A Visit to Downtown Tulsa and the Day Center for the Homeless

The Day Center for the Homeless attracts a crowd of visitors every day in downtown Tulsa.
A toddler was running and having fun at the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless in downtown Tulsa. (Photos by Ashton Elder.)

By Ashton Elder

Drive downtown, down past Denver Avenue and at the north end of Denver, turn left. You will see a different world there, a world of old and abandoned buildings, lone men resting on filthy sidewalks, deterioration everywhere you look.

This is not some Third World country. This is a part of the United States. This is a city slum. This is Tulsa, Oklahoma.

I walked in the rain toward the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. Ahead, I saw several groups of clustered outside, smoking, talking, or simply staying dry.

A group of African-American women was sitting on a bench with cigarettes. They laughed as a younger woman's toddler skipped around them, joyful, unaware of where she was and what that might mean for her future.

A man named Juan, an older Hispanic gentleman with faded tattoos and scars, offered to help me carry my boxes of donations. I thanked him, but he quickly relied, "No, thank you."

As I observed the groups of people gathered in the courtyard, what struck me the most was the lone man leaning against the corner, tattered clothes, thin, with rough skin.

The expression on his face was something beyond sadness, even hopelessness. His face revealed a blank stare at nothing, as if he was sleeping with his eyes open. It was an expression that was marked by years of struggling to survive.

Ashton Elder is a TU communication student from Tulsa. She loves to read. 

The Collective: TU Neighborhood's New Coffee House

Inside The Collective, the new coffee house on 11th Street across from TU.


The Collective:
It's Not Just
Another Coffee Shop

By Ty Page

A cozy environment, soft music, aromas of coffee and a diverse menu are all qualities of The Collective, a new coffee house on 11th Street across from the TU campus.

As I strolled through the main entrance, I was comforted by the atmosphere of the brick walls, leather-clad booths and chairs, and the sound of a Postal Service song playing in the background.

Although I rarely venture to coffee houses, I lucked out at The Collective on this Tuesday afternoon.

I decided to lay back in one of the booths and observe the people around me. One couple seemed to be discussing an accounting class problem on one side of the room, while a college-aged student was surfing the Internet on the other side.

The place struck me as a great retreat from my apartment, especially because it is so close by.

A young guy dressed casually in jeans and a maroon t-short approached me. He happened to be the co-owner, Rusty Rowe. I complimented his idea of hanging Tulsa t-shirts from the ceiling, one of which said "Don't Hate the 918," a reference to the Tulsa area code.

Rowe told me that there was a live DJ over the weekend and 200 customers came through the place. I also learned that The Collective has a fully loaded bar and serves drinks during special events, including TU football games, when they sell beer and snacks on the patio.

For me, The Collective was a real find, a place in the TU neighborhood that's both unique and convenient.

Ty Page is a TU senior from Dallas. He is majoring in communication and minoring in coaching. After graduation, he wants to work in advertising. 

Nordaggio's: South Tulsa's Caffeine Haven

The sidewalk tables at Nordaggio's, not far from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. (Photos by Liza Mata)
The entrance to Nordaggio's Coffee near the ORU campus.

By Liza Mata

If there is a perfect place in Tulsa to hang out with friends and meet new people, it is Nordaggio’s.

With its diverse customers, Nordaggio’s invites coffee fans to enjoy its extraordinary variety of products.

This place is ideal for college students. It offers a modern yet comfortable setting, free Wi-Fi, the best coffee in town, great music, and a fantastic staff.

As I walked in, I was rapidly absorbed by the artistic touch of the place.

I was amazed by the amount of art in display. I became particularly fascinated by a Mona Lisa portrait painted in cocoa, which hung over the chimney and presented the famous lady holding a mug of coffee in one of her hands, thus called Mona Latte.

Leather couches sit by the beautiful stone chimney, tall bar tables, computers, and two environments separated by a semi-wall constitute the setting.

The music is wonderful too. It varies depending on the time of the day, said Janette Branca, store clerk. The store iPod contains music by Enya for the morning, jazz and Latin music during the afternoon, and music by artists such as Coldplay at night. (For music links to free online playlists, click here.)

Nordaggio’s also promotes local artists. Every Saturday night, bands from the Tulsa area are welcome to play at this wonderful coffee place.

Nordaggio’s is great because of its coffee and its closeness to campus, said Nikki and Wade, two college students who visit it frequently and enjoy its pleasant environment.
Window signs at this popular coffee shop in Tulsa.

Liza Mata is a junior at TU. She is a native of Maturin, Venezuela, and moved to Oklahoma when she was 16. She is a graduate of Jenks High School. She is majoring in communication and has minors in political science and French. 

Karaoke Night at Tulsa's 'The Buck'

The mural on the wall of Tulsa's Buckaneer bar, on Harvard near 11th Street.

By Paul Lischwe

I am by no means a bar connoisseur or a prize-winning karaoke singer. Bit I am a 21-year-old who enjoys the company of good friends and singing the occasional "Mary Jane's Last Dance" when the time is right.

That disclaimer brings me to the beginning of my adventure at The Buckaneer, a bar just a stone's throw from the TU campus.

The time was about 11:15 on a Thursday night. I walked through the door of the Buck. To my left a portly man was on a small six-by-five foot stage belting out a western song that was lost on me. At this point, I could tell it was going to be a good night.

I walked over to the bar to meet a few of my buddies for a drink. As I passed by two female patrons of the bar, I could not help but overhear them intently discussing which karaoke ballad they wanted to sing. I caught the song "I Would Do Anything for Love" by Meat Loaf.

I hoped they would make a better selection.

