One of the 50 largest cities in the United States, Tulsa reportedly has a population of over 400,000 people. Founded well over 150 years ago, the initial success of the Oklahoma city was based on the oil industry. However, Tulsa has gained more of a “best small city in America” reputation over the last decade, earning acclaim for its growing arts and culinary scenes. It is also the home of the brand new world-class park known as Gathering Place, the music paradise known as the Woody Guthrie Center, and the historic Cain’s Ballroom; currently in development for a near-future launch are the Oklahoma pop culture-centric OKPOP museum, the Bob Dylan Archives, and museum paying tribute to the classic film The Outsiders.
I had the pleasure of visiting Tulsa earlier this month — having the chance to lodge at the the Fairfield Downtown Arts District hotel — along with a group of writers and influencers from New York, Boston, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. After returning to New York, I reached out to folks from that group to find out if they too had enjoyed Tulsa as much as I had. Not surprisingly, the answer was yes, and some of those travelers told me exactly why that was the case. More on Tulsa can be found at www.visittulsa.com, while the Tulsa-supporting George Kaiser Family Foundation is online at www.gkff.org.
My favorite part of Tulsa was the easiness of the city, such as being able to get around quickly to so many different areas filled with exciting options. In one night we could witness Living Arts, play pinball games or Ms. Pacman over drinks at the Max Retropub, listen to jazz underground [at Duet], and watch hip-hop at [Fassler’s] beer hall.
I like how Tulsa’s past still plays out today, whether that be the glorious art deco buildings downtown revamped into mixed-use spaces, or how one can learn about history through music by visiting the Woody Guthrie Museum or various venues — and soon the OKPOP museum. The thriving restaurant and bar scene also offers so many choices you would expect to only find in a big city. Tulsa feels like a place you could thrive and test out your creative ideas in your 20s and 30s.
Bay Area-based freelance arts & entertainment journalist Yoshi Kato
I’ve been told that one can only truly appreciate the scope of the Grand Canyon by experiencing it in-person. Similarly, I’d heard descriptions of Gathering Place from a local and could intellectually picture it. But it wasn’t until visiting and playing in this vast, thoughtful space that I could I understand how much it encompasses. (And I can only imagine how it is when packed with residents from all around the greater Tulsa area during warmer weather months.)
Matt Hickman, a freelance writer covering cities and sustainable design
Despite its complicated history, there’s a certain energy in Tulsa — a scrappy mix of earnestness and enthusiasm buoyed by an underlying sense of civic pride — that’s palpable everywhere you go. And the presence of some truly excellent barbecue and a new world-class urban park certainly doesn’t hurt.
Joe Giordano Jr., BOK Center’s Director Of Booking
Tulsa offers such a wonderful variety of restaurants in town and we’ve really come to take pride in the culinary aspect of our city. Whenever a new restaurant opens up, there is a buzz around town between word of mouth excitement, news articles in the Tulsa World and overall interest in whether or not it will be a new cornerstone of our emerging city.
Brunch, in particular, is a huge part of this culture. From local favorites on Brookside like Doc’s Wine & Food, OREN, and Café Ole to Cherry Street with SMOKE., Roosevelt’s and Main Street Tavern, to Utica Square with Stonehorse Café and Wild Fork to the MANY downtown offerings… There is never a shortage of amazing restaurants to relax and enjoy a weekend brunch with friends and family.
Matthew Reich, Vice President at John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
The magic that defines Tulsa is not found in specific landmarks, museums or restaurants, but rather in the individuals bonded together who inhabit these spaces. From the oil lifers to the punk transplants, this is the HUMAN city.
As a native New Yorker it’s rare to find people from other cities with matched unabashed pride for their community and heritage. There was true charm in experiencing the local music scene, which was blind to genre, race and “cool”… A community that embraced all without pretension; the scene belonged to EVERYONE and ANYONE, epitomizing [Woody] Guthrie’s most famous lyric [“This land is your land”].
Experiencing this firsthand was especially impactful after learning about the Greenwood race massacre of 1921; it’s as if there has been a course correction/rebellion led by the next gen. To continue with the theme of inclusion, I was also encouraged by the fact that those with means are taking an initiative to honor the past — Guthrie Museum, OKPOP — and, more importantly, building on a foundation to shape the future culture with catalysts like Gathering Place and Tulsa Artist Fellowship. The good news is Tulsa is gonna be more than “OK.”
