7+1 Edited by Jarrod Gollihare

Top Pick

Ridin' to Toy Heaven. For 27 years, the Tulsa ABATE folks (it stands for "American Bikers Active Toward Education" in case you were wondering) have enjoyed making a lot of noise at Christmastime during their ABATE Toy Run. The reason? Well, other than the obvious (they ride big ol' motorcycles) ABATE likes to help raise awareness for the US Marine's annual Toys for Tots campaign, which provides toys to underprivileged kids. This year will be no exception as the ABATE cyclists gather by the hundreds to roar, en masse, from 55th & Riverside to the Tulsa Fairgrounds where they will present the Marines with the bounty of toys they've collected. Run begins at 1pm. Visit tulsatoytun.org for a complete route.

Cruising Through the Holidays

Thursday, December 6

Tulsa alterna-pop faves RadioRadio will go acoustic tonight at the Tulsa Press Club, 415 S. Boston, during the next installment of Soundproof, the weekly concert sponsored by UTW and The Tulsa Press Club. Get food from the Atlas Grill from 5-7pm, then hang out and listen to the band at 6pm. Event is free and open to the public.

Friday, December 7

Head out to Broken Arrow tonight for an unusual Yuletide production. The BA Community Playhouse presents The Christmas Schooner, a fictional musical (based on historic events) that chronicles the single-minded efforts of a brave Great Lakes captain adamant about sailing his ship through the frigid, dangerous waters of stormy Lake Michigan to bring the Christmas tree to German immigrants in Chicago. Now that's some chutzpah. Curtain rises at 8pm.

Saturday, December 8

Downtown Tulsa will come to life tonight when thousands of spectators gather to watch the 18th Annual PSO Christmas Parade of Lights as it winds its way from 10th & Cincinnati north to 5th St., then east to Elgin, and back south to 10th again. Floats, giant balloons, marching bands...and, oh yeah, the Fat Man himself will all be there. Shriners' pre-parade starts at 5:30pm. The real-deal kicks off at 6pm. Bundle up!

Sunday, December 9

Sapulpa Community Theatre, 124 S. Water, Sapulpa, invites you to join them tonight and take a trip to yesteryear as they present It's a Wonderful Life; A Live Radio Play. Imagine you're back in the 1940s, witnessing a team of talented radio actors and sound effects specialists as they present the beloved holiday story of poor ol' George Bailey...who wishes he'd never been born. The fun starts at 2pm. For more information call 227-2169, or go to HYPERLINK "http://www.sapulpacommunitytheatre.com/"; \o "http://www.sapulpacommunitytheatre.com/"; \t "_blank" sapulpacommunitytheatre.com.

Monday, December 10

Here's an idea: Why not take a midday art break after lunch today? You need some culture in your life. Head over to the PAC Gallery, 2nd & Cincinnati, and experience the acrylic abstract paintings of Tulsa Artists' Coalition president Dean Wyatt. Free admission! Good for your head.

Tuesday, December 11

If you think the Dewey Decimal System (you know...the library's method of cataloging books) is probably on the top 10 list of things that could never inspire a playwright into fits of creativity...well, you'd better think again. The Tulsa Library, 4th & Denver, presents Oh, Dewey!--a one-woman show about the plight of semi-librarian Laura Raphael as she struggles to cram the entire Dewey Decimal System into her brain. It's true. Curtain rises at 7pm.

Wednesday, December 12

Take a trip out to the Tahlequah area today and get some Oklahoma Centennial education...Cherokee style. "Oklahoma Statehood: A Cherokee Perspective," the new exhibit at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Park Hill, gives you a Native American perspective on the events that have influenced them during the past 100 years. For more information visit CherokeeHeritage.org.

Thursday, December 13

What would the holiday season be without re-visiting our old friend Scrooge...the Anti-Santa? Check out Muskogee Little Theatre's presentation of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, tonight at 8pm. Theater is located at the corner of E. Cincinnati Ave. & S. D St. in Muskogee. Visit HYPERLINK "http://www.muskogeelittletheatre.com"; \o "http://www.muskogeelittletheatre.com"; muskogeelittletheatre.com for details.

