(9945,1,'2011-12-14 16:56:56','2011-12-14 22:56:56','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" title=\"blogger\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" /></a>\n\nSo we\'re off and running here with this new series here at TDT, which features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. \n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nHere it is, Tasha. Let me know whether you have any follow-up questions.\n\n1. Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?\n\nI started Route 66 News in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\n\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\n\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\n\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\n\n2. How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?\n\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\n\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\n\nIt\'s the new things -- plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses -- that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\n\n3. You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?\n\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\n\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\n\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\n\n4. What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?\n\nBy far, the most popular post remains \"A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie,\" (http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/) which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\n\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is \"A chat with George Maharis.\" (http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/) In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \n\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\n\n5. How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?\n\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\n\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\n\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\n\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\n\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\n\n6. You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?\n\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" -- Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe -- an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\n\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\n\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you. \n\n###\n\n\n\n','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-2','','','2011-12-14 16:56:56','2011-12-14 22:56:56','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(9949,1,'2011-12-14 16:59:03','2011-12-14 22:59:03','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" title=\"blogger\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" /></a>\n\nSo we\'re off and running here with this new series here at TDT, which features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. \n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\n\nI started Route 66 News in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\n\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\n\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\n\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\n\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\n\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\n\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\n\nIt\'s the new things -- plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses -- that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\n\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\n\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\n\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\n\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\n\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?\n\nBy far, the most popular post remains \"A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie,\" (http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/) which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\n\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is \"A chat with George Maharis.\" (http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/) In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \n\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\n\n5. How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?\n\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\n\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\n\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\n\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\n\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\n\n6. You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?\n\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" -- Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe -- an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\n\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\n\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-4','','','2011-12-14 16:59:03','2011-12-14 22:59:03','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(9946,1,'2011-12-14 16:57:04','2011-12-14 22:57:04','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" title=\"blogger\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with this new series here at TDT, which features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nHere it is, Tasha. Let me know whether you have any follow-up questions.\r\n\r\n1. Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?\r\n\r\nI started Route 66 News in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n2. How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things -- plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses -- that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n3. You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n4. What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains \"A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie,\" (http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/) which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is \"A chat with George Maharis.\" (http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/) In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n5. How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n6. You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" -- Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe -- an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-3','','','2011-12-14 16:57:04','2011-12-14 22:57:04','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(9947,1,'2011-12-07 11:26:34','2011-12-07 17:26:34','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nHowdy there, TDT readers. Today I\'d like to introduce to you a new series here on the blog that will feature interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers. \r\n\r\nExciting! What I hope that we all gain by taking part in a series like this is a better understanding of our blogging community, as well as of life in Oklahoma. If you know of a blogger who you\'d like to see featured in this series, be sure to read to the end of this post.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nThe prize of being first featured here on OK Blogs belongs to <a href=\"http://nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, blogger behind Nicci6.com</a> and someone who has been described as Tulsa\'s own Carrie Bradshaw. \r\n\r\nAnd let me tell y\'all, she\'s a dedicated blogger, for sure — she even brought her laptop along on a recent date to jot down notes for this interview in situ — she even interviewed her date and their fellow bar patrons: \"I felt that in order to truthfully answer these questions, I needed to put myself IN the dating scene at the very moment that I’m answering them,\" Atchley wrote to me in her e-mail response to my interview questions. \"So I met a new friend for a cocktail, laptop in tow. Here’s how it played out.\" \r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe the dating scene in the Tulsa area?</strong>\r\n\r\nHmmm. Well personally, I\'ve found it challenging to be single in Tulsa as of late. I\'ve heard a lot of people communicate the same sentiment that people tend to get married fairly young here so if you\'re one of those who didn\'t, you can\'t help but wonder if you\'ve perhaps missed the boat. I\'ve also encountered middle aged people who have gone through a divorce and suddenly they\'re unexpectedly single and kind of going, \"Now what the hell am I supposed to do?\" I wouldn\'t say that Tulsa is a city that is necessarily conducive to single-hood. It\'s definitely not encouraged to be single. That said, every time I give up all hope, I end up meeting someone cool. It\'s for this reason that I am eternally optimistic. \r\n\r\nWhat my wine companion had to say: There’s not much of a scene in my opinion. Tulsa is a good place to have a family and settle down but not a great place to be single. If you want to be single, live in Dallas. For someone who’s new to Tulsa, I could see the dating scene being very difficult unless you know people. There aren’t a lot of young professionals. There’s a big divide between old and new.  \r\n\r\nI don’t go out a lot. I typically go out with friends Thursday and Friday and maybe meet someone (like Nicci) for cocktails during the week.\r\n\r\nAccording to our bartender: I haven’t been on a date in who knows how long. I was married. The dating scene sucks ass. I’d even rather be single in Oklahoma City than Tulsa.\r\n\r\nRandom Guy at The Bar: Dating isn’t too bad. There are a lot of beautiful women here but I’ve got a girlfriend I live with so I don’t really look around. Most of the girls are pretty nice around here. I met my girlfriend because she was my girlfriend at the time’s room mate (he smiles and takes a drink of his beer).   \r\n\r\nRandom guy at the bar then makes a point to say, “I don’t do the whole facebook thing. Everybody on facebook wants to be a celebrity.”   \r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/SeekingNicci6\" target=\"_blank\">I wonder for a moment whether</a> or <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/nicci.atchley\" target=\"_blank\">not I should take that personally</a>. \r\n\r\nNext question.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does Tulsa need a blog about dating, sex and relationships — and why is Nicci6 the woman to consult on all things love?</strong>\r\n\r\nI think the WORLD needs another blog about dating, sex and relationships. ; .)  \r\n\r\nI didn’t anticipate where all of this writing stuff would go. I started by talking about my dating experiences while I was out in Arizona. I posted those stories on Facebook “Notes”. I was surprised by the response. During the snowstorm, I was snowed in with family and kind of going nuts so I got on WordPress  and set up a blog. Other than playing Xbox Kinect with the neighbor (Hey Brian), I really had nothing else to do so I just started writing. I mean, it probably saved us from “The Shining” sort of episode.\r\n\r\nI just started out by telling my stories. The Reader Q & A happened organically. People just started sending me questions. And now that has kind of grown so people will stop me while I’m out and about and ask me questions. It’s been pretty amazing because it’s allowed me to connect with people in ways that I just haven’t been able to before. I’ve  always been that person that my girlfriends will call when they’re going through a break up. I’ve always been that friend to say, “Ok, buck up. Here’s what you need to do.” But now it’s interesting to have people that I don‘t personally know, inviting me into their lives, sharing their stories and asking my opinion. Not that I do the perfect thing all the time. I never do or say the perfect thing. I mess up right and left in relationships. What can I say? When I’m in the thick of it, my own passion often clouds my judgement. That said, for whatever reason, I’m able to give really logical advice to other people. Do as I say, but rarely as I do.\r\n\r\nWhat my wine companion has to say when I ask him, “Why am I the person to consult with on all things love?”:  I don’t know yet. Why don’t we spend Friday and Saturday together and then we’ll blog about it on Sunday?\r\n\r\nHeheheehe. Men. *Please note: It is shortly after the above question that we discover that I am like a DECADE older than said wine companion. The bartender obviously finds this amusing. Sigh. So much for that. \r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Nicci6.com, and why do you think they\'ve resonated with your readers?</strong>\r\n\r\n\"How to Date a Rockstar\" has been the most read series, mainly because it stirred up so much controversy, I think. A lot of people thought that I wrote it to really roast an ex boyfriend but that wasn\'t my intent at all. His band was about to go on tour and I\'m really proud to know them so I thought, \"Hey, maybe I can help raise some awareness about them.\" So I started this series and didn\'t really conceal his identity. Well shortly after the first post, I started getting all these comments that just blew my mind. I was stunned. It was a revelation to say the least. But then I had to write the rest of the story as if this information hadn\'t been revealed to me. It was really challenging to be outright pissed but then to still sit down and write about a time in the past that I was rather smitten with this guy. I think that particular series was popular because it was a bit on the dramatic side and it just went viral. It circulated rapidly. Anyway, he wasn\'t pissed that I wrote it. He didn\'t ask me to take it down or anything. He apologized and it\'s safe to say that everyone has moved on. Everybody\'s cool. There\'s no ill will at all. \r\n\r\nI\'ve also received quite a bit of positive feedback on \"How to Lose a Guy in 30 Days\" and \"Is it Old Fashioned to Want to Be Able to Provide for a Girl Before Choosing to Settle Down?\" The examples I’ve written are pretty extreme but I think that most people can relate on some level. I like to examine things from an anthropological perspective. I mean, as human beings, we all have a very similar experience when it comes to love.  \r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What\'s your process for creating content at Nicci6.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nMy process is pretty haphazard, actually. I write when I have the time to write. I’m almost always inspired. I get ideas for posts all the time. There are so many questions and concepts that I’d like to explore. It really comes down to time. I do find that I tend to write more when I’m feeling either slightly infatuated or slightly heartbroken over somebody. It just stirs up ideas and memories. It’s a telltale sign when I start writing a lot that I’m either falling in or out of something. It’s the in-between state that I can’t stand. I’ve been a bit wounded lately so I’ve been more prolific with my writing. I met this great guy and I am simply more into him than he is into me. And so it goes. At least it’s conducive to creation. Any time I find myself disappointed, I remind myself of that.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How did your build <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/nicci.atchley\" target=\"_blank\">your 5,500+ following on Facebook</a> (<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/SeekingNicci6\" target=\"_blank\">and here</a>), and what do your readers get from you there that they don\'t get from your blog?</strong>\r\n\r\nI’ve built my network by accepting practically all of the friend requests that I’ve received. I started doing that early on. I think being really active helps too. Activity begets activity. The more you interact  with other people on facebook, the larger your network is going to be. My advice is that if you want to build a bigger network, go to other people’s pages and start engaging. It’s like that on facebook and it’s like that in life.\r\n\r\nFacebook is fun because it’s really about story-telling. Anyone who gets my updates in their newsfeed will probably agree that my posts are kind of reality-show like. They are all snippets of a story. On my personal pages, people get the behind the scenes view of things. It’s the hour by hour version of my blog.\r\n \r\n<strong>TDT: So you agree to go on a date. What do you hope is on the agenda?</strong>\r\n\r\nTruth be told, it makes absolutely no difference to me what I do with somebody on a date. It doesn’t really have any bearing on whether I like a guy or not. I mean, I’d rather take a walk around the neighborhood with a guy that I’m really into than jet off to Fiji with a fella that I’m not. In this regard, I’m of the Epicurean mindset that it isn’t where or what you eat but who you eat with.\r\n\r\nMy Wine Companion: Depends on what kind of date. Horseback riding? Or dinner and drinks and see where the night takes you...That’s all I got to say about that.\r\n\r\nIndeed.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nMy thanks goes out to Nicci for being willing to be the first to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Nicci here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Nicci and her take on the Tulsa dating scene at nicci6.com</a>. \r\n\r\nNext up in the series is an interview with <a href=\"http://route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind the Tulsa-based Route66News.com</a>. Ron has some interesting things to say about niche blogging, the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself, so stay tuned for that interview, due for posting at about this time next week. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Nicci Atchley of Nicci6.com','Nicci Atchley blogs about all things love and dating in the Tulsa scene. In this interview she offers her advice on blogging, love and life.','inherit','open','open','','9807-revision-16','','','2011-12-07 11:26:34','2011-12-07 17:26:34','',9807,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9807-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(9948,1,'2011-12-14 16:57:45','2011-12-14 22:57:45','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nHowdy there, TDT readers. Today I\'d like to introduce to you a new series here on the blog that will feature interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers. \r\n\r\nExciting! What I hope that we all gain by taking part in a series like this is a better understanding of our blogging community, as well as of life in Oklahoma. If you know of a blogger who you\'d like to see featured in this series, be sure to read to the end of this post.