Rivers Edge Magazine, August 2013 Issue

August 2013 | 1

August 2013

Vol. 2 No. 3

Tulsa River Evolves

Trepp's Legacy

For Love of Burgers

thru August 30, 2013

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August 2013 | 3

4| Tulsa Among the Best

5| From the Mayor

6| Back from the Future on

the Tulsa River

11| Food Spies

12| A Gathering Place

14| Bubbles

16| Monetta Trepp

18| Eloté

20| Love of Burgers

22| Events

River’s Edge Magazine is published monthly by River's Edge Publications. It is a guide to Business, Recreation and Living along the Arkansas River corridor.

It is distributed at no cost from downtown Tulsa to Jenks and from Brookside to Berryhill and at other select locations in the Tulsa metropolitan area.

Our advertising deadline is the 10th of the month preceding the ad’s scheduled insertion. Rates are online at www.riversedgemagazine.com or call 918.855.9469 to receive a rate card.

Articles and advertisements in River's Edge Magazine do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without expressed, written permission.

River's Edge Magazine will be available on the website on the 1st of each month following the publication date. Copies may be mailed for a small fee to cover postage and handling.

Annual postal subscriptions are available for $12.95 per year. Cost covers the postage and handling.

publisher | Matt Crain

managing editor | Tracy LeGrand

creative director | Susan Coman

copy editor/writer | Lisa Stringer

writers | Sarah Crain

Meisha McDaniel

photographer/editor | Vernis Maxwell

events editor | Lucinda Grace

graphic designer | Treba Elledge

River’s Edge Magazine

AdvertisersPlease support our advertisers — they make this publication possible.

Beverly Atteberry, attorney . . . . . . . . . .5

Boomerang Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Campbell Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Contract Clerical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Honda of Bartlesville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Karen Money Insurance . . . . . . . . . . .11

Keller-Williams Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Mark Griffith Funeral Home . . . . . . . .15

Oklahoma Central Credit Union . . . . .12

Red Fork Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Southwest Tulsa Chamber . . . . . . . . .13

Spotlight Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

The White House Mansion . . . . . . . . . .4

Tulsa Dental Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Tulsa Hills Merchants . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Tulsa Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Contents August 2013Volume 2, Issue 3

To advertise in RiveR’s edge Magazine, contact our advertising department

at 918.855.9469 or email us at

[email protected]. You may also find more

information, including ad rates, at www.riversedgemagazine.com

Sunlight hits the water at the bridge at Riverside Drive and Southwest Boulevard.

August 2013 | 1

August 2013

Vol. 2 No. 3

Tulsa River Evolves

Trepp's Legacy

For Love of Burgers

11

16 20

River’s Edge Magazine4636 West 43rd Street South • Tulsa, OK 74107 • 918.855.9469

email: [email protected]

www.riversedgemagazine.com

6

Cover photo BY verNIS MAXWeLL

12

4 | River’s Edge Magazine

Tulsa’s attractions continue to be among the best, as demonstrated by our BOK Center ranking 17th in the nation and 43rd around the world at midyear. We continue to host guests from

Europe who drive our portion of Route 66 and stay in our wonderful accommodations - from the beautiful Ce-dar Rock Inn to the new A Loft Hotel in the former City Hall building which served as hosted Governor Fallin last month.

Tulsa’s bike trails are top notch, and with improve-ments from Riverside at 11th Street to Bixby under way, you will continue to gather or work out or get your tan with comfort among some of the most beautiful surround-ings anywhere. From the Center of the Universe to the far reaches of private county roads, you can enjoy Tulsa’s sights and sounds as you walk, jog or bicycle these wonderful trails.

Part of what makes Tulsa a special place is the abil-ity of our neighbors to come together when we have a need or concern to address. Whether it is the public meet-ing to voice feedback or the trucks we pack with supplies on a few days’ notice, Tulsans care and are not afraid to take action when needed. One of Tulsa’s TYPros is coming alongside the Route 66 Village to put shoes on the Red Fork Revival they began last year. This month’s OneVoice Agenda will again see hundreds of participants shape our concerns for state and national lawmakers.

Tulsa Among the BestDr. Matt Crain

Publisher River’s Edge Magazine

Congratulations to Karen Keith, the 100th President of the Rotary Club of Tulsa! From the decision in 1950 to remove the word ‘male’ from the description to the admis-sion of women to Rotary in 1989, nearly 200,000 women now grace the ranks of this service-oriented body. But Karen’s achievement stems from the quality of her leader-ship (which Tulsans have come to expect) as well as her presence as a woman in our midst. She is definitely among Tulsa’s best! ~

August 2013 | 5

It’s exciting to see plans progress-ing for “A Gathering Place for Tulsa,” a major enhancement to Tulsa’s River Parks to be built

between 24th Street and 33rd Place on the east side of Riverside Drive. As Mayor of Tulsa, I would like to thank the George Kaiser Family Foundation for choosing to develop this prime wa-terfront acreage into a signature park, a destination for families to enjoy.

To accommodate the large crowds that will certainly visit this landmark park, improvements will be needed for Riverside Drive. Al-ready the City has expanded park-ing facilities on Riverside Drive to the north, between Southwest Bou-levard and Denver Avenue, restrip-ing the road and adding more than 100 new parking spaces. Projects for Riverside Drive between 31st Street and 41st Street were planned as part

of the 2008 Fix Our Streets package, but those plans have been adapted to coordinate with A Gathering Place for Tulsa.

In conjunction with construction of A Gathering Place for Tulsa, the City plans to build new parking lots on the east and west sides of Riverside Drive between the pedestrian bridge and 28th Street. These parking lots are part of $40.1 million in improvements planned for Riverside Drive: widen-ing lanes, adding a tree-lined median, reconstructing the River Parks trail, improving the pedestrian bridge, and adding a land bridge over Riverside Drive at 27th Street.

