Tulsa World Magazine Fall 2022

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WORLD MAGAZINE

FALL 2022

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE 50

See our sta ’s annual picks for the latest and greatest Tulsa has to o er. Find trendy shops, new eateries, exciting events and more.

Left: Get your fill of snacks and sweets at La Michoacana Plus. MANUELA SOLDI, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Cover photo: Jane’s Delicatessen o ers the Dick Richardson burger with pastrami, sauerkraut, cheese curds and more.

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Cover design: TIM CHAMBERLIN, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

20 Achieving a dream: Wes Studi, the Academy Award-winning Cherokee actor, left his hometown in northeast Oklahoma for Hollywood.

ALSO INSIDE

7

AT HOME: A Cherokee stained-glass artisan is making her business work for her.

16

DISTRICT: Bixby’s Downtown River District is a link to the city’s renewal.

60

Life in Native America: Former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller continues to make news.

66

Fashion forward: The fashion merchandising program is setting trends at Oklahoma State University.

72

TULSA TRAILBLAZERS: William Skelly was integral in the growth of oil industry and Tulsa football.

74

THE MOMENT: Tulsa World photographers tell the story behind a photo.

78

OKLAHOMA MADE: Pecan season looks bountiful for this fall, a local grower says.

85

LET’S GO: Celebrate fall with festivals, arts events, concerts and more.

FROMTHE EDITOR

Falling for the best of Tulsa

I.t is appropriate that the Tulsa World Magazine 50 is printed in the fall.

The Tulsa World Magazine 50 is the list of things we are loving about Tulsa. It’s a roll call of mostly new and trending things to try and places to go with a few classic favorites thrown in for good measure.

Nicole Marshall Middleton

Tulsa World Magazine Editor

But without a doubt, the thing I’m loving most about Tulsa right now is the fall. At least, things were looking up weather-wise at press time.

That summer we had this year! Not a fan.

Not a fan of 100-degree temps. And especially not a fan of 100-degree temps back to back for weeks on end.

So I hope you can get out and enjoy some of our 50 recommendations now that the weather is not trying to fry us all to bits every time we leave the house.

Another story that I’m excited to share with readers is Jimmie Tramel’s profile of Wes Studi, also known as “Bucky” to “Reservation Dogs” fans. Studi is the original “Reservation Dog,” and Jimmie tells you why.

The feature includes some very cool, exclusive-to-theTulsa-World photos of Studi in his younger days.

Tulsa World Magazine is a specialty publication of the Tulsa World, 315 S. Boulder Ave., Tulsa, OK 74103.

This magazine is published with the September 25, 2022, edition of the World. All content copyright Tulsa World 2022. The contents may not be reproduced without permission.

NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON Editor

nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com

STACEY DICKENS Assistant Editor

stacey.dickens@tulsaworld.com

TOM GILBERT Photo Editor

JOHN WALBLAY Page Editor

Additional copies of Tulsa World Magazine can be found at the Tulsa World or at local retailers. Annual magazine subscriptions are $19.80 for four issues. To subscribe or have single issues mailed for $4.95, go to tulsaworldmagazine.com or call 918-581-0921.

After a brutally hot summer, it’s finally time for fall.

We also have a good read from Jacob Factor about Wilma Mankiller, the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. This Oklahoma icon and pioneer continues to make headlines even after her death.

Grace Wood has written a fun feature about the Oklahoma State University fashion merchandising program. These students and their professor are behind the evolution of fashion as we know it.

This issue also has news about the fall pecan crop. Will there be enough Pawnee and Kanza pecans this year for pecan pie? Read on.

Enjoy the fall edition!

ADVERTISE IN TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

To advertise, call 918-581-8509 or email Libby First at libby.first@tulsaworld.com

WANT MORE TWM?

Don’t want to miss a copy of Tulsa World Magazine? Make sure you get them all by subscribing to the Tulsa World at tulsaworld.com/subscribe.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Catching

Cherokee stained-glass artisan is making her business work for her

at home

Every day, it seems, a di erent news story focuses on the economic fallout and COVID-19-related crises a ecting another segment of American society.

Small-business entrepreneur and Cherokee artist Brandi Lee knows the trials and tribulations all too well.

The owner of Agitsi Stained Glass at 3417 S. 113th West Ave. in Sand Springs, Lee signed the lease on her shop in February 2020 and opened soon after — just as the pandemic was reaching a fever pitch in Oklahoma.

A third-generation stained-glass artist, she quickly got creative about how to make enough money to pay the rent at Agitsi, which is pronounced ah-GEE’-chee and means “my mother” in Cherokee.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Brandi Lee works on a Tulsa flag stained glass piece at Agitsi.

Sharon Bishop-Baldwin // Tulsa World Magazine lightthe

Lee sells supplies for making stained glass. She offers adult and youth classes in making stained glass. She does custom stained-glass work as well as repairs. And she has a retail space for her own works of art and those by other Native artisans.

A hot seller continues to be the “agitsi feather,” a beaded, stained-glass feather that has become her signature item.

Everything in the gift shop, whether made by Lee or by another of the Native artists whose work she sells on consignment, is made by hand and TERO-certified, which means a tribe or tribal entity guarantees the authenticity of the artist and craftsmanship.

“When it’s labeled Native American art (with TERO certification), you can assume you’re buying from a Native artist,” she said.

It might seem like Lee has a lot of irons in the fire, with the classes, the retail side of the operation and the custom orders, but it’s the very diversity of Agitsi Stained Glass that has helped keep the store afloat during tough economic times.

“I still don’t have a paycheck,” Lee said, adding that “people really aren’t buying a whole lot of art right now.”

“But the studio has carried itself.

And when the classes slowed down, (interest in) the supplies increased.”

Lee, however, has never slowed down.

She got active in the Stained Glass Guild of Oklahoma, becoming its president — “We went from about six members to 65 because I’m a good cheerleader” — and she got involved with Our Native American Business Network.

The national organization works with Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities to support and empower aspiring entrepreneurs through curriculum and training.

Lee has attended four ONABEN seminars around the country, and ONABEN named her store its 2021 Woman Owned Business of The Year.

It’s her budding business acumen, in fact, that will be leading Lee next year to a new location — the Art Emporium 66 at 2615 W. 40th Place, right off Southwest Boulevard in Tulsa’s Red Fork District.

“I love Sand Springs and really wanted to stay here,” she said, “but

(being on) Route 66 will give us the opportunity to be in a tourism area,” especially during the run-up to the 2026 centennial celebration of the Mother Road.

“We’ve outgrown this space, and we really don’t get any foot traffic here,” she said. “But it’s been a great place to grow. Sand Springs is Tulsa’s best-kept secret.”

Lee said the plan is to “finish out here and have a good Christmas sale and then move in January.”

She said she’s also looking forward to a new burst of creativity.

“Stained glass has been used throughout our culture to tell stories,” she said.

Specifically, Lee has in mind works that will feature Selu, the corn goddess, and Uktena, a horned serpent.

“There’s all kinds of Cherokee folklore that I want to tell through my pieces,” she said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Agitsi is a stained glass shop in Sand Springs that offers classes and gifts. Everything in the gift shop is TERO-certified, which means a tribe or tribal entity guarantees the authenticity of the artist and craftsmanship.

STEPHEN PINGRY PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

JENNIFER&JASONJOHNSON

Howtomakeyour garageworkforyou

ExpertsatGarageInnovationscreate

Haveyoueverthoughtofyourgarageasanextensionofyour home?Freeingupthatfloorspacecouldturnyourgarage fromclutteredchaostofunctionalfengshuiforyourtoolsand knickknacks.

That’swhereGarageInnovationsstepsinwithapersonalizedtouch andaffordablesolutions.Storageforstragglinggaragegizmosissimplified whilestayingaestheticallypleasing.

Solutionsincludefloorcoatings,overhead/atticstorage,slatwalland custom-builtcabinets.

Theyoffernumerousdifferentoptionsasfarasthematerialgoes: woodcabinets,severaldifferentlinesofsteelcabinetry,aswellas stainlesssteel.

“Westartedinstallingstoragecabinetsin2004inthegarage.We startedmanufacturingourowngaragecabinetsin2006.Havingthe flexibilityofmanufacturingourowncabinetshasreallybeenbeneficialto ourcustomersthroughtheyears,”saidJasonJohnson,co-ownerofGarage Innovations.

Johnsonspecializesincreatingcalmandorderinaspace,andhesaid it’sallaboutfunctionandmaximizingsquarefootage.

“It’sgoingtoeliminateclutter.Theclutterthatyousee,whether youhavestuffsittingrightnowonopenshelving,itstilllookscluttered becauseit’snotbehinddoors,orifit’sjuststufflayingalloverthegarage floor,”hesaid.

Johnsonquicklylearnednearly20yearsagothatcustomers’ motivationfortheirstoragesolutionsisn’tjusttohaveapristineworkshop.

“Now,mostpeopleusethatgarageasthemainentranceintoa house,”hesaid.

Johnsonsaidthatmanyofhisclientshaveexpressedthattheywould likethegaragetoreflecttherestoftheirhome,especiallyifitisafirst impressionforguests.

“Theywantittobecleanandorganizedjustliketherestoftheir house,”hesaid.

Homeownerstransferitemsfrominsideifthey’reoutofpantryspace orclosetspace,Johnsonsaid.Theyextendtheirlivingspacewitha custom-madeclosettotidyuptheirwardrobe.

“Iftheyareoutofclosetspace,webuildclosetssotheycanhangup clothes,”hesaid.

Creatinganoperativecenterinunusedgaragespace,asopposedto buildingontoanexistingbedroomtoaddmoreclosetarea,couldendup savingthousandsofdollars,hesaid.

“Wehaveourownmanufacturingfacilitywherewemakethemand soitgivescustomerstheoptiontoselectnumerousdifferentsizesand differentfinishesthatreallyfitintothespacethattheyhaveavailable,” headded.

Johnsonsaidsafetyisanotherbenefitofcustomcabinets,whether removingtrippinghazardsorputtingawaypotentiallypoisonousmaterial.

“Alotofchemicalsinthegarage,especiallypeoplethathavesmall children,ifthey’vegotyardchemicals,paintchemicals,sittingrighton thefloor,itcanbeaworryforthemthatthekidsaregoingtogetintoit,” hesaid.

Evenifyouareabletodriveintoyourgaragewithease,Jasonsaid clientshavetoldhimthatlooseitemshavefallenoveranddamagedtheir vehicle,causingthousandsofdollarsofbodydamagerepairs.

“Thereasontheycalleduswastheyhadsomethingthatwasleaning upagainstthewallanditdentedandscratchedtheircar,”hesaid.

AnotherpointJohnsonemphasizedisthatgettingagarageupdated withcustom-builtcabinetswillsetahomeapartfromothersonthe market.

“Idefinitelyhavetestimoniesthatitswayedpeopletobuytheirhouse overanotherone,”hesaid.

Garageinnovationswillgiveyouafreeestimateforcustomized cabinetstofityourbudget,styleandneeds.

Ifyoudecidetohaveyourfloordoneaswell,Johnsonrecommends installingthecabinetsfirst.

“Youcantakeallthisstuffthat’ssittingonyourfloor,puttheminthe cabinets,thenwecanactuallygettothefloortodothefloorcoating,”he said.

Fromtheirwebsite,garageinnovation.com,here’showtheprocess works:

1.Getyourfreein-homeconsultation

2.Cleanoutyourgarage

Formoreinformation,calltheTulsaofficeat 918-872-7990orvisitonlineatgarageinnovation.comforafree in-homeconsultation.4560W57thStreetTulsa,OK74107

Fallisforfloors

ExpertsatGrigsby’sCarpetTile&Hardwoodoffersthelatesttrends

Fallisanothertimetochangethings

upwitharemodelleadingintothe holidayseason,accordingtoPenny Carnino,directorofoperationsat Grigsby’sCarpetTile&Hardwood.

“Iwouldstartsoonerratherthanlater. Whereassomeofthebackorderissuesarealot betternow,therearestillsomeproductsthatwe stillhaveissueswith,buttheindustryoverallis gettingcaughtup,”shesaid.

Advancesinconstructionandaesthetics haveproducedfashionableproductsthatare bothdurableandaffordable.

Luxuryvinylplankisstillpopularinthe mainareasofthehouse,Carninosaid,because itisnotonlyfamilyandpetfriendly,it’swarm underfoot.

“Westillseealotofcarpetinthe bedroomsandtheaterrooms,”shesaid.

Naturalcolorscontinuetobetrend-setters.

“We’restillseeingalotofnaturalcolors. Wheregrayswerereallystrongpreviously, they’vejustbecomealittlesofter.Trendsare goingmorenaturalnowratherthanquiteso gray.Sooverall,spacesarewarmingupjusta littlebit,”shesaid.

Whileeachroomofthehousehasa differentflooringneed,luxuryvinylplank isveryversatileandcanbeusedinmany applications.

Vinyloffersabroadselectionof fashionablecolors,patternsandtexturesthat offerdurabilityandeasymaintenance.Manyof thesestylishnewproductsemulatethelookof naturalstone,slateorceramictileandcanfit intoanybudget.

It’salsoverydurable.Vinylisconstructed ofseveraldifferentlayers:thewearlayer, theprintedordecorativelayer,aninnercore consistingofafoamandvinyllayeranda backing.

Withtheluxuryvinylplank,it’simportant torememberthatthoseproductsarewaterproof topically,butwillnotbeabletotakeonfullon floods.

“Youhavealinebreak,yourdishwasher leaksorsomethinglikethatandwatergets

underneaththeflooring,itneedstocomeup becausethepossibilityofmoldisthereifit doesn’tgetdriedout.”

“Atleastinthemainlivingspaceofthe house,thoseluxuryvinylproductsarecertainly morekidfriendlyandpetfriendly.When accidentshappen,theycancleanthemrightup andtherearenoissueswiththeflooring,”she said.

Forthekitchenandbathspaces,Carnino saidtileisstillthetrend,andmanyaregoing withthemarblelook.

Ifyouarepreparingtoremodelforthe holiday,shesaidyouneedtostartnow-shop earlyanddecideearly.

“Don’twait.Youreallyneedtodetermine whatyoureallywant,whatyourplanis,what yourdreamforthespaceisnow,soyoucansee ifit’savailable,”shesaid.

Flooringistypicallythelastitemonthe upgradeslisttobeinstalled.Butitcouldtake monthstoreceiveifitneedstobeordered.

“That’softentimeswhenpeoplegetinto trouble.Becausetheflooringisthelastthing tobeinstalled,peopletendtodelayorderingit andchoosingit,andthensomeone’sunhappy becausewhattheychoseiseitheronbackorder ornolongeravailable,”shesaid.

Carninosaidthatmanypeoplebringin fabricswatchesandpaintsamplestohelpwith thedecision-makingprocess.

“Sincewehavealloftheflooringoptions andandhaveallthetileoptions,youcandoall ofyourplanningandorderinghere.Italways helpstohavethosethingsonhandandinfront ofyouwhenyou’retryingtochoose,”shesaid.

Grigsby’skeepsthemorepopularluxury vinylplankinstocksothateagercustomers don’thavetowaitfortheorderandinstallation. Formoreinformationortosetupafree estimate,visitGrigsby’sshowroomlocated at4417S.SheridanRd.,goonlineat grigsbys.comorcall918-627-6996.

Emailusyour questions atexpert@ tulsaworld.com, andourexpert willansweronour TulsaWorldScene Facebookpage!

PENNYCARNINO DirectorofOperations Grigsby’sCarpet,Tile&Hardwood

VideoRevolution’sstaffknowthe optionsbetterthananyoneelse Yourlocaltechnologyexpertmatchmakers

IftheTVworldisadatingsite,thestaff

atVideoRevolutionarethetechnology matchmakers.

Inthehugeworldofelectronics,one ofthebiggestthingstheystriveforisfindingthe rightproductfortherightperson.

AustinMorton,projectmanageratVideo Revolution,saidtheteamstaysontopofthe newesttechnologies.

“Wehavetoknowbothourendconsumer aswellastheproductsthemselvestogetthem thebestmatchthatwecan,”Mortonsaid.

Mortonaddedthatforconsumerstotryto interprettheindividualproducts,howtheywork andwhytheywork,itcangetoverwhelming.

“Youcanreallygetacateredexperience bycominginandlisteningtosomeonewho knowswhatthey’vebeentrainedonand actuallyknowtheproductlinereallywell,” hesaid.“Alotofcustomersaskuswhatwego throughasfarasformalandinformaltraining totryandstaycurrentwiththemarket andtrends.”

Actualhands-onexperience,Mortonsaid, iscrucialingettingfamiliarwithproducts. Havingthemostcurrenttechnologieson displayintheirshowroomatalltimesallows theirentiresalesteamtobeveryhands-on. CustomerserviceispriorityNo.1.

“Customerswillsometimescomebackin afterthey’vepurchasedaTVandsay,‘Iwould liketohookupmyBluetoothheadphonesto thisTV.HowdoIdoit?’andwecantakethem backphysicallytoeithertheTVtheyboughtor averysimilarTVandshowtheminthesettings wheretheycangotoenableanddisablethose settingsandhowtomanagethem,”Mortonsaid.

ManufacturerssupportandtraintheVideo Revolutioncrewsmultipletimesthroughoutthe yeartodiscussproductsandbestpractices.

“Theywillscheduletwotofivehours withustocomein,answerquestions.Wecan tellcustomerstocomeinandspecificallyask questionsaswell,”hesaid.“Manufacturers actuallylistentousforrecommendations. Moreoftenthannot,wegivefeedbackthat themanufacturercanactuallyimplementby makingchangesorimprovingthem,”hesaid.

Mortonsaidthatmanufacturersare curioushowcustomerswanttointerfacewith productsandoffermultiplelevelsofexperience withthesameproducts.

