machine enabling us to make fresh, limited ingredient fro-yo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We also offer it as an ‘add-on’ for our dog parties!”

“And speaking of Sunday, the store is now open 12-5 for Sunday Funday adventures with your dog. Tulsans can follow us on social media to get up-to-date info on what’s happening at Dog Dish: Facebook and Instagram: @DogDishTulsa.”

2803 SOUTH HARVARD | 918-624-2600 DOGDISHTULSA.COM

Back Row: John Gray, Krista Sands, Karl Murray, Brian Scarbrough, Megan Perkins, Chris Fowler, and Ebony Morris; Front Row: Ong Xiong, Angela Vandevander, Kim Henderson, and Brittany Guaderrama

The Face of Property Management

McGraw Property Management & Leasing McGraw Realtors Property Management and Leasing manages 1,217 doors.

Founded in 2011, the mission continues to be to help property owners find the right tenant and manage their properties to make a profit. They are also committed to helping people find the right home to rent and manage their property the right way.

McGraw Realtors also continues to service Commercial Property Management needs for clients. McGraw Commercial Property Management currently manages 1,268,482 square feet of commercial space among 12 cities throughout Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Collectively, the McGraw companies that share the same roof share the same commitment to property management services to their clients. The multi-faceted company continues to serve Oklahoma, Arkansas and beyond.

4105 S. ROCKFORD AVE | 918-388-6133 MCGRAWPROPERTYMANAGEMENT.COM

The Face of Residential Real Estate

McGraw Realtors Tulsa-based McGraw Realtors has been proudly serving the real estate needs of Northeast Oklahoma for over 84 years and has become one of the nation’s top ten fastest-growing real estate companies.

“I am excited that I will see McGraw celebrate 100 years during my career,” says Bill McCollough, company president. “It is truly rare to see any company succeed in business that long, especially one that stays true to its principles over the years.” McGraw Realtors has twenty-one offices across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Colorado, including seven in Northeastern Oklahoma.

“The company has always been an industry leader in terms of recruiting and retention, adaptation to technological advances, and providing our associates with the tools they need to give clients a stress-free and memorable real estate

Back Row, Standing: Bill McCollough, Curt Roberts, and Scott Crow; Front Row, Seated: Rachel Hicks, Veronica Oswald, Heidi Williams, Lindsey Schlomann, and Jennifer Richard

experience,” McCollough added.

“I am honored to be associated with the finest real estate company in Oklahoma,” says founder Joe McGraw. “The contributions of so many have made the business successful since our beginning in 1938. I am proud of our culture which inspires enthusiasm, innovation, devotion and a strong regard for the honor of all.”

McGraw Realtors has been embedded in the Tulsa community for more than 84 years and the company’s commitment to helping clients succeed in the Real Estate process continues to be the company’s driving force into the future.

4105 S. ROCKFORD AVE. | 918-592-6000 MCGRAWREALTORS.COM

Front Row: Sierra Scott, Emily Howard, Donna Little; Second Row: Jody Jumper; Third Row: Sally Wales, Pam Bewley, Susan Atherton

The Face of Title Services

Commercial Title & Escrow Services The year 2022 is a very special year for the team at Commercial Title & Escrow Services, Inc., because it marks the 25th anniversary of the Tulsa company and brings an exciting leadership change.

In December of 2021, Sally Wales was promoted to President of the company and has taken over the day-to-day management of operations with her team.

Longtime company president Pam Bewley is now serving as Chairman of the Board and working part-time on special projects and pursuing her passion for travel.

Commercial Title continues to employ a great team that enables the company to achieve the highest level of customer service...the key to its success over the past 25 years.

“We recognize the importance of having skilled and experienced personnel within

the company, and we have it,” said Sally Wales, with 25 years of experience at the company as a commercial escrow officer. Others are: Susan Atherton, in-house attorney/senior vice president, with 15 years experience; Jody Jumper, commercial escrow officer/title analyst, 15 years; Sandie Coats, escrow assistant, 15 years; and Donna Little, commercial escrow officer, 7 years.

“Our experience and service truly sets us apart and enables Commercial Title & Escrow to achieve a high market share in Tulsa,” emphasized Wales. “Establishing the highest level of professionalism and trust with the client is a key to our success.”

4739 E. 91ST ST., SUITE 200 | 918-556-6336 COMMERCIALTITLEOK.COM

Pictured, left to right, Tim Chambers, Patti Krausert, Joel Koester, Brea Mullen, Ashleigh Bachert, Lauren Rogers, Abby Kurin and Leah Davis. Not pictured: Kathleen Borgne, Marlene Livaudais and Matt Stockman.

The Face of Tourism

Tulsa Regional Tourism Tulsa Regional Tourism is a nonprofit organization designed to help elevate and market the region’s businesses and entities, which help make Tulsa a leisure and business travel destination. It is an initiative of Tulsa Regional Chamber and works in an official capacity with the City of Tulsa, serves on the Route 66 Commission — and is heavily involved within the attraction, dining, film, hotelier, music, venue and volunteer communities.

It is comprised of four pillars: Visit Tulsa, which promotes leisure travel to/ within Tulsa and the region and facilitates Tulsa’s Visitor Center, which is the official visitor center in Tulsa. Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau, which proactively wins, secures and services meetings, conventions and other professional events for Tulsa and the region. Tulsa Sports Commission facilitates and operates Tulsa Run as well as amateur and professional sporting events for Tulsa and the region.

Promoting Tulsa as a music, film and creative destination through programs like Film Tulsa and Play Tulsa Music and serving as the official film commission through Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture.

Tulsa Regional Tourism is Tulsa’s only official and Northeast Oklahoma’s premier accredited destination marketing organization. Its involvement is beyond local, as its national and international involvement includes SportsETA Board of Directors, Destination International Committee Membership, American Bus Association Membership, Association of Film Commissioners International and more.

