Raise your hops-laden beverage high and toast another year of beer, food, games and the German way of celebrating. The 33rd annual Tulsa Oktoberfest German festival will be at Tulsa’s River West Festival Park Oct. 20-23. Carnival rides and arts and crafts merchants as well as food merchants set up camp on the grounds along the Arkansas River and base a weekend of specially-scheduled activities that include the Running of the Wieners (dachshund races), pretzel toss, stein race and the crucial bier barrel race. How do you think festival volunteers keep the beer flowing? Great local and regional music acts are booked to play throughout the weekend under the big tents that also shelter the beer and wine gardens. You don’t get the real experience of this very popular German festival unless you take up arms and boogie down to the Chicken Dance polka. On the shy side? You won’t be for long. www.tulsaoktoberfest.org

OKLAHOMA TRIVIA! Question:

What comic book super hero built his fortress in Broxton, Oklahoma?

Enter below to win a pair of tickets to see Foghat and the Fabulous Thunderbirds with Canned Heat at River Spirit Casino this Friday. The winner will be selected at random from all entries that correctly answer the OKLAHOMA TRIVIA! question and are submitted before 10 AM, Friday, October 26, 2012. Winners will be notified via email.

Ends Sunday, Dec. 9

The holidays are upon us, but Philbrook Festival of Trees has been in the spirit for weeks. The museum will wind down its annual holiday display and light events this weekend. Take a last turn about the galleries and enjoy Christmas trees and holiday décor created by area artists and designers available for purchase for your home. What you’ll find is truly original work and something special if you have gift giving in mind. Hours are 10 a.m-5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday-Sunday. The museum remains open until 8 p.m. Thursday. Admission during Festival of Trees is $11 general admission and $8 for seniors (ages 62 and up). Still want more? Garden Glow, Philbrook’s stunning outdoor light display continues through Dec. 29. Go to philbrook.org for more.
 

Not many years ago, I remember reading the first words from nutritionists about the need to consider color when making choices about vegetable consumption and how this varied from traditional methods of choosing. The idea was that by taking multiple colors into consideration, one could avoid having to learn about each distinct vegetable and its particular benefits. It seemed too simple, of course, but over time I began to understand the wisdom of the words. Color can be your road sign to good nutrition.

Many people think only of green when it comes to vegetables and there is ample reason for that. Consider, if you will, the many green vegetables that are a part of good nutrition – even setting aside all of those we think of exclusively as salad vegetables – and the health benefits of those!

Then consider the other colors. There are numerous others out there, from the many colors of squash to the oddness of white cauliflower to the purples and beyond. Each has its own distinct nutritional benefits and pluses to factor into your healthy diet. Each is also somewhat different than the green vegetables with which you're probably familiar. When combined, they provide terrific and balanced nutrition without one having to do specific research.

Browse your local grocer and you are bound to run into many of these colors and products. Rather than learn about each individual one, which is certainly encouraged, look for a variety of colors in your shopping cart and you know you will have done well. Mix those colors, try some of the preparations you like or one of those I have offered to date and you will end up with an array of healthy eating options to incorporate into your healthy diet.

My own favorites? We've discussed how I use cauliflower. Other flavors of color that are in my top 10 include yellow and spaghetti squash, purple cabbage, both red and green tomatoes and red and white radishes. Other potential options are healthy beets, purple potatoes, and countless other vegetables. Don't be afraid to experiment and treat colored versions of vegetables the way you would the common varieties.

Commit to trying one new vegetable or color each week and you will find yourself discovering whole  new, healthy favorites. And, in turn, you will have a more nutritional diet.        

-Michael W. Sasser is Oklahoma Magazine’s former senior editor and an award-winning journalist. Neither a medical nor a nutrition expert, he shares his personal weight loss journey exclusively with Oklahoma Magazine readers. Reach him at [email protected].

Attracting and retaining young talent has become the new battlefield for cities.  Community leaders have gone as far as stating that even the lowest taxes and utility costs can be worthless if communities don’t demonstrate enough qualified labor to staff companies. Communities must show an ability to grow local talent, recruit talent from competitive communities and hold on to that talent when out-of-town recruiters want them back. Winning the battle in Tulsa means young people must choose to start their careers here and make this their home for life. How can Tulsa win not just the battle, but the war?

Young professional groups have popped up all over the United States in an attempt to address this very concern.  Why has this become an important workforce initiative?  I had the opportunity to ask Dr. Gerald Clancy, President of Oklahoma University-Tulsa, that very question.

“After decades of relatively little change, we are now seeing huge shifts in our demographic make-up of our region and nation. As the Baby Boomers retire – 10,000 boomers per day turn 65 – it begs the question, 'Who will keep our economy humming?' It’s clear that young creative talent is the new currency of a region’s economic vitality. We will need to make every effort to ensure the Tulsa region is a great place for young people to relocate to and stay.”

The truth is clear; young creative talent is our region’s economic currency.