“Ifyouwantthingstoworkfromavery simpleandergonomicstandpoint,theycan, butatthesametimethey’renottakingaway featuresfrompeoplethatreallywanttodivein andcustomizetheirexperienceaswell,” hesaid.

TheVideoRevolutiontrainedteam, Mortonsaid,reallyliveandbreathethis technology.

“Ifyouaskthemwhattheyhaveintheir ownhouse,they’llhappilytellyou,‘Irunthese brandsofproductsorthisbrandofspeaker andhere’swhy’andalotofitboilsdownto preference,butsometimesthere’ssomelittle nuancesastowhycertainproductsworkbetter forsomepeoplethanothers,”headded.

Hesaidthatemployeesatbigboxstores mightjustreadoffabrochure,buttheteamat VideoRevolutionofferstheirfirst-hand,realworldexperience.

Mortonsaidthathe’sseeingtrendsin outdoorentertainmentsystemsfromsoundto affordability.Duringfootballseason,peoplestill wanttoentertainoutside,buttheyworryabout multipledisplays,howtomakethesoundcome throughtheoutsidespeakers.

Staffwilldesignan“big-picturegame plan”sothatyouareabletocompleteaproject insteps.

“Weintentionallydesignoursystems sotheycanbebuiltuponandthatwaythe customerisneverputintoacornerwhere they’retryingtoreplacethingstheyjust purchasedafewyearsago,”hesaid.“Used tobe,outdoorTV’swereoutofreachofmost households,andnowtherearemultiple manufacturersthatmakethematmanyprice pointsandit’salotmoreattainableforan averagehouse,”hesaid.

Formoreinformationonfindingtherightproducttofityour needs,visityourlocaltechnologyexpertmatchmakersat VideoRevolutioninpersonat7030S.LewisAve,online videorevolution.com,orcall918-495-0586.

OwassoLiquor&Wineishome tothebiggestbeerfridgeinOK

Expertsarethebestplacetogetreadyforfall

Pigskinseasonsignalsforpumpkinbeersand darkerbrewstokickofffallfootballwatchparties andtailgating.

Iftherewasaspiritsectionofliquorstores,we foundit.Since1991OwassoLiquor&WineownerAndy O’Nealhassuppliedtheareawithalargelistofdiverse productswhilehoninginonpersonalizedservice.

“Welookforwardtothekickoffofcollegefootball,high schoolfootball,everythingelse,”O’Nealsaid.

Goingintothefallsportsseason,OwassoLiquor& Wineispreparedforeverythingyouneedforyourgameday tailgatingpartyorhomewatchparty.

“Beerwise,wehaveoneofthebiggestbeerselectionsin thestate.Wehavethebiggestbeerfridgeinthestate,and wehavemorerefrigeratedproductthananybody,”hesaid.

Theone-stop-shopdestinationhasthoughtofeverything youneed–evenice.Though,youmightnotevenneedit.

O’Nealsaidtherefrigerationsetshisbusinessapart.

“We’reyourpartyheadquarters!We’vealreadygotyour spiritscoldsoyoucancontinuetowardyourdestination. Asthemostrefrigeratedliquorstoreinthestate,wehave thatabilitytogetstufflast-minuteortoorderaheadandfill thoseordersasneeded,”hesaid.

Ifyou’reheadedoutoftownforgameday,callinyour orderandpickitupcurbside.Deliveryisalsoavailable.

“Wecanleavethekegsintherefrigeratorthatwebuilt untilthelastminuteandit’llsaveyoumoneyoniceoryou havetheoptionifyouhavethatmanypeople,youdon’teven havetoiceitdownbecauseit’sgoingtostaycoldthreeto fourhoursafterwepullitoutofthefridge,”O’Nealsaid.

Ifakegisn’tyourthing,choosefromavarietyofbeer optionsavailableforalltastes.

OWNER

OwassoLiquor&Wine

Emailusyourquestionsat expert@tulsaworld.com,andour expertwillansweronourTulsa WorldSceneFacebookpage!

“Yougetacoupleofdifferentcasesofbeersoyouhave aselectioninsteadofdrinkingonebeer.Noteverybody drinksMichelobUltra.Noteverybody drinksBudLightor whatever,socominginhereandgettinganassortmentgets youalittlebitfurther,”headded.

OwassoLiquor&Winealsodeliversforspecialevents, suchasfallweddings.“Wedelivericecolddayof,andwe don’tmessthemup.There’salotofstuffthatgoesintothat fallseasongettingreadyfortheholidays,”hesaid.

Forwatchparties,theyhavethesameapproachas weddings.“Youhavetheoptiontoputaliquoritemoryou cangowithjustwineorbeerandsaveyousomemoney,” hesaid.

O’Nealsaidthateverybodyisdifferentwhenitcomesto drinkpreferences,socheckouttheirFacebookpageforthe nexttastingsinthestore.

“Everyseason’sgotalittlebitdifferentflavor. Westartsellingalittlelesstequilaandrumandalotmore whiskyandtraditionalAmericanbourbon,”headded.

Thespiritsquad,alsoknownastheknowledgeablestaff atOwassoLiquor&Wine,isreadytocheeryouonwith yourchoicesasyourootforyourfavoriteteam.

“Aslongasyou’rebeingsafeandhavingfunandmake sureeverybodygetshomebecausewewanttodoitagain.”

Watchforupdatesasanewventure,BoozeBrothers, willopeninBrokenArrowat81standAspenonthe southeastside. GobyOwassoLiquor&Wineat8787N.OwassoExpy, SteC,call918-272-4202orvisitowassoliquor.com.

ANDYO’NEAL

Bixby’s revitalization is something that has been in the works for several years. It began with the renovation of Charley Young Event Park in downtown.

Connecting a

James D. Watts Jr. // Tulsa World Magazine

At first glance, the name that Bixby o cials came up with for its city center is something of an oxymoron.

The signs on the metal framework that arches over the intersection of Dawes Avenue and Armstrong Street are emblazoned with the words “Downtown River District.”

Bixby’s Downtown River District is a link to city’s renewal

MANUELA SOLDI PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

The Arkansas River, which neatly divides Bixby in half, is located about a mile from said intersection. But that small geographic fact isn’t getting in the way of this community’s efforts to turn Bixby into a destination.

Bryan Toney, a member of the Bixby police force who also serves as the city’s public information and events relation officer, said: “What we’re calling the Downtown River District really goes beyond the physical downtown area, up to the Arkansas and beyond. It’s a way to link the north and south areas of Bixby together.”

The revitalization is something Toney said has been in the works for several years. It began with the renovation of Charley Young Event Park in downtown that included a stage area for public events and concerts and continued with streetscape projects in the downtown area, resurfacing roads and remaking the sidewalks.

Turning the old bridge over the Arkansas River into a public space called the Harmony Bridge and renovating the Washington Irving State Park were also part of the overall plan. And Toney said more projects are in the works.

Grant Sullivan has lived in Bixby most of his life, graduating from Bixby High School in 1995. He and his friends would frequent Scott’s Hamburgers, which in his younger days was at a different location from its current home at 15 W. Dawes Ave.

Sullivan now owns the restaurant, having taken over the place in 2019.

“Just in time for COVID and construction,” he said, laughing. “Fortunately, we managed to live through all that, and it’s nice to see more traffic in downtown. Our regular customers would always seek us out, even when getting around downtown was difficult with the roads and sidewalks torn up.

“But now we’re seeing a lot of new people come in, who are wanting to see what’s going on and —” Sullivan paused, then said, grinning, “and I’m just being honest here — to try the best hamburger in town.”

Scott’s Hamburgers is one of the older businesses in downtown Bixby, along with another popular eatery, Johnson’s Stepping Stone Cafe, 4 N. Armstrong St. Among the more

ABOVE: The Downtown River District links the north and south areas of Bixby.

LEFT: Grant Sullivan took over Scott’s Hamburgers on West Dawes Avenue in 2019.

recent arrivals to the downtown area are the Copper Key Coffeehouse, 4 E. Dawes; the Escape Hatch, 7 W. Dawes Ave., which offers four “escape room” experiences; and the Bixby Ice Cream Company, 16 N. Armstrong St.

Matthew Swaggart didn’t think he needed a retail space before he moved his company, Hold Fast Gear, to downtown Bixby four years ago. The company grew out of Swaggart’s career as a professional photographer, when he designed and made a unique harness that allowed him to carry multiple cameras and gear easily.

The business quickly outgrew Swaggart’s home workshop, as his line of hand-made leather products that includes camera bags, backpacks, belts, wallets, notebook covers and

- GRANT SULLIVAN

pet collars, and the demand for them, increased.

“We were strictly an online business, and I was wanting to bring all our manufacturing and customer fulfillment operations under one roof,” Swaggart said.

That roof, at 8 W. Dawes Ave., once sheltered Doc’s Grocery Store (that business is now Doc’s Country Mart, at 151st Street and Memorial Drive), and Swaggart said the current incarnation retains some elements of the original, such as the open ceiling and an orange juice ad that adorns one wall of a workroom.

Online sales are still the bulk of Hold Fast Gear’s business, but Swaggart said visitors to downtown would get curious about the activity they could see going on through the storefront’s large windows. So an area was set up near one of the windows to show off the range of products offered. As manufacturing is the principal activity, one needs to ring the shop’s doorbell to gain entrance.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Copper Key Coffeehouse on West Dawes Avenue is among the newcomers to Bixby’s Downtown River District. Johnson’s Stepping Stone Cafe on North Armstrong Street is a longtime favorite in downtown Bixby. Bixby Ice Cream Co. on North Armstrong Street is also new to the district.

Things have certainly changed around here.

It’s nice to see the city making strides to improve things.”

It wasn’t all that long ago when the most happening places in downtown Bixby were the Sonic Drive-In (now relocated to the 151st and Memorial intersection) and the local branch of the Tulsa City-County Library.

“I kind of remember those days,” Sullivan said, laughing. “Things have certainly changed around here. It’s nice to see the city making strides to improve things.”

When asked if the changes Bixby is making have affected its “small-town charm,” Sullivan said: “I don’t think so. Certainly in the downtown area, we still have that small-town feel. But any time you have new people come into a place, the dynamic of a place is going to change.”

And people, Toney said, are coming

to Bixby in ever-increasing numbers.

“I’ve lived here for 18 years, and most of that time Bixby was among the fastest-growing towns in the state,” he said. “This is a place where people

ABOVE: Logan Bailey works on a leather purse at Hold Fast Gear. The leather goods company grew from designs for a unique harness that allows photographers to carry multiple cameras and gear easily.

LEFT: Hold Fast Gear’s line of hand-made leather products includes camera bags, backpacks, belts, wallets, notebook covers and pet collars.

are wanting to move, and the changes we’ve made and the improvements and enhancements to come is our trying to make this a town everyone can be proud of.”

Actor Wes Studi posed for a portrait in New York in June to promote his film

“A Love Song.”

ANDY KROPA, INVISION VIA AP

‘Reservation The original Dog’

Wes Studi left rural Oklahoma to achieve California dream

Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Magazine

When Oklahoma actor Wes Studi was presented an Academy Award for career achievement in 2019, it was important and meaningful to include historical context.

Studi, who is Cherokee, became the second Indigenous person from North America to be honored with an Oscar.

The first was was Cree musician Buffy Sainte-Marie, a Canadian who, in 1983, won an Oscar for co-writing the song “Up Where We Belong.”

Confirmed: Studi is up where he belongs — on theater screens and on television screens.

Studi was asked during a phone interview if there was anything he watched as a youth that made him yearn to be on the screen.

There was never any exact moment like that, “but I did ask about Jay Silverheels. I used to watch ‘The Lone Ranger’ on television as a young man. I once asked my dad if we could do something like that, be on TV. He said, ‘No, I don’t think so. Most of the people on TV are like 6-foot tall and blond-haired and blue-eyed.’ And I pretty much took that as ‘probably not.’

“But I did enjoy seeing Jay Silverheels (as Tonto). He was the anomaly. He was not the regular thing. At that time, I guess maybe he and Chief Dan George were about the only real Natives that were working in show business — well, not the only ones who were working, but (they were) identifiably so as actors.”

Now Studi is part of the critically acclaimed and groundbreaking series “Reservation Dogs,” which features Indigenous creatives in front of and behind the camera. Studi debuted as the character Bucky in the fifth episode of season one, and he returned to help launch season two.

“Reservation Dogs” is shot primarily in Okmulgee and is centered on four Indigenous youths — Elora Danan (Devery Jacobs), Bear Smallhill (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) and Cheese (Lane Factor) — who hatch a plan to leave rural Oklahoma and head to California. If you grew up in small-town Oklahoma, you might feel like you grew up with some of these characters.

“Absolutely,” Studi said. “In a way, it was what I decided to do, which was to leave Oklahoma and go to L.A. back when I was younger.”

Studi made his trip west in pursuit of an acting dream realized. He has appeared in more than 40 films, including “Dances With Wolves,” “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Geronimo: An American Legend,” “Heat,” “Avatar,” “Hostiles” and “A Love Song,” a July release that gave him an opportunity to play a romantic lead.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, when announcing Studi had been selected for an honorary

Oscar, credited him for portraying strong Native American characters with poignancy and authenticity.

Studi is Nofire Hollow authentic. Nofire Hollow is between Tahlequah and Stilwell. His family had allotments there.

“That’s where I spent the first five years of my life,” he said. “It was in the 1940s, so it was a matter of no electricity, no running water. We lived off the land, more or less. I think the only things we bought from the stores at that time were the staples like flour, sugar, salt and that kind of thing. It was definitely a different lifestyle, depending on how old you are.”

Cherokee was his first language. A 2021 GQ profile said Studi was sent to school in Muskogee when he was 5 and, after he returned for the summer, he had to ditch English and re-embrace his Native language. Said Studi in the profile: “There I am in my grandmother’s house and my grandmother looked at me after I said something in English and said, ‘Oh, no, we don’t speak that. Not in my house.’”

Studi said his family didn’t have electricity and running water until after his father got back from Korea. The family relocated from Nofire Hollow to little towns north of Tulsa. His father was a ranch worker.

Korea was his dad’s war. Vietnam awaited Wes.

PHOTOS COURTESY, SHANE BROWN, FX

ABOVE: Wes Studi plays Bucky in “Reservation Dogs.” He and Paulina Alexis, who plays Willie Jack, are shown in a scene from the season two premiere. RIGHT: Studi returned for season two of the shot-in-Oklahoma series.

ABOVE: Bucky (Studi, left) and Uncle Brownie (Gary Farmer, third from left) help Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) and Cheese (Lane Factor) get rid of a curse in the second episode of season two of “Reservation Dogs.” LEFT: The show was shot primarily in Okmulgee.

After attending Chilocco Indian School (his vocational major was dry cleaning, according to U.S. Veterans Magazine), Studi enlisted at age 17 in the Oklahoma National Guard. He volunteered for active service and spent 12 months in Vietnam.

It was suggested to Studi during the phone interview that volunteering seems brave or gutsy. He’s not sure about that, “but on one hand, I wanted to see what it was like to actually live out the stories that I heard returning veterans tell while I was stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia. I was in a company of mostly returning people from Vietnam, and they just had so many stories that they were able to tell, both tragic and lighthearted, as well. It was just something that I wound up kind of testing myself. ‘What would I do in that kind of a situation’ is what I kept asking myself, so the only way to find out was to go over there and see. And so I did.”

So he put his life at risk to satisfy curiosity?

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE PHOTOS

Studi (left) held a U.S. flag and was joined by spiritual leader Frank Thomas and Jay WhiteCrow (from left to right on front row) as they led a group of nearly 400 people protesting nuclear energy during a peaceful march to the edge of a proposed Black Fox power station near Inola on Oct. 7, 1978. They were arrested for trespassing.

“Well, luckily I came back OK — fairly OK,” he said.

In 2018, one year before Studi’s honorary Oscar, the Academy Awards needed someone to go on stage during the awards ceremony and pay tribute to veterans. That someone was Studi. A montage of scenes from military movies was shown. He spoke about his Vietnam service and said this: “As a veteran, I am always appreciative when filmmakers bring to the screen stories of those who have served. Over 90 years of the Academy Awards, a number of movies with military themes have been honored at the Oscars. Let’s take a moment to pay tribute to these powerful films that shine a great spotlight on those who have fought for freedom around the world.”

Veterans weren’t the only folks who appreciated Studi’s words. So did Cherokees. Here’s why: He concluded by speaking in Cherokee. The Cherokee Nation (Studi once worked for the Cherokee Nation) followed with a tweet that provided a translation: “Hello. Appreciation to all veterans & Cherokees who’ve served. Thank you!”

Studi was amazed at how much positive feedback was generated by what he said at the Oscars. Cherokees were thrilled to hear their language spoken on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Studi, a proponent of Native rights, gravitated to activism after returning

from Vietnam. The GQ profile said he joined hundreds of other activists at the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Wounded Knee was occupied for 71 days as a protest against rez conditions. The GQ story said Studi was intercepted by federal agents while

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Studi, who lives in the Santa Fe, New Mexico, area, returned to his home state for the 2013 Tulsa Awards for Theatre Excellence at Cascia Hall.

on a “decoy” mission and was jailed.

Studi’s post-war activism also included joining a 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties march on Washington, D.C., and standing up against a proposed Black Fox nuclear power plant in Oklahoma.

“Those things got me on the FBI’s list for a while,” Studi told the Tulsa World in 2019.

“I came back to Oklahoma, and I had a house in Tulsa after Wounded Knee, and I could walk outside in the morning and see this car parked outside. After a while I’d wave at the guys. They were keeping an eye on me, and on others who were arrested at Wounded Knee.”

Acting didn’t become part of Studi’s story until the 1980s. If you can believe everything you read on the Internet, he got involved in theater (A) because a friend suggested it would be a good place to meet girls or (B) he needed a school credit.

