As an attorney and shareholder at Hall Estill, Woolery is often called upon to wear a suit and tie, but he much prefers the relaxation of jeans and a sweatshirt. He also enjoys spending time at his family’s farm in Blaine County perched in trees hunting deer during bow season. When he’s not living off the land, Woolery specializes in representing energy companies in oil, gas and environmental matters. “I not only spend time in the courtroom, but I also am fortunate to spend a great deal of time in the field working with my clients,” he says.
Megan Winkler
Winkler has successfully built three marketing departments at both corporate and nonprofit levels. She serves as executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma. “Find out what success really means to you,” she advises young professionals. “As a young professional right out of college, I thought it meant a high-paying job, a nice car and huge house. Over the years I’ve learned that the most important thing to me is being able to go home at the end of the day with the feeling that I’ve made a positive impact, even if just a small one, in someone’s life through my work.”
Erik C. Johnson
As an attorney in a relatively small city, Johnson serves as the assistant district attorney for Coal County, responsible for prosecuting felony and misdemeanor crimes and advising the county commissioners in the performance of their duties. Additionally, he serves as the city attorney for the tiny town of Commerce; Johnson also has a private practice in Ada that focuses on business law and civil litigation. In addition to spending time with his growing family, Johnson enjoys coaching baseball and was instrumental in establishing the Oklahoma Baseball Hall of Fame in Mickey Mantle’s hometown.
The Thyme of the Season
Everyone loves the idea of having fresh veggies and fruits hand-picked from the backyard garden, but not everyone knows how to make it happen. Lucky for Tulsa, several annual gardening events are planting the seeds of a can-do attitude with plenty of events offering what you need to know and grow. The SpringFest Garden Market & Festival will be at the Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria Ave., April 12-13 with vendors selling herb plants and more (www.tulsagardencenter.com) while Herb Day in Brookside sets up sale booths at Tulsa’s 41st Street and Peoria Avenue on April 13 (www.brooksidetheplacetobe.com). Sand Springs’s Herbal Affair & Festival, April 20, gets bigger every year (www.herbalaffairandfestival.com), while the Jenks Herb & Plant Festival, April 27, continues to attract busy bees with all sorts of merchandise (www.jenksgardenclub.com). Finally, be sure to check out www.okfarmandfood.org to find out when your local farmers market opens.
Sara Kaplan and Matt Runkel
Owners, Native Roots Market
Live in LEVEL, Oklahoma City
What do you love most about living downtown?
Access to all the activities: We walk to the Myriad Garden, Oklahoma City Museum of Art and dozens of great restaurants. There is always sometime going on.
Why did you choose your particular building?
Actually, it kind of chose us. The building owner wanted to bring an urban grocery to the LEVEL, and our store turned out to be the right fit for the neighborhood. Since we are very hands-on business owners, it only made sense to relocate our family as well.
What’s one thing someone should know if they’re considering a move downtown?
You won’t miss the suburbs.
What's your favorite thing about your apartment?
The view.
Lindsay Rogers
Blogger
Lives in Metro at Brady, Tulsa
What do you love most about living downtown?
I love being able to step right outside my door and be in the middle of the hottest restaurant and bar scene in town. It is wonderful to not rely on cars and walk around the neighborhood
What are benefits of living downtown?
Having entertainment right at our fingertips makes the weekend especially fun. There is no concern about parking and driving – just walk across the street! My neighbors make the neighborhood. Downtown is full of vibrant, diverse and fun-loving people.
Are there any drawbacks?
We are in serious need of a small grocery store (in downtown). Simple conveniences like errands to the drugstore and grocery shopping require a little car trip. My two Malteses don't have a yard, but I am lucky enough to have Guthrie Green and my parents’ place close by.
Mark Lester
Attorney
Lives in Classen Glen, Oklahoma City
Why did you choose Classen Glen?
I remember the building as a teenager, and I always thought it was unique for Oklahoma City. The property is currently going through a major restoration, and there is an opportunity for the owners to participate in the style and selection process of many of the components and features of the property. Also, the affordability of the property and its practical features, including sub-level-gated parking, had a big influence.
Are there any drawbacks?
A drawback to living downtown is the lack of shopping, mainly for groceries, but other basic shopping, as well. Parking is a problem when you meet a large group of friends.
What's your favorite thing about your apartment?
My favorite thing about my apartment is that it is mine. I own it and have had the opportunity to make it reflect my tastes and likes. It is nice to own a part of downtown, even if it is a very small piece.
Rodney Bryan Pratz
CFO/Renaissance Man
Lives in The Mayo Hotel, Tulsa
What do you love most about living downtown?
The wonderful thing about living downtown is the nightlife, especially the nightlife being created in the Brady District. I love the galleries and restaurants and sitting in the stands at ONEOK Field watching the fireworks at the end of the game on the weekends. I can go eat at Juniper, then take in a great performance at the BOK Center or the PAC, and I can walk to all these places if I choose.
Why did you choose The Mayo?
In 2009, I was one of the first residents of The Mayo. I chose it because, really, it was the beginning of downtown living again. I like the concept of living downtown. For a young, single professional, it’s ideal. If I want to dinner but don’t want to cook, I can go downstairs and have a nice meal at Trula. If I want a coffee and peanut butter chocolate chip cookie in the morning, I can go to Topeca. Living in The Mayo offers the conveniences of living in an urban area like New York City, but in a much smaller city.
International Crescendo Music Awards
Saturday, March 23, at 7 p.m.
The finale of the 2013 International Crescendo Music Awards happens at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 23, and you could be there to see it. Which gifted student musicians will be honored at this 15th annual event hosted by the Rotary Club of Tulsa? Whoever they are, these classical artists will win cash prizes, opportunities for scholarships for summer study and the competition gold medal in the categories of voice, strings, piano and brass and woodwinds. There’s a lot on the line for these hopefuls. Watch and keep your fingers crossed for them all at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education on the Tulsa Community College Southeast Campus. Tickets are $25 each. Visit www.crescendomusicawards.com for details.



















