TulsaPeople August 2023

Saint Francis Hospital named the best for maternity care. One more reason to smile.

Oklahoma is our home, and we believe all our friends, families and communities deserve the best. Saint Francis Hospital is honored to be named the best for maternity care.

Learn more at saintfrancis.com.

FIRST OKLAHOMA BANK PRESENTS Leaders with Heart

ENGAGING. PROFESSIONAL. RESPONSIVE.

Morey Villareal is a matchmaker par excellence. He knows how to pair organizations seeking talent with the right candidates. As the Principal of Villareal & Associates, his skill for finding, recruiting, and matching top candidates with specialized, high-level jobs and helping organizations create effective compensation packages has helped him earn a reputation for achieving results.

“The most satisfying thing I do is helping an organization hire the right person for a key position in a way that fosters a relationship that lasts,” he says.

After graduating from Michigan State University with an MBA in organization development, Morey knew he wanted to work in the human resources field. For many years, he was with Ernst & Young, becoming the partner in charge of HR consulting for the firm’s Southwest Region, where he was responsible for providing clients with compensation consulting and executive recruitment services.

Today, with Villareal & Associates, he helps organizations of all types with recruitment and compensation projects. He starts the assessment phase of a talent search by evaluating resumes to determine if skill sets, experience, and qualifications are a good fit for the job. He then focuses on the less visible “talents” to discern the candidate’s intellectual capabilities, analytical and interpersonal skills, and strategic thinking capacity. Invariably, the person’s “likeability” ends up being

a key factor in determining whether a candidate gets the job, he says.

His community service work has included providing consulting services to sundry nonprofits in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. In addition, he has served on boards including the Tulsa Human Rights Commission, Downtown YMCA, Tulsa Opera, Community Service Council, and more.

He learned the importance of community service from his paternal grandparents who were immigrants from Mexico. In the 1920s they established Villareal Grocery in north Tulsa, where residents could buy groceries, often on credit. His grandparents also helped provide cover for Black residents in their home during the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921. “They showed me the importance of charity, giving back and being concerned about others.”

“Morey has had an outstanding career helping organizations in finding the right talent and in developing compensation and reward programs that help create a motivated, healthy workplace. He has had a great impact broadly on the workforce and especially in the companies he helps,” says Tom Bennett Jr., First Oklahoma’s Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. “We are proud to have him as a friend.”

“What always impresses me about First Oklahoma Bank is how hard they work to serve their stakeholders, which they define broadly to include customers, employees, directors, investors, vendors and service providers. They view these groups as resources and serve them in ways that make them want to help the bank grow. That brings them a lot of business, a lot of loyalty,” Morey says.

We’ve Earned a Top Spot in US News and World Report’s Best Medical Schools Rankings.

IT FEELS GREAT TO BE ON TOP.

OSU Center for Health Sciences has earned the No. 1 ranking in the percentage of graduates practicing medicine in Health Professional Shortage Areas, and No. 10 in graduates practicing in rural areas from the U.S. News and World Report’s annual medical school rankings.

HPSAs designate areas and population groups, both rural and urban, that are experiencing a shortage of health professionals and can also be called medical deserts. About 50 percent of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine graduates are practicing in HPSAs, according to US News data. Not only are we educating physicians in the heart of Tulsa, we’re also educating the next generation in rural Oklahoma at our Cherokee Nation campus in Tahlequah.

With a mission to educate physicians for rural and underserved populations in Oklahoma, this news is just another confirmation we are making good on that promise. Getting nationally recognized for it is the (orange) cherry on top.

The 2023-24 “U.S. News and World Report” rankings are from a survey of 192 accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States, which grant M.D. and D.O. degrees, respectively.

medicine.okstate.edu

A top-ranked medical school in the heart of Tulsa. And Tahlequah.

36 Q&A: SUPERINTENDENT DEBORAH GIST

The Tulsa Public Schools leader looks ahead to the school year.

BY TIM LANDES 40

READY FOR REAL LIFE

4 local high schools prepare students for careers after graduation

BY ABBY MEDICO AND TIM LANDES

57

CITY ON STAGE

Tulsa talent abounds in this year’s performing arts guide.

BY ABBY MEDICO

SPECIAL SECTIONS

67 Fall break travel

81 City Guide

7

CITY DESK

Higher education institutions making news. Learning ballet as an adult. Tulsan shares her softball wits on ESPN. Bill Smith’s downtown movie empire.

77

LIFESTYLE

Bound for books in Broken Arrow. A recent Lortondale renovation. Overcoming addiction in midtown. Another letter to Connie Cronley’s niece.

87

TABLE TALK

Talking tacos at Rosa’s Cantina. 5 favorites for brunch. Cheeseboards and more. Getting foamy at Marshall Brewing Co.

ON THE COVER Webster High School students Sam Hill, Sam Tracy, Ciara McIntosh-Asbury, Jocelyn Torres-Becerra and Aaron Molett practice filming techniques at the school’s entrance. Learn more about this and other Tulsa Public Schools career-ready programs on p. 40.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE POLLARD

East Central instructor Dwight Long works with aerospace students as they learn about the physics of flight by using gliders and adding weight to them for test flights.

D

Has the world shifted so much to digital correspondence that the practice has faded?

I collected as a kid. One day, likely after watching “Reading Rainbow” or spending time playing “teacher,” I asked my mom if I could start a stamp collection. I meant a rubber stamp collection. I always loved it when my teachers would use one on my homework assignments — I guess I have always had a need for some sort of approval or a rmation from someone — and I wanted to reciprocate that with my pretend students.

But what she heard was a stamp collection … like postage stamps. is was before the dawn of the internet, so she took me over to a nearby store where we bought a few starter-kit envelopes stu ed with stamps pre-packaged and pre-selected by the seller. Despite the original mix-up, I got pretty into it, and over the next few years I would tear o stamps from letters we received at home to try and nd them in my collector’s book. My dad would bring me envelopes he received at work. I would soak those specimens in water to dissolve the glue. After they dried, I distinctly remember the little paper stamp hinges I would use to adhere my found stamp where it belonged in the book. Sometime over the decades that hobby diminished as school, sports, friends and AOL Instant Messenger took up most of my free time.

is week Publisher Jim Langdon shared with me a letter he received from former Mayor Rodger Randle, whom we pro led in our July Legends Q&A. Still a collector, Randle utilized six stamps from his troves — one 46 cent from 1995 depicting anthropologist Ruth Benedict and ve 3 cent stamps featuring everything from the Mackinac Bridge to a 1948 depiction of four chaplains who sacri ced their lives in the sinking of the S.S. Dorchester in 1943.

6 TulsaPeople AUGUST 2023

o people still collect stamps? Or, more precisely, does interest still exist in philately, which is the study of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postcards and other materials?If you didn’t know, U.S. Postal stamps never expire. Randle wrote he’d rather use stamps from his collection than just have them languish in a plastic le.

I agree.

All this stamp talk probed me to try and nd my collector’s book. No luck with that, but I found a cigar box full of used and unused stamps. Ah, memories. Why do I hang on to this stu ? For these exact moments.

I hope you enjoy this August issue. Another school year is here already, and Features Editor Tim Landes sat down with Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist to learn what’s in store for the district on p. 36. In another article on p. 40, TPS is preparing students for careers after high school. e nonpro t Young People of the Next Generation is helping TPS students plan nancially for higher education (p. 16).

Tipped into this issue you’ll also nd the annual City Guide, which will help you navigate the best destinations, restaurants, events and attractions to be a tourist in your own city.

I want to give a shout-out to two special contributors this month. First, to our summer intern Abby Medico who has worked hard learning the ins and outs of our magazine. Second, I want readers to welcome writer Michael Overall to the pages of TulsaPeople. His new monthly series, “Historically Speaking,” will dive deep into the characters who made Tulsa what it is. is month that’s W.M. “Bill” Smith, a pioneer in T-Town’s movie theater landscape. Read all about his short but in uential career on p. 34.

Happy reading. TP

Volume XXXVII, Number 10 ©2023. 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.

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

FEATURES EDITOR Tim Landes

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Blayklee Freed

EDITORIAL & MARKETING ASSISTANT Tiffany Howard

EDITORIAL CONSULTING Missy Kruse, The Write Company

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Madeline Crawford

ART DIRECTOR Georgia Brooks

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ashley Guerrero

MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER Michelle Pollard

VIDEOGRAPHER Greg Bollinger

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Andrea Canada

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Josh Kampf Rita Kirk

CONTROLLER Mary McKisick

INTERN Abby Medico

MEMBER

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.

Summer splash

At Tulsa Dream Center, a popular summertime activity is spending time at the site’s splash pad. Since it opened in August 2022, TDC has been able to provide swimming lessons as part of its summer camps and after-school programs.

This year TDC expanded its services to west Tulsa when it acquired a 21,000-square-foot facility. According to TDC, the 74107 zip code around the west campus mirrors the economic needs seen in north Tulsa, with more people living in poverty per capita than the state average. TP

NOTEBOOK

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

e future is now

Students at The University of Tulsa are living in the 21st century a la The Jetsons as robot food delivery continues this school year on campus.

Fifteen robots from Starship Technologies deliver from seven campus eateries to the nearly 4,000 students and 1,000 faculty and staff.

TU is the first school in the state to utilize Starship robots, which are zero-emission machines that use sophisticated machine learning, artificial intelligence and sensors to navigate sidewalks and other obstacles.

Going the distance

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences garnered two new accolades from U.S. News and World Report’s annual medical school rankings released in May.

OSU-CHS was named No. 1 in the percentage of graduates practicing medicine in health professional shortage areas and No. 10 in graduates practicing in rural areas.

“Being recognized by U.S. News and World Report for the hard work and dedication of our graduates to serve patients in physician shortage areas, these rural and underserved communities, is a testament to the mission of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine,” says OSU-CHS President Johnny Stephens. “I’m so proud of our institution, our graduates, our faculty and staff for their unwavering commitment to this mission. By emphasizing innovation and passion for community, OSU-COM produces graduates eager to work in these medical deserts.”

VOICES OF OKLAHOMA

ENGINEERING SUCCESS

College Park, the partnership between Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, recently added engineering as a major area of study.

The expansion is tied to the Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility Corridor — funded by a federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant — and focuses on increasing the region’s skilled workforce to support advanced mobility.

“College Park has a single focus to effectively and efficiently graduate more students with a bachelor’s degree in high-demand, high-pay areas,” TCC President and CEO Leigh Goodson says. “We understand our workforce needs more engineers and we are actively working to fulfill that need. The Build Back Better grant will help us produce graduates who can support the current demands as well as the growth we expect to see in the state for air mobility and aerospace.”

College Park provides a seamless four-year public education experience on the OSU-Tulsa campus. Students on the engineering pathway earn an associate degree from TCC and a bachelor’s in one of OSU-Tulsa’s engineering majors.

Learn how to apply, as well as information on eligibility for scholarships and vouchers, at collegeparktulsa.com.

“I remember there was a show in the ’60s, called ‘Damn Yankees,’ Broadway show, and my father was negotiating on presenting it here in Tulsa. And as I said, Western Union was the way they communicated in those days. So he called Western Union, which he did all the time to present offers ... They called back and said, ‘Mr. Carson, we cannot send this with this word in here.’ He said, ‘Well, that’s the name of a show.’ And they said, ‘I’m sorry, that’s against our rules of Western Union.’ So he just had to put the word ‘Yankees’ in the telegram.” — the late Dick Carson on Carson Attractions, his family’s three-generation-owned business that was a pillar of entertainment promotion in Tulsa for more than 66 years

Psychology student Jennifer Fierro picks up an order from the on-campus robot food delivery service at The University of Tulsa.

A NATION OF RESOLVE

Experience the Cherokee story, through centuries of ingenuity, determination and sovereignty, in insightful and moving exhibits beside timeless works of art. Admission is free for all ages. One Nation. Ten Attractions. Endless Adventure.

CHEROKEE NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM, TAHLEQUAH, OK

AUGUST

AUG. 2-6

GREENWOOD FILM FESTIVAL

Back for its third year, this event is screening 41 Black films from around the world, alongside discussions on Black culture, the film industry and social justice. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY-TULSA, 700 N. GREENWOOD AVE. GREENWOODFILMFESTIVAL.COM

AUG. 5 SIP ‘N SLIDE

Giant lounge pools, foam galore and a 500-foot slip-and-slide — need we say more? Welltown Brewing hosts this 21-and-older event that includes live music, food trucks and drinks.

WELLTOWN BREWING, 114 W. ARCHER ST. SIP-N-SLIDE.COM

AUG. 5-6

OKLAHOMA COMIC CON

Nerds converge! This gathering celebrates movies, television, anime, comic books and cosplay and will include booths, autograph events, video game tournaments and tabletop game showdowns.

COX BUSINESS CONVENTION CENTER, 100 CIVIC CENTER OKLAHOMACOMICON.COM

AUG. 12

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS

Don your cozy clothes and lounge on the lawn with oversized bean bags and a mix of classic and current Saturday morning cartoons, plus family-friendly activities.

GUTHRIE GREEN. 111 E. RECONCILIATION WAY GUTHRIEGREEN.COM

AUG. 12

ILLUMINATE ARTS FESTIVAL

This year’s theme is “Tracing Our Roots” and brings visitors to the Tulsa Global District for live murals, food and family fun.

1801 S. GARNETT ROAD FACEBOOK.COM/TULSAGLOBAL

AUG. 15

STEM NIGHT

Participants learn about environmental conservation while creating unique STEM projects they can take home — an event that happens the third Thursday of every month.

OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM, 300 S. AQUARIUM DRIVE., JENKS | OKAQUARIUM.ORG

AUG. 26

THIS MACHINE’S 5TH BIRTHDAY BASH!

Head to the river to celebrate five years of This Machine in Tulsa, the bike service that makes pedal-assisted rides all over the city possible.

RIVER WEST FESTIVAL PARK, 2100 S. JACKSON AVE. THISMACHINETULSA.COM

AUG. 26

MAKER FAIRE TULSA

Calling all DIY-enthusiasts! Celebrating 11 years, this festival invites makers and creators of technology, education, science, arts, crafts, engineering, food, sustainability and making of all kinds.

EXCHANGE CENTER AT EXPO SQUARE, 4145 E. 21ST ST. TULSA.MAKERFAIRE.COM

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

COMPILED BY BLAYKLEE FREED

REBECKA PETERSON

NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

STORY AND PHOTO BY TIM LANDES

It’s late spring and Rebecka Peterson has an opening in her schedule to meet for co ee at Sona Co ee South, 7890 E. 106th Place S., Suite V-2, and chat about hanging out in the Oval O ce and classrooms across the state.

On this day the Union High School math teacher is nearing the end of her run as Oklahoma Teacher of the Year and about to start her year-long tenure as National Teacher of the Year, during which she plans to use her platform to highlight teachers’ stories of the good that is happening in education.

HER WORK AS OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR TOOK HER OUT OF HER UNION HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM WHERE SHE TAUGHT THE FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF CALCULUS. THE SAME WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR, BUT ... I’ve still been in the classroom. My classroom just expanded. I got to be in a lot more classrooms this year across the state. I got to see so many more age ranges. I’ve only taught high school and college, so I got to see pre-K through 12. I got to be in rural, urban and suburban schools. I come from a very large school of like 3,100 kids, and I’ve been in schools where there’s 180 in the whole district.

THAT WON’T CHANGE WITH HER NEW DUTIES ... I’ve been told that it’ll be a minimum of 150 engagements from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

SHE’S A TEACHER WHO HAS LEARNED FROM STUDENTS ... ey have taught me they are continuously curious or continuously compassionate. So that is really how I try to approach each topic. I think, particularly as adults, we’re so conditioned to have an opinion on everything. Kids aren’t like that. I want to be more like them. I want to not feel like I have to give an opinion all the time. I instead want to tell stories because I think we’re just inundated

with opinions right now. I don’t think I’ve ever changed my mind because of somebody’s opinion, or someone’s speech or eloquent words, but I’ve changed my mind on topics because of stories. at’s why I was adamant about my passion projects this year of just telling teachers’ stories and to be more like my students. To approach topics with curiosity, with compassion, and then when I have a lived experience for that, to be bold and to share my lived experience, but if I don’t, to listen and lean in. at’s how I’ve approached this past year, and how I’m trying to approach this year. Be more like my students.

PETERSON WAS BORN IN SWEDEN TO A SWEDISH MOM AND AN IRANIAN FATHER, AND THE FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO AMERICA WHEN SHE WAS IN PRESCHOOL. HER PARENTS WERE MEDICAL MISSIONARIES, AND BY THE TIME PETERSON WAS 16 SHE HAD LIVED IN FOUR COUNTRIES ... I’ve also lived in Kazakhstan, which borders Russia, China and Mongolia. en I spent my freshman year of high school in Tajikistan, which is

the most poverty-stricken of the countries I’ve lived in. Especially at that time when 80% of the country lived below the poverty line. Experiences like that change you.

ON APRIL 25, SHE ATTENDED A CEREMONY IN THE WHITE HOUSE ROSE GARDEN WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ... My dad got to come, and for an Iranian to be in the Oval O ce, it was just a really beautiful moment.

HER HUSBAND, BRETT, AND 7-YEAR-OLD SON, JONAS, ALSO WERE IN ATTENDANCE ... Jonas got to come into the Oval O ce with us. He met President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona When we left, he said, “You know, Mom, that was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you, but not for me because I’m gonna be a State Teacher of the Year one day, too.” It was so cute, but also it hit me he’d never talked about wanting to be a teacher before, but now that he’s seen the profession elevated, he’s all of a sudden interested in it. TP

245 MILES. ELECTRIC VEHICLES’

AVERAGE DRIVING RANGE IS 212 MILES.

DRIVING FROM TULSA TO OKC AND BACK IS

Plus, there are more than 1,000 charging stations in Oklahoma –and counting. While there’s a lot of hype around electric vehicles (EVs) right now, there are also a lot of questions — about their performance, reliability, charging capabilities and range. At PSO, we want to provide you with answers to your EV questions, so you can make informed decisions. Learn more and find a charging station at: GetToKnowEV.com

BONKERS FOR BODDLE

DIGITAL PLATFORM ENGAGES YOUTH IN MATH AND ENGLISH.

BY KRISTI EATON

Edna Martinson says Tulsa has played a large role in her company that she runs with her husband, Clarence Tan.

e couple relocated to Tulsa from Kansas City in August 2020 after receiving funding from Atento Capital for their educational learning platform, Boddle Learning.

“ at capital went to helping us build our team, and build the product out as well, to something that can really be scalable,” she says. “And Tulsa has introduced us to an incredible network.”

Boddle Learning is a gami ed platform for education that focuses on building fun and interactive math and English games for kindergarten through sixth-grade students.

e team hopes to expand the platform to include other subjects in the future — as well as more social gaming experiences — so kids can learn and play together in the digital playground.

Martinson, with a background in marketing and operations, and Tan, a game designer, started the company in 2018 and launched the platform in 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

“I think people really resonate with our mission to inspire kids to love learning,”

Direct from Broadway

Celebrity Attractions, nationally touring Broadway presenter, is celebrating 40 years of bringing live theater magic to Tulsa. CEO Kristin Dotson shares her excitement for the upcoming season. See this season’s lineup, along with other performing arts groups, in TulsaPeople’s season preview starting on p. 57.

