TulsaPeople Magazine

On May 7, 500 guests dove into the roaring ’20s theme of Oklahoma Aquarium’s (@okaquarium ) SPLASH! fundraiser. Dressed up in headbands, fedoras, sequins and fringe, attendees sampled libations and bites from many different Tulsa restaurants and breweries, also enjoying some record-spinning by emcee DJ Majda. With a silent auction that included a live painting done by local artist Chris Mantle, funds raised from the event go toward the Fish Friend Scholarship Fund, which supports underserved schools by providing a way for students to visit the aquarium at no cost to either them or the school. 📸: Laci Schwoegler See a full gallery at the link in our bio!

For six-and-a-half years, Nicholas Flores has created a welcoming, accessible portal into Tulsa’s underground music scene with the Whittier Bar (@thewhittierbar_ ). Located in the historic Kendall-Whittier neighborhood it’s a dive bar with a big heart that’s known for hosting local and touring musical acts most nights. In March, Flores handed the keys to Whittier’s manager, Jacob Fuller (@cobfuller ). While the bar’s ownership has changed, Fuller plans to stay true to the club’s original spirit. “I don’t have any huge changes. I have a lot of ideas for things that will just make it more ‘Whittier,’ whatever that means,” he says. “I’m going to do my best to keep it feeling the same, for sure. Maybe just put a little zhuzh on it.” “Everyone’s welcome, and we stand up for people that need it and help out the community however we can, whether it’s picking up trash from the side of the building or donating sandwiches,” he says. “We just do whatever we can, and people are attracted to kind people.” Read more at the link in our bio!

Our latest review from Allyssa Reeder takes us to the Lynn Riggs Theater inside the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center for Tulsa Shakespeare Company's (@tulsashakespeare ) production of "The Tempest." Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the Bard or a newcomer to the stage, this production, which runs on May 14-16 and May 21-23, brings a fresh energy to Shakespeare's classic comedy 🎭 📸: C. Andrew Nichols Read a full review at the link in our bio!

Each year, the HBA of Tulsa (@tulsahba ) selects a unique home to highlight the work of local designers, contractors and remodelers. The 2026 home is located at 2840 S. Victor Ave. For this year’s Showcase, designers were challenged to reimagine each space through updated colors, textures and finishes, all while respecting the home’s natural flow. Collaboration was key, ensuring each room feels distinct yet cohesive and creating an experience that is as seamless as it is inspiring. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Foundation for Tulsa Schools (@foundationfortulsaschools ). Read all about it at the link in our bio!

Connecting across state lines to celebrate the spirit of the Mother Road 🎨🚗 Urban Sketchers Tulsa (@urbansketcherstulsa ) is teaming up with artists from across the region for a special exhibition celebrating Route 66. The format of USk is simple: Around the world, local chapters led by volunteers plan a place and time to meet and draw every month. Everyone brings their own paper, pencil and any other supplies they need to showcase the scene. “Obtaining participation from all seven internationally chartered Route 66 Urban Sketchers chapters has been more challenging than I anticipated,” says Pam Hodges, Ph. D., local USk member and exhibition curator. “Nevertheless, after communicating with their administrators and hearing their willingness to encourage their local members to submit Route 66 sketches for the exhibit, I feel rewarded by our effort.” The “Urban Sketchers Route 66 Centennial Exhibit” will be presented at the McKeon Center for Creativity at Tulsa Community College’s Metro Campus, 910 S. Boston Ave., from August 4-25 (closed on weekends). Read more at the link in our bio!

TulsaPeople celebrates Legacy Businesses that have made their mark in Tulsa for 25 or more years ✨ For 41 years, Final Touch Cleaning (@finaltouch1985 ) has been driven by a single mission: to serve. From clients to employees and the Tulsa community, the company’s commitment to people is at the heart of everything they do. Final Touch’s dedicated team of more than 280 experienced staff members cleans over 10 million square feet each night. Read more at the link in our bio!

