The Pulse Magazine August 2013

- August 2013 - The Pulse

The Heartbeat of Green Country

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The Pulse Staff

Main Phone Number: (918) 931-9981Fax: (888) 386-5094

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Contributing Writers: Julie Wenger-Watson,Jonita Mullins, Trent McDaniel, Dakota Jones,

Jennifer Jones, Loraine Larimar

Photographer: Deb Bayton

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Do you have an event we should know about?Contact us at [email protected] visit our website and tell us about it.

We want to hear from you.

Don’t forget to play

with The Pulse and The Eastern Oklahoma District Library System. Each month we hide a ‘geek’ in the magazine. Find the ‘geek’ and take the

magazine to your local EODLS branch library and show them you found the ‘geek’.and claim your reward - a free ‘what do you geek’ t-shirt.

And while your there, share what you geek and enjoy the library.Hint: This month the geek has a things for diamonds, well, sort of.

SeektheGeek

Cover Art: “Save Xingu” by Sharon IrlaHey there Pulse People! It’s August already! Where did the summer go? It seems to have skipped a month. Maybe it’s the rains that made it feel shorter. Last two years were a never-ending run of dry and HOT; this year’s been a welcome change, but it seems to have shortened summer by about 3-4 weeks (but our electric bills don’t feel any better, huh?).What August means is Back-to-School (BtS), Cherokee National Holiday and Dusk til Dawn in Rentiesville. It also means it’s time for BtS shopping; but it doesn’t have to be ugly. We talked to some of our friends, readers and neighbors about what they do to make this whole experience easier. It’s a bit daunting; especially if you have a child starting college or going away to school this year. In an effort to help you get the most bang for your buck, we’ve been gathering up all sorts of information to help you make the most of this exciting time. Not only did we offer-up a section to our readers, we’ve put some things on our Website (www.mypulsemag.com) to help you out. Don’t forget that August 2-4 is Tax-Free Weekend; take advantage of that; for most of us, that’s like getting 10 percent off your purchases. Many of the businesses around here are sweetening the deal with sales and offers, so try to make the most of it, just make sure you are shopping with a list so you get what you need without too many impulse purchases and whatever you do, don’t forget that teacher list!

We also want you to know that we are SO grateful for the love and support on Facebook! We know that the giveaways make it more fun, and we applaud that, so keep up the support because that encourages our local businesses to give even more certificates and ultimately, we want every one of our ‘Likes’ to end up with a gift. It might take a while, but we’re doing all we can. Heck, you could end up with TWO freebies! See? All you have to do is hang out with us and we give you presents for doing it! Don’t git much better than dat!

Stay cool and keep reading for ideas on how to make the most of Green Country….

The Pulse Team

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Our Communities6 There’s still doin’s-a-transpirin’ at the Lakes9 Rivers are running eventful10 Cherokee charms13 McIntosh honors the blues from Dusk til Dawn14 Alotta Ottawa for August15 Seqouyah’s surprises16 Osage’s classics and shopping, Pawnee cheers the cowboy17 It’s Mayes in August18 Rogers reels in the events19 Want to Nowata real yard sale looks like?, Washington gets funny and fast21 Jump into Creek and cool off Okmulgee runs the rodeos22 Delaware brings the delights23 Wagoner gets historical24 The Tulsa-tunities abound29 Adair is smokin’

Going Out/Staying In36 Things that go vroom37 Worth the drivel38 Homegrown Heroes - Teachers40 Theater41 Movies42 Rodeo Round-Up43 Powwows44 Dining Out - Healthy Fare47 Healthy back to school lunches48 Recipe Corner50 Music54 Sneek peek into September

Month at a Glance51 Live Entertainment Calendar52 A calendar listing of fun stuff to do

Pulse Pro -Back toSchoolAll the info you need to know to make the transition back to classes that much smoother.

20 Craig’sCowboyCrazinessThis county goes cuckoo for cowboys.

MuskogeeWraps Up aGreat SummerThere is plenty to do in Muskogee County, so get up and out.

The Pulse - August 2013 -

August 2013 - Vol. 2, Issue 8

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- August 2013 - The Pulse www.myPulsemAG.Com

Lake action gets BiggerWith August comes the return of the kids into the school room, but that doesn’t mean that summer is over; as a matter of fact, it’s just getting good out on many of our local lakes. A few of our lakes are celebrating August in a big way, so before Labor Day announces the official end of summer in Green Country, get that swimsuit out of hiding and see what’s going on.

We start in the northeast corner with Grand Lake where the fun never stops. They have marinas that have doubled as bars, cantinas, golf courses, restaurants and night clubs as well as weekend music venues. In August, a few are really upping the ante with more fun than we may deserve, but they don’t seem to think so, so give ‘em a shot.

On August 2-3, there’s plenty of good food, music and get-away for you: Sharky’s Bar has Push Play Aug. 2 at 8 pm, but hit Harbors View Marina first for a shrimp boil to feed your stomach before you feed your ears. The shrimp get boiling at 6 pm at Dock’s Bar, so eat up then listen up.

On August 3, it gets rather insanely crazy on Grand Lake; there’s so much fun in one place, we just don’t where to put it all. We’ll

start with the big one: Boats, Bikes, Bikinis & BBQ at Arrowhead Yacht Club where you can participate in the bikini contest, listen to some great music by Lickitty Split, eat some BBQ, throw back a few beers or do all of the above. Leave the kids with Granny that day because this is fun for the over 21 crowd and you’ll be glad you did. Need more? Call (918) 782-3292.

If after all that good time, you hanker for more, then head out to Marine Max for Docktails 6-8 pm (same day) to cap off a fun day in the sun or go on over to Harbors View for Fajitas at Harbors View all-you-can-eat fajita bar going on through the rest of the summer on Saturdays. Dock’s Bar will be open for a cocktail while you are there, so no need to get home just yet (if you’ve had a few, you might consider a cab or stay the night; drinking and driving are just not worth it).

We covered it before, but we’ll say it again, MarineMax is having another Women on the Water boating safety course Aug. 8, 1-4 pm. Get your details from Carla at (918) 782-3277, but don’t go on the water without that safety knowledge!

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Grand Lake Sports Center is gathering fans for their annual Great Grand Bobber Drop on August 10, and this gets people from all over the area in on the fun. It’s located at 301 S. Main Street in Grove and they have more on their Website at www.grandlakesportscenter.net or call Sam Williams at (918) 786-2300 for details, but just don’t miss it.

If Boats, Bikes, Bikinis & BBQ wasn’t enough to fill out your summer wish list, why not give Rock the Dock a shot (did that rhyme?)? Thunder Bay Marina/Ugly John’s is rocking the dock with live music, live girls in bikinis (of course- live girls are easier to stand up), great food (not just good, but GREAT) and they claim they are adding some new things to the event but keeping their lips sealed for the moment. Hmmmmm. It’s slated for Aug. 10 on one calendar, but on Ugly John’s Website, it’s scheduled Aug. 17, so we’re going with Aug. 17 too. Event hours are 2-7 pm in Afton at 450780 Thunder Bay Road. Check in with their Website for more; we couldn’t find an e-mail or phone number on their Website, so maybe you’ll have better luck than we did.

On Aug 16-17, we found some fun stuff with the 2013 Smoke ‘Em Cigarette Fun Run and it has nothing to do with real smoking but

boating. Shangri-La Marina is hosting this 2nd annual event of cigarette boaters coming in from all over to show off their colorful, fast boats. The fun run begins Aug. 17 at 11 am, but they have a big party going most of the day.

While you are there, check out the 7th Annual Mary Moore Charity Event Golf Tourney and Silent Auction at the Golf Club. It benefits Special Olympics and Home of Hope, but you reap all the rewards with a day of golf and winning your bids. Registration is at noon and the tourney starts at 1:30 pm. If you feel up to the challenge, check in with Justin Moore at [email protected] and know your greens fees are going to a great cause.

A bit further west, we found a family-friendly event at Mannford/Lake Keystone with plenty of fun to go around. It’s the Boats, Melon and BBQ hosted by the City of Mannford and the Chamber Aug 17. A BBQ cook-off, kids’ fishing derby, a boat race, and the big deal, the cardboard boat race make it a day to remember. They have a nice kids’ area so boredom is not a factor while you chow down on some good summer food.

...but it is closing soon

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MarineMax is doing an Annual Boat-In Movie on August 24 and while we don’t have the details yet, we also want to tell you that Barnacle Bill’s on Lake Tenkiller is doing a movie night here and there too, so if you prefer Tenkiller, they have movie nights for you too. Check in with either marina for the details.

Looking into our September crystal ball, we found that the US Title Series Green Country Championship is headed to Copan Lake Sept. 6-8. Its professional outboard hydroplane racing and runabout racing along with a chance to meet the drivers and their teams. Speeds in excess of 100 MPH make this a surefire fun couple of days of ‘OOOH’, ‘AHHH’, and ‘WHOAAA.’ If you are interested even a little bit, then call (918) 914-9704 or visit www.ustitleseries.org for more info, but get over to Copan for the thrill.

Before we forget, we have two things worth mention that are on-going but worthy of your attention.

The first is a fund raiser from the South Grand Lake Lions Club. They are selling bricks, paver bricks and benches to honor our Veterans. For $100, you can become memorialized with a brick, $250 gets you a paver and $1,500 gets your name forever on a bench. They will reveal all at the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at Veterans Honor Plaza but your last day to donate is Sept. 15, so get going on keeping your family name, business name or whatever you want alive for eternity by donating. Call (918) 645-5641 to donate of ask more questions.

We also want you to take a tour of Historic Pensacola Dam and your last day to do so is Sept. 2. It’s FREE to take the tour and you really can learn a lot. The folks at the Dam do a great job taking you around and you won’t even realize you are learning, it’s just so informative and fun. Get ready to get a little exercise too, but it’s a great way to learn and it’s only one hour long. You’ll be glad you went. They run 9 am – 4 pm seven days a week, including holidays. Call GRDA at (918) 782-4726 for more.

Check our Delaware County page for fun things to do at Har-Ber Village too. They have plenty to entertain, educate and give kids a great day of fun.

Make sure you get your summer in on our beautiful lakes before summer fades away again to leave us for another four months (that was a hot summer in Oklahoma joke). It’s be over before you know it!

Have a safe and happy August Green Country!

Lake action continued...


We felt that we were a little partial to the Illinois River with our coverage last month, so in an effort to be fairer, we’ve taken a look around at all the rivers in our area, and let’s just say it wasn’t easy. AND we spent a lot more time on it than we wanted to. What we came up with was a listing of various events (namely music) going on in these parts that are sure to make you want to get out and enjoy the rest of your summer. We hope you can find something to make you want to spend some time along the beautiful rivers all over our beautiful region.

We start with Wunderfest Aug. 9-10 at River West Festival Park in Tulsa. With food, art and plenty of music, all of the important senses get love and lots of it. We have more on Wunderfest in our Tulsa and Music Pages, but sufficed to say that this festival has a lot going on. Local wines and craft beer, local and national headliner acts, plenty for the kids to do, shopping for pretty things with local vendors and more than enough good grub to keep your blood sugar from making you feel like it’s time to go. It’s a special event and we think you’re gonna love it too. Find out more from Barry Durbin at (918) 409-4661 or check in with www.wunderfest.com and see who’s coming to town.

Now, before we get going any further, we aren’t totally sure about the Blue Rose Riverfest but we think Wunderfest took its place in case you were wondering/wundering. We checked in on the Blue Rose Website and it redirected us to Wunderfest, so we’re pretty certain that it’s been replaced. We love the new name and the amount of work and effort the organizers put into it, so we give them big props for the new fest on all counts.

The Riverwalk Amphitheatre in Tulsa is hosting a concert series on Saturdays all summer long with the big finale Battle of the Bands August 24. Each concert is held 8 – 10 pm and it’s all FREE to attend. Plenty of local great names are in on the action with Midlife Crisis Band, Sticks and Stones and Justin Adams to name a few, but you have to attend the Battle of the Bands to vote for your fave on Aug. 24. All you need to do is show-up, but check out the restaurants nearby for a great dinner beforehand while you are there. It’s a guaranteed good time.

Something that we really can’t wait for is the River Rumba & Regatta at Three Forks Harbor and while some may say it’s just a day of play, we beg to differ; this is serious duct taping and cardboard racing for tough competitors! Anyone can get in a boat that was designed with safety in mind, but who will get into one that their doofy office mate or goofball cousin made just yesterday with paper products and tape? Takes a REALLY tough person to do THAT (or a mentally unstable one)! It’s a really fun day and things get a big hairy (and rather WET) towards the end of the race. They have a lot of fun for everyone with a lot of laughing and wet thrown in for good measure. Get your deets at (918) 684-6302. Check this one out for the sheer hilarity of it all.

Happy Summer and keep staying SAFE.

Rivers ripping with regattas & rockin’ itR

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Cherokee charms for anawesome Augustby: Jennifer Jones

110 North Muskogee, Tahlequah, OK

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Believe it or not, the Cherokee National Holiday is only one of the events lined-up for a spectacular August of fun. Plenty of things to do on the Illinois River, Lake Tenkiller and even more in Tahlequah, make Cherokee County a perfect destination for a day or more.

The Tahlequah Chamber folks are offering free movies in the Park at Norris Park: “Rear Window” is showing Aug. 10, “The Avengers” is showing Aug. 24 and “Remember the Titans” is showing Sept. 7, all at 7 pm. Bring your lawn chairs and get ready for a great night. You can fill your day with lots of shopping on Muskogee Avenue. Lots of new stores and eateries are popping up all over the place. Find out more at www.tahlequahchamber.com.

River City Players are keeping it real with lots of theater entertainment in August: Aug. 1-3, they have shows each night and we can tell you all about them in the Theater page. Be sure to check out our Facebook page for chances at free tickets.

The Rock and Mineral Show is headed to the Tahlequah Community Building Aug. 16-17. Plenty of pretty jewelry, crafts, fossils, education and snacks make it a two-day event that you’ll wish was three days. The Community Building is located at 300 W. First Street and it runs 9 am-6 pm Friday and 9 am – 5 pm Saturday. Lots of demonstrations of gem cutting and flint knapping can get you started on making your own gems. Get more from (918) 456-8198/284-5770. Adults 18 and over: $3, what a deal.


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Need a Vehicle? Family in town? Going on vacation? Vehicle in shop?Stop by your locallyowned & operatedrental agency!

Since you are already in Tahlequah Aug. 17, pop on over to Muskogee Ave where shopping delights continue – Tahlequah Mainstreet Association is hosting a bit of a shopping ‘party’ where you are the guest of honor. Sidewalk sales, coupons, giveaways, drawings and all kinds of specials are just the beginning. But they keep it coming with a bigger deal; for every 10 dollars you spend, you get a raffle ticket that makes you eligible for a Grand Prize Giveaway (see? It’s so big we had to give it some caps). All of the participating merchants will be making donations of their most specialist, gooder than anything else, yummy and favoritest things from 11 am – 6 pm. At 7 pm, the TMSA will gather at Norris Park and announce the winner. You do not have to be present at the drawing to win, but you do have to check their Facebook page. Then, whoever wins gets a big reward. Winners will also be posted on the door of the Tahlequah Chamber. Even better, they are offering a Kids’ Play Zone chock full of inflatables, water slides and slip-n-slides at the park, so bring your significant other (or a friend you can switch- off kid-watching time) and have them watch the kids play while you get in some fabulous shopping time. Get out that rainy day money, unfreeze your credit cards and fill the checkbook for this one, cuz it’s gonna be BIG. Get more from Facebook (tahlequahmainstreet) or give a call to (918) 431-1655.

The Cherokee Heritage Center gets the National Holiday going with their 18th Annual Homecoming Show & Sale Aug. 24-Sept. 15. Get in on the opening day and see the beautiful pieces the Native American Community has created. This is the big deal. Get more from (918) 456-6007 or check in with www.cherokeeheritagecenter.org. The reception is on Aug. 23 6 – 8 pm

and the Center is located at 21192 S. Keeler Drive on the south side of Tahlequah in Park Hill right off Hwy 62. Check out their National Homecoming Fair Aug. 30-Sept. 1 while you are at the National Homecoming.

You don’t want to pass up the shopping opps in Tahlequah: they have all kinds of kitschy shops where you can find great deals on one-of-a-kind goodies. Shops like Junie’s, Everything Under the Sun and Cashmere Lane offer great finds for good prices. Check their Facebook Pages for coupons and deals. We have more on our Back to School pages, so read on…

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Many of our readers have asked what the fuss is about the Cherokee National Holiday and some have asked why they should even attend. While it’s always nice to show your commitment to your heritage, there are many other reasons why, even if you aren’t Cherokee, you might consider attending the Cherokee National Holiday Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

One of the biggest reasons is that the Cherokee Nation is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest financial supporter of this area. They not only help Cherokees, but they are responsible for a large part of tourism dollars that come into Green Country. They also provide a lot of assistance to people who are not Cherokee: their involvement with gaming, construction, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, technology, real estate, and healthcare industries is widespread all over the state; if the Cherokees left Oklahoma, many of us would feel the impacts in a big way. Some have said that the loss of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma “would impact every man, woman and child financially in a very negative way.” It’s not just financial aid that the Cherokees bring to Oklahoma, but they also have cleaned up many neighborhoods and revitalized many others by refurbishing areas that have sat for many years looking a bit neglected. They’ve devoted so much to Oklahoma healthcare that many shudder to think what the loss of the Cherokee people would do to our great state. Their assistance with educational, environmental, housing and career services has been a major boon to the state and especially Green Country, as much of the Cherokee Nation is proud to be an integral part of our little corner of Oklahoma.

