TulsaPeople November 2022

Supportive

Jody Cunningham President, PC Promotions

“We support businesses, working closely with them to promote their brands and reward their employees. And that’s what I found at Mabrey: support. They truly understand my current needs, and I know they’ll grow with me into the future. That’s why MY BANK IS MABREY.”

Read more at MyBankIsMabrey.com/Jody

Tulsa. It’s who we are. Caretaker, caregiver and Tulsa proud. Dr. Parker is more than just part of the Saint Francis family—she’s part of our promise to improve the health of the communities we call home.

Ryan Parker, M.D. • Emergency Medicine Physician and Associate Chief Medical Officer

FIRST OKLAHOMA BANK PRESENTS Leaders with Heart

ASTUTE. DEVOUT. APPRECIATIVE.

A strong faith undergirds everything in his life. Both of his grandfathers – one a lawyer, the other a carpenter – were devout men and leaders in their respective congregations, who modeled for him the importance of faith. “They lived modest, sincere, helpful lives,” Gail says.

Gail, likewise, has pursued an in-depth commitment to his faith. He has been a member of different churches over the years, including 40 years with First United Methodist Church.

“Faith has given my life purpose, beyond being involved in business or making money,” he says. “It has also been obvious to me that there have been spiritual insights imparted to me for critical decisions at pivotal times.”

He likes talking about “defining moments,” and one of his biggest was choosing his life mate, Virginia, with whom he shared 55 years of marriage before her death in 2014.

Their faith journey together led to helping organize the first charismatic independent church Tulsa Christian Fellowship and years of supporting a scholarship at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, which prepares Methodist preachers. They also supported several local organizations that help people in need.

For 15 years, Gail served on the Board at Oklahoma Methodist Manor, now Trinity Woods, including nine years as Chairman while the retirement community underwent an expansion.

“To the extent time and funds are available, we need to do things that are not focused on how it helps us personally. Certainly, not even a major part of any success one has is solely attributable to himself,” Gail says. Rather, much of people’s success comes from the environment in which they are positioned and opportunities provided.

Being born as citizens of the United States, each of us has won the “birth lottery,” Gail says. Those who do not fully understand, appreciate, or make use of opportunities in this country are wasting a valuable life component.

“Gail Runnels is a gentleman and a man of great faith, wisdom, and integrity. Rarely do you find the quality of humility in someone who is so successful. He wants to help others and seeks no adoration in return,” says Tom Bennett Jr, Chairman of First Oklahoma Bank.

“First Oklahoma is primarily and consistently a community bank that assists local community members in doing things that they need to, as opposed to a large regional or national bank that may be more interested in macro loans instead of start-up loans or growth loans,” says Gail.

Born in Perry, Oklahoma, Gail moved to Tulsa in 1940. Today, at 80-plus-years-old, Gail works tirelessly as an attorney, having practiced corporate tax law for 60 years. He also has been a serial entrepreneur who has worked in manufacturing, oil and gas, real estate, etc.

Gail Runnels has an expansive way of looking at life that is filled with gratitude.

MYER

CITY DESK

Downtown feline gives back to others. Boxing up love.

Local music releases and happenings. Two new art sites around town.

LIFESTYLE

Favorite gardener gifts. Travelers find holiday cheer in Grapevine, Texas. Pamper your pets at two local retailers. Connie Cronley reflects on a good job.

JOHN TRANCHINA

BY ROBERT EVATT

SECTIONS

BY GAIL BANZET-ELLIS

STAFF

ON THE COVER: Winston, a French bulldog from Bixby, was named Reserve Best in Show at June’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. See p. 34 for more.

TABLE TALK

New foodie haven is a special collaboration. Three recipes to try this

Pet-friendly dining spots. Cheers with these wines on Thanksgiving.

MICHELLE POLLARD; CITY DESK: GREG BOLLINGER

Getting a yearly mammogram is important, especially now

Here in the TulsaPeople o ce, we can’t get enough of that lovable Frenchie. We rst heard of Winston’s Reserve Best in Show title from the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show back in June. We were even more excited when we heard Winston hails from Bixby. We’ve been oohing and awing over dozens of photos, and his most amiable handler Perry Payson has been nothing but helpful as we worked on this issue — our annual pets issue. (Read more on p. 34.)

When photographer Michelle Pollard arrived to snap photos of Winston and Perry, little did she know she also would get to take pictures with the champion dog, as well as several from his most recent litter. Snuggles with puppies? Talk about some perks of the job.

Winston posed perfectly and looked the part — most de nitely cover worthy. e next day, we all gushed over the snapshots of Michelle and the puppies.

Our annual pets issue is by far one of the sta favorites. It’s a chance to think outside the box, stare at pictures of cats, dogs and other critters for hours on end, and often infuse some of our own pets into the magazine.

To highlight some ideas on how to pal it up with your pup around town, Digital Editor Tim Landes’ dogs, Odin and Kida, make their magazine debut trying out Inheritance Juicery’s Yappy Hour specials (p. 77). My dog, Biscuit, was treated to a puppuccino at the Collaborative co ee shop (p. 45).

Sidenote: Tim’s dogs are way better behaved than my pooch. I’ll be the rst to admit that Biscuit really only likes me and my husband. And that’s OK. When we rescued her, we were rescuing her … not trying to just have a lifestyle accessory. She’s a homebody. An introvert. She’s been prescribed a “bad girl cocktail” for a vet visit. She bit

Michelle’s jeans as a sign to the photographer that she’d had enough and was ready to go home. I still love her, and she deserves that love. e bumper sticker reads true: Who rescued who?

But I digress.

We also get to highlight the work humans are doing to make the lives of both animals and other humans across the city better. On p. 50, we spotlight the new Hardesty Service Center for Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa while also touting its PAWS program, which delivers pet food to clients.

In City Desk (p. 7), the owner of Tulsa’s Dogtopia left the corporate world to tap into his animal-loving side. We also learn how much the CASHnip Kitty has raised for the Tulsa Day Center and how one man’s determination to spend more time with his pets resulted in a new business.

Like I mentioned previously … we love this issue.

And I hope you do, too. TP

Anne Brockman EDITOR

Volume XXXVII, Number 1 ©2022. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, including created advertising in a proofed or printed stage.

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

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EDITOR Anne Brockman DIGITAL EDITOR Tim Landes

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Blayklee Freed CITY EDITOR 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

DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Amanda Hall

INTERNS Abby Beller J. D. Myer

MEMBER

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Winston has won over hearts and minds across the country.

NO

Pup party

Dogtopia is south Tulsa’s newest destination for dog daycare, boarding and spa services. In addition to an outside yard — where romping pool parties are held once or twice per week, weather permitting — Dogtopia has three separate playrooms: There’s the “Gym” for the more socialized, sometimes older dogs; the “Romper” for the larger, younger and higher energy dogs; and the “Toybox” for smaller dogs.

TP

NOTEBOOK

BY TIFFANY HOWARD

GOLD STANDARD COLOSSAL CHANGES COMING TO TULSA ZOO

Construction is in progress at Tulsa Zoo for one of the largest elephant facilities of its kind in North America.

The new Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve, which will allow the zoo to provide excellent care for elephants at all stages of life, broke ground in June.

Ten additional acres of preserve yard will include more trees, streams and natural ponds to give the elephants more room to free roam and free play with all their favorite toys like logs, dirt piles and keeper-made enrichment. “Elephants are very intelligent, playful and curious about their surroundings,” says Community Engagement Manager Nick Walters. “Giving them choices and different opportunities to decide how they spend their time is a major driving factor for our care and management decisions.”

The zoo houses one male and two female elephants, all age 50. But with the expansion, Walters says the goal

At just 22 years old, reigning Miss Oklahoma Megan Gold is the newest resident of Covenant Living at Inverness. With a social impact initiative of ending senior hunger, Gold says while she knows no one at Inverness is facing food insecurity, immersing herself into the older adult community will still help solidify her focus on aging services and older adult wellness.

“All these people — their stories are unreal,” Gold says of the residents she’s befriended so far. “They’ve fought our wars, they’ve taken care of us, they’ve raised us and built the country that we have today. And I’m able to see the people that I’m impacting, but just in a different setting.”

To her knowledge, she will be the first to vie for the title of Miss America with the platform of ending senior hunger. Gold notes winning the crown would create a particularly resonant partnership between herself and the organization. “The group that I’m taking care of and want to advocate for is the group that knows Miss America best, because viewership was at an all-time high when they were kids,” she says.

Gold, who also works as a meteorologist for News on 6, plans to reside at Inverness until June 2023 or until December, if she becomes the next Miss America.

Read more about Gold’s experience at Inverness and how she is carrying out her platform at TulsaPeople.com.

INDOOR FOOTBALL RETURNS IN MARCH

Indoor football is back on the agenda for Tulsa sports fans. The new team will be known as Tulsa Oilers Football and play their eight home games at the BOK Center.

“(This) will allow us to stay engaged with our incredible fan base year-round,” says Andy Scurto, owner of the Tulsa Oilers football and hockey franchises. “Indoor football is fast-paced and full of action, and I know our fans will love the game.”

Tickets are on sale now, with special prices and packages available to all current Oilers hockey season ticket holders. Purchase tickets by calling or texting 918-632-7825. To learn more about the team, visit tulsaindoorfootball.com.

Free virtual assistance resource for veterans

Through the Tulsa City-County Library, veterans transitioning to civilian life can access a database called VetNow, which offers live assistance in multiple areas including navigating benefit eligibility, continuing education, community resources and unemployment assistance. Users also can access a host of career assistance tools such as live job coaching, interview prep and resume and writing labs to help translate military experience into potential civilian careers.

is to best support the elephant population by potentially housing more in the future.

The elephant barn will include the addition of natural substrate flooring — ideal for foot care — as well as a rain control system, wet stalls and a full kitchen, which will give keepers and staff greater capabilities while preparing meals for the herd.

The new facility is expected to be completed in 2024.

Scan QR code to access VetNow. Users also will need their library card number to sign in.

Don’t have a library card?

Visit tulsalibrary.org/get-a-library-card for more information, or pop by any of the 24 TCCL locations.

Miss Oklahoma Megan Gold attends the Sept. 22 ribbon cutting for the new Meals on Wheels facility.

A rendering of the future Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve

MISS OKLAHOMA: MICHELLE POLLARD; OILERS FOOTBALL AND TULSA ZOO: COURTESY

NOVEMBER

NOV. 20 WILLIAMS ROUTE 66 MARATHON

Lace up your running shoes or head to the route to cheer on runners as this annual 13.1-and 26.2-mile racing event snakes through Tulsa. (5K and other events on Saturday.)

BEGINS AT EAST SEVENTH STREET AND SOUTH MAIN STREET. ROUTE66MARATHON.COM

NOV. 4

LIVING ARTS, 307 E. RECONCILIATION WAY LIVINGARTS.ORG

NOV. 11

VETERANS DAY PARADE

Celebrate the dedication of our service members during this annual parade that winds its way through downtown.

BEGINS AT SOUTH CINCINNATI AVENUE AND EAST THIRD STREET TULSAVETERANSDAYPARADE.COM

NOV. 12

A CAPPELLA LIVE! HEAR THE PEOPLE SING Tulsa’s award-winning women’s Talk of Tulsa Show Chorus brings an evening of high energy music, from Broadway hits and movie themes to Billy Joel and the Eagles.

UNION HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 6636 S. MINGO ROAD

TALKOFTULSA.ORG

NOV. 15

STEM NIGHT

Oklahoma Aquarium is open late with make-and-take projects teaching attendees about the importance of environmental conservation.

OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM, 300 AQUARIUM DRIVE, JENKS OKAQUARIUM.ORG

NOV. 18

BOOKS TO TREASURE

Author and illustrator Katherine Roy visits Tulsa to discuss her science-based books for kids.

HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY, 8316 E. 93RD ST. TULSALIBRARY.ORG

NOV. 18-20

AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART

Artists, crafters, boutique owners and retailers converge at the SageNet Center for three days of shopping.

EXPO SQUARE, 4145 E. 21ST ST. AAOTH.COM

NOV. 25

LEFTOVER TURKEY

A favorite of many, Jason Boland and the Stragglers perform with Tanner Usrey for this post-Thanksgiving performance.

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

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

ROUTE 66 MARATHON: TOYA WOOD; OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM: GREG BOLLINGER; BOOKS TO TREASURE: COURTESY TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY; A CAPPELLA LIVE: COURTESY TALK OF TULSA SHOW CHORUS; VETERANS DAY PARADE, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: BLAYKLEE FREED; AAOTH: COURTESY; LEFTOVER TURKEY: TIM LANDES

COMPILED BY ANNE BROCKMAN

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS ARTS FESTIVAL Casa de la Cultura partners with Living Arts for the annual festival honoring loved ones who have died. Events at the gallery and Guthrie Green.

DR. KAYSE SHRUM

PRESIDENT OF OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

STORY AND PHOTO BY TIM LANDES

Oklahoma State University President Dr. Kayse Shrum has spent the day in Claremore meeting with donors and has stopped for a mental boost and conversation at Black Wall Street Liquid Lounge, 10 N. Greenwood Ave., Suite 101, before returning to Stillwater.

Opting for a green tea over co ee, the Coweta native and second year university president talked about OSU’s numerous expansion projects and her thoughts on the future of Bedlam football.

A new 58-bed medical/surgical Veterans Hospital in Tulsa is slated to open at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in 2024. Construction will begin in January on the first VA hospital in the nation built as part of a public-private partnership ... It’s taken State, County and City support. We’ve had federal support, private philanthropic support. I’m happy to see it underway, and it’s kind of the rising tide raises all ships. ere’s going to be a new mental health hospital in that location. en we have ongoing hospital renovations and our (American Rescue Plan Act) funding passed through for a biotech building there. It’s about a $500 million project for an academic health center campus here in downtown Tulsa.

Shrum previously served as president of OSU-CHS from 2013 to 2021. The mental health hospital stems from a long-term project idea with Zarrow Family Foundations finally coming to fruition ... We started thinking about a mental health hospital rst on that location before the possibility of the VA hospital, then came the opportunity to partner with both, which has been very fortuitous. We’re planning somewhat of an emergency room for mental health. We envision it being a place where we can do overnight or stabilization versus a full admission there and with our hospital so close, we can really look at medical clearance as well right there at that hospital. at’s going to be really big for the state and for this area of our state to have a mental health facility here. It will allow us to hopefully grow the number of psychiatrists that we’re

graduating, as well as training, in mental health. I really feel like that’s going to have a huge impact.

Shrum says they did a campus 20-year master plan, and now it looks more like a seven-year plan ... I’m real excited about what that brings for the area for people accessing care. It adds 100 new residency slots between the mental health hospital and the VA hospital, which is very important for access to care. ere really isn’t one thing about that project that doesn’t add to access or improve care for people.

A Tulsa coalition, including OSU and Tulsa Innovation Labs, recently received a $38.2 million Economic Development Administration grant ... We’re developing a drone port (Osage Nation’s Skyway36, formerly known as Tulsa Downtown Airpark). We’re looking to expand academic programming at OSU-Tulsa with continuing to grow our engineering presence and our data science presence. A real part of OSU has always been agricultural, mechanical technology, and that technology piece you see with OSU-IT and some of the programs

that we’ve had, we’re really ramping up those politech degree programs and engineering programs at OSU-Tulsa.

In November in Oklahoma, it traditionally means Bedlam football. Soon that will no longer be an annual regular season tradition with the University of Oklahoma departing the Big 12 in 2025 for the SEC ... I don’t think it ends forever, but there certainly has to be a pause, because we do schedule nonconference games so far out. at said, I’m hoping we face each other in the postseason. Everybody who’s discouraged about Bedlam: When you have two schools that end up being nationally ranked playing football in di erent conferences, it really gives you the opportunity to have two schools within the state that can be on a national stage. If you’re not playing in the same conference, you certainly have more of an opportunity to end up playing in a bowl or in the playo because you don’t knock one or the other out in conference play. I think in the long run we’ll play OU again in postseason play.

Daryl Bray moved from Austin, Texas, to Tulsa in 1997 to accept a position at SGA, a local architecture rm, where he eventually became COO and part owner. But two decades later, Bray was itching for a change.

“After 23 years, I started thinking about what I really wanted to spend my time on,” he says. “I love being an architect, but I decided in 2020, along with a lot of other people, to reevaluate my life during the pandemic.”

With a longtime a ection for dogs, Bray knew he wanted work within the pet industry. After thorough research and vetting, he discovered Dogtopia, a state-of-the-art center that provides daycare, boarding and spa services for canines, with its core service being daycare.

“I really fell in love with the brand and everything they stood for,” Bray says. “It aligns with my own values and the way I think pets and pet parents should be treated.” In March 2021, Bray signed on and joined the franchise. He opened Tulsa’s rst

Dogtopia location in August at 8170 S. Lewis Ave.

Dogtopia is unique in the way of its safety requirements: Every employee is required to receive a level one Canine Coach certi cation. “If somebody from the front desk has to step into the playroom, this ensures they have the basic training required,” Bray explains. Employees working directly with the pups are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of “rigorous training” in the structure of curriculum developed by Dogtopia’s main support o ce.

Another distinctive trait that attracted Bray to the brand was the Dogtopia Foundation, which focuses on giving back to the community in three ways: Raising money to train service dogs for veterans, providing funding for youth literacy programs and supporting employment initiatives for adults with autism. “ e Dogtopia Foundation is our purpose beyond pro t,” he says. “(A big seller) for me was being able to believe I was doing something bigger than just earning a paycheck.”

TP

Bow-wow BABYSITTER

Miles Zeligson never expected to become the owner of a dog-walking business. But returning home to Tulsa in 2020 to take some time off from school, he found himself walking a family friend’s goldendoodle a couple days a week.

What started as a favor eventually blossomed into a business idea. “I thought, ‘I bet there are other people who would want to have their dogs walked, especially since (many) are going back to work after the pandemic,’” he says.

Zeligson was born in Leawood, Kansas, but moved to Tulsa shortly after. After graduating from Bishop Kelley in 2018, he attended college at the University of Arizona for two years before the pandemic hit. He kept up with his many hobbies including golf and buying and selling vintage clothing, but Zeligson felt most passionate about caring for his two rescues, Rosie and Barry. “I love being outdoors with both of them,” he says. “And walking really helps Rosie stay happy and healthy.”

Zeligson officially opened the Woof Pack Tulsa in September 2021 as a dog-walking service, offering 30-minute dog walks ($25 for one dog, $30 for two and $35 for three or more). The demand surged, and he expanded his services to include pop-in visits ($35-$45 depending on length of time and location) and overnight dog sitting ($45 per day).

With more big dreams and plans in the works for Woof Pack, Zeligson says the canine-centered business is here to stay. TP

Book services with the Woof Pack by calling or texting Zeligson at 918-770-6699 to schedule a meet and greet.

DOGTOPIA INSET: COURTESY DOGTOPIA OF SOUTH TULSA; DOGTOPIA MAIN AND WOOF PACK: GREG BOLLINGER

Miles Zeligson walks his own two poochie pals, Barry and Rosie.

Dogtopia owner Daryl Bray with Canine Coach Caleb Jenkins in the “Gym” playroom. Inset, on “Makin’ Bacon Fridays,” pup parents can purchase mid-day turkey bacon treats for which all proceeds go to organizations supported by the Dogtopia Foundation.

FAITH-BASED HEALING

SOUL SHOP PROVIDES SUICIDE-PREVENTION RESOURCES TO LOCAL CHURCH STAFF. STORIES BY JANE ZEMEL

Being a suicide-attempt survivor didn’t determine Tulsa native Shelby Rowe’s professional path; answering calls for a suicide hotline in Arkansas did. Rowe says, “Only a few conversations with callers struggling with thoughts of suicide and hearing rsthand the internal and external barriers to getting life-saving care” led her to a career in suicide prevention.

