May 2013 Vol. 5 Issue 5 Edmond Active Magazine by Edmond Active Magazine

Around Edmond, Locally Owned, Shop Edmond, New Products Reviews, Field Trip, Metro Flavor & More!

Locally Owned

Silver Leaf Gems

Edmond Arts Fest

2013 Was All Local

Field Trip

Clauren Ridge Winery

Edmond People

Barbara Caprilli Opera Diva

V. 5, ISSUE 05, May 2013

EDMONDACTIVE.COM

Publishers/Editorial/ Photography Chris Hultner Sherri Hultner To Advertise contact us at: sherrih@edmondactive.com

405-315-7325 405-315-6405 contributors Melissa Cox Stacey Johnson Heather Popowsky Jeffrey Taylor Trevor Hultner Jason Boag

Social Media: Issuu.com, Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr & Pinterest @EdmondActive with over 19,000 followers.

Online: EdmondActive.com EA has over 30,000 local readers, between our 3,000 digital issue readers, 10,000 website readers & 13,000 print issues read per month! All claims made by any advertiser are not the responsibility of EA. Corporate Photography Chris Hultner 405.315.6405 chrish@edmondactive.com

All photography and editorial in Edmond Active Magazine is copyrighted (2009-12) material and may not be reprinted or used in any way without written permission from the publisher.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4. Around Edmond

18. Shop Edmond

My Fitness

20. Field Trip

Edmond People

24. Parks & Rec

12. Locally Owned

26. Edmond Arts

16. Edmond Style

28. Ice Storm

17. In Business

30. Events Calendar

Around Edmond

By Sherri Hultner Hi and welcome back to Around Edmond! This month is full of celebrations around town, with the 2013 Downtown Edmond Arts Festival, Cinco de Mayo celebrations to Teacher Appreciation week, Mother’s Day, to OU, UCO and all 3 Edmond High Schools graduating and all of this within 10 days of each other. All of course directly following the historic April Ice Storm, which we documented on page 28. The Arts Festival went off this year without a hitch and bringing with it 98% of the artist booth’s coming from Oklahoma. We were really proud to see this and if you didn’t make it out this year, check out the coverage on page 26, and don’t forget to mark your calendar for the 1st weekend next May! This month we caught up with some amazing talents here in Edmond and we’re excited to share their stories with you. Barbara Caprilli is an opera diva and wife of Angelo Caprilli, owner of the amazing new Italian Café, Roma’s Gelato. Barbara started her career here in the metro before she traveled the world. She is amazing, as is her story of coming full circle as a voice professor at UCO and her plans to create a new Opera company right here in the metro. This issue we are also featuring the mother daughter trio of Silver Leaf Gems in Locally Owned and Edmond Style, in celebration of this month’s Arts Festival. This family has the most talented artisans Edmond has to offer and we are proud to feature them. Upcoming events during June include events that

lead up to the 41st Libertyfest Parade & Fireworks show and now include the most fun event of the year, the Cardboard Boat Regatta held at Arcadia Lake on June 29. Check out the coverage from years past in this issue and visit the City’s website for full rules and registration information at www.EdmondOK.com/ Parks/Rec. And even if you don’t make a boat this year, it’s completely worth going out to watch! And speaking of being creative, this month’s Field Trip to Clauren Ridge Vineyard & Winery is a don’t miss! It’s in Edmond, easy to get to and worth the trip! While we have been direct distributed for the last 4 years, we hope that you’ll enjoy our new form of distribution in your mailboxes, as we continue to grow our readership. With 38,363 single family, mobile home/rural, apartment and PO Box addresses in Edmond per the US Postmaster, EEDA and US Census Bureau, we’re excited to be sending our magazines to your homes along with distributing at popular Edmond businesses and being available online at www.Issuu. com/EdmondActive where 5,200 residents read our April digital edition! Thanks again to all of you for reading and supporting all that Edmond Active does each month, and thanks for supporting the fantastic businesses who have supported us over the last 4 years! Here’s to spring and new growth! Until next month, we’ll see you Around Edmond!

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My Fitness

Take it Outside Melissa Cox, M.S. The Shape Project - Boot Camps

Hibernation has officially come to an

gym. These researchers concluded that

workout outdoors. While the allure of a

activities done in green spaces lowered

end and it’s time to consider taking your

climate-controlled gym can be an option, emerging science is showing that there

are a multitude of benefits to exercising

outdoors that can’t be replicated on stationary gym equipment.

Studies are finding that runners

flex

their

ankles

when

they

hit the trails or streets outdoors. In

addition to a difference in their stride,

runners outdoors occasionally have to run downhill, which stresses muscles

differently than running flat. This type

of downhill movement is difficult to replicate on a treadmill. Also, outdoor

exercise tends to be naturally more strenuous than its indoor counterpart.

In a study comparing the exertion of

stress levels. It also provides exercise for your mind. When you exercise

outdoors, your mind becomes aware

of the changing scenery and terrain. Whether you are on a winding bath, your backyard, or near the beach, your mind

gets the opportunity to focus differently

than it would a flat gym floor. Scientists

also recommend outdoor exercise as a way to get your vitamin D, which is an excellent mood booster among other

things. This is especially important if you are overweight. One study found that people who are overweight are almost twice as likely to suffer a deficiency in vitamin D.