On to the Holiday – the Cherokee National Holiday is a celebration of the signing of the Cherokee Nation Constitution in 1839, but more than that, it celebrates the Cherokee culture and heritage, which has been lost to many tribes over the years. The Cherokee Nation is one that will not let their people lose sight of who they are and where they came from. Many early Cherokees

gave so much to allow today’s Cherokees (and thereby the rest of us) to have what they (we) do. The Trail of Tears was a time of

great loss of life, land and hope for a proud people. To have come this far since 1839 speaks volumes of all the Cherokee people have to celebrate. And even if you are not Cherokee, they invite you to participate in the festivities and celebrate your freedom as an American in this great country.Plenty of activities make it worth the trip: cornstalk and blowgun shooting, marbles and stickball,

basketball and softball are just a few of the games, but a parade, plenty of kids’ activities and events, a car show (ooooh) and the big deal: vendors with plenty of authentic Native American products from food to artwork to jewelry to pottery to blankets make it a three day shopping extravaganza. But WAIT! There’s MORE! The really big deal is the Powwow; one is held both Friday and Saturday night and they are both inter-tribal.

We just can’t think of a more beautiful place for authentic Native American wares than The Cherokee National Holiday – they have so many things that are one-of-a-kind as well as some of the best food around, it’s just a feast for the soul. The pride placed into every item made is felt as soon as you touch it. You can’t find anything more visually stunning than the pieces of art that many of these people have made with their own hands. It’s just too much to believe without seeing it for yourself. Be sure to get some fry-bread and check out the stick ball while you eat as they are a lot of fun to watch.

Come celebrate all that binds us as Oklahomans at the Cherokee National Holiday and see what makes the Great State of Oklahoma truly spectacular. And while you’re there, be glad that the Cherokees have decided to call Oklahoma HOME.

Get more on the Holiday from www.cherokee.org or call (918) 453-5544/453-1689 with any questions. The Holiday goes on all over Tahlequah but big festivities are on the south end of town, just past the 62/82 split near the Cherokee casino. Any of the good folks in Tahlequah can point you there.

The Cherokee National Holidayis not just for the Cherokeesby: Amy Addams

McIntosh


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We have some pretty exciting news for McIntosh; the long-awaited Dusk ‘til Dawn Music Festival is going on as it always has in Rentiesville Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 at the Home of The Blues where Selby Minner honors the legacy of the one of the Blues greats, D.C. Minner who we lost in 2008 but Selby keeps D.C.’s legacy alive with Dusk ‘til Dawn every year in the house D.C. grew up in.

Before we get into the actual fest, we need to give you a bit of information on the Blues community as a whole. These aren’t your everyday musicians, trying to make a buck playing their genre of music. The people who play and sing the blues actually feel the Blues, they’ve lived the Blues and they do all they can, with or without money, to keep the legacy of the Blues tradition alive. It’s a need in their souls, not a need to fill their bellies, it’s a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled and if you’ve ever met a Blues musician, you’ll feel their energy. It vibrates, hums, pulses and radiates like an electrical force. It’s not a need to take care of themselves, they need to get out and take care of others. They need to educate the world and when you’ve felt it, you’ll know too.

Dusk ‘til Dawn is not a ‘thing’ that these musicians ‘do,’ it’s a part of them, like their heart, they live the Blues, they never spell Blues with a lower case B, they bleed Blue outside of their body, they spend days, weeks and months on the road to appear at gigs to get the word of the Blues out and keep that life force alive with the low reverberation of that backbeat that sometimes only they can hear, but on that special day when someone else hears it, they have done their job and their life’s passion has been worth it. Those days and months spent eating peanut butter sandwiches in a van was not wasted because they got the gospel of the Blues out to the community as a whole. They are the Jedi knights of the Blues. And they are all convening in one place to show you the powerful secrets to their Jedi powers to the Blues’ power and how you too can harness it.

Some of the country’s best Blues magicians (not a typo) are coming this way to enlighten and revive your spirit to help you feel

the Blues too. The Blues won’t leave you feeling sad or low, in fact the very opposite is true. The Blues leaves you feeling like you need to fix things, the problems of your fellow man and the world at large. We are so blessed that Selby Minner works so tirelessly to give us this gift of this special musical genre that so few get to feel and she calls in the greats from all over the country to come in and help to enlighten us. All we have to do is show up. It’s like

getting a college degree just by attending one class close to home.

It’s a 20-year-old tradition right off Hwy 69 between Muskogee and Eufaula. Over 30 bands on three stages, a safe place for kids to play while you repair your soul, plenty of camping and local hotels as well as some spectacular BBQ to feed your tummy, but something really special is that they will be live streaming on www.JukeZoo.com. So even if you can’t make the trip, you can partake for a while and find your enlightenment on the Interweb. We highly recommend being there, though. There’s a special feeling in the air at Dusk ‘til Dawn you just can’t send out via live feeds; kinda like the absence of Smell-O-Vision.

We suggest you get tickets and bring the kids along too. They will provide a grand ol’ time while you get those repairs to your soul going. Get more from www.dcminnerblues.com or call (918) 855-0978. With tickets only $15/day (kids are free), it’s a sure bet for anyone who needs to find their sense of why we are here. The Festival is located at 701 D.C. Minner Street in Rentiesville. Now go

feed your soul. It’s about time, don’t you think?

One other event we have to give you the details on is the Hanna Watermelon Festival in Hanna Aug. 9-10. Plenty of old-timey fun that used to be here but faded away for a while. Well, it’s back with plenty of food, fun, music and good times to be had by all. Rock out to horseshoes, pool and karaoke tournaments or just hang out and stuff yourself full of free watermelon. Ah, good times. Bring lawnchairs and get more from Trina Martin at (918) 268-4992.

It’s time to celebrate fromDUSK TIL DAWNby: Amy Addams

Ottawa


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It’s hot all over Green Country, but the truth is that summer holds nothing over us when the fun begins where Miami and surrounding areas (including Joplin) are celebrating summer with plenty of fun and fairs sure to cool you down and make you want to get out into it.

We start in an area not really Green Country, but worth a bit of mention. The International Route 66 Festival is going on in Joplin Aug. 1-3 and while we had some issues finding more about it, if you are headed that way, we have high hopes that they have signs to get you there. We found out about it on www.miamiokchamber.com so if you want to see what’s up, check in with them to see if they know more. You can also call (417) 625-4789.

Next, Ottawa celebrates their freedom and all things free with their annual Ottawa County Free Fair Aug 17-24 at the Miami Fairgrounds. With all the pretty livestock, commercial stuff, food, carnival, food, arts and crafts, food, well, you get the idea. Just be sure to leave your Weight Watchers point book at home. They also have a rodeo, and since it’s in Miami, we feel pretty confident that this is one crazy good time. Did we mention that it’s FREE? Heck, it just don’t get no better than that! Need more? Then check out www.

oces.okstate.edu/ottawa or call (918) 542-1688 and ask away.Coinciding with the last night of the Free Fair is another monthly

event you might want to swing by to check out: the Miami Route 66 Cruise Night is going on Aug. 24 at Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger, right down the road from the Fair. Plenty of the car fanatics are always there, so it’s worth a stop, and Waylan makes some pretty tasty food to boot, if the Fair goodies didn’t already catch your eye (and taste buds). The Rebels Car Club is the hosting group:

(918) 542-9696.

Don’t let Labor Day weekend pass you by while you sit on the couch, eating chips. Why not take a different approach to some good times with the Ottawa Powwow and Celebration at Adawe Park? Plenty of activities, dancing (where no one is competing, just a good old-fashioned show of the love of it), so it’s a great relaxation before you get back to the grind on Tuesday, Sept. 3. It’s all free Aug. 30-Sept. 1 and you are welcome to camp out. The Ottawa know how to show a fun time and there are plenty of places nearby to get some of those chips to snack on. Check out www.ottawapowwow.com or call (918) 542-1536 for more information, but be sure to give them some love!

If you want more dancing, don’t lose hope, the Wyandotte Nation pulls out their pretty outfits for you Sept. 6-8 at the Wyandotte Nation Tribal Grounds in Wyandotte (bet you thought we were going to say Miami). Traditional garb, plenty of cash prizes for various categories and they honor the older generation with a special tribute to Grandparents Day so grab Granny and honor her for all the favors she’s done for you over the years (think of all the birthday cards with $10 in them and the yummy food she’s made over the years – the least you can do is show her a good time). This is also family-friendly, so no need to hire a sitter, grab the young and the not-so-young and show them all a great weekend of fun and good times. Get more from www.wyandotte-nation.org or call (918) 678-2297.

Don’t worry about the heat in August, Miami has plenty of cool times to keep you going.

Alotta Ottawa for Augustby: Laraine Larimar


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Before we started this magazine, we didn’t think of Sallisaw as more than a quiet bedroom community for Fort Smith, but after a solid year of writing about Sequoyah County, Sallisaw, Gore and the areas around these two towns are making a lot of waves we didn’t see coming.

August starts with the Sallisaw Lion’s Club IPRA Rodeo at the Rodeo Grounds in Sallisaw Aug. 1-3 and even though we gave you a heads’-up in July, it bears repeating because this is a big deal. They have all kinds of prize money, kids’ action and plenty of crazy times to keep you watching from between your fingers all evening long. Add to that, a parade, street dance and lots of music, it’s a fun night of more. We have a phone number for your questions: (918) 774-5497.

The next weekend, it’s all about a bargain, Bargains Galore on 64 to be exact. It’s one of the longest highway yard sales around and a perfect way to find a dresser for a dorm or get your hands on some of the college items that are super cheap when you get them second-hand. The trick is to get there early and have room to take it with you when you buy it. It runs Gore to Moffat and we hope that the Sallisaw Chamber has more for you, but our thinking is that you just need to have lots of small bills and car space to take your finds with you. Bargains Galore on 64 runs Aug. 8-10.

The annual Bassnanza Fishing Tourney doesn’t have a date set, but we are feeling that it will still be in September, so keep your eye on The Pulse for more. When we know, we’ll give you all the dirt for a great day of fishing. We do know that it’s at Kerr Lake and if you want to call someone for more, you can call Sallisaw Chamber at (918) 775-2558.

BEFORE WE LEAVE SEQUOYAH: We also have plenty of family-of-four passes to the buffet of your choice at Fin & Feather we are giving away on Facebook. If you want to give F&F a small taste before you commit, then their buffet will have you hooked in no time. Pick whichever one you like: Friday-Sunday they have dinner and breakfast buffets to blow you away. We meant to rhyme that time. Just get some of that chocolate gravy!! What more can we say about it to get you there? Keep your eye on Facebook and refer a friend for those passes to YUM. To see what Fin & Feather is up to, check their buffet options out at www.finandfeatherresort.com.

Sequoyah surprises with a rodeo,bargains, Bassnanza and FREE FOODby: Amy Addams


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We get into Pawnee County and their love for the cowboy doesn’t waiver. We’re glad for that, because this area is built on the backs of the men and women who wrangled horses, cattle and the land of Oklahoma to make it what it is today. We have a lot going on to celebrate that quiet caretaker so let’s not waste words…

We start with the Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo (IPRA sanctioned!) at Lakeside Arena Aug. 1-3. Call (918) 762-2108 for more of pick up your July issue of The Pulse for more. It’s more than a rodeo: BBQ, wagon trail rides, cattle drive and a Rodeo queen crowning are just a few of the extras!

Pawnee wastes no time as they roll right in to Wild West Week (like Shark Week but with horses that won’t take your leg off if they bite you) with plenty of action for all you wranglers Aug. 4 -10. They kick it off Aug. 3 with a draft horse and mule sale at the Arena and a classic car cruise with music that evening with plenty of BBQ, but then on Aug. 4, it gets really ripping with the official Wild West Week festivities. Aug. 6 is the Kids

Rodeo and Aug. 8 – 10 is the Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo with plenty of boot scootin’ to let you let your hair down and get a little crazy. They will have a parade Aug. 10 at noon and we’re

sure that we’ve just covered the basics. Get everything you need from (918) 762-2108 or check in with the Pawnee Chamber’s Website: www.cityofpawnee.com.

We have to mention a town in Pawnee County that doesn’t get a lot of love butthey still deserve some. The town of Mannford is hosting a Boats, Melon and BBQ day of fun for the whole family at the New Mannford Dock on Aug. 17 with live music, kids’ activities out the wazoo, a cardboard boat race, a kids’ fishing derby and of course, BBQ and melon. Get details at www.mannfordchamber.com.

Before we hop off the Pawnee spot, we have to warm you up for the Pawnee County FREE Fair at the Fairgrounds Sept. 4-7, so mark your calendars. If they take the cowboy this seriously, just imaging the love they have for the farmer! Get more from (918) 762-2735.

Pawnee puts the cowboy on apedestal once againby: Jennifer Jones

OsageIt appears that the good folks in Shidler are serious about their rides. So serious, in fact, they celebrate the love of the car multiple times throughout the year. One such event has us excited to see who makes an appearance and that’s the Shidler One Day Classic Car Show Aug. 24 in Coussens Park. It’s not just the love

of the car that brings people to this event; it’s also the love of a good time. Plenty of shade makes this a cool spot for the hot

rides and they keep it interesting with lots of food and live music too. A full day of gearhead fulfillment makes this a great time for anyone who likes cars even a little bit. Get more from www.shidleroklahoma.com or call (918) 793-4171.

Pawhuska gets in on some great shopping deals with First Friday celebrations Aug. 3 and Sept. 7, but if you brought along a non-shopper, there are plenty of places to leave him or her to gobble burgers, sip some coffee or even people watch. It doesn’t matter who you are, the First Fridays make for some good times. They even have live music for many of the evenings, so it’s a win-win. Give a call to the Pawhuska Chamber at (918) 287-1208 for more info.

Before we jump off the Osage map, don’t forget that we’ll have more about the Osage County Free Fair in September. As big and open as Osage County is, you just know that it’ll be a great time. Stick with The Pulse for all the particulars.

Osage offers classics andshopping oppsby: Dakota Jones


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Aaah, Mayes County, the place where Rocklahoma lives. Just saying that should speak volumes as Rocklahoma gets our little state national love, so the good folks in Pryor have already set a bar so high, the rest of us can only dream of going that big. They didn’t lie down and take long naps after Rocklahoma; as a matter of fact, they just keep the fun coming, so check out all that Mayes County and Pryor have to offer in August and September and see what else they have in their big bag of tricks.

We start the month with First Saturday Traders Day Aug. 2-3 and again on Sept. 6-7 at Coo-Y-Yah and Park Streets in Pryor. Bring stuff you no longer want and see what others are willing to pay or trade you for it. You might be pleasantly surprised at how much your ‘worthless’ junk is really worth in someone else’s eyes (or sell your crafts). They are first come, first served, so get in early to get a good spot. Call the Pryor Chamber for details at (918) 825-0157. The fun begins at 8 am, so set your alarm and pack the car the night before. Artists and crafters are also welcome as are produce vendors, so don’t be shy!

It quiets down for a time, but that’s only because Mayes County is gearing up for the Mayes County Fair Sept. 5-9. It’s at the Mayes County Fairgrounds in Pryor. Why are we telling you in August’s issue? Well, we figure it should be a rousing good time, so there’s no time like the present to plan for the immediate future. Besides, September will be here before ya know it. Get the details at www.mayescountyfair.com, check back with us in September or call (918) 825-3241.

Okay, we have a September event that we just can’t keep quiet about. We tried, we really did. It just had to come out and now that we are telling you about it, we might not be able to shut up, so let’s see what happens. It’s the Dam J.A.M. Bicycle Tour Sept.

It’s still Mayes in Augustby: Amy Addams

7 in Whitaker Park (well it starts there) and anyone who is even a casual biker (without the black leathers and loud pipes) will have no problem cancelling all their important appointments for this one. It’s some of the best cycling anywhere. With tours of 31, 55, 71 or the big one, the 101 mile ride, it’s a pretty big deal. Ask anyone who’s done it. They offer plenty of safety, help and support when you feel like you can’t go any more. Families are welcome and they even buy your lunch. They also offer plenty of shaded riding along the shoreline of Grand Lake on paved roads, so it’s not a rough trail for the die-hard toughies (no extra seat padding necessary). What more can a biker want? Plenty of rest stops, concessions and a big party to end the day make it one of the biggest biker parties anywhere (without the loud pipes). Register online at www.damjambicycletour.com or give a call to the Pryor Chamber at (918) 825-0157 should you have specific questions (their Website has many of the answers but if you have that techno-allergy, they’ll understand). We’ll remind you again in September’s issue of The Pulse, but if you are a serious biker, you might want to get to cancelling your appointments and filling out those forms now.

Have a happy Mayes this August!

22NDDAMJ.A.M.

Pryor, OKSeptember 7THSaturday

Bike through the most beautiful countryside and enjoy the famous Dam J.A.M. rest stops.Features 30, 55, 71, and 101 mile rides.

Register at 918-825-0157or pryorchamber.com

damjambicycletour.com

To receive a 2013 Dam J.A.M. shirtpreregister by August 22

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We’ve been super-busy with Rogers County all year and of course, they are keeping us on our toes in August and September with more activities sure to get you going. With a nice variety to entice you, Rogers County has the perfect way to say goodbye to summer without feeling sad about it.

We start with Downtown First Night offered Aug 3 and again Sept. 7 in Claremore. Many businesses will be keeping their doors open later to keep you shopping that tax free weekend. Their theme is ‘Shop late, shop local’ and we couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Get more at (918) 341-2818. Lots of sales and specials to sweeten the deal along with no tax!

August is chock full of commemoration of the man, the myth, the legend, Will Rogers. The man that many Oklahomans would love to resurrect is being remembered on Aug. 15 at 9:30-11 am at his tomb with a wreath laying ceremony. Then Oolagah, his birthplace, is celebrating with the Will Rogers Wiley Post Fly-In Aug. 18 at Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch. Over 70 small aircraft will be flying around, like a batch of bees, all there to honor Will and Wiley’s contributions to aviation. Bring a chair and chat it up with the pilots, check out the classic cars, let the kids play and get a bite to eat. It’s free to attend and all are welcome. Get more at

www.willrogers.com or call (918) 343-8113/341-0719.

The Bureau of Land Management is hoping you would like to adopt a burro or wild horse and they are auctioning them off Aug. 16-17 at the Expo Center. First come, first served, so early is better. Friday hours are noon – 6 pm and Saturday they auction 8 am – noon. Check it out at www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html and learn about the wild horse adoption program in Oklahoma or call (918) 342-5357. Love a horse or burro for a day and you’ll love them for life.