Today, she is the director for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center in Oklahoma City, a national program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Next month in Tulsa she’ll attend Soul Shop, a national faith-based workshop that has trained clergy, lay people and church-going mental health workers in 37 states and four countries about suicide prevention.

Michelle Snyder, Soul Shop executive director and trainer, got involved with suicide prevention through “a dear friend pastor who experienced suicidality and didn’t get help,” she says. Snyder describes herself as “a product of grace and woundings” and is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s in divinity. She says her life’s work has been to give the church a vision for how to do better.

“Suicide is an issue of despair — divorce, retirement, domestic violence,” Snyder adds. “People are stuck in lives that aren’t working. e church can do something about that.” She estimates 50% of congregations have been impacted by suicide or are in need of suicide ministry. “We discuss where Jesus ministered to desperate people and talk about the 12 to 14 places in the Bible where suicide is mentioned.”

Soul Shop is endorsed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and o ers pastors, Sunday school teachers, youth volunteers or other church leaders a curriculum and tools they can take back to their congregations to teach others how to save lives.

As Rowe states, “You don’t have to be a mental health professional to save a life.”

Sponsored by AFSP and brought to town through the e ort of Hope is Oxygen, a local nonpro t on a mission to restore hope and prevent suicide, this is Soul Shop’s rst time coming to Oklahoma; the one-day workshop will take place Dec. 6 at the Camp Loughridge Conference Center. For more information and to register visit soulshopmovement.org.

CALL COPES IN CRISIS

Tulsans considering suicide, or assisting someone in suicidal crisis, can now dial 988 for help, which connects callers to a local organization that provides resources and outreach.

Debuted in July, the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline directly routes callers to local call centers within the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network. In Tulsa, local calls are automatically directed to Community Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Services, a program of Family and Children’s Services.

“COPES’ certified suicide prevention and mental health experts can assess and stabilize over the phone or go out into the community,” says Emily Farmer, senior clinical director/suicidologist. She adds this caveat: “Anyone in physical danger should call 911.”

For 20 years, COPES has operated its own 24/7 telephone crisis line (918-744-4800) and mobile response team, serving adults and children considering suicide or in emotional distress. Both hotlines are free and confidential.

COPES’ local crisis team is embedded in 911 and 988, working directly with Tulsa’s police and fire departments. A high-tech phone system allows therapists to receive emergency calls and dispatch information to responders.

What sets COPES apart from other hotlines is care and services after the call. Included in the continuum of crisis care stabilization services are an Urgent Recovery Clinic, crisis beds and collaboration with other providers. Clients receive “a warm handoff” (or referrals, according to the program’s website) to other FCS programs, as well as intense follow-up after discharge.

Although the national 988 number is new, Farmer says, for COPES, “Nothing has changed. We’re still doing what we always did.”

TP SOUL SHOP: EREMINA DBA JOY OF THE MOMENT PHOTOGRAPHY; COPES: DEE HARRIS

Michelle Snyder is the executive director of Soul Shop, a national workshop program that equips faith community leaders to minister to those impacted by suicide.

Emily Farmer

PAVING THE WAY

LOBECK TAYLOR FAMILY FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 25 YEARS.

BY LINDSEY NEAL KUYKENDALL

Founded in 1997, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation has reached its silver anniversary with big projects underway.

Its latest undertakings are plain to see on Route 66: Mother Road Market at East 11th Street and South Lewis Avenue is a bustling hub of local food and merchandise vendors with an expansive covered patio.

“In the heyday of Route 66 there was a spirit of entrepreneurship along the road,” says Elizabeth Frame Ellison, LTFF’s rst executive director and current board chair. “People were stopping at each community along the way. Now we are asking ourselves how we show innovation and opportunity along Route 66 again.”

e space o ers not only a unique-to-Tulsa shopping and dining experience, but also many meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs — something that has been at the heart of LTFF’s mission since the beginning.

Frame Ellison recalls the foundation’s goals when she started in 2009. “We were focused on education through the lens of creating economic opportunity for the next generation,” she says. “My mom and step-dad (former Mayor Kathy Taylor and Bill Lobeck) struggled to fund their education, and they really attribute nancial aid to their success.”

One of LTFF’s biggest accomplishments, Frame Ellison notes, is growing the foundation for entrepreneurs in Tulsa. “By creating Cultivate 918 and building 36 Degrees North with (George Kaiser Family Foundation) and then Mother Road Market, we are building equitable and inclusive opportunities,” she says. Forty new businesses graduate from their programs

annually, including 20 in English, 20 in Spanish and many women-owned.

Currently, a signi cant construction zone surrounds Mother Road Market, but it represents an exciting mission of progress and collaboration between LTFF and the City to create the Tulsa Market District — a new and inclusive destination district.

“We partnered with the City of Tulsa to improve the street … e foundation paid in advance for the improvements, and the City will carve out a portion of funds for the next 25 years to repay it. We’re really excited to celebrate this $7 million in zero-interest advanced funding for infrastructure improvement and beauti cation,” Frame Ellison says. “ e project includes 31,000 square feet of additional sidewalks with ADA compliant ramps and walkways, 70 street lights, 77 native trees and iconic Route 66 signage.”

Brian Paschal, who transitioned to the role of LTFF’s chief executive o cer in June, is eager to see what this development will bring to the Tulsa landscape.

“Most exciting is the goal to create a replicable model for future inclusive growth and generational wealth building for small businesses and residents,” he says. “If we are successful in achieving that, the work can have lasting impact in other parts of Tulsa and beyond.” TP

STEALING MONEY AND HEARTS SINCE 2017

CASHnip Kitty took the internet and world by storm in 2017 when a video of him stealing money from passersby who slipped cash through a slot in the door of a local business went viral. When this phenomenon kept occurring, CASHnip’s owner Stuart McDaniel, decided to turn the feline’s thievery into good by donating it all to the Tulsa Day Center.

McDaniel adopted CASHnip Kitty, originally named Sir Whines a Lot, from the Tulsa Animal Shelter when he was 6 months old. McDaniel brought the cat to his GuRuStu office at 628 E. Third St., and it wasn’t long after that mysterious dollars began finding their way into the office space.

At press time, CASHnip’s donations total approximately $11,000 for Tulsa Day Center, which includes funds snatched through the door of the office, money raised online through Facebook and gifts sent in cards from around the world. “We are still so amazed by how a little homeless kitty we adopted from the animal shelter became world famous for helping homeless humans,” says Beverly McDaniel, partner and director of communications of GuRuStu.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think CASHNip Kitty, who is now known worldwide, would continue to be one of our most faithful supporters,” says Monica Martin, director of development for Tulsa Day Center. “He’s a great promoter for the needs of the homeless.”

— MADISON WALTERS

Join Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation in celebrating its 25th year and Mother Road Market’s fourth birthday on Nov. 4 at Mother Road Market. Festivities include a science show, opportunities to eat and shop local, and a concert by King Cabbage Brass Band.

Shagah Zakerion, executive director of Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, with Brian Paschal, LTFF chief executive officer, and Elizabeth Frame Ellison, LTFF board chair, in the Tulsa Market District — a major collaborative project between LTFF and the City of Tulsa expected to see substantial completion by the end of the year.

CASHnip Kitty

Covers REVISITED

NOTHING SCRAPPED

BY ABBY BELLER

Scraps Designs artist and founder Jamie Pierson is all about bridging the gap between people, play, creativity, art and engineering. While pursuing her master’s degree in urban design from the University of Oklahoma, she became intrigued with the idea of creating public art that meant something to the community.

“What I really wanted to do was create some piece of art that would make people engage with each other in the public space, and also with the public space itself, and have a better understanding of the fact that public spaces belong to everybody,” says Pierson, a Tulsa native and graduate of Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences.

Since its establishment in late 2019, Scraps has evolved into a ourishing business that brings a “play spirit” to public spaces around Tulsa in various forms. When Pierson sets up her playscape in a public space — which included spring and fall breaks at Gathering Place this year — she brings items ranging from magnetic tiles and bamboo sticks to colorful tarps and stretchy bands, as well as dozens of her handmade rectangular and triangular blocks in both large and small sizes.

“Sometimes it takes a bit before people realize that it’s not art on its own but that it’s something for them to play with,” Pierson says. “When people interact like this in the public realm, it not only creates new connections between them and the material, or them and their neighbors, but also between them and the space itself. Creating something in a space connects you to that space. And when you create publicly and collaboratively in a

shared space with new people, that connects you to your city, your neighbors, your family, your community ... I’ve seen people make real friendships over my blocks, families exchange info so they can stay in touch.”

Using all repurposed materials, Pierson’s portfolio of creations promotes sustainability as well as creativity — she’s even pioneered her own building material called “clumber,” which she says is her cute name for the “cardboard lumber” (layers of cardboard) that she constructs her blocks and other pieces from.

Besides setting up her public playscapes, Pierson’s creativity also is on display in the form of murals at Whitty Books, Big Al’s and the Tipton Community Garden, and she has a new art installation on the horizon that will honor noted architect Bruce Go ’s work as an educator and premiere at Go Fest (Dec. 1-4) before making its semi-permanent or permanent home at a to-be-determined site. TP

Catch Jamie Pierson’s playscape setup at First Fridays in her fourth-floor studio at ahha Tulsa. You can also purchase a Pierson original — which includes cardboard block sets, scraps and color packs, paintings and small shelves — for yourself at ahha’s gift shop, Whitty Books, Mother Road Market’s The Vault pop-up retail space Dec. 13-15 or by visiting her website at heyscrapsdesigns.com/store. Pierson’s playscapes also can be booked for pop-ups at events.

At the time of his cover appearance in June 2009, Sam Higgins, 21, was one of Tulsa’s youngest aspiring comedians. Hilarify-ing the local comedy scene, he noted he got his dry sense of humor from growing up frustrated and lonely as an only child.

Now, at 34, though Higgins no longer feels the need to perform stand-up, he retains nothing but fondness for the world of comedy, as it ultimately led him down the road to relationships and a life he cherishes.

Moving in 2012 to Norman to pursue a journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma, Higgins found the only place in town to perform stand-up. “It was a little Italian restaurant called Othello’s,” Higgins says. “It was a lot of fun. It helped me meet a group of people I could feel comfortable around in a new place and was able to get a job at the restaurant through that. And there’s a series of events from me doing that that led to meeting my wife.”

In 2016 Higgins married his wife, Kathryn, right there on the Othello’s patio. He continues to reside in Norman, working at Gaberino’s Homestyle Italian — a place that’s become just as special to him as Othello’s. With more life experience and a newfound side love for animation, Higgins reports he’s happier than he’s ever been.

“I get to wait tables and make other people happy,” he says. “I learned to really let go of my navel-gazing and to really love another person. My wife really loves me and tells me constantly. We go to the movies on the weekend. We fall asleep together and we wake up and do the things. And that’s really all I ever wanted.”

— TIFFANY HOWARD

ARTIST JAMIE PIERSON INSPIRES TULSANS TO GET CREATIVE IN PUBLIC SPACES WITH REPURPOSED MATERIALS.

PLAYSCAPE: SARAH POWER; INSET: GREG BOLLINGER

Children interact with a Scraps Designs playscape at EAT36STN Food Truck Park, which Scraps Designs founder Jamie Pierson also helped to establish through her role as the Urbanist Crew Leader with Tulsa’s Young Professionals. Inset, Pierson creates more playscape pieces in her ahha Tulsa studio.

is done

any

WITH LOVE

BLUE STAR MOTHERS SEND SLICES OF HOME TO DEPLOYED SERVICE MEMBERS OVERSEAS.

BY JULIANNE TRAN

Blue Star Mothers is an all-volunteer, nonpro t organization with chapters throughout the United States. “We’re all mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers who have a son or daughter who is either currently in the military or has been in the military,” says Susan esenvitz, second vice president of Broken Arrow Blue Star Mothers, Chapter 5. “(Blue Star Mothers) probably saved my sanity while my son was gone.”

esenvitz rst joined her local chapter in 2010 when her son deployed to Afghanistan.

“I needed something to do. is was the rst time he’d ever been really out of range,” esenvitz recalls. “It was a tough year to get through.”

rough Blue Star Mothers, esenvitz met mothers who experienced the same struggles she faced while her son was deployed. “We call this a sisterhood because we are all sisters going through the same thing. And so it’s good to have somebody you can call, and work (to keep you busy),” she says.

And the volunteers at Blue Star Mothers denitely keep busy.

“Our chapter packs and ships 100 to 300 boxes a month (to soldiers deployed abroad.) We’re always packing boxes,” esenvitz says. She also notes packages are sent to entire units/divisions

versus the chapter only catering to individuals from this area.

e care package items — which are either donated or purchased with nancial donations — include essentials like soup, beef jerky, toothpaste, toothbrushes, pens and paper. But they also include comforting and uplifting goods like drawings from elementary school students, Girl Scouts cookies, newspaper comic clippings, puzzles and a deck of cards. In December, they even include hand-sewn stockings.

And because her chapter sends out so many boxes, esenvitz has encountered soldiers who had received a box from Blue Star Mothers. “We get these big bear hugs (from them), and that’s the payo for me,” esenvitz says. “If you want to know the truth, I pack and ship that box for that hug.”

Donated items can be dropped o at the chapter’s Broken Arrow o ce in the Broken Arrow Veterans Center at 1117 S. Main St., and nancial contributions made at babluestar.org. Visit the website to access a list of most-needed donation items, nd out how you can get involved in packing boxes yourself, or make a care package request on behalf of a speci c service member.

FIGHTING TOGETHER

Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease, and approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with it each year.

PD is a type of chronic and progressive movement disorder that can inhibit a person’s ability to perform common, daily activities, and because it can present with a wide range of symptoms, getting the correct diagnosis can take time.

“The important thing about Parkinson’s that a lot of people don’t know is that everybody experiences it differently — 30% don’t even have the tremor,” says Jennifer Johnson, executive director of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association. “There are people being diagnosed younger and more frequently. I tell people to call us when they don’t know what they don’t know. We can walk through that journey with them.”

The Oklahoma Chapter of APDA offers assistance to anyone affected personally or tangentially by PD. “We provide education, resources, information and support for people with Parkinson’s and their family, as well as health care providers, first responders — anyone who might have some interaction with people with Parkinson’s,” Johnson says. “We have a backpack for those newly diagnosed that has a whole bunch of material they can read through. We hope to make their journey a little easier.”

Additionally, Johnson says the chapter holds fundraising and educational events throughout the year, including its Parkinson’s Education Helpline Series that will start again in January. To register for an upcoming class, or to learn more about the Oklahoma chapter of APDA and how you can donate, visit apdaparkinson.org/ok.

You also can support the Oklahoma Chapter of APDA by purchasing a ticket to the Grady Nichols Christmas show Dec. 6 at the Mabee Center.

— JAMIE RICHERT JONES

COURTESY

Garrett Morrow and Aurora Thomasson participate in the Oklahoma Chapter of APDA’s Optimism Walk, an annual fall fundraising event.

Members of the Broken Arrow Blue Star Mothers, Chapter 5, pack hand-sewn stockings into Christmas care packages that will be sent to hundreds of service members abroad.

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NOTES

ON TULSA TIME

GLOBAL MUSIC CONFERENCE TAKES PLACE IN TULSA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

STORIES BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

Coming to Tulsa Nov. 2-5, the Music Cities Convention is expected to draw close to 500 music industry professionals, city leaders and tourism directors from more than 20 countries.

e global conference focuses on music’s role in a city’s economic and cultural ecosystems and is packed with speakers and presentations happening at the downtown Hyatt Regency, as well as opportunities to experience Tulsa through guided tours and special events at downtown arts and music venues. Not only is it an opportunity for a worldwide discussion about music, it’s a great chance for Tulsa to shine in front of a multinational audience.

Sean Latham is a panel chair representing Tulsa and sees the conference as a chance to share the city’s rich music scene — past and present — with the world.

“Almost from the start, Tulsa has been one of America’s secret musical crossroads — a place where blues, rock, jazz, folk, country and even classical sounds mix in surprising and creative ways,” says Latham, director of the University of Tulsa’s Oklahoma Center for the Humanities and Institute for Bob Dylan Studies.

e event opens with a reception Nov. 2 at the Woody Guthrie Museum and Bob Dylan Center, followed by an afterparty at the Vanguard.

Nov. 3 is the rst full day of programming, with presentations and panels at the Hyatt and an evening live recording of “Live From Cain’s,” a pilot public radio show from the stage of the historic Cain’s Ballroom, with John Fullbright as the featured musical guest.

Activities Nov. 4 will be at Cain’s Ballroom and include a screening of the “Fire in Little Africa” documentary. e day nishes with the Music Cities Awards Ceremony in which Tulsa’s Bob Dylan Center is a nominee in the “Best use of music in real estate or city planning” category. MCC attendees are encouraged to stay downtown after the ceremony to enjoy local attractions like First Friday in the Arts District.

On Nov. 5, MCC closes with guided tours of Tulsa’s iconic music destinations.

“ e city has amazing venues of all sizes, a staggering wealth of talent, and a proud musical history stretching from Woody Guthrie and Bob Wills through the GAP Band, Wanda Jackson and Leon Russell,” Latham says. “With the expansion of the Arts District, the opening of the Bob Dylan Center and the ongoing development of venues both new and old, this city is slowly, steadily and deliberately becoming a music city every bit as weird and wonderful as Austin once was.”

Find tickets and more information at musiccitiesevents.com.

Home again

When Broken Arrow native and Victory Christian School graduate Chloē Fourte left Oklahoma in 2015, she had no plans to return. After graduating from Northwestern University, she was just beginning to immerse herself in all Chicago had to offer when the pandemic shut things down.

Then a visit home turned into a unique job opportunity, so Fourte decided to extend her stay. Today you’ll find her in the heart of the Tulsa Arts District, where she works as the programs and events manager at the American Song Archives, the umbrella organization that encompasses the collections of the Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan centers.

“I used to half-jokingly tell my mom that I would never move back,” says Fourte, who was pleasantly surprised by the changes she saw in the city. “It was exciting to see people … actually out eating and doing things in the downtown center. I was kind of resistant to admitting that I was enjoying myself, but I was.”

Fourte’s days are busy coordinating programming and the related logistics, while learning new things about the city in which she was raised.

“It’s probably the most interesting, changing, confusing period in Tulsa’s history. We’re reckoning with trying to come to terms with a violent history — how do we move forward and progress in a way that honors the past and makes space for everyone,” she says. “Every day, I’m learning new facets of Tulsa’s history and how the city works … I’m just trying to listen and figure out exactly where

Chloē Fourte

Branjae performs at the annual Tulsa music showcase at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. With its rich musical history and evolving diversity of artists and sound, Tulsa is recognized as a music city worth learning from.

MUSIC NOTES

NOTABLE LOCAL MUSIC HAPPENINGS

STORIES BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

Spotlight on Fullbright

Fall playlists are a little fuller with Tulsa-based musician John Fullbright’s latest release, “The Liar.” This long-anticipated follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2014 album “Songs” was released Sept. 30, proving good things do indeed come to those who wait.

“I keep joking that it only took eight years — and four days,” Fullbright says. “To me, it was like we built so many great relationships over that amount of time, that it didn’t take very long to put it together.”