Taking your workout outside can also

running on a treadmill and the exertion

be fun for friends and family. Whether

expended less energy to cover the same

playing in a kickball league with friends,

of outdoor running, treadmill runners

distance. An important reason for this is because outdoor runners face wind resistance and changes in terrain.

you’re taking your kids for a bike ride or

it’s a great way to spend quality time with them.

Hitting the gym is hard, but it’s even

In a recent study, researchers polled

tougher when the beautiful weather

found that outdoor physical activity

Nature is a perfect bikini-body training

almost 2,000 active participants and

had a 50 percent greater positive effect on mental health than going to the

walking, biking, and other outdoor

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Edmond People

Opera Singer Barbara Caprilli

A True Diva In Our Midst

When we sat down with Barbara Caprilli, our intent was to find out about all of the amazing operas she had performed in worldwide, and talk in depth about the voice classes she leads at UCO. What we found is that her story and connection to the metro run deep, and she truly has one of the most interesting stories to read. What’s your background? I started out in the Northwest Classen Cry-Slurs, in Oklahoma City. I was in John Platt’s group that won state so many times, they had to change the way they graded the state performances. We were pretty infamous among other choral groups. When I was with them, we went to Mexico, we went to California, we had lots of great trips. The Platts are just amazing people -- they’re still alive, and I still see them. They have nurtured a lot of musicians, not just singers. I don’t know how many opera singers have come out of it, but a whole lot of professional musicians, church musicians, people I went to school with are very active, teaching and in the music world. And then I went to Oklahoma City University, and I was going to study with Ina Silberg, but that did not work out. She was the big opera teacher at the time.

I ended up singing and studying with Florence Birdwell, because Mrs. Silberg did not like me very much, to tell you the truth. But Florence took me under her wing, and I started belting. I did Mama Rose in college, and I did Lyric Theater, and I did a whole bunch of stuff like that. That’s what I thought I was going to do: I thought I was going to be a musical theater belter, and go to New York... and then I discovered opera. How old were you when you discovered opera? Well, I had grown up with opera. My father, who was a wonderful singer himself, and a church musician, a Southern Baptist Minister of Music, he loved opera, and we used to listen to the Texaco (Metropolitan) Opera Hour on the radio every Saturday. And the voice of the Texaco Opera Hour was Francis Robinson. Guess who Francis Robinson’s niece is? My best friend from high school, Bobby Robinson Stas, with whom I have coffee almost every Friday morning now that I’m back. Just a whole lot of things led me down that path. But one of the reasons I decided to go into opera was because I realized that for my physical type -- and I’ve always been a big girl, you know; tall and let’s say stocky, that’s the nice way to say it,

although I wasn’t stocky in college, I was just big. I was about a size 16 and about 5foot-10. And this was back during the time of Twiggy, so compared to a lot of people, I looked enormous, but I look back at old pictures and I’m not, really. But I figured out that for my voice type, as a musical theater person, first of all, I wasn’t old enough. And second, if I went to New York, I’d be doing a whole lot of paying dues for maybe 10 or 20 years - and if I /did/ get a role, I’d be doing the same thing eight times a week. The same words, the same music, everything. And I discovered that I had this really unusual range. I had about three-and-a-half octaves at the time. I could sing really, really low and I could sing really, really high, and I had a very flexible voice. I started singing stuff that surprised even Florence, and one thing led to another, and I started singing as a coloratura. Anyway, I just about finished my Masters, I didn’t finish the final thesis, and I went off to New York and I found a teacher there, and I ended up studying with Forrest Lorrie. He was an Oklahoma boy too, went to NW Classen with my brother. He was killed in a murder-suicide just before -- I mean, literally days before I got my first important gig, which was the

Edmond People Cincinnati Opera Young Artists’ Program. Jim de Blasis and that program is what led me to La Scala because he (de Blasis) had me do a major role -- he had me do Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte in the House, which was the first time that a young artist had done something like that. He had me understudy and do Norma in English for children, and that was my first Norma, and then he had me Attila, by Giuseppe Verdi, my first early Verdi opera, and that ended up being my debut at La Scala. I went back to New York after that, and I started studying Nancy Stokes Milnes who is the second wife of Sherrill Milnes At the time she was married to Sherrill, and she had started teaching, and she’s the one that directed me to this idea of being an early Verdi specialist, and doing Verdi and Puccini. She said, “You’re not a coloratura. You’re a dramatic soprano who has coloratura. They’re very rare, and this is what you’re going to do.” She sent me to Italy to study with Paula Molinari, who is a very famous coach there -- one of the leading Verdi and Puccini coaches -- and to this day works with Mirella Freni and they have a school together outside of Modena so, she’s a big deal in Italy. She coached me on Nabucco, which is my big thing that I’ve done the most, and got me with an agent. I made a debut in Tosca in Palermo, and then I got the call to go to La Scala, and the rest, as they say, is history. That’s pretty significant, getting work in Italy immediately. I had the right voice at the right time, and I fit the costume. I tell kids this all the time. They were looking for somebody to be second cast to Ghena Dimitrova, who was one of the greatest dramatic sopranos of all time, may she rest in peace. I was also very lucky, because she was very welcoming, very supportive. She, to the day she died, was supportive of young artists. I understudied her in Nabucco and Turandot. We worked together many times over the years. I was about the same size, my head was a little bit bigger, so every time I wore a headdress that she’d worn, I’d get a little red line right here on my forehead. But they needed somebody who could get along with the Diva, and be second cast and do the second performances, and then I started getting my own performances, of course. It’s the luck of the draw in some ways, but it’s also being prepared. I was really prepared, I had really good coaching, my languages were good, my Italian was good. I had the right kind of voice at the right time, and I got along with everybody. I tell my students all the time, you’ll get a lot of work if you’re just nice, if you don’t

