<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 534px;" src="http://img1.classistatic.com/cps/l/kj/09/6/2/788/r6/3165nma_20.jpeg" border="0" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Downtown Tulsa is bursting with new digs with that urban-chic feel. More than 1,500 lofts and apartments are available, with several new loft construction projects underway in some of Tulsa's legacy buildings.Since urban living isn't exactly the first thing that comes to mind when folks think of home life in Oklahoma (anyone else repeatedly asked by non-Midwesterners what it's like to live in a log cabin, tee-pee or on a farm, and by the way how's the dustbowl thing coming along?), a little guide through the choices is mighty nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>As part of its mission to enhance Tulsa's livability, the <a href="http://www.tulsaarchitecture.com/">Tulsa Foundation for Architecture</a> will host <a href="http://www.tulsaarchitecture.com/tours.shtml">its third annual Downtown Living Tour June 27th and 28th</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Five spaces, some open and some still under renovation but scheduled to soon hit the market, will be open specifically for this event.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Tour stops are the <a href="http://www.themayohotel.com/index.php">Mayo Hotel and Luxury Residences</a>; <a href="http://www.firststlofts.com/">First Street Lofts</a>; <a href="http://www.tulsapreservationcommission.org/blog/index.pl?e=1029">Wire Rope Building Lofts</a>; along with two additional urban living spaces. </div><div><br /></div><div>Tour hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Advance tickets are available at <a href="http://tulsaarchitecture.com/">the TFA Web site</a> and at <a href="http://www.dwellingspaces.net/">Dwelling Spaces</a>, 119 S. Detroit Ave., for $20 per person, or $35 for two. The price includes transportation to each site by <a href="http://ttowntrolley.wordpress.com/">the T-Town Trolley</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Tickets will be available on both days of the tour during tour hours at <a href="http://www.topecacoffee.com/">Cafe Topeca, 115 W. Fifth Street, Ste. 169</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>To kick off the weekend tour, the TFA will host a Patron Party on Friday, June 26, 5-7 p.m. at a pad near Third and Kenosha. Tickets for this exclusive event are available for $50 and include two weekend tour tickets, food from local restaurants like <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bluedomediner">Blue Dome Diner</a>, <a href="http://www.dailygrill.com/">Daily Grill</a>, <a href="http://elotetulsa.com/">Elote Cafe &amp; Catering</a>, <a href="http://www.impressionsrestaurant.com/">Impressions</a>, <a href="http://joemommas.com/">Joe Momma's</a> and <a href="http://www.oscarsgastropub.com/">F.B. Oscar's Gastropub</a>. Select wines from <a href="http://www.tulsawine.com/">Girouard Vines</a> and an assortment of beers from <a href="http://mcnellies.com/">James E. McNellie's Public House</a> will also be available. Tickets to this swanky little shindig can be snagged at the same locations were tour tickets are sold.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 914px; height: 502px;" src="http://www.firststlofts.com/1stloftviewfromeast.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Speaking of <a href="http://tulsawine.com/">Girouard Vines, it's Tulsa's only downtown winery</a>. Chris Girouard, the Tulsa face of the operation, has come up with a red wine he calls Tulsa Art Deco. The label features the Tulsa Fire Alarm building and architectural information from the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. Labels for his other wines are in the works, so be on the lookout for those.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 339px; height: 283px;" src="http://www.tulsawine.com/media/tulsa-deco.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div><br /></div><div>Tulsa Foundation for Architecture is a resource that recognizes, records and encourages preservation of the built environment and advocates future development that enhances Tulsa's livability. Through awards programs, speakers, tours and publications, TFA promotes and encourages preservation and rehabilitation of significant architecture; conserves historic architectural drawings and related materials; identifies valuable architectural works of merit; and educates Tulsans about the built environment. </div><div><br /></div><div>Whew. </div><div><br /></div><div>TFA is busy, but not too busy to be generous. The foundation wants to give one lucky TDT reader two tickets to the Patron Party and two tickets to the Downtown Living Tour, redeemable any time on either date, at the winner's fancy. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's easy to enter. Simple answer this question correctly: </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Who commissioned the ORIGINAL construction of the home of one of the first rehabilitated downtown loft projects, Philtower Lofts, the Philtower Building? One bonus entry goes to each contestant who tells me the year ORIGINAL construction was completed. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, lucky people. You have until Friday, June 19, at 1 p.m. to enter. Good luck, and delightful dwelling! </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-size:small;"><i>First photo, <a href="http://www.themayohotel.com/">loft unit in the Mayo Hotel &amp; Luxury Residences project</a>.</i></span></div>