Oklahoma Magazine September 2024 by Oklahoma Magazine

Oklahoma’s unique foothold in the industry

MAKING CORNY DOGS COOL, AND KEEPING DADS CORNY AS EVER.

Why do we look forward all year long to playing all the games, seeing all the shows, riding all the rides, and eating all the frieds? ‘Cause we can.

25 Securing Your Family’s Finances

Forming good habits can be tough full stop, but especially hard when it comes to money. However, learning how to manage your family’s finances can provide you and your loved ones with a greater sense of security and a better quality of life.

A Bona Fide

Sporting Hot Spot

When you think Oklahoma sports, you probably think football. Or maybe basketball. Or baseball … or softball, or soccer, or BMX, or kayaking. The point here? Oklahoma has a hand in so many semi-pro and pro sports, which not only enhance state pride, but boost our bottom line, too. In this year’s sports feature, we examine the unique foothold Oklahoma has in the sporting industry. We talk to some state-based teams about their inner workings, how athletes remain healthy during their rigorous workout schedules, and just how much money is infused into our economy thanks to these efforts.

52

Aging Gracefully

Getting older has gained a bad rap in our society – but it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. There are many ways to embrace the idea of aging gracefully and truly enjoying your later years. Like all stages of life, making informed choices and having crucial information can make all the difference.

Fall Festival Preview

We’re finally entering the beautiful phase of Oklahoma festival season, where the weather cools and the social events heat up. In the annual Fall Festival Preview, you’ll find gatherings for every interest, ranging from celebrations of culture to food, sports and art.

OKC’S REAL ESTATE ELITE

STANDING: Lee Cohen, Amy Denner, Randy Coleman, Jayne Smith, Ann Salyer Cox, Wenona Jones, Jena Hunter, Phillip Churchill, Mandy Renée, Kharí McVey, Heston Bush, Karen Blevins, Sheryl Chinowth

SEATED: Shannon Stone, Carrie Nowlin, Taylor Chinowth, Anna Brown, Leland Chinowth, Lindsay Craig, Misty Prevost, Monty Milburn

STANDING: Drew Peters, Missy Hagin-Pittman, Tiffany Johnson, Austin Kirkpatrick, Blake Montgomery, Taylor Bay, Cherie A. French, Jessica Ford, Jack Wallace, Kathy Alexander, Tiffany Webb, Keeli Hand-Droege, Deb Wilmoth, Bill Lee

SEATED: Shawn Peters, Gayle Roberts-Pisklo, Lee Cohen, Leland Chinowth, Taylor Chinowth, Sheryl Chinowth, Cindy Morrison, Carrie DeWeese

TULSA’S REAL ESTATE ELITE CELEBRATING

20 YEARS

Letter from the Editor

Wait – can you hear that? Are those ... jingle bells?! No, just kidding. It’s way too early to get excited about the holidays, but what we can get jazzed about are the ample fall festivals coming to town. Enjoy a full listing of autumn happenings in our Fall Festival Preview on page 52. September is typically the month when our couches gloriously meld into our bodies thanks to the kick off of college and professional football games. To celebrate the beginning of tailgating season, we offer our annual sports feature (page 29), where we discuss unique sports with footholds in Oklahoma – BMX and rowing, anyone? – alongside the rigors of pro athletics and how the right education can land you in that industry, even if you’ve got the athletic prowess of a fawn.

People worldwide are living longer, so hitting retirement age doesn’t have to mean being saddled with a dull lifestyle. In our Active Years feature (page 48), we explore the many ways that seniors can stay fit in body and mind, enjoying all that life has to offer.

If you’re cleaning house and want to get your budgeting in check, make sure to read our Finance 101 spotlight (page 25). We dive into the many avenues you can take to secure your financial future for yourself and your family members.

At this rate, you’ve probably heard about the new outlet malls in Jenks, which opened mid-August. We talk to city leadership about the development’s economic impact and learn more about the offerings there (page 5). Other must-reads include an update on the not-yetopened OKPOP Museum (page 11); a chat with philanthropist Sue Ann Arnall (page 64); and a guide to prepping for the November elections (page 10).

Happy fall, y’all!

Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

In conjunction with our annual sports feature, head to our website, okmag.com, to see additional photography from our trip to Tulsa's BMX park. Photo by Stephanie Phillips

PRESIDENT

PUBLISHER AND FOUNDER

VIDA K. SCHUMAN

MANAGING EDITOR

MARY WILLA ALLEN

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JOHN WOOLEY

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

GREG CARMACK

DIGITAL CONSULTANT

JAMES AVERY

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

STEPHANIE PHILLIPS, BRENT FUCHS

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The State

An Anticipated Arrival

Jenks recently welcomed the Simon Outlet Mall, with other major projects in the works.

As one of Oklahoma’s fastestgrowing suburbs, Jenks has been the site of many exciting developments. These projects aim to improve the quality of life for residents and position Jenks as a recreational destination.

The Simon Outlet Mall, which opened in August, has been one of the most highly anticipated developments in the city, costing an estimated $100 million. The open-air shopping center consists of more than 80 premium brands, offering patrons discounted prices of up to 65%.

A 10-Year Project

Although it may seem like the outlet mall cropped up overnight, the project has been in development for a decade. Simon first announced its plans to develop the space in Jenks in 2015.

“The Simon Outlet Mall will provide much needed shopping to our residents,” says Christopher Shrout, the city manager for Jenks. “Many residents live here but

work in Tulsa because we haven’t always had the amenities related to entertainment and shopping.”

Another reason for Jenks' selection is its close proximity to highway U.S. 75 and the Creek Turnpike.

“You can get anywhere in the Tulsa metro from Jenks within 15 minutes. It’s also an enviable location for visitors from Arkansas, southern Missouri and Kansas,” explains Shrout.

Simon planned to open the mall in 2017. However, the company faced setbacks along the way. Construction, which eventually broke ground in 2020, was put on hold due to supply chain issues. The project resumed in 2023, and negotiations for retail leases began in the fall of that year.

Community Impact

At the time of the development's announcement, there were two other proposals for outlet malls in the Tulsa area, which ultimately did not pan out. Most

notably, Simon planned to open an outlet mall on the west side of Turkey Mountain – a project that was opposed by the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition.

Jenks, however, has been a different story. Local business owners have welcomed the outlet mall with open arms. City oﬃcials estimate that it will attract 7 million visitors annually and create over 800 jobs.

“The economic impact that this will have on Jenks is going to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” says Shrout.

“Not just from the sales at the mall, but from ancillary sales at other restaurants and stores in Jenks.”

Recognizing the opportunity the outlet mall would bring, the city revamped its tax increment financing districts to support the project. The additional funding has gone not only to the mall, but to other ongoing projects near the Oklahoma Aquarium and Jenks Riverwalk.

The Simon Outlet Mall, a project ten years in the making, opened in August with retail stores, a children's park and restaurant. Photos courtesy the City of Jenks

A Premium Shopping Experience

Simon Outlet Mall brings a variety of classic brands to the greater Tulsa market. Some of the tenants include Tory Burch, Vineyard Vines and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Designed as an open-air concept, the 340,000-square-foot space features a two-acre children’s park and playground, a restaurant and a large decorative fountain. More than 1,000 construction workers and contractors contributed to the project.

Simon, the company behind the development, owns over 250 retail properties, including the Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa.

“We’ve been working with Simon for a while, and they’ve been a great community partner,” says Shrout.

Infrastructure Expansion

Given the projected number of visitors, Jenks has been expanding its infrastructure to accommodate increased traffic flow and pedestrian activity. Developers intentionally designed a one-way traffic circle that leads up to the mall in an effort to eliminate traffic jams. The outlet mall also features 2,000 public parking spaces. The city has focused on improving the

roads near the attraction, too.

“We’ve widened Main Street from two to four lanes for about two miles, from Highway 75 to Elm,” says Shrout. The City of Jenks also added a new interchange near the Turnpike on Elm Street.

To improve the city’s walkability, government leaders have constructed walking and biking trails that provide access to the mall. The city will continue expanding its infrastructure, with plans to widen Elm Street from three to five lanes.

More in Store

The Simon Outlet Mall is just one of many new projects that will transform the Jenks landscape. Reviving Main Street, for example, has been a big focus for several years.

“The city council has prioritized incentivizing new businesses and supporting existing businesses,” says Shrout. “We’ve been working hard to ensure that – although we have a huge retail destination with the outlet mall – we maintain our small-town charm with our Main Street.”

New oﬃce spaces and restaurants are in the works, including a concept from the McNellie’s Group: City Hall Steak & Cocktail. A full-service hospital, operated by Ascension St. John, is slated to open south of Main Street as well.

The area surrounding the Oklahoma Aquarium is also a hot spot for development. Opening in 2025, Camp Pickle will be a 1940s-inspired restaurant and bar that features 10 pickleball courts. High 5, a multi-story family entertainment venue, is another up-and-coming project.

“We’re going to see even more visitors coming to the mall, the aquarium and everything else that there is to do in Jenks,” says Shrout. “We have a lot going on … and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon.”

FAITH HARL

Camp Pickle, a 1940s-inspired restaurant and bar, will feature ten pickleball courts. It's set to open in 2025 next to the Oklahoma Aquarium.

Reviving Main Street is a priority for Jenks' government.

Small town charm and big city amenities can be found in Jenks.

The Beauty of Public Art

While you may think you have to pay admission to view some of Oklahoma’s most iconic pieces of art, the truth is many of them are free and visible in the great outdoors. We explore just a few of the public monuments, statues and sculptures that depict Oklahoma history.

The Pioneer Woman

The Pioneer Woman statue is a 17-foot, 12,000-pound bronze sculpture in Ponca City, designed by Bryant Baker and dedicated on April 22, 1930. The statue depicts a sun-bonneted woman leading a child by the hand. The statue, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society, is meant to depict the legacy of women of all races, creeds and nationalities who contributed to the development of Oklahoma.

The piece was donated to the state of Oklahoma by millionaire oilman E. W. Marland. He commissioned models from twelve well-known sculptors and financed a nationwide tour to get feedback from art critics and the general public in order to decide which model to use for the final form.

The bronze statue is seated upon a pyramidal-stepped base of granite blocks which brings the total height of the monument to 40 feet. It resides outside the Pioneer Woman Museum.

Spirit of the American Doughboy

The Spirit of the American Doughboy monument represents the quintessential American soldier during World War I. The statue depicts said soldier charging over the top of a hill towards the enemy line, carrying full field equipment. The statue was erected as a memorial to war veterans and arrived in Henryetta in November of

1923. The memorial still sits in front of the Henryetta Public Library today.

The memorial plate bears this inscription: “To the memory of all in this area who paid the supreme sacrifice in all wars." It was cast “By the people, the year of 1991.”

Inscribed on the memorial surrounding the statue are the names of local soldiers who lost their lives in WWI, WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Centennial Land Run Monument

The Centennial Land Run Monument, an art installation by Paul Moore dedicated in 2011, is located in the Oklahoma City Bricktown District.

In all, there are 38 people portrayed, plus 34 horses, three wagons, a cannon, a dog and a frightened jackrabbit – all racing to claim new homesteads.

All figures are cast in dark bronze, at one-and-a-half life size, meaning a standing human in the sculpture would be almost 9 feet tall, and a horse and rider over 12 feet. The sculptor, from Norman, is a fifth generation Oklahoman whose great-grandfather participated in the 1889 Land Run.

In spite of the controversy of the 1889 Land Run, several more events of its kind were held in later years in other parts of Oklahoma territory. Millions of Oklahomans have been able to trace their ancestry back to an original participant.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

The Oklahoma City National Memorial honors the victims, survivors, first responders and all who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995.

It shines a well-deserved spotlight on all those affected on that fateful day. The monument encompasses the now-sacred soil where the Murrah Building once stood, as well as the surrounding areas devastated by the attack. The outdoor memorial contains several elements, including the Reflecting Pool, Gates of Time, Field of Empty Chairs, Survivor Tree, Survivor Wall and Rescuer’s Orchard. All outdoor elements are available to view for free.

“It is centered in the middle of downtown, and connects the mission of the memorial to our everyday lives,” says Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the museum.

Healing Hands

The Healing Hands statue – often called by its misnomer 'The Praying Hands' – is a common sight anytime one flies over Tulsa. Known as the world’s largest praying hands, the 60-foot-tall sculpture was created by artist Leonard McMurray. The hands were cast in Juarez, Mexico, in 1980 and stood in front of CityPlex Towers until they moved to the front of Tulsa's Oral Roberts University campus in 1991.

“A 10-man crew worked for three months to assemble and weld 450 pieces together on site,” says Charles Scott, Ed.D., vice president of external affairs at ORU. “The sculpture depicts the joining together of medicine and faith: one hand representing the healing power of medicine, the other symbolizing the power of faith.”

SHARON MCBRIDE

The Pioneer Woman Photo courtesy the Oklahoma Historical Society

Spirit of the American Doughboy Photo courtesy the Henryetta Public Library

Centennial Land Run Monument

Photo courtesy Visit OKC

Oklahoma City National Memorial Photo courtesy the OKC National Memorial and Museum

A Complicated History

Fort Gibson, established in Oklahoma 200 years ago, offers both fascinating and sobering historical facts.

The Fort Gibson historic site in northeastern Oklahoma sits at the crossroads of three rivers, and offers the opportunity to be transported to Oklahoma’s past – a past that includes a wide variety of stories. This spring marked 200 years since the establishment of the fort and a chance to examine the lessons learned from a varied, but not always positive, history.

“The fort and its establishment are sort of the doorway to the West, and as such, is able to show a hugely diverse hub of people, cultures and social, political, physical geographies,” says Jennifer Frazee, site director at Fort Gibson.

The fort, in its original form, was part of a regiment moved from Fort Smith, Ark. in 1824. It was named after U.S. Army Commissary General George Gibson and was the first military settlement in what would become Indian territory.

“Located farther west than any other existing U.S. post, [Fort Gibson] was built to protect the nation’s southwestern border and to maintain peace on the frontier,” according to Brad Agnew in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.

The 'peace' referred to working with the Native tribes in the area, as well as managing relations as more tribes were forcibly removed to Indian territory. During this Native removal period, the fort was occupied and played an important role as a launching place for expeditions further westward. This continued until the 1850s when the fort was briefly decommissioned and given to the Cherokee Nation.

Just a few years later, Fort Gibson was reactivated due to the invasion of Indian Territory during the Civil War. The fort would continue to play a role during this time in securing the area for the Union army.

The Oklahoma Historical Society commemorated the Fort Gibson Historic Site’s bicentennial with educational activities and community events. Photos courtesy OHS

“Troops from Fort Gibson marched south in July 1863 to win the engagement at Honey Springs, the war’s largest and most important engagement in Indian Territory,” writes Agnew. After the Civil War, the fort remained active for a time, but was largely abandoned by 1890. It did play a role near the turn of the 20th century by housing the Dawes Commission and their work with Cherokee Freedmen.

While the original fort barracks are gone, a replica palisade was built by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, where visitors can see living history demonstrations, including showcases of period attire. This historic site also includes a visitors center in the original commissary; the bakery, where period baking demonstrations are held; and a historic hospital currently in a full rehabilitation effort.

BONNIE RUCKER

The 200th Anniversary

For this bicentennial year at Fort Gibson, planned activities have taken the opportunity to commemorate the occasion, but also recognize the diﬃcult history. In April, the Oklahoma Historical Society marked the anniversary with an education day for students, and another day open to the public, which included speakers and presentations from members of Native tribes impacted by removal policies in the 19th century. There are many more entertaining and educational events coming up for the historic site in this special year. Visit okhistory.org/sites/fortgibson to keep up with the calendar.

Doing Your Civic Duty

Preparing

for the November election isn’t as overwhelming as it may seem.

In a time when digital misinformation is the norm, it can be challenging to get the right facts on political matters – even including where, how and when to vote.

To verify your polling place and to get unbiased information about candidates and state questions, Oklahoma State Election Board (OSEB) public information oﬃcer Misha Mohr says to contact your county election board, or visit websites such as vote411.org, justfacts.org, votesmart.org or ballotpedia.org. Local media outlets and newspapers are also helpful places to find this information, as well as the State Election Board's OK Voter Portal at oklahoma. gov/elections/ovp.html. This last site is also recommended by Gwen Freeman, secretary of the Tulsa County Election Board.

“You can not only find your polling place and early voting information, but you can view a sample ballot as well as register to vote, request an absentee ballot and a new voter ID card," she says. "If you don’t have a sample ballot, then more than likely you are not able to vote in that election. But just to be sure, you can always call our election board at 918-596-5780.”

What You Need

Remember that voting requires certain identification items – so don't show up to your polling place empty-handed.

“Oklahoma’s proof of identity law, or the ‘voter ID’ law, requires every voter who votes in person at the precinct polling place or during early voting to show proof of identity before receiving a ballot,” says Freeman. “You must bring a valid photo ID issued by the State, the federal government or a federally recognized tribal government. These would include a driver’s license, a passport, U.S. military ID or an OK I.D. card. Voters may also use the free voter identification card they received by mail from the County Election Board when they registered to vote – the law does allow for use of the voter identification card even though it does not include a photograph. And don’t forget, to vote in the November general election, you must be registered by October 11.”

Know Your Rights

Finding time to vote during a work day is assisted by legislative decree.

“By law, your employer must give you two hours to vote, either on election day or dur-

VOTE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

YOUR VOTE YOUR VOICE

ing early voting,” says Freeman. “There are a few provisions involved, though. I would suggest voters consult the State Election Board website for the details.”

Early Voting Done Right

Freeman also encourages early voting.

“That takes place starting October 30 and goes through November 2. Plenty of time to cast a ballot. Or you can vote by absentee. Oklahoma is a no excuse state, meaning you don’t have to state a reason to vote absentee. Once you are a registered voter, you can apply for a mail-in ballot by accessing the Voter Portal. When you receive your ballot, you’ll follow the directions on the enclosed aﬃdavits.”

However, there are a few extra steps you’ll need to take.

“If you are filling out a Standard Absentee Ballot, you will have to have it notarized,” she says. “You can find a local notary on the

American Association of Notaries website, and you can check to make sure they are commissioned by going to the Oklahoma Secretary of State website. I do like to remind people to carefully read and follow the directions that are mailed along with the ballot so we can make sure your vote is counted. To request an absentee ballot for the November election, you must do so by October 21.”

A Positive Change

“In late 2023, we started a big recruitment effort to find enough poll workers for the numerous elections this year,” says Freeman. “For a large election, we fully staff 251 polling locations. That means an inspector, a judge and a clerk must be assigned to each location. That effort has really started to pay off. The community heard the call and applied in large numbers.”

TRACY LEGRAND

Focused on the Future

Despite a tumultuous few years, morale is still high at the yet-to-open OKPOP Museum.

The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP) is anticipated to be a place of celebration, inspiration and appreciation – as well as a major tourist draw to downtown Tulsa.

Development of the museum is ongoing, despite several funding challenges along the way. But oﬃcials say public support and excitement for the museum will result in a project that will highlight the achievements of Oklahomans in the arts, seek to influence new talent and attract visitors to the state.

“We have already gathered thousands of interviews with and artifacts from Oklahoma creatives that will be used to tell stories about their cultural impact and lasting legacies,” says Jake Krumwiede, the museum’s executive director. “We are excited to surround these stories and artifacts in an unforgettable experience that will inspire pride in Oklahoma and inspire a new generation of Oklahoma creatives.”

The museum, located in the Tulsa Arts District across from the historic Cain’s Ballroom, is under the direction

of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The establishment plans to showcase stories of Oklahomans who have impacted the world of entertainment – from music and movies to television, radio, comics, animation, literature and more.

The Process Thus Far

In 2015, state lawmakers supported the project by providing $25 million in bonds to construct the museum. In 2019, the groundbreaking took place with an original expected open date in 2021. Oﬃcials say that the COVID-19 pandemic did impact the project, as did the rising costs of materials and construction services.

Fundraising is ongoing to complete the second phase of the building, “which includes the development and construction of our immersive exhibits and visitor experiences,” says Abby Kurin, managing director of the OKPOP Foundation – the museum’s nonprofit fundraising arm.

“We are raising $36 million to fully fund phase two, which includes exhibit design, build out and some funding for operations,” Kurin says.

She mentions a “a big win” for the project came during the recent legislative session, when lawmakers supported state matching support of $18 million through the passage of Senate Bill 1155. The next step is raising $18 million in private donations for the legislative match.

“We are grateful to Oklahoma elected officials for believing in the mission and economic impact of this museum. In addition to legislative support, we have been making progress securing the $18 million in matching private contributions,” Kurin says.

With those critical fundraising goals at the forefront, tough choices needed to be made. Krumwiede said in a statement this summer that officials made “the hard decision to temporarily reduce our staff until the museum build-out is fully funded. We are immensely grateful for all the incredible work our larger team has accomplished over the past two years in research, planning, operations, acquisitions, videography and design.”

Looking Ahead

Krumwiede says he expects that it will take 18 to 24 months “to complete the interior build-out for phase two once the funding has been secured.”

He mentions that the excitement about the museum remains high, and he also believes the museum will be a major tourist draw.

“We believe now is the right time for this museum. Tourism in Oklahoma is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and OKPOP fits perfectly into the pop culture tourism that already exists in Tulsa – like the Woody Guthrie Center, Historic Route 66, the Bob Dylan Center, the Church Studio, Cain’s Ballroom and The Outsiders House Museum,” he says. “There is a lot of great synergy with our museums as we continue to make Oklahoma a tourism destination.”

When all is said and done, Krumwiede says he believes the museum will be a place of celebration and aspiration.

“At the core of our mission is to remember and inspire future Oklahoma creatives,” he says. “Public support – and public excitement – is crucial for a project like this. We hope Oklahomans will join us in celebrating these influential Oklahomans by supporting this project, sharing names of people they know who should be included in our archives and museum, and having pride in the creative spirit of Oklahoma.”

SHARLA BARDIN

Once funding has been secured for the interior build-out, the OKPOP Museum will offer myriad exhibitions celebrating notable Oklahomans in the entertainment industry. Photos courtesy OKPOP Museum

A Climb to Remember

In honor of the victims and first responders of 9/11, local fire and police departments host commemorative events on the 23rd anniversary.

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th attacks, in which 19 terrorists hijacked four U.S. commercial airliners on the east coast. The deadliest terrorist attacks in human history, 2,977 died from the initial events, with thousands more dying in later days, months and years due to complications from toxic exposure at the site.

There are numerous memorials and remembrances that occur worldwide each year, ranging from moments of silence to honor victims and first responders to museum exhibits, American flag displays, parades and other Patriot Day programming.

Right here in Oklahoma, many firefighters, police oﬃcers and other first responders participate in the 9/11 Stair Climb. This event, which also welcomes members of the military, bomb squad personnel, first responders and civilians, invites participants to come together to walk or climb the equivalent of 2,200 steps or 110 stories –the same amount in the World Trade Center. This act is often done in full firefighter gear or other first responder uniforms to both commemorate the heroes of the event and to raise money for local and national charities.

Edmond Police and Fire Departments will host once such 9/11 Stair Climb at the Edmond North High School football stadium on Patriot Day – Sept. 11.

“We started it on the twentieth anniversary in 2021, so this September will be our fourth year,” says Emily Ward, the public information specialist with the Edmond Police Department. “Police do a 5K around the track in their full uniform. Fire does a stair climb on the bleachers in their full gear.”

If you don’t feel confident in taking the task on, you’re still invited to join in the commemorative activities.

“It’s open and free for anyone to come and participate in the run or stair climb,” says Ward. “But people are also welcome to come and cheer on those who are participating.”

Tulsa will also be hosting a Stair Climb, its eighth year running. Started in 2017 by the Tulsa International Association of Fire Fighters Local 176, the event was created not only to commemorate the sacrifices made that day, but also to raise money for Hydrants of Hope, a local charity organization with an important backstory.

“Hydrants of Hope was started by a Tulsa firefighter Mark Meyer who, when diagnosed with cancer in 2012, wanted to

do something to help families of children facing cancer,” says Matthew Lay, president of Tulsa IAFF Local 176. “All proceeds from the organization go to help pay for travel, treatment, prescriptions or any other items needed to help battle pediatric cancer. All Oklahomans are welcome to come out and watch, support and commemorate.”

In the 23 years since the event, millions of dollars have been raised for fallen first responders and victims throughout the nation. This year’s effort hopes to continue that tradition as we approach nearly twenty-five years since that fateful day.

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

The Edmond Police and Fire Departments work together to host the 9/11 Stair Climb and Memorial Run each year.

Photos courtesy the City of Edmond

Jamming Accordion-ly

Accordion players in Oklahoma are passionate about what they do – but need participants from younger generations to keep the sounds alive.

The accordion’s rhythmic melodies, including that sometimes oompah-pah jam, still resonate with music lovers of all genres. Its captivating sounds conjure up images of the Czech polka, the Polish mazurka, the Russian khorovod, the Norwegian Rheinlander, Mexican norteño and Latino-based mariachi.

Known globally, squeeze boxes come in numerous sizes and types, and some are electronic. As a bellows-driven family of box-shaped musical instruments, accordions produce sound through airflow and vibrating reeds.

A Pennsylvania native, Dick Albreski began accordion lessons at age six. During high school, he played in a band for parties, weddings and dances within his Polish community. Of late, he has been the accordion player for the Bohemian Knights, a band that plays for Saturday night polka dances at Yukon’s Czech Hall.

“It’s not a hard instrument to learn,” says Albreski. “But it requires both hands to function at the same time. Your left hand will not function as your right. It will be completely different most of the time.”

Albreski founded the Oklahoma Accordion Club in Oklahoma City, which has monthly meetings where members help each other, play some music and pursue performance opportunities. As well, Albreski offers accordion lessons, and because of Zoom, he even has a student in England.

The club’s president, Maggie Abel, began learning the instrument in 2011.

“The accordion is a one-man band,” she says. “It’s unique and portable, and people find it fascinating. There’s no competition when you play a rare instrument.”

A member of the actively performing Tulsa Accordion Band, Irene Bookbinder wanted to take piano lessons, but her family didn’t have space for a piano. So, in fifth

grade, she opted instead for accordion lessons.

“You have to read music to learn the accordion,” she says. “It is melodic, and you can make so many different sounds with it. It’s a versatile instrument and they’re beautiful to look at.”

Hoping the accordion’s popularity will continue to rise in the music world, Albreski says: “You need youth. The most important thing for the accordion would be youth.”

CAROL MOWDY BOND

Accordion Origins

As a wind instrument invented during early 19th century Europe, the accordion quickly gained popularity throughout the continent. By the 1840s, Russians were manufacturing around 10,000 accordions annually.

But in 1863, a farmer in Castelfidardo, Italy, founded the Italian accordion industry, making the area the international accordion epicenter. The area reeled in skilled and inventive craftsmen who created unique accordion styles.

Several famous European composers took the instrument to a higher status. With mass migrations from Europe to the Americas from 1814 to 1913, immigrants arrived with musical instruments. And the Castelfidardo brothers founded an accordion factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The accordion’s popularity surged across continents during the 20th century, and it symbolized cultural diversity and musical innovation. Accordions merged into popular American music such as jazz, country and even rock ‘n’ roll. Artists like Lawrence Welk popularized accordion music through television, exposing millions of viewers to the unique sounds.

Members of the Oklahoma Accordion Club meet monthly to play, find performance opportunities and hone their crafts. Photos courtesy the Oklahoma Accordion Club

A Beautiful Eﬀort

Environmentally focused nonprofits help Oklahoma shine.

Studies have shown that gardening is good not only for your body, but your mind. In fact, according to studies published by Ohio State University, the University of Edinburgh and the National Institutes of Health, regular gardening may even reduce the risk of dementia. Additionally, specific bacteria in the soils can boost serotonin levels.

Now is the perfect time to get outside and dig in the dirt, but if you live if an apartment or don’t have a place to create a garden, it can be challenging to get those mind and body benefits.

This is where organizations like Up With Trees and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful can help both garden novices and pros get their gardening fix – all while improving the community.

Up With Trees began in 1976 when a student reached out to the city inquiring about how they were replacing trees removed because of street construction, says Shawn Davis, the organization's community outreach director.

“Nearly 50 years and 40,000 trees later, Up With Trees continues to plant trees in public spaces so that our Tulsa community can benefit from cleaner air and water, shaded and cooler landscapes, and an overall more beautiful and healthier home,” says Davis. “Our mission is empowering, educating and serving communities by utilizing trees for their environmental, economic, and social benefits.”

Up With Trees plants and maintains trees in many public spaces, including parks and schools, as well as along major highways and roadways. Volunteers interested in planting trees can reach out from October through April, while those more interested in supporting maintenance efforts, such as pruning and weed eating, can join the group year-round.

“Our 2024 planting season has some exciting projects ahead, where we will enlist volunteers to plant to enliven citywide median locations and neighborhoods,” says Davis.

Keep Oklahoma Beautiful is another organization that depends on the enthusiasm of volunteers and their green thumbs.

“We have several unique programs designed for individuals, civic groups, communities, municipalities and organizations who want to make an impact,” says executive director Evelyn Schaefer. “We have an aﬃliate program of more than 50 organizations, from small towns to large cities. They are our boots on the ground, and are empowered through resources we provide, like grants, stipends and equipment, to host cleanup events, plan community gardens, paint dilapidated buildings and propose other projects that beautify, remediate litter and encourage recycling.

“We can provide free supplies like gloves, trash bags and safety vests throughout the year,” Schaefer continues. “Last year, we had more than 13,000 volunteers around the state perform some kind of cleanup activity.”

2026 marks the 100-year anniversary of Route 66. Keep Oklahoma Beautiful will be a leader in clean-up efforts in anticipation of the many events planned that year. As a part of the schedule, there will be flower and tree plantings as well as large-scale environmental clean-ups that include the collection of tires, batteries, dangerous chemicals, paint and other environmental hazards that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Next year marks another exciting anniversary: 60 years of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful.

“Last year alone, 2.3 million pounds of trash were collected in the three-month Great American Cleanup effort. Nearly 31,000 trees, flowers and shrubs were planted. More than 13,000 volunteers

cleared 4,900 acres and 2,665 miles of land of trash and debris,” says Schaefer. “Extrapolate that by the impact of programs over 60 years and you can begin to see what an impact Keep Oklahoma Beautiful has made.”

SHARON MCBRIDE

Gardening Safety Tips

• Take frequent breaks.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Wear sunscreen and a hat.

• Use proper left mechanics – lifting with your legs, not with your back.

• Choose the right tool for the job.

• Use a gardening stool or chair when weeding, or kneel or sit on a padded foam cushion.

Up With Trees, began in 1976, plants trees in a variety of public spaces, including parks and schools, as well as along major highways and roadways. Photos courtesy Up With Trees

Exploring the Indigenous

From flying squirrels to red-tailed hawks and slimy salamanders, Oklahoma has plenty to oﬀ er wildlife enthusiasts.

Oklahoma is home to a wide variety of animals, many of which are indigenous to the state. Gray foxes, bobcats, barred owls, eastern box turtles, gray squirrels and southern flying squirrels are just a few of the creatures you can find scurrying throughout the state.

“Oklahoma is blessed when it comes to fish and wildlife,” says Jena Donnell, communications and education specialist at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “There are species like the red-tailed hawk and red-eared slider that are relatively common and do well in a mix of landscapes,” she says. However, the red-eared slider is on the list of the world’s 100 most invasive species.

“There are also species like the Sequoya slimy salamander or Delaware County cave crayfish that are only known to occur in Oklahoma,” Donnell says. The Sequoya slimy salamander is endemic to

the Ouachita Mountains, while the cave crayfish resides in only three caves in Delaware Country, making them critically endangered.

Most of the species in Oklahoma are doing well, but there are a few, like the cave crayfish, that are struggling. More than twenty species of plants and animals that occur in Oklahoma are threatened or endangered, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The Wildlife Department U.S. Forest Service manages a small population of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers in McCurtain County,” says Donnell. The woodpecker suffers from habitat fragmentation, as their pine trees are continuously removed.

Being Environmental Stewards

What can we, as everyday citizens, do to be better stewards to the environment?

“In general, wild animals need wild

spaces,” says Donnell. “Some species require large tracts of undeveloped land that mimic historic conditions. For those, maintaining native habitat on Wildlife Management Areas, National Wildlife Refuges, or nature preserves can provide the greatest benefit.”

However, plenty of animals do well in smaller spaces.

“Maintaining native plants and other habitat elements in a pasture or backyard can provide food, water and cover to a wide range of wildlife and benefit species on a local level,” says Donnell. Plenty more information about landscaping for wildlife can be found at wildlifedepartment.com.

Safely Interacting

Interacting with wildlife is also a wonderful activity that anyone can take part in. Even better, you can form a community through your observations.

“Oklahomans can experience wildlife in their backyards, at local parks, state parks, Wildlife Management Areas, National Wildlife Refuges and nature preserves,” says Donnell. “You can have positive encounters regardless of your experience or comfort level. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fledgling or experienced naturalist, if you’re watching from a window or hiking miles from the trailhead.”

If you come across a fun sighting and find yourself taking plenty of photos, sharing them is a great way to get involved with other naturalists.

“One way to reinforce your experiences and increase awareness/appreciation for Oklahoma’s wildlife is to share your sightings on free nature platforms like iNaturalist or eBird,” says Donnell. “Documenting the what, when and where details of your sighting can help you remember your wild encounters, help fellow naturalists plan their next adventure, and help biologists learn more about Oklahoma’s wildlife.”

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

The red-tailed hawk, indigenous to Oklahoma, can also be found everywhere from Alaska to the West Indies. Photo by Grayson Smith courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

The red-eared slider is a semi aquatic turtle native to Oklahoma. Photo by Jena Donnell/Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

In the Afterglow

A new record from Wes Reynolds explores a vast array of emotions – and allows the artist to play on his own terms.

During a recording career that stretches back a remarkable 67 years, Tulsa’s Wes Reynolds has been inspired by a ton of different people, starting back in the late ’50s with classic rock ‘n’ rollers like Elvis, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The inspiration for his newest disc, however, came from a much more personal and tragic place.

“This album came about because I wrote a song called ‘In the Afterglow,’” he explains. “It was a tribute to my oldest son, Corey, who died some years back. He had mental illness. He’d gone to Atlanta, Georgia. He was a journeyman electrician, and he started a business down there. He was pretty successful at it. Then things started going sideways. I did all that I could to try to help him, and finally I went down there, got him, moved him back here, and tried to get him some help.

“He just wouldn’t stay with that, you know? He’d disappear, and he’d be on the street, and I’d be out looking for him and not finding him. I worried a lot about him. Finally, I turned it all over to God, and when I did that, the next step was that he was gone. So I guess that’s what was supposed to happen.”

The song, which holds out hope for reuniting with loved ones in the next life, “just rolled out of me,” says Reynolds, as did another inspired by the loss of his son, “Life Without You.”

“I went through a lot just being a father that loved his son, and I know there are many people who have to experience mental illness with family and friends and so forth,” he adds. “I’d just like to maybe bring some awareness about that to people, to get people thinking about what they can do to help.”

While there are other deeply emotional numbers on the new disc, In the Afterglow is hardly a downbeat record. It opens with a classic Reynolds 12-bar blues, hornaccented, called “Bad Case of Love,” and

ends with a reflective tune called “You Were Never Mine,” done in a 1950s ballad style that evokes the sense of loss that often accompanies nostalgic thoughts. Along the way, funky blues alternate with heartfelt ballads; there’s even a comedic tune (“To Far North”) bemoaning how hard okra, collard greens and hog jowls are to find once you leave our part of the country.

It’s Reynolds’ first record since 2009’s Burnin’ the Piano Down, and it marks his debut as a Muscle Shoals recording artist. Except for some vocals recut at Tulsa’s Church Studio, In the Afterglow was created entirely at Fame Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala., one of the longtime homes of the so-called Muscle Shoals Sound. That sound – R&B and funk elements like horns and Hammond organ combined with a kind of gritty country-influenced underpinning – echoes through Reynolds’ CD to great effect.

Why Muscle Shoals?

“I’d thought through the years that I’d like to go down there,” Reynolds says. “I had some other things I’d written, and I had the ways and means to record again. I did a song some time ago called ‘Doggone, My Doggone Dog’s Gone’ down in Nashville, with Elvis’s vocal group, the Jordanaires,

He hired the band and called his own shots on the new disc. As you might imagine, that was a completely different experience than he’d had with his first record, “Trip to the Moon” – although that, too, was done at a place that would achieve an amount of fame.

In the 1950s, an Oklahoma City recording studio owned by Gene Sullivan, half of the country-music duo Wiley & Gene (“When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again”), became the destination for young Oklahomans experimenting with the new sounds of rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly. Among their number was 15-year-old Wesley Reynolds of OKC, winner of a 1957 talent show sponsored by a Stillwater man named Bill Burden, owner of the small Rose Records label.

After he’d won the competition, Reynolds recalls, Burden “came to me and said, ‘We’re going to sign you to Rose Records and give you a two-record contract. And we’re gonna have a hit record. Now, I want you to go home and write a song called “Trip to the Moon.”’

“At that time, the headlines in the paper were all about how some day man was going to walk on the moon. So I go home and write – try to write – a thing called ‘Trip to the Moon.’ We went over to

Al Good’s Orchestra to back me on this thing. I didn’t like that at all because I couldn’t get the sound I wanted, but I didn’t have anything to say about it.

“We recorded it, and they put it out on the Rose Records label. They took out a full-page ad in [the music-industry magazine] Cash Box, with my picture on it and the names of all the distributors and everything. They told me it cost $1,500. I quit school – my parents didn’t want me to, but they let me – and Rose Records put me on the road. We joined a tour with Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ronnie Self, and we played the Cimarron Ballroom in Tulsa and went on to Joplin and Kansas City – about a two-week tour.”

Despite the promotion, “Trip to the Moon” didn’t make a significant impact on the national charts, and neither did his follow-up single, a rockabilly version of the Johnnie Lee Wills Western-swing hit “Rag Mop.” Reynolds recalls that he made no money on either one. (In fact, on the label for “Trip to the Moon,” Burden gets sole writing credit.) However, it was enough to launch Reynolds on a musical career that’s now lasted for well over six decades, re-igniting after he moved to southern California to live with his grandparents and go back to school, and continuing until 1970, when he quit the road and moved to Tulsa.

“I’d been playing the Vegas circuit for about five years at the time, all those

towns in Nevada,” he remembers. “We were putting my son, Corey, in schools in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada. My mother and dad had moved to Tulsa, and my dad wanted me to move back and go into business with him, so I did.”

Reynolds continued, however, to play and record. He built a studio in his Tulsa home. And he found out that those teenage rockabilly records he’d cut in the distant past had made him something of a celebrity with hard-core fans of the genre.

“I went to Vegas last year and did the Viva Las Vegas rockabilly concert at the Orleans Hotel. It’s been going on for years. I did “Trip to the Moon” live there for the first time since I got off the road in ’58,” he notes with a chuckle. “A lot of people from Europe go to the thing; I get mail from Sweden, and Germany, and the UK, wanting autographed pictures. Evidently, I’ve stirred up a little commotion over there, and it’s all about that first record, and my next few records after that.”

At this writing, the Oﬃcial Wes Reynolds Website was under construction. Featuring vintage posters and other career memorabilia along with Reynolds recordings, it was due to debut in August.

Reynolds’ 2023 performance of “Trip to the Moon,” in front of a packed house at the Viva Las Vegas event, has been preserved on YouTube.

JOHN WOOLEY

How can I talk to my graduate about money?

If you have a child entering college or the workforce this fall, now is a great time to talk about money. Consider the tips below:

1. Help your child establish a budget for the next phase of life. For high school graduates, new expenses can include tuition for college, textbooks, housing, food and discretionary spending. 2. Set financial expectations. As your child grows toward financial independence, it is beneficial to have a conversation with them about what help they can expect from you, and what costs they are responsible for. If your child is headed to college or trade school, discuss how tuition will be paid for and whether you’ll cover any associated room and board expenses, technology fees, travel to return home, etc. If your child is headed directly into the workforce, discuss how to approach paying for rent, commuting to work, and other expenses. 3. Consider alternate ways to help your kids. While it’s natural to want to support your child as much as you can, it’s important to think about how to thoughtfully transition the financial responsibility to their shoulders over time. 4. Set boundaries for future milestones. Once expectations are established for the financial responsibilities in your child’s next phase of life, have a conversation with your spouse or partner about how you’ll handle future milestones, such as a wedding or home purchase.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial 2431 E 61st St, Suite 400, Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2009

David.x.Karimian@ampf.com www.primewealthmgmt.com

Can you recommend a laser treatment that treats ﬁne lines and pigmentation with no downtime?

At Fig Med Spa, one of our most popular procedures is the ClearLiftLaser. This laser is virtually painless, requires no downtime, and is entirely safe for all skin types. The ClearLift is a non-ablative, Q-switched laser that ﬁrms and tightens the skin, reduces ﬁne linesand wrinkles, and treats pigmentation while avoiding damage to the skin’s outer layer. ClearLift is quick and easy and can be performedon the face, neck, chest, and other sensitive areas of the body such as the hands, elbows, and knees. This procedure stimulates collagen and when used consistently, is an excellent option to help rejuvenate, maintain, and improve the skin.

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Wes Reynolds’ newest album, In the Afterglow, explores the grief of losing his son.

DR. CRISTIE HAWKINS

DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC®, APMA®

Life & Style

A MAP TO LIVING WELL

The Martinique Mystique

This Caribbean island oﬀ ers culture, history and entertainment in spades.

There are some places that you know are going to be extraordinary just by the feelings and reactions you experience upon arrival. Martinique is a perfect example. The port brims with enthusiastic and hospitable local “ambassadors” who sing, dance and drum you towards an unforgettable vacation. Martinique, one of the French territories of the Caribbean and part of the French West Indies, seems to have everything a tourist would look for in a destination: The island has a good mix of urbanity and pastoral beauty; it is visitor-friendly and has good signage; and tourists can appreciate the cleanliness found throughout the island. A stunning visual in the city is the steeple of St. Louis Cathedral in the Fortde-France area. Reportedly, the architect was fascinated by the Eiffel Tower, so he mimicked the style of it within the cathedral’s steeple. It exudes a French impression into the skyline.

Driving through the island, there are picturesque bridges, stunning architecture and acres upon acres of banana and sugarcane crops. The main languages spoken there are French and Martinican Creole.

Tour guides will fascinate you with their explanations of banana and sugarcane farming, as well as shower you with interesting historical facts. For example, the Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais (first wife of Emperor Napoleon I) was from Martinique. As well, Christopher Columbus reportedly introduced sugarcane to Martinique on his second voyage there in 1493.

Visit the Clement Rum Distillery for a most delightful immersion into so many details that represent that Martinique mystique. So chic! Arriving there, you have so much to take in – it’s a tourist “whiplash” of visuals.

A sculpture garden beckons you to gawk and study the abstracts while the

The French island of Martinique would be what some call a “hidden gem,” complete with beautiful beaches, historical artifacts and entertainment galore. Photos by Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

Sacré-Coeur Basilica

300+ tropical plants also compete for your attention. An outdoor museum of historic rum distilling artifacts and machinery are on display for people to enjoy. Interestingly enough, they blend into the environs so as not to disrupt the landscape. The Creole mansion is a stunning villa filled with historic furniture. An art center also sits on the complex with artwork and mixed media representative of the Martinique history and lifestyle.

It’s no wonder this was the location where President George H. Bush and French President Francois Mitterrand held their historic meeting in 1991. The day is referred to as “the day America discovered Martinique,” and photos of the day are displayed on-site.

The rum distillery is impeccably curated and quite the sensory experience; you can smell notes of rum wafting through a fragrance tool at the push of a button. It feels like a Willy Wonka movie moment ... but with rum instead of chocolate. Another important attraction is the Balata Gardens, a World Unesco Site. Shrouded in the mist of this actively volcanic island, Balata could be the Garden of Eden on Earth. Swinging bridges above and koi ponds below adorn the paths as you’re tucked away into a cooler microclimate haven.

Sacre-Coeur Basilica is another mustsee. Signs of wear do not detract from the divine and somber feeling of this church. Candles, icons and statues throughout the basilica give a nice balance to your tours of rum distilleries, farms and rainforest gardens.

Culture aside, you can always relax at one of the many white sandy beaches of Martinique, and if you’re lucky, you'll watch the antics of colorful sailboat passengers participating in races. There is so much jubilance in Martinique – a perfect blend of European influence and Caribbean natural beauty.

GINA MICHALOPULOS KINGSLEY

Balata Gardens

Clement Rum Distillery

Nymphea stellata – purple lotus flower

Improving Patient Experience

Healthcare is multifaceted, and bettering each patient's experience is paramount.

As medical communities continually strive to meet the needs of an ever-changing patient population, there’s been a greater focus on the ‘patient experience’ – an industry movement to define and improve the human experience within healthcare.

Jamie Di Piazza-Rodriguez, MSW, CPXP, is the manager of patient experience for Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa. Her department is relatively new, put in place two years ago, and it works with Warren Clinic and all Saint Francis hospital locations.

“We partner with the Beryl Institute, and they define the patient experience as the sum of all interactions, shaped by an organization’s culture, that influence patient perceptions across the continuum of care – and I like to say it’s the people that make the culture,” says Di Piazza-Rodriguez. “The patient experience encompasses a lot; we look at all the processes our patients face, from when they drive into the parking lot and throughout the entire journey they take within our health system.”

She says there are many ways her department gains the patient perspective, including regular collaboration with a patient family advisory council.

“Our patient family advisory council consists of patients, their family members and employees,” says Di PiazzaRodriguez. “We gather and listen to their concerns and ideas. It welcomes discussion and helps us make changes that improve their care. For instance, our patients expressed that it was often diﬃcult to make the long walk from the parking lot to the hospital, so we added valet and golf carts at some locations to meet this need.”

She also emphasizes that the surveys that patients complete don’t fall into a void – instead, they are reviewed and studied to help shape processes and develop tangible solutions.

“We look closely at the data to hear the voices of our patients,” she says, explaining that patients have the opportunity to participate in an exit survey after being discharged. “But we also partner with frontline staff, as well as employees within our system. Our departments have what we call unit-based councils, made up of leaders within the department. We work directly with them to learn what patients are saying and also how processes affect their work. Our goal is to work together to potentially elevate their communications or bring best practices to the forefront to help and empower their team.”

The ‘patient experience’ concept began over a decade ago and is now predominantly accepted as its own dimension of healthcare quality. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the lead federal agency charged with improving the safety and quality of healthcare for all Americans, recognizes the patient experience as an integral component of quality healthcare, citing it as a key step to more patient-centered care. In addition, it offers an explanation of the difference between patient experience and patient satisfaction – two terms

often used interchangeably but that are fundamentally different.

According to AHRQ, “to assess patient experience, one must find out from patients whether something that should happen in a healthcare setting – such as clear communication with a provider – actually happened, or how often it happened. Patient satisfaction, on the other hand, is about whether a patient’s expectations about a health encounter were met.”

While two people can receive the same exact care, they may express different levels of satisfaction based upon their individual expectations. As a simple example, one patient may have expected less pain and a shorter procedure while another patient expected more pain and a longer procedure.

“Addressing the patient experience is a powerful thing,” says Di PiazzaRodriguez. “The patients we treat are everything to their loved ones, so they want the best for them and so do we.

It’s a privilege to take care of someone’s ‘everything.’ It’s a very exciting time as healthcare is changing and evolving for the benefit of our patients.”

REBECCA FAST

A Marathon, Not a Sprint

Preparing for long-distance runs comes with its fair share of obstacles, but is worth the eﬀ ort for your mind and body.

Just the thought of running a marathon can be intimidating. Whether you love running and just haven’t had time to participate in an event, or you want to challenge yourself to get truly in shape, there are steps you can take to get both your body and your mind ready.

“Start with a visit to the doctor if you don’t get regular checkups,” suggests Chuck Mikkelson, race director for the Oklahoma City Running Club. “I research for a training plan that fits with my current physical fitness and follow it. Local clubs or groups are a wonderful place to start. There isn’t one plan that fits everyone, so you should be flexible and find what works best for you.”

There can be hurdles along the way as you prepare for your first marathon, especially if you aren’t a seasoned runner. Mikkelson mentions that training can take 16 weeks or longer, and setbacks are just a part of the process.

“You will deal with exhaustion, sore muscles, nagging injuries ... but one needs to be smart on when to cut back or push it,” he says. “Stay positive. You must love the small steps, as you don’t go from the couch to a marathon in a week. Overtraining is worse than under training. Listen to your body.”

In most plans, runners will do a gradual increase in activity for three or

four weeks, then taper off for a week to allow their body to heal.

Training in the summer – particularly in states where the heat can be as extreme as Oklahoma – can look much different than training in the winter.

“Most people in the heat will need to slow their pace and work on keeping hydrated between workouts,” says Mikkelson. “Workouts don’t do you much good if you are dehydrated and exhausted. In cold weather, warm up your muscles before pushing them to a higher intensity. You also need to hydrate even though it is cold; you are still losing fluids.”

Mikkelson adds that it takes time for your body to adapt to the changing seasons. Be sure you have the proper equipment, such as running shoes that fit your body mechanics.

“Find a local group, as there will be plenty of members that are willing to share what worked and did not work for them,” he says. “Plus, a group will help you get out the door and get in those long miles that are needed. Treat race day as a day to celebrate all the hard work it took to get there. Smile and be thankful for what you have accomplished.”

While it may seem like a tough hobby to break into, Mikkelson thinks many people can enjoy the thrill of marathon competition.

“While I’m no expert, I’ve achieved the

feat of running marathons in all 50 states over the past 20 years,” he says. “Along the way, I’ve trained alongside thousands of runners, forged numerous friendships and had the pleasure of visiting every state in the U.S. – while enjoying a beer in each one.”

DEBI TURLEY

Preparing for Your Marathon

• Hydrate. The National Academy of Medicine recommends that athletic men drink 104 oz. of water (13 glasses) and athletic women drink 72 oz. (9 glasses) per day. Don’t go too far beyond this, as over-hydration can be dangerous.

• Carb load. Eat plenty of carbohydrates the night before your marathon.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages. Running whilst tipsy or hungover is a recipe for disaster.

• Get enough sleep. While you may be anxious, ensuring you get a full 8 hours is key to a strong run.

• Be prepared. Have clothes, shoes, protein packs, headphones and other items ready to go the night before.

• Give yourself time. Set your alarm early so you have a moment in the morning to relax and prepare.

Jim Priest, Will Lufburrow; new CEO announcement, Goodwill Central Oklahoma, OKC

Kamberly Skoch, Amanda Dunning; Care Packs & Cocktails, Tenaciously Teal, OKC

Alexander Mickelthwate, Michael Baron, Pam Mowry, Jo Lynne Jones; Crescendo!, Canterbury Voices, OKC

Erik-Michael Collins, Michelle Hardesty, Scott Black, Kimberly Norman; Nutcracker Festival press conference, Tulsa Ballet

Jennifer Boyer, Jennifer Goodrich, Deborah Shropshire; tiny home openings, Pivot, OKC

Brenda Martin, Stephanie Johnson, Stephanie Palmgren, Anne Bogie; Tatas and Tinis, Oklahoma Project Woman, OKC

Grace Rudolf, Stephanie Swicker, Melisse Prentice, Jessica Nottingham; women networking event, Durant Area Chamber of Commerce

Jo Lynne Jones, Elaine Levy, Cindi Shelby, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye; Raising the Barre, OKC Ballet

Lynn Redwine, Denise Payne, Carol Klenda; 90th anniversary preparations, Tulsa Town Hall

J.C. Watts, Andrea Weig; Celebrity Wait Night, Upward Transitions, OKC

Stacy McNeiland, Nico Gomez; community tours, CARE Center, OKC

Greg & Jessica Lee; Great Futures Gala, Salvation Army, Tulsa

Maria Almanza, Angelito Jeronimo, Jorge Jeronimo; charro wish party, Make-A-Wish Oklahoma, Tulsa

Diversity in Duncan

Primarily an oil and gas city, Duncan is working hard to expand its business and entertainment oﬀ erings.

Beginning its life as a critical stop on the historic Chisholm Trail – the famed path that, in the late 1800s, saw thousands of cattle herded from Texas to markets in Kansas – Duncan is an anchor of southwest Oklahoma that continues to leave its mark.

Far from isolated, the Stephens County seat of just over 23,000 residents offers abundant job opportunities and recreation for locals and visitors alike, alongside intriguing museums, recreation and retail shopping.

The rich offerings in Duncan start with the Simmons Center, a 105,000-squarefoot entertainment and physical fitness complex that, for the past three decadesplus, has served as the hub of civic life.

Rex Outhier, executive director of the Simmons Center Foundation, says the complex attracts civic groups, hosts concerts, festivals, theater productions, conventions and banquets, and has a recreation center with two gyms, a swimming pool and a childcare center.

Duncan also has a series of five municipal lakes offering a variety of outdoor recreation, and a vibrant, historic downtown. For anyone keeping a checklist of Oklahoma’s must-visit locations, Duncan is surely on it.

Duncan is situated about 30 miles east of Lawton and 80 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, with U.S. Highway 81 running north and south through town. State Highway 7 provides an easy connection to Interstate 35, about 45 miles east of the city.

“Duncan is known for being the heart of the Chisholm Trail,” says Teri Knox, executive director of the Duncan Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, she said, is a “top ten western museum that brings visitors from all over the world to Duncan.”

The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center recently hosted a traveling exhibit that featured the life of Comanche leader Quanah Parker, an early-day Comanche leader, and his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker.

Jennings says the Visitors Bureau’s website offers a sample “weekend menu” that includes a smorgasbord of activities and attractions. Besides the Chisholm Trail center, Duncan has several other local museums.

Economically, Duncan is holding steady, says Lyle Roggow, president of the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation. Energy production, embodied primarily by oil well service provider Halliburton, which got its start in Duncan, remains the city’s largest employer. But Halliburton is followed closely by a 21st-century health care entity, DRH, which serves the Stephens-Jefferson County area with hospitals, family care clinics, specialty clinics and a cancer center.

“There are job opportunities in Duncan that fit a lot of people’s needs,” Roggow says, describing Duncan as “an energy community that is trying hard to diversify.”

He mentions, as an example, Model 1, a newcomer to Duncan that retrofits buses, vans and other types of transportation. The company set up shop in Duncan last year, and now has 45 to 50 employees.

“It’s a unique business that is doing very well,” says Roggow.

Knox, meanwhile, calls inquirers’ attention to Duncan’s Main Street, which offers a variety of shops that carry antiques, western wear, home décor and other items. Additionally, Fuqua Park includes a water garden, amusement rides for kids, plus a gazebo ideal for weddings and picnic facilities. The park is the site of the Stephens County Historical Museum, located in Duncan’s former National Guard Armory.

The Rock Island 905 Railroad Museum, featuring a restored locomotive, presents an entertaining stop for rail fans and others curious about the railroad’s role in developing Oklahoma and Duncan.

HENRY DOLIVE

For More Information

Duncan Convention & Visitors Bureau

580-252-2900 ext. 240 visitduncan.org

Simmons Center

580-252-2900 simmonscenter.com

Chisholm Trail Heritage Center

580-292-6692 onthechisholmtrail.com

Stephens County Historical Museum 580-252-0717 stcomuseum.com

Duncan Chamber of Commerce

580-255-3644 duncanchamber.com

City of Duncan

580-252-0250 duncanok.gov

Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation 580-255-9675 ok-duncan.com

Duncan, about three hours from Tulsa and 1.5 from Oklahoma City, offers outdoor recreation, educational opportunities and a vast business portfolio. Photos courtesy Duncan Convention & Visitors Bureau

Securing Your Family’s Finances Securing Your Family’s Finances

By Faith Harl

If you’re looking to organize and maximize your family’s finances, experts oﬀer some easy-to-enact tips.

Track, Track, Track

In the age of paper receipts, the ability to track spending was much more diﬃcult. Now, families can use banking apps to track and even categorize their expenses automatically.

Keeping a close eye on your account activity can help you identify and dispute unauthorized transactions. In fact, fraudulent activity and scams have risen over the last couple of years, with U.S. consumers losing over $10 billion in 2023.

By understanding where your money is going, you can also set a realistic budget for your family.

“Instead of starting with how much you’re going to spend, let’s talk about how much you’re going to save,” advises Robert Wagner, CPA and leader of the specialty services practice at HoganTaylor, an accounting firm headquartered in Tulsa.

A general rule of thumb? Save at least 10% of your earnings. Next, take stock of your necessary expenses, like groceries and utilities. Whatever is left over afterwards can be spent at your discretion.

“Maybe you can splurge. That’s the beauty of a budget; it gives you freedom to be okay with spending money on things,” says Wagner.

Keep an Eye on Your Debt

With current interest rates still high, borrowing money is expensive. If you have debt, paying down the amount you owe can help you achieve your long-term financial goals.

A common strategy for getting out of debt is the “avalanche method,” which entails paying off your accounts with the highest interest rates first. To really make a dent, put more towards your debt than the monthly minimum payment. This approach attacks your principal balance, helping you pay less in interest over time. Wagner advises to consider why you got into debt in the first place. For many families, it comes down to making large purchases that they cannot afford, oftentimes in order to keep up with their peers.

“There’s a lot of pressure, and it’s hard feeling like you’re not able to do what other families are doing,” he says. “But the dirty little secret is people aren’t as wealthy as they often live. It’s not worth the stress of putting yourself in a hole and being unprepared for the future.”

Create a Contingency Fund

Life is full of curveballs. Home and car repairs, medical emergencies and the like can quickly put you in a bind if you don’t plan ahead.

“As the leader of your family’s finances, strike the words ‘unexpected expenses’ from your vocabulary,” Wagner says.

By establishing a rainy day fund, your family can be in a better position to navigate hardships and times of uncertainty. At minimum, Wagner advises having $400 set aside. If possible, consider automatically allocating a percentage of your paychecks to go toward your rainy day fund. This extra cash can help your family stay afloat when dealing with out-of-pocket costs.

Contributing more towards your family’s contingency fund can empower you to stay on track with your financial goals, too.

“It really is a good feeling,” says Wagner. “Even if it [your rainy day fund] goes from $700 to $1,500 this year, that’s awesome. It’s a big win. It really is a motivating factor to see your savings start building with time.”

Prepare for Expected Milestones

Unlike emergencies, some expenses can be forecasted. Think about life events and major milestones that your family might experience in the next decade, like sending kids to college or needing to purchase a car.

By giving yourself plenty of time to save, you can reduce the stress involved with planning for these changes and explore different savings options. For example, parents that are saving for their children’s college education may be eligible for Oklahoma 529, a tax-advantaged savings plan that can be used to cover tuition, textbooks and other common expenses. Establishing an irrevocable trust is another option for parents who’d like to cover their child’s educational expenses.

Plan to Care for Two Generations

The term “sandwich generation” describes middle-aged adults who care for both their not-yet-grown children and their aging parents. This phase of life can be particularly challenging for families – both emotionally and financially.

According to the U.S. Administration for Community Living, about 70% of adults over the age of 65 will need some form of long-term care. To best prepare for this transition, talk with your parents about their financial standing and assets.

Knowing what their priorities are can help your family avoid conflict and make more informed decisions when that time comes. If your parents need assistance with end-of-life planning, consider consulting an attorney who specializes in elder law.

You may also qualify for a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA), a pre-tax account that can help you save up to 30% on dependent care services. Funds from this account can be used to support a child, spouse, or relative that resides in your home.

Consider your Home Equity

Buying a house may be one of the biggest purchases that you ever make. It can also be one of your greatest investments.

“For most Americans, a house is their number one asset and the best way to build wealth,” explains Wagner.

Many homeowners who have paid down their mortgage may qualify for a home equity loan. If you do borrow against your home, Wagner advises to put those funds toward homeimprovement projects.

Another milestone to consider is retirement. The earlier you begin saving, the better. In many cases, employers provide 401(k) plans, and even matching contributions to their employees.

“Go for the free money,” encourages Wagner. “Figure out what your employer will match and maximize it. That’s the best way to get started with long-term savings.”

“It makes sense for people who need to either renovate their kitchens or bathrooms – the things that have been proven to add value,” he says.

Families may also consider refinancing to get a better interest rate. There are costs involved, but Wagner recommends the consideration of refinancing if it would drop your current rate by a half point or more. You may also want to consider shortening the length of your mortgage, which can help you secure an even lower interest rate.

Look Over Your Insurance Policies

There are a wide variety of insurance policies that you can sign up for to protect your most valuable assets. Common forms of insurance are health, life, auto and homeowners.

Regardless of the type of insurance, consider what your family’s needs are. You may want to opt for extra protection or coverage, depending on those needs. For example, if you expect to incur several medical expenses in the near future, you may want to set up a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA) to help plan ahead and maximize your savings.

Check with your insurance providers to see if they offer any discounts to bundle your insurance, too. Even if that’s not an option, you may be able to save a little bit of cash by going paperless or paying for your annual policy in full.

Oklahomans may also qualify for Insure Oklahoma, a health premium assistance program for low-income adults. Some employers participate in the program, so it’s worth checking if your family qualifies.

Hire an Expert

When in doubt, getting help from the pros is always a good idea. A financial advisor can help your family create a customized plan based on your personal goals, whether that’s purchasing a house or retiring early.

There are several types of advisors, from accountants to wealth managers. Research financial professionals in your area and choose one that seems to be the right fit based on your family’s needs.

Some banks and credit unions offer their customers access to financial advisors without charge. If that’s not an option, working with a wealth management firm may be the way to go. Although there may be costs associated with hiring a financial advisor, the long-term benefits are well worth it.

“I’m passionate about family finances because I know it’s such a big generator of stress for families,” says Wagner. “There are a lot of things you can do to… make the path a little

Make Smart Investments

The world of investing can seem intimidating to many. After all, there's always some risk involved. But if you do a little research, make a plan and consult with the experts, investing can truly help to secure a strong financial future for both yourself and members of your family.

Firstly, don't put all your eggs in one basket. This means diversifying your economic portfolio. Stocks, bonds, real estate and other options mean you can maximize your potential returns and minimize potential risk.

Next, consider passive income streams you can enact. Essentially, work smarter, not harder – and make your money work for you. Passive income can look like rental properties or low-maintenance dividend-paying stocks.

Avoid impulse-led or emotional investments. This means taking out overconfidence, fear, greed or thrill from your investment choices. Instead, create a well-researched plan and don't stray from that plan unless an expert is advising you to do so.

You can also take a look at low-cost index funds.

"Index funds are defined as investments that mirror the performance of benchmarks like the S&P 500 by mimicking their makeup," says Jason Fernando in an article for Investopedia. "These passive investments, long considered an unimaginative way to invest, are behind a

While they may be coined as 'unimaginative,' the numbers as they relate to index funds don't lie.

"Passive index funds tracking market benchmarks accounted for just 21% of the U.S. equity fund market in 2012. By 2023, passive index funds had grown to about half of all U.S. fund assets," Fernando continued.

Investing, paired with other decisions like smart budgeting, considering home equity, consulting with experts and reviewing your insurance plans, will help your family in securing the financial future you've always dreamed of.

Move forward with confidence.

HoganTaylor’s business advisors understand the disruptions financial leaders are faced with every day. By elevating the work of financial leadership, our team has helped many businesses overcome their most difficult challenges. Through enhanced strategies, innovative data analytics, and expert financial guidance, HoganTaylor helps organizations thrive, now and in the future.

A Bona Fide Sporting Hot Spot A Bona Fide Sporting Hot Spot

By Tracy LeGrand

In this year’s sports feature, we examine the unique foothold Oklahoma has in the sporting industry. We talk to some state-based teams about their inner workings, how athletes remain healthy during their rigorous workout schedules, and just how much money is infused into our economy thanks to these e orts.

In Oklahoma City, Riversport is a designated U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site for a variety of water sports. Pictured here are Olympic trials for the kayak cross. Photo by Georgia Read courtesy Riversport

The Rise of Unique Pro Sports

Oklahoma sports fanatics love the classics – football, basketball, baseball. And for good reason: we’re great at them. But we’ve also carved out footholds in some niche and unique professional sports outside of the traditional box, thanks in part to the establishment of Olympic training sites and regional and national sports facilities. Add onto that the world-class equestrians who live and work in Oklahoma and it’s safe to say the Sooner State is a pro sports hot spot.

Opened in February 2022, the USA BMX National Headquarters and Hall of Fame Museum stands watch over downtown Tulsa. Track operator Jacob Nelson says everyone – from toddlers to octogenarians to Olympic athletes – can be found at the Hardesty National BMX Stadium.

“We see all skill levels, as long as you can ride a bike,” he says. “We’re open to the public Thursdays and Saturdays and offer weekly clinics on Tuesdays. Usually, riders will try us out first

before joining in on a clinic. We also offer the BMX Race League. Olympians are made at the BMX facility, with the U.S. Olympic team training in one of the top training facilities and tracks in the country – if not the world.”

It doesn’t require intense athletic prowess to have fun on a bike, and the facility is family friendly, with summer camps and school programming. In the fall, racing sessions ramp up.

“It’s a great way for brand new riders to get coaching and training on the level they’re at,” says Nelson, “We just ask that you can ride a bike, and we will teach the skills to get you around the track.”

About 8,000 racers participated in events just last year, Nelson says, “and that is just local. We also hosted races including the Gold Cup Championships, Legacy National races, international World Cup qualifiers with riders from 30 countries, to name a few. There are also thousands of visitors for each event.”

Opened in 2022, the BMX National Headquarters in Tulsa offer a state-of-the-art race track. Novices and pros alike are welcome to compete or just enjoy a ride on select days of the week.

Photos by Stephanie Phillips

Another major sporting niche Oklahoma harbors is in waterbased competitions. The Boathouse District in downtown Oklahoma City is home to Riversport OKC, a unique outdoor destination unlike any other water-sports facility in an urban setting nationwide. There, novices, pros and those in between can find opportunities for rapids riding, paddle sports, canoeing, kayaking, zip-lining, climbing, surfing and more. It’s also an oﬃcial U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site and features the OKC National High-Performance Center, a premier water-sports facility.

“We became a Paralympic training site in 2009 after successfully hosting Olympic trials,” says Mike Knopp, Riversport’s executive

director. “This is an inspiration for people who come to use our facilities and programs, including families doing various water activities. It adds authenticity to the experience – to be where the very best at canoeing and kayaking training occurs, including Team USA before competing in Paris.”

Knopp mentions that their programming, headquartered at the Devon boathouse, began with a focus point on rowing, “but then included canoe and kayak sprints,” he says. “We have, for example, world class sprint kayaker Gus Cook training here and competing at an international level on the national team, and we host national training camps.”

The University of Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. amps up his team during a game. Photo by Morgan Givens/OU Football

Oklahoma’s Tireless Teams

Oklahomans have a lot of teams to support – from semi-pro to pro in categories ranging from hockey and soccer to softball and basketball. Perhaps the most fervent fan base can be found on the national stage with NBA team the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In December of 2023, the Oklahoma City Council approved a development agreement to create a new $900 million arena in downtown Tulsa where the old Cox Convention Center once sat; this will keep the franchise in OKC through 2050.

And while the Thunder brings a major morale boost to Oklahomans, the team – and the construction of a new stadium – are huge economic drivers.

According to the Economic and Revenue Impacts of the Oklahoma City Arena Report by Applied Economics, the operations of the Paycom arena and the operations of the Oklahoma City Thunder support an annual economic impact of $513 million, directly and indirectly supporting close to 2,500 jobs and $273.8 million in annual labor income.

"With a total of about 472,900 non-local visitor days per year for basketball games and ticketed third-party events, the arena supports an estimated $45.5 million in annual visitor expenditures outside the arena for lodging, food, retail and local transportation, says the report. "The estimated economic impact of construction could total $1.3 billion, supporting over 10,000 jobs during the construction period.”

Commenting at the end-of-season press conference on the Thunder continuing to grow as a team, executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti said that the future is bright for the organization.

“We understand there’s no silver platters in Oklahoma City,” he said. “We’re going to have to take it. We’re going to have to improve. We’re going to have to scratch. We’re going to have to claw. We’re going to have to battle to get progress, especially in our conference, and our guys are fine with that.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder (above) and Oklahoma City Blue contribute positively to Oklahoma's economy, alongside raising state morale. Above

photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE/Getty Images; Blue photo by China Wong/ NBAE/Getty Images

Athletic Trainers

If you want to get involved in the world of sports but don’t have the athletic skills it will take, there are other avenues to explore.

Another hardworking Oklahoma team that’s boosting the state’s economy is the Tulsa Drillers. Brian Carroll, the Drillers’ assistant general manager, says the team typically draws an average paid attendance each season of between 5,000 to 5,500 for their 69 home games at ONEOK Field.

“Since the Drillers moved to downtown Tulsa with the opening of ONEOK Field in 2010, the area around the ballpark has changed immensely,” he says. “So many new restaurants, bars, museums, galleries and oﬃce buildings have been constructed and opened in those 14 years, completely changing the landscape around the stadium. A baseball game can now include so much more than the game for Drillers fans. An outing might include a visit to the Bob Dylan Museum down the street, followed by a stop for dinner or drinks at a nearby restaurant before ever entering the stadium. After the game, many establishments are still open and might be visited, too.”

Degrees to Consider

Athletic trainers, for example, are highly trained specialists involved in the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of enhancing a player’s overall health and performance.

Robert Fulton, currently in his 21st year as OU Athletics’ Director of Athletic Medicine/Student-Athlete Health and Wellness, is involved in the matriculation of tomorrow’s trainers. The education, he says, is rigorous.

“An athletic trainer must graduate with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited athletic training education program and pass a certification exam administered by a board of certification,” he says. “Once certified, the athletic trainer must maintain licensure under the supervision and in collaboration with a physician, as allowed by their state medical practice act.” Trainers, day-to-day, have a dynamic schedule.

“Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals responsible for managing a broad spectrum of injury and illness, including prevention, recognition, rehabilitation and return to play,” Fulton continues. “Day to day, our role is to serve as primary athletic health care providers, ensuring appropriate preparation and response to a wide range of needs. We are often first to arrive and last to leave a practice or a game. We collaborate with a network of providers and professionals to communicate with athletes, parents, coaches and administrators, ensuring an appropriate plan of care.”

For those interested in entering the sports industry through an academic standpoint, there are plenty of avenues forward. In fact, Oklahoma colleges and universities oﬀer a bevy of classes, certificates and degree programs focalizing on sports. These include:

• Sports management

• Sports media

• Sports marketing & revenue generation

• eSports

• Advanced sports medicine

• Sports communication

• Sports psychology

• Sports journalism

• Exercise physiology

• Occupational therapy

• Sports science

Jobs in sports can run the gamut, from journalists and agents to general managers, athletic directors, scouts, trainers, coaches, contract negotiators, marketing managers and nutritionists.

The Tulsa Drillers welcome thousands of fans each season. Photo by Tim Campbell/Tulsa Drillers

Athletic trainers greatly impact the health and careers of pro athletes. Oklahoma State University offers a master's program to get into the field. Photo courtesy OSU

The Physical and Time Demands

No matter the sport – from football and basketball to golf, tennis or swimming – physical demands are intense for athletes. Coaches, players and trainers are always cognizant of the tolls on the body, and work to take care of and repair their bodies after practices and games.

“For baseball today, the biggest injury concern involves shoulder and elbow injuries for pitchers,” says Carroll. “Many professional pitchers now routinely throw 95-100 miles per hour – where 20 years ago, there were only a handful of pitchers reaching those speeds. The strain on the shoulder and elbow has become an even bigger concern for athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches.”

OU’s Fulton agrees that the physical demands are great, but education and awareness are also greatly improved as they compare to prior decades.

“Many athletes today are more aware of the physical and mental demands of sport, and recognition is the first step toward action,” says Fulton. “Now more than ever, preparation and recovery from such demands allow for some to separate from others. Resources for educating and addressing healthy habits such as sleep, diet, movement, strength and regeneration are all gaining popularity. Athletes are motivated by development and success. To each, recognizing the value of good habits and science-based practices drives the motivation for development and excellence.”

Alongside the physical demands of the job, the time requirements are hefty.

“Baseball is unique among other professional sports because of the number of games that are played,” says Carroll. “In the majors, there are 162 games each season, while with our team, we play 138 games in a season. Basically, from the first of April through the middle of September, the Drillers play every day – with the exception of Mondays almost always being an off day. For professional baseball players at all levels, the sport of baseball goes on all year despite games ending in the fall for most teams.

“Players today are putting in more hours than ever,” he continues. “For Drillers players, their day begins with arrival at the ballpark around 1 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game. Everything from cardio, to stretching and mobilization drills, to weightlifting take place during the afternoons prior to games, with the activities switching from day-to-day. After that, it is batting practice and drills as well as fielding work for position players and individual, specific drills for pitchers. Most of the same drills are continued on a near daily basis in the off-season.”

Discipline and structure are noted as key elements for every major athlete, says Matt Tumbleson, vice president of basketball communications and engagement at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“The schedule for professional athletes is structured in order to help prepare the individuals for high performance," he says. “A typical day in OKC will see a player arrive at the facility between 8:30 and 9 a.m. for an 11 a.m. practice. During those two hours, players are on a schedule that is prepared by the performance team that will see them do pre-practice court work, lifting, meeting with assistant coaches, eating breakfast and getting pre-practice treatment. Practice will typically last from 11 a.m. to 12:30 or 1 p.m. Following practice, depending on their individual plans, players will do more shooting, some will do post practice lifting, and some will do meetings with coaches and post-practice treatments.”

Behind every great company is a hardworking team that contributes to the diverse economic fabric of our state. These individuals spend their days creating quality products and services, ensuring clients, customers and patients get exactly what they need, when they need it.

Faces of Oklahoma Placeholder

As you go about your day-to-day life in the great state of Oklahoma, you may not realize just how many people are working hard to ensure your needs are met. Whether you’re enjoying a fine dining experience, receiving healthcare, visiting a spa, searching for financial advice or even just admiring the Tulsa skyline, there are hundreds – if not thousands – of people helping to make your experiences in Oklahoma better.

To showcase these industry leaders, Oklahoma Magazine presents Faces of Oklahoma –which shines a well-deserved spotlight on those who make Oklahoma a better place to live, work and play. From healthcare experts to construction professionals, jewelers and wealth managers, the following companies stand out as the unique face of their field.

Enter Faces of Oklahoma, which shines a well-deserved spotlight on those people – the company owners, employees and creative minds that make up the strong and vibrant businesses that do their work in Oklahoma. Within the following pages you’ll see experts in everything from construction and architecture to medical aethetics, hospitalty, real estate and emergency medicine. Here, they truly stand out as the unique face of their field.

When deciding which businesses to trust, turn to the Faces of Oklahoma.

THE FACE OF COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE

KKT ARCHITECTS

Sarah Gould and Cindy Chanslor share a passion for education and its transformative power. Sarah Gould, Owner and CEO of KKT Architects, has always found joy in school-related projects and volunteering in architectural outreach programs. "Education is vital. I considered teaching to impact future generations," says Sarah. "And an architectural curriculum engages students holistically, teaching them to think with their entire brain."

In 2021, Sarah hired Cindy Chanslor as a full-time Education Consultant to lead career outreach efforts for KKT. Realizing the vast opportunities in the community, Sarah and Cindy decided to establish a nonprofit, the Education Foundation for Architecture, Engineering, and Design, a 501(c)(3)

organization. The Foundation leverages the expertise of architects, engineers, designers, and construction professionals to offer programs, activities, and guest lectures to schools and educational organizations, aiming to introduce the next generation to the world of architecture and design and to bridge the workforce diversity gap.

The Foundation’s mission is to enhance students’ critical thinking skills and raise awareness of the diverse career opportunities within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries. In its initial years, the foundation has collaborated closely with KKT Architects and received support from numerous industry partners, including Green Acorn, CEC Engineering, Professional Engineering Consultants

(PEC), Nabholz, Crossland, AC Owen, Wallace Design Collective, Beantown Enterprises, and Kitchen Ideas Design Center.

Cindy Chanslor, the Foundation’s Executive Director, invites all local AEC professionals to join these outreach efforts.

"Together, we can create more opportunities for students and build more awareness of the value of architectural education, leading us to a stronger, more vibrant community."

Get involved today and support our mission through your time or through donations. Contact Cindy Chanslor at Cindy.Chanslor@ThinkArchitecture.org and be sure to check out our website at ThinkArchitecture.org to see how you can contribute to building a brighter future.

From left to right: Sarah Gould and Cindy Chanslor

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THE FACE OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES

ROSS GROUP

Ross Group began as a small contracting company based out of Catoosa, Oklahoma, in 1979, when Jesse Ross founded J. Ross Acoustics and Drywall. The company specialized in carpentry and interior finishes and quickly earned a reputation for quality construction, professional excellence, and good, old-fashioned hard work. In 1996, Warren Ross joined his father in

the business and The Ross Group Construction Corporation was incorporated in the great state of Oklahoma. Building on each other’s strengths, the father/son duo used their knowledge and reputation to make a seamless transition into general contracting. Since its incorporation, Ross Group has evolved into a development, engineering,

and construction firm serving government, energy, industrial, and private/commercial clients under the leadership of CEO Warren Ross. Working hand-in-hand with our clients, we provide industry-leading solutions in a variety of markets, such as oil and gas, industrial, manufacturing, aerospace, government, medical, aviation, hospitality, and education. By offering an

integrated suite of services to fit any need in any market, we commit to achieving our client’s vision for each project.

While our company has grown to include more than 140 employees spread across two oﬃces, we are still a roll-upour-sleeves and get-to-work kind of place.

Just like our founder Jesse, our leadership and staff realize that companies don’t build projects. People do. We are team players who will help anyone who asks, regardless of our titles, because we know we all succeed or fail together. With that in mind, Ross Group’s dedicated employ-

ees continue to build our firm’s reputation through our actions, while delivering tangible benefits to our clients as a one-stopshop for project delivery. Visit us at www. withrossgroup.com to learn more about how Ross Group can help your make your vision a reality.

From left to right: Scott Trueman, Amanda Robison, Courtney Alston, Jonathan Estrada, Brandon Brown, David Hull, Jamia Matthews, Vince Adamek, Cindi Givens, Brittany Kirk

THE FACE OF FINE DINING THE SUMMIT CLUB FACESof FACESof FACESof FACESof FACESof FACES

Since 1967, The Summit Club has been Tulsa’s premier destination for exceptional dining and social experiences, nestled in the heart of downtown. Perched on the 30th, 31st, and 32nd floors on the corner of Sixth Street and Boulder Avenue, our club offers breathtaking panoramic views that serve as a stunning backdrop for any occasion. Whether you’re savoring an intimate dinner, attending a grand event in our elegant ballroom, or enjoying a handcrafted cocktail in the Penthouse, each visit promises a memorable blend of

sophistication and warmth.

Our culinary team crafts fresh, chefprepared menus using the finest ingredients and techniques, complemented by an impressive selection of premium wines, handcrafted cocktails, and mocktails.

Our staff at The Summit Club brings a wealth of industry experience and professional training, delivering top-notch service to every member and guest. Whether you’re here for a casual outing or a special event, our team is committed

to making every moment memorable.

Membership at The Summit Club is more than exclusive dining access – it’s an invitation to join a vibrant community of professionals and socialites. Our club serves as a hub for networking, celebrating milestones, and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow members. With its blend of refined ambiance, exceptional service, and unparalleled views, The Summit Club stands as Tulsa’s premier city club. Discover the benefits of membership today.

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THE FACE OF MEDICAL SPAS

FOR INNER GOOD (FIG) MEDICAL SPA

For Inner Good (FIG) Medical Spa, located in Tulsa, is known for its expertise in the science of anti-aging for face and body rejuvenation. Under the direction and supervision of Cristie Lehr-Hawkins M.D., Fig offers the latest treatments for the face, hair and body.

The staff at Fig brings multiple years of experience in patient care and is dedicated to providing the most innovative treatments for their patients. Fig is honored to have won numerous awards for Best Medical Spa, Skin Care, and Wellness Center in Tulsa, the state of Oklahoma and nationally. Fig has also been awarded Oklahoma Magazine’s The Best of the Best Award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Medical and wellness services offered at Fig include dermal fillers, injectables,

microneedling, PDO threading, weight loss programs and hormone therapy. They also provide a full range of laser treatments and aesthetic services.

Some of the newest treatment modalities at Fig include Opus Plasma and TED. Opus Plasma is a skin resurfacing treatment using plasma energy and radio frequency to repair photodamage and treat the signs of aging with minimal down time. Fig is also the only medical facility in Tulsa to offer TED (Transepidermal Hair Restoration). This new treatment uses ultrasound technology to stimulate hair growth. The TED treatment is painless and needle-free with no downtime. TED is quick and beneficial for any individual suffering from hair loss or wanting to improve the appearance and health of their hair.

Fig carries numerous skin care lines such as SkinCeuticals, Caudalie, Revitalash, ZO Skin Health, iSClinical, Skin Medica, and Revision. Fig also has the SkinCeuticals SkinScope LED Lamp. With the help of the aestheticians and The SkinScope lamp, patients can learn about their visible and underlying skin imperfections and what products will work best for them. FIG recently launched its own skincare line, Fig MD. This medicalgrade skincare line is both preventative and corrective. Fig MD products are built on a layered system of the highest quality ingredients resulting in healthy and beautiful skin. To learn more about Fig’s services or purchase products, please visit their website figtulsa.com. To schedule an appointment for a service or free consultation, call 918932-8810.

Dr. Cristie Hawkins and staff

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THE FACE OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE TULSA ER & HOSPITAL

Dr. Blubaugh is a native Oklahoman. Born and raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma, he attended Northeastern State University, then pursued his medical education at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 2001.

After residency, Dr. Blubaugh spent the next 13 years practicing and teaching emergency medicine at Oklahoma State University Medical Center. During this time, he saw the need for more personalized, patient-focused care.

Since 2019, Dr. Blubaugh has been a founding partner at two of Oklahoma’s only physician-owned micro-hospitals,

Tulsa ER & Hospital, and Oklahoma ER & Hospital. Both hospitals were designed by emergency physicians in an effort to improve the access and quality of emergency care and hospital services. Local ownership and management allow for the hospital to adapt to the needs of the community. The physicians are able to customize services for community providers and patients without the bureaucratic delays and hurdles, typical of larger corporate health systems. Emergency room services, observation care, inpatient care, outpatient imaging, outpatient laboratory services and outpatient therapies are offered

at both facilities.

Tulsa ER & Hospital and Oklahoma ER & Hospital are the only facilities in Oklahoma that offer outpatient services 24/7 without an appointment. Dr. Blubaugh is currently the Medical Director at the Tulsa facility. This position has afforded him the ability to spend more time with patients and experience both the administrative and political aspects of healthcare within the state.

Our physicians and staff strive to create an atmosphere where the patient feels heard and receives healthcare that is above and beyond.

Dr. Mark Blubaugh

THE

DENTISTRY

UTICA DENTAL

DR. MATTHEW WALKER • DR. BRIAN GOSNELL & HYGIENE STAFF

Dr. Matthew Walker and Dr. Brian Gosnell and the team at Utica Dental offer patients a truly relaxed, professional, state-of-theart experience, with beautiful results from the moment they walk through the door. Conveniently located between 15th and 21st Street on South Utica Ave. in Tulsa, Utica Dental provides patients with peaceful, serene views out of the floor-to-ceiling windows while the dental team provides gentle care. Television monitors allow patients to get comfortable and watch a favorite show or movie. Want to hear music instead? Just ask Alexa to play it while in the dental chair.

Dr. Walker and Dr. Gosnell provide cosmetic and family dentistry to patients

of all ages. General restorative care, dental implants, Invisalign, teeth whitening, root canal treatment, extractions, crown and bridge, preventative hygiene care, sedation dentistry, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and full mouth transformation procedures are all available at Utica Dental.

Our hygiene staff is one of the best in the area. We offer many different techniques to make your visit with us as comfortable and painless as possible. We are a family-based practice so all members of your family can be seen in the same oﬃce, no more traveling to different oﬃces for dental care. We take pride in the care that we give to our Utica Dental family.

Infection control and sterilization are top priorities at Utica Dental. Using the most up-to-date, strictly followed CDC guided sterilization procedures and products, Dr. Walker and Dr. Gosnell are committed to creating a sterile environment for the safety of every patient and team member.

Utica Dental is an Oklahoma Magazine “The Best of the Best” recipient, and Dr. Walker and Dr. Gosnell continue to elevate his dental techniques to provide the best dental care to patients. Dr. Walker and Dr. Gosnell encourages you to come and experience Utica Dental, where every patient is a priority and truly a member of the family.

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REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

VESTA CAPITAL

Marc Kulick is the visionary founder and CEO of Vesta Capital and Vesta Realty, established in 2017. Under his leadership, Marc oversees all aspects of the businesses, including asset management, operations, and acquisitions.

Vesta Capital is a fully integrated real estate investment firm specializing in the acquisition and renovation of multifamily communities across Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Vesta Realty, a wholly owned subsidiary and property management company, ensures comprehensive operational control and real-time monitoring of on-site activities.

Marc focuses on identifying multifamily investment opportunities with strong inplace cash flow, significant upside potential through value-add implementations, and robust downside protection against macroeconomic headwinds. Throughout Vesta’s

operations, 48 properties with 12,480 total units have been purchased, and 9 properties have been sold, equaling 2,505 units. Today, Vesta’s portfolio value exceeds $1B.

Leveraging years of industry relationships, he has cultivated a pipeline of proprietary deal flow that meets his stringent investment criteria. His innovative approach to due diligence and property management maximizes the potential of each investment.

Marc started his real estate career as a multifamily leasing agent for his college dorm. His career progressed through every facet of property management – from leasing agent to Senior VP of multifamily –before he founded Vesta Capital. This extensive background laid a solid foundation for his expertise and success in the industry.

Marc has built a corporate culture that is intensely focused on employee satisfac-

tion and engagement, which in turn has resulted in providing high-quality housing and experiences for residents. “Few people have the experience of building a brandnew company and creating the culture they dream of. That is one of the greatest blessings of this entire journey. I’m so proud of our progress towards creating an environment where people are happy coming to work and feel valued, which in turn leads to the highest quality of life for our residents,” says Marc.

He is proud to have built an organization that is dedicated to giving back and whose employees are actively engaged in the communities they serve. Marc and his wife, Alicia, are active supporters of The University of Tulsa, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Friendship Circle of Kansas City, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Juvenile Diabetes research.

THE FACE OF

Marc Kulick

THE

ROOFING CONRAD'S ROOFING

At Tulsa-based Conrad’s Roofing, every single roof is backed by the owner’s name: Conrad. With core values that include aggressive authenticity, passion and customer obsession, Conrad’s Roofing puts the same care, attention to detail and premium workmanship into every job, whether it’s locating and repairing a small leak, or a total tear-off and replacement of your roof.

Conrad’s provides personalized service with its expert roof installations, touting the resources, financial strength, and stability that make them a leader in the industry. The business is fully licensed, bonded and insured, meaning that clients can rest

easy knowing only the best are working on their homes. Only Conrad’s Roofing can guarantee and deliver this kind of personalized service. In short, they’ll get the job done –affordably, safely and thoroughly.

“My team and I have had many years of trial and error,” says owner Ken Conrad. “We pride ourselves on keeping the local business aspect, while having an operation that runs as eﬃciently as possible. I have only one option available for myself and every roof we touch: my word and my work.”

Dedicated to serving Tulsa and surrounding areas, Conrad’s has installed 21,792,000 shingles with over 12,000 satis-

fied customers. Services range from roof installations to leak detections and gutter design and installation.

With a promise to put the same effective, eﬃcient practices into every job, Conrad’s is laser focused on client satisfaction, which is evident in their exceptional customer service, free estimates and free 22-point roof inspections. The team also understands that a new roof is a major investment – which is why they offer a variety of financing options to ensure you get the services you need at the right price.

Reputable, reliable and results-driven: Conrad’s Roofing.

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From left to right: Jordan and Kenneth Conrad

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RIVERFIELD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

Riverfield Country Day School educators have been empowering students since 1984. The life blood of any school is the faculty and staff. In Riverfield’s 40th year, we honor all of our educators, past and present.

At Riverfield Country Day School, we ignite adventure, inspire inquiry and build excellence to empower students to change their world. Supporting our ReggioEmilia-inspired approach to education, from infants through 12th grade, Riverfield teachers create socially collaborative spaces which honor the whole student.

Our teachers are at the heart of creating a trusting, respectful, and positive school environment where they can support

students’ creativity and inquiry as a resource and guide, putting the power of learning in the students’ hands. Students are empowered to develop their own questions, seek understanding and input, and consider how they can make their world a better place.

With an average of 14 years teaching experience, Riverfield faculty encourage students to achieve their potential in all aspects of their development: intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and moral.

Riverfield educators take full advantage of the 120-acre campus of wooded trails, creeks, ponds, and barnyard with animals. On any given day, you will see children working together inside

the rooms, reading outside in the sun, collecting data from water sources, or heading out for a hike in the woods. Rain boots and sunscreen are staples on campus, throughout all grades, as the natural world is a fantastic landscape for learning.

Thanks to the dedication of our teachers, we are a strong community of caring educators, staff, and families that value each individual student within a safe, respectful, learner-focused school that bravely grows and evolves together as one Riverfield.

Riverfield teachers, we thank you for an incredible 40 years and we look forward to shaping the future of our school.

Staff at Riverfield

Founded in 1992 by Bret Chandler, RibCrib lit its first smoker in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Opening its doors with a menu of four meats and three sides, the brand has grown to 45 locations in Oklahoma and neighboring states. Matt Thompson, vice president of operations, says the secret to RibCrib’s success is its authenticity. Every location smokes its meats on-site daily, using only split-green hickory, crafting the unmistakable flavor fans have loved for 30 years.

What truly defines RibCrib? Its core values.

“‘Make Every Rib Righteous’ isn’t just a slogan we use during training. It’s our pledge to always go the extra mile,” Thompson says. “We’re driven to never settle, to innovate and to invest in our team and guests. Our communities are an enormous part of RibCrib’s success.”

Community engagement is central to RibCrib, with initiatives ranging from school sponsorships to a semiannual golf tournament that raises funds for local charities.

Looking ahead, RibCrib has plans. Adapting to the ever-changing food scene, they’re working to make barbecue accessible to more people. They’re also refining their scratch side recipes and rethinking their loyalty program to reward guests more.

As RibCrib looks forward to smokin’ the good stuff for the next 30 years, Thompson’s vision is clear: “We’re focusing on a 21st century smokehouse experience, ensuring RibCrib remains a go-to for barbecue enthusiasts.”

Jeff Baird, Beth Ruddle, Matt Thompson

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THE FACE OF MEDICAL AESTHETICS

RADIANCE MEDICAL AESTHETICS

Radiance Medical Aesthetics is proud to bring Beauty by the Best!® to Oklahoma City as the premier destination for aesthetic treatments. With over 65 years of combined experience, the professionals at Radiance are dedicated to helping their patients feel and look their very best with results-driven treatments. Radiance was founded by Kasey L. Swayden, PA-C, in 2020. With more than a decade of experience in Aesthetic Medicine, Kasey dreamed of opening a Medical Spa that was centered on skin health and built around a professional team that delivers advanced cosmetic treatments in a beautiful, spa-like

atmosphere. Today, Kasey’s dreams have become reality, and patients travel from all over for the advanced aesthetic treatments at Radiance Medical Aesthetics. Under the supervision of a board-certified dermatologist, Radiance offers a variety of industryleading treatments and technologies to achieve the best results for their patients. From state-of-the-art Sciton lasers, to injectables like Botox and dermal fillers, HydraFacial, Diamond Glow and more, the team of professionals have curated a comprehensive selection of treatments designed to address various aesthetic and skin concerns. Since opening, Radiance

Medical Aesthetics has evolved into one of Oklahoma’s most recognized names in Aesthetic Medicine. As the oﬃcial medical spa of Miss Oklahoma and Miss Oklahoma’s Teen, Radiance has earned many accolades. These include being named OKC’s “Best Medical Spa” and “Best Aesthetician” by Oklahoma Magazine and earning national recognition for their anti-aging results. Radiance is conveniently located just off the John Kilpatrick Turnpike at Portland and Memorial. To learn more about Radiance Medical Aesthetics of Oklahoma, view their services or schedule a consultation, visit www.rmaok.com.

Aging Gracefully

By Bonnie Rucker

What Does Aging Gracefully Look Like?

“Aging gracefully includes being able to continue doing what you love to do on your own terms and having the freedom to make those choices,” says Valerie Bomar, the associate executive director of Covenant Living at Inverness (CLI) in Tulsa.

It is important, as the years add up, to make purposeful choices that can help you continue living life to its fullest. Staying connected to friends and family, considering personal safety, keeping up with exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet are just some of the ways seniors can stay at the top of their game. These decisions will allow them to stay involved with beneficial activities and be able to make their own choices.

In keeping this level of autonomy over specific choices, the idea of gaining years does not have to mean detracting joy.

“From the personal viewpoint of an employee who has worked with seniors for over 30 years, I believe aging gracefully also begins with breaking stereotypes and stigmas that can exist within a retirement community,” says Debbie Miller, wellness director at Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon. “We can inspire more positive views of aging.”

Staying Connected

One important way to age gracefully is to fight the tendency to lose connections. Loneliness has been shown to be a real risk to happiness for seniors and to even shorten life expectancies. Living in a senior community goes a long way toward ensuring the proximity of relationships, but just being there is not enough for many. Participation in offered activities is key to warding off isolation, but it is important that the resident’s individual preferences, interests and abilities are taken into consideration.

“We encourage residents to continue to explore the passions they’ve always enjoyed, such as gardening – we have numerous places for them to garden on campus, or sing in our choir, which meets weekly and performs concerts for our residents,” says Miller.

Gardeners and singers living at Spanish Cove can find an outlet for their interests and make some new friends along the way, but these suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg. Other activities include book clubs, entertainment programs, community events, and trips to local museums, businesses and arenas. And the reason Spanish Cove offers such a wide range of ways to participate is important.

1. At the YMCA of Greater Tulsa, there are ample exercise options for seniors, from aerobics to weight training and everything in between.

Photo courtesy YMCA of Greater Tulsa

2. Holistic care at Covenant Living at Inverness includes healthy dining options and plenty of social events.

Photo courtesy CLE

3. Spanish Cove offers an array of activities for their residents, including a dragon boat paddling team which is the first of its kind in Oklahoma.

Photo courtesy Spanish Cove

“Spanish Cove believes the social dimension of wellness may be the most important for helping older adults live a life filled with purpose, meaning and engagement,” says Miller.

CLI is another example of a senior community that recognizes its residents’ need for connection. From the moment a new resident arrives, CLI is a warm and welcoming community, says resident life director Sharon Goforth. Other residents and staff welcome the newcomers and help them get connected. New residents can choose from mixers and community dinner options, live music performances to attend, and even opportunities to eat out with others.

“Our lounge opens for happy hour most nights with an opportunity to enjoy a drink – alcohol or not – and some good conversation,” she says.

Safety First

Just as staying connected with friends and family can become more of a challenge as the years add up, safety concerns tend to change and increase as well. While the basics of staying safe may not change, some of the peripheral considerations of safety may need to be reassessed.

Wearing a safety pendant is an option any senior might want to consider. This safety method used at CLI is instructed to be activated in the case of an unexpected medical emergency, according to Graham Woods, the community’s security and transportation manager. This device can then alert security personnel to a problem and give them the resident’s precise location.

Staying safe in changing weather conditions is something seniors should also keep in mind. While staying aware of weather may not be a new idea in Oklahoma, seniors’ ability to respond may change over time. Those living in a retirement community should be informed on where to go during a storm and think through how they will get there.

“Living in Tornado Alley, we take storm season seriously,” shares Woods. “[CLI has] two certified storm shelters that can house all of our residents, and we have security personnel trained to assist in a mass shelter-in-place should a tornado warning be issued in our immediate vicinity.”

Both CLI and Spanish Cove offer safety fairs and informational sessions to help seniors stay educated. These offer details on the latest internet and phone scams, as well as physical considerations for safety, financial planning, veterans’ benefits and assistance with medications.

Photo courtesy Spanish Cove

Photo courtesy Covenant Living at Inverness

Fit in Mind and Body

One important way seniors can contribute to their overall safety and wellbeing is by keeping physically fit. But the ways they exercise may look different between 35 and 75. Some programs or activities that worked during their younger years may not work for older adults.

“Physical activity is an important part of healthy aging,” says Lauren Kotrys, a nutritionist with YMCA of Greater Tulsa. “Understanding limitations plays an important role in finding the right type of exercise to participate in. As we age, we tend to lose muscle mass and balance, [and] stability becomes more challenging.”

Kotrys recommends three types of activity seniors should strive for on a weekly basis: moderate intensity aerobic activity, muscle strengthening and balance work.

Most retirement communities offer opportunities to stay fit.

“Spanish Cove offers an array of fitness options tailored to older adults,” says Miller. Its inclusive approach to wellness drives leadership to offer a broad scope of exercises. This includes yoga for balance, water exercise and line dancing for a heart-healthy aerobic workout, and Stretch and Strengthen for muscle mass improvement. They even have a senior dragon boat paddling team which was the first of its kind in the state, according to Miller.

But what signs should seniors watch for that indicate a certain exercise has become too much?

“When exercising, a good rule is: if it hurts, stop the exercise,” says Kotrys. “The main thing to remember is to execute proper form and body alignment throughout the exercise.”

She also recommends attending to a proper warm-up and cool down to ensure best benefits.

Eating Right

The other main consideration when it comes to staying healthy is your diet. But should diet change as people get older? Is there a need to eat less as metabolism slows?

Kotrys says the answer to that question is a solid “maybe.”

“If, with age, a more sedentary state finds you, then you may need to consume fewer calories overall to help balance out the inactivity,” she says. But if seniors maintain an active lifestyle, there may not be a need to decrease calories.

At CLI, Doris Hayden, dining manager, offers several guidelines to consider for eating in later years. Factors such as staying hydrated, as seniors are at higher risk of dehydration; watching fiber intake to ward off constipation; getting adequate lean protein, healthy fats, calcium and vitamin D; and focusing on nutrient dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy. Hayden also recommends checking with a healthcare provider or dietitian regularly to make sure things are on track.

Photo courtesy YMCA of Greater Tulsa

Photo courtesy Covenant Living at Inverness

The Need for Volunteers

In order to offer a wide range of activities and the connection that seniors need to age gracefully, many retirement communities rely on the services of volunteers.

“Our volunteers lead dance classes, play music, provide respite for caregivers and help with community projects,” says Miller at Spanish Cove, which is celebrating 50 years embedded in the Yukon community on Sept. 19. Spanish Cove also partners with several regional universities, bringing in students who work on developing products and services that allow seniors to more effectively age in place.

CLI has a similar need for volunteers to enrich the lives of its residents.

“Many of our programs can benefit from extra hands, such as arts and crafts classes,” says Goforth. She describes how volunteer musicians offer performances for residents and assist with worship services. Other volunteers help seniors enjoy the beautiful campus by gardening or merely basking in the sunshine together. There is a need for volunteers working with residents with dementia.

“If you have a skill or just a heart to serve, we can work with you to find a way,” says Goforth.

Home Care that Puts You First

first home care

we’ve been a source of strength and stability to others since 1966. Our holistic approach to care engages the mind, body, spirit and family to provide an optimal care experience. From a few hours a week to full-time care, our compassionate caregivers can assist with bathing, meals, transportation and more. Discover a home care provider that puts you first.

Call us today for a complimentary, in-home evaluation!

Surrounded by 190 stunning scenic acres, yet only 15 minutes from downtown Tulsa, Covenant Living at Inverness offers you every opportunity to live your best life. Choose from an array of elegant residences and enjoy amenities you won’t find elsewhere— including the added security of priority access to high-quality, on-campus care if ever required.

So go ahead: set new goals and find renewed purpose—we’ll help you every step of the way, letting you live life with promise.

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FALL Festival

PREVIEW

We’re finally entering the beautiful phase of Oklahoma festival season, where the weather cools and the social events heat up. In the following pages you’ll find gatherings for every interest, ranging from celebrations of culture to food, sports and art.

By Mary Willa Allen

Bluegrass & Chili Festival

You’ll want to make your way to downtown Pryor on Sept. 6-7 for the annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival. A perfect combination of live music, shopping, dining and family-friendly entertainment, there’s a reason this free event has remained an Oklahoma favorite for so long.

Just a few of the activities include a car show with 50 class specifications, a tractor show hosted by the Oklahoma Antique Tractor Association, a Kiddie Koral with crafts, inflatables and kid-centric activities, as well as the Junior Showcase, where singers, dancers and musicians under 21 have the chance to perform in front of enthusiastic festival crowds.

Musical guests are ample, including Edgar Loudermilk Band, Rhona Vincent, and Lonesome River Band. Last but not least, remember to venture to the chili cook-off, replete with cash prizes. The winner even advances to the World Championship Chili Cookoff in Myrtle Beach, S.C.! For more info about the festival, visit bluegrasschilifest.com.