Joining the circle that my friends had formed, I became aware that I was the only one without a drink in my hand. That needed fixing, so I worked my way through a wall of other thirsty customers and ordered the Thursday night special, which is a bucket of Natural Light bottles for $5.

After enjoying a few karaoke performances and taking down a few beers from the bucket, I decided to try my hand at karaoke. After recruiting my buddy John, we made our way to the man running the laptop that held all of the karaoke songs. We inquired about the song "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey.

About 20 minutes later, the two of us found ourselves on stage with about 100 patrons looking up at us, Maybe this wasn't such a solid idea.

We sang. For the most part, we were better than I had expected. We butchered a few of the later verses, but there seemed to be no booing except from my less adventuresome friends.

Off the stage and out of the limelight, I waked back through the billiard tables to my groupies. We settled our tab with the Buckaneer's manager, P.J., and made our way to Taco Bell for a nightcap.

Paul Lischwe is a junior finance major and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity at TU. 

New Coffee Bar Opens Across from TU

The Collective, a new student-oriented coffee bar, recently opened on 11th Street—Route 66—across from Chapman Stadium in Tulsa. (Photos by Kate Kramer)

The rich color of liquid caffeine at Tulsa's newest coffee spot.

The green t-shirt says it best: "I Speak Okie."

By Kate Kramer

As I entered the new cafe called The Collective, the scene of freshly baked pastries and breads awakened my appetite.

My eyes went first to the front counter, which was smothered in trays of baked goods that gave the place its tempting aroma.

Hanging behind the counter was a huge black chalkboard covered in drink titles. The names and ingredients were written haphazardly with colored chalk, revealing the cafe's playful spirit.

I noted the relaxed murmur of conversation that filled the room. The Collective's comfortable wooden booths and high-top tables were occupied by groups of busily chatting college students.

The carefree atmosphere of the cafe extended to the baristas, who were shooting the breeze behind the counter. They talked with me while I decided which drink to order.

When I asked for permission to take photographs of the place, the baristas were enthusiastic and encouraged me to snap a shot of them making a customer's drink.

"Our espresso is a beautiful golden brown color," said the second barista. "We're very proud of it."

Menu items all bear the names of various Tulsa landmarks. T-shirts hang from the ceiling, adding to the cafe's Tulsa spirit.

Even the bathrooms exhibit an original flair. The walls and stalls were slathered with inspirational quotes and drawings in bright shades.

As I sipped my latte, I overheard students gossiping and discussing upcoming parties and concerts. Their voices blended with the general hum of the coffeehouse.

Kate Kramer is a TU sophomore majoring in English with a certificate in journalism. She is from Elk River, Minn., and is the news editor of the campus weekly, The Collegian.

Weekend at Texoma: Softball Team Forges New Bonds

The TU softball team at Lake Texoma.

By Ashlee Lubniewski

Fifteen TU girls and three coaches took turns barbecuing, tubing and riding jet skis on a weekend trip to Lake Texoma on September 8.

Getting the softball team together for a recreational trip at the beginning of the year is tradition, team captain Brooke Smart said.

This year the trip took the team to first basemen Vanessa Vice's lake house on the sandy beaches of Lake Texoma. The goal was a team activity outside of practice that builds a level of chemistry, comfort, and trust between the girls.

"It's a great way to get to know each other and for the freshman to start to feel comfortable around the rest of the team," Kailey Yarmer said.

After spending the day on the lake, the team came back to the house and ate dinner around a campfire, getting to know each other better.

The girls played games such as Twister, Guitar Hero, and also made shirts to wear to the TU's home football games. They asked each other questions and discussed the upcoming softball season.

The 13 returning players and the two freshman said they feel much more bonded as a team.

Ashlee Lubniewski is a junior communication major at TU. She was raised in Stockton, California, and plays catcher on the TU women's softball team. 

Tulsa Chess Club Members Test Their Skills

Young Tulsa chess players playing "blitz" chess, where each player has only five minutes to make all their moves.

By John Cope

On Friday night, the Borders bookstore in south Tulsa is a bustling place. The bookstore is home to a local chess club. When I visited this chess club, I found a relaxed atmosphere that was also filled with latent energy.

This chess club resists the stereotypes that have developed about chess in popular media. While one might imagine a chess club being populated by mostly older gentlemen, kids and teenagers make up about half of the players in Tulsa.

The younger kids give the club much of its energy, as the excitable children roam around looking for people to play or competing against each other in matches of speed chess. With about 20 players at the club on this particular Friday, it was not difficult for anyone to find a game.

I talked with many of the chess players. Ed Boyle is a strong player who has been attending this club since it moved to Borders. Boyle talked about how well the kids in the club play.

“Some adults come in thinking because they have played for so long and can beat everyone in their family, beating kids should be easy,” Boyle said. “Twenty minutes later they are often walking off with their tails between their legs.”

I decided to give this evaluation my own test by playing one of the highly touted young players. We played a speed game in which each of us had only three minutes to make all of our moves. I fashion myself a reasonably good chess player, but in this game I was soundly thrashed.

The club members were not the only ones who had good things to say about the club. Katrina, a Borders employee, said that Friday night is the most interesting night of the week.

“Getting to know the chess players has been enjoyable,” Katrina said.

I found the club to be relaxing and an interesting place to test one’s skills against some good chess players. As much as I enjoy a good bookstore, at this store the chess club gives the place a different level of interest and variety.

I get thrashed by a young chess whiz in a "blitz" match. (Photo by Matthew Griffin.)

John Cope is a TU junior from Tulsa. A graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, he is studying history and working on a certificate in journalism studies.