To fund the $19 million roadway part of the project, the City plans to use $4.2 million in 2008 sales tax and $14.8 million either from the next capital improvements package or from a federal Transportation Investment

Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant. Other funding will include $1.1 million from the Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority and $20 million from the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

Starting with financial coopera-tion, A Gathering Place has begun to bring us together as One Tulsa and make our city an exciting destination place for citizens and visitors alike. ~

by Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.

Beverly A.Atteberry, P.C.

Attorney-At-lAw

918-605-1913

1861 East 15th StreetTulsa, Oklahoma 74104

Fax: 918-744-6300E-mail: [email protected]

Excitement Building for A Gathering Place for Tulsa


This is The river primeval: Towering sycamores, circling eagles,

roaming foxes, rambling berries, and rusTling naTive grasses once

clusTered along The sandy banks of The river They called acansa,

whose sparkling, inTermiTTenT waTers were oasis for weary

Travelers — firsT roving nomadic Tribes, Then naTive americans

who had been removed and reseTTled inTo indian TerriTory.

Back from the Futureon the Tulsa River

Editor’s note: With this article, the River’s Edge continues a series about the heritage and little-known lure of the Arkansas River at Tulsa, part of a forthcoming book - The Tulsa River. ©Ann Patton 2012 and 2013.

Above: A duck takes flight while a flock of water fowl splash-land in the river on a sunny afternoon. photoS BY verNIS MAXWeLL

by Ann Patton

August 2013 | 7

on the Tulsa River

By the latter 1800s, af-ter borders were opened, white settlers drifted into the territory and were

lured to the water’s edge. By some 120 years ago, scattered farms and small communities were springing up along the river. Here was a splintered timber farmhouse, flanked by a barn and corral; there, a kitchen garden and orchard, with tidy rows of cab-bages and carrots, fruit and nut trees. Nearby there might be a community school, a one-room affair organized by a stalwart teacher for her many-aged charges.

Living by their wits and close to the land, at the mercy of the natural world that also nurtured them, those early pioneers have lessons to teach us today. They could scarcely have dreamed of

the future that would spring up along their river, which some would come to call the Tulsa River…

It’s cAlleD cousIns PArk

At the end of the road, where Yale Avenue dead-ends at the Arkansas Riv-er in far south Tulsa, there’s a little tract of land that seems all weeds and wil-derness. A bald eagle family holds vigil from their nest near one corner, high above the crumbling bank where the land meets the water. Some days, this land seems to belong entirely to the grasshopper, the rabbit, the frog, and whatever else slithers through the three-foot-high Johnson grass.

Rumor has it that in about the 1890s, this was the site of a farm and community school. Maybe yes, maybe

no, but it is a site where we may well be able, in some future time, to revisit a past that is largely lost to us now. If a small group of visionaries have their way, Cousins Park will become a cur-rent-day oasis that recreates our pioneer past with a nature center and within a nature preserve, to offer a recreational and educational experience like noth-ing else in the Tulsa area.

PhAse one Is unDer wAy

The first phase of work on Cousins Park is under way on the 43-acre tract at the southwest corner of 121st Street South and Yale Avenue. It’s a triangular piece of land bounded on three sides by the Arkansas River, 121st Street, and what would be Yale Avenue if it extend-ed south of 121st to the river.

In a flurry of wind and wave, a flock of birds soar above the river and city skyline. photo BY verNIS MAXWeLL


Using donated funds, the City of Tulsa is building a gate-way plaza of stained concrete that will look like rock, adorned with boulders, with an asphalt parking lot and a 4,000-foot, crushed-rock walking trail system.

The work is not visible yet, because it’s in the interior of the park, hidden behind the tall weeds of an abandoned pasture, said Jackie Bubenik, Parks landscape architect (and son of Jackie Bubenik, Sr., who was the founding director of River Parks).

The beginning work is underwritten by donated funds and a special allocation of funds secured by former City Councilor Bill Christiansen, a strong advocate for Cousins Park. The work is being done by cooperation between the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County.

But it is only the beginning. The vision is grand.

cousIns PArk vIsIon

Cousins Park will be unique in the Tulsa area and will be among a very few attractions anywhere that combines recreation and education about both local history and na-ture. At home on the north bank of the river, the park will be both a nature preserve and a pioneer farming village. A visitor will start at a “train depot” visitors center of native stone and timber, according to a fact sheet circulated by Park Friends.

Costumed tour guides and performers, playing the parts of 1890s settlers, will guide visitors back in time through a model pioneer farming community. Walking on crushed stone paths that will wind through six acres of Oklahoma wildflowers and native grasses, they will learn about the natural habitat, restored as much as possible to its original state.

“Local school children, families, and visitors alike will be able to experience life during the early settlers’ days by visit-ing a one-room schoolhouse, a pioneer family home, barn, corral, and orchard as well as a working windmill — all part of this unique farming community on the banks of the Arkansas River,” the fact sheet says.

Closer to the river, in a wooded area, visitors can watch

Wet and wild, a solitary blue heron spreads its wings and comes in low for a landing in the rapid current. photoS thIS pAge BY verNIS MAXWeLL

Jackie Bubenik, left, and Dick Sherry share a passion for recreating the river’s natural world and early settlement at Cousins Park.

August 2013 | 9

the water or see bird and animal activity from a large, elevated, wooden observation deck.

A teAM eFFortThe plans for Cousins Park have been developed over

many years by a dedicated team of supporters. The site was part of a large area that the federal govern-

ment granted to the Creek Indians in 1852, according to Dick Sherry, president of the Mary K. Oxley Nature Center Asso-ciation, Inc., the nonprofit that supports Oxley Nature Center in North Tulsa and Redbud Valley in East Tulsa. The group is

also sponsoring Cousins Park.In the late 1960s, the Cousins family purchased the prop-

erty. In the late 1990s, Charles Cousins donated 10 acres to the City of Tulsa for future use as a nature park. His daughter, the late Vickie Cousins Shivel, said her late father wanted the park to be built in memory of his late wife, Grace K. Cousins. The city later purchased an adjoining 32 acres.