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nThe prize of being first featured here on OK Blogs belongs to <a href=\"http://nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, blogger behind Nicci6.com</a> and someone who has been described as Tulsa\'s own Carrie Bradshaw. \r\n\r\nAnd let me tell y\'all, she\'s a dedicated blogger, for sure — she even brought her laptop along on a recent date to jot down notes for this interview in situ — she even interviewed her date and their fellow bar patrons: \"I felt that in order to truthfully answer these questions, I needed to put myself IN the dating scene at the very moment that I’m answering them,\" Atchley wrote to me in her e-mail response to my interview questions. \"So I met a new friend for a cocktail, laptop in tow. Here’s how it played out.\" \r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe the dating scene in the Tulsa area?</strong>\r\n\r\nHmmm. Well personally, I\'ve found it challenging to be single in Tulsa as of late. I\'ve heard a lot of people communicate the same sentiment that people tend to get married fairly young here so if you\'re one of those who didn\'t, you can\'t help but wonder if you\'ve perhaps missed the boat. I\'ve also encountered middle aged people who have gone through a divorce and suddenly they\'re unexpectedly single and kind of going, \"Now what the hell am I supposed to do?\" I wouldn\'t say that Tulsa is a city that is necessarily conducive to single-hood. It\'s definitely not encouraged to be single. That said, every time I give up all hope, I end up meeting someone cool. It\'s for this reason that I am eternally optimistic. \r\n\r\nWhat my wine companion had to say: There’s not much of a scene in my opinion. Tulsa is a good place to have a family and settle down but not a great place to be single. If you want to be single, live in Dallas. For someone who’s new to Tulsa, I could see the dating scene being very difficult unless you know people. There aren’t a lot of young professionals. There’s a big divide between old and new.  \r\n\r\nI don’t go out a lot. I typically go out with friends Thursday and Friday and maybe meet someone (like Nicci) for cocktails during the week.\r\n\r\nAccording to our bartender: I haven’t been on a date in who knows how long. I was married. The dating scene sucks ass. I’d even rather be single in Oklahoma City than Tulsa.\r\n\r\nRandom Guy at The Bar: Dating isn’t too bad. There are a lot of beautiful women here but I’ve got a girlfriend I live with so I don’t really look around. Most of the girls are pretty nice around here. I met my girlfriend because she was my girlfriend at the time’s room mate (he smiles and takes a drink of his beer).   \r\n\r\nRandom guy at the bar then makes a point to say, “I don’t do the whole facebook thing. Everybody on facebook wants to be a celebrity.”   \r\n\r\n<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/SeekingNicci6\" target=\"_blank\">I wonder for a moment whether</a> or <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/nicci.atchley\" target=\"_blank\">not I should take that personally</a>. \r\n\r\nNext question.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does Tulsa need a blog about dating, sex and relationships — and why is Nicci6 the woman to consult on all things love?</strong>\r\n\r\nI think the WORLD needs another blog about dating, sex and relationships. ; .)  \r\n\r\nI didn’t anticipate where all of this writing stuff would go. I started by talking about my dating experiences while I was out in Arizona. I posted those stories on Facebook “Notes”. I was surprised by the response. During the snowstorm, I was snowed in with family and kind of going nuts so I got on WordPress  and set up a blog. Other than playing Xbox Kinect with the neighbor (Hey Brian), I really had nothing else to do so I just started writing. I mean, it probably saved us from “The Shining” sort of episode.\r\n\r\nI just started out by telling my stories. The Reader Q & A happened organically. People just started sending me questions. And now that has kind of grown so people will stop me while I’m out and about and ask me questions. It’s been pretty amazing because it’s allowed me to connect with people in ways that I just haven’t been able to before. I’ve  always been that person that my girlfriends will call when they’re going through a break up. I’ve always been that friend to say, “Ok, buck up. Here’s what you need to do.” But now it’s interesting to have people that I don‘t personally know, inviting me into their lives, sharing their stories and asking my opinion. Not that I do the perfect thing all the time. I never do or say the perfect thing. I mess up right and left in relationships. What can I say? When I’m in the thick of it, my own passion often clouds my judgement. That said, for whatever reason, I’m able to give really logical advice to other people. Do as I say, but rarely as I do.\r\n\r\nWhat my wine companion has to say when I ask him, “Why am I the person to consult with on all things love?”:  I don’t know yet. Why don’t we spend Friday and Saturday together and then we’ll blog about it on Sunday?\r\n\r\nHeheheehe. Men. *Please note: It is shortly after the above question that we discover that I am like a DECADE older than said wine companion. The bartender obviously finds this amusing. Sigh. So much for that. \r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Nicci6.com, and why do you think they\'ve resonated with your readers?</strong>\r\n\r\n\"How to Date a Rockstar\" has been the most read series, mainly because it stirred up so much controversy, I think. A lot of people thought that I wrote it to really roast an ex boyfriend but that wasn\'t my intent at all. His band was about to go on tour and I\'m really proud to know them so I thought, \"Hey, maybe I can help raise some awareness about them.\" So I started this series and didn\'t really conceal his identity. Well shortly after the first post, I started getting all these comments that just blew my mind. I was stunned. It was a revelation to say the least. But then I had to write the rest of the story as if this information hadn\'t been revealed to me. It was really challenging to be outright pissed but then to still sit down and write about a time in the past that I was rather smitten with this guy. I think that particular series was popular because it was a bit on the dramatic side and it just went viral. It circulated rapidly. Anyway, he wasn\'t pissed that I wrote it. He didn\'t ask me to take it down or anything. He apologized and it\'s safe to say that everyone has moved on. Everybody\'s cool. There\'s no ill will at all. \r\n\r\nI\'ve also received quite a bit of positive feedback on \"How to Lose a Guy in 30 Days\" and \"Is it Old Fashioned to Want to Be Able to Provide for a Girl Before Choosing to Settle Down?\" The examples I’ve written are pretty extreme but I think that most people can relate on some level. I like to examine things from an anthropological perspective. I mean, as human beings, we all have a very similar experience when it comes to love.  \r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What\'s your process for creating content at Nicci6.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nMy process is pretty haphazard, actually. I write when I have the time to write. I’m almost always inspired. I get ideas for posts all the time. There are so many questions and concepts that I’d like to explore. It really comes down to time. I do find that I tend to write more when I’m feeling either slightly infatuated or slightly heartbroken over somebody. It just stirs up ideas and memories. It’s a telltale sign when I start writing a lot that I’m either falling in or out of something. It’s the in-between state that I can’t stand. I’ve been a bit wounded lately so I’ve been more prolific with my writing. I met this great guy and I am simply more into him than he is into me. And so it goes. At least it’s conducive to creation. Any time I find myself disappointed, I remind myself of that.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How did your build <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/nicci.atchley\" target=\"_blank\">your 5,500+ following on Facebook</a> (<a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/SeekingNicci6\" target=\"_blank\">and here</a>), and what do your readers get from you there that they don\'t get from your blog?</strong>\r\n\r\nI’ve built my network by accepting practically all of the friend requests that I’ve received. I started doing that early on. I think being really active helps too. Activity begets activity. The more you interact  with other people on facebook, the larger your network is going to be. My advice is that if you want to build a bigger network, go to other people’s pages and start engaging. It’s like that on facebook and it’s like that in life.\r\n\r\nFacebook is fun because it’s really about story-telling. Anyone who gets my updates in their newsfeed will probably agree that my posts are kind of reality-show like. They are all snippets of a story. On my personal pages, people get the behind the scenes view of things. It’s the hour by hour version of my blog.\r\n \r\n<strong>TDT: So you agree to go on a date. What do you hope is on the agenda?</strong>\r\n\r\nTruth be told, it makes absolutely no difference to me what I do with somebody on a date. It doesn’t really have any bearing on whether I like a guy or not. I mean, I’d rather take a walk around the neighborhood with a guy that I’m really into than jet off to Fiji with a fella that I’m not. In this regard, I’m of the Epicurean mindset that it isn’t where or what you eat but who you eat with.\r\n\r\nMy Wine Companion: Depends on what kind of date. Horseback riding? Or dinner and drinks and see where the night takes you...That’s all I got to say about that.\r\n\r\nIndeed.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nMy thanks goes out to Nicci for being willing to be the first to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Nicci here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Nicci and her take on the Tulsa dating scene at nicci6.com</a>. \r\n\r\nNext up in the series is an interview with <a href=\"http://route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind the Tulsa-based Route66News.com</a>. Ron has some interesting things to say about niche blogging, the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself, so stay tuned for that interview, due for posting at about this time next week. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Nicci Atchley of Nicci6.com','Nicci Atchley blogs about all things love and dating in the Tulsa scene. In this interview she offers her advice on blogging, love and life.','inherit','open','open','','9807-revision-17','','','2011-12-14 16:57:45','2011-12-14 22:57:45','',9807,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9807-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(9950,1,'2011-12-14 16:59:41','2011-12-14 22:59:41','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" title=\"blogger\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with this new series here at TDT, which features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started Route 66 News in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things -- plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses -- that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains \"A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie,\" (http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/) which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is \"A chat with George Maharis.\" (http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/) In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" -- Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe -- an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-5','','','2011-12-14 16:59:41','2011-12-14 22:59:41','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(9951,1,'2011-12-14 17:08:26','2011-12-14 23:08:26','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" title=\"blogger\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" /></a>\n\nSo we\'re off and running here with this new series here at TDT, which features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\n\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\n\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\n\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\n\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\n\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\n\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\n\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\n\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\n\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\n\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\n\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\n\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\n\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\n\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\n\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \n\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\n\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\n\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\n\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\n\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\n\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\n\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\n\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\n\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\n\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\n\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\n\n------------------\n\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \n\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \n\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-6','','','2011-12-14 17:08:26','2011-12-14 23:08:26','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(9952,1,'2011-12-14 17:08:44','2011-12-14 23:08:44','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" title=\"blogger\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with this new series here at TDT, which features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-7','','','2011-12-14 17:08:44','2011-12-14 23:08:44','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(9953,1,'2011-12-14 17:11:46','2011-12-14 23:11:46','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" title=\"blogger\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" /></a>\n\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\n\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\n\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\n\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\n\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\n\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\n\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\n\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\n\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\n\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\n\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\n\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\n\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\n\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\n\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\n\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \n\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\n\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\n\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\n\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\n\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\n\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\n\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\n\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\n\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\n\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\n\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\n\n------------------\n\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \n\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \n\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-8','','','2011-12-14 17:11:46','2011-12-14 23:11:46','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(9954,1,'2011-12-14 17:15:22','2011-12-14 23:15:22','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','Ron Warnick blogs at Route 66 News, a clearinghouse for news and stories from the Mother Road. In this interview he offers tips on niche blogging and some advice for anyone looking for the road trip of their lives.','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-9','','','2011-12-14 17:15:22','2011-12-14 23:15:22','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(9955,1,'2011-12-14 17:15:22','2011-12-14 23:15:22','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; up to bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','Ron Warnick blogs at Route 66 News, a clearinghouse for news and stories from the Mother Road. In this interview he offers tips on niche blogging and some advice for anyone looking for the road trip of their lives.','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-10','','','2011-12-14 17:15:22','2011-12-14 23:15:22','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(9956,1,'2011-12-14 17:16:57','2011-12-14 23:16:57','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','Ron Warnick blogs at Route 66 News, a clearinghouse for news and stories from the Mother Road. In this interview he offers tips on niche blogging and some advice for anyone looking for the road trip of their lives.','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-11','','','2011-12-14 17:16:57','2011-12-14 23:16:57','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(9957,1,'2011-12-14 17:16:58','2011-12-14 23:16:58','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','Ron Warnick blogs at Route 66 News, a clearinghouse for news and stories from the Mother Road. In this interview he offers tips on niche blogging and some advice for anyone looking for the road trip of their lives.','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-12','','','2011-12-14 17:16:58','2011-12-14 23:16:58','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(9958,1,'2011-12-14 17:19:34','2011-12-14 23:19:34','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','Ron Warnick blogs at Route 66 News, a clearinghouse for news and stories from the Mother Road. In this interview he offers tips on niche blogging and some advice for anyone looking for the road trip of their lives.','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-13','','','2011-12-14 17:19:34','2011-12-14 23:19:34','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(9960,1,'2011-12-15 12:00:23','2011-12-15 18:00:23','','Route 66 Tulsa Oklahoma','','inherit','open','open','','picture-1-27','','','2011-12-15 12:00:23','2011-12-15 18:00:23','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-11.