Safari Joe’s H20 = Recipe for Summer Fun in Tulsa

Photo courtesy Safari Joe’s H2O

It’s summer. It’s hot out there in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The only thing worthy of doing outside in this heat is getting in a pool! Or … multiple pools. When my friend Kelsey was recently visiting from L.A., we decided that we, two adult ladies without children, would escape the heat by going to Safari Joe’s H20… the destination formerly known as Big Splash.

Let me give you a little history here. I grew up in Tulsa. Many a summer in the 1980s and 1990s were spent at Big Splash, burning my skin on their tubes, which were formerly black (bad idea!) and getting the worst wedgies ever as I zipped down the Silver Bullet. Alas, my final trip to Big Splash was circa 1999 when I went with some fellow teenage friends and decided that I was officially “too cool” for Big Splash.

Now that I’m in my 30’s, pregnant, and hot all the time this summer, I’m not “too cool” for anything. Plus, I was curious to see how Safari Joe’s is different/better than Big Splash, so with Kelsey in tow, we made our way to Safari Joe’s on a Saturday after 4 p.m. to take advantage of the Short Swim for $10/person.

When we walked into the water park, we were immediately greeted by all sorts of wildlife — a huge snake (in a cage, thank God!), a tiny alligator (also in a cage), a huge tortoise, and all kinds of birds. There was even a parrot just hanging out in one of the trees. These are some fun additions Safari Joe’s has made that make it a little different than your typical water park.

We immediately made our way to the Tube Lagoon to rent a tube and a locker. Be forewarned: this is where you’ll probably end up spending a lot of money. It’s $6.50 for a single tube and $9.50 for a double tube, and you get a $1 refund upon return. Lockers range from $11-$16, with a $5 refund upon key return. The thing is, you can’t really skimp out on not renting a locker, unless you have someone in your group who is willing to sit and watch cell phones and other valuables while everyone else is in the pool. And a couple of the rides are just more fun if you have a tube! So we had to get both.

Our favorite spot at Safari Joe’s ended up being the Master Blaster. It’s a tube roller coaster, and it is truly a blast. We actually broke the rules by riding it because we noticed a sign that said “2 adults not allowed in double tube; weight limit 250 lbs.” I’m pretty sure this is the first time in either of our lives that we’ve been over the weight limit for something, but with this baby growing in me, I am definitely not model thin right now. Nonetheless, we made it on the ride twice without getting kicked out and had an amazing time going over twists and turns in our tube and finally landing in the Lazy River.

Photo courtesy Safari Joe’s H20

I do have one complaint about the Lazy River. When you utter the words, “Lazy River”, to me, that should equal complete and utter relaxation. Not the case with this Lazy River. There’s a spot in the river with a huge waterfall-type feature where you will be soaked. If you’re in a tube, you can’t move super fast, so you’ll be soaked for a good 10 seconds. Consider yourself forewarned!

Other big attractions at Safari Joe’s are the Flumes, three slides that are four stories high, the Tiny Turtle Lagoons, pools that have only 8 inches of water in them for the little ones, and the Activity Pool, a great spot to sunbathe, zip down a small slide, or climb a rock wall.

Safari Joe’s H20 has added on quite a few “play” areas that I don’t remember there being at Big Splash, like a pirate ship playground. There are also basketball and volleyball courts.

One of my favorite areas of all time has always been the wave pool. There, you can imagine you’re surfing the high seas on your tube (or if you’re really brave, just hop your body on top of the waves). It’s really only wise for experienced swimmers to go in the deep end of this pool … there’s a reason why they have 5-6 lifeguards on duty just in this one pool usually!

There are also plenty of concession options at Safari Joe’s. One of my favorite Tulsa summer spots just opened a location within Safari Joe’s: Josh’s Sno Shack! A snow cone while sitting by the pool is an amazing combo. Other food options include Peg Leg Pizza and Ocean View

Photo courtesy Safari Joe’s H2O

Cafe. There’s also The Shark Beach Bar for the adults. Speaking of adults, Safari Joe’s hosts an Adult Night (21+) every Thursday from 7-11 p.m. There’s live music, dancing, and of course, lots of bar time and swimming.

Safari Joe’s is open until through Labor Day, so make the most of this summer and go check it out!

Mozart and Bartlesville

By Bonita James
Mozart and Bartlesville.
I wasn’t sure what those two had in common until I was assigned to cover the 32nd annual OK Mozart International Music Festival for Preview Magazine. After the interview, I wanted to go! The fest was June 11-18, so we decided to make a day trip on the last day of the fest. The plan was to catch a couple acts, check out this small Oklahoma City, and wrap up with the grand finale performed by the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra.

Interviewing Lizabeth Rolfson OK Mozart Marketing and Public Relations Director, I quickly learned there is a “Big Apple” history between Mozart, classical music, and the quaint city of Bartlesville.

For the first 30 years of the festival, Bartlesville music halls were filled with music from New York City artists. Since 2014, OK Mozart started a shift to showcase the caliber of Oklahoma artists of classical, blues, and jazz while keeping tight with their NYC roots.

Bartlesville is roughly a 53 minute drive from Tulsa. Per tradition, we called in an order to Blue Moon in Brookside and took our breakfast on the road.

First on the agenda was a guided tour of the Price Tower Arts Center, designed by the eccentric 1920’s architect Frank Lloyd Wright. I have an appreciation for FLW. I always thought his houses were cool. My favorite FLW house was the ‘59 Fallingwater home in Pennsylvania. I have an interesting family tie with FLW architecture. My sister and her husband in were married at the campus FLW designed, Florida Southern College. My brother-in-law later designed the McKay Archives Center, which had to compliment the adjacent FLW building. Neither of these ties prepared me for what I was about it experience in Bartlesville, OK.

PRICE TOWER: THINK OF A PINE TREE?

FLW sought to bring nature into his structures, and the Price Tower, designed in the 20’s and completed in the late 50’s, is constructed with internal columns being the framework and the rooms “branching out.” As pine trees tend to do, the top was smaller than the base.

In my opinion, it did the opposite of inviting nature in. Balcony views are blocked by triangular barriers rising above eye-level. Nature is more forgiving by way of curvature and providing room to move. Not a curve or 90 degree angle is in sight. But, I will say the tour is worth it. I won’t give it all away here, but there is genius in his design to designate the purpose of rooms and how natural light is brought into the space.

As one of ten buildings designed by FLW on the National Register of Historic Places, this building is rich with Oklahoma history and characters, namely Wright, Price, and Goff.

Our guide put heart into the tour, and we rode the tiniest elevator which exists on this Earth with him. Claustrophobes beware! Price Tower tours are set at designated times, Tuesday-Saturday. We were thrilled to see a Charles M. Schulz exhibition, Peanuts: Naturally, running now through October 9. The exhibition is included in tour admission.

CHOCOLATE, BEER, & MIGHTY FINE FOLKS

Warned of being packed at Frank & Lola’s, we opted to check out The Painted Horse before our next OK Mozart performance. Before going there, though, we were swayed by the small-town chocolate shop next door. We hopped into Omega Chocolate for a break from the heat. Chocolate covered cherries are a weakness. We each picked out two chocolates and paired them with beer at the Painted Horse bar. Now, let me just say when you visit Painted Horse, it is a must that you get an order of the Firecracker Shrimp. Spicy, crunchy, and giant shrimp is all you need to know. So good.

As many towns in Oklahoma, not everything is open on Saturday. We took in the architecture of downtown and learned some history at Johnstone Park. Apparently cannons were used to shoot holes into oil storage tanks when they caught fire. The first commercial oil well in the state was drilled there on site. There is a Kiddie Park with miniature ferris wheel and roller coaster, a skate park, and tennis courts.

Back at the fest, we took in some cool creations featured in the Moz-ART gallery and the Tulsa Girls Art School gallery. TGAS students displayed and sold their artwork throughout the week. Every painting sold goes directly to the artist’s account, and it doesn’t stop there. “Not only do the young artists at TGAS display amazing talent; the program is a model for other areas in the state and it will benefit the region to discover the art as well as the business model that TGAS represents,” Rolfson said.

We bebopped to some barbershop music, which turns out has an incredibly long and connected history with Bartlesville. The Founders Chorus and Lady Barbershop were not only great to listen to but were fun to watch. Next up was Trio Antique, who performed wonderful classical compositions.

The Tulsa Symphony didn’t start until later in the evening, so it was time for another beer break. The people at The Painted Horse were so awesome and nice, we decided to go back for dinner, but not without stopping at Omega to say hi to our new friends and pick up one more chocolate covered cherry.

THE GRAND FINALE

The OK Mozart grand finale was a captivating performance called A Return Voyage from Europe to the Americas featuring Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and Anne-Marie McDermott. There is something about bringing all instruments, individual in their own right, blending together to become one incredible work of art.

Bartlesville is rich with music throughout the year with venues like the newly-constructed Ambler Hall, designed to host intimate experience with chamber music. The Bartlesville Community Center main music hall and performance center captures art from Broadway to ballet. Interesting note: the building was designed to compliment while contrasting the Price Tower.

