On a cool, sunny Tulsa afternoon I found myself downtown and within easy striking distance of the…read morelegendary Center of the Universe. What, I wondered, might I find in this little spot that is rumored to have magical powers? Thankfully, the C of the U is well-marked by an enormous, spire-like metal map marker so it's easy to find. Once there, the actual COTU is marked by sort of a worn out circle of bricks and concrete that (tbh) probably needs a little sprucing up. According to local lore (and many Yelp reviews), you can stand in the center of this spot and speak, and nobody will hear you. Or your words will come back to you. Or something like that. I wasn't really sure what to expect. And to be completely honest with you, nothing happened when I tried. Maybe I did it wrong. There *were* people walking by, so I mostly muttered to myself, rather than yell out into the void. Yes, it's quite likely that fear of embarrassment caused me not to experience the magic and wonder that make the COTU what it is.

I saw the sculpture (by Bob Haozous) from a distance and wondered what in the world? Then I asked…read moresomeone who said - Center of the Universe - and I vaguely remembered being there many years ago. It is so worth a few moments to stand in the circle and hear the echo, to marvel at the sculpture, and admire the art deco architecture of the neighboring, abadoned train depot. So fun!

i'd not before seen the sidewalk path connecting the convergent streets that comprise the hill, but…read morethat was a pleasant surprise to me as an area not on the street for doing a warmup. then, running up the side on the left, if you are facing toward the hill, i got in 7 repetitions, 1 for each of the players i'd recalled as getting playing rotation during the fab five era for wolverines basketball. see pic below for reference connection. nonetheless, for crosssport training purposes, hill repeats in outdoor basketball shoes definitely lends more toward basketball training than track, so using that pic to emphasize the baggy shorts and black socks aesthetic with the lebrons i've been wearing as an outdoors basketball shoe, definitely gives evidence toward answering what sport i was putting in training effort toward, although i've run hill repeats there before as training for running.

Cry Baby Hill on Sunday following two days of bike races is yet another day of bike races. This one…read morehowever pushes the cyclists to the limit with a strenuous tough uphill battle. This is not for the weak. Now about this. If you want "family friendly" you stay down by the river on the flat road. There is plenty of space for picnics and children. If you want over 21 with anything goes, you move uphill. There is live music, food trucks, lots of intoxication, partial or sometimes full nudity if they don't get caught, women in nothing but pasties and thongs and well, men too. There will be signage of suggestive material and very vulgar. Is it everyone? Not at all but it's not for the modest or faint of heart. It's actually pretty disgusting how people behave on the hill as it is a really exciting event. It will be trashy, full of liter, filthy and hot. Bring a cooler maybe a backpack full of cleansing cloths and hand wash as you may not find any of that up there because it's packed. You can stage yourself however throughout to actually watch the race. I mean it's like sin city wrapped up in a few hours. It's Tulsa for ya. I wish it could be family friendly as cry baby hill is exciting but they can't control it so they contain it. Btw look it up before you go to see what the "theme" is. Each year they have a theme and people sometimes dress the part. Otherwise wear what you'd wear in spring break, to the pool or dress like the Grinch and have a blast. (Yes we have seen it all!)

If you take a stroll on 15th between Utica and Peoria, you will find some of the coolest street art…read moreand photo opportunities! There are plenty of places to stop and grab a bite to eat, grab a coffee or cocktail or a sweet treat! Enjoy Tulsa weather, eats and arts!

Mark you calendars for every year around the first week of November to visit their little festivus…read more Although this year's was not as big as in year's past, there are still a lot of great local artisans and vendors (and local music). All of the Garden Deva merch is 20% off too. I love their offerings year round. (The Winnie the Pooh themed items were half off!) It's a great spot for holiday shopping!

I took the beginners class and had a great time and learned a lot!! The teacher was awesome and…read morevery patient w us as students. Looking forward to taking the intermediate class next!!

Here are just a few jaw-dropping aspects of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma:…read more With locations in Tulsa and McAlester, they provide food and other donated goods to 450 Partner Programs in 24 counties of eastern Oklahoma. These programs include emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs and senior citizen centers. Together, they provide more than 346,000 meals each week to people struggling with hunger. During Fiscal Year 2015 they distributed more than 21.6 million pounds of food. Empty Bowls is an epic annual event. This year there were 1,000 guests that celebrated all of the Food Bank's efforts and had a chance to contribute to the fight against hunger. With a live auction and silent auction, wine, jewelry and restaurant pulls, live painting, live music, cocktail hour and comfortable seating around tables and so much more the night couldn't have been better. The night's menu consisted of a quinoa tabbouleh on arugula salad, various options of soup (my favorite was the creamy chicken, wild rice & lemon!) and flourless chocolate torte or coconut custard meringue cup for dessert. The program was intentional and so sweet honoring Scott Lewis, a performance by the Tulsa Children's Chorus and stories on how life changing the food bank is for those in our community. This is an event I will prioritize to attend annually! So thankful for the Food Bank.

