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. 

Rethinking Online News: New Ideas, More Content for Tulsa Street Stories

By John Coward
Faculty of Communication

Tulsa Street Stories was started two years ago as an online journalism project of the News Gathering class at The University of Tulsa. The idea for the site was to give TU communication and journalism students a chance to report on a variety of Tulsa topics and to practice some online journalism.

The project got off to a fair start the first year, largely due to my own efforts as the class instructor and on-line guru. I made the story assignments, prodded the students, edited the copy and posted the stories. The result was that the class learned something about the online media world, though our stories and postings were fairly tame (some were too boring) and definitely low tech.

Last fall, the Street Stories project lagged. I wasn't able (or willing) to do all the Internet work, so the postings slowed and then ceased altogether. It wasn't really the students' fault, since I focused on other classwork and let the blog assignments wither away.

This year, however, I'm optimistic that the News Gathering class can reinvigorate the Street Stories site. I have in mind more original stories and some true multimedia content. That means I'm going to work with the students to cover and develop new stories ideas and see if we can't generate more photos, some soundbites and audio content, and even some video.

Also, we will look for ways to link the site to Facebook or MySpace, two sites popular with students. Surely, there are ways to create interesting news and feature stories that other students would like to see.

I want students this year to develop their own stories ideas and supply photos, audio and video. One of them can be the editor as well, giving them good experience and, not incidentally, relieving me of this task.

That's not out of the question for a beginning journalism class, even one taught by a relic of the print age (Yes, I'm that old. I used to write on a manual typewriter. You can see that very machine in my office in Oliphant Room 128. Knock first, please.)

Check back at this site in a few weeks for some new (and exciting) content from Tulsa. Until then, check out the Oklahoma Prison Project, an online journalism project produced earlier this year by the Documentary Workshop class. A link to that site can be found by clicking here.

Tulsa Scenes: The Coffee House on Cherry Street

By Michael Williams

As I walked through the door, I was overwhelmed by the fragrant aroma of coffee. Coffee drinkers were scattered around the room in ones and twos on the couches and chairs provided for them.

A small wall separated conversation nooks from each other. Cabinets filled to overflowing with books, board games, and records provided entertainment for the customers. The shop reminded me of a home that had been refitted as a place of business.

People, old and young, chatted with their friends as soft music filled the air. To my right, a pair of older gentlemen discussed Tulsa’s building projects, while behind me, a group of college students talked about the activities on their campus. Other people browsed through books or worked on computers.

Although I was in a business, I felt like I was passing time at an old friend’s home. The modern art on the wall highlighted the unusual nature of this business in a city filled with chain coffee shops.

Although I do not even drink coffee (my request for hot chocolate drew surprised murmurs from the staff), I found the Coffee House on Cherry Street to be relaxing and friendly in a way that Starbucks could never match.

Above: Coffee House customer Jack Alexander

Doing Laundry Means Having Fun at University Wash

By Bridgette Gonzales

Let's face it: a college student’s priority isn’t cleanliness. That being the case, we often end up with a load of laundry that will take hours to take care of in a single load machine.

Taking our dirty clothes to a Laundromat sounds so tedious and boring. Who wants to sit and wait hours while your clothes are in the wash? I don’t.

I would rather be out somewhere having fun or attempting to be productive. But what if there was a way to take care of laundry and take care of something most of us find as a priority: Having fun.

There is.

University Wash Laundromat on 15th St. isn’t your typical laundromat. They have pool tables and video games to help pass the time. More to the point, it's a place where you can have a beer. I’m not encouraging alcoholism, but enjoying a nice cold beer is almost always nice. And University Wash gives you this option with their beer-only bar.

At University Wash, you’ll find a few TU students doing laundry, having a beer, and enjoying time with their friends. It’s a great way to socialize and be productive.

The people are friendly. It's close to campus. It’s fun. And most of all one can truly be productive so long as they don’t forgot to turn on the wash or place the clothes in the dryer as I did. Also, the pool table can be quite the distraction.

University Wash Laundromat, 3132 E. 15th St., is the perfect place for a student to have fun with friends and get clean at the same time.

Tulsa Scenes: Kilkinney's Offers Irish Charm

By Emily Gibson

Location
Since I came to the University of Tulsa from out of state, I have had to discover the local hot spots for myself. One of my favorites is Kilkenny’s Irish Pub on 15th St just east of Peoria. The moment I step into the pub, I am transported “across the pond” to Ireland. The music overwhelms me, I have to stop myself from doing a little jig for fear I’d embarrass myself.
All of the decor is straight from Ireland, even down to the signs on the bathroom doors which read Lasses and Lads.

Drinks
Kilkenny’s serves 16 types of beer, ranging from your typical Guinness to specialty wheat ales. They also have an abundance of Irish whiskey and scotch. Like most pubs in Ireland, Kilkenny’s offers more than just beer. They have a full lunch and dinner menu, and offer brunch on the weekends.

Food
The food is moderately priced for the average person, although for the typical college student it is a bit on the pricey side. It is perfect for a date night, birthday, or “I just got paid today, let’s go out” meal. I have to recommend the Chatsworth Boxy, and the Ballybunion Beef Tenderloin Kebabs, which is my personal favorite.

Dessert
The dessert menu is top notch. My mouth waters in anticipation for their well known Irish Balloons; fried pastry balls dusted with powdered sugar and served with sweet Irish whiskey butter sauce.