A planning group has included the Cousins family, Sherry, and representatives of Tulsa Parks, River Parks, Tulsa County, Land Legacy, and Oxley Nature Center, which will manage the project.

Left: A moment of serenity is found as water glistens under the bridge at the corner of Riverside Drive and Southwest Boulevard. photo BY

verNIS MAXWeLL

Left: Water birds gather and call to one another in the afternoon sun along the Arkansas River. photo BY verNIS MAXWeLL


Former City Councilor Bill Christiansen, a District 8 champion for Cousins Park, spearheaded funding for the first phase. Future phases hinge on additional funding.

“We are quite willing to raise funds from the community, but we would of course welcome capital funding through the city,” said Sherry. A pending proposal could include funding through the city’s next capital initiative.

The park’s progress has been shadowed on and off again by the possibility that Bixby, the Creeks, or others will build a river bridge over the Arkansas in the vicinity of Yale Avenue.

The bridge and its alignment remain uncertain at this writing, but park builders believe they have a design and process that can skirt the bridge issue.

However that issue is resolved, said Bill Christiansen, “Cousins Park will be one the greatest parks we have ever built.”

If all goes well, Cousins Park will offer a well-preserved slice of history to show future generations how it was to live at the water’s edge along a historic prairie river — the Tulsa River. ~

Above: Cousins Park as it looks today - an area of natural beauty.

Right: Water, rock, sky and wind are all evident in the motions and reflections of the Arkansas River. photoS BY verNIS MAXWeLL

August 2013 | 11

Food Spies

T he Brady District keeps getting better and has cer-tainly been helped by the lovely little gem of a res-

taurant known as Tavern on Brady. Lo-cated just around the corner from Cain’s Ballroom, the Tavern is right in the thick of things - a great place to hang at a table by the window and watch the world go by.

We know we swoon for bacon, but bacon popcorn …really! And for $3! It’s popped in bacon fat and oh-so-salty and sweet with crunchy ba-con and popcorn drizzled with maple syrup…Mmmm. The Tavern is a place to nibble on the cheap if your wallet is light. Well-heeled or not, everyone should try this popcorn: a bit of heav-en - as most things with bacon are.

Madam went so nuts for the $5 filet mignon skewers that she ordered a second to make her salad into an en-tree. Succulent and delicious filet mi-gnon is wonderful, but a bargain deal somehow makes the meat taste even better!

The Tavern’s menu isn’t huge, but who needs lots of choices when what’s available is so choice? The burger goes on our FoodSpies’ shortlist of most mouth-watering memories. Made from a special grind of brisket and short ribs and served with a tasty Stil-ton and cognac sauce, this burger rises beyond the level of a typical pub burg-er. The tasty skinny fries will delight fans of that genre of fry. At $13, you might question the order when you could knock back four skewers of fi-let mignon and the bacon popcorn for

Tavern on Brady

photo BY verNIS MAXWeLL

The Tavern201 N. Main Street(Northeast corner of Main & Brady)918-949-9801Reservations accepted

Open Sunday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.Friday – 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. Saturday – 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

the same money, but this burger and fries is worth every cent. Since it was Mister’s order, Madam had to trade on her precious filet skewers to get some noteworthy burger bites.

The double-bone pork chop with parsnip puree was a big winner for a grumpy companion who found his good mood after a couple of bites. The mac n’ cheese seemed to melt his anger away.

On Friday and Saturday nights the tavern stays open until 1 a.m., mak-ing it a great post-event spot. The bar is simply outstandingly stocked with craft beers and unique cocktails. We bet you can’t stump the bartender.

Sunday brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an with an imagina-tive breakfast menu that includes what you would expect along with Crab Benedict, challah-bread French toast, shrimp and grits, quiche and even

chipped beef tenderloin on toast among other delicacies to thrill the most de-voted breakfast eater.

The staff was friendly, busy, but knowledgeable and inviting. Parking is no issue on Fridays and Saturdays as valet parking is provided. All in all, Tavern on Brady is another great draw to the Brady District.

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) was credited with the following: “It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” We so heartily subscribe to this theory from our relationships with people to our relationships with restaurants; you must balance the bad with the good and hope for more good! ~

Email: [email protected]

918-446-73804904-B S. Union - Fax 918-446-3433

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“shall we gaTher aT The river?”

We surely shall, thanks to the vision and be-neficence of the George Kaiser Founda-tion. The Gathering Place along Riverside Drive — with an estimated completion

date of 2017 — is touted as a world-class, family destination park, a Green Country highlight that will lure tourism like a pro angler’s favorite fish-flirt.

Jeff Stava, chief operating officer for the George Kaiser Foundation, unveiled the initial plans covering the schematic design phase for the park in June. The plans for the multi-million-dollar project, which is designed to unfold in at least two separate construction phases, showed the intended final plan, though Stava says that changes and improvements will be

implemented as details take shape.As it is, a good time should certainly be enjoyed by all at

the Gathering Place along Riverside Drive.Park features include an Adventure Playground that em-

phasizes the recreational and educational benefits of the natu-ral world. Four distinct play areas, each centered on a differ-ent set of skill-building activities, will connect along the play circuit to reveal each zone in surprising ways.

Stava describes Blair Pond as the nexus for park activ-ity, offering water-based recreational opportunities, including fishing and wildlife habitat observation. Near the pond, The Boathouse will be just that.

“Inside the lower level of The Boathouse, people will be able to rent boats, and there’s also a dock where people can load into the boats,” Stava said. “We’re even considering pro-viding kayaks, paddle boats and canoes for rental.”

The upper level of The Boathouse will be home to the Community Deck, which will be partially enclosed by a dra-matic canopy and features a café with views of the river and the downtown Tulsa skyline.

Also included in the plan is The Lodge, an anchor facility for various park activities. Amenities at the Lodge will include both necessities — restrooms and food vendors—and perks such as floor-to-ceiling windows for keeping an eye on nature.

Of its many features, The Gathering Place’s pair of land

by tracy leGrand and lisa stringer

A Gathering Place for TulsaVision becomes Reality

August 2013 | 13

The Red Fork Art Gallery & StudioWhere artists come to

play – to paint – to grow.

the red Fork Art Gallery and studio is located in the heart of historic red Fork.