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10949,1,'2012-04-01 13:31:27','2012-04-01 19:31:27','','birthday','','inherit','open','open','','dsc_0366-2','','','2012-04-01 13:31:27','2012-04-01 19:31:27','',10939,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/DSC_0366.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(10950,1,'2012-04-01 13:32:31','2012-04-01 19:32:31','','trans am','','inherit','open','open','','7035627451_dcf07fcd77_b','','','2012-04-01 13:32:31','2012-04-01 19:32:31','',10939,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/7035627451_dcf07fcd77_b.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(9964,1,'2011-12-15 12:36:59','2011-12-15 18:36:59','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/around-town-kendall-bell-at-the-university-of-tulsa/dsc_0172/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband — a vet sent overseas twice before he was old enough to rent a car here in the states — rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','publish','open','open','','around-town-kendall-bell-at-the-university-of-tulsa','','','2011-12-19 09:30:25','2011-12-19 15:30:25','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=9964',0,'post','',1),(9965,1,'2011-12-15 12:17:09','2011-12-15 18:17:09','','Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma','','inherit','open','open','','dsc_0172','','','2011-12-15 12:17:09','2011-12-15 18:17:09','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(9966,1,'2011-12-15 12:19:16','2011-12-15 18:19:16','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=9965\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\n\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \n\nLast night, my husband, a veteran of two foreign wars by the time he turned 25, rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing. \n\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision','','','2011-12-15 12:19:16','2011-12-15 18:19:16','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(9967,1,'2011-12-15 12:19:47','2011-12-15 18:19:47','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=9965\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband, a veteran of two foreign wars by the time he turned 25, rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-2','','','2011-12-15 12:19:47','2011-12-15 18:19:47','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(9968,1,'2011-12-15 12:19:48','2011-12-15 18:19:48','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=9965\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband, a veteran of two foreign wars by the time he turned 25, rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-3','','','2011-12-15 12:19:48','2011-12-15 18:19:48','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(9969,1,'2011-12-15 12:21:26','2011-12-15 18:21:26','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=9965\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband, a veteran of two foreign wars by the time he turned 25, rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-4','','','2011-12-15 12:21:26','2011-12-15 18:21:26','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(9970,1,'2011-12-15 12:36:32','2011-12-15 18:36:32','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=9965\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\n\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \n\nLast night, my husband — a veteran who\'d been overseas twice and was among the first troops on the ground in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, all before he was old enough to rent a car here in the states — rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing. \n\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-5','','','2011-12-15 12:36:32','2011-12-15 18:36:32','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(9971,1,'2011-12-15 12:36:59','2011-12-15 18:36:59','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=9965\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband — a veteran who\'d been overseas twice before he was old enough to rent a car here in the states — rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-6','','','2011-12-15 12:36:59','2011-12-15 18:36:59','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(9972,1,'2011-12-15 12:36:59','2011-12-15 18:36:59','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/around-town-kendall-bell-at-the-university-of-tulsa/dsc_0172/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband — a veteran who\'d been overseas twice before he was old enough to rent a car here in the states — rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-7','','','2011-12-15 12:36:59','2011-12-15 18:36:59','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(9973,1,'2011-12-15 12:38:08','2011-12-15 18:38:08','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/around-town-kendall-bell-at-the-university-of-tulsa/dsc_0172/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband — a vet who\'d been overseas twice before he was old enough to rent a car here in the states — rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-8','','','2011-12-15 12:38:08','2011-12-15 18:38:08','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(9974,1,'2011-12-15 12:38:08','2011-12-15 18:38:08','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/around-town-kendall-bell-at-the-university-of-tulsa/dsc_0172/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband — a vet who\'d been overseas twice before he was old enough to rent a car here in the states — rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-9','','','2011-12-15 12:38:08','2011-12-15 18:38:08','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(9975,1,'2011-12-15 12:38:20','2011-12-15 18:38:20','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/around-town-kendall-bell-at-the-university-of-tulsa/dsc_0172/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9965\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC_0172-500x332.jpg\" alt=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Kendall Bell University of Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9965\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<strong>Ding, dong, done</strong>. There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell. It\'s something students have been doing for more than half a century, ever since the bell was the crowning feature of Kendall Hall, a five-story climb from the ground below. \r\n\r\nLast night, my husband — a vet sent overseas twice before he was old enough to rent a car here in the states — rang that bell. And you\'d better believe that he made that sucker sing.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tualumni.com/s/1174/index.aspx?pgid=312&gid=1\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more about the Kendall Bell tradition at The University of Tulsa here</a>. \r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>','Around Town: Kendall Bell at The University of Tulsa','There\'s a tradition at the University of Tulsa: After a senior completes the last final exam of his or her career at TU, it\'s time to head to Bayless Plaza to ring the Kendall Bell.','inherit','open','open','','9964-revision-10','','','2011-12-15 12:38:20','2011-12-15 18:38:20','',9964,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9964-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(10026,1,'2011-12-20 08:34:11','2011-12-20 14:34:11','','Longhorns Route 66 Oklahoma','','inherit','open','open','','picture-1-28','','','2011-12-20 08:34:11','2011-12-20 14:34:11','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-12.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(10370,1,'2012-01-24 08:57:04','2012-01-24 14:57:04','Exciting news! Eight Tulsa bloggers are featured in the second-ever Tulsa Press Club Newsies, an award that aims to celebrate local journalists.\n\nThe nominees for best blog are:\n<ul>\n	<li>ArtofManliness.com</li>\n	<li>Batesline.com</li>\n	<li>TulsaFood.com</li>\n	<li>TashaDoesTulsa.com</li>\n</ul>\nUp for favorite blogger are:\n<ul>\n	<li>Kim Brown, Tulsa World, Pop Blog</li>\n	<li>Jennifer Chancellor, Tulsa World, Barrelhouse Beat</li>\n	<li>Sarah Roe, KOTV/Griffin Communication, Money Saving Queen</li>\n	<li>Jason Ashley Wright, Tulsa World, Inalienable Wright</li>\n</ul>\nI\'m proud to see that <a href=\"http://www.thislandpress.com/\" target=\"_blank\">This Land Press</a> was nominated for a number of awards, too, including Favorite Reporter (Holly Wall), Best Use of Social Media, Best Use of Multimedia, Favorite News Website. Thanks to all for your nominations. We\'re honored.\n\nPlease take the time to <a href=\"http://app.fluidsurveys.com/s/newsies/\" target=\"_blank\">vote for your favorite blogs/bloggers in the Tulsa Press Club Newsies 2012</a>. Helping your local bloggers win awards is one of the best ways to make what you already love even better — an award can mean a boost in brand recognition for that blog or blogger, which can translate to new opportunities that will make your experience as a subscriber of that blog all the richer.\n\nThe Newsies award ceremony is slated for March 1 at The Broadway, 720 S. Kenosha in downtown Tulsa. Reception at 6 p.m., presentation of awards starting at 7 p.m. Everyone\'s favorite weather woman Julie Chin will emcee (yes, I know you\'ve moved on to bigger and better things, Julie, but don\'t be surprised if you don\'t remain the favorite weather woman for, like, ever), and complimentary hors d\'oeuvres and a cash bar will be on hand. Tickets are $20, or $15 for Press Club members. Call (918) 583-7737 to save your spot.\n\nI hope to see your bright and smiling faces there in support of these members of our local blogging community. It\'ll also be a prime chance to meet Tulsa journalists and newsmakers.\n\nCheers, and happy voting!','Vote for your favorite Tulsa bloggers: Tulsa Press Club Newsies 2012','','inherit','open','open','','10368-autosave','','','2012-01-24 08:57:04','2012-01-24 14:57:04','',10368,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2012/01/10368-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(10369,1,'2012-01-24 08:55:22','2012-01-24 14:55:22','Exciting news! Eight Tulsa bloggers are featured in the second-ever Tulsa Press Club Newsies, an award that aims to celebrate local journalists.\n\nThe nominees for best blog are:\n<ul>\n	<li>ArtofManliness.com</li>\n	<li>Batesline.com</li>\n	<li>TulsaFood.com</li>\n	<li>TashaDoesTulsa.com</li>\n</ul>\nUp for favorite blogger are:\n<ul>\n	<li>Kim Brown, Tulsa World, Pop Blog</li>\n	<li>Jennifer Chancellor, Tulsa World, Barrelhouse Beat</li>\n	<li>Sarah Roe, KOTV/Griffin Communication, Money Saving Queen</li>\n	<li>Jason Ashley Wright, Tulsa World, Inalienable Wright</li>\n</ul>\nI\'m proud to see that <a href=\"http://www.thislandpress.com/\" target=\"_blank\">This Land Press</a> was nominated for a number of awards, too, including Favorite Reporter (Holly Wall), Best Use of Social Media, Best Use of Multimedia, Favorite News Website.\n\nPlease take the time to <a href=\"http://app.fluidsurveys.com/s/newsies/\" target=\"_blank\">vote for your favorite blogs/bloggers in the Tulsa Press Club Newsies 2012</a>. Helping your local bloggers win awards is one of the best ways to make what you already love even better — an award can mean a boost in brand recognition for that blog or blogger, which can translate to new opportunities that will make your experience as a subscriber of that blog all the richer.\n\nThe Newsies award ceremony is slated for March 1 at The Broadway, 720 S. Kenosha in downtown Tulsa. Reception at 6 p.m., presentation of awards starting at 7 p.m. Everyone\'s favorite weather woman Julie Chin will emcee (yes, I know you\'ve moved on to bigger and better things, Julie, but don\'t be surprised if you don\'t remain the favorite weather woman for, like, ever), and complimentary hors d\'oeuvres and a cash bar will be on hand. Tickets are $20, or $15 for Press Club members. Call (918) 583-7737 to save your spot.\n\nI hope to see your bright and smiling faces there in support of these members of our local blogging community. It\'ll also be a prime chance to meet Tulsa journalists and newsmakers.','Vote for your favorite Tulsa bloggers: Tulsa Press Club Newsies 2012','','inherit','open','open','','10368-revision','','','2012-01-24 08:55:22','2012-01-24 14:55:22','',10368,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2012/01/10368-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(10029,1,'2011-12-20 17:18:43','2011-12-20 23:18:43','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\n\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\n\nSo here\'s the first edition of what I\'ll call the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails along with my replies. \n\nThis one is from Federica Bagnera: \n\n<blockquote>\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\n\nFederica, you\'re in luck! I created a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT? , the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa, and it ranges from a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show to a human ball drop. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \n\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \n\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma NYexperience for her and her parnets. \n\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Ask TDT: The Italians Come to Tulsa, NYE Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-3','','','2011-12-20 17:18:43','2011-12-20 23:18:43','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(10030,1,'2011-12-20 17:19:06','2011-12-20 23:19:06','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the first edition of what I\'ll call the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails along with my replies. \r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica Bagnera: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nFederica, you\'re in luck! I created a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT? , the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa, and it ranges from a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show to a human ball drop. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Ask TDT: The Italians Come to Tulsa, NYE Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-4','','','2011-12-20 17:19:06','2011-12-20 23:19:06','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(10031,1,'2011-12-20 17:26:08','2011-12-20 23:26:08','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\n\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\n\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\n\nThis one is from Federica: \n\n<blockquote>\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\n\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \n\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>, and it ranges from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \n\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \n\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \n\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-5','','','2011-12-20 17:26:08','2011-12-20 23:26:08','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(10032,1,'2011-12-20 17:26:14','2011-12-20 23:26:14','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>, and it ranges from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-6','','','2011-12-20 17:26:14','2011-12-20 23:26:14','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(10033,1,'2011-12-20 17:27:08','2011-12-20 23:27:08','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\n\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\n\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\n\nThis one is from Federica: \n\n<blockquote>\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\n\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \n\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>, and it ranges from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \n\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \n\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \n\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-7','','','2011-12-20 17:27:08','2011-12-20 23:27:08','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(10035,1,'2011-12-20 17:28:11','2011-12-20 23:28:11','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\n\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\n\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\n\nThis one is from Federica: \n\n<blockquote>\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\n\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \n\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \n\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \n\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \n\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-9','','','2011-12-20 17:28:11','2011-12-20 23:28:11','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(10034,1,'2011-12-20 17:27:09','2011-12-20 23:27:09','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>, and it ranges from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-8','','','2011-12-20 17:27:09','2011-12-20 23:27:09','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(10036,1,'2011-12-20 17:28:29','2011-12-20 23:28:29','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-10','','','2011-12-20 17:28:29','2011-12-20 23:28:29','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(10037,1,'2011-12-20 17:28:29','2011-12-20 23:28:29','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\nI hope TDT readers weigh in here, too, because if there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-11','','','2011-12-20 17:28:29','2011-12-20 23:28:29','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(10038,1,'2011-12-20 17:29:10','2011-12-20 23:29:10','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-12','','','2011-12-20 17:29:10','2011-12-20 