Do this: The summer bucket list you've always wanted

A checklist of the best things to do in Tulsa this summer

(page 4 of 5)

35 // Giggle at Blue Whale Comedy Festival

The comedy scene in Tulsa has shown serious signs of life recently, with the rise of The Comedy Parlor downtown and a smattering of open mic nights, improv shows, and local standup showcases at various bars and music venues. This new grass-roots growth has paved the way for Tulsa to take a step to the next level, to forge a foundation of funny that doesn’t stop at hacky road comics, but attracts true stars of the alternative and improv comedy worlds.

That next step is the Blue Whale Comedy Festival, presented by Guthrie Green, the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, and the Comedy Parlor. This inaugural comedy extravaganza will feature standup sets by Judah Friedlander (he of the funnily captioned hats and pithy quips on “30 Rock”), a performance by improv legend Matt Besser and members of the Upright Citizens Brigade, a VIP after-party with Rock-a-Billy vampire Unknown Hinson, plus performances by Betsy Sodaro, Jonathan Gabrus, Joe Wengert, Johnny Pemberton, Tulsa’s own Josh Fadem, and more.

The festival will also feature roundtable discussions, improv classes and workshops. Performances will be held at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and the Comedy Parlor, as well as a family-oriented show at Guthrie Green. For full details on all the performers, schedules, tickets and more, check out bluewhalecomedyfestival.com. // Matt Cauthron

36 // Oooh and Aaah

No summer is complete with out fireworks. I like how they look over Woolaroc and how they sound with cannons and a Sousaphone as part of the outdoor concert at OK Mozart, Bartlesville’s annual, multi-genre music festival this year celebrating its 30th year. It’s just a short drive up 75. OK Mozart is June 7-14; the concert at Woolaroc is June 13, 8 p.m. //  Natasha Ball

37 // Pinch the skyline

Go to the deck at TU’s McFarlin Library. Forget the tables and chairs. Walk to the stone dividers that line the steps. There. Sit. Lean back—lie down if you want. Look west, past the manicured lawn, soccer field and Kendall Whittier. The Tulsa skyline. Not spectacular, but that’s OK. That’s the city; that’s your city. When the best and worst happen, you need somewhere to go in this town. This is where. // Barry Friedman

38 // Chew on this

It’s not in Tulsa, but when we’re talking about a calf fry that claims to be the world’s largest, the few miles between here and Vinita, home of Oklahoma’s ballsy-est cook-off, are no matter. Each summer—this year it’s on June 7—a dozen or so teams compete as part of this festival where hundreds of pounds of fries are breaded and browned in hopes of securing the trophy for best in show. Prairie oysters aren’t the only vittles up for grabs (as it were): beans, cobblers, salsas, and breads flesh out the main attraction.  //  Natasha Ball

39 // Find a meal on the go

Tulsa is in the throes of a bona-fide food truck frenzy—some of the city’s best dishes are now served through a window. Standouts include a beer-soaked brat from The Wurst or a hot slice from Andolini’s, A Korean taco from Plum or a variety of eggs benedict creations from Bohemia Moveable Feast. But, for my money, two titans stand alone in the battle for best meal on wheels: the jerk chicken tacos from Mr. Nice Guys vs. the kung pao pork banh mi from Lone Wolf. The winner in this battle? You and me. // Matt Cauthron

40 // Heckle at Spotlight Theater

Audience participation is requested—nay, required—at any production of The Drunkard at Tulsa Spotlight Theater, 13th and Riverside, said to be America’s longest-running play. Curtain time on this “old-fashioned mellerdramer” is 7 p.m. every Saturday night, when the audience is instructed to boo the villain and cheer the hero. Goes best with one of Spotlight’s house-made sandwiches and a can of cold Coke, both on sale during intermission. They’ll sell you tomatoes to toss at the bad guys, too. Reservations are recommended; call (918) 587-5030 for yours.  //  Natasha Ball

41 // Get Twisted

An exciting night of theatre awaits at New Age Renegade, 16th and Main, courtesy of Twisted Theatre, Tulsa’s underground theatre company with a habit of breathing new life into camp-movie classics. To give you an idea, a list of Twisted’s most recent shows reads thusly: “Little Shop of Whores: A Musical Parody”; “The Passion of the Bunny”; “Reefer Madness: A Musical Parody”; and “Annie XXX: A Musical Parody” (“hysterically uncensored”). The shows are 21-plus, but trust us, the babysitter’s fee is worth it. Find it the third weekend of every month.  //  Natasha Ball

42 // Take it all in

Take five minutes out of your busy day. Head north on Riverside. Take a right on Denver. Roll down the windows. Turn on some music. Your choice, but I would suggest Springsteen. Something brooding from the Darkness on the Edge of Town/The River era. On some days you’ll smell the refinery. Sometimes the must of an empty river. If you’re lucky, both. Enter downtown from the west. Drive slowly, look at the buildings. Some old. Some new. Some architecturally interesting. Some not. For optimal viewing, dusk is best. If dusk is not an option, try early morning or the middle of the night. The fewer people the better. By the time you’re breezing past the shiny BOK Center, things begin to change. A jail. Bail bonds. Welcome to Brady Heights. Stop the car, look back toward downtown. Enjoy the view. Keep going. Boarded up homes. Tough times for some. Things begin to look up literally as you enter Reservoir Hill. In five minutes you’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. The things we flaunt. The things we hide. It’s all us. // Jeff Martin