4071 southwest Boulevardcall 918.639.4811 for more information

• A variety of art classes

are offered for ages 8 to

adult.

• We accept commissions

– just tell us what you

want and we’ll paint it.

• We have a large variety

of art —including oils,

acrylics, pastels,

porcelain, watercolor, and

jewelry — affordably

priced.

bridges may be the most intrigu-ing. Stava says the 300-foot-wide land bridges — one located to the north, the other to the south of Zink Dam — will seamlessly link the east and west sides of Riverside Drive, enabling visitors to park their vehicles and wander safely without having to cross street cement.

One of the land bridges will feature a Sky Garden, described in the plans as “an intense horticultural moment of showy flowers and shrubs.” Plants will be chosen for the Sky Garden which maximize seasonal varieties, making the garden a compelling destination year-round.

Other Gathering Place goodies included the current plans are a Four Seasons Garden and Mist Mountain, a water labyrinth and fog zone with water play areas with water jets and tunnels. The Lakeview Lawn will be built out into the Arkansas River, to allow people to get right up to the water’s edge.

Cool stuff, however, does not come cheap. Stava estimates the overall project cost to be close to $250 million — and that figure doesn’t include approxi-mately $40 million in necessary public infrastructure improvements, such as widening and making Riverside Drive safer, and double-decking the Pedes-trian Bridge.

“The George Kaiser Foundation has already invested $50 million in land for the park and has committed $125 million for construction,” says Stava. “ We’re in midst of raising $75 million from other corporate and philanthropic partners within the community.”

Stava says Phase One will begin on the east side of Riverside Drive and includes the Blair/Buford prop-erty and the City/County Parking lot, and the west side of Riverside Drive (River Parks) from 26th street to 33rd Place. Phase Two begins at the south-east corner of 31st Street and Riverside Drive at the Sundance Apartments and will include revamping Crow Creek.

ken GreenwoodNobody loved the Tulsa River more than Ken Greenwood, who spearheaded the Great Raft Race, Nature Works sculptures, and the Tall Grass Prairie . Ken, who died June 18, 2013, at age 89, delighted in watching the river in its natural state . He was an uncommon community hero, unknown to most because, instead of drawing attention to himself, he rejoiced in getting results and giving the credit to others . His life deserves continuing community respect, but he would never want a monument built on his behalf . Instead, at the end of his life, Ken’s last dream was to find sponsors who would build a series of stations along the riverside where people could stroll and linger, studying the natural river, discovering its many lessons and learning to love it as he did . Perhaps now, in tribute to his memory, someone can take up his last cause . Rest in peace, Ken Greenwood, our Old Man River .

A Gathering Place for Tulsa

3615 S. Harvard • [email protected]

Our Customers Always Return

BoomerangPrintingBusiness Cards • Programs

Brochures • Postcards • InvitationsMenus • Flyers •Newsletters

Letterhead • Envelopes • Forms

Boomerang Printing add rivers edge.indd 1 5/22/2012 8:48:10 AM

In memoriam


spot for wacky home goods, baby/tod-dler gifts, pet items and a selection of new and gently used clothing/shoes/accessories on consignment. A kitschy cache of vinyl record albums will de-light audiophiles and retrophiles alike.

Customers can have their photos taken while they blow bubble gum or play with soap bubbles for the shop’s Bubble Wall of Fame. Said Wilkerson, “Who doesn’t like bubbles? We also use chat bubbles for price tags. ”

Local artists can display original pieces of art and jewelry for consignment

sale at Bubble, with many items geared toward the rockabilly, pin-up girl, tattoo, roller derby and goth genres. Whimsical choices also include little girl tutus and Pin-Up Girl dresses.

Wilkerson is currently running the boutique by herself, but she’d like some company—preferably in the form of an intern. She sees an internship as a way to give back to the community. “I re-cently had the opportunity to provide an internship to a Street School student and I just loved the experience,” said Wilkerson. “When I was 15, my father

Depending on the day and the way the wind blows, you might encounter upon a fire-eater, a gag-

gle of gothic-attired gogglers or an art display with skateboards forming the canvas. And if you see bubbles drifting through the air, you must be at Bubble Boutique & Gifts, 2610 E. 15th St.

Native Tulsan Zoë Wilkerson gave herself a dream-come-true birthday present last September when she opened her shop. The store features fun items with a sexy, sassy edge and is a treasure

Bubble, Bubble, by Tracy LeGrand

no toil, no trouble

by Tracy LeGrand

August 2013 | 15

no toil, no trouble

made me volunteer during the summer to keep me out of trouble. It was a great experience for me; now I want to pay it forward. My internship program focuses on real-life skills. My goal is for the intern to leave the program with confi-dence, independence, motivation, and real goals.”

Running her own shop in her hometown has meant something special to Wilkerson.

“I’ve always wanted to own my own retail store, but I had a great career and didn’t want to change it,” she said. “Howev-er, while living in Long Beach, Calif., I met a homeless family and started taking care of their three-year-old daughter. That experience made me evolve as a person. My goals changed dramatically. I decided to open a business and become a fos-ter mom in hopes of adopting a daughter. My entire family

lives in Tulsa, so I quit my job and moved back—after being away for 20 years.”

On her way back to Oklahoma, a bubble-themed shower curtain at the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas inspired the name for her shop. She said, “It’s a re-minder of the courage I showed when I jumped from the Sky Jump on the 108th floor!”

Bubble hosts frequent small artist markets on Saturdays, featuring home-made art, jewelry and crafts, and local mu-sic. To learn market dates, to participate or to simply contact Wilkerson, visit www.facebook.com/bubbleboutiqueandgifts or www.bubbleboutiqueandgifts.com or call 918-74-REBEL.

