FuN with FrieNds

Bartlesville offers plenty of fun for friends

by donna rolando with photos courtesy of paper games, boots & brushes and song box

Bartlesville is known for its variety of attractions from museums to music festivals and, of course, great cuisine, but sometimes it’s a night out and it’s all about having a blast with your friends. Well, you don’t have to leave Bartlesville to kick it up with the gang. Here are some suggestions to turn your get-together into one that will excite Instagram envy.

With so many options, Bartlesville banishes boredom from friends’ gatherings and offers a variety of places to create a memorable occasion for many different tastes. If you haven’t gotten together for a while—maybe since COVID-19, you now have some ideas to crank up the fun and let the good times roll.

Paper Games exterior Paper Games interior

Paper Games

Perhaps games and role playing is what your friends like to do. Paper Games, a locally owned shop at 574 SE Washington Blvd., is known for fostering games like Magic the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Warhammer, according to its website.

Game enthusiasts can play right in the store on hand-crafted oak tables where they can find competitive action or “just have fun.” There are all kinds of games for your friends to sample from Carcassonne, Catan and Ticket to Ride for beginners to the BoardGameGeek’s top 10, including Gloomhaven, Pandemic Season 1, Brass: Birmingham and Terraforming Mars.

Comic book lovers will find a large selection of graphic novels to peruse. There’s something for all tastes with board games, role playing and trading card games, as well as Paper Games-themed souvenirs like hoodies, mugs and T-shirts to take home.

Boots & Brushes Paintbar

Also downtown in Bartlesville is Boots & Brushes Paintbar, where private parties can be arranged for friends to enjoy wine while trying to imitate Picasso, Monet or just express their inner muse.

“We are proud to have the pleasure of introducing painting to so many people who didn’t know they had an artistic side,” the Boots & Brushes Paintbar website says, beckoning individuals to come and “see for yourself,” at its studio, 322 S. Johnstone Ave.

The gang can get together at one of the paintbar’s scheduled events or arrange for a private party for special events like birthdays, bachelorette parties and more. These private sessions include easels, aprons, paint and canvas along with drinks and snacks for purchase or favorites like pizza you provide.

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see • FUN • page 34

PHYSICAL THERAPY

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A: A physical therapist trained in pelvic floor rehabilitation can be a safe and effective non-surgical option for treatment of pelvic floor issues ranging from pelvic organ prolapse to bladder or bowel leakage, and if you are experiencing unexplained pelvic pain, a (Pelvic) trained physical therapist can evaluate and help identify the source. Pregnancy and postpartum issues can be managed with physical therapy and get you back to pre-baby function. When you feel confident that you are doing the right stretches, performing your Kegels correctly, or have a qualified person to help ease your aches, you’ve experienced (a lifeline to some really intimate and) valuable health care. You can be evaluated and treated by a Physical Therapist for thirty days WITHOUT A REFERRAL from a physician. Give us a call to make an appointment today.

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Cooper & Mill Brewing Company

If your friends are more the kind to enjoy a good brew, then perhaps the Cooper & Mill Brewing Company, located at 200 S. Dewey Ave., will be a hit. With a name honoring the town’s rich history, Cooper & Mill Brewing Company is Bartlesville’s first brewery offering many different types of beer all handcrafted right in the taproom.

For even more fun the event center on site will let you challenge your friends to shuffleboard, pool, cornhole and more. There’s also a big screen TV for when you just can’t miss the big game.

Museums

But if your friends are new to town and want to take in some culture, there’s nothing to say you can’t check out a museum. Bartlesville won’t disappoint on this front. There are oodles of museums including Phillips Petroleum Company Museum marking the city’s petroleum roots, the Frank Phillips Home (also related to the oil industry and a national historic site), the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife (a 3,700-acre wildlife preserve with a world-class art museum), to name a few.

Shopping at Washington Park Mall

Shopping is nothing new but it’s a favorite so why not consider it for your friends’ get together? Washington Park Mall, located at 2350 SE Washington Blvd. also has a movie theater to make the day complete. You’ll find variety of stores from The Fitness Factory to Bath & Body Works, boutiques and a nail salon, all surefire hits. Bartlesville is also known for specialty shopping like its Artisan Market.

Crossing2nd

A great place to satisfy your taste buds and karaoke or dance to your heart’s content is Crossing 2nd, located at 215 E. Second St. in downtown Bartlesville. This haunt is a little bit of everything under one roof—a deli by day with hearty soups, hot stuffed buns and stacked sandwiches and bistro by night with fare from around the globe. Don’t forget about breakfasts on Friday mornings as well with specialty coffees to jumpstart the day.

One of the restaurant’s signature items is a Not Your Mama’s Milkshake, which uses vanilla ice cream to create frozen sensations like Peach Bourbon or Raspberry Moscato, while other frozen drinks include the ever-popular Pina Colada and daiquiris. Besides lots of karaoke and dancing, there’s ping pong, games and live music and four fun areas to enjoy activities: the Lounge, the Patio, the Game Room (New Bay) and the Garage.

Songbox Music & Bingo

Instead of running to a destination, maybe it’s time to host your own party or fun family night? The combination of music and bingo is a guaranteed success. Songbox Music & Bingo offers excitement from every musical genre and era with “unique curated playlists,” including country, hip hop, Broadway and alternative 90s.

You can make it happen for guests or family by visiting songboxevents.com and making arrangements for your choice of music and bingo cards to be sent via email. Jam Productions and Strawberry Moon Streaming Radio puts on Songbox Music & bingo every Thursday at 7 p.m. live on strawberrymoonradio.com.