Although our trip to Bartlesville was short, we learned this town has a big heart. It would be fun to plan a short stay-cation to check out the sites, stay at the hotel in the Price Tower, and take in some unique history.

8 Indoor Adventures to Have in Tulsa This Summer

It’s time to get out of the heat and into the A/C!

Here’s the deal, folks. It’s only June, and it’s insanely hot in Tulsa already. The “feels like” temperature has climbed up to 110 or hotter several times already. And when you’re nearly 7 months pregnant, your “feels like” temperature is automatically 10 degrees hotter than what the “feels like” temperature for everyone else is. Therefore, my summer resolution is to experience the Great Indoors!

Won’t you join me while I seek out adventures I can have in the Tulsa area this summer while enjoying the glorious invention that is A/C?
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8 Indoor Adventures to Have in Tulsa This Summer:

1. Check out the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.

Occupying Tulsa’s old Union Depot Building (the train station) is a hub jiving with the sounds of jubilant trumpets, sassy saxophones, and melodious guitars. Capturing both the rich history of Tulsa’s jazz past and welcoming an entourage of new musical talent, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is an entertainment mecca full of musical adventures.

The Jazz Depot hosts a weekly event that is perfect for downtown workers who need some time away from the office: Lunch and Jazz. Admission is free, so bring a brownbag lunch and prepare to hear some music for the soul, every Friday from noon to 1 p.m.

If you can’t hit up the free jazz on Fridays at lunch time, never fear; the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame also offers “Depot Jams” every Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., a free jazz jam session open to the public.

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2. Go to a cheap movie.

Who can afford to pay $10 every time per person to go see a movie? I just can’t justify it, seeing as how I know that in a few months, I’ll be able to see that movie for a $1.50, or better yet, free, thanks to Redbox or Netflix. But I’m all for going to cheap movies!

Have you been to Village 8 Movies? This is the old “dollar theater” at 68^th and Memorial, but it’s under new ownership since late 2015 and looks and smells a lot better! Movies there are just $2 for kids 12 and older and seniors 60+, and $2.50 for everyone else.

If you’ve got kiddos in tow this summer, Starworld 20 has $3 kids’ movies on Tuesday and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 12:30. This handy link has all the details.

3. Explore one of Tulsa’s many museums.

There certainly isn’t a shortage of museums in Tulsa, and great news: They’re all air-conditioned!

I recently learned that Philbrook offers free admission to people under the age of 18 every day! (and also to college students with a valid student ID from a local university). Pretty sweet deal if you’ve got kiddos/teens. Another budget-friendly, family-friendly event at Philbrook is the free Second Saturday. Visit on the second Saturday of each month for free family-friendly art activities, tours and scavenger hunts for kids of all ages.

Gilcrease is also worth checking out and offers one of the best collections of Native American art in the country. Gilcrease also has free admission to anyone under the age of 18.

While Philbrook and Gilcrease are the two mainstay museums in Tulsa, there are tons of other museums to scope out. The Brady Arts District downtown offers a number of different museums and galleries, including the Woody Guthrie Museum, Philbrook Downtown, and the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa. You could easily spend most of a day wandering to each of these creative venues.

This summer, I intend to check out the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. I’ve heard that the Planetarium, which provides an exciting educational experience by pairing stunning high-definition visuals with state of the art technology in a theater, is truly amazing.

Other local museums worth visiting include the Tulsa Children’s Museum, Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, and Woolaroc in Bartlesville.

4. Get Your inner granny on and go mall walking.

OK, don’t mock me. I am an avid runner, and not being able to run at this point in my pregnancy is a real drag. So I’ve been getting my mall walking on. I’m sure you all know about Woodland Hills Mall and Promenade Mall, but have you been around Tulsa long enough to know the secret of Eastland Mall (now known as Eastgate Metroplex?). When I was a kid, there was actually a mall at 21^st near 145^th E. Ave.

Nowadays, that mall has been transformed into a bit of a business complex. However, the mall is still more than half unoccupied, so it’s the perfect place to mall walk in the A/C without having to trample over teenyboppers! While you’re there, you can also grab a drink or a bite to eat at Kaffe Bona or Subway.

5. Have a cultural experience.

Nam-Hai at 11528 E 21st St. opened a new location a year or so ago that is definitely worth checking out! They have all things Asian! Anytime I’ve needed to cook with a special Asian spice or vegetable, or that one time in high school when I was desperate to find ube, a special yam-based ice cream from the Philippines, Nam-Hai came through for me! It’s also just really fun to walk around and experience a different culture (or your own culture, if you are Asian!).