Left: Songstress Kelly Linn is backed by John McIntosh. photo BY verNIS MAXWeLL

Facing page: Jacon Harbor shows off is fire eating skills. Left: Zoë Wilkerson, owner of Bubble Boutique. photoS BY verNIS MAXWeLL


reminisced about long, hot summers at the ranch and enjoying the shade of the historic home’s covered porch with her family. The ranch held a special place in Monetta’s heart and according to her son, when family members proposed selling the property, she bought their shares from them in order to keep and maintain the family land. (Ownership of the ranch was transferred to her sons in 2012.)

She founded the National Indian Monument and Institute (NIMI), a non-profit organization created to hon-or, preserve, and celebrate the history, art, and culture of American Indians. NIMI is the parent company of the American Indian Theatre Company of Oklahoma, the Tulsa Indian Art Festival and the American Indian Arts Association.

The Tulsa Indian Art Festival was es-tablished more than 25 years ago to pro-mote and preserve Native American art and culture. The festival holds one of the nation’s most prominent juried native art competitions, and encourages stu-dent artists by holding a separate student competition where the winners receive scholarship awards.

Trepp’s list of personal achievements and awards is extensive. She was the founder and CEO of the National In-dian Monument & Institute, co-founder of the Tulsa Indian Art Festival, Board Chairperson of the American Indian Theatre Company of Oklahoma, and the founder of the American Indian Arts Association. She volunteered her time to many local associations includ-ing John Knox Presbyterian, Tulsa Boys

The Legacy of Monetta Trepp

Many who remember the life of Monetta Trepp think of her impact on Native American

culture and art. Some folks think of her ties to the Perryman Ranch near Jenks, Okla. For others, the recent passing of Monetta Delores Trepp brings memo-ries of cook-outs, laughter and drinks at the Summit Club, and the numerous donations and gifts she bestowed on or-ganizations and charities. It is only fit-ting that we pause a moment to review the noteworthy deeds of this incredible woman.

Monetta Delores Trepp was born in Evanston, Il. in 1923, and later moved to Oklahoma City with her family. A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Monetta moved to Tulsa after her mar-riage to John Trepp, with whom she had three sons - Robert, Wally, and Tom.

Monetta worked for the IRS for a number of years, but later found her calling through her roots as a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and how her family played a pivotal role in estab-lishing and settling the Tulsa area. Her great-grandparents, George and Rachel Perryman, were considered Tulsa’s “First Family” after George signed the origi-nal town charter in 1898. Her grand-father Mose, son of George and Ra-chel, settled the Perryman Ranch from his original Creek allotment, before Oklahoma’s statehood. Monetta often

August 2013 | 17

The Legacy of Monetta Trepp

Home, and Tulsa City-County Libraries. She was a board member of the Tulsa His-torical Society, the Oklahoma Center for Community & Justice, Commissioner for the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Com-mission, a former president of the PTA and a Cub Scout leader for more than 10 years. Trepp was a long-time American Indian Resource Center Advisory member and founder, and a proclamation in her memo-ry was presented to her family by the Tulsa City-County Library Commission on June 20. She was posthumously honored by Tulsa Business and Legal News on July 11 at their 2013 Women of Distinction event.

Monetta Trepp’s legacy endures, and people across the country mourn her pass-ing. Monetta was an amazing woman, in many ways a pioneer of the preservation of Native American culture. She is survived by her three sons, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Above: One June 20, 2013, the Tulsa City-County Library Commission presented a Proclamation of Appreciation In Memory of Monetta Trepp to her family. Judy Randle, Commission Chair, officiated. .0CourteSY photo

by sarah crain

“Helping our youth discover

art, acting and learn business

skills helps them succeed.”

– Monetta Trepp


I was formally introduced to the downtown restaurant Eloté when a fellow karaoke buddy told me he was the DJ for their new karaoke night on Fridays. But when I misunderstood the start time and showed up

two hours early to sing, I decided to eat while waiting. Upon reviewing the menu, I discovered that the major-ity of the items were organic in nature and low cost. For example, customers can order two soft tacos, filled with grass-fed beef roast and two sides for $5.99 at dinner and $4.99 at lunch. My experience as a patron and as a singer was amazing that night, and I have enjoyed visiting them ever since.

Libby and Jeramy Auld have developed one of the most appealing restaurants in town, offering organic Mexican food at pocket-pleasing prices is not their only success. The team at Eloté truly practices the concept “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The bar was made from reclaimed wood and wine bottles, and they donate their bottle caps and wine corks to local art programs.

Eloté’s Front of House Manager, Ryan Olive, describes

his employment with Eloté in glowing terms and says, “We are a big hippie family here. The majority of our menu items are locally grown and processed. We get a lot of our produce from Farmers Markets, honey comes from a local beekeeper, and we order our beef and chicken from Natu-ral Farms in Bixby. We send all of our compostable food waste back to the farms. Libby is a forerunner in the idea of opening a restaurant that used as many organic foods as possible.”

In addition to their fabulous food, Eloté holds and sponsors multiple events throughout the year.

In March, Eloté partnered with the YMCA on a 5K run called the Luchador Races. Luchador wrestlers were given a five-minute head start, and were then chased by anyone who registered for the 5K. The racetrack wove through the downtown area and various stores sponsored the event by creating “obstacles.” For example, Brady District restau-rant Hey Mambo created a “spaghetti slip-n-slide.” Every Luchador and registered participant was required to slide through in order to continue the race. After the race, there

Amazing Adventure of Eloté story by sarah crain | Photos by robert Billings

August 2013 | 19

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was a big Luchador fight. (All proceeds were donated to the YMCA summer camps.)

In May, Eloté shut down the streets for their Cinco de Mayo festival. The team coordinated live music and Luchador wrestling all day. “This year our heavyweight, lightweight, and women’s titles changed hands,” said Olive. The event was fun for the whole family, with tacos sold in the streets, a children’s area offering crafts and face painting, and a dunk tank which was occasionally occupied by one of the wrestlers.