cause trouble. It’s amazing how many kids from this generation don’t understand that a large part of getting work is not getting the first contract, but getting the second contract. Because one of the things I got to do when I was still living in the United States was tour with Boris Goldovsky, who was a very important producer at the time. Sherrill Milnes toured with him, a lot of big important opera stars got their start with Goldovsky. I think I was in the next to the last tour he took out. He was pretty old by that time and he’d say, “You know Barbara, you do not make a career with one contract. You make a career when you get the next contract.” And that’s the truth. A lot of people today are singing because they show up prepared and they don’t cause trouble. What’s special about Oklahoma City University Opera program? OCU’s opera program is still going strong, but more and more they’re known for their musical theater program. The last I heard, they’re still turning out opera people like Sarah Colburn, who studies with my old friend Larry Keller. Larry Keller and I grew up together. We were in this young symphony orchestra, and we both played string instruments, and she’s studying with him. So they’re still putting out opera singers. I would say that the UCO program is unique, and the reason I wanted to come to UCO, because this is my dream job, is because we limit the number of singers we take, we only take as many singers as we can serve. If you go to some of the bigger schools, they have excellent training, but you might have trouble getting a lead or even a supporting role -- or even get in the chorus -- if you’re an undergraduate. At our school, one of my freshman men had the lead in Grass Heart, and one of my sophomore men had the lead in No, No, Nannette. So if you are talented and able to sing and dance and act and do what you’re supposed to do, you’re going to be doing a lot of work at a place like UCO. We just have so many opportunities. How did you come to teach at UCO? I had already visited here in 2008 to do a resident artist thing for a week, and I just fell in love with the school. I mean, I just fell in love with UCO. The faculty, the students -- I thought, “Oh, this place is great.” So I go to Dr. Clinton, and I said, “Hey, I’d like to work here.” And he said, You don’t have a doctorate. We can’t hire you.” And I had just gotten in contact with Shenandoah and that was kind of the push that made me say, “Yeah, I’ve got to do this.” So all this kind of combined so that

I went back to school full-time. It’s an interesting thing to go back to school fulltime when you’re in your late 50s and with a husband that loves you very much, but who is far, far away. And I saw him about every 5 weeks. It wasn’t an optimum thing to do, but I did it. I kept applying for jobs, and just as I was at the very last bit -- I only had a couple of courses to take, and they were both online -- I got this offer to do a sabbatical replacement in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It paid really well, and my husband said, “Oh boy, Canada! Let’s go visit Canada for a while.” He was incredible, he was like, “Let’s pack up and go.” So we did, and we loved Halifax. It was wonderful, and we had a great time. I’m still applying for a permanent job. We were thinking about staying there, because there was the possibility of maybe doing an adjunct position for a while, and there was a bunch of stuff to do, and we were kind of thinking about it all. And they posted this job. I went, “Oooooh, I want that job.” I think I sent my materials in the next day. I think they posted it, and I replied within 24 hours. I’m pretty sure it was about that quick, because that’s how much I wanted it, and, you know, you apply online now, so it’s not that big of a deal. So I applied, and I was getting calls from other schools, and I had stayed in contact via Facebook with some of the people I met here. One of the places I went was to Hayes, Kansas, to interview. Well, about two weeks later, I get a call from UCO: “We want to interview you. So I thought, “Ah, I’m on that list.” They interviewed me over the phone, and I thought it went pretty well, and I guess it did, because within a few hours, they called me and said, “We want you to come on campus.” And I was dancing around the apartment, saying, “I’m going to Oklahoma!” It was really exciting. I came here and interviewed, and it took a little while, of course, because I was not the only person they interviewed, and I got the offer and here we are. Was it your goal to return to Oklahoma? I had been trying for a long time. I had been applying for a long time for jobs in Oklahoma. Part of the problem was, I think, because I’d almost always get to the phone call stage, but then they would ask to see my transcript, I’d send them my transcripts and they would figure out how old I was. I’m almost positive that was the problem. Of course, it wasn’t a problem here because they all knew how old I was. They wouldn’t have called me if they hadn’t been interested in the first place. That seems to be a widespread problem, especially now that people

Edmond People

have multiple careers at various stages in their life. As I’ve said to a lot of people, you know, they ask, “Well, when are you going to retire,” and I say, “I am retired. This is my retirement job.” I’m retired from a full-time career as a singer and this is what I said I wanted -- I always wanted to teach when I stopped singing. So, I am retired, and this is what I wanted to do. I think it has a lot to say about the atmosphere at UCO, in that, they’re just out to get the best teachers they can. And they are looking for quality, and they’re looking for the people that can add something to their campus. I have to tell you, it’s the only music school I’ve ever been in where everybody gets along. There is so little drama at that place, and nobody believes me! None of my friends believe me when I tell them this. Just to give you an example, Greg White, who is the head of the musical theater program, every time he sees me, he gives me a big hug and says, “We’re so glad you’re here.” And that is just typical. We -- the voice teachers -- we go out together. We have dinner together and go to shows together. There’s a meeting that we’re having after juries before everybody gets gone, and it’s between -- there’s going to be four of us in the meeting, and I get a thing that says, “Let’s all meet at Roma’s!” That’s the kind of thing, you know, where we get along, and we talk to each other, and recommend each other for stuff. I did a judging gig with Kevin Eckard this year at Ponca City, he recommended

me for the job, and Barbara Streets, who is the person that organizes the Somatic Voice Work workshop, recommended me to work on that project. I mean, that’s just the way we are. Nobody believes me when I tell them that. The kids feel it too, and there’s an atmosphere -- I mean, there’s competition, sure -- but it’s an atmosphere of what Rosie o’Donnell said one time which I love, “If all the shrimp is gone at the buffet, you know they’re going to bring some more.” They’re very supportive of each other. When I have studio classes, the kids applaud each other. A couple of the students made some really big progress this year. One of them learned to belt, and she’d never belted before. Another one learned to sing in a legit manner, and she had never done that before. I actually had kids tearing up because they were so happy for these kids. That’s the kind of atmosphere we have there. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to teach here. Nothing against my alma mater, you know, I got a lot of great training from them, but it’s a different kind of place. I think we’re much more nurturing. I’m pretty gung ho for UCO. What is the current state of opera? I think the current state of theater arts in general is suffering, because of the kind of worldwide recession that’s going on, but I think that opera is not down for the count yet. A lot of opera companies have folded, it’s true. There are others who have just kind of tightened their belts and kept on going. I was just in Ft. Collins at Opera Ft. Collins this weekend, I did a fundraiser

for them. An old friend of mine is their artistic director. And they just decided to tighten their belt. They’re not doing three productions, they’re doing two; and they just keep on going. When I was in WinstonSalem, I was on the board of directors of the Greensboro Opera, and I sang with the Piedmont Opera. Greensboro has folded for the moment, but they’ve still got their money together and they’re waiting for a comeback. I don’t think they’re down for the count completely yet. But Piedmont Opera just kind of tightened their belt and kept on going. I think that as the economy recovers, and I’ve certainly seen it happen in Italy and the rest of Europe as well, as the economy is recovering, the opera world is recovering. It’s just such wonderful music. And in fact, my dream and something I really want to do is start an opera company here again in Oklahoma City. We have Cimmaron Opera in Norman, but it’s really not a professional company. It’s a great opportunity for young artists and they do a lot of good work, but I’d like to start a professional company here. But, you know, I’ve gotta do my dissertation first. Is there a lack of education concerning opera? I think we’re getting better at it. And I think where there is an opera company, there is more attention to bringing it to the schools. In fact, one of the things that Greensboro Opera continues to do, even though they’re not doing big productions right now, is they have all 6000 fifth graders in the Greensboro system get to see a 45-minute version of an opera every year. Any opera company that’s around, that includes Tulsa Opera and Cimmaron Opera, they all do outreach to schools. And it’s -- you know, when my husband first met me, he said, “I don’t like opera.” And I said, “Which opera did you see that you didn’t like?” And he said, “Oh, I’ve never seen one.” He likes opera now, because he’s seen one. I think we have a big role to uphold as far as educating people goes. But I do think that, certainly in Oklahoma, it’s much improved than it was when I was in school back in the Dark Ages. I think that Oklahoma in general has always had some really great artists come out of it. We’ve had a lot of Oklahoma artists who have sung in opera companies all over the world, and we’ll continue to have that. But I think, just, people knowing what opera is, we’re in a much better place than we were when I was in high school. Do you need to be multilingual to sing opera? It helps if you are multilingual. Most

Edmond People people who sing opera on an international basis have at least one language in which they’re very conversant. Most of us have two, many have three. I have friends that speak Spanish, German, French, English, you name it. I am very fluent in Italian and pretty fluent in German, and those are the two languages I sang in all the time. And those are the two languages of theater. Any theater you go to, they’re going to speak English, German or Italian -- or all three. French -- and I don’t sing much French opera because it’s not my stuff; I mean, I know how to pronounce it, and I can get a coffee in French. I don’t speak French, though I’m working on it now because I feel like I should. I got myself a Rosetta Stone box and I’m working on it. I like Rosetta Stone very much, but I got sidetracked by all the interviews I’ve done -- I did 19 interviews, which I’m transcribing now, for my dissertation. My dissertation topic is the effect of menopause on the elite singing voice: “Singing Through the Storm”. I’ve had the privilege of interviewing stars from Broadway and opera and I’m just like, “I can’t believe they’re talking to me!” I also have interviewed -- there’s probably five or six really important singing voice specialists that work with ENTs in the United States; three of them have talked to me. Plus some of the most important voice teachers around, so I feel incredibly fortunate. I’m transcribing the interviews and putting them into the Dedoose software right now, and I had some very interesting stuff, and I am going to be presenting at the Voice Foundation, which is an international conference on voice which is held in Philadelphia every year. It’s a very big deal, and I’m thrilled and scared to death. It’s very cool. I have a lot of plans for the future, I want to do a lot of things for UCO, and I just -- well, as one of my teachers said to me, when I was complaining that I was pretty sure that there was some age discrimination going on in some of these hiring practices, he said, “Barbara, at some point, they’re going to realize that you have the energy of an eight-yearold and they’re going to hire you anyway.”