Celebrating a decade of deliciousness! 🥂✨ Mother Road Market's (@motherroadmarket ) Kitchen 66 program (@kitchen66tulsa ) has been the "secret sauce" behind Tulsa’s thriving food scene for 10 years, helping local entrepreneurs turn their culinary dreams into reality. To celebrate this milestone, TulsaPeople sat down with six graduates who have completed the program and are thriving in the culinary scene. Growing up in the west African country of Benin, Fifame Alahassa picked up her passion for cooking the way countless other chefs have — by watching her mother in the kitchen. While Alahassa initially followed in her parents’ footsteps by pursuing a career in public health, which is what brought her to the United States, she continued cooking to stay connected to her roots, making meals for her friends and teaching them about west African cuisine. Now, after graduating from the Kitchen 66 launch program in 2024, Alahassa co-owns Afrikan Delights (@afrikandelights ) with her husband Yannick. You can find classics like egusi stew and fufu at Afrikan Delights’ Mother Road Market booth in addition to their food truck. Read more at the link in our bio!

On May 30, a Guinness World Record adjudicator will be situated on a stage near the southwest corner of East 11th Street and South Lewis Avenue. His job? To keep the official count of every vehicle that rolls by as Tulsa’s Route 66 Capital Cruise attempts to break the record for the world’s largest classic car parade ✨ To celebrate the centennial, TulsaPeople decided to spotlight some of the drivers taking part in the cruise, which is co-hosted by Visit Tulsa (@visittulsa ) and The Tulsa Route 66 Commission. Pictured is Brian Driver and his 1965 Shelby Cobra. When he was 10 years old, Brian Driver saw a red 289 Shelby Cobra in a Kmart parking lot and fell in love with it. The car’s owner drove him around the parking lot, and he was so smitten with the sports car he hung a poster on his bedroom wall of Carroll Shelby sitting in a 427 Shelby Cobra — blue with white racing stripes. “I told my dad, ‘I will have that car one day,’” Driver recalls. In 2019, 35 years later, he connected with a car salesman in San Francisco through Facebook Marketplace. Within a week, Driver took possession of a 1965 AC Cobra — blue with white racing stripes — just like the one from his childhood dream. He purchased the car for $50,000 and has spent about $40,000 on parts alone. He doesn’t count the cost of labor which, except for the engine build, he’s done himself. “Some people call it a money pit; I call it a love affair,” Driver says. “Some Sundays I get up early, make coffee and go out and just stare at it.” Read more at the link in our bio!

Earlier this year, Philbrook Museum (@philbrookmuseum ) debuted their new exhibit “Marie Watt: Heart in the Sky,” which presents the works of Oregon-based Seneca artist Marie Watt (@marie_watt_studi ). Open through June 14, the display features silver cloud forms made from “jingles” (rolled tobacco tin lids) that are suspended from the ceiling. Watt will be in town on May 16 for a moderated conversation at Philbrook as she and artist Jordan Ann Craig discuss their work, cultural inspiration and more. 📸: Courtesy of Marie Watt and Marc Straus Gallery. © Marie Watt /city-desk/touch-the-art-three-shows-to-tap-into-this-spring-at-philbrook-museum/article_a14511cf-3a79-4a7c-a648-d7bff4faa65e.html

Oklahoma is the heart of the Mother Road, and with the Route 66 Centennial nearing, we at TulsaPeople put together a guide to the festivals, car shows and other events popping up across the state to honor this huge milestone 🛣️✨ Mayfest's (@tulsamayfest ) Student Art Gallery, pictured, is running every Saturday until the end of the month at Renaissance Square Event Center. Come out and see the best in local elementary, middle and high school student art! Find more Route 66 Centennial events at the link in our bio!

James Beard Award-winning chef Kevin Nashan introduced New Mexican-style cuisine to downtown when he opened La Tertulia (@latertuliatulsa ) in the Blue Dome District — just steps from the original alignment of Route 66 ✨ Nashan, born in Chicago but raised in Santa Fe, continues a family tradition started in 1972 by his grandparents, June and Willie Ortiz, who opened the original La Tertulia in Santa Fe. One of La Tertulia’s most celebrated dishes is the carne adovada, slow-cooked pork shoulder marinated in rich and spicy red chile sauce. Read more at the link in our bio!

Ahead of the Route 66 Centennial, local artist and entrepreneur Daniel Gulick (@daniel_gulick ) has decked out several local businesses along the Mother Road with eye-catching murals to delight and inspire passersby. Gulick’s inspiration started with his own shop, Colour Studios Tattoo at 2016 E. 11th St., but it didn’t stop there. Now, the whole row of businesses pops with vibrant colors that demand attention. You can see a gallery of his murals at the link in our bio!