Oklahoma Magazine February 2020

IMAGE MATTERS

Tackling aesthetic issues

SENIOR HEALTH Being proactive to extend life

EDUCATION P R E V I E W Student safety,

homework debates and the art of the lecture

Sippin' on spirits A guide to the state’s watering holes

FEBRUARY 2020

VOTE NOW FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST AT WWW.OKMAG.COM

BE TRUE TO YOUR HEART. Year round, the Heart Hospital at Saint Francis offers a series of cardiovascular screenings at a reduced cost. These quick, easy and painless tests can help you identify potential risks for

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At OSU, we dream as big as the sky, and we want our students to stretch their horizons in meaningful ways.

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Features FEBRUARY

2020 Oklahoma Magazine Vol. XXIV, No. 2

46 Private School Guide

Choosing a private school for your child can be tough, but this informative guide can assist with side-by-side comparisons on everything from tuition and enrollment to student/teacher ratios and standardized testing offerings.

50 Image Ma ers

Cosmetic surgeries and noninvasive treatments provide a patient with many options on achieving a youthful appearance.

Stay informed on what to expect before, during and after some of the procedures.

54 Proactive Measures

Taking charge of one’s mental and physical health during the aging process can extend the length and quality of life. Routine medical visits, remaining emotionally and socially engaged, understanding insurance coverage, and staying ahead or on top of issues help people manage their lifestyles.

39

Managing Expectations and Realities

Education seems far more complicated than it was in previous generations, particularly when it comes to what’s best for students. Opinions and trends shift and sway. We look at four arenas – popular college rankings, the effectiveness of lectures, homework and campus safety – and provide some clarity (or cannon fodder) on those issues.

WANT SOME MORE? FEBRUARY 2020

58 Booze and Brews

Oklahoma harbors a wealth of watering holes.

Enjoy a guide to some of the state’s beloved bars and breweries, plus a flight of seasonal concoctions, etymologies and tips from experienced barkeeps.

2

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

IMAGE MATTERS

Tackling aesthetic issues

SENIOR HEALTH Being proactive to extend life

EDUCATION P REVIEW Student safety,

homework debates and the art of the lecture

Sippin' on spirits A guide to the state’s watering holes

FEBRUARY 2020

VOTE NOW FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST AT WWW.OKMAG.COM

Visit us online.

MORE ARTICLES ON THE COVER:

THE MOTHER OF DRAGONS COCKTAIL COMES FROM SARAH ELLIOT AT TULSA’S SUMMIT CLUB. SEE THE RECIPE FOR THAT AND SEVERAL OTHER SEASONAL LIBATIONS IN THE BOOZE AND BREWS SPOTLIGHT STARTING ON PAGE 58.

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Read expanded articles and stories that don’t appear in the print edition.

MORE PHOTOS

View expanded Scene, Style, Taste and Entertainment galleries.

MORE EVENTS

The online calendar includes more Oklahoma events.

A COMMUNITY FOR YOU. Every dream starts somewhere.

At TCC, we’re here with the guidance, support and resources to help you do something big.

Start here, and you can go anywhere.

Join our community today at tulsacc.edu.

Our Commitment. Your Success.

Depa partments

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

11

11 State 14 16 18 19 20 21 22 24

Businesses, foundations and grassroots efforts work together to keep historical buildings standing in Oklahoma.

People Business Infrastructure Industry Development Recreation Sports Insider

27 Life and Style 28

Interiors Homeowners in

32 34 35 36 37

Destinations Health Outside the Metro Scene Style Whether you’re looking

38

Dating Guide

Nichols Hills wanted an inviting space that can adapt to an evolving family.

for an out-of-the-box present or some thematic duds to wear on your date, we’ve got the items you need this Valentine’s Day.

67 Taste 68 70 71

A café in Oklahoma City offers food, beverages, plants and a sense of community.

Local Flavor Chef Chat Tasty Tidbits

73 Where and When 74 78

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a small Canadian town took in thousands of stranded people. OKC Broadway presents the story.

In Tulsa/In OKC Film and Cinema

80 Closing Thoughts

4

28

37

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

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73

OKLAHOMA E XC E L L E N C E • C O N F I D E N C E • I N T E G R I T Y

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OKLAHOMA

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Educating in Mind, Body, Spirit

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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440 0 UNDER

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

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Looking for a little pick-me-up to save you from the winter blues? Our Booze and Brews spotlight should do the trick. Enjoy a guide to Oklahoma’s watering holes, libations for many occasions, informative etymology of common drink names and tips from local barkeeps. The fun begins on page 58.

If that’s not your jam, take a sharp turn into our Education Preview on page 39. This year’s topics cover a broad range: how schools are keeping students safe, the art of the lecture, the importance (or lack thereof) of college rankings, and the oft-argued how-much-homework debate. The section concludes with the Private School Guide, which lays out important information from area institutions for those in search of a quality education for their kids.

Thinking about altering your appearance? In our Image Matters feature (page 50), we break down recovery times, how doctors are minimizing risk for invasive procedures, and common aesthetic issues (and antidotes) of aging.

Stick around for our senior health spotlight (page 54), which explores how being proactive with both your mental and physical health can keep you active longer. We also cover grassroots efforts to keep local landmarks standing (page 11); a new development in east OKC that’s giving power back to business owners (page 20); and a painter-turned-chef who cooks up delicious bites at Tulsa’s Bodean (page 70).

Exciting things are on the horizon. Our April issue debuts the much-anticipated 40 Under 40 class of 2020 – and there’s still time to nominate worthy candidates at okmag.com. July’s The Best of the Best is just around the corner, and you can vote for that at okmag.com/votetbob2020.