I am so thankful to the Food Bank for all that they do in the Tulsa area. I have been to many…read morecharitable events throughout the years, but I have to say that this was one of the best ones in a long time. They had a fantastic live band playing as we were given plenty of time to review the silent auction items. In addition they had drawings for dream trips, pizza for a year, jewelry, and more. Something that I particularly wish I had participated in more was the restaurant pull. With your donation, you were able to pull a blind gift card for a local restaurant. Another great feature that I missed last year because it sold out so quickly was the wine pull. Again, for your donation, you were able to pull a blind bottle of wine and of the four that I purchased, three were really special. There was a prediction of intense storms that night so I was afraid of a lower attendance, but Tulsa stepped up and fill the hall. The food was exceptional and as a real soup lover, I thought it was the perfect menu. In fact, the wine that was served at the table was far better than I expected. I took a few pictures that i will try to upload. I hate to hit on the money too much but another great idea they were using this year was the integrated payment plan. You just had to vault a credit card when you register and then use your bidder number for everything you want. i assumed it would just hit the card and that would be it, but today I received a very nice email stating what I had purchased and a link to finalize the payment with an added opportunity to enhance the joy of giving at the same time. I have seen some real fiascos at some events and this provided a great comfort level that everything was as I remembered. The venue was very well appointed and convenient with free covered parking. Really, the entire event was smooth and very entertaining. I hope that I have convinced more of you to join us next year. i highly recommend it and when you see the number of meals that can be provided through your donations, it is really heart warming. I may be mixing stories, but I think I read that 96% of the contributions go directly to the food recipients. That is a phenomenal number, probably one of the highest in the nation.

I'm not sure why this is rated so highly. Maybe it was better in past years?…read more Overall was not as fun and did not offer as much as we expected. 1. Hardly any vendors overall and only four food trucks. That said "Hot mess BBQ" was delish. 2. Band was average. First of all who hires a like semi hard core rock band for an outdoor summer festival? How about a fun cover band guys? 3. Band leader never STFU. He went on and on talking and rambling about the talent in the area and his journey. Like 20 mins of talking and then a song and then more talking 4. Bring a canopy, cooler, and chairs and get there fairly early to get a good spot.

Another super fun river-side festival, the Great Raft Race actually takes people into the Arkansas…read moreRiver bringing back the competition from the 70s where homemade rafts cruised the river waters. Organizers have done an awesome job in the short time the festival has been alive in making it a family-friend but also adult-fun event. There are plenty of places along the river to watch all the crazy contraptions various Tulsans have built float by, and there's an awesome small festival ground with food, drinks and activities for the kids. Although the race is fun, the after party can be even better! Overall, a great event I look forward to watching grow as more and more Tulsans learn about it. Perfect Tulsa-flavored summer fun.

Not what it was but still fun. Racing is great regardless of the smaller crowds. Good food,vendors…read moreand especially the beer

It's always nice to attend local events. This time around, I brought my daughter & she enjoyed it…read more I usually never catch all 3 days of the races, definitely have to check out Cry Baby Hill, the race of all races. Expect a lot of weird outfits, hair, people, etc. Not weird people as in they'll freak you out or anything to that nature, just individuals who show their personality that's not your average. Also, there's ALWAYS a lot of art on display in the surrounding areas to check out too.