We covered this in July, but just a reminder that the Route 66 Nut House is having their monthly Trade Days Aug. 16-17 and vendor spots are still open. Call (918) 266-1604 if you want to sell or buy.

One of the big deals for August is the Fleet Feet Triathlon Aug. 18 along the shores of Lake Claremore on East Blue Star Drive. It begins at 7 am, so get your beauty sleep, but you want to register to get in on the action: www.fleetfeettulsa.com/(918) 492-3338. If you want to observe, they are fine with that too, but you might change your mind for next year’s Triathlon after seeing those buff bodies doing what they do. They offer two triathlons for your pleasure and it’s sure to be a great day of fun for anyone, no matter what your participation. Finishers get a medal and all participants get a t-shirt.

Claremore loves the animals and they haven’t left out man’s best friend with the Dog Expo Aug. 24-25 at the Expo Center (makes sense). They have plenty of puppy competition along with Dock Dogs competitors doing their thing too. They need to be cheered on just like people, so come ready to encourage them.Give a call to (918) 341-1260 with questions.

Ready to sneak a peek at September? Okay, we’ll give you a taste. Just an ‘amuse bouche’ for the fun to come: we start with the Bluegrass & Chili Festival Sept. 5 – 7 with plenty of good music for even the snobs. Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart and more along with a tractor pull, concessions and plenty for the little ones to get their little hands busy with. Find out more at www.claremore.org.

Overlapping that same weekend, the Oklahoma Fall Hunting and Fishing Show takes a tour of Will Rogers Downs Event Center Sept. 6 – 8 and it looks to be worth the visit. The WRD folks always do a good job of their events and you can’t miss with hunting and fishing in the name. They are also taking vendors, so if you have supplies to sell, you might want to plan for this one. Get more on the show at www.okhuntandfishshow.com or give a call to (918) 283-8800/313-9552.

For more on Claremore, check out www.claremore.org, www.visitclaremore.com and for shopping opps to plan for your next visit, check out www.downtownclaremore.org.

Rogers welcomes Will, horses needing a home, First Night and Feet of Fleetby: Dakota Jones

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There’s plenty to do in Washington County in August; all you need to do is decide what grabs your interest and you’re good to go. We’re going to dive right in and see what sticks.

August 1 – 4 makes for four days of beautiful baseball at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium with Sandy Koufax World Series American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) where teams from everywhere converge at Doenges Stadium to see who walks off with top honors. It’s a real big deal and if you like baseball even a little bit, this will rock your socks off. There’s more at www.aabc.us/2013-sandy-koufax-world-series-information/ or call Debbie Mueggenborg if you want to know more at (888) 336-0008.

If all that baseball has left you needing a bit of a rest, then check out the continuation of the Tangible History Workshop Series at Frank Phillips Garden Cottage Aug. 16 where they will enlighten you with how fabric was made and printed. Any quilters you know or textile artists will be all over this one. Class size is small so register if you’re serious: (918) 336-2491, Ext. 104 or www.frankphillipshome.org. Cost is $12 and it all goes towards your supplies.

Now that you’ve recovered from the AABC tourney, why not get back out there for the Samaritan Center Sports Spectacular Aug. 17? They are holding this party to kick-off the fall and winter sports year, but the big deal is that your fund contributions go towards the Samaritan Counseling and Growth Center. It’s

a big tailgate party for everyone. Cost is $25 each or save a big table for all your friends for only $200. Wear your favorite team jersey, hat or socks – all are welcome. It takes place at the Bartlesville Community Center and we have no contact for it, but if you check in with the Community Center, maybe they can tell you who to call.

The next weekend, Big Brothers and Big Sisters are also raising funds by being funny with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Presents: The BIG Comedy Club at Hillcrest Country Club 6 – 11 pm Aug. 24. Plenty of laughs for a few bucks can’t be beat. Get more from (918) 336-5437, Ext. 3 or check in with www.bbbsok.org.

Get ready to run with the Green Country Gallop Aug. 31 in DT Bartlesville. It’s the Dr. David Miller Memorial 5K benefitting Green Country Free Clinic. You get to burn off some of that steam while doing a good deed for those less fortunate. It starts at 8 am so the rest of your day is free to play.

We have plenty going on at Price Tower all month long too. They have something for everyone and most weekends are ready for you, just pick a few and see what Price Tower has to offer: Aug 2 - First Fridays Music Series Taste of Oklahoma 8p-10 pm Aug 10 – Second Saturdays Jo Hemian Jazz Syndicate 8 -11 pmAug 15 – Third Thursdays Music Series Picnic in the sky half price pizza and $3 wine 7:30-9:30 pm For more, visit www.pricetower.org or call (918) 336-4949.

Before we leave Washington County and Price Tower, we want to remind you that Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Samara: A Mid-Century Dream Home” exhibit ends at Price Tower on Sept. 8. It’s a house, a home and a work of art from none other than the architect who changed the 20th Century, Frank Lloyd Wright. Price Tower is located at 510 Dewey Ave.

Washington County gets sporty,funny and fast in Augustby: Amy Addams

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Nowata knows what you need to get that kid off to college while you keep about 32 cents in your pocket (which is a great amount after you get those tuition bills paid), so take a tour of the KAN-OKLA 100 Mile Yard Sale Sept. 13-14 for those last bits you forgot to buy when you sent the kids off earlier. They are sure to have it all, but

Nowata notions of savingsby: Lariane Larimar

be ready to do a bit of driving and looking to get it done. We’ll have more in September’s issue, but for now, we wanted to warm you up to the idea and get you looking for change under the couch cushions. Until then, keep the faith and keep saving those pennies for

KAN-OKLA 100 Mile Yard Sale.


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CraigWhile Craig County and namely Vinita are relatively quiet, never assume that they are sleeping the month away. They are locked up in a secret bunker planning an awesome end to your August. We think they got it ready to rock for Labor Day weekend (and many days leading up to it).

The Vinita Annual Rodeo Street Dance isn’t just an excuse to let your hair down; it’s the lead-up for the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo. Held on Aug. 24 7-10 pm in DT Vinita, this street dance is a celebration of all that makes us proud to be Okies – namely the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo slated for later in the week. With plenty of party to make you kick up your heels, this is a night of fun for everyone. It happens fast, so put on those sparkly flip-flops you been saving for a special occasion and get your party on. Best part is that they are hosting one every night leading up to the Rodeo. Find out more from (918) 256-7133.

If you have plans for Aug. 28, cancel them because that’s when Vinita goes volcanic. The Will Rogers Rodeo Parade, the Annual All Settlers Day and then the big deal, the Will Rogers Rodeo kicks off the whole Labor Day long weekend.

The Annual Rodeo Parade starts at noon on Aug. 28 and runs through downtown Vinita until 2:30. From there, they roll right into All Settlers Day at the Craig County Community Center from 1 – 6 pm and later in the evening, things really get rolling with the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo at the American Legion Grounds.

We love the parade with all of the pretty pageantry you’ve come to expect with anything tied to Will Rogers’ name. Bring a lawn

chair, some drinks and snacks and chill out for a few minutes of fun. You can feel Will’s spirit moving all through the town.

Spend your in between time at All Settlers Day in Vinita where you can peruse the love of how this town made its way. With food

from Chuck Wagon Restaurant, lots of giveaways and live music, Cowboy Junction will be hopping. It’s a cool time and a cool place to take a load off.

The Rodeo, with eight main events, is the perfect rodeo for the seasoned vet as well as the newbie who wants to know what all the rodeo fuss is about. With plenty of crazy, it’s a great way to blow off some of that Laborer’s steam and then

you can get back to real life after Labor Day with a smile on your face. Held since 1935, they always offer plenty of good times with the barrel racing, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, steer roping, calf roping, bull riding and team roping, but they turned it up to 11 with a calf scramble, rodeo clowns and the big Grand Entry. The Rodeo is happening Aug. 28-31 and with so much prize money and honors on the line, you’ll see plenty of action. Serious cowboy fun is what it’s all about anyway.

But they don’t stop there: with Rockin’ Robbie Hodges, one of the best(and funniest) barrel men around and Percheron Thunder, a horse show unlike any other with Jason Goodman and his six black horses doing things that others don’t dare to dream about, it’s a sure bet.

Want to know before you go? Then check out www.willrogersmemorialrodeo.com for schedules,

discount passes and more on the history of this 77 year-old tradition, or call (918) 256-7133 and get answers to all of life’s questions, including info on the parade, street dance and All Settlers.

After the rodeo ends and life is quiet again, spend

a bit of time in Vinita. They have lots of good food, sweet locals and they offer a quiet little getaway to clear your mind.

Craig County’s cowboy craziness continuesby: Amy Addams


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Creek County gets lumped in with Tulsa a lot of the time, but Creek County dances to its own beat. With plenty of outdoor and indoor fun, Creek has a bit of everything all in one little county.

Something exciting we stumbled on is the Keystone Ancient Forest Hike Aug. 10, but even better, if you can’t make this one, Keystone has another every month 8 am – 2 pm. More than three miles of trails with easy and moderate levels make this a great way to get some exercise while staying cool under the tree canopy of Keystone Forest. They have all you need, including port-a-potties and onsite parking, so grab a bottle of water, your good hiking shoes and bug spray and get out for some activity. There’s more info at www.sandspringsok.org or (918) 245-2500, ext. 2561.

Sand Springs is also keeping the music going with Summer Concert Series at Martha’s Corner Aug. 22 7 – 9 pm. Spend an afternoon in downtown Sand Springs, have a nice dinner and stick around for some free music. If you need more, give a call to (918) 224-5709.

We send August out with a bang in Bristow with their annual Route 66 Car, Truck, Bike & Tractor Show Aug. 30-31. Held right on Main Street, this car fanatic festival of fun offers all kinds of ways to make you stay. With a poker run (with pizza and cookies), swap meet and an opportunity to dress in your favorite 50’s garb, it’s two days of crazy good times. They’ve even put some food and crafter vendors in to keep the rest of the family busy while you drool over the gorgeous machinery of days gone by. For all the finer points, check out www.bristowcarshow.com or call (918) 367-0111.

Jump into Creek County andcool offby: Jennifer Jones

It’s no surprise that Okmulgee County is the home of the rodeo. But what some people don’t know is that they are also home to the biggest Labor Day Festival around these parts. We’ll start with the rodeos, but we’ll finish with the big deal: the Henryetta Labor Day Festival.

The Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo & Festival is going on Aug. 9 -10 at Bob Arrington Arena and if you are confused, it’s also the Roy LeBlanc Invitational. Home to the oldest African-American rodeo, this is the big deal as many of the earliest cowboys were black. It’s their time to show that the legacy of the African American cowboy hasn’t gone away. With a festival and parade, along with arts & crafts booths, this one is the big time gracing us with its presence. Held since 1956, they have plenty to get your cowboy entertainment fix. Get more from Travelok.com or give a call to (918) 756-0761. If you want to really make your day, stop by Massey’s BBQ for a fab slab of ribs before you hit the Arena. Ooops, I drooled on my keyboard. Massey’s mention makes me

Pavlov’s dog every time: www.masseysbbq.com. No brag, jus’ fact.

The end of the month is a wild time in Okmulgee County at bit further south in Henryetta with

the Living Legends Rodeo at Nichols Park Sept. 1 -2 and it’s a wild ride. Plenty

of the rodeo events with concessions make each night a big deal, but then they really put out the red carpet for the Labor Day Celebration Sept. 2. With a parade, games, concerts, carnival, rodeo and fireworks at dusk, it makes your Labor Day Weekend go out with a bang instead of a fizzle. It’s like Christmas in a heat wave. Plenty to make your day

super-special make this the one to beat. Get more from www.henryetta.org or call

(918) 652-3331. For more on the rodeo, give a call to (918) 652-3988.

We’ll have the excitement of the Okmulgee County Free Fair (Sept. 5-7) in next month’s issue, so don’t go far.

Okmulgee offers rodeos, morerodeos and Labor Day funby: Trent McDaniel

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We love Delaware County in the summer – with Grove, Jay and the lake all making plans for anyone and everyone, you just can’t lose. Their love of fun never ceases to amaze us and we’re sure that you’ll be back after your first visit.

We start the month with all the events at Bernice Nature Center beginning with the very first weekend: the Digital Scavenger Hunt (Aug. 2 11 am – 2 pm)/Back to School Weekend (Aug. 3 10 am – 2 pm) kicks off August and they have all kinds of fun things lined-up but even if you prefer to skip them, you can find plenty to entertain you with the playgrounds, swimming and plenty of places to go walking. Get more info from (918) 257-8330. Later in the month, they have an Ice Cream Social Aug. 24 and their annual Labor Day Bash scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 2 with plenty of arts and crafts along with nature hikes to help us say goodbye to summer. Bernice isn’t shutting their doors for winter, however. They also have a celebration for the Grandparents with Grandparents Day activities for kids Sept. 8. Kids can make a special gift for that special G-Parent. Stick around for September, because we are expecting even more with the cooler temps.

Another favorite of ours, Har-Ber Village is also on their game and even if they have nothing that grabs your interest, it’s a perfect place just to roam around. With all there is to see and enjoy, Har-Ber is a great daytrip getaway. They have events that you might be into with Ecology & Environment Day Aug. 3 where you can learn about the great outdoors, or you can select “Tough Plants for Tough Weather” or the “From Fleece to Yarn” demonstration. At the end of August, they host a “Beginning Spinning” workshop so you’ll have use for all that yarn you made. You really need to give Har-Ber your attention too: with dolls, furniture, glassware and a bird’s eye view into Oklahoma’s past, it’s a great time all for about the same cost as a movie ticket.A full day of fun for the price of a movie, hmmm…Get more on Har-Ber or check out newly added events atwww.har-bervillage.com or call (918) 786-6446. We’ll keep you posted for September too.

On Aug. 3, another event to check out is the 2nd Annual Native American Celebration on Hwy 59 right before the bridge. Plenty of food, art, dancing and kids’ fun make it a good time. It’s all free to attend too. Get more by calling (918) 786-4272 or visit www.grandlakelinks.com for a map to get you there.

On Aug. 10, the busy gets busier with the Great Grand Bobber Drop at Grand Lakes Sports Center. We have more in the Lakes pages, but so do Sam & Patti Williams: (918) 786-2300. The Sports Center is located at 301 S. Main Street in Grove.

Okay, Jay we hear you and we have lots to cover

there too. On Aug. 10, check out something really cool at the Jay Library with their 8th

annual Die Cast/Hot Wheels Show. Any collector of

Hot Wheels or the little racing cars will love this one. Be sure to show up in your big boy car, because you’ll wanna stick around for Jay Cruise Night later in the day. Known as the largest car cruise in NE OK, it’s the big boys’ toy rally. Bring lawn chairs and just drool down the front of your shirt over these beauties. It’s the big time. If you need more check out www.jayokchamber.com or call Jackie Coatley at (918) 253-8698 for more. It’s right on Main, so you’re sure to find it.

We also think you should give something back, so please give blood on Aug. 28 at the Delaware Co. Library in Jay. It runs 1:30 – 5:30 pm and you get so much more than a cookie for your good deed.

Ready to give Grove another go? Then clear the calendar for Labor Day Weekend with Jana Jae Fiddle Camp & Music Festival going on Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at the Grove Civic Center. No matter your skills, the camp can make you better or just give you some pointers if you are a master. No matter what we know, we

Delaware does digital, fiddles and gets hot wheeledby: Dakota Jones

Har-Ber Village

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can always do better. Plenty of jam sessions and a pickin’ party along with food to keep you playin’ make it a grand time on Grand Lake. For all the more you need to know, call (918) 786-8896 or check in with www.grandlakefestivals.com.

The Delaware County Free Fair is rocking the Jay Sept. 3-7 with a the big daddy Delaware County Farmfest on Sept 7. Exhibits, food, activities and plenty of livestock events along with a rodeo on Sept. 7 at 8 pm. It’s all at Delaware County Fairgrounds in Jay and you can call (918) 253-4332 if you have questions about the Free Fair or (918) 253-8698 or check out www.jaychamber.org for Farmfest answers.

Grove Merchants are in on the August action too. Don’t forget that Aug. 2-4 is tax free weekend, but the Grove Merchants are keeping things rolling into September by having a Fall Open House on Sept. 6. Call (918) 786-9109 with questions, but be sure your checkbook is full and your cards are ready to spend!

We have to give you a taste of September and there are a few

Wagoner County’s history ofnotable peopleby: Jennifer Jones

Last month, we had all kinds of peaches and fireworks in Wagoner County, but August is when things get quiet. Funny thing is that we found that there was a time when Wagoner was home to some pretty famous and trailblazing people. One of them was Isabel Cobb. If you don’t know who she is, let us fill you in on the details of this very special woman.

Isabel Cobb was the first woman physician in Indian Territory. Born near Morgantown, Tennessee, on October 25, 1858, Cobb attended school in Cleveland, Tennessee, until 1870. Her family moved to the Cooweescoowee District in the Cherokee Nation, settling about five miles southeast of today’s Wagoner. She attended Cherokee Female Seminary in Tahlequah and graduated in 1879. She went on to continue her education at Glendale Female College in Glendale, Ohio and returned to teach at the Cherokee Seminary from 1882 until it burned in 1887. Cobb entered Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1888 and received her M.D. degree in 1892. Cobb returned home in 1893 to practice medicine in rural Wagoner County: working from

a farmhouse on her family homestead, she practiced only within the neighboring areas, rarely seeing more than two hundred patients per year. Known as “Dr. Belle,” she primarily cared for women and children. She often performed surgery in the patient’s home and did not always collect money for her services. In 1930, Dr. Cobb broke her hip and subsequently retired from active

practice. A Presbyterian and a Republican, Cobb belonged to a number of Wagoner County literary societies. She never married but adopted a six-year-old Italian orphan in 1895. She died in Wagoner on August 11, 1947.

For all you gals out there, who want to make a difference, take a page from Dr. Cobb’s book and change the world. Women like Isabel Cobb paved the road, now you need to walk it. Thanks to the people like Isabel Cobb, women today have so many options that didn’t exist less than 100 years ago. Take

advantage of those options and make a difference.