1 W. THIRD ST., SUITE 100 | 918-585-1201 VISITTULSA.COM

Andy and Ainslee Crum

The Face of Windows and Doors

The Womble Co./ Pella Windows and Doors of Oklahoma In celebration of their 100th anniversary this year, the Womble Co./Pella Windows and Doors of Oklahoma is donating $100,000 to local charities and nonprofits such as Revitalize T-Town, City Rescue Mission, Infant Crisis Center, Veterans Community Project, Cavett Kids, Positive Tomorrows, Susan G. Komen and Rebuilding Together.

“The idea is to create different opportunities to give to different charities that either mean something personally to us or personally to someone at our company,” says Ainslee Crum, who co-owns the company with husband Andy. Serving its employees and the community has been the foundation of the company since 1922, when her great-grandfather, Murry R. Womble, an orphan, started the Womble Co. in Tulsa.

“What drove my grandfather, what drove my uncle and my dad — and what

drives us — is basically the idea of service above self,” Ainslee says. “The whole idea is not only service and serving our customers, but also serving our employees and their families.”

The Womble Co. has more than 40 years of experience with Pella’s full portfolio. With a dedicated service and installation department, sales consultants, as well as residential, commercial and architectural support teams, Womble can do it all.

This fall the company will move into a new state-of-the-art showroom to showcase the different Pella products it offers.

7030 S. LEWIS AVE. | 918-828-3667 | PELLAOFTULSA.COM

Mary Stewart, Emily Stewart and Truman

The Face of Wine & Spirits

Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits has the distinction of being a liquor store in Tulsa since Oklahoma repealed prohibition in late 1959 ... and even located at the original business location in the Ranch Acres Shopping Center at 31st and South Harvard Avenue.

Owned today by the mother-daughter team of Mary and Emily Stewart, the store is well known for its wide variety of wines, beers and spirits, and its excellent customer service offered by a friendly and knowledgeable staff.

“We specialize in pairing wines and assisting our customers putting together dinners, parties and celebrations,” says Mary Stewart. “We also take pride in our expansive beer and spirits selections.”

Ranch Acres also serves customers by hosting in-store tastings each Wednesday from 5 to 7-ish. The tastings feature beer, wine and spirits with products changing each week. “Our patrons check our social media posts to learn what we are pouring each week,” notes Emily.

Customers are also invited to sign-up for “The Ranch’s newsletter” to learn about special happenings and to receive discount coupons.

3324 E. 31ST ST., SUITE A | 918-747-1171 RANCHACRESWINE.COM

Mari Rains

The Face of Women’s Boutique

Ella + Orchid Owner Mari Rains had a vision of catering to all when opening Ella + Orchid, after personally feeling like she’d “aged out” of several of her favorite stores shortly after turning 40. As business continues to boom, that vision is coming full circle. Women of all ages can stay on trend at E + O when shopping for clothing, jewelry or accessories, and be proud to support both local makers as well as namesake brands like Jonathan Adler when shopping the selection for gifts and home décor.

At Ella + Orchid the perfect ensemble is waiting for you on the rack. Whether you’re looking for beautiful contemporary fashion from brands like Amanda Uprichard, Michael Stars, Koch House and Eva Franco, trusted denim from Paige or

Hudson, or lines of luxury like Zadig & Voltaire, Rains and her staff has you covered and will get you clothed!

The store, located in KingsPointe Shopping Center, is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday. Find the shop on Instagram @ ellaandorchid.

6010 S. YALE AVE. | 918-530-2507 ELLAANDORCHID.COM | INSTAGRAM: @ELLAANDORCHID

Dr. Thomas Serena and Dr. Lam Le

The Face of Wound Care

Tulsa Wound Center At Tulsa Wound Center, you can trust you are in good hands as the staff has nearly two decades of experience working with complex, chronic and non-healing wounds.

Dr. Lam Le and her team provide exceptional care and provide the highest quality care and treatment for cases like diabetic foot care and other issues.

“At Tulsa Wound Center, we focus our attention on what truly matters: our patients,” says Le, a wound care and hyperbaric physician for over 15 years, including as a medical director at one of Tulsa’s busiest and most successful wound centers.

Le is a well-published wound physician and principal investigator who believes constant learning is the best tool every person can have. For this reason, the whole

team at Tulsa Wound Center is constantly learning, engaging in new techniques, and evolving so we can offer the best treatments for you. The team is constantly participating in clinical trials and research to offer our patients the best care.

Tulsa Wound Center is a state-of-the-art, patient-friendly outpatient center committed to accelerating healing through the most advanced therapies and treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, MolecuLight, PACE® and MIST®.

4538 S. HARVARD AVE. | 918-561-6661 TULSAWOUNDCENTER.COM

The Face of Accounting

Luxa Enterprises Founded in 2007 by Frauke Petersen, Luxa Enterprises provides small businesses and non-profit organizations the accounting, human services and payroll services to help alleviate some of the headaches of running a business operation...and to help leaders “stay on track”...in an increasingly complex part of business management.

“At LUXA, we understand that small business to mid-size business owners and non-profit agency managers must wear many hats,” said Michael Chromy, president. “And multiple responsibilities and interruptions make it challenging to effectively and accurately run the back-office functions of the business or agency.”

Chromy says LUXA is uniquely structured to help owners and managers better execute the complex functions of accounting, including cash flow management, payroll management, forecasting, and human resources. “Our objective is to provide solutions to small to mid-size businesses and organizations to enable them to run smoothly and achieve growth”.

15 E. 5TH STREET, FIRST PLACE TOWER, SUITE 1701 918-928-7288 | LUXAENTERPRISES.COM

Michael Chromy

The Face of Bakeries

Nothing Bundt Cakes Nothing Bundt Cakes’ owner Marie Stephens has enjoyed bringing “sweet-baked JOY to customers” for the past eight years in Tulsa.

With 10 delightful flavors of bundt cakes in four sizes and each topped with the signature cream cheese frosting, Nothing Bundt Cakes is a one-stop shop for all one’s celebration needs. And store guests can add to any event or gift with “our bundt-ique full of items such as cute birthday candles and cards, balloons and more.