“Both are true,” Studi said. “I was at a point where I wanted to meet different people. I was kind of changing my life from living over in Tahlequah to living in Tulsa. My friend Jay WhiteCrow was part of the American Indian Theater Company at the time, which was growing. Within a year, or maybe two, was when they were able to actually mount an equity show (“Black Elk Speaks”) with David Carradine and Will Sampson.”

Studi was in the cast of the show, which he said ran for a number of weeks at the Performing Arts Center, which means his first paid gig was in downtown Tulsa.

Studi’s appetite was whetted for something bigger than community theater. He did the Rez Dogs thing and trekked to California.

“Probably the worst critic of that move would have been my own self, simply because of the fear of failure,” he said. “I think one of the first things that ever popped in my mind when I was even thinking about going out there was that I could go out there, find no work and then have to come back home with my tail between my legs.”

The opposite occurred. Studi beat the odds and became a working, successful actor.

“Luck and opportunity is what I think happened,” he said. “It turned out to be a good time in terms of there being productions and the fact that I had prepared myself to a certain

- WES STUDI

extent. I had only done two things in front of a camera before going to L.A. ... In a way that sort of prompted me to go out there and see if there was anything I could do out there. Take a chance. See if I could do it rather than the rest of my life saying ‘what if I had?’ That’s essentially it.”

When did he “know” he could do this? He laughed and said, “I’m not sure I know it yet. After each and every job, it’s still the same old thing, I think, in terms of ‘will I ever work again?’ But it’s just a part of being an

actor is that uncertainty that many times brings itself on. And I am happy for that.”

Studi credits “The Last of the Mohicans” as being a game-changer in his career. His performance as Magua

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTOS ABOVE: Wes Studi was presented an honorary Academy Award for career achievement in 2019. RIGHT: Studi is the second Indigenous person from North America to be honored with an Oscar.

Those of us that are Native, we have never seen this on screen before. And here we are in 2022. It took awhile.”

was buzzworthy. He earned a most promising actor nomination from the Chicago Film Critics Association

“That year, I was even on the Academy Awards’ betting list,” Studi said.

Tulsa World film writer Michael Smith wrote in 2011 that Studi should have secured a best supporting actor nomination for his work in “The Last of the Mohicans.”

Wrote Smith: “Michael Mann’s take on the James Fenimore Cooper novel set during the French and Indian War was overlooked at Oscar time in multiple categories, and perhaps none more so than Studi’s frightening, tragic

character of Magua, the duplicitous Huron Indian guide.”

Continuing, Smith said the role required an Indigenous actor, “but it fits the test of any deserving Academy Award-nominated performance: It’s impossible to imagine anyone else in this role, and the film wouldn’t be of the same caliber without Studi, the Cherokee County native who began acting in community theater in Tulsa.”

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Studi received a medallion on Circle Cinema’s Walk of Fame in 2010.

Studi finally got his Oscar when the Academy saluted his body of work in 2019. His career came full circle when he was asked to be part of “Reservation Dogs,” co-created by Taika Waititi and Tulsa filmmaker Sterlin Harjo. Studi lives in the Santa Fe area and got to return to home turf to play Bucky.

Studi said “Reservation Dogs” is a giant step forward for Indigenous representation on television, “especially the kind of show that it is. It’s a dramedy. It’s a coming-of-age kind of story about some young people that are surrounded by familiars.”

Remember: When Studi was young, he looked for Natives on TV and saw Tonto. The world of “Reservation Dogs” is populated with an allIndigenous cast.

“Those of us that are Native, we have never seen this on screen before,” Studi said. “And here we are in 2022. It took awhile.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

Studi introduced a tribute to films that honor military service during an appearance at the 2018 Academy Awards ceremony. Studi capped his appearance by speaking Cherokee.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Studi interacted with fans outside Circle Cinema in 2010.

Onehundredandseventeenyearsagothismonth,thefirsteditionoftheTulsaWorldcameoffapress.

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Aswerecognizethisanniversary,pleaseknowthatwearegratefulandthankful. Gratefulforsubscribers.Thankfulforbusinessesandorganizationsthatadvertise.

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TULSA

MAGAZINE

Here are the top 50 things we are loving about Tulsa this year. Call it our recommendation list of things to do, eat, see and experience.

The Hemingway, 1515 E. 15th St., is designed to bring a sense of “rebellious elegance” to the traditions of a fine steakhouse.

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

The Canebrake Resort comeback

33241 E. 732 Road, Wagoner

1Six years after closing its doors, the Canebrake is making a comeback.

This unique resort, set on 64 rolling acres of land southeast of Wagoner near Fort Gibson Lake, was a destination for those wanting to rejuvenate with the yoga classes and spa treatments, as well as for foodies who wanted to sample chef and owner Sam Bracken’s four-star cuisine.

The official reopening was Aug. 3, and co-owner Doug Jackson said that, in spite of the property being closed for six years, the facilities are in very good shape, with only minor renovations needed.

The Canebrake includes a luxury spa, 16 rooms for overnight stays, a bar and restaurant, a yoga facility, exercise rooms and a meeting space. The resort’s new executive chef is Bryan Sadler, who will oversee a menu described as “elevated Americana.”

For more, go to canebrake.net.

Et al.

One of the most delicious trends to hit Tulsa this year is et al.

Et al. is a chefs collective made up of the most talented group of creatives Oklahoma has seen, serving some of the best food in the state.

Formed in early 2022, the name is derived from the meaning “and others” in Latin. Foolish Things Coffee, 1001 S. Main St., serves as its “home base.” The chefs also offer a dinner series. For more information about upcoming dates and reservations, go to etaltulsa.com.

Here are the different pop-ups that make up et al.:

„ Taqueria et al. takes place 5-10 p.m. Tuesday night, is led by Marco Herrera and features Tulsa’s only proper nixtamal program.

„ Every Wednesday from 5-10 p.m. is dumpling night, led by Colin Sato. Look for hand-folded dumplings and Japanese fried chicken along with sake

and beer.

„ Bischix is one Sunday per month from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Bischix is a biscuit sandwich concept led by chef Alex Koch, chef Chloe Butler and chef Julia Johnson.

„ Butter Bar occurs one weekend night every month. Butter Bar is a dessert pop-up led by Butler that features seasonally inspired sweet treats and savory snacks.

„ Japanese Breakfast is an elaborated version of a meal from Sato’s childhood. It’s a reservation-only event.

The Canebrake offers guests a chance to retreat and renew in Wagoner.

A guest suite at the Canebrake is shown.

MIKE SIMONS PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Et al.’s Colin Sato folds a dumpling while preparing for dinner service at Foolish Things Coffee Co. in Tulsa.

JUDY ALLEN, FOR TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE Chloe Butler, a ceramicist and chef/baker in the group, makes custom ceramic teacups and mugs for each brunch, available for $20.

Mon Amie Nails and Spa

1348 E. 11th St.

Mon Amie Nails caters to all of its guests with vegan, hypoallergenic, non-toxic and cruelty-free products.

Owner Hannah Lee offers everything from manicures, pedicures, massages, body wraps and waxing services — all without the chemical smell you often find at other salons.

Recently, the spa opened a cafe adjacent to the spa serving coffee and pastries made in-house. A lemon cookie paired with a latte is the perfect pre- or post-pedicure snack and is best enjoyed next to the spas’ collection of local art.

Although Lee said she invests more in her products, she does it because she cares about her customers’ health and well-being. It’s because she considers each customer a friend, and if you schedule an appointment at Mon Amie, you will be treated as such.

Nana Rose’s Italian Bakery cannolis

8929 S. Memorial Drive

If you’ve never had a cannoli, Nana Rose’s Italian Bakery would be a good place to start — and to stop. There’s no need to look further for the quintessential cannoli.

With a list of flavors as long as your arm, everyone is sure to find one they love. Nana Rose’s cannoli pastry is light and flaky. The filling is not too sweet, so those who shy away from frostings and other excessively sweet treats should appreciate them.

Favorite flavors include butter pecan, chocolate chip cookie dough and tiramisu. But don’t forget to try the other authentic pastries as well as the savory foods, such as the fresh-made pasta and sauces and bruscetta.

The bakers work before the sun rises each day, and the warm smell of baking often escapes onto the street before the eatery has opened. Nana Rose would approve.

Cannolis at Nana Rose's Italian Bakery have a light and flaky texture, and the filling is not too sweet.

Nana Rose’s Italian Bakery is owned by Samantha Short and named after her grandmother.

MANUELA SOLDI, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Mon Amie Nails and Spa offers manicures, pedicures and more, using cruelty-free products.

STEPHEN PINGRY PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Blue Whale turns 50

2600 U.S. Route 66, Catoosa

People from our part of the country travel hundreds of miles to see the ocean.

People from other parts of the country drive here to see our whale, never mind that we don’t have an ocean.

A small body of water in Catoosa is home to the Blue Whale, a man-made roadside attraction that turned 50 in 2022. The Blue Whale continues to attract Route 66 travelers in its golden anniversary year. At any given moment, cars or motorcycles are in the parking lot because folks want to get up close and personal with the whale.

The Blue Whale, completed by Hugh Davis as a gift to his wife in 1972, will likely benefit from ramped-up interest when Route 66 celebrates a centennial in four years. The gift that keeps on giving?

Ruth’s Chicken

ruthschicken.com

Ruth’s Chicken food truck is hoping to give back and build community with its gluten-free chicken sliders and tenders.

The business that began in a backyard advertises weekly events across Tulsa, where foodies of all diets can enjoy tender fried chicken without compromising on flavor.

Co-owner Alton Andrews named the truck after his grandmother, who died a few years ago. Her spirit lives on in every sandwich and smile.

And, because Ruth’s doesn’t believe in food waste, all of the leftovers are boxed and given to homeless people in need of a good meal. To find their location, follow Ruth’s on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

The Blue Whale of Catoosa is celebrating a 50-year anniversary.

MIKE SIMONS PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Pamie, Emmylou, Linus and Sean Davison of England took a selfie with the Blue Whale in August.

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE Ruth’s Chicken uses a premium seasoning blend that contains no MSG and is low in sodium. The chicken is brined for 12-24 hours for maximum flavor.

AleXa

You knew it when you saw her perform on television: A star is born.

AleXa, a K-pop music artist from Jenks, had a global following before she appeared on NBC’s “American Song Contest,” a reality competition featuring participants from every U.S. state and territory. Her profile in the U.S. got a significant boost when she was voted the champion of the first-year show.

AleXa (Alexaundra Schneiderman) is a 2015 graduate of Jenks High School. She said people from her hometown know her as Alex Christine.

AleXa debuted the song “Wonderland” on the show and won over viewers with sticks-inyour-head lyrics and visually striking performances. Snoop Dogg, who co-hosted the show with Kelly Clarkson, complimented her work.

The victory felt like the launch of a big career. Stay tuned.

AleXa attended the Billboard Music Awards after winning NBC’s “American Song Contest” in May. JORDAN STRAUSS/INVISION/AP

Rose Rock Microcreamery

Fifth Street and Boston Avenue (Philtower Building); 115 N. Main St., Broken Arrow

Once, we said in our newspaper, “Rose Rock Microcreamery takes ice cream to another level.”

It sure is nice being right.

Now that Rose Rock Microcreamery has taken its premium ice cream to another street in downtown, we want to make sure everyone can find it.

Last winter, Rose Rock moved from its original location at the The Boxyard to Tulsa’s iconic Philtower Building at Fifth Street

and Boston Avenue. Also, a second location opened in the Rose District of Broken Arrow.

Rose Rock creates small-batch ice cream with familiar and unique flavors; it also offers vegan and gluten-free options.

Among its signature flavors are Lavender Honey and Rose Rock, named for the state’s official stone. Rose Rock is made with other official state ingredients such as strawberries and pecans, with “Magic Shell” chocolate swirled through it to represent the state’s oil industry history.

MIKE SIMONS PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Flavors such as Sundae in a Scoop and Cherry Cheesecake are served in a waffle cone bowl at Rose Rock Micro Creamery.

Jane’s Delicatessen

Jane’s Delicatessen reopened its doors on July 30 about a mile west from its former location, and it is ready to start a new chapter. Jane’s offers a unique menu in Tulsa, including Jewish-, Germanand French-Canadian-inspired dishes prepared in-house.

We recommend the Dick Richardson — a unique take on a burger with pastrami, sauerkraut, cheese curds, house mustard, swiss cheese, Russian dressing and a pickled green tomato.

Customers are welcome to grab a seat at the bar to enjoy a local, regional or national beer, or they can take a seat near the can’t-miss art piece of a bull from the old location.

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

The Sosa Sammy at Jane’s Delicatessen has roast beef, cheddar, onion, spring mix, tomato and Russian dressing on sourdough.

Jane’s Delicatessen opened in the summer at a new location in Meadow Gold District.

1401 E. 11th St.

La Michoacana Plus

11360 E. 31st St.

At La Michoacana Plus, the flashy, colorful treats are rivaled only by the restaurant’s whimsical neon decor.

The first Oklahoma location of this chain restaurant, which opened in June, offers Mexican snacks, desserts and drinks.

Ice cream flavors range from tried-and-true chocolate and vanilla to tres leches, Bubulubu (a popular brand of chocolate bars from Mexico with a strawberry and marshmallow filling), mazapan (peanut-flavored) and many more.

If you prefer your frozen dessert on a stick, paletas de agua (ice pops) and paletas de leche (creamy ice pops) are for you. Dozens of mostly fruity flavors are available. Other desserts include the visually striking mangonadas, shakes, michelaguas and more.

Try the Hot Cheetos esquite (Mexican street corn served in a cup) for a spicy snack, or eat elote off the cob. Cheesy nachos are a familiar standby, or you can go “crazy” with Tostilocos, which are loaded with chopped veggies, pickled pork skins, Japanese peanuts, chamoy, hot sauce and lime juice. Wash it all down with an agua fresca, a sweet fruit drink.

The Hemingway

1515 E. 15th St.

The newest concept from chef Trevor Tack is designed to bring a sense of “rebellious elegance” to the traditions of a fine steakhouse.

“It’s a modern, chef-driven version of the American steakhouse,” Tack said. “We’re in a smaller, more intimate space, where everything is very detail-oriented and as locally sourced as possible. The atmosphere we want to create is one of everyday luxury.”

That includes the menu, which will feature steaks that have been dry-aged for maximum flavor, seafood and pasta dishes.

“Steakhouses are usually places you go to only for special occasions,” Tack said. “That’s why we’re wanting to offer a variety of dishes, things that people will want to eat on a regular basis. The way I see it, we’ve just come out from under a plague, and it’s time to get out and celebrate life.”

For more, go to thehemingwaytulsa1515.com

La Michoacana Plus offers tasty Mexican treats and a fun atmosphere.

Sip on a tangy michelagua.

MANUELA SOLDI PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

A kudu head is mounted above a set of stairs at The Hemingway steakhouse.

New eateries by McNellie’s

Mr. Kim’s, 119 S. Detroit Ave. Red Light Chicken, 332 E. First St.

McNellie’s Group opened two new concepts this year worth celebrating.

Ben Alexander, the head of culinary operations at the McNellie’s Group, is well-known for putting personal twists into the menus he creates. But Mr. Kim’s, the Asian-fusion steakhouse, is by far the most personal restaurant he has overseen, as the food draws from Alexander’s own Korean heritage.

The restaurant centers on Korean barbecue, with its grilled meats and its array of banshan, or side dishes. One can choose to enjoy the Omakase, or tasting menu, that has a curated selection of meats and vegetables, including Wagyu beef; or order a la carte.

For many Okies, those dishes would fall in the unfamiliar category.

Enter Red Light Chicken for a taste of the familiar.

The newest concept from the McNellie’s Group used to be home to the company’s original El Guapo Mexican restaurant. It specializes in chicken dredged in seasoned flour and fried. It can’t get more universal than that. And it’s delicious.

Although its name refers to the somewhat sordid history of the neighborhood it calls home, Red Light Chicken is actually quite the family-friendly establishment.

A habañero mayonnaise adds an extra level of heat to the spicy chicken sandwich at Red Light Chicken.

Scallops, steak and pork cook on the tabletop grill at Mr. Kim's.

TOM GILBERT PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Country Bird Bakery

1644 E. Third St.

The Country Bird Bakery is a dream realized for baker Cat Cox. Cox is known for creating loaves of bread so glorious, they once warranted a separated course on the tasting menu at both FarmBar and Living Kitchen where she worked, and most recently the loaves have been picked up from her home porch in a weekly bread club. In her new retail bakery, Cox offers her much-loved artisanal, naturally leavened sourdough breads, as well as other baked goods.

The sourdough bread loaves that Cox creates are works of art, each milled from grains she purchases directly from farmers and blends with herbs, cooked grains, and unlikely ingredients such as sweet potato, eggplant or even rose petals. In addition, the bakery features sweet baked goods.

Country Bird Bakery is open only on Saturdays for now, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and customers are urged to pre-order those laborintensive loaves she offered in her bread club. Drip and cold brew coffee is available, as well. Baking classes will also be offered.

For more, go to countrybirdbakery.com, Instagram (@countrybirdbakery) or her Facebook page.

NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

If you know, you know. The Country Bird Bakery bread has a following.

Wildflower Market

3314 S. Peoria Ave.

Opened in January, Wildflower Market is a female- and familyowned business on Brookside specializing in all things plants.

The lush green store is filled with virtually any houseplant you can dream of — peace lilies, philodendrons, pothos — sourced from local wholesalers and the personal greenhouses of owner Erin Danyelle and her mother, Dani Thayer.

What sets Wildflower Market apart, however, is the fact that it offers much more than plants. The store is filled with art, jewelry and other goods crafted by local artisans, and each month, a variety of workshops are offered. They range from macrame classes and potting workshops to yoga and tai chi sessions.

Most popular are the Full Moon Fever workshops, where attendees can practice meditation, manifestation and sound healing and have their tarot cards read while enjoying snacks and cocktails.

Follow Wildflower Market on Instagram @wildflowermarkettul.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Wildflower Market offers a variety of plants grown by local wholesalers and even owner Erin Danyelle and her mother themselves.