What show are you most excited about this season? I’m always a fan of the Disney magic. They do an amazing job of wowing the audience. And I love watching the children’s faces light up when something unexpected happens on stage. That’s kind of a goosebump moment. So I’m excited about “Aladdin.” “Beetlejuice” is going to be huge. It’s a little naughty but fans of the movie will love it! And of course “To Kill a Mockingbird” is going to be a really strong piece of theater with important and appropriate themes for people to hear today, with everything going on in the world.

Martinson says. “I think, globally, when the pandemic happened, there was a big realization that learning completely shifted — kids are now having to learn remote. And teachers are facing lots of pressure trying to manage a classroom of 25-30 kids, all remote.”

Parents, meanwhile, also were realizing the di culty in teaching those kids in the early grades, she says.

“I think there’s a lot of appreciation for tools that were able to come in and support and help engage kids and that kids actually wanted to dive into and learn with us.”

Martinson, 30, says the company now sees over 1 million active users each month. In addition, she was recently named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for education.

She says making the list was an honor and a testament to the team, which numbers about 20 people.

“It speaks to our team’s dedication to the mission of inspiring kids to love learning,” Martinson says. “Changing the way we think about where and how learning can happen.” TP

What’s the process for bringing an engagement to town? We have fantastic relationships with agents in New York. There are basically three or four main agencies that represent the majority of the tours. We start talking with them very early on. I’m a Tony voter, which means I see every musical that plays on Broadway in order to vote so I am able to preview what is new before it hits the road. You have to do some critical thinking — just because a show is a big hit on Broadway doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to play well in our markets. We have to take a lot of things into consideration. We try to cast a wide net to provide different kinds of entertainment for everybody here in Tulsa. We start working several years in advance trying to figure out when the shows are going to be coming through our area. And then when the building is open. It’s a big chess game. But we have such fantastic support here. I don’t have to talk any producers into coming here, let’s just say that. So it’s just a matter of making it work — geographically with the tours, locally with the building, and curating the right combination of shows to make the season package attractive and affordable. — TIFFANY HOWARD

Earlier this year Edna Martinson was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for her gamified educational platform, Boddle Learning. Boddle gets its name from the bottle-headed characters in the game — the more successful a child is at a game, the more knowledge points fill up the character’s bottle head.

DOTSON: EVA DOTSON

Kristin Dotson

Looking for the right

Looking for the right cardiothoracic

surgeon?

cardiothoracic surgeon?

Appointments available find a time that works for you

Appointments available find a time that works for you

Feeling out of breath or fatigued while doing everyday activities? Start a conversation with Dr. Michael R. Phillips, an experienced and compassionate cardiothoracic surgeon with Ascension Medical Group St. John Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Phillips is ready to listen to your concerns and discuss treatment options, which may include diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular diseases and coronary artery disease. Make an appointment that fits your schedule or get a second opinion.

Feeling out of breath or fatigued while doing everyday activities? Start a conversation with Dr. Michael R. Phillips, an experienced and compassionate cardiothoracic surgeon with Ascension Medical Group St. John Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Phillips is ready to listen to your concerns and discuss treatment options, which may include diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular diseases and coronary artery disease. Make an appointment that fits your schedule or get a second opinion.

Michael R. Phillips, MD Cardiothoracic Surgery

Michael R. Phillips, MD Cardiothoracic Surgery

Ascension Medical Group St. John Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery

Ascension Medical Group St. John Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery

1923 S. Utica Ave. Tulsa, OK 74104 918-601-3789

1923 S. Utica Ave. Tulsa, OK 74104 918-601-3789

To schedule your appointment today, call 918-601-3789 or visit ascension.org

To schedule your appointment today, call 918-601-3789 or visit ascension.org

THE NEXT GENERATION

NONPROFIT DETERMINED TO INCREASE NUMBER OF TULSA STUDENTS PURSUING COLLEGE.

BY LAURA DENNIS

The nancial burden of paying for college and lack of resources and information available to students are enough to deter many from even considering postsecondary education, let alone applying. To change that, Bill Langdon founded nonpro t Young People of the Next Generation in 2018 to increase the number of Tulsa Public Schools students who pursue a postsecondary education. He and his team at YPNG work to remove barriers students and parents are met with when navigating the college application process.

“ e biggest problem for some of these kids is they don’t study hard because they know they can’t a ord to go to college,” he says. “ e rst thing we do is show them the need to pursue postsecondary education. e second thing we show them is how to pay for it.”

Langdon, a retired businessman with a bachelor’s and a master’s in economics, started the concept of YPNG after having conversations with many high school and college graduates who were discouraged about their potential career prospects and the student debt many of them faced. He saw a need in the public school system that wasn’t being met, and he wanted to help bridge the gap between available nancial support and the parents and students who needed it most.

YPNG set its focus on Tulsa Public Schools with the highest number of lowincome families and the lowest number of submissions for nancial aid — Will Rogers and Monroe middle schools; McLain, Hale and Central high schools; and Tulsa Honor Academy.

“We want to help the kids whose parents

may not even be high school graduates and are making minimum wage,” he says. “We want to put those students in a position to really make a di erence, move up the economic ladder and create wealth for themselves and their families.”

e Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship (which provides college tuition scholarships to enrolled high school students meeting certain GPA and family nancial requirements), Tulsa Achieves (Tulsa County high school graduates with a GPA of 2.0 or higher and permanent residence in the U.S. are eligible for 63 credits at Tulsa Community College for free) and many other sources of nancial assistance are available to all Tulsa students. YPNG collaborates with TPS to provide bilingual instructors at student/parent workshops to assist with completing Promise and FAFSA applications.

YPNG’s primary focus is getting information about nancial assistance to students and parents, walking them through the process of applications and encouraging families to take advantage of these life-changing opportunities. Jasmine Aburto, a 2023 McLain graduate and an Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship winner, says YPNG has given her a future to look forward to and opportunities she otherwise would have missed out on. “It opened more possibilities for me to be able to go where I want because now I can a ord it,” she says. “I’m not that worried about debt because I got a full ride to e University of Tulsa.”

McLain graduate Malachi Jackson says he’s grateful for the support and guidance YPNG has provided him and his classmates. “ rough YPNG I have been able to connect with mentors who have helped me develop goals and create a plan to achieve them,” he says. Classmate and fellow graduate Chris Richards agrees and adds YPNG has empowered him. “Knowledge is power,” he says. “I know it’s important to seek higher education because people can take everything from you, but not your knowledge.”

rough the collaboration of sta , parents and students, YPNG has completed more than 200 Oklahoma’s Promise applications for 2023. Langdon says he’s hopeful for more next year, as YPNG is moving into all TPS middle schools and three more high schools next year: East Central, Memorial and Rogers.

“We’ve been maybe a catalyst for the increase in these numbers,” he says. “ e PTA, alumni association, teachers, principals, counselors, a lot of people have volunteered to make this happen. It has been and will continue to be a collaborative e ort.” TP

Young People of the Next Generation is a nonprofi t focused on increasing the number of Tulsa Public Schools students who pursue postsecondary education.

Bill Langdon

Jasmine Aburto Malachi Jackson

Chris Richards

SUPPORTING EDUCATORS

NONPROFIT AIMS TO BRIDGE THE GAP WHEN TEACHERS FACE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.

BY ASHLEY HEIDER DALY

Teachers are the heartbeat of education, and our community relies on them to take care of our children. UpliftEd is a nonpro t organization that o ers a chance for Tulsans to give back to teachers in need.

Tulsa Public Schools teachers who qualify nancially can receive assistance in the form of bill payment, home and auto repair, medical expenses, grocery supplements, items and services. e aid is for personal use, outside the classroom. Teachers can ll out an online application to apply for assistance any time of the year.

“Because nancial distress was the No. 1 reason teachers were leaving Oklahoma, UpliftEd formed to support the retention of Tulsa Public Schools teachers by helping teachers in nancial need,” says Shawna Mott-Wright, UpliftEd board member and president of the Tulsa Classroom Teacher Association.

A nationwide teacher shortage makes supporting educators more important than ever.

“We help meet the needs of teachers so that they don’t have to be stressed out, and they are able to live better lives,” Mott-

Wright says. “ at translates into being better in the classroom with our kids.”

UpliftEd has helped about 100 teachers fund nancial stressors such as medical assistance, new tires, washing machines repairs, sub oor xes in a bathroom and car replacement.

“I believe in our schools and know we cannot properly care for children unless we properly care for their teachers,” MottWright says. “ e quality of our public education a ects everyone. What’s at stake is not only the well-being of our youth, but also their families, the business community, the economy and Tulsa’s reputation.”

Want to support the humans who’ve dedicated their lives to our city’s children? Individuals and local businesses can go to upliftedschools.org and make a nancial contribution or inquire about in-kind donation opportunities. As charitable contributions increase, UpliftEd hopes to continue expanding and o er nancial assistance to all categories of TPS employees including paraprofessionals, cafeteria employees and bus drivers. TP

NEWSWORTHY NUGGETS

» On June 30, Michelle Place stepped down as Tulsa Historical Society and Museum’s executive director after more than 20 years in the role. Place will serve as a special projects director until her planned retirement in October, according to a news release. THSM’s board of directors appointed Cray Bauxmont-Flynn as interim executive director while a search is underway.

» Tulsa Housing Authority announced in June the $25 million final phase six financing closed for Choice Neighborhoods — River West, a mixed-income workforce housing development. The project totals more than $180 million and includes building 435 apartments, a park, public infrastructure and stormwater improvements.

» On June 26, Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food, nutrition and consumer services division, visited Union Public School’s Ellen Ochoa Elementary to discuss updates and initiatives concerning food security. This was one of several stops Dean made in eastern Oklahoma that day to engage in this topic.

» Tulsa Day Center, 415 W. Archer St., is the home of a new harm-reduction vending machine containing naloxone and fentanyl test strip kits. In partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, this is the first of 40 machines to be installed in strategic zip codes across the state, making this the largest-scale initiative in the U.S., according to a press release.

» Tulsa Transit bus rides continue to be free through Aug. 31. The free fares are in conjunction with Tulsa Air Quality’s Ozone Alert Program to assist in reducing air emissions and encourage more citizens to utilize public transportation on Ozone Alert Days. —

ANNE BROCKMAN

Shawna Mott-Wright is a board member of UpliftEd, a nonprofi t founded in 2020 that provides financial assistance to registered classroom teachers.

AT THE BARRE

TULSA BALLET OFFERS RECREATIONAL ADULT CLASSES LED BY PROFESSIONAL DANCERS.

BY JULIANNE TRAN

Long ballet barres line the walls in a Tulsa Ballet studio where pale pink ballet slippers have glided across the smooth marley oors for years. You might imagine this room lled with tiny ballerinas learning pliés and tendus for the rst time, or with professional dancers meticulously perfecting their upcoming performance.

But here, adult dancers from all walks of life are learning ballet for the rst time or returning to the art form they’ve forgotten for years.

Alongside their renowned professional company and children’s dance education, Tulsa Ballet also teaches recreational

IN SESSION

Earlier this spring, Tulsa Dream Center opened its second location at 4122 W. 55th Place, fulfilling expansion plans for the Center’s longer-term potential. TDC has begun replicating programs at this site, including youth education, community forums, grocery giveways and chapel services, with more to come this fall.

adult dancers.

Since its inception in 1956, education has been a part of Tulsa Ballet. “(Co-founder) Moscelyne Larkin believed dancers should have the best education they could, even if they didn’t want to become a professional dancer,” says Arlene Minkhorst, director of education.

After joining the sta in 2018, Minkhorst reshaped the adult dance program with its dancers in mind.

“As an adult, you’re a bit pickier. You make important choices about where you put your leisure time and dollars and you want to feel like you’re getting something

out of the program when you walk away,” Minkhorst says. “Dancers want a good workout, a break from their day and a chance to learn something new.”

Which is where the instructors come in.

“I like to pass on my professional tips to adult students, so they can develop a deeper understanding of ballet,” says Chong Sun, instructor and former demi-soloist with Tulsa Ballet.

Sun, who is originally from Beijing, China, recently nished a seven-year career in Tulsa Ballet’s company and now nds himself at the opposite side of the dance studio.  He teaches the intricate details of ballet while keeping the skill level in mind.

“Safety is my rst priority,” Sun says. “If they’re repeating the same mistake or doing it incorrectly, they can get hurt. I teach (dancers) slowly and then progress to the next step.”

Ultimately, this adult ballet curriculum is all about sharing the love of dance.

“(Many of the) adults who have joined us, especially the beginners, say, ‘I always wanted to dance as a child, but I didn’t have the opportunity, either my family didn’t have the resources or there was nothing in my community,’” Minkhorst describes.

Now, they have the opportunity to learn. Whether dancing is a newer or older skill, Tulsa Ballet o ers classes for each experience level, from beginner to intermediate ballet.

“I really loved getting involved with Tulsa Ballet because there was a customizability in the classes. You could come in and you’d have several options when you hit the barre,” says Tanya Dutko, 29, who recently started taking classes.

Dutko, a Chicago native, says she “grew up in a tutu” and danced until she went to college. For her, it’s been a unique experience returning to the art form she practiced for so many years.

“I cannot say enough how ballet can actually change people’s lives,” Sun says. “You just feel happier, whether physically or mentally.”

Tulsa Ballet o ers adult classes at its two campuses. For more information, visit tulsaballet.org. TP

From left, students London Hunt, Talia Brown, Daniel White and Jaylen Hervey participate in a coding class at the new Tulsa Dream Center west community center SUN: GREG BOLLINGER; BALLET: JESSIE KENNEY/JUNEBERRY PHOTO; DREAM CENTER: MICHELLE POLLARD

Tulsa Ballet organizes ballet classes for adults at both its locations. Inset, Chong Sun instructs a recent class.

OTHERWORLDLY MUSIC

LOCAL BAND’S CREATIVE OUTLET BLENDS MUSIC WITH PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.

STORIES BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

With Dante and the Bird Dogs, Tulsa musician Dante Schmitz has turned his newfound obsession with the paranormal into a multimedia project that includes a band, podcast and audio/video productions. While the creative themes lean toward alien abductions and conspiracy theories, you don’t have to be a “believer” to appreciate the rock-solid musical talent and the highly entertaining results.

“I used to be pretty agnostic about things like that,” says Schmitz, who hosts the podcast “Conspiracy Dad,” capitalizing on his background in journalism, music and lm to explore the latest developments in the world of conspiracy theories. “I grew up watching sci- , and I was a fan of that, and I got into the UFO stu about six or seven years ago.”

Schmitz initial skepticism turned to fascination as he began doing his own research.

“ at was the genesis of starting the podcast, and then the band,” he says. “I started researching all these di erent famous UFO stories, and, I don’t know why, but I just got obsessed with it. I thought it would be cool to start writing music that was speci cally about this subject — not necessarily all about UFOs — but also fringe ideas, whether it’s paranormal stu or even government conspiracy.”

A father’s story

In her recent book, “Going Back to T-Town: The Ernie Fields Territory Big Band,” Carmen Fields shares her father’s stories of life on the road during the Jim Crow era. The book is the culmination of more than 20 years of conversations Fields, an Emmy-award winning broadcast news journalist, had with her father, Ernie Fields (1904-1997), a Tulsa-based musician and bandleader.

For years growing up, Carmen heard her father’s stories. “As I got a little older, I gained a broader respect for his experience as a musician and for what he must have gone through to keep his organization working.”

Music videos for several of the new songs can be found on Schmitz’s YouTube page, @danteandthebirddogs. e videos are performed with his band, which, in addition to Schmitz, includes seasoned musicians Roger Ray (pedal steel), Teddy Scott (lead guitar), Dave Hays (bass), Philip Zoellner (keys), Tony Spatz and Jason Lee ( ddle), and Chris Gann (drums). e band has tracked two of the songs at Church Studio, with plans to record and release more singles, and eventually, a full album. Schmitz also is creating lms to accompany the music.

“I’m putting a lot more focus on lm and doing music videos and trying to produce video content with the songs,” notes Schmitz, who owns and operates Bound For Glory Productions, a video production and media company, with fellow musician Nick Whitaker.

Although Schmitz has fully embraced this new creative path, he’s still cautious about separating fact from ction.

“We’re living in a time where everything we know is coming through a screen. We think we know things, and we think that we’ve seen things, but if everything you know is coming through a screen, that screen can be manipulated.” Learn more at danteandthebirddogs.com. TP

Ernie was responsible for every aspect of the tour, including lodging and logistics, during a time of racial segregation. He always kept one of the two 40-gallon fuel tanks full on the tour bus.

“When one tank was getting low, he would pull into a service station. For the average service station, a bus like that is a good day’s haul, but he would always ask first, ‘If he bought gasoline, could they use the restrooms?’ If they said, ‘No,’ he’d say, ‘Drive on,’” Carmen says. “That was his way of demanding a certain amount of respect for his dollars, and for his humanity.”

The book also documents fellow musicians in a section called, “Roll Call.” In creating that list, Carmen and her father pored over stacks of photos from his career, and Carmen located and interviewed as many of the musicians as she could. The result is an important archive of both American popular music and African American history.

“The more stories I heard about their particular hardships, I was amazed my father was so easy-going and matter of fact and not a bitter person,” she says. “The temperament it must have taken to face those obstacles and still work around them and keep an optimistic and positive frame of mind, I think that was the biggest surprise for me.”

For more information, visit oupress.com.

Dante and the Bird Dogs play the Hunt Club on Aug. 11. Members include, from left, Teddy Scott, Philip Zoellner, Dante Schmitz, Dave Hays and guest vocalist Zeta Zoellner.

RENTAL PROGRAMS FROM STEINWAY & SONS THE SIX MONTH “GET ACQUAINTED” PROGRAM

STARTING AS LOW AS $69 PER MONTH.

is program allows piano students of all ages to learn on a beautiful new Steinway-Designed Boston or Essex piano. e cost is just 1.5% of the piano’s total value per month , for six months (plus tax and shipping charges). A er six months, if you choose to purchase the piano, we’ll credit you the monthly rental costs. Even better, you’ll lock in the purchase price at the beginning of the rental agreement, protecting yourself against price increases.

Finance arrangements o en cost no more than the original monthly rental fee. And our Full Trade-Up Steinway Promise lets you trade in your piano in the future for 100% of the original purchase price toward a new Steinway or Steinway-Designed Boston or Essex piano of greater value.

To learn more about our rental program, contact Steinway Piano Gallery or visit steinwaypianos.com

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‘TRIFECTA OF COOL’

THE MAYO HOTEL’S ROOFTOP CONCERT SERIES CONTINUES THROUGH THE FALL.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

Tulsa is a music town, and you can catch a live performance any night of the week. Whether you’re looking for a stadium concert or the intimacy of a dive bar, this city has you covered. For some of the best local talent in a spectacular setting, consider a trip to the Mayo Penthouse Rooftop Bar.

“Tunes Above Tulsa,” the Mayo Hotel’s free, weekly music series, is in its fth month. From 8-10 p.m. every ursday, this historic downtown hotel o ers a stunning view of the city skyline, tasty cocktails and a sampling of our local music scene.