The Nothing Bundt Cake team enjoys collaborating with each guest or business client to achieve true “bundt blissfulness for each event, wedding or other celebration”. The store offers delivery, wedding cake set-up, and online ordering. “Of course, the best option is to come inside our tempting bakery,” says Stephens.

“We are excited about the upcoming event season and getting the opportunity to attend with our cakes!” noted Stephens.

7890 E. 106TH PL. S., BUILDING V, SUITE 10 918-970-4747 | NOTHINGBUNDTCAKES.COM 90

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Marie Stephens

The Face of Catering

Ludger’s Catering

Scott and Megan Sherrill

Ludger’s Catering is here to help Tulsans with their all their catering needs — no matter the scope of the event, number of guests or location.

The Ludger’s Catering team works with each client to ensure their event is unique to them and their vision. “We have an amazing staff and the expertise to handle all of the details,” says Megan Sherrill, who has owned the company with her husband and Executive Chef Scott Sherill since 2009.

Brides have trusted Ludger’s for its catering services and the company has won numerous industry and readers’ choice awards over the years. The Ludger’s team serves delicious food matched with friendly, professional service.

1628 S. MAIN ST. | 918-744-9988 LUDGERSCATERING.COM

The Face of Coffee Shops

The Coffee House on Cherry Street Since opening Coffee House on Cherry Street in 2006, owner Cheri Asher has wanted CHOCS to be a community hub — a place for family, friendship and creativity.

Along with brewing locally roasted coffee, CHOCS is known for its gluten-free menu — a winner of TulsaPeople’s A-LIST — and has a bakery case full of cakes, pies and cookies.

CHOCS has a full breakfast and lunch menu, with special orders, catering and online ordering available. Locally grown and sourced ingredients is paramount and has always been a focus.

CHOCS hosts open mic nights the first Wednesday of each month and jazz on its patio from 3-5 p.m. every Thursday.

1502 E. 15TH ST. | 918-779-6137 CHOCSTULSA.COM 6:30 A.M.-9 P.M., MONDAY-WEDNESDAY; 6:30 A.M. -10 P.M., THURSDAY-SATURDAY; 7 A.M.-9 P.M., SUNDAY

Amanda Busky, Bradley Watkins, Cindy Kennon, Jonny Rice, Cheri Asher, Chaphe Asher

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The Face of Drywall

Drywall Specialists Inc. In 2003, Chad Potter founded Drywall Specialists Inc., a residential and commercial drywall installation company that has since completed over 10,000 projects in the Tulsa area. Potter is committed to the construction industry, a field he has worked in since high school.

“I personally train our professional staff and guarantee advanced wall and ceiling services, including drywall repair, plaster repair and finishes,” Potter says. “My team is committed to prompt service with strong attention to detail.”

Drywall Specialists Inc. has worked on thousands of Tulsa home remodels and new builds, as well as commercial properties such as medical facilities, office buildings and car dealerships.

Chad Potter

3904 CHARLES PAGE BLVD. | 918-437-9255 DRSPROS.COM

The Face of Family Entertainment

Andy B’s Let the games begin. Play. Bowl. Drive. Dine. And more. Let loose and create the good times we all need in life at Andy B’s.

“We’re a place where friendly competition and great food and drink converge for a memorable time out,” says Andy Bartholomy, founder and owner of the family entertainment center that bears his name.

There’s bowling, an arcade, escape rooms, go-karts and laser tag, as well as a chef-created menu with plenty of delicious options. The center hosts many birthday parties and corporate events.

“When life calls for a little kick-back, let us be your go-to entertainment destination,” Bartholomy says. “It’s time to live it up at Andy B’s!”

8711 S. LEWIS AVE. | 918-299-9494 | ANDYBTULSA.COM 92

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Andy Bartholomy, founder and owner, Ryland Bristow, General Manager

The Face of Fencing

Empire Fence Company When founder Bob Richison began Empire Fence Company in 1955, it was just a small backyard enterprise. With a lot of hard work and a love for helping others, the Tulsan built Empire into a successful small business.

In 1998, Richison’s grandson—Nathan Nelson—joined the successful family business and now serves as President/CEO of Empire Fence.

“It’s exciting to see the growth that has occurred over the years,” noted Nelson. “We now offer a variety of residential and commercial fencing, as well as gate fabrication, installation, and access control. We love our customers and our team remains committed to our foundation of integrity by offering quality fencing and excellent service at a fair price.”

Nathan Nelson takes great pride in carrying-on Empire Fence as the quality business his grandfather created 67 years ago. “It has been an honor to grow the business and expand the vision with an incredible team of hardworking and dedicated employees”.

22 N. GARNETT ROAD | 918-437-1671 EMPIREFENCE.NET

Kevin Pilger, Josie Villareal, Nathan Nelson, Les Mabry, Sandy Caldwell, Adam McClain, Nick Robinson

The Face of Festivals

The Castle of Muskogee One does not have to go on a long journey to find a castle — simply make the trip to Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Each year more than 250,000 people visit the Castle of Muskogee. Owners Jeff and Matt Hiller have curated special events to keep you and your family entertained year-round.

In spring, you can step back in time to 1569 and enjoy the wonderment of a day in Renaissance. In summer, celebrate Independence Day with the Castle Firework sale. The fall will bring you chills and thrills at the Halloween Festival. As winter brings the year to an end, create lifelong traditions to share at the Christmas Festival.

Matt Hiller and Jeff Hiller

3400 FERN MOUNTAIN ROAD, MUSKOGEE | 918-687-3625 OKCASTLE.COM TulsaPeople.com

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Austin Boyce and Chase Boyce

The Face of Heating, Air Conditioning, Electric and Plumbing

Airco Service “One call does it all.” As the largest service company in Oklahoma, Airco provides customers with the highest-quality products and services available in the areas of heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing.