Pork Belly Chicharrones are one of many offerings at Madre’s Mexican Kitchen.

The drinks are worth the trip to Madre's. From left, El Papichulo, White Peach Margarita, Cantarito and Martini de Mazapan are just a few of the drink choices.

TOM GILBERT PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Madre’s happy hour

6823 S. Yale Ave.

There’s one way to turn happy hour into a very happy hour — go to Madre’s.

The cocktail selection is plentiful and unique. We happen to be partial to the Pepino, which includes Casa Noble Crystal tequila, fresh squeezed lime and diced cucumber, agave nectar, and Cointreau with a Tajin and chamoy rim.

For snacks with your drinks, we recommend the guacamole, queso and Pork Belly Chicharrones.

Be prepared to share the large serving of fresh guacamole because one person can’t eat it alone, and be prepared to become addicted to the Chicharrones. And the white queso has just the right amount of heat!

Okie Spice tailgating

103 N. Main St., Sand Springs

It’s football season. This is Oklahoma. Need we say more? There’s going to be some tailgating. And even if you don’t leave your living room, it’s a sure bet there will be football and there will be food.

Okie Spice and Trade Co. is one of our favorite headquarters to find all the football feast supplies. Kim Zieg, the owner of OkieSpice and Trade Co., said the shop is stocked with everything from dip and drink mixes to chili supplies and the perfect OU and OSU serving dishes. Go team!

Okie Spice has all your tailgating necessities.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

New barbecue spots

The Tulsa barbecue scene has grown to feature cooks who take the tradition of smoking meats seriously but also are willing to explore and invent. We love our classics, but we want to give these new spots some love, too.

1907 Barbecue

1124 S. Lewis Ave.

1907 Barbecue got its start in 2013, and after several mobile years as a food truck, the owners moved to the Cabin Boys Brewery parking lot. It has recently relocated to Mother Road Market to bring barbecue back to Route 66.

Killer Wail Barbecue

2112 E. Admiral Blvd.

One local favorite among barbecue fans can be found in the parking lot of Heirloom Rustic Ales. Chef and owner Oliver Larrabee runs this operation that has been cooking up Central Texas-style barbecue. Killer Wail is open only on Saturdays and routinely sells out by early afternoon.

Mac’s BBQ at Cain’s Ballroom

423 N. Main St.

The menu features items familiar to fans of Mac’s Barbecue in Skiatook, which is a good thing because Mac’s has many fans. The restaurant is usually only open when the venue is hosting a concert, but it also offers Sunday brunches, which are called Brunch with Bob. See the menu at facebook.com/cainskitchentulsa.

Oakhart Barbecue

1644 E. Third St.

Oakhart Barbecue uses post oak wood and only salt and pepper as seasoning — along with an artisan’s touch at coaxing culinary magic from these simple elements — to create mouth-watering barbecue.

Leon’s Smoke Shack

601 S. Sheridan Road; 1529 E. Third St.

Leon’s has been in operation since 2014 and opened a second location this year in what used to be the Swamp House. We suggest Leon’s ribs, beans and the signature Slap Potato, topped with a choice of meat.

Alpha Grill

5970 E. 31st St.; 6670 S. Lewis Ave. Chef and owner Frank Willis calls it “barbecue with a twist.” He opened a second location this year in south Tulsa. Alpha Grill began as a food

RIP STELL, FOR TULSA WORLD

Among the choices at Mac's BBQ at Cain's Kitchen are (clockwise from left) the Mac Sandwich with brisket, bologna and hot links; the BBQ Frito Pie and the Okie, with brisket and cheese sauce.

truck, and in 2020, the business moved into Mall 31, where the Willis family continues to blend Mexican, Cajun and Caribbean foods and flavors with traditional Oklahoma barbecue.

Owner Lisa Wakefield said it's important to her to fill Jenkins & Co. with items that are handcrafted by artisans.

Jenkins & Co.

1335 E. 11th St., Suite E

Jenkins & Co. specializes in artisan-made home goods, jewelry and apothecary products. Whether you’re looking to outfit your space with new bohemian décor or purchase a gift for a loved one, Jenkins & Co. has something for everyone.

“I love things that have history and a story, so I try to curate a collection that is meaningful, useful and beautiful — everyday things with purpose that bring joy every time you use them,” said owner Lisa Wakefield, who opened the store in 2015.

The store is located on 11th Street next to Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66. Follow Jenkins & Co. on Instagram @jenkinsandcotulsa or visit jenkinsandcotulsa.com for more information.

Pickleball

Here’s a deal — or dill — for you: Jump on the pickleball bandwagon.

What’s pickleball? It’s a surging-in-popularity, indoor/ outdoor sport that has roots in tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played with a paddle and a plastic ball speckled with holes.

The Greater Tulsa Pickleball Club was created in 2019 and now has more than 140 dues-paying members, according to tulsapickleball.org. The site contains a list of places to play and upcoming events as well as information for beginners.

Sweet? Or kosher. You decide.

Milo’s Tea

Milo’s Tea Co. has quenched our thirst for economic expansion in the Tulsa area.

The Alabama-based producer of the all-natural, fresh-brewed teas and lemonade opened a $60 million production and distribution facility in the Cherokee Extension Industrial Park, north of Tulsa and west of Owasso, in 2020 after spending three years researching sites.

This year, the company announced an expansion to the

Construction for the $20 million expansion of the Milo's tea production facility began this year.

facility that will triple its gallonmaking capacity. It added 50 new jobs to its workforce of at least 110 workers.

Milo’s tea and lemonade has been growing in popularity, with good cause. And Tulsa’s quality water helps make it even better.

We’ll drink to that this year.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Play pickleball at Whiteside Park.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Frankoma Pottery

One of the most iconic Oklahoma brands, Frankoma Pottery, is opening a new manufacturing facility and storefront this year.

And we join the fans who are glad it is coming back.

Frankoma Pottery has been around since 1933, creating sculptures, figurines and dinnerware of earthy colors like Prairie Green and Desert Gold for customers all over the world.

After the company’s founder, John Frank, died in 1973, Frankoma Pottery fell on hard times, eventually closing in 2010. Twelve years later, new owner Dennis Glascock is working to revitalize the Frankoma Pottery brand by opening a new facility in Glenpool.

Visitors will be able to purchase pottery at the storefront and watch from a viewing window as pottery is created by Frankoma craftsmen before their eyes. Glascock said he expects the facility to be open later this year.

For more information, visit frankomapottery.com.

Greaser Hideout

Who knew that being on the alleged wrong side of the tracks could be so much fun?

The “greasers” were from the proverbial wrong side of the tracks in “The Outsiders.”

Danny O’Connor of the music group House of Pain rescued the Outsiders House (a filming location from the book-turned-movie) from destruction and transformed the house into a museum dedicated to “The Outsiders” and the works of author S.E. Hinton.

The appeal of “The Outsiders” is such that the museum continues to draw fans and celebrity visitors (Leonardo DiCaprio stopped by in 2021). You can’t stay in the house overnight — but you can stay across the street.

A home facing the museum became an Outsiders-themed Airbnb. The “greaser hideout” opened in early 2022 and is mostly booked, according to O’Connor.

Stay? Stay Gold.

Artifacts from “The Outsiders” hang on the walls of a bedroom of an Airbnb across the street from the Outsiders House Museum.

Frankoma Pottery's new manufacturing facility and storefront is expected to open in Glenpool later this year.

MIKE SIMONS PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Black Moth

1142 S. Harvard Ave.

Preservation runs in the family at Black Moth.

Maris Blanchard, the owner of the natural history store, followed in the footsteps of her greatgrandmother, who passed on her love for preserving turtle shells and salting skins.

The taxidermy deer heads and birds you might find perched on the walls of your grandparents’ house are all for sale and ethically sourced so the nature Blanchard is passionate about doesn’t go to waste.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a serious collector or just browsing. The shop offers puzzles, stationery and stickers for those who aren’t ready to build a collection and taxidermy classes for those interested in learning more.

It’s a wild experience you won’t want to miss.

Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar

1515 E. 15th St.; 161 S. Riverfront Drive, Jenks

Think of Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar as a “vroom with a view.” These newly opened watering holes are notable as much for the views they offer as they are for their craft cocktails and their extensive selection of spirits, wines and beers.

Each location incorporates garagestyle doors that allow access to rooftop patios that let one take in the downtown Tulsa skyline or a swath of the Arkansas River, depending on your location. Fire pits help take the chill off on autumn nights.

Some of Sidecar’s most popular drink options include the GTO Margarita, which combines a jalapeñoinfused vodka and house-made sweet and sour mix; the Old “Smokey”

Fashion, served in a smoke-infused glass; and the Cherry Street Sidecar, a mix of cognac, Cointreau and sweet and sour. Those seeking some nonliquid nourishment can choose from a menu of appetizers, flatbread pizzas and panini-style sandwiches. For more, go to sdcrbar.com

MANUELA SOLDI, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Black Moth offers a curated selection of ethically sourced taxidermy, skulls, bones, rocks and minerals, fossils, insects, seashells, hides, plants and more.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE Two of the more popular signature cocktails at Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar are the Cucumber Cutie (left) and the Old “Smokey” Fashion.

Discovery Lab

Riverside Drive

Earlier this year, Discovery Lab opened the doors to its new 57,000-square-foot facility at the Gathering Place.

The children’s museum, which spent nearly a decade at Owen Park, presents educational opportunities in a fun, hands-on way.

Discovery Lab’s exhibits encourage the development of critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and more. Exhibits based on the areas of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and math) rotate periodically, and fans of the “tape tunnels” in the former building will be eager to explore the new area.

Zach Bryan albums

We are having a hard time keeping up with rising Oklahoma country music star Zach Bryan.

But he has certainly earned his spot in the Tulsa World Magazine 50 for all of his hard work.

In July, the Oologah native released “Summertime Blues,” a nine-track album.

If you’re keeping track, that’s just a few months after he released his record-breaking critically acclaimed Warner Records debut, “American Heartbreak.”

“American Heartbreak” was an instant hit, breaking the record for single-album streams in a 24-hour period and pushing Bryan past 1 billion streams globally.

Filmmaker John Swab

This applies to Tulsa’s John Swab: He’s one of those filmmakers who, once you see one of his films, it may motivate you to find and watch everything he has ever done.

It was announced in January that Paramount Pictures acquired worldwide distribution rights for his film “Little Dixie,” an action thriller starring frequent collaborator Frank Grillo.

In June, Scott Caan was in Tulsa and talked about teaming up with Swab for “One Day as a Lion,” a film he wrote that was being directed by Swab.

“I think he’s one of the best young directors making movies right now,” Caan said.

Swab’s filmography includes “Let Me Make You a Martyr” (2016), “Run With the Hunted” (2019), “Body Brokers” (2021) and “Ida Red,” which was filmed (and set) in Tulsa.

“Something in the Orange” topped out at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Country charts and was the No. 18 global streaming track overall. “From Austin” was a No. 1 Country Song on Apple Music and debuted at No. 4 on Spotify’s Global Country chart.

Country music star Zach Bryan performed at Calf Fry on April 29 at The Tumbleweed in Stillwater.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Kerr Elementary School third-grader Joseph Lopez slides through a tunnel as Tulsa Public Schools students take a field trip to the Discovery Lab at the Gathering Place.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

John Swab is a Tulsa filmmaker whose stock is on the rise.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Diamond Cellar stacks

Stacks on stacks on stacks — that’s the trend we are loving at Diamond Cellar, formerly Bruce G. Weber.

Whether it’s bracelets, rings, necklaces or fun ear cuffs and earrings, there are many choices for jewelry to stack at Diamond Cellar.

The pieces are interchangeable, so you can change the look. If you are buying a gift for a friend who is building a stack, it makes gift-buying even easier.

We are mad about stacks!

Tulsa Symphony goes to the movies

Dec. 2, 2022, and April 15, 2023, at the Tulsa PAC

Music has been an important element of movies from the very beginning, when silent films were accompanied by an organist or piano player.

The Tulsa Symphony has continued that tradition since it was founded, offering special concerts each season in which the full orchestra performs the score of a popular movie.

This season, these events include the modern holiday classic “Elf,” starring Will Ferrell, Bob Newhart and the late James Caan, in the story of Buddy, who sets out from Santa’s workshop at the North Pole to discover his true father. The Tulsa Symphony will perform John Debney’s score when the film is shown Dec. 2 at the Tulsa PAC.

Another modern classic, “The Princess Bride,” will be presented April 15 at the Tulsa PAC, with the Tulsa Symphony performing the score. For more, go to tulsasymphony.org.

The Tulsa Symphony offers special concerts each season in which the full orchestra performs the score of a popular movie.

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Il Seme

15 W. Fifth St.

James Beard Award-nominated chef

Lisa Becklund has become nationally known for the farm-totable dinners she creates at Living Kitchen Farm & Dairy in Depew and at Tulsa’s FarmBar, focusing almost exclusively on ingredients from Oklahoma producers.

The newest restaurant she and partner Linda Ford have opened, Il Seme, puts that same philosophy to use in an Italian context. And the few essentials that can’t be locally sourced are imported directly from Italy.

The menu changes regularly, depending on what is seasonal, but some dishes that are staples include the arancini (rice balls stuffed with cheese or lamb, deep fried and served with a rich marinara sauce); linguine vongole (pasta with clams in a light lemony sauce); house-made focaccia; and a rose panna cotta for dessert. For more, go to ilsemetulsa.com.

COURTESY, DIAMOND CELLAR

Stacking jewelry is habit-forming, just like a good cup of coffee. Jewelry featured is from Penny Preville and offered by Diamond Cellar.

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Locally sourced produce, such as cauliflower, gets an Italian makeover at Il Seme.

Tulsa distilleries

Tulsa is now home to two distilleries: OK Distilling Co. and Red Fork Distillery.

Red Fork Distillery is located at 3310 Southwest Blvd., on Route 66, just a few miles from downtown Tulsa.

OK Distilling Co., 1724 E. Seventh St., is next to three of Tulsa’s breweries.

Hunter Stone Gambill owns OK Distilling Co. and plans to open a tasting room on Cherry Street next spring. He came out with Indian Grass vodka in December 2017.

Both distilleries’ products are available in liquor stores and bars throughout Tulsa. They also host private parties in their taprooms.

Red Fork Distillery is owned by Michael and Dana Hoey. After years of figuring out the challenges of doing this in Oklahoma, they opened in 2015.

“We are Tulsa’s first legal distillery since Prohibition,” Michael Hoey said. “We have a full line of spirits, including seven different spirits, but some of our newest products are our Caribe rum, which is our Oklahoma rum that is barrel aged. We have our Apple Pie whiskey, which uses our Heist whiskey blended with natural juices and cinnamon. Then we have our Kivalo, which is our whiskey cream.”

Red Fork also provides the official vodka of the Tulsa Drillers. So anytime you’re at ONEOK field, you’ll find Red Fork Distillery vodka.

‘Frozen’

Oct. 20-29, Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

Tulsa audiences have been waiting more than two years for the touring production of Disney’s “Frozen” to come to town.

The stage version of “Frozen” is one of the most acclaimed productions Disney has created, earning praise for the new songs created by the original writers, Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the dazzling spectacle of its sets, which evoke the wintry setting of much of the plot, and its story of two sisters who must discover how to use their magical powers for good.

Celebrity Attractions will close out its 2021-22 season with an extended run of this family musical. For more, go to tulsapac.com.

A chocolate martini can be made with Red Fork Distillery’s Kivalo whiskey cream and Southern Journey vodka.

Dana and Mike Hoey opened Red Fork Distillery in 2015 and continue to roll out new products.

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

COURTESY, DEEN VAN MEER

Caroline Bowman performs as Elsa and Carole Innerbichler portrays Anna in the touring production of “Frozen.”

Steak Stuffers’

authentic Philly flavor

Travelers who have eaten the most famous food for which Philadelphia is known for know the farther west you travel, the harder it is to get an authentic cheesesteak. Sure, you can find a tasty and similar sandwich at lots of restaurants, but it ain’t a Philly cheesesteak.

Tulsans don’t know how lucky they are to have Steak Stuffers USA on 51st Street just west of Memorial. It opened in 1988 and survived two location changes as Tulsa grew, along with the family of its owner, Philadelphia native George Van Wyck. Its new owners are a family of German heritage, but they haven’t changed the original cheesesteak recipe.

7846 E. 51st St.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE Steak Stuffers USA offers authentic Philadelphia cheesesteaks.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

The Bead Merchant owner Susanne Barnard expects to open a new studio for silversmithing classes this fall.

Yoga classes

Various locations

Tulsans love yoga. Here are a few fun options we found that you might want to try out.

Goat yoga

15362 S. 217th West Ave., Kellyville

For a stretch and a smile, check out High On A Hill Dairy Farm in Kellyville, where you can take a yoga class alongside adorable goats. The class is 75 minutes long, with 45 minutes of yoga and the rest spent interacting with the goats.

Free class

400 Civic Center

Find a free yoga class on Tuesday nights at Central Library. Mats, blocks and straps are provided at this beginner-friendly yoga class.

Beer yoga

Cabin Boys Brewery, 1717 E. Seventh St.; Marshall Brewing Co., 618 S. Wheeling Ave.

Want a beer with your workout? Be Love Yoga Studio has partnered with Cabin Boys Brewery for a beer yoga class, as have High Vibrations Coaching and Marshall Brewing Co. Both studios teach a monthly class at the partnering brewery that includes one hour of yoga and one free beer.

The Bead Merchant

1547 S. Harvard Ave.

The Bead Merchant has been a Tulsa staple since 1990. The store offers beads of all shapes, colors and sizes, finished jewelry works, crystals, stones and charms, and any supplies might you need to create jewelry. Owner Susanne Barnard sources her merchandise from all over the world, gathering goods everywhere from Tibet to the Czech Republic.