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Locally Owned: Silver Leaf Gems

Silver Leaf Gems, located in the 19 N Broadway Shadid Art Building, is one of the most unique businesses in Edmond. While it appears that they only sell and make jewelry, this is only the tip of iceberg of what is offered. Their caring about every piece of jewelry that leaves their showroom and understanding of customer service are hands down the two things that make them stand out in a world of corporate and larger jewelry stores, and these are the reasons that hundreds of people revisit their showroom. Their jewelry ranges from custom eclectic pieces to amazingly affordable pieces that are all handmade, and each piece has a story of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own. This

mother and daughter trio are fantastic, so if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re new to Edmond, you must stop in to meet them! We asked the three of them a few questions so you could become more familiar with their services, and we hope you enjoy! Can you give an explanation of how Silver Leaf Gems came about, before it was a brick and mortar store? It began about 14 years ago in Fayetteville, Arkansas when Diana was severely injured in a Auto/Pedestrian accident. She spent months in the hospital and was labeled a miracle by many. Diana began rigorous physical therapy and part of

that therapy included using her arms and hands again. A friend suggested that she try jewelry making not only as physical therapy but as hobby. As time went by, she realized her talent as a jeweler and others began taking notice as well. The nurses and staff at Washington Regional Medical Center starting buying the jewelry she was making as fast as she could make it. Sondra joined the business about two years later, when she left her position of 7 years, as a general manager of a restaurant, and moved from Colorado to Fayetteville. Together, they sold to friends, family, coworkers, and countless Arts Festivals and markets. They moved back to their home

Locally Owned: Silver Leaf Gems

Locally Owned: Silver Leaf Gems state of Oklahoma in 2001. It was then that the home business grew to a retail location. They opened The Bead Attic in Edmond in the spring of 2002. Diana and Sondra successfully sold beads and readymade jewelry for three years until they sold the business in 2005 to pursue their dream of designing full-time. Early in 2006, Stephanie left her human resources position of 18 years to make it a trio. When did you start selling your jewelry in Edmond at your current location at 19 N Broadway in Downtown Edmond? April 2006. We started with one room in the basement and grew to all seven rooms. We moved upstairs to the gallery almost two years ago. How long have you been participating in the Edmond Arts Festival? 8 years Do you hand craft all of the jewelry that is for sale in your store, and what piece have you made that has taken the longest to create? We hand design all of our jewelry, this enables us to guarantee our workmanship and control the quality. Sondra—A Turquoise, Coral, Freshwater Pearl, Hill Tribe silver necklace that took about 70 hours to complete. Stephanie—A Swarovski crystal piece we call “Titanic”. It took me almost three full days. Mom—Turquoise and Silk waterfall that takes about 40 hours Do you make custom jewelry and what is the most unusual piece you’ve been asked to create? We specialize in custom jewelry. Our clients know they can bring in a special outfit and get something special made. Sondra—Coin necklaces are my specialty. I take coins from clients vacations and turn them into necklaces, bracelets or earrings. Makes a great gift for family and friends too. I have also been asked to make turkey talon necklaces for men from their hunting trips. Mom—a plate sized brooch for a formal gown. A dress designer wanted a special piece for a major event, We have also been asked to make wedding cake jewelry. Stephanie—a vintage piece done with

antique family heirlooms. We used graduation pins, wedding rings, Masonic temple pins, brooches, military medals. It was stunning when it was done and it was so personal. Who creates most of the jewelry between the three of you? We all equally make the same amount. We each have very different styles so it is fun to see what we come up with. Where is the most unusual place you’ve gotten beads from? Outer Space (meteorites), Africa, Tibet, Russia, Italy, England, Japan, Tahiti, Rome, Germany, Czechoslovakia, to name a few. And lots and lots of American stones. What other services does Silver Leaf Gems offer that our readers might like to know about? Repairs are a big part of our business. We have other stores even bring us jewelry to repair. Reinventing of old jewelry. People bring in something from their grandmother and want it restyled to something a little more modern. Weddings—We can do their entire wedding party in most every budget. Missing earrings, we have a lot of people who have list an earring and most times we can make a replacement. Unique memory pieces—like, grandmother watches turned into a bracelet, vintage pieces from the family put together in a necklace. Affordable art from Oklahoma artists. What makes Silver Leaf Gems unique over other jewelry stores in the area? Custom colors, Custom sizes (which is a big issue for most women, needing smaller or larger sizes), silk knotting of pearls (hard to find). Personalized attention. We pride ourselves in great customer service. What is the one thing all three of you love the most about operating Silver Leaf Gems? Sondra—Our clients, they become part of the family. Mom—Working with my family. Stephanie—being able to be creative and do something that you love. Not many people can say they love their job. Wine doesn’t hurt either.