A family-owned business for over 60 years, Airco has a reputation for reliability and the trust of customers who count on the company for excellent service, honesty and integrity.

“We’re fully committed to finding customers the best solutions and quality products for their home,” owner Tom Boyce says. “We also provide 24/7 service since we know not all emergencies happen during business hours.” Airco’s maintenance plans, which provide routine upkeep for a residence’s heating and cooling system, allow the system to operate efficiently, safely and reliably for the unit’s expected life.

TULSA: 918-252-5667 | EDMOND: 405-715-2665 MOORE: 405-378-4500 | GRAND LAKE: 918-782-2263 AIRCOSERVICE.COM

The Face of Marble & Stone Counterops

Eurocraft Granite & Marble Eurocraft, a leading local provider of marble and stone products has been in the Skaftason family for over 45 years since Johann Skaftason started the business in 1976.

After decades of providing the finest product craftsmanship for the building and remodeling Tulsa homes and businesses, Johann is passing the torch down to his daughter, Hjorny Skaftason and her husband, Ryan Phillips.

As a generational family-owned business, the passion for bringing in exotic stones from all over the world and creating unique projects from them right here in Tulsa, is unmatched with any other fabricator. With the precision and care that only a family-run business can bring, Eurocraft continues to take pride in rejuvenating Tulsa.

16052 S. BROADWAY, GLENPOOL | 918-322-5500 2626 E. 15TH STREET, TULSA | 918-938-6914 EUROCRAFTGRANITE.COM 94

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Johann Skaftason, Hjorny Skaftason and Ryan Phillips

The Face of Outdoor Entertainment

Jandebeur’s Motor Sports Park A new family-friendly festival — Kite Flight — is set for 10 a.m.-5 p.m., July 10 at the 170-acre Jandebeur’s Motor Sports Park. Along with live music, food trucks and children’s’ activities, prizes for the largest kite, smallest kite and best homemade kite will be awarded. Admission benefits the Jandebeur Family Museum, which is dedicated to YouthOnWheels and bike trails around Okmulgee.

Jandebeur’s is the largest family-oriented motorsports park in the Midwest, boasting ten tracks and two trail sections with dirt bike rentals, family riding, motocross racing and more. “Our family is delighted to give back to the Tulsa community by operating this year-round park,” says owner Bob Jandebeur.

KITE FLIGHT JULY 10 Join us!

12701 N. HIGHWAY 75, OKMULGEE | 918-408-1322 JTEAMRACING.COM

Bob Jandebeur

The Face of Payroll Processing and Tax Compliance

Red River Payroll Red River Payroll was founded on the belief that small business owners deserve a solution that combines the highest level of personal service with the latest technology.

Steve Hobbs and Kevin Burr, the owners of the company, talked about how grateful they were to have the opportunity to build so many genuine relationships with the owners of other small businesses. “While we have maintained steady growth, we want our focus to be on taking care of our current clients,” says Hobbs, “because they are the reason we exist.”

From offering a true paperless solution to ensuring compliance with the ever changing landscape of federal and state tax law, Red River allows their clients to focus on what is important: sharpening and growing their own business.

1660 E. 71ST ST., SUITE 2I | 918-488-6196 REDRIVERPAYROLL.COM

Steve Hobbs TulsaPeople.com

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The Face of Piano Showrooms

Steinway Piano Gallery Tulsa Steinway & Sons, makers of the finest pianos in the world, announces the opening of Steinway Piano Gallery Tulsa, a new showroom located at 3402 S. Peoria in Center 1 in Brookside.

As a factory-authorized dealer, the Tulsa gallery now handless sales and service for the entire line of Steinway pianos—from majestic concert grands to traditional uprights—as well as the Steinway Spirio, the world’s finest high resolution player piano. The showroom also offers Steinway-designed Boston and Essex pianos. The 1,800 square foot Tulsa gallery features 1,000 square feet of showroom space as well as an intimate performance area for special events.

The Tulsa Steinway store joins a network of Steinway-authorized galleries in the region that are owned and operated by the Saliba family. Other stores are located in Houston, Plano and Fort Worth as well as the iconic Steinway Hall Dallas.

“We were seeing an increasing number of customers driving down from the Tulsa area to visit our Texas showrooms,” said Casey Saliba, vice president of Sales and Marketing. “So when the opportunity came for us to represent Steinway in the Tulsa market, we were happy to accept it.”

The Steinway Piano Gallery Tulsa is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday and Monday by appointment.

3402 S. PEORIA | 918-516-1853 | STEINWAYPIANOS.COM

The Face of Rural Healthcare

Wagoner Health The Wagoner Community Hospital continues to grow each year, continuing a legacy of over 49 years of service to Wagoner and the surrounding area.

In addition to the traditional hospital medical/surgical, behavioral health and emergency care services, the medical staff recently added: general surgery/endoscopy/critical care specialist, podiatry, pediatrics, OU Health women’s health partnership, internal medicine and family practice nurse practitioner. The specialties of neurology, pain management and orthopedics will be added by year-end.

“Rural health care is tough,” CEO Jimmy Leopard says, “the keys to success are efficiency and development of quality services to close gaps and reduce outmigration; aggressive managed care contract negotiation; protecting hospitals through managed Medicaid and preserving key federal financial support for rural, lower volume hospitals.”

1200 W. CHEROKEE ST., WAGONER | 918-485-5514 WAGONERHOSPITAL.COM 96

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Jimmy Leopard, CEO

Derek Lynch, Sales Consultant

The Face of Staffing and Workforce Management

Barracuda Staffing & Consulting Kevin Burr founded Barracuda Staffing & Consulting in 2009 amidst one of the biggest economic crises of our time. The resulting success was achieved because of his belief he could build a higher quality staffing and consulting agency to serve the Tulsa business community. Barracuda has grown to a full-service staffing and human resource consulting business serving clients and placing contractors nationwide.

The company trademarked “a Four-Dimensional Matching process that allows owners and managers to focus on team building and development instead of dealing with costly turnover.”