“As a hotel that also has full-time residents, we feel strongly about being engaged in the Tulsa community,” says the Mayo’s Macy Snyder-Amatucci, vice president of Brickhugger LLC and CEO of Beautiful Hospitality LLC. “ is music series has been a great way to introduce both our guests and our residents to some of Tulsa’s

outstanding musical talent.”

e lineup is diverse — everything from folk and bluegrass to blues and jazz.

“Vibing on grooves of Tulsa bands with a 360 view of the cityscape from the 19th oor of an historic building — there’s your trifecta of cool,” says musician Paul Benjaman, who was one of the rst musicians to perform in the series, which has also included vibraphonist Nick Mancini and his trio, singer-songwriter Casii Stephan, e Feels Good with Hanson bassist Andrew Perusi, and the Chris Combs Trio, among others.

e series also gives Tulsa musicians an opportunity to grow their own fan base.

“As a touring musician, I spend a lot of my time on the road, performing outside of Tulsa,” says Tori Ru n, guitarist for Morris Day and the Time. “It’s a good chance to develop new material and explore other types of music I don’t always get the chance

to play.”

Musician Cody Brewer says the mixed crowd of Tulsans and visitors makes for a great time.

“When we played there, we were able to feed of the energy of the room for a great gig,” he says.

While the music is worth a visit, the unique space and the well-stocked bar shouldn’t be overlooked.

“What makes our bar so special is the history,” says Bar Manager Michael Stewart, who recommends the Mayo’s take on the Old-Fashioned, “ e 1926.” “When you enjoy a cocktail in the rooftop bar, you step back in time and get to recapture the beauty of the early art deco days that made Tulsa so fascinating.”

e Mayo is located at 115 W. Fifth St. For future acts and more information, visit facebook.com/thepenthousebar. TP

From left, Bishop Marsh, Stephen Schultz, Stephanie Oliver and Clay Welch perform at a recent Mayo Penthouse Rooftop Concert.

BIRDS AND BREWS

SUTTON CENTER WORKS TO RESTORE BIRD POPULATIONS WITH HELP OF ANNUAL FUNDRAISER.

BY BLAYKLEE FREED

When springtime rolls in, male Attwater’s prairie-chickens dance elaborate jigs with shufes and leaps, vying for the attention of their female counterparts.

“During breeding season, their air sacs and eyebrows turn bright yellow and they make a booming sound that can be heard as far as a mile away,” says Audra Fogle, assistant director for the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center in Bartlesville. “ e prairie-chickens in ate their air sacs, raise their long neck feathers that stick straight up like horns (called pinnae), swoosh their wings and do this crazy stomping dance to impress the ladies. At the end of the day, she chooses the one she likes.”

at’s the hope at least, as the grassland grouse has slowly disappeared from its former habitat — some 6 million acres of Gulf Coast prairie from Corpus Christi, Texas, north to the Bayou Teche area in Louisiana, and around 75 miles inland. As human development encroached, the Attwater’s prairie-chicken population dwindled to just 42 birds by 1996.

However, one of the nation’s leading conservation e orts for the bird happens from the Sutton Center. Fogle says the Sutton Center also is leading national recovery efforts for the masked bobwhite quail. “People don’t know that this level of conservation work is happening right here in the heart of Oklahoma,” she says. “With Sutton’s help, these birds have a ghting chance for surviv-

al on the planet.” During a June interview, Fogle said the Sutton Center has “chicks out the wazoo.” After eight weeks at Sutton, the chicks moved to a refuge in Texas to be released back into the wild.

With the quail, “the dads are the caretakers for the babies,” Fogle says. “We foster a dad with about 15 chicks. Dad’s response is like, ‘Whoa, these are not my kids!’ but within 20 minutes he’s bonded with them, and he’s tucking chicks under his wing. e family will be released onto a refuge in Arizona where dad will teach them to be wild.”

Restoring the populations of these birds are just a few of the projects the Sutton Center is working on. Education and outreach also are integral to the organization.

Founded in 1984 by Tulsa businessmen, the Sutton Center is responsible for helping restore the Southern bald eagle population. “Our scientists ew eggs back from Florida. ey had a bold and innovative plan that people said would never work, but it did,” Fogle says. “ e eagle is a success story because often when something goes on the endangered species list, it doesn’t come back o . e eagle not only came o of the endangered species list, but it’s thriving. And today we have over 300 breeding pairs, just in the state of Oklahoma.”

As a nonpro t conservation organization, the Sutton Center is funded by donations and relies on its annual Wild Brew event to secure funding for future projects. Make a donation and learn more at suttoncenter.org. TP

WILD BREW’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

“We say it’s the greatest party ever hatched,” Assistant Director Audra Fogle says. “People can feel good about coming to the event, because everything that’s raised will go to impact either taking care of our Oklahoma birds, educating kids or saving birds on this planet and keeping them from disappearing.”

Fogle paints the scene of the annual event at the Cox Business Convention Center. “You’ve got rows of tables (with) restaurants and breweries intermingled. You get your little taster cup. You can refill (and) try everything.”

Wild Brew’s signature beer this year is Dead Armadillo’s Sutton Summer Wheat, joining the dozens of other brews available. “There’s all kinds of food and about 50 breweries, and each brewery brings probably three or four beers,” Fogle says.

In addition, a local artist will hold a live sculpting demonstration, and there will be a silent auction.

AUG. 26 — WILD BREW 5-8 p.m. • $75+ COX BUSINESS CONVENTION CENTER, 100 CIVIC CENTER. | WILDBREW.ORG

Daniel Harris, George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center education program manager, with Artemis, a red-tailed hawk

See live turkeys at the Aug. 26 event.

FROM PRACTICE TO PRACTICING

THE B. C. FRANKLIN LEGAL CLINIC OFFERS DUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND CLIENTS.

BY ETHAN VEENKER

Well before the smoke had settled in the aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one Buck Colbert (B. C.) Franklin established a law o ce in a Red Cross tent in Greenwood. Franklin had moved to the area shortly before the atrocity, and he wasted no time in preparing a place for survivors to seek legal assistance.

With his legacy in mind, e University of Tulsa College of Law opened the B. C. Franklin Legal Clinic in fall 2021 — one of several legal clinics wherein TU law students may earn degree credit and real-world legal experience.

e clinic speci cally services the residents of north Tulsa, pro bono, in a great variety of legal matters.

“Each semester, there are six to eight students enrolled plus as many as ve students who enroll as advanced students,” TU law professor Mimi Marton says. “In addition, we have had four students who have continued their work with the clinic as research assistants on several projects and on complex cases we are still pursuing.”

e clinic was established in response to a series of meetings between TU Law faculty and students and members of the community. In addition to their clients, students also focus on the demographic roadblocks many Tulsans encounter in the legal system.

“ e part that school doesn’t teach you is that sometimes you simply can’t help a client no matter how much you want to,” TU law student Zach Curtis says. “It can sting sometimes, but all we can do is try and help those we can.”

Curtis, who will graduate from TU’s College of Law this fall, worked in the clinic in the spring and helped a total of six clients.

“ e clinic has given me the chance to meet with clients and learn how to cope with the stresses that come when a person lays bare their troubles and (asks you) to come up with a solution that will improve their lives,” Curtis says, also pointing out that for many students, the work in the clinic is their rst taste of real-world experience beyond the legal theory they learn in the classroom.

Clinic students plan their own days, which is helpful when juggling the legal needs of another person with one’s own demanding curriculum.

Curtis, whose future career interests include family law, estate planning and Tort law, believes his time in the clinic has helped him greatly to prepare for practicing law. “ e clinic did a wonderful job of letting us learn real-world attorney skills, while simultaneously teaching us about the legal system we are about to enter,” he says. TP

50 YEARS FOR WINGO

When Miss Helen’s Private School opened in 1954 it was “just a little house off of Harvard,” according to Lynda Wingo, the school’s executive director and daughterin-law to founder Helen Wingo

Now in her 50th year of leading the school, Lynda has witnessed the school’s expansion from a half-day program to fullday as more mothers joined the workforce. Classrooms were added, and the school, which serves students ages 3 through fifth grade, moved permanently to its current location at 4849 S. Mingo Road in 1996.

“As I was growing up, I learned what her expectations were of staff and parents and the vision she had,” says daughter Jayme Wingo-Baker, who has been professionally involved with the school for 30 years. Currently Jayme is the director of the school, which serves 150 students.

“We are a family here,” Lynda says. “We’ve got teachers who have been here from 40 years to three years. We really like to nurture our family here — the staff, parents, grandparents. When they come to enroll, we don’t want them just to enroll their child, we want them to enroll a family because we want them to be a part of it.”

Jayme says the school continues to hold on to the nurturing foundation set forth by her mother and grandmother but also evolve as the world moves forward.

In her five decades of business, Lynda has been an advocate for small business. “I believe in small business because I think that gives a person a chance to really grow within themselves,” she says. “I’m probably a little partial to women-owned businesses because back in 1954, there just were not a lot of women-owned businesses. Miss Helen was one of those pioneers.”

Lynda has been involved with the Broken Arrow and Tulsa Regional chambers since the mid-1990s. She formed OK2GROW with fellow chamber members Larry Mocha and Jerry Holder to address educational and workforce development across the state.

“When I was growing up, you had very few choices as a woman. You were a homemaker, you were a teacher, you were a nurse or a flight attendant,” Lynda says. “(Owning a school) wasn’t what I planned, but it’s something that I’ve really enjoyed.”

— ANNE BROCKMAN

The University of Tulsa College of Law student Zach Curtis, left, participated in the B. C. Franklin Legal Clinic where he worked under Clinical Professor Mimi Marton, right, director of clinical programs and the B.C. Franklin Legal Clinic. The Clinic is one of several legal clinics that provides law students with real-world experience while earning degree credit.

Lynda Wingo and Jayme Wingo-Baker

20 years running and still Tulsa’s friendly neighborhood running store

...and still cross country and track spike headquarters for all of Green Country and still the home of Riverside 5000 (on August 12), the fastest 5K in Tulsa

...shoes and gear for all your running and walking needs, including Pickleball shoes! 9708 Riverside Parkway • 918-494-8800 • tulsarunner.com

HOUSEWARES, APOTHECARY, PAPER GOODS AND JEWELRY

Store founder Trani Matthews

BOSTON MEANS BUSINESS

TEEN ENTREPRENEUR RUNS HER OWN POP-UP AND ONLINE SHOP WHILE DREAMING OF BECOMING A FASHION DESIGNER.

BY TIFFANY HOWARD

It’s not uncommon for a 12-year-old to want to visit Disney World. What is uncommon, however, is when that 12-year-old is the one to pay for herself and her entire family to make the trip. Which is exactly what KIPP Tulsa student Boston Hardeman, now 13, did last summer.

“Oh. My. Goodness. at was a lot of fun,” she says. “I took myself out there for my birthday with all my other family members.”

With airfare included for everyone, how does a young teen a ord such a large expense? She’s a self-professed “saver” and has been running her own business, Boston Boutique, since she was 8.

With dreams of opening a storefront and becoming a fashion designer, Boston is currently taking sewing classes while continuing to create all the items for her

online and in-person pop-up shop, which sells screen-printed T-shirts, jewelry, vinyl stickers, keychains, journals, lip gloss, pens, tic-tac-toe games and more. She’s even inspired her 8-year-old sister Kyla, whose interests lie in makeup, hair and nails, to create and sell lip and body scrubs through her own business, KyKy’s Natural and Organic Beauty Supply.

“Kyla came fussin’ at her sister about wanting to open her own business, too, so I had to gure that out next,” Boston’s mother Denise says with a laugh.

Living with sickle cell disease, Denise wanted to empower her girls and instill in them a sense of deeply rooted con dence. “I didn’t know what the future held for me,” she says. “I wanted to do whatever I could to teach them how to be independent and

be able to care for themselves. I paid attention to what they were interested in and invested whatever I had to get the business up and running.”

Denise notes she began taking Boston’s creativity and talent seriously when she was just 3 or 4 years old and made a pair of shoes for herself out of large leaves and rubber bands with white owers perched on top. She encouraged Boston’s burgeoning interest in fashion, which eventually led to product creation and a sole proprietorship Boston will fully take over when she turns 18.

But make no mistake — Boston already runs every aspect of her business, from graphics and logo creation, to working with resin and jewelry molds, to interacting with customers, swiping credit cards and keeping track of the money she makes.

“When she’s at events, kids see her and run up and say, ‘Mommy I want to do this, too!’ And she says, ‘You can do this! What do you like doing?’” Denise says.

Boston says her goal is to teach other kids how to run their own business and show them there’s more to life than smaller things and working for people.

“I want to teach them how to work for themselves,” she continues. “I’ve even had adults wanting to learn how to do stu like I did.”

With orders now coming from both in and out of state, Mom often jumps in to help.

“Boston focuses on school during the school week, and I work for her ful lling personal orders,” Denise says. “I actually went a whole year without working because I was working for my daughter. She kept me so busy and paid me like I was a real worker.”

Besides being a consistent honor roll student, remaining heavily involved in her Girl Scout troop and cultivating her interest in STEAM activities such as robotics and coding, Boston has a big heart for giving back and will be partnering with Lacy Park for the second year in a row to give away school supplies — much of it purchased with her own money — during a back-toschool event. is year’s will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Aug. 12, at Lacy Park, 2134 N. Madison Place.

As far as her long-term plans, this Tulsa teen’s got big dreams.

“You don’t know how big this business can go, especially when I get done with my sewing classes,” Boston says. “It could be a big ol’ store. I may even go crazy and turn it into a mall.”

Shop Boston’s products and place custom T-shirt orders at bostonboutique11.wixsite. com/bostonboutique. TP

Boston Hardeman and little sister Kyla sell handmade products from their respective businesses, Boston Boutique and KyKy's Natural and Organic Beauty Supply, at a Gathering Place event. Boston began her business when she was 8 years old, and her entrepreneurial spirit inspired Kyla to do the same.

ANDREA M. JURGENS, MD, MPH, FAAD

ACTION JACKSON

BERRYHILL NATIVE MAKES THE BIG LEAGUES.

BY STEPHEN HUNT

Zach Jackson truly is living his dream. For the second straight season, the Berryhill High School product made Oakland’s opening day roster as a relief pitcher and is an integral part of the A’s bullpen.

“I love Zach,” A’s second-year manager Mark Kotsay says. “We’ve used him in every role, really. He gives (us) some versatility.”

Jackson, 28, is just over one year removed from making his big-league debut on April 9, 2022, at Philadelphia when he was called upon to pitch the eighth inning. After hearing some choice words from Phillies fans, who are notoriously hard on opposing players in any sport, the a able right-hander walked one and struck out another in his lone inning of work.

“ e bullpen’s in dead center ( eld). You have a long walk down those stairs (to the eld). I vividly remember coming down those stairs,” Jackson recalls. “You see the whole crowd, it’s a sellout. e environment is the one thing (I’ll always remember). Getting to see my parents and ancée after the game was unforgettable.”

After three seasons as a collegian at

Covers REVISITED

The story of how Rhonda Hinrichs became a hen mom started in 2013 at a flea market when she found a chicken house. She began chicken farming and was on the cover of TulsaPeople’s April 2014 issue, the “Green” issue, with two of her hens.

Nine years later, Hinrichs still has four hens, including Dorothea, pictured on the cover with Hinrichs. The aging hens still produce eggs during the spring. At night they roost in the same chicken coop Hinrichs bought at the flea market.

Arkansas, he was a third-round pick of Toronto in 2016. Jackson played in the Blue Jays system for four seasons, reaching Triple-A Bu alo before Oakland selected him in the Rule 5 Draft in 2020. He and his ancée, Alex Politz, who he met in Arkansas, now call Fayetteville home in the o season. “I grew up an (University of Oklahoma) fan and didn’t really know about Arkansas. But when the o er came and I got to take a tour and see everything they had to o er, it was something I couldn’t pass up,” he says. “I don’t regret it. It’s the best decision I could have made.”

Jackson’s parents live in Sand Springs, but other family members remain in Berryhill, and he visits during the o season. Family also supports him on the road. During Oakland’s away games April 21-23 against the Rangers, Jackson had 15-20 people in his cheering section, including his parents and ancée. He also was excited about seeing his dog for the rst time since leaving for spring training in early February. But what does he miss most from growing up in Tulsa? Simple: visits to Coney I-Lander and QuikTrip. TP

Beyond her chickens, Hinrichs co-owns an environmental health and safety consulting firm, Safety Savvy LLC, founded in 2005, that helps companies comply with state and government regulations. But her passion is vintage.

In December 2016, Hinrichs started First Street Flea, a curated flea market with vendors selling vintage and artisan goods. In October 2020, she and business partner Lindsey Blackburn transformed the space adjacent into a vintage store. First Street Flea closed at the end of 2022, but X Goods Vintage is just getting started.

X Goods Vintage, 864 E. Admiral Blvd., offers clothes, jewelry, furniture and more that the two have curated from garage and estate sales all over the Midwest. The store is open from noon-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

The store also stages houses and rents vintage pieces to films, most notably “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

— ELIZABETH MCCULLOUGH

Zach Jackson pitches for the Oakland Athletics in a recent game.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023

BENEFITTING

PRESENTED BY RockTheHouseTulsa.com

Plan to attend Green Country Habitat for Humanity’s signature gala, ROCK THE HOUSE featuring a tribute to VAN HALEN at the Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa.

THIS MONTH AT Circle Cinema

FROM BASE TO BOOTH

OU GRAD REPRESENTS TULSA AND HER ALMA MATER ON ESPN.

BY JOHN TRANCHINA

Erin Miller- iessen just completed her seventh year as an on-air color analyst for ESPN on college softball broadcasts and she is nally feeling comfortable in the booth. She’s been a natural t with interesting and insightful commentary from the moment she stepped away from the playing eld — having helped e University of Oklahoma win the NCAA Women’s College World Series national championship in 2016 — directly into the ESPN booth the following year.

“ is year was really the rst year that I felt like I kind of came into my own,” Miller- iessen says. “I really found my con dent voice on the mic, I trusted and believed in my expertise and leaned into mentorship and asking better questions and being more inquisitive in my journalistic abilities. As our sport has grown, as our coverage has grown, the standard of our product continues to get better and better.”

With a degree from OU in graphic design, going into TV broadcasting was never on her radar. But she was so engaging and charming in interviews during her nal season of playing, when she won the Big 12 Player of the Year award in 2016 and helped lead OU to its second championship in her four years playing there, that she was later contacted by ESPN management and o ered a job.

Miller- iessen says she jumped in with no formal training, thrilled by the opportunity.

“It was a really good introduction into the real world,” she says. “It reminded me a lot of my freshman year at Oklahoma playing, where you’re surrounded by talent, by people who are the best in the business and you’ve

got to nd a way to quickly elevate and meet the expectations and standards.”

She quickly got up to speed and has become an integral part of ESPN’s softball coverage. With OU remaining a national powerhouse, having just won their third straight championship, Miller- iessen admits it can be a fun challenge to call a Sooners game, having to swallow her fandom a little bit to still sound impartial on the air.

