The Man behind the Waldo at Starbucks

By Susie Dumond

Starbucks is one of the most famous chains in the U.S. This amount of national attention often leads coffee elitists to criticize it as lacking personality.

Any visitor to the Brookside Starbucks will find this assumption untrue. This Starbucks is full of quirky decorations, friendly baristas, and an opportunity to experience life on Brookside.

One of the most creative "hidden treasures" of this Starbucks is the Where's Waldo doll.

Andrew Brown, 23, has worked at Starbucks for a year and is the man behind the Waldo.

"When I got here, they had the Waldo doll, but he just stayed in the same spot. I decided to start moving him around," Brown said. He finds Waldo a new home somewhere in the store once a month.

This month, Waldo can be found hiding in an air vent hanging from the ceiling. "I have to say, I think this is one of my best hiding spots yet," says Brown.

Brown greets customers with enthusiasm and a warm smile. Some may wonder if this is due to natural charisma or the amount of free coffee available to baristas during their shifts. Upon inspection, patrons will find that Brown is truly friendly and excited to help you find the right drink.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Brown grew up in Bartlesville, spent three years in Tahlequah, and moved to Brookside two years ago.

"I love Brookside," he says. "South Tulsa is too scary and North Tulsa is too snobby. Brookside is the perfect combination of cool people."

Asked about his favorite spot in Brookside, Brown said, "There are a lot of cool places, but I'd say In the Raw, definitely. It's top-notch, delicious."

Next time you step into Starbucks on Brookside to get a caffeine pick-me-up, take a moment to ask yourself, "Where's Waldo?"

The Many Shades of Ann McClane

By Jackie Lawrence

Born and raised in Tulsa, 30-year-old Ann McClane has lived in the Brookside area for 10 years.

I found Ann sitting on a bench outside the Brookside Body Piercing and Tattoo Shop chatting with a friend on Wednesday afternoon. McClane claims to have many alter egos.

She explained, "Which personality I exude depends on which part of town I'm in at the time."

The professional side of Ann works at a local day spa providing hand and foot treatments. She enjoys working in the service industry and meeting all types of people.

The adventurous side of Ann enjoys the sport of roller derby as a positive outlet to exert aggression. Ann played with the Green Country Roller Girls for two years. "I've always appreciated aggressive athletics and sports," Ann said as she began telling her story of roller derby.

She began competing while suffering from a broken heart. Roller derby offered a healthier alternative to rebounding from the relationship. "I enjoy the showmanship involved in roller derby; I liked to entertain the crowd," Ann said openly.

The relaxed side of Ann enjoys living and hanging around Brookside. She takes pleasure in the convenience and charm of the area. One of her favorite cafes is the Brookside Starbucks Coffee Company. She has ordered the same drink for 7 years - Iced Grande Peppermint Mocha.

"It's good to support local businesses always and I appreciate the consistently good service," Ann said. She also expressed her concern for the development of new places on Brookside. "I believe growth is good but it shouldn't go as far as compromising the integrity of the neighborhood," Ann said.

No matter which personality Ann takes on, she is sure to live life to the fullest.

Mark Zabienski: The Stucco King of Oklahoma

By Taylor Thompson

Sitting in the shadows under an overhead awning at the Brookside Bar & Grill, Mark Zabienski enjoys a drink after a sweltering Wednesday at work. Zabienski, 58, has been a Tulsa local his entire life. Although he recently moved to Cherry Street, he was formerly a Brookside resident.

With long gray hair, dark skin, and a full beard, Zabienski is a man who exemplifies the life of the working class, and it's no surprise that he owns and operates his own construction company, Mark Zabienski Construction Inc.

He is the proud father of three sons, all of whom graduated from Cascia Hall High School. They are currently living in Ft. Collins, Colo., Portland, Ore. and Denver, Colo.

While most spend a lifetime planning, Zabienski is a man who has actually lived his life. He has spent time traveling and living in places such as Hawaii, California, and even Paris. "I have survived by the motions of my body," said Zabienski. "If you want to be somebody, you got to make it happen for yourself."

Zabienski is remodeling Sharky's at 3425 S. Peoria Ave. and his brother remodeled the Brookside Bar & Grill at 3368 S. Peoria Ave. After five years of gathering equipment and labor, Zabienski now does exterior stucco work, much of which is found on Brookside's buildings.

"I have made a lot of money off of this neighborhood; I might become the stucco king of Oklahoma," he joked.

When not working on Brookside, Zabienski enjoys cruising Tulsa on his Harley Davidson Road King and spending time at Grand Lake.

Artzz September 2010: Scenes from Brookside's Art & Jazz Fest

Colorful pottery on display at Brookside's Artzz festival in September.

The Brookside Artzz festival included artists along both side of South Peoria in Tulsa.
The Brookside festival included music and art.

The art scene on Saturday, September 18, in front of KJRH Channel 2 in Tulsa.

Pots and more at the Brookside Pottery booth at the Artzz festival.

Hanging out at the Cosmo Cafe

By Cody Wilson

One of the hottest spots on Brookside is the Cosmo Café, an upscale contemporary restaurant. Aside from serving delicious yet healthy entrees like sandwiches and personal pizzas, Cosmo has a full bar with a variety of drinks.

The best part is that the fun doesn’t have to stop at 10 p.m. like the other restaurants on Brookside. Not only is the lounge area and bar open until 2 a.m., you can order from the full menu until 11 p.m.

Popular board games and relaxing music help pass the time until your food and drinks are ready. The friendly employees are young and easy to talk to, making sure that we had what we needed without asking every five seconds.