“The Liar” was recorded on a farm-to-studio compound in Pawnee County, Oklahoma, that Fullbright’s friend, musician and producer Steve Ripley, and his wife Charlene, had built before Steve passed away. Once Fullbright entered the studio, the album was recorded in a short time. His exceptional songwriting is supported by a band of first-rate musicians, and the result is a collection of 12 beautifully rendered songs guaranteed to please his legion of patient fans while garnering many new ones.

“I guess when you have good songs to start with and the right folks in the room, it just sort of happens,” says Jesse Aycock, who plays multiple instruments on the record and helped with mixing. “Everyone involved has been friends for years, and there’s a comfort in that. Knowing what everyone brings to the table and that we’re all here to serve the song makes things fun and loose.”

Audio engineer Jason Weinheimer recorded “The Liar.” “We knew from the outset that we wanted to capture the spark and energy of John’s live shows — he wanted this to be a band record,” he says. “Since moving to Tulsa, John has totally embedded himself into Tulsa’s incredible music scene, and I think this record is a reflection of that community.”

More information at johnfullbrightmusic.com. TP

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

The ninth annual Horton Records Rock ‘n Folk ‘n Chili Cook-Off is Nov. 5 at Cain’s Ballroom. This all-ages event celebrates Tulsa’s thriving music scene and serves it up with a side of all-you-can-sample chili (while supplies last) from local restaurants. In addition to performances from The Bobby Lees, Casii Stephan and the Midnight Sun, Jared Tyler, Desi and Cody, and Grazzhopper, the evening closes with a tribute to Tulsa Sound legend JJ Cale featuring musicians Chris Combs, Sarah Frick, Mike Dee and Paul Benjaman

“We can’t believe it’s been almost a decade since we started this event. It’s evolved every year, and we continually strive to feature different musical acts, restaurants, artists and other elements to create a unique community experience,” says Horton Records President Brian Horton

The nonprofit record label helps develop and support Tulsa-area musicians, releasing over 120 titles from Oklahoma artists and distributing more than 150,000 CDs and albums across the country and the world, according to Horton. Proceeds from the chili cook-off support that work.

For Horton, the community created around the music is just as important.

“We love the way this event has become an annual tradition for many. Our focus is: Musicians first, community always, and the chili cook-off embodies that.” Visit hortonrecords.org for tickets. TP

MUSICAL ALCHEMY

Paul Benjaman is all about making music with friends.

From his longstanding “Sunday Nite Thing” at the Colony to his weekly residency at the Mercury Lounge, he’s an essential part of the fabric of Tulsa’s music scene, jamming with locals and national headliners alike. An unexpected mix of small-town Oklahoma warmth and humor, a scholar’s passion for music and its history, and something slightly mystical, he moves easily between genres and demographics, creating community along the way. This summer Benjaman was back in the studio to record his own music for release in spring 2023.

The yet unnamed album is Benjaman’s first since 2015’s “Sneaker.” It was recorded at Tulsa’s Church Studio, the former recording studio and home office for Leon Russell’s Shelter Records. The ethereal “vibe” of the space combined with a killer band and special musical guests created a memorable experience. Benjaman recorded 23 tracks in three days, one of which was born in the moment.

“The very last thing I had was just three chords. It was a song I was figuring out,” he says. “Jeff Newsome gets behind that grand (piano), and this magic happens. We get this magic take. It’s on everybody’s favorite list of the things we recorded. There were a lot of moments of synchronicity. Very mystical.”

More information at paulbenjamanband.com. TP

John Fullbright

FULLBRIGHT: JACKSON ADAIR; CHILI: COURTESY, ART BY STEVE HAMMONS; BENJAMAN: PHIL CLARKIN

Paul Benjaman

Embracing family and academic culture.

BROADWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD

YOUNG THESPIANS SHARE EXPERIENCES IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH LOCAL THEATER COMPANY.

BY J.D. MYER

For Tulsa actress Zadie Teague, 16, Craft Productions of Oklahoma — a nonpro t theater company that provides students a one-of-a-kind, Broadway-quality experience — has been integral to harnessing her on-stage skills and elevating her artistic expression.

“Craft Productions has assisted me by setting high expectations and treating the whole production process with professionalism,” Teague says. “ eater is my passion, it’s what I was born to do, and the place I feel I truly belong.”

Teague’s rst performance with Craft was in July in “Shrek e Musical” as teen Fiona. Tulsa actor Trace Herrera, 15, played Pinocchio in the same production and credits Craft for providing an unmatched experience. “I’ve been wanting to do more with Craft given their level of professionalism and quality, which felt so real compared to other local theater experiences,” Herrera says. “It felt like I was in New York or Chicago.”

And that’s exactly what Shari Lewis, Craft’s founder and executive producer, has set out to do since 1994. Craft’s mission is to empower local youth through the experience of live theater.

Originally called eatre Arts Children’s eatre, the company stopped production in 2007 due to a con uence of complicating factors. But it began to experience new life and a revitalization of vision when Lewis teamed up with Tulsan and Jenks graduate Michael Fling, who was named artistic director in 2018.

en in 2019, the company rebranded to Craft Productions of Oklahoma in honor of Lewis’

former student Mollie Craft, whose generous donation “allowed us to foster an environment where kids can learn the craft of professional theater and create the theatrical magic Tulsa deserves,” Lewis says.

Fling, who also currently works to develop new musicals as an artistic associate for Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, Connecticut, says it’s been incredibly rewarding to give back to Tulsa through theater and his role at Craft.

“Yes, we are about training the next generation of performers, but it goes beyond readying kids for Broadway,” he adds. “We also want to help develop great kids along the way.”

Fling also notes the outside talent Craft recruits for their performances such as Kennedy Caughell, who played Mary Poppins in Craft’s 2019 production of “Mary Poppins” and recently nished a run on Broadway in the show “Paradise Square.” Other past names Craft has brought in to work alongside its students include the late Rebecca Luker, star of Broadway’s “ e Sound of Music,” and Grammy Award-winning artist Debby Boone

As high-quality family entertainment set at an a ordable price, Craft’s performances take place at Tulsa Community College’s VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education and are set to live music performed by members of TCC’s Signature Symphony. To read more about what makes the Craft experience unique, visit craftproductions.org. TP

QUESTIONS FOR A QUEEN

Brooklyn-based actress Aryn Bohannon — who starred in Tulsa Project Theatre’s 2016 production of “Shrek The Musical”— is the current alternate for the roles of Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Katherine Howard in “SIX.” In this Tony Award-winning musical, the six wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into 21st century girl power.

FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE CHARACTERS YOU PORTRAY? Getting to experience the same show from three very different perspectives. It’s incredible to see the difference in reputation between each of the queens and how that affects them.

AUDIENCE FAVORITE SONG OR SCENE? “Get Down.” It’s hard to not be dancing along.

LEARN ANY HISTORICAL FACTS YOU WERE PARTICULARLY STRUCK BY WHILE PREPARING FOR THE ROLE? (While pregnant) Catherine of Aragon actually rode into war on horseback in full armor, leading the army. It doesn’t get more badass than that! There’s also a rumor that K Howard and Anna of Cleves had a little tryst at a party somewhere down the line, and we adore an LGBTQ+ moment — especially in that time period.

HOW MIGHT THIS MODERN RETELLING OF THE QUEENS RECAST PERSPECTIVE ON THEM? It’s incredibly important to acknowledge the unfair stigma and bias history holds for these women. Nowadays we recognize their situations as abusive and unfortunate. It’s incredibly frustrating — and telling of how we teach history — to see that for so long we blamed them for their own situations and refused to present how badass each of them were, despite their marriage. I’m glad we’ve reached a point of celebrating them rather than shaming them. I hope this theme for women continues.

— TIFFANY HOWARD

Presented by Celebrity Attractions and showing at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Nov. 22-27, tickets to “SIX” can be purchased by visiting tulsapac.com.

Shari Lewis, founder and executive producer at Craft Productions of Oklahoma, has a professional background both as an arts performer and nationally recognized Miss America voice performance coach. Top right, Zadie Teague (left) performs as teen Fiona in Craft’s summer production of “Shrek The Musical.” Bottom right, Trace Herrera portrays Pinocchio in the same production.

LEWIS: GREG BOLLINGER; SHREK: JOEL RICE; SIX: JOAN MARCUS

Aryn Bohannon as Jane Seymour in “SIX”

‘SPREADING THE JOY’ LYRICS LIVE ON

BY SARA PLUMMER

Michael Hulett, owner of the recently opened ne art photography gallery

e Hulett Collection on Cherry Street, has always been drawn to photography.

As a child he had a poster in his room of Ansel Adams’ black-and-white photograph of an oak tree standing tall in a snowstorm taken in 1948 in Yosemite National Park. Decades later he now owns a print of that same image signed by the photographer. It’s just one of many ne art photographs in Hulett’s personal collection that are now part of his gallery at 1311 E. 15th St.

“I think people end up where they’re supposed to be, and I was destined to be around photography,” he says. “It’s been in my blood for a long time, it’s what I’m passionate about.”

Hulett, who grew up in Tulsa’s Brookside neighborhood, started out as a photographer and moved to Los Angeles about 14 years ago. He then worked as a studio manager for two major LA photographers before nally becoming the manager at the Peter Fetterman Gallery, one of LA’s largest collections of 20th-century ne art photography in the world.

“I quit the photography business for myself. Once I started getting around the masters, my perspective changed and I wanted to lift those artists up through my work in the gallery,” he says. After working for a decade with some of the most celebrated and renowned photographers and artworks in the world, he decided to strike out on his own. “I wanted more freedom and voice in the gallery.”

Around that same time, Hulett and his wife, Hana Nabilsi Hulett, who is also from the Tulsa area, decided they wanted to be closer to family after having their rst child and with a second on the way. “We would come back and visit, and I’d been watching the art and culture scene here in

Tulsa grow and expand,” he says. “I wanted to be part of that landscape.”

e Hulett Collection opened in July and its rst exhibit was “A Century of Photography” with an array of photos across 10 decades, featuring everything from landscapes to portraits. “ ese are all pieces I’ve collected over the years. ese are the best of the best,” he says. “I wanted to create a unique experience in Tulsa where you don’t have to go to the coasts or Dallas or Chicago to see these photos.”

e exhibit currently on display — “Hammer of the Gods: e Art of Music Photography” — covers rock ‘n’ roll photography from the 1970s and ’80s and includes pieces featuring Tulsa musician Leon Russell.

“I love being surrounded by objects that evoke emotion and inspire,” he says, so deciding to o er items for sale wasn’t an easy decision. “It’s a double-edged sword — these are my babies. For me to pair a collector with a piece of art that gives them what it gives me, I’m spreading the joy.” TP

With new album “This Machine Still Kills Fascists,” Boston-based Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys proves there’s no expiration date on the poetry of protest. The album, recorded at Tulsa’s Church Studio and released this fall, contains 10 songs created from lyrics penned by Oklahoma folk hero Woody Guthrie decades ago and set to DKM’s original instrumental compositions. Guthrie’s daughter, Nora Guthrie, and granddaughter, Anna Canoni, worked closely on the album, curating Woody’s lyrics for the band to turn into songs.

The result is a testament to both the band’s musicality and the enduring power of Guthrie’s words.

Although the idea for the collaboration took root years ago, it would be more than a decade before the project came to life at Church Studio. When DKM lead vocalist Ken Casey started singing the new songs, the band was struck by the music’s relevance, having been crafted from lyrics that are well over half-a-century old.

“If you switched out a couple of the words, these could have been written yesterday,” says DKM multi-instrumentalist Tim Brennan. The album features a handful of special guests, including Evan Felker of the Turnpike Troubadours, who was born in Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah.

In a departure from their previous recordings, DKM chose to use all-acoustic instrumentation on the record. According to Brennan, making an acoustic album that was as dynamic as the band’s signature sound while paying homage to a folk legend was a daunting — but fun — challenge.

“You’re dealing with lyrics from a very revered lyricist, so you want to do those things justice. We needed great music to support them,” he says.

“This Machine Still Kills Fascists” is a fitting tribute to Guthrie’s dissenting soul filtered through DKM’s equally humanitarian ethos of family, community, service and action.

For more information, visit dropkickmurphys.com.

NEW CHERRY STREET GALLERY FOCUSES ON PHOTOGRAPHY.

The Hulett Collection is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday and by appointment, Sunday-Tuesday. Visit thehulettcollection.com for more information.

— JULIE WENGER WATSON

Dropkick Murphys lead vocalist and frontman Ken Casey, left, talks with bandmates James Lynch, right, and Tim Brennan.

HULETT: GREG BOLLINGER; DROPKICK: DAVE STAUBLE

Michael Hulett

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AND TENTATIVE DATES AT THE HULETT COLLECTION

THROUGH DEC. 3

“HAMMER OF THE GODS: THE ART OF MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY”

DEC. 10-FEB.11

“L’HIVER A PARIS” (WINTER IN PARIS) Works by Louis Stettner, Kit Young, Henri Cartier-Bresson and André Kertesz

FEB. 18-APRIL 29

“ELLIOTT ERWITT: A DELIGHTED MOMENT”

WHAT’S NEW AT 302

BROKEN ARROW’S ARTS@302 ENGAGES COMMUNITY CREATORS WITH EDUCATION AND EXHIBITIONS.

BY ETHAN VEENKER

The Brown-Kimbrough Center for Arts, Innovation and Creativity, a ectionately known as Arts@302, is an art space designed to do more than merely display ne art. It’s out to serve and engage the community.

Arts@302 o ers classes for children and adults, which range from visual-art courses in various media to vocal and instrumental classes, as well as photography and creative writing. Ranging in price, these are generally four- to eight-week courses (though there are one-o s) with a rotating roster of teaching artists. is month concludes the second “term” of courses; organizers aim to have two such terms a “semester,” so courses will start up again in the spring.

Designed by Selser Schaefer Architects, Arts@302 is built on the site of what was formerly AVB Bank’s Rose District location (its new one is next door). Inside, Executive Director Jennifer Deal points to the building’s elevator. “ at was the vault,” she says. But none of the rest of the former bank remains; the gallery was built from the ground up and includes ample classroom and studio space for painting, drawing, pottery and woodworking. e space also boasts an outdoor balcony studio, gift shop and a catering kitchen, which can be rented out.

e new space is the result of community collaboration. e city passed a bond issue, and the Brown-Kimbrough family, owners of AVB Bank, donated the land on which their namesake art space now stands. Deal gives particular thanks to Kelley Kimbrough-Rash’s generosity. Other donors from across the state, Vision 2025 funds and support

from Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth helped pad the project out to completion.

A community-oriented Arts@302 program of note is Kristin’s Artists of Promise, named for Chenoweth in honor of her support and shortened to K@P (pronounced “cap”). K@P is a free arts program for fourth and fth graders attending Rhoades and Oak Crest Elementary Schools.

“When we started the Arts@302 community art center, we really wanted community to be a part of it,” says K@P Program Coordinator Jes McCutchen. “ ese are kids who are nominated by their teachers … and then we work with the students three days a week.” anks to local charity Broken Arrow Neighbors, K@P kids also get a snack to fuel their creative pursuits.

Under the supervision of four K@P workers, a group of 30 to 40 kids works year-round on “rigorous, art-based projects,” as well as receiving lessons in emotional or social maturity, communication, and mindfulness, McCutchen says.

As for the art exhibitions to be shown in the gallery, Deal says, “We want traditional and non-traditional shows.” Shows rotate monthly and are free to attend: this month brings “Wild at Art,” a show by the Tulsa Audubon Society and WING-IT Nov. 5 and 6; and from Nov. 15-30 the space will host “Wild in Arts@302,” a showcase of wildlife artists Pamela Winters, Katie Webster, Larry Waid and Jan McKay

Visit arts302.com to nd more info on the gallery’s show and to enroll in one of the many classes when they reopen in the spring. ere will also be some holiday-themed one-o s next month.

Doggy decor

For all the pup parents who want to commemorate their love for the four-legged friends in their lives, Garden Deva Sculpture Co., 1326 E. ird St., o ers a wide collection of metal work “Deva Dogs.”

ere are over 30 di erent types of sculpted dog breeds to choose from either online or in store. e natural steel sculptures range in size from 12-inch-long desk ornaments to custom-made pieces that can range in size up to 4 feet, or even larger upon request. If there is a speci c breed not currently listed, Garden Deva also is happy to custom-make your precious pup. Details like the dalmatian’s spots and the bulldog’s folds make each breed unique and distinguishable.

Garden Deva was founded in Tulsa in 1997 by Lisa Regan, who then sold the business to artistic visionaries Kari and Bobby Babcock in 2017 upon Regan’s retirement. e Babcocks have continued crafting the metal sculpture works, which are rst drawn by hand, plasma cut by machine, and then shaped to form.

Sculptures can be found on Garden Deva’s website and in-store gallery along with a myriad of other metal work collections for varied seasons. If you’d like to place a custom order, you can reach out to the Deva crew via phone at 918-592-3382, by emailing info@gardendeva.com or stopping by the gallery for an in-person request.

— J.D. MYER

Visit shop.gardendeva.com for more information.

Students Maddie Diskey and Kambria Perkins work on a yarn and nail project as part of Arts@302’s K@P program. Right, K@P Program Coordinator Jes McCutchen instructs students on how to correctly use a hammer on the balcony often used as extra classroom space.

STORY OVER A CENTURY

BY BLAYKLEE FREED

RJ Young knows Tulsa. He attended Booker T. Washington and Memorial high schools, graduated from the University of Tulsa and returned to his hometown after graduate school at the University of Oklahoma. With a master’s degree in professional writing in hand and a bustling self-made business analyzing college football for Fox Sports, and on his own social media channels, Young bought his rst home in 2019 — 98 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre.

In his latest book, “Requiem for the Massacre,” Young presents a history of Black economic success in Greenwood and how white Tulsans perpetuated, and subsequently covered up, the community’s destruction. He synthesizes sources from the past 100-plus years to tell a big-picture story about the destruction’s e ects rippling through generations of Black Tulsans, reports on Race Massacre Centennial events in real-time and interweaves relevant memoir from his life. Young met with TulsaPeople at Fulton Street Books and Co ee ahead of the book’s Nov. 1 release.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THIS CONVERGENCE OF GENRES — JOURNALISM AND MEMOIR? Lots of trial and error. I have a really outstanding editor, Mensah Demary, basically talk with me every week about this book, and what I saw, and what I felt, because the whole thing that I sent him, I didn’t really like, but it was a basis to start … he was much more interested in, “What’s your experience?”

YOU’RE BLENDING TIMELINES, TOO, WRITING ABOUT HISTORY BUT ALSO PRESENT-DAY EVENTS AS THEY RELATE TO HISTORY. I needed to make a timeline for Mensah to follow ... and it was also a stroke of genius on his part to go, “You’ve written like half of this in the

present tense, as you’re experiencing it, you’re writing it … Let’s just use it.” I said it feels very artistic. He said, “No, it’s not artistic. It’s just complexity.”