“It requires a di erent level of focus, a little bit of compartmentalizing,” she says. “Because I know that program so well and can speak from personal experience, providing that insight without showing some bias is a tough ask. But also, I’m thankful for those moments, because it requires me to be so aware of my voice and what I’m saying. It forces you to look at the game in a di erent way and really measure how well you’re shining a light on both teams and staying within that ne line.”

Miller- iessen grew up in Tulsa, playing for the Oklahoma Diamond Girls summer travel team and at Jenks High School, where she helped the Trojans’ slow-pitch team win the 2011 Class 6A state championship and the fast-pitch squad reach the 2010 state nal.

She’s proud to play a small role in the skyrocketing popularity of the sport of softball.

“ e rst year I was with ESPN in 2017, we were slated to cover about 600-700 games in that season, which at that time was a lot,” Miller- iessen says. “And this season (2023), we’re on pace to cover over 2,600 games. I take a lot of pride and a lot of honor in being a small part of that wave and that growth of our sport.” TP

IN THE GALLERY: RESERVATION DOGS SET PHOTOS

See a special exhibit of behind-the-scenes photos by the official on-set photographer Shane Brown (Cherokee). His photos give attendees a look at the filmmaking process. Meet Brown during a free reception on Aug. 3. Gallery exhibits are free and open to the public during Circle’s business hours.

SECOND SATURDAY SILENT: SHOULDER ARMS

(1915)

11 a.m., Aug. 12

Enjoy a classic silent film with a live score played by Bill Rowland of the American Theater Organ Society Sooner State Chapter on Circle’s restored 1928 theater pipe organ. Tickets just $5 for adults and $2 for kids. This month, Charlie Chaplin plays a soldier on a mission behind enemy lines.

THELMA & LOUISE (1991)

1:30 p.m., Aug. 12; 7 p.m., Aug. 14

The Oscar-winning classic is back in beautiful 4K. Following its world premiere at the 76th Festival de Cannes, the new restoration comes stateside for two special screenings at Circle. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, “Thelma & Louise” has been hailed as one of the best road movies of all time.

THE ROOM 20TH ANNIVERSARY

7 p.m., Aug. 24

The best worst movie of all time returns to Circle with Greg Sestero (actor and bestselling author of “The Disaster Artist”) in attendance for a Q&A. See the film and get a special sneak peek at a new remake of “The Room” with Bob Odenkirk

GOLDA

Opens for daily screenings Aug. 25

Helen Mirren stars in the intensely dramatic biopic following high-stakes responsibilities and decisions that Golda Meir, also known as the “Iron Lady of Israel,” faced during the Yom Kippur War. A special screening will be held at 2 p.m., Aug. 27, with community partner the Jewish Federation of Tulsa.

Compiled by Circle Cinema’s Ryan Thomas. Visit circlecinema.org for pricing and more information.

Erin Miller-Thiessen

REEL HISTORY

BY MICHAEL OVERALL

In August 1917, just eight months after construction began, progress came to an abrupt halt on what was going to be the grandest, most luxurious theater in downtown Tulsa. And over the next several years, the un nished building deteriorated into a hulk of rusty steel and crumbling concrete.

e owner, W.M. “Bill” Smith, had already opened some of the city’s biggest and most popular theaters. And the new

Orpheum, which would replace the original Orpheum eater near ird and Main streets, was supposed to open inside the lobby of a 13-story o ce tower near Fourth Street and Boston Avenue.

e project faltered during a prolonged court battle, with investors accusing each other of fraud and backstabbing. After ve years of legal bickering, the state supreme court nally cleared the way for Smith to buy

out other investors and continue construction. But on his own, Smith could a ord to nish only ve oors instead of all 13.

Nonetheless, he spared no expense on the interior, a beaux-art extravaganza designed by Chicago architect John Eberson. e decor included Greek statues, Corinthian columns and vaulted ceilings that were meant to resemble a renaissance palace. When the theater opened in August 1924, it advertised itself as “W.M. Smith’s new million-dollar Orpheum.”

But Smith, who’d been unable to open the theater on time, had to bear the extraordinary expense of renting a separate venue to honor contracts that he had already signed with vaudeville troupes. en ticket-buyers accused him of booking subpar performers to cut costs. Embroiled in controversy and losing money, Smith received a business o er that would have allowed him to walk away from all his troubles and make a comfortable pro t. But he refused to sell his theaters.

“ e theater business is my life’s work,” he told a local newspaper at the time. “If I didn’t hold on, what would I do?”

Smith had grown up desperately poor and went to work at the age of 7 sweeping oors in a vaudeville theater in Pittsburg, Kansas. At 12, he was promoted to cashier.

He came to Tulsa in 1909 to work at the newly opened Lyric eatre, one of Tulsa’s earliest movie houses, where he made $15 a week cranking the projector by hand. And by 1912, at age 20, he had saved up enough money to buy a 50% share of the old Cozy eater on North Main Street.

Prior to nishing the new Orpheum and before he turned 30, Smith owned the Rialto, the original Orpheum and the Main theaters — together seating more people than all the other movie and vaudeville venues in Tulsa combined. And he was a millionaire.

Newspapers described him as “one of the most important theatrical gures in the Southwest and one of the most successful,” and “a veritable dynamo of vitality and energy.” But even when those words were written in late 1924, Smith was guarding a secret: his health was fading.

What the public didn’t know was he had fallen ill shortly before the new Orpheum’s opening night. And, as his family would later admit, he never fully recovered.

Smith died in October 1925 at the age of 33. e o cial diagnosis was kidney disease. But his family always blamed the stress of nishing the new Orpheum.

e theater itself, under various owners, remained an iconic downtown landmark until it was demolished in April 1970 to make way for the 41-story First Place Tower.

TULSA MOVIE HOUSE PIONEER BUILT LANDMARK DOWNTOWN THEATER.

Above left, located west of Boston Avenue on Fourth Street, the Orpheum theater was originally planned as part of a 13-story office tower called the Edwards Building, but only the first fi ve floors were ever finished. Above right, designed by Chicago architect John Eberson, the Orpheum’s interior was meant to resemble a Renaissance palace with Greek statues, Corinthian columns and vaulted ceilings. Below left, an undated photo of the Orpheum’s interior. Below right, the Orpheum, seen here circa 1935, remained an iconic downtown landmark until it was demolished in April 1970 to make way for the 41-story First Place Tower.

Blues, Brews and Barbecue

Youth Services of Tulsa hosted its first annual Blues, Brews and Barbecue fundraising event on May 16 at Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing. The 150 guests congregated in the brewery’s “Boneyard” and were treated to food by Mac’s BBQ and Trenchers, live music and DA’s locally crafted beer. Funds raised go toward YST’s mission to provide services to our community’s most vulnerable youth population, including street outreach to youth experiencing homelessness, an emergency youth shelter, employment education, health care, counseling and transitional housing.

1. Leah Mentzel and Jose Marino, Youth Services of Tulsa staff, hand out cookies and tell guests about the organization’s social enterprise T-Town Tacos, which helps youth experiencing homelessness receive job training and experience.

2. T-Town Tacos representatives Dorrie Garner, Dan Shine, Paul Deyonghe and Tim Edwards serve barbecue to guests.

3. Blues band Triple B’s came from northwest Arkansas to entertain guests and create the perfect summer evening vibe.

Tulsa Go Red for Women

On May 11, 250 guests gathered at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa-Warren Place for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women luncheon, which raised awareness about cardiovascular disease being the No. 1 killer of women. The event was emceed by KOKI-TV anchor Shae Rozzi, and attendees were treated to a lunch provided by the Double Tree and enjoyed fun activities like mimosas and a selfie station, a golf simulator, and a health and vendor expo. Overall, more than $200,000 was raised for the American Heart Association’s comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness.

1. Michelle Simoni with daughter and Co-chair Rhianna Simoni, and husband and Co-chair Dan Simoni

2. Cheryl Nixon and Jeannie Murphy, Circle of Red members

3. Maci Killman and Amina Switzer from the Oklahoma Heart Institute

4. Heart survivor Amy Rea is surprised by a flash mob of the Broken Arrow Tigettes.

4. YST’s inaugural event was a huge success with old patrons and many new faces.

BLUES, BREWS AND BARBECUE: JACK WOOD; TULSA GO RED FOR WOMEN: VICTOR SCHWANKE

Weathering the storms

Weathering storms

It’s been just over a week after a major storm has created widespread destruction across the city when Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist sits down for an in-depth interview inside TPS Education Service Center, 3027 S. New Haven Ave.

“We lost a week. It was a combination of power and debris. We didn’t have signi cant damage. We lost some windows and had some air conditioners lifted o roofs,” Gist says. “Just a big cleanup e ort. I cannot say enough about our team. ey worked 15 hours a day in sweltering heat with many of them dealing with these same issues at their own homes. Summer is the time we do renovations, and they are renovation sprints because you can’t start until the kids are gone, and you want to be nished when they get back. It is a really busy time with hiring and professional development.”

Gist oversees the state’s largest school district that has over 5,500 employees and nearly 34,000 students lling classrooms across 78 schools and charter partners. TPS is a district of choice, which means students can apply to attend any school in the district, regardless of where they live, as long as there is space at the school and student applications are submitted during the enrollment window.

Under her leadership that began in 2015, TPS has expanded its dual language programming, opened the only three public Montessori programs in Oklahoma, implemented the Seal of Biliteracy for high school students demonstrating pro ciency in at least two languages, launched a uni ed enrollment system, and successfully oversaw a ve-year $415 million bond that voters approved in her rst year.

WE’RE DEEP INTO SUMMER, WHICH MEANS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS FAST APPROACHING. WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR THE COMING YEAR? We’re so excited to be moving into the second year of the plan we’ve implemented. e (TPS) board of education is leading this work. ey started by listening to the community. at’s where it all came from. During the pandemic they did a virtual outreach to the community — focus groups with parents and with students. eir only job when they went out was listening. ey had a set of questions they asked, took notes, and processed that then gave us a set of goals from what they heard from Tulsans. We convened a community group of students, parents, business leaders, teachers, principals, etc., and we developed a set of strategies then launched it.

at work is very much making sure our students have the skills they need to have today, but also, we’re making sure we’re staying very future-focused. e goals

generally are literacy in the broadest sense. We mean reading, listening, speaking, writing, communicating, and that’s throughout the school experience, and that changes as they grow and get stronger.

e other is college and career readiness, which also is throughout the entire school experience, although it feels concentrated in the high school experience. ey’re doing job shadowing, they’re doing internships in meaningful jobs, and TPS is continuing our collaborations as well with Tulsa Tech, continuing to grow our own and strengthen and modernize our own tech programs, plus concurrent enrollment, which means taking college courses while you’re in high school. We have students who will be graduating with their associate degree when they get their high school diploma. at’s what I’m excited about. I’m excited we have a focus and we’re sticking with it, and we’re going to keep that work going and continue to grow it.

ACCORDING TO THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE TPS STUDENT BODY IS COMPRISED OF NEARLY 37% WHO ARE HISPANIC/LATINX, 23% BLACK, 22% WHITE, 11% MULTIRACIAL, 6% AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKA NATIVE, AND 2% ASIAN/ PACIFIC ISLANDER. HOW IS TPS ADAPTING AND CHANGING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS? I’ve been here for almost eight years now, and it’s changed signi cantly in the time I’ve been here. While the primary number of those students are native Spanish speakers, we have 78 languages spoken in the district, so what we have to do is make sure our school experience for all students is both welcoming and supportive for all students and their families. But also that our teachers have the skills they need to support students as they’re continuing to develop their English.

What’s really great about that work is the tools and strategies a teacher needs to support students who are learning English are also great teaching strategies for all students, which means we’re not taking away from the education of others. In fact, our focus on literacy and building the written and oral language of students, that’s something that’s going to bene t every student in our district.

WITH LOW TEACHER PAY, LOW STATE FUNDING, A STRIKE, A PANDEMIC, AND THE CONSTANT MASS SHOOTINGS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY – MANY IN SCHOOLS – HOW ARE THE TEACHERS DOING? Teachers do what they do because they are very driven to be a part of this profession. It is the best job in the world, and also the most challenging in so many ways. It’s particularly challenging to be an educator in Oklahoma, and it’s particularly challenging to be an educator in Oklahoma in 2023 for a variety of di erent reasons.

TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist on fighting for her students and the future of public education

STORY AND PHOTOS BY TIM LANDES

We know that historically our state has not invested in public education, and starting in about 2008, that became more and more and more problematic as the state cut more (funds) per pupil, and to education, than any other state in the country. We’re grateful there were e orts in 2018, and this year, to reinvest and to begin to put some resources back in education. We see that, acknowledge it and are grateful for it.

Given what I’ve seen happening in neighboring states and despite the really important work of our state leaders this year, we likely will still remain in the last row relative to the regional states in terms of our investment in education. ose conditions make it really di cult because we’re not compensating our educators and support professionals the way they could earn from a market perspective. But like the Tulsans they are, they get up every day and they serve.

Folks who are hanging on are already in there taking some time to rejuvenate before summer programming starts. I think we’re keeping a close eye on hiring. We’re very hopeful that this increase in teacher salaries that happened during this legislative session will help us to both hold on to people and to hire folks who have been leaving the state in droves. To be clear, they can still make at least $10,000 more in a year if they go to neighboring states, but we’re hopeful those increases will help us to do more recruitment. We’re tracking that very closely.

When I said it was di cult to educate in Oklahoma and in 2023, the thing I would add to that is students are really struggling these days. I don’t think that’s just educators who are noticing that. I think families are noticing it, too. For a long time we really attributed that to the pandemic. at it was such a disruption in students’ lives with school change, church change, family gatherings change — everybody’s behavior changed, everything changed overnight.

What academics are showing us right now is the trajectory of wellness for students actually has been very consistently going down negatively, and that there wasn’t a big blip that was anticipated by the pandemic, but rather a continuous decline.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS ATTACK ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUES? THE LATEST NEWS IS THE PUSH TO ADD THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO CLASSROOMS. THEN THERE ARE BOOK BANS, HB 1775, AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION RYAN WALTERS CONTINUING HIS POLITICAL CRUSADE. I think it’s because there’s a perception that it works. Getting people who aren’t in schools every day, when they hear that things are happening in schools, and they can be encouraged to be fearful of that, it’s tapping into something that’s really important to them. ey care about kids, and they care about public schools. I am so grateful for that. What’s unfortunate is when they begin to have a perception that what’s happening in

schools is not about teaching our students to read and speak and listen and do math and science experiments and everything else students are doing in schools every day. ey have this idea that something else is going on in schools, and that’s really troubling.

People, just from a human nature perspective, tend to react — meaning give money, vote, get active when they’re scared or mad. I think when you can scare people or make them mad, then they react. We care very much about our parents, their voices — we always have and we always will. ey are our most important partner in this education journey. I mean, that is so obvious that it feels like it should never even have to be said, we can’t do this alone. Parents need educators to help them educate their students, and so together we can support young people.

YOU’VE CONSTANTLY BEEN CRITICIZED BY STATE POLITICIANS AND SOME OF THEIR SUPPORTERS. I DON’T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE IN TULSA HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THE LEVEL OF ATTACKS YOU’VE PERSONALLY FACED THE PAST FEW YEARS. TWO PARTS TO THIS ONE: HOW THICK IS YOUR SKIN? HOW DO YOU HANDLE ALL THAT THAT COMES WITH IT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? One thing is I don’t buy into the idea of a thick skin. I actually, in fact, believe it’s really important that metaphorically we don’t have thick skin. at we have to absorb, we have to feel people’s fear and anger, we have to listen,

TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist works with Hawthorne Elementary students in September 2022 at the school’s grand opening of its STEM Center – one of 47 across TPS.

we have to understand, even if what is being said is being said in a way that is hurtful.

at’s what I believe when it comes to people in our community — like parents, business leaders and students and so forth. It’s a little di erent when it’s people who are in positions of authority. But I think it’s so important not to have thick skin to really hear and feel and try to understand it. Sometimes you have to listen into the anger, to be able to understand what the message is or what’s at the root of that so you can respond as a public o cial, as someone who’s serving the public.

I do think that in order to withstand that, you have to have a strong backbone.

For me there are multiple ways I stay strong in what we’re doing and why I’m still here after eight years, even though that’s more than twice the average for superintendents. In fact, I’m the longestserving superintendent in 30 years.

My faith, rst and foremost, is very important to me. It’s why I do what I do. It’s why I believe I was put on this planet to serve others through education. And then of course, family and friends and just keeping perspective through those who see you and know you and love you the most.

YOU’RE A PRODUCT OF TPS. HOW MUCH DOES THAT CONTINUE TO MOTIVATE YOU? It motivates me signi cantly. Like I said, it matters to me that my passion is rooted here in Tulsa. Now, to be clear, I’ve done this work in six di erent states, and it mattered to me there too, because I cared about those children, and I cared about the work that I did.

But it takes on that much greater meaning when you’re doing it in a place where you went to the schools that your friends went to and that their grandchildren are attending today. e vitality, the real future of Tulsa, is resting on the success of the public school system.

I know Tulsa will thrive when Tulsa Public Schools thrives, and because I want both to thrive, that’s what gets me up every day and makes it all worth it.

TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESIDE ON THREE TRIBAL RESERVATIONS. WHAT IS TPS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AREA TRIBES, AND HOW IS TPS EVOLVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF GROWING AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OF OUR NATIVE CULTURE? We have an excellent relationship with Muscogee, Cherokee and Osage Nations whose lands our district sits upon, and that has strengthened in recent years.

We’ve continued to bene t from those strengthened relationships to serve our students. I feel like while we are not where we need to be right now with our education about Native American history and Native American culture, it’s getting stronger every day. Part of that is due to the

relationship we’ve had with the tribes. We also now do a tribal land acknowledgement at the beginning of our meetings. We have the ags of those three nations in our board meeting room, and we have them raised every morning on the ag poles of at least one school within each nation’s land, and hope to have more of those as we go along.

SPEAKING OF STATE HISTORY, HB 1775 HAS CAUSED A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT CAN AND CAN’T BE TAUGHT. LT. GOV. MATT PINNELL RECENTLY TOLD KOSU IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED BECAUSE AUTHENTIC HISTORY HAS TO BE TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS. I think any statements like that are just evidence of why that law was never necessary, should never have been put in place and has only served to cause disruption and fear and misunderstanding. We feel very con dent about our work here in Tulsa Public Schools, and we’re deeply dedicated to teaching a full, complete history of the world, our country, our state and our city.

I think the challenge is, and why it is disruptive, is that our district had our accreditation downgraded last year unjustly, rst of all, without evidence, and second of all, with something that was not a violation of law. So I think what happens is when people see that happen, and they know in addition to accreditation of a district, individual certi cations are on the line — mine was very actively threatened — that maybe it doesn’t matter what the law actually says. It’s that uncertainty that’s really unproductive and unhelpful. It’s not helping any student in our state have a better school experience.

STUDENTS RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM ON AUG. 17. DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS OR THINGS YOU DO ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL EVERY YEAR? One is a sendo at the bus barn early in the morning. I really love that they are the rst folks on the scene because they get there well before dawn to make sure the buses are running and get their routes out and kind of last-minute changes before they go rolling o .

en I just try to get to as many schools as I can and just try not to get in the way. at’s important to enjoy the day and celebrate. For me, for all educators and maybe parents too, the start of the school year is kind of like our New Year’s celebration. It’s a beginning, and it’s exciting.