OKC & Tulsa State Fairs

A quintessential American experience, there’s nothing quite like a trip to the fair. Luckily, both OKC and Tulsa are ushering back in their annual events – OKC’s Sept. 1222 and Tulsa’s Sept. 26-Oct. 6.

The Oklahoma State Fair, dubbed one of the top state fairs in North America, has everything you could want at the OKC Fairgrounds – agricultural showcases, family entertainment, educational exhibitions and exciting competitions. Make sure you stick around for live music on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage or buy tickets for the Disney on Ice performances.

In Tulsa, you won’t want to miss the city’s largest family event at Expo Square, providing even more educational experiences plus carnival rides, delicious food and world-class entertainment. For more information, visit okstatefair.com and tulsastatefair.com.

Photo courtesy Bluegrass & Chili Festival

Photo courtesy Oklahoma State Fair

Photo courtesy Tulsa State Fair

Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival

Through Sept. 1

Tvshka Homma Tribal Grounds, Tuskahoma choctawnation.com

Dusk ‘Til Dawn Blues Festival

Through Sept. 1

OK Blues Hall of Fame, Rentiesville dcminnerblues.com

Cherokee National Holiday

Through Sept. 1

Various locations, Tahlequah thecherokeeholiday.com

Bluegrass and Chili Festival

Sept. 6-7

Downtown Wagoner bluegrasschilifest.com

Coweta Fall Festival

Sept. 12-14

Hwy. 72 & Chestnut St., Coweta cowetachamber.com

Skiatook Pioneer Day Festival

Sept. 12-14

Skiatook Central Park skiatookchamber.com

Oklahoma State Fair

Sept. 12-22

Oklahoma State Fair Park, OKC okstatefair.com

Scotfest

Sept. 13-15

Central Park, Broken Arrow okscotfest.com

Wine & Art Festival

Sept. 14

150 N. Front St., Eufaula visioneufaula.org

Los Festivales y Mercados:

Día de Independencia de México

Sept. 14

1 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa visitkendallwhittier.com

Fright Fest

Sept. 14-Oct. 27

Frontier City, OKC sixflags.com/frontiercity

Tulsa Greek Festival

Sept. 19-21

1222 S. Guthrie, Tulsa tulsagreekfestival.com

McNellie’s Harvest Beer Festival

Sept. 21

Drillers Stadium Concourse, Tulsa mcnellies.com

World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival & Cook-Oﬀ

Sept. 21

Will Rogers Rodeo Arena, Vinita greencountryok.com

Grape Stomp Festival

Sept. 22

Canadian River Winery, Lexington canadianriverwinery.net

India Food & Arts Festival

Sept. 22

Scissortail Park, OKC iaok.org

Pumpkin Festival at Shepherd’s Cross

Sept. 24-Nov. 9

Shepherd’s Cross, Claremore shepherdscross.com/pumpkin-festival. html

Tallgrass Music Festival

Sept. 26-28

2967 W. 133rd St. N., Skiatook skiatooktallgrassfestival.com

Tulsa State Fair

Sept. 26-Oct. 6

Expo Square, Tulsa tulsastatefair.com

Tulsa Greek Festival

Never forget, always remember, Tulsa Greek Fest's the third week of September! Running Sept. 19-21, the Tulsa Greek Festival is your go-to celebration for all things Greek; in fact, you’ll find yourself transported to Santorini at the this annual affair, happening at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

Foodies, rejoice – the amount of delicious goodies you can try at this celebration are vast. Enjoy lamb, spanakopita (savory spinach pie), gyros, calamari, baklava and other delicacies like finikia (spiced cookies), kourambiedes (shortbread biscuits) and koulourakia (butter pastries).

You can also take your time exploring the market, perusing the local wares, jewelry, imported foods and other mustsees available for purchase.

Events range from a Toga Run to a 5K, church tours and wine tastings. Lastly, the live music and dancing at the Tulsa Greek Festival are a can’t-miss. You can tap your toes to the beat or jump up and dance yourself! For more information, visit tulsagreekfestival.com.

Oklahoma Heritage Farm Fall Festival

As the leaves turn and everything gets a little cooler, it’s time for one thing: the Oklahoma Heritage Farm Fall Festival, happening Sept. 28-Nov. 3 at Ramona’s Oklahoma Heritage Farm. Enjoy all this family-owned, fully functioning farm has to offer – which includes dozens of activities for kids and kids at heart.

Firstly, try your hand at pumpkin slingshots, which are just as fun as they sound. Venture to the paintball arcade if you dare, or try the more relaxing rock painting events. You can also explore the 11-acre maze or the pumpkin decorating tent for extra entertainment.

Other family friendly events include hayrides, train rides, Western reenactments, a petting zoo, duck races, photo booths, giant slides, giant checkers and ring tosses. In short, you and the kiddos will never get bored! For more information about the festival, visit okheritagefarm.com.

Broken Arrow Rose Festival & Chalk It Up Arts Festival

Free, wholesome fun is the name of the game at this combined festival extravaganza – the Broken Arrow Rose Festival and Chalk It Up Arts Festival, happening Sept. 27-29.

Named by USA Today as one of the 50 Most Charming Main Streets in America, Broken Arrow’s Rose District welcomes you for art competitions, educational programming, a Kid Zone, street performers, stilt-walkers, arts and crafts booths, dazzling light shows and wares for sale by talented local artists.

On Sunday, venture to Nienhuis Park for the Rose Kites Over Broken Arrow event. There, the Tulsa Wind Riders Kite Club will fly its kites, have a candy drop and even demonstrate kite fighting. All events are free to the public. Read more at keepbabeautiful.org/rose-festival.

Photo courtesy the Tulsa Greek Festival

Photo courtesy Oklahoma Heritage Farm

Photo courtesy the City of Broken Arrow

Oklahoma Regatta Festival

The Oklahoma City University Head of the Oklahoma Regatta celebrates its 20th anniversary this year – and there’s so much to enjoy.

Described as a “three-day celebration of rowing, kayaking, dragon boating, whitewater rafting and family fun,” the festival runs Oct. 4 through 6 at RiverSport OKC.

The festival includes a variety of waterbased competitions you won’t want to miss. On night one, enjoy NightSprints competitions as well as RiverSport rowing and dragon boat league championships, followed by a fireworks finale. Saturday welcomes similar activities, while Sunday ushers in ‘Paddlemania’ – a non-competitive event and competition open to rowers and paddlers of all skill levels.

Excellent for spectating, the Oklahoma Regatta Festival also welcomes live entertainment, food trucks and other events to enjoy from the peaceful expanse of dry land. For more information, visit riversportokc.org.

Rock Island Arts Festival

Chickasha’s Rock Island Depot hosts the annual Rock Island Arts Festival, running from Sept. 27-28. Art is the main draw at this event, with creative displays and art-based activities to enjoy. Peruse works from local vendors ranging from photography to jewelry, sculptures, paintings, wood crafts and everything in between.

Get a tattoo in the henna tent, or visit the wine and beer garden for adult beverages. You can also jam out with local musicians, including Moe Mitchell, the Papa T Project, and Solemn Road. Local food trucks will be on hand to satisfy any craving – from kettle corn to hot dogs, bundt cakes and beef jerky. For more information, visit rockislandartsfestival.org.

Tulsa Oktoberfest

You know it, you love it, you visit every year: It’s Tulsa Oktoberfest!

This year marks the celebration’s 45th anniversary – and leadership isn’t taking that milestone lightly. Annual beloved events return, of course – ranging from bier barrel racing to stein hosting, dachshund races, live music and kid’s events. You’ll also enjoy the Huge Zelts (tents) with an array of entertainment and cuisine offerings – including 200+ different biers and any German delicacy you can think of.

Carnival rides are on hand for those looking for a little bit more adrenaline, alongside arts, crafts, games and competitions for the daring among you. Bring the kiddos on Zeeco Family Free Day, Friday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Modeled after the Oktoberfest Munich in Bavaria, Germany, Tulsa Oktoberfest flies in authentic bands from Germany, and the event was named a top five Oktoberfest by USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler Magazine and Orbitz. The event runs Oct. 17-20 at River West Festival Park; get your tickets at tulsaoktoberfest.org.

Chalk It Up! An Art Festival

Sept. 27-28

Broken Arrow Rose District artsok.org/chalkitup

Rock Island Arts Festival

Sept. 27-28

Rock Island Depot, Chickasha rockislandartsfestival.org

Fin and Feather Fall Festival

Sept. 27-29

Fin and Feather Resort, Gore finandfeatherresort.com

International Festival Sept. 27-29

Elmer Thomas Park, Lawton lawtonok.gov

Broken Arrow Rose Festival Sept. 27-29

302 S. Main St., Broken Arrow keepbabeautiful.org

Okeene Germanfest

Sept. 28

101 N. Main St., Okeene okeenegermanfest.com

Plaza District Festival

Sept. 28

Plaza District, OKC plazafest.org

Fiestas de las Americas Sept. 28

Calle Dos Cinco, OKC historiccapitolhill.com/fiestas-de-lasamericas

Oklahoma Heritage Farm Fall Festival

Sept. 28 to Nov. 3

38512 U.S. Hwy 75, Ramona okheritagefarm.com

Mesta Festa Sept. 29

Perle Mesta Park, OKC mestapark.org

Pelican Festival Oct. 3-6

Wolf Creek Park, Grove pelicanfestok.com

Asian District Night Market Festival Oct. 4-5

Military Park, OKC asiandistrictok.com

Oklahoma Regatta Festival Oct. 4-6

Riversport OKC riversportokc.org

Hydro Harvest Festival Oct. 5

Main Street, Hydro facebook.com/hydroharvestfestival

Holdenville Fall Festival & Car Show Oct. 5

E. Main St., Holdenville holdenvillechamber.com

Oklahoma Czech Festival Oct. 5

Main Street, Yukon czechfestivaloklahoma.com

Oklahoma’s International Bluegrass Festival Oct. 10-12

Cottonwood Flats, Guthrie oibf.com

Red Brick Road Film Festival Oct. 10-13

Downtown, Paulls Valley washitariverfilmsociety.org

Watonga Cheese and Wine Festival Oct. 11-12

Downtown Watonga watongaok.gov

Photos courtesy the Rock Island Arts Festival

Photo by Georgia Read/Riversport OKC

Photo courtesy Tulsa Oktoberfest

Oklahoma Highland Gathering Oct. 11-13

Choctaw Creek Park, Choctaw unitedscotsok.com

Chisholm Trail Festival Oct. 12

Mollie Spencer Farm, Yukon yukonok.gov

Indigenous Peoples Day Oct. 14

First Americans Museum, OKC famok.org/IPD Tulsa Oktoberfest Oct. 17-20

River West Festival Park, Tulsa tulsaoktoberfest.org

Poteau Balloon Festival Oct. 18-19

LeFlore County Fairgrounds, Poteau poteauchamber.com

Arcadia Route 66 Neonfest Oct. 18-20

13100 E. Old Hwy. 66, Arcadia facebook.com/ArcadiaNeonFest

Red Earth Parade and FallFest Powwow Oct. 19

Myriad Botanical Gardens, OKC redearth.org/events

Guthrie Wine Festival Oct. 19

108 N. Wentz St., Guthrie heirdevents.com/calendar

Kendall Whittier Art Festival Oct. 19

Kendall Whittier Art Festival, Tulsa visitkendallwhittier.com

Route 66 Pecan & Music Festival Oct. 26-27

The Nut House, Claremore rt66pecanfest.com

Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival Oct. 30-Nov. 2

Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore dogirons.com

Boo on the Bricks Oct. 31

Downtown Pauls Valley paulsvalleychamber.com

Made in Oklahoma Handmade Christmas Fest

Nov. 1-2

Will Rogers Downs Event Center, Claremore visitclaremore.com

Dia de los Muertos Festival Nov. 1 Living Arts of Tulsa livingarts.org

Beavers Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show Nov. 8-10

Beavers Bend State Park, Broken Bow ag.ok.gov

Chickasha Festival of Light Nov. 23-Dec. 31

2400 S. Ninth St., Chickasha chickashafestivaloflight.org

Route 66 Christmas Chute Nov. 14-Dec. 29

101 E. Dewey Ave., Sapulpa route66christmaschute.com

Route 66 Christmas Chute

It’s never too early to get excited about the holidays, right? Right!

Preparations are already well underway for the exciting return of the Route 66 Christmas Chute in downtown Sapulpa.

There, you can enjoy 32,000 square feet of walkable holiday decor – you’ll be gliding under canopies filled with gorgeous Christmas decorations and ornaments, all following one of ten ultra-festive themes.

This heartwarming holiday experience comes replete with plenty of food and drink, local goodies, entertainment and more – all perfect to get you in the holiday spirit. New in 2024 will be the Merry Market, a wonderland of local vendors selling holiday-centric and day-to-day wares.

The Christmas Chute runs Nov. 14-Dec. 29. Visit route66christmaschute.com for more information.

Red Earth Fallfest

You can celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and the many contributions Native Americans have made to our state at the annual Red Earth Fallfest, happening Oct. 19 at Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown OKC.

There, you can witness an exciting parade with a variety of Oklahoma-based tribes dressed in their authentic regalia. Stick around for a stunning arts and crafts market where you can pick up a variety of wares. Don't forget to stick around and spectate during the thrilling youth powwow event.

All outdoors on the gorgeous Myriad lawns, the festival encourages visitors to bring lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic to enjoy the day of free, family-friendly activities.

For more information on the celebration, visit redearth.org.

Photo courtesy Red Earth Fallfest

Photo courtesy the Sapulpa Christmas Chute

FOOD, DRINK AND OTHER PLEASURES

Made with Love

Stellar design, delicious food, welcoming employees and whimsical drinks make The Pump Tulsa’s newest must-visit.

Charming, restless, a bundle of kinetic energy, Hailey McDermid is larger than life. Her grandfather was a Hollywood producer, but even his best screenwriter couldn’t have dreamed up Hailey’s backstory.

Her mother was a beatnik poet and psychologist, her father was a hippie from Fresno, and Hailey grew up in a toy store in Tucson. When Hailey was 17, her mom fell in love with said psychologist from Oklahoma, and so

they left the family toy store and moved here.

Hailey soon fell in love with and married the son of an English architect who had, years earlier, fallen in love with an Oklahoma farm girl and relocated to Oklahoma City. There’s a lot of love in this cinematic tale, and also an architect, so it’s no surprise that a few years later Hailey McDermid opened a big, exuberant bar in Oklahoma City: The Pump. She’s recently opened one in Tulsa, too.

“Going to a bar should be like going to Disneyland,” she says. “It should be magic!”

And if you go to her bar, it is. If you read articles about the original Pump in Oklahoma City, the words and phrases you’ll see most often are “wild,” “fun,” “good to employees,” and “great food.” McDermid has brought all this positive energy to the Tulsa location.

“My love language is celebration,” she says. “I want you to feel like you’re in someone’s home having good cocktails. We have bikers sitting next to businessmen sitting next to drag queens, and they’re all having a good time. All drinking together, and it’s loud. I like being free and uninhibited, and I’ve brought that to the bar.”

Hailey designed the drinks, and they’re glorious. There’s the Black Betty, for example. McDermid takes fresh blackberries, blackberry jam and mint, and blends them in a food processor. Then she adds gin and freshly squeezed lemon juice and tops it with Squirt grapefruit soda.

McDermid also designed the bar’s eye-popping, colorful decor, full of her favorite 1960s icons. There’s Barbarella, there’s Elvis, there’s a big friendly space alien named Station.

The hummus plate at The Pump comes with marinated cucumbers, onion, tomato, feta crumble, mixed olives and grilled pita. Photos by Stephanie Phillips

The Elvis sandwich comes with flambéed bananas, bacon and peanut butter with a side of tater tots.

“I am nostalgia-driven,” she says. “I am in love with a time I was never part of and probably would hate if I were there.”

There’s food, and it too, in one important way, hearkens back to an earlier era. Just about everything – marinades, sauces, jams, the works – is made in-house, with much time, thought and care put in. For that, McDermid called in Justin Carroll. You might remember his wildly popular barbecue stand at Mother Road Market –1907 Barbecue.

“We wanted really good bar food,” he says. And that idea almost never works. Until now.

There are sandwiches you can’t stop eating. The Tony, for instance. It’s named after Anthony Bourdain and it’s loaded with sliced mortadella – “that’s fancy bologna,” explains Carroll – and melted provolone cheese on a brioche bun from Tom Cat artisanal bakery in New York.

“It’s greasy, it’s soft, it’s cheesy, it’s the perfect late night snack,” he says.

And then there’s the Elvis.

“Everyone knows his favorite sandwich,” Carroll says, “but we elevate it.” They douse bananas with Bumbu rum from Barbados, light in on fire, put it on Tom Cat bread with thick house-made bacon and peanut butter.

They also have four kinds of tater tot dishes. One is the Bougie. It has housemade garlic aioli and bacon jam. Another is the Trashy, featuring green chile queso and bacon, inspired by a dish served in a tiny diner in Salina that Carroll’s wife loves. He found that shaking on salt doesn’t spread evenly, so he dissolves smoked sea salt in water and sprays it on the tots. It’s details like that which make the food so good.

That, and, as Carroll says, “it’s made with love, man. I have such a good kitchen crew, and they care.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

Frank and Lola’s

Self-described as a neighborhood restaurant and bar, Frank & Lola’s sits pretty in the heart of historic downtown Bartlesville. There, you’ll find high-quality American cuisine in a family friendly atmosphere.

Begin with green chili cheese fries, calamari or loaded cheese fries. If you’re still hungry after that, you’re in luck! There are plenty of tempting entrees to try. Enjoy the salmon, pan-roasted with a sweet Thai glaze, served over jasmine rice with Asian slaw and red curry cream sauce. For something heartier, try the pulled pork with jasmine rice, garlic aioli, pico de gallo and warm flour tortillas ... or the 12 oz. ribeye with roasted garlic and rosemary butter. The penne pasta and patty melt are pretty delicious, too.

The burgers and sandwiches are all served with your choice or fresh fruit or chips. Options include the green chili burger, an open-faced delicacy smothered in green chili and cheese, as well as the honey pecan chicken salad sandwich on fresh wheat berry bread. Don’t miss the fried catfish sandwich and the B.L.T.

Salads include the classic bleu cheese wedge, along with the Cashew Quinoa with wasabi ginger vinaigrette, edamame, quinoa, fresh veggies and chopped cashews, or the Sweet Field with crumbled bleu cheese, red onions, candied pecans and sweet balsamic. You’ll want to stick around for dessert – they offer a chocolate espresso brownie as well as a bread pudding replete with bourbon sauce and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. No matter your choice, you'll leave happy.

Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co.

You’ll wake up on the right side of the bed every day if you make a visit to Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co., with several locations in the OKC/ Edmond area.

If the name didn’t give it away, biscuits are the star of the show at Hunny Bunny. You’ll find ample selections of biscuit sandwiches to start your journey. Those looking for something simple can try the Classic, with bacon, ham or sausage plus cheese and egg, or the Basic Chick, with fried chicken and honey. Other popular iterations include the Jefe, with smashed avocado, sausage and egg; the Velvet Elvis, with peanut butter, banana, bacon and honey; the Veggie Scramble, with two eggs, spinach, mushrooms, red bell peppers, onions and goat cheese; and the Croque Madame, with ham, Gruyère, Mornay sauce and egg.

Biscuit Bennys – or benedicts – are another popular section of the menu, all coming with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce. Favorites include the Pork Chile with pulled pork and green chile sauce; the Smoked Salmon with arugula and salmon; the Southern with ham and collard greens; and the Cali with arugula, tomato and avocado.

For something heartier, diners can choose plate or bowl options. Enjoy a chicken pot pie, crispy chicken salad, sunrise bowl with fruit and granola, or the Holly Bowl, with tater tots, diced ham, peppers, mushrooms, onion, cheese and egg.

MARY WILLA ALLEN

The Black Betty comes with gin, blackberry brandy, mint, lemon, blackberries and Squirt soda.

Photo courtesy Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co.

Photo courtesy Frank and Lola’s

On A Mission to Nourish

Chef Beth Lyon goes back to (delicious) basics at Milo.

Milo, located adjacent to the Ellison Hotel in Oklahoma City, pays homage to the Oklahoma-grown grain sorghum (also called milo). The restaurant is reveling in the talents of its new executive chef, Beth

Lyon, who brings 25+ years of culinary experience and plenty of dynamic vision.