HOW DOES KNOWING TULSA AS A RESIDENT, AS A BLACK TULSA HOMEOWNER, FACTOR INTO THIS BOOK? e last few years have been nothing but borderline criminal, when we talk about what it costs to live. Coming to Fulton Street, I take Pine from my home, Admiral to Pine, Pine to North Main, to ... Latimer. And there are new homes being built … that might cost $89,000, that have been appraised at $150,000 because nothing has been appraised in this area. And we’re having a whole di erent sort of redlining.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DIG INTO THE ORIGINS OF THE NAME “BLACK WALL STREET,” AND WHAT DID YOU FIND? I wanted to know why that needed to be said. I wanted to know who had decided that it was the thing to hang on a banner. And then why no one else seemed to question it, at least in the literature. And that’s what I took pains to try to draw out is, “Hey, man, I did my level best using the skills I have to go and nd this.” And what I nd is not that Booker T. Washington said anything — he even passed before the Massacre — but that a Black woman (Mary Parrish) said it. She said it rather loudly. And she said it in the rst real work that was published about the Massacre, and people chose to ignore it, which gives to this idea of patriarchy that I discuss as we get closer to (W.E.B.) Du Bois because Du Bois is whom I think Tulsa would have latched on to if it was really thinking it through. TP

THIS MONTH AT Circle Cinema

GRATEFUL DEAD MEET-UP AT THE MOVIES 2022 7:30 p.m., Nov. 1; 2 p.m., Nov. 5

The latest meetup celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of the Grateful Dead’s most iconic gigs from the Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 17, 1972. With audio mixed from the 16-track analog master tapes by Jeffrey Norman, and mastered by David Glasser, Tivoli 4/17/72 features nearly an hour and a half of the Grateful Dead at a peak of their performing career.

ARAB FILM FEST TULSA 2022 Nov. 3-6

After a successful debut last year, the festival returns for a second year presenting acclaimed contemporary films from Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Palestine and more, and featuring special guests, local restaurants and community partnerships. Look for all the details soon at circlecinema.org. Curated by Mizna and supported by the Tulsa Artist Fellowship.

THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER: FEATURING BRANDI CARLILE Opens Nov. 4

Trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave. Decades after Tucker slipped from the spotlight, rising Americana music star Brandi Carlile takes it upon herself to write an entire album for her hero based on Tucker’s extraordinary life, spurring the greatest comeback in country music history.

THE BODYGUARD 30TH ANNIVERSARY 1 p.m., Nov. 6; 7:30 p.m., Nov. 9

The timeless classic returns to the big screen for a special two-day fan event. Following the film, this special event will conclude with a musical compilation celebrating the legacy of Whitney Houston. In her spectacular film debut, Houston plays Rachel Marron, a music/movie superstar at her peak. Fans want to see her. Hear her. Touch her. But one wants to kill her — and that’s where security expert Frank Farmer, played by Kevin Costner, comes in.

TWISTED ARTS LGBTQ+ FILM FEST Nov. 9-13

November marks the return of the Twisted Arts LGBTQ+ Film Fest, with five days of movies and events. The Tulsa-based Twisted Arts organization is dedicated to advancing, celebrating, elevating and amplifying LGBTQ+ artists by showcasing the best independent films, music, performances and all forms of mixed media.

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

‘REQUIEM FOR THE MASSACRE’ RELEASES NOV. 1.

from this interview

TulsaPeople.com.

RJ Young at Fulton Street Books and Coffee, 210 W. Latimer St., one of the local places you can find his latest book, “Requiem for the Massacre”

TAIL OF TRIUMPH

BIXBY FRENCH BULLDOG WINSTON IS WINNING SHOWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BY JULIANNE TRAN

You may know Winston Churchill, the admirable, late prime minister of the United Kingdom. But did you know we have our own Winston, also admirable and distinguished?

Winston, named after the famed Winston Churchill, is a French bulldog that hails from Bixby. Currently 3 years old, this gallant dog has earned his fair share of renown in the dog show circuits.

From a notable pedigree, Winston (American Kennel Club registered name GCHP CH Fox Canyon’s I Won e War At Goldshield CGC CGCA CGCU TKN) comes from two beautiful dogs, both with exceptional health, build and character.

“His father, GCH CH Goldshield’s Catch A Dream De La Rive Gauche RI CGCA (aka Dreamy), is a gold production dog,” notes Perry Payson, Winston’s handler. “His mother was sired by GCH CH Highwood’s Big Shot (aka Willy), the No. 1 French bulldog in the country in 2013.”

During Winston’s rst photo shoot as a puppy, Payson knew Winston could be especially competitive in the ring with his athletic, muscular build, natural showmanship and exuberance.

“(I was) thinking he could be really special,” Payson says.

And judges at numerous dog shows have agreed. Since his campaign began in January 2021, Winston’s success has been proli c.

Among his many accolades, he’s won Top French Bulldog, Best in Show 66 times and No. 1 All-Breed Dog in the country, which has never happened with a French bulldog before.

is past June, at the 146th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — which is considered the most prestigious dog show in America — Winston took home Best of Breed, rst in the Non-Sporting Group and Reserve Best in Show.

“We entered the ring, and he just nailed it,” recounts Payson. “It was incredible.” Payson himself sometimes enjoys going the extra sartorial mile to match Winston’s dapper demeanor and namesake in the ring — at the 2022 French Bulldog Nationals Top 20 Event, which he and Winston won, Payson wore a replica of one of Churchill’s suits that Payson had designed overseas.

Following all of his spectacular wins, Winston is still hard at work. “(He competes) every weekend all over the country,” Payson says.

On those days when Winston returns home, he enjoys the slow life as a normal dog. “He’s got a couple girlfriends,” Payson says, laughing. “And they run and play and have a blast.”

While Winston is the darling of the show dog circuit, his life as a puppy was spent in sunny LA with co-owner Morgan Fox, defensive end for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 28-year-old Colorado native, who played college ball at Colorado State-Pueblo, was destined to own a Frenchie. His grandmother, Sandy Fox, has bred French bulldogs for many years through Fox Canyon French Bulldogs out of Peoria, Arizona.

From a 2019 litter co-bred between Fox Canyon and Perry Payson’s Bixby-based Goldshield came Winston — Morgan’s chosen puppy. With a promise to his grandmother that Winston could be shown in the future, Morgan took the dog home.

Now a champion numerous times over, Winston will return home to Morgan next June, after competing in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show once more. TP

Winston’s playful personality shines through as he and handler Perry Payson wait to begin their turn in Westminster’s NonSporting Group competition, which Winston would go on to win.

WINSTON AND PERRY: MICHELLE POLLARD; WESTMINSTER: DIANA HAN; MORGAN AND WINSTON: COURTESY MORGAN FOX

Winston the French bulldog is loved, supported and backed by his team of breeders — Alexandra Vorbeck, Sandy Fox and Perry Payson (pictured) — and his co-owners, which include primary handler Payson, Vorbeck, Alexandra Geremia, Felicia Cashin and Sandy Fox and her grandson, Morgan Fox.

See Winston compete in the National Dog Show this November, televised on Thanksgiving Day.

FROM LOS ANGELES TO BIXBY

1-6

Care Card

Benefits Family and Children’s Services.

CARECARDOK COM

4 Art Party

Benefits Tulsa Girls Art School.

TULSAGIRLSARTSCHOOL.ORG/2022

Walk the Red Carpet Gala

Benefits Operation Hope Prison Ministry.

OHPM ORG

5 Boomtown Awards

Benefits the Tulsa’s Young Professionals Foundation.

TYPROS ORG/BOOMTOWNAWARDS

Dancing with the Tulsa Stars

Benefits San Miguel Middle School.

DANCINGWITHTHETULSASTARS COM

10 Annual Awards

Benefits the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice. OCCJOK ORG

Gifts of Hope

Benefits Youth Services of Tulsa.

YST ORG/HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE

House Party

Benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tulsa.

RMHCTULSA ORG/EVENTS/HOUSE PARTY

12 Cattle Barons’ Ball

Benefits American Cancer Society.

TULSACATTLEBARONSBALL.COM

14 Craft Golf Classic

Benefits Craft Productions of Oklahoma.

CRAFTPRODUCTIONS ORG/FUNDRAISERS

EVENTS

15 Unite

Benefits Tulsa Area United Way. TAUW ORG

17

Dinner of Reconciliation

Benefits John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation. JHFCENTER ORG

Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Benefits OKHOF. OKLAHOMAHOF COM/INDUCTION CEREMONY

18 Beaujolais et Lumière

Benefits Tulsa Botanic Garden. TULSABOTANIC ORG

National Philanthropy Day Luncheon

Benefits Association of Fundraising

Professionals Eastern Oklahoma Chapter.

FACEBOOK COM/AFPEASTOK

19

Friendsgiving and Grocery Giveaway

Benefits Tulsa Dream Center.

TULSADREAMCENTER ORG

Williams Route 66 Marathon Benefits Kicks for Kids.

ROUTE66MARATHON COM

27

Nog off and Glogg

Benefits Emerson Montessori Elementary Art Dept. THETULSAARTSDISTRICT ORG

Gala

Women Helping Other Women — an organization dedicated to empowering women to improve their economic status through education, employment, networking, entrepreneurship and personal encouragement — held its inaugural WHOW Day Gala fundraiser Sept. 10 at the Centennial Center in Veterans Park. The theme was “Celebrating Exceptional Women,” and the guests of honor were the 12 “Table Monarchs” recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Tulsa community as female leaders and business owners.

The 100 guests present enjoyed buffet-style fare by Sydney J Catering, part of Black-owned catering company Chef’s Touch. Tala Price gave the keynote address, and the fun and entertainment included DJing by DJ Lyric, singing by Sonya Davis and Tara Payne, praise dancing performed by Areyell Scott and group dancing led by Joshua Forbes of ForbesDance. There also was an evening dress donation and exchange, Best Dressed competition and auction. The nearly $4,000 raised will go toward assisting WHOW in its mission to continue programming that encourages personal and professional development.

1. Jerica Wortham, owner and founder of J’Parle Publishing, delivers spoken word to gala attendees.

2. Front to back, four of the 12 honored table monarchs: Marva Thomas, Tara Payne, Rena Cook and Chantelle Lott

3. Asha Payne, winner of the Best Dressed contest

4. Joshua Forbes, CEO of ForbesDance and Forbes Entertainment LLC, with wife and event emcee Toya Forbes, vice president of Forbes Entertainment LLC

5. Emily Olubunmi, left, Nora Brown, right, and other attendees do the “Walk on Water” group dance.

6. Center, Crystal Ifekoya, event chair and founder of WHOW with daughters and event facilitators Jalice Johnson, left, and Kayla Ifekoya, right

Race for the Cure

The 26th annual Tulsa Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure took place Sept. 24 and began at the River Spirit Casino Hotel Resort. The event raised close to $180,000 in critical funding that will provide direct patient services to address the economic, medical, social and emotional impacts of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Additional morning events included 150 survivors marching in the Survivor Parade of Hope, a “We Remember” tent honoring those lost, vendors providing educational and resource information for survivors and Hope Village — a place for survivors and those living with metastatic breast cancer to gather. The event was emceed by KOTV’s LeAnne Taylor, and the executive leadership co-chairs for the race were Teri Aulph and Morgan Gallant, both of whom are committed to raising awareness, fundraising for research and building a collective of passionate supporters to take action in Tulsa.

1. Representing the Susan G. Komen pillar of “Community,” Candice Evans of Ascension St. John and Monica Davis with Oklahoma Cancer Specialists Research Institute hype up the crowd ahead of the race.

2. Susan Prichard, Debbie Lehman, Sarah Jones and Janella Smith of race team “Stand Tall AFC-Flat!”

3. Hope Village volunteers Sharon Haynes, Mary Walker and Sheryl Purnell

4. Over 1,200 racers participated in Tulsa’s 2022 Race for the Cure, with thousands more walking or supporting.

5. Race for the Cure volunteers

WHOW: JEAN MARK PHOTOGRAPHY; RACE FOR THE CURE: PHOTOS 1 AND 2 COURTESY ASCENSION ST. JOHN, AND PHOTOS 3, 4 AND 5 COURTESY SUSAN G. KOMEN

Give wisely Suggestions for a safe GivingTuesday.

BY J.D. MYER

GivingTuesday is a global holiday that instills the power of radical generosity in the hearts of individuals every year. is idea was set in motion by the 92nd Street Y in New York City while partnering with the United Nations Foundation to combat commercialization and consumerism of the post- anksgiving season. GivingTuesday o cially launched in 2012 and it is now a worldwide movement encouraging donations not just once a year, but every day across all seasons.

GivingTuesday begins the Tuesday after anksgiving. ( is year it’s Nov. 29.) If this is your rst time donating, the Oklahoma Center for Nonpro ts has outlined steps one can take to instill people with con dence when giving online or in person through the holidays.

HOW TO VERIFY

Janetta Cravens, vice president of programs at Oklahoma Center for Nonpro ts, notes everyone should rst and foremost research a cause that is signi cant to them. People should look at foundations that align with the values closest to their hearts and educate themselves on the nonpro t’s o cial website. Cravens points to an easy method of verifying any given charity by looking them up on the site candid.org, which hosts the pro les of every nonpro t in North America to ensure the money or items donated goes to a reputable organization. It is important to ask questions, so reach out to the representatives of whichever charity you choose for more information.

WHAT TO ASK

Aside from funds, many charities accept canned food, clothing and any items struggling families may need. Questions to ask include if they have a list of these items, if the organization is local, and how you can volunteer and donate your time through the holidays.

When giving locally, nd out where and when drop-o s take place, along with what can be donated by calling the nonpro t or checking its website.

Additionally, verify paperwork availability to document any donations for tax purposes. “ e IRS requires that any valued donation of $250 or more must come with a receipt,” Cravens says. “Most nonpro ts usually send a con rmation to anyone who donates, thanking them for their generosity either via email or receipt to show and hold on to as a part of their end-of-year donations.”

ere is no right answer in how much to give because every bit donated, big or small, helps your community or charity. e team behind the GivingTuesday website encourages everyone to “Join the movement and give — each Tuesday and every day — whether it’s some of your time, a donation or the power of your voice in your local community.”

For more information, visit givingtuesday.org or okcnp.org.

Many nonprofi ts encourage donations during GivingTuesday through social media. Facebook fundraising interfaces with the database on candid.org, so a Facebook fundraiser should be going to a legitimate nonprofi t, says Oklahoma Center for Nonprofi ts’ Janetta Cravens. “For other social media donations and text-to-donate opportunities, go to the hosting organization’s website to check that they are legitimate and have a corresponding link to donate through their website,” she says. “A person can always give directly to the organization through their website portal.”

Hoppin’ holidays

COMPILED BY ABBY BELLER AND J.D. MYER

Twas the months before Christmas and all through the town, festivities were brewing, fun times would abound. From ‘Nutcracker’ plays to Christmas parades, this holiday season offers whimsical days! Gather family and friends to look at our list, we’re sure there are events you won’t want to miss. So hop in the car, prepare for a ball, and have happy holidays, Tulsa, one and all!

NOV. 7 Thanksgiving Dinner Cooking Class by Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ

6-8:30 p.m. Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ, 6175 E. 61st St. Impress your guests at your Thanksgiving dinner. Learn to cook a delicious holiday dinner — complete with turkey, sides and dessert — in the smoker. At the end of the class, it’s taste-test time. $25. facebook.com/oklahomabbqsupply

NOV. 17 Lights on! Jenks

4-8 p.m. Main Street between First to Fourth streets, downtown Jenks. The Jenks High School Trojanaires, food trucks and carriage rides are just some of the entertainment options before News on 6 Meteorologist Travis Meyer turns on the Main Street light display. Free. jenkschamber.com

NOV. 23 Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular

7 p.m. BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. In support of the group’s latest album, “Holidays Around the World,” the group makes a tour stop in Tulsa. $29-$153.50. bokcenter.com

NOV. 24 Lights On at Utica Square

6:30 p.m. Utica Square, East 21st Street and South Utica Avenue. See the midtown shopping center illuminated with its signature white lights. Lights remain on throughout the holiday season, and Santa’s House returns for 2022. Free. uticasquare.com

NOV. 24-JAN. 2 Rhema Lights

5:30-11:30 p.m. Rhema Bible Church, 1025 W. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow. Back for its 40th anniversary, see the 110-acre campus adorned with nearly 3 million lights. Festivities begin at 6 p.m., Nov. 23. Free entry. rhemalights.org

NOV. 25 Tulsa Turkey Trot

8:30 a.m. BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. Enjoy a great view of downtown Tulsa on this Black Friday tradition. Race your friends and family on either the 5K run/walk or the Fun Run, which both start at the giant Christmas tree at the BOK Center.  $25-$35. fleetfeettulsa.com

NOV. 25-26, DEC. 2-3, 9-10, 15-17, 21-24 Philbrook Festival 5:30-9:30 p.m. Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road. Family fun, live music, light displays and indoor/outdoor holiday experiences await visitors to the midtown museum. $8, adult member; $18, adult nonmember; $6, youth nonmember; free, youth member. philbrook.org/festival

NOV. 25-DEC. 4; DEC. 8-30 Botanic Garden of Lights Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 25-Dec. 4; nightly, Dec. 8-30 (closed Dec. 15, 24 and 25). 5-9 p.m. Tulsa Botanic Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive. Stroll the gardens, sip warm drinks, enjoy holiday music, crafts and visits from Botanic St. Nick. Advance, timed-entry tickets required. $15, ages 16-plus; $6, ages 3-15; free, 2 and younger. Member discounts. tulsabotanic.org

NOV. 25-JAN. 8 Arvest Winterfest Times vary. BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. Arvest Winterfest presented by CommunityCare celebrates its 15th anniversary this year with a new tree. The event returns to East Third Street with the Winterfest train, ice skating, performances, carriage rides and Sundays with Santa. Prices vary. tulsawinterfest.com

NOV. 26 Small Business Saturday in Kendall Whittier All day. Whittier Square, 1 S. Lewis Ave. The neighborhood’s small businesses will open for shoppers interested in shopping local this holiday season. visitkendallwhittier.com

Lights On 6-8 p.m. Route 66 Village, 3770 Southwest Blvd. Lights, live music, holiday treats and more await visitors to this annual display along the Mother Road. Free. route66village.com

NOV. 26-27, DEC. 2-3 Cascia Hall Christmas Tree Lot 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Nov. 26; noon-4 p.m., Nov. 27; 4-7 p.m., Dec. 2; noon-7 p.m., Dec. 3. Cascia Hall Preparatory School, South Utica Avenue and East 25th Street. Shop for Fraser Fir trees and other holiday accessories while playing games in Santa’s Village. Free admission. casciahall.com

NOV. 27 Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas 4 p.m. Cox Business Convention Center’s Legacy Hall, 100 Civic Center. Enjoy music from American music legend Michael Martin Murphey on his annual Cowboy Christmas Tour. $30-$199. coxcentertulsa.com

DEC. 1 Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith Christmas 8 p.m. Tulsa Theater, 105 W. Reconciliation Way. Join Grammy winners Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith on their Christmas tour this holiday season, with hits from all of the artists’ critically-acclaimed holiday albums. Doors open at 7 p.m. $49.50-$125. tulsatheater.com

DEC. 1-11 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever   Times vary. Clark Youth Theatre, 4825 S. Quaker Ave. The Herdmans never go to church, yet managed to score roles in the Christmas play. Don’t miss this Clark Youth Theatre tradition, 35 years strong. $10, students, military, seniors; $13, adults. clarkyouththeatre.com

DEC. 2 Oral Roberts University Christmas Concert 7 p.m. Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Ave. A night of performances themed to “For unto us … A celebration of Handel’s Christmas Messiah” with a toy drive held benefiting Salvation Army. Free admission. oru.edu.