Burr says Barracuda Staffing & Consulting thrives in an environment that fosters team members to “push each other to raise the bar, seek out creative solutions, and strive to consistently iprove our service delivery model. At Barracuda, our belief is: “good enough is never good enough,” and our company motto is: “Expect More. We do.”

Barracuda has been listed twice on the “Inc. 5000” list of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately-Held Companies,” and recognized on Inc. Magazine’s “Best Places To Work” list.

The company has supported the work of many local organizations over the past 13 years, including Soldiers Wish, Tulsa Christmas Parade, Tulsa Pop Kids, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.

802 W. MAIN STREET, SUITE 105, JENKS | 918-488-0887 BARRACUDASTAFFING.COM

Kevin Burr

The Face of Streaming TV

Black Wall Street TV Network Deep in the heart of the historic Greenwood District, the Black Wall Street TV Network streams local and global programming for the entire family.

“We are the only true streaming TV network located in Tulsa,” says Darnell Washington, a 30-year broadcasting veteran who founded the network in 2021.

“This network embodies the success of the newest viewing habits in television today.”

Anyone with internet access can watch the Black Wall Street TV Network for free. Movies, comedy specials, kids’ programming and more are available on demand. New programming will continue to be added as it becomes available.

131 N. GREENWOOD AVE., THIRD FLOOR 918-899-0951 | BLACKWSTV.COM

Darnell Washington TulsaPeople.com

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The Face of Sushi

Sushi Hana Kenny and Shirli Chan moved here from New York with lots of fresh ideas. If you haven’t been to Sushi Hana in Brookside — now is the time. They are part of the local scene, raising three girls and making it easy to support this local restaurant with great food and atmosphere. The patio is open and a full bar is available. Kenny and Shirli love helping diners find their new favorite roll. Everything is made fresh with a New York twist that Tulsa has come to love. Step out of your comfort zone and try something new. You’ll be glad you did!

3739 S. PEORIA AVE. | 918-712-9338 SUSHIHANATULSA.COM

Kenny and Shirli Chan

The Face of Wedding and Event Venues

Station 13 After a year-long restoration project, Jackie Potter opened event venue Station 13 in January 2020. The former fire station was built in 1933 and designed by prominent Tulsa architect Albert Joseph Love featuring art deco zigzag design. Potter and her husband, Chad, bought the building with many of its original firehouse features still intact.

“There’s no other fire station event venue in town,” she says, “and we’re located just a few minutes from downtown Tulsa.” The property is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“With 2,200 square feet of intricately designed indoor event space and over 18,000 square feet of beautifully landscaped outdoor space, Station 13 is able to meet the needs of a sizeable wedding reception, as well as an intimate dinner party,” Potter says.

3924 CHARLES PAGE BLVD. | 918-810-6765 STATION13TULSA.COM 98

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Jackie Potter

September 13, 2022 Cox Business Convention Center

Warmth, Belonging, Family, Home.

­

Kimono clips by Annie Loto Studios, $22 and $28; mini pink marble clip, $8; large pink marble clip, $10; yellow clip, $10.

All from J. Spencer, 1722 Utica Square.

Special thanks to stylist Cameron Frizzell at Hello.Salon, 1725 E. 15th St.

MICHELLE POLLARD;

Clip it good SWOOP HAIR INTO AN EASY UPDO WITH THESE COLORFUL CLIPS. VISIT TULSAPEOPLE.COM FOR MORE HAIR CLIP INSPIRATION. TulsaPeople.com

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STOREFRONT

Okie kitchen

SPECIALTY SHOP BRINGS SOME SPICE TO SAND SPRINGS MAIN STREET.

BY ASHLEY HEIDER DALY

K

Kim and Steve Zieg

OkieSpice and Trade Co. 107 N. MAIN ST., SAND SPRINGS | 918-514-0045 | OKIESPICEANDTRADE.COM 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday

im and Steve Zieg opened OkieSpice and Trade Co. out of their shared love for cooking and exploring Oklahoma.

“We love to travel around the state finding interesting specialty foods,” Kim says. “We wanted to bring all these wonderful things we had found — made-in-Oklahoma products — into one place for people to enjoy.”

They started with spices and spice blends that now span nearly the entire length of their 1920s downtown Sand Springs building. In 2019 they bought a local company called The Cheese Factory, and the couple began handcrafting their own cheeses on-site. The shop also features a plethora of cooking utensils, Oklahoma-themed gifts, and other Oklahoma-made items like desserts and sodas.

“It’s become a kind of destination spot for day trips and a place people bring out-of-town company,” Steve says. He and Kim are Sand Springs natives and excited to be part of its downtown revitalization.

While customers can always ask to sample products, weekends at OkieSpice feature “Sample Saturday,” which allows customers to try dishes prepared with the ingredients the shop sells, often showcasing one of their vendors.

“We love to tell people the backstory of our products because we know the people who make them,” Kim says. “Take OK Toffee — toffees made by a married couple, both teachers, who donate 20% of their profits to Tulsa Public Schools. We are a small business like them, and we know how hard it is, all the work and passion that goes into this work.”

The Ziegs also enjoy discussing recipes with seasoned and newbie chefs, happily pointing folks toward the right spices and ingredients for the right meal preparation, including their top sellers: Tulsa Chop House Burger Seasoning, Tuscany Bread Dipping Seasoning, Smoked Bacon Ranch Cheese and Spinach Artichoke Cheese. Some customers even bring in their culinary creations for the Ziegs to try.

“If you like to cook, eat, experiment with flavor, we’re here for you,” Kim says.

While visiting, be sure to also hop over to the Ziegs’ newest endeavor next door, Hippy Cowgirls Bou-Dega, a wine and cheese bar with a Western flair women’s boutique. It features cheese boards and foods from OkieSpice. TP

Customers use Garlic Shot Spice for anything needing a pop of flavor, from meatballs to stews to chicken dishes. $4.95.