“If you couldn’t grow food, you weren’t eating,” says Lyon in reference to American history – the Dust Bowl and World War II eras – growing grains and raising farm animals. “My grandmother had a Victory Garden. She canned and preserved and she came from a family of sharecroppers. She had a sand plum tree, and she made sand plum jelly. I had no culinary training except for watching my grandmother.”

But at age 15, Lyon roller skated into the now-closed Coit’s Root-Beer Drive-In as a carhop, her first foray into the food service industry. Later, she was the general manager of Irma’s Burger Shack, owned by OKC culinary big wigs Kurt Fleischfresser and Chris Lower.

“We did a ribeye dinner, and I watched Kurt cook,” says Lyon. “He moved and danced around the kitchen, and he had an ease when he cooked. I knew in that moment that I wanted to start cooking, and I wanted to do it with him.”

Lyon told Fleischfresser she wanted a transition into the kitchen – and into a full-time culinary career. He sent her to Sushi Neko, where she huddled over hot grease as a fry cook. She moved on as a mixologist and bartender at the Green Door, Flip’s Wine Bar, and the Lobby Bar. She was also accepted into Kleischfresser’s Coach House apprenticeship after a twoyear wait. She is one of only three female graduates.

“I think Kurt recognized my raw willingness and determination, because I was very green when I started at Coach House,” says Lyon.

In all, Lyon has certainly earned her stripes – she’s waited tables, washed

dishes, bussed, swept parking lots, tended bar – the list goes on.

Now, Lyon orchestrates Milo’s mouthwatering dining experiences, giving patrons an elevated taste of Oklahoma. Milo sources Oklahoma flavors from local producers such as Prairie Earth Gardens, Creekstone Farms Beef, Center of Family Love, Red Bird Chicken, and Benjamin Lee Bison.

Diners have plenty of options, whether they’re pining for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. The menu is Okie-packed with everything from steel cut oats with cinnamon sorghum butter to bison Bolognese, beef tartare, caviar-topped fried okra, crab cakes, prime rib eye and shrimp and grits. There are plenty of delicious desserts, as well, including seasonal cobbler and mixed berry shortcake.

Since taking the helm at Milo, Lyon has been “using quality ingredients, adding local produce and presenting things in a simple way,” she says. “Oklahoma cuisine, indigenous expired, red clay grown, pasture raised meat, proper technique in making sauces. [We also have] really beautiful seasonal produce that includes fall and winter root vegetables – that’s how people survived in fall and winter.”

Going back to basics, Lyon says, has served her well.

“I can nourish people with food – the fundamental exchange of energy between people,” she says. “To have someone cook you a meal, and you feel so cared for and so loved – this is truly the reason I’m here.”

CAROL MOWDY BOND

Beth Lyon, executive chef at Milo, is passionate about presenting elevated Oklahoma flavors. Photos courtesy Milo

Pupuseria Mi Chalateca

For those with a craving for authentic Salvadoran cuisine, Pupuseria Mi Chalateca in Oklahoma City is your golden ticket. Using only the freshest ingredients, Pupuseria strives to present its diners with the best possible meal, every time.

The restaurant, open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Wednesdays, offers several menu sections including antojitos (little cravings/appetizers), caldos (broths), Salvadoran specialties as well as a section just for the joint’s namesake dish: pupusas – or thick griddle cakes.

Begin with those little cravings that range from empanadas to tamales, pastelitos (puff pastries) and chicharron (fried pork). The main menu is sure to entice with plates like carne asada, pollo guisado (chicken stew) and pollo dorado (cooked chicken). Add in a side of broth, or try the Especialidad del Salvador – a pupusa, three empanadas, three pastelitos, a plantano frito (fried plantain) and yuca with chicharron.

Hop the Griﬀ in

A brewpub with live music and delicious eats, Hop the Griﬃn is an excellent holein-the-wall joint for Tulsans to visit.

Food at Hop the Griﬃn is ideal for a relaxed day at the pub. Try their tempting charcuterie boards; guests can pick their own cheeses, meats, nuts, breads and fruits. Add on with chips and queso/salsa/or guacamole, or enjoy a warm Bavarian pretzel.

Loaded nachos and chili are other highlights, alongside stonefire pizzas, pub rolls and seasonal desserts. Come for the food, stay for the beer – brewed onsite. Other draws include craft cocktails, wine and a variety of community events.

Bee Healthy Cafe

Healthy, affordable and delicious – those are the pillars at Bee Healthy Cafe, which has several locations in the OKC metro.

With personalization as a key priority, Bee Healthy’s entrees can be ordered as a salad, sandwich, wrap, bowl or melt. Highlights include the California Wrap, with grilled chicken, provolone, tomatoes, romaine and honey dijon on a whole wheat tortilla, as well as the Terlingua, with smoked turkey, pepper jack, tomatoes, romaine and chipotle mayo on honey wheat bread. Another popular choice is the Mediterranean quinoa bowl with grilled chicken, feta, tomatoes, black olives, basil pesto, spinach and quinoa. Not to be outdone, Bee Healthy also offers a smattering of smoothies as well as breakfast specialties like parfaits, breakfast melts and oatmeal.

Kendall’s Restaurant

The perfect spot to venture to on a road trip, Kendall’s Restaurant in Noble is a hidden gem that will knock you off your feet.

This distinctly American joint offers the types of dishes that will make you loosen your belt a couple of notches. Take the Widow Maker burger, for example, with two six-ounce beef patties, grilled ham, onions, pickles, ranch and barbecue sauce ... served on buns of grilled cheese sandwiches. Another is the original chicken fried steak country dinner, replete with your choice of potato, vegetable salad, biscuits or a cinnamon roll. Other must-tries include fried shrimp and catfish, hamburger steaks, triple decker club sandwiches and the chili cheese burger. In short – you won’t be leaving hungry.

A quick sidenote: Bring cash! Kendall’s does not accept credit or debit cards.

Photo courtesy Kendall’s

Photo courtesy Hop the Griffin

Photo courtesy Bee Healthy Cafe

Photo courtesy Pupuseria Mi Chalateca

Where & When

GREAT THINGS TO DO IN OKLAHOMA

EVENTS LISTED ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CHECK INDIVIDUAL WEBSITES FOR UPDATES.

IN TULSA Performances

TPAC Presents: Fiddler on the Roof Through Sept. 1 Tulsa PAC In pre-revolutionary Russia, a Jewish peasant with traditional values contends with marrying oﬀ three of his daughters with modern romantic ideals while growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens his village. tulsapac.com

Celebrity Attractions presents: Bluey's Big Play Sept. 3-4 Tulsa PAC When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! celebrityattractions.com

Theatre Tulsa presents: Waitress Sept. 7-21 Tulsa PAC Indulge in the sweet melodies of Waitress as Jenna, a diner worker with dreams as delicious as her pies, serves up a slice of life filled with love, friendship and the pursuit of dreams! theatretulsa.org

Tulsa Ballet presents: Creations in Studio K Sept. 13-22 Studio K The mission of Tulsa Ballet's Creations in Studio K program is commissioning new works by the most in-demand choreographers in the world. tulsaballet.org

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra presents: Ravel and Tchaikovsky Sept. 14 Tulsa PAC Join the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, guest conductor David Lockington and featured pianist Sean Chen for the opening of the spectacular 19th season. tulsasymphony.org

Paw Patrol Live! Heroes

Unite Sept. 21-22 Tulsa

PAC Calling all good citizens! The Paw Patrol is yelping for help as they face their greatest challenge yet. tulsapac.com

Chamber Music Tulsa presents: Formosa Quartet Sept. 21-22 Tulsa

PAC The Formosa Quartet has an insatiable appetite for new and unusual material. Their unique programs reflect their explorations of Asian and Western traditions, jazz and pop songs, and the rich musical heritages of the Americas. chambermusictulsa.org

American Theatre Company presents: Patrimony Sept. 27-Oct. 6 Tulsa PAC Patrimony, a new play whose secrets never seem to end, tells the story of a troubled teenager with no father who struggles to find one. tulsapac.com

PERFORMANCES

Season Openers Abound

September is a bustling month, as many creative arts companies kick off their seasons.

The Tulsa Performing Arts Center acts as a hub for a variety of shows. Begin with Theatre Tulsa’s Waitress, running Sept. 7-21. Following, Tulsa Symphony presents the opening of its 19th season with Ravel and Tchaikovsky on Sept. 14. Next up is Formosa Quartet, Sept. 21-22, courtesy Chamber Music Tulsa. (Psst – you can also see the quartet Sept. 24 at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts in Stillwater.) The TPAC’s run ends with American Theatre Company’s Patrimony, Sept. 27-Oct. 6, and The Screwtape Letters on Sept. 29. Tulsa Ballet kicks off its season at Studio K from Sept. 13-22 with Creations in Studio K, which commissions new works from in-demand choreographers. At the TCC Van Trease PACE, enjoy Signature Symphony’s first concert of the season, Three is a Party, on Sept. 28.

Much like the TPAC, the Civic Center Music Hall is OKC’s go-to for performances of all kinds. Begin with OKC Broadway’s Moulin Rouge! running Sept. 3-15. The arts company also brings Avatar – The Last Airbender in Concert and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert on Sept. 24 and 25, respectively. OKC Phil kicks off its indoor concert season at the Civic on Sept. 21 with Opening Night With Midori, but you can also venture to Scissortail Park on the 15th for an outdoor concert from the team – Sunday in the Park with Phil. Last at the Civic is the chilling tale of Lizzie Borden, performed by Painted Sky Opera on Sept. 26-29.

Other can't-miss shows around OKC are Renee Fleming, Sept. 12 at Edmond's Armstrong Auditorium; Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park’s Hamlet, Sept. 12-29 at the Shakespeare Gardens Outdoor Amphitheatre; OKC Ballet’s season kick-off, Ballet Under the Stars, Sept. 13 at Scissortail Park; and Lyric Theatre’s Once On This Island, Sept. 18-Oct. 6 at Lyric at the Plaza. At McKnight Center for the Performing Arts in Stillwater, you can also enjoy Idina Menzel Sept. 13 and Grace Potter on Sept. 20.

Signature Symphony presents: Three is a Party Sept. 28 TCC Van Trease PACE The Signature Symphony season kicks oﬀ with genre-defying Project Trio and their “wide appeal, subversive humor and first-rate playing,” according to the Wall Street Journal. signaturesymphony.org

The Screwtape Letters Sept.

29 Tulsa PAC A battle is being waged for your soul from an oﬀice in hell! Witness a fast-paced, tour-de-force performance in this acclaimed adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ satiric masterpiece. tulsapac.com

Concerts

Coheed and Cambria Sept.

5 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Enjoy this rock band live for one night only. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Ghostland Observatory Sept.

5 Cain's Ballroom Ghostland Observatory is an American music duo based in Austin, Texas. cainsballroom.com

Wynonna Judd Sept. 7 River Spirit Casino Resort A legend of country music takes the stage. riverspirittulsa.com

John Anderson Sept.

12 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa See the country music Hall-of-Famer during an acoustic set. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Sept. 14 River Spirit Casino Resort Joan Jett grew up during a time when rock ‘n’ roll was oﬀ limits to girls and women, but as a teenager, she promptly blew the door to the boys’ club right oﬀ its hinges. riverspirittulsa.com

Benjamin Tod & the Lost Dog Street Band Sept.

17 Cain's Ballroom Benjamin Tod Flippo is an American singersongwriter. cainsballroom.com

The Avett Brothers Sept. 18 BOK Center The Avett Brothers are coming to BOK Center with special guest Jamestown Revival. bokcenter.com

Cole Swindell Sept. 19 River Spirit Casino Resort Country music superstar Cole Swindell released his fourth studio album, Stereotype, to massive success. riverspirittulsa. com

Junior H Sept. 20 BOK Center Junior H is bringing the Sad Boyz Mania Tour to BOK Center. bokcenter.com

Barenaked Ladies Sept. 24 Tulsa Theatre See the band with special guest the Wet Sprocket. tulsatheatre.com

Jamey Johnson Sept. 28 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Enjoy this crooner at the Hard Rock. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Art

Dreams: An Exploration of the Strange and Unusual Sept. 6-Oct. 12 Living Arts This showcase entices the mind to explore the ideals of the “strange and unusual." livingarts.org

Spartan Boys: A Tulsa Jewish Love Story Through Sept. 9 Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art In partnership with the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, this historical exhibit is dedicated to the story of the Spartan School of Aeronautics. jewishmuseumtulsa. org

Natural Rhythms: Hayley Nichols & Nic Annette Miller Through Sept. 21 108 Contemporary Natural Rhythms is an exhibition featuring the mixedmedia artwork of Tulsa-based artists Nic Annette Miller and Hayley Nichols. 108contemporary.org

American Artists, American Stories from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1776–1976 Sept. 25Dec. 29 Philbrook Two hundred years, over one hundred works of art, and countless stories of artists and the people, places and events they chose to represent lie within this new exhibition. philbrook.org

Beyond the Mold: Unpacking Ken Doll's Evolution Through Nov. 3 Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Enter the world of American masculinity and pop culture through the lens of the iconic Ken Doll and his companions in Beyond the Mold: Unpacking Ken Doll’s Evolution. jewishmuseumtulsa.org

Eduardo Sarabia: Ceiba Sagrada Through Dec. 28 Philbrook Los Angeles-born, Mexico-based Eduardo Sarabia has become one of the better-known artistic voices of his generation for using materials and imagery associated with street culture, craft and folk history to draw connections between his personal story and the narrative of Mexico. philbrook.org

Here Be Dragons: Mapping the Real and

Imagined Through Dec. 29 Philbrook This exhibition presents artworks from the Philbrook collection that span over three hundred years of history, and that build a sense of place, whether real or imagined. philbrook.org

Timo Fahler: Shrug Atlas Through Dec. 29 Philbrook Today, artist Timo Fahler is known for artworks that combine earth, stained glass, metal rebar, plaster and other materials to speak to the history of land and labor through material and form. philbrook.org

Jacob’s Ladder Through Dec. 31 Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art The Museum’s archives are home to many imaginative winged beings. Join Sherwin Miller on a trip up Jacob’s Ladder and encounter these charming and artistic pieces from the collection. jewishmuseumtulsa.org

Curator’s Curios Through Dec. 31 Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Digging deep into the Museum’s massive Judaica collection, curator Sofia Thornblad displays her all-time favorites from oil paintings by Theodore Freid to fun vintage Israeli posters. jewishmuseumtulsa.org

Photo by Jana Carson

OKC BALLET

Slumgullion: The Venerate Outpost

Ongoing Philbrook Philbrook is proud to partner with award-winning artist Karl Unnasch to present Slumgullion, a full-scale log cabin built from the skeleton of a late-1800s pioneer home. philbrook.org

Sports

Tulsa Reining Classic Through Sept. 1 Expo Square See equestrians and their horses compete for top prizes. 100xshows.com

Tulsa FC Soccer

Matches Sept. 1, 11, 14 ONEOK

Field Tulsa's pro soccer team takes on regular season opponents. fctulsa.com

Tulsa Drillers Baseball Sept.

3-8 ONEOK Stadium America’s favorite pastime ends its season with a bang. milb.com/tulsa

University of Tulsa

Football Sept. 14 H.A. Chapman Stadium See the Golden Hurricane play at home this month. tulsahurricane.com

U.S. Final Taekwondo

Championship Sept. 20-22 Cox Business Convention Center Some of the nation's best taekwondo athletes compete. coxcentertulsa. com

Simulcast Horse

Racing Through Nov. 2 Expo Square Place your bets for one of Tulsa's most exciting equine events. exposquare.com

Community

Tinkerfest Sept. 7 Discovery

Lab This one-day celebration of creativity, curiosity and innovation invites visitors to dive into a full day of hands-on tinkering and exploration. discoverylab.org

Conquer the Gauntlet Obstacle Race Sept. 7 181 Ranch, Bixby Conquer the Gauntlet is a challenging four-mile obstacle course and adventure race that features over 30 obstacles. conquerthegauntlet. com

First Friday Art Crawl Sept.

7 Downtown On the first Friday of every month, guests will be able to see a new exhibit opening and enjoy live music, a cash bar and snacks. humanities.utulsa.edu

Tucker Carlson Live Sept.

11 BOK Center See the conservative commentator with Dan Bongino. bokcenter.com

Tulsa Town Hall presents: Dr. Sanjay Gupta Sept.

13 Tulsa PAC Dr. Sanjay Gupta is best known for his captivating reports on health and medical topics. His insightful work is featured across CNN, and in several New York Times bestselling books. tulsatownhall.com

Day of Caring Sept.

13 Citywide Join the Tulsa Area United Way for a transformative day of community service and experience the heart of Tulsa in action. tauw.org

McNellie's Harvest Beer Festival Sept. 21 Drillers

Stadium Concourse Head to downtown Tulsa for a celebration of craft beer at the McNellie's Harvest Beer Festival. mcnellies. com

Pumpkin Festival at Shepherd's Cross Sept. 24-Nov. 9 Shepherd's Cross, Claremore Celebrate fall with pumpkins, hayrides and harvest educational activities at Shepherd's Cross, an authentic working farm in Claremore. shepherdscross.com

Tulsa State Fair Sept.

26-Oct. 6 Expo Square The Tulsa State Fair is the city's largest family event, providing educational experiences and entertainment during an 11-day span. tulsastatefair.com

Charitable Events

Vision Dinner Sept. 5 Cox

Business Convention Center Vision Dinner, hosted by the Tulsa Community College Foundation, celebrates community champions of education and raises funds to benefit students through scholarships, internships, textbook vouchers, technology and more. tccfoundation.org

Gold Metal Gala Sept.

5 Southern Hills Country Club The Gold Medal Gala is Oklahoma’s premier gala celebrating people with intellectual disabilities and the Special Olympics movement in Oklahoma. sook.org

Kaleidoscope Ball Sept.

6 Cox Business Convention Center Kaleidoscope Ball, Emergency Infant Services’ annual benefit, ensures continued assistance to more than 37,000 babies and children each year. eiskball.org

Red Line Gala Sept. 7 Cox

Business Convention Center The Red Line Gala benefits the Tulsa Firefighter’s Benevolent Fund, which is dedicated to helping out firefighters and their families in times of need. edlinegala.com

Flight Night Sept. 12 Tulsa Tech

Riverside Campus Flight Night is Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance’s signature fundraising event that powers transformative STEM learning opportunities for tens of

SPORTS

thousands of students across the state. flightnight.tulsastem.org

Western Days Sept. 12 Cox

Business Convention Center Saint Simeon’s Foundation’s Western Days is a not-to-be-missed night of delicious food, delightful entertainment and diﬀerencemaking fundraising. saintsimeons.

org

Waltz World Tour Sept. 13 Tulsa Zoo Every ticket is a first-class experience on this roaming culinary adventure around the world, celebrating four of the regions the Tulsa Zoo's animals call home. waltzonthewildside.org

Reconciliation in America

National Symposium Sept. 15 University of Tulsa Enjoy the fourth section of this year-long lecture series: Afro-Indigenous Intersections, Past and Present: Through the Lens of Women jhfnationalsymposium.org

Champions of Health Sept.

19 Cox Business Convention Center Join Champions of Health as they celebrate the people and organizations that are making a positive impact on the health of our state through innovative programs. The proceeds from the event benefit The Oklahoma Caring Foundation. championsofhealth.org

Street Party Sept. 21 Acension St. John Medical Center Enjoy this outdoor tailgate party to raise funds for Ascension St. John. givestjohn.

org

DIVAS 4 H.O.P.E.: Divas Got

Soul Sept. 27 Cox Business Convention Center Join Health Outreach Prevention Education, Inc. (H.O.P.E.) as they collectively gather to support the work of H.O.P.E. and its critical role in the health and safety of Green Country. divas4hope.org

IN OKC

Performances

OKC Broadway presents: Moulin Rouge! Sept. 3-15 Civic

Football’s Back!

