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Happy Friday, Tulsa. In today’s edition: New airport ID requirements, The Nutcracker, Yuletide Market, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

New airport ID requirements: TSA will begin charging a $45 fee in February for travelers without acceptable ID who use its Confirm.ID system, which covers a 10-day travel period — get all the details.

Tulsa transit eyes savings: MetroLink Tulsa is using RideCo’s AI call center for microtransit and paratransit bookings, with opt-out. Officials report improvements and target shorter AI calls than humans by middle of next year — read the full story.

Connecting experts with communities: OSU-CHS’s Project ECHO boosts rural care and schools statewide, with 8,990 participants in 2025 and potential savings over $94 million, expanding from diabetes and heart failure to AI in education — get all the details.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Join Grady Nichols’ Christmas benefit concert
• Stroll the Botanic Garden of Lights
• Explore Oklahoma’s largest indoor farm show
• Shop handmade gifts from queer makers
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

Are you leaving money on the table?

In partnership with TenSixtySix Tax Advisory Group

DIY tax software seems pretty easy…until real life gets involved.

Bought a rental property? Started investing outside your 401(k)? Changed jobs, got married, sold some stock, or dealing with big medical expenses? Suddenly those “easy” online tax platforms miss a lot…and that’s usually when people unintentionally make mistakes and leave money behind.

Michael and Ellen Cotter of TenSixtySix Tax Advisory Group help families sort through the messy middle: multiple income streams, property, investments, retirement withdrawals, business expenses, you name it. They’ll even help you get compliant if you’ve got unfiled taxes hanging over your head (which is more common than you think).

DIY works until it doesn’t. But TenSixtySix works year-round to help businesses and individuals stay compliant without leaving money on the table.

Schedule an appointment online or give ‘em a call at (918) 770-9600 to get started. Mention Tulsa Brief for a 10.66% discount!

🫶 We got your back

Giant slide and igloos: Tulsa Community College is partnering with Arvest Winterfest to offer $10.32 student skating every Friday night through Jan. 4. The deal is open to students from any school. Winterfest runs outside the BOK Center with ice skating and holiday lights, making a solid finals-week break. Read the full story.

Shocking turn, steady resolve: Sapulpa favorite Burgers N’ More was damaged by an overnight fire, likely electrical per the Fire Marshal’s preliminary assessment. New owner Chad Cacy, who took over this year and says sales were booming, plans to reopen. Timeline is uncertain. The mid-’80s mainstay is famous for its fries and corn nuggets. See what the owner says.

Quirky beer break: Ditch the standard and drop by Nothing’s Left Brewing Co., a former Texaco turned taproom with swings, two bars, and a knack for turning wild ideas into crushable beers… yes, beer slushies. Family- and dog-friendly vibes make it an easy meetup spot.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎄 Christkindlmarkt @ GAST Center | Friday (12/5) at 10:00am – Enjoy a classic European-style holiday market filled with handcrafted gifts, gluhwein, bratwurst, and cozy vendor stalls. A warm, festive stop for shopping, carols, and maybe a second pretzel—no airport required.

💡 Lights On: Glow on the Green @ Guthrie Green | Friday (12/5) at 6:00pm – Nothing beats watching Guthrie Green flip the switch and turn into a glittering postcard. The annual free Glow on the Green brings local-artist booths, live tunes, Santa pics, and food trucks, so you get your twinkle fix, the kids get Santa, and everyone gets snacks.

This weekend

🛍️ Yuletide Market @ Tulsa Farmers’ Market | Saturday (12/6) at 8:00am – If you’ve been meaning to swap mall madness for actual cheer, head to the yuletide market where farmers meet makers, Tulsa Opera carols, Rusty Nail Does Christmas plays, kids craft wintery things, and Santa poses for free. Shop small, chat neighbors, head home stocked up and feeling festive.

🎅 Santa Fly-in @ Tulsa Air and Space Museum | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Holiday season in Tulsa means Santa trades reindeer for a runway, then pops into the Air & Space Museum. Bring the crew for landing, photos, free gifts for the first 500 kids, and that slick parent trick where Santa hands them the present you chose.