Cheers, Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

S TAY CONNECTED

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

OK What’s HOT at

OKMAG.COM COMING IN FEBRUARY

Alongside the Booze and Brews feature, we sit down with Brandon Folkers, manager at OKC’s O-Bar atop the Ambassador Hotel. See what the swanky joint has to offer – including beautiful views and delicious food – and learn about a few of the bar’s staple cocktails.

GO VOTE OKMAG.COM

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ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Working to Preserve History Grassroot organizations and nonprofits use community involvement to try to keep old, significant sites from demolition.

A

OKLAHOMA CITY’S FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS WELLKNOWN FOR ITS UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE. PHOTO COURTESY STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

sure way to prevent the demolition of a historic building is to buy the property yourself or with others. However, if that’s not an option, preservationist groups and grassroots organizations could use your help as they work to save spaces where Oklahoma history was made.

“Grassroots efforts work because they show local support and local identity with those buildings,” says Lynda Ozan of the State Historic Preservation Office.

Ozan offers Oklahoma City’s First Christian Church Historic District, at Northwest 36th Street and Walker Avenue, as an example. The 32-acre property, which the dwindling congregation wants to sell, is known for its eggshaped sanctuary. Ozan, who wrote the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the site, says the building

was so futuristic when constructed in 1956 that the term neo-expressionist, which she uses to describe its architectural style, had not been coined.

“The whole neighborhood identifies with that building,” says Ozan, who nominated the property for last year’s most endangered places list by the nonprofit Preservation Oklahoma. “It’s part of them. They are willing to go out there and advocate for it.”

However, two Tulsa properties have not fared well since Preservation Oklahoma compiled its most recent list. The main building of the Brookshire Motel on Route 66 caught fire in February 2019, just before the list was released. The J. Paul Getty Bunker, a house built in 1942 with 12-inch reinforced concrete and used by the oil magnate when he took over the Spartan aircraft company during World War II, was razed late in 2019.

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

11

The State

TOP TO BOTTOM: THE GETTY BUNKER, RAZED IN 2019, WAS A TREASURED PIECE OF TULSA ARCHITECTURE. PHOTO BY BRET BRADFORD

BUILT IN THE MID-1800S, THE EDWARDS STORE IN LATIMER COUNTY IS THE ONLY SURVIVING STRUCTURE ALONG THE BUTTERFIELD OVERLAND MAIL ROUTE.

PHOTO COURTESY STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

THE BROOKSHIRE HOTEL IN TULSA HAD FIRE DAMAGE IN 2019 AND MIGHT BE DEMOLISHED.

PHOTO BY RHYS MARTIN, CLOUDLESS LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

“It’s gone,” Amanda DeCort, executive director of the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, says of the bunker house. “The Tulsa Air and Space Museum salvaged a couple of pieces from it, and the new owners demolished it. “[It] was a piece of Tulsa’s oil and gas history, as well as our air and space history, and … it was a unique property. It was a small, unassuming, vernacular building; it wasn’t like it was a beautiful mansion. It was a bungalow in the middle of a field.”

A few miles away, the Brookshire “is a shining example of the roadside motels popular along Route 66, built in the 1940s, during the Mother Road’s early heyday,” according to Preservation Oklahoma.

Rhys Martin, a Tulsa photographer and president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, has a history of the Brookshire on his website, cloudlesslens.com. Martin says he fears the fire-damaged building cannot be saved but “anything is possible.”

“Preservation is a key focus of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association,” Martin says. “When people travel the historic highway, they are looking for an authentic experience – vintage motor courts are a big part of that experience. Even though Oklahoma has more miles of Route 66 than any other state, we have a definite lack of vintage, authentic motels for travelers to experience.”

The Brookshire, if returned to service, would provide a gateway experience to Oklahoma for people taking Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles, he says.

Daniel Mathis, president of Preservation Oklahoma’s board, agrees that community efforts make a difference and notes that the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority in May bought the endangered Luster Mansion, a modified Italianate house built in 1926 by a wealthy AfricanAmerican family in the heart of the Deep Deuce district.

“We like to say that our mission is to preserve the places where Oklahoma history lives,” Mathis says. “It isn’t just about the structures or places, but it’s also about the events that took place there.”

Ozan says she had similar feelings about the First Christian Church property after learning it might be sold.

Following the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the church became a command center for grieving families, rescue workers and journalists. Its dining room operated around the clock and sustained families of victims as they waited.

“It wasn’t even the architecture that drew me to it as much as its actual affiliation to the bombing,” Ozan says.

“It was the first place that people could go to get news of their loved ones, and there was space to park. The community outreach really struck a chord with me. It does set the Oklahoma Standard that we all talk about.”

DeCort says another precarious property is Jenks’ Perryman Ranch, which has the house and what remains of the pre-statehood allotment of Mose Perryman, a Muscogee (Creek) tribal member. The ranch once stretched from Mounds to Chouteau with more than 250,000 acres of grazing range. The final 80 acres are proposed for a housing development.

The Perrymans “were the founding family of the Tulsa area,” DeCort says. “It would be a shame to replace that piece of our shared history with another ubiquitous housing development. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

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12

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

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13

The State

PEOPLE

Exposing the Monsters David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon, helps to bring the Osage Reign of Terror to light.

I

n 1921 in the Osage Nation town of Gray Horse, 30-something Mollie Burkhart harbors suspicions about the death of her sister Minnie and the disappearance of her sister Anna.

So begins journalist David Grann’s real-life mystery, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, which spent more than 49 weeks on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list.

In 2011, a historian told Grann about what has been called the Osage Reign of Terror. Due to oil on their land, Osage tribal members became the richest people in the world per capita. However, many Osage suffered horrible deaths or vanished.

His curiosity piqued, Grann visited Pawhuska’s Osage Nation Museum, where he noticed a 1924 photograph showing white settlers and Osage tribal members. But someone cut out part of the photo.

