New Season, New Hat--Bartlesville Travel Diary

Winter truly is my favorite season of all. I just come to life in the cold. I might have been a polar bear in a past life.

And Tulsa is finally having a true winter this year. Our temps have been in the 20's and we even had our first snow two days before Christmas. We hadn't seen snow near Christmas in about 4 years.

I enjoy the dark short days and all the wool everything. I have been welcoming a new hue into my closet too --- brown. We all know I love a good hat too as they are just the perfect piece to finish off a look and pull it altogether, (it also helps hide the static electricity in my locks from everything being so dry) which is why, every winter, I pick a new one for my collection.

My ceremonial hat hunting begins as soon as the weather turns. This time, it didn't take me long to stumble across this most divine khaki bolero hat from Piezas (pronounced pi-e-sas) . When my dear writer friend Andi visited we swapped hats for a shoot and she had this exact bolero but in black and well, it was love at first sight for me. Piezas brings you the best in modern, authentic South American style. They have such a diverse collection of Andean treasures in one place and I just love that! Many of the items are handmade using traditional techniques, tools and materials.

I wanted to add a timeless bolero style hat and theirs is just divine----crafted in extra fine, felted wool, and accented by a chic, nubuck band and jaunty feather. Isn't it just the most perfect sartorial refresh?!

Broke in the lovely bolero on a quaint little day trip to Bartlesville and had the greatest time exploring. It was awesome to get one last little trip in the books for 2017.

So, I thought I would share a great Bartlesville guide with you dears so you too could take your own little day trip adventure. It' so close to those of us in Tulsa.

I plan to do more day trippin' in 2018. I want to spend my weekends exploring my own backyard so to speak.

Bartlesville is located in Northeast Oklahoma, about 50 miles of easy highway driving north of Tulsa. Home to about 35,000 people, Bartlesville is a small city with a big heart — and big-city amenities as well.

Eat & Drink..

Frank & Lola's--Frank & Lola's is a neighborhood restaurant & bar located in the heart of historic downtown Bartlesville, OK. I have never had a bad meal here. I love the green chile soup and they have the best chicken salad. They have fresh cut fries too.

Painted Horse Bar & Grill- Down-to-earth bar & grill offering American meals from morning till late, plus live bands & karaoke.

Copper Bar & Restaurant-- Located on the 15th floor, our bar offers stunning vistas over the mid-American landscape from atop Frank Lloyd Wright’s only realized skyscraper. Enjoy the great pub menu while you toast friends. Outdoor seating is available, weather permitting. And catch some love music too.

Play....

Frank Phillips Home-- Always love a good bit of history. Experience the sumptuous town residence of oil baron Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company. Although the house itself is beautiful and ornate with rich imported Philippine mahogany, handcrafted molded ceilings, and Waterford crystal chandeliers, it is the original furnishings left by the Phillips family that make this tour an experience to remember. Nestled among the family heirlooms you will find a painting by John Singer Sargent, a Tiffany lamp, unique turn-of-the-Century jigsaw puzzles, exquisite handmade needle point chair and ottoman coverings done by Jane Phillips, and much more! Preserved by the Oklahoma Historical Society, this National Register Historic Site reflects the lifestyle of one of Oklahoma's greatest oil barons.

Tours and Admission

Hours
Home tours on Wednesday through Friday will be scheduled at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, tours will run at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The home is closed during the month of January.

Closed to the public on Sun, Mon, Tues and Holidays.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower...

Frank Lloyd Wright called this masterpiece the “tree that escaped the crowded forest” when he completed it for the H.C. Price International Pipeline Company in 1956. The Price Tower is Frank Lloyd Wright’s only built skyscraper. The combination apartment-office building received the American Institute of Architects 25-year Award and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Price Tower Arts Center offers a variety of traveling art exhibitions and permanent exhibitions on Wright, Bruce Goff and the Price Company and Tower.
Recent renovations by architect Wendy Evans Joseph have created an upscale 19-room boutique inn called Inn at Price Tower. With the creation of this inn Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiasts can have the opportunity to overnight in a Frank Lloyd Wright building, a once in a lifetime experience! Also on the premises and open for business is the Copper Restaurant + Bar, creating a fine dining experience for Bartlesville natives and visitors alike. Future plans for the Price Tower Arts Center include an expansion of their educational program. The Price Tower Arts Center has currently commissioned world-renowned architect, Zaha Hadid, to create the new complex that will adjoin the Price Tower, complementing the symmetrical design of Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Price Tower is an architectural jewel that attracts visitors from around the world, not only for the architecture, but also for its world-class exhibitions. Truly a one-of-a-kind must see!