Whether you’re a newcomer to jewelry-making or a pro looking to master an advanced technique, The Bead Merchant offers a host of classes and workshops. This fall, Barnard will open a new studio connected to The Bead Merchant for silversmithing classes, as well.

“The Bead Merchant is a great place for people to come other than home or work and do something they’re passionate about,” Barnard said. “It’s a really great creative outlet for so many different kinds of people.”

For more information, visit beadmerchanttulsa.com.

Enjoy an adorable goat with your yoga session at High on a Hill Dairy farm in Kellyville.

PHOTOS COURTESY, HIGH ON A HILL DAIRY FARM

Bar Serra

1876 Utica Square

Bar Serra, a new concept by the McNellie’s Group, is the newest addition to Tulsa’s venerable Utica Square. It is described as a “neighborhood bar and restaurant, serving elevated bar food, classic cocktails, interesting wines and craft beers.”

It is easy to find — just look for the greenhouselike construction in Utica Square’s new “art alley,” between Muse and Banana Republic. It is set to open in late fall and might not be open by the time of publication. We predict it will be buzzworthy nonetheless.

Bar Serra is the second McNellie’s Group establishment in Utica Square; in 2020, the company took over ownership of the Wild Fork Restaurant. And given the success of such recently opened concepts as Howdy Burger, Dracula Sandwich, Mr. Kim’s and Red Light Chicken, Bar Serra should quickly become a popular watering hole for the midtown crowd.

Zomi cuisine

Various locations

Earlier this year, the New York Times showcased something Tulsans have known for years — that this city is home to the largest population in the United States of the Zomi people, an ethnic minority group from Myanmar, the island formerly known as Burma.

About 8,000 Zomi now call Tulsa home, and some of them are helping to preserve a portion of their native culture with restaurants that offer traditional dishes, sometimes modified to appeal to Western palettes, or presented as specials alongside dishes of Chinese, Japanese and Thai origin.

Nasi lemak at Zogam Cafe is a Malaysian dish with coconut rice, sambal, anchovies, fried chicken wings, peanuts, hard-boiled egg and cucumber slices.

The shopping center at 69th Street and Lewis Avenue is the epicenter for Zomi food, thanks to the presence of Kai Burmese Cuisine, 6912 S. Lewis Ave. (facebook.com/ kaiburmese), and Zogam Cafe, 6930 S. Lewis Ave., (zogamcafe.com), as well as the OK Asian Market, which sells many of the ingredients essential to Zomi cuisine.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Bar Serra is the latest concept by the McNellie’s Group.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Bob Dylan Center

116 E. Reconciliation Way

The music world’s attention was focused on Tulsa in May, when the Bob Dylan Center officially opened to the public. Home to a treasure trove of more than 100,000 items ranging from pocket notebooks filled with scribbled lyrics to towering metal sculptures made by Dylan himself, the center is an immersive, multi-media experience.

The facility’s cutting-edge design, created by renowned architectural and exhibit design firm Olson Kundig, exploits audio and visual elements as well as static displays. The greater purpose of the Bob Dylan Center is not simply to impress but to inspire.

Visitors are greeted by a wall emblazoned with a quote from Dylan: “Life isn’t about finding yourself or finding anything. It’s about creating yourself and creating things.” And that, according to Steve Jenkins, the center’s executive director, is the whole point.

Drunken Chipmunk at CHOCS

1502 E. 15th St.

At Coffee House on Cherry Street, you don’t have to go to the zoo to see grizzly bears, honey badgers and monkeys. They put them in your cup.

Since 2006, the coffeehouse and bakery have been serving up unique and locally roasted coffee with decadent pastries. The establishment complements its culinary experience with warm lighting and periodic live music.

We recommend you try a slice of vegan chocolate cake topped with a chocolate rose.

And if you want to wash down something sweet with something even sweeter, try the Drunken Chipmunk. The specialty drink combines Irish cream, vanilla and hazelnut with espresso and steamed milk.

STEPHEN PINGRY PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Sheet music rises up from a replica of Bob Dylan’s piano in the introductory gallery of the Bob Dylan Center.

The Bob Dylan Center opened in May.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

We recommend the drunken chipmunk and the vegan chocolate cake at Coffee House on Cherry Street.

Taqueria Azteca taco platter

4050 S. Sheridan Road; 61st Street and Mingo Road; or 12570 E. 21st St.

A pizza box full of tacos may seem overwhelming, but with the tasty carne asada at the Taqueria Azteca taco trucks, you won’t be able to stop eating.

The 24-count taco platter comes with all the colorful toppings you can think of, creating a visually appealing and hunger-satisfying dinner.

It might be tempting to eat all 24 tacos by yourself, so bring a friend and chow down. If you’re anything like us, challenge them to see who can eat the most in one sitting.

‘1921’ album

Songs from current music artists and a posthumous contribution from music artist and former NBA player Wayman Tisdale are part of “1921,” a collaborative album from the Black Wall Street Music Project released in May on digital platforms.

The project brought together artists of varying styles, including Omaley B, Taylor Hanson of the Tulsa pop-rock trio Hanson, Majeste Pearson, Dangerous Rob, Playya 1000 and others to reflect on the deep musical heritage of Tulsa.

The album title refers to the year of the Tulsa Race Massacre, which destroyed Black Wall Street.

Executive producer and One Tulsa founder Fred Jones had a passion to assemble an album that could bring attention to challenging topics while seeking to spark a more hopeful future for the Greenwood District.

To find out more about the Black Wall Street Music Project, go to blackwallstreetmusic.com.

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Omaley B performs during a listening party for the 1921: The Black Wall Street Music Project at Lefty’s on Greenwood.

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Tulsa Ballet’s ‘Carmen’

Nov. 7-9, Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

The fiery temptress Carmen has been the ultimate “femme fatale” from the moment she first appeared in the pages of Prosper Mérimée’s novella.

Tulsa Ballet will present the world premiere of the newest retelling of this tragic tale of lust and liberty, betrayal and murder when it presents “Carmen,” choreographed by Kenneth Tindall, resident choreographer of England’s Northern Ballet.

The ballet uses music from Bizet’s famed opera based on the story, as well as music by Rodion Shchedrin and Alexandra Harwood, to tell the story of Carmen, who entrances the soldier Don Jose to the point that he is willing to abandon his life to pursue her. But Carmen has no desire to confine her life to one person, and her affair with the matador Escamillo leads to tragedy. See more at tulsaballet.org.

Mother Road Market to-go

1124 S. Lewis Ave

We love Mother Road Market and its ever-expanding options for delicious food and shops. And we are especially loving its to-go options.

Pro tips: You can skip the line and order from your phone. You can order from multiple places on the same ticket.

We’re pretty sure we just blew your mind. Order from motherroadmarket. menu and receive a text when your food is ready.

Bonus pro tip: Try Bodhi’s Bowl, which serves rice bowls inspired by countries from all over the world, and even gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

We suggest the vegan and gluten-free bowl, the Chakra Chana. The dish is a chickpea curry made with Bodhi’s Bowl’s masala blend served on a bed of coconut rice with ginger spinach salad, vegetable sambar, pineapple salsa and cilantro. Request a piece of naan — you won’t regret it.

The Chakra Chana bowl and naan are offered at Bodhi’s Bowl in the Mother Road Market. STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

COURTESY, JEREMY CHARLES Jaimi Cullen portrays the title character in Tulsa Ballet’s “Carmen,” a ballet choreographed by Kenneth Tindall that will have its world premiere Nov. 7-9.

Anthousai Florals

2411 E. Admiral Blvd., Suite A

When Jenny Rausch and Katie Allen opened Anthousai Florals in 2015, they focused mostly on creating unique floral arrangements for weddings and events. In May 2021, the pair and their team of florists opened a retail shop in the Kendall Whittier district, where they sell individual arrangements, indoor plants and gifts, and host workshops.

Anthousai Florals focuses on creating one-of-a-kind floral arrangements using flowers sourced from local vendors.

“We are so passionate about connecting with our clients and customers. … We believe this is the best way to create florals that are truly meaningful to each couple,” Rausch said. “We also work really hard to source unique varieties of flowers as well, and each arrangement and event we create is different than the last!”

Follow Anthousai Florals on Instagram @anthousai or visit anthousaiflorals.com for more information.

‘Reservation Dogs’ season two

In 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created what eventually became the Marvel Universe with the debut of the Fantastic Four.

Fifty years later, Tulsa filmmaker Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi unleashed the Rez Dogs four.

The four — Bear, Elora Danan, Cheese and Willie Jack — are Indigenous youths who want to escape the modern-day reservation and head to California.

And so began “Reservation Dogs,” a groundbreaking and critically acclaimed series co-created by Harjo and Waititi.

The series, a mix of comedy and drama, has been praised for its depiction of Indigenous life in rural Oklahoma. Filmed primarily in Okmulgee, “Reservation Dogs” began a second season in August with a red carpet premiere at River Spirit Casino.

The characters in “Reservation Dogs” ring familiar to some Oklahomans in an “I grew up with these kids” sort of way. The series reminds us where we have been and makes us curious about where the characters are going next.

MANUELA SOLDI, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

The team of florists at Anthousai Florals creates arrangements for weddings and events, as well as individual arrangements and bouquets available for purchase at the store.

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE Dalton Cramer is a Seminole actor from Seminole who plays Daniel on “Reservation Dogs.”

COURTESY, SHANE BROWN, FX

Academy Award-winning Oklahoma actor Wes Studi (left) is shown with “Reservation Dogs” cast members Gary Farmer and Paulina Alexis in a season two episode.

‘Tulsa King’

Sylvester Stallone visited the Center of the Universe, a quirky downtown Tulsa attraction, while in town to film a scene for the Paramount+ series “Tulsa King.”

Oklahoma isn’t the center of the filmmaking universe, but “Tulsa King” and other shot-in-Oklahoma projects (among them: “Reservation Dogs” and Martin Scorsese’s upcoming “Killers of the Flower Moon”) confirm Oklahoma has a footprint in that universe.

“Tulsa King” is being shot in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It is scheduled to debut Nov. 13 exclusively on Paramount+.

Stallone is starring in a TV series for the first time. “Tulsa King” stars the Academy Award-nominee as 75-year-old mobster Dwight “The General” Manfredi, who, after release from a 25-year prison term, is sent by the son of his former boss to set up shop in (guess where?) Tulsa.

Inheritance Juicery

108 S. Detroit Ave.; 6333 E. 120th Court

This locally owned business, with locations in downtown and south Tulsa, specializes in libations and comestibles made with organically grown vegetables and fruits, from breakfast burritos to all sorts of smoothies, from vegan nachos to craft cocktails.

The downtown location offers a more extensive menu, with breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

Signature smoothies include the Okie Dokie, made with coconut milk, juiced orange, banana, coconut cream, mango and pineapple; the Thunder Up, with apple, orange, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, spinach, raw sprouted almond butter and blue spirulina; and the Clean Green, made with avocado, spinach, zucchini, green detox juice, coconut water, ginger, lime and dates.

Turnpike Troubadours

The Turnpike Troubadours made their return to touring with epic back-to-back concerts in April at Cain’s Ballroom.

If you got to go, you were one of the lucky ones.

Tickets vanished in an unprecedented amount of time. Asked if the shows sold out immediately, Chad Rodgers of Cain’s Ballroom responded with “Quicker than immediately.” Cain’s had more than 70,000 users log in to pursue Turnpike Troubadours tickets. And this is not a Cain’s-only phenomenon.

“The announcement of Turnpike Troubadours performances have now crashed at least five separate venue/festival/ticketing servers, often provisioned to handle spikes during announcements and sales,” Kyle Coroneos posted Jan. 26 on the Saving Country Music Twitter account. “I’m not sure any of us really grasp at this point how big they’ve become post-hiatus.”

The band is made up of R.C. Edwards, Evan Felker, Kyle Nix, Ryan Engleman, Gabe Pearson and Hank Early. We join the fans that are happy to have them back.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Sylvester Stallone came to downtown Tulsa in March to shoot scenes at Center of the Universe and other locations for “Tulsa King.”

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

The downtown location of Inheritance Juicery offers a line of signature cocktails.

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

The Turnpike Troubadours performed two soldout shows at Cain’s Ballroom in April.

Dillon Rose Fine Jewelry

1229 Charles Page Blvd.

Rachel Rose Dazey began making jewelry out of necessity — she was living in Mexico at the time, where “bartering was how a lot of things were done,” she said.

That sparked a love of the process of working with precious stones and metals and led her to create Dillon Rose Fine Jewelry.

Dillon Rose jewelry creations are handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces that often draw inspiration from nature.

Dazey is known as much for her community spirit as her jewelry-making artistry. In 2019, she became the first Tulsa artist to earn Best in Show in Mayfest’s Juried Art Competition and donated proceeds from her sales to the Take Control Initiative, a local nonprofit that offers women access to birth control products. When the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height, she created and sold a line of copper bracelets, donating money from those sales to help support her fellow artists.

Common Tart

1717 E. 17th St.

Some days, there’s pie.

And those days are Wednesday through Saturday, when Common Tart is open and serving up slices of such creations as key lime, apple crumble, pear almond, peanut butter mousse and banana Nutella pies.

The mother-daughter team of Sherrie and Alexandra Coppinger also have daily specials that usually include something sweet, such as blueberry cobbler, or savory — a quiche or a chicken pot pie, for example.

Whole pies are also available for purchase, although it’s always best to reserve these in advance. For more, go to facebook.com/commontart.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Tulsa artist Rachel Rose Dazey creates handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces that often draw inspiration from nature.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Key lime pie is one of the signature pies available at Common Tart pie shop.

Tulsa World Magazine 50 compiled from suggestions written by newsroom staff: Alexia Aston, Anna Codutti, Stacey Dickens, Tom Gilbert, Nicole Marshall Middleton, Jillian Taylor, Jimmie Tramel, James D. Watts Jr., Grace Wood. Also Judy Allen, for the Tulsa World

Wherethetoolsdo themathforyou

TulsaTechmachiningprogramsofferastraightlinetoajob

Whatismachining?“Thesimplestansweriswe makestuff.” ThatishowAaron Polliard,coordinatorandinstructorforthe machiningprogramatTulsaTech,explains whathe’staughtformorethaneightyears.

TulsaTechofferstwomachiningcourses: theCertifiedMachineOperatorprogram andtheCertifiedMachineTechnician program.

Polliardsaidthatadultandhighschool studentslearntodesignandcreate advancedprecisionpartsforeveryday productsworldwide.

“It’smainlyasubtractiveprocess.We startwithabigchunkofmetalandmakeit intoaveryspecificsmallpieceofmetal,” hesaid.

WithaCNC(ComputerNumeric Control)machine,theprogramusesalotof mathandnumbers,butPolliardsaidthat shouldnotdeterstudentswhohavenot workedonamathprobleminyears.

“Iwillteachyouhowtousethetoolsto dothemathforyou,”hesaid.

Withadvancedcomputer-controlled technologysuchas3-Dprinting,additive manufacturingtoproducecomponentsis onitswayup,accordingtoPolliard.

“It’snotasquick,andit’snotnecessarily ascheap,butifyouhaveasmallnumber ofparts,it’seasierintheR&D(research anddevelopment)processthantomake somethingoutofalargepieceofmaterial,” hesaid.

Inthemachiningprograms,TulsaTech offersfourclassesperyear.Twoclasses followatraditionalschoolschedule.Half daysstartinAugustandgountilMay. All-dayprograms(8a.m.to3p.m.,five daysaweek)startinJanuaryandgountil October.

Studentsasyoungasjuniorsinhigh schoolareeligibletoapplyforthe program.

“Comehereforhalfaday.Gotoyour homehighschoolforhalfaday.Doitfor

thetwoyears,andthenwhenyougraduate, wehaveajobforyou.”

Polliardsaidhehasmorejoboffersthan studentsintheprogram.

“Wehavealotofgoodindustrypartners. WeregularlyinvitesupervisorsorHR managersfromourlocalshopstocampus sotheycangettoknowstudentsandsee whoisagoodfitfortheircompany,”he said.

Polliardsaidthatasurprisingnumber ofhisstudentsdon’twanttogotocollege yetorincurdebt.Hesaidthatthosewho choosethistrademightbeabletoreceive tuitionreimbursementfromtheiremployer toearnadegree.

“They’recominginhereandgetting thistrade.Thenthey’refindingacompany wheretheywanttocontinuetogrow theircareerandusingtheirtuition reimbursementtopayforanengineering degree,”hesaid.

“Intheeveningclass,I’vehadseveral engineerscomethroughbecauseasan engineertheysitthereatthecomputer anddesignit,butthenwhentheytakethat designandturnitintoaphysicalpart,it changesthewayyoulookatdesigningit,” Polliardsaid.

TheTulsaTechprogramisaccredited bytheNationalInstituteforMetalworking Skills(NIMS).Studentswhocomplete theprogramcanearnfourtosixentrylevelcertificationsintegratedintothe curriculum.

“Nomatterwhatweteachthemhere, wherevertheygotoworkisgoingtohave theirownpoliciesandproceduresonhow todotheirworkontheirmachines,so we’rejusttryingtoteachhowtolearnand besafeintheprocess,”headded. ContacttheOneStopInformation& EnrollmentCenterat918-828-5000for startdates.Formoreinformationvisit tulsatech.edu

Emailusyour questions atexpert@ tulsaworld.com, andourexpert willansweronour TulsaWorldScene Facebookpage!

AARONPOLLIARD MachineProgramCoordinator

NATIVE

Former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller was born Nov. 18, 1945, in Tahlequah.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

The Time of the Butterfly

Sittingin a longhouse in New York in the 1980s, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller — who had recently become the first female chief of a major tribal nation — told a group of female Iroquois elders she was visiting that she couldn’t believe she was chief.

The elders’ response to that? “It’s no surprise to us.”