Atmosphere:…read more From the moment you step through the door, Glacier greets you with the warm, intoxicating scent of fresh chocolate--an aroma as inviting as its sleek, boutique-style interior. The space is visually stunning, with jewel-toned bonbons and clean, modern displays that feel curated yet approachable. It's a cocoa-coated feast for the senses. Base Chocolate: Belgium Chocolate Glacier does not disclose its specific base chocolate, only stating it uses "high-quality Belgian chocolate." While their chocolatier, Rosie, continues refining recipes, painting molds, and crafting the visual identity. "Belgian chocolate" is a geographic designation, not a guarantee of excellence. True quality depends on bean origin, fermentation, grinding precision, and conching technique. Industry-respected producers like Callebaut, Felchlin, and the vaunted Valrhona define themselves not by origin labels but by smoothness, flavor integrity, and sourcing ethics. Pecan & Brown Sugar Dark Bar and Peanut Butter Cup: The chocolate bar is visually elegant--its splash-painted design in hues of gold, brown, and deep cocoa evokes richness before the first bite. The underlying dark chocolate is silky smooth with a pleasant snap, delivering depth without bitterness. Studded with pecans and kissed with brown sugar, each bite offers an earthy, nutty sweetness that balances beautifully in both taste and texture. The peanut butter cup is generously thick, with a standard ratio of filling to shell. The peanut butter ganache is restrained in sweetness, creating a pleasant contrast to the subtly sweet dark chocolate exterior. It's balanced, if not particularly bold. Truffles and Bon Bon Glacier's truffles and bonbons strike an impressive balance of sweetness, showcasing a refined textural profile. Each piece features a silky, ultra-smooth shell that gives way to a luscious ganache center. The chocolate coating leaves no grainy aftertaste--just clean, lingering notes: white chocolate with appropriate butterfat richness, dark chocolate with a gentle bite, and milk chocolate that leans sweet without overwhelming. The craftsmanship is evident; each confection is like a Fabergé jewel in chocolate form--beautifully constructed and meticulously finished. Glacier demonstrates a clear command of technique and presentation, crafting chocolates that are visually refined and structurally precise. The Dark Mediterranean Sea Salt truffle stands out--its clean snap, soft caramel interior, and calibrated salinity create a well-composed, balanced bite. The Fortunato No. 4, featuring rare Nacional cacao, offers a rich, layered chocolate depth, while the Gianduja delivers a silky, nut-forward profile that feels both classic and elevated. These three represent Glacier at its most focused and successful. The "Hot Chocolate" bonbon captures nostalgic warmth with milk-forward notes, while the Mint Chocolate Chip leans subtle--pleasant, though less assertive than its name suggests. Fruit-inspired bonbons--strawberry, lemon, and key lime--open with bright, appealing notes. However, a faint artificial finish emerges, particularly in the Bananas Foster. It's likely Glacier employs flavoring agents or freeze-dried fruit powders, a common confectionery tool that can limit complexity in the final product. Pieces like Strawberry Shortcake and Cookies & Cream lean heavily into sweetness with limited contrast. Still, the overall collection reflects high-quality ingredients, clean execution, and thoughtful design. Glacier operates well above the commercial tier and continues refining its balance between aesthetic appeal and flavor clarity.

While the husband and I were out running errands yesterday, we made a stop by the South Yale…read morelocation of Glacier Chocolates. We stopped in to build a box of chocolates(24pcs) for my aunt for Christmas this year(my grand-dad, her dad used to give her and my mom and all 4 grandkids-my aunt has 3 boys, and mom had me,chocolates for Christmas). While there I also built a box of chocolates(24pcs) for the our 26th anniversary this month. The shop was nicely tucked away and accessable in a little shopping community. I was so excited to finally get to stop into and take a look around. It was so fun to pick the empty gift box and pick out unique flavors for all of us to try, some were the same, some not. It helped me it was a chilled vibe inside, so I could be attentive for what flavors I selected, without feeling rushed. I got a chance to try a piece while I was there. Oh Boy! If you love chocolates, this will be in the foodgasm category. That peach bellini, OMG! it was unscrewing the door from the "Who needs a man club." Yes it was that good. It gave me the holiday feel goods. Thank you to the sweet staff for being so patient with me as I filled my boxes. I can't wait to try the box I curated fir the hubby and I. Some of the flavors that I chose included; birthday cake, blood orange wild honey, blueberry cheesecake, cereal milk, cinnamon roll, cookies and cream, creme brulee, honey peanut butter cream, limoncello, mexican spice, lavender, just to name a few.

"Guardian of the Plains" serves as the welcome to Sapulpa. This ginormous buffalo stands atop a big…read morepile near where Route 66 meets up with the Turner Turnpike at the north end of the city of Sapulpa. There is a small parking lot and there are sets of steps on each end of the hill if you're inclined to get up close with Mister Buffalo. The plaque indicates that it was dedicated on November 16, 2007 by the Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce in celebration of the Oklahoma Centennial 1907-2007. The sculptor was Jim Gilmore. [Review 16249 overall - 86 in Oklahoma - 1755 of 2021.]