Street Party takes supporters across U.S.

DANNA SUE WALKER / Tulsa World 03/14/2001 


The biggest crowd in Street Party’s six-year history — more than 1,500 revelers — danced, dined and played the night away during Street School’s big fund-raiser held at Woodland Hills Mall.

The crowd enjoyed trips down major highways and boulevards throughout the country. Special venues represented locations such as Coney Island, where midway- and casino-style games were set up and David R. and Bradini entertained; Chicago, where Tulsa’s Blues Brothers boogied it up on stage along with the Oscillators and special guest Jimmy Junior Markham; Bourbon Street, where Earl Clark got raves; and the San Francisco stage, which featured MidLife Crisis and ’60s stuff like a giant peace sign and a VW van decorated with vintage signs.

“We were thrilled by the community’s response to our event,” said Sarah Hansel, co-chairwoman of the event and the Street School board president, who was there with her husband, Mike Cooke. Board member Susan Scott was also a co- chairwoman of Street Party.

Some of the city’s most popular restaurants had food stations set up around the mall, so it was a eat-and-drink-as-you-travel kind of evening.

Participating restaurants included Baxter’s Interurban Grill, Biga, The Bistros of Tulsa, The Blue Rose Cafe, Bodean’s, Bourbon Street Cafe-South, Celebrity Club, Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, Charleston’s Restaurant, Chimi’s, Creative Catering by Sherian of Freddie’s, The Fountains, Enchanted Evenings, Genesis Grill, Hebert’s Specialty Meats, Hideaway Pizza, Mexicali Border Cafe, Outback Steak House – 71st Street, St. Louis Bread Co., Steamroller Blues BBQ, Texas Tamales, T2, Two Sisters Catering & Deli, Uno Pizzeria Chicago Bar and Grill, and White River Fish Market.

Major sponsors included Williams, Bank of Oklahoma, Woodland Hills Mall, the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, the Jack and Maxine Zarrow Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, American Airlines, AEP Public Service Co., Bryan Close and Close Bend, Class Act Party Rentals, Arthur Andersen, BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma, Central Plains Concrete Cutting, KTUL Channel 8, Gordona Duca Realtors, Donna Hiner Investments, Dollar Rent A Car, Gardere & Wynne, Fabwell Corporation, Fox Cleaners, Gary Sparks Cos., GT Industries, Hogan & Slovacek, Home Depot, the Bama Companies, Institute of Management Accountants, Sewell & Taylor, Tullius Taylor Sartain and Sartain, ONEOK, J.C. Penney, and many more.

In-kind donors included Anheuser-Busch Sales of Tulsa, Home Depot, Mrs. DeHaven’s Flower Shop, Pepsi, Stokely Outdoor Advertising, and Jack Wills Patio and Fireplace Shoppe.

Since Woodland Hills Mall and all the restaurants donate to the event, the school keeps more than 80 percent of the money raised. Proceeds help with the school’s operating expenses, equipment and programs.