When examining successful cities like Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; or San Francisco, common characteristics define these communities as attractive to young people. In general, Millennials rank quality of life – specifically, social and cultural activities – proximity to transit, a robust nightlife, a low cost of living and economic opportunities as major contributors when deciding where to hang their hats.

The groundwork is already in place in Tulsa. We have a booming downtown and thriving Brady Arts District paired with a rich culture and history. Tulsa has been ranked as the No. 1 city for young entrepreneurs by Forbes, and we can see the entrepreneurial landscape quickly changing with energy and commitment from community leaders. Tulsa has also been named one of the most livable cities in the country, providing the critical components to make Tulsa an economically affordable place to live, work and play.  But on what other characteristics should we be focusing our time, talent and resources to encourage young talent to make our region their first choice?

I am proud to chair Tulsa’s Young Professionals in 2014, and for the last nine years, this organization has grown and developed a great baseline to help influence change in our city. TYPros has made a commitment to advocate for public transit, a strong urban core and the inclusion of diversity. We have an entire initiative dedicated to arts and entertainment. We support and create opportunities with economic development, including through a Bring it to Tulsa campaign that most recently focused on digital-based driving service Uber. We will continue our support of entrepreneurship with our ever-evolving business incubator, The Forge. Lastly, we provide many networking opportunities and foster young leaders each year. For example, our Board Intern Program will place more than 100 board interns on nonprofits across the city this year.

However, the burden to attract and retain young talent is not on one organization, but must be a regional effort. Like most Midwestern cities, Tulsa is struggling to rebuff ill-conceived national perceptions and to show young people that it can be the city for them. Tulsa offers a long list of benefits to young talent in a wide range of fields; we have the job opportunities, the low cost of living and the entertainment venues. The time has come for Tulsa to stop aspiring to be Austin, Dallas or even Oklahoma City. It is time for us to take pride in who we are as a region, embrace our unique culture and showcase it for the city that it is and the potential for the city it will become. I hope you will join me – and TYPros – in making that a reality.

Isaac Rocha is the 2014 Chair of Tulsa’s Young Professionals, an organization created to attract and retain Tulsa’s brightest young talent, the region’s next generation of leaders. Isaac writes about current issues affecting young professionals, challenges facing the TYPros mission and other musings from a Tulsa YP. For more information about TYPros visit www.typros.org.

Friday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.

The Tulsa Playboys brings Western swing back home to Cain’s Ballroom. Honoring that toe-tapping medley of jazz and country-western music made famous by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys in 1930s and ‘40s, the Tulsa Playboys play favorites starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10.  Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the show is for all ages. Tickets are $7 in advance and $8 at the door. Tickets for students under 18 are $5. For more, go to www.cainsballroom.com.

This week

Are you ready for some on-court action? The University of Tulsa men’s basketball team has two games coming up to get your hoops fix. The Golden Hurricane face New Orleans’ Tulane University Green Wave team at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Donald W. Reynolds Center, 3208 E. Eighth St., on the University of Tulsa campus. The men’s team next plays another home game as it welcomes the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (13-2) at noon Sunday, Jan. 12. Tickets are $10-$39 each. Get them at www.tulsahurricane.com.

Begins Tuesday, Jan. 14

Midget car racing is a big event in Tulsa. The Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals brings hundreds of midget car racers and legions of racing fans to town every year for the indoor run at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. The best part is that drivers from other race car series get into the mix along with beginners and hopefuls. Where else can kids from Catoosa drive against NASCAR pros like Kevin Swindell? Swindell is the man to beat – he’s won this championship the last four years. The Chili Bowl opens Tuesday, Jan. 14, and runs through Jan. 18. Practices run most days beginning around 9 a.m. with races generally beginning at 6 p.m. Call 918.838.3777 for information on reserved seating and pit passes ($55-$240). For more, visit www.exposquare.com.

Opens Friday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m.

When a famous novelist working on his next masterpiece dies mid-sentence, his secretary finishes his final book. Is she taking dictation from the afterlife or does she possess her own gift for writing? Carpenter Square Theatre’s latest entertaining drama follows Myra, who encounters the scrutiny of literary world skeptics, the media and the late author’s widow. The play opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, and continues its run through Feb. 1. Tickets are $16-$21 and can be purchased at the theater, 800 W. Main St., Oklahoma City, and online at www.carpentersquare.com.

Thursday, Jan. 9-Saturday, Jan. 11

If you’ve ever wanted to take up a traditional craft like quilting, Oklahoma State Fair is the place for you this weekend. The Oklahoma City Winter Quilt Show runs Thursday, Jan. 9-Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Cox Pavilion at the fairgrounds, 3001 General Pershing Blvd., Oklahoma City. The show includes vendors of quilting materials and equipment and features exhibits, workshops on techniques, displays and more. Admission is $10 per day or $20 for a three-day pass. Children under 12 are free. Get a discount coupon and more information at www.qscexpos.com.