TULSA - Don't Hate the 918

[thedivahrrrself]

Originally Posted by Parker

I kinda miss Tulsa .... I never have been able to find a creamy garlic dressing as good as the stuff at Charleston's. I was happy to work the lunch shift there because then I could have a salad and a baked potato for free ... such good dressing! Or their chicken strips .... I'm kinda hungry now!

Of course, I dont miss the fact that Tulsa is where I lived when my car was destroyed by a gay basher with a sledge hammer ... but I dont really think that is Tulsa's fault.

I only lived there for a couple of years in the early 2000's and all-in-all, it was a nice place to call home.

Aw, Parker, I'm sorry that happened. Tulsa is one of the gayest cities in the country (per capita). I went to our first Pride parade in 1999, and I can tell you things have come a LONG way since the early 2000's.

Charleston's is delish! I'm more of a locavore (Local Table is like Tulsa locavore heaven), but Charleston's is one chain I'll make an exception for. My work takes us there for dinner a few times a year. I always look forward to it.

Wish I could have met you when you were in town. As far as we can tell, JAGG and I are it for the B/F community here.

[MrSunshine]

Tell us about the climate in the 918.

[thedivahrrrself]

Originally Posted by MrSunshine

Tell us about the climate in the 918.

We generally have cold winters, hot summers, and rainy falls and springs. This year, however, we did not get a winter. It only snowed once, and it was 60 degrees again the next day.

There are sometimes tornadoes, but they tend to stay either north or south of Tulsa. People will tell you 100 different reasons for this. I say it's the River (Arkansas), since tornadoes tend to be dispersed by bodies of water, but there's all kinds of Native American legends and myths saying this place is "protected".

[Parker]

Originally Posted by thedivahrrrself

Aw, Parker, I'm sorry that happened. Tulsa is one of the gayest cities in the country (per capita). I went to our first Pride parade in 1999, and I can tell you things have come a LONG way since the early 2000's.

Charleston's is delish! I'm more of a locavore (Local Table is like Tulsa locavore heaven), but Charleston's is one chain I'll make an exception for. My work takes us there for dinner a few times a year. I always look forward to it.

Wish I could have met you when you were in town. As far as we can tell, JAGG and I are it for the B/F community here.

That would have been cool to know more B-F people - I lived there just before I joined the dash site and most of the people I hung with were straight and in the BDSM community.

Although I did go to Tulsa Pride in 2002 - I posted a pic of it in my gallery for a friend to see my purple hair lol - that was a fun Pride.

[thedivahrrrself]

Originally Posted by Parker

That would have been cool to know more B-F people - I lived there just before I joined the dash site and most of the people I hung with were straight and in the BDSM community.

Although I did go to Tulsa Pride in 2002 - I posted a pic of it in my gallery for a friend to see my purple hair lol - that was a fun Pride.

I was there in '02, though I think I was drinking too much to remember it! LOL

[Parker]

Originally Posted by thedivahrrrself

I was there in '02, though I think I was drinking too much to remember it! LOL

lol, maybe we knew each other and just didnt know it!

[thedivahrrrself]

OK, this is a beautiful picture I totally stole from the Tulsa Deco District facebook page...




The Atlas Life building is one of my favorite Tulsa landmarks! Some history:

The Atlas Life Building, 409 S. Boston, was designed by Tulsa Architect Arthur Rush and had its Grand Opening on Thursday evening Nov. 23, 1922. The inverted “T” design of the building allowed for air circulation in those days before air conditioning. The four-story vertical neon sign was installed in 1946. The Atlas Life Building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

[thedivahrrrself]

One of the best places in Tulsa, our largest park, RIVERSIDE!

From RiverParks.org: River Parks’ 26 miles of asphalt-surfaced trails weave past gathering areas, playgrounds, fountains and sculptures along the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa. Additionally, River Parks owns and leases hundreds of acres reserved for wildlife habitation and land preservation. River Parks also controls the water levels of portions of the Arkansas River using the gates of the Zink Dam.

I love to walk Riverside in the mornings. There are several bridges that cross the river, allowing for a full loop. Here's the Pedestrian Bridge over Zinc dam:




There's also this fountain nearby (it won't be turned on until Memorial Day):




The 21st Street Bridge, which I think is just beautiful:



And a view of downtown from the West side of the Arkansas River:

[Parker]

Originally Posted by thedivahrrrself

One of the best places in Tulsa, our largest park, RIVERSIDE!

This park looks nice - I only remember Heller Park - that's where we had football practice (Tulsa Tornadoes) and where my car got beaten up - but mostly, I remember the practices since they were f'ing grueling! lol

Of course, I wish I could play football again - not just to be playing again, but also because of the boot camp style practicing - it would whip my ass into shape!

[Parker]

Originally Posted by thedivahrrrself

Aw, Parker, I'm sorry that happened. Tulsa is one of the gayest cities in the country (per capita). I went to our first Pride parade in 1999, and I can tell you things have come a LONG way since the early 2000's.

Charleston's is delish! I'm more of a locavore (Local Table is like Tulsa locavore heaven), but Charleston's is one chain I'll make an exception for. My work takes us there for dinner a few times a year. I always look forward to it.

Wish I could have met you when you were in town. As far as we can tell, JAGG and I are it for the B/F community here.

Well, that was 10 years ago, which is kind of a lifetime ago when it comes to gay rights and acceptance of gay people, so I wouldnt judge the city based solely on that!

I have to admit, it is one of the nicer places I have lived - I liked Tulsa better than Colorado Springs, Fresno, and of course, Missi-fucking-ssippi.

Like Jagg, I also moved there with nothing but my dog, my truck, and whatever could fit inside my truck - I had been re-cooperating from a serious illness while living with a friend in Mississippi, but she was moving, so it was either stay in MS or move someplace else. A friend lived in Tulsa and talked me into picking up and moving there - I got an apt in the complex she lived in and within a few days, I got a job.

It was tempting to stay there, but I really wanted to go back to school and being a vet meant it was free for me in IL, so I headed back "home."

I dont hate the 918.