Measuring 221 feet from the top of the spire and standing 19 stories high, the Price Tower is Frank Lloyd Wright’s tallest built skyscraper. The combination apartment-office building received the American Institute of Architects 25-year Award and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Price Tower, named after its former owner H.C. Price, is built on a cantilever design. There are four interior vertical shafts from which all the floors and walls project. None of the exterior walls are structural, but are merely screens resting on the horizontal cantilevered floors. The interior shafts divide the Price Tower into four separate vertical quadrants, each quadrant with its own elevator. The interior rooms of the Price Tower are unusual in design in that they are predominately triangular in shape. From a distance, oxidized copper louvers that provide shade for windows create the illusion of green branches and with the unique architectural design of a tapering tower from the nineteenth floor; it’s no wonder that Frank Lloyd Wright called this masterpiece the “tree that escaped the crowded forest.” Furniture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright specifically for the H.C. Price Company is still set in place and can be seen on tours. The Price Tower is truly an architectural wonder that you won’t want to miss with intricate interior staircases, kitchens with hidden features and to be found at every turn, the distinctive touch of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve...

Will Rogers said, 'Of all the places in the United States, Woolaroc is the most unique.' The country estate of oil baron Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company, got its name from the woods, lakes and rocks that are indigenous to the area. This rustic environment served as a one-of-a-kind entertainment venue. 'Uncle Frank' hosted U.S. Presidents, well known business titans, dignitaries, Indians, movie stars, lawmen and outlaws alike on his sprawling ranch southwest of Bartlesville.

Fine Art and Southwest Treasures

And don’t miss the museum, which houses one of the world's greatest collections of western and worldwide art, relics and exhibits that tell the alluring story of the American West. An outstanding attraction, Woolaroc is truly a national treasure!

Just driving through and gazing at the wildlife is one of my fave things to do.

The 3,700 acre wildlife preserve is home to more than 30 varieties of native and exotic animals and birds. It is a working ranch that maintains the animals for the enjoyment of our guests in a natural, protected setting. Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company, created the Woolaroc preserve in 1925 to retain the essence of the West as he had known it before the turn of the century. That earlier time had an untamed quality that is evident at Woolaroc today.

Frank Phillips worked with several wild animal experts to obtain a wide variety of animals from around the world for his Woolaroc Ranch. Great care was taken to provide the right care and environment for the animal collection. The animals and birds you see today have adapted to the climate, which, in many cases, was similar to their natural environment.

After entering the Woolaroc grounds, there is a two mile drive through the animal preserve to the main complex and a drive back through the preserve as you conclude your Woolaroc visit.

Since most of the animals roam the entire preserve, there is no assurance that you will see any or all of the different species during your visit.

The prominent species at the Woolaroc Ranch are the American Bison (buffalo), elk (wapiti) and longhorn cattle, which are truly native to this area and were found here in the days before Columbus. Other species include the Japanese Sika deer, North European fallow deer, water buffalo, llamas, aoudads, ostriches, Sardinian donkeys and pigmy goats.

The Woolaroc bison herd dates back to January 16, 1926, when 90 of the animals, commonly called buffalo, were brought here from South Dakota. The elk herd was started in the early 1930's when 40 of the animals were purchased from a ranch in Montana.

Please note: The preserve animals are wild. They are unpredictable and much larger, stronger and faster than they may appear. Visitors must stay in their car until reaching the main parking areas. Do not leave your vehicle to photograph, feed or touch any of the animals.

Dying to stay at the lodge one day!!