Elf in Concert

7:30 p.m. Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second St. As the now iconic holiday film plays on a giant screen, hear John Debney’s score played live by Tulsa Symphony. $20-$64.50. tulsapac.com

DEC. 2-JAN. 1 Glow on the Green

6-9 p.m., kickoff event Dec. 2; nightly lights. Guthrie Green, 111 E. Reconciliation Way. Tulsa’s downtown park is aglow for the season. Free. guthriegreen.com

DEC. 2-4 Christkindlmarkt

10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday. German-American Society of Tulsa Event Center, 2301 E. 15th St. Try German fare and drinks while perusing a market inspired by the German Christmas markets with local artists, crafters and vendors. Free admission. gastulsa.org

DEC. 2-4, 9-11 Christmas in My Hometown

7:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday. Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, 1800 S. Main St., Broken Arrow. Two, one-act musicals written by local playwrights focus on redemption and forgiveness in a small community. $20; $15, students, military, seniors; $12, current season ticket holders. bacptheatre.com

DEC. 3 Jingle Bell Run

8 a.m. River West Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave. Wear your holiday gear and spread some cheer in this holiday run benefiting the Arthritis Foundation. $30$50. jbr.org/tulsa

Tulsa Farmers’ Market Yuletide Market

8:30 a.m.-noon. Whittier Square, 1 S. Lewis Ave. This farmers’ market will feature dozens of local artists and crafters and will bring tons of local gifts and goodies, foods, a booth-decorating contest, Christmas carolers and a visit from Santa Claus. Free admission. tulsafarmersmarket.org

Holiday Mart Member Art Sale

9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, 815 S. Utica Ave. Bring your friends and family and shop artwork created by The Center members, including paintings, ceramics, pottery, stained glass, holiday decor, seasonal plants and much more. Free admission. tulsacenter.org

Holiday Arts and Crafts Show

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Bixby Community Center, 211 N. Cabaniss Ave., Bixby. Start your holiday shopping early at this annual craft fair with countless craft and commercial vendors. Free admission. tulsacounty.org/parks

Holiday Arts and Crafts Show

9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. LaFortune Community Center, 5202 S. Hudson Ave. Check off your holiday lists with homemade items, clothes, decor, jewelry and more. Free admission. tulsacounty.org/parks

Broken Arrow Civitan Christmas Parade

10 a.m. Begins at East College and North Main streets and heads south. See bands, floats, horseback riders and more coordinating to the theme of “Christmas in my Hometown.” Free. brokenarrowok.gov

Jingle on the Hill

Noon-3 p.m. Chandler Park, 6500 W. 21st St. Bring in the Christmas cheer at this event featuring storytelling by the elves, craft making, an ugly sweater contest, a Christmas market, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more. $1. tulsacounty.org/parks

DEC. 3, 10 Breakfast with Santa  9 a.m. Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. N. Guests are invited to enjoy a scrumptious hot breakfast, take part in arts and crafts, and most importantly, meet Santa Claus. Guests can also experience extra Christmas magic with Santa’s live reindeer! $32, members; $39, nonmembers; $7, kids under 3. tulsazoo.org

DEC. 6 70th annual Fashion Show and Silent Auction 10:30 a.m. Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 6808 S. 107th E. Ave. The spirit of the season is on display for this annual event, hosted by the Tulsa Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. $75. salarmytulsa.org

DEC. 7 Brown Bag It: Festival Bell Ringers 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. A Tulsa favorite for the holiday season. Free. tulsapac.com

DEC. 9-23 A Christmas Carol 7:30 p.m.; 2 p.m., Sundays. Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. American Theatre Co. presents this classic holiday tale featuring Ebenezer Scrooge, who must learn the value of the connections around him instead of material wealth and greed. $22-$40. tulsapac.com

The Nutcracker Times vary. Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. Join the Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Symphony Orchestra for this holiday tradition with exciting new choreography, colorful costumes, larger-than-life moving sets and live music. $27-$110. tulsapac.com

DEC. 9-10, 16-17, 23-25 Winter Wonderland Times vary. Gathering Place, 2650 E. John Williams Way. The iconic park transforms with thousands of lights, a holiday train, live holiday music, hands-on activities and plenty of dashing decor. Lights are illuminated on Nov. 24. Free. gatheringplace.org

DEC. 10 Rudolph Run  8:30 a.m. Fleet Feet, 303 S. Main St., Broken Arrow. Join Fleet Feet for its annual holiday 5K and 1-mile fun run in the Rose District. $35-$45. fleetfeettulsa.com

Owasso Christmas Parade

9-10 a.m. Smith Farm MarketPlace, 9002 N. 121st E. Ave., Owasso. This annual event welcomes the theme “Sweet Candy Christmas” and is a celebration of the giving season with the Owasso community. Free. cityofowasso.com

Donuts with Santa

10-11:30 a.m. LaFortune Community Center, 5202 S. Hudson Ave. Join Santa for donuts and milk to bring in the holiday cheer for kids ages 0-12. Free. tulsacounty.org/parks

Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival

10 a.m.-3 p.m. New Orleans Square, 701 E. 101st St., Broken Arrow. Browse holiday crafts and gifts at this festival featuring local artists and businesses. brokenarrowok.gov

COURTESY ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY; BOTANIC GARDEN OF LIGHTS: MICHELLE POLLARD

Botanic Garden of Lights

Oral Roberts University Christmas Concert

Tulsa Christmas Parade

11 a.m. Tulsa’s annual holiday gathering and parade. Location and events will be announced online via the Tulsa Christmas Parade website. Free. tulsachristmasparade.org

Bixby Christmas Parade  6:30 p.m. Downtown Bixby Church of Christ, 15802 S. Memorial Drive. Join the Bixby community for its Christmas parade, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bixby, followed by the Buy Bixby Grand Finale. bixbychamber.com

Voctave: Sounds of the Season  7:30 p.m. Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, 701 S. Main St., Broken Arrow. The 11-member a cappella group brings its seasonal arrangements to life for one night only. $29-$54. brokenarrowpac.com

DEC. 11 Christmas on the Corner  2 p.m. Christ United Methodist Church, 3515 S. Harvard Ave. Come-and-go at this fine arts festival, which will include mini-concerts, artist demonstrations, crafts, storytelling, one-horse-open-sleigh rides and a living nativity scene. Free admission. cumctulsa.com

ABATE Toy Run

2 p.m. Begins at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St., ending at Riverwalk Crossing, 300 Riverwalk Terrace, Jenks. Now in its 43rd year, the annual motorcycle event is a toy drive for Toys for Tots. abateoftulsa.com

DEC. 16 David Phelps

7:30 p.m. Lorton Performance Center, 550 S. Gary Place. Celebrate the holidays with David Phelps’ renditions of classic seasonal favorites that will leave you soaring with holiday spirit. $55. tulsapac.com

Christmas in Tulsa

7:30 p.m. VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education, 10300 E. 81st St. Celebrate the holiday season as the Signature Chorale joins the Signature Symphony for a night of holiday favorites. $35-$75. signaturesymphony.org

DEC. 17 Crafts ‘n Snacks with Santa 11 a.m.-1 p.m. O’Brien Park, 6149 N. Lewis Ave. Enjoy a snack and a craft with Santa, and don’t forget to bring your letters to send to the North Pole. All ages. Free. tulsacounty.org/parks

Los Festivales y Mercados: Posadas 4-8 p.m. Whittier Square, 1 S. Lewis Ave. Food, music, shopping and community vendors await those perusing the historic district with snacks and hot beverages. Free. visitkendallwhittier.com

Beyond the metro

NOV. 3-JAN. 1 Route 66 Christmas Chute

8 a.m.-11 p.m., daily. East Dewey Avenue from Main to Elm streets, Sapulpa. Walk historic Route 66 under 1,050-foot-long canopies adorned with ornaments, garlands and more. Events every weekend with pop-up shops, local retailers, restaurants and entertainers. Free. route66christmaschute.com

NOV. 19 Dickens on the Boulevard

6-9 p.m. Downtown Claremore, 422 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore. Travel back in time for a Victorian holiday celebration complete with music, window setters and shopping. Free. downtownclaremore.og

Boare’s Heade Feaste

7 p.m. The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W. Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee. Kick off the holiday season with a fivecourse meal, dancing and live music. $49.95. okcastle.com/boares-heade-feaste

NOV. 24 Castle Christmas  5:30-10 p.m. The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W. Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee. Take a trip through the colorful lights by way of a hayride, train or Christmas ponies. Prices vary. okcastle.com/castle-christmas

NOV. 24-JAN. 1 The Garden of Lights at Honor Heights Park 5:30-10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday. 5:30-11 p.m., FridaySaturday. Honor Heights Park, West Okmulgee Street and Honor Heights Drive, Muskogee. The drive-through display includes over 1.2 million shimmering lights, enhancing the natural beauty of the park’s gardens, waterfalls and ponds with holiday displays the whole family will love. $5 per car. muskogeeparks.org

NOV. 25-26, DEC. 2-3 Polar Express Pajama Party 5:30 p.m., doors open. 6 p.m., film begins. Roxy Theater, 220 W. Okmulgee Ave., Muskogee. Attendees receive a cookie, a souvenir cup/mug, a souvenir golden ticket and a silver bell, complete with transportation from the Roxy Theater to the Three Rivers Museum, aka the North Pole, home of Santa’s Workshop where pictures can be taken with Santa. $25. facebook.com/muskogeespolarexpress

NOV. 25-DEC. 18 Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights 5-9 p.m., Friday-Sunday. Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road, Bartlesville. Family and friends can embark on a winter adventure through 750,000 glistening lights decorating Woolaroc.  $6, adults; $1, ages 12 and under; free for members and ages 3 and under. woolaroc.org

Kristin Chenoweth Christmas

7:30 p.m. Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, 701 S. Main St., Broken Arrow. The Broken Arrow native returns to perform hits from the two big-selling holiday albums under her belt (2008’s “A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas” and 2021’s “Happiness Is ... Christmas!”) $54-$89. brokenarrowpac.com

DEC. 18 First Night Hanukkah Lighting 5-6 p.m. Temple Israel, 2004 E. 22nd Place. A time for prayers, blessings and lighting of the first menorah candle. Free. templetulsa.com

Cirque Dreams Holidaze  7:30 p.m. BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. Cirque Dreams Holidaze is set to dazzle Tulsa audiences with its Broadway-style production complete with contemporary circus arts. $33-$103. bokcenter.com

DEC. 31 Race into the New Year

11:45 p.m. River West Festival Park, 2100 W. Jackson Ave. An annual 5K tradition that starts in one year and ends in the next. $20-$40. runnersworldtulsa.com TP

DEC. 2-3 Will’s Country Christmas 5-9 p.m. Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, 9501 E. 380 Road, Oologah. An evening with storytelling, Wild West shootouts, children’s crafts, 19th-century games, carriage rides, a shooting gallery, music, vendors and food trucks. Admission is free; $5 hayride for guests ages 15 and older. willrogers.com

DEC. 10 Sapulpa Christmas Parade  6 p.m. Begins at Main Street and Taft Avenue, travels north to Dewey Avenue, and will turn east to the Sapulpa High School parking lot. This annual parade will twinkle with lights and sparkle through town as the community celebrates the holiday season. Free. sapulpachamber.com

DEC. 10-11 The Big Christmas Expo Noon-5 p.m. Hatbox Events Center, 640 S. 40th St., Muskogee. Enjoy a weekend extravaganza with over 100 local and national businesses, the Parade of Angels Christmas Show, pictures with Santa, Storytime with Mrs. Claus, a Christmas Village, and much more. $10. visitmuskogee.com

Hop in the car for a seasonal adventure. Plenty of fun awaits.

Beth Green is the CEO of Brief Media, which serves 206,000 global users with its flagship products Clinician’s Brief and the award-winning Plumb’s Veterinary Drugs. Early next year the company, which employs about 65 people in Tulsa and across the country, will debut new branding strategies to address staffing shortages and veterinary industry challenges many practitioners are facing.

BY GAIL BANZET-ELLIS

Growing up on a farm in Indiana raising purebred cattle, Beth Green never expected to one day call Oklahoma home.

She followed her husband to Tulsa in 1992 and later established a nationally recognized media rm that publishes the gold standard in veterinary practitioner journals and handbooks.

Green’s company, Brief Media, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. e rm serves 206,000 global users with its agship products: Clinician’s Brief, the o cial practice journal of the World Small Veterinary Association, and the award-winning Plumb’s Veterinary Drugs.

An animal science graduate of Purdue University, Green’s rst job in the nutrition division at Continental Grain introduced her to the marketing eld. Later, while employed in the veterinary division at MediMedia Pharma Solutions, she discovered veterinary publishing.

After 11 years with MediMedia, Green opted to slow down her career for a while to spend more time with her two children, but she still needed a creative outlet. She enrolled in Oklahoma City University’s international MBA program and through one of her classes, created the concept for a new industry publication for veterinarians. She wondered, what if instead of lengthy review

journal articles, they could bene t from more digestible pieces of content?

“ e veterinary industry was becoming more specialized and sophisticated, and practitioners didn’t have the time to stay up to date,” Green says. “I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur, but my husband was an entrepreneur, and (he said) ‘You can do this.’ I pitched the idea to an association for a sponsor, and they gave me the thumbs up.”

Since launching in 2002, Clinician’s Brief remains committed to helping veterinarians care for animals and share their expertise with pet owners. Green’s vision as CEO led to a strong relationship with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, and her Clinician’s Brief can be found these days in just about any veterinary clinic, including one she came across while visiting a small village in Bali a few years ago.

“I was just going to pop in and tell them who I am and what I do, and they were using all our products,” she says. “To really see that impact worldwide has been amazing.”

In 2014, Green expanded Brief Media with a publication veterinarians could easily access every day; she partnered with Donald C. Plumb, PharmaD, to create a digital version of his legendary Plumb’s Veterinary Drugs guide. Green acquired the rights to Plumb’s handbook in 2018 and has since increased subscriptions eight-fold. is new venture with the Plumb’s publication occurred at a pivotal time in her life. After losing her husband, Eric Green, to cancer in 2013, Green moved forward with a clearer goal for

Brief Media products. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook was used by 94% of veterinarians when the digital version debuted in 2015. As print advertising began to dwindle, she steered her company in a new direction to adapt with modern tools.

“Clinician’s Brief is becoming top of the funnel because we don’t require veterinarians to pay for it,” she says. “As long as they’re a vet, they get it for free. A majority of people who connect with us connect digitally, and then they subscribe to our Plumb’s product. is year, we elevated and created a new digital product called Plumb’s Pro that not only includes drug information but also everything for case management — how to diagnose, treat and then communicate to a pet owner.”

Green married Tulsan Je Allen in 2021.

She says Brief Media’s strategies continue to evolve, with most of the revenue for 2023 expected from subscription products used by veterinarians.

“ e world of media has completely changed. If you go back maybe ve years, the No. 1 revenue source for us was print advertising,” she says. “ is year, it might be 14% of our revenue.”

Brief Media has received certi cation as a Great Place to Work for the past three consecutive years and has been named one of the 100 Best Small Workplaces by Fortune for the past two years.

e company employs about 65 people, including many women who appreciate Brief Media’s exible, parent-friendly schedule with a remote option. Brief Media closed its physical o ce in 2020 and moved to a coworking space in the downtown area. About 40 employees are based in Tulsa, and

others are located from coast to coast.

“It was very important to me when I started my own company to have a culture that helped people develop not just their skills as professionals but also as people,” Green says. “It’s tting for the veterinary industry. Veterinarians are very sel ess people, and the level of talent in this industry is incredible. ey would give you the shirt o their back. I love working with veterinarians.”

Green’s passionate about involvement with the England-based organization Mission Rabies that vaccinates dogs in other countries to save lives. New teams of veterinarians will take on their largest vaccination drive to date in Cambodia in 2023.

“Between 50,000 and 100,000 people die of rabies every year in Africa and India alone, and most are children,” she says. “Mission Rabies learned that if it could vaccinate at least 70% of the dog population in these communities, they could reduce human mortality by 95% within ve years.”

anks to Green’s keen business sense, compassionate leadership skills and genuine heart for helping veterinarians, Brief Media is an essential resource. Green and her team plan to debut some new branding strategies in early 2023 to better collate and coordinate the tools her company has built for practitioners facing sta ng shortages and other industry challenges.

“Clinician’s Brief was more clinical but now we’re completely reimagining it,” she says. “Our mission is to guide the most critical decisions made every day in practice in veterinary medicine.” TP

Manager Valerie Lindsay holding “Frankenstein”, owner Emily Stewart holding “Truman”, manager Cody Greene and manager Tommy Ball holding “Kitty Cat Dog.”

Dog days

Spend some time with man’s best friend at these favorite spots and activities throughout the year.

BY STAFF

Ballpark dogs

The dog days of summer mean something completely different in the friendly confines of ONEOK Field, 201 N. Elgin Ave., during the Tulsa Drillers season. Every Wednesday evening the Drillers are home is “Paws and $3 White Claws” night. Four-legged Drillers fans can enjoy the game from the comforts of the right field KIA Ferguson Lawn and the Budweiser Terrace. When it comes time for the seventh-inning stretch, a walk around the concourse is permitted, but no pups allowed in the seating bowl. There are water stations and dog pools available to keep them cool. No ticket needed for your furry companion, and they must always be kept on a leash inside the ballpark. tulsadrillers.com

Park and bark

In Tulsa, there are three off-leash dog parks: Benjamin’s Biscuit Acres Dog Park, Gunboat North Park and Joe Station Dog Park. Each has its own flair and following, but they all have one thing in common — they are ideal spots to spend some quality time with your pup.

At the north end of Gunboat Park, a collection of businesses and homes just south of Route 66 and west of the Inner Dispersal Loop, sits the city’s newest dog park at 1122 S. Frankfort Ave. The smallest of the three dog parks, Gunboat boasts three large shade trees and a bench in its triangular-shaped space. The area is currently in the midst of a revitalization and one of its recent additions is a mural celebrating the neighborhood, with dogs recreating the famous painting, “Washington Crossing the Delaware.”

Joe Station Dog Park, 2279 Charles Page Blvd., has separate areas for large and small dogs, but with equal amenities in each. Owners often park themselves on one of the many benches or picnic tables to play fetch. Pergolas and smaller shade trees provide some relief from the Oklahoma sun.

In south Tulsa a dog park haven awaits visitors at Benjamin’s Biscuit Acres inside Hunter Park, 5804 E. 91st St. For the past 13 years, dogs have come to the park to play in the expansive areas set up for both large and small animals. Shade structures dot the playground, along with water stations, benches and other amenities. A nonprofit, Biscuit Acres Volunteer Association, hosts events throughout the year to raise funds for maintenance, security, new shade sails and more. Learn more at biscuitacres.com. Each of these sites follows a strict set of rules to ensure the safety of animals and guests. Be sure to read up on the official dog park rules at tulsaparks.org.

in Tulsa

Tails on the trails

For the canine companions with endless energy, a trip to Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness, 6800 S. Elwood Ave., is in order. More than 6 miles of dirt and paved trails weave through canopies of native trees and wildlife. Pets must be leashed at all times in River Parks, including Turkey Mountain, where wagging tails share the trails and switchbacks with mountain bikers, runners and hikers. The four main trails, including one paved route with a steep grade, vary in length and difficulty. Just remember, Turkey Mountain lives up to the Wilderness in its name, and preparation is key. Check the weather and trail conditions before you go, wear sturdy footwear and bring water for all pets and people in your party. (Fill up at the trailhead, where there’s also a pet fountain for thirsty pups.)

The paved trail curving through the park connects Turkey Mountain to the rest of River Parks via East and West Bank paved trails, so it’s easy to access the area’s multiple playgrounds, splash pads and stretches of grass to sniff. riverparks.org

MICHELLE POLLARD; GATHERING PLACE: GREG BOLLINGER

Bark in the park at a Tulsa Drillers game at ONEOK Field

Coffee with your canine

There’s nothing quite like a brisk morning parked at your favorite coffee shop’s patio. While you’ve got your favorite warm pickme-up nestled in your hands, your furry friend in tow needs a special treat, too. Plenty of places offer a puppuccino — often a small cup of whipped cream — for visiting dogs. Just be sure to check with your vet to make sure the dairy item is OK for Fido.

The Collaborative, 4532 E. 51st St., has a very dog-friendly patio perfect for catching up with your bestie or getting a bit of work done. Baristas even have dog biscuits at the ready. collaborativeok.com

Paws on the patio

Resting on one of Tulsa’s patios with a locally-crafted dish or libation is a great way to end any day — or hold on to the weekend a little longer. The only thing that makes it better is sipping and snacking with your pup slurping beside you at these pet-friendly patios.

American Solera 1702 E. Sixth St.

Andolini’s 1552 E. 15th St. Bar 473 2224 E. Admiral Blvd.

*Blue Moon Cafe 3512 S. Peoria Ave.

Bricktown Brewery 3301 S. Peoria Ave.

Cabin Boys Brewery 1717 E. Seventh St.

*The Collaborative 4532 E. 51st St.

Dead Armadillo 1004 E. Fourth St.

*Doc’s Wine and Food 3509 S. Peoria Ave.

Empire Bar 1516 S. Peoria Ave.

Fassler Hall 304 S. Elgin Ave.

The Fur Shop 520 E. Third St.

Heirloom Rustic Ales 2113 E. Admiral Blvd.

Hodges Bend 823 E. Third St.

McNellie’s 409 E. First St. 7031 S. Zurich Ave.

Mercury Lounge 1747 S. Boston Ave.

Queenie’s 1816 Utica Square

R Bar and Grill 3421 S. Peoria Ave.

Renaissance Brewing Co. 1147 S. Lewis Ave.

Roosevelt’s 1551 E. 15th St., #101

*The Sandbar 1924 Riverside Drive Society Burger 1419 E. 15th St., Suite B Soundpony 409 N. Main St.

Welltown Brewing 114 W. Archer St.

Foliage and fur

Sometimes November ends up being the prime time for Tulsa trees to shine in all their fall color splendor, and going on a walk with the pooch to peep some foliage can make for a great memory. On Wednesdays, fill up a thermos with something warm and head to Gathering Place for Dog Play Wednesdays — the day of the week leashed dogs are welcome on all grassy lawns and pathways throughout the park, 2650 S. John Williams Way.

The park hosts even more tail-wagging fun with its Dog Play Event Series sponsored by AARP Oklahoma. Each event features a special activity, like doggie bowl painting in September or October’s “Howl-O-Weenie” costume and trick contest. This month’s event is “Deck the Paws,” and it will take place from 2-4 p.m., Nov. 27. Bring your furry friend to the PSO Reading Tree for a free picture with Santa, holiday music, free homemade biscuits (while they last) from the Bridges Foundation, an information booth with adoptable dogs from Skiatook Paws and Claws and a pop-up pet boutique by Knot Yours. Each Dog Play event also is accompanied by “Yappy Hour” specials from 5-10 p.m. on the Patio. Find more at gatheringplace.org

The sun has set, and stars begin to appear in the night sky. Car doors open and close. Radios are tuned in. Lawn chairs set up. There’s the smell of popcorn wafting from the concession stand that has Fido sniffing the air. Then the feature begins at Admiral Twin Drive-In, 7355 E. Easton St., and the movie goer and his K-9 best friend take it all in as they munch on a bag of popcorn. Admiral Twin shows movies from March to Halloween (and often later into the season), and if it’s a scary monster feature, the pup could end up in the movie goer’s lap. Be sure to keep them on leash, so they don’t sneak off under the fence. admiraltwindrivein.com

In the rolling Osage hills, Tulsa Botanic Garden will hold its last Dog Day of the year on Nov. 12. Be invigorated by the November air as you and your pup walk around the grounds, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive, seeing if you can spot some asters and Gregg’s purple mist flowers that can continue to bloom this time of year.

The event is $8-$10 for nonmembers and free for members. Visit my.tulsabotanic.org/events for tickets. From noon-3 p.m., Animal Aid of Tulsa will have information and pups looking for parents. Dog adoptions are free in November. Find more at tulsabotanic.org

Gathering Place’s Dog Play Event Series

STAFF

MICHELLE POLLARD

Sophomore Anthony Pritchard, coach Eric Konkol and junior Sam Griffin head into the upcoming University of Tulsa basketball season with a home opener on Nov. 12 versus Jackson State. Fans can expect a new court and enhanced experiences at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

Eric Konkol

New coach leads the University of Tulsa men’s basketball team.

BY JOHN TRANCHINA

After a successful seven-year run as the head coach at Louisiana Tech, where he compiled a record of 153-75, Eric Konkol was hired as the new head coach for the University of Tulsa men’s basketball team on March 21. at heralded a sort of homecoming for Konkol, who spent one season at TU as a student assistant coach in 2000-01.

While he is thrilled to be back, it won’t be easy. e Golden Hurricane are coming o an 11-20 season and returning a lone senior on a roster that is half comprised of freshmen and sophomores.

But with a new court design and an exciting blend of returning players like junior Sam Gri n, who averaged 14.6 points per game last season, and up-and-comers like local Webster High School grad Anthony Pritchard, Konkol believes the squad can lure back the fan support.

Besides feeling like he is back home, Konkol is surrounded by even more familiarity after bringing along assistant coaches Du y Conroy (his old college teammate), Desmond Haymon and Yaphett King who worked with him at Louisiana Tech.

chemistry. We’ve got a great focus on the people in our program.

And second, we’ve got a great focus on the people in this community. We want to make them aware of us. I tell our team, I tell our sta , all the time, “We have to give people a reason to come to the game.” When you’re a relative, it’s naturally a reason. But if you’re not related, we’ve got to make them feel like they’re related to us.

And third, invest in the atmosphere. We’ve got a brand-new court design, we’re doing a lot of new things to increase the fan experience, to make this a place that’s fun. And then, as they come and enjoy and be entertained, we want them to see a team that’s the hardest playing, most connected team in the country. at’s our hope.

but this city. So we want to create an environment that’s fun for kids. We did that with our summer camps, and we did that with that initial press conference, to really be inclusive and bring as many people in as possible, to do it with a high-energy vibe, and that’s what we want to have all the time.

WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET HEADING INTO THE NEW SEASON?

We’ve inherited and recruited a good number of players; this is new for them. Our sta has a lot of familiarity with one another, so that’s a great thing. We’re just trying to build the core values of our program, and hold our guys accountable to that every day, and then we’re just trying to get a little better every day — stronger, faster, more skilled, the mental aspect.

(Pro Football Hall of Fame coach) Bill Walsh wrote a great book, saying, ‘the score takes care of itself,’ and that’s how we want to be focused, just be very process-oriented and the performance in the games will take care of itself, if we just work every day to get a little bit better.

LAST YEAR’S TEAM HAD A DISAPPOINTING 11-20 RECORD AND ISSUES WITH ATTENDANCE. WHAT’S THE KEY TO TURNING THAT AROUND? First, we want to be able to keep improving our team, improve the players in our program. We’ve got a number of guys that were on last year’s team, they’re very hungry to improve. I think the work ethic that we’ve had has been tremendous. Now we’ve got to keep working on the execution, and how to play well together, and with the in ux of some of the new guys that we’ve got into the program and build that type of

WHAT KEY PLAYERS ON YOUR TEAM ARE YOU EXCITED TO SEE PLAY, HOW THEY BLEND TOGETHER, NEWCOMERS OR HOLDOVERS? We’ve got a number of guys competing to become the best version of themselves, that’s what we’re focused on. But some of the guys with experience — of course Sam Gri n’s a doublegure scorer from last year and he’s had a really good summer and is growing into more of a leadership role. Very excited about Anthony Pritchard from Webster High School, a hard-playing, tough worker. He’s everything you want in a guy that’s a young player with a chance to keep growing, so I’m very excited about him. And then we’ve got a number of other guys that are really trying to nd their way. Both Sam and AP had some experience last year, whereas a number of other guys had spotty minutes or are brand new to the program, so we’ve got a lot of new faces. We’ve got a very challenging schedule to start the year and we’re going to nd out a lot about ourselves very early, but I will say, we’ve got a hard-working group of guys. When you start with that, you can get some stu done.

YOUR WIFE, MEAGAN, AND SONS, ETHAN AND RYAN, JOINED YOU FOR YOUR INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE. HOW DOES THAT REFLECT YOUR GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM? I had been here for a year in a graduate assistant role and had seen Tulsa really wrap its arms around the program, and what a familyoriented place this is. I’ve got some dear friends that have lived here almost their entire lives and they’re raising their children here and they just talk about what a wonderful place it is to raise a family. is is the University of Tulsa, and we represent not just the student body now, our alums all over the place,

WITH THE KIND OF SUCCESS YOU ENJOYED AT LOUISIANA TECH, WHY LEAVE? Without a doubt, I will forever be grateful to the people at Louisiana Tech. ey were the rst to take a shot on me for my rst head coaching job. It was a very, very special seven years there. On a personal level, we loved the place, but we also felt like this was an opportunity that was just the right place for us to be now, on a number of levels. Not just the past and having some type of history here, although I will say that was a big part of it. I love this place. I still have Tulsa things that I’ve kept on all the di erent moves over the years. But still, as a basketball coach, you only leave a situation like Louisiana Tech if you feel like you’ve got a real opportunity to do something special here. And really peeling back a number of di erent layers and looking at this, I think there’s great opportunity and I’m very excited to be here.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF RECRUITING PLAYERS TO TULSA AS ONE OF THE SMALLEST DIVISION I SCHOOLS AND NOT A POWER 5 CONFERENCE MEMBER? WHAT IS YOUR PITCH TO PLAYERS? I think this is always going to be about t. I think the University of Tulsa is absolutely the right place for someone who wants a great combination of high-level basketball and also a world-class degree and do it in a way where they are less hidden. ere are some universities where you can go sit in the back of a 500-seat auditorium and basically fall asleep and no one is going to care, and that’s if you’re a student or a student-athlete. Here, the president of the university, the athletic director, coaching sta , your professors, everybody on campus — they’re going to know who you are. So if you’re looking for a family environment, where people really care and not just look at you as a number or just that you can put the ball in the basket, TU is an incredible place for that, on top of being in a community with a million people. If you come to the University of Tulsa to play basketball, it’s a big deal here in a big city, so that’s a pretty cool thing.

TP

more of this interview at TulsaPeople.com.

More than a million meals

MEALS ON WHEELS’ NEW FACILITY INCREASES

CAPACITY TO MAKE MEALS AND SERVE TULSANS.

BY ROBERT EVATT

Bob Hulsey, carrying a large sack with a mouth-watering aroma, walked up to an apartment door and knocked.

“Meals on Wheels,” he said, loud enough to be heard inside the apartment.

After a pause, Geraldine Travis opened the door with a smile. Hulsey, a volunteer with Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa, brie y chatted with Travis as if greeting an old friend. ough Hulsey, 70, is a naturally warm and open person, his conversations during meal deliveries have a purpose beyond small talk.

“We’re encouraged to interact with them, see their condition, and let them know if they could use any support,” he says.

Travis is just one of 1,700 home-bound seniors in the Tulsa metro area who rely on MOW for nutritious, fresh-prepared meals delivered weekly. In many cases, their interactions with MOW volunteers are also their sole source of regular human interaction.

CEO Katie Oatsvall says the number of senior clients they serve continues to grow as the agency receives 150 applications for services each month, with each client needing services for an average of six months. e majority of clients are age 62 or older, but an adult of any age who has consistent di culty cooking or shopping for themselves due to age, disability, illness or injury could potentially qualify. e organization estimates 26% of Oklahoma seniors are threatened by hunger, and the problem could quickly get worse.

“ e aging population is growing 20 times faster than the younger population,” she says. “We have been preparing for this growing need and, with the increased support from our community, are positioned to meet this challenge.”

Fortunately, MOW of Metro Tulsa just nished its largest expansion in the chapter’s 52-year history. In September, the chapter o cially opened the $15 million, 24,000-square-foot Hardesty Service Center at 5151 E. 51st St.

e key new feature of the building is an expansive kitchen built speci cally to accommodate MOW’s mission. e design and placement of all elements eliminates all bottlenecks in the process, from the moment ingredients enter, to their preparation into well-rounded meals, to their staging for volunteers to distribute them. e process is a highly interactive, human one — from the preparation of the food, all the way to the meal delivery, wellness checks and follow-up care, Oatsvall stresses. All food preparation is done by the MOW of Metro Tulsa kitchen team, applying the same level of care in the food production that is applied in every other aspect of programs.

“ e kitchen has been created with every eciency in mind,” Oatsvall says.

e site also can better accommodate seniors with speci c nutritional needs, such as those with diabetes or heart conditions.

Previously, MOW sta and volunteers worked in a very ine cient environment, as the chapter had long since outgrown its previous headquarters and production facility within a strip mall in east Tulsa. As demand for meals outgrew the capabilities of that facility, MOW was forced to work around the clock. ey also had to get creative when nding new ways to accommodate their needs, Oatsvall says.

“At the older units, we had added additional freezer pads outside, and it still wasn’t enough to keep up,” she says.

At the end of its east Tulsa tenancy, QuikTrip o ered MOW its excess freezer space. While Oatsvall says the organization was grateful for the help, it also acknowledged drivers were spending

extra time shuttling food from place to place — not the most e cient system.

e new facility not only solves all the logistical issues and cuts the time needed for production, it also will increase MOW’S capacity to more than 1 million meals per year.

Improved food production is only one of the ways the Hardesty Service Center will help MOW’s mission. e building also features consultation areas, volunteering engagement areas and other rooms designed to help give volunteers the training and support they need.

For example, volunteers learn how to help seniors if something feels wrong. Oatsvall says recently a volunteer noticed a woman who always answered her door couldn’t get out of her recliner.

e volunteer noti ed the client’s emergency contact, and they realized the client was having a stroke.

“If we hadn’t been there and realized that something was wrong, the outcome might have been very di erent,” Oatsvall says.

e incredible value of MOW volunteers is undeniable, but MOW lost many of these lifesaving volunteers during the pandemic.

“We were the most severely hit by the pandemic, especially at the beginning when people were asked to stay home,” she says.

At the same time, the pandemic increased the number of seniors facing complete isolation and lack of access to nutritional food. Oatsvall estimates the need for MOW services in the Tulsa area increased ve-fold to 25,000 meals per week within the rst month of the pandemic. at required the organization to hire drivers to complete deliveries, which cut into resources.

e current goal is to build up the volunteer force from the current 600 to the pre-pandemic level of 2,000. Much of this year’s work is devoted to spreading the word.

“We want to let people know that we’re ready for people to come back,” she says.

ough the new facility and improved operations will help encourage volunteers, Hulsey says MOW has already made volunteering easier with a mobile app.

Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa continues expanding to meet the community’s need. In 2020, the organization produced 630,000 meals. Last year it was 716,000. In 2022, Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa is expected to reach 780,000 meals. With its new facility, the organization will have the capacity to serve more than 1 million meals per year.

A new leader for a new era

But she’s dedicated her career to helping the older adult population live as comfortably and vibrantly as possible.

“It’s work that’s near and dear to my heart,” she says. “I understand the impact.” Oatsvall came to Tulsa from the Chicago/Milwaukee area, where she was executive director of Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services for nine years. There, she helped coordinate the efforts of 16 different programs, including the local chapter of Meals on Wheels.

Now, she’ll take a more hands-on role at a MOW chapter dedicated to meeting all needs of home-bound seniors, not just through nutrition.

“I didn’t want to be involved with something that is often seen as just a meal, but an organization that views the mission as so much more,” Oatsvall says.

Her first priorities in Tulsa were to move the organization to a new home and start making connections with organizations and community leaders that can share in MOW’s mission. She’s now working to replenish the organization’s fleet of volunteers.

“That doesn’t happen unless volunteers feel valued and that they’re making connections in the community,” Oatsvall says.

That’s just the beginning. In the next year, Oatsvall hopes to establish more programs and services at MOW, such as companionship opportunities and home security.

e MOW app automatically guides volunteers between stops — typically 8-10 clients in a weekly route — and clearly de nes which sets of meals each recipient should receive. Each entry includes special instructions, such as how to access gated apartment buildings, and emergency contacts in case of emergency.

“You can leave comments on their condition and whether the meals were delivered,” Hulsey says.

MOW of Metro Tulsa also provides additional services beyond alleviating hunger and isolation among the aged population, Oatsvall says. Its Feeding Our Future program partners with local public schools and after-school programs to provide ready-to-eat snack meals for students in need.

MOW’s Home Safety volunteers are working to install ramps at homes for seniors facing mobility issues, and perform other maintenance and repairs to help people remain safe and independent.

“One woman we added a ramp for was trapped in her home for six weeks,” Oatsvall says. “ e ramp gave her immediate access to the community.”

Hulsey says he’s long known the di erence MOW can make. His parents were volunteers for 28 years, and he plans to continue as long as he is able.

“Growing up, my family was clear that we are all in this together,” says the MOW volunteer of 10 years. “You never know when it will be you that needs support.”

TP

FEEDING THEIR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS

Meals on Wheels’ mission to support the health and well-being of the area’s seniors also extends to their furry companions.

The Pets Assisting Wellness in Seniors program, or PAWS for short, provides monthly food deliveries and other support for the dogs and cats that are often the only source of company MOW clients have. Cheri Goodman, a volunteer with PAWS, regularly sees how much affection her clients have for their dogs and cats when she delivers pet food to them once per month.

“I get to see how delighted these people are to get food for their pets,” she says. “These people love their pets, they don’t have anyone else.”

And, in at least one case, Goodman received proof that those companions love their humans just as much, she says.

“One man on my route has this big female bullmastiff and Labrador mix named Dog,” she says. “When he had a stroke and fell down on the ground, that dog dragged him to the porch so people could see him and get help.”

Because PAWS also can assist with preventative care, Dog’s owner was in turn able to get help for his companion when she needed to get to the vet, but he couldn’t drive.

“PAWS got some grant money for Dog’s medical care,” Goodman says. “We found out she had the beginning of heartworm disease, but we were able to come up with the money to get treatment.”

Goodman and her husband, Jack, are regular volunteers for MOW. One icy day two years ago, road conditions became too treacherous for most drivers. Since the Goodmans had a four-wheel drive vehicle, they volunteered for PAWS’ St. Bernard Brigade, and have helped with PAWS ever since.

PAWS began in 2008 as Pet Starz, part of a local 4-H chapter. After MOW took over the program, they extended it to serve the pets of anyone who qualifies for regular MOW food deliveries.

PAWS was one of the few MOW services able to maintain a strong volunteer force throughout COVID19. However, the need for these services among MOW clients has continued to increase, so the need for volunteers in this area is also growing. Goodman says her double route only takes her 45 minutes. She can choose the level of contact with her clients, and she loves to see them interact with their pets.

“Delivery day is a big deal for them,” she says.

KATIE OATSVALL, CEO of Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa, hasn’t been in the position long — her first day was June 13.

Katie Oatsvall

Cheri Goodman volunteers with PAWS, which now provides a monthly supply of pet food to over 500 Meals on Wheels clients.

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Paw-sitively squeaky clean

Have you ever read the ingredients on your pet’s shampoo bottle? There is a good chance that even if you have, you have no idea how harmful some ingredients can be to your pet.

When it’s bathtime for your pooch, the right soap can make a difference. That’s why Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. has specialized pet care products made locally with only plant-based ingredients.

Some ingredients irritate pets with sensitive skin or allergies, and with acute olfactory senses, they may be sensitive to certain scents, too. Magnolia’s recipe is specifically designed to not offend pet senses, says store owner Scottie Lawrence. Made

in-store, these products use simple ingredients like shea butter to soothe skin, coconut oil to cleanse and citronella to repel insects — leaving furry friends squeaky clean.

The bar of soap ($8) lathers on well and is gentle enough that humans also can use it. The Pet Pampering Spray ($10) is a pet perfume made of witch hazel, aloe vera and has a phthalate and paraben-free oatmeal and lavender scent. Customers that refill their own bottles get 10% off.

Find Magnolia Soap and Bath Co. inside Woodland Hills Mall, East 71st Street and South Memorial Avenue, and on Cherry Street at 1325 E. 15th St. Learn more at facebook.com/magnoliasoapandbathcotulsa.

— ABBY BELLER

Scottie Lawrence with her Akitas, Kara and Kuma

Doggone delights

LOCALLY OWNED PET STORE OFFERS CURATED PRODUCTS FOR FURRY FRIENDS.

BY ASHLEY HEIDER DALY

Emily Bollinger loves dogs. While considering career paths, she asked herself, “What do I want to do every day?” Her answer was easy: “Well, I want to be with my dog.” Thirteen years ago the opportunity to take over ownership of Dog Dish came up and she jumped at it.

“I want to be with my dog,” she reiterates with a laugh while petting her rescue dog, Dennis, a very affable basset hound-Pyrenees mix. “And that’s pretty much why I own the store.”

Dog Dish is a local boutique pet supply shop. The original location was in the Farm Shopping center for 12 years before spending seven more at Utica Square. In January of this year, Bollinger moved the shop to its forever home at 2803 S. Harvard Ave.

The new building, a former mechanic shop, has a big parking lot, a backyard and a large rounded front window that lets sunlight stream into the colorful shop.

“We offer a little of everything but in a more curated way,” Bollinger says. “We have food, treats, shampoo and grooming tools. Toys, beds, bandanas and birthday stuff, collars and leashes. The vastness of pet products on the market is overwhelming — there is so much. I think people like to go to a place that takes the guesswork out.”

Bollinger is a dog person. Her brother, John Langdon, who also works at the shop, is the resident cat person.

“Although,” Bollinger says, “cat things are my little passion project. I think they are so funny and so simple. And if you can get something that a cat likes, it’s a huge win.” Some favorites are catnip infused grocery bags, silver vine powder (similar to catnip) and various wands.

The shop has a large healthy food section.“Like with people, when you put good stuff in, you get good stuff out,” Bollinger notes. “Adjusting their nutrition helps keep them out of the vet. We want to keep them around as long as possible.”

The new location has a backyard event space, where it hosts private parties for dogs and adoption events.

If ever Bollinger feels down, she reminds herself, “Any minute a customer will come in, and if they have a puppy, I am going to hold that puppy!”

TP

SHOP FAVORITES

Healthy food with real

— like Primal Nuggets Turkey

refrigerated dog food — supports a longer, more active life for pets. $22.99, 3-pound bag.

The

stylish

including the Django brand, that pet owners can wear while walking their pets. $89.

Dog Dish offers many

like the Fluff and Tuff squirrel, that’ll keep Fido from going for the

thing. $20.99.

In a bakery display, customers can pick out small-batch cookies from a woman-owned company for their pets. Many customers also grab these as hostess gifts when going to friends’ homes or parties where they know a dog lives. $1.50-$4.50.

Pets can benefit from CBD oil as much as humans, and Dog Dish carries reputable, quality options, such as Pet Releaf Stress Releaf and Hip and Joint Releaf hemp oil. Starting at $45.99.

Moops and Dog Dish Owner Emily Bollinger

T are even more expensive because they break down or wear out fast and have to be xed or replaced over and over again. So, it makes more economic sense to buy high-quality tools and take diligent care of them.

In many cases, tools can literally last a lifetime if maintained properly. e following best practices can ensure tools stand up to wear and tear.

First

BUY quality-brand tools.

USE tools only for their intended purpose.

KEEP tools in clean locations (out of the dirt).

After each use

CLEAN with a putty knife/scraper/sti brittle brush/scrubbing pad or foaming bathroom cleaner and water to remove most of the caked-on soil. en, soak in soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly with a towel or rag.

CLEAN MORE by removing rust with a 1-to-1 solution of vinegar and water; nish with 000- or 0000-rated steel wool; remove sap with a cloth dabbed with a solvent (mineral spirits, turpentine, lighter uid).

DISINFECT with disinfectant wipes or a 10% bleach solution to remove bacteria, viruses and fungi (2 cups bleach per gallon of water).

any metal parts o the oor.

Weekly

SAND wooden handles starting with 80-grit sandpaper, then with 120-150 grit sandpaper as necessary to smooth.

OIL wooden handles by lightly rubbing with camellia or boiled linseed oil.

SHARPEN at metal edges on larger tools with a at le or sharpening stone by pushing away from you (not both ways) or a grinder; sharpen only the beveled edge of smaller tools. Use a vise along with protection for both your hands and eyes protection. Tools with serrated edges should be sharpened by a professional.

Seasonally

STORE tools in a dry, well-ventilated shed or garage out of the elements; hang larger tools upside down in order to not dull the blades on the oor.

OIL metal parts in a bucket of sand lightly soaked with vegetable or boiled linseed oil (do not use petroleum-based oil products). Re-oil wooden handles until they are saturated.

REST EASY because that’s it. Protect your investment in garden tools and they may very well serve you for a lifetime and possibly into the next generation. TP

When it comes to giving gardening tools as holiday gifts, there are so many items from which to choose. So, to help with the decision-making and selection, here are a few of the Tulsa Master Gardeners’ favorite landscaping tools:

Cape Cod weeder

Trake

Classic soil scoop

Lightweight handheld battery-operated blower

Long reach cut-n-hold bypass trimmer

Bypass pruner

Silky Saw Garden bench

Gardeners tool belt

Root Slayer

Gardeners Hollow Leg

Hori Hori weeding and digging knife

Bulb auger

ank you to Tulsa County Master Gardeners for their expertise in this subject matter. Allen Robinson has been a Master Gardener since 2010.

Retirement, redefined

TULSA FACILITIES OFFER A RANGE OF SERVICES FOR SENIORS.

BY ABIGAIL SINGREY

While moving into a senior living facility can be scary, Shondel Bennett, executive director of Burgundy Place, urges incoming residents to focus on what they will gain: opportunities for new friends, experiences and adventures. “We think of ourselves as a new beginning,” Bennett says.

A wide range of options exist in Tulsa, from independent living to skilled nursing care — what’s typically thought of as a nursing home — to full-time memory care. Burgundy Place is an independent living facility, Bennett explains. Residents bene t from services such as housekeeping, transportation and safety checks, while still maintaining independence in their own apartments.

Independent living facilities can provide a more comfortable retirement for residents and give families peace of mind, Bennett says. “It can also restore the parent-child relationship,” she says. “Instead of coming over and being the housekeeper, the cook or the lawn care person, the child can visit with their parent.”

Some Tulsa facilities specialize in one level of care like Burgundy Place, while others house multiple options under one roof. Set in the rolling Osage Hills on a wildlife refuge with peacocks wandering the gardens, Saint Simeon’s provides all levels of care.

Kelli James, marketing coordinator for Saint Simeon’s Senior Living Community, says the varied levels of care mean senior couples can stay together even if their needs are di erent.

Broaching the topic of moving into a senior living facility can be intimidating, as children worry about o ending their parents or making them feel a loss of control, James says. Some family members deal with guilt about the transition, but the move often improves seniors’ health, and they can end up more physically and socially active with access to good nutrition and exercise classes.

James recommends approaching the topic with empathy and doing a lot of listening. It’s best to start discussions before there’s a crisis. Bennett says this allows the opportunity to tour facilities and visit with current residents — especially if they have friends who have already made the transition.

A LABOR OF LOVE

For residents and families, putting together the Inverness Voice, a newsletter published monthly about life at Covenant Living at Inverness, has been a labor of love. Current Editor Bob Bristow had loved receiving the Inverness Voice in his mailbox when he rst moved to the facility eight years ago, but then it ended. Bristow waited for about a year for someone else to step up, but no one did.

“I really missed it when it was gone, so I decided to take it on,” Bristow says.

Every month, he compiles news about events at the senior living community, jokes, cartoons and articles of interest to seniors about topics such as health or downsizing. Many residents also submit articles — both news about residents and anniversaries — as well as re ections about the community. roughout the publication, one main theme shines through: It’s all about a local community caring about one another.

One regular contributor, Brenda Carol, ghostwrites a monthly column on behalf of her mother,

Financial planning also determines what someone’s options are as they age. Independent living and assisted living facilities are private pay, with Medicare not kicking in until someone needs skilled nursing services. Bennett reiterates it’s important to have an honest discussion about nancial resources before a family is in a crisis situation.

Many seniors nd themselves surprised by the amenities available as Tulsa facilities seek to redene retirement living. At Saint Simeon’s, the warm saltwater swimming pool remains a favorite, along with nature walks and spotting foxes, deer, and of course its famous peacocks. At Burgundy Place, residents adore Taste Test Tuesday, where they gather and try a new food, ranging from exotic fruits and vegetables to the new Sonic pickle slush. Both facilities o er a wide range of activities with something for everyone — from crafting, to religious services, to wellness programs.

But the best part of retirement living is the community residents build among themselves, while adding personal touches along the way.

“It feels as much like home as possible,” James says. TP

Inverness resident Lena Davidson. Davidson moved to Covenant Living at Inverness Village after the death of her husband, and the newsletter has forged a bond with both her new friends at Inverness and her daughter.

“ e collaboration has brought us much closer together,” Carol says.

Carol and her mother speak on the phone every day, which keeps Carol — a freelance writer living in California — up to date on all the happenings at Inverness. One month, a goose had been spotted frequently pecking at his re ection in the tness center windows, so Carol put together a humorous piece with comparisons to Narcissus from Greek mythology, who was obsessed with his own re ection. Other columns have focused on outings to Crystal Bridges or ne dining around Tulsa.

“It’s been a really interesting way to connect with Mom and all the people who she connects with on a daily basis,” Carol says. “I can explore her world through her eyes even when we’re 1,600 miles away.”

MICHELLE POLLARD

Bob Bristow

Life as it was meant to be lived.

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Sagora Senior Living

Sagora Senior Living • sagora.com

With three communities across the Tulsa area, Sagora Senior Living offers seniors the chance to experience a continuum of care in vibrant, comfortable communities.

Bellarose Senior Living and Aberdeen Heights Assisted Living are pet-friendly communities. On-site amenities and services, including chef-prepared, restaurant-quality meals, fitness centers and house keeping services mean that all your needs are met, allowing you to spend more time with the ones you love – including your fur baby. From taking your pup on a walk through our beautifully landscaped courtyards to spending time at the community bark park, there’s always something to do at a Sagora community.

With Cottages, apartment-style Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care options, your or your loved one is guaranteed to find the perfect fit, whether it be at Aberdeen Heights Assisted Living, Aberdeen Memory Care of Tulsa or Bellarose Senior Living. Tour today to see the Sagora difference and find out which community is the best fit for you!

Furry friends WELCOME

Visitors walking around the Montereau retirement community in Tulsa are likely to encounter lots of wagging tails. Residents and sta are encouraged to bring their own furry companions, and many of the sta dogs are certi ed as therapy dogs. Montereau features amenities to support canine companions, and residents love to take their dogs to Le Bark Park, an on-site dog park.

Jessica Vagin, Abbey director at Montereau, says she’s seen a lot of bene ts to residents. Dogs can help residents stay active, provide companionship and be a calming in uence. Montereau sta also partner with therapy dog programs such as Paw Pals to bring in canine visitors.

“We’re such a pet community,” Vagin says.

While some residents have pets of their own, several dogs live on-site as community pets everyone can enjoy. For example, Bailey, a Chow mix, lives in the Abbey, the memory care neighborhood at Montereau. ese dogs carry on the legacy of the many furry friends who have lived at Montereau over the years. Sta have created the “Wall of Dogs,” a place to honor the memory of former resident dogs.

Vagin says the community dogs can help residents nd purpose. She recalls when one resident, who had been feeling isolated, met Marsh, a black lab. She would take him on walks in the enclosed courtyard and introduce him to people, which helped her to become more social and integrated into the community.

“ e aging process can be di cult,” Vagin says. “We want to do everything we can to improve quality of life and increase the happiness of our residents.”

— ABIGAIL SINGREY

Jessica Vagin, Abbey director at Montereau, with Bailey; Kim Calabrese, lead therapeutic recreation specialist, with Arthur; and Brandi Schomer, business office manager, with Winston

Lone star holiday

A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE FROM TULSA TAKES VISITORS TO THE CHRISTMAS CAPITAL OF TEXAS.

BY RHYS MARTIN

Did you know the town of Grapevine is known as the Christmas Capital of Texas? It even has a little passport you can pick up to help guide your exploration of this historic community during the holiday season. There’s plenty of shopping in and around its historic Main Street district and there’s lots of activities in this Dallas suburb to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

Starting in mid-November and going through the end of the year, the Gaylord Texan Resort goes all-out to provide a winter wonderland experience for visitors. It features fun activities like gingerbread decorating and ice skating, and its interior is covered in intricate decorations and more. One of its most popular attractions is ICE, an indoor walk-through experience carved from over 2 million pounds of the frozen stuff. Parkas are provided — as you can imagine, they keep the area pretty cold. The resort also sits on the south shore of Grapevine Lake; even in winter, the view is lovely and relaxing.

All aboard! Grapevine is also a railroad hub. In addition to modern service, there’s a historic station downtown and some vintage cars that showcase a huge model railroad. For Christmas, a vintage train is converted into the North Pole Express and takes riders on a journey, where goodies are handed out by Santa’s elves and Mrs.

Claus makes an appearance. The ride ends with a visit to Santa at his workshop, complete with a musical performance and photo opportunity.

If you want a meal in a unique spot, check out Willhoite’s Restaurant downtown. Don’t let the modest brick exterior fool you — this former automotive garage was renovated and converted into a restaurant in 1981. As one might imagine, the decor is all themed toward gas stations and automobile history — there’s even an antique Model T sitting over the all-you-can-eat buffet. There’s often live music, so check out willhoites.com before you go.

The Nash Farm sits about half a mile from downtown Grapevine. This heritage museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers interactive activities throughout the year. In December it is home to a variety of seasonal events including a Prairie Christmas where people can come and decorate the farmhouse while enjoying cookies and cider. Check in advance for ticket availability.

The Palace Arts Center is a wonderfully restored art deco venue that dates to the 1940s. Throughout the year, it is the site of live performances, classic film exhibitions and unique local gatherings. At Christmastime it shows a variety of beloved holiday films and offers many musical performances to heighten the yuletide cheer.

TP

NORTH POLE EXPRESS

GRAPEVINE’S MAIN STREET

When I was in the third grade, my mother and I sat on the oor with a stack of coins and she taught me to make change. “If you can make change,” she told me, “you can always get a job.”

In my extended blue-collar family, who were survivors of the Depression, “a good job” were almost sacred words. My uncles were carpenters, truck drivers and farmers. My father was a highwire electrician. My grandmother worked in the school cafeteria. An aunt had the fanciest job of all; she was a telephone switchboard operator.

By the time I was in the sixth grade, I had jobs. I cleaned a teacher’s house on Saturdays. I sold Cloverine salve door to door: “Helps prevent and temporarily protects chapped hands, lips and rough, dry skin.” I had a bicycle route selling Grit newspapers, a folksy independent paper.

Starting in high school I got my rst writing job, a stringer writing a column for a Co eyville, Kansas, weekly newspaper. e downside was I had to deliver the papers, too, in Nowata, Oklahoma, my hometown.

e last two years of high school I had a real job — window trimmer for the local McCroryMcLellan ve and dime store. I attended classes in the mornings, then afternoons, Saturdays and summers I worked in all departments at the dime store. My main job, changing the window displays every few weeks, began with cleaning the

A GOOD JOB

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

great windows of plate glass with alcohol until they were streak free. It so warped my psyche that today I have the dirtiest windows in town.

I earned 60 cents an hour. Ready with my own money, I bought contact lenses, all my clothes and my rst car from an uncle. It was a Hawaiian Bronze Metallic 1957 Ford with a continental kit. Gas then cost 25 cents a gallon.

I attended Co eyville Junior (now Community) College with scholarships and working part time for another weekly newspaper. I made $16 a week. More scholarships brought me to the University of Tulsa where Ed Johnson, head of the journalism department, found me a part-time job with Watts Payne Advertising. I cashed my weekly checks at Skaggs Drug Store downtown and took the bus back to the dorm.

At the ad agency I met the glamorous Barbara Roberts, head of promotion at KTUL-TV, who hired me to be the writer in the promotions department. I watched and learned how she organized amboyant special events.

From Channel 8, I went to the University of Tulsa writing publicity material, teaching journalism writing classes to enthusiastic students (“Dear Ms. Cronley. e reason I didn’t come to class today was because I was depressed already.”) and producing continuing education classes — everything

from a travel class to the Galapagos Islands with Dr. Harriet Barclay to a high stakes’ poker class with champion Bobby Baldwin

After that, general manager at Tulsa Ballet eatre and executive director at Iron Gate soup kitchen. As a side gig, I wrote books. (Note: Unless you’re John Grisham, writing books is not pro table. As an avocation, it’s a hobby like jigsaw puzzles but more work and expense.)

I have had a work career of great adventures and creative freedom. I suspect today’s young workers rarely have such opportunities for inventiveness. Usually, I thought I was underpaid and overworked, but doesn’t that go with the territory? And yet, I have no right to gripe. None at all.

It’s a di erent world now. College costs are exorbitant, housing is scarce and overpriced, too often wages are unlivable.

I read with regret the recent death of Barbara Ehrenreich, author of “Nickel and Dimed.” She joined the millions of Americans working for poverty-level wages — hotel maid, waitress, cleaning woman and Walmart sales clerk — and learned that she needed two jobs if she wanted to live indoors.

People working a 40-hour week at minimum wage cannot a ord a two-bedroom apartment in any state in the United States. is is wrong. We’ve circled back to the Depression Era American Dream, yearning for a good job.

OAK COUNTRY ESTATES

Elegant gated estate situated on approx 2.44 acres. Gorgeous setting on corner lot with mature trees. Grand entry has marble floors,soaring ceiling & sweeping staircase. Formal living & Dining.Great room opens to kitchen with huge island. Master suite with study (or exercise). Upstairs has bedroom with private bath,2 additional bedrooms with pullman bath. Game room. Safe room. Inground Pool. Located near 71st & Hi-way 75 So. just west of Tulsa Hills by Oaks Country Club. $895,000

PRESTON WOODS

Beautiful home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Preston Woods Subdivision in Jenks Southeast School District! True 5 Bedroom home with formal dining, formal living & study. Kitchen opens to den. Master suite with double closets & stunning brand new master spa bath. Large game room + bonus room (could be media or exercise) & 4 spacious bedrooms upstairs with 2 full baths. Extensive hardwoods. Newer paint, carpet & roof. Covered Pergola overlooks a beautiful park-like yard. $572,500

GRAND LAKE

Grand Point, lovely cottage lakefront, 103 feet of shoreline with an easement for marina, .52 acres, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, two-car carport, a wood burning fireplace, access to the lake with a spot to park your boat at the end of the covered boat slips or rent a slip, two covered decks for outdoor living space, vinyl siding which offers very little exterior maintenance. Tile, carpet and laminate floors throughout, new roof and great yard, minimal HOA fee of $85 per month covers yard maintenance and trash, the property allows short-term rental and is just 5 minutes to Reasors! $489,000

MIDTOWN

A pristine Mid Century Modern home built in 1950! Completely and professionally renovated to today’s standards. 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, spacious living/dining combo wall-to-wall windows overlooking the gunite diving pool. Fabulous kitchen with granite counters, and mahogany cabinets. Master bedroom with luxury bathroom. $825,000

MIDTOWN

All brick, well-built, home located on a quiet street in Midtown Tulsa. Master bedroom downstairs, combo living/dining, den with a wood burning fireplace, screened-in patio, and additional living space looking over backyard. Ready for cosmetic updates. 3,393 sq. ft. $419,000

SOUTHRIDGE ESTATES

Large Master suite, a great outdoor deck area, and large rooms. There are several recent updates, new gutters, a new deck. Enjoy your wooded setting in complete privacy! $379,000

GORDON

Smoke show

Nothing says “Oklahoma barbecue joint” quite like smoked bologna. At Leon’s Smoke Shack, which opened a second location earlier this year at 1529 E. Third St., it’s a menu mainstay. Lunch goers can get a bologna sandwich, chips and a drink for only $7. For $2 more you can get a different side option. Another popular dish is the Slap Potato. Choose between a half- or fullpotato with one- to three-meat options ($16-$21). Trust us, you’ll have plenty left over for another meal or two. Be sure to try Leon’s homemade sauce, too. Find the original Leon’s at 601 S. Sheridan Road. TP

DINING OUT

Privy to the pop-up

SIX FOOD CONCEPTS ALIGN WITH EGALITARIAN PRINCIPLES AND AUTHENTIC CUISINE EXPERIENCES.

