Friday, 10 July 2009
The Tulsa Convention Center has received a 2009 Facilities & Destinations Prime Site Award, which is given annually to the top convention and exposition centers by Facilities Media Group, publishers of Facilities & Destinations magazine.

Awards are given based on votes by the magazine’s readership of more than 51,000 Association and Corporate Meeting Planners.
The Tulsa Convention Center is one of 76 facilities in the United States and Canada to win the 2009 award.  Tulsa also won this same award in 2007. Employees report that with the current economic situation and the ongoing construction at the Convention Center, it was hard-earned this year.

“This award epitomizes our exceptional staff as many cannot claim this award while under construction,” Tulsa Convention Center Assistant General Manager, Janet Rockefeller said.

Tulsa Convention Center continues construction on a 30,000 square-foot ballroom and the renovation to the existing facility scheduled for completion January 2010.

Located on the north side of the Convention Center, the Tulsa ballroom will be the largest in Oklahoma.  The new ballroom will have a beautiful glass wall overlooking the BOK Center.

Inside will be impressive 13,625 square foot pre-function space with high ceilings and room for receptions, registration or breaks.  The ballroom’s elegant design and high-grade finishes will make it the perfect space for important social and meeting events.

For easy access, the ballroom will have a corridor connecting it to the rest of the Tulsa Convention Center.  This extensive renovation will include seven additional meeting rooms located adjacent to the ballroom.  The entire project adds 52,200 square feet of rentable space.

Construction on Oklahoma’s largest ballroom at the Tulsa Convention Center marks the establishment of a Tulsa landmark.  This Vision 2025 project will add attractive rentable space to increase the number of events Tulsa’s Convention Center can accommodate.

The Tulsa Convention Center currently houses a 102,600 square-foot Exhibit Hall, 8,900-seat arena, 20,000 square-foot Conference Hall, 7,700 square-foot Assembly Hall with built-in stage and 16 additional meeting rooms—all open during the construction. Both the Tulsa Convention Center and BOK Center are managed by SMG.

The Tulsa Convention Centre is located in downtown Tulsa at 7th and Houston. For more information visit www.tulsaconvention.com.

Last Updated ( Friday, 10 July 2009 )

Friday, 10 July 2009
One of the great things about summer: the summer blockbuster.  Maybe you’re going to see the one where alien robots morph into other forms (“Transformers”).

Or, the one where lovable prehistoric creatures come to you in 3D (“Ice Age 3: Dawn of the dinosaurs”).

Or, how about the one with an unlikely duo, one tall and skinny, one short and stout, who decide to sell Christmas trees in July?  Maybe you don’t recognize that one because it’s a blockbuster from 1929.

The movie is “Big Business” and stars Laurel and Hardy. Today’s movie viewers have few chances to see classic silent shorts on the big screen, and even fewer opportunities to watch the movie accompanied by live theater organ music.

One such opportunity is the Circle Cinema and Cedar Creek Night at the Movies, which will feature Starlight Band playing themes from popular movies for the first portion of the concert.

After intermission, the silent movie will be screened under the stars, while organist Jeanette Maxfield provides the soundtrack.

“This movie night has become one of Starlight’s most popular events,” said L. Dale
Barnett, Starlight’s Chair and Music Director.

“It’s a lot of fun to watch an old movie the way it was originally screened in the theater.”

Attendees will appreciate not only the sights and sounds of the evening, but also the relaxed, outdoor setting that makes Starlight’s concerts ideal entertainment for the entire family.

River West Festival Park is located at 2100 South Jackson.  The venue has free parking and is accessible to those with disabilities.

Concessions will be available. The public is invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs, picnic dinners and pet dogs on leashes.

Guarantor sponsors for the 2009 season include the Oklahoma Arts Council and the
Treeman Family Foundation, in honor of Jeff Treeman. Other major sponsors include:
Cedar Creek, Circle Cinema, Creative State, Liberty Press, Local 94: American Federation of Musicians, the Music Performance Trust Fund, Public Radio Tulsa: KWGS/KWTU, Saied Music Company and The Jimmie & Helen Saied Foundation, Tulsa River Parks Authority, Universal Combustion Corporation, Waters Charitable Foundation and The Charles & Marion Weber Foundation in memory of Dr. Charles E. and Marion L. Weber.

Circle Cinema is located at 12 South Lewis.

This year marks the theater’s 81st birthday.  The mission of the Circle is to use film to foster understanding and appreciation of the diversity of the human experience and create community among viewers. More about the Circle can be found online at www.circlecinema.com.

The first Starlight concert begins on July 14 at 7p.m. and the last Starlight concert of the season will be Tuesday, July 21.  For more information, go online to www.starlightbands.net or call 798-STAR (7827).

Last Updated ( Friday, 10 July 2009 )