Another culture worth exploring is the Hispanic culture! Tulsa has a number of Hispanic shops and restaurants scattered around town. Many are in the vicinity of 21^st and Garnett. Also in that area you will find the Martin Regional Library, which has the largest collection of Spanish materials in Tulsa. If you have kids, the Martin Regional Library is a great place to take them to help encourage a bilingual future! Another Hispanic hub in town is on Lewis around Highway 2-44. There, you can find my favorite Hispanic bakery, Pancho Anaya.

6. Go bowling.

So apparently, kids can bowl free over the summer at Andy B’s at 87^th and Lewis. Sounds like a great activity to keep the kiddos occupied! Here’s the link with all the details.
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7. Get all kinds of fun on at Main Event.

Have you been to Main Event in Tulsa Hills yet? There is so much to do there, and it’s all indoors! YAY! You can climb the ropes’ course, bowl, play laser tag, play arcade games, or eat! I’ve been wanting to go there on a Monday night, when they have Monday Night Madness. You can choose from three specials: all you can play activities for $9.95, unlimited video game play for $9.95, or a $20 FUNcard good for food and fun.

8. Visit the Oklahoma Aquarium.

The Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks is a real gem, and it’s awesome that it’s located right in Tulsa’s back yard! During your visit there, you can see local aquatic life like catfish, but also aquatic creatures from all over the world, like sea anemones, jellyfish, and best of all… sharks! I absolutely love the Shark Tunnel at the Aquarium! The sharks will literally swim right over your head! It’s a hoot.

The Aquarium also has a little restaurant if you need to grab lunch there. Speaking of grabbing a bite to eat, it’s fun to watch the critters getting fed! Check out the feeding schedule so you can schedule your visit properly. I would think that with the release of Disney’s “Finding Dory” this summer, the Oklahoma Aquarium will be a very popular destination for families!

Did I leave anything out? What are your favorite things to do INDOORS in the Tulsa area?

 

Get Rolling at Skates!

By Bonita James

“I wanna be a skate dancer!”

This was my epiphany while skating for the first time at Skates Roller Skating Center in Sand Springs. I want to be one of the cool kids, but first, I need to nail down this roller skating thing.

Yes, I am 35 years young and am just learning how to roller skate. I “skate” once a year at my nephew’s birthday party and really try to give it all I got. It wasn’t until this past party in May I felt like I actually “got it,” thanks to my yoga practice getting me in tune with my core.

The morning after the birthday party, I bought my first pair of roller skates! My leopard-print Moxi skates arrived a few days later and just in time for Adult Skate Night!

As the universe would have it, my new Facebook friend Penelope had posted that she bought Moxi skates too. We were immediate Moxi Girls! We can both thank this super hip Moxi video for bringing us and our purchases together. No Moxi Skate team in Tulsa yet, but don’t put it past us or other awesome Tulsa girls to start one!

Penelope has been in the skating and derby scene for a while. My long-time friend from the OKC derby scene, Stormy, busted out her derby skates too. Before we knew it, we were all lacing up. Skates’ Adult Skate Night (18+) is from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Skates address is 401 E. Broadway St. in Sand Springs, but don’t count on your GPS to take you directly there. This gem is tucked away behind a couple of parking lots. Following the GPS will get you to the general area, but you have to turn left into a parking lot of what looks like duplexes and wind your way to the back.

There you’ll see the momentous SKATES sign. Pay your $5, put on your own skates or rent
Brownies for $2 or Speed Skates for $3.50 more. It’s the best entertainment/ exercise session $5 can buy!  

Newbies & Pros Welcome

Me being a newbie, the sheer speed of the real skaters zooming by me almost made me want to get off the rink, at first. Good thing I am determined! In my squeaky new skates, I was barely rolling on what felt like match sticks with sticky wheels. Stormy’s tools and advice lead me to loosening up my trucks and wheels. I finally loosened up my nerves and started making progress.

I have to say, this is the coolest skating rink I’ve been to. Although I was terrified of skating until this recent “facing my fears” phase in life, I’ve been to a lot of skating rinks. As an early roller derby fan, I’ve seen and heard about the good and the bad in rink floors at derby bouts.

Skates’ 165’x75’ rink is crafted from maple wood and is lacquered to a smooth finish. There is only one wall partitioning the rink from snack and party area. This forced me to be brave my first time around.