Grann says then-museum director Kathryn Red Corn told him the missing part “contained the image of a figure so frightening that she removed it, saying ‘The devil was standing right there.’ It was one of the settlers who participated in the systematic killing of the Osage for their oil money. The Osage removed the image not to forget what had happened but because they can’t forget. Yet so many, including myself, had no knowledge of one of the most sinister crimes and egregious racial injustices in American history. That prompted me to investigate the story.”

A native New Yorker, Grann enlisted help to find where research materials were housed. With librarians and archivists navigating his path, Grann spent years sifting through government files and musty boxes. Gathering thousands of pages of materials, including court records and secret grand jury testimonies, he also “interviewed descendants of both the murderers and the victims, many of whom still live in the same neighborhoods.”

Grann usually visited Oklahoma twice annually and stayed about a month each time.

“Oklahoma has wonderful museums and historical archives,” he says. “I’m grateful to many people who helped me and became friends along the way.”

After writing for almost five years, Grann saw his riveting tale released in 2017. He describes a culture of murder where monsters, enabled by lawyers, politicians and other powerful people, killed with impunity. Some who investigated the deaths ended up dead themselves.

Killers of the Flower Moon has received numerous awards and accolades. Grann, a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2003, has penned two other nonfiction books.

He has written for the New York Times Magazine, Atlantic, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal and Weekly Standard. He was senior editor at The New Republic and executive editor of The Hill.

Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese has adapted Grann’s book for the screen and promised Osage Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear that he will shoot the film in Oklahoma, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro as confirmed leads. Filming is expected in the spring and summer in and around Pawhuska.

In November, casting calls were held in Pawhuska, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City.

“My hope is the movie OKC Town Hall will make this history part As part of this monthly of our national conscious, lecture series, Grann will where it belongs,” Grann speak at 11 a.m. Feb. 20 at says.

Church of the Servant, 14343 CAROL MOWDY BOND N. MacArthur Blvd.

AT THE TIME OF THE KILLINGS, OSAGE TRIBAL MEMBERS WERE THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD PER CAPITA. PHOTO COURTESY DAVID GRANN

14

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

The State BUSINESS

A Sky-High Revitalization

The Summit Club’s redesign, mirroring styles of London’s Soho district, coincides with downtown Tulsa’s dining boom.

THIS RENDERING SHOWCASES THE SOON-TO-BEUPDATED 31ST FLOOR OF THE SUMMIT CLUB, SET TO DEBUT IN MAY, WITH A COFFEE BAR AND INFORMAL SEATING PHOTOS COURTESY PHX ARCHITECTURE/CLUBDESIGN ASSOCIATES

FOR MORE

RENDERINGS, VISIT

OKMAG.COM/SKYHIGHREVITALIZATION

16

T

he Summit Club’s long-planned $8 million renovation is a serendipitous boon for downtown Tulsa’s recent dining, living and entertainment renaissance.

The redesign of the club, perched on the top three floors of the 32-story Bank of America Center, began in January and reflects the transformation of Tulsa from Oil Capital of the World to a lifestyle destination.

Jared Jordan, Summit’s general manager, says remodeling is part of the club’s strategic plan.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

“It was time, as we last renovated a little over 11 years ago and downtown has changed a lot,” he says. “At one point, we were one of the only games in town.”

Erik Peterson, founder and president of Arizona-based PHX Architecture, which is handling the multimonth project, says “it’s important for clubs to realize they have to keep up with the times and the Summit Club understands that. You have to stay fresh. We track hospitality projects worldwide and understand the changing ways of how clientele want to have an experience, to be

entertained, which is what everyone is craving today.

“The Summit Club is not your grandfather’s club with just men. It’s family-based, women-based, peoplebased, as we all want experiences to share with family, friends and clients.”

Changes to every floor should involve few interruptions so that spaces can still be used, Peterson says.

Floors 30 and 31 should be done in May, floor 32 in September.

Jordan says the updated ballroom will have increased seating capacity.

The 31st floor will have private din-

ing areas for small events. One new area will provide semi-formal and/ or casual dining with varied culinary styles and lower prices. Recipes are being tested for a brick oven. Other upgrades include the penthouse and cigar room.

“This project is an exciting opportunity bringing something unique and different,” Peterson says. “It’s a ‘Summit Club meets Soho club’ type environment. London’s Soho concept is moving across the world. This will be a unique twist on that style of a hip, energy-filled club with the right lighting, the right furniture, and the right

vibe attracting people of different age groups as bringing that middle age and younger group is crucial for clubs to attract new members.

“These days, many people aren’t working in a traditional office environment; they work at home and want a Starbucks, WeWork feeling at their club to entertain clients. The Summit Club is not just a Friday or Saturday thing for formal dinners, but somewhere to be all day long for family use, casual dining and formal events.”

Jordan says formal options always evolve and are “an example of what fine dining should be, with our execu-

tive chef, William Lyle, and sous chef, Michael Wilson, both pushing the envelope. The addition of a chef’s table dining experience is another opportunity. We place a huge emphasis on an overall, elevated experience.”

Peterson says visitors shouldn’t “expect shocking visual change. The glass all around calls for a livened, lighter and eclectic vibe as the Soho concept is a mix of furniture styles and types rather than a singular look.

It’s organic in feeling and gives people comfortable choices of where they want to congregate. There is bar seating, community tables and cabana booths where you can pull the curtains if you choose to – just a great selection of places to be, like ottomans to be moved for small plates and drinks at the windows.

“It’s a different experience every time you come.”

THE 32ND FLOOR PENTHOUSE’S REDESIGN IS TENTATIVELY SET TO DEBUT IN SEPTEMBER. THIS AREA WILL BE IDEAL FOR PRIVATE, FORMAL DINING (TOP), ALONG WITH PRIVATE BOOTHS AND A BAR (DIRECTLY ABOVE).

