Vision TULSA - The Tulsa City Council

John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park.to call a two-year-old facility “world-famous,”nothing else does it justice. After all, it has hostedrock royalty (Paul McCartney, Elton John, EricClapton, The Eagles), pop princesses (Katy Perry,Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift), and some 80’s hairbands (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard), too. With a lineuplike that, plus mega-sporting events like the 1stround of the NCAA March Madness tournament,it’s no surprise the BOK Center ranks among thenation’s top arenas for tickets sold. Yes, Tulsa’sBOK Center is giving arenas in Los Angeles,Chicago, and New York a run for their money.Bookmarked between the BOK Center andONEOK Field are the Brady Arts and Blue DomeDistricts, downtown’s twin blend of the trendyand the traditional. Here the past literally servesas the foundation for the present, as many oldwarehouses have been converted to house aneclectic array of businesses. From fine artsestablishments like Living Arts, to a series ofdesign, photography, and engineering firms,nowhere is Tulsa’s burgeoning creative culturemore animated than in these side-by-side districts.Even the area’s restaurants demonstrate itscreative bent. Chief among them is McNellie’sPublic House. If you can’t find a seat duringWednesday’s famous “$3 Burger Night,” othercan’t-go-wrong options include the upscaleBrady Tavern, Pan-Asian hotspot Yokozuna,and personable pizza joint Joe Momma’s.For Tulsa’s ever-growing collection of youngand young-minded, the area’s bar scene bucksconvention with a theme for every tap. Whilethe aforementioned Irish Pub McNellie’s reignssupreme, there’s also the 1970’s bowling alleyThe Dust Bowl, 1980’s-inspired Max Retropuband Arcade, and the German beer hall FasslerHall, among others.And of course there’s Tulsa’s twin musicallandmarks, the Brady Theater (the “Old Lady onBrady”) and Cain’s Ballroom, the “Carnegie Hallof Western Swing,” Hosting acts since 1914 and1924, respectively, between them these stillthrivingvenues have legacies that range from BobWills to Bob Dylan, U2 to Hanson, and of course,Will Rogers.The Brady Theater and Cain’s Ballroom are justtwo examples of how Tulsa’s commitment to thepast is as strong as its focus on the future. Thisc o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 1 4The Tower of Reconciliation–by Ed Dwight, at the centerof John Hope FranklinReconciliation Park, towers25-feet, and depicts thehistory of the AfricanAmerican struggle fromAfrica to America.t u l s a c o u n c i l . o r g | VISION TULSA 2012 13