Skaters of all kinds flow around the rink. Some skate at high rates of speed, and others are more in tune with the beat. It was immediately apparent there is an unspoken comradery and etiquette among the skaters. The first person I saw fell was quickly met by two skaters who blocked him from others, while a third swooped in and helped him up. Seeing this made me feel good and safe. If I go down, instead of whizzing past me, these guys will help me. My “newbieism” is oh so apparent, but I have only been met with smiles and quick words of encouragement as people blaze by me.

Even back in my day of covering derby bouts and cheering on my favorite girls, I knew derby would never be “my thing.” But, when I saw this group of guys with matching shirts skating together, I knew I found my groove. I could feel the epiphany swarm me. 

“I wanna be a skate dancer!”

I’m sure these guys would probably cringe if they heard me say that. They are a team of Jam Skaters, and they are bad-to-the-bone! They have rhythm, grace and killer moves. They know what they are doing, and Skates is where they practice their craft. On Thursday nights, the Jam Skaters just have fun, but the rink is designated for them the first Sunday of the month, 9-11:30 p.m.

My ignorance is bliss, so I will still strive to be a skate dancer! But for now, just getting around the rink is progress.

The next time I went, I noticed there were a lot of new faces from the week before. I saw some who I’m sure go every Thursday, but I was happy to see I wasn’t the only wobbly-kneed newbs on the rink. I watched a cute couple hug the wall together before one of them was brave enough to go at it alone. She kept meeting up with her man and finally encouraged him to take her hand.  They both, as did I, got better as the night went on.

Adult Skate Night is just one session Skates offers. There is truly a time for everyone to skate. Family Night, 7-10 p.m. on Saturdays, blares “Mom-approved music” and is $8, including Brownie rental. Cheap Skates, 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, keeps with the “Mom approved” theme and is only $3 for admission. Note: Adult Skate Night is NOT “Mom approved.” I didn’t even have to make my request before I was skating to one of my favorite jams, “Shoop” by Salt ‘n’ Pepa!

Check out all Skates has to offer on their events page. They’ve got it all spelled out for you, so planning your skating session is no biggy.

Birthdays, fundraisers, group skate, parties–Skates does it all! You can even sign up for skate lessons! Coached by two time Jr. World Artistic Skating Champion, Court Collier, anyone at any level can have private skate lessons. I may just have to do this.

If going super fast is your thing, you can join the The Tulsa Speed League through Skates. Practice and join the team to participate and compete in Inline and Quad speed skating.

Skates is the place for the The Tulsa Derby League. It’s not just a league for the ladies either. They offer roller derby for men, women and junior girls and boys (ages 9-17). Welcoming skaters of all abilities and sizes, the professional coaches of the Tulsa Derby League will push skaters to the confidence and agility needed to play roller derby. 

My mission in 2016 is to move every day. Every Thursday night, and maybe some Cheap Skate nights, skating will be my platform to accomplish this goal. It’s good to mix it up. I’m so happy the stars aligned to bring my new-found courage, Moxi skates, Penelope and Stormy together at Skates in Sand Springs. Whether it’s for nostalgia, a party, or a date, Skates is a great place to lace up and roll onto the rink.

I’m creating memories as an adult at Skates. Writing this, I can’t help but wonder, what are some of your best roller skating memories? Please share with me in the comments!

Tulsa Botanic Garden Adds to Tulsa’s Present & Future

By Lindsay Morris

It’s likely that you’ve never accidentally driven past the Tulsa Botanic Garden. It’s in an area in far northwest Tulsa on a huge, undeveloped plot of land. While the gardens are currently home to several attractions, the future holds even more promise for this land.

During my recent visit, my husband, sister, and I enjoyed exploring the A.R. and MaryLouise Tandy Floral Terraces. Over 3 acres large, the terraces display over 8,000 permanent plants including trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, roses and perennials on a hillside that offers views of downtown Tulsa from its peak.

A prominent feature of the Floral Terraces is the Garden Cascade, a six-foot wide central water runnel emanating from the top of the hillside and flowing down into the lake. Seasonal color display beds surround the water channel from top to bottom and provide vivid swaths of color from spring bulbs, summer tropical plants or winter annuals.  Over 100,000 bulbs were planted for spring 2016 – making it one of the largest garden bulb displays in the region.

Art Deco details throughout the garden reflect Tulsa’s rich architectural history. We enjoyed sitting under a covered area that definitely had some art deco flair. While most of the tulips were droopy by the time we visited in late April, there were still plenty of lovely flowers and plants to enjoy.