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Staff is always happy to assemble gift baskets, like this Oklahoma-themed collection. Prices vary.

Made in Broken Arrow, Lorie’s Fudge is made year-round, so you don’t have to wait until the holidays to enjoy this treat. $6.25.

MICHELLE POLLARD

SHOP FAVORITES

Tulsa THANK YOU

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HOME

Tara Kohlbacher, owner of luxury home-organizing service NEAT Method, says grouping things in general categories allows flexibility in where to store items, but also helps train the mind when unpacking after a trip to the grocery store.

Cut the clutter

ORGANIZATION IN THE SUMMER CAN MEAN A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO FALL.

O

h, sweet summertime. The season welcomes with the promise of freedom and adventure, but many find the laissez-faire mindset that accompanies it has some delayed, negative effects on our ability to stay organized. Perhaps it’s a structure-less schedule you’re embracing, or maybe it’s the kids who have been home from school for what feels like months now bringing chaos and disarray to your home. Between the heat, the mess and fall approaching, it’s likely you’re itching for some organization and neatness.

Enter Tara Kohlbacher, owner of Neat Method. “Summer brings a different rhythm to home life that requires different (organizational) systems,” she says. “And by July, I think Tulsans are tired of the heat and spending more time inside. Th is is when things can get chaotic and messy.”

Kohlbacher opened Neat Method, a luxury home-organizing service, in November 2020.

She realized her passion for home organization while taking time off from her successful interior design career to raise small children. “I love the nitty-gritty of organizing people’s stuff, their belongings, their personal things,” she says.

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“I feel like I have a gift for that. And a lot of our clients are busy moms, working moms or working families who have a need for that expertise.”

Kohlbacher and her team of four offer organizational services for all types of spaces. Whether it’s restructuring a garage, the kids’ playroom or the entirety of a home, Neat Method is for anyone who needs a fresh set of eyes on their overcluttered rooms or storage areas.

The process is the same for all of Kohlbacher’s projects: After a brief consultation with the Neat

team, the fi rst step to organizing any area is clearing out every item.

“I’ve tried it many different ways, but the process just doesn’t work efficiently unless you unload it all.” Categorize objects that have been removed. (For example, if it’s a pantry, you might arrange breakfast foods together, baking goods etc.) Kohlbacher says this is a great time to purge expired groceries and things you will never use.

Next, measure the area, which includes shelves, built-ins and cabinets. With known dimensions, you can purchase things like baskets, bins and canisters to contain items and maximize the use of the space.

Label groupings with general categories, such as “snacks” or “canned goods.” Th is allows flexibility in where to store things, but also helps train the eye and mind when it comes to unpacking the grocery bags.

Kohlbacher notes the true challenge in achieving an organized space is maintaining it. So it’s important to make sure the whole household is onboard. “Having the peace of mind that comes with an organized space adds value to your life and saves you money and time,” she says. “It’s truly transformational.” TP

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HEALTH Calling All Tulsa-Area Youth!

Squeeze The Last Days Of Summer Join the rest of Tulsa over Labor Day Weekend in signing up to give back to our community through a simple childhood tradition:

A LEMONADE STAND We provide the Kit (lemonade, cups, official t-shirt and poster) and you provide the creativity, energy and time!

Simply sign-up on The Lemon-Aid Project website, pick up your Lemon-Aid Kit at our Kick-Off Celebration at Mother Road Market on Friday September 2, set up your Lemon-Aid Stand any time over the Labor Day Weekend and money raised will benefit Lindsey House.

It’s Free!

It’s Fun! It’s The Right Thing To Do! THE LEMON-AID PROJECT Kids Helping Kids Helping Tulsa www.thelemonaidproject.com or scan the QR code below to sign-up and learn more!

Dr. Lam Le and patient Sheila Stahl celebrate the opening of Tulsa Wound Center at a recent gathering.

LIFE SAVERS

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TulsaPeople JULY 2022

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Dwight Morris met Dr. Lam Le and her team at the Tulsa Wound Center after a disheartening visit to the emergency room in late June 2021. A previous surgery done years before left a hole in the bottom of his foot that exposed the bone.

“Most of the doctors I saw that day (at the ER) recommended removing one-half or all of my foot,” recounts Morris, whose diabetes complicated potential treatment.

Instead of amputation, Morris began bi-weekly visits to the Tulsa Wound Center for Le to trim away nonviable tissue and strategically dress the wound. Le recommended a cast for Morris’ foot and lower leg to support and protect it during the healing process. At press time the wound was in the last few weeks of healing. “Dr. Le and her team saved my foot,” Morris says.

Tulsa Wound Center, 4538 S. Harvard Ave., is Oklahoma’s first comprehensive, independent wound, hyperbaric and research center designed to treat chronic, non-healing and complex wounds. Candidates for treatment include those with comorbidities, diabetes, kidney disease, vascular disease or wounds needing special treatment.

Independent wound centers are more common in larger cities, but their growing popularity will positively impact the local health care environment, Le explains. “Patients are starting to learn they can get all the benefits of hospital wound care and treatment but at a substantial reduction in cost,” she says. “At a private wound and research center, patients have access to the newest technologies and treatment in wound care without being charged an additional facility fee. It is a win-win for patients.”

Tulsa Wound Center held a soft opening in July 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house in March 2022. Through patient referrals, the center has expanded from two staff members when it opened to 22 and sees an average of 1,650 patient visits monthly.

Founder and medical director of Tulsa Wound Center, Le has been a wound care and hyperbaric physician for over 15 years. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, she trained in wound care and hyperbaric medicine under world-renowned wound and hyperbaric expert Dr. Thomas Serena, who attended the recent ribboncutting ceremony.

“This is truly a dream come true for me,” says Le, who served as medical director for a local hospital system for 14 years. “I found wound care to be an extremely rewarding and gratifying specialty because you have the opportunity to not just bandage the problem but help fix it. I have a vital role in helping save limbs and improve the lives of my patients. I also really enjoy the opportunity to develop great relationships with my patients.”

