Category: architecture

FREE: Local Happenings This Week

Couple of cool things coming up in T-Town this week, and the best part is they’re free! So with no further adieu…

Tuesday, August 25
Tulsa Drillers Baseball
For their Advertiser’s Appreciation Night fans can snag free tickets at any Driller’s sponsor. That’s like- a lot.
www.tulsadrillers.com

Wednesday, August 26
Lights On at El Rancho Grande
In his book, The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell talks about the “broken window syndrome.” The theory is that just one broken window can eventually ruin a whole neighborhood. But fortunately this can also work in reverse.

Consider the restored Meadow Gold neon sign on 11th Street. It inspired the owners of one of Tulsa’s oldest restaurants to polish up their neon sign. El Rancho Grande has repaired the neon and given the sign a fresh coat of paint. This Wednesday at 7:30 pm they’ll be firing it up and celebrating with half price margaritas and appetizers. Ole!
www.modertulsa.net

Thursday, August 27
Fifth Night Finale
The 27th is also the final installment of Utica Square’s free concert series, Fifth Night. Drop by and slow your pulse with the smooth jazz of Grady Nichols.
www.uticasquare.com

Friday, August 28
Red Dirt Rangers Birthday Party
Hard to believe it’s been twenty years now since I listened to the Red Dirt Rangers at a dive in Stillwater called Willie’s Saloon. And now they have the audacity to book the Cain’s Ballroom?!? Well, hey… at least it’s free.

Seriously, doors open at 7:00 pm for this anniversary celebration for one of Oklahoma’s favorite bands. At one of Oklahoma’s most famous venues! Now where’d I stash those Tuf Nut jeans….
www.cainsballroom.com

Pop’s Featured on Today Show

Pop’s in Arcadia is one of Oklahoma’s newest Route 66 landmarks. We visited the Jetsonian convenience store back in 2007 and wrote about it for Oklahoma Modern.

And earlier this week Pop’s was even featured on the NBC Today Show.

Let’s look in!

Photography Kudos

Earlier this year Jackie and I went to Albuquerque on a business trip. I had just recently purchased my Olympus E-410 and was snapping photos and enjoying the high desert lifestyle (see Take a Left at Albuquerque for more).

Some of the pics came out pretty good and I shared them on my Flickr page. Then a few weeks ago I got a message from an outfit called Schmap. They make interactive guides to cities around the world that will play on your phone or website. Schmap was considering using this photo in their Albuquerque guide:
Mission in Albuquerque's Old Town district.

It was a gratis gig, but I said sure. What could it hurt?

Then yesterday I got a note that they had chosen my photo and it was now included in their Schmap Albuquerque Sixth Edition. I had never heard of Schmap before (which is possibly the whole point to this) but I like what they’re doing. Who better to share the story of a city than the people who have been there?

And here’s a cute little Schmap widget of their Albuquerque guide, complete with my lovely photo of the mission in Old Town.

http://www.schmap.com/templates/t011py.html?uid=albuquerque&sid=introduction_history&ultranarrow=true&multimaps=true#mapview=Map&isPolled=1&c=f6f6f6006214A62122A62122FFF88FFAF5BBffffffFFF88Fd8d8d8A4A7A6A621226990ffECEBBD0000005C5A4E5C5A4E000000929292F0EFDA

Preservation Nation Comes to Tulsa

The 2008 National Preservation Conference kicks off here in Tulsa this week.

What do you want to preserve?
The IPE BuildingThis event is the annual soiree of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The conference is a chance for preservation professionals, volunteers and supporters to network and exchange ideas for protecting America’s historic treasures. They chose our fair city for their 62nd hoedown because of our famous Art Deco skyline and deep ties to Route 66. My understanding is about 2,000 people from across the nation will attend the conference.

I will be attending and plan to report on the festivities at oklahomamodern.blogspot.com.

The conference dates are October 21st through 25th. I am grateful to the Oklahoma Main Street Center for providing me the opportunity to attend. While the cost of registration is rather steep (upwards of $300), there are free events open to the public…

5:30 p.m. Tuesday
Oklahoma preservation story lecture featuring Oklahoma Historical Society executive director Bob Blackburn at First Presbyterian Church, 709 S. Boston Ave.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday
Exhibit Hall, open until 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Tulsa Convention Center, 100 Civic Center.

4 p.m. Wednesday
Opening Session with Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and former Cherokee Nation Chief Wilma Mankiller, Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 S. Boston Ave.

6 p.m. Thursday
National Preservation Awards, Will Rogers High School, 3909 E. Fifth Place

5:45 p.m. Friday
“The Romance of the Mother Road,” Historic Route 66 Lecture featuring author Michael Wallis, First United Methodist Church, 1115 S. Boulder Ave.

10:30 a.m. Saturday
Closing Session with historian Nell Irvin Painter and author Anthony Tung, Tulsa Convention Center

Our Nation’s Birthday on the Mother Road

Turned out I had a free morning this Fourth of July. Jackie had most of her morning planned with errands to run, visits to make, etc. I, on the other hand, had not a care in the world.

It had been a while since I rolled out the bike for a solo pleasure cruise. It was a beautiful Oklahoma morning and the weather forecast was favorable, so this seemed like the perfect time. After checking the tire pressure I rolled the BMW out of the garage and saddled up. I honestly had no idea where I was headed as I pulled out of the driveway.

Continue reading Our Nation’s Birthday on the Mother Road