It’s just my very favorite time of year. TP

is interview has been edited and condensed for the print edition. Read the full conversation here:

“We know that historically our state has not invested in public education, and starting in about 2008, that became more and more and more problematic as the state cut more (funds) per pupil, and to education, than any other state in the country. We’re grateful there were efforts in 2018, and this year, to reinvest and to begin to put some resources back in education. We see that, acknowledge it and are grateful for it.”

How 4 local high schools prepare students for careers after graduation

SKILLS TO BUILD ON

BY ABBY MEDICO AND TIM LANDES

IN 2022, TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS LAUNCHED “PATHWAYS TO OPPORTUNITY”

in an effort “to create robust foundations for children to learn, grow, thrive and achieve their greatest potential in college, careers, skilled trades or military service.”

It’s a robust five-year strategic plan for the state’s largest school district. For some of the high schools this work has been happening for many years, but they now have a renewed mission and additional programing. At other schools, there are new programs underway to help students develop skills that will help make them career ready when they walk across the stage at graduation in the coming years.

Each TPS high school offers unique career tracks. We visited four of them to learn how students are training for future success in the workforce.

DANIEL WEBSTER HIGH SCHOOL

e school year has ended, but a group of Daniel Webster students are laying tracks on the front steps of the school building that was constructed in 1938 and adjusting camera lenses as they continue learning how to lm a scene.

is project is a part of Webster’s TWHTV Studios, a program that provides students with hands-on experience in television, lm and digital media production. Students participate in every step of production, including set design, lighting, sound, directing and acting. TWHTV Studios produces content for communityand school-based projects and is completely run by the students. TWHTV began as a broadcast journalism program in 2007 but has grown to incorporate all elements

of broadcasting, adding a lm program in summer 2020.

“ e idea was to give students a direct avenue into the workforce as part of the growing television and lm industry in Oklahoma through partnerships and opportunities with industry professionals and community organizations,” explains Dennis Burns, television/ lm and digital media instructor.

Students also can earn CareerTech certications through their participation in this program. Along with a 2,500-square-foot studio and green room on campus, students have the equipment to record away from the studio and transfer video back in a live-feed format. Besides introducing students to the technology of broadcasting and lm, another goal of TWHTV is to be a fully functional

production studio for Tulsa Public Schools and the Tulsa community. According to Burns, “the mission is to provide students with real-world, production-based experiences that will prepare them for employment or postsecondary education, upon graduation.”

While the lm program is new, the agricultural education program at Webster, 1919 W. 40th St., has been active for 17 years and bene ts over 100 students annually.

e main goal of the Ag-Ed program is to supply students with real-world, hands-on experience in agriculture, and many students take a certi cation test at the end of the school year. Webster students have been certi ed in agriculture safety, horticulture and animal and environmental science, while other students have received certi cations as

Clockwise from top: Webster Ag-Ed teacher Erica Goodson waters plants with students Edwin Hammond, Aaron Molett and Keyla Santacruz. Inside the WHTV Studios at Webster where Kyle Sawyer films Jeremy Prince. Instructor Dennis Burns works with Webster film students Sam Hill, Malina Jackson and Emmitt Pitcock.

veterinary and oral assistants. Along with these certi cations, students in Ag-Ed at Webster also are part of the highly praised National FFA Organization.

“ e agriculture classes at Webster will continue to be an incredible learning opportunity to provide students with an urban agriculture experience which expands students’ knowledge and understanding of all facets of agriculture,” says Webster Principal Shelly Holman. “FFA plays a vital role in the student experience providing opportunities to develop public speaking skills and strengthen student leaders.”

Webster will be adding a new hydroponic and aquaponic greenhouse to its agriculture program around August 2024. New technology like this helps Webster maintain a ourishing agriculture program in an urban setting.

NATHAN HALE HIGH SCHOOL

Meals have been served and the dishes cleaned in the only working school restaurant in Oklahoma completely run by students.

Roughly 100 students participate each year in the culinary program, which has been a part of Nathan Hale High School, 6960 E. 21st St., for around 15 years. Students receive food handler’s permits and Servsafe Certi cations. Beyond the certi cations earned, students actively participate in food preparation and service.

“ ey create the menu, cook the food, serve the food and clean up afterward,” says Hale Principal Sheila Riley. e restaurant, called Hale’s Kitchen, is open to the public and operated by Hale’s Culinary capstone students — seniors and ambitious juniors — and the real-world experience helps prepare them to pursue a career in culinary arts.

Along with the culinary arts, three years ago Hale added a construction program where students learn about the multiple aspects of construction work through active participation. If students complete the threeto four-year program, they are eligible to

earn up to 14 industry-recognized certi cations and can land a job by their senior year.

“Students love the experience they get in this program,” Riley says. “We utilize the Home Builders curriculum, which gives them a birds-eye view of all the types of construction jobs that are available to them.”

Not only do students earn knowledge of the eld, but these students also give back to the community. Most notably, the students have built ramps for Meals on Wheels. ese ramps help recipients of Meals on Wheels to move in and out of their homes more easily. e construction program is funded by the Hardesty Foundation, Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa and Tulsa Public Schools. ese specialized programs also help students to stay motivated in school and connect with their local community.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Central, 3101 W. Edison St., is a ne arts school at its core with options ranging from beginner dance classes to advanced vocal

Clockwise from left: East Central Principal Gina Wilson helps aerospace students launch a rocket in the field behind the school. East Central freshman Jacob Morris works on a rocket-powered plane with assistance from teacher Dwight Long. Rug-tufting is one of many fine arts programs available at Central, which also offers fashion design.

performance and AP studio art.

“Back when we did Project Schoolhouse (in 2011), Central became the school of ne arts. At that time we got a lot of the programs that we have now,” art teacher Michele Clancy says.

For those students who specialize in performing arts, a recording studio is available for their use — both to produce their own music and performances and for the sound engineering course are also able to operate the recording studio. Many other creative courses are available, including fashion design and rug-tufting.

e other thing that makes these ne arts programs so successful is the students themselves who choose their own classes and follow an individualized and interdisciplinary approach to the ne arts.

e engaged students succeed outside of the arts classroom, too, Clancy says. “When you have these strong programs, you’re going to have stronger attendance,” Clancy explains. “Kids are going to be more involved because they are going to be excited about what they are coming to school for.”

EAST CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

It’s the nal week of the school year and a group of ninth graders at East Central, 12150 E. 11th St., are standing in a eld and taking turns launching their custom rockets into the blue sky as ghter jets streak across at a higher altitude.

e students have begun learning about the mechanics of aviation and the local aerospace industry as part of East Central’s new Choose Aerospace career readiness program led by teacher Dwight Long, who is in his 19th year teaching for Tulsa Public Schools. e four-year curriculum covers the general knowledge and skills required for Federal Aviation Administration mechanic certi cation.

“ e reason this program was created was because the aerospace industry told us what’s xing to happen in the next few years is what they describe as a ‘silver tsunami’,” Long says. “ ere’s going to be a lot of people retire. ey need people to ll those positions. ey’re not nding people to ll those positions, so they said, ‘We’ve got to do something di erent,’ so they went back to

the high school setting.”

Long started with 27 students and ended the year with 23.

“I don’t know how many freshmen come in and know what they want to be,” he says, noting they expect a few to lose interest along the way. “We’ve done a lot of site visits this year at the airport and they did a ight simulator. We’re trying to create a hook and get people interested and then committed.”

He says aerospace companies are looking for the students to complete the four-year program and graduate with a basic understanding then the companies will take over.

“ e goal is to get them to come in and work toward that (Airframe and Powerplant) license,” Long says. “With that A and P license they can do so much because like I said, the silver tsunami is coming.” TP

Clockwise from left: A breakfast burrito made by Hale students at Hale’s Kitchen. Hale student Zach Ware makes a pancake for a diner. Kent Harris, Hale construction teacher, assists students with their construction project. Inside the Central recording studio where teacher Ben Augustine works the controls.

Holland Hall

Holland Hall celebrated its anniversary in 2022, and its mission is the same as it was when it began — to provide a school “where each student may receive individual attention, within reach of any citizen of Tulsa.”

Holland Hall’s intentionally small-scale approach assures teachers truly know who their students are and where their strengths and passions lie.

“Students find it all at Holland Hall, and every student can find a place to excel,” says Director of Enrollment Management Justin Butler ’04. Holland Hall students see an average score of 1360 on the SAT and 27 on the ACT.

Historically, 100% of graduates who apply are accepted to a four-year college and 90% of graduates receive some form of college scholarship.

Holland Hall students have opportunities beyond the classroom, too. The Upper School offers 62 different art courses, 18 individual and team sports and more than 30 clubs.

A Holland Hall education may be more affordable than expected. Pre-K tuition is up to $3,000 less per year than comparable local programs, and 31% of all students receive some form of tuition assistance.

“We believe the best way to learn what makes Holland Hall different is to visit our 162-acre campus and see for yourself,” Butler says. In addition to private tours, the school offers open houses on “Welcome Wednesdays.” To learn more, visit hollandhall.org/admission or email justin.butler@hollandhall.org.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1922

ENROLLMENT: 1,034

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 10-to-1

GRADES: Early Pre-K–12th grade

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Holland Hall is the only Cum Laude School in Tulsa. Colleges see having a Cum Laude Society chapter as a critical mark of academic excellence.

Marquette Catholic School

Marquette Catholic School has been educating the next generation for more than 100 years. Offering preschool (age 3) through grade 8, Marquette is a place and community that first and foremost belongs to Jesus Christ. Students are formed with care, intentionality and excellence, and then sent out into the world to transform it. In the Early Childhood Development Center, 3- and 4-year-olds are immersed in a rich curriculum that prioritizes their physical and emotional needs in classrooms custom-made for their size.

In kindergarten through eighth grade, Marquette teachers focus on developing well-rounded, happy and faith-filled students through a whole-child approach. The rigorous academic curriculum upholds the Catholic tradition as faith animates every aspect of the school. The Sacraments, prayer and liturgy are not afterthoughts, but the source and summit of the school’s existence. With an enrollment of approximately 500 (PK-grade 8), students possess great character and virtue, and are academically prepared for high school. The best way to experience the Marquette community is to see it for yourself. Schedule a private tour today!

YEAR FOUNDED: 1918

ENROLLMENT: Approximately 500

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 22-to-1

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Marquette Catholic School is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and Oklahoma Private School Accrediting Commission.

Cascia Hall Preparatory School

Students are prepared for college and for life at Cascia Hall — a Catholic, Augustinian school for students of all faiths in grades 6-12. We seek to educate the whole person by balancing challenging academics with excellent opportunities in athletics, the arts and community service. With a small student/teacher ratio, students are related to as individuals, resulting in higher motivation and levels of success.

Cascia’s innovative approach to teaching and learning engages and inspires its students to lead meaningful lives. Students are strategically trained in personal growth, leadership, life skills, and health and wellness. Attending seven classes a day with opportunities for college credit through Advanced Placement courses and concurrent enrollment provides a pathway for academic excellence for young women and men. One hundred percent of Cascia Hall students matriculate to college following graduation. On average, seniors are offered more than $7 million in achievement-based scholarships.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1926

UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT: 540

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 9-TO-1

GRADES: 6th-12th grades

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

At Cascia Hall, the Augustinian values of Truth, Unity, and Love have guided our faculty, staff, and student body in their daily lives since the school’s inception in 1926.

Monte Cassino School

Middle school can be rough! Between entering adolescence and the pressure on today’s preteens, school can be hard to navigate for students and parents. The philosophy at Monte Cassino’s middle school is to provide a safe place for kids to take risks and stumble as they are prepared for the challenges of high school. Teachers partner with parents and support staff to help build bonds with the families and students to help navigate the educational experience. Monte Cassino tailors the middle school journey to your student’s needs. Since 1926 the school has been committed to providing an exceptional education for each student while nurturing the whole student.

With a campus-wide average class size

YEAR FOUNDED: 1926

ENROLLMENT: 780

of 17, and often less, the dedicated faculty provides a comprehensive educational experience that is a distinctly Catholic education. Along with teaching the traditional subjects of reading, writing, math and the sciences, there are also excellent programs in music, art, foreign language, finance, STEM and athletics.

There are more than 25 clubs and after-school classes to extend the day. The athletics department offers 11 sports, ongoing development clinics and camps. Monte Cassino holds many state championships in basketball, volleyball and Academic Bowl.

Over $1 million in financial assistance is available. Come learn how a Monte Cassino education can make a difference for your family.

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 8-to-1, ECLC; 16-to-1, elementary and middle schools

GRADES: Pre-K–8th grade

“We chose Monte Cassino because its faith-based environment, loving staff and strong community support us in preparing our children to be academically successful, self-motivated and caring citizens of the world ” - Elizabeth and Campbell Black,

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PreK - 8th Grade

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Monte Cassino School is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and Cognia.

Riverfield Country Day School

Riverfield Country Day School ignites adventure, inspires inquiry and builds excellence to empower students to change their world. It is committed to school as a place of research valuing each individual within a safe, respectful, learner-focused community that bravely grows and evolves together as one Riverfield.

The 2023-2024 student body will expand their learning and expression in the new state-of-the-art Center for Creativity. The Center for Creativity features a black box theater, recording and film studios, visual arts studios and maker spaces. The Center will also house the largest Rock Band program in the nation, Riverfield Rocks.

Calla Andrews, a Riverfield lifer,

YEAR FOUNDED: 1984

ENROLLMENT: 630

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 4-to-1 to 15-1 (based on age/grade level)

GRADES: Infants-12th grade

started in 2006 and graduated this spring. Calla took advantage of all Riverfield has to offer, as member of multiple extra-curricular activities including Riverfield Rocks, NHS and the Diversity Alliance. She has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Washington and Lee University. Calla was one of 800 students nationally recognized as a Presidential Scholars program semi-finalist. Calla is a great example of Riverfield’s student-centered, innovative education program that values individuality and honors the whole student.

Schedule your tour today, contact Riverfield’s Admission Director, Kacey Davenport at 918-446-3553.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Located on a 120-acre campus, Riverfield’s students experience the barnyard, hiking trails, gardens and athletic fields as an extension of the academic excellence found in the classroom.

Calla Andrews

Metro Christian Academy

Metro Christian Academy is a place where education meets faith, knowledge and character intertwine, and every student is valued. Founded in 1983 by visionary parents and educators, Metro is celebrating 40 years as an interdenominational Christian school with the mission of providing, in partnership with involved parents, an accredited college preparatory education that is founded on biblical principles, cultivates Christian character and equips students to excel academically, spiritually, physically and socially.

Set on 60 acres at 63rd Street and Trenton Avenue, Metro’s campus has grown over the years to meet the academic and extracurricular needs

YEAR FOUNDED: 1983

ENROLLMENT: 1,150

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 12-to-1

GRADES: P3-12th grade

of its 1,150 students ages 3 through 12th grade. At the heart of Metro is a sense of community. Students, parents, faculty and staff all work together to educate and nurture students to reach their full potential. “We work to develop this culture in which everyone knows who you are,” says Adam Taylor, director of school operations. “You are somebody here. You are someone important.”

If you’re looking to provide your student with an education that combines academic excellence, faithbased values and a strong sense of community, be sure to visit Metro Christian Academy. Book a tour at visitmetro.com or call the admissions office with questions at 918-745-9868.

Metro High School students have the choice of on-level, honors and advanced placement classes, allowing them to pursue their passions and excel academically. Additionally, college credit can be earned through concurrent enrollment classes, providing a head start on the path to higher education.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Rogers State University

Rogers State University boasts one of the region’s lowest student debt loads for graduates. This is driven by RSU’s affordable tuition, along with the scholarships and financial aid available to deserving students.

RSU offers in-demand degree programs (nursing, chemical engineering, unmanned aircraft systems, cybersecurity) along with unmatched facilities, including world-class student housing, on-campus nature reserve, behavioral sciences lab and more. Programs in medicine are among the state’s leaders, and RSU nursing graduates are always in high demand.

RSU offers small class sizes with a student-faculty ratio of 16-to-1, allowing students to personally know their faculty. According to RSU’s Class of 2020 graduates, 94% reported they were sat-

YEAR FOUNDED: 1909

UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT: 3,177

STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 16-TO-1

isfied to very satisfied with their overall RSU experience.

RSU is the Tulsa metro area’s only public university with on-campus housing, allowing students to fully participate in the traditional college experience. Campus residents enjoy a variety of amenities including a swimming pool, sand volleyball court, outdoor gathering spaces with a fire pit, movie rooms, themed housing areas and nearby hiking/walking trails.

RSU has more than 40 student organizations that promote involvement and leadership, along with 12 NCAA Division II sports. The RSU women’s softball team won the 2022 NCAA Division II national championship. RSU offers bachelor’s and associate degrees entirely online, along with an online MBA, all for an affordable value.

NUMBER OF ADVANCED DEGREE PROGRAMS: 2

NUMBER OF BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS: 22

NUMBER OF ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS: 12

✓ Programs in today’s top fields, on campus and online.

✓ Additional scholarship support for freshmen and transfers.

✓ Ranked among the top 25 colleges in the west by U.S. News and World Report.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Nursing, Business, Chemical Engineering, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Cybersecurity .

RSU is the only public university in the Tulsa metro area that offers a full collegiate experience, from residential life to NCAA athletics. RSU is affordable, with half of our graduates earning a degree with no student debt.

CITY ON STAGE

THERE’S A WEALTH OF TALENT IN THIS YEAR’S PERFORMING ARTS GUIDE.

BY ABBY MEDICO

Every Saturday Night

THE DRUNKARD

The Tulsa tradition continues into its 70th straight year. Tulsa Spotlight Theater facebook.com/tulsaspotlighttheater

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 7

SALUTE TO BILLY JOEL AND ELTON JOHN

Michael Cavanaugh, who was handpicked by Joel to play him in the Broadway musical “Movin’ Out,” performs the works of these legends. Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center brokenarrowpac.com

Sept. 9

PRELUDE: BEETHOVEN’S SYMPHONY NO. 5

Hear the iconic German composer’s piece with guest conductor Marcelo Lehninger and cellist Sterling Elliot Tulsa Performing Arts Center Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Sept. 15 SCOTT MCCREERY

The country music star performs part of the Pep Rally Event Series shows scheduled the Friday before Oklahoma State University home football games. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Sept. 15-17, 21-24

CREATIONS IN STUDIO K Tulsa Ballet’s annual studio season opener will be choreographed by Penny Saunders, Adam Houghland and Yuri Yanowsky Studio K Theatre Tulsa Ballet tulsaballet.org

Sept. 15-Oct. 1

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

See the story of the life and music of industry pioneer Carole King performed by Tulsans.

Tulsa PAC Theatre Tulsa theatretulsa.org

Sept. 16-17

JUNCTION TRIO

This trio performs works by Beethoven, Schumann and Ives Tulsa PAC Chamber Music Tulsa chambermusictulsa.org

Sept. 22

CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES: FERRENC

Works by composers Mozart and Stravinsky will also be performed along with Ferrenc’s Piano Quintet in A minor.

