quote:
Originally posted by we vs us
Well now, the mystery is half the fun of the interwebs, wouldn't you agree? I will say that I'm not a 20 something (older'n you, at least, CF), am married with no kids, just moved here from Chicago, where my wife and I lived for 8 years. Work brought her and I tagged along. I'm doing some internet consulting for my former employer but am looking for steadier local work as well. I spend most of my day on the computer, so that's why I'm hanging around all the time. I've got y'all on auto-refresh []
And yeah, grew up in Northwest Arkansas, so I'm familiar with the region, but don't know a soul in Tulsa except y'all.
There're obviously huge differences between Tulsa and Chicago, but I've been trying to see past them to understand where Tulsa might be going. Tulsa's still a city, after all, and subject to the same forces that Chicago is.
Much of Chicago is booming, and a lot of the gentrification going on there has to do with gainfully employed, single 20 somethings slinging their money around. And other smaller cities (Kansas City and Nashville are two examples I'm familiar with) are relying in part on that same group to fund a lot of the revitalization with their spending habits.
So my list above, while I meant it kinda tongue-in-cheek, is still valid. My wife and I are still looking for a good and convenient gym, some good upscaley restaurants, and good local stores that are in a walkable area. And yeah, even a Starbucks wouldn't be awful. Brookside looks to be the sum total of what's available. Maybe Cherry Street. Anything else I'm missing?
Well, if you're a former Chicagoan... I'll put it this way.
South Tulsa is a lot like Schaumburg.
Jenks is becoming like Oak Park or maybe after the river developments, like Evanston w/o Northwestern U...
I grew up here... but lived in Chicago off-an-on since 1990 (mostly in Rogers Park)... visited family in Tulsa a couple of times a year, moved here for family reasons from 2001 to 2002, and was really surprised to get re-acquainted with Tulsa... and like it.
So, when the chance came and I thought there were 3 other midsized cities I had my eye on moving to, Tulsa moved to the front of the pack... because of job opportunities and cheap rents/housing... oh, and Vision2025 (not a big factor but definitely one of the factors)...
For all that 20-something demographic, well... lots and lots of 20-somethings move to Chicago, LA, NYC, Atlanta, Dallas, etc, etc... they're a magnet for not just the rich YP's... but also for us young starving artists, actors, musicians, comedians, etc, etc...
As for the gay neighborhood theory, I doubt Tulsa's much of a "gay destination" (understatement) but does have a few spots here and there... Club209 has a mixed crowd on weekends which has become part of that nice couple of blocks around the Brady District... and there seem to be attempts...
http://www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com/OKC has its own gay "strip" with its own gay hotel, The Habana, that seems to attract its share of hypocritical baptist ministers...
http://www.abpnews.com/752.articleSee, the quest for those ecclectic, urban 20-somethings you seek is not going to be very apparent or easy... Tulsa has a couple of blocks around Brady... and Gypsie Coffeehouse is off Brady and Cincinnatti... a couple of blocks around to the Blue Dome... a couple of bars and such for a few blocks around 18th in south Downtown... a few blocks around Cherry Street... the traditional Brookside and Utica Square (Utica's looking a little old to me these days-- probably because it IS old)...
And I really like the Riverwalk in Jenks, Nordaggios is nice and next door is an Italian place that actually offers Chicago hotdogs with the poppyseed buns if you're a little homesick... Freddie's on 71st by Woodland Hills Mall offers Chicago hotdogs--but they're served on texas toast... oh, the horror... the sacriledge...
And I'd be irresponsible as a resident Tulsa soccer-nut not to mention a Tulsa 20-something who has put a pretty big chunka change into this...
http://www.aisl.org/tu_index.phphttp://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=196753699As for development these days, evidently it's a very big secret if anything's going on in Tulsa, especially downtown..... shhh. be very quiet..... don't make a noise... you'll scare them away... [|)]