Patrick Henry - Tulsa, OK

The city of Tulsa expanded fiftyfold between the turn of the 20th century and the early 1960s. The Patrick Henry neighborhood sprang up during the massive Tulsa expansion of the 1950s and 1960s. Like much of the Midtown area, it has seen boom and bust cycles, but has always maintained its attractive suburban character.

For museums, locals don’t have to travel far outside the neighborhood. The unmatched Philbrook Museum’s international art collection inhabits a 1920s Italian Renaissance-style mansion less than 4 miles away at 27th and Rockford. Patrick Henry Elementary School hosts a fine arts festival every spring to benefit the school’s art and music programs. Each student displays artwork during the show, and Tulsa area artists donate pieces of their own work to the event’s auction to aid the fundraiser.

This small neighborhood’s boundaries encompass a few intriguing restaurants, primarily found near the intersection of 51st and Harvard. When price poses no problem, check out Bodean Seafood. Start with an appetizer of root vegetable salad featuring local beets, gorgonzola, pecans and arugula in a sherry vinaigrette. Bodean’s impressive Mojo Glazed Long Island Duck Breast comes with cheddar gnocchi, fried brussels sprouts and an Oaxacan chile broth. For dessert, try Spiced Butternut Squash Cheesecake with Crème Anglaise or a selection of artisanal cheeses with truffle honey and apples.

One of El Tequila Mexican Kitchen’s four Tulsa-area locations resides within Patrick Henry’s borders. Its founder, a native of Jalisco, Mexico, serves up traditional Mexican fare like enchiladas and fajitas. For something a little different, try El Guapo, grilled boneless chicken topped with spinach, pineapple and cheese. For extra fun, ramp up the party atmosphere with some picks from El Tequila’s margarita menu.

For entertainment, locals know the place to go – the Elephant Run Club. Known for its rocking happy hour, live bands, karaoke, full service restaurant and bar, as well as private parties, catering and special events such as New Year’s Eve and Mardi Gras parties, Elephant Run covers it all.

Most errands in this part of town require a car to get around easily, although public transportation through Tulsa Transit’s bus system works to get you to most destinations. You won’t find any cab stands, but you can reach a cab company on the phone for a picku, and Uber operates in Tulsa as well. Most businesses have plenty of free parking. Interstate 44 runs along the south side of the neighborhood, making highway access to other parts of town a breeze.

Much of the neighborhood is walkable, with Yale and 41st providing extensive sidewalks. Bike lanes don’t exist within the Patrick Henry area, although there is a dedicated bike path nearby that runs northeast from 45th and Yale to 42nd and Fulton.

Whiteside Park at 41st and Pittsburg serves the Patrick Henry neighborhood, where residents enjoy sports and fitness classes including Zumba and ladies’ kickboxing. A Cardio Tone class combines aerobics, barre, yoga, and high-intensity interval training. Catering to the family-oriented neighborhood, Whiteside Park provides plenty of special events and annual happenings. A daddy-daughter dance, flashlight candy cane hunt, Zumbathon charity event, and teddy bear ball have been big hits. Classes and special events have a small fee. In summer, Whiteside Park's pool brings cool relief for a nominal entry fee, though the water playground is free.

The average cost of living in Patrick Henry compares favorably with the rest of Tulsa, with housing costs averaging 6 percent higher. Average rental for a one-bedroom apartment costs about $760. Hopping a bus to downtown runs $1.50 for a one-way ticket. Typical price of a beer at a local pub or restaurant varies but averages about $3.50. Gas prices average 22 percent below the national average.

Patrick Henry does no’t have a central shopping area. High-end stores give way in this neighborhood to more mid-market offerings. Major shopping centers in or just adjacent to Patrick Henry include Country Club Plaza at 51st and Harvard and Tulsa Promenade and Southroads Shopping Center at 41st and Yale. These centers feature chain stores rather than specialty boutiques, so local residents know where to go for that special engraved gift – Things Remembered – or to satisfy a craving for savory meats and cheeses – Hickory Farms – both found in Tulsa Promenade.

Southroads Shopping Center immediately north of Tulsa Promenade Mall at Yale Avenue and 41st Street was Tulsa’s first fully-enclosed mall in the 1960s, but developed into a store-to-store center featuring such staples as Petco and Barnes & Noble. The center also hosts a 20-screen movie theater with reclining seats.

Two Reasor’s grocery stores serve the neighborhood, one at 41st and Yale in Southroads and the other in Country Club Plaza. The closest farmers' market operates in the Brookside area a couple of miles to the west on Peoria.