BY NATALIE MIKLES

If you’ve heard of et al., you’re probably a foodie.

is culinary collaborative, with specialty food concept pop-ups at Foolish ings Co ee Co., is for people who care about what they eat and who is cooking it.

It’s not a place many people happen upon; most people know about the innovations happening at et al. through social media or word of mouth. It’s an if you know, you know manifestation of the Tulsa food scene.

But if you don’t know, no worries. We’ll ll you in on all the details so you can be in on the fun.

For starters, et al. is a collection of six restaurant concepts, plus catering, each led by a di erent chef. Taqueria et al. is open 5-10 p.m., Tuesdays. Dumpling Night is 5-10 p.m., Wednesdays. Japanese Breakfast is 11 a.m., Sundays. Butter Bar is monthly. Bischix is four times a year. And the et al. dinner series — most recently a Peruvian concept called En La Masa — is seasonal.

So what does all this mean?

In practical terms, it means that the next free Tuesday night you have, you need to experience the incredible tacos, made with heirloom eld corn hand-pressed tortillas, at Taqueria et al. And the next free Wednesday night you have, you should savor the hand-formed dumplings and Japanese fried chicken at Dumpling Night. e other concepts require a reservation, so check online for booking information. Butter Bar, for instance, et al.’s dessert tasting menu concept, sells out quickly.

Marco Herrera and Colin Sato are the masterminds behind et al. It was their passion to o er genuine, authentic food while creating a path forward for an equitable food industry that ignited the concept. And their vision sold other Tulsa chefs and creators on the idea.

Herrera and Sato are both Teach for America alumni. Herrera was a teacher and elementary school administrator, which plays a role in both the way he manages et al. and also his vision for collaborative work. Equal to his passion for education was his love of cooking.

Batatas are a red masa tortilla topped with whipped feta and Japanese sweet potatoes sprinkled with salsa macha scallions. Cocktails, like the brown sugar margarita, round out the Taqueria et al. menu.

Sato is known for cooking at cutting edge, high-end restaurants including Nonesuch in Oklahoma City and Oren in Tulsa. He and Herrera also worked together in the kitchen at Vintage Wine Bar downtown.

It was early on in the pandemic when Herrera and Sato started “Food for the Screwed” to help those in the food service industry struggling to get by. Industry workers, whether chefs, bartenders, dishwashers or servers, paid what they were able for good food prepared by Herrera, Sato and others.

at idea of building community is part of what inspired et al., where everyone, from chefs to dishwashers, are paid the same. Herrera says et al.’s values include the idea that “there are no di erences in pro t distribution among the team, regardless of experience. We believe that all labor is valuable.”

But you don’t have to share an interest in the pro t distribution to buy in to what people are really there for — and that’s the food.

e quality of each dish is of the utmost importance to Herrera and Sato. Take Taqueria et al., where tortillas could simply be ordered from a food distributor but are instead made in what is a 20-hour labor of love.

e process of cooking, soaking and grinding heirloom eld corn from Mexico is intense. But the result is the best tortilla of your life. Herrera

makes three types: yellow, blue and red. Each comes from a di erent region in Mexico. ese aromatic tortillas are the perfect base for all the llings Herrera creates. But knowing the process of creating them makes them taste even better. (All tacos and tostadas are $4.50.)

e dumplings at Dumpling Night are the best you’ll nd in town. Each dumpling is hand-folded with about 10 folds. Fillings include pork and chives, using local pork from Prairie Creek Farms, or mushroom and bamboo. ey’re even better topped with Szechuan peppercorn oil. (Six for $9; 10 for $14; mix and match available.)

But beyond dumplings, Wednesday night is also the time to come for Japanese fried chicken ($9), French fries with tonkatsu sauce (condiment commonly served with fried dishes in Japan, similar to Worcestershire sauce) and umami mayo ($7), and ume-oroshi somen, a cold noodle dish with nori, daikon radish and umeboshi (pickled plum condiment) ($8).

One of the most unique dining experiences in Tulsa right now is et al.’s Japanese Breakfast, o ered on Sundays.

“It’s really fun. Eight dishes of Japanese foods you can’t nd around Tulsa,” Herrera says.

e menu often changes but includes foods inspired by chef Sato’s favorite childhood breakfast, including miso soup, steamed rice, half-cured salmon, hot spring eggs in dashi, homemade

pickles, green tea and more. With a reservation, cost is $35 per person.

“Across the board, everything is rigorous, really consistent and dialed in,” Herrera says.

He says diners have told him eating at et al. feels like eating in someone’s home, both for the warmth and the feeling that not everyone yet knows about this hidden gem.

e best way to follow along with all that’s happening at et al. is through social media or by signing up for text messages to get alerts on news and to nd out when reservations are open for special dinners.

Team members at et al. include Caitlin Woods, Sam Luna, Parker Owen, Garett Lewis, Josh Knorr, Peter Greve, Chloe Butler, Julia Johnson, Alex Koch and Aaron Loud. TP et al.

Check online for dates for Butter Bar, Bischix and the dinner series.

Go to etaltulsa.com or text 918-233-8604 to sign up for et al. news and updates.

TAQUERIA ET AL. (TUESDAYS), DUMPLING NIGHT (WEDNESDAYS) AND JAPANESE BREAKFAST (SUNDAYS) ARE HELD AT FOOLISH THINGS COFFEE CO., 1001 S. MAIN ST.

Pan-seared pork and nira dumplings with gyoza sauce

Peanut butter and jelly toast

Lower right, some of the people behind the et al. concept are Sam Luna, Josh Knorr, Chloe Butler, Aaron Loud, Parker Owen and Peter Greve.

Turkey’s best accessories

Thanksgiving is game day for cooks everywhere. Whether you’re pulling out the china and carving the turkey Norman Rockwell-style at the dinner table or having a simple Friendsgiving with a holiday-inspired charcuterie board and a turkey breast, go all out. Cook what makes you and your guests happy.

You’ll nd a million ideas online and in magazines for how to create the perfect anksgiving dinner. Many of these ideas are great, but think about what you love. Maybe that’s the oyster kimchi dressing you tried last year. Or maybe it just wouldn’t be anksgiving without your grandma’s recipe for cranberry u .

If you’re looking for something new to make this holiday, consider one of these recipes, which might be newcomers to your table, but are classic enough to t with any traditional menu.

— NATALIE MIKLES

A splash of bourbon makes a traditional pecan pie even better, and it might even make you the most popular person at your anksgiving feast.

BOURBON PECAN PIE

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 eggs

2 tablespoons bourbon

1 1/4 cups pecan halves

1 (9-inch) pie crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine syrup, brown sugar, salt, butter and vanilla, mixing well. Add eggs, one at a time, until

fully incorporated. Mix in bourbon.

Fit pie dough into 9-inch pie pan. Pour mixture into pie shell. Sprinkle the pecans over the top. Bake 45-50 minutes. e center should move slightly when shaken.

Sweet potatoes are a must at many anksgiving tables. I’ve roasted them, topped them with marshmallows and covered them in brown sugar. But this combination of sweet and savory, with a hint of brandy, is my favorite.

BRANDIED SWEET POTATOES Serves 6-8

5 sweet potatoes (about 4 1/2 pounds)

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup brandy

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 tablespoon orange zest

1 cup nely chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter or spray a 7-by-11-inch baking dish. Peel potatoes and slice into quarters.

Bring water to a boil in a large stock pot. Boil sweet potatoes until tender, 20-30 minutes. Drain.

Place potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Beat until mashed, then add sugar, brandy, butter, salt, nutmeg, ginger and pepper, and beat well. Spoon into baking dish.

Drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle with orange zest and pecans. Bake 30 minutes.

Make these the day before to save yourself some prepping on the holiday. You’ll be glad to have the potatoes made and out of the way. You can also keep them warm in a slow cooker. Top with browned butter for the ultimate in potato luxury.

MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES Serves 8

5 pounds potatoes, peeled and quartered

1/2 block cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon onion salt

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

In a large pot, cover potatoes with water, and boil until tender. Drain well.

Mash potatoes until smooth. Add cream cheese, sour cream, butter, onion salt, kosher salt and pepper, beating until smooth and u y. Spoon into 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Serve right away, or cover, then place in the refrigerator for up to two days. When ready to bake, set out at room temperature while preheating oven. Bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees or until heated through.

Brandied sweet potatoes

FARE PAIR

As turkey day approaches, many are prepping their tables and menus, looking for the perfect drink and dish pairings.

“As supply chains have been impacted over the past few years, we have experienced issues getting some products, however as long as customers are willing to consider alternatives, we have plenty to recommend,” says Andrea Gardner, general manager of Tulsa Hills Wine Cellar, 7422 S. Olympia Ave. “If customers are set on a specific product, it is smart to begin looking early.”

For the Thanksgiving table, she suggests a variety to please the many palates. Pinot noir, like Darms Lane ($44), goes well with dark- and light-meat turkey and its red fruit flavors accentuate cranberry sauce nicely.

Château-Thivin — Côte de Brouilly ($33) is a Beaujolais, a variety popular this time of year due to the timing of its annual release. This option has balanced acidity, earthy notes and medium body that complements the flavors of turkey.

“A creamy, buttery white wine like an oaked chardonnay sits well at the Thanksgiving table,” says Gardner, who suggests Long Meadow Ranch chardonnay ($39) from Anderson Valley, California.

Those opting for ham should try a rose like the Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel ($22) for its crispness that will cut through a rich honey-glazed ham.

For the beer drinkers, have an amber ale such as Dead Armadillo’s Amber on hand. Oktoberfest brews also are popular in the fall; try Prost from Cabin Boys.

Gardner says her staff can help anyone find the perfect libation for the holidays.

— ANNE BROCKMAN

All dogs go to INHERITANCE

Pets are always welcome at downtown’s Inheritance Juicery. But the good dogs know the best time to come is from 3-6 p.m., Monday-Friday for Yappy Hour. That’s when doggies can order a Pup’kin Bowl ($7), a pup-friendly treat with blueberries, pumpkin, oats, hemp hearts, peanut butter, coconut oil and dog treats.

Inheritance is a plant-based restaurant and likes to say with a wink that only live animals are allowed. It’s a super pet-friendly environment.

Yappy Hour coincides with Inheritance’s Happy Hour, with specials on nachos, tacos, chips and guacamole, juice four-packs and juice flights. There also are organic cocktails.

Inheritance, 108 S. Detroit Ave., has an inviting indoor space and plenty of outdoor seating for those beautiful fall afternoons.

— NATALIE MIKLES

MORE OF A GOOD THING

We’re always in favor of having more of a good thing.

So it was welcome news to find out Trenchers, 2602 S. Harvard Ave., will be expanding. That means more hours, more space, more food and more of the quirky personality that has built such a following for the once fledgling sandwich shop.

Trenchers opened almost 10 years ago, with praise for its lobster roll, Cuban and other loaded sandwiches. Those sandwiches, and many others, will remain. But Zach and Melinda Curren, founders and current owners, thought it was time to add to what they’ve already created.

Hours will expand from 8 a.m.-1 a.m., with the addition of breakfast items like pancakes, breakfast tacos, a chicken and waffle breakfast sandwich, and grab-and-go items. A panini burger will be added to the lunch menu.

The expansion to the south gives Trenchers more seating and more space for serving dinner, which will feature a different special each night of the week, repeated

weekly. The plan includes Tunisian chickpea soup on Monday, al pastor on Tuesday, pork gyros on Wednesday, Thanksgiving favorites on Thursday, paella on Friday, Ethiopian on Saturday and Peruvian chicken on Sunday.

“I’m wanting it to be a place where parents can get a beer or wine while their kids are having fun, too,” says Zach, who plans to have Nintendo games, bean bags and a shuffleboard table at the expanded location.

At 10 p.m., the northside of Trenchers will close and the new southside will serve a full bar and paninis until close.

If you’ve never been, reading the menu at Trenchers will give you an idea of the vibe. Zach leans in to the sometimes ridiculous nature of online restaurant reviews, printing some of the funniest right on the menu. “Nothing makes me happy,” reads one. “My wife was disturbed by your street rap music and we will be taking our money to a safer deli,” reads another.

— NATALIE MIKLES

Trenchers’ expansion means more space and extended hours, as well as new specials and menu items.

Kida enjoys a Pup’kin Bowl at downtown’s Inheritance Juicery.

Four-legged lunch date

DOG-FRIENDLY SPOTS AND MENU ITEMS

Elote’s patio is a dream for humans and pets. There are twinkly lights and a quiet, covered area for conversation and people-watching. Fur babies are treated like royalty at Elote, where a Doggie Bowl ($4.99) — chicken and rice served in a Frisbee — is on the menu just for your fourlegged friends. For humans, Elote is known for its puffy tacos, chile verde burrito and white queso. After dinner, walk your dog down South Boston Avenue toward the Williams Green for some wide open space. 514 S. BOSTON AVE. | 918-582-1403 | ELOTETULSA.COM

Pamper your pet with brunch or lunch at Blue Moon Cafe. The Brookside spot feels like a lived-in neighborhood cafe, where the waitstaff knows you and your dog by name. Patio regulars who bring their pets with them will tell you it's true. But you don’t have to be a regular to get treatment of the highest pedigree. Blue Moon provides water bowls and treats. For their humans, try the omelets, French toast, huevos rancheros or legendary morning buns. 3512 S. PEORIA AVE. | 918-749-7800 |

BLUEMOONTULSA.COM

Wild Fork was one of the first Tulsa restaurants to accommodate people and their pets. They were dogfriendly before it was a thing. Waiters at Wild Fork are accommodating to dogs, bringing out water bowls for patio pets. For the two-leggeds at the table, we’re big fans of Wild Fork’s salmon salad with spinach, almonds, feta, crispy potatoes and honey-Dijon vinaigrette. Tip for blue cheese fans: Substitute for the blue cheese vinaigrette. The shrimp and pimento cheese grits, topped with a poached egg, is another excellent choice. 1820 UTICA SQUARE | 918-742-0712 | WILDFORKTULSA.COM

— NATALIE MIKLES

STEAK

Savor the fl avor with these prime picks that won honors in the annual A-LIST Readers’ Choice Awards.

Mahogany Prime Steakhouse 4840 E. 61st St., 918-494-4043 mahoganyprimesteakhouse.com

Bull in the Alley 201 N. Main St., 918-949-9803 bullinthealley.com

PRHYME 111 N. Main St., 918-794-7700 prhymetulsa.com

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar 1976 Utica Square, 918-712-7500 fl emingssteakhouse.com

The Spudder Restaurant 6536 E. 50th St., 918-665-1416 thespudder.com

Ruth’s Chris Steak House 8330 Riverside Parkway, 918-995-8600 ruthschris.com

Polo Grill 2038 Utica Square, 918-744-4280 pologrill.com

WILD FORK

BLUE MOON CAFE

PRHYME

MICHELLE POLLARD

Bacon cheddar BBQ burger

Grab a napkin

Piled high with haystack onion rings, this burger packs a punch with tangy and sweet barbecue sauce plus plenty of crunch from crisp bits of bacon ($9.45, burger; $15.05, combo).

Beyond burgers

Other than burgers, Flo’s serves up favorites like Frito chili pie, loaded Polish sausage and a Wednesday and Thursday night special of chicken fried steak. There’s also a kids’ menu.

SOUND BITE

AMBER LUKO

Server at Nola’s, 1334 E. 15th St.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT NOLA’S?

I have worked at Nola’s for a little over three years.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE NOLA’S IN A SENTENCE?

An atmosphere where you go for the beautiful decor, delicious drinks, spicy Cajun food and good times.

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR DISH YOU SERVE? Definitely the Voodoo Chicken.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DISH?

That is a hard one, but probably the crab cakes. They are so tasty.

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR DRINK?

The Hurricane, which is house barrel-aged rose rock rum, house-made fassionola syrup (hibiscus, mango, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberry) and fresh lime juice.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DRINK ON THE MENU?

Pick a side

You can’t go wrong with Flo’s fresh-cut fries, but one of several side options like the fried mushrooms, fried pickles, fried jalapeños or tater tots also would be a great choice.

My favorite drink is either the French 75 or the Marvologave. If I’m feeling spicy, I go for the Marvologave (house-infused jalapeño tequila, passion fruit, agave nectar, fresh lime juice).

If I’m feeling girly and fancy, I go for the French 75 (cognac or gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, sparkling wine).

NOLA’S HAS A POPULAR BRUNCH. WHAT’S THE MUST-HAVE DISH ON THAT MENU?

Nola’s brunch is a vibe! People love the Voodoo Chicken and Waffles. But some other good items to try are the pain perdu (stuffed French toast), crab on crab Benedict or boudin Scotch eggs.

ANY TIPS FOR DINERS?

Make it Voodoo. You won’t be disappointed. Also get the beignets or bread pudding that’s served with our butter rum sauce.

— TIM LANDES

GOTHIC GRANDEUR

STORY AND COMPOSITE IMAGE BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS

In November 1903, at the home of Tulsa businessman Dan Hunt, the rst service was held for what would become Trinity Episcopal Church.

e congregation would continue to hold services at various locations until 1905 when land was purchased at East Fifth Street and South Cincinnati Avenue to construct an o cial house of worship.

e rst service in this new church was o cially held on April 1, 1906. e church had a capacity of 200 people and was built at the cost of $3,500. e church soon outgrew the modest establishment, and as early as 1919 plans for a newer and much larger church were underway.

Because of the congregation’s large size, e Majestic eater on Main Street was a temporary home to the church for more than two years.

In May 1921, a seven-day campaign called “Beautiful Trinity” raised $300,000 to build a new church. e incentive to Tulsans was to continue adding to the unique makeup of downtown buildings, while also adding to the collection of magni cent churches.

e successful campaign allowed construction to begin immediately. By June 4, 1922, the rst service was held in the substructure/basement of the building, and a formal dedication of the building eventually took place on May 9, 1926.

TP

Early image of Trinity Episcopal Church located on the southeast corner of East Fifth Street and South Cincinnati Avenue. The church began construction in 1921 and was completed fi ve years later. It is an excellent example of English Gothic architecture.

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Martin Luther King,

Simeon’s is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma