7+1

Thursday 7.16

Peachy Keen. Gear up for a weekend of peaches, contests and games galore courtesy of the annual Porter Peach Festival. The event kicks off Thursday with the Peach Pageant's crowning of its court, complete with Miss Peach and Miss Peach Bud, followed by a carnival to celebrate. Friday is a great day for kids and pets alike, with street games ranging from hoola hoop contests to turtle races while the animals are busy winning awards of their own, such as "largest dog" and "most unusual pet." And if you've overloaded on peach cobbler throughout the weekend, run it off Saturday at 7am at the Peach Classic 5-K Run. Visit www.porterpeachfestivals.com.

Friday 7.17

Good vs. Evil. Ding dong--the witch is dead. But before the Wicked Witch of the West uttered her infamous final words "I'm melting," she was just another misunderstood girl in the Land of Oz. And actually friends with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Who knew? To learn more of this unlikely companionship [and how they grew apart], attend one of the 32 performances of Wicked at the Tulsa PAC. Debuting on Broadway in 2003, this musical has won more than 20 major awards, including three Tonys and a Grammy. To purchase tickets, visit tulsapac.com. Shows end August 9.

Saturday 7.18

Sleepless Nights. Feeling nostalgic for those middle school sleepover days, where massive quantities of pizza and chocolate were always consumed, pillow fights sometimes ensued and truth or dare generally made an appearance as the early morning hours dawned? Well, in honor of its 81st birthday, Circle Cinema is having a Slumber Party of its own, of sorts. Five horror films starting at 10pm will be shown, and pizza and early morning bagels will be served. Tickets are $20, but there's the catch: make it 'till 8am, and you'll receive a $10 rebate.

Sunday 7.19

Happy Place.

Monday 7.20

Heavenly Music. ORU has a festival that is but a harpists dream; they might even think they're in heaven. Through July 25th, the Midwest Harp Festival features workshops, activities and informal recitals to hone those harpist skills, including private coaching, harp maintenance, solo performance opportunities and even a pizza/swim night. The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and prices differ depending on which events the budding musician wants to attend. For more information, visit midwestharpfestival.org.

Tuesday 7.21

Free at Last? You'd think that if you were locked in a cage your whole life for the gawking pleasure of others you'd be happy to set foot (or paw, rather) on the big island of Madagascar. Then again, who can blame a group of animals raised in the cushy Central Park Zoo? In Madagascar 2, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo make their way to mainland Africa where Alex meets the rest of his family and of course, hilarity ensues. Kids can catch Madagascar 2 at RiverWalk Movies on the Riverwalk in Jenks for free (you can't beat free) at 11:30am and 1:45pm today. Call 392-9959 or visit selectcinemas.com.

Wednesday 7.22

From the Horse's Mouth. Archeological materials paired with historical documents tell an in-depth story with the latest exhibition at Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road. "Emissaries of Peace: The 1762 Cherokee and British Delegations" provides some insight into how British and Cherokee societies viewed one another by first-party observers during the pre-Revolutionary war era. The artifacts are complemented by artwork and illustrations adding an important visual element. Two portraits hanging in the museum's permanent collection helped to inspire the concept. The exhibit is sponsored by Cherokee nation and continues through January 10, 2010. For more, visit gilcrease.org.

Thursday 7.23

Take a Load Off. Located on Brookside, the Garlic Rose's relaxing ambiance and delicious Italian food is great for a hard day's night. And now, it's even better, with the inclusion of live music. Kicking off their ongoing music-spree is Mark Bruner on Thursdays, Ben Kilgore on Fridays and Tommy Tripplehorn on Saturdays. With an extensive wine and pasta list, the Garlic Rose is sure to provide a meal suitable to all taste buds. May we suggest the Farfalle Pasta with Pesto--a favorite of several UTW staff members. Visit www.garlicrose-tulsa.com to view the menu.