“We have a prophecy that there is going to come a time where a woman emerges as leader,” Charlie Soap, Mankiller’s husband, remembered the elders saying to Mankiller. “We believe you are that leader that has emerged. You’re paving the way for other women to become leaders of their tribes. This is what we call The Time of the Butterfly. This is your time.”

Reflecting on the memory, Soap does believe his late wife ushered in The Time of the Butterfly that he hopes endures today.

“It was a beautiful way to talk about her,” he said.

Wilma Mankiller created a seat at the table for herself, Indigenous people and all women

Jacob Factor // Tulsa World Magazine

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Charlie Soap and his late wife, Wilma Mankiller, shared a passion for clean water.

And not only a source of power for Indigenous women, though, her monumental work and leadership also carries on a legacy — even after her death in 2010 — of empowering all Indigenous people, women and young people as a champion of tribal sovereignty, women’s rights and equality.

Her historic appearance as one of the first women on the U.S. quarter this year only serves as a symbol of the power her life’s work continues to have, and a book of her recently discovered poetry tells her story in her own creative words.

HER SEAT AT THE TABLE

“One of the things my parents taught me, and I’ll always be grateful as a gift, is to not ever let anybody else define me; that for me to define myself ... and I think that helped me a lot in assuming a leadership position,” Mankiller wrote in her 2000 autobiography “Mankiller: A Chief and Her People.”

Mankiller defined herself as a fierce advocate for Cherokee people, and more than that, as a woman who wouldn’t back down from the misogynistic system that tried to prevent her rise to power.

Having lived in San Francisco for her teenage years and early adulthood, Mankiller moved back to Oklahoma in the late 1970s and created the Community Development Department for the Cherokee Nation.

“People did not quite know what to make of me,” Mankiller said. “I cheerfully worked longer hours than most anyone, and I would do whatever it took to get something done.”

That drive and passion for her people as director of the Community Development Project eventually led to then-Principal Chief Ross Swimmer

asking her to run with him as his deputy chief in 1983.

In a speech at Sweet Briar College on April 2, 1993, Mankiller said she had expected challenges to her campaign because of her activist background or her work with rural communities, but her challengers had a di erent focus.

“The only thing people wanted to talk about in 1983 was my being a woman,” she said. “That was the most hurtful experience I’ve ever been through.”

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Mankiller’s grandfather obtained 160 acres in Oklahoma in a settlement with the U.S. government after Cherokees were forced to move to Oklahoma from their tribal lands in the eastern part of the country.

COURTESY

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE Mankiller became one of the first women to appear on the U.S. quarter.

But she powered on and eventually won the election.

The misogyny didn’t stop when she was elected, though.

As deputy chief, she would fill in for Swimmer at meetings or events when he couldn’t attend.

At one of these events — her first meeting since becoming deputy chief — she was to meet with other Oklahoma tribal leaders, but when she arrived, there was no chair for her.

“Literally, she did not have a seat at the table,” current Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “So she goes and grabs a chair and drags it to the table and sits down.”

She then carried on with the meeting, ignoring the issue.

“That to me showed her determination,” Hoskin said. “It also showed she had a great deal of courage at a time when surely a woman in politics in the Cherokee Nation needed it.”

Two years later, Swimmer stepped down as principal chief to take a federal position, so Mankiller then, in 1985, became the first woman to be principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.

And two years after that, the people of the Cherokee Nation elected her in her own right as the chief of the Cherokee Nation.

“That sent a message to our citizens and the country about the power of women in Cherokee culture,” Hoskin said. “It was, in a sense, back because it was so rooted in our history of being a matrilineal society.”

Mankiller spent a decade as the principal chief, and in that time, the Cherokee Nation more than doubled from 68,000 to 170,000 citizens; she led efforts to increase the nation’s sovereignty and hold the U.S. government accountable; and she improved education, health care and housing services.

Under her leadership, infant mortality declined and educational achievement rose in the Cherokee Nation.

In the almost 40 years since she was first elected chief, the Cherokee Nation is still building on the initiatives she led and the success she enacted.

And her work is reverberating across the U.S., as the U.S. Mint released a commemorative quarter earlier this year with Mankiller as

“When (Mankiller) was a community organizer — trying to inspire people and communities that had been underserved over generations — that was her almost all by herself,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “That was her, in some ways, against the world. That was her speaking truth to power.”

the “head” in a series of quarters featuring prominent American women.

“People have forgotten the names of the men at that table,” Hoskin said of that meeting long ago. “But Wilma Mankiller is on the quarter.”

Even though Mankiller had — and still has — the spotlight as such a prominent figure, she always strived to shine that light on others.

A SEAT FOR ALL PEOPLE

Even from a young age, Mankiller defined herself as an advocate for Native Americans, women and other marginalized communities.

Her family moved to San Francisco when she was 11 years old. While living in the Bay Area, the occupation of Alcatraz Island by Native American activists from 1969 to 1971 called Mankiller to the world of social activism.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Mankiller’s portrait hangs along with those of other chiefs at the Cherokee Nation Headquarters in Tahlequah.

“When Alcatraz occurred, I became aware of what needed to be done to let the rest of the world know that Indians had rights, too,” Mankiller said in her autobiography.

After the occupation of Alcatraz, she became a staunch advocate for Native American and women’s rights, “speaking truth to power” even before she had the backing of an entire nation’s resources as chief, Hoskin said.

“When you’re chief, you have a fair bit of resources,” Hoskin said. “When she was a community organizer — trying to inspire people and communities that had been underserved over generations — that was her almost all by herself. That was her, in some ways, against the world. That was her speaking truth to power.”

She led community advocacy groups in San Francisco for Native American youth and joined the Women’s Rights Movement.

Mankiller met feminist icon Gloria Steinem when she joined the board of the Ms. Foundation for Women, an organization Steinem founded in 1972.

Mankiller’s biggest contribution to the feminist movement, Steinem said in a 2010 Tulsa World article, was that she could show political and social causes were connected and many issues were one and the same.

“Her gift was to create independence, not dependence,” Steinem said then. “Wilma paved a way for all young women, not just Cherokee women.”

Steinem later introduced Mankiller to Kristina Kiehl, an activist who cofounded Voters for Choice, which was the largest independent, nonpartisan abortion-rights political action committee.

Mankiller spoke at a reproductive rights fundraiser for Voters for Choice, and she and Kiehl worked together for many years advocating for women’s rights.

Kiehl, who became a trusted friend and colleague to Mankiller, still works to this day to fulfill Mankiller’s mission of uplifting women.

“Wilma would always bring other women to the table,” Kiehl said. “People wanted to meet and spend time with Wilma, and she would use that interest in her as a prism to show those people a wider range of feminism or Indian issues or any number of social justice causes she cared about.”

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Activist Gloria Steinem speaks during a ceremony celebrating the release of the Wilma Mankiller quarter on June 6 in Tahlequah.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Mankiller became chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1985 after Chief Ross Swimmer resigned to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs under President Ronald Reagan.

This kind of prism Mankiller used for more than just women, Soap said.

When she fought for more tribal sovereignty for the Cherokee Nation in Washington, D.C., she would bring other, sometimes smaller, tribes with her to give them a voice.

“When she was working on tribal sovereignty, she would bring other tribal leaders to the table,” he said. “She worked to strengthen tribal sovereignty not only for her own people, but for all tribes. That’s had a major impact on where tribal sovereignty stands to this day.”

THE BUTTERFLY STILL FLIES

“It’s hard to measure the greatness of the chiefs who have come before me, but I think it’s fair to say we never had a greater chief than Wilma Mankiller,” Hoskin said. “I think about what she symbolized and what the substance of her work was. I think it’s easy to see she was a pioneer as a woman in a world dominated in that part of our history by men.”

Today, the Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe in the United States. With over 390,000 citizens, it has burgeoning water and health care infrastructure systems and has a Cabinet that is 50% women.

According to Hoskin, that is in no small part thanks to Mankiller’s work.

When Mankiller was the Community Development Department director in the early 1980s, she and Soap helped the small Cherokee community of Bell by creating a 14-mile water line to bring its people clean water.

“There are so many communities that are lacking good, safe water in their homes,” Soap said. “We were trying to get water to the communities in their homes.”

In April 2021, the Cherokee Nation continued that mission by passing the Wilma P. Mankiller and Charlie Soap Water Act, which calls for a study to figure out why some Cherokee communities still don’t have adequate access to water utilities and systems.

“That was quite an honor and surprise that they would enact that legislation to honor us in that way,” Soap said. “That was something we enjoyed doing: working with people in the communities. Even now, the tribe is doing a very much needed job, and I’m happy that we were able to inspire others in our tribe to keep that going.”

Additionally, the Cherokee Nation Council in November 2021 approved the construction of a $400 million hospital in Tahlequah.

Hoskin said it is only because of Mankiller that is even possible.

“The only reason I am in a position today to work with our council to build a $400 million hospital by Cherokees for Cherokees is because of what she did as chief concerning selfgovernance,” Hoskin said. “Had she not done that, we might still be struggling ... as opposed to a system built by Cherokees for Cherokees. (Mankiller) built that system, and we’re building on that system.”

Not only in policymaking has Mankiller paved a way for a better future, her feminist activism has also changed an institution that once mocked her chiefdom into one where female leaders are the norm.

Women make up half the Cherokee Nation Cabinet, and Hoskin said that diversity has benefited the tribe.

“It caused us to think about

systemwide if we’re achieving things like pay parity in our work force,” he said. “The pay compensation that we’re undertaking is, in part, to expose and remedy what could be pay gaps between genders. When we think about Wilma Mankiller, we think about whether we’re doing what we should to empower women in this tribe.”

When thinking about his late wife’s legacy, Soap remembers her most as a nurturer, a friend, a lover of all people and a person who made time for anyone.

Soap said he hopes Mankiller’s legacy can still inspire young Cherokees and people of all races and can show people how to embrace women’s leadership.

“The legacy she has left is profound,” Soap said. “Most important for her would be to see that her story would encourage both men and women to respect, embrace and support women’s leadership. She had hoped women would become leaders, just like they were in our tribe’s early days.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

President Bill Clinton embraces Mankiller after presenting her with a Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House on Jan. 15, 1998. Mankiller received the medal for her work in becoming a strong and creative leader of the Cherokee Nation.

Schooled in style

Creative experiences accentuate OSU fashion program

Grace Wood Tulsa World Magazine

The fashion merchandising program at Oklahoma State University is shaking up the fashion world by providing its students unique learning opportunities both in and outside of the classroom.

Whether they’re planning music-inspired photo shoots at OSU’s satellite campus in New Mexico, designing content for the program’s student-run magazine or working behind the scenes to plan all the intricacies that go into a fashion show, students working in the fashion merchandising program are gaining important knowledge that translates into real-world skills in the fashion industry.

“Our students are always pushing us to look at things in new and different ways,” said Cosette Joyner Martinez, associate professor of visual communication in the Department of Design Housing and Merchandising at OSU. “We’re connected to an industry where we’re always reinventing something, so to work with young people who do that kind of work is so exciting.”

The students learn the many

ins and outs of the fashion industry, including much of the work that goes into creating and presenting a product to consumers, Martinez said.

OSU’s fashion merchandising students are taught the science of textiles, the complexities of product distribution, the process of creating a story for a brand to facilitate customer connection, the planning needed to achieve a fashion company’s financial goals and much more, Martinez said.

“Our fashion merchandising program is shaped around helping students understand the product itself and everything it takes to get that product to the customer from start to finish,” Martinez said.

Fashion merchandising students have diverse interests, Martinez said. Many graduates of the program pursue careers as fashion buyers, product developers or brand managers in the e-commerce space, while others choose to specialize in digital marketing, web content creation or personal styling.

“What’s exciting about our degree is how fundamentally versatile it is,” Martinez said. “Having a broad skill set makes our students very marketable because they can bend and flex and do a lot of different things in their careers.”

The desert landscape of Taos and the cultures of the people who live there influenced OSU’s fashion merchandising students.

ABOVE: “Our students are always pushing us to look at things in new and different ways,” said Cosette Joyner Martinez, associate professor of visual communication in the Department of Design Housing and Merchandising at OSU. LEFT: Students who graduate from Oklahoma State University’s fashion merchandising program often pursue careers in editorial and personal styling, product management, e-commerce and more.

PHOTOS COURTESY, KELLY KERR

ABOVE: Fashion merchandising students were tasked with sourcing models, garments and equipment to plan their own editorial photoshoots in Taos.

RIGHT: Students in Taos were asked to select an iconic album cover and reimagine it in a new way in their photo shoots.

PHOTOS COURTESY, KELLY KERR

With the skills taught in the classroom and the hands-on learning experiences facilitated by OSU, the fashion merchandising program seeks to provide students with an unparalleled educational experience that will allow them to make a positive impact on the fashion industry.

“We try to impart to students that every decision we make in fashion affects the environment and other human beings — there’s a real responsibility in the choices we make,” Martinez said. “In our curriculum, we’re on a journey with students to figure out how to keep this $3 trillion industry moving in a direction that connects people and helps them find their own personal expression in a healthy, positive way.”

WORKSHOP IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO

This past May, several fashion merchandising students traveled to the Doel Reed Center in Taos, New Mexico, for a two-week learning experience in editorial styling, led by Martinez.

The center is located in the former home and studio of Doel Reed, a noted printmaker and founding chair of OSU’s art department.

Donated to OSU by Martha Reed, Doel’s daughter, the center is fulfilling her vision of an educational community that is befitting of her father’s work and legacy.

“During the two weeks they were there, students were preparing for a photo shoot, and they learned everything from developing a visual narrative to learning to see through a

photographer’s lens,” Martinez said.

In order to find inspiration for their projects, students were asked to select a rock ’n’ roll album and redesign its cover. They sourced their own models, garments and props and scouted locations to reimagine iconic album covers such as Prince’s “Purple Rain,” Led Zeppelin’s “Houses of the Holy” and newer releases like Willow’s selftitled 2019 album.

Throughout the two weeks, students played multiple roles in the creative process, assisting and modeling for each other’s shoots while learning to communicate with a professional photographer, Kelly Kerr. They learned post-production techniques that allowed them to create their final product: a vinyl album or CD package.

PHOTOS COURTESY, KELLY KERR

Fashion merchandising students work to plan the annual Euphoria Fashion Show by selecting a venue, music, creating promotional materials and curating the event’s program. This year, OSU President Kayse Shrum (at right, top photo) participated.

The cultural landscape of northern New Mexico allowed students to gain a new perspective and find inspiration from the natural environment of the desert and the history of the land itself, Martinez said.

“It was an ideal location to help students learn about narrative — it’s a place where there’s a collision of cultures from those that are Indigenous to a variety of colonizers,” Martinez said. “It brought students’ attention to how stories are shaped based on one’s cultural perspective. They took in the incredible landscape of mountains and deserts and were able to draw upon the aesthetics of the environment, and also the themes that underpin that place, from artistic expression to lack of representation.”

MODMUZE MAGAZINE

modmuze is the fashion merchandising program’s studentrun fashion and lifestyle magazine, which serves as an opportunity to give students creative freedom while teaching them different facets of fashion journalism, photography, editorial styling and more, Martinez said.

“Students do everything to bring the magazine to life, from the images, the layout and advertising to the writing,” Martinez said. “We love to connect students to real-world experiences,

so the magazine is a place where we really see the rubber hit the road.”

The magazine is published three times each school year and involves students from a host of majors and disciplines, in addition to fashion merchandising. Each magazine has a theme and consists of articles and photo spreads dedicated to trends within the fashion industry, as well as style and beauty tips and personal essays from student writers.

This April’s issue touched on the changing landscape of the fashion industry, said modmuze editor-in-chief Faith Bollum, a senior at OSU.

“We’re talking about the cultural reset in fashion: Things are changing, and our generation is becoming the leaders of the fashion industry and deciding what’s in and what’s out,” Bollum said. “The magazine talks about being less afraid of what you want to wear and wearing whatever you want to, which hasn’t always been the norm.”

Through the hands-on process of creating a magazine from start to finish, students are able to take their skills learned in the classroom and apply them in a realistic setting, Bollum said.

“It’s given me a creative outlet and an opportunity to fine-tune my leadership skills,” Bollum said. “It’s completely shown me that the things I’ve learned being editor-in-chief are going to be useful in the future as a career.”

EUPHORIA FASHION SHOW

Each year, OSU’s Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising hosts the Euphoria Fashion Show, an event featuring collections created by students specializing in fashion design.

This year’s show featured designs covering a wide range of themes and subject matter, from Chinese streetwear-inspired garments to clothing created using recycled metals and plastics meant to shed light on marine pollution.

Students help plan the event in a fashion show production class, where they select a venue for the show, choose music for models to walk to, create marketing and promotional materials for advertising and design the event program, ensuring the show flows smoothly from beginning to end.

The class allows students to get hands-on experience producing an event that they may draw on in their future careers in the fashion industry, Martinez said.

PHOTOS COURTESY, KELLY KERR

Students in the Taos program helped each other with photo shoots, often serving as production assistants and models to facilitate the creative process.

LEFT: The Doel Reed Center in Taos, New Mexico, is located in the former home and studio of Doel Reed, founding chair of OSU’s art department. In the fashion merchandising program, students study the science of textiles and learn the process of how a product is made from start to finish.

Generous DONOR

William Skelly was integral in growth of oil industry, Tulsa football

The right-field fence, abutting the Midland Valley Railroad tracks in the southeast corner of downtown Tulsa, stood just 274 feet from home plate at McNulty Park, home of the city’s first minor league baseball team.

The short field helped the Tulsa Oilers win five pennants and six batting titles in the 1920s. But it caused serious problems for the University of Tulsa football team, which also played home games at the stadium.

A full-length gridiron wouldn’t fit, so the playing field measured only 90 yards. Once the ball got close to the end zone, the refs would move it back 10 yards to make up the di erence. And if somebody broke a big play, it was a judgment call on whether to count it as a touchdown.

Sometimes the refs decided a player would have been tackled short of the goal line if the goal line had been where it was supposed to be. But fans didn’t always agree, and hardly a game passed without controversy.

Tulsa finally got a proper football stadium after oil tycoon William Skelly pledged $125,000 if another $175,000 could be raised for the project.

As a teenager in Pennsylvania in the 1890s, Skelly had helped his father haul oil-field supplies in a horse-drawn wagon. He later went to work as a tool dresser, making $2.50 a day in the state’s famous Venango Oil Field.

He moved to Tulsa in 1912 to build a career as an independent producer until he incorporated Skelly Oil in 1919, building a fully integrated company that pumped oil from its own wells and sold gasoline at its own service stations.

A lot of his fortune came from developing the Burbank Field in Osage County, where Skelly developed a special relationship with the Osage Nation. The tribe made him an honorary member and gave him an Osage name, Wah-Tah-In-Kah, which means “sassy chief.”

He preferred it to his other nickname, “Mr. Tulsa,” a title that is said to have made him grimace from modesty. But he earned it with seemingly ubiquitous support of every major charity and good cause in town, especially the University of Tulsa.

Construction of Skelly Stadium began

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

W.G. Skelly, the founder of Skelly Oil Co., was an enthusiastic booster of the city and its welfare. He donated money for Skelly Stadium at the University of Tulsa and many other projects in the city.

Michael

on May 11, 1930, and was finished in time for an Oct. 4 game against Arkansas. TU recovered a Razorback fumble on the opening kickoff then scored a touchdown in the north end zone on the first play from scrimmage in stadium history.

Tulsa won 26–6.

The stadium now seats 30,000, roughly twice its original capacity. The name changed to Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium in 2007 during an $18 million renovation.

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

An aerial view of turf being installed at Skelly Field at the University of Tulsa’s H.A. Chapman Stadium.

COURTESY, THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA

More than 13,000 football fans packed the new Skelly Stadium for the University of Tulsa’s season opener and for a dedication of the new $300,000 facility to “the youth of eastern Oklahoma.”

COURTESY

Skelly Stadium at the University of Tulsa in 1948.

Prayer walk

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Seraphine Warren is walking from Arizona to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people. She walks about 20-30 miles a day.

On the day I was with her, after getting a sweetgrass blessing from a crew member, she took o from Catoosa on her way to Claremore. She prayed and walked briskly. After about a quarter-mile, she looked at me and said, “I usually run when I start out.” At that point, she started running.

Warren is on the journey for her aunt Ella Mae Begay, who went missing in June 2021. She carries a prayer sta with messages from family members of missing and murdered indigenous people. Warren expects to arrive in Washington, D.C., in October.

“There’s times when it does get emotional just because it’s frustrating to see what we’re dealing with and feeling so helpless.” She adds, “Somebody has to know something.”

Connectingaudiencesatevery

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StrategicmarketingexpertdeliversforBruceG.WeberDiamondCellar

Mostjewelryjourneysstartwithanengagement

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“Whetheracustomeristreatingthemselvestoapiece ofjewelrybecauseofanewjobcelebration,orshoppingfor anotherspecialoccasion,itisimportantthatwehaveanice mixofofferingstotapintonewcustomersandreachourloyal customersateverystageoftheirjourney,”shesaid.

WorkingwithDallasWest,strategicmarketingconsultant, andtheteamatTulsaWorldMediaCompany,hasmade itpossibleforBruceG.Webertodojustthat–make connectionsateverystageofthatjourney.

“SinceDallashasbeenworkingouraccount,she’s presentedsomanynewopportunitiesandideastoadvertise, butmoreimportantlytoconnectinmeaningfulwaystoour customers–wedidn’tevenknowwehadsomanyoptionsfromprint,todigital,toinpersonevents.”McCoysaid.

DiamondCellarisinalotofmarketsandisahugefanof TulsaWorldformanyreasons.

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ItjustgoestoshowhowrespectedTulsaWorldisandhow importanttothecommunityitis–whytheadsdosowell,she said.

“Wehavemorebrandsseeingtheimpacttheycanmakein TulsaandareeagertobepartofTulsaWorldbecausetheysee results,”McCoysaid.

Toreachcustomersateverystageoftheirjewelryjourney, BruceG.WeberworkswithDallasandtheteamatTulsa Worldtostrategicallymixonlinedigitaladvertising,print,and otherout-of-the-boxinitiativestoconnectinmeaningfulways.

ForthebrandsBruceG.Webercarriesandthepricepoint oftheirproducts,whilesellingonlineisimportant,selling onlineonlyisn’taseffective.Peoplewanttocomeinandtry thejewelryonduetothenatureofwhatwesell,McCoysaid.

“Becauseweinteractsomuchwithourclientsona personallevel,it’simportantthatwetie-intothecommunity–butintherightway,”shesaid.“Wegetsomanysponsorship opportunitiesbroughttous,butwhenDallasbroughtaunique ideatousfortheTulsaWorldAll-Worldevent–forthefirst timeever,wewantedtogetinvolvedandseehowwecould reallyactivatethissponsorship.”

Theuniquelycraftedsponsorshipwasamazingandreally gaveusthechancetobeinfrontoflocalathletesandtheir familiesinaspecialwaythatwillmakeanimpactforyearsto come,McCoysaid.

“It’simportanttoustogiveback,andwewereabletodo so,”shesaid.“Wewerereallyexcitedtobepartofthis.”

Deliveringthepersonaltouchonmanylevelsmakesfora greatworkingrelationship.

“Dallasdoesn’tassume,shesendsinfoinadvance,andis alwaysopentobringingusnewandfreshideas.Wearealways re-evaluatingourplacements,butneverwaiver,”McCoy said.“Shedeliversinsomanyways.Irecentlyreturnedfrom maternityleaveafterhavingmyseconddaughter,andIcame backtosomebeautifulflowersfromtheteamattheTulsa World.”

BruceG.Weberhassomeexcitingchangescomingin Tulsa,andwelookforwardtoworkingwithDallastopromote thosechanges,shesaid.

“It’sexcitingtoworkwithcompanieslikeBruceG. Weber,whenyoucanhaveaconversationtoknowwhatitis thatisimportanttothemandbeabletodeliver,”Westsaid. “Companiesthatareinterestedinbringingthatpersonal touchtotheiraudiencesthroughstrategicomni-channel marketingapproachescantakethefirststepbystartinga conversation.”

Formoreinformation,contactDallasWestat dallas.west@tulsaworld.comorcall918.530.1523.

Perfecttiminghelpsgrocery

pivotadstrategytosavemore

Digitalmarketingexpertdeliverscustomers

Sometimesit’sallabouttiming.“WewererebrandingourSave-A-Lot grocerytoRoute66SaveMoreFoodMarket whenTulsaWorldreachedouttome–andit wasperfecttiming,”ScottCampbell,co-ownerofRoute66 SaveMoreFoodMarkettogetherwithhiswifeLorie,said. “Westartedseeingashift–asmailingandpapercosts increased,weneededtochangethewaywehadhistorically marketedourstoresinthepastandseekotheroptions. Weneededsomeonetohelpussetupadigitalprogram –everythingfromawebsiteandsocialpresence,toafull onlinecampaign.”

“Althoughitdidn’ttakelong,Ireally likehowouradvertisingisworking.The rightcombinationhasmadeourlocation successful,solidifyingourbusinessforthe nextcoupleofyears,” Campbellsaid.

AftersharingtheirneedswithCyndiWalkup,digital strategistforTulsaWorldMediaCompany’sdigitally partneredagency–AmplifiedDigital,theteamspranginto actionandgoteverythingsetupandrunning–andeven continuestomaintain,hesaid.

“Idon’tparticipateinFacebookpersonally,sothiswas allnewtome.Thisparadigmshifttooksomegettingused to,”Campbellsaid.“ItwasgreattohavetheTulsaWorld knowwhattodoandhelpusonthatjourney.Ittookalittle timebeforewestartedseeingresults,wherepeoplewould seeanad.Althoughitdidn’ttakelong,Ireallylikehowour advertisingisworking.Therightcombinationhasmadeour locationsuccessful,solidifyingourbusinessforthenext coupleofyears.”

DIGITALSTRATEGIST

AmplifiedDigitalMarketing

Emailusyourquestionsat expert@tulsaworld.com,andour expertwillansweronourTulsa WorldSceneFacebookpage!

Tryingnewinitiativesandstayingwithinabudgetwas veryimportanttotheprocess,hesaid.

“Cyndihasbeensuchahugehelp.Shealwaysoffersa lotofideasforustoconsiderthatfitourbudget,”Campbell said.“Thereportingisgreat–wecanseehowourads interactwithpeopleandwhoactuallycomesintothestore basedontheadsthey’veseen.”

BeingcostconsciousintheiradvertisingallowsRoute 66SaveMoreFoodMarkettopassonthosesavingstotheir customers.

“Whenwere-openedunderadifferentname,we changedupoursuppliers,”hesaid.“Ourmodelhasalways beenthatwearelookingforthatcostconsciousconsumer. WecarrythebasicsatthebestpricesinWestTulsa.We continuetooffergroceries,meatandproduceataffordable prices.Sincewe’vere-openedourstore,we’veseenasteady increaseinbusiness.”

Pivotingfromatraditionaladvertisingcampaigntoa digitaladvertisingcampaigncansparkalotofquestions. WalkupandtheteamatAmplifiedDigitalcanmakethat transitionsmoothandeasytounderstand–soyoucan seeresults.

“Cyndihasbeensuchahugehelp.She alwaysoffersalotofideasforusto considerthatfitourbudget,”Campbell said.

Youdon’thavetowaittohavesomeoneattheTulsa World/AmplifiedDigitalteamreachouttoyou–your businessmatterstoday! Formoreinformation,contactCyndiWalkupbyemailat Cyndi.Walkup@TulsaWorld.comorcall918-260-1425.

nutshell Oklahoma in ahistory

Our local farmers markets may slow down a bit during the months of October and November, but pecan season is just starting.

The pecan’s storied past predates our country’s founding, yet pecans have become embedded into American traditions, culture and cuisine.

What would Thanksgiving dinner be without pecan pie?

Don’t worry — one local grower says it is going to be a good year for the coveted nut.

American growers produce over 80% of the world’s pecan supply, an annual crop yielding about 300 million pounds, according to the American Pecan Council.

Bob Knight, owner of Knight Creek Farms and a former president of the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association, estimates that Oklahoma’s harvest alone averages 20 million pounds of pecans each year.

Pecan season looks bountiful for this fall, local grower says

STEPHEN PINGRY PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Knight Creek Farms estimates Oklahoma's pecan harvest averages 20 million pounds each year.

“It looks like a good year" for pecans, growers say. Of about 500 varieties of pecans, many named after Indian tribes, several fare particularly well in Oklahoma.

Pecans, both native and cultivated, are grown commercially in 15 states in the southern U.S., with the majority coming from Georgia, Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. All varieties derive from the native pecan, which grew wild in North America for millions of years. It takes seven to 10 years before a pecan tree begins producing a supply of nuts, but once the process starts, the tree can produce for a very long time, sometimes more than 100 years.

There are over 500 varieties of pecans, but several fare particularly well in our Oklahoma weather. All modern pecan cultivars are grown at a USDA research station in Sommerville, Texas, with many varieties named after Indian tribes.

“Pawnee and Kanza are two favorites and grow well here,” Knight said.

Knight Creek Farms consists of 15 farms, groves and patches in Creek County.

“We harvest native pecans as well as cultivated varieties” Knight said. “We harvest more off the farm than on it.”

But the Pawnee and Kanza varieties that are grown on the farm are the awardwinners that customers covet.

“In a good native year, we harvest more native than cultivated,” Knight said. “All the trees are loaded right now, so it looks like a good year.”

Native pecans continue to grow wild in Oklahoma, and over 140,000 acres are harvested throughout the state. “The pecans are smaller, but some of our customers think they are the greatest in the world,” Knight said.

One preconception about native pecans is that they are hard to shell and the nutmeat is smaller. There are two shelling operations in Oklahoma with mechanized crackers, air separators and optical sorters. This makes the process fast and accurate, and the machines can shell 50,000 pounds of pecans in a day.

“In a wild population, each tree is its own variety,” Knight said. “When pecans are harvested from native trees, the nuts are combined. This means that no bag of

native pecans will ever be the same.”

The paper shell varieties are bred to be more uniform and are more productive per acre but require more management — irrigation and pest control — to keep them alive.

In addition to growing and harvesting award-winning pecans (the Knight Creek Farms Pawnee pecans have won Best in Show at the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association State Pecan Show), Knight Creek Farms is working closely with researchers at Oklahoma State University to ensure the best practices are utilized in pecan horticulture and environmental management.

Knight Creek Farms also received a grant this year from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to help educate the public about native pecans. Knight sponsored a dinner benefiting the Tulsa Farmers’ Market, where six local chefs showcased dishes that included native pecans and other Oklahoma-grown ingredients.

The pecan harvest in Oklahoma kicks in during October and continues through the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, undoubtedly one of the most popular pecan-cooking days of the year.

During pecan season, Knight Creek Farms bring the freshly harvested pecans from the orchard daily to its shop at 8408 S. Elwood Ave. The pecans are also available at the Cherry Street Farmers Market during market season.

But there is no reason to limit this Oklahoma legacy to pecan pie — try an Oklahoma version of baklava, the Greek pastry typically made with walnuts, by switching to pecans and using locally made honey. Or blend up a hearty and rich soup with pecans in a dish inspired by the classic cream of chestnut soup.

MORE PRODUCT DETAILS

These are the types of pecan products available from Knight Creek Farms:

Native pecans

Native pecans are noted for their high oil content, small size and thick, hard-to-crack shells.

Pawnee pecans

The Pawnee is medium to large in size and is KCF’s most popular pecan for snacking.

Kanza pecans

A paper shell variety, the Kanza is small to medium in size and has a rich, buttery flavor. It’s quickly becoming one of the most popular varieties in Oklahoma.

Pecan oil

Pecan oil has a light and buttery taste imparting a touch of nutty flavor without overpowering any recipe. With a higher smoke point (470 degrees)

compared to canola (400 degrees) and olive oil (320 degrees), pecan oil and its flavor will stay intact longer and at higher cooking temperatures. Pecan oil also is lower in saturated fat than olive oil (9.5% vs 13.5%).

It’s a versatile ingredient for any chef or home cook.

CREAM OF PECAN SOUP

Makes 1 quart

2 tablespoons roasted pecan oil, plus more for drizzling

½ cup finely chopped shallots

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

¼ cup brandy

8 ounces local pecans, toasted

4 cups whole milk, warmed

½ cup heavy cream

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1. Heat oil over medium low heat in a large saucepan until shimmering. Add the shallots, carrot and celery and cook until the shallots are translucent, about five minutes.

2. Add the brandy and cook until the alcohol has cooked out, two to three minutes.

3. Add the toasted pecans and cook, stirring so they don’t burn, for two to three minutes. Stir in the milk and cream and bring the mixture just to a simmer. Add nutmeg, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Continue to simmer gently for 10 minutes.

4. Remove the pan from the heat and puree the mixture with an immersion blender or conventional blender until completely smooth. Return to low heat, stirring until heated through. Adjust the consistency with a bit more milk if desired and add additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve drizzled with a bit of pecan oil.

1½ cups sugar

½ cup honey

OKLAVA

Makes several dozen individual squares

1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 3-inch cinnamon stick

1½ pounds (24 ounces) finely chopped pecans

1 16-ounce package frozen phyllo, thawed

2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

1. Combine 1 cup of the sugar, the honey, lemon juice and cinnamon stick with 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer until the sugar has dissolved. Cool the syrup completely. This step can be done up to a day ahead.

2. Heat oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the center. In a large bowl, toss the pecans with remaining ½ cup sugar and ground cinnamon.

3. Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with melted butter.

4. Place 8 phyllo sheets in the pan, brushing each sheet with melted butter before laying the next. Top with 2 cups pecan mixture.

5. Place 3 phyllo sheets over the pecan mixture, brushing each with melted butter. Top with 2 cups pecan mixture.

6. Repeat with 3 more phyllo sheets and the remaining 2 cups pecan mixture.

7. Top with 6 phyllo sheets, brushing all but the top layer with melted butter.

8. Using a very sharp knife, cut the layers either diagonally into 1-inch diamonds or into squares.

9. Bake for 1 hour. Remove the pan from the oven and pour the honey syrup evenly over the layers. Set aside to cool completely in the pan. When cool, cut through the layers again. Store, covered, at room temperature for up to 4 days.

COURTESY, JUDY ALLEN

Oklava is a local take on baklava. This version swaps the walnuts for local pecans.

COURTESY, BROOKE ALLEN PHOTO

This Okie adaptation of the classic French cream of chestnut soup is perfect for any holiday feast.

Ifthisisyourfirsttimehearing aboutOasisFreshMarketorif you’veshoppedwithusmany times,wearegrateful!Wehave seencustomerscomefrom differentpartsofthecity,state andtravelfromallovertheU.S. tovisitandsupportOasis.Thank youforsupportingthefirst grocerystoreinNorthTulsain over14years!

Sincethegrandopeningin May2021,OasisFreshMarket launcheditsnonprofit“The OasisProjects,”whosecore programsandservicesrevolve aroundcorrectingsystemic dividesinNorthTulsaby

andcommunityresources.The OasisProjectscelebratedour

haveaccesstotransportation. HereatTheOasisProjects,we providewrap-aroundservices andwiththisdeliveryprogram, wehopetocontinuetothe centerofthecommunityby bringingresourcesand opportunitiestoourcommunity,” A.J.Johnson,FounderofThe

SilverDollarCityIsAglowDuring HarvestFestivalThroughOctober

NewPumpkinPaths,MoreIlluminationandOver15,000RealPumpkins

SilverDollarCity’sacclaimedHarvestFestival

returnsbrighterthaneverin2022,featuring morethan15,000pumpkins,largerthanlife sculpturesandthenewFoggyHollowlightedpathway. AspartofSilverDollarCity’s BiggestEntertainment YearEver, thehalf-million-dollar“pumpkin”expansion addstothe HarvestFestivalfeaturingCrafts& PumpkinsInTheCity, runningnowthrough October29,2022.

FoggyHollowisamagicalcanopyofbeautiful lighting,enhancedbyafoggyglow.Asguestsenterthe windingFoggyHollowpathway,theywillbeimmersed indramaticcascadinglightsallaroundandabove,with musicaddingtotheexperience.

Spanning“TheCity”arepumpkinsculpturessuch asa14-foot‘Lucky’Dog(theDalmatianmascotofthe kids’areacalledFireman’sLanding),colorful,friendly batswith5-footwingspansperchedatoplightedareas, amassivecat,pumpkincraftspeople(patternedafter theCity’sowncraftspeople)andaniconscarecrow

morethantwo-storiestall.Themeddecorationsdrape pathways,alongwithvibrantlightingallthroughout thepark.

Whilethousandsofhand-carvedpumpkinsglow throughoutthepark,rollercoastersspeedthroughthe nightskies,travelingthehillsandhollowsoftheOzark Mountainswithrecord-breakingthrillsanddrops.

COURTESY, SILVERDOLLARCITY

Thereare40rides&attractionsthroughoutthe park,mostwithscenicviewsofpumpkinillumination. Forthelittles,thenightcomesalivewiththe blacklight,glow-in-the-darkdancepartywherekids candancealongsidelife-sizepumpkinpals.

Thisseason,theHarvestTastingPassportmakes areturnwithmorespecialtyfoodsthaneverbefore, includingallthingspumpkin:

PumpkinPieKettleCorn SmokedSausageMacandCheeseCone PumpkinCheeseCakeCone SaltedCaramelAppleFunnelCake Fanfavoritesalsoreturnwithpumpkinchili,pork bellyskillet,pumpkincorndogs,pumpkincinnamon rolls,porksandwicheswithpumpkinbarbecue sauce,pumpkinspicedribsandpumpkinbread pudding.TheHarvestTastingPassportletsguests tryavarietyoffoodsfrommorethan20different eateriesacrossthepark.

DaytimeCrafts&Cowboys

Duringtheday,demonstratingcraftersshare theirtalentswhilelivemusiccomesfromoutdoor stages.Cowboyloreisbroughttolifebylegendary chuckwagonchefsandstorytellersofwestern adventures.

Newthisyear,theChuckwagonCookOfftakes placeinCowboyCamp,witheachchefbattlingitout bypreparingatraditionalcowboydish,testedbythe audience.GuestschoosetheChuckwagonkingbya showofwhoopsandhollers.

Returningthisseason,isfamedwatercolorartist, BuckTaylor,knownfromhisyouthontheTVseries ‘Gunsmoke’andnowseenintheseries‘Yellowstone.’

Inthestreetsandcourtyards,therearedozens moredemonstratingcraftersalongwithseveral world-renownpumpkincarvers.TheMakers’Market housessomeofthemoreintricatecreationssuchas handcraftedjewelry,quilts,appliqueandwovenrugs.

PlanAheadforChristmas

PreparenowforfamilytraditionsthisChristmas atSilverDollarCity.The5-timereigningchampion forBestThemeParkHolidayEvent,AnOldTime Christmas,kicksofftheholidayseasonNovember 5–December30.BeforewatchingRudolph’sHolly JollyChristmasLightParadeorexploringTheCityin theFriscoSing-AlongSteamTrain,guestscanenjoy thethemeparks40+ridesandattractionsunderthe OzarkMountainstarlight,pluseachnightguests canwatchasthe8-storyanimatedChristmastree putsonalightshowasthecenterpieceofJoyOn TownSquare.CraftsmanarealsointheChristmas spiritcreatingone-of-a-kindheirlooms.Toaddtothe holidayfestivities,guestscanenjoygreatHoliday Buffets,HotChocolate,HotWassailandS’mores. silverdollarcity.com

TheManhattanTransfer 50TH AnniversaryTour Oct.9,2022

“Buddy TheBuddyHollyStory” Oct.25,2022

ViennaBoysChoir Nov.5,2022

Voctave:SoundsoftheSeason Dec.10,2022

KristinChenowethChristmas Dec.17,2022

“OnYourFeet!”

TheStoryofEmilio&GloriaEstefan Feb.1,2023

JessicaVosk March24,2023

LET’S GO.

Editor’s note: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, please check event websites and social media for all the latest updates.

SEPTEMBER

> 9/27-10/2, ‘HADESTOWN’

Winner of eight Tony Awards, this innovative musical gives a modern twist to two mythical love stories — the young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades, king of the underworld, and his wife Persephone — to create a tale about the power of true love.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: celebrityattractions.com

> 9/27, DALLAS STARS VS. ARIZONA COYOTES

The Dallas Stars are playing a preseason NHL game at the BOK Center for the third time. Tickets are $15-$250. Game time is 7 p.m.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.

FOR MORE: bokcenter.com

> 9/29-10/9, TULSA STATE FAIR

The Tulsa State Fair entertains festival-goers with an array of carnival rides, midway games, attractions, concerts, art and more. Find all of your favorite foods on a stick and take in a variety of agricultural exhibits, kitchen dem onstrations and vendor booths galore. Musical acts include Ginuwine, Colt Ford with the Kentucky Headhunters, Aaron Watson with Alex Miller, Ohio Players with Color Me Badd, La Zenda Norteña, Russell Dickerson and We the Kingdom.

WHERE: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St.

FOR MORE: tulsastatefair.com

> 9/30-10/2, BASECAMP AT TURKEY MOUNTAIN

Normally off-limits to campers, Turkey Mountain opens its grounds to the public overnight on this weekend. A bonfire, live music and sunrise yoga are planned. Pitch a tent or splurge on a glamping experience.

WHERE: Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness, 6850 S. Elwood Ave.

FOR MORE: facebook.com/basecampatturkey

The maple-bacon funnel cake is one of the many varieties of fried foods served at the Tulsa State Fair. Plan to share this giant treat.

Bright lights set the midway aglow at the Tulsa State Fair.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

OCTOBER

> 9/30-10/29, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, HAUNTED CASTLE HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

Find thrills for the entire family at the Haunted Castle Halloween Festival in Muskogee. From the sinister, fog-shrouded forest to the carnival atmosphere of Halloween Land, there are performances and activities for all ages.

WHERE: The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W. Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee

FOR MORE: okcastle.com

> 10/1, ‘RACHMANINOFF AND THE DANCE FLOOR’

Dance music in all its forms opens the Signature Symphony’s new season, from Rachmaninoff’s final composition, “Symphonic Dances,” to pianist Charlie Albright performing the jazzinfused “Rhapsody in Blue” by Gershwin and Duke Ellington’s “New World A-Comin’,” and Mason Bates’ “Mothership,” which combines electronics, improvisation and dance elements.

WHERE: VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st St.

FOR MORE: signaturesymphony.org

> 10/5, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS

The Oklahoma City Thunder returns to the BOK Center for a preseason NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks. The matchup will be the Thunder’s 13th preseason game in Tulsa and the third time these regional favorites will meet here. Tickets: $12-$350. Tipoff at 7 p.m.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.

FOR MORE: bokcenter.com

> 10/8, ‘UNFORGETTABLE: BERNSTEIN’S SYMPHONIC DANCES’

Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck joins the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra to perform his selfpenned “Juno Concerto” with the orchestra, while guest conductor Gerhardt Zimmermann leads a program featuring Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story.”

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: tulsasymphony.org

> 10/8-9, CHEROKEE ART MARKET

One of the largest Native American art shows in the state, the 17th annual Cherokee Art Market will have work by artists and artisans representing many tribes.

WHERE: Sequoyah Convention Center at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Chero kee St., Catoosa

FOR MORE: visitcherokeenation.com

> 10/9, THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER

The group known for its harmony and versatility, incorporating pop, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, swing, symphonic, and a cappella music, is on its 50th anniversary tour.

WHERE: Broken Arrow PAC, 701 S. Main St., Broken Arrow

FOR MORE: artsok.org

> 10/14, JERRY SEINFELD

The stand-up comedian comes to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center to perform his newest standup routine, featuring his uncanny ability to joke about the little things in life that relate to audiences everywhere.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: tulsapac.com

> 10/15-16, BRUSH CREEK BAZAAR

Enjoy shopping, entertainment and carnival activities at an outdoor festival featuring vendor booths with everything from decor and soap to candles and clothing. All of the proceeds from this event go to support at-risk teens in the Teen Challenge Programs of New Lifehouse Academy for girls and Brush Creek Academy for boys.

WHERE: 10900 S. Louisville Ave.

FOR MORE: brushcreekbazaar.org

> 10/15, KENDALL-WHITTIER ARTS FESTIVAL

Find local art vendors, gallery shows, food trucks, live music, interactive art and kids activities.

WHERE: Whittier Square and the corner of Admiral and Lewis

FOR MORE: visitkendallwhittier.com

> 10/20-10/29, ‘FROZEN’

The stage adaptation of the now-classic Disney animated film finally makes its way to Tulsa. It’s the story of sisters Anna and Elsa, who must discover how to use Elsa’s magical powers to save their homeland, and discover the power of true love.

This adaptation features the songs from the original film plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers by EGOT-winning com poser Robert Lopez and Oscar-winning lyricist Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: celebrityattractions.com

COURTESY, DEEN VAN MEER

Caroline Bowman appears as Elsa in “Frozen.” The stage version of the popular Disney film is part of Celebrity Attractions’ season.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

The Castle of Muskogee offers numerous ways to get in the Halloween spirit.

> 10/20-23, LINDE OKTOBERFEST TULSA

Enjoy authentic German food, refreshing beverages, carnival rides, live music straight from Germany and much more. Sa vor beer imported from Munich, or enjoy a glass of wine while listening to the sounds of Bavarian-style entertainment. Other festivities include polka dancing and rows of booths filled with art and crafts.

WHERE: River West Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave.

FOR MORE: tulsaoktoberfest.org

> 10/21-30, ‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’

Theatre Tulsa presents this reimagining of a deviously delicious musical comedy at the John H. Williams Theatre.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St.

FOR MORE: tulsapac.com

> 10/25, ‘BUDDY — THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY’

“Buddy — The Buddy Holly Story” tells the true story of Holly’s meteoric rise to fame, from the moment in 1957 when “That’ll Be The Day” hit the airwaves until his tragic death less than two years later on “The Day The Music Died.”

WHERE: Broken Arrow PAC, 701 S. Main St., Broken Arrow

FOR MORE: artsok.org

TheKeystoneAncientForestisaplace whereforestecologyintertwineswith humanhistory.Over80differentbutterfly speciescalltheKeystoneAncientForest home,asdobobcat,deer,American Eagles,andmigratorybirds.The landscapeisrichinbiodiversitywith 500year-oldcedarsand300yearoldpostoaktrees.“Oldgrowth” Crosstimberstreesstudiedattheforest datebacktoChristopherColumbus, andholdvastamountsofatmospheric informationtrappedinsidetheirtrunks. Thisvirginforestwasalsowitnessto NativeAmericans,SpanishExplorers, andearlyAmericantravelerslike WashingtonIrving,whopassedbyin thefallof1832.TheKeystoneAncient Foresthasbeenpreservedandprotected fromurbansprawl.Thismagnificent forestwasalwaysintendedasanoasis forchildren,families,andtravelersto learnmoreaboutOklahoma’sunique Crosstimbersforestandourstate’s history–anditspreservationremainsat theforefrontofourmission. www.sandspringsok.org

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Gerhard Degemann of Fort Worth and Joshua Harrington of Sapulpa pose with a stein during the Linde Oktoberfest at the River West Festival Park.

> 10/27, BLUE’S CLUES AND YOU

This original musical show features the beloved characters from the children’s TV series, including Blue, her friends Magenta, Rainbow Puppy and many more. Tickets: $31.50-$71.50.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.

FOR MORE: bokcenter.com

> 10/28, POST MALONE

Music artist Post Malone brings the Twelve Carat Tour with special guest Roddy Ricch to the BOK Center. Tickets: $39.50-$229.50.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.

FOR MORE: bokcenter.com

> 10/31, CARRIE UNDERWOOD

Eight-time Grammy Award winner and threetime ACM Entertainer of the Year Carrie Under wood brings the Denim & Rhinestones Tour to the BOK Center for a home-state show with special guest Jimmie Allen. Tickets: $39.50-$125.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.

FOR MORE: bokcenter.com

NOVEMBER

> 11/4-11/6, ‘CARMEN’

The ultimate “femme fatale” comes to new life in this world-premiere ballet, based on Bizet’s classic opera and choreographed by Kenneth Tindall, resident choreographer for England’s Northern Ballet. The passionate romantic triangle of the fiery, free-spirited Carmen, the besotted solider Don Jose and the bullfighter Es camillo leads inexorably to betrayal and tragedy.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: tulsaballet.org

> 11/4, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS ARTS FESTIVAL

Living Arts of Tulsa hosts the annual Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a celebration of Latinx heritage that honors loved ones who

have died.

WHERE: 307 E. Reconciliation Way

FOR MORE: livingarts.org

> 11/5, VIENNA BOYS CHOIR

The Vienna Boys Choir is renowned as one of the finest vocal ensembles in the world for over five centuries. The enormously popular chorus is comprised of four ensembles between the ages of 10 and 14.

WHERE: Broken Arrow PAC, 701 S. Main St., Broken Arrow

FOR MORE: artsok.org

> 11/10, DAVID SEDARIS

The best-selling author and humorist returns to Tulsa to share stories from his latest books, “Happy Go Lucky” and “A Carnival of Snackery,” along with a few of his classic stories that apply his mordant wit to the way we live now. A Q&A session and book signing will follow.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St. FOR MORE: tulsapac.com

> 11/11-11/20, ‘OUR TOWN’

As part of its 100th anniversary season, Theatre Tulsa is presenting Thornton Wilder’s classic American play “Our Town,” an innovative look at everyday life in a small New England town. The company was the first company outside of Broadway to stage Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St.

FOR MORE: theatretulsa.org

> 11/18-11/19, SAM HARRIS

Tony Award nominee and Sand Springs native Sam Harris returns to his home state with a new concert program, “Openly Grey.” Harris was the first winner on the TV series “Star Search,” the forerunner to much of today’s reality TV, starred in his own sitcom and has released nine albums.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St.

FOR MORE: tulsapac.com

> 11/19, ‘SENSATIONAL: DVORÁK’S SYMPHONY NO. 7’

Stefan Asbury will conduct this program that, in addition to the titular symphony, will feature violinist Robert Chen performing the “Butterfly Lover’s Concerto,” one of the rare works by Chinese composers to find a home in the Western orchestral repertoire.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: tulsasymphony.org

> 11/22-11/27, ‘SIX’

The six wives of King Henry VIII get to tell their stories in this musical, which trans forms these Tudor-era women into a sextet of pop music divas who discover their mutual strength in high-energy song and dance.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: celebrityattractions.com

> 11/25-1/8, WINTERFEST

The annual winter festival returns in time for the holidays. Thousands visit each year to enjoy the magic of outdoor ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, a 44-foot Christmas tree and other festivities.

WHERE: Outside the BOK Center, West Third Street and South Denver Avenue.

FOR MORE: tulsawinterfest.com

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Carrie Underwood, who performed at Tulsa’s BOK Center in 2019, returns for a show Oct. 31.

DECEMBER

> 12/2, ‘ELF’ IN CONCERT

Relive the comic tale of Buddy the unlikely elf who sets out from the North Pole to discover his real father, as the Tulsa Symphony performs John Debney’s score live.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: tulsasymphony.org

> 12/3, CODY JOHNSON

Texas country singer Cody Johnson returns to the BOK Center with special guest Randy Houser. Tickets: $47-$63.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.

FOR MORE: bokcenter.com

> 12/9-12/23, ‘THE NUTCRACKER’

Tulsa Ballet’s 2021 World Premiere production of “The Nutcracker” was welcomed by Tulsa families with record-breaking ticket sales, thanks to its exciting new choreography by Val Caniparoli and Ma Cong, colorful costumes and larger-than-life moving sets by designer Tracy Grant Lord, and its story of a young girl’s magical journey on Christmas Eve, set in 19th century Germany. A cast of close to 100 local children joins the dancers of Tulsa Ballet in the holiday production.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

FOR MORE: tulsaballet.org

> 12/9-12/23, ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’

Robert Odle and Richard Averill’s musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved novella about the joy of giving has been a Tulsa tradition for more than 40 years. It’s a heartwarming story about Scrooge, a lonely humbug who is given the rare chance to change his life and find his heart. Revisit or start your own family tradition this holiday season.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St.

FOR MORE: americantheatrecompany.org

> 12/16-12/17, ‘CHRISTMAS IN TULSA’

The Signature Symphony, accompanied by the Signature Chorale, will perform an evening of holiday classics, concluding with a chance for the audience to join in the action in a singalong.

WHERE: VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st St.

FOR MORE: signaturesymphony.org.

Tulsa Ballet’s 2021 World Premiere production of “The Nutcracker” was welcomed by Tulsa families with record-breaking ticket sales.

> 12/18, CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE, BOK CENTER

Cirque Dreams Holidaze will perform a Broadway-style production infused with holiday magic and contemporary circus arts.

Tickets: $33-$103.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.

FOR MORE: bokcenter.com

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE Cody Johnson returns to the BOK Center on Dec. 3.

WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Tulsa.It’swhoweare.

Caretaker,caregiverandTulsaproud.Dr.Parkerismorethan justpartoftheSaintFrancisfamily—she’spartofourpromise toimprovethehealthofthecommunitieswecallhome.

RyanParker,M.D. •EmergencyMedicinePhysicianandAssociateChiefMedicalOfficer