Next we headed over to the Cross Timbers Trail, a 1-mile walk across 110 acres. The Cross Timbers Trail features tallgrass prairies from the west intersecting with eastern deciduous forests. The convergence of these two habitats offers an abundance of life and diversity. Each season offers something different: wildflowers, migrating birds, butterflies, changing leaves and majestic grasses. On our walk, we saw plenty of wildflowers, a snake, cool rock formations, and more.

I felt like the only thing that could have made our walk better was if our little Schnauzer could have been there — but alas, no dogs (except service dogs) are allowed in the gardens.

The future of the Botanic Garden is bright. Later this month, on May 15, the Children’s Discovery Garden will open. We got a sneak peak of this as we walked past it, and it looks awesome! The focal point of the garden will be the Stream Valley, with the water source emanating from the Spring Giant, a 15’ rugged stone face entered through a hidden grotto. The Stream Valley will include fountains of spitting animals, an art wall where kids can paint with water, and the Willow Thicket.  It will definitely be worth going back to visit this new facet of the Garden after our little guy joins our family 🙂

Also in the Garden’s future is the Lotus Pool and All Seasons Garden.  The Lotus Pool will provide an exceptional experience in the Garden overlooking the northeastern circular portion of the lake.  A new bridge will be built to allow visitors a short walk around the water’s edge with multiple vistas to enjoy the blossoms of aquatic lilies and lotus.  Iris and other water-loving plants will offer resting sites for darting dragonflies.  

The All Seasons Garden will encircle the Lotus Pool and display plants offering striking and unique seasonal interests. From winter to summer, spring to fall, this garden will constantly be alive with color, texture and form.

The Tulsa Botanic Garden is a great addition to Tulsa, and I look forward to many more visits to it in the years to come!

 

A bar for the dogs… and I guess people can come, too.

By: Guest blogger Bonita James

Having recently moved to Tulsa, I fell in love how Tulsa is so dog-­friendly. I happily take Augie, my tiny Boston Terrier, with me everywhere. Here’s a little insight to one of our favorite spots, Empire Bar.

Soccer. Bostons. Beer.

That’s what I think of when I think of Tulsa’s own Empire Bar. This Irish and UK inspired pub is located in the historic Cherry Street district at Peoria and 15th.

For me, the order of my list should start with Bostons. Augie is always greeted with love and attention from the friendly bartender and patrons. Although myself and the owner Kyla are partial to Bostons, all friendly dogs are welcome at Empire.

I knew we found our home pub when I saw the giant, hand­-painted portrait of a black­faced pug wearing a crown and holding the status of a king, overseeing the bar. This watchful guy is a tribute to Henry. Rescued from a puppy mill, Henry was adopted by a friend of Kyla’s and would spend his days at Empire while his owner was at work. After he passed in 2011, Kyla found herself in front of a blank canvas ­ somewhere she hadn’t been for years. This painting of King Henry became the first of many.It’s amazing the impact our fur friends have on us, isn’t it?

Empire is the place for Tulsa Soccer Clubs and caters to them by opening early for matches.

Soccer fans flock to Empire to cheer on their teams and fill their plates with Bangers and Mash.

Not to mention throwing back a few libations as the game goes on.

Empire has the atmosphere of a pub and the good vibes carry out to the multi­-deck patio.

This is where I have to pay tribute to the wonderful Wendy Hunter. In setting out to write this blog, Wendy and I took our babies, Tico and Augie, to sit out on the patio. It was our first “Augie and Tico Take on Tulsa” adventure since I moved to Tulsa from Oklahoma City.

Unfortunately, it was my final outing with Wendy Woo. Cancer is a bitch. I had to finish what we started. So here we are.

There are some simple rules to bringing your pooch to the pub. Follow accordingly and this will be a dog­-friendly bar indefinitely.

Aside from bringing Augie and Tico to the bar, there are a few other reasons I love Empire.

1. Hamms. I freaking love Hamms beer and Empire has it. PBR who? Hamms is it for me.

They have a full bar too and specials run regularly. Whatever your poison, Empire has it.

2. Giving back. Empire and the local soccer clubs regularly hook up with John 3:16 and other local charities. Kyla and her soccer-­loving patrons have giant hearts and work hard to share the love.

3. Puppy love. Kyla and Empire fans volunteer, foster, and support these “pawsome” non-profits: Unchain Oklahoma, the Pet Adoption League, and Homeward Bound Pug Rescue.

So, if you’re looking to hang out with your friends and your dog or catch a soccer game on giant screens with die­hard fans, Empire Bar is the spot.

If you see Augie and Tico with me, please say Hi. We’re a friendly bunch.