Thank you Wagoner County Historical Museum for helping us write this and for keeping Dr. Cobb’s legacy alive.

events that we know will perk up your ears; one is the Roadkill Chili Cookoff at the Delaware County Fairgrounds Sept. 6 – 8, which coincides with the last few days of the Delaware Free Fair, so if you plan right, you’ll have a full day of fun and food. Find out the details on the Cookoff by visiting www.jaychamber.org or by calling (918) 253-8698.

If you have an RV and a taste for the music scene, give the Cedar Oaks Resort Music Festival happening Sept. 9 – 13 at Cedar Oaks Resort in Grove a try. It’s gonna be a great way to kick back, camp and come together to get your groove on. Call (918) 786-4303 to reserve your spot or ask questions.

Cobb Family


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Of course, there’s so much to do in Tulsa, even on a bad day, we always wonder what’s worth coverage and what’s not. At this time of year, many Tulsans are looking to get out into the hinterlands for some lake, river and quiet time, but there are still things to do if you know where to look.

The first week of August opens with a bang: the Tulsa County Free Fair winds out Aug. 1-2 They say it’s free, but for an admission ticket they offer ice cream, live entertainment, food and kids’ inflatables. Check them out again on Aug. 4 for a horse show. It all happens at the Tulsa Fair Grounds. Get more at www.oces.tulsacounty.org or call (918) 746-3719.

If you are in need of some art, then the Brady District is still hosting their First Friday Art Crawl (but they’ll let you walk if you prefer) on Aug. 2 and Sept. 6 from 6 – 9 pm. Find out more at www.thebradyartsdistrict.com.

Ready to give a little to help kids afford school this year? Then check out Pray 4 the Kids Walk Aug. 3 at LaFortune Park.

Registration starts at 8 am and they need all kinds of items even if you can’t make the walk. Started by Pastor Khalil Hakim, it was a response to a NYC Subway billboard that said one million New Yorkers are okay with God not being in their city. Well, Tulsa (and much of Oklahoma) feels differently. To see what you can bring to help, check out www.tulsabeacon.com. They will also accept monetary donations. God Bless this cause.

Also on Aug. 3, there is an Operation Christmas Child Prayer Walk in Midtown at 51st and Yale. Organized by Samaritan’s Purse, this is another event where you can help kids who need some faith in their lives. Find out how to get involved at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Now that you’ve done good deeds for others, how about a little fun? Wunderfest can give you what you need Aug. 9 – 10 at River West Festival Park. The theme is “End of Summer Beach Party” so get your straw hats, tacky Hawaiian shirts and festival goodies out and check it out. Plenty for the kids, so babysitter not necessarily required. Don’t forget to sample the local wines and beers while you get some local and national music in. Get more or find tickets at www.wunderfest.com or call Barry Durbin at (918) 409-4661.

Plenty of Tulsa ‘tune-ities’ formusic, art and...by: Trent McDaniel


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TYReady to rodeo? The BOK Center is ready to give it to you with the PBR Invitational Aug. 16-17. It starts with some pyrotechnics and only gets crazier from there. Points accrued all go towards the PBR World Championship, so it’s serious rodeo for your viewing pleasure. Go to www.pbr.com and check out the schedule for more or call (918) 894-4200 for tickets.

All that bull riding makes a person hungry and the very next weekend, the big daddy of steak, the Oklahoma Championship Steak Cook-Off is going to grace DT Tulsa on Aug. 24 with over 50 teams of grillers. Stick around for dinner at 5:30 pm; a 16 ounce rib eye is calling your name. Get tickets or more info from www.oksteakcookoff.com or call (918) 582-4128. Plenty of appetizers and tasty morsels will keep you going until then, but they have plenty of cars, motorcycles and live music before dinner.

The Tulsa Drillers have been celebrating a great season and they make it even more special on Aug. 24 with fireworks, but when we looked, they have special fun stuff almost every game, so no more excuses for missing their great times. Need more? Then call (918) 744-5901. The games are held at 201 N. Elgin Ave. in the Greenwood area. Games start at 7 pm.

Getting into September, we have plenty to keep you coming back: with Day of Caring Sept. 6, the Tulsa United Way is getting out there and helping local residents get housing sorted out and built. They need your help, so check in with www.tauw.org for more. They’ll be serving a hearty breakfast at 2143 S. Olympia Avenue to get your day started too! For questions, contact Bonnie Rucker at (918) 295-6601.

Another event that looks to be fun is the Vintage Market Days Sept. 6 - 9 at 510 E. 2nd Street. Open-market finds from kids’ clothing to vintage and unique home furnishings are all for the right price. Plenty of food to keep the shopping going makes this a great day of shopping glory. Get more from www.vintagemarketdays.com or call (918) 212-6033/260-9044.

Expo Center Events (www.exposquare.com):

Fair Meadows Live Racing: July 27- Aug. 4, (918) 744-1113Rope the Ozarks: Aug. 2 – Aug. 4, www.ustrc.com, (254) 968-0002National Snaffle Bit Association World Show: Aug. 9 – 18, www.nsba.com, (847) 623-6722Grand American Arms Show: Aug. 17-18, (405) 612-0223, www.grandamericanarmsshow.comSecond II None Show Up & Show Out Biker Weekend: Aug. 17, www.secondiinone.com, (918) 852-2962Just Between Friends Shopping Event: Aug. 18-24, www.jbfsale.com/tulsa, (918) 814-9326Green Country Cowboys of Color Rodeo: Aug. 24, www.kjmm.com, (918) 376-60005th Annual Pipeline Expo: Aug. 27-28, www.tulsapipelineexpo.com, (918) 591-3558Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic: Aug. 28-Sept. 1, www.okrha.com, (918) 857-2725Shetland Pony Congress: Sept. 5 -15, www.shetlandminiature.com, (309) 263-4044

Tulsa Convention Center Events (www.coxcentertulsa.com):

Tokyo in Tulsa: Aug. 2-4, www.tokyointulsa.comTulsa Metro Chamber Kick-Off Luncheon: Aug. 14, www.tulsahurricane.comLiving Word Center Conference: Aug. 25, [email protected] Allegiance Tour: Aug. 31, www.rockallegiance.com10th Annual MMWG Awards: Sept. 6 - 7, www.mmwgawards.comKevin James Comedy: Sept. 8, www.KevinJames.com


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MuskogeeAugust in Muskogee wraps up agreat Summerby: Jonita Mullins

How did summer go by so fast? It’s already time to be thinking about “back to school” and we haven’t done all the fun things that are available in Muskogee. Good thing the fun will continue even as summer begins to wind down.

Looking for bargains to ease the “back to school” shopping crunch? Check out the End of Summer Garage Sale that will be going on at the Muskogee Civic Center on August 2 and 3. The sale opens at 8:00 a.m. on Friday and 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. Don’t forget that the Muskogee Farmers’ Market will still be going on each Wednesday and Saturday starting at 8:00 a.m. It’s been a great year for crops and the selection remains good even through the hot month of August. Now there’s some healthy eating at its best! If you haven’t yet taken the kids to the USS Batfish this summer, the weekend of August 2-4 will be the perfect time. For this Living History event, uniformed re-enactors will man the historic WWII boat and dive into the actual day-to-day life of the submariner. It’s the perfect kind of “learning-experience-

disguised-as-fun” that will help get the kids ready for school. Submarine hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For that same weekend, the play “Rent” will open at the Muskogee Little Theatre and run for two weekends. Not for kids, the play has adult themes about falling in love, finding your voice, and living for today. “Rent” has become a pop culture phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates with its audiences. The curtain opens at 8:00 p.m. Information is available at www.muskogeelittletheatre.com or you can contact them at [email protected].

The heat never seems to stop the truly devoted runners among us. But even those crazy enough to run in the August heat know to pick an event like the Waterloop Trail Run at Honor Heights Park. It will be held on August 10 at 6:00 p.m. Plenty of water, shade and great camaraderie make this a good run for everyone. It raises funds for two worthy causes as well – Women Who Care (funds for mammograms) and Women In Safe Home (working to end domestic violence). For information and registration go towww.waterloop.net.

AT THE BATFISHLiving

HistoryLiving History

aUGUST 2 - 410am - 5pm

adults: $6children: $3

seniors & military: $4

Historians will manthe boat portraying sailors from WWII!

Envision. Experience. Excel.

www.ictctech.com


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Ever drive through Muskogee’s gorgeous historic neighborhoods and wonder about the stories those grand old houses might tell? Well you can learn all the secrets by joining an Okie Heritage Neighborhood Walking Tour on Friday, August 16 at 9:00 a.m. The walk starts at Beckman Park at 16th and Court and tours “Silk Stocking Lane” through the Founders’ Place and Kendall Place Historic Districts. Cost is $5 per person; cash only. More information is available at www.okieheritage.com. Every third Saturday, the Historic Roxy Theater downtown hosts the Saturday Night Spotlight. This musical showcase is a great

opportunity for young talent to take the stage and share their gift with others. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. on August 17 this month. The cost is $5 for adults, and free for children 12 and under. The public is encouraged to come out and support these young artists. Information is available at (918) 807-1278.


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It’s becoming one of Muskogee’s funnest festivals. It’s the annual River Rumba and Cardboard Boat Regatta held at Three Forks Harbor. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever on Saturday, August 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Enjoy watching those crazy boats try to make it across the harbor, or get a team together yourself and join in the fun. Registration (and cardboard) is available at the Muskogee Parks office at 837 E. Okmulgee Ave. The event actually starts with a Parade of Boats and Harbor Party on Friday, August 23. It’s all great fun!

That same Saturday, the Fort Gibson Run will be happening just up the river. This annual event grows every year and this edition will take runners on a course throughout the historic communityincluding the National Cemetery and the Historic Fort. The race begins at 7:30 a.m. at the high school soccer fields and will include a new 10k course as well as the usual 5K and 1-Mile runs. This is a sanctioned race for the serious competitors, but also a fun

run for folks who like getting their exercise in the camaraderie of a crowd in an interesting location. Contact the Fort Gibson Chamber of Commerce for all the details at 918-478-4780. August is the month for changing gears as we get out of vacation mode and into back to school. But it just transitions us into cooler temps and more great fun heading into fall.

We’re never more than a weekend away from something fun to do in Muskogee.


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TYAdair is where meat is Smokin’by: Amy Addams

Okay, we found a place on the Adair/Cherokee Counties line where a quiet man does something spectacular with meat. In these parts, it’s really hard to impress any of us with meat but Ryan Miller has a tried and true way to make your meat sing with flavor. He’s worked on his meat flavoring process for close to 14 years, and finally, in 2005, he made a business of it. And we think he’s got it down pat - and he’s even taken it a step further.

The company is Rockin’ M Smoked Meats and you can bring Ryan Miller your cut and he will smoke it to delicate perfection. He does this for Princess Restaurant, local church functions or he can make you a batch of smoked meat for your freezer stash at home. It’s all delicious and tender. We’ve become quite fanatical and won’t get chopped beef or pork anywhere else. It’s that good. The rib eye at Princess has quite the reputation too and many locals will tell you that they regularly make the trek to Princess for their ‘rib eye fix.’

We asked Ryan how he started this and he says that he wanted to be a chef, but at the time, the schools in Oklahoma were only offering culinary school as part of a larger college curriculum, so he put it off. Later, when it became a course on its own, he was too old to do it (Ryan’s almost 30 and has a steady job and life, so we get that). His skills at this point are so good, we think he could go out there without the degree and compete against the big dogs. He makes his own rubs, steak seasonings and BBQ sauce, which are also all served at Princess Restaurant if you want to try them. He says that a big part of the secret to making everything work together is knowing how much to put on each cut of meat. Fish, chicken, pork and red meat all benefit from his spices but quantity is key. Princess also sells Ryan’s secret spices over the counter, so if you want to give it a shot on your own, they can set you up.

What makes Ryan’s meats a cut above is not completely known to us mere mortals, however, we do know that he takes a long drive to west Texas for mesquite wood (most BBQ-ers in these parts use hickory), he uses good cuts of meat from Mountain View Meats and he knows what amount of his special spice to make each cut of meat the best it can be; and usually better than anyone could

have hoped for. Ryan takes great pride in his work and he feels that each piece of meat has his name on it, so he does what so many aren’t thinking about anymore; he pays serious attention to the time and quality of everything he does. In this day and age, that’s a rare thing. While we have moved past some of the economic fears of a few years ago, many of us have also moved into intolerance for the cheap, half-baked, “Made In <insert foreign country here> quality of yesteryear. We want good products and are willing to pay a dollar or two more for it. Ryan does his job and he does it well. None of that ‘whatever’ mentality for him - it’s all about the special.

What really made us pause is that Ryan isn’t looking for his name in lights or a special acknowledgment. He’s a very sweet, quiet guy who likes his country life and just wants to do a good job. He doesn’t say much, but like E.F. Hutton, when Ryan talks, people listen: “It’s your business - you have to take care of it yourself. You can’t hire someone else to do it. No one will do what you do with the same care.” We know how you feel Ryan. Keep up the good meat.

If you would like to order some smoked meats (and they will impress everyone at your next gathering – everyone will think you are the ‘be all end all’ of smoked meat), then you can order through Princess Restaurant at (918) 457-4270. Ryan works at Princess as

well as Rockin’ M. Get yourself to Princess and get some of that meat - it’s guaranteed to change your views on how good meat can get and how great meat can be.

Suggestions on ordering at Princess:Try their rib eye: we’ve talked to many people who make the pilgrimage to Princess just for that.Try their pulled pork/beef: we lean towards the pork more than the beef, but both are delicious. Princess even has different kinds of BBQ sauce to slather on your sandwich. Either one is great.Catfish: divine no matter what you get it with: flaky, tender and oh so tasty!Get some of their ice cream! What more can we say? the words are enough.


SeektheGeek

YOU”VE GONE TOO FAR!!! ‘THE GEEK’ YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS IN THE COUNTY SECTION.

KEEP LOOKING AND SHOW YOUR LOCAL BRANCH OF THEEASTERN OKLAHOMA DISTRICT LIBRARY SYSTEM

THAT YOU FOUND ‘THE GEEK’ ANDCLAIM YOUR REWARD.


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You asked for it, and we’ve got it: all the cool for back to school in one place. We know that kids are more fashion savvy than ever before and it requires either a lot of online shopping (ugh!) or a simple trip down Main Street where shipping and handling charges are a thing of the past. Best part is that you are directly helping the Oklahoma economy while helping yourself to look FANTASTIC! Here we go –

We wanted to showcase boutiques, but when you’re in Muskogee, Arrowhead Mall isn’t your typical crowded and impersonal shopping experience. While it does have the large chain stores like JC Penney’s, American Eagle, Footlocker, Hibbett Sports, Sears and Stage, it also has neat little boutiques and places to go to pamper yourself with nail and hair salons and lots of accessory spots. Beat the heat while you walk around in an air conditioned environment with relaxing fountains, enjoy the aquarium with your children or relax in the food court for lunch or a cookie and coffee while your children play on the inflatables. Facebook: arrowheadmall

In Okmulgee, on HWY 75, a little shopping center can be found at 2010 S. Wood Drive. Here you’ll find national chains like Hibbetts Sports, Payless Shoes and Factory Connection. Factory Connection is a great store for shopping for the whole family; you can find men’s and women’s clothes and accessories. Other locations in Green Country include Claremore, Grove, Miami, Muskogee, Sallisaw, Tahlequah and Sapulpa.

Rogers County has some great shopping in downtown Claremore. Peppered amongst the antique, art and gift shops, you’ll find a cluster of three little boutiques you won’t want to miss. Savannah’s, located at 514 W Will Rogers Blvd, is a boutique in the most classical sense of the word. Clean and elegant, the

fashion is the perfect mixture of trendy and classical. Items are well-made and unique and the people are warm and friendly. Facebook (SavannahsBoutique) or (918) 283-1333.

Located inside Savanna’s Boutique, The Orange Owl has some great accessories. They carry new and repurposed items made into something funky and fun. Best part is most of their items are priced less than $30, so it’s fun you can afford. They are located at 514 W. Will Rogers Blvd. Facebook: TheOrangeOwl

Right next door, you’ll find a cute little shop called Crafted: An Artisan Boutique. This quaint little shop offers local artisans’ best items including jewelry, art, clothing and accessories. There is absolutely everything you need to turn your little princess into a princess on the outside too. Home décor, soaps and other fine items are all crafted by only the best in the area, (918) 923-6470.

Off we go into Mayes County where Mill Creek Market offers Stage, Hibbetts and Maurices, but the more local chain Sharpe’s can be found there too; Sharpe’s carries clothing for the whole family, women’s wear and accessories, men’s work clothes and even men’s suits. Other Sharpe’s can be found in Checotah, Stigler, Eufaula, Sallisaw, Grove, Okmulgee and Tahlequah. Mill Creek is located on Hwy 69 (Mill St). While you are on 69, check out are: Rhinestones & Ruffles on Coo-Y-Ya and The Village Shop and OOH LA LA Boutique on E. Graham Ave.

Want to combine your shopping with your last days of summer fun? Look no further, we found a sassy, little boutique in Grove; Grand Panache on Honey Creek Landing (2530 S Main) has a courtesy dock right on the lake for their shoppers (allowing you to combine summer fun and school shopping at the same time or park your car in their lot). Apparel, handbags, jewelry, home decor and more make this a perfect spot for some bling or grab a Grand Lake souvenir. They also have plenty of maxi dresses and pretty things you need but haven’t seen yet. Facebook: Grand-Panache, (918) 787-9327

Get serious bling on in Craig County at Cowgirlz Bling in Vinita. Here you can find name brand jeans, shorts, capris and shirts as well as accessories like purses, wallets, fancy flip flops, jewelry, hats, belts and sunglasses. Just one piece of bling, or an entire outfit, Cowgirlz has you covered. You can find them at 438346 E 230 Rd. (918) 256-1306, Facebook: Cowgirlz-Bling

In Tulsa, we often recommend shopping at Utica Square, Woodland Hills Mall or Cherry Street (AKA: 15th Street) – all kinds of one-of-a-kind finds await you at Resurrect, Blue Jean Baby and Rope. Check out the entire list on yellowpages.com (do a search for clothing boutiques in Tulsa).

