Closed today forever. Now the only place you can eat, drink or be merry is Riverwalk Commons. Bummer.
Whaaa? details?
Well, we were down there on our bikes and stopped for a brewski. Owner said she was not turning a profit and the city was pressuring her to rebuild the building. The city is supposedly going to bulldoze the building and build something else. She did not know what. They had all their stuff out selling it, huge rummage sale. I picked up a couple of item. They were selling the remainder of their beer for donations.
Going, going, gone.
People coming by were SHOCKED! Go down there and check it out. I suspect the devil is in the details. Sounded like she wanted to say more but couldn't.
[:(!]
Maybe the EVIL Kathy Taylor is "The "DEVIL" in the details"
MUUUHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA
Well thats sad. Though hadnt gone but a couple of times early in the year. It was always a nice place to take people, just hang out and enjoy the outdoors, chowing down and live music. Was also a nice place to stop and refresh while biking or rollerblading.
I hope the city builds something interesting there. Will the QT park have a restaurant space at it? Or even just allow food cart vendors.
From what I gather the River Parks charges so much that food cart vendors and heck even artists cant set up anywhere along the river.
As I understand the problem with food vendors has a lot to do with Tulsa's health codes which are the most stringent in the state. For example, if you are serving food you are supposed to have running water.
If River's Edge wasn't turning a profit, then they can't really blame the city. Plus I agree that a new, larger building, would've been better.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
As I understand the problem with food vendors has a lot to do with Tulsa's health codes which are the most stringent in the state. For example, if you are serving food you are supposed to have running water.
If River's Edge wasn't turning a profit, then they can't really blame the city. Plus I agree that a new, larger building, would've been better.
Thought River's Edge would have been Jenks?
Edit: nevermind..thought it was on the Riverwalk, now I remember it's over on 21st and Riverside...doh!
Well, WAS over on 21st and Riverside.
Its not the city. Her lease is with the River Parks Authority who only receives partial funding and board representation from the city. The County also has the same deal. The rest is from donations from local big guys which allows them to populate the rest of the board. The board wants a different tenant I suppose.
I won't act surprised and most folks know I'm no fan of RPA. But she made a lot of money there as the only facility to sell beer on park property. Nobody knows how that happened but she knew someone somewhere. Her rent was cheap. The money spent on improving the building consisted of corrugated plastic awnings, plastic tables and no efforts to create real restaurant capability (mostly microwave, hot plates and prepackaged). She was hamstrung by having to close early (11pm) and by not operating year around. It was a comfy little place but not the full service, year around "break in the trail" that the RPA envisions. The original riverparks spirit of development; small, folksy, laid back and low impact is almost gone now. Things change and that spot has been underutilized.
She also is not the style that the new RPA wants. It sounds like she had a chance to meet their suburban clean, neat, vanilla vision of public venues as evidenced by the Kaiser improvements. She probably saw it coming. It was a good gig for her while it lasted.
They like big names. I'm guessing her efforts to start something will be continued by a local existing chain.
The last 3rd penney package that we passed included funds to replace the River's Edge and adjoining restrooms with a structure that had an actual kitchen.
I've known Hillary Koppel (the owner) for a long time and always enjoyed the Edge, I'll certainly miss it. I'd hope that Hillary would get first dibs on whatever goes there. She made the Edge work for a very long time with very little to work with.
Considering that the place was very weather and season-dependent, they did well to be there as long as they did. I'm really going to miss it. It was a great gathering area and, by far, the best place along the river to have a beer without a huge crush of folks.
Hillary always gave me a big hug whenever I saw her. She knew how to get along with the RPA brass and offered me advice I didn't follow, "Pick your battle's well". I bet she shows up somewhere else with her customers in tow.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
As I understand the problem with food vendors has a lot to do with Tulsa's health codes which are the most stringent in the state. For example, if you are serving food you are supposed to have running water.
If River's Edge wasn't turning a profit, then they can't really blame the city. Plus I agree that a new, larger building, would've been better.
I see those food carts and wagons at night, downtown every weekend. If they have running water where they set up downtown, they can have the same running water by the river.
As for artists, I would love for there to be some spots where artists could set up and sell their work. In many cities you see places alongside the river or even on bridges where artists set up and paint and sell their art. But you cant charge them high fees and 20% of what they sell. Especially to newer artists who are just starting out. Also the vendor applications are designed for "events". Why cant someone set up in a designated area on any day they please, event or no?
That makes me sad, I loved that place. To me, it was the only place in Tulsa that felt like a big city gathering. All sorts of people - people with dogs, families, singles, bums, pretty much everyone. A few drinks. An occasional art vendor.
It will be dearly missed in my household.
What a bummer!!!
Where will "the dancing couple" go to show off their stomach-strum guitar move?
best place in Tulsa to "people watch"
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelWayne_71
What a bummer!!!
Where will "the dancing couple" go to show off their stomach-strum guitar move?
LOL - oh they get around. I've seen them in Stillwater, Lawrence, Fayetteville, and all around Tulsa.
We're gonna miss the River's Edge. Sure hope there's a new place by next season. Will it look like some stupid-donkey restaurant from the Jenks riverwalk? Will I still be able to bring my dog? Will there still be an ice-chest-allowed perimeter?
quote:
Originally posted by jne
quote:
Originally posted by MichaelWayne_71
What a bummer!!!
Where will "the dancing couple" go to show off their stomach-strum guitar move?
LOL - oh they get around. I've seen them in Stillwater, Lawrence, Fayetteville, and all around Tulsa.
We're gonna miss the River's Edge. Sure hope there's a new place by next season. Will it look like some stupid-donkey restaurant from the Jenks riverwalk? Will I still be able to bring my dog? Will there still be an ice-chest-allowed perimeter?
My answers to your questions based on my experience with the new RPA?
Yes- thats what we build now and it fits the demographic of the board and director
No- probably the same policy as Riverwalk
Yes- but it will be extended farther away. Ice chests are profit drainers for a place like this.
"Hope" is all there would be for a new building by next season. Also look forward to motorcycle restrictions (parking on grass or walkways not permitted, loud pipe tickets), continued parking problems, and probably no change in hours or sound monitoring. This time if the new vendor is allowed to serve beer on park property it is going to have to be allowed for every vendor. That could be problematic. I look forward to some breakfast and coffee choices to be offered.
The hours and the parking are very limiting elements. If Hillary couldn't keep it working with such low overhead then its doubtful a conventional operation could. It doesn't help that the neighborhood has some grouchy people in Sophian Plaza and some of the nearby seniors apartments who aren't even customers.
Edit: BTW, what do you think the chances are now of authorized funds by congress for our two low water dams? Not good I think. Especially if the bailout is approved.
WB- might be best left for a lunch conversation one day, but after a season spent on the river, I'm starting to wonder what the benefit of the LWDs will or won't be. It's obvious w/o dredging or raising the dam height of Zink Dam that Zink Lake is barely navigable to shallow draft boats as it is when flow is like it is before hurricane season this year.
I keep trying to figure out what adding dams up and downstream would do and, for the life of me, I can't seem to get any benefit through my head other than retaining a foot or two of water for the mosquitos when it's dry season.
This week and next should be good float weather. Would be a good respit from this political bs.
This is so incredibly sad. I lived near 21st and Cincinnati for almost 15 years. River's Edge was one of a kind. The sort of place you could enjoy live music with friends, kids, and dogs....everyone was welcomed. A great place to enjoy a beer and camaraderie after work. A cool, outdoor setting for live, accoustic music. And a terrific place for young musicians to get experience and exposure in front of a welcoming audience.
I can't count the number of times I used to stop there to listen to music after a walk around the river.
The best thing about River's Edge was how it integrated into the park. You could bring the kids and have a cookout at the picnic tables, throw a frisbee, play on the playground equipment, or spread out on blankets...all close enough to enjoy the music at River's Edge. Parents could sit on the patio and enjoy a beer with friends, while keeping an eye on the kids playing nearby.
Best of all, it was a neighborhood spot, where you would always bump into people you knew. A place you could ride your bike or walk to, and catch a sunset on the water.
River's Edge was a laid back place for people, music and the natural beauty of the river. It blended into the park; it didn't try to dominate it. In my opinion, we need more places like River's Edge...and fewer huge monoliths like RiverWalk in Jenks.
quote:
Originally posted by PonderInc
This is so incredibly sad. I lived near 21st and Cincinnati for almost 15 years. River's Edge was one of a kind. The sort of place you could enjoy live music with friends, kids, and dogs....everyone was welcomed. A great place to enjoy a beer and camaraderie after work. A cool, outdoor setting for live, accoustic music. And a terrific place for young musicians to get experience and exposure in front of a welcoming audience.
I can't count the number of times I used to stop there to listen to music after a walk around the river.
The best thing about River's Edge was how it integrated into the park. You could bring the kids and have a cookout at the picnic tables, throw a frisbee, play on the playground equipment, or spread out on blankets...all close enough to enjoy the music at River's Edge. Parents could sit on the patio and enjoy a beer with friends, while keeping an eye on the kids playing nearby.
Best of all, it was a neighborhood spot, where you would always bump into people you knew. A place you could ride your bike or walk to, and catch a sunset on the water.
River's Edge was a laid back place for people, music and the natural beauty of the river. It blended into the park; it didn't try to dominate it. In my opinion, we need more places like River's Edge...and fewer huge monoliths like RiverWalk in Jenks.
word.