Even though Cosmo was my fourth stop that night, it ended up being my favorite.

Foot Modeling on Craigslist

By Mary Donnelly

An ad on Craigslist labeled “Foot Model Needed,” caught my attention earlier this month. Willing to try something new and make some extra money, I emailed "Larry."

He replied with a text and immediately asked for some pictures of my feet. I resentfully committed. After some conversation, he asked me if I was “open minded about my feet?” and if I knew what “foot worship."

I did not.

Foot worship is “rubbing and kissing the foot, and sucking the toes. Like a really intense foot massage. ” I immediately decided that I was not going do it. Still, I wanted to get the whole story.

As it turns out, this was not for a “photo collage project,” but instead for personal enjoyment. He also wanted to do this all “one on one.”

Luckily, I had a reason to decline because he wanted to have the shoot at my place. He lives with his sister and is embarrassed.

The Wolfgang Puck Experience

By Toni Allen

Brookside is known for its upscale nightlife and chic restaurants, but the newest addition has raised the bar. Wolfgang Puck’s Bistro specializes in a few of the world-renowned chef’s signature dishes and creative recipes. My experience was just that of a world-renowned restaurant.

My friends and I made our way to the bar, but our time was cut short because we were seated so quickly. Our table was comfortably nestled on the patio, amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy Saturday evening.

The atmosphere was modern and relaxing. I found myself peeking at other’s plates to see what was appetizing enough to spend big bucks.

Urbanspoon, the know-all website for delectable meals, awards the Bistro 4 out of 5 stars and an eight-five percent approval rating. User “Bmbeyers” reported the restaurant to be in “the perfect location, great atmosphere [and the] food was delicious!” After the Chinois Chicken Salad I enjoyed, I would be happy to approve that final star, giving Wolfgang Puck’s Bistro the five-star rating they deserve.

Dining among the Scents: Whole Foods Deli Satisfies

By Jackie Lawrence

On a bustling Labor Day weekend, I ventured to Whole Foods in Brookside. Walking through the doors, I noticed a cheerful atmosphere but the aroma of the deli really struck me.

Scents of food ranging from spicy Cajun to hearty soups lingered in the air as my mouth began salivating. The vibrant colors at the deli, along with the overzealous customer service, only helped to induce my hunger.

After many generous taste-tests, I decided on the chicken scaloppini with the artichoke and asparagus salad.

After taking a seat at a table near several animated individuals, I was enamored by the succulent flavor of the chicken and crisp, refreshing taste of salad on my palate.

My experience has me raving to friends, craving my return to this spectacular health food store.

It's BBD: Breakfast the Brookside Way

By Emily Stern

Brookside by Day was packed on Labor Day when a few friends and I stopped by for breakfast.

We sat on the porch and I overheard a father of a family saying, “This is a perfect place to grab breakfast and experience the essence of Tulsa.”

Our waiter, Omar, was a great example of how friendly people are in Tulsa. He started off our breakfast experience by kindly joking around with us, and throughout the meal we had several conversations with him about his job.

We also talked with him about the bicyclist team that had stopped in the middle of their ride to eat breakfast.

We had never been there before, so we were surprised to see all the different kinds of people there.

From families to motorcyclists to bicyclists to college students like us, the crowd at Brookside by Day was a great depiction of the diversity and friendliness that Tulsa has to offer.

Sharky's: It's everyone's bar.

By Ashley Rowland

The first thing I noticed when I walked into Sharky's was the variety of people.

“The best thing about Sharky's is that it's everyone's bar," says Melissa, a bartender. "Everyone is welcome. I love a diverse crowd, otherwise it would get boring.”

There was definitely no certain "crowd." From hipsters to cowboys, almost every person was different.

Music illuminated the room and each song was a surprise. “I like the jukebox," a Sharky's patron says. "It's got every song you'd ever want.”

The atmosphere is inviting. There's constant conversation, cheering about games, and laughter.

“It's hard not to have fun when everyone is having fun around you,” another Sharky’s patron says.

BBQ with a Touch of Jazz: Elmer's

By Kyra McNamara

Set back from South Peoria Avenue and dwarfed by its neighbors, Elmer’s BBQ is only identifiable from the street by a simple illuminated sign with its name and slogan.

Stepping Back in Time

Old instruments and the faces of jazz musicians covered the walls. The piano by the door begged for a live performance. Jazz music pulsed through the room. One woman swayed and sang along while others tapped their feet in time.

An Owner and His Customers

A man in a red Elmer’s apron strolled over to a table, snapping his fingers to the beat. The couple greeted him as an old friend.

When I asked, they told me the man in the apron was the current owner, Keith. “He’s a great guy,” said the woman.

Keith laughed. “I always say we have the best customers around.”

Gone but Not Forgotten

Elmer, the original owner, passed in 2003 after 22 years with his restaurant. He still smiles over the dining room from a picture that hangs in the corner.

For more, check out Elmer’s website at http://www.elmersbbq.net/index.html.

Welcome to the The Brookside Bulletin

The Brookside Bulletin is a student-operated journalism site focused exclusively on Tulsa's Brookside neighborhood, one of the city's most interesting neighborhoods.

The site is written, edited and produced by students in the fall 2010 News Gathering class at The University of Tulsa. The class instructor is Prof. John Coward.

Coming soon: Observations, interviews, photos and personal journalism from TU journalism students.

It's hyper-local journalism in Tulsa. Check this site often for news about Brookside.