23:29:10','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(10039,1,'2011-12-20 17:30:12','2011-12-20 23:30:12','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\n\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\n\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\n\nThis one is from Federica: \n\n<blockquote>\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\n\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \n\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \n\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \n\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \n\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve/Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','A Tulsa Ballet ballerina asks how to show her parents an Oklahoma good time','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-13','','','2011-12-20 17:30:12','2011-12-20 23:30:12','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(10040,1,'2011-12-20 17:32:10','2011-12-20 23:32:10','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-14','','','2011-12-20 17:32:10','2011-12-20 23:32:10','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(10041,1,'2011-12-20 17:32:10','2011-12-20 23:32:10','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-15','','','2011-12-20 17:32:10','2011-12-20 23:32:10','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(10042,1,'2011-12-20 17:32:15','2011-12-20 23:32:15','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-16','','','2011-12-20 17:32:15','2011-12-20 23:32:15','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(10043,1,'2011-12-20 17:32:15','2011-12-20 23:32:15','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-the-new-years-eve-italians-come-to-tulsa-edition/img_0797/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-17','','','2011-12-20 17:32:15','2011-12-20 23:32:15','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(10044,1,'2011-12-20 17:32:25','2011-12-20 23:32:25','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-the-new-years-eve-italians-come-to-tulsa-edition/img_0797/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-18','','','2011-12-20 17:32:25','2011-12-20 23:32:25','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(10045,1,'2011-12-13 11:58:22','2011-12-13 17:58:22','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/picture-4-11/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9884\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-41.png\" alt=\"Tunnels downtown Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Tunnels downtown Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"313\" height=\"326\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9884\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the first edition of what I\'ll call the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails along with my replies. \r\n\r\nThe first one is from Joe: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>Hi Tasha,\r\n\r\nI just found out that Tulsa has this elaborate tunnel system...I would love to follow someone through this maze.\r\n</blockquote>\r\n\r\nJoe, you\'re in luck! Woman about town <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/02/tulsas-underworldto-lunch/\" target=\"_blank\">Andrea Myers wrote a guest post here at TDT back in February 2010 about downtown Tulsa\'s tunnel system</a>, a subject of mystery and fascination for many a T-Towner. Through a mix of photos and anecdotes, Andrea takes readers on a tour of the tunnels, starting from an office on the 50th floor of the BOK/Williams Tower to Atlas Grill at 5th and Boston. So start with Andrea\'s virtual tour, and then head downtown and try a little of your own exploring. We\'d love to hear back from you after your trip. \r\n\r\nHow many of you have walked downtown\'s tunnels? What are your favorite stops along the way?\r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: Underground Tunnels of Downtown Tulsa','The tunnel system under the streets of downtown Tulsa mystifies a TashaDoesTulsa.com reader.','inherit','open','open','','9867-revision-20','','','2011-12-13 11:58:22','2011-12-13 17:58:22','',9867,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9867-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(10046,1,'2011-12-20 17:32:45','2011-12-20 23:32:45','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/picture-4-11/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9884\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-41.png\" alt=\"Tunnels downtown Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Tunnels downtown Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"313\" height=\"326\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9884\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the first edition of what I\'ll call the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails along with my replies. \r\n\r\nThe first one is from Joe: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>Hi Tasha,\r\n\r\nI just found out that Tulsa has this elaborate tunnel system...I would love to follow someone through this maze.\r\n</blockquote>\r\n\r\nJoe, you\'re in luck! Woman about town <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/02/tulsas-underworldto-lunch/\" target=\"_blank\">Andrea Myers wrote a guest post here at TDT back in February 2010 about downtown Tulsa\'s tunnel system</a>, a subject of mystery and fascination for many a T-Towner. Through a mix of photos and anecdotes, Andrea takes readers on a tour of the tunnels, starting from an office on the 50th floor of the BOK/Williams Tower to Atlas Grill at 5th and Boston. So start with Andrea\'s virtual tour, and then head downtown and try a little of your own exploring. We\'d love to hear back from you after your trip. \r\n\r\nHow many of you have walked downtown\'s tunnels? What are your favorite stops along the way?\r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind asking it in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: Underground Tunnels of Downtown Tulsa','The tunnel system under the streets of downtown Tulsa mystifies a TashaDoesTulsa.com reader.','inherit','open','open','','9867-revision-21','','','2011-12-20 17:32:45','2011-12-20 23:32:45','',9867,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9867-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(10047,1,'2011-12-20 17:32:25','2011-12-20 23:32:25','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-the-new-years-eve-italians-come-to-tulsa-edition/img_0797/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nOK, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-19','','','2011-12-20 17:32:25','2011-12-20 23:32:25','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(10048,1,'2011-12-20 17:34:09','2011-12-20 23:34:09','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-the-new-years-eve-italians-come-to-tulsa-edition/img_0797/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nNow, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-20','','','2011-12-20 17:34:09','2011-12-20 23:34:09','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(10049,1,'2011-12-20 17:34:10','2011-12-20 23:34:10','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-the-new-years-eve-italians-come-to-tulsa-edition/img_0797/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real, live ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nNow, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-21','','','2011-12-20 17:34:10','2011-12-20 23:34:10','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(10050,1,'2011-12-20 17:40:22','2011-12-20 23:40:22','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-the-new-years-eve-italians-come-to-tulsa-edition/img_0797/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5565\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_0797.jpg\" alt=\"Yokozuna\" title=\"Yokozuna\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5565\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\nSomething cool about being editor here at <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/\" target=\"_blank\">TashaDoesTulsa.com</a> is that my inbox is always full of mail from folks who want to know more about things to do in Tulsa, and about life in Oklahoma.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nI answer as many of these emails as I possibly can, but they don\'t usually see the light of day after I push the send button, except maybe on the screen of whoever sent the question in the first place. And I figure that if one person thinks it\'s worth their time to write an email and ask a question, odds are that other people have wondered the same thing and they\'d like to know the answer, too.\r\n\r\nSo here\'s the second edition of what I\'m calling the Dear TDT series, a selection of reader emails posted along with my replies. (<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/dear-tdt-underground-tunnels-of-downtown-tulsa/\">Read the first edition of Dear TDT, starring downtown Tulsa\'s underground tunnel system and guest blogger Andrea Myers, here</a>.)\r\n\r\nThis one is from Federica: \r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\nI\'m Italian dancer and I work for Tulsa Ballet [no really, she does — <a href=\"http://www.tulsaballet.org/staff.asp?id=90&task=staffdisplay&staffid=67\" target=\"_blank\">see for yourselves</a>]. I\'ve never spent New Year\'s Eve here in Tulsa but this year I will and my parents (from Italy) will join me for the first time. I was thinking about a late dinner and then something else (nothing crazy but fun)...Can you give me some advice? what should I do after?</blockquote>\r\n\r\nOK, first, let me finish swooning. I got an email from a real ballerina! It\'s every girl\'s dream come true, and it happened to me. Thanks so much for writing, Federica. A treat, for sure. \r\n\r\nNow, let\'s get started: I created <strong><a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/12/19/2011/new-years-eve-tulsa-2011-where-to-celebrate/\" target=\"_blank\">a list of things to do in Tulsa for New Year\'s Eve 2011 over at DO WHAT?, the clearinghouse for things to do in and around Tulsa</a></strong>. Your choices range from <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/rocky-horror-picture-show/\" target=\"_blank\">a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Circle Cinema</a> to <a href=\"http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/dream-world-disco-ball-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">a human ball drop at Living Arts in downtown</a>. So take your pick and get ready to have a blast and a half. \r\n\r\nAs for dinner, check out <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/food/\" target=\"_blank\">the Food</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/category/restaurants/\" target=\"_blank\">Restaurant archives here at TDT</a>. Great choices for NYE would include <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/02/brady-tavern-burger-love/\" target=\"_blank\">Brady Tavern</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/11/hey-mambo-italiano-restaurant-review/\" target=\"_blank\">Hey Mambo</a> and <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=5565\" target=\"_blank\">Yokozuna</a>, all open late; there will also be plenty of choices on Cherry Street (<a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/cherry-street/chef-james-shrader-the-new-palace-cafe-and-a-meal-worthy-of-the-legend\" target=\"_blank\">Palace Cafe</a>, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/10/luckys-cherry-street/\" target=\"_blank\">Lucky\'s</a> and White Owl are favorites of mine) and on Brookside (see if <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/asian/keo-well-worth-the-trip\" target=\"_blank\">KEO</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/from-peoria-to-paris-at-the-brasserie\" target=\"_blank\">The Brasserie</a> and <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/brookside/off-menu-special-dishes-at-gemmas-are-that-of-a-top-chef-master\" target=\"_blank\">Gemma\'s</a> have any reservations left). You might also want to consider a place like <a href=\"http://www.bodean.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodean\'s</a>, <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/dukes-southern-kitchen-chef-driven-bixby\" target=\"_blank\">Duke\'s Southern Kitchen</a> or <a href=\"http://tulsafood.com/south-tulsa/a-magical-dining-experience-at-michael-vs-restaurant\" target=\"_blank\">Michael V\'s</a>, all three of which are further south; plus, <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/03/canebrake-plus-win-some-brunch/\" target=\"_blank\">The Canebrake</a> is hosting an NYE party, and good food will certainly part of the goings-on. \r\n\r\n<strong>I hope TDT readers weigh in here, too.</strong> If there\'s one thing they know, it\'s where to find the good food and dining in this town. Folks? Head to the comments and let\'s help Federica out in creating the perfect Oklahoma New Year\'s Eve experience for her and her parents. \r\n\r\n<em>Got a question for Tasha and don\'t mind having it answered in a public forum? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Feed my inbox with your thoughtful inquiries</a>.</em>','Dear TDT: The New Year\'s Eve, Italians Come to Tulsa Edition','This New Year\'s Eve, Tulsa Ballet ballerina Federica\'s parents are coming from Italy to Oklahoma. What are some things to do that would help her create a visit to remember?','inherit','open','open','','9985-revision-22','','','2011-12-20 17:40:22','2011-12-20 23:40:22','',9985,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9985-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(10052,1,'2011-12-20 17:43:14','2011-12-20 23:43:14','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\n\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures. \n\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\n\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintagey greatness is the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found it\'s way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\n\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" /></a>\n\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" /></a>\n\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Flea Market and you can practice your negotiating skills and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s nice! Just remember, it\'s only open on Saturday, 8am to 4pm. Check out there website here: http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\n\nThe next three shops are antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market with different booths but the vendors aren\'t actually there and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered and just have things piled on shelves.\n\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall. \n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" /></a>\n\nIt\'s smaller than the flea market but there are plenty of booths to keep you busy for a while. You can find a lot of the same type of things here along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles and the prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market.\n\nGenerations is open every day from 10a-5p and next to Tally\'s on 11th and Yale.\n\nIf you\'re around Broken Arrow, there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post, located on main street. \n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" /></a>\n\nIt\'s about the same size at Generations but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are better laid out too so it\'s easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a back wall full of books and a whole room full of kid\'s toys.\n\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st St and Main and open Monday to Saturday from 10:30a to 5:30p.\n\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths. \n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" /></a>\n\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering vintage treasures to handmade items like hair bows and soap.  There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture and they have set up mini show rooms to give you decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep on looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\n\nI have found several things for my house here and two of my favorite finds were wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" /></a>\n\nRiver City is located on Main St., open seven days a week and you can find them on facebook.\n\nI hope I\'ve given you a little look into some different places around town to shop. So go out, explore and find your own treasure!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-3','','','2011-12-20 17:43:14','2011-12-20 23:43:14','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(10053,1,'2011-12-20 17:52:20','2011-12-20 23:52:20','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\r\n\r\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures. \r\n\r\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintagey greatness is the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found it\'s way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\r\n\r\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Flea Market and you can practice your negotiating skills and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s nice! Just remember, it\'s only open on Saturday, 8am to 4pm. Check out there website here: http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\r\n\r\nThe next three shops are antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market with different booths but the vendors aren\'t actually there and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered and just have things piled on shelves.\r\n\r\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s smaller than the flea market but there are plenty of booths to keep you busy for a while. You can find a lot of the same type of things here along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles and the prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market.\r\n\r\nGenerations is open every day from 10a-5p and next to Tally\'s on 11th and Yale.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re around Broken Arrow, there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post, located on main street. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s about the same size at Generations but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are better laid out too so it\'s easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a back wall full of books and a whole room full of kid\'s toys.\r\n\r\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st St and Main and open Monday to Saturday from 10:30a to 5:30p.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering vintage treasures to handmade items like hair bows and soap.  There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture and they have set up mini show rooms to give you decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep on looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\r\n\r\nI have found several things for my house here and two of my favorite finds were wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRiver City is located on Main St., open seven days a week and you can find them on facebook.\r\n\r\nI hope I\'ve given you a little look into some different places around town to shop. So go out, explore and find your own treasure!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-4','','','2011-12-20 17:52:20','2011-12-20 23:52:20','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(10054,1,'2011-12-21 13:05:55','2011-12-21 19:05:55','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind jenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about Generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\r\n\r\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about it with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\r\n\r\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X, versus some strategic plan I could have created.\r\n\r\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as a satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content — everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\r\n\r\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times, is that bloggers have gained credibility.\r\n\r\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you want to create a popular site that you will eventually monetize, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships, or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday, audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience. So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\r\n\r\nAnd by audience I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating, or the people you want or need to impact with your content. Back in 2008, I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends of mine and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR. If you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\r\n\r\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\r\n\r\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others, even if in just a small way.\r\n\r\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children, and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them, even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but because it is — even when it is painfully ordinary.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at jenX67.com?</b>\r\n\r\nMy post popular post is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/2011/09/generation-y-leads-occupy-wall-street.html\" target=\"_blank\">one I wrote Sept. 29 of this year, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa</a>. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and The Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\r\n\r\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out jenX67.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','publish','open','open','','ok-blogs-jennifer-james-of-jenx-a-blog-for-generation-x','','','2011-12-21 13:06:51','2011-12-21 19:06:51','',0,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?p=10054',0,'post','',5),(10055,1,'2011-12-20 17:52:26','2011-12-20 23:52:26','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision','','','2011-12-20 17:52:26','2011-12-20 23:52:26','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(10056,1,'2011-12-20 18:03:43','2011-12-21 00:03:43','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\n\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures. \n\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\n\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintage-y greatness is <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/08/tulsa-flea-market/\" target=\"_blank\">the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds</a>. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found its way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\n\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" /></a>\n\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" /></a>\n\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Tulsa Flea Market. Plus, you can practice your negotiating skills, and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s well-behaved. Just remember, it\'s only open on certain Saturdays, 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out Tulsa Flea Market on the web before heading out or to learn more</a>. \n\nAnd then there are the antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market except that the vendors aren\'t actually at their booths, and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered, with merchandise just piled onto shelves.\n\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" /></a>\n\nIt\'s smaller than the Tulsa Flea Market but there are plenty of booths to keep you perusing. You can find a lot of the same types of things here, along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles. The prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market, too.\n\nGenerations is open every day from 10 a.m — 5 p.m. Find it next to Tally\'s at 11th and Yale.\n\nIf you\'re in Broken Arrow (or don\'t mind going there), there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post on Main Street. \n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" /></a>\n\nIts footprint is about the same as Generations, but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are tidier, so it\'s a bit easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a wall full of books and an entire room full of kids\' toys.\n\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st Street and Main. It\'s open Monday — Saturday, 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.\n\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths and vendors.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" /></a>\n\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering everything form vintage treasures to handmade items, like hair bows and soap. There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture, and they set up mini showrooms to assist with decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\n\nI\'ve discovered several treasures for my house at River City Trading Post, and my favorite finds were these wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" /></a>\n\nRiver City is on Main Street in Jenks, open seven days a week. You can <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-City-Trading-Post/128001817212558\" target=\"_blank\">find River City Trading Post on Facebook</a>, too.\n\nNow go, explore and find your own second-hand treasures!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','Tulsa\'s flea markets and antique malls are just waiting for you','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-5','','','2011-12-20 18:03:43','2011-12-21 00:03:43','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(10057,1,'2011-12-20 18:04:06','2011-12-21 00:04:06','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\r\n\r\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures. \r\n\r\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintage-y greatness is <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/08/tulsa-flea-market/\" target=\"_blank\">the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds</a>. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found its way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\r\n\r\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Tulsa Flea Market. Plus, you can practice your negotiating skills, and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s well-behaved. Just remember, it\'s only open on certain Saturdays, 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out Tulsa Flea Market on the web before heading out or to learn more</a>. \r\n\r\nAnd then there are the antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market except that the vendors aren\'t actually at their booths, and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered, with merchandise just piled onto shelves.\r\n\r\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s smaller than the Tulsa Flea Market but there are plenty of booths to keep you perusing. You can find a lot of the same types of things here, along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles. The prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market, too.\r\n\r\nGenerations is open every day from 10 a.m — 5 p.m. Find it next to Tally\'s at 11th and Yale.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re in Broken Arrow (or don\'t mind going there), there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post on Main Street. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIts footprint is about the same as Generations, but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are tidier, so it\'s a bit easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a wall full of books and an entire room full of kids\' toys.\r\n\r\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st Street and Main. It\'s open Monday — Saturday, 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths and vendors.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering everything form vintage treasures to handmade items, like hair bows and soap. There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture, and they set up mini showrooms to assist with decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\r\n\r\nI\'ve discovered several treasures for my house at River City Trading Post, and my favorite finds were these wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRiver City is on Main Street in Jenks, open seven days a week. You can <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-City-Trading-Post/128001817212558\" target=\"_blank\">find River City Trading Post on Facebook</a>, too.\r\n\r\nNow go, explore and find your own second-hand treasures!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','Tulsa\'s flea markets and antique malls are just waiting for you to visit and discover your very own treasures — Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellers show us how.','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-6','','','2011-12-20 18:04:06','2011-12-21 00:04:06','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(10058,1,'2011-12-20 18:04:07','2011-12-21 00:04:07','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\r\n\r\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures. \r\n\r\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintage-y greatness is <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/08/tulsa-flea-market/\" target=\"_blank\">the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds</a>. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found its way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\r\n\r\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Tulsa Flea Market. Plus, you can practice your negotiating skills, and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s well-behaved. Just remember, it\'s only open on certain Saturdays, 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out Tulsa Flea Market on the web before heading out or to learn more</a>. \r\n\r\nAnd then there are the antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market except that the vendors aren\'t actually at their booths, and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered, with merchandise just piled onto shelves.\r\n\r\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s smaller than the Tulsa Flea Market but there are plenty of booths to keep you perusing. You can find a lot of the same types of things here, along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles. The prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market, too.\r\n\r\nGenerations is open every day from 10 a.m — 5 p.m. Find it next to Tally\'s at 11th and Yale.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re in Broken Arrow (or don\'t mind going there), there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post on Main Street. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIts footprint is about the same as Generations, but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are tidier, so it\'s a bit easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a wall full of books and an entire room full of kids\' toys.\r\n\r\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st Street and Main. It\'s open Monday — Saturday, 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths and vendors.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering everything form vintage treasures to handmade items, like hair bows and soap. There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture, and they set up mini showrooms to assist with decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\r\n\r\nI\'ve discovered several treasures for my house at River City Trading Post, and my favorite finds were these wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRiver City is on Main Street in Jenks, open seven days a week. You can <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-City-Trading-Post/128001817212558\" target=\"_blank\">find River City Trading Post on Facebook</a>, too.\r\n\r\nNow go, explore and find your own second-hand treasures!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','Tulsa\'s flea markets and antique malls are just waiting for you to visit and discover your very own treasures — Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellers show us how.','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-7','','','2011-12-20 18:04:07','2011-12-21 00:04:07','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(10059,1,'2011-12-20 18:04:19','2011-12-21 00:04:19','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\r\n\r\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures. \r\n\r\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintage-y greatness is <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/08/tulsa-flea-market/\" target=\"_blank\">the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds</a>. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found its way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\r\n\r\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Tulsa Flea Market. Plus, you can practice your negotiating skills, and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s well-behaved. Just remember, it\'s only open on certain Saturdays, 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out Tulsa Flea Market on the web before heading out or to learn more</a>. \r\n\r\nAnd then there are the antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market except that the vendors aren\'t actually at their booths, and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered, with merchandise just piled onto shelves.\r\n\r\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s smaller than the Tulsa Flea Market but there are plenty of booths to keep you perusing. You can find a lot of the same types of things here, along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles. The prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market, too.\r\n\r\nGenerations is open every day from 10 a.m — 5 p.m. Find it next to Tally\'s at 11th and Yale.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re in Broken Arrow (or don\'t mind going there), there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post on Main Street. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIts footprint is about the same as Generations, but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are tidier, so it\'s a bit easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a wall full of books and an entire room full of kids\' toys.\r\n\r\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st Street and Main. It\'s open Monday — Saturday, 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths and vendors.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering everything form vintage treasures to handmade items, like hair bows and soap. There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture, and they set up mini showrooms to assist with decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\r\n\r\nI\'ve discovered several treasures for my house at River City Trading Post, and my favorite finds were these wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRiver City is on Main Street in Jenks, open seven days a week. You can <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-City-Trading-Post/128001817212558\" target=\"_blank\">find River City Trading Post on Facebook</a>, too.\r\n\r\nNow go, explore and find your own second-hand treasures!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','Tulsa\'s flea markets and antique malls are just waiting for you to visit and discover your very own treasures — Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellers show us how.','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-8','','','2011-12-20 18:04:19','2011-12-21 00:04:19','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(10060,1,'2011-12-20 18:04:19','2011-12-21 00:04:19','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\r\n\r\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures. \r\n\r\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintage-y greatness is <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/08/tulsa-flea-market/\" target=\"_blank\">the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds</a>. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found its way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\r\n\r\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Tulsa Flea Market. Plus, you can practice your negotiating skills, and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s well-behaved. Just remember, it\'s only open on certain Saturdays, 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out Tulsa Flea Market on the web before heading out or to learn more</a>. \r\n\r\nAnd then there are the antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market except that the vendors aren\'t actually at their booths, and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered, with merchandise just piled onto shelves.\r\n\r\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s smaller than the Tulsa Flea Market but there are plenty of booths to keep you perusing. You can find a lot of the same types of things here, along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles. The prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market, too.\r\n\r\nGenerations is open every day from 10 a.m — 5 p.m. Find it next to Tally\'s at 11th and Yale.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re in Broken Arrow (or don\'t mind going there), there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post on Main Street. \r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIts footprint is about the same as Generations, but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are tidier, so it\'s a bit easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a wall full of books and an entire room full of kids\' toys.\r\n\r\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st Street and Main. It\'s open Monday — Saturday, 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths and vendors.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering everything form vintage treasures to handmade items, like hair bows and soap. There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture, and they set up mini showrooms to assist with decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\r\n\r\nI\'ve discovered several treasures for my house at River City Trading Post, and my favorite finds were these wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRiver City is on Main Street in Jenks, open seven days a week. You can <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-City-Trading-Post/128001817212558\" target=\"_blank\">find River City Trading Post on Facebook</a>, too.\r\n\r\nNow go, explore and find your own second-hand treasures!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','Tulsa\'s flea markets and antique malls are just waiting for you to visit and discover your very own treasures — Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellers show us how.','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-9','','','2011-12-20 18:04:19','2011-12-21 00:04:19','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(10061,1,'2011-12-20 18:04:27','2011-12-21 00:04:27','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\r\n\r\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures.\r\n\r\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintage-y greatness is <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/08/tulsa-flea-market/\" target=\"_blank\">the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds</a>. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found its way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\r\n\r\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Tulsa Flea Market. Plus, you can practice your negotiating skills, and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s well-behaved. Just remember, it\'s only open on certain Saturdays, 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out Tulsa Flea Market on the web before heading out or to learn more</a>.\r\n\r\nAnd then there are the antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market except that the vendors aren\'t actually at their booths, and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered, with merchandise just piled onto shelves.\r\n\r\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s smaller than the Tulsa Flea Market but there are plenty of booths to keep you perusing. You can find a lot of the same types of things here, along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles. The prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market, too.\r\n\r\nGenerations is open every day from 10 a.m — 5 p.m. Find it next to Tally\'s at 11th and Yale.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re in Broken Arrow (or don\'t mind going there), there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post on Main Street.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIts footprint is about the same as Generations, but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are tidier, so it\'s a bit easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a wall full of books and an entire room full of kids\' toys.\r\n\r\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st Street and Main. It\'s open Monday — Saturday, 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths and vendors.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering everything form vintage treasures to handmade items, like hair bows and soap. There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture, and they set up mini showrooms to assist with decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\r\n\r\nI\'ve discovered several treasures for my house at River City Trading Post, and my favorite finds were these wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRiver City is on Main Street in Jenks, open seven days a week. You can <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-City-Trading-Post/128001817212558\" target=\"_blank\">find River City Trading Post on Facebook</a>, too.\r\n\r\nNow go, explore and find your own second-hand treasures!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','Tulsa\'s flea markets and antique malls are just waiting for you to visit and discover your very own treasures — Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellers show us how.','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-10','','','2011-12-20 18:04:27','2011-12-21 00:04:27','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(10062,1,'2011-12-20 18:04:27','2011-12-21 00:04:27','<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\r\n\r\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures.\r\n\r\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintage-y greatness is <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/08/tulsa-flea-market/\" target=\"_blank\">the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds</a>. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found its way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\r\n\r\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Tulsa Flea Market. Plus, you can practice your negotiating skills, and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s well-behaved. Just remember, it\'s only open on certain Saturdays, 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out Tulsa Flea Market on the web before heading out or to learn more</a>.\r\n\r\nAnd then there are the antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market except that the vendors aren\'t actually at their booths, and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered, with merchandise just piled onto shelves.\r\n\r\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s smaller than the Tulsa Flea Market but there are plenty of booths to keep you perusing. You can find a lot of the same types of things here, along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles. The prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market, too.\r\n\r\nGenerations is open every day from 10 a.m — 5 p.m. Find it next to Tally\'s at 11th and Yale.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re in Broken Arrow (or don\'t mind going there), there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post on Main Street.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIts footprint is about the same as Generations, but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are tidier, so it\'s a bit easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a wall full of books and an entire room full of kids\' toys.\r\n\r\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st Street and Main. It\'s open Monday — Saturday, 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths and vendors.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering everything form vintage treasures to handmade items, like hair bows and soap. There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture, and they set up mini showrooms to assist with decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\r\n\r\nI\'ve discovered several treasures for my house at River City Trading Post, and my favorite finds were these wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRiver City is on Main Street in Jenks, open seven days a week. You can <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-City-Trading-Post/128001817212558\" target=\"_blank\">find River City Trading Post on Facebook</a>, too.\r\n\r\nNow go, explore and find your own second-hand treasures!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','Tulsa\'s flea markets and antique malls are just waiting for you to visit and discover your very own treasures — Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellers show us how.','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-11','','','2011-12-20 18:04:27','2011-12-21 00:04:27','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(10063,1,'2011-12-20 18:05:31','2011-12-21 00:05:31','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<em>Today\'s post comes from <a href=\"http://lesleyraes.blogspot.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellars, who blogs at lesleyraes.blogspot.com</a> — welcome, Lesley!</em>\r\n\r\nFirst off I have to say how excited I am to be sharing here today. I\'m a big fan of TDT and, obviously, Tulsa. So I hope to provide you with a fun, new way to explore some of Tulsa\'s treasures.\r\n\r\nI\'m not talking food, art or festivals. I\'m talking about flea markets.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite places to find awesome vintage-y greatness is <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2010/08/tulsa-flea-market/\" target=\"_blank\">the Tulsa Flea Market at the fairgrounds</a>. I kind of grew up going to the flea market. My grandparents used to have a booth there when I was little and nearly every Saturday my parents would take me and my sister to visit them. I knew if I ran up and gave my grandpa a hug he would slip me a dollar. Add a kiss on the cheek and another dollar found its way in my pocket. Two dollars doesn\'t sound like much, but at the flea market, it could buy a lot. Not to mention that was over twenty years ago, but times haven\'t really changed at the flea market. There\'s still the guy with the crystal rocks, puppies in crates needing a home, the booth with tons of toys and baked goods ready to be tasted.\r\n\r\nNow that I\'m older, I\'ve found my way back to the flea market. If you\'ve never been, you\'ll probably want to take more than two dollars. There are a lot of different vendors each with their own booth ranging from furniture, records, fabric, old Fisher Price toys, tools, kitchenware, collectibles and everything in between.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8050\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8050\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8050\" title=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FleaMarket.jpg\" alt=\"Flea Market by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI like taking old things, like a metal mop bucket, and using it for something different, like a toy bin.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8051\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8051\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8051\" title=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/bucket.jpg\" alt=\"Bucket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWhat ever you are looking for, you can probably find it at the Tulsa Flea Market. Plus, you can practice your negotiating skills, and even bring your dog along for the fun, as long as it\'s well-behaved. Just remember, it\'s only open on certain Saturdays, 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. <a href=\"http://www.tulsafleamarket.net/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Check out Tulsa Flea Market on the web before heading out or to learn more</a>.\r\n\r\nAnd then there are the antique malls. They are a lot like the flea market except that the vendors aren\'t actually at their booths, and most are open every day. Each booth is owned by a different vendor and some are neatly decorated while others are cluttered, with merchandise just piled onto shelves.\r\n\r\nDrive down Route 66 and you\'ll find Generations Antique Mall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8052\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8052\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8052\" title=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Generations11thSt.jpg\" alt=\"Generations by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIt\'s smaller than the Tulsa Flea Market but there are plenty of booths to keep you perusing. You can find a lot of the same types of things here, along with dolls, furniture and Route 66 collectibles. The prices are about what you\'d find at the flea market, too.\r\n\r\nGenerations is open every day from 10 a.m — 5 p.m. Find it next to Tally\'s at 11th and Yale.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re in Broken Arrow (or don\'t mind going there), there\'s a fun shop called The Hitching Post on Main Street.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8053\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8053\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8053\" title=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/HitchingPostBA.jpg\" alt=\"Hitching Post by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nIts footprint is about the same as Generations, but the prices are usually a little higher. Most of the booths are tidier, so it\'s a bit easier to look through. They have a lot of antique plates and kitchen stuff, a whole room full of tools, a wall full of books and an entire room full of kids\' toys.\r\n\r\nThe Hitching Post is on the corner of 91st Street and Main. It\'s open Monday — Saturday, 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nAnd if you\'re out in Jenks, you have to check out River City Trading Post. It\'s the largest of the three stores and offers the largest variety in booths and vendors.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8054\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8054\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8054\" title=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RiverCity.jpg\" alt=\"River City by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThere are aisles and aisles of booths offering everything form vintage treasures to handmade items, like hair bows and soap. There\'s also a large open area devoted to old furniture, and they set up mini showrooms to assist with decorating ideas. The prices vary depending on the booth. Chances are, if you see something but it\'s a little higher than what you want to pay, keep looking because you\'re bound to find something similar in another booth for less.\r\n\r\nI\'ve discovered several treasures for my house at River City Trading Post, and my favorite finds were these wire baskets that I hung on the wall in my girl\'s nursery to hold her books.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/?attachment_id=8055\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8055\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8055\" title=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/basket.jpg\" alt=\"Basket by Tulsa Blogger Lesley Rae\" width=\"500\" height=\"353\" /></a>\r\n\r\nRiver City is on Main Street in Jenks, open seven days a week. You can <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-City-Trading-Post/128001817212558\" target=\"_blank\">find River City Trading Post on Facebook</a>, too.\r\n\r\nNow go, explore and find your own second-hand treasures!','Flea Markets, Trading Posts and Antique Shops: Treasure Hunting in Tulsa','Tulsa\'s flea markets and antique malls are just waiting for you to visit and discover your very own treasures — Tulsa blogger Lesley Zellers show us how.','inherit','open','open','','8049-revision-12','','','2011-12-20 18:05:31','2011-12-21 00:05:31','',8049,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/8049-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(11170,1,'2012-05-03 13:04:27','2012-05-03 19:04:27','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2012/05/these-people-get-me/okiecrowe/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11163\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/okiecrowe-500x375.jpg\" alt=\"Okie Crowe Tulsa Oklahoma\" title=\"Okie Crowe Tulsa Oklahoma\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-11163\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThese people get me. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\nFor one, the Oklahoma Red Dirt soap was placed riiiiight next to pickle soap. Oklahoma red dirt and pickles are pretty much my two favorite things. Especially the dirt. And the pickles.  \r\n\r\nFor two, the Okie Crowe folks make beer soap (tallboy, oatmeal stout, pumpkin lager...the list goes on). And beer hand scrubs. And peanut butter beer dog treats, made from spent beer grain. Inventive!  \r\n\r\nFor three, owner Kelli Groblewski\'s husband was really nice to me when joy and happiness came out of my ears at him when I spotted what was inside of the Okie Crowe booth at the Sand Springs Herbal Affair. It\'s a lot to handle when that happens, so I really appreciate his kindness and understanding. \r\n\r\nYou don\'t have to wait until the next festival to check \'em out. <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/shop/OkieCrowe\" target=\"_blank\">You can see and order Okie Crowe merch on their Etsy page</a>, or you can go to <a href=\"http://okiecrowe.com/stores/\" target=\"_blank\">one of these local retailers to see the array of Okie Crowe goodies</a>. \r\n\r\n(<a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/listing/95128836/okie-crowe-dill-pickle-scented-soap\" target=\"_blank\">Here\'s the pickle soap</a>. And here\'s <a href=\"http://www.etsy.com/listing/96756769/okie-crowe-oklahoma-red-dirt-scented\" target=\"_blank\">a candle version of that Oklahoma Red Dirt soap</a>.)\r\n\r\nThat Oklahoma Red Dirt soap, by the way? I bought a bar of it (how\'d you guess?), and let me tell you, it was almost a spiritual experience—I never knew that bathing with a bar of soap made of dirt could be like <em>that</em>. I mean, I\'m a fifth-generation Oklahoman. Odds are that I\'m made out of the same stuff that soap is. My great-great-grandma Clara (b. 188-something, I.T.) washed that stuff out of her clothes with a washboard, and thanks to Kelli\'s genius, I got to use it for a home-spa day. What? Yeah. Super cool.\r\n\r\n<em>Okie Crowe didn\'t sponsor this post or compensate me in any way for writing it. I just find the stuff to be delightful.</em>','These people get me.','','inherit','open','open','','11162-revision-7','','','2012-05-03 13:04:27','2012-05-03 19:04:27','',11162,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2012/05/11162-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(10068,1,'2011-12-21 10:14:43','2011-12-21 16:14:43','TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?\n\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\n\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\n\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\n\nTDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?\n\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\n\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\n\nTDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?\n\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\n\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\n\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \n\nTDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?\n\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\n\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\n\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\n\nTDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?\n\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\n\nTDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?\n\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\n\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.  \n\n \n\n \n\n \n','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of Jenx67.com','','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-2','','','2011-12-21 10:14:43','2011-12-21 16:14:43','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(10069,1,'2011-12-21 10:17:17','2011-12-21 16:17:17','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\n\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\nTDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?\n\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\n\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\n\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\n\nTDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?\n\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\n\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\n\nTDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?\n\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\n\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\n\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \n\nTDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?\n\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\n\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\n\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\n\nTDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?\n\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\n\nTDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?\n\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\n\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of Jenx67.com','','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-3','','','2011-12-21 10:17:17','2011-12-21 16:17:17','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(10070,1,'2011-12-21 11:26:54','2011-12-21 17:26:54','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as through the curation of news about Gen X</a>. In this interview Jennifer talks audience development, the evolution of blogging and Generation X itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\r\n\r\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\r\n\r\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\r\n\r\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\r\n\r\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\r\n\r\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\r\n\r\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\r\n\r\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\r\n\r\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\r\n\r\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\r\n\r\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\r\n\r\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\r\n\r\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of Jenx67.com','','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-4','','','2011-12-21 11:26:54','2011-12-21 17:26:54','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(10071,1,'2011-12-14 17:19:35','2011-12-14 23:19:35','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','Ron Warnick blogs at Route 66 News, a clearinghouse for news and stories from the Mother Road. In this interview he offers tips on niche blogging and some advice for anyone looking for the road trip of their lives.','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-14','','','2011-12-14 17:19:35','2011-12-14 23:19:35','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(10072,1,'2011-12-21 12:46:22','2011-12-21 18:46:22','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Ron Warnick, the blogger behind Route66News.com, a blog that chronicles news and stories from the Mother Road</a>. In this interview Ron talks niche blogging, about the impact of blogging on historic preservation and, of course, the Route itself. \r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: Why does the web need a Route 66 blog by a Tulsan?</strong>\r\n\r\nI started <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Route 66 News</a> in 2005 because the historic highway needed a timely source of news. Two print publications covered the road at the time, but it was weeks between  editions. An online forum existed on Yahoo!, but it was and remains a semi-private group with a lot of peripheral chatter. So it was a niche that wasn\'t being filled.\r\n\r\nMy initial vision for Route 66 News wasn\'t a blog. But it became clear a blog platform would serve me and its readers best. I wanted a medium where I could post stories quickly. I wanted the site to be capable of embedding video, audio, and photographs. I wanted archived stories to be readily accessible. A blog fit all those needs and more.\r\n\r\nAlthough Route 66 News exists as a news site first, it also advocates for the promotion and preservation of the road and its landmarks. The importance of a Route 66 news site was driven home less than a month after it launched, when a developer in Albuquerque, N.M., announced he would tear down the historic El Vado Motel for luxury townhouses. Because the news and call for action were distributed quickly, it enabled the Route 66 community across the globe to mobilize and persuade the city to preserve the motel. A lot of people deserve credit for El Vado Motel\'s eventual preservation, but I\'ve been told by folks close to the action in New Mexico that Route 66 News played a vital role.\r\n\r\nThe fact I live in Tulsa is sort of incidental to the site. I\'m sure Route 66 News could exist if I were based elsewhere. But I live just four blocks from 66, and Tulsa occupies a vital location on the Mother Road\'s 2,400 miles. And I\'m very glad voters approved the Vision 2025 initiative to boost Route 66 in the city. All those things make me more cognizant of Route 66 in general.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How does one approach blogging about something that\'s both historic as well as currently relevant and dynamic like Route 66?</strong>\r\n\r\nBefore starting Route 66 News, I observed that many Route 66-related sites concentrated on other people\'s memories and little else. It was as if they saw Route 66 in only the past tense.\r\n\r\nI became tired of hearing how Route 66 was a \"dead\" highway. I\'d driven long swaths of the route, and saw how it was dynamic and evolving. The popular White Dog Hill restaurant near Clinton operates in a historic clubhouse of a long-gone golf course. Pops in Arcadia pays tribute to classic roadside kitsch while staying massively popular. Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., offers creative cuisine in a century-old building. All of these establishment are less than 10 years old.\r\n\r\nIt\'s the new things — plus the old-new dichotomy you see with many Route 66 businesses — that make the old road interesting. History remains a news hook for many stories, and should. But how these places relate to the 21st century is what really intrigues me.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You have several comprehensive lists on your site — for restaurants, lodging, attractions, and campgrounds along the Route, just to name a few — how do those lists affect your presence on the web?</strong>\r\n\r\nThe pages came as a sort of an afterthought, but they turned into significant drivers of traffic to the site. Initially, I created them as a basic service to readers. If Google sends Route 66 novices to the site because of a story, it makes sense to have resources there to peruse if they\'re considering a Route 66 trip of their own. The Attractions page, in particular, has become of the biggest sources of traffic to Route 66 News.\r\n\r\nThe Campground and Clubs listings were created after requests from readers. No one before had created a listing of campgrounds for Route 66 travelers, so I obliged with the help of Google Maps and Google searches. The Campgrounds page also has become a substantial source of traffic. The Clubs listing is fairly new, so its impact isn\'t certain yet.\r\n\r\nI\'ve worked for an online retailer based in Tulsa for two years, and learned a lot about search-engine optimization. A lot of people think there are certain tricks or some sort of cyber-voodoo to SEO. But, in the end, Google values websites with authority and fresh content. It turned out that I was doing the right things all along.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: What are some of your most popular posts at Route66News.com?</strong>\r\n\r\nBy far, the most popular post remains <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2006/06/09/a-route-66-guide-to-the-cars-movie/\" target=\"_blank\">A Route 66 guide to the \'Cars\' movie</a></em>, which explains the real-life places and people that inspired the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film. I was fortunate enough to see the movie at a charity event in Oklahoma City one week before its general release. The post was an idea that occurred to me during the screening, and saw it as an ideal way to introduce people to Route 66. It took a lot of work and cooperation from other websites for material, and it was published the day of the film\'s release. Tulsa resident Michael Wallis, a Route 66 technical adviser to the film as well as the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs, also was very helpful and supportive. I later received word that Pixar itself was appreciative of the post. To date, it has generated more than 200,000 page views.\r\n\r\nAnother post that\'s steadily growing in traffic is <em><a href=\"http://route66news.com/2007/10/15/a-chat-with-george-maharis/\" target=\"_blank\">A chat with George Maharis</a></em>. In 2007, the first season of the original \"Route 66\" television drama from the early 1960s was released for the first time on DVD. I emailed the producer\'s publicist and asked whether \"Route 66\" co-star George Maharis would be available for a phone interview. A few days later, she gave me Maharis\' phone number and a time to call. Maharis and I talked for 30 minutes. He was a superb interview; he provided a lot of great background about the show. The interesting thing is that dozens of readers have left their salutations and memories to Maharis in the comments section, with the hope he would read them. \r\n\r\nI had hoped to also interview \"Route 66\" co-star Martin Milner, but it\'s my understanding he\'s in very poor health.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: How would you describe your Route 66 newsgathering process, and how would you say it compares to the same type of work for a more traditional media outlet?</strong>\r\n\r\nRoute 66 News is foremost an aggregate of news media reports, multimedia, and original material. I initially described it as \"a clearinghouse of news and happenings on historic Route 66,\" and it still fits. I\'m big on giving credit to newspapers and other outlets for their reporting, because it\'s only fair. But I can add context.\r\n\r\nI use Google, Dogpile, and Bing to hunt for Route 66 stories. Each search engine contains gaps in its coverage, so all of them must be used. I use a number of email, phone, and social-media contacts. I carry a small still camera and an HD video camera for on-the-scene coverage. And I always keep a few Route 66 reference books handy in my office to look up data that\'s not on the Internet.\r\n\r\nI also hunt for Route 66-related videos on YouTube and Vimeo. These clips often add valuable context to a story. But many clips are posted simply as entertainment. The site would be boring if it didn\'t contain fun stuff.\r\n\r\nHaving worked in the newspaper business for many years, I\'d say my newsgathering approach with Route 66 News is more broad and freewheeling. I think many newspapers cite the Internet timidly, mainly because they see the medium as a competitor instead of as a tool.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, I\'m more reserved in my opinions than many blogs. I\'m adamant about keeping my credibility, and I think inflammatory or ill-considered rhetoric would be counterproductive to that effort.\r\n\r\n<strong>TDT: You\'ve made at least three trips over the Route\'s 2,200-mile length. Looking back, what stands out? What are your standby recommendations for anyone heading out on Oklahoma\'s stretch of The Mother Road?</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat\'s stuck with me during all of those Route 66 trips is how geographically and culturally diverse America is. The Mother Road goes through only eight states, yet you encounter farmland, mountains, wide-open plains, desert mesas and, finally, ocean. You\'ll encounter folks in enormous cities, small towns, ranchers, techies, Bohemians, church-goers, eccentrics, and goofballs. You\'ll meet people who are inexplicably ignored in the so-called \"real America\" — Native Americans, hard-working immigrant business owners, and Spanish-speaking natives who\'ve hailed from the same area for 400 years. Route 66 exists almost as an alternate universe — an America you seldom encounter near the interstate.\r\n\r\nIt\'s tough to recommend any one thing in Oklahoma, namely because it contains about 400 miles of Route 66 and, as a result, so many attractions. But I started to fall hard for Route 66 in Oklahoma a decade ago while dining in Clanton\'s Cafe in Vinita. If you\'re coming from the east, it\'s one of the first places you can get a really good chicken-fried steak. And it\'s one of the few places anywhere that serves calf fries. Clanton\'s also is good for people-watching -- you\'ll see ranchers, tourists and multi-generational families you know have been eating there for many decades. It\'s been operating since the 1920s, so folks obviously feel a certain comfort to it always being there.\r\n\r\nI would ultimately recommend driving old 66. If you can\'t do all 400 miles on the Sooner State, tear off manageable 50- to 100-mile chunks. I guarantee you\'ll find something to delight or intrigue you.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Ron, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Ron here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Ron Warnick of Route66News.com','Ron Warnick blogs at Route 66 News, a clearinghouse for news and stories from the Mother Road. In this interview he offers tips on niche blogging and some advice for anyone looking for the road trip of their lives.','inherit','open','open','','9869-revision-15','','','2011-12-21 12:46:22','2011-12-21 18:46:22','',9869,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/9869-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(10079,1,'2011-12-21 13:02:26','2011-12-21 19:02:26','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\n\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind jenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\n\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about it with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\n\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X, versus some strategic plan I could have created.\n\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as a satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content — everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\n\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\n\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times, is that bloggers have gained credibility.\n\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot.\n\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\n\nIf you want to create a popular site that you will eventually monetize, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships, or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday, audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience. So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\n\nAnd by audience I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating, or the people you want or need to impact with your content. Back in 2008, I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends of mine and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR. If you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \n\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\n\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\n\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others, even if in just a small way.\n\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children, and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them, even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but because it is — even when it is painfully ordinary.