First Presbyterian Church Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Sept. 22 NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC “BRIGHT NIGHT GALA CONCERT”

Featuring guest violinist Stejan Jackiw, the New York Philharmonic returns to Stillwater for a three-part series.

McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Sept. 23 NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC “SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES”

An incredible evening of music from Hollywood’s favorite films. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.com

Sept. 24 NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC “NEW WORLD SYMPHONY”

Anne-Marie McDermott will join the orchestra to perform one of Mozart’s most popular piano compositions for the final night of this Stillwater series.

McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Sept. 26-Oct.1

DISNEY’S ALADDIN

Written by Tony® and Academy Award® winner Alan Menken, this extravagant stage adaptation of the beloved animated movie is perfect for the whole family.

Tulsa PAC Celebrity Attractions celebrityattractions.com

Sept. 30

BLUEGRASS TO BOHEMIA

This show blends bluegrass and orchestra music with Tessa Lark’s performance of “Sky,” a work written for her by 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist Michael Torke

VanTrease PACE Mainstage

Signature Symphony signaturesymphony.org

OCTOBER

Oct. 6

BILL BROWDER

A discussion of how Browder lobbied U.S. Congress to pass the Magnitsky Act and of his experience with Russia.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Town Hall tulsatownhall.com

Oct. 6-14

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL

A new tenant at Armadillo Acres trailer park creates havoc and an accidental love triangle. Tulsa PAC American Theatre Co. americantheatrecompany.org

Oct. 7

MASQUERADE: SHOSTAKOVICH’S SYMPHONY NO. 9

This night of music features guest conductor Daniel Hege and soprano

Janinah Burnett.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Oct. 13

CHRIS BOTTI

The Grammy Award-winning trumpet player and composer will perform some of his greatest hits. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Oct. 13-14

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Follow Jack up the giant beanstalk to world of castles in the sky, magical treasures, and one despicable Ogre. Studio K Theatre Tulsa Ballet tulsaballet.org

Oct. 13-15

WINDSYNC

This wind ensemble features original arrangements and contemporary compositions.

Tulsa PAC Chamber Music Tulsa chambermusictulsa.org

Oct. 15

MOZART’S SYMPHONY NO. 40

TSO takes on TU with a performance featuring guest conductor David Lockington and flutist John Rush Lorton Performance Center Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Oct. 21

FALL FLAVORS

Hear Tulsa’s Council Oak Men’s Chorale for a one-night cabaret concert. Fellowship Congregational Church counciloak.org

Oct. 29

CLASSICS OF LERNER AND LOEWE

A full orchestra and soloists perform songs from some beloved musicals like “Gigi,” “Camelot” and “My Fair Lady.”

Will Rogers Auditorium Will Rogers Stage Foundation willrogersstage.com

Oct. 31-Nov. 1

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

The famous rom-com takes to the stage in this musical adaptation fun for gals and guys alike. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

NOVEMBER

Nov. 2-4

THE TRAIL TO OREGON!

An All-American family takes the long trail from Missouri to Oregon in 1848 in this musical comedy.

Tulsa PAC

Theatre Tulsa theatretulsa.org

Nov. 2-5

DON QUIXOTE

This adventurous ballet choreographed by Marius Petipa and Anna Marie Holmes is based on the novel “Don Quixote de la Mancha” by Miguel de Cervantes

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Ballet tulsaballet.org

Nov. 3

SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN

JUKEBOX: LIFE IN THE PAST LANE TOUR

Performers bring a jazzy twist to modern pop classics in the final performance of the pep rally series. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Nov. 7

STRAIGHT NO CHASER

This men’s acapella group will blow you away with only their voices. Tulsa PAC tulsapac.com

Nov. 10

BRIAN GREENE

Join the luncheon with a world-renowned physicist and mathematician who has conducted incredible research in cosmology.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Town Hall tulsatownhall.com

Nov. 11

HONOR, AMERICANA: PRICE’S SYMPHONY NO. 1

Feature guest conductor Ward Stare and narrator Julian Thomas bring this performance to life.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Nov. 17

CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES: MENDELSSOHN

The evening performance includes songs from Bach, Mendelssohn and a selection from the Beatles discography.

First Presbyterian Church Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Nov. 17-19

CASTALIAN STRING QUARTET

This string quartet performs both classic and contemporary arrangements.

Tulsa PAC

Chamber Music Tulsa chambermusictulsa.org

Nov. 17-19

MEAN GIRLS: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION

This show will be so fetch as audiences step into the world of Cady Heron, who’s dropped fresh off the African savannah into a North American high school.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Theatre Academy tulsapac.com

Nov. 21-26

BEETLEJUICE: THE MUSICAL

The Tim Burton cult-classic comes to life on stage following the adventures of teenage Lydia Deetz when she meets a recently deceased couple and bestriped demon.

Tulsa PAC

Celebrity Attractions celebrityattractions.com

Nov. 30

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS IN CONCERT WITH THE TULSA SYMPHONY

Watch the classic Christmas movie with a live symphony accompaniment with a full orchestra.

McKnight Center mcknighhtcenter.org

DECEMBER

Dec. 1

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

Get in the Christmas spirit with a classic movie with a live symphony orchestra accompaniment.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Dec. 2

MARTINA MCBRIDE

“THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS TOUR”

The Country Music Awardwinner treats the audience to a cozy Christmas concert live from Stillwater. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Dec. 5, 7, 8

WINTER HOLIDAYS

Council Oak Men’s Chorale performs holiday favorites. Fellowship Congregational Church counciloak.org

Dec. 9-10, 15-17, 21-23

THE NUTCRACKER

This holiday classic is choreographed by Val Caniparoli and Ma Cong with magical yuletide performances to get you in the spirit.

Tulsa PAC Tulsa Ballet tulsaballet.org

Dec. 8-23

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

In this classic Charles Dickens story, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve and learns the true meaning of Christmas.

Tulsa PAC

American Theatre Co. americantheatrecompany.org

Dec. 15

DAVID PHELPS CHRISTMAS

Hear the acclaimed American vocalists for one night only.

Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center brokenarrowpac.com

Dec. 15-16

CHRISTMAS IN TULSA

The Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale celebrates the holiday season with Signature Symphony.

VanTrease PACE

Signature Symphony signaturesymphony.org

JANUARY

Jan. 2-7

HAIRSPRAY

Travel back into the ’60s with this upbeat musical as a teen tries to dance her way onto her favorite TV show.

Tulsa PAC

Celebrity Attractions celebrityattractions.com

Strictly Gershwin

Jan. 13

EBB AND FLOW: BRAHMS’ SYMPHONY NO. 3

Conductor Sarah Hicks directs with works from Brahm’s, Ravel and Debussy

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Jan. 14

DAVE WICKERSHAM IN CONCERT

Named America’s best pipe organist by the American Pipe Organ Guild.

Will Rogers Auditorium

Will Rogers Stage Foundation willrogersstage.com

Jan. 19-Feb. 4

ANNIE

This musical tells the rags-to-riches story of a little orphan named Annie.

Tulsa PAC

Theatre Tulsa theatretulsa.org

Jan. 23-24

COME FROM AWAY

This show tells the true story of a Canadian town that hosted nearly 7,000 American flight passengers on Sept. 11, 2001.

McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Jan. 27

INSPIRATIONS

The Tulsa Youth Symphony joins Signature Symphony for this performance of exciting compositions.

VanTrease PACE

Signature Symphony signaturesymphony.org

FEBRUARY

Feb. 2

ROSANNE CASH

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Cash, daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash, is an advocate for music as a tool for social change.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Town Hall tulsatownhall.com

Feb. 3

FANTASTIQUE EXPERIENCE: BERLIOZ’S SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE

This night of incredible symphony includes violinist Rossitza Goza and guest conductor JoAnn Falletta.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

Feb. 8-11

STRICTLY GERSHWIN

See work by British dancer and choreographer Derek Deane that blends classical ballet and 1920’s Broadway.

Tulsa PAC Tulsa Ballet tulsaballet.org

Feb. 9

1964 THE TRIBUTE

The best Beatles tribute on earth is throwing a 1964-themed concert for all Beatles fans. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Feb. 9-11

I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE

The second-longest-running offBroadway show in an intimate setting.

Lynn Riggs Theatre

Tulsa Opera tulsaopera.com

Feb. 14

AN EVENING WITH SUTTON FOSTER

The legendary Broadway singer performs songs from some of her most iconic roles. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Feb. 17-18

DANISH STRING QUARTET

This quartet performs Schubert along with some folk music.

Tulsa PAC Chamber Music Tulsa chambermusictulsa.org

Feb. 24

THE MIDTOWN MEN

Four stars from the original Broadway production of “Jersey Boys” sing the hits. Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center brokenarrowpac.com

Feb. 25

THE DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA

Founded by legendary jazz composer Duke Ellington, this orchestra continues to celebrate music and artistry over 100 years. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

Feb. 27-March 2

MY FAIR LADY

In this old-Hollywood classic, Eliza Doolittle takes speech lessons from Henry Higgins.

Tulsa PAC

Celebrity Attractions

celebrityattractions.com

MARCH

March 1-9

ALL THE KING’S WOMEN

The story of Elvis Presley told through the eyes of women.

Tulsa PAC

American Theatre Co. americantheatrecompany.org

March 2

21 CHUMP STREET

This show, from the writer who created “Hamilton,” follows a police officer going undercover at a local high school.

Tulsa PAC Theatre Tulsa theatretulsa.org

March 2

INEVITABLE BEETHOVEN: THE STRUGGLE FOR CREATION

This Beethoven-inspired program features the Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale, the TU Chorale and TCC Concert Choir and soloists.

VanTrease PACE

Signature Symphony signaturesymphony.org

March 3

CHAMBER MUSIC: PIANO SPECTACULAR

Multiple piano performances span different genres and composers for a night kicked off with a pre-concert conversation hosted by professor Thomas Lanners McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

March 8

MARY LOUISE KELLY

A well-traveled journalist and novelist, Kelly has studied foreign policy and military issues of multiple countries. Tulsa PAC Tulsa Town Hall tulsatownhall.com

March 10

“THE CAMERAMAN:” SILENT FILM WITH ORGANIST PETER KRASINSKI

Enjoy a classic silent film with a live score by conductor, organist and music educator Peter Krasinski McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

March 15

CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES: BEETHOVEN

This symphony orchestra will perform one of Beethoven’s famous piano trios. First Presbyterian Church Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

March 15-17

HORSZOWSKI TRIO

This trio ranges from modern strings to traditional arrangements.

Tulsa PAC

Chamber Music Tulsa chambermusictulsa.org

March 15-24

CALENDAR GIRLS

The death of a beloved husband inspires some ordinary women to do a striking and extraordinary thing.

Tulsa PAC

Theatre Tulsa theatretulsa.org

March 21-24

ROMEO AND JULIET

This classic romance is choreographed by Edwaard Liang

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Ballet tulsaballet.org

March 26-31

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

A stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s famous novel.

Tulsa PAC

Celebrity Attractions celebrityattractions.com

APRIL

April 1-2

THE BOOK OF MORMON

This Tony Award-winning musical follows two young men and their hilarious mission to Africa. McKnight Center mcknightcenter.com

April 5

YO-YO MA AND KATHRYN STOTT

The legendary cellist performs alongside the renowned classical pianist.

McKnight Center mcknightcenter.org

April 6

TULSA SINGS! THE BEST OF BROADWAY

Listen to generations of Broadway’s greatest hits performed by local Tulsa talent.

VanTrease PACE

Signature Symphony signaturesymphony,org

April 7

MENDELSSOHN’S SYMPHONY NO. 4

Guest conductor Jeri Lynne Johnson directs Mendelssohn’s symphony and suites from Respighi and Stravinsky

Lorton Performance Center

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

April 12

DAWN PORTER

A leader in the art of documentary and an award-winning filmmaker, Porter has created content for the biggest media platforms in the world.

Tulsa PAC Tulsa Town Hall tulsatownhall.com

April 13

FAME AND FATE: MOZART’S REQUIEM

Tulsa Chorale and distinguished soloists are featured in this performance.

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

April 14

FOLK LEGACY TRIO

George Grove, Rick Dougherty and Jerry Siggins deliver songs from the 1950s-1970s with dynamic vocals and instrumental arrangements.

Will Rogers Auditorium

Will Rogers Stage Foundation willrogersstage.com

April 19

CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES: DE RIVERA

A refreshing blend of summery compositions. First Presbyterian Church Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

April 19-20

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Follow Jack up the giant beanstalk to world of castles in the sky, magical treasures, and one despicable Ogre. Zarrow Studio Tulsa Ballet tulsaballet.org

April 19-21

DALÍ QUARTET

The quartet will perform works by Ginastera, Piazollo and more. LowDown, Tulsa PAC Chamber Music Tulsa chambermusictulsa.org

April 26

OPERA FIZZ

Enjoy cabaret standards while sipping creative cocktails.

Living Arts

Tulsa Opera tulsaopera.com

April 26- May 12

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND

A legendary musical involving gods, love, death and a high stakes wager.

Tulsa PAC

Theatre Tulsa theatretulsa.org

MAY

May 3-11

UNDER THE SKIN

An unpredictable comedy of family issues.

Tulsa PAC

American Theatre Co. americantheatrecompany.org

May 9-12

SIGNATURE SERIES

Choreographed by Luciano Cannito, Joshua Bergasse and Andrew McNicol

Lorton Performing Arts Center Tulsa Ballet tulsaballet.org

May 11

FINALE: MAHLER’S SYMPHONY NO. 5

Featuring guest conductor Gerard Schwarz

Tulsa PAC

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra tulsasymphony.org

May 14-19

TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL

This musical celebrates the life and music of the great Tina Turner. Tulsa PAC

Celebrity Attractions celebrityattractions.com TP

Dalí Quartet

The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical

October 6-14, 2023

They’re back! An all-American Christmas musical odyssey through agoraphobia, adultery, hysterical pregnancy, strippers, huffing, electric chairs, flan, roadkill, toll collecting, spray cheese, guns and disco. “...and a flamingo in a palm tree.” *

A Christmas Carol Tulsa’s Family Favorite!

December 8-23, 2023

Three spirits visit the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, and take him on a fantastic journey through Christmases past, present, and future in a play that has delighted Tulsa audiences for 46 years. A Christmas Carol is the timeless tale of hope and redemption that comes to life onstage.

All the King’s Women

March 1-9, 2024

A play that affects the senses - heart, mind, and soul. One doesn’t have to be an Elvis fan going in, to walk away with a deep appreciation for ‘The King’ at the conclusion. The story of Elvis Presley told through the eyes of 17 Women! Some enthralled! Some Appalled! ALL OBSESSED!

Under The skin

May 3-11, 2024

Lou needs a kidney. Yesterday. His daughter Raina’s got a spare, but she’s also got issues. (Plenty of these.) Like, how come the sonof-a-bitch had sex with so many women who weren’t her mother? Time leaps backward, forward, and sideways, secrets get aired and truths revealed in this lively unpredictable comedy. *

Ann

By Holland Taylor

Summer 2024

An intimate, no-holds-barred portrait of Ann Richards, the legendary late governor of Texas. This inspiring and hilarious play brings us face to face with complex, colorful, and capitiviting character bigger than the state from which she hailed and takes a revealing look at the impassioned woman who enriched the lives of her followers, friends, and family. *

Bound for fun

FALL FOR THESE DESTINATIONS PERFECT FOR A FALL BREAK ROAD TRIP.

BY RHYS MARTIN

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall,” writes F. Scott Fitzgerald in “ e Great Gatsby.” We couldn’t agree more.

Hitting the road for fall break has the potential to show you whole new dazzling facets of an otherwise familiar area such as southwest Missouri, the Ozarks of Arkansas, the Dallas area or southern Oklahoma. Plan your trip now so you’re ready at the rst sign of autumn.

BRANSON, MISSOURI

e Ozarker Lodge, situated alongside Historic Highway 165 in Branson, opened in June so it’s about as new as it gets. It is billed as a “true boutique hotel” and o ers a vintage-style experience within modern accommodations. e back of the hotel is nestled against Fall Creek, o ering several hot tubs along the water line to provide a unique, relaxing spot to enjoy the evening.

ere are things for the kids to do, too, including a playground, re pits for s’mores and poolside movie nights. Of course, it’s not far from Silver Dollar City, which was

recently named the No. 1 amusement park in the United States by Tripadvisor. e park will again host its Harvest Festival Sept. 16-Oct. 28 with artisans, nighttime illuminations and plenty of family fun.

DALLAS, TEXAS

e greater Dallas area always makes for a good weekend trip from Tulsa. Many head to the State Fair of Texas Sept. 29-Oct. 23 for live music, rides, games and more. Don’t forget a sel e with Big Tex. A respite from the hustle and bustle of Big D is a stop at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens,

which hosts its pumpkin festival, Autumn at the Arboretum, Sept. 16-Nov. 5.

If you go a little o the beaten path, you’ll nd nearby gems like Glen Rose, an authentic, historic town to the southwest of the metroplex that serves as a gateway to Dinosaur Valley State Park. Country Woods Inn is a quiet, secluded spot to enjoy the area in a few unique ways. In addition to the main house that dates to the late 1800s, you can glamp in a vintage travel trailer (one of them was made by Spartan right here in Tulsa) or rent out a vintage Santa Fe Boxcar that has been renovated into a cabin. e property provides easy access to Glen Rose town square and the local trail system where local wildlife is often observed.

SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI

For the wildlife lovers who want to see something more unusual, Wonders of Wildlife in Spring eld is hard to beat. It’s been voted America’s Best Aquarium ve times; once you see its enormous 1.5-million-gallon aquatic showcase,

The Ozarker Lodge

State Fair of Texas in Dallas

you’ll understand why. e complex has more than a mile-and-a-half of trails and museum exhibits spread over 350,000 square feet. Bass Pro Shop is right next door, which makes it easy to ll an entire day. Spring eld also is known as the Birthplace of Route 66, thanks to the telegram sent from there in 1926 that gave the road its famous number. ere are several spots that pay tribute to this legacy, including the History Museum on the downtown square and the Route 66 Car Museum on College Street. Check out the Rockwood Motor Court nearby, too — it’s a vintage Route 66 motel that has been lovingly restored with each room sporting a di erent theme to represent the history of the Mother Road. Numerous fall festivals — like Cider Days in September and riller on C Street in October — ll the area’s calendar, too.

SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI

Sticking with Route 66 closer to the Oklahoma state line, the area around Joplin continues the nearly century-long legacy of the great American road trip. Nearby Carthage is home to the Boots Court motel, a historic streamline motel that dates to 1939 and advertises, “A Radio in Every Room.”

It’s a short walk to the beautiful downtown square and it’s hard to beat the Pancake Hut next door for breakfast. Outside the restaurant is a Norman Rockwell-esque piece of metal art created by the late Lowell Davis. On his land just outside of town, the eccentric local artist created the community of Red Oak II, made entirely of buildings that were saved and relocated, along with some of his artistic creations. ere’s no place quite like it anywhere else on Route 66; you can ask the folks at the Boots about a tour of Red Oak to learn more about this special place and meet the people who live there and keep it alive today. Carthage’s Route 66 Drive-In theater makes for a fun evening for the whole family. And don’t miss out on Supertam on 66, an ice cream parlor in neighboring Carterville with enough Superman memorabilia to make Metropolis jealous.