Locally Owned: Silver Leaf Gems

Edmond Style: Product Review

Grandma’s Pure & Natural Hand Soother found at I’m Just Sayin Gifts at Waterloo & Broadway is probably one of the most unexpected surprises that I’ve ever run across. In April, while I was testing products, and specifically upon applying Elizabeth Arden’s 12 Hour cream to the back of my hand, and that had come in April’s Birchbox, I had an immediate and severe allergic reaction. Within seconds my hand had become dark red and as swollen as it could possibly get. I immediately washed my hand (3 times!), and still the allergic reaaction was occuring. I grabbed my bottle of Grandma’s as it is supposed to soothe irritated skin, and I swear on the bible, as soon as it touched my hand, the stinging stopped. I will say this is a must have product for all households.

This is probably one of the cutest and most useful inventions ever made. Dripknots contain wristlets and a headband for washing your face so that the soapy water doesn’t drip down your sleeves or soak your hair. Made out of terry cloth and cotton, this was a great idea, long overdue. Available at I’m Just Sayin Gifts at Waterloo & Broadway, in Edmond, or at www.IJSGifts.com.

In Business

Citizens Bank Vice President Jill Castilla

Stepping into a 112 year-old legacy has not been difficult for Jill Castilla, Executive Vice President, Citizens Bank of Edmond. Her education and extensive experience prepared her for the responsibilities she would face as the 4th generation of her family to work at Citizens. As Jill says, “I’m inspired by the resilience our bank has demonstrated since opening its Edmond doors in 1901. Recessions, a depression, wars, booms and busts, all called for perseverance in order for Citizens to continue serving Edmond. Citizens grew up with Edmond and we plan to stay exactly where our roots are and continue growing with Edmond. Citizens’ fierce independence and commitment to community continue to differentiate our bank from our competition.” Prior to joining the bank, Jill served on the senior management team at Grand Rapids State Bank in Grand Rapids, Minnesota as the Senior Vice President of Finance. Before her tenure in Grand Rapids, Jill managed numerous departments at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in both the Oklahoma City and Kansas City offices. She also served in the U.S. Army and Oklahoma Army National Guard as a construction surveyor and civil engineer. Jill holds a B.S.B.A in Finance from Hawaii Pacific University and an M.A. in Economics

from the University of Oklahoma. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Graduate School of Banking and a recipient of Hawaii Pacific University’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Recently selected as one of Oklahoma City’s “Rising Stars” by OKC Friday and named “20 Under 40” by the Business Times, Jill currently serves as a director for

Citizens Bank of Edmond and Citizens Bancshares, Inc., the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education’s Board of Directors, and the UCO College of Business’s Advisory Council. She is also a Trustee on the Edmond Public School Foundation and the UCO Foundation boards. She and her husband, Marcus, have three children.

Shop Edmond

Paint Your Art Out is Edmond’s MOST fun date, girls night out or party destination. Visit www.Paintyourartout.net to see their latest calendar & register or stop in or call 405-513-5333 to register! With artist lead sessions, absolutey anyone can be an artist! Visit them online for their current calendar of paintings. Located at 10 S. Broadway right in the heart of Downtown Edmond! Also find them at Facebook & Twitter at PaintYourArtOut!

MILLIES TABLE CATERING & More Millies is your Hot Meals To Go headquarters Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays! Meals include single serving entree, vegatable, starch and a roll! Give Millie a call at 330-9156 by 2 pm and your meal will be ready to go between 5 & 6pm! Located at 1333 W. Danforth Rd in Edmond! For more information, visit her website at www.MilliesTable.com

Citizen’s Bank of Edmond is Edmond’s only locally owned bank, offering Edmond resident’s and businesses the kind of personal service and lending opportunities that only an independently owned bank can. The Downtown Edmond Branch will soon be offering Saturday banking, and they are preparing to offer mobile banking services such as mobile deposits and more. Be sure to follow them at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @CitizensEdmond

Book reservations now, with upcoming graduations near, for your family & friends, and have them stay in town at Edmond’s favorite Bed and Breakfast! Be sure to visit ArcadianInn.com to reserve your room, as they book quickly at this time of year. The Arcadian Inn Bed and Breakfast is located at 1st and University, across from UCO. To book a reservation, visit ArcadianInn.com or call 405-348-6347.

April 6th is the date of the Annual Spring Open House featuring Gift Certificate Drawings, refreshments and up to 15% off throughout the store. We offer affordable & stylish accents, restyled furniture, fun jewelry, unique decor & gifts for every room and every taste! Stop in now to see all of the latest spring decor & fashions for you and your home. Our Location: 917 E Danforth Rd, Edmond (Across from Ted’s Cafe Escondido) and you can call us at 405-340-8869

Shop Edmond

Located on Memorial just south of the AMC Theaters Quail Springs Mall, Lotsa Noodles is a great place to stop with your family for a casual & fun dining experience. From their Kids Eat Free Mondays to the deliciously diverse menu of asian, american, italian choices, along with sandwiches, salads & soup at terrific prices, Lotsa Noodles will become a family favorite with their fresh & fun atmosphere! Stop by to try their 2 newest asian pasta dishes. You’ll love the casual atmosphere! You can follow Lotsa Noodles at Facebook & Twitter @LotsaNoodles for daily upates & specials! To order take out, call your order in at 405-752-2695 or visit LotsaNoodles.com.