Irish hospitality
I always leave Kilkenny’s in a better mood than when I arrived. Maybe it has something to do with the wonderful service I received, or my full tummy. I don’t think that’s it though. Kilkenny’s is the type of place where you can leave all of your worries behind and enjoy in the magic that is the true Irish pub.

Linguistic Sidebar
• Boxy: A traditional Irish dish common to rural Ireland consisting of a grilled potato pancake stuffed with different fillings

Link
• You can find the menu, directions to, and more information by clicking here.

Tulsa Scenes: Kilkenny's as a Family Tradition

By Ryan McKinzie

It’s a beautiful end-of-summer day outside when I decide that some thirst quenching is order. Walking up and down Cherry Street with my parents, hitting every little shop and boutique along the way, made me particularly parched.

We enter Kilkenny’s Pub and are instantly whisked away into a place that seems to be a thousand miles away from the shops that we were browsing in just minutes earlier.The floor is dark, almost chocolate-colored maple that creaked with every step. The walls are dark mahogany.

I had a mission when we walked in: beer! But the smell of pub fries and the sight of delicious-looking salmon got my stomach involved in the conversation. At that moment I decide that I need to eat.

The host sits us in a corner booth which gives a vantage point of nearly the entire bar. I begin to notice the other customers. There is an elderly couple eating lunch, a group of raucous businessmen sit in the center, and the bar is nearly with people enjoying their favorite pint.

After ordering and receiving our food and drinks I sit back and bask in the glory that is Kilkenny’s and decide right then and there that this will be a family tradition. Food and drink at Kilkenny’s.

More Tulsa Stories Coming to Street Stories Soon

The fall 2007 TU News Gathering class is hard at work on a new batch of Tulsa Street Stories. I'll be posting news stories and photos soon, so check back regularly to see what TU students are writing about Tulsa and Tulsans.

The first three stories below are part of an assignment for students to use their powers of observation to describe a public place. I asked them to use their senses to describe the place and the people in it, to create a verbal "snapshot" of some interesting place in Tulsa.

If you like what they've done, please comment and tell them so. If not, you can tell them that too. Meanwhile, they'll keep writing. I hope to post more photos on the site soon as well.

--John Coward, Faculty of Communication

Tulsa Scenes: A Battle over Trees in Woodward Park

By Stephanie Smith

I was 5 years old and already hugging trees.

I loved going to the park to climb up their knots, and my parents never let me leave without a million pictures being taken.

Something about their size and age amused me, and ever since then, my appreciation for these creatures has grown deep.

Woodward Park is home to some of Tulsa’s oldest and most beautiful trees. Until recently, the city was allowing them to be destroyed. Park officials said it was cheaper to remove the problematic trees and replace them with newer, smaller ones than to trim the sprawling branches of the older trees.

I wonder how they think this is a solution. I would like to challenge those in charge to explain why no budgets have been cut, no workers were lost, no diseases have struck, and yet there are trees still falling at the hands of those with chainsaws.

People around Tulsa are rallying together in hope to prevent further damage. Petitions are being signed, fliers are being posted and planted all over mid-town, even a Facebook group has been created by an Oklahoma State student—all in an effort to stop the chop.

Our pleas have caught the attention of some officials. City Hall has discussed tree removal, and progress has been made.

Stopthechop.net reports that a large part of the battle has been won. The writers for the site say that before any tree can be removed, the Park Department has to retrieve approval from either the Tree Advisory Committee, or the mayor herself.

I assume this makes things more difficult, but it doesn’t stop things from happening.

I love that picture I took as a little girl. Me hugging a tree that must have been at least 100 years old. I look at it now, and know that majestic tower of bark and branches has seen more in its lifetime than any of us could ever hope to even learn about.

It would be a disaster to lose a piece of history, and the city always seems to find new ways of chopping down a lot of it.

There is still a war to be won, and citizens are not giving up the fight to save the beauty and life of the foliage at Woodward.

Try hugging a tree someday, as a child it made me smile. It may just convince you to join in on the drive to stop the chop.

Tulsa Scenes: My Impressions of Impressions, a Restaurant

By Jacob Niebergall

Impressions sits on the southeast corner of 5th and Main, downtown. It's an eatery that feeds the workplace lunch rush.

The restaurant is long and narrow, with a kitchen in the back. Separating the kitchen from the dining area is a tall counter where you tell the crew what you’d like to eat.

I walked in around 12:30 p.m. to find the place packed. Nearly every table was occupied, and the line was almost to the door. Half of the people in line chatted amongst themselves, while the other half gazed wide-eyed at the large chalk-board menu above the counter.

I already knew what I wanted. Of all the specialty sandwiches on the menu, the Sirloin Dip on French bread was calling my name. As the line drew nearer to the counter, I could hear conversations between the customers and the owner Tom Butcher. Tom greeted many of the customers by their first name.

When it was my turn to order, I was greeted with a hearty hello and a smile. I asked for the Sirloin dip, hot, on French bread, which comes with a cup of Au Jus sauce.

Minutes later I received my plate and slid my tray down the line past the pies and cakes towards the register. Despite how busy and crowded the place was, I was greeted with another smile.

After filling myself up a soda I weaved through the crowd and found myself a table. Just half of the plus-sized sandwich would have filled me up, but I inhaled the other as well.