Laser Quest Steps up its Game with Key Quest Escape Rooms

What could possibly be more fun than being locked in a room for 1 hour with a few of your friends? The craze of escape rooms is sweeping the nation, and Tulsa is home to several of these rooms that require the use of logic, knowledge, communication and teamwork to escape from a room. Key Quest at Laser Quest at 2909 S. Sheridan Rd. features three escape rooms with different mysterious themes to keep you and your friends on your toes.

As you can see from the photo, the Tulsa Places team successfully escaped our room, the Relic Hunter. Our room was filled with art artifacts riddled with clues to help us escape. This particular room has a 50% escape rate, so I was going to be a little disappointed if we didn’t escape! This room is recommended for first timers. Now, of course I can’t tell you how we escaped, but I can tell you it did take us about 50 of the 60 minutes.

The room was a great test of intellect. For those of you who enjoy strategy board games and video games, you’ll love it! While my husband and friends Shawn and Elizabeth worked on a decoder in the center of the room, my friend Kelli and I inspected the paintings draping the walls for clues. In the end, we could honestly say that every person contributed significantly to finding the clues that led to our escape. Of course, our brains felt like they were about to explode by the end of it all!

Other escape rooms at Key Quest are White House Down — where you’re trying to gain a code from the President to prevent a nuclear missile launch — and Interstellar — where you’re outer space explorers and trying to gain access to an escape pod. Those two rooms are both for “advanced” players, so they have a greater difficulty level than Relic Hunter, the room we were in. Key Quest does plan to change the rooms regularly, though, so be sure to check their website for updates.

Anyone 12 and older can participate in Key Quest. Up to six players can play at one time, and a minimum of three players is recommended. Reservations are recommended.

Then it was time for some laser tag!

Now, like I mentioned, we felt like our brains were about to explode after 50 minutes of riddle solving, so we blew off steam with a game of laser tag! I hadn’t played laser tag in about 15 years, and yes, everyone in there was at least a decade younger than me, and yes, I did come in last place (but that was mostly because my husband kept tagging me!), but it was still a blast!

Misti Teufel, Assistant Manager of Tulsa Laser Quest, shared with me that the Tulsa location has the largest laser tag area of all of Laser Quest’s 58 locations! With plenty of spots to climb and wait for victims, (not that I’m any good at that!), laser tag at Laser Quest is truly an unforgettable experience.

We will definitely be back to check out more of the Key Quest rooms and to play more laser tag!

Broken Arrow’s Warren Theatre Continues to Wow Moviegoers

Photos by Shane Bevel

There is no shortage of options when it comes to movie theaters in the Tulsa area. But Tulsa’s newest cinema, the grand Warren Theatre in Broken Arrow at 1700 Aspen Creek Drive, truly has it all. This is no normal movie-going experience. When you visit the Warren, you have a choice of five different movie-going experiences!

When I visited Warren Theatre for the first time earlier this week, I was truly blown away. Sure, I’ve been to movie theaters with reclining seats before. I’ve even been to Alamo Drafthouse theaters in Texas, where you can have food delivered to your seat while you’re watching the movie. But I’ve never experienced these things combined, and with even more amenities!

My husband and I chose The Director’s Suite, which is upstairs in the 21+ adult area. This quaint screening room with 20 or so seats definitely makes you feel like a VIP! A host guided us to our seats and showed us how to work the recliner on the seats, the seat warmer, and the flashlight. I for one had never been escorted by a host when going to the movies. I felt liked I was flying first class or something!

Once you arrive at your seat and adjust the seat to your liking, it’s time to order food! I was very impressed by the number of choices available on the menu — everything from burgers, sandwiches, steaks, and chimichangas! My husband tried the Warren “Grand” Burger —  a burger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches. Can I just say, how has no one (to my knowledge, at least!) come up with this concept before? Combining a burger with two grilled cheeses = pure genius! He also enjoyed a side of fries and had more than enough food.

I tried the Chicken Chimi, which is only available in the upstairs theaters (there are a few menu items — this, steaks, etc. that are not available in the downstairs diner). They were like a combo of taquitos and a chimichanga, crisped to perfection and smothered in cheese and tomatoes. So good! They were also served with a side of deliciously cheesy Mexican rice. Because I just had to try dessert (even though I didn’t need it), I ordered the Brownie Delight — a warm brownie covered in vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream. YUM! (Sorry I don’t have pictures of the food … it was a little dark in the theater — understandably!).

