<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743336/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4764743336_c1fc29424a.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br />If you're planning a birthday party at which:<br /><br />-Kids will be in attendance;<br />-You'll need plenty of room;<br />-You'll need fun things to do built right into the venue; and<br />-You like the idea of being outside,<br /><br />I'm going to tell you right now where you should have your shindig: Dilly Deli.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764105307/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4764105307_e733693d78.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />Check it out. For a party at <a href="http://dillydelitulsa.com/">Dilly Deli, downtown at 402 E. Second Street</a>, you get: <br /><br /><ul><li>A hip, funky, intimate, lovely enclosed patio (which rules for those of us with kids who can't seem to stay in one spot for longer than .35692 seconds - no spending the entire party running around chasing little ones to keep them safe when you could be socializing);</li><li>A bocce ball court (fun for both adults and kids alike);</li><li>Plenty of seating, including booth, picnic table, classic car (see it in the photo above? to the right) and four-top options;</li><li>Shields from the Oklahoma sun and the chance of sprinkles that has been in the Tulsa forecast for the past several days;</li><li>A venue right smack dab in the middle of the trendy, historic Blue Dome District, right next to tons of free as well as $5 parking;</li><li>Excellent service;</li><li>Yummy food made from as many locally sourced products as possible.</li></ul><br />Can you say jackpot?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764104999/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/4764104999_6229ea0813.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />That's what I said to myself a few weeks ago during a dinner at Dilly Deli. Actually, what I said to myself exactly was, "Gee, this sure would be a dandy place for my husband's 30th birthday party." <br /><br />That's when I realized something. I met my husband just after his 24th birthday, six whole years ago. <br /><br />You know, back before I used the words "gee" and "dandy" in everyday conversation. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764740276/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4764740276_49798fc9c0.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />This weekend, we celebrated his turning 30. As in, the big 3-0. <br /><br />I've been romantically involved with this man for six years. 2,190 days. More than 52,000 hours. That's, like, forever, man. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764106637/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4764106637_8fdaf7efb5.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />And now, we have this. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764105721/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4764105721_664a18abe1.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />And these people. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764104885/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4764104885_40dd46f782.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />And these people. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764104747/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4764104747_f900deed75.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />Look! It's <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hwall">@hwall</a>! And her son, Isaac. And my mom. And my Meme.<br /><br />Isn't Meme pretty? It's really super-easy to tell in this picture.<br /><br />We also have whoever this is. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764104279/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4764104279_94189a08d3.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />Actually, that's <a href="http://www.twitter.com/travelingspork">@travelingspork</a>. She and her husband recently traded their Miami, Okla. digs for a house in T-Town.<br /><br />Their drive to my husband's birthday party from their old house in Miami: Approx. 1.5 hours.<br />Their drive to my husband's birthday party from their new house in Tulsa: Approx. 15 minutes.<br /><br />Advantage: My dear friend's gasoline budget.<br /><br />Also, her sanity. See what a few years of trying to live so far away can do to a person?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764740574/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4764740574_17c97f1404.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><br />Plus, it's really nice to have that one friend back in town who likes to steal your camera and take photos of your parties so you don't have to.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764740738/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4764740738_f731052244.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />That's @travelingspork's hubs. When my husband first met him, he pretty much couldn't stop talking about him for, like, a month. I think he was his first-ever man crush.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764105119/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4764105119_e61fbc0d36.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />The studliness doesn't end there. Can you tell this was the guy in high school who made all the girls in math class swoon?<br /><br />According to @travelingspork, his high school sweetheart, he was.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764106043/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4764106043_9d545bf215.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />I'm not sure what this has to do with the birthday party, but...did you know I have a sideways pinkie toe?<br /><br />And did you know that I have a little sister who really likes blue sno cones? <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764105817/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4764105817_88aeba25f9.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />And did you know that if you gave my dad some blush, some lipstick, a red wig and a Bump It, we'd look pretty much like twins?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764741726/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4764741726_01236d1b42.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />It's true. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764106759/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4764106759_2fcbe6bcc0.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />It's pretty funny that the men's bathroom at Dilly Deli is labeled with my husband's name. He could claim it as his own private domain, if he wanted. I think he'd be well within his rights.<br /><br />And, if the spelling of my sister's name conformed to the traditional spelling, the ladies' room, labeled Erin, could be her private domain. She could set up a partition outside the door and refuse to grant anyone access. I mean, it would be her private domain - it'd have her <i>name</i> on it, for goodness sake.<br /><br />Or, she could give it to <a href="http://www.erinconrad.com/">Erin Conrad</a>. You know, whatever works in the politics of friendly public restroom takeovers.<br /><br />This name, it's a recurring theme in my life.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764107611/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4764107611_d259b86d56.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />And now for what you've all been waiting for.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764742912/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4764742912_c57f625985.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />How to light a perfectly good and innocent birthday cupcake on fire.<br /><br /><b>Step 1:</b> Tell the nice folks at <a href="http://www.annsbakery.com/">Ann's Bakery</a> that you're gonna order a birthday cake from them. Remember that you haven't done so at the last minute. Kick self.<br /><br />Buy cupcake liners. Make cupcakes with cream cheese frosting from scratch with your two-year-old. Wear aprons.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764805641/" title="Cupcakes! by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Cupcakes!" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4764805641_57eebd62db.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />Bribe a friend to clandestinely transport the cupcakes to the party venue.<br /><br />Mark calendar two weeks before your own birthday to remind yourself to call Ann's and&nbsp;<a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs536.ash1/31416_405324464029_104710214029_4269954_6696851_n.jpg">order this</a>.<br /><br />Forgive self. <br /><br /><b>Step 2:</b> Load it up with the number of candles that would signify the new age of the birthday person.<br /><br />So, in our case, 30. Or, two-and-a-quarter packs of $2 birthday candles.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743030/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4764743030_de5b574f34.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Step 3:</b> Abscond with the birthday party venue's lighter. Don't mess with those sissy, thumb-powered things. Go all out with a trusty, burly charcoal lighter.&nbsp;</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743132/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4764743132_ff56ef2206.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><b>Step 4:</b> After lighting candles on one side of the cupcake, determine the direction of the wind. Tip: If you watch the wild fire developing on your cupcake, this should be relatively easy to figure out.<br /><br /><b>Step 5:</b> Turn cupcake so that the wind blows the fire onto the wicks of the other candles.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764107183/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4764107183_835d02f24e.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743336/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4764743336_c1fc29424a.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Step 6:</b> Blow out all candles in one breath.</div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764742436/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4764742436_6f76c0117d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764743448/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4764743448_0d8bd06427.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764107491/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4764107491_2d135ac8a2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And that's the way you do it.&nbsp;</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4764107611/" title="Dilly Deli by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Dilly Deli" height="332" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/4764107611_d259b86d56.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Tip: Do not attempt to eat stunt cupcake.<br /><br />Tip: Smoky the Bear would want me to tell you that it's good fire safety to have a fire extinguisher handy when lighting this many candles in a small space.<br /><br />And that only you can prevent cupcake fires.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks again, Dilly Deli, for being such a great host to my sweet husband's 30th birthday party. We had a blast. You even helped my husband feel better about being a newly minted old fogey for awhile.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And for that we're eternally grateful.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dilly Deli</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Where: 402 E. Second Street</div><div style="text-align: left;">When: Monday-Thursday, 8am-8pm; Friday-Saturday, 8am-10pm; Sunday, 8am-4pm</div><div style="text-align: left;">Call: (918) 938-6382</div><div style="text-align: left;">Web: <a href="http://www.dillydelitulsa.com/">DillyDeliTulsa.com</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Menu (PDF): <a href="http://dillydelitulsa.com/images/data/attachments/0000/0001/Dilly_Deli_Menu_As_of_Dec16_09.pdf">Click here</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/58/1435650/restaurant/Blue-Dome-District/Dilly-Deli-Tulsa"><img alt="Dilly Deli on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1435650/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a></div></div></div>