When Katie Harris talks about Tulsa, it’s clear she doesn’t just live here—she participates in the heartbeat of the city. Her love for local business begins with food. KEO’s Tom Kha soup is a staple she swears by, and when it comes to sandwiches, she doesn’t hesitate to recommend the Coolio from Trenchers or the Nashville Hot chicken sandwich from Chicken and the Wolf. For a date night or an evening out, she gravitates toward memorable places like Red Rock Canyon Grill, Boston Title and Abstract (where she suggests sitting at the bar), and Baron’s on First Street. Beyond food, Katie also supports other locally owned favorites like Kai downtown for Vietnamese cuisine, Vanity Nail Salon, Phase One for fitness, and shopping destinations such as J. Cole and Amber Marie, showing that Tulsa’s best gems are often the ones built by neighbors.
For Katie, supporting Tulsa goes far beyond where you eat and shop. She believes in strengthening the city through intentional choices: volunteering at places like Irongate, donating to nonprofits such as Family and Children Services, and pouring resources into historically meaningful areas like Black Wall Street and the Greenwood District. She also emphasizes the importance of supporting local sports teams like FC Tulsa and the Drillers, whose players are world-class athletes. In her eyes, being part of Tulsa means investing time, attention, and resources back into the community that sustains us.
Katie recognizes that building connections in Tulsa requires effort, especially for young women navigating a new city. She understands how easy it is to feel isolated, but her advice is to step outside of your comfort zone and show up where people gather—whether that’s a Tulsa girl walk, a philanthropy group, or something as simple as a sunset happy hour at the Gathering Place. She points out that the Sunset Social event happens every third Thursday of the month, and it’s just one of many ways Tulsa creates opportunities for the community. “Tulsa has an incredible community of talented, inspiring people; you just have to know where to go to find them,” she says.
Another place where Tulsa’s identity shines is in its arts scene, which Katie calls “unbelievable.” She urges people to experience it firsthand, whether through the Tulsa Ballet, the symphony, First Friday events, or Broadway shows presented by Bway Tulsa. She acknowledges that when people feel stretched financially, art can seem like a luxury, but believes that’s exactly when it matters most. Investing in creativity, beauty, and storytelling helps keep a city inspired and alive.
When asked how she keeps up with everything happening locally, Katie credits social media. She recommends following organizations like Experience Tulsa, Tulsa Remote, FC Tulsa, the Drillers, Tulsa PAC, and Tulsa Ballet to stay informed.
Katie paints a picture of a city rich with character, talent, and connection—one that thrives when its people participate. From a bowl of Tom Yum soup to a ticket at the ballet, every choice to support local adds to the community’s growth. Tulsa isn’t just a place to live; it’s a place to engage, uplift, and discover. And all it asks, as Katie reminds us, is that we show up.
Tulsa has an incredible community of talented, inspiring people; you just have to know where to go to find them.