The entire viewing experience at The Warren was nothing short of luxurious. With my seat warming my tush and my legs reclined, I felt like a queen. It was by far the most comfortable, enjoyable movie-going experience ever! As we were leaving, my only regret was that I couldn’t transport the theater to our house!

Details about the other four movie-going experiences at The Warren Broken Arrow are available at their website. It’s important to know that you can only order food from your seat in the upstairs theaters, which are 21 and over. However, food is available downstairs at the Diner. You can either eat in the Diner or carry it into the theater. And of course, the Warren also has an old-fashioned concession stand. Downstairs, you’ll also find a game room and a cry room (an enclosed room with its own sound system where parents can take crying children and continue to watch the movie — brilliant!). Upstairs, you’ll also find a full service bar.

I will definitely be visiting The Warren again so I can try some of the other movie-going experiences!

Tulsa’s Greek Festival is This Weekend! Opa!

Opa! Yes, I said it! That means it’s September, the time of year when the wonderful Greek people of Tulsa share with us their incredible food, dance, and culture. With a different festival happening every weekend in the Tulsa area during the month of September, it’s important that you plan ahead so you don’t miss out on any of the fun. And the Greek Festival on Sept. 15-17 at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is definitely one you will not want to miss!

Let me preface my post by saying I used to HATE Greek food. I know, I know, shame on me! But really, to this day, I’m not the biggest fan of olives or various concoctions wrapped in grape leaves. On top of that, I had attended some pretty shabby Greek festivals in other cities that shall remain nameless, and somewhere circa 2008 I came to the resolution that I would never again attend a Greek festival due to one let-down after another.

Well, thankfully, in 2009, my husband and I started dating, and he forced me to come with him to Tulsa’s Greek Festival. By the end of the night, I was on a sugar high from eating a few too many loukoumades (puffs covered with honey and cinnamon) and dancing all over the tent joyously, shouting, “Opa!” at every opportune moment.

When you first enter the festival, you will likely end up in a line to get to all of the glorious food. Just expect a wait, because everyone else in Tulsa in their right mind wants some of the Greek yummy goodness too. But while you’re waiting in line, you’ll have an opportunity to watch some impressive cultural dances. My favorite dances are performed by the mikroulia — kindergarten and first graders. They come decked out in their traditional costumes. It’s cuter than watching puppies at the park, I promise!

OK, on to the food. A few of my favorites are the souvlaki, skewered pork or chicken marinated in a special seasoning, and gyros, marinated meat, sliced and served on a pita with sliced onions, tomatoes, and topped with tsatziki sauce. Yum! While all of the main courses are delicious, the most important rule when attending the Greek Festival is that you save room for dessert!

The desserts are not in the main tent. Exit the tent and follow the signs to the “bakery.” Trust me.

Since it’s a Greek Festival and all, baklava is a given. But please, please, for the love of honey puffs, try the loukoumades accompanied by some Greek coffee. That right there is a match made in heaven. That right there is going to make you want to travel to Greece and give their economy a boost! Now, just a little warning: Greek coffee is not equivalent to Starbucks. It’s very thick, and therefore served in very small cups. But don’t worry, it will give you the jolt of energy and yummy coffee/sweet flavor you’re looking for!

I hope to see you chowing down on baklava and gyros this weekend with me and my Greek friends! Opa!

A Fun New Way to See Downtown: Tulsa Segway

There’s a new business in town that may be able to help you fulfill your dreams of looking like a mall cop, without actually having to become one. Tulsa Segway, located at 616 S. Main St., offers Segway Tours of downtown Tulsa, allowing you to see Tulsa in a different way than you ever have before. A couple days ago, I hopped on a segway for the first time, and I felt awesome. Seriously. It’s sort of like riding a motorized horse, people. It took a couple minutes to figure out how to maneuver it, but the Tulsa Segway team trained me, and then, zzzzip! I was zooming around downtown Tulsa! (plus, I got to wear this awesome floral helmet!).

Amanda Harris, owner of Tulsa Segway, opened her business in November of 2014 and is proud to offer segway tours of downtown to both visitors and locals. Each tour lasts about 1.5 hours and includes a training session. Your group will also be accompanied by Tulsa Segway staff to ensure your safety, and also, to give your tour! You’ll learn all sorts of things about downtown Tulsa’s art deco history and more! The guided tours of downtown run Wednesday through Sunday. If you’re a foodie, you might enjoy the Food Truck Wednesday tour, which of course, includes a stop at Guthrie Green’s Food Trucks! Talk about rollin’ up in style!

Tulsa Segway also does private tours for all kinds of groups!

To learn more about this exciting new business, visit tulsasegway.com.