🍪 Sweets with Santa @ Tulsa Zoo | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – Take the kids or grandkids to the zoo without pretending you love cardio. Sweets with Santa is a come-and-go stop for photos, treats, and holiday cheer, all at Tulsa Zoo. Low pressure, high sugar, actual bathrooms, and you can bail when someone gets hangry.

🍭 Candy Cane Course @ River West Festival Park | Sunday (12/7) at 9:00am – Lace up, Tulsa, and earn your candy canes the honest way. This festive 5k or 12k brings chip timing, free photos, finish line treats, and real swag, plus a kids’ dash and a virtual option. Family time, cardio, and cookies, all in one go.

🎭 The Nutcracker @ Tulsa Performing Arts Center | Sunday (12/7) at 1:00pm – Trade the mall chaos for Tulsa Ballet’s Nutcracker, complete with live Tulsa Symphony, lush 19th-century vibes, and a cheeky cameo from the Golden Driller. Dazzling sets, crisp choreography, and zero sugar hangover. Bring the kids, or just your inner kid.

✊ Indigenous Resistance w/ Amy Bowers Cordalis and Sterlin Harjo @ Magic City Books | Sunday (12/7) at 7:00pm – Whether you’re a Reservation Dogs fan or miss salmon more than lake water, head to Magic City Books for Amy Bowers Cordalis discussing her memoir, The Water Remembers, with Sterlin Harjo. A thoughtful conversation about The Water Remembers, the Klamath River, and Indigenous history—insightful, engaging, and open to all.

Next week

🔥 Leftöver Crack in Tulsa @ The Vanguard | Monday (12/8) at 7:00pm – Tulsa, brace yourself. Leftöver Crack is storming The Vanguard with their signature blast of anarcho-punk chaos, snarling vocals, and genre-bending “Crack Rock Steady” grit. Expect high energy, loud guitars, and the full anarcho-punk experience. Not a quiet night—more like cathartic chaos for music fans.

🎤 Mother Road Market| Tuesday (12/9) at 6:00pm – Tuesday nights hit different when they come with live music, good vibes, and a rotating lineup of local talent. Whether you’re chilling on Tulsa’s favorite patio or staying cozy indoors, Andrew Live keeps the mic hot and the energy easy. Grab a bite, grab a seat, and let the midweek magic roll.

🎷 Grady Nichols Christmas Show @ Mabee Center | Tuesday (12/9) at 7:00pm – Kick off Christmas with a Tulsa tradition at the Mabee Center, where Grady Nichols joins Andy Chrisman, Kelly Ford, Alaska Rayne, choir, strings, and a full band. Hosted by LeAnne Taylor, proceeds benefit Lisa Bain Ministries, and you’ll leave festive, smugly generous, and in-law approved.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 The ’25 Christmas Show @ Chimera Cafe – 7 pm
• 12/6 Christmas is Here @ Oneighty Auditorium – 7 pm
• 12/6 Emily Hollingshed and more @ The Shrine – 7 pm
• 12/10 The Stone Cold and Jackal @ Bricktown Comedy Club – 7:30 pm
• 12/11 Coldplay Tribute @ The Shrine – 7 pm
• 12/12 Jamie Lissow @ Bricktown Comedy Club – 7 pm
• 12/13 Tulsa Metro Sound Chorus Caroling @ Mother Road Market – 1 pm
• 12/14 Cam Bertrand @ Loony Bin – 6 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Tulsa edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Michelle Jansen (Coldwell Banker Select)

Single-story and 5-bedroom, this 5,000 plus sq ft home spans a corner lot near an acre with panoramic South Tulsa views and a 20×40 modern pool aligned to the kitchen and great room. Vaulted beams, natural stone, generous gathering zones, and ensuites for all, plus a remodeled primary with private washer and dryer.

Outdoor living stacks the deck with Trex, built-in tabletop seating, a sunken hot tub, gazebo shades, and landscaping. Heated 27×26 workshop with a 160 foot drive fits a boat or cart. Pella windows, Rambo cabinetry, storm shelter, whole-home generator, near St. Francis, LaFortune, and Southern Hills.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →