Homelessness in Tulsa: A Brief Portrait

By Ben Eller

I recently spent a cloudy Tuesday afternoon on the streets of downtown Tulsa. My mission was to meet some people who roamed the streets every day.

It was past 5 p.m., so most of the 9-to-5 business people had left their offices. The sidewalks were pretty empty, but I managed to meet some interesting characters as well.

The most interesting person I met was an elderly man who seemed to be mentally unstable or on drugs. He approached me when he saw my camera, and began to ramble on about doing jail time and a stabbing he had seen. I was never able to ask any questions or get his name. He then began accusing me of crimes and mumbling profanity.

I decided to keep moving and see who else was on the streets.

I talked to four other homeless men downtown. Some said they stayed in different parts for the night or at the Day Center or the downtown YMCA when the weather was bad. None of the men would say much about what led them to lives on the street.

One man, riding a pink bicycle that looked like it belonged to a little girl, told me that it was just too difficult to find work in the city, but he still had hope that he would.

I wanted to help all of the people came across downtown, but I didn't know how I could. I feel that giving them the attention I did made them feel a little more important and a little less neglected.

Ben Eller is a Tulsa native and a huge sports fan. Besides TU, his favorite teams are the St. Louis Cardinals and the Oklahoma Thunder.

Tulsa's Lebanese Tradition: Cedar's Deli

By Carolyn Siegerist

In a small shopping complex between 21st and 31st on Sheridan sits an indistinct looking Lebanese restaurant. A neon sign says "The Cedar's Deli," but you might miss it if you didn't know what you were looking for.

Though it may not look like it, Cedar's Deli has been selling homemade Lebanese cuisine to Tulsans in that spot for over 40 years. I decided to go in and have a gyro with some hummus on the side, a meal I often get at Lebanese restaurants.

I saw quite a different crowd than what I had expected. Cedar's Deli is primarily a lunch restaurant, made apparent by the long line at the counter. The entire eating area was packed with all sorts of people: businessmen, couples in their golden years, a group of younger women presumably at a "girl's luncheon," and so on.

Since my grandfather has been a client for the last 20 years, I asked the owner if I could ask him a little bit about the restaurant, mentioning the fact that my grandfather was such a fan.

Sam H. Farhood, the original and current owner, replied: "You grandfather is Jim? And your grandmother is Carol? Such lovely people. Your aunt Stacey too, why she was just in the other day!"

Maybe in a city the size of Tulsa I shouldn't be surprised that he would know customers so well, but it wasn't just my family he knew. As I watched patrons finish their meals, several took time to chat it up with Sam, who seemed to know them all.

Sam then took me to his office and handed me a fact sheet about Lebanon, which I realized later were made available in the front of the restaurant for all patrons. He explained his move to America as a child knowing no English whatsoever, how he grew up in Tulsa and became a teacher, and how he brought back a wife from Lebanon, Nuhad, and how they decided to open a restaurant together.

Nuhad, currently visiting family in Lebanon, does a great deal of the cooking and their son, Jason, also works at the restaurant.

The eclectic decor in Cedar's includes maps of Lebanon, flags for all the main universities in Oklahoma, and a collection of awards and newspaper clippings about the deli.

As I left, Sam gave me a big hug and told me to say hello to the family. I felt that just by coming in and asking him about his restaurant, which has been his life's work, I had ingratiated myself with him and that he will always recognize me.

I think this place is a perfect example of the mix of the strong cultural influence created by immigration, blended with the small town feeling hospitality of Oklahoma. I would encourage anyone to try out Cedar's, if not for the hospitality, at least to try the delicious authentic Lebanese cuisine.

Carolyn Siegerist recently returned from a semester in Spain. She is a TU communication major from Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The Friendly Man at the Fruit Stand

By Megan Stock

Nestled in the busy intersection at 21st and Harvard lies a humble little striped tent filled with fresh produce.

I went to this little stand a few times this summer, but only to stop in and get some of the best peaches in town. When I stopped in this fall I was greeted with a smile and an enthusiastic “nice to see you again!”

This welcoming made me feel bad because I had no idea who the man behind the counter was. Before I began my search for the perfect peach that day, I asked the friendly fellow little bit about the stand.

I learned that all the fruits and vegetables were delivered fresh daily. That’s right, every morning the owner drives to local farms and gathers the best fruits and vegetables and brings them back.

When I asked about my beloved Georgia peaches, the man laughed and told me those too were hand delivered by the owner himself from Georgia back to Tulsa.

“Jeff, the owner, bought a truck at the end of May with 33,000 miles on it. He told me yesterday that it now had over 100,000 miles from all of his pickups," the man said.

All of the fruits and vegetables are freshly gown and, not counting the peaches, all from local farmers.

The man raved about how great it was to work there. Its one of the few jobs where the owners really cared about their employees.

“Sometimes they just drop by to gives us drinks or food if we are working an extra long shift, and the best part is we can eat whatever produce here we want for free… too bad I don’t like fruit."

This little produce stand may go unnoticed. But if its good fruit or vegetables and a friendly face you are looking for, then it’s worth the stop.

Megan Stock is a TU communication major from Springfield, Mo. A member of Delta Gamma sorority, she plays intramural basketball and flag football.

Weber's: Brookside's Burger and Root Beer Joint

By Gretchen Schroer

It’s a sunny late summer afternoon and I find myself strolling through Tulsa's quaint Brookside area. People cruise the sidewalks with friends in tow, all about their own business.

As I approach the end of the action I know I should turn back around, but my instinct tells me that I should carry on a little longer. And I am glad I did.

There on the corner sits an orange shack that looks beaten by the years. Curiosity strikes and I walk towards it, seeing a crowd of diverse ages and waistband sizes.

Not knowing what this orange building holds I mosey towards it, skeptical of what is in store for me. As I walk in I get an overwhelming aroma of homemade burgers and onion rings, I think I just walked into heaven.

The feeling slowly diminishes as I realize that this is not a restaurant, but a hall with six stools at bar on the wall, with a kitchen attached.

Though the size was miniscule, I didn’t let that ruin the experience. I walk to the order window and for a single burger with catsup only. Then they asked, "Would you like some fresh-brewed root beer with that.”

“Yes!” I exclaimed.

While sitting and waiting for my food I look at my surroundings. The walls are littered with signed one dollar bills, framed newspaper articles, original menus and a list of coupons available online.

Soon my name is called and I sink my teeth into a greasy burger and a smile comes over my face. Maybe old-fashioned shouldn’t stay a thing of the past.

Gretchen Schroer is a senior communication major from Overland Park, Kansas. After graduation, she is palling to embark on a year-long round the world trip.

All about Invitations: The Inviting Place is for Girls

By Elizabeth Kubik

The mostly female customers who stroll through the welcoming doors of the oblong, girly, stationary shop at 61st Street and Yale Avenue, expect a great set of invitations, superior service and, most often, some energetic girl-talk.

A paper and gifts store, The Inviting Place specializes in adorable and affordable invitations for every occasion: weddings, birthdays, births, anniversaries or just a backyard barbecue.

I found the eye-catching store, currently decorated for fall with an OSU tailgate window-display and ghostly Halloween invitations strategically placed next to a bright, colorful, candy corn bowl, to be a lively environment, full of frills and enthusiasm.

Invitations line the walls. From invitations for a little princess’ palace birthday party to the eloquent, gorgeous wedding invitations of her dreams, the store, and the passionate employees, seek to please every taste, every occasion and every customer.

"We really try to have a wide variety of gifts and invitations so that all our customers can find exactly what they are looking for," Sara, store owner, OSU graduate and long-time Tulsan, says.

While the choices of invitations seem endless, I was far more impressed by the people who create the energy and mood in the store.

Hard-working, busy women carefully tie satin bows to complete the finishing touches on an upcoming wedding program and add the last rhinestone to a 50th surprise birthday invitation to give it an appropriate glitz, all while chatting away, offering knowledgeable assistance and advice to customers.

The enjoyment these women seem to get out of being in the store and helping customers ultimately breathes life into The Inviting Place.

Elizabeth Kubik is a TU senior from St. Louis. She is majoring in English and completing a certificate in journalism studies. She is also a passionate runner.

The Friendly Folks at FedEx Kinko's

By Danni Powell

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. To some, this place might actually be FedEx Kinko's (formerly Kinko's). On occasion, some very interesting people do business there.

With that in mind, I spent my Wednesday lunch hour observing the customers and employees at Kinko's.

As I approached the building on 11th Street just across from the TU campus, I was surprised to see that the parking lot that FedEx Kinko's shares with Subway was packed. I counted eight people waiting in line, with more people browsing the store. Most looked between 24-45, but there was one gray-haired older woman. It was obvious everyone was in a hurry, but no one was rude or pushy.

These questions in my mind were interrupted by a shout of “Leann!”

I looked to the door, expecting to see an employee walk in. Instead, it was another customer. One of the employees was hollering at the customer like she was a good friend.

Leann's friend is Greg, an employee of FedEx Kinko's for the past four years. Greg said that he had only met Leann in the store, and over the last few years they developed a rapport through casual conversation.

When asked if that is common, Greg said, “A lot of the time we see the same faces. You figure out how much family they have and where they work and stuff.” This is how he came to consider Leann a friend.

I asked him if he ever had any unusual people come in to shop. “You get the occasional crazy. But hey, that's Tulsa,” he said.

Danni Powell is a TU junior majoring in communication. She is a native of Muldrow, Okla., where she finished at the top of her high school graduation class.

Sights, Sounds and Smells from Tulsa's Cherry Street Farmers' Market

By Jintae Hwang

Cool grey sky welcomed me that morning as I stepped out of my apartment. I headed to 15th and Peoria in midtown Tulsa, now known as Lincoln Plaza.

The full parking lot showed how popular the place was. After getting out of my car, I could smell the freshness and the excitement of welcoming people. I arrived at the Cherry Street Farmers’ Market.

The small parking lot was full of numbers of booths all around. Local farmers stood inside selling their products. The foggy day brought cool breeze for people to enjoy Saturday morning shopping.

Fresh vegetables were the main products—tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and many more. The market had a lot to offer and the hoppers seemed happy. The atmosphere was kind of sophisticated, since the shoppers seemed to be educated or well-off people.

Disneyland has its Mickey Mouse dollar. Cherry Street Farmers’ Market has its own currency as well. They have tokens for people without cash. All you need to do is swipe your card with a dollar service fee.

The ‘trustworthy system’ still exists there. I brought some grapes without paying, but was told to pay on my next visit. That surprised me the most after all.

I headed back with full of shopping bags in my hands. Next week, I just have to remember to bring $7 to the grape booth.

Jintae Hwang is a senior at TU. A native of South Korea, he lived in California for four years before coming to Tulsa. After graduation, he plans a career in sports media in Korea.

Tulsans and Their Dogs: A Visit to Joe Station Bark Park

By Katelin Montag

In cities like Tulsa, it is not always easy to find wide open spaces to let your dogs run around in. Tulsa’s two off-leash dog parks are giving city dwellers a solution to that problem while having a highly welcoming atmosphere.

The day I visited Joe Station Bark Park in West Tulsa, I found it to be a perfect example of friendliness and courtesy. Everyone was following the posted rules and even the dogs seemed to be in a cheerful mood.

Dogs are the center of attention at Joe Station Bark Park. They are celebrated in the design of the park with images of bones and separate areas for large and small dogs to play in. Bleachers are also provided outside of the fence for those who want to watch the dogs play from a distance.

My favorite part of the park was seeing the interactions between the dog owners. The dogs are encouraged to roam around and play with the other dogs at the park and whenever a pair of dogs would become friendly with one another, so would the owners.

Conversations were borne out of discussing the traits and personalities of each dog and what could easily turn into a competition usually developed into friendly chats. I couldn’t help thinking of the Midwestern charm I always hear about being a part of Tulsa, but rarely notice after so many years of living here.

The dog parks not only provide a service for Tulsa’s pets, but also showcase the ability of people to work together to create a pleasant environment for everyone.

Katelin Montag is a TU senior majoring in communication, minoring in English. An international baccalaureate graduate of Tulsa's Booker T. Washington High School, she plans to work as a news writer.

A Mom and Pop Burger Joint in Tulsa: Wranglers BBQ

By Caity Lincoln

A strong craving for one of Tulsa’s best burgers sent me on a cross town trek to Wranglers BBQ at 71st and Memorial last week. I’ve been patronizing Wranglers for years, and being a self-proclaimed “burger guru,” I can honestly say that they make one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.

Wranglers is owned and operated by husband and wife team, Joe and Cindy. Customer service is very important to Joe and Cindy and so at this drive-up burger joint, Cindy can always be found cheerfully filling orders and chatting with her regular customers.

Cindy almost always recognizes her loyal customers by their orders even before they pull up to her window.

“Hi there doll! I was just thinking about you!” are often the first words out of her mouth. Her bright red hair and English-by-way-of-South Africa accent characterize her sunny disposition.

Joe can rarely be seen, but can often be heard around closing time when he’s arguing with Cindy for allowing customers to order more burgers when he’s ready to shut down the grill for the night.

A long line of cars can always be found snaked around this popular lunch time spot, but the delicious food is well worth the wait. Thick juicy steak burgers, BBQ specialties, and warm reception always ensures for repeat customers.

Next time you’re in the area and need a break from the mall mayhem, head on over to Wranglers for a little mom and pop dining experience that’s sure to make your day.

Caity Lincoln is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa and a TU sophomore. She plans to go to law school.