In Creek County, we think Isabella’s Collection is a great little find on 201 E. Dewey St. in Sapulpa. This boutique has

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Back to School Shopping


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great accessories, clothing, even candles and scents for your home. With their great gift items and reasonable prices it’s definitely a good destination. Dreamcatcher On the Corner also has some cool finds; located at 210 E. Dewey Ave., they are almost right on top of Isabella’s, so give them a try too.

Heading north into Bartlesville/Collinsville, there are many shopping opps. Chevron Chic (Facebook: Chevron-Chic-Boutique) in Bartlesville has trendy and casual but quite affordable, and On the Go Unique Boutique in Dewey has plenty of design ideas and options (918-331-2285). Collinsville has a plethora of finds on their Main Street with Gypsy Rose and Crème De La Crème: both are easy to find and hard to leave. While you are there, get a great cup of coffee, cookies or ice cream at Scoops and Grinds to keep you going. (Facebook: Gypsy-Rose-Boutique, cremedelacremeboutique, ScoopsAndGrinds)

Ready to have one more lake party before the cooler temps set in? McIntosh County offers so much great shopping after you’ve enjoyed Lake Eufaula: 9 East Boutique (located at 123 Selmon Rd) has plenty of trendy and stylish clothes with lots of the name brands that you love – cute, cute, CUTE! Facebook: 9-East-Boutique, (918) 618-6050

While you’re there, be sure to stop by Libby’s to find big town boutique fashion with small town charm. Libby’s has a store in Tulsa and another store in St. Louis, but its owner, Debbie Gibbens, calls Eufaula home. Debbie’s promise to her customers, “I promise on my favorite feather boa that Libby’s will never have a sweater with golf clubs or Scottie dogs! I just love free flowing clothing with sassy color that feels good. We can add plenty of bling with jewelry and creative accessories.” Located at 139 North Main, plenty of cute and flowing pieces of wear to jazz up the ol’ wardrobe. Facebook: libbyseufaula, (918) 618-4848

For another unique shopping opp, give downtown Tahlequah a try. Pop in to Junie’s Closet (110 N. Main) where all things cool are to be had: jeans in every color, tanks, tees and oodles of

scarves, bags and belts can be found for great prices (and Junie ALWAYS has a special little sale happening – we LOVE that). You will fill your bag and have change left over with all the name brands you couldn’t find elsewhere. Find Junie’s on Facebook: JuniesCloset (and see what’s on sale because she’s always dreaming up something) or call (918) 458-0454.

Just a few doors up Muskogee Ave. is Edie’s Fashions where bling could be found since 1965; best part is that they can help you dress better with some help from the knowledgeable staff and we were impressed with their Spanx collection (to hold you in and up). Check out the Brighton collections too – she has some great sales where even the high-price items can be had on the cheap. Facebook: edies-fashions-gifts, (918) 456-5311

One place we always check out (even when we aren’t really looking to buy) is Everything Under the Sun (123 N. Muskogee), where the kitsch and cool collide. You can even find cool baby gear, but don’t leave without perusing their unique collections of girls’ and women’s wear. Trendy stuff in lots of sizes at EUTS, but we always have to sniff the candles and body lotions too – good stuff abounds at this little shop. Facebook: EUTS.tahlequah, (918) 431-0101

Workman’s Department Store has been a pillar of the retail community in Tahlequah for decades; with lots of space on two floors and more boots than you ever thought existed, this place has the Western Wear thing down pat. Justin, Tony Lama, Carhartt, Cruel Girl, Cowgirl Up and more can all be found at Workman’s and the selection and the prices are sure to please. (918-456-6931)

No matter what your back-to-school shopping plans are, make time to keep our money here in the Sooner State. Planning for your child’s future success includes a good economy and local is

where it’s at!


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…Is you. We asked around and the secret to making sure your child has a good start to the new school year all comes from your efforts. It’s a good time to make sure your child has all the tools he or she needs to make this school year a raging success. We have a starter list to get you on your way.

Sleep: sleep is very important to doing well in school. Where many teenagers are concerned, lack of sleep is a major interference to their academic success. Studies have shown that teens need between nine and twelve hours of sleep per night; many teens don’t even get six. Take away cell phones, iPads, video games and other distractions early and get them to bed ahead of the school year. All kids need to be back into a sleep schedule at least a week before the school year begins.

Breakfast: while most kids eat something before school, what they eat is just as important. Sugary cereals, sodas (pop), cookies and other sweets are not good to get the day going. We have some recipes in the back of this issue if you need help with ideas for breakfast food. High fiber, high protein and low sugar foods make for a more alert student.

Reading: it’s true that parents who read have children who read. Get your children back into the zone with a trip to the library. Many schools send home summer assignments for children to stay on track. If you’ve ignored this all summer, NOW is a really good time to see what needs to be done. Our local libraries are always willing to help; get library cards renewed, look about and see where everything is and make sure your children have a few books read before the new school year starts. If they struggle with reading, help them get those skills where they need to be. It

doesn’t take long but it will make a world of difference in your child’s success overall.

Math: does your child struggle with math? Now is a perfect time to improve their skills. Even if math is a weakness for you, ask family, friends, neighbors, last year’s teachers to help your child get his or her math abilities on the right track. Many people have a perception that dates back to one instance of poor instruction and they’ve never let that perception go. Finding someone who is patient and can help your child get better will go a long way. You might have an Einstein in the making!

Visit the school: this is a perfect time to get your child acquainted with their new schedule. If they are in a new school, this step is critical. You want to make sure that the fears have been addressed and knowing what’s coming is half the battle. It’s a great place to get help with any subjects your child struggles with; a guidance counselor can help you onto the right path.

Your physician: having a check-up before the year begins is critical. Even if your children are caught-up on immunizations, vision, hearing and speech tests should be done at least every other year. Some schools will refuse your child without them. Better safe than sorry.

Supplies: don’t waste money on unnecessary supplies. Wait until the teacher provides the list and then buy. Many people waste up to 30% of their back to school budget on unnecessary supplies. If you need help affording supplies, there are resources out there. Check with your school’s administrators, the Zoe Institute (www.zoeinstitute.com) or the kiosk at Wal-Mart where you got the list to see what’s available to help you afford them. The Cherokee Nation has a program called JOM to help with school supplies for Cherokees as well. If you have a CDIB card, ask your school about this. Stores like Staples, Office Depot and Best Buy have programs

The KEY to your child’ssuccessful school year…


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Lto help too. Many stores have what they call ‘loss leaders’: items that they sell at a loss to get you in the store. Once you are there, they hope you will spend more money to offset those deals. Check through the Sunday paper circulars, make a list of what’s out there and make a game of it by giving your child $5 and see how far they can go (good for updating those math skills too!). You might also want to spend a few minutes joining stores’ savings clubs; Staples offers 15% discounts to sign up for their Savings Pass.

Back to School Night: do NOT bypass this perfect opportunity to meet your child’s teachers! Much can be learned at these gatherings. You can discuss your child’s issues, exchange e-mails /phone numbers with the teachers and stay on top of your child’s progress through the year. Find out how the teacher wants to communicate and be involved from the beginning. Many children do better when they know that their parents are always watching. This is also a good time to ask about state testing and what you hope to achieve.

School year calendar: post this on the fridge or other conspicuous place; your child can’t hide report cards, interim reports or forget important dates. One website, www.Office365.com, has resources to help you stay on top of your child’s progress from anywhere.

Organization: help your child to organize papers, books, clothing and other materials before the year begins. Set-up a study area where you can watch what they do and check their work. If you aren’t good at getting organized, you might want to ask someone to help you.

Tax-Free Weekend: Take advantage of this! It’s like getting a 10 percent discount all weekend long. If you spend $500 on your child’s supplies, you are keeping $50 in your pocket. That’s some serious change! Get a bigger discount by checking for discounts, coupon codes or store coupons. When all else fails, ask if they are

offering coupons and come back when you have one (or see if you can use the one on your smart phone).

Clothing: Pull out the old stuff and see what’s still usable and make a list of what your child still needs. Put the list aside then come back later and prioritize. Invest in good shoes, socks, jeans and book bag. Spend less on tops/tees and accessories. If your kids are a bit older, give them a budget and see what they do with it (make sure you watch the first time out). If they are in charge of their money, they will tend to be a bit more frugal.

Look on Websites/Facebook pages for your kids’ favorite stores and see what deals are out there. You’ll be surprised. Check with your local stores and see if they have coupons or specials. You’ll be amazed at how well you can do by giving local shops a shot - they are working much harder than the big stores to make you happy. We suggest a trip down Main Street and see what’s out there.

Going Green: You might want to revamp clothes and supplies that still have life in them by adding design touches to make old things look new. Plenty of ideas can be found at craft stores. If you have neighbors with children, suggest a clothing/supplies swap, see what you can do with hand-me-downs. Repair items that need buttons, snaps, stitching repairs. If you are ‘uncrafty,’ find a friend who is good at these things and offer to swap something they want from you. Even an offer to babysit/dog sit or mow grass can be a great exchange. If your children are older, have them fulfill the deal. For ideas, do a Google search on ideas to dress up the plain supplies or check www.mypulsemag.com for a list of ideas we found out there.

Our many thanks to the teachers and administrators - both current and retired - for your help with this story. Have a happy and safe school year.

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Last month, we didn’t have a whole lot of car, bike, tractor, airplane shows so we thought we’d let it be for a month,but it looks like they are back with a vengeance for August. It’s good to know that the gear heads haven’t quit, theyjust took a breather. We’ve got them in spades for this month, so we’re gonna get right to it.

THINGS THAT GOVROOM

Boats, Bikes, Bikinis & BBQ: Aug. 3, Arrowhead Yacht Club, Grand Lake, (918) 782-2628: what more can we say to make you want to go? Heck, they’ve covered more than we could even dream of just with the title! A boat show, bikini contest and silent auction make it a full day of fun that you’ll dream about for weeks afterwards.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: Aug. 5 – 11, Sturgis, South Dakota: This is the big deal for those who live the Harley life. While it’s become a bit gentler over the past years, it’s probably one of the biggest groupings of bikers you’ll ever see in your life.www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com

Smoke ‘Em Cigarette Fun Run: Aug. 16-17, Shangri-La Marina, Grand Lake, (918) 257-4898, www.shangrilaok.com: Before you think we are advocating cigarette smoking, let’s just say that these kinds of cigarettes will get your heart rate up, but only from excitement. This is boat racing in its heyday, Aug. 16-17 to be exact. Big time racing that won’t give you cancer, but might require blood pressure meds after you watch it for a while.

Fenders & Flames Car Show/Poker Run: Aug. 9 -10, Coalgate, (580) 927-3914: while not part of our demographic, it’s a big deal for a good cause. Benefitting the local Fire Departments, this five-year-old gathering is a good way to do good deeds while having fun.

Wild West Week: Aug. 3, Pawnee Lakeside Arena, Pawnee, (918) 762-2108: More than a Wild West Show, there will be plenty of pretty cars with the Cruise-In Aug. 3 at 6 pm, but keep coming back for the rodeos, dancing and food!

Jay Cruise Night: Aug. 10, Downtown Jay, (918) 253-8698, www.jayokchamber.com: Considered the largest car cruise in NE OK, it’s a great evening of seeing all the chrome and pretty paint jobs. Bring your lawn chair, some snacks and drinks and see what’s up.

Boats, Melon and BBQ: Aug. 17, New Mannford Ramp, Mannford, www.mannfordbc.com: a boat group that doesn’t make much noise, but with all the splashing around, you’ll stay cool. Plenty of food and family fun anyway.

8th Annual Blast to the Past Car & Truck Show: Aug. 17, Cherokee Casino, W. Siloam Springs: Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to the winners of each category. Vehicles will be judged on paint job, originality, customization, engine and overall appearance. www.cherokeestarrewards.com, (918) 422-6229

Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In: Aug. 18, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, Oolagah: Even more than planes, it’s cars, kids’ fun and food. (918) 343-8113, www.willrogers.com

River Rumba & Regatta: Aug. 23-24, Three Forks Harbor, Muskogee, (918) 684-6302: if you’ve always dreamt of making a cardboard boat and being the envy of all your friends, this is it! It’s even more fun for all those watching your boat start to sink, so bring a cardboard bucket to sling water.

Shidler One Day Classic Car Show: Aug. 24, Coussens Park, Shidler: The word of the day is ‘Vintage’ and if you’ve been thinking you’d like to get into rebuilding your own custom ride, there will be plenty of automotive vendors to get you on your way. Plenty of food and music for the rest of the clan to keep them busy while you drool. (918) 793-4171, www.shidlerokahoma.com

Oklahoma Championship Steak Cook-Off: Aug. 24, Downtown Tulsa, (918) 582-4128, www.oksteakcookoff.com: Even with all that delectable meat grilling away, you can still get away to check out all the fancy rides while you snack on the grilled appetizers.

Miami Route 66 Cruise Night: Aug. 24, Waylan’s Ku-Ku Drive In, Miami, (918) 542-9696: The Rebel Car Club is at it again and they aren’t stopping ‘til you say ‘when’. Get some burgers and fries then see all the beautiful rides.

Cherokee National Holiday: Aug. 30-Sept. 1, all over Tahlequah, www.cherokee.org, (918) 453-5544: no matter what reason you are coming out to the Cherokee National Holiday, they are sure to have everything in a big way for three whole days. Wear comfy shoes, light clothing and get ready to eat, drink and be Cherokee.

Bristow Route 66 Car, Truck, Bike & Tractor Show: Aug. 30-31, Main Street, Bristow, (918) 367-5151, Facebook : what more can we say? The name says it all. Plenty of rides for all kinds of guys, no matter what your favorite thing is to wish for. Imagine waxing up that old John Deere for this, eh?

Labor Day Celebration: Sept. 2, Downtown Henryetta, www.henryetta.org, (918) 652-3331: What better way to send off summer than with a Labor Day Festival? Best part is that you can distract the rest of the family with a carnival or concert while you slink off to look at your reflection in all that beautiful chrome and shiny paint.

Bluegrass & Chili Festival: Sept. 5-7, Expo Center, Claremore, (918) 341-2818, www.claremore.org: With chili and bluegrass, you’d think they would stop there, but the Claremore people never sleep. They’ve made sure that you’ve got entire days devoted to the fun, but the car show should be a hoot too. Just be careful with that bowl of chili!

Osage County Free Fair: Sept. 5-7, Osage County Fairgrounds, Pawhuska, (918) 287-4170: along with all the critters, rodeo and vendor booths, they also serve up some beauties for that one who needs more; making this a sure bet.


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Go EAST young manWe’ve given the western reaches of Oklahoma a lot of attention the past months, and we thought we were doing right by y’all. Turns out, many of our readers wanted to head over the state line into NW Arkansas. We received so many calls, e-mails, Facebook postings, requesting that we decided to take a look into our neighbor’s backyard and honor that request. So without further ado, here are some fun things to do in NW Arkansas over the coming weeks:

We have to give you some insight into what the museums are up to. Crystal Bridges is a museum worth your attention and time. They have all kinds of national recognition and the best part is that they are right next door! One of their exhibits, “American Experience: Genre Scenes on Paper” is winding down Aug. 12.

“American Experience will feature a selection of watercolors and drawings that highlight the richness and variety of the American experience in the 19th Century. The exhibition addresses themes of work and leisure in the city and country, and features a diverse group of artists, including several represented by paintings in the collection: Winslow Homer, Thomas Waterman Wood, and John Lewis Krimmel.” Find out about this and other limited engagements at www.crystalbridges.org or (479) 418-5700. CB is located at 600 Museum Way in Bentonville.

Looking to entertain the young-uns? NW AR has that too. Craft Village in Mountain View celebrates ‘Young Pioneers’ until Aug. 3: plenty of hands-on music and crafts (www.ozarkfolkcenter.com) and then, on Sept. 6 – 8, there’s the 18th Annual Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championships in Harrison (www.arkansasballoonfest.com); bring a camera!

Looking for some unique arts and crafts opportunities? They’ve got that too. On Aug. 6, they have ‘Women in the Ozarks’ at Craft Village: learn about pioneer women’s traditional works, roles, spinning and quilting (www.ozarkfolkcenter.com) or wait until Aug. 27 for ‘Hands on in the Park’ where you can try your hand at any number of crafts done the old-fashioned way. A really big craft show is headed to Prairie Grove Aug. 31-Sept. 2, the ‘62nd Annual Clothesline Fair’ is a pretty dang big deal. For only $5 to park close, you can see all the beautiful bits that local and far away artisans have been working on all year (479-846-2990, www.artscenteroftheozarks.org). If you plan right, you can check out the Cherokee Holiday on this side of the border and the

Clothesline Fair on the other.

Wanna kick up your heels? How about Mountains, Music & Motorcycles Aug. 16-18 at Mountain View Town Square? Biker-friendly, kid-friendly and a rope challenge make this an affair to get riled up about (www.ozarkfolkcenter.com). If Bluegrass is more your vibe, then Basin Park in Eureka Springs is ready to head you off at the pass on Aug. 16-18. Plenty of pickin’ and grinnin’ expected (www.eurekasprings.org). Then on Sept. 6-8, give Folk Dance Days a try; the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View will teach you all the moves for that clogging, jigging or contra dancing you’ve been dying to try (www.ozarkfolkcenter.com, 870-269-3851).

Okay, for the gear heads, we have the 43rd Annual Eureka Springs Antique Automobile Festival Sept. 6-8 at the Village at Pine Mountain. A big car parade and the reenactment of the 1922 bank robbery makes this show a good time bet (www.eurekaspringschamber.com).

Want more? We’ve only skimmed the big stuff, so find out about lots more stuff to do over the line at www.arkansas.com, www.arfea.org or www.arkansasonline.com. Safe travels!

