Many people have spent some time trying to solve the world's problems over a glass of beer, and one city councilor thinks that might be a way to solve some of Tulsa's problems as well.
Blake Ewing, who owns businesses downtown and is running for re-election to the city council, has come up with a unique twist on Democracy he calls the "Dive Bar Town Hall."
The idea, he says is to "change the way we communicate with the public."
He says each meeting will have a topic, and there will be a panel of experts or city leaders in attendance.
"There's a whole world of people in our city that would never show up at a library or a community center or something like that for a traditional town hall but who, for whatever reason, will feel completely comfortable sitting down having a beer, having a casual conversation about topics that are important to them," he told KRMG.
But unlike a traditional town hall, he says, "we really want to reverse the typical flow of these town hall meetings to be kind of listening meetings, to hear from the public."
The first Dive Bar Town Hall takes place July 15 at the Soundpony, 409 N. Main Street (next to Cain's Ballroom).
It begins at 6:00 p.m.
The topic will be maintaining arts funding in the city and supporing local arts and artists, rather than relying solely on philanthropy or city funding.
The events will move to various locations around the city, Ewing said.