Yule Have Fun This Week, Oh Yes

The Bank of Mom and Pop. Needing extra cash, two brothers conspire to pull off the perfect, victimless crime. Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis, presents Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Thurs., Dec. 6 at 3pm, 5:30pm and 8pm. Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Andy, an overextended broker who lures his younger brother, Hank, into a larcenous scheme: The pair will rob a suburban mom-and-pop jewelry store that appears to be the quintessential easy target. The problem is, the storeowners are Andy and Hank's actual mom and pop and, when the seemingly perfect crime goes awry, the damage lands right at their doorstep. Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei plays Hoffman's trophy wife and the stellar cast also includes Albert Finney as the family patriarch who pursues justice at all costs, completely unaware that the culprits he is hunting are his own sons. Call 592-FILM or go to circlecinema.com for more.

Radio Squared. Soundproof brings the local alternative band RadioRadio to the Tulsa Press Club, Thurs., Dec. 6. Food will be served from the New Atlas Grill, 5-7pm, and the band starts at 6pm. Soundproof is sponsored by Urban Tulsa Weekly, The New Atlas Grill and The Tulsa Press Club. There is intercom access at both the front and back doors after 6:30pm and ample parking on Cincinnati. Free and open to the public. Go to tulsapressclub.com for more information.

Across the Great Lake. The Christmas Schooner opens Fri., Dec. 7 at the Broken Arrow Community Playhouse. Based on historic events, the book by John Reeger and music and lyrics by Julie Shannon, is a fictional account of a 19th century Great Lakes captain who is intent on sailing the treacherous winter waters of Lake Michigan in order to bring the Christmas tree to thousands of German immigrants in Chicago. Performances of this Christmas musical will take place Dec. 7-8, 13-14 at 8pm and Sunday, Dec. 16 at 2pm, at the Main Place, 1800 S. Main, Broken Arrow. Tickets are $13. Call 258-0077 or go to bacptheatre.com for more information.

It's a Wonderful Radio. Sapulpa Community Theatre presents It's a Wonderful Life; A Live Radio Play, Dec. 6-9. Journey back to the 1940s when the golden age of radio held families captivated with wholesome entertainment. Set the radio dial for a double dose of holiday nostalgia as actors employ their vocal talents and live radio sound effects to re-imagine the much-loved tale of George Bailey's journey of self-worth. Performances are at 8pm on Fri., and Sat., with additional 2pm matinees on Sat., and Sunday, at the Sapulpa Community Theatre, 124 S. Water, Sapulpa. For more information call 227-2169, or go to HYPERLINK "http://www.sapulpacommunitytheatre.com/"; \o "http://www.sapulpacommunitytheatre.com/"; \t "_blank" sapulpacommunitytheatre.com.

Holiday Snow and Tell. Tired of the typical holiday flare? The Tulsa Artists' Coalition's "Yellow Snow: An Alternative Holiday Show and Sale," is a show of a different color. Opening Fri., Dec. 7, 6-9pm at the Tulsa Artists' Coalition Gallery, 9 E. Brady, "Yellow Snow," features unique and wry perspectives on the holiday season from local artists. The Holiday show will be on display through Dec. 22. Free and open to the public. TAC Gallery Hours are 11am-2pm, Tues.-Fri.; and 6-9pm, Thurs.-Sat. For more information, call 592-0041, or visit HYPERLINK www.tacgallery.org tacgallery.org.

Oh My Dewey! What happens when the library's computer catalog system breaks down? For "almost librarian" Laura Raphael it means chaos and a promise to learn the Dewey Decimal System backwards and forward. In Oh, Dewey! Raphael acts out her passionate, winding and quirky adventure with the Dewey Decimal system, in honor of the father of public libraries, Melvil Dewey. This one-woman show will take place Tues., Dec. 11, 7pm, at the Central Library's Aaronson Auditorium, 4th and Denver Ave. Free and open to the public, refreshments included. Go to tulsalibrary.org for more.

Downtown Lights Up. More than 20,000 Tulsans are expected to attend the 18th Annual PSO Christmas Parade of Lights, scheduled for Sat., Dec. 8 at 6pm. Due to street and sidewalk improvements, the Parade has a new route through downtown Tulsa this year. The parade will begin at 10th and Cincinnati, travel north on Cincinnati to 5th, east on 5th to Elgin, and south on Elgin to 10th. A map of the new parade route is at tulsadowntown.org. The Shriners' pre-parade begins at 5:30pm.

Up Close and Panoramic. Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis, presents a virtual reality presentation of the synagogues of Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and the Americas in Synagogues 360 on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 pm. By using a unique 360-degree panoramic photo methodology, the viewer is virtually placed within these historic synagogues to appreciate their beauty, ornamentation, and decoration in detail. The synagogues range from ancient to modern, humble to majestic, plain to ornate, in-use to unused, little known to historically significant, Sephardic and Ashkenazi, and Orthodox to Reform. These buildings reveal a great deal about the communities that built them; whether they were poor or wealthy, oppressed or free and secure, and large or small. Call 592-FILM or go to circlecinema.com for more.

The Uncivilized World. Officially slavery is banned worldwide, yet there are more slaves in the world today than ever before. Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis, presents Slavery: A Global Investigation, Sunday, Dec. 9. This eye-opening documentary, based on the book Disposable People brings to light the horrible cases of slavery in the Indian rug-making industry, the cocoa plantations of the Ivory Coast, and even in the homes of World Bank officials in the United States. The filmmakers go so far as to buy slaves in Africa and help set free child slaves in India to show how slavery plays into the global economy. Free and open to public with a reception at 6pm. Film begins at 6:30pm. Call 592-FILM or go to circlecinema.com for more.

Bah! Humbug! It's time for that delicious holiday story by what's-his-name? Scrooge? No. The ghost of Christmas Past, no... Oh yes, that old chap, Charles Dickens. Muskogee Little Theatre, corner of E. Cincinnati Ave. & S. D St. in Muskogee, presents the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, with performances on Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 13-15. Curtains rise at 8pm, and on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for students. For additional information, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.muskogeelittletheatre.com"; \o "http://www.muskogeelittletheatre.com"; muskogeelittletheatre.com or call 683-7660.

It's the Tree You Never Had. Arrow Heights Baptist Church, 101st & Elm in Broken Arrow, presents, "The Living Christmas Tree," a magnificent 25-foot tree, adorned with over 33,000 lights, 1,700 ft. of garland and a 75-voice choir singing the wondrous songs of Christmas complimented by a synchronized light show. Performances will occur Fri.-Sunday, Dec. 7-9, at 7pm. Matinee presentations will also take place Sat. at 3pm and Sunday at 10:30am. Other show features include a full orchestra and elaborate drama. The Sunday performance will be followed by a complimentary lunch. Free and open to the public. Childcare provided for children up to three years old. Canned goods will be accepted for Arms Around BA. For more information call 455-5020.

T-Town B-Ball. It's basketball season here in T-Town. On Sat., Dec. 8, TU Women's Basketball vs. Oklahoma is at the Reynolds Center on the TU Campus at 3pm. Sunday, Dec. 9 brings TU Men's Basketball vs. Central Arkansas at the Reynolds Center on the TU Campus at 2pm. Go to tulsahurricane.com for more information on TU events. Oral Roberts University stays true to sports. Thurs., Dec. 6 has Oral Robert's Golden Eagles vs. North Dakota State at the Mabee Center, 81st and Lewis at 7pm. On Sat., Dec. 8, Oral Roberts lady Golden Eagles will take on South Dakota State at the Mabee Center, 81st and Lewis at 2pm, and the men will face South Dakota State at 7pm. Mon., Dec. 10 will feature Oral Robert's lady Golden Eagles vs. North Dakota State at the Mabee Center, 81st and Lewis at 7pm. Go to orugoldeneagles.com for more information on events at ORU.

Baby, It's Cold Inside. Just cold enough for ice hockey, that is. Fri., Dec. 7 is the face-off between the Tulsa Oilers and Austin Ice Bats, plus it's the food and coat drive at 7:30pm. Sat., Dec. 8 it's the Tulsa Oilers vs. Oklahoma City Blazers plus NoiseMaker Night and another food and coat drive at 7:30pm. Games are at the Tulsa Convention Center, 100 Civic Center. Go to tulsaoilers.com or call 596-7177 for more.

Engines Roar...are You Listening? The ABATE motorcycle rights organization will be loud and be proud to provide Toys for Tots at the 28th annual Toys for Tots Abate Toy Run, Sunday, Dec. 9. Beginning at 10:30am, hundreds of cyclists will gather at 55th & Riverside Dr., taking off en masse at 1pm. The gang will then travel to the Trade Center Building on the Tulsa Fairgrounds and park on the west side. There they will present the toys they've collected to the Marines for distribution to underprivileged kids. Two Viet-Nam era UH-34D Marine style Helicopters will fly over the run, and will be waiting at the Tulsa County Fair Grounds when the ride ends. Go to tulsatoytun.org for a complete route.