Le founded the HEAL Foundation in 2017 to further serve people through HEAL Charity Wound Clinic. The clinic accepts non-insured patients or patients referred from other local charity and health care programs needing a wound specialist with payments based on a sliding scale. Patients also have free rental options for medical devices, such as walkers, knee scooters and wheelchairs. — ANNA HOLTON-DEAN

Inspiration found here available anytime, anywhere.

TULSAPEOPLE.COM/HOME

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JULY 6

Bobby Dean Orcutt Mercury Lounge

PROSPERITY

TULSA TALKS JULY GUESTS:

Presented by:

» ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT » REGIONAL TOURISM

JULY 20

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12/18/19 3:22 PM

BEYOND CITY LIMITS

DAYTRIPPIN’

Downtown Sapulpa

JUST SOUTHWEST OF TULSA LIES THE CHARM OF SAPULPA.

BY RHYS MARTIN

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TulsaPeople JULY 2022

Street of America serves what you would expect — burgers, fries, delicious milkshakes — and the owners are super friendly. If you are stopping by around dusk, the neon makes for a great photo opportunity. If the lobby is open, you can peruse the large collection of Pepsi-Cola memorabilia and look through the guestbook. Because of its place on Route 66, Happy Burger has visitors from all over the world. You never know what other language you might hear from the next booth over.

The MEADOW BLACKBERRY FARM offers something a little different to see and a chance to spend some time outdoors. Located at 3200 Westgreen Way, it covers over 2,000 acres and is open for picking in July. It’s a good idea to call ahead to ensure the berries are ripe and there are plenty available.

If you want to go a bit further, head a few more miles west to Kellyville and book a staycation at MOUNTAIN CREEK LODGE, 21301 W. 191st St. The centerpiece of this Creek County oasis is a 1940sera rock barn that is available for all kinds of gatherings. There are a variety of lodging options, each with a different vibe but all situated to provide a quiet, comfortable experience. They can even arrange for hunting excursions. You would never know you were just minutes from Tulsa. TP

Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum

Happy Burger

MICHELLE POLLARD; HEART OF ROUTE 66 AUTO MUSEUM: COURTESY

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owntown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, has all the charm of an old small town along with the energy and fresh ideas that come with new entrepreneurs. You will see several references to Sapulpa as a crossroads — there’s even a sign saying so at the intersection of Route 66 and Highway 75. Across the street, you’ll find the CROSSROADS MARKET with its selection of local art and other items. The entire downtown corridor is very walkable and full of local businesses ready to surprise you.

The HEART OF ROUTE 66 AUTO MUSEUM, 13 Sahoma Lake Road, resides in an old armory on the west side of town. You can’t miss it; in addition to the collection of classic cars inside, the museum sports the World’s Tallest Gas Pump outside. It’s 66 feet tall, which makes sense considering this attraction resides along the Mother Road. It also has a section of the museum dedicated to local military history. On Saturdays through November, guests can tour the Creek County countryside during a 30-minute ride in a 1922 Packard. Visit heartofroute66.org for pricing and reservation information.

For a meal that’s in keeping with the vintage Route 66 theme, stop by HAPPY BURGER, 215 N. Mission St. This former Tastee Freeze on the Main

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MUSINGS

A GARDENER’S LAMENT

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

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TulsaPeople JULY 2022

Not that we need a garden hose or sprinkler system every day in Oklahoma. Some days the earth is as parched as an old flour tortilla. Other days, rain moves in with a lot of luggage and stays for a while.

Remember several weeks ago when the rain never stopped? Mother Nature flounced operatically, showing off her repertoire: Rain fell, slashed, pounded, drizzled, misted, pelted, flooded and just plain poured. I stood at the window watching my garden soil wash away leaving the new plants with their roots exposed.

They looked like a row of boys wearing highwater pants.

On and on the rain came, watery day after day, stormy night after night. A more erudite gardener would have shaken her fist at the heavens and railed like an actor in “The Tempest.” I watched sullenly, my morning cup of coffee slyly segueing into Irish coffee with a generous pour of Jameson.

Instead of Shakespeare, I quoted lines from the poet Philip Appleman: “O Karma, Dharma, pudding and pie, Gimme a break before I die.”

I tried not to calculate the hundreds of dollars spent on compost, manure, topsoil and seed gushing into the street. (Hundreds. Ha! That’s me being modest.) When the drain couldn’t handle the deluge, the flood transformed my driveway and backyard into a pond that rivaled the neighborhood park’s wading pool. My two big dogs loved it.

Meanwhile, temperatures toggled back and forth with a 30-degree span. My home heating/ cooling system was on, off, on, off until the temperature gauge stared back at me bug-eyed, “Whataya want from me?”

At the same time, I witnessed the human world becoming as whackadoodle as the natural world. U.S. society and politics would be laughable, if they weren’t so serious. It didn’t comfort me to see that we are not alone in our bizarreness.

A friend in England sent me newspaper clippings reporting that one British university has removed Jane Austen from the literature curriculum and replaced her with Toni Morrison. It’s an effort, Stirling University in Scotland said, to “decolonize the curriculum” and teach “Black postmodernism.” Does everything have to be this or that?

Can’t it be this and that?

The same newspaper had an article about a town council’s decree that 1,000 daffodils be cut down in a park in St. Blazey, Cornwall, England.

Why? The council feared children might eat the flowers. Daffodils are toxic, health and safety officials declared. A park spokesman declared back, “Th is is totally bonkers.”

That is the perfect response. For a lot of things these days. TP Hear Connie Cronley read this column on the July 27 About Town podcast.

Visit TulsaPeople.com/podcast.

GEORGIA BROOKS

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ne very hot summer when Satan tired of walking the earth tormenting people, he invented garden hoses to do the work for him. Instant success!