\n\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\n\nMy post popular post is one I wrote Sept. 29 of this year, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\n\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\n\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\n\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\n\n\n------------------\n\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out jenX67.com for yourselves</a>. \n\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \n\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-11','','','2011-12-21 13:02:26','2011-12-21 19:02:26','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(10073,1,'2011-12-21 12:51:43','2011-12-21 18:51:43','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\n\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind JenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\n\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\n\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\n\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\n\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\n\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\n\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\n\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\n\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\n\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\n\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\n\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\n\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \n\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\n\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\n\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\n\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\n\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\n\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\n\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\n\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\n\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\n\n\n------------------\n\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out Route66News.com for yourselves</a>. \n\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \n\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-5','','','2011-12-21 12:51:43','2011-12-21 18:51:43','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(10074,1,'2011-12-21 12:52:02','2011-12-21 18:52:02','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind JenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\r\n\r\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\r\n\r\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\r\n\r\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\r\n\r\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\r\n\r\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\r\n\r\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\r\n\r\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\r\n\r\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\r\n\r\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\r\n\r\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\r\n\r\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\r\n\r\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\r\n\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out jenX67.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-6','','','2011-12-21 12:52:02','2011-12-21 18:52:02','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(10075,1,'2011-12-21 12:52:02','2011-12-21 18:52:02','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series here at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind JenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\r\n\r\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\r\n\r\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\r\n\r\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\r\n\r\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\r\n\r\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\r\n\r\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\r\n\r\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\r\n\r\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\r\n\r\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\r\n\r\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\r\n\r\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\r\n\r\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\r\n\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out jenX67.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-7','','','2011-12-21 12:52:02','2011-12-21 18:52:02','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(10076,1,'2011-12-21 12:52:29','2011-12-21 18:52:29','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind JenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\r\n\r\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\r\n\r\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\r\n\r\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\r\n\r\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\r\n\r\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\r\n\r\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\r\n\r\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\r\n\r\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\r\n\r\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\r\n\r\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\r\n\r\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\r\n\r\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\r\n\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out jenX67.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-8','','','2011-12-21 12:52:29','2011-12-21 18:52:29','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(10077,1,'2011-12-21 12:52:29','2011-12-21 18:52:29','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind JenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\r\n\r\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\r\n\r\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\r\n\r\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\r\n\r\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\r\n\r\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\r\n\r\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\r\n\r\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\r\n\r\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\r\n\r\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\r\n\r\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\r\n\r\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\r\n\r\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\r\n\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out jenX67.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-9','','','2011-12-21 12:52:29','2011-12-21 18:52:29','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(10078,1,'2011-12-21 12:53:24','2011-12-21 18:53:24','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind jenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\r\n\r\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\r\n\r\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and career professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X versus some strategic plan I created.\r\n\r\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content -- everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\r\n\r\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times is that bloggers have gained credibility.\r\n\r\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot. For example, I participated in a blogger program for Oklahoma Chevy dealers, and soon I\'ll participate in a program for another major industry.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you are wanting to create a popular site that eventually you will monetize and earn an income from, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience.  So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\r\n\r\nBy audience, I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating or the people you are wanting or needing to impact with your content. Back in 2008,  I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR.\r\n\r\nIf you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different  fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\r\n\r\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but I my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\r\n\r\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others even if in just a small way.\r\n\r\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them - even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but  because it is - even when it is painfully ordinary.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\r\n\r\nMy post popular post is one I wrote on September 29, 2011, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\r\n\r\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\r\n\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out jenX67.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-10','','','2011-12-21 12:53:24','2011-12-21 18:53:24','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(10080,1,'2011-12-21 13:04:18','2011-12-21 19:04:18','<a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/10/tulsa-blogger-meetup-prairie-fab-edition/2313604137_f657231b15_o/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-9333\"><img src=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2313604137_f657231b15_o-500x450.jpg\" alt=\"by Mike Licht\" title=\"blogger\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9333\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSo we\'re off and running here with <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/tag/ok-blogs/\" target=\"_blank\">OK Blogs, a new series at TDT that features interviews with your favorite Oklahoma bloggers</a>. Last week we talked with <a href=\"http://www.route66news.com/\">Ron Warnick, the creator of Route66News.com</a>, a blog that serves a clearinghouse of Route 66 news and stories; the week before we heard from <a href=\"http://www.nicci6.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicci Atchley, the creator Nicci6.com, a dating and relationships blog based here in Tulsa</a>; at bat this week is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Jennifer James, the blogger behind jenX67.com, Jennifer James blogs at jenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of a generation through the story of the life of one woman and by the curation of Gen X news</a>.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[adrotate banner=\"8\"]</p>\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: Why does the web need a blog about generation X, and how did you come to that as a topic?</b>\r\n\r\nMy father emphasized generations to me and many of the conversations we shared during my youth and childhood were framed around this context. I  owe my initial awareness and curiosity to him. He valued his generation and he spoke about it with such pride. I was learning about Generation X as our collective persona was still forming. He encouraged me to identify and understand the mile markers in my own life.\r\n\r\nI began blogging in 1999, but did not start writing about Generation X until 2007. I wanted something that would incorporate all aspects of my life, past, present and future; as a wife, mother and professional. I wanted the freedom to write about faith and family; religion and recipes, parenting and politics. This all grew organically under the umbrella of Gen X, versus some strategic plan I could have created.\r\n\r\nI think if my blog fulfills a need it is as a satellite accumulation point for all types of Generation X-related content — everything from the 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion to present-day concerns about depleted 401ks. While I create a lot of original content on my blog I also curate content along the Gen X meme, and in this regard my blog almost serves as an historical record of Gen X adulthood.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: You\'ve been blogging since the late nineties. There have been lots of technical changes to the medium since then, of course, but what are some of the other changes you\'ve seen?</b>\r\n\r\nThe other day I was watching HLN and Robin Meade said, \"Fashion bloggers report...\" I thought, \"Wow. We\'ve come a long way.\" So, I think the biggest change, at least in recent times, is that bloggers have gained credibility.\r\n\r\nCollectively, if not individually, bloggers represent so much power in distributing information. I see marketers  relying on bloggers more and more because blogging is a tremendous channel for dynamic testimonials. Bloggers put personal skin and bones to stories that reporters, by the very nature of news, cannot.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What have you learned that doesn\'t work in blogging in that time?</b>\r\n\r\nIf you want to create a popular site that you will eventually monetize, I do not think it works to spend all your time focusing on relationships, or even content. At one time or another we\'ve all heard that one or the other is \"king.\" I don\'t think this is the case. I think for the blogger who hopes to monetize someday, audience is king. Lots of people are talented in building relationships and creating great content. It is much harder identify, find, develop and nurture audience. So, what I\'ve learned is that you must put 100 percent of yourself into relationships and content, but 500 percent of yourself into audience development.\r\n\r\nAnd by audience I mean, the people who want and/or need the content you are creating, or the people you want or need to impact with your content. Back in 2008, I developed relationships with a dozen or so bloggers across the country. While they became cyber friends of mine and were loyal to my blog, the content I created wasn\'t their first default. I noticed as I stopped maintaining those relationships, virtual or otherwise, they stopped reading my blog. This is when I began to remember academic lessons about audience in relation to my career in PR. If you have a blog that features typos of the day for librarians your primary audience might be librarians and your secondary audience might be English majors or writers. If you have a site that features a different fingernail polish design every day, your primary audience might be nail techs and your secondary audience might be teenage girls. Identifying and finding your audience, especially if you have a tight niche, will help ensure blog success. \r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX is a cross between a personal blog and a blog focused on generation X. What\'s your process for deciding how and when to write about your family — namely, your children?</b>\r\n\r\nIt has always been my intention to have a personal blog, even a highly personal blog, but my commitment to this ebbs and flows. I have known for much longer than I have been blogging that someday I would write a personal memoir, but the time is not right yet. So, I hold back a lot, because it is very important to me that I not be an exhibitionist when it comes to hardship or joy.\r\n\r\nI\'ve written a fair number of personal blog posts, but I always examine my motivations as I want to present the most authentic parts of myself to the world. I think I am always thinking about my readers. I didn\'t want to blog about Juliette, my 14-year-old, getting new braces, because not everyone can afford braces. So, I choose to write about my children when I think the subject matter will encourage or inspire others, even if in just a small way.\r\n\r\nOf course, my most important readers will one day be my children, and so I want them to always know I was always thinking of them, even if I didn\'t blog about them every day. They have their own lives to live and I don\'t want to live my life or theirs through my blog. Like my dear friend Louisa says, I don\'t want to write posts that constantly repeat, \"Look at me living my great life!\" It would be such a betrayal, and not because life isn\'t beautiful, but because it is — even when it is painfully ordinary.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: What\'s been your most popular post at JenX67.com?</b>\r\n\r\nMy post popular post is <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/2011/09/generation-y-leads-occupy-wall-street.html\" target=\"_blank\">one I wrote Sept. 29 of this year, Gen Y Leads Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oklahoma City, Tulsa</a>. It was not my best writing, but because the post ranked so high in searches for Occupy Wall Street, it got a ton of traffic.\r\n\r\n<b>TDT: jenX has been featured by a number of mass media entities, from local papers like The Oklahoman to national publications like WaPo, Babble and the Huffington Post. What can you pass along in terms of strategy for working with and reaching out to traditional and/or mass media?</b>\r\n\r\nIt\'s important to blog consistently. If a reporter is looking to interview someone about tatting and you have a blog about tatting, but you haven\'t posted in six months, you\'ll probably get passed over in favor of someone who has created more recent content. Clean design and quality writing also help build credibility with reporters.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also been helpful to me to monitor the national conversation. When you see something pop up that relates to your blog\'s content, you can begin looking for opportunities. For example, I wrote a post about Gen Xer Conan O\'Brien losing out to Baby Boomer Jay Leno. I posted the link on the Facebook fan page for O\'Brien. A Washington Post reporter saw it and called me for a quote.\r\n\r\n------------------\r\n\r\nThanks, Jennifer, for taking the time to interview for this new series. TDT readers, feel free to leave any questions or comments for Jen here on this post, and be sure to <a href=\"http://www.jenx67.com/\" target=\"_blank\">check out jenX67.com for yourselves</a>. \r\n\r\nKnow a blogger you think should be interviewed as part of this series? <a href=\"http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/contact/\" target=\"_blank\">Send me a message</a> or leave me a note in the comments on this post. \r\n\r\n<em>Photo by Mike Licht</em>','OK Blogs: Jennifer James of jenX: A blog for Generation X','Jennifer James blogs at JenX67.com, a blog that tells the story of Generation X both through the story of the life of one woman as well as by the curation of news from around the world about Generation X.','inherit','open','open','','10054-revision-12','','','2011-12-21 13:04:18','2011-12-21 19:04:18','',10054,'http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2011/12/10054-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),