Enjoy a Spring retreat in the country at any one of the 5 cozy cottages at Aaron’s Gate Country Cottages, in Guthrie, just a few minutes north of Edmond. Located on a beautiful wooded 10 acre property, you can relax with the outdoor jacuzzi’s or just relax indoors in front of the fireplace and wake up to a beautiful candlelit breakfast. Visit online at Aaronsgate.com to discover the different packages and to reserve your room, or call 405-282-0613.

Visit Shapeproject.com to sign up for May classes that begin May 1st! Now you can reserve space during multiple months at Shapeproject.com. It includes unlimited attendance to any of their 11 metro locations! For more information, go to Shapeproject. com or call 405-496-5891.

Stop by Sweet Peace the entire month of April to save 25% off all Peace Frog items! Candy Bouquets can be custom ordered or you can stop in to the store to see the large selection of pre made bouquets & unique gifts. Sweet Peace is now located on the SW Corner of Santa Fe & 15th, across Santa Fe from Crest Grocery Store, and is open Tues - Wed: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, Thurs - Fri: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm and Sat: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Follow Sweet Peace at Facebook & Twitter!

I’m Just Sayin’ Gifts and More carries Root candles, Beatriz Ball & Mudpies dishware and accesories, Spartina handbags, jewelry, and infants & toddler accessories, as well as full selection of fantastic for upscale, fun and unique gifts. You’ll also be able to find amazing items from talented local artisans, as well. Store hours are Monday - Friday 10:00a.m. - 7:00p.m. and Saturday 11:00a. m. - 6:00p.m. You can shop online at www.IJSGifts. com for instore pick up or have your items shipped anytime! Find I’m Just Sayin Gifts at Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, too, at IJSGifts! Located at Waterloo and Broadway, in Edmond, at the Crossroads Center!

Looking for something new and unique to to serve for Easter Dinner? The employees at Edmond Wine Shop are ready to help with the most knowledgable staff in the metro! Be sure to follow them at Twitter & Facebook @EdmondWineShop! Located on 15th & Boulevard and open Mon– Sat. till 9 pm! You can also call in any order at 405-3413122.

Field Trip

Clauren Ridge Vineyard & Winery

Clauren Ridge Vineyard & Winery is Edmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest gem.

Located in the country, at 6000 W Waterloo Rd., this new winery boasts an 8 acre vineyard, a business meeting room & wine tasting room, as well as a darling patio area with a view of their wedding

vineyard. , there is also space downstairs for larger gatherings indoors and in their temperature controlled wine cave.

After tasting various wines, to which my favorite was the

Clauren Ridge Merlot, and speaking with the delightful owner,

Kim Ingmire, we took a tour of their gorgeous facility. It is really a fantastic venue for weddings, business meetings and other small events.

They are open Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5

pm, with their patio closing at 4:30 pm. Sundays they are open for Weddings & Special Events only and Mon-Wed. they are

open for Business Meetings and Special Events. Stay connected

with them at Facebook.com/ClaurenRidge to keep up to date on their events and their plans to start offering lunch on the patio,

and also be sure to visit their website for more information at www.ClaurenRidge.com!

You can stop in for a tasting, which are $6.00 per person, or

free with wine purchase ($13.99 a bottle). http://facebook.com/ClaurenRidge

Field Trip

This Clauren Ridge Merlot is $6 per tasting or $13.99 per bottle and perhaps one of the best wines weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tasted coming from Oklahoma.

Field Trip

Clauren Ridge Vineyard & Winery

Field Trip

Parks & Rec

5th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta

Registration Is Now Open

This is one of Edmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most fun events and this year the 5th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta will take place during the Libertyfest Events, on June 29th at Arcadia Lake. Get your plans ready, as this is a really fun team building event for businesses, families, sororities and fraternities, etc. The Crocness Monster is the boat to beat! For more info on this event, including a registration form and full set of rules, visit online at www.edmondok.com/parks/rec or give their office a call with any questions at 359-4630.

Edmond Art Festival

The 2013 Downtown Edmond Arts Festival is in the books, and this year’s festival had to be my personal favorite in the 4 years of publishing Edmond Active Magazine. When you get the feeling that once you’ve been to an arts festival you’ve seen them all, you’re usually right as terrific artists from all over the country usually schedule stops at most of the big events. In 2010, we went to the OKC Arts Festival, and then the next week the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival. To our complete surprise, they both had the exact same art vendors. This year was not like 2010, and in complete contrast, 98% of this year’s booths at the Edmond’s Art Festival were Oklahoma Artists. It was a true local festival and this made me so proud of our event! Here are some photos from the early May event, and if you didn’t attend this year, mark your calendar for the 1st weekend in May next year to get out and support the amazing Oklahoma artists that participate!

Edmond Art Festival

April On Ice

Winters Last Gasp! A mid-April Ice storm delays the start of Spring.