TRACY LEGRAND

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

17

The State INFRASTRUCTURE

Upgrades and Makeovers

The Improve Our Tulsa tax package funds core services, improvements at parks and other facilities, and street and bridge repairs.

T

NEW CURBING AND WHEELCHAIR RAMPS ARE PART OF THE IMPROVE OUR TULSA TAX PACKAGE. PHOTO COURTESY THE CITY OF TULSA

18

hanks to voters’ passing the Improve Our Tulsa package in November, the city will get some nuts-and-bolts makeovers this year.

“Improve Our Tulsa is the main funding source for core city services, including street maintenance, improvements at city facilities, even police and fire services,” says Chris Wylie, vice president of communications with the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The funding package extends a one-cent sales tax for capital improvement projects.

“It’s largely a list of needs, not wants,” Wylie says.

“It was just very important that we do what we can to adequately fund those municipal services.”

The package also incorporates maintenance and improvements to parks, including Whiteside, Lacy and Hicks; Tulsa Transit; police and fire; and economic and community development projects, City of Tulsa communications officer Lara Weber says.

According to the Improve Our Tulsa website, nearly $625 million of the package’s $918.7 million is slated for street and bridge projects, ranging from patching and crack sealing to asphalt overlays and complete reconstructions. These include addressing stormwater issues and

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

sidewalk hazards, adding or repairing handicap ramps, and replacing old water lines.

The package funds the Arena District Master Plan, designed to improve the areas around the BOK and Cox Business centers and boost tourism and capital investment.

“In the 2020 package, $19.2 million is specified for the Central Business District – streets, alleyways and the Arena District Master Plan implementation,” Weber says.

“Additional funding for the Arena District Master Plan will be needed to continue the implementation.

“The money will come from $427 million in general obligation bonds funded through the City of Tulsa’s share of residents’ property taxes and a half-cent sales tax that will begin to be collected as soon as the funds from the first Improve Our Tulsa package have been raised [estimated to be by July 1, 2021]. The sales tax for Improve Our Tulsa 2020 will be [.45% of a penny] for the capital projects and [.05% of a penny] for the Rainy Day Fund.

The portion of the tax that will fund capital projects will be $193 million. When the $193 million has been raised, the temporary $0.0045 tax will expire.”

To view progress of the projects, go to improveourtulsa.com.

KAYLEE CAMPBELL

No Myth-tery T in Tinker’s Success

INDUSTRY

inker Air Force Base, an important part of Oklahoma City economy since 1941, should remain in that position for years to come as the maintenance hub for the KC-46A Pegasus In maintaining the KC-46A Pegasus, the Air Force base in OKC aircraft.

When completed, continues to generate jobs and economic growth. the 158-acre Pegasus complex will have 14 hangars and create about 1,300 jobs. The first hangar debuted in October.

The base, originally known as the Midwest Air Depot, was renamed in 1948 in memory of Maj. Gen. Clarence L. Tinker of Pawhuska.

Tinker, the first Native American to achieve that rank, died in June 1942 while commanding a squadron of LB-30 Liberators during World War II against Japanese forces on Wake Island.

The Tinker base continues to play an important role in the U.S. defense program, particularly with the Pegasus facility.

“With a total military construction plan of $736 million over several years, the base will … have an economic impact in Oklahoma,” says Nevardo Cayemitte, Tinker’s chief of media operations. “Tinker will see an influx of airmen and civilians moving here and the addition will have regular, positive impacts on the local economy.”

Cayemitte says the Pegasus has multiple capabilities, such as transporting passengers and cargo, providing medical evacuations of patients,

and refueling airborne fighters and other smaller craft. The Pegasus, a converted Boeing 767 commercial aircraft, features an advanced refueling boom and tanks that can hold 210,000 pounds of fuel.

The maintenance facility is on what used to be the adjacent General Motors assembly plant, which Oklahoma County residents voted to buy in 2008 with $71.5 million in general obligation bonds. There is a 50-year lease-purchase agreement between the county and the Air Force.

“With over 170 of these aircraft in our inventory, we will be postured to refuel our Air Force fleet and support our war fighters for decades to come,” Cayemitte says. “This is an exciting time for Tinker as we prepare to take on our new mission soon, but more so for the readiness of our military and the security of our country.

“The KC-46A Pegasus campus was made possible through years of teamwork through the hard work and support of numerous stakeholders in the community, airmen past and present at Tinker, and at the Air Force and Department of Defense levels.”

Tinker employs more than 26,000 military and civilian personnel, creates more than 33,000 secondary jobs and has a statewide economic impact of more than $3.5 billion, Cayemitte says. The base covers more than 4,000 acres, leases more than 800 acres and has more than 450 buildings on the property.

Tinker played an important role in World War II, the Korean War, the Berlin and Cuban crises, and the Cold War. “Tinker’s selection to maintain the KC-46A assures the long-term viability of its mission of delivering war-fighting capability for combatant commanders, which airmen and civilians here in Oklahoma City have been doing for decades,” Cayemitte says.

DEBI TURLEY

ONCE COMPLETED, THE HANGARS AT TINKER AIR FORCE BASE WILL CREATE 1,300 JOBS.

PHOTO COURTESY DEFENSE VISUAL INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

FEBRUARY 2020| WWW.OKMAG.COM

19

The State D E V E LO P M E N T

A Fresh Look to the East

Oklahoma City’s popular refurbishing of urban areas continues as it leaps I-235 from the west and lands near the Capitol.

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THE REVITALIZATION OF EAST OKLAHOMA CITY IS OFF TO A FRESH START WITH THE EASTPOINT PROJECT. PHOTO COURTESY GARDNER ARCHITECTS

20

he resurrection of an Oklahoma City strip center has begun to transform an area just east of the state Capitol with the first new project in about 40 years.

Jonathan Dodson, managing partner of the urban revitalization firm Pivot Project, says the EastPoint development “has created more joy than anything we’ve been a part of.”

Working jointly with Gardner Architects, Oklahoma City and AfricanAmerican community leaders, and future tenants, Pivot refurbished two nearly-empty buildings at Northeast 23rd Street and Rhode Island Avenue that will eventually be filled with minority-owned businesses. EastPoint represents an expansion of the popular urban redevelopment seen in the past 15 years west of Interstate 235.

EastPoint tenants who sign a 10-year lease will have 15% ownership in their spaces, made possible by Oklahoma City municipal funding. The tax increment financing grant also provided money for finishing the retail and office spaces and paying a consultant to recruit a diverse mix of tenants.

Dodson asked community advocate Sandino Thompson to join the project.

“We were looking for people who had ties and connections to the community and the market,” says Thompson, who returned to OKC 10 years ago after working for the Department of Defense at military bases across the South.

Thompson says he worked in cities

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

ravaged by hurricanes and saw what can happen when a neighborhood is rebuilt with a fresh focus.

Pivot bought two buildings totaling 19,000 square feet. The first became the new home for Centennial Health, a community clinic. The second building has space for 11 tenants, with the first being Intentional Fitness, owned

by Emmanuel Sosanya, who played basketball for and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Another tenant, working toward opening this month, is Kindred, a restaurant and bar that Thompson coowns. An optometrist, a travel agent and another restaurant also signed leases.

The Oklahoma Criminal Justice Reform group will have offices there, and an event space and gallery are planned, Dodson says.

“I’m excited about everything that EastPoint has to bring,” says Nikki Nice, Ward 7’s city council member.

“It’s going to be a place for people to come in and see northeast Oklahoma City with fresh eyes, and for people to see their own community in a different light as well.”

Dodson says OKC municipal staff approached Pivot “to see if we could redevelop something on the east side.

We wanted to do something authentic to the neighborhood and that met their needs. We had several town hall meetings and what we heard was they wanted access to health care and creative and successful retail.”

Architect Jeremy Gardner, hired in 2016 for the $8.7 million project, says his firm “had to figure out how to bring [the retail space] back to life.

We needed to carve it up into smaller spaces, and bring it up to code.”

Hana Waugh, one of Gardner’s architects, says they created a breezeway between the north and south walls that connected the front and back parking lots. Gardner says all the infrastructure is new, including the roof, windows, plumbing, heat, air conditioning and electrical work.

Weston Waugh, Waugh’s husband and owner of Stout Media, created a video about the project that won an American Institute of Architects award for its depiction of architects and community leaders working together.

“The EastPoint shopping center is the newest development on the east side and there is a lot of excitement around it,” says Skye Latimer, board secretary of the East End Merchant Association. “Pivot came in and created this beautiful space with the community in mind.”

Artists Andre Johnson and Ebony Iman Dallas designed the retail building’s paint job.

“I really wanted to create something that was upbeat and bright,” Johnson says. “The design pulls in ethnic notes, from a pattern standpoint. We wanted to inspire pride in the community, but not go over the top. We do want it to be open to all.”

KIMBERLY BURK

R E C R E AT I O N

Masters at Brain Games

Trivia nights have expanded from pubs into family-friendly places and extended tournaments.

L

JANE’S DELICATESSEN IN TULSA OFFERS TRIVIA NIGHTS EVERY MONDAY. PHOTOS BY JOSH NEW

ike billiards and darts, trivia night has become a bar scene classic.

While you’ll still find these brain games in pubs, you’re also likely to find them at family-friendly venues.

“One night, this family brought their kid in” for trivia, says Dane Tannehill, owner of Jane’s Delicatessen in Tulsa. “Their team name was ‘Our 13-year-old is Smarter Than Your Team.’ The last question was a multi-part question with multiple answers, and he got second place.”

Trivia night lets patrons flex their mental muscles in a relaxed atmosphere. Games take about two hours and usually include 20 to 25 questions. The format has been perfected over the years, and contests are often hosted by trivia gaming companies.

Play is free and prizes are provided by the venue, usually a gift certificate for the business, says Ian Strelsin,

CEO of Challenge Entertainment, which operates Live Trivia and other popular events in 23 states and hosts games at various venues across metropolitan Oklahoma City.

In Greater Tulsa, the smaller, local outfit Questionable Company does the same, including Live Trivia Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays at Jane’s.

At most venues, the winning team each week takes home a prize. At Jane’s, it’s a $50 gift certificate.

“We started doing it because we had just opened and we were looking for a way to bring people in on Monday nights,” Tannehill says.” In the beginning it was like, ‘Oh, no! We’re too full!’”

Origins of the trivia material vary.

Larger outfits, like Challenge Entertainment, employ teams of question writers to ensure their games remain current and challenging. Others, like Questionable Company, play closer to the game’s humble roots; the firm’s two owners come up with the questions and the answers.

Popular categories include TV, movies, sports and music; obscure topics and what some might call “fourth-grade-facts” also get into the mix. Strelsin says one challenge that tends to trip up contestants is, “Provide the correct spelling for the capital of New Mexico.”

If you start to spell Albuquerque, you are in good – albeit wrong – company; it’s a common mistake.

The correct answer is Santa Fe. Strelsin stresses that trick questions are not the norm.

While writers create questions, your friendly neighborhood game hosts run the shows. They travel to venues to emcee the games, provide

materials such as pencils and answer slips, call out questions, count and register points, and keep up jovial banter.

“They’re playing music, interacting with the patrons who are playing the game,” Strelsin says.

At family-friendly venues, trivia may seem like fun and games, but it’s quite competitive.

Teams often compete on the same night at the same place, especially in leagues. Trivia leagues vary from venue to venue, depending on the host company. In competitive trivia, each host company operates its own tournament.

So, if your team does trivia night at a Questionable Company venue, you play in its tournament. On another night, you may go to a different venue with a different host company and play in a different league altogether.

Questionable Company records team points over a six-month period.

The top two teams from each group advance to the league championship, Tannehill says.

“Everyone who plays at Jane’s is competing for the championship of Jane’s,” Tannehill says.

But bigger than that is “the champion of all places” within a host tourney.

Questionable Company offers trivia at Tulsa locales including Saturn Room, Shuffles, FlyingTee and Cabin Boy’s Brewery. Challenge Entertainment hosts events at OKC venues including The Garage, Tapwerks, Deep Deuce Grill and Flatire Burgers. Visit Questionable Company’s Facebook and challengeentertainment.com for full schedules.

KAYLEE CAMPBELL

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

21

The State

SPORTS

Ex-TU Player Takes Stock(ton)

DaQuan Jeffries, expected to go high in last year’s NBA draft, has settled in with the Sacramento Kings’ G-League affiliate.

D

ALTHOUGH HE WENT UNDRAFTED, OKLAHOMA NATIVE DAQUAN JEFFRIES SIGNED A TWO-WAY CONTRACT WITH THE SACRAMENTO KINGS AND SPENDS THE BULK OF HIS TIME ON ITS G-LEAGUE AFFILIATE TEAM. PHOTO COURTESY STOCKTON KINGS

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

aQuan Jeffries’ professional basketball career hasn’t begun like some thought it might.

The Edmond native, who played his final two collegiate seasons at the University of Tulsa, was once a projected second-round pick in the 2019 NBA draft. But Jeffries went undrafted and landed in Orlando before being released in October. He wasn’t without a home for long after he signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings two days later.

Under his two-way deal, the 6-foot-5 swingman can spend 45 days at most in the NBA and will play the bulk of his rookie campaign with the Kings’ NBA G-League affiliate in Stockton, California.

“It’s been pretty good so far. Since I’ve been in the league, I’ve learned a lot,” Jeffries says. “I think one of the hardest parts of going from college to the NBA is getting used to the speed of the game, getting used to the communication part of the game. You can’t take any possessions off, not one.”

Jeffries has averaged about 16 points and seven rebounds per game with Stockton. One of his better G-League games came on the road Dec. 7 against the OKC Thunder’s affiliate, the Blue. Jeffries scored 29 points, corralled six rebounds and had three assists in 38 minutes – a nice homecoming for the Santa Fe High School product.

“It was an amazing experience,” he

says. “Getting to play in front of my family as a professional for the first time was a pretty exciting time.”

He has appeared in several games for Sacramento and made his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 15 at Staples Center.

“I was pretty nervous,” he says.

“Once I got out there, I felt pretty good and I was pretty confident. It was pretty great, just sitting on the bench and looking down the floor and seeing those guys [Laker stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James].

You grow up watching those guys, and then to look up and see you’re actually playing against them is a pretty amazing moment.”

Another squad also drafted Jeffries last summer – the legendary Harlem Globetrotters chose him and former University of Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. Jeffries didn’t play for the Globetrotters but says being associated with such a famous team was overwhelmingly positive.

“Having them contact me was surreal,” he says. “I thought it was a fake message or something. It was a pretty cool thing to be a part of.”

Regardless of whether he’s in the NBA or the G-League, Jeffries carries what he learned from his two seasons with the Golden Hurricane.

“I loved playing at Tulsa,” he says.

“The coaching staff have so much NBA experience and taught me a lot of things that helped me get to this level … and translate it to the floor.”

STEPHEN HUNT

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23

The State INSIDER

‘Something Positive for the Cosmos’

Red Dirt music master Stoney LaRue shares a bonus track with the late Brandon Jenkins on his latest CD, Onward.

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STONEY LARUE ENJOYS HIS STATUS AS A RED DIRT ELDER STATESMAN. PHOTO COURTESY RPR MEDIA

24

hile I don’t want to give anything away, I need to call attention to a bonus track on Stoney LaRue’s brand-new CD, Onward, that’s liable to give chills to any longtime follower of the Oklahoma-born Red Dirt music scene.

Called “High Time,” it’s a languid call to revisit the friends and the joys of the past – in spirit, an analogue to the classic Beach Boys hit “Do It Again.” And the first voice you hear isn’t LaRue’s, but the distinct, hard-edged, honky-tonk tones of Brandon Jenkins, the Red Dirt star who died in 2018.

“That was the last song we wrote together,” LaRue says. “We wrote it together in Nashville, at my manager’s place, in his basement. Brandon walked in, and I’d never seen him so excited about getting a song out. I just thought he was all pumped up on espresso or something.”

He laughs.

“But he came in, and he was like, ‘Man, I’ve got this song! I just feel like I’ve got to get it out,’” LaRue says.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

While “High Time,” with LaRue sharing vocals, appeared on Jenkins’ last disc, Tail Lights in A Boomtown, LaRue says it needed to be on Onward as well because “it’s an ode to Brandon.”

The song is far from the only memorable track from the new album, for which LaRue was joined by fellow performer, songwriter and producer Gary Nicholson, an awardwinning music industry veteran who’s written a passel of country hits, including Vince Gill’s “One More Last Chance” and Don Williams’ “That’s the Thing about Love.” Impressive as Nicholson’s country music resume is, his efforts extend well beyond that genre and take in names like Ringo Starr, bluesman Buddy Guy and many others.

“He’s written with B.B. King, he wrote a lot of Delbert McClinton’s stuff, and he played with [Billy Joe] Shaver for eons,” LaRue says. “He’s been on the road since the late ’50s. I stayed in his house while we were writing, and when I looked at his mantle, there was more than one Grammy there. But, all his accolades aside, I was sitting there in the room thinking, ‘I’m here for a reason. Let’s see what it is.’”

Soon enough, he found out.

“I’d go back and forth to write with him, and every time we were together it’d be for a day or two, and we’d knock out two or three songs each day,” LaRue says.