This month, Eloté will hold their Third Annual Salsa Fest is on Friday, August 2 before karaoke begins at 9 p.m. The categories available for those competing in the salsa competition are spicy, original, and alternative. Attendees and judges taste test entries, then the judges vote for their favorite in each category. The festival will take place on the Centennial Green at the corner of 6th Street and Boston Avenue during normal hours of operation. In addition to the salsa contest, there will be Chihuahua races, a dog cos-tume contest, salsa dancing, and live music.

Eloté also hosts recurring events such as Luchador

fights, live music and karaoke, using their indoor ring as a stage when necessary. The Luchador fighting takes place on the first Saturday of the month throughout the evening. “It is a very intimate fight where patrons are within six inches of the fight,” says Olive. Live music takes place on the second, third and fourth Saturdays of the month featuring Brugho Roots, Mark Gibson, and various others. Then there is karaoke...

“We started up this whole idea of karaoke when the owner discovered the TV show ‘Glee.’ One of our employees had over 10 years experience as a karaoke DJ, so we decided to start the project on a Friday night, a night when no other venue is doing karaoke,” shared Olive. Eloté closes the kitchen at the regular time, but stays open until 2 a.m. on Fridays for the karaoke event. Over the past few months, Eloté has developed a group of regular singers, and they are very supportive of each other. No matter who is singing, everyone applauds. Members of the staff will often sing as well. Olive ob-served that patrons who would rarely perform are com-fortable singing karaoke at Eloté. What fun!

Enjoy your part of ourSIXTY year history

Act on Stage, Volunteer on ShowNight, Help out Behind the Scenes

Call 918-587-5030 for reservations.The first 10who mention River’s Edge when making their

reservation get a special two for one rate.

$15.00 per adult (12+), $13.00 forSeniors (62+), $10.00 for children.

The Drunkard & Olio

Join us every Wednesday night to find yourpart and learn the show. You could be the

next star in one of our rotating casts.

Diners can sit outdoors or enjoy the bar area inside.


story by tracy leGrand and vernis MaxwellPhotos by Gary Patton

Whatever your taste in burgers, the Tulsa region teems with options galore to enjoy and explore. We, like so many others, love burgers – and, af-ter a combined 60-plus years living here, we feel

qualified to take a look at burgers from a few new angles.The experience of eating a burger is about more than

just a tasty meal. It’s about foodie fellowship, family fun times and … memories.

Comedian and writer Barry Friedman says the best thing about good burgers is whom you eat them with. He goes on to say, “Two weeks before my son died, I made us burgers. He sat at the counter, reminding me what Clem-enza told Michael in “The Godfather” – ‘Fry the oil, add garlic, onion, meat ... then wine, sugar.’ Three bites, Paul’s was gone. They were the best burgers ever made. How do I know? ‘Dad,’ he asked, ‘can you make me another one?’”

Blues singer Wanda Watson gives good directions and great compliments to the burger chef at Bill’s Jumbo Burg-ers. “It’s off I-244—at the Utica exit. OMG—to die for, lines, it’s only open for lunch, little bitty place and it makes a killing! Been there for years, and years, and years...super good! I may have to go get one tomorrow!”

Tulsa City Councilor Jeannie Cue joins us in lauding two west side favorites, Linda-Mar and Arnold’s, while for-mer Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor has a harder time narrowing down to two or three favorites. She says, “There are so many great burger places in Tulsa, it’s hard to choose! I remember

a wonderful Westside Cheeseburger and onion rings from Linda-Mar Drive-In. Other family favorites include Mc-Nellie’s Public House — they have a great, thick burger with cheese, with, of course, a side of sweet potato fries. And I love Sweet Lisa’s. It’s flat grilled with perfect seasoning, bun heated on the grill and best with a side of fried okra.”

In fact, many burger-biters we talked to mentioned Lin-da-Mar Hamburgers. It reigns as one of the top 12 hamburg-er places in Oklahoma and top 125 burgers in the nation, according to George Motz’s book,” Hamburger America.” Located just northeast of I-44 and Union Avenue, owner Mike McCutchen says the Westside Burger features two big patties of fresh beef with double cheese on well-grilled Texas toast. McCutchen attributes the burger’s popularity to generations of families coming in together to dine.

Arnold’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers lives up to the

For the Love of

BurgersKaze Mauser cooks up a Fat Guy’s burger.

August 2013 | 21

name in both food and décor. It offers a thin-grilled burger, flavorful and classic in the best sense of the word. We love the special touches, such as drinks served in frosty mugs. The onion rings, too, are great to split and, along with a burger, will leave you feeling pleasantly full.

Other long-time Tulsa favorites include Claud’s and Weber’s in the Brookside area, Brownie’s and Freddie’s in midtown. Also, a particular favorite, sporting photo-graphs on the walls of a famous customer, country music star Waylon Jennings, is Hank’s on Admiral Place. Tally’s Good Food Café on Route 66 presents a truly solid burg-er, as does 5 & Diner at the Harley-Davidson dealership on South Memorial Drive. An insider’s tip: if you like Ranch dressing, you’ll really love the one at 5 & Diner—it’s made from scratch in-house and pairs perfectly with their delicious waffle fries.

Writer Beth Turner loves The Brook’s Fiesta Burg-er of black beans, rice, corn and green chilies while we prefer The Brook’s Bleu Cheeseburger house specialty: a half-pound burger served on a toasted bun, topped with fresh bleu cheese crumbles and dressed with a chipotle BBQ sauce, pickles, red onions, lettuce and tomato.

A Tulsa burger story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili. We’re especially fond of the version with sausage. Their distinctive, sa-vory chili is something special too, especially as a burger topping.

In recent years, a slew of new burger joints have bellied up to the grill, with great monikers to match their menus. We particularly like Fat Guy’s Burger Bar downtown near Driller’s Stadium and, in South Tulsa, Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

A double-patty-cheese-sealed-in-the-middle Fat Guy’s burger comes with special advice: Hold it “just so,” or you’ll end up wearing it. For the aficionado, Fat Guy’s will pile on the pineapple or chunk on the peanut butter.

