Editor's Blog / Web 2012 / Start the Weekend Early

Jun 21, 201201:00 PMEditor's Blog

Start the Weekend Early

OK, yes, I've watched all the Thunder games. I don't have any fingernails left. Do you think the thunder this morning was a good omen? Maybe the Sports Gods are saying that OKC Thunder might actually pull out a win tonight. We can hope...  If you're not a Thunder fan (gasp!), there are still plenty of things to keep you and your family occupied, beginning tonight.

First, Hank The Cowdog and Monkey Business opens today at the Tulsa PAC. It's a fun musical for the whole family. I got to see one of the songs performed as a SummerStage preview, and it was lots of fun. The audience was singing along! Shows are June 21, 23-24 at 3 p.m.; June 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Liddy Doenges Theatre, 110 E. 2nd. For tickets, call 918.596.7111 or www.MyTicketOffice.com. I wish my youngest daugther were in town to see this -- she used to LOVE the "Hank the Cowdog" books, AND, one of friends, Daniel Weatherholt, is in the cast. Break a leg, Daniel!

Another cool (and I mean that both in the literal and metaphorical sense) thing that I just found out about yesterday is that starting this Friday, June 22, the Tulsa Zoo will have Splash Slides for kids to play on. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Sept. 3, starting at 8 a.m., guests can play on the slides. Word has it that they have a double slip n' slide! That's super cool. What's even better is that admission to the BIG CHILL is just $5 per person for an all day pass. If you're a Zoo Member, you can get a summer pass to the BIG CHILL for $20. So, you walk around the zoo, get hot and then the kids can play on the slides to cool off. They need to have one of these for adults, too.  The zoo is also opening early at 7 a.m. all summer, so you can go see the animals while it's not quite so hot.

Have you ever had an urge to sleep with sharks? I haven't either, but you can do it safely at the Oklahoma Aquarium on Friday night. They'll have snacks, a dive show, a scavenger hunt and lot of other fun activities from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday.

For something different, you and your family can take a ride down Route 66 with a whole parade of cars at the Route 66 Cruise Through Tulsa sponsored by the Will Rogers Memorial on Saturday. All cars and car clubs can sign up at 1 p.m. at the Crystal Shopping Center at 4200 Southwest Blvd. in Tulsa, and then cruise to the final destination at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. Along the way, you get to see all the quirky Route 66 icons like the Blue Whale in Catoosa. The Cost is $20 per car and include activities and dancing at the Memorial Museum. If you just want to see the cars and enjoy the museum activities, it's $10 at the door. It might be fun to find a place to watch the cars parade through town.

I know I keep encouraging you all to go out to the Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Gardens http://www.ocbg.org. It's fun to walk through the trails. Spray on some bug spray and go out on Saturday -- it's free Family Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Also on Saturday and continuing through Sunday is Woolaroc's KidFest. It's from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and they'll have food, re-enactors, crafts and entertainment for the kids. If you're 11 or under, you get in free! One of my favorite pictures of my kids was taken at Woolaroc's KidFest. They were standing next to a huge (I'm talking MASSIVE) longhorn steer, which was lying on the ground. His horns spanned about 6 feet. Really. He must have been a very placid creature because he seemed totally unmoved by all the frenetic kid activity around him.

Grandparents, if you're looking for something to do with the grandkids next week, the Tulsa Zoo is having Grandparent Camp for kids ages 4 -12 with a grandparent. The little kids go in the morning, and kids 8-12 go in the afternoon.  Sound fun? Go to www.tulsazoo.org to find out more.

One final thing -- the free Starlight Concerts at River Parks Amphitheater are at 8 p.m. on Tuesday nights. Next week's concert is "Americana Night."

We've been working hard on our July issue and have a lot of great stuff coming up. The School Directors Guide will be out in the July issue and online, so if you're looking for schools, be sure to pick that up. Also, we're celebrating 25 years (!) in publication next month by highlighting 25 Tulsa Family Friends. Find out who they are in July. AND, we have a line-up of the local July 4 activities in our calendar. Be sure to check our Facebook page and our Website for giveaways in July, too. We have tickets to BIG TIME RUSH and THE WIGGLES!!!