Will Tulsa be enough for me? (Howe, Silo: lofts, home, neighborhoods)

[SquadDriver]

Hello all,

I'm currently a resident of Siloam Springs, AR. Population ~16,000. I've been here for almost six years now. I originally came here from Southern California to go to school but ended up on a different path that has led me to becoming an EMT; hence my cheesy user name. Over the past couple of years I have become very bored with this city and the sedate nature of my job in this city. I would be looking to work for EMSA I don't feel challenged anymore and I crave more adventure.

I've been researching potential cities to move to for months now. I took an interest in Tulsa because it is only 80 miles away and a large city compared to where I'm living right now. I did quite a bit of research and made my first visit to Tulsa a couple of weeks ago. After spending the whole day wandering around Downtown, Midtown, and the Riverside district I came away with a positive impression of Tulsa. It really is an interesting city. I loved the Art Deco architecture and the Riverside walk. Being a die-hard cyclist, I appreciated the fledgling bicycle culture there. I had a good lunch and one of the best cups of coffee of my life at a quaint cafe on Cherry Street. The Blue Dome district deserved some further exploration and I never made it over to Brookside.

However, walking around downtown was a lonely experience. I was one of only a very small handful of pedestrians. It felt like I was in some post apocalyptic story. It felt very lifeless, very little energy going on. Is Downtown always that way?

I love dining at unique restaurantes and lounging at authentic bars and pubs. I despise chain restaurants, stores, etc. Does Tulsa offer this kind of variety or am I going to be left wanting? I think of myself as an urban explorer. I like to dive deep into the city that I am living in. I like discovering new little niche places. I like getting to know the streets by walking and bicyling.

I have also been considering New York City but it is an awfully long way from my family. I guess I need to wrap this up by saying: I am looking for a city that is going to offer up a great deal of diversity. This includes it's people, politics, lifestyles, etc. Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, grocery stores, etc. need to be unique. Walkability, bicycling, and public transit are extremely important to me. I am also looking for a steady stream of excitement and adventure. Will I find any or all of this in Tulsa or do I need to look elsewhere?

Sorry if this was long-winded. I greatly appreciate your insight and feedback. Thanks!

[pokefan11]

Hey squaddriver! Glad you enjoyed your visit to Tulsa and let me see if I can help you out in anyway. Tulsa is a great community that retains much of a small town charm with the big city amenities. What I love about Tulsa is the amount of little interesting attractions, restaurants, etc. that exist here and that take some exploring to find, but are well worth the effort. When people visit Tulsa they often miss some of the greatest things this city has to offer.

The cycling culture here in town is definitely growing. The annual Tulsa tough cycling race and festival, June 4-6, has created a vibrant and growing cycling community that I believe is changing some of the "car" culture this city has been stuck in for so long. The recent completion of the new riverparks trails and creation of a separate bike lane has really encouraged more Tulsans to take up cycling. Some neighborhoods in the areas are also creating some of the first bicycle lanes in the city so it's exciting to see where this goes in the next few years.

Downtown Tulsa like many cities lost much of its luster in the 70's as people began flocking to the suburbs. Fortunately though, that's beginning to change. With the recent completion of the BOK center(our new arena) and the baseball stadium, downtown is finally getting the big pieces in place for what I believe to be a new renaissance for downtown Tulsa. New restaurants, bars, shops, and lofts are continuing to open or are in the works downtown and it is slowly coming back to life. What I love most about downtown and what I believe you'll appreciate is that much of what is opening up right now is all local businesses and restaurants created by some of the best entrepreneurs in the state. Instead of chains, downtown is getting wonderful and unique establishments that you can't find anywhere else.

I've always felt like Tulsa was fairly diverse in comparison to other cities in the region. To me you get a great mix of sort of all areas of the United States as far as the culture goes. The city is fairly conservative and the city, like Siloam Springs is located in the bible belt. I have always found the people here to be very friendly and open. Like anyplace else, you probably won't make friends overnight, but there are so many opportunities in the city to get involved in activities and events that you feel passionate about and in turn meet others that are passionate about the some things.

Like every city, Tulsa has its issues too. What I always tell people though is that this city is what you make it. The more I've understood the history of this city and the more I find those niche places you mentioned loving, the more I fall in love with this city. It's not perfect, there is crime, sometimes drivers can be really bad, not everyone you meet is gonna be all that friendly, and political views can often be a little focused too much in one direction, but for what it's worth I think Tulsa is a wonderful, growing city that is starting to once again see its full potential. I hope any of this helps. Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

[SquadDriver]

Thanks, pokefan for all of that great info. A few other things I feel I should add. I don't do suburbs. Period. Hence my attraction to downtown. Art and various artistic influences are also important to me. I know Tulsa has the Gilcrease and Philbrook. Are there any other art attractions? I was thinking things like the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR. Any kind of public outdoor art displays? Downtown was certainly interesting. Is there much more beauty to Tulsa? A very important part of my life is living car-free. I do have a motorcycle to get me places quickly but I rely heavily on bicyles for most of my transportation. Is this a realistic lifestyle in Tulsa or am I going to be left out to dry by the urban sprawl and aggressive(ish) traffic?