April On Ice

EA Events Calendar

May Edmond Events 10

4TH Annual TOT TROT 5K Run/Walk $30 Adult, $15

Students & Children @ Oklahoma Christian University

Route 66 Oklahoma Corvette Club Car Show @ Hafer Park

Edmond Farmers Market 8am-1pm @ Festival Market Place

8th Annual Kickingbird 2-man Scramble 10:30am $70 player

@ Kickingbird Golf Club

Heritage Dinner @ Edmond Historical Society & Museum

Golf Family Fun Night 5:00pm $7 Green Fees, $7 Carts @

Kickingbird Golf Club

Edmond Farmers Market 8am-1pm @ Festival Market Place

Pelican Bay Aquatic Center Opening Day @ Pelican Bay

Aquatic Center

25-26

Edmond Jazz & Blues Festival

Sun 2:00pm-10:00pm @ Stephenson Park

Sat 4:00pm - 10:00pm

OKC Metro Events Thru May 12

An Enduring Legacy @ National Cowboy & Western

Heritage Museum

Thru Dec 31

Art of the American West Gallery @ National Cowboy &

Western Heritage Museum

12-13-14

Oklahoma City RedHawks vs. Salt Lake Bees

Thru June 28

Red Earth Master Artist Show @ Red Earth Festival and

Museum

Celtic Women @ Civic Center Music Hall

Something Intangible @ Carpenter Square Theatre

OKC Live Music

Bill Callahan Flat Foot @ Opolis

Robert Steel and Wild Bill Ogden B.A.Fielder 69DollarGuitar

@ The Bluebonnet Bar

Y La Orkestra Enuma Elish @ The Conservatory

Pretty Black Chains Mont Lyons and Pink Pony @Kamp’s

Deli

Kali Ra Sticky Stranglets and The New Imperialism @ The

Conservatory

Psychotic Reaction, Your Mom, and Abby and the Norms @

Blue Bonnet Bar

Finalyfamous Statewide Graduation Party @ Coca Cola

Bricktown Events Center

Bart Crow @ Brewskie’s Dancehall

Kill the Reflection Them Hounds, The Copperheads, and The

Electric Camelz

Your Mom The Lymph Nodes @ Hi-lo Club

Natural Child Birdcloud and Cosmostanza @ The

Conservatory

Beyond The Shore Angels on Eye Level @ The Conservatory

Coma in Algiers, Loom, and Brothels @ Gray Owl Coffee

Celtic Woman @ Civic Center Music Hall

Rachel Farley @ Riverwind Casino

Parmalee @ Wormy Dog Saloon

Jenny Simms @ Thunderbird Wild Wild West Casino

Beau Jennings & the Tigers John Moreland & the Dust Bowl

Souls @ Opolis

Danny The Wildchild @ Frequency Nightclub

True Believers Miho Kolliopoulos @ Vzd’s Restaurant &

Club

Kirko Bangz Natalie Nunn @ Coca Cola Bricktown Events

Center

Luke Wade @ JJ’s Saloon

Sunny Side Up The Last Slice and Classy San Diego @ The

Conservatory

3 Inches of Blood Malicyde, KOMATRYP, and Morbid

Corruptor @ The Chameleon Room

Munkie Gunn Vacant Mind and Kill the Reflection @ The

Hidden Castle Music Venue

Becoming The Archetype Burial and Horror Cosmic @ The

Conservatory

Basile Kolliopoulos DJ Jon Mooneyham, Scott Keeton, and

Reverb Bros @ Vzd’s Restaurant & Club

Carter Sampson @ JJ’s Saloon

Josh Sallee @ Kamp’s Deli

Fear Factory Hate Enternal, Kobra and the Lotus, Deadcore,

and Day of Tragedy @ The Chameleon Room

Owen Pye @ Blue Spruce

Cosmonauts, Tiger High, and Garden @ Kamps Lounge

CJ Boyd @ Iao Gallery

Antiseen Hellstomper, The Costanzas, and Jimjones @ The

Conservatory

Arsis Area of Effect and Devour the Innocent @ The

EA Events Calendar

Chameleon Room

Blake Bolerjack @ Fortieth St Baptist Church

Carter Sampson @ Othello’s

Kevin Welch @ The Blue Door

Ryan Dorman @ Bricktown Brewery and Pub

Miss Brown To You Michael Fracasso @ The Blue Door

Black Pus @ Opolis

Sunny Side Up The Last Slice and Classy San Diego @ The

Conservatory

Main Street Gypsies @ Okc Limits

Prix Teen Chrome Pony and Colin Nance @Kamp’s Deli

Benefit for Dj Richardson @ The Chameleon Room

Settin O City on Fire @ McSalty’s Pizza

Crown the Empire Capture the Crown, Palisades, The

HeArtist, Famous Last Words, Silence on Sunday, and

Wolves at the Gate @ The Conservatory

Blake Bolerjack @ Northwest Baptist Church

The Mowgli’s American Authors @ The Conservatory

Samantha Crain Tallows and Sherree Chamberlain @ Opolis

The Band of Heathens @ Wormy Dog Saloon

Shawna Laree Rick Toops @ The Blue Door

Paul Thorn @ Oklahoma City Limits

Killswitch Engage @ Diamond Ballroom

The Like @ Various Venues

Abandon Kansas Mont Lyons and Chelsey Cope @ KAMPS

DELI

The Casualties and Violent Affair Community Pools @ The

Conservatory

Limp Bizkit @ Diamond Ballroom

The Band of Heathens @ Wormy Dog Saloon

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