We prefer our burgers done classic-style and that’s what you’ll find at Five Guys, where the burger has a super-fresh taste with soft bun, lettuce, tomato and onion. You can also mix it up at Five Guys, with an assortment of grilled mush-rooms, green peppers and your choice of pourable condi-ments, including A1 Steak Sauce, barbecue and hot sauce.

A trend we’ve noticed and quite approve of is the chef-driven pub-type burger, such as the one mentioned in the Food Spies article on page 11. Inspired by our spies, we tried Tavern on Brady’s gourmet concoction that includes an al-most alchemical blend of cognac and Stilton cheese served on perfectly chewy-soft Challah-bread, and we can say with confidence that it is one of the very best burgers in Tulsa. We also noticed that almost every other diner in the pub was hav-ing the same, despite a plethora of possible menu selections.

Nancy Herman, director of marketing at the Tulsa Per-forming Arts Center, suggested another chef-styled burger, this one by Chef Doug Simpel at Boston Deli Grill & Market. The Boston Deli concoction is served on in-house-baked po-tato bread, with the burger being a special secret brisket grind. They even smoke their own cheddar cheese, and the bacon is candied in brown sugar and rosemary. It’s a party in your mouth, especially served with chili-dusted fries.

The burger choices are endless — from mom-and-pop places mentioned here to the more upscale burger eateries found at chain stores like Red Robin, where we prefer their classic Tavern Burger. We even hear that Bonefish Grill offers a fancy Kobe beef burger featuring the pricey Japanese beef said to be worth every penny.

What are your favorite burgers in Tulsa? Let us know by emailing [email protected].

Kaze Mauser cooks up a Fat Guy’s burger.

Weber’s Root Beer has been a staple in the Brookside area for decades.

Left: The Fat Guy’s burger takes some special instructions so you don’t end up with it on your shirt.


August 01slightly stoopid & Atmosphere +

the Grouch & eligh, 6:30 pm, Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

uncorking the cure for Ms, 6 to 9 pm, Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E . First St ., www .visittulsa .com

August 01-02Fair Meadows live racing, times vary,

Fair Meadows Race Track, Expo Square, www .exposquare .com

August 01-03harwelden Murder Mystery, NA,

Harwelden Mansion, 2210 S . Main St ., email: office@adrianevents .com

August 02randy rogers Band + Mike ryan

Band, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

tulsa shock vs. los Angeles sparks, 7 pm, BOK Center, www .bokcenter .com

First Friday Art crawl, 6 pm, Brady Arts District, West Brady St . Downtown, www .livingarts .org

August 02-04tokyo in tulsa, TBA, Cox Business Center,

100 Civic Center, www .tokyointulsa .comAugust 03Designer Drugs + ookay, Ftampa,

Daven treague, 7 pm , Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

the Monkees, 8 pm, Brady Theather, www .bradytheater .com

August 04occJ: tulsa unites concert series, 2 to

6 pm, Guthrie Green, www .guthriegreen .com

August 04olio Auditions, 2 pm, Spotlight Theater,

www .spotlighttheater .orgAugust 05Foals + Drowners, 7 pm , Cains Ballroom,

www .cainsballroom .comAugust 06Masters talk: remainder (art tour), 6

pm, Philbrook Muesum of Art, www .philbrook .org

August 08, 15, 22, 29Movie in the Park (see website for weekly

film), 8:30 to 10:30, Guthrie Green, www .guthriegreen .com

August 09-11tulsa Drillers vs. Frisco roughriders,

7:05 pm, OneOK Field, 201 N . Elgin Avenue, www .milb .com

August 10the cystic Fibrosis Foundation Pub

crawl: Mustach Bash!, 1 to 5 pm, Blue Dome District, 3rd and Elgin, www .cff .org/chapters/tulsa

rascal Flatts, 7:30 pm, BOK Center, www .bokcenter .com

Philbrook Muesum of Art (free admission Saturday with family activities), 10 am to 5 pm, Philbrook Muesum of Art, www .philbrook .org

turn west tulsa Pink, 10 am to 1 pm, Venues/activities TBA, , www .facebook .com/TurnWestTulsaPink

August 11horton records concert series, 2 to 6

pm, Guthrie Green, www .guthriegreen .com

August 15reverend horton heat + wayne

hancock, Deke Dickerson, 7 pm , Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

Music at the Mansion (3rd Thursdays), 1:30 pm, Tulsa Historical Society, www .tulsahistory .org

August 15-18heller shorts: “let them eat short-

cake!”, times vary, Henthorne PAC, www .cityoftulsa .org

August 16casey Donahew Band + tyler and the

tribe, 7 pm , Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

August 16clay walker, 7 pm, River Spirit Event

Center, www .riverspirittulsa .comAugust 16-17narrow view? try A Broad way!, 8 pm,

Tulsa PAC, www .tulsapac .comProfessional Bull riders tulsa

Invitational, TBA, BOK Center, www .bokcenter .com

August 16-18wahzhazhe, An Osage Ballet, times vary,

Tulsa PAC, www .tulsapac .comAugust 17second II none show up & show

out Biker weekend, 11 am to 6 pm, Central Park Hall, Expo Square, www .secondiinon .com

Upcoming events

August 07taylor swift, 7 pm, BOK Center, www .

bokcenter .com

Selected Saturdays

keystone ancient forest hikes

Hike the Keystone Ancient Forest – a wonderland of 500-year-old cedars and 300-year-old post oak trees. The Nature Conservancy lists this 1,360-acre nature preserve as one of the last great places on earth. Step quietly and you just may see deer, mountain lion, bobcat, American eagles, migratory birds, and over 80 varied species of butterflies.

The remaining Hike Dates for 2013 are Saturdays on August 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14. Call the Sand Springs Parks Department office for directions and details at 918-246-2500, Ext. 2561.

August 17

combat!! mma

COMBAT!! MMA smashes back to Tulsa on August 17 with some of the best professional fighters in the sport. Visit www.spiritbankeventcenter for tickets and details. And read the September issue of River’s Edge for a look at martial arts in the Tulsa area.