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by SquadDriver

Hello all,

I'm currently a resident of Siloam Springs, AR. Population ~16,000. I've been here for almost six years now. I originally came here from Southern California to go to school but ended up on a different path that has led me to becoming an EMT; hence my cheesy user name. Over the past couple of years I have become very bored with this city and the sedate nature of my job in this city. I would be looking to work for EMSA I don't feel challenged anymore and I crave more adventure.

I've been researching potential cities to move to for months now. I took an interest in Tulsa because it is only 80 miles away and a large city compared to where I'm living right now. I did quite a bit of research and made my first visit to Tulsa a couple of weeks ago. After spending the whole day wandering around Downtown, Midtown, and the Riverside district I came away with a positive impression of Tulsa. It really is an interesting city. I loved the Art Deco architecture and the Riverside walk. Being a die-hard cyclist, I appreciated the fledgling bicycle culture there. I had a good lunch and one of the best cups of coffee of my life at a quaint cafe on Cherry Street. The Blue Dome district deserved some further exploration and I never made it over to Brookside.

However, walking around downtown was a lonely experience. I was one of only a very small handful of pedestrians. It felt like I was in some post apocalyptic story. It felt very lifeless,

As someone from the Metro Tulsa Area who has lived in the State Of California for the last 30 some odd years , "I can truthfully" tell you that it will take at the very least 10 years before Downtown Tulsa "Gets That High Energy VIBE.In order for any "AMERICAN" city to have that VIBE it Much Have RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE CORE CITY "DOWNTOWN".........very little energy going on. Is Downtown always that way?".........(YES)


I love dining at unique restaurantes and lounging at authentic bars and pubs. I despise chain restaurants, stores, etc. Does Tulsa offer this kind of variety or am I going to be left wanting? I think of myself as an urban explorer. I like to dive deep into the city that I am living in. I like discovering new little niche places. I like getting to know the streets by walking and bicyling.

I have also been considering New York City but it is an awfully long way from my family. I guess I need to wrap this up by saying: I am looking for a city that is going to offer up a great deal of diversity. This includes it's people, politics, lifestyles, etc. Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, grocery stores, etc. need to be unique. Walkability, bicycling, and public transit are extremely important to me. I am also looking for a steady stream of excitement and adventure. Will I find any or all of this in Tulsa or do I need to look elsewhere?

Sorry if this was long-winded. I greatly appreciate your insight and feedback. Thanks!

Tulsa OK will see some of the things that you MENTION in 2-10 years ,
but you MENTION NYC..They Had Them For The Last 200 Years..

[flyingcat2k]

I also think it will be 2-10 years before Downtown Tulsa is jumping the way that Denver and SLC downtown areas are. Even downtown OKC took a few years after Bricktown to get going.

[briansgi]

I'm amazed how different people will have totally different perspectives of Tulsa when they come and visit. The same things you applaud are the same things other posters complain about. Just goes to show you can't please everyone. I've lived in many locations. Tulsa is as good a place to live as there is in the country, all things considered. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[Ecovlke]

I'm from Tulsa but have lived elsewhere. Seattle is the city that feels like home to me. That's just my mentality. It has the climate and the ecoregion I love. Now, back to you and Tulsa.

Downtown is improving! It's so much better than it was 25-30 years ago. Yes, yes, yes there are unique places to go and hang out downtown or Brady district. if you bike bring your bike next time and bike over to the Sound Pony for beers or drinks. It's on N. Main almost next door to Cains Ballroom. Also, go to the Blue Jackalope grocery store at 3rd and Phoenix. That's about a .5 mile west of the BOK center. Check them out online or on facebook to see what's shakin' in my hood.

Check out the Crosby Heights Neighborhood Association on facebook and get a feel for our little secret.

[buzzpost]

Originally Posted by SquadDriver

I know Tulsa has the Gilcrease and Philbrook. Are there any other art attractions? I was thinking things like the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR.

You're comparing some art center in Fayettville, AR to class act art museums like the Philbrook and Gilcrease? Of course Tulsa doesn't have anything like the "Walton Arts Center" in Fayettville, nor would they want to aspire to such "heights."

I've been to Tulsa five times in the last two years on business. And during that time I've visited both the Philbrook and Gilcrease. I highly doubt that they aspire to something as acclaimed as the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.