He's Ripe for Picking. Ben Lee's on the rampage to take over radio stations everywhere with his new CD, Ripe, a catchy culmination of 28 years of creativity. This one might finally send him into stardom. Catch him at Bob's, the second stage at Cain's Ballroom, 423 N. Main, on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 7pm. Cary Brothers and Kate Voegele are opening. Tickets are $20 in advance or $22 the day of the show. Order tickets by phone at 866-443-8849 or go to cainsballroom.com.

Crosby, Gardner and Yohe. Spend an evening with Pam VanDyke Crosby at the Jazz Depot, 111 E. 1st St., Sunday, Dec. 9. This centennial tribute to Oklahoma Jazz vocalists such as Patti Page, Lee Wiley, Kay Starr, Chet Baker and Crosby herself are a true celebration of America and Oklahoma's classic music. The honeyed tones and melodious singing voice of Crosby, a Jazz Hall favorite, delights the musical senses. Crosby performs a show specially crafted for the Jazz Depot audiences and is joined by Chuck Gardner on piano, Bill Crosby on bass and Tony Yohe on drums. Go to okjazz.org for more information.

Can a Kid do That? Dean Wyatt, artist, Owasso resident and president of Tulsa Artists' Coalition is setting up his acrylic abstract pieces for public viewing from Dec. 6-30 at the Performing Arts Center Gallery, 110 E. 2nd St. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri., 10am-5:30pm, and during Chapman Music Hall events. It's free and open to the public. Go to tulsapac.com for more.

Christmas Ghosts. The classic Charles Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol, returns to the John H. Williams Theatre once again during Dec. Greedy Ebeneezer Scrooge becomes generous just in time for Christmas, but not without a Christmas fright first! All the favorite characters, including Tiny Tim and the three lovable ghosts, are back to warm your cold, cold heart. (Er, Ebeneezer's cold, cold heart, that is.) Live at the Performing Arts Center, 110 E. 2nd St. at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm, Dec. 6-8, 11-15 and 18-22. Tickets are $20. Go to tulsapac.com for tickets.

Revenge at Bethlehem. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever makes its 21st annual appearance on stage at Clark Theatre, 11440 E. Admiral, through Dec. 9. The Herdmans are the worst kids in school and one Sunday they come to church to take advantage of the free snacks the minister gives out. It just so happens that's the same day for tryouts for the annual church Christmas Pageant. After a little peer intimidation, they all walk out with the lead roles. Disaster looms, but so does the possibility of learning the true meaning of Christmas. Performances begin at 7:30pm and 2pm Sunday. Tickets are $6 for seniors and students, $8 for adults. Call 669-6455 or HYPERLINK www.clarktheatre.com go to clarktheatre.com for more.

Christmas Chorale. Tulsa's popular Council Oak Men's Chorale takes the audience on a trip around the globe to visit the traditions and songs of other countries in Another Roamin' Holiday concert. Explore old and new music during an experience beyond colored lights and candy canes, Dec. 7 and 8 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 5th & Cincinnati Ave. Concert starts at 8pm. Tickets are $15. Call 748-3888 or counciloak.org for more information.

Tales from the Trail. "Oklahoma Statehood: A Cherokee Perspective" reveals the struggles and ultimate triumphs experienced by the Cherokee people over the last 100 years. The exhibit at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Park Hill focuses on the important legislation and political environment that led to Oklahoma Statehood. Learn about the important historical legislation including the Curtis Act, Dawes Commission, The State of Sequoyah Convention and more. For more information call the Cherokee Heritage Center at 456-6007, or visit CherokeeHeritage.org. This exhibit will run through April 19, 2008, but will be closed the month of Jan.

Santa Smalls. The holiday exhibit Small Treasures, hosted by The Color Connection Gallery, 2050 Utica Square, will run through Dec. 31. The show features miniature paintings by gallery artists, and includes a 15 percent discount on all artwork. Featured artists are Robert Reed, Diane Salamon, Jeannie Graham and Shirley Ward. Call 742-0515 or go to colorconnection.com for more information.

Cosmic Adventure. Explore the universe at the planetarium's newest show, Infinity Express. Actor Laurence Fishburne narrates as the show explores the mysteries of the universe with images taken by the Hubble Space telescope that take the audience through the life and death of a star, into the depths of planet Mars and beyond. Infinity Express will show at the James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium, 3624 N. 74th E. Ave., through Nov. 2008. Tickets are $6. HYPERLINK "http://www.TulsaAirAndSpaceMuseum.com"; Go to TulsaAirAndSpaceMuseum.com or call 834-9900 for showtimes.