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

Little Rock is the same distance from Tulsa as Dallas but has a much di erent vibe. ere’s plenty to do outdoors, like Pinnacle Mountain State Park or the trail system along the river, and important history including the National Historic Site at Little Rock Central High School. e area also has one of the most unique places to stay that you’ll ever see: a former nuclear missile silo! Titan Ranch in the town of Vilonia provides accommodation in a Cold War-era bunker. Don’t worry about comfort, though — the bedroom and kitchen were built with luxury in mind.

It’s an overnight stay like none other if you’re feeling adventurous. While you’re in the area, look up the event calendar for Mountain View, which makes for a good day trip from the Little Rock area. It’s known for a robust folk music scene hosting various festivals throughout the year, including a Bluegrass Festival each autumn.

e Rainbow Cafe serves up some of the best home cooking in the state; bring cash!

Did you know Little Rock claims to be where cheese dip was invented in 1935? Each October, the city celebrates this claim to fame with the World Cheese Dip Championship, where entrants battle it out to take top prize. Locals’ tip: Bring a mu n tin to hold the samples.

SOUTHWESTERN SOIREE

You don’t have to leave the Sooner State to nd a fresh, fun place to stay and spend a weekend. Medicine Park is known as Oklahoma’s rst planned resort town, built out of cobblestones in 1908. Tucked behind the shops on Main Street, perched over Medicine Creek, are the Birdhouse Cottages. ese individual cabins resemble oversized bird houses, complete with colorful paint and perches beneath round, porthole-style windows. ey are perfectly located for exploring the Artwalk and Flute Festival, happening Oct. 6-8. More activities are not far away either. Mount Scott is 10 minutes away and o ers one of the most beautiful vistas in Oklahoma. TP

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Boots Court

Wichita Mountains near Medicine Park

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK: PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU; MEDICINE PARK: LORI DUCKWORTH/OKLAHOMA TOURISM; BOOTS COURT, DINOSAUR VALLEY: RHYS MARTIN

EXPL or E THE o UT door S THIS SUMME r

Explore 10,000 acres of the Ozark Mountains this summer at Dogwood Canyon. Experience nature in bloom with countless outdoor activities including horseback riding, fishing, wildlife tram tours, hiking and biking.

dogwoodcanyon . org

Get away, relax, recharge at Big Cedar Lodge

As summer begins to transition into fall, Big Cedar Lodge emerges as the ultimate getaway destination, offering one-of-a-kind experiences for both overnight guests and daily visitors. Add these top five activities to your next Ozarks adventure!

1. Lady Liberty Cruises: Experience the epitome of dining elegance surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ozarks on Big Cedar Lodge’s luxury yacht, Lady Liberty. Indulge in a mouthwatering meal while cruising the beautiful waters of Table Rock Lake. Our custom-built 62› vessel boasts a meticulously designed main cabin and a sprawling open-air upper deck. Whether it’s a brunch, day, or dinner cruise, sit back and relax and let the good times begin!

2. Royal Treatment at Cedar Creek Spa: Step into a world of tranquility at the renowned Cedar Creek Spa & Salon. Mother-daughter duos looking for a special memory making experience can indulge in our Royal Treatment for Mommy and Me that promises to create cherished memories.

3. Fun Mountain: Embark on an adventure-filled day at Big Cedar Lodge’s Fun Mountain, where thrill and excitement await visitors of all ages. This is the ultimate destination for non-stop entertainment with an expansive 50,000 square feet of action-

packed activities that will keep the entire family enthralled.

4. Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail: Uncover the hidden wonders of the Ozarks by exploring the Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail at Top of The Rock.

This captivating 2.5-mile journey on an electric cart allows visitors to view stunning rock formations, cascading waterfalls, and panoramic vistas of Table Rock Lake. This remarkable experience also includes access to the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, where you can delve into the rich heritage of this fascinating region.

5. Dinner at the Worman House: Nestled amidst the lush surroundings of Big Cedar Lodge, The Worman House stands as a testament to its rich history. Originally built in the early 1920s as a private haven for Frisco Railroad executive, Harry Worman, this incredible restaurant offers exquisite cuisine, themed cocktails, and breathtaking views of Table Rock Lake.

Big Cedar Lodge is truly a place to create memories the whole family will treasure forever!

If you’re going to catch the sunset in Dallas, White Rock Lake is the place to do it. Just a few minutes east of Downtown, spend the day walking, biking or sailing then grab a blanket and a friend and head to the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden for live music with a view. Whatever your all is, you’ll find it here.

To plan your trip, go to VisitDallas.com

Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden, White Rock Lake

Enjoy bands from all over the country while taking in the best view in the city from the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Grab your friends and pack a picnic for Thursday-night fun with the locals.

arboretum COOL

THURSDAYS CONCERTs

is sprawling retreat in the Design District is the perfect spot for a Dallas getaway. With a lazy river and water slides for the kids, and a swim-up bar and leisure pool just for adults, this resort waterpark is a cool escape this summer.

JADEWATERS AT THE HILTON ANATOLE

Held Labor Day weekend, this three-day musical event is jam-packed with some of the world’s best national and international artists. Featuring Dallas native Erykah Badu, performances include jazz, R&B, soul, blues, and neo-soul.

Riverfront Jazz Festival

is free self-guided tour is a fun and fresh way to explore the city’s best and brightest margaritas. Download the Margarita Mile pass to check in at participating restaurants, enjoy craft margaritas, and earn cool swag along the way.

margarita mile

Adventures aplenty in Springdale

There’s a lot you may not know about Springdale! For starters, it’s the largest city in Northwest Arkansas. It’s also the home of three-time Country Music Association Musician of the Year winner Jenee Fleenor and the NWA Naturals baseball team, the AA-affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

Springdale has an amazing culinary scene. Did you know the city is home to one of the largest Spanish-speaking populations in Arkansas? You can find incredible authentic food from across Latin America here. There’s also the only hard cidery in Arkansas – Black Apple, located in downtown Springdale.

You can spend a whole weekend in Springdale without leaving, but it’s also the best home base for any excursions in Northwest Arkansas. Springdale straddles Interstate 49, just 10 minutes away from concerts at the Walmart AMP, 20 minutes from the renowned Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and 15 minutes away from the University of Arkansas campus and athletic venues.

LEARN MORE AT EXPLORESPRINGDALE.COM!

Skyline denim cropped jacket, $129.99; water bottle, $38.99; stickers, $3.99-$4.99; all from Ida Red, 3336 S. Peoria Ave.

BE TULSA PROUD IN NEW GEAR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

BROKEN ARROW BOOKSTORE SHELVES A WIDE SELECTION OF TITLES AND INTERESTS.

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

In 10 short months, Rivendell Books and Baubles has become a cultural hub for book lovers of all ages.

On Oct. 31, the independent Broken Arrow bookstore was opened by Heather Edwards, a former accountant who turned her passion for reading into her profession.

is summer has been busy with the shop’s rst summer reading quest under its belt and hosting “Find Waldo Local,” a nationwide scavenger hunt.

“One of my favorite things about local stores is the opportunity to work within the community,” she says, adding that she’s done shopping partnerships to bene t neighborhood schools, groups and nonpro ts.

Several book clubs meet at Rivendell, which hosts author events and storytimes throughout the week. “I talk to everyone who comes in,” Edwards says. “We all read di erent things and can make suggestions if you need some help.”

e store gets its name, Rivendell, from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “ e Lord of the Rings” series, while Books and Baubles stems from the “Fever” collection of books by Karen Marie Moning. Edwards designed the store to be reminiscent of an English study. Shoppers can nd all genres — from ction to graphic novels and everything in between. ere’s also a small collection of used books for sale.

Tucked in the back sits the kids’ area, known as Mrs. Krout’s Corner, which was named for Edwards’ friend and biggest supporter, who happens to be Vandever Elementary’s new librarian, Jennifer Krout. Edwards says she designed the area to be like a secret garden, with special attention given to children’s books by local authors.

Rivendell Books and Baubles

Edwards strives to source the shop’s non-book goods from local makers and purveyors when possible. Shoppers can nd Topeca co ee and pastries from American Inheritance Confectionery — both local vendors — along with jewelry, cards and more by neighbors. TP

Vintage bookshelf edition games, $39. Essential oils inspired by book characters, $12. Local maker Bleu Cauldron “Harry Potter” inspired earrings, $12.

Books by local authors, prices vary.

Heather Edwards with her shop’s resident bearded dragon, Quinn

LIFE

VOLUNTEER

Be one of our hundreds of volunteers who are the key to Lemon-Aid!

There are two ways to volunteer:

1. Sign up for a Lemon-Aid stand over Labor Day Weekend.

2. Volunteer to help us during our Kickoff event at Mother Road Market on Friday September 1 from 3pm - 7pm.

SPONSOR/DONATE

We wouldn't be able to do any of this without the support of our amazing sponsors.

In 2022, 60+ local and national businesses contributed in-kind and financial support which allowed us to significantly reduce our expected expenses and put more of the money raised to direct use with our benefiting organizations.

#KidsHelpingKidsHelpingTulsa www.thelemonaidproject.org

‘All encompassing’

TALKING MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE AND THE NEED FOR TREATMENT SERVICES

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

WHAT DOES THE EXPANSION MEAN TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE?

Unbridled access, and what I mean by that is we have started that immediate access to care. I’m talking about 24/7 access to care, whether that’s mental health treatment or substance use treatment. When we open the Urgent Recovery Center, if you wake up at 2 a.m. and you decide “I’ve had enough,” like, “I can’t do this anymore, I need help.” You can come in, you can call us and we can come get you if you can’t get here.

Your recovery journey is a constant cycle. Sometimes you’re doing really well in your recovery journey and you’re in maintenance. And then sometimes you relapse, whether that’s mental health or substance use. No matter where you’re at in that recovery journey, you can get help here — whether you’re having a setback, or you just need a little maintenance care.

As chief clinical o cer at GRAND Mental Health Tulsa, Kim Hill-Crowell oversees the clinical functions for evidence-based practices for mental health and substance use treatment at the growing campus.

GRAND Mental Health is currently undergoing an expansion at its Tulsa site, 6333 E. Skelly Drive, which will include a total of 400 beds in the residential treatment center and the debut of the Tulsa Urgent Recovery Center for Substance Use Disorders — the rst in the nation designed speci cally to serve those in immediate addiction crisis.

According to GRAND, in Tulsa County there are 97,295 people in need of some level of mental health treatment, although 81%, or 79,277, are not receiving treatment. Further, 40,670 people in Tulsa County need substance use treatment, although

88%, or 35,839, are not receiving treatment.

“It all ties in together — your physical health, your mental health, your emotional health, it is all encompassing,” Hill-Crowell says. “And so we serve all of those things.”

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU TREAT? At any given time we have 186 residential beds and 38 detox beds, and our beds are constantly rotating. Medically supervised detox is anywhere from a ve- to seven-day stay and then they transition into residential treatment, which is an average of about 26 to 28 days, but they can stay up to 90.

Now that we’re doing same-day access, people are … waiting at the door at 8 a.m. Once we open our Urgent Recovery Center (this fall) it’s going to be 24/7 access. So even if a bed isn’t open yet, as soon as it opens, it’s going to be lled by whomever’s waiting in that URC.

I think eventually … we’ll have other sites across Tulsa as well. But as far as this expansion on this campus, and what that means for Tulsa is unbridled access to substance use and mental health care.

GRAND GIVES PATIENTS IPADS TO ACCESS TREATMENT 24/7. WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM THE PANDEMIC? GRAND had been using the iPad concept since 2015. When I came to (what was then 12&12) we were in the middle of the pandemic and we actually used (the iPads) during that time. I’m so very proud of this because what happened was we ended up not having to discharge clients whenever they had COVID. We were able to isolate, give them an iPad, and they were able to continue their treatment through the iPad. TP

CALL 988 IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY.

Kim Hill-Crowell, a licensed clinical social worker, serves as GRAND Mental Health’s chief clinical officer.

SAVE THE DATE!

THE BEST TASTING WEEK OF THE YEAR BEGINS SEPTEMBER 8!

It’s time to make plans to “step-up to the plate” and fight hunger during Tulsa’s 17th Annual Restaurant Week!

Many of Tulsa’s BEST restaurants will be joining-in to help fight hunger during this 10-day event which benefits the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Food for Kids programs. Each participating restaurant will offer special prix fixe menus that include an automatic donation to the Food Bank or their standard menu with a 3% donation. Plus, all donations will be matched up to $25,000 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation!

2023 Prix Fixe Menu Options:

Storied space

LORTONDALE HOME DEFINED BY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND FAMILY.

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

Some might be surprised to nd a “Surf Shack” in the middle of landlocked Oklahoma. For homeowner Rachel Andersen, her Lortondale home is just that, getting its name from a book by Nina Freudenberger

“ e intention of the surf community is to love where you live and make your home based around your lifestyle — not make it something to impress other people,” Andersen says. When she moved to Tulsa more than a decade ago, she saw people trying to out-design one another with nds at mainstream, luxury home goods stores — beautiful, but without a story, according to her.

“Every design detail in here, if it’s not 1950s, it’s supposed to be a nod to my history,” she says, such as the vertical

skinny tile she installed in the kitchen and half-bath that reminds her of a similar one she saw in a motorcycle co ee shop in Hamilton, Canada, while visiting friends. An album on her phone holds snapshots from her travels near and far to inspire her in the future.

Andersen, an amateur photographer who has worked as a graphic designer since age 14, created or photographed most of the art that hangs in the 1,200-square-foot home. is is the second Lortondale home Andersen has owned. She purchased the 1954 property ve years ago from its sole owner. While keeping a lot of the home’s original design features and aesthetics like the wood beams, wall of windows

The signature Lortondale living room features a wall of windows and gathering space. In this home, a focal point is the 1970s Malm electric space heater — a Swedish design built to look like a normal fireplace. Below, a coat closet was converted into a pantry.

and garage door, Andersen upgraded the plumbing, electrical and roof while addressing some foundation issues. “Most of the stu I didn’t have to touch, or if I could shine up, stayed original,” she says.

Mismatched ooring — some original and some from a 1990s-era renovation — was replaced with uniform concrete throughout. She collected the home’s parquet wood oor tiles and saved them for her neighbors who have used them in their own updates.

ough not a trained interior designer, Andersen has worked in marketing and social media for companies like Kohler and Eames, as well as doing partnerships with Rust-Oleum and others.

“I got into interior design because when I was little, my parents, we grew up ipping homes to make extra money,” she says. “We are a pastor’s family and so you have ve kids on a pastor’s budget and you’re just like, basically just bare bones. ey had a built-in workforce and we loved being together so it was an easy way for us to make money, but not give up family time.”

Andersen recently sold the property to move to Colorado for a new job and to

spend time with her grandmother. With her she took her 1970s limited edition Yamaha electric baby grand piano. It’s a touring edition she plays alongside her vintage record player that’s hooked up to speakers her dad carted through college.

After all, “everything has a story,” she says. TP

The three-bedroom’s home’s art was predominately created by Andersen.

When Andersen moved in, the kitchen had non-original cabinetry and a small rectangular opening into the living room. After remodeling, the kitchen now boasts a more modern aesthetic with Bianca Stardust quartz countertops.

ANOTHER LETTER TO A NIECE ( WHO HATES HER NEIGHBORS )

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

My very dear Rebecca, I’m sorry to hear about the recent unpleasantness with your neighbors.

I can certainly sympathize. My experiences with neighbors, good and bad, could ll a book. And have.

Your mother and I grew up in a small town where everybody knew who we were and what we were up to and called our parents and told them. We couldn’t wait to move to the blessed anonymity of a larger town. I have come to change my mind about that. Now I am grateful for my neighbors. I don’t know about your mother. Well, you know how she is.

I’ve had saintly neighbors, intrusive neighbors and crooked neighbors. One neighbor cheated me out of $40,000 then left town. I’ve had neighbors that required police visits. One neighbor was so vile I told him, in a heated moment, he was the Neighbor from Hell. I regret that outburst, but he really was.

So, no, I don’t think you’re overreacting. We have to remember the e ects of the pandemic. All that isolation was not healthy. Usually, we are aswarm with people. Work, school, social groups — that’s where we meet our friends and beaus. You’ve worked remotely for three years. You’ve had to take your college classes

online. I’m sure this has a ected your social skills some, but look at how you’re bouncing back. You’ve got your axe-throwing group and now you’re taking kick-boxing classes. No, I don’t think you’re being overly sensitive.

Although, I have to say, some people have more trouble with neighbors than others. Remember when your Uncle Jay and I lived in a high-rise apartment? It annoyed him that the man who lived above us, overweight granted, walked so heavily. Sometimes your Uncle Jay would pound on the ceiling with a golf club and yell “Lard Ass!” And remember the Christmas we got some kind of oor model foosball game for you kids to play with? is turned out to be very annoying for the people who lived below us.

I’m not saying you have the same hair trigger as your Uncle Jay.

Which brings us to your balcony garden. How were you to know that overwatering would leak down on their balcony table? Bad luck it was set for a party.

e bigger issue, I think, are the two neighbors who made unkind — at least not supportive — remarks about your little garden. “Don’t plant it if you don’t know how to take care of it” and “Looks like you didn’t pray over it enough” both seem extreme to me.

Gardening isn’t as easy as it looks.

Remember when I wanted to prune my little lace-leaf maple tree and was afraid I’d ruin it? at fragile foliage. at intricate stem system. What did I do? I googled and read and watched online demonstrations, but I still was afraid.

I had to do something because I read that if a lace-leaf maple isn’t pruned it will grow to look like Cousin Itt from the Addams Family. So, what did I do? I got my garden shears and jumped in. I’m not a horticulturist but I gave it my personal best.

Remember how badly that turned out?

I think the lesson here is that we can’t be good at everything. We can just try. We mustn’t be intimidated by failure. Whether in an apartment or in a house, neighbors are not easy. One thing a garden teaches us is that everything changes. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. Sometimes because of our e orts, sometimes despite them.

We are resilient, people and plants. If it’s any comfort, my little maple tree is looking better now.

I’m sorry some of your neighbors are unhappy with you. ey’ll get over it. ink of that philosophy you saw on a church billboard: “You can’t make everybody happy. You’re not tacos.”

Your very loving, Aunt Connie TP

LUXURY PROPERTY GROUP

Call

TIM HAYES 918-231-5637 thayes@mcgrawok.com

SHERRI SANDERS 918-724-5008 ssanders@mcgrawok.com

GORDON SHELTON 918-697-2742 gshelton@mcgrawok.com

DIANA PATTERSON

918-629-3717 dpatterson@mcgrawok.com

GRAND LAKE GARDEN PARK

The fabulous Polo Club has a brand-new 3,421 s.f. home situated on the second level w/incredible views of Grand Lake! This beautiful home comes furnished & has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, main bedroom on first level w/an outrageous large bath, 2 living areas, high end finishes w/really awesome lighting, luxury vinyl plank flooring on main level, lovely kitchen w/island, oversized garage & a separate garage for your golf cart, 2 outside living decks w/trex & cable w/great views of Grand, upstairs deck is covered. Minutes from the yacht clubs & there are boat slips in the community boat dock available for purchase from the Polo Club. The HOA's are only $275/month that includes maintenance of yard, community pool, trash & electric gate. This is turn key and ready to be enjoyed!