The fi rst model was so heavy gardeners struggled to drag it across the yard or heave it onto a hose stand. That’s why often it was left stretched across the lawn where the lawn mower ran over it or the dog chewed holes in it.

An improved version, lightweight and flexible, easily twisted and crimped. Once straightened, the blocked water flow blasted like a geyser and splashed the gardener.

The garden hose does not harass by itself.

Affi xing it to an outdoor faucet skins knuckles.

Diabolical attachments — nozzles and sprinklers (oscillating, rotating, spraying) — soak the gardener as much as the lawn and plants. Hose reels, pots and containers can tangle the hose into such an inseparable mess, the entire thing has to be thrown into the trash.

Once the malevolent hose was perfected, another cursed invention surpassed it: the sprinkler system. Sprinkler heads clog or snap off, valves and timers malfunction, lines break and leak. The vexations are limitless.

Of course, gardeners are happy we don’t have to carry water from the creek in a lard can. We are grateful for these watering aids.

And yet, doesn’t the gardener have enough woes to contend with? Weather, disease, insects, cute little bunnies. Dare we mention the expense?

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ND Woodridge Farm sits on 110.89 PE acres (m/l) just off of Highway 20, minutes from Will Rogers Downs and conveniently accessible from Tulsa, Owasso and Pryor. The main house was custom designed and built by architect Ted Larkin and has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Ideal for entertaining, the home boasts a large eat-in kitchen with fireplace, formal living/dining, an office, huge wrap-around porch with gorgeous views of the property, and a walled courtyard. Formerly a sporthorse breeding and training facility, the property features multiple barns of 36 stalls, breeding shed and more! 4 additional homes- one currently used as a guest house and the other three as income producing rentals. $2,000,000

GRAND LAKE Grand Crest on the Langley bluff with the most outrageous views of the dam and main lake that you will ever see. This completely renovated home in 2016 offers 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, all on one level, a covered patio and more. New roof and guttering installed in 2022. The moon and sun rises will blow you away!

Covered in your HOA dues are lawn care and trash. You are only one hour away from Tulsa and 3 minutes from Reasors. $539,500

MIDTOWN PROPERTY Located in the heart of Midtown.

This traditional-style home sits on a corner lot. Large granite kitchen with stainless appliances, walk-in pantry, french doors open to back patio.

Hardwood floors throughout the majority of the home. Formals, huge laundry room with extra refrigerator, storage & a sink. The Master bedroom has french doors that open to a covered patio. $850,000

GRAND LAKE North Point Club waterview. 3 BR, 1.5 BA, open living space, tile, carpet and hardwood floors. Wood burning fireplace, wrap around deck with a view of Grand Lake. One slip covered boat dock with encapsulated foam with a storage building right behind it and storage located very near the cabin. Located just 10 minutes east of Disney! This quaint neighborhood has a shared park on the point with a great view of Grand Lake and wonderful neighbors. $429,500

ESTATES OF RIVER OAKS 11805 E 118th Place. Fabulous .5 acre corner lot in The Estates of River Oaks. This South Tulsa exclusive gated community offers wooded lots with mature trees and private streets. It is a masterfully planned upscale neighborhood that is a perfect opportunity to build your new home. Situated in Bixby Public District, Bixby North Elementary. $275,000

HISTORIC MANOR 228 W 17th Place. John Brooks Walton’s 1st book of 100 Historic Tulsa Homes: Moore Manor built only 9 years after Oklahoma statehood is one of the finest examples of Georgian residential architecture. 1st time on the market since 1980, this historic designated prestigious home has 8 Bedrooms with 5 HVAC units, 4 WBFP’s, a 40K watt generator & an in-law plan in the 2 story carriage house with a separate 2 car garage.

It has been used as a law office but is well suited for many other residential or commercial uses. $1,500,000.

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CHIMNEY HILLS ESTATES First time on the market for this one-owner home built in 1979!

Classic floor plan with plenty of room for your family. Large rooms including formal living, dining, and a huge master bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The Master bedroom has 2 oversized walk-in closets. Lovely professionally landscaped backyard with privacy fence. 2 updated zones of H&A, newer roof. Award-winning Darnaby Elementary, Union High School. $315,000

1.77 ACRE OWASSO 7376 E 106th St N. 1.77 acre parcel in Owasso. Situated on 106th St North between Sheridan and Memorial.

Enjoy country living just 2 miles outside of town. Flat lot ready to build your dream home. Per survey 139 frontage on 106th St. Zoned AG. Excellent location with easy access to Hwy 75 & just minutes to downtown Tulsa. $149,000

E N J OY T H E LU X U RY L I F E ST Y L E YOU D E SI R E TulsaPeople.com

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TULSA TIME WARP

CATCHING A RIDE STORY AND COMPOSITE IMAGE BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS

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s transportation continued to evolve in the fi rst quarter of the 20th century, more and more Americans hit the open road.

Plans for a Tulsa bus terminal to serve travelers had been in the works since 1922 and was encouraged by none other than infrastructure influencer Cyrus Avery, who was busy planning Route 66 at the time.

The bus terminal plan took a back seat to the on-going development and focus of the Union Train Depot, which eventually opened in 1931.

The original 1929 design of the bus terminal was much larger and resembled many other bus facilities across the country at that time. However, plans for the terminal would be put on hold during the onset of the Great Depression.

Over the following years, the building was redesigned and architecturally updated. The Union Bus Terminal, with its combination of Zigzag and Streamline Art Deco styles, finally opened to the public in 1934.

The facility served bus lines for both local and long-distance travelers. It also was home to the Terminal Cafe and a memorable 47-foot neon sign outside. The Terminal Hotel and Railways Express shipping office were located next door, along with the K.C. Auto Hotel, which is still in business.

The Union Bus Terminal served many travelers in its 53-year life span but was eventually demolished in 1987. TP 112

TulsaPeople JULY 2022

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The Union Bus Terminal was located at 319 S. Cincinnati Ave. Its large neon sign is seen on the right, and the K.C. Auto Hotel is on the left.

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