WORTH THE DRIVE

Great eats in NW Arkansas (from an Arkansas Afficionado):Z’s Pizza, 2730 N. College Ave., Fayetteville, (479) 935-4299, www.zpizzapastasubs.com Gabriela’s Mexican, 121 N Pittman St., Prairie Grove,(479) 846-3211Briar Rose Bakery, 28 E. Main St., Farmington, (479) 300-6027, FacebookThe Taste, 2630 E. Citizens Dr., Suite 20, Fayetteville,(479) 527-6868, FacebookTable Mesa Bistro, 108 E. Central Ave., Bentonville, 401 W. Watson St., Fayetteville, (479) 715-6706,www.tablemesabistro.comThe Hive, 200 NE A Street, Bentonville, (479) 286-6575,www.thehivebentonville.com, reservations recommended


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It’s the right time of year to give our local Teachers a big gold star for all they do. We, as a community, have to give our local educators the support and respect for all they do and with the 2013-14 school year upon us, now is the perfect time to show them how much we appreciate them.

Some people don’t think about the problems our Teachers face; they only care that our kids are where they are supposed to be and some others only want to know when things are going wrong. It’s like caring about the Wal-Mart greeter – you don’t tend to think about it much. But outside of the classroom, many of our Teachers are held to a higher standard than with other professions. If we saw the Wal-Mart greeter ripping it up on the town, we probably wouldn’t bat an eye; if we saw our kids’ Teacher out doing the same thing, we would have something to say about it.

There are numerous ‘no-win’ situations in today’s school systems that have forced many true Teachers to leave education behind. Standardized test’ results are indifferent to improvement; (all that matters is that magic achievement number), reduced funding and pay cuts are a constant threat and ridiculous expectations from government agencies that are out of the loop on what’s really going on become more ridiculous every year. Top it all off with the never-ending to-do list; grade assignments/tests/papers, take more courses to stay on top of the latest information and stick around after school for meetings with faculty, parents and superiors. Many Teachers participate in the after school curriculum: tutoring, sports, arts and a myriad of other things meant to keep kids interested in school for the long haul add to the list. But WAIT, there’s more: the added issues of school violence, bullying and over-filled classrooms are contributing to many educators’ sleepless nights. And anyone who teaches will tell you that he/she has a LOT of them.

Some who go into teaching think it will be a simple job: work M-F, summers off and a short work day. Then reality sets in. None of

these things are true: the hours are extraordinarily long, you work after school, weekends, over holidays and you oftentimes spend your summers working a part time job to pay your bills or taking courses to keep your credentials. You are a slave to those elusive test scores with underfunding, overcrowding, doing more with less, spending your own time and money on many of the necessities and writing lesson plans to keep students’ attention. Just imagine yourself in a classroom of 30-40 kids: some aren’t interested, 90 percent of your attention goes to 10 percent of your class (troublemakers) and you have to get and keep those state and national test scores up or your job could be on the line. It’s enough to make the toughest cringe in fear just thinking about it. That’s why it’s not a ‘job,’ it’s a calling.

Like Mother Teresa, the Pope or those who work in social service professions, teaching is never ‘just a job.’ Anyone who says different is also going to sell you swampland in Florida.

We can help our Teachers help our kids to succeed. This year, get to know your child’s Teacher. Open-up a line of communication and take a hard look at your child’s strengths and weaknesses along with any of your child’s negative personality

traits (everyone has them - even your child). Ask what your child’s Teacher needs from you and really be willing to help. Even if you can’t quit your job to do better by your child’s education, just knowing that you support their decisions can make a Teacher’s job

that much easier. Most of all, don’t excuse your kid’s negative behavior. All of our kids have their quirks; it’s nothing personal on you. We are raising our children to be good adults effective immediately. Help your Teachers do their part to make it happen.

Another thing we can do is research the usefulness of the standardized tests; take along look at them and if they have become a useless way to keep score on what your

kids have learned, tell your local politicians, tell the Department of Education, tell your school administrator, but do something about it.

If you could read this article, thank a Teacher.

Homegrown Heroes:Teachers

“We sit silent as our calling is stripped from us. Our voices are muted, replaced with scripted curriculum and standardized tests. We cringe

every time we read from the Teacher’s Edition or hand our students another test. We apologize,

and yet we continue. Our silence making us accomplices to this tragedy called “reform”. It’s taken me a long time to reach the point where I

will not remain silent. If I have to choose between what’s best for our kids and being liked, I am

choosing my kids.”

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Appreciating Teachers - One Teacher’s Top 10:

Chocolate, gift certificates, and lunch are great! I really do appreciate all the thanks I have received. But I’d like to share some tips on what would REALLY make me feel appreciated! This goes out to anyone who interacts with Teachers, in no particular order: 1. Please take responsibility for your child. I cannot raise your child(ren) and my own. We each have a hand in raising your child. I need your help. 2. Stop making excuses for your child›s behavior. It causes a vicious cycle that will never end, and makes your child, ummm, not so nice to be around. 3. If I send home information, read it. If I call you, listen to the message. If I email you, respond. If I need a signature, sign it. 4. Stop.Talking. Do you know how much more you would learn if you were actually listening to me and/or your peers? It›s not always going to be ‘happy’ and sometimes you have to be quiet. 5. Take responsibility. If you did it, say you did and let›s move on. If you didn’t do what you were supposed to do, get it done. 6. Don’t patronize me. If it’s another “new thing” and I just have to do it, just tell me what it is, what I have to do, and how soon I have to do it. Candy on the table won’t sweeten it. 7. Treat me as a professional. I went to college, dammit! I can actually make decisions about what is good for my students. 8. You will never, ever, ever, in a million years know what is best for my students. Stop dictating what is best for them because you do not know. 9. No more standardized tests! No more data, data, data! 10. Last, but certainly not least, respect me. This is a difficult, complicated job. Try to wrap your head around what I doevery single day, mostly without complaint, and respectthe fact that I do it. Thank you,thank you very much! A Teacher

Editor’s Note: the capitalizationof ‘Teacher’ in this article wasno accident – if the Presidentdeserves his title capitalized,so do the Teachers.

We’d also like to thank the teachers who contributed their insights to this article. We’ve left out their names as many might have to take a mental beating for this story, but to all of you who helped, thank you very much for your time, honest information and help! Stay safe and have a great school year.

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It’s kinda quiet around these parts for August theatre, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do, you only have to take a look and see what the local theatres have for you and remember that they are air-conditioned. You’ll find something to make you happy - and cool.

Grove Community Playmakers are wrapping up “Charlotte’s Web” Aug. 1-4 and with the addition of the Off-Broadway Troupers in this two-act play, it’s a pretty big deal. BUT if you miss “Charlotte’s Web,” then why not head back into Grove Sept. 7-8 for “Short Attention Span Theatre”? If you’ve never heard of it, it’s two short plays and one monologue, but best of all, they are all comedies. The first play is about bad blind dates and old ladies in rocking chairs ready to go off and do something new with their lives. The second is about a Jewish girl in the 1930’s who is asked to narrate her school’s Christmas play. Get all you need from www.gcplaymakers.com or (918) 786-8950.

Of course, it’s not theatre without a discussion of Tulsa Performing Arts Center and even the PAC is a bit quieter than normal this August, but that doesn’t mean they gave up – it’s just easier to pick from a smaller list: “Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet” is a contemporary ballet for Oklahoma history and culture. If you want to try a ballet out, this might just be the one that makes you a convert. Showing Aug. 16-18 at John H. Williams Theatre.

Aug. 16-17 is also the dates for “Narrow View? Try a Broad Way!” also at the PAC. “A musical revue with spine and social conscience, in addition to a wicked sense of humor” makes this a good time for anyone needing a break from the usual stuff.If you need a bit of the usual stuff, why not check out “I Hate Hamlet” Sept. 6-8, where the real Hamlet is only the backdrop of this play about a guy who goes to NY to be Hamlet on stage even though he’s not sure he has what it takes to BE Hamlet.Lastly, we have another PAC event: “Tulsa Symphony: Beethoven and Adler” show for one night only (Sept. 7). Plenty of award-winning musicians along with plenty of special compositions to keep you on the edge of your seat make it a night of special for anyone.Find out more on the Tulsa PAC events from: www.tulsapac.com.

Broken Arrow is in on the fun with “Leading Ladies” Aug. 30-Sept. 8: “Two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady’s vivacious niece, Meg, who’s engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there’s a wide world out there, but it’s not until she meets “Maxine and Stephanie” that she finally gets a taste of it.” Get more information or tickets from www.bacptheatre.com or call (918) 258-0077.

Stay cool this August, but remember that we need to keep Theatre alive in Oklahoma, so make sure that you give at least one show a chance. and keep it here for September theatre thrills!

Theatre thrills for a hot August

Wahzhazhe:An Osage Ballet

August 6“Mud” (PG-13); “Oblivion” (PG-13); “On the Road” (R);“The Place Beyond the Pines” (R); “The Sapphires” (PG-13); “To the Wonder” (R)August 13“The Big Wedding” (R); “The Company You Keep” (R); “Emperor” (PG-13);“Olympus Has Fallen” (R)August 20“Amour” (PG-13); “Scary Movie 5” (PG-13)August 27“The Great Gatsby” (PG-13); “Pain & Gain” (R); “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” (R)

ON DVD/BLU-RAY IN AUGUST

August 2“2 Guns” (R); “The Smurfs 2” (PG); “The Spectacular Now” (R)August 9“Elysium” (NYR); “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” (PG);“We’re the Millers” (R)August 16“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” (NYR); “The Butler” (NYR); “Jobs” (PG-13);“Kick-Ass 2” (R); “Paranoia” (PG-13); “Prince Avalanche” (R)August 23“The Grandmaster” (NYR); “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones”(PG-13); “You’re Next” (R)August 30“Closed Circuit” (R); “Getaway” (PG-13); One Direction: This is Us” (NYR);“Random” (NYR)

Pixar takes the “Cars” world to all new heights. Dusty (Dane Cook) is a cropdusting plane who dreams of competing in a famous aerial race. So what’s stopping him? Only the fact that he is a plane that is hopelessly afraid of heights. With the support of his mentor, Skipper (Stacy Keach), and a host of new friends, Dusty sets off to make his dreams come true. Additional cast members include Val Kilmer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Teri Hatcher, Brad Gar-

rett, Anthony Edwards, John Cleese, Cedric the Entertainer, Carlos Alazraqi, Sinbad and Priyanka Chopra just to name a few. One thing is for sure, if your chil-dren loved “Cars” and “Cars 2” then they are sure to enjoy “Planes.” With Pixar at the helm, numerous star quality voices and Disney that can mean only one result when it comes to kids, a fun time at the movies for the entire family.

PLANES AUGUST 9, PG THE WORLD’S END AUGUST 23, RFrom the team of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost comes this apocalyptic tale of five childhood friends who reunite after 20 years to repeat a legendary pub crawl from their youth (which they originally failed). Returning to their hometown once again to attempt to reach the fabled pub “The World’s End,” they real-ize, over the course of the night, that the town has been taken over and that the real struggle is “not just theirs but humankind’s,” and completing the crawl becomes the least of their worries. Ad-ditional cast members include Martin Freeman, Rosamund Pike, Eddie Marsan, David Bradley and Paddy Considine. “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” are now comedy classics and this team hasn’t disappointed yet. Seeing their take on the ‘end of the world’ scenario should lead to some great humor and classic movie homage references a-la the afore mentioned movies and “Paul.”

ALSO IN THEATERS IN AUGUST

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Rodeos Here,there &everywhere

Sallisaw Lion’s Club IPRA Rodeo, Rodeo Grounds, Sallisaw, Aug. 1-3, (918) 774-5497

Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, Lakeside Arena, Pawnee, Aug 1-3, (918) 762-2108

Draft Horse/Mule Sale/Tack Sale, Pawnee Lakeside Arena, Pawnee, August 3 (9 am), (918) 762-2108,www.cityofpawnee.com

Pawnee Wild West Week, Lakeside Arena, August 4-10, (918) 762-2108

Clearview Open Rodeo, Clearview, Aug. 4-5, (918) 583-4096, [email protected]

Kids Rodeo, Pawnee Lakeside Arena, Pawnee, Aug. 6, (918) 762-2108

Green Country Rodeo, Bartlesville, Aug. 7, (918) 683-1988, [email protected]

M&M Custom Campers Tour Rodeo, Bartlesville, Aug. 7, (918) 623-3674, [email protected]

Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, Pawnee Lakeside Arena,Pawnee, Aug. 8-10, (918) 762-2108

Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo, Bob Arrington Arena, Okmulgee, Aug. 9 -10, (918) 756-0761

PBR Invitational, BOK Center, Tulsa, Aug. 16-17, www.pbr.com/en.bfts/schedule, (918) 894-4200

Ottawa County Free Fair Rodeo, Miami Fairgrounds, Miami, Aug. 17-24, (918) 542-1688

Night Trial, Sunrise Ranch, Broken Arrow, Aug. 17, (918) 683-2373, Facebook

Green Country Cowboys of Color Rodeo, Tulsa Expo Center, Tulsa, Aug. 24, www.kjmm.com, (918) 376-6000

Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo, American Legion Rodeo Grounds, Vinita, Aug. 28-31, (918) 256-7133, www.willrogersmemorialrodeo.com

Living Legends Rodeo, Jim Shoulders Living Legends Arena, Henryetta, Aug. 31- Sept. 2, (918) 652-3331, www.henryetta.org

Labor Day Celebration, Downtown Henryetta, Sept. 2, (918) 652-3331, www.henryetta.org

Delaware County Free Fair, Delaware County Fairgrounds, Jay, Sept. 3 – 7, (918) 253-4332

Osage County Free Fair, Osage County Fairgrounds, Pawhuska, Sept. 5 – 7, (918) 287-4170

We’ve always got at least a few rodeos to talk about, and as the summer gets hotter, so does the rodeo season. What excites us about this time of year is the new places we can go to catch a rodeo. Plenty of action outside of the normal haunts makes August a good month to catch a great show in a new place.

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We start not with a powwow, but a ballet. “Ballet?” you say? Yes, that’s right; the Tulsa PAC is honoring Oklahoma’s legacy and the proud history of the Osage Nation. ““Wahzhazhe” is a contemporary ballet that brings together unique and diverse qualities of Oklahoma history and culture: a reverence for classical ballet that was the legacy of two famous Osage ballerinas, Maria and Marjorie Tallchief, and the richness of Osage traditional music, dance and textile arts. The creative set designs transform the stage into accurate depictions of Osage lifestyles, and the costumes are created to appear as the traditional tribal clothing that was worn during the past 200 years.” Happening Aug. 16-18, you can find out more at www.tulsapac.com.

We are happy to tell you that the Ottawa Powwow and Celebration is slated for Labor Day Weekend: Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Adawe Park in Miami. Lots of dancing makes this a fun way to spend a long leisurely weekend. If you want to really enjoy the whole experience, then make ar-rangements to camp or load up that RV because they have plenty of space to let you stay the whole time (and you can get in a bit of food and shopping in DT Miami). Get all you need from www.ottawapowwow.com or call (918) 542-1536.

Cherokee National Holiday! What more can we say? It’s the big Kahuna – bringing people from all over the U.S. (and other countries) to Tahlequah to celebrate their pride and love. It’s a bit of everything fun, including Native American games, a parade, kiddie fun and vendors with food, artwork, blankets, pottery, art and jewelry. We are so lucky to have this Powwow right here in our little neck of the woods, so don’t let it pass you by! It is inter-tribal, so all the fancy dancers will be bringing their best steps to this one.

You’ll also want to see what beauty the Cherokee Heritage Center is offering; they have planned an art showing with only the brightest and best Native artists. Best part is that many of the artists are local to our area. Come out and show your respect for

POWWOWSThere are a few powwows to talk about, however, we would be crazy to not cover them this month; the Cherokee, Ottawa and Wyandotte tribes are all gathering up their nation’s people to attend these once-a-year events. This is the month to make a trek to check them out.

the talent in our backyard. Starting with the opening reception Aug. 23, the show runs only until Sept. 15, so make sure you check it out. We have more on our Art page. For information, schedules and directions to the Cherokee National Holiday, check out page 11, get into www.cherokee.org or call (918) 453-5544/1689.

September cools off our weather, but not the Powwow season. If anything, it gets hotter with the powwows. We’re giving you a taste to excite you, but you’ll be ready hungry for more, of that we are certain.

The Wyandotte are celebrating their history and helping you honor it with a powwow Sept. 6-8 at the Wyandotte Tribal Grounds in Wyandotte (near Miami). Dancing of all kinds abounds, along with all the food, pretty goodies and fun you could hope for. We were also pleased to learn that the Wyandotte are celebrating their elders and all they have to offer with plenty of Grandparents’ Day activities. Make sure you take time to honor your elders and bring them along for the fun. Need more? Then give a call to (918) 678-2297, ext. 244 or check in with www.wyandotte-nation.org for all the details.

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- August2013 - The Pulse www.myPulsemAG.Com

AKROPOLIS

200 N MUSKOGEE AVE., TAHLEQUAH

GYROS • HUMMUS • BAKLAVAGYRO SALAD • GREEK SALAD

918 • 431 • 1988M - F: 11am - 3pm

COME GET YOUR GREEK ON!

HOME OF THE

SPICY SPARTAN GYROS!

Mon-Thur 11am-9pmFri-Sat 11am-10pm

Sun 11am-3pm

Best Margarita’s

AroundMUSKOGEE

333 S 32nd St (Hwy 69)918-684-6161

TAHLEQUAH1310 S Muskogee Ave

918-431-1511WAGONER

906 E. Cherokee St918-485-6191

Italian Restaurant

LUNCH SPECIALS(WITH SALAD & BREAD)

901 S Muskogee Tahlequah, OK

918-207-0870 • (fax)918-207-0871

Wine & Beer Served(Closed Mondays)

Tue - Thu: 11am - 9:30pmFri - Sat: 11am - 10:00pm

Sun: 11am - 9pm

&$5.95$7.95

Your FavoriteMenu Dishes

Sized for LUNCH

You might be thinking that we intend to serve you a bunch of bland salads or tasteless ‘diet’ food that only one person in your party will want to eat in this month’s Dining Out pages, but we decided that we were going in a new direction. We wanted to offer you options for something new that has taste. We chose our favorite eat spots based on three categories:

1. Does the food taste good?

2. Is the food made from fresh, non-contaminated ingredients (not always meaning ‘organic’ but at least they didn’t throw a half tub of MSG on it to keep it fresh a few extra days)?

3. Did the restaurant make things with health in mind to include ingredients that are good for you?

Where healthy fare is concerned, it’s not all about the calorie count but rather the attention to healthy living that made us take notice. If something tastes good, it doesn’t matter the calorie content, we’ll probably eat it or at least take the rest home for later. If it tastes bad, you won’t eat it later, even if you get the

to-go box. It will go in the trash with the rest of the stuff on fridge clean-out day. See where we found some healthier options and then give a few a try. We bet you’ll find some new favorites.

Akropolis, 200 N. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah, (918) 431-1988, FacebookWe’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again, Akropolis has some really tasty, yet healthy salads, but the hummus and their gyros are not losing points in the good-for-you category. Plenty of fresh veggies, good quality pita bread and lots of taste makes Akropolis one of our favorites for a great spot to be healthy while yumming it up. Bread, plenty of veggies that no one will pay much attention to (so you’ve slipped them by) and a nice selection of options makes this Greek place a perfect spot for a healthy and affordable lunch. They make everything fresh each day, which is a great sign of how good your fare will be. This little restaurant will keep you coming back for more.

Psych-A-Deli, Route 82, Park Hill, (918) 207-0818With sandwiches that are bigger than your head, we also love, love, LOVE that these guys got it right with the freshness too. Plenty of salad options make them a winner, but we give big

healthy fareDining Out

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4800 S. MUSKOGEE AVETAHLEQUAH, OK

456-0757

DEL RANCHOD E L R A N C H OOPEN 6AM - MIDNIGHTBREAKFAST 6AM-11AM

LUNCH • DINNER

TRIPLE DRIVE-THRU

Servin

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50’s

THE BEST

MON - THU: 11AM - 8PMFRI & SAT: 11AM - 9PM

CLOSED SUNDAYS200 N Wood Dr., Okmulgee OK

www.masseysbarbeque.com918-756-8BBQ (8227)

props to them for the efforts made to taste-it-up where the usual fare is concerned. Their chicken cranberry pecan salad is enough to make us want to roll around in it naked (but we just ate it instead). Okay, and don’t leave without a hunk of bread pudding – you’ll pray that the kids will snub it without trying so there’s more for you, but we don’t have much hope. By the way, the bread pudding is NOT diet, but it is just too good to pass up. We also love that they make potato salad on-site rather than the buckets of pre-made so many other places keep around. Their potato salad is just melt in your mouth goodness. We’re fantasizing again…

Café Semana, 3807 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa, (918) 742-3559, FacebookTaking organic and veggie to a whole new level make Café Semana a great spot to get your vegetarian/vegan feet wet. They have lots of desserts too, so you’ll fill up by meal’s end. They do great with the good breads (locally made) and we like their use of falafel, hummus and protein-rich foods to fill you up without making you feel overdone. You’ll get a great meal for a great price and it’s great for your mind and body. Plenty of fun soups make the meal even better, but be sure to get dessert! We highly recommend the Falafel Pit-za: house falafel, hummus and pesto topped with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, feta, red onions, organic spinach and parsley on a whole wheat pita. The combination of flavors make it a pit-za worth coming back for, and at only $10, it’s a steal.

Jason’s Deli, 1330 E. 15th St., Tulsa, (918) 599-7777, 8321 E. 61st St. S., Tulsa www.jasonsdeli.com

Not ready to forfeit meat? Many of us aren’t either, so that’s where places like Jason’s Deli come in. they have gluten, vegetarian and plenty of options for the food sensitivities, but they do it all in a delicate way, along with options like pastas, salad options and plenty of wraps for your choices. They are a chain, but we felt that they have a nice option to the usual stuff other ‘healthy’ chains are throwing out there. They also have FREE ice cream, so your inner food fanatic can fill up on that as a treat for behaving yourself.

Mahylon’s BBQ, 3301 Chandler Road, Muskogee,(918) 686-7427, www.mahylons.comWith plenty of beans, salad and potatoes, you can get a wholesome meal at Mahylon’s without worrying that it didn’t do you any good vitamin-wise. They do just about everything on-site, with their in-house cooking without all the additives to keep it fresh make them a great place for a filling meal. Skip the fries and go with the baked potato or fresh veggies for a bit of calorie loss, or save those calories for that banana pudding dessert that goes down like silk and makes you feel good for days afterward. We like that they offer lots of options and don’t get excited if you need to change up what’s on the blackboards, which works well if you are trying to cut your calories a bit.

Harmony House, 208 S. 7th St., Muskogee, (918) 687-8653,www.harmonyhouse4lunch.com, FacebookGood selection, great soups and plenty of desserts fill the bill with HH. They only serve lunch: Mon. – Sat. 11 am – 2:30 pm, but you’ll fit them in no matter how busy you are after your first visit. We highly recommend the hot chicken salad for a great

Hamlin’s

918-687-9194

Home of the ‘Original’

Famous White Dip

3731 W. OKMULGEE ST., MUSKOGEE, OK

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 11AM - 10PM

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change from the usual. Just don’t drool all over the bakery cases (it’s easy to do). They offer plenty of take-home desserts, they also run specials on various days (and later each day) to clear out for tomorrow’s new stuff. We were very impressed that they have good options for a larger group so no one just gets a glass of water.

Be Le Vegetarian Restaurant, 6634 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa, (918) 499-1414, www.belevegetarian.comWith a focus on the Vietnamese flavorings, Be Le offers plenty of goodness without MSG or preservatives while staying low in fat and cholesterol. With over 75 vegan options, it’s worth a try – especially if you are new to this diet but need to give it a shot. It’s a good way to get into a healthier diet without all the gagging.

Jude’s Health & Java House, 2503 SE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, (918) 335-0500, www.judesjava.com

Salads, great coffee and plenty of choices for both make this place one of the Bartlesville greats. Perfect for a quick healthy lunch or even just for a good cup of coffee while you take a break from the rest of the world.

McAlester’s Deli, 2330 SE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, (918) 333-6614, www.mcalistersdeli.comSalads that entice rather than revolt, LOTS of spud choices, along with a good side menu make McAlester’s a favorite with tourists and locals alike. We endorse their wonderful club sandwich menu – a far cry from the everyday options they have elsewhere, but if you are a grilled cheese fan, they have plenty of takes on an old favorite. We love that their soups are served either the usual way or vegetarian style so no one leaves feeling left out.

Coleman House Restaurant, Buffalo Run Casino & Resort, Miami (918) 542-7140, www.buffalorun.comIf you are low on willpower, Coleman House might not be a good bet, but if you are a fan of the lighter side, Coleman has plenty of choices to keep your girlish figure. With lots of seafood, salads and soups, if you take a look through the menu, you’ll be just fine. Their Shrimp Tango and Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad make for a nice summer meal or pair them with a soup of the day and still keep your calories under control. Best part is that everything they offer is familiar. It makes for a great date night getaway too. Plan for a dinner and live entertainment show and perhaps spend the night – they offer plenty of specials to get you there and keep you coming back for more.

Cherokee Casino West Siloam Springs, Hwys. 412/59, W. Siloam Springs, (800) 754-4111, reservations recommended at Flint CreekFor something new to try, Cherokee Casino in Siloam Springs is making Thursdays better with ‘Cooking Edge with Chef Ray.’ Check out how to make your home meals more exciting while letting someone else make it first. Their Website has video all of the past creations, and even though all of them are not technically ‘healthy’ they are tasty and most fall within our guidelines. Chef Ray is the regular culinary genius at Flint Creek Steakhouse and we always recommend letting someone else take care of dinner for a change. Spend a nice evening out and you might decide to spend the night in the hotel at Cherokee Casino. If you’ve conserved calories at Flint Ridge, you might want to make a return trip to the River Cane Buffet for lunch. They have a specialty cuisine many nights, but that chocolate fountain had us at ‘Hello.’ Hint: you are NOT allowed to lay under the chocolate fountain and drink. Trust us on that one.

Grand Lakeside Restaurant, 11350 U.S. Highway 59 North, Grove, (918) 786-4386, FacebookWith riverboat cruises, a bar, restaurant, event center and marina, Grand Lakeside is a one-stop for all lake stuff, but their restaurant has our ears perked. We like that they have a nice assortment of soups and salads, but we love that they offer sandwich fillers fried or grilled to help you keep those calories counted. Many of their options are gentler than the usual block of onion rings other places offer and it appears that they’ve planned each menu item with your health in mind. Prices are fair, with most offerings under $12. We highly recommend for a fab night out with the girls or a special date night for two. If you are a seafood addict, check out their Seafood Buffet on Fridays for $12.95.

WONDERINGWHAT’S NEXT?Go to page 54 andget a look intoSeptemberincluding our nextDining Reviewtopic and getready to castyour vote.

1095 E 4th St., Tahlequah, OK(Off 4th & Bertha Parker Bypass)

918-453-2620

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We spent a lot of time looking around for that special list of lunch ideas that will encourage your child to not toss their lunch in favor of the well-known pizza and fries lunch, and what we found was pretty amazing. You can’t just throw something at your kids and they’ll eat it, when in fact, it’s a matter of give and take. It’s all about psychology.

We saw many pretty ideas for making food more exciting by making it look like pictures or putting it in clay pots and calling it ‘dirt garden dinner’ but if your kids are like most, that won’t work for a school lunch and most of us don’t have the time to pretty it up into ‘haut cuisine.’ The ideal way to encourage healthier eating habits is to not make a big deal of it and find some compromise. The word of the day is ‘subterfuge.’ If you are trying to change your child’s eating habits, it’s easier to slip it in gently rather than making it obvious.

Some of the healthier chips, pretzels and sides are just as good as their full fat counterparts. When you buy these things, think health; if your child doesn’t eat pretzels, don’t pack them, but if they will eat chips, provide fat-free or baked. Don’t make a big deal of it - just pack a healthier version of chips you’ve packed before.

For sandwiches, the high-fat lunchmeats can be exchanged for chicken or turkey breast, low fat ham or roast beef, but leave the salami, higher fat hams and bologna alone. Condiments should be mustard or ketchup anyway because mayo can go bad. If your child is a fanatic of white bread, then try the whole wheat breads that look like white. Even if one slice is regular white and the other is whole wheat white, you will likely get away with it.

If your kids eat celery, carrots or other packable veggies, consider yourself lucky and keep packing them, making sure you change things up a bit so boredom doesn’t set in. Too much of the same thing gets old no matter who you are. If you have that ‘special’ child that hates veggies, maybe their lunch isn’t the place to slip them in. Try fruit – even the fruit cups are acceptable – as long as you can get some vitamins in that way. Low sugar or sugar-free are better options.

For the best part of lunch (the treat at the end), if you are trying to lower sugar, watch your child’s weight or keep some sense of healthy, pack a couple of Hershey Kisses, a small cupcake or make some of your own desserts where you can control the sugar and fat. Yogurt, sugar-free cookies, Fig Newtons, 100 calorie snacks or low-fat granola bars are all good ideas. If your child has a soda addiction, you might consider weaning them off with the 10-calorie sodas that taste pretty good until you can get them

off soda entirely. With Stevia on the market, you can go sugar-free without worrying that you are poisoning your kids. If they will drink milk or water, consider yourself lucky and keep them on that path.

If you are watching your child’s weight, don’t pack their lunch like you do your own. Some of us give the kids the same amount of food that we eat. Half a sandwich, pretzels, fruit and a small treat are plenty. Your kids might be victims of overeating because they eat whatever you put in front of them and you may have been overdoing it a bit.

Some of the new veggie/tofu-substitute meats, burgers and dogs can be slipped into your kid’s diet without a lot of explaining. Trying them at home before you pack in lunches is a good way to see if they’ll take to some of them. Eggs and nuts are great proteins as are beans and if you get a little creative, you can get them into your child’s diet with little or no fuss.

One of the best things you can do is ask your kids what they like (or just pay attention to what they prefer) and find the low-fat, low-sugar alternatives. Slip in some veggies wherever possible and if you can’t get the kids interested in them for lunch, make it work at

home and double-up at snack/dinner time.

Be sure to give your kids a healthy protein-filled breakfast. When people are really hungry, they tend to eat junk to fill that void, so a good breakfast will ensure your children aren’t suffering from low blood sugar at lunchtime. Sugary cereals can create a dip in blood sugar as early as 10 am that makes them hungrier than normal by lunch; eggs, peanut butter, high protein/whole grain waffles or pancakes and some fruit is a good way to get things started.

At the end of it all, you are trying to incorporate a lifetime of healthy eating habits; if your kids haven’t taken to healthy in the past, this will be a gradual process. Give it a little at a time; don’t go overboard on it all at once. Chances are good that you can do it, but it will take a little effort (and psychology - if you make a big deal of it, they’ll know something’s up). Be sure you aren’t gagging on it either; if you hate it, you can pretty much guess that the kids will not like it either and, as before, just act natural with the changes – they can smell fear.

See our Recipes pages for some ideas on how to change your lifestyle to a ‘healthstyle’ with new takes on old favorites. Healthy kids are productive kids and we all want our children to grow up to be healthy adults. Now go pack those lunches!

Healthy back-to-school lunches

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I’ll be the first person on the planet to admit that the tofu foods, quinoa/bean/healthy foods don’t excite me. In fact, the whole idea makes me a bit nauseous. Sure, there are all these great recipes with spinach, kelp, seagrass or whatever that are supposed to make me feel full, become a size 2 and fix my dry skin, but if I can’t get it past my lips, what’s the point? I admit that a hamburger (with real mayo) and a serving of fries trump all of that stuff. I’ve never looked at a bowl of beans and become hungry in my life, however, I do know that I need to do better by my health than burgers and fries. So how do we make food that doesn’t trigger our gag reflex? We looked around and found a few ways to slip in the healthy for the crappy without thinking that heart disease is the better option. Give a few a try and get on the road to a healthier you. See www.mypulsemag.com for more ideas on how to get there without too much fuss.

Pasta: the pasta-bilitiesNo matter what you do with pasta, you can slip veggies in and most kids won’t be the wiser. Mushrooms, onions, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, you name it, will all work. If you have that picky kid who can always find the veggie in a hurricane, one way to slip them in is to puree lightly cooked veggies to mush, then add to your pasta sauce or cheese. The trick is to not overdo it to start. If they ask, tell them you have no idea what they are talking about and eat as if it’s the best thing you ever ate in your life. Pureed veggies can replace heavier sauces or at least cut the calorie content way down. You can also get everyone on the whole grain kick by introducing the whole wheat pastas a little at a time.

To really cut fat and calories, broiling, grilling, poaching, poaching, roasting and sautéing are easy ways to let a few calories go with many meats and starchy vegetables (think of all the cookies you can eat instead). Deep frying should be done at 350 degrees and after done cooking, place on paper towels to soak off the excess fat. Don’t leave your fried food on the paper towels for long – they will soak the fat back into the food.

We are working on a list for mypulsemag.com to help you substitute low-fat/sugar options for their nasty counterparts. Keep an eye out for it.

Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies1 stick unsalted butter (I used salted butter and they were fine, just use 1/8 tsp. salt)3/4 cup white sugar1 egg1 cup all-purpose flour or white whole wheat flour (½ and ½ of each works well1/4 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon vanilla1 cup dark chocolate chips (or mix dark and milk chocolate)

Preheat oven to 375 F.If you have an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar and egg. If you don’t, just soften butter in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds (make sure it doesn’t melt) and beat with a fork.Add the dry ingredients, stir in by hand and then stir in the chips.Drop spoonfuls of batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake for about 10 minutes.Cool on a rack for 10 minutes before eating. Makes 2 dozen.

Skinny Chicken Tenders2 cloves garlic, smashed1/4 tsp. dried thyme1 bay leaf (if you have it, I’ve omitted and it was okay)2 tsp. salt1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes1/2 cup non-fat buttermilk1 pound chicken tenders1 1/2 cups cornflakes, crushed to medium crumb (you may need more)

In a medium bowl combine garlic, spices, and buttermilk. Add chicken and cover in marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick spray.Place cornflake crumbs on a plate. Drain chicken, then coat in crumbs. Lay on a baking sheet in a single layer.Bake about 15 minutes-until firm.

EASY 4-Ingredient Choc Chip Pancakes2 eggs1/2 cup very thoroughly mashed banana1/8 tsp. baking powderChocolate chips, to taste

Mix together eggs, mashed banana, and baking powder.Spray your pan or griddle with nonstick cooking spray and heat over low-medium low heat.Pour a small amount (1/4 cup or less) of the batter onto the heated skillet, and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let cook until the edges are dry and the bottom is browned. Carefully flip - it will be very fragile. Cook until other side is browned as well. Transfer to a plate. Repeat until all the batter is used.Serve with syrup, peanut butter, whatever makes you happy.

Banana Oat Breakfast Cookies (perfect for quick out-the-door breakfast)1 large banana (1/2 cup) mashed1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (or, if you don’t have any, you

Cooking with flavor - and health - in mind

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can use extra 1/4 cup mashed banana)1/2 cup peanut butter1/4 cup honey (you can add an additional 1/4 cup for sweeter cookies if you have a big sweet tooth…)1 tsp. vanilla extract1 cup rolled oats3/4 cup whole wheat flour (you can mix white and wheat if you aren’t ready for the whole grain taste/texture)1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon1/2 tsp. baking sodapinch of saltOptional: 1/2 cup dried raisins, cranberries, other dried fruit, or chocolate chips.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.In a large bowl, combine mashed banana, applesauce, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, mix oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Stir in any of the optional mix-ins.Prepare cookie sheet(s) by spraying with non-stick cooking spray or lining with parchment paper.Drop 1/4 cup balls of cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheet(s)., keeping them 3 in. apart from each other. Flatten the cookies to approx. 1/2 in. thick.Bake 15 minutes, until set and lightly browning.

Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips4 flour tortillas (any variety)Garlic powder/other seasonings: your call, a little salt goes a long way

Line a baking sheet with foil. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.Spray both sides of each tortillas lightly with cooking spray. Slice into triangular pieces with a pizza cutter.Spread the tortilla pieces on the sheet and season to taste.Bake 5-8 minutes until golden brown and crisp.Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Homemade Tater Tots (yes, you can make them at home: freeze the extras for future dinners or cut the recipe in half)8 Russet Potatoes, peeled and diced1/4 cup milk1 cup flour (you can get away with a little whole wheat flour here)3-4 eggs, beaten2-4 (start with 2 and crush more as needed) cups crushed potato chips: fat free/baked work okay

Boil potatoes in a large pot, just covered with water, until fork tender (about 20 minutes).Drain potatoes and return to pot.Gradually add milk and mash-you want it to be a little dry and lumpy.Put eggs, flour, and crushed chips in 3 separate bowls.Form potatoes into 1 in. balls and place on parchment or wax paper.Roll each ball in flour, then eggs, then chips. Form with hands into tot shapes.Place on a baking sheet, sprayed with non-stick spray.Bake in an oven, preheated to 400 degrees, for 12-15 minutes.Place under broiler for a couple minutes to crisp up. (You can also do this to reheat leftover tots.)

Reduced Fat Mac and Cheese (from Foodnetwork.com)Cooking spray1 pound elbow macaroni (you can go ½&½ with whole grain and white)2 (10-ounce) packages frozen pureed winter squash2 cups 1 percent low-fat milk4 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (about 1 1/3 cups)2 ounces Monterrey jack cheese, grated (about 2/3 cup)1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon powdered mustard1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper2 tablespoons unseasoned bread crumbs2 tablespoons grated Parmesan1 teaspoon olive oil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender but firm, about 5 to 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk into a large saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until it is defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the Cheddar, jack cheese, ricotta cheese, salt, mustard and cayenne pepper. Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine. Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the baking dish. Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oil in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, then broil for 3 minutes so the top is crisp and nicely browned.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars4 cups rolled oats1/2 cup unsalted peanuts (chopped)3/4 cup natural peanut butter, melted1/2 cup honey (or brown rice syrup)Optional add-ins: chia seeds (2 tablespoons), chocolate chips, wheat germ, flaxseed, dried fruit, other nuts.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.In a large bowl combine oats and peanuts. Add syrup/honey and mix to combine. Add melted peanut butter until moistened. Then put in add-ins (for ex. chocolate chips)- you may need to get in there with your hands to mix it all in. If the mixture is dry, add more honey/syrup and/or peanut butter 1 tablespoon at a time until moistened.Press mixture into a greased (non-stick cooking spray) 9x13 dish. Bake 15-20 minutes. Cut into bars right away. You can freeze these for later or you can package them up for lunches/breakfast.

Ready to commit? Here are some Websites to help you take your healthy to the next level:www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101www.tasteofhome.com/healthywww.eatingwell.com/healthy_cookingwww.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-cookingwww.cookingchanneltv.com/videos/

Summer ends on aMusical High NoteBy Julie Wenger Watson

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The heat is on in Northeast Oklahoma. With temperatures soaring, what better way to escape the heat than listening to some great music in one of the many venues found in this part of the state. From arenas to historic theaters and small clubs, there’s no shortage of tunes to close out the summer. Read on for the highlights.

Tulsa is definitely a musical town, and the heart of the city boasts enough music in a square mile to satisfy even the most demanding aficionado. Tulsa’s timeless Honky Tonk, The Cain’s Ballroom, has a packed line up in August. Slightly Stoopid returns with the “Kickin’ Up Dust Tour”, bringing their laid back, SoCal reggae funk blend to the home of Bob Wills on Aug. 1. Country fans can’t miss with the Randy Rogers Band Aug. 2, the Casey Donahew Band Aug. 16 and Reckless Kelly closing out the month Aug. 29. For those who like their music with a little metal, check out Seether on Aug. 15 and Hank 3 the following night. On a lighter, more feminine note, Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles will fill the room with her lovely voice and pop tunes Aug. 27. Visit www.cainsballroom.com for more info.

The Monkees, featuring the three surviving members of the original foursome known for their zany television antics and upbeat pop tunes from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, will play their classics to a happy, nostalgic crowd at the Brady Theater on Aug. 3. Looking ahead to September, you’ll want to get your tickets early for Steely Dan on the 4th. Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, the guys that brought you hits like “Rikki Don’t Lose that Number,” “Peg” and “Deacon Blues,” are a must see for those who grew up to their music. Details at www.bradytheater.com.

Tulsa’s BOK Center continues to bring in the crowds. Country pop star Taylor Swift performs Aug. 7, while Monster Energy’s Rock Allegiance Tour rocks the arena with four bands from four different countries on Aug. 31. Danish superstars Volbeat, Finland’s cult favorite HIM, Massachusetts’ All That Remains and Australia’s Airborne will blow the roof off this 19,000 seat venue, much to the listening pleasure of Oklahoma headbangers. More info. at www.bokcenter.com

Near Catoosa, The Joint in the Hard Rock Casino brings some great music to town in a state-of-the-art theater, promising excellent seats and quality sound to those who attend. If you missed Muskogee’s Country music duo, The Swon Brothers, on NBC’s The Voice, this is your chance to see what all of the buzz is

about on Aug. 3. A triple bill with ‘90s bands Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray and the Gin Blossoms hits the stage Aug. 15. Billboard Hot Country chart buster, Gary Allen returns Aug. 17, and Journey fans can celebrate their favorite band’s classic hits (performed

by Filipino singer Arnel Pineda, a virtual vocal double for former frontman Steve Perry) on Aug. 23. Tickets and details at www.hardrockcasinointulsa.com Near 81st & Riverside, catch country crooner Clay Walker at the River Spirit Event Center on Aug. 16. www.riverspirittulsa.com.

Whatever your taste, you can find your summer sound track here in Northeast Oklahoma. Stay cool and enjoy the tunes as you linger over the last weeks of summer.

Slightly Stoopid Journey

Taylor Swift

Check with the venue or venue website for specific information and ticket availability.

August 2013August 1:Slightly Stoopid & Atmosphere, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 2:Jake Owen, Downstream Casino, JoplinRandy Rogers Band, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 3:Designer Drugs, Cain’s Ballroom, TulsaThe Monkees, Brady Theater, TulsaThe Swon Brothers, The Joint, Tulsa

August 5:Foals, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 7:Taylor Swift, BOK Center, Tulsa

August 8:John Anderson, Buffalo Run Casino, Miami

August 9:Ron White, The Joint, Tulsa

August 10:Rascal Flatts, BOK Center, Tulsa

August 15:Reverend Horton Heat, Cain’s Ballroom, TulsaUnder the Sun Tour, The Joint, Tulsa

August 16:Casey Donahew Band, Cain’s Ballroom, TulsaClay Walker, River Spirit Event Center, Tulsa“Narrow View? Try a Broad Way!,” Tulsa PAC - Liddy Doenges Theatre, TulsaProfessional Bull Riding, BOK Center, Tulsa

“Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet,” Tulsa PAC - John H. Williams Theatre, Tulsa

August 17:Brent Gidden as Elvis, Buffalo Run Casino, MiamiGary Allen, The Joint, Tulsa“Narrow View? Try a Broad Way!,” Tulsa PAC - Liddy Doenges Theatre, Tulsa“Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet,” Tulsa PAC - John H. Williams Theatre, Tulsa

August 18:“Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet,” Tulsa PAC - John H. Williams Theatre, Tulsa

August 21:Cold War Kids, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 22:Jamey Johnson, Osage Casino - Tulsa Event Center, Tulsa

August 23:38 Special & Charlie Daniels Band, Downstream Casino, JoplinJimmy LaFave, All Soul’s Acoustic Coffeehouse, TulsaJourney, The Joint, Tulsa

August 24:Aranda, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 25:Seether, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 26:Hank 3, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 27:Sara Bareilles, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 28:Merle Haggard, Buffalo Run Casino, Miami

August 29:Reckless Kelly, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

August 30:Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival, Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, Rentiesville

August 31:Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival, Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, RentiesvilleRock Allegience Tour, Tulsa Convention Center, Tulsa

Sept. 2013September 1:The Band Perry, Downstream Casino, JoplinDusk til Dawn Blues Festival, Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, Rentiesville

September 4:Buckcherry, Cain’s Ballroom, TulsaSteely Dan, Brady Theater, Tulsa

September 5:Tech N9ne, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa

September 6:“I Hate Hamlet”, Tulsa PAC - John H. Williams Theatre, Tulsa

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Sara Bareilles

AUGUST 2013

August 2013August 1:International Route 66 Festival, Joplin, MOPawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, PawneeSallisaw Lion’s Club IPRA Rodeo, Sallisaw Sandy Koufax World Series American Amateur Baseball Congress, BartlesvilleTulsa County Free Fair, Tulsa

August 2:Digital Scavenger Hunt, Bernice Nature Center, GroveEnd of Summer Garage Sale, MuskogeeFirst Friday Art Crawl, TulsaFirst Saturday Traders Day, PryorInternational Route 66 Festival, Joplin, MO Living History at USS Batfish, MuskogeePawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, Pawnee“Rent” opens at Muskogee Little TheatreSallisaw Lion’s Club IPRA Rodeo, Sallisaw Sandy Koufax World Series American Amateur Baseball Congress, BartlesvilleTax-Free Weekend, StatewideTulsa County Free Fair, Tulsa

August 3:Back to School Weekend, Bernice Nature Center, GroveBoats, Bikes, Bikinis and BBQ, Arrowhead Yacht Club, KetchumDraft Horse Sale/Wild West Week Kick-Off, PawneeEcology and Environment Day, Har-Ber Village Museum, GroveEnd of Summer Garage Sale, MuskogeeFirst Saturday Traders Day, PryorInternational Route 66 Festival, Joplin, MO Living History at USS Batfish, MuskogeeNative American Celebration, GroveOperation Christmas Child Prayer Walk, TulsaPawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, PawneePray 4 the Kids Walk, TulsaSallisaw Lion’s Club IPRA Rodeo, Sallisaw Sandy Koufax World Series American Amateur Baseball Congress, BartlesvilleTax-Free Weekend, Statewide

August 4:Clearview Open Rodeo, Clearview Living History at USS Batfish, MuskogeeTax-Free Weekend, StatewideWild West Week, Pawnee

August 5:Clearview Open Rodeo, Clearview Senator Dan Newberry Lunch, Sand SpringsWild West Week, Pawnee

August 6:Kids’ Rodeo, PawneeRoadkill Chili Cookoff, JayWild West Week, Pawnee

August 7:Green Country Rodeo, Bartlesville M&M Custom Campers Tour Rodeo, Bartlesville Roadkill Chili Cookoff, JayWild West Week, Pawnee

August 8:Bargains Galore on 64, SallisawPawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, Pawnee Wild West Week, PawneeWomen on the Water, MarineMax, Afton

August 9:Bargains Galore on 64, SallisawFenders & Flames Car show/Poker Run, CoalgateHanna Watermelon Festival, HannaOkmulgee Invitational Rodeo & Festival, Okmulgee Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, PawneeWahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet, Bartlesville Community Theater, BartlesvilleWild West Week, PawneeWunderfest, Tulsa

August 10:Bargains Galore on 64, SallisawDie Cast/Hot Wheels Show, JayFenders & Flames Car show/Poker Run, CoalgateGreat Grand Bobber Drop, Grove

Jay Cruise Night, JayHanna Watermelon Festival, HannaKeystone Ancient Forest Hike, Sand SpringsMovies in the Park, TahlequahOkmulgee Invitational Rodeo & Festival, Okmulgee Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo, PawneeWahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet, Bartlesville Community Theater, BartlesvilleWild West Week, PawneeWunderfest, Tulsa

August 11:Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet, Bartlesville Community Theater, Bartlesville

August 16:Okie Heritage Neighborhood Walking Tour, MuskogeePBR Invitational Rodeo, TulsaRock and Mineral Show, TahlequahSmoke ‘Em Cigarette Fun Run, Shangri-La Marina, Monkey IslandTangible History Workshop Series, BartlesvilleTrade Days, Claremore

August 17:8th Annual Blast to the Past Car & Truck Show, W. Siloam SpringsBoats, Melon & BBQ, MannfordMary Moore Charity Event, Shangri-La, Monkey IslandNight Trial Rodeo, Broken ArrowOttawa County Free Fair, MiamiPBR Invitational Rodeo, TulsaRock and Mineral Show, TahlequahRock the Dock, Thunder Bay Marina, AftonSamaritan Center Sports Spectacular, BartlesvilleSmoke ‘Em Cigarette Fun Run, Shangri-La Marina, Monkey Island Trade Days, Claremore

August 18:Fleet Feet Triathlon, ClaremoreOttawa County Free Fair, MiamiWill Rogers Wiley Post Fly-In, Oolagah


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MONTH AT A GLANCEAugust 19:Ottawa County Free Fair, Miami

August 20:Broken Arrow Home & Business Expo, Broken ArrowOttawa County Free Fair, Miami

August 21:Ottawa County Free Fair, Miami

August 22:Ottawa County Free Fair, Miami

August 23:18th Annual Homecoming Show & Sale Reception, TahlequahOttawa County Free Fair, MiamiRiver Rumba and Regatta Parade, MuskogeeRiver Rumba and Regatta Party, Muskogee

August 24:18th Annual Homecoming Show & Sale Opens, TahlequahAnnual Rodeo Street Dance, Vinita Dog Expo, ClaremoreGreen Country Cowboys of Color Rodeo, TulsaIce Cream Social at Bernice Nature Center, Grove Movies in the Park, TahlequahOklahoma Championship Steak Cook-Off, TulsaOttawa County Free Fair, MiamiRiver Rumba and Regatta, MuskogeeShidler One Day Classic Car Show, Shidler

August 25:Dog Expo, Claremore

August 28:All Settlers Day, VinitaRodeo Parade, VinitaWill Rogers Rodeo, Vinita

August 29:Will Rogers Rodeo, Vinita

August 30:Cherokee National Holiday, TahlequahDusk til Dawn Blues Festival, RentiesvilleJana Jae Fiddle Camp & Music Festival, GroveOttawa Powwow and Celebration, MiamiRoute 66 Car, Truck, Bike & Tractor Show, Bristow Will Rogers Rodeo, Vinita

August 31:Cherokee National Holiday, Tahlequah Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival, RentiesvilleGreen Country Gallop, BartlesvilleJana Jae Fiddle Camp & Music Festival, GroveLabor Day Bash, Bernice Nature Center, GroveOttawa Powwow and Celebration, MiamiRoute 66 Car, Truck, Bike & Tractor Show, Bristow Will Rogers Rodeo, Vinita

Sept. 2013September 1:Cherokee National Holiday, Tahlequah Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival, RentiesvilleJana Jae Fiddle Camp & Music Festival, GroveLabor Day Bash, Bernice Nature Center, GroveLiving Legends Rodeo, HenryettaOttawa Powwow and Celebration, Miami

September 2:Labor Day Bash, Bernice Nature Center, GroveLabor Day Celebration, HenryettaLiving Legends Rodeo, Henryetta

September 3:Delaware County Free Fair, Jay

September 4:Delaware County Free Fair, JayPawnee County Free Fair, Pawnee

September 5:Bluegrass & Chili Festival, ClaremoreDelaware County Free Fair, JayMayes County Fair, PryorOkmulgee County Free Fair, OkmulgeePawnee County Free Fair, Pawnee

September 6:Bluegrass & Chili Festival, ClaremoreDelaware County Free Fair, JayFirst Saturday Traders Day, PryorMayes County Fair, PryorOklahoma Fall Hunting and Fishing Show, ClaremoreOkmulgee County Free Fair, OkmulgeePawnee County Free Fair, PawneeUS Title Series Green Country Championship, CopanWyandotte Nation Powwow, Wyandotte

September 7:Bluegrass & Chili Festival, ClaremoreDam J.A.M. Bicycle Tour, PryorDelaware County Farmfest, JayDelaware County Free Fair, JayFirst Saturday Traders Day, PryorMayes County Fair, PryorMovies in the Park, TahlequahOklahoma Fall Hunting and Fishing Show, ClaremoreOkmulgee County Free Fair, OkmulgeePawnee County Free Fair, PawneeUS Title Green Country Championship, Copan LakeUS Title Series Green Country Championship, CopanWyandotte Nation Powwow, Wyandotte

September 8:Grandparents Day Celebration, GroveMayes County Fair, PryorOklahoma Fall Hunting and Fishing Show, ClaremoreUS Title Green Country Championship, Copan LakeUS Title Series Green Country Championship, Copan


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sneak Peek Into Next month

We’re doingFried Chicken and Chicken Fried Steak

for September.

Tell us about your favorite places in Green Countryto get either of these classic dishes and we’ll tally your

submissions in our September Dining Review.Visit our Facebook page or

email us at [email protected] cast your vote.

As always, let’s try to keep this local and not submitchain restaurants.

We have so much happening in September; we don’t know what to tell you about first. Sufficed to say, our little worker mice are typing away off to make sure you have plenty to keep you entertained all month long:First, we have the County Fairs. While some were early this year, most will be in your area in September, or at least dang close. PLEASE find one and attend – it’s good for your community, local farmers and your soul.Second, we have plenty of arts and crafts shows, car shows and critter shows to excite you and exceed your need for fun.Third, we’ll have more ideas for cooking at home, dining out, music worth getting out for, movies you should see and, of course, rodeos.Lastly, we’ll have plenty of help and advice to make life a little easier for you and your family for the new school year, BUT we also have plenty more secrets we can’t tell you about yet, hidden away in a secret bunker deep underground.So, keep it here for all we are planning. Have an Awesome August and stay safe. Thank you for all your Facebook likes, ideas, endorsements and most of all, thank you for continued support! We couldn’t do it without you!

The Pulse Magazine August 2013

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Transcript of The Pulse Magazine August 2013