Look Again. Trained as a sculptor, Lucy Gunning has, for the past 15 years, focused on film and video installation works that examine the idiosyncrasies of human behavior. Gunning's work exudes a sympathetic curiosity as she underscores the strangeness that often lies at the heart of apparently normal human behavior. The understated simplicity of Gunning's filmed scenarios--a woman imitating the sound of a horse (The Horse Impressionists, 1994) or drunken businessmen trying to navigate their way home through London's Liverpool Station (Esc, 2004)--gradually reveal subtle psychological insights, tensions between fantasy and reality and levels of complexity within her chosen subject. Gunning's work de-familiarizes the familiar by disrupting and undermining social conventions and expected behavior through play and humor. For her newest project, "Focus 4," Gunning developed a new work that was unveiled at Philbrook, 2727 S. Rockford Rd., and will be on display through Dec. 30. Call 749-7941 or visit www.philbrook.org for more information.

New Old World. Oklahoma native Olinka Hrdy, (1902-1987), was an artist influenced by Cubism, Bauhaus abstraction, Art Deco and Czech Embroidery. During her studies at OU, she produced wall murals that got the attention of architect Bruce Goff, who commissioned a cycle of nine music themed murals for his 1929 Riverside Drive project. This led to future commissions including the stage curtain and entryway mural for the Historic Brady Theater. She traveled from New York to Wisconsin where she studied at Frank Lloyd Wright's school in Spring Green, to Hollywood as an industrial designer following World War II, before coming home to Prague, OK, where she remained until 1987. Constructivism, art deco and Czech folk art are exhibited in "Oklahoma Moderne: The Art and Design of Olinka Hrdy" at Price Tower Arts Center, 510 Dewey Ave., Bartlesville, now through Jan. 13. $4 admission. Call 336-4949 or visit pricetower.org for more information.

Better Living through Architecture. Philbrook Museum of Art presents "Frank Lloyd Wright and the House Beautiful," through Jan. 20. This exhibit is a visually rich showcase of Frank Lloyd Wright's passion for creating a new way of life through architecture. With approximately 100 objects, the exhibition includes furniture, metal work, textiles, drawings, publications, and accessories from the collection of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ, and other public and private collections. The exhibition is the first devoted to the noted architect's decorative and graphic designs since the '70s. Philbrook Museum of Art is located at 2727 S. Rockford Rd. For more information call 749-7941 or visit HYPERLINK "http://www.philbrook.org"; philbrook.org or HYPERLINK "http://www.artsandartist.org"; artsandartist.org.

Popular Mexican Art. An exhibition of works by Mexican artist Alfredo Zalce (1908-2003) continues at Gilcrease Museum. Alfredo Zalce, "El Grafico Popular" includes forty artworks from one of Mexico's most creative and accomplished artists. The exhibition focuses on his work as a printmaker, consisting of lithographs, monotypes and relief prints. "El Grafico Popular" provides a unique look at one of Mexico's most celebrated and enduring artists. The exhibition runs through Feb. 24, 2008, at Gilcrease Museum, 1400 Gilcrease Museum Rd. Call 596-2700 for more.

Oklahoma Life. Gilcrease Museum's new exhibition, "Charles Banks Wilson: An Oklahoma Life in Art," not only showcases the museum's holdings but will also include a number of artworks from private collections and several new paintings that have never been on public view. Charles Banks Wilson is one of Oklahoma's premier artists whose artworks have been collected and exhibited around the globe. Gilcrease Museum holds one of the most comprehensive collections of Wilson's work, ranging from his early years as an art student and illustrator to his extensive series of Native American portraits and scenes of Oklahoma life. Working in a variety of mediums, Wilson is an accomplished illustrator, muralist, lithographer, sculptor, and teacher. His work has been widely acclaimed for its attention to detail and insightful composition. The exhibition continues now through March 9, 2008.

Tulsarama Relived. Through March 31, 2008, "Flashback '57: Tulsarama & The Buried Belvedere" allows patrons to see the items in the time-capsule plus other artifacts and images from 1957. Tulsa's History Museum is located at the Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria. Hours are 10am-4pm, Tues.--Sat. For more details, call 712-9484 or go to HYPERLINK "http://www.tulsahistory.org/"; \o "http://www.tulsahistory.org/"; tulsahistory.org.