August 06-08tulsa Drillers vs. Midland

rockhounds, 7:05 pm, OneOK Field, www .milb .com

August 8, 15, 22 and 29

movies at guthrie greenThursdays at downtown’s Guthrie Green mean outdoor

movie nights on the lawn in the heart of the Brady Arts District at 111 E. Brady St. August 22 will feature a flashback to the 1950s with "Grease" and on August 29 the showing is "The Swimmer." Movies are shown at 8:30 p.m. and again at 10:30 p.m.

August 2013 | 23

Upcoming eventsAugust 17-18Grand American Arms show, times vary,

River Spirit Expo, Expo Square, www .grandamericanarmsshows .com

August 20tulsa shock vs. Phoenix Mercury, 7

pm, BOK Center, www .bokcenter .comAugust 20-23tulsa Drillers vs. Arkansas travelers,


August 21cold wars kids + Papa, 7 pm, Cains

Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

August 24Green country cowboys of color

rodeo, 7 pm to midnight, Pavilion, Expo Square, www .kjmn .com

Aranda + David castro Band, Jason Ferguson, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

oklahoma championship steak cook-off, 10 am to 8 pm (Dinner ar 5:30), Downtown Tulsa, www .oksteakcookoff .com

August 24-26tulsa Drillers vs. springfield cardinals,


August 25seether + 10 years, Eye Empire,

Supermachine, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

August 26hank 3 + Attention Deficit Domination,

3 Bar Ranch, 7 pm , Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

August 27sara Bareilles + harper Blynn, 7 pm ,

Cains Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .com

August 29reckless kelly + Bart crow, 7 pm, Cains

Ballroom, www .cainsballroom .comAugust 30tulsa shock vs. san Antonio silver

stars, 7 pm, BOK Center, www .bokcenter .com

August 31rock Allegiance tour, TBA, Cox

Business Center, 100 Civic Center, www .bokcenter .com

event locationsBOK Center, 200 S. Denver Brady Theather, 105 W. Brady St.Cains Ballroom, 427 N. MainGuthrie Green, 111 E. Brady St.Henthorne PAC, 4825 S. Quaker Ave.Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Ave.Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford RoadSpiritBank Event Center, 107th & Memorial Spirit Event Center, 8330 Riverside ParkwaySpotlight Theater, 1381 Riverside Dr.Tulsa Convention Center, 100 Civic Center (4th

& Houston)Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria Ave.Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria Ave.Tulsa Performing Arts Center (PAC), 119 E. 2nd St.

Running 08.02.13T-Town Twilight Run, Tulsa

Run/Walk 08.03.13RunnersWorld Tulsa Summer

Sizzle Five Mile Poker Run, Tulsa

Running 08.03.13Warrior Princess Angel Run, Tulsa

Adventure Racing 08.10.13The Dirty 30 Race (Tulsa Edition)

Running 08.10.13Diva Dash 5K & Lil Princess Fun

Run, Tulsa

Duathlon 08.11.13Chris Brown Tulsa Duathlon

Tulsa

Triathlon 08.17.13Bailey Medical Center Strong Kids

Triathlon (Ages 5-15), Owasso

Running 08.17.13Riverside 5000, Tulsa

Multi-Sport 08.24.13Conquer the Gauntlet Tulsa, Tulsa

Running 08.24.13Quad A 5K, Tulsa

Running 08.24.13The Glow Run 5K in Tulsa

is billed as epic, enormous, engaging, engrossing, extravagance that will leave you exhausted with all the energy you will emit during your en”light”enment. Scheduled for Veterans Park - 21st & Boulder at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 24.

Running 08.27.13Summer 5km Series, Tulsa

Running 08.31.132013 Run for the House, Tulsa

Running 09.02.13Escape From Turkey Mountain,

Tulsa

tulsA AreA runnInG/ cycInG events

Ongoing Events:

SundaysJazz Hall of Fame Sunday Evening

Concerts, 5:30 pm, Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E . First St ., details at www .okjazz .org

Sunday Market, 10 am to 4 pm, Guthrie Green, www .guthriegreen .com

TuesdaysDepot Jams, 5:30 pm, Oklahoma Jazz

Hall of Fame, 111 E . First St ., details at www .okjazz .org

WednesdaysJazzWich Wednesday, 11:30 am, Oklahoma

Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E . First St ., details at www .okjazz .org

ThursdaysOpen Mic Night, 6:30 pm, Gypsy Coffee

House, 303 MLK Boulevard, details at www .gypsycoffee .com

Thursdays-SaturdaysLive Music, times vary, River Spirit Casino

Mistic River Lounge, 8330 Riverside Parkway, details at www .riverspirittulsa .com

SaturdaysJust for Teens Coffee House, 7-11 pm,

Downtown, 311 S . Madison, details at www .yst .org

Tulsa Flea Market, 8 am to 4 pm, Exchange Center or Super Duty Arena, Expo Square, details at www .tulsafleamarket .net

The Drunkard and the Olio, 7:30 pm, The Spotlight Theater, 1381 Riverside Drive, details at www .spotlighttheater .org

August 18-24Just Between Friends, times vary,

Exchange Center, Expo Square, www .jbfsale .com/tulsa

August 23Tulsa Shock vs . San Antonio Silver

Stars, 7 pm, BOK Center, www .bokcenter .com

August 8-10 – or beyond…

wunderfestBy the time you read this, the dates for Wunderfest –

currently set for August 8-10 - may have changed. Festival organizers did not want to compete with the victims of the recent tornadoes that devastated parts of the state at the end of May by taking sponsorship funds that could go to those who are in need of rebuilding their lives."As we spoke with many of our sponsors about finalizing things for the festival, it became clear that it would be best for us, our sponsors, and the storm victims if we removed Wunderfest from the list of summer events this year and allowed the focus to be on benefit shows where the money can reach those in need,” says Wes Hoffman, festival director. You won’t want to miss this wonderland of music, art and food, so check out www.wunderfest.com for details.

Rivers Edge Magazine, August 2013 Issue

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