“After a while, we had a theme going, and I guess that’s how it became what it was for the record – it had this air, this essence.”

The theme has to do with romance in all of its manifestations, but especially the darker side, the times when realization seeps in that a relationship just isn’t going to work. Onward certainly has romantic tracks, especially “Drowning in Moonlight,” a beautifully rendered piece of idyllic nostalgia, but many of them deal with the grinding inevitability of busted love. That feeling permeated the record so much that Nicholson and another veteran Nashville figure, Shawn Camp, wrote a new song for LaRue that fit perfectly with the ones Nicholson and LaRue co-wrote.

As the songs came together, LaRue says, “I wanted

to do a little homework, as far as self-help and introspection, to … figure out what was really going on from my point of view – or just from a life point of view. I mean, hell, at that point I’d been on the road for maybe 15 years. I wanted to figure out why whatever was happening was happening and make sure that it never happened again.”

Like most Red Dirt acts, LaRue came out of Stillwater. Born in Taft, Texas, he graduated from Stillwater High, where, he points out, he played the school’s athletic mascot, Peter Pioneer. (“I’m wearing a different mask now,” he says with another laugh.)

On the young end of that pioneering group of Red Dirt acts, he visited the scene’s focal point – a building and grounds known as the Farm – at the very end of its run.

“Of course, I’ve gone out there since then, with Monica Taylor and the [Red Dirt] Rangers a few times, and even with [the late Bob] Childers, when they started holding things out there for the Red Dirt Relief Fund and things like that,” LaRue says. “But the first time I went out, they told me, ‘This’ll be the last time we’ll be out here.’ I remember sitting around the campfire with Scott Evans and Tom Skinner and doing what people did at the Farm. If I remember correctly, I was the last to go down. And man, it sucks that I

missed it. But I get it.”

After a stint in the Army, LaRue returned to Stillwater and lived in the second Red Dirt hotspot, a building that became known as the Yellow House.

“Jason Boland and Cody Canada were there then, and [Mike] McClure and Coop [the Red Dirt Rangers’ John Cooper] would come over. So would Skinner,” LaRue says.

Cooper and Skinner, longtime Farm habitues, were among the first wave of Red Dirt artists, years older than the Yellow House bunch. Still, LaRue says, “The great thing was the respect we had for ’em. Everybody there looked up to their elders, if you will.”

LaRue still looks up to his elders, even as he has become a veteran performer with, at last count, more than a million record sales to his credit. The new disc, for example, features an engaging reworking of Merle Haggard’s 1984 hit, “Let’s Chase Each Other Around the Room.” It’s a tribute not only to the country artist often called the Poet of the Common Man, but also to LaRue’s grandfather, who was a primary caregiver for LaRue and his brothers.

“I listened to all those outlaw-country guys growing up, and the Hag, man – he was completely blue collar,” LaRue says. “And my grandpa was a Democrat. We wore Velcro

shoes, Rustler jeans, one-color Fruit of the Loom shirts, and we had flattops. I think I missed a generation with my raising, but I’m certainly catching up with it now,” he says with another laugh.

LaRue himself is one of Red Dirt’s leading lights.

“Well, I think it’s the same as with any craft,” he says. “If you plant the seed, and you water it and take care of it, it kind of plays with you and for you. I do it for the fans, and they do it for me. It’s therapy for me, and it’s a way for me to think that I’m actually legitimately doing something positive for the earth, for the cosmos and the universe. I think it’s that important.

“People are listening to something, and they trust you whenever they’re hearing your songs. I’ve listened to stories from people who’ve come back from war, or from serious injury, both mental and physical. Some just say they’ve been listening to me since they were 8, and now they’re in their 20s. It’s pretty mind-blowing. They’ve trusted this music, and it’s molded them, in a way.

“So this is what they tell me, and every time I hear something like that, I hold it just a little more sacred. I can’t wait to be a grandfather to this music.”

JOHN WOOLEY

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Life & Style

A M A P TO L I V I N G W E L L

A Valentine’s Surprise

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Whether you’re a fan of the grand gesture or a small, thoughtful gift, make this holiday one to remember.

T

here are a plethora of ways to show your partner you care on what some say is the most romantic day of the year – Valentine’s Day. Some couples thrive on large, sweeping declarations or pricey presents. For them, a surprise getaway, an enviable piece of jewelry or a big-budget proposal might be the right ticket for this amorous day.

If that isn’t your style, try something smaller – but no less thoughtful. A colorful bouquet of flowers, home-cooked meal, couple’s massage or handmade present (like a scrapbook or love letter) should do the trick. After all, romantic presents are about the time – not the money – spent.

FEBRUARY 2020| WWW.OKMAG.COM

27

Life & Style INTERIORS

An Enticing Welcome

Homeowners in Nichols Hills wanted an inviting space that can adapt to an evolving family.

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By M.J. Van Deventer

his sprawling Nichols Hills home was designed specifically to suit the needs of a growing family. With two kids, the homeowners wanted a space that would accommodate an ever-changing lifestyle in a pleasant, nurturing environment.

When designing the space with the OKC office of the London architecture firm Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the homeowners wanted (and got) a sophisticated blend of upscale beauty and functionality.

The inviting entertaining rooms are as well defined as the secluded areas of the home. Haleigh Stout, an interior designer with Oklahoma City-based A-Line Designs, says the open floor plan complements the abundant, large windows and rooms, which are elegant and comfortable.

Each part of the home is welcoming. A small courtyard greets visitors. Four floor-to-ceiling paned windows frame the entrance and make a bold statement while providing a glimpse of the beauty inside.

The first indoor views are of the spacious, formal living area, which includes dramatic, high ceilings, a crystal pendant chandelier and an antique heirloom rug found on the family’s trip to Egypt.