$885,000

6TH & LEWIS

Unique location between University of Tulsa and The Pearl District. The asking price includes both the House (located at 2216 E 6th St) and the Vacant Lot (located at 2224 E 6th St). The property is zoned CS and o ers versatile options for use, including as an o ce, land, or retail space. Its prime location allows for convenient access to nearby retail stores, markets, and entertainment venues. Additionally, the vacant lot provides the potential for a parking lot or the construction of a new building. $459,000

Beautifully updated Garden Park Condo offers an open floor plan, oversized rooms, and abundant natural light. The living room features built-ins and a fireplace, while the kitchen showcases new cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. With updated bathrooms, new hardwood floors, a spacious master bedroom with ample storage, and additional amenities like a 2-car carport, 2 private courtyards, and access to community pools, this 3-bed, 2-bath condo provides a stylish and comfortable living experience with the added security of a guard-gated entrance. $495,000

STILLWATER

Take a golf cart ride 2 blocks to Stillwater Country Club from this 1992 built, one level home! Formal living & dining rooms, country kitchen and den combo with door that opens to covered patio. The backyard is large enough to accommodate a pool. The master bedroom has a whirlpool bathtub, separate shower and walk-in closet. 2 more bedrooms on this wing and a possible 4th bedroom on the west side that is currently used as a home office complete with a bathroom. The roof was new 10 years ago and a new furnace and air conditioner was added in 2019. 2 hot water tanks. $375,000

PRESTON WOODS

Stunning 5-bedroom home in the desirable Preston Woods community, situated at the end of a serene cul-de-sac and surrounded by lush trees. A well-appointed kitchen featuring granite countertops, an island, stainless steel appliances, and a breakfast nook. The primary suite is privately tucked away and boasts a new Luxe bath and two walk-in closets. Jenks Southeast Elementary. $524,900

The

NEW 2023

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The drastic increase in opioid overdose deaths is largely due to fentanyl poisoning. Illegal fentanyl is cheaper than most other drugs on the streets and is being intentionally substituted into cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and drugs like counterfeit Adderall®, Percocet® and Xanax® as well.

Learn the facts and protect those you love.

Join TulsaPeople and Iron Gate for our 17th annual Cooking for a Cause event….the tastiest way to help feed the hungry of Tulsa! Proceeds provide support for Iron Gate, Tulsa’s largest stand-alone soup kitchen and grocery pantry. Cooking for a Cause will feature a tasting menu prepared by some of Tulsa’s top culinary talent. The event will also include a wine and gift card pull, mystery boxes, live music and more to help feed the hungry of Tulsa. 70s attire encouraged.

okla.st/onepill

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

Featured chefs will include:*

Chef Candace Conley - That Girl Can Cook!

Chef Damien Jacob - Iron Gate

Chef Jeff Marlow - Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma

Chef Jonathan Moosmiller - Shangri-La Resort

Chef Randy Page - Cricket and Fig

Chef Grady Perryman - OSU Institute of Technology

Chef Jacque Siegfried - NATV Restaurant

Chef Tiffany Tisdale - Tisdale23 Catering

Chef Greg Bossler - Sushi Fork

Chef Devin Levine - BOK Center and Cox Business Convention Center

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

6:30 PM | THE VISTA AT 21 – 21 N. GREENWOOD

TICKETS ARE $150 PER PERSON

PATRON OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE

918-879-1709 | WWW.IRONGATETULSA.ORG/COOKINGFORACAUSE

*As of July 17 - more to come!

Lox to love

For a breakfast that won’t quit on you before lunch, swing by Bagelarium for a Classic Nova Lox ($9.50). With a generous slathering of house-made scallion cream cheese on your choice of bagel, this hearty breakfast sandwich comes piled high with sliced nova lox salmon, tomato, red onion, fresh sprigs of dill and a sprinkling of capers. Bagels are made from scratch daily and options include plain, sesame seed, everything, flaked salt, and cinnamon raisin — that’s one for every day of the work week! TP

LEARN

ROSY ON ROSA

NEW MEXICAN-INSPIRED CANTINA DELIVERS WITH FLAVOR AND INTENTION.

BY NATALIE MIKLES

When approached about leading a new Mexican spot downtown, Chef Derek Bray got to work. Bray has worked in restaurants for more than 20 years as head chef and operating partner at restaurants from Colorado to Pennsylvania. And he’s found success locally with his downtown restaurant, Wiz Hot Dog Co., which opened a little over a year ago.

But he also knows Mexican food, and he knew what it would take to make great food in a small kitchen and — especially on nights when there’s a big event downtown or at neighboring BOK Center — how to do so e ciently.

So Rosa isn’t a full-scale Mexican restaurant with big plates of enchiladas, rice and beans. But it also isn’t a quirky taco stand serving gimmicky things like chicken and wa e tacos. Rosa serves digni ed tacos — full of avor and plated simply.

But don’t let the simplicity throw you. ere’s an attention to detail in every order.

“Every single aspect of every single taco has a chef’s touch,” Bray says. “Everything is thoughtful, and everything has purpose.”

One of the most popular tacos, for instance, is the carne asada. Bray could have used skirt steak, but instead he marinates a tenderloin in guajillo and chipotle peppers and black cherry. Instead of topping it with diced onion and cilantro, he uses a vibrant pickled red onion and uses the whole leaf

Pork adobada tacos

and stem of the cilantro to create a nice salad on top. Instead of sour cream, a crèma is created especially to pair with each taco.

Bray says sta members are asked at least once every day if they have a ground beef taco. ( ey don’t.) “Basically we try to get back to the roots of Latin American cooking. We get our hands on authentic cheeses and good cuts of meat,” he says.

We tried the carne asada, short rib barbacoa, pork adobada and citrus grilled shrimp. It’s too hard to pick a favorite. But the pork adobada was at the top of the list. Flavorful pork with a pineapple pico de gallo, avocado, cotija cheese and poblano crema came together for a concoction balancing sweet and salty wrapped in a corn tortilla.

Rosa’s shrimp ceviche with coconut crema is fresh and light — one of the best items on the menu. We also enjoyed the queso crock, great for sharing. Another shareable appetizer you don’t want to miss is the birria autas. Rosa makes birria, that wonderful stewed meat that’s so hot right now, from short rib, tucking it into a auta and serving with a rich comsomme.

No frills, all avor is the tagline for Rosa — and it ts. Same goes for the drink menu, which proclaims to have “damn strong drinks.” e frozen Rosa, a combo of sangria, tequila, lime and triple sec is among the most popular drinks for good reason. Diners also are loving the Paloma and the El Paso — a nice blend of vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice and cherry.

Bray has been impressed with the Tulsa restaurant scene since moving to Oklahoma. Bray was an English major at Michigan State and started bartending in college. Once he started cooking, his career was decided. He said working in the restaurant industry “just hits” with some people.

“It’s just what we do. It’s just what I do. I like the chaos,” he says.

While saving money to open his own restaurant, he took a two-and-a-half year hiatus from cooking, working an o ce job and saving money. Since then, friends have asked him if he misses having an o ce job. His response: “I still have an o ce job — it’s just 130 degrees and full of re.” TP

Rosa

302 S. CHEYENNE AVE. | 918-576-6641

ROSATULSA.COM

11 a.m.-10 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday brunch; 3-10 p.m., Saturday dinner; 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday brunch

Rosa is part of the Bain Marie Restaurant Group, which includes Brian Elliott, Alysia Elliott, Brad Venable, Matt Shipley, David Sharp and Derek Bray.

Queso crock

Birria fl autas

5 USES FOR ROASTED TOMATOES

1.

Chop and put on crostini with goat cheese for incredible bruschetta.

Savor SUMMER

Wondering what to do with those end-of-summer tomatoes? Roast them!

Roasting a tomato — especially a juicy local or homegrown one — creates an intensely sweet and delicious flavor. Roasting a couple of sheet pans full of tomatoes is a smart thing to do at the beginning of the week to then use on pasta, in soup, on sandwiches or chopped for a sauce.

The simplicity of tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper is amazing for the concentrated flavor it brings. And if you want to boost the flavor even more, add garlic, fresh thyme, basil or even feta. Let all of those flavors come together on a roasting pan.

Use any tomato you like. For cherry tomatoes, keep them whole while roasting. For larger tomatoes, slice in half and roast cut-side up.

NATALIE MIKLES

—

END-OF-SUMMER PASTA WITH ROASTED TOMATOES

ROASTED TOMATOES:

2 pounds cherry tomatoes

6 large cloves of garlic, smashed

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

CRISP GARLIC BREADCRUMBS:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

PASTA:

3/4 pound thin spaghetti

1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves

Grated parmesan cheese

To roast tomatoes: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place tomatoes on a roasting pan, coating with garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast 20-25 minutes, flipping after 10 minutes.

2.

Place onto a pizza crust with fresh basil and mozzarella cheese for an intensely tomatoey pizza.

3.

Toss tomatoes in a food processor, adding a little red wine, anchovy and butter. Toss with any pasta for a quick dinner.

4. Make the sandwich of your dreams with an Italian loaf, roasted tomatoes, salami, pepperoni, prosciutto and mozzarella.

5. Serve on top of grilled chicken. Add Greek olives, feta and roasted bell peppers.

Make the breadcrumb topping: In a saute pan, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion for 5 minutes or until softened. Add breadcrumbs and garlic. Reduce heat to low, stirring frequently until toasted, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Cook and drain pasta. Toss pasta with roasted tomatoes, basil and parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

End-of-summer pasta with roasted tomatoes

MORE DRINK OPTIONS AT PINOT’S PALETTE

It’s no longer hard to find good nonalcoholic alternatives when you’re out for dinner or drinks.

The days of Shirley Temples or water are over. Grownups deserve grownup drinks. And that’s something that was important to Lisa Riley, owner of Pinot’s Palette. With “pinot” in the name, it’s no surprise many people come to Pinot’s Palette not just to paint and come home with a beautiful creation, but also to let loose and have a glass of wine or a drink or two.

But Riley noticed an increase in the number of people asking for mixed drinks without the alcohol. Customers wanted something fun to drink but without the buzz.

“There is a dry movement happening, and some people are just a lot more health conscious,” she says. “In keeping up with change, we decided to come up with a complete mocktail menu of mixed drinks.”

The drinks taste delicious, are fun, bright and have their own creative names. There’s the Starry Night, Dirty Paint Water, Butter Beer, Tulsa Sunrise, Liquid Candy, Care Bear Stare, Bob Ross, Cherry St. Limeade and Water Lily. Mocktails start at $3.

To book your next painting session, visit pinotspalette.com.

— NATALIE MIKLES

Foaming around

Marshall Brewing Co., 1742 E. Sixth St., has brought the side pour to its taproom.

A side pour tap, or in this case a LUKR faucet, allows for more control of the pour and will create a foam if desired from the tap. This is a traditional Czechoslovakian pour, unlike a typical draft pour.

“It’s one of the several ways we have of serving a more traditional style,” says Eric Marshall, brewmaster and founder of Marshall Brewing Co. The taproom also has the English-style beer engines in addition to the LUKR side-pull faucet.

“Just like it sounds, the side-pull handle pulls a little differently, which essentially allows for you to control the flow of the liquid. Whereas your standard faucet, it’s kind of an on-off type of thing. If you try to restrict the flow, it just creates a kind of a mess,” Marshall says.

The LUKR faucet has a screen that aerates the beer to create a dense foam.

“A lot of Americans think foam is bad. Foam is actually a good part. It imparts a lot of interesting, unique flavors. That wet, dense foam creates a sweetness that lets the malt and the hop character of the beer shine.”

Marshall sells three traditional styles of side-pull beers: Hladinka, Šnyt and Mlíko.

The Hladinka is a standard method. It is half beer and half foam. The beer gives you a bitter taste, and the foam gives you the sweetness. The layer of foam also locks in the freshness and prevents oxidation. Šnyt (which sounds like shnit), is about two parts beer and three parts foam.

Mlíko, or milk, is a mug full of foam that has a sweet and creamy flavor and can be enjoyed as a dessert beer that you sip quickly.

The faucets come from the Czech Republic, and Marshall says they are becoming popular in the U.S.

“We do a lot of lagers, a lot of traditional stuff. And so we thought this was a unique thing to offer,” he says. “We generally always have This Land Lager on the side-pull and then a rotator. It’s fun for us to have a unique way to experience some of our beers.” —

TOM GILBERT

TULSAPEOPLE.COM: Watch Eric Marshall demonstrate the LUKR side-pull handle at his taproom.

Starry Night, Care Bear Stare and Dirty Paint Water are some of the mocktails available at local Pinot’s Palette locations.

Eric Marshall with examples of Mlíko, Šnyt and Hladinka pours

Charcuterie is always the answer

TOP PICKS FOR THE TRENDY APPETIZER

BY NATALIE MIKLES

BASQUE is a place where you’re encouraged to order and share, letting everyone at the table sample. So it’s no surprise they have a great charcuterie board. The trio of Spanish cheeses — Manchego, cana de cabra and Idiazabel Membrillo — is paired with housemade strawberry preserves, marcona almonds and toasted bread. Add the olives — marinated in oil with garlic, orange and chile.

122 N. BOSTON AVE. | 918-728-2435 | BASQUETULSA.COM

While enjoying a wine flight, a happy hour or a special bottle, you’re going to want something to eat. Food at VINTAGE WINE BAR is great. One of our favorites is the snack plate of marinated olives, marcona almonds, prosciutto, Manchego cheese, port-soaked cranberries and bread. It’s a delicious spread. We’re also fans of the crispy chickpeas, romesco dip and chips, and roasted shishito peppers with garlic aioli.

324 E. FIRST ST. | 918-764-9255 | WINEBARTULSA.COM

The cheese board at THE CHALKBOARD is a real treat — a visual and culinary delight of cheese, meat, jam, nuts, spreads and crostini. Like most things at The Chalkboard, it’s served elegantly. Along with this charcuterie board, The Chalkboard also has an excellent hummus board with poblano hummus, naan and seasonal veggies.

1324 S. MAIN ST. | 918-582-1964 | THECHALKBOARDTULSA.COM

WEEKEND BRUNCH

Gather up your friends and order a round of mimosas. These are the winners of TulsaPeople’s annual A-LIST Readers’ Choice Awards.

Bramble Breakfast and Bar

121 N. ASH AVE., BROKEN ARROW; 539-367-1419

1302 E. SIXTH ST., 539-664-5635 400 RIVERWALK TERRACE, SUITE 100, JENKS; 918-528-3054

BRAMBLEBREAKFASTANDBAR.COM

Neighborhood JA.M. 4830 E. 61ST ST., SUITE 300 918-508-7744

THATSMYJAMOK.COM

Nola’s Creole and Cocktails

1334 E. 15TH ST. 918-779-7766

NOLASTULSA.COM

Wild Fork 1820 UTICA SQUARE 918-742-0712

WILDFORKTULSA.COM

Wildfl ower Cafe

1306 E. 11TH ST., SUITE F 918-764-8843

WILDFLOWERCAFETULSA.COM

Bramble Breakfast and Bar

Basque

Vintage

The Chalkboard

Steak frites

FROM PRHYME

111 N. MAIN ST. | 918-794-7700 | PRHYMETULSA.COM

STEAK OUT

PRHYME’s steak frites is a dish of tenderloin medallion served atop a creamy bearnaise sauce and green beans, alongside a hearty collection of the steakhouse’s signature fries, which are double-fried for a delightfully crunchy bite. ($36).

BAGEL BOSS

The local Andolini’s Pizzeria empire is known for its face-sized pizza slices and creamy, small-batch gelato. But if you haven’t discovered Bagelarium yet, you’re missing out on a new way to enjoy the popular pie purveyor’s delicious dough talents.

DINNER DEAL

Eat at the bar on Mondays, when all bar snacks, entrees and burgers are half-price from open to close.

PAIR WITH FLAIR

The expert staff can help diners navigate a highly curated wine list that boasts more than 250 selections from around the world.

Sharing a space with STG Gelateria, the shop’s bagels ($1.50, single; $8, half-dozen) are made fresh daily and begin from a sourdough starter long before the sun rises. Utilizing organic, unbleached, unbromated flour, the dough is hand-rolled, sprinkled with designated toppings, boiled and then baked to a perfect golden crunch. Schmear options are made in-house as well and include plain, jalapeño, and cannoli — yes, the same pastry cream used to fill the crispy Italian dessert also can be spread over a bagel for a decadent, sorry-not-sorry breakfast.

For something more substantive, choose to make it a full breakfast sandwich with egg and cheese ($5.50) or also add your choice of ham, bacon or housemade sausage ($6.50). If your morning coffee routine has grown stale, switch it up with an affogato ($5.50), which is a shot of espresso poured over gelato for a uniquely delicious melty mingling of bitter and sweet. Or keep to the classics with a range of traditional, espresso-based options.

Lunch bagel sandwiches also are available. Try the Turkey and Avocado Club ($8.50) — a towering assemblage of shaved turkey, applewood smoked bacon, avocado and tomato (pro tip: swap out the mayo for jalapeño schmear). You might also opt for the Hot Pastrami and Cheese ($9.50), a BLT ($7.50), Chicken Salad ($7.50) or Ham and Cheese ($7.50).

The Bagelarium is open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday (espresso drinks and gelato available all day; bagels only served until 4 p.m.). — TIFFANY

HOWARD

Turkey and Avocado Club

FROM DEALERSHIP TO OFFICE SPACE

STORY AND COMPOSITE IMAGE BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS

In March 1926, the omas Motor Co. formally opened a new four-story headquarters on the southwest corner of East Eighth Street and South Cincinnati Avenue. is Studebaker dealership — the largest automobile establishment in the state — was double the size of its last, which was unexpectedly lost to a re less than eight months before.

e owner of the young company was Stanley omas, who had navigated the automobile business throughout Oklahoma since 1910, but soon found more interest in political service.

In 1928, omas sold the automobile establishment to Gregg Motor Co. It would continue to operate as a massive automobile center until 1930.

After sitting vacant for a few years, Brown Dunkin Department Stores acquired a lease on the building with plans to turn

it into a mercantile warehouse and delivery space.

In summer 1934, the Brown Dunkin Home Store was opened. e building remained under Brown Dunkin’s management until the mid-1960s when it returned to a Chevrolet auto dealership.

e building narrowly avoided demolition over the following years and was sold in 1979 with the biggest renovation plans in decades. e newly renamed Avanti O ce Building became a six-story structure after two additional oors were added to the building in 1980.

In more recent years the Avanti Building was purchased in 2013 by the First Presbyterian Church and after renovations the historic structure was reopened in October 2015 as the 8:10 Building. TP

The Thomas Motor Co. building is pictured here in the 1960s as Mid-West Chevrolet. The building had many owners and purposes over the years. It became an office building in the early 1980s and two additional floors were added to the structure.