Center Music Hall Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eyepopping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! okcbroadway.com

Renée Fleming Sept. 12 Armstrong Auditorium The evening will span the classical, romantic and contemporary eras, with beloved songs and new commissions exploring nature as both inspiration and victim of humanity. armstrongauditorium. org

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park presents: Hamlet Sept. 1229 Shakespeare Gardens Outdoor Amphitheatre Following the untimely marriage of his uncle, Claudius, to his mother, Gertrude, the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, is visited by the ghost of his deceased father, whom he learns was murdered by his uncle. okshakes.org

OKC Ballet presents: Ballet Under the Stars Sept. 13 Scissortail Park Enjoy selections from some of classical ballet’s most beloved dances plus new contemporary choreography for a fast-paced, eclectic showcase. okcballet.org

OKC Phil presents: Sunday in the Park with Phil Sept. 15 Scissortail Park Enjoy a free concert in the great outdoors to kick oﬀ OKC Phil's season. okcphil. org

Lyric Theatre presents: Once On This Island Sept. 18-Oct. 6 Lyric at the Plaza This show tells the Caribbean-inspired tale of Ti Moune, a peasant girl, who rescues a wealthy boy from the other side of the island, Daniel, with whom she falls in love – despite the island’s societal norms. lyrictheatreokc.com

OKC Phil presents: Opening night with Midori Sept. 21 Civic Center Music Hall Enjoy the first indoor concert of the season with OKC Phil and special guest, Midori. okcphil.org

It’s time once again for football season – but Oklahoma also harbors other sporting events to get you pumped.

OKC Broadway presents: Avatar – The Last Airbender in Concert Sept. 24 Civic Center Music Hall Avatar: The Last Airbender In Concert presents an live orchestral rendition of the series’ iconic soundtrack, paired with a nearly two-hour special recap of the animated series' three seasons. okcbroadway.com

OKC Broadway Presents: Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Live In Concert Sept. 25 Civic Center Music Hall The upcoming spectacle will feature the movie showcased on a colossal HD screen, complemented by a diverse ensemble of musicians and instrumentalists. okcbroadway. com

Painted Sky Opera presents: Lizzie Borden Sept. 2629 Civic Center Music Hall Lizzie Borden has a diﬀicult relationship with her blustering father and her scheming step-mother. Some might even say that Lizzie has an axe to grind with her parents... paintedskyopera.org

Concerts

$uicideboy$ Sept. 11 Paycom

Center G59 Record$ and New Orleans duo $uicideboy$ are returning with their annual Grey Day Tour. paycomcenter.com

Theo Von: Return of the Rat Sept. 25 Paycom

Center Comedian and podcast host Theo Von is bringing his Return of the Rat tour to Oklahoma City. paycomcenter.com

Hozier Sept. 26 Paycom

Center Hozier is bringing his historic Unreal Unearth Tour to Oklahoma City along with special guest Allison Russell. paycomcenter.com

Art

The Western Trail: The Greatest Cattle Trail of Them All at 150 Sept.

13-Nov. 17 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Center Enjoy an art exhibition dedicated to the largest cattle trail in the U.S. nationalcowboymuseum.org

Cheyenne Ledger Art from Fort Marion Sept. 13-Jan.

5 This exhibition is curated by Dr. Eric Singleton, curator of Native American Art and Ethnology and Director of Language and Culture Programs at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Gordon Ellowman. nationalcowboymuseum.org

Chase Earles: The History of Caddo Pottery Sept. 28 Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, Norman During this free, public event, Earles delves into the fascinating history of Caddo pottery, sharing techniques passed down through generations. samnoblemuseum. ou.edu

Edith Head: Hollywood’s Costume Designer Through Sept. 29 OKCMOA Organized by OKCMOA and presented by the Ann Lacy Foundation, this exciting retrospective of award-winning costume designer Edith Head (18971981) will feature 70 costumes that capture the height of Head’s career and were worn by stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Shirley MacLaine, Veronica Lake, Barbara Stanwyck and Kim Novak. okcmoa.com

Picasso Linocut Exhibition Through Jan. 5 OKCMOA An exhibition of prints by Pablo Picasso, including seventeen progressive proofs and two published linocuts, this show explores his artistic process and one of printmaking’s most fascinating and demanding mediums, the linoleum cut print. okcmoa.com

Colors of Freedom Through Jan. 6 Oklahoma Contemporary This exhibition presents a collection of artworks created by young Ukrainians who want to share their fears, hopes and dreams with the world. oklahomacontemporary.org

In Tulsa, the Tulsa Reining Classic finishes its competition on Sept. 1 at Expo Square. Soccer fans can visit ONEOK Field on Sept. 1, 11 and 14 for FC Tulsa Soccer matches, as well as for the final regular season games for the Tulsa Drillers, Sept. 3-8. Head to Expo Square to enjoy the U.S. Final Taekwondo Championships, Sept. 20-22, alongside simulcast horse racing events through Nov. 2. Finally, get jazzed for one of the opening games of the University of Tulsa’s football season, Sept. 14 at H.A. Chapman Stadium. In OKC, you can bid the OKC Baseball Club farewell during their final regular season games, Sept. 3-8 and 10-15 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Don’t forget to stop by the Paycom Center for WWE SmackDown on Sept. 27. And you’ll want to take a quick drive to Norman to see the University of Oklahoma Sooners take on new foes in the Southeastern Conference on Sept. 7, 14 and 21 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. If you’re instead a fan of the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, head to Boone Pickens Stadium on Sept. 7 and 11 for the teams’ first home games of the season.

Photo courtesy OSU Athletics OKLAHOMA

Where & When | Entertainment

Eva Schlegel: Multiple Voices Through Jan. 13 Oklahoma Contemporary Multiple Voices is the first public artwork in the United States by Eva Schlegel, the Austriaborn and -based artist known for engineering steel and mirrors into spectacular, architectonic sculptures. oklahomacontemporary.

org

Kingdom of David & Solomon Discovered Through Jan. 17 Armstrong Auditorium Artifacts from 10th-century Israel are on display at the Armstrong Auditorium through January. armstrongauditorium.org

Outré West: The American School of Architecture from Oklahoma to California Through Jan. 27 Oklahoma Contemporary Outré West: The American School of Architecture from Oklahoma to California considers the works of a group of architects who were educated and mentored in Oklahoma in the 1950s and 1960s, and later developed groundbreaking design practices in California. oklahomacontemporary.

org

The Three Shades Through Aug. 23, 2026 OKCMOA Enjoy this single-gallery installation featuring one of the masterworks of modern sculpture, Auguste Rodin’s The Three Shades, on loan from a private collection. okcmoa.com

Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty Ongoing OKCMOA Redesigned in collaboration with Chihuly Studio, Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty incorporates a unique design, featuring five decades of glass and painting and tells a comprehensive story of Chihuly’s groundbreaking career. okcmoa.com

Cynthia Daignault: Oklahoma Ongoing OKCMOA This exhibition features one painting, Oklahoma by Cynthia Daignault, as a tribute to the painful history of the Oklahoma City bombing from 1995. okcmoa.com

Sports

Oklahoma City Baseball Club Sept. 3-8, 10-15 Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark The OKC Baseball Club – formerly the OKC Dodgers – takes on foes at home during their final games. milb.com/oklahoma-city University of Oklahoma Football Sept. 7, 14, 21 Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman College football is back and better than ever this month. See the Sooners take on early season opponents. soonersports.com

WWE SmackDown Sept. 27 Paycom Center Brace yourselves, because WWE SmackDown is coming to Oklahoma City this fall. paycomcenter.com

Community

Swiftwater Conference & Championship Games Sept. 10-13 Riversport Rapids Watch first responders go head-to-head on the Riversport Rapids during the 2024 Swiftwater Conference and Championship Games. facebook. com/RiversportOKC

Oklahoma State Fair Sept. 12-22 OKC Fairgrounds Enjoy one of our state's most anticipated events. okcfairgrounds.com

Second OHOF Saturdays Sept. 14 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Second Oklahoma Hall of Fame Saturdays invite families to learn about an Oklahoma Hall of Fame member with crafts and activities. oklahomahof.com

OKC Town Hall presents: Seth Dillon Sept. 19 OKC Town Hall Seth Dillon is the owner and CEO of The Babylon Bee, a conservative Christian news satire website that publishes satirical articles on topics including religion, politics, current events and public figures. okctownhall.org

India Food & Arts Festival Sept. 22 Scissortail Park Dine on authentic food from all diﬀerent regions of India while shopping for clothes and jewelry from several cultural stalls throughout the event. iaok.org

Plaza District Festival Sept. 28 Plaza District The Plaza District Festival has grown into one of Oklahoma City's most endearing annual art events, drawing a large audience of local art lovers. plazadistrict.org

VegFestOKC Sept. 28 Myriad Botanical Gardens Oklahoma City will host its annual VegFestOKC at the Myriad Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City. vegfestokc.com

OU Aviation Festival Sept. 28 Max Westheimer Airport, Norman The OU Aviation Festival in Norman is sure to be fun for everyone – and especially for plane enthusiasts. ou.edu/airport

COMMUNITY

Charitable Events

Red Shoe Rendezvous Sept.

6 Omni Hotel Ronald McDonald

House Charities' Red Shoe

Rendezvous is a festive evening to raise essential funds to help keep families close to their children as they receive medical care. rmhc-okc.org

Renaissance Ball 2024 Sept.

6 Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club This black-tie gala features dinner and dancing in celebration of OKCMOA's headlining special exhibition: Edith Head Hollywood's Costume Designer okcmoa.com

Flight for Futures Sept.

20 7720 N.W. 63rd St., Bethany Hosted by the Young Professionals Committee every September, Flight for Futures raises funds and awareness for the Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma County. bgcokc.org

Zoo Brew Sept. 27 OKC

Zoo The OKC Zoo's mission to help creatures big and small is the main attraction, so let's raise a pint to making this world a better place! ozsgiving.org

Walk4Water4 Sept.

28 Scissortail Park Walk4Water4 OKC is Water4’s largest event of the year. Engage the community, raise funds and join the team for a walk around Scissortail Park. water4.org

THE STATE Performances

Penn and Teller Sept. 7 Winstar World Casino and Resort,

Outdoor Family Fun

Thackerville For nearly 50 years, Penn and Teller have captivated audiences with a dynamic stage show and a distinct brand of entertainment. winstar.com

Formosa Quartet Sept. 24 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts For two decades and counting, the Formosa Quartet has forged uncharted musical terrain in performances that go beyond the beautiful and into the territory of unexpectedly thrilling. mcknightcenter.org

Concerts

The All American Rejects Sept. 6 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant Rock group All American Rejects come to Durant. choctawcasinos.com

An Evening with Idina Menzel Sept. 13 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts Idina Menzel is a powerhouse multi-hyphenate: a singer, an actress in film and TV, a songwriter, a Broadway star and a philanthropist. mcknightcenter.org

Randy Rogers Band Sept. 14 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant The unassuming Randy Rogers Band has experienced significant success since its small-town Texas days just a few years back. choctawcasinos.com

Grace Potter Sept. 20 Grace Potter is a gifted, three-time Grammy-nominated songwriter, vocalist and instrumentalist. mcknightcenter.org

Jamey Johnson Sept. 27 Choctaw Casino Resort,

As the weather cools and social events start making their way back to the great outdoors, you have plenty of options for community fun.

In Tulsa, Tinkerfest runs Sept. 7 at Discovery Lab. There, kids and kids at heart can enjoy hands-on educational activities. Workout buffs can try their hands at the Conquer the Gauntlet Obstacle Race, Sept. 7 at 181 Ranch in Bixby. Tulsa Town Hall brings Dr. Sanjay Gupta to the Tulsa PAC for a speaking event on Sept. 13, and the McNellie’s Harvest Beer Festival will be a welcomed celebration on Sept. 21 at ONEOK Stadium. Lastly, the most beloved Tulsa event of all – the Tulsa State Fair – runs Sept. 26-Oct. 6.

Durant Enjoy the country music artist with special guest, Southall. choctawcasinos.com

Sports

Jared Been Memorial Cornhole Tournament Sept. 1-2 1801 Troy Aikman Dr., Henryetta This Labor Day weekend, head to Henryetta for a good time supporting a great cause. travelok.com

Oklahoma State University Football Sept. 7, 21 Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater The Cowboys are back in action with football games galore. okstate. com

Woolaroc Fall Trail Ride Sept. 21 Watch for buﬀalo, elk, deer or longhorn cattle on this trail ride that covers approximately 15 miles of scenic terrain. woolaroc.org

Community

Bluegrass and Chili Festival Sept. 6-7 Main Street, Pryor The annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival in Pryor is cooking up plenty of family fun in the month of September. bluegrasschilifest.com

Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport Community Day Sept. 7 Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport, Guthrie The annual Community Day at the GuthrieEdmond Regional Airport presents modern and vintage aircraft in a festival atmosphere sure to please families and aviation enthusiasts alike. travelok.com

Skiatook Pioneer Day Festival Sept. 12-14 Skiatook

Central Park Head to the Pioneer Day Festival in Skiatook for a great day of family fun. skiatookchamber.com/events

Rogers County Free Fair Sept. 12-15 Claremore Expo Center Come to the Rogers County Free Fair and browse through made-in-Oklahoma products, arts and crafts, baked goods, livestock exhibits and more. rogerscountyfair.com

Greenleaf State Park Fall Craft Show Sept. 20-21 Greenleaf State Park, Braggs Welcome the arrival of autumn at the Greenleaf State Park Fall Craft Show. travelok.com

World's Largest Calf Fry Festival and Cook-Oﬀ Sept. 21 Will Rogers Rodeo Arena, Vinita A Vinita tradition since 1979, the World's Largest Calf Fry Festival and Cook-Oﬀ features amusement rides, arts and craft displays, live entertainment and plenty of fun for the whole family. travelok.com

Tallgrass Music Festival Sept. 26-28 2967 W. 133rd St. N., Skiatook The annual Tallgrass Music Festival in Skiatook is a fun-filled family event that features top-notch bluegrass music. skiatooktallgrassfestival. com

Standing Bear Powwow Sept. 27-28 Standing Bear Park, Ponca City The Standing Bear Powwow, hosted by the six north-central tribes of Oklahoma, is held the last Friday and Saturday of September. standingbearpark.com

In OKC, head to RiverSport Rapids for the Swiftwater Conference and Championship Games on Sept. 10-13. Don’t miss Seth Dillon, owner of The Babylon Bee, who will speak at OKC Town Hall on Sept. 19. Other exciting events in OKC include the India Food and Arts Festival, Sept. 22 at Scissortail Park; the Plaza District Festival, Sept. 28 within said district; and the OU Aviation Festival, Sept. 28 at Norman’s Max Westheimer Airport. And of course, the Oklahoma State Fair rides into town Sept. 12-22 at the OKC Fairgrounds.

Around the state, enjoy the Bluegrass and Chili Festival, Sept. 6-7 on Pryor’s Main Street; the Rogers County Free Fair, Sept. 12-15 at the Claremore Expo Center; the Greenleaf State Park Fall Craft Show, Sept. 20-21 at Braggs’ Greenleaf State Park; the World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival and Cook-Off, Sept. 21 at Vinita’s Will Rogers Rodeo Arena; and the Standing Bear Powwow, Sept. 27-28 at Ponca City’s Standing Bear Park.

INDIA FOOD & ARTS FESTIVAL

Photo courtesy India Food and Arts Festival

Autumn’s Top Picks

Usher in fall at the cinema.

If you’re looking for a black comedy psychological thriller, keep your eye on A Diﬀerent Man. Starring Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), the film follows Edward, who is diagnosed with neurofibromatosis – a condition in which non-cancerous tumors grow in the nervous system. You follow Edward during post-surgery life, in which he becomes obsessed with another man who seems to be playing him in a stage version of his previous life. Adam Pearson, a British actor who actually has neurofibromatosis, appears in this role. It played well at Sundance – let's hope it maintains that credibility when it lands in theaters Sept. 20.

For your biographical war drama, look no further than Lee. The movie stars Kate Winslet as photojournalist Lee Miller, following her as she chronicles World War II for Vogue magazine. Based on the 1985 biography The Lives of Lee Miller, the production also stars Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose), Josh O’Connor (Challengers) and a surprise dramatic turn from Andy Samberg (Palm Springs). The trailer showcases plenty of action and gripping, dramatic scenes that will surely elevate the biopic a few notches when it releases on Sept. 27.

September has arrived, and with it a gaggle of interesting films to digest. It’s also my birthday month – and, my age, you ask? Well, I’m very young and cool ... you don’t need to look any further into that.

Anyways – if you need a horror thriller to get your weekend going, I suggest checking out Speak No Evil. The story finds a couple and their daughter heading to a country house of some newly made friends – only to find the idyllic getaway hides something awful underneath. The trailer has James McAvoy (Split) morphing from charming to unnerving with relative ease, and the film looks to be a genuinely thrilling ride into insanity. With Scoot McNairy (Argo) and Mackenzie Davis (Terminator: Dark Fate) rounding out the cast, the movie is shaping up to be an excellent fright when it releases on Sept. 13. Action, comedy and some of the last true movie stars in town team up to bring us Wolfs. Starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, the movie finds both men playing professional “fixers” who are hired for the same job and forced to work together. It’s wonderful to see Clooney and Pitt on screen together again – as their last outing was Burn After Reading in 2008. Director John Watts is no stranger to action either, having helmed the last three Spider-Man films. Hopefully the stars align when this one hits theaters on Sept. 20. (That’s also my mom’s birthday, and she’s the best!)

For an epic science fiction drama and longtime passion project, don’t miss Megalopolis. Set within an imagined modern America, the story follows visionary architect Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver, A Marriage Story) as he clashes with corrupt Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad) about how to rebuild the decaying metropolis New Rome. Also, consequently, Cesar has the power to stop time. The trailer is, frankly, bonkers – and the cast list is gigantic, with stars including Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Shia LaBeouf (The Peanut Butter Falcon), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) and Dustin Hoffman Written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, it will surely leave an impact, good or bad, when it lands on Sept. 27th.

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

Closing Thoughts

Sue Ann Arnall

The founder and president of the Arnall Family Foundation (AFF) based in Oklahoma City, Sue Ann Arnall began her professional career in the energy industry after graduating from the University of Tulsa with her Juris Doctorate. Opened in 2015, the AFF is focused on criminal justice reform and finding solutions to lower incarceration rates and racial disparities in Oklahoma jails and prisons. The foundation also works to create systemic change in areas including homelessness, youth welfare and historically under-resourced communities. We recently sat down with Arnall and got her thoughts on ...

... shifting from the energy to the nonprofit sector.

I loved the challenges I faced in the energy industry. And I also loved the ability to track my successes through the revenue that I was able to generate for the company. Since I’m fairly competitive, I like having a way to objectively measure my work.

However, helping others live better lives is beyond exhilarating, and tracking those outcomes is incredibly rewarding. In working in the criminal legal system, a very concrete way to measure success in our programs is through lowering the number of people incarcerated. On that account, we have been successful. The jail numbers are half of what they were eight years ago, the number of people from Oklahoma County entering incarceration at the Department of Corrections has been halved as well. I want to emphasize that during this time frame, crime has not increased, but instead is trending downward. This is due to the concerted efforts of many.

... her passions for creating equitable spaces and reducing incarceration.

Fairness is the key concern for me. Individuals can accept almost any result, so long as they see it as fair. Dishonesty and use of power to benefit some at the expense of others is antithetical to everything that I believe in. I have also seen how using incarceration as punishment is not eﬀective at addressing crime, and it doesn’t create justice. I have a huge problem with caging any person or animal without an extremely good reason. Punishment is not

a good reason, and it backfires. Caging an animal makes it dangerous. Same goes with humans. Crime is societal. To truly address it, we need programs to rehabilitate and restore which our current system of incarceration is not equipped to provide.

...

the work of the Arnall Family Foundation.

We have done our best to help Oklahomans have better lives. Our work to improve the systems that protect children has been rewarding. Fewer children are in foster care. DHS now identifies atrisk families more quickly and provides wraparound services to help people become better parents who get to keep their children. Our work to make the criminal legal system easier to navigate for people who become entangled has helped the entire system, not only improving lives of countless individuals, but improving processes and collaboration within the system as well.

... her favorite part of the job. Getting to help others. Instead of just

walking on by, I get to stop and solve the problems I see.

... proudest accomplishments thus far.

Without a doubt, the Diversion Hub. Diversion Hub has already assisted tens of thousands of individuals to successfully navigate their way out of the criminal legal system, so they may live more complete and productive lives.

... her dream for Oklahoma in 20 years.

I hope that we resolve the racial disparities in incarceration. Currently, despite having no greater criminological tendencies than Caucasians, African Americans are incarcerated at a rate three to five times that of every other racial demographic. If the rate were equal, Oklahoma would have one of the lowest incarceration rates, rather than one of the highest.

... the foundation’s mission.

Our goal at the foundation is to repair broken systems.

Photo courtesy the Arnall Family Foundation

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