The crisp, white interior contrasts dark wood framing.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: A UNIQUE CHANDELIER OVER THE COZY KITCHEN BANQUETTE IS ACCENTED

BY A LEATHER SEATING AREA. A FEELING OF ELEGANCE WELCOMES VISITORS. A FORMAL SEATING AREA MAKES A PERFECT GREETING PLACE. A MODULAR SOFA AND AN ARTISTIC WALL GRAPHIC ARE SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THE PLAYROOM. THE KITCHEN FEATURES A MIX OF TEXTURES, ALL BLENDING AGAINST THE WHITE BACKGROUND AND WOOD PANELING. THE CAMEL-COLORED LEATHER SECTIONAL SOFA SITS BENEATH FAMILY PHOTOS TAKEN IN EUROPE. THE COFFEE TABLE IS DESIGNED FROM PETRIFIED WOOD. PHOTOS BY BRETT HEIDEBRECHT PHOTOGRAPHY

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Life & Style

ABOVE: A CUSTOM HEADBOARD CENTERS THE MASTER BEDROOM. RIGHT: THIS COMPACT GUEST BATH NEAR THE FAMILY’S DEN ENHANCES THE WHITE DESIGN THEME AND IS ACCENTED

BY IMPRESSIVE MINIMALIST SCONCES.

ABOVE: THE GUEST BEDROOM OFFERS AN ANTIQUE BED AND CUSTOM DRAPES. LEFT: OUTDOOR DINING IS A TREAT ON THIS HOME’S POOLSIDE PATIO. SURROUNDED

BY LANDSCAPING AND ACCENTED WITH OVERHEAD TWINKLE LIGHTS, THE SETTING IS PERFECT FOR PARTIES.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

Windows offer views of the expansive back lawn, pool and well-appointed patio, all designed for entertaining.

Connected to the formal living area are a wet bar and wine area – ideal for toasts with the family’s frequent guests – and a casual room where the family can relax or invite others in to watch television.

“This is where the family hangs out together,” Stout says.

The office has a warm, inviting feeling with a day bed, where children can nap or study while their parents work.

The main living areas feature large sectional sofas accented by unusual coffee tables. Comfort for daily living and entertaining is a consistent theme.

In the sleek kitchen, chocolate brown woodwork and pure white walls continue the home’s crisp aesthetic. The large center island with ample seating is a central focus. A small, cozy banquette is a perfect place for a snack or a quick meal for the family. The kitchen provides a view of the well-manicured lawn.

The children’s bedrooms were designed and decorated to adapt to their changing interests. A whimsical playroom can be modified easily for different activities.

The back yard, special to this family, includes a dining area, a courtyard, stunning lights, the pool, several relaxed seating areas and plenty of green space.

“The whole house was built around the pool and courtyard,” Stout says.

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Life & Style

D E S T I N AT I O N S

Nepalese Namaste

Whether you intend to climb and hike in the Himalayas or just take in the sights, Namje Bazar embodies the area’s serenity.

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TEMPLES, WATERFALLS AND STUNNING VISTAS COMPRISE A TRIP TO NAMJE BAZAR IN NEPAL.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

n Namje Bazar – a small, serene town at an altitude of 11,480 feet in eastern Nepal, sandwiched between India and Tibet – people raise crops, tend to livestock and assist visitors climbing the Himalayas.

A movement called Namje Community Homestay has taken root lately and provides residential accommodations for tourists, even those not intent on scaling Mount Everest or doing any trekking at all.

If residential stays aren’t your cup of tea, the Hotel Namje View Point provides terrific vistas and a varied cuisine. The Hotel Suravi is in the thick of the nearby Dhankuta business district.

And you have to check out a place with a name like the Hotel Cheap and Best in Bhedetar; it’s actually pretty good and has a bakery, cafe and bar.

German bakeries are popular in the area, as are internet cafes, small restaurants, specialty shops and the exotic Tibetan Market in the central district, where you find inexpensive clothing, jewelry and home décor items.

The village of Namje consists of terraced fields, wooded hills, breathtaking views of snowcapped mountains and a deep sense of tranquility.

Summers are cool and wet; winters are chilly and dry. The best times to visit are from January to April and from September to December. Fly into Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, then travel by bus to Namje.

Temples and Falls

One of the most well known shrines in the region is the Budha Subba Temple, northeast of Bijayapur in a peaceful ridge on the Seuti River, surrounded by a rare, sacred kind of bamboo that grows without top edges. Inside the temple, ancient sacrificial ceremonies help believers ease their afflictions.

Hindus make up about 80 percent of the Nepalese population. They are polytheistic and celebrate numerous festivals throughout the year. Their temples are many and varied.

The Dantakali Temple is revered among Hindus as the place holding the sacred teeth of the goddess Sati Devi, wife of Lord Shiva.

Legend has it that when Sati Devi died, Shiva

carried her body aimlessly throughout the countryside. Over time, her body parts fell to the ground as Shiva grew weak. Believers say Dantakali Temple stands over her teeth and one tooth is still visible inside.

At Pindeshwor Temple, devotees come barefoot on Mondays in July and August to pay homage to Shiva with gifts of water from the Koshi River. With this tribute, a worshipper’s wishes are thought to come true. Inside is a flame that is never extinguished.

Water also plays a large role at the Hindu temple at Shiva Jatta thanks to a surprisingly delightful cascade down several tall levels of rock. It’s an easy hike or bike ride

from the road.

Namaste Waterfall is larger than the Shiva Jatta and worth the longer hike to reach it.

Even the parking lot is scenic. The 260-foot waterfall gets its name because it forms a namaste, a traditional greeting spoken as one bows slightly with palms together and fingers pointing upward. The plunging water producing spectacular rainbows.

In Dharan, 75 miles from Namje, the striking Dharan Clock Tower resembles one in Hong Kong and has become a top attraction since being built in 1991. The 130-foot tower provides fabulous panoramas of the city.

CHUCK