The best way for attendees to acquaint themselves with a host city is to explore at least a few of its neighborhoods. Each hamlet has a different background, tells a different story and offers its own unique flair.
In Tulsa and Oklahoma City, the neighborhoods that house the convention center and hotels that accommodate group business are great places to start, as these districts are chock-full of attractions, dining options, shopping opportunities and more.
If time allows, planners can point attendees to other neighborhoods beyond the meeting’s home base so they can get a better snapshot of these two Sooner State cities.
Tulsa
Downtown Tulsa, home of the Cox Business Center, is where most groups set up shop and get down to business.
According to Vanesa Masucci, vice president of the Tulsa CVB, many hotels here offer conferees exceptional service. Among them are the Hyatt Regency Tulsa, Aloft Tulsa Downtown and DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa Downtown, which is connected to the Cox Business Center via skybridge.
“When looking for walkability to maximum dining options, attractions and happening nightspots, Tulsa’s downtown core is where the action is,” Masucci says, adding there are actually several districts that make up Tulsa’s vibrant downtown.
The Brady Arts District, for starters, is home to galleries, restaurants, shops and bars, as well as attractions such as the Woody Guthrie Center; 108 Contemporary, which showcases handmade crafts in a wide range of media including glass, fiber and paper; and Cain’s Ballroom, an iconic Tulsa music venue built in 1924.
“It’s known for being one of the top musical venues in the world of its size and diversity of musical offerings,” Masucci says.
Downtown’s Deco District offers unique Tulsa-centric dining, according to Masucci, including Mod’s Coffee & Crepes and Elote Cafe, as well as a nice mix of shops and a concentrated collection of Tulsa’s Art Deco buildings.
For a deeper exploration of the Deco District and the underground tunnels in this area, groups can book an outing with Tours of Tulsa or another area tour operator.
“It’s a great way to discover not only Tulsa history, but the history of the 1920s to current day and how oil discovery played a role in making Tulsa the then ‘Oil Capital of the World,’” Masucci says.
Heading just south of the downtown area is Tulsa’s Midtown neighborhood, which is comprised of three more areas that are referred to by Tulsans as “go-to” places for shopping, dining and entertainment.
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The Brookside area and Cherry Street are both home to boutique shops and popular dining options.
“Many of the restaurants have outdoor seating, where seeing and being seen is a favorite pastime,” Masucci says.
And Utica Square is considered Tulsa’s oldest shopping destination, where gift-seekers in the group will find favorite stores including Chico’s, the Gap and Williams-Sonoma.
“Utica Square also offers music to its patrons every Thursday during the summer,” Masucci says. “And with all of its amazing restaurants, Utica is a destination that’s sure to please locals and visitors alike.”
Oklahoma City
In Oklahoma City’s very walkable downtown there are a dozen hotels, the Cox Convention Center and just east of the convention center is Bricktown, the city’s premier entertainment district.
“With dozens of restaurants, shopping, the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, Harkins Theatre and a generous helping of turn-of-the-century charm, Bricktown offers visitors a variety of activities in downtown Oklahoma City,” says Dennis Johnston, vice president of sales for the Oklahoma City CVB.
Attendees with a couple free hours will enjoy a stroll along the mile-long Bricktown Canal or a ride in a Bricktown Water Taxi, which Johnston considers a “must do.”
Another plus for Bricktown, he adds, is that it’s connected to the Boathouse District, which offers several fun solo and group waterborne pursuits, including canoeing, kayaking and dragon boating via outfitter Riversport Adventures.
Located just north of Bricktown is Automobile Alley, which according to Johnston is a neighborhood that offers storied charm.
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“The Automobile Alley historic district was developed primarily in the 1920s as a commercial district featuring 52 of Oklahoma City’s first 76 auto dealerships,” he says. “Today, dining, shopping and local businesses make up Automobile Alley.”
Some great eats can be found on 9th Street, including S&B’s Burger Joint, which has a private dining space for group events, and Iguana Mexican Grill.
Also on 9th Street is The Womb, an art gallery owned by Flaming Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne that has a colorful exterior paint job.
“All shopping is local, such as Rawhide Western Culture, Shop Good, Bow & Arrow Boutique and Waters Edge Winery, just to name a few,” Johnston says, adding Waters Edge Winery offers event space and personalized wine bottles for visiting groups. “Across the street, Plenty Mercantile offers shopping on the first floor and event space on their roof.”
If the group is around on the third Thursday of the month, Johnston says attendees will find Automobile Alley hopping with open-house events, extended shopping hours, live music, street artists, food from Automobile Alley restaurants, discounts, freebies and giveaways.
Midtown is another neighborhood that’s worth a visit. Located just a short drive from downtown, it is one of Oklahoma City’s newest districts to come alive with restaurants, festivals such as the nation’s largest monthly food truck festival, and more, Johnston says.
All shopping in Midtown is local; there are no national chains. Among the options are Chirps & Cheers, a paper goods store featuring day planners, stationery and more, and The Black Scintilla, a clothing and gift store.
“And some of Midtown’s most popular restaurants are Waffle Champion, which started as a food truck and now has lines outside the door most days, and Bleu Garten, our first outdoor food truck park,” Johnston says, adding that Fassler Hall accommodates groups and offers live music, brats and beer. “There’s plenty of other places for groups to dine, Bleu Garten being one, as well as Cafe do Brasil and Packard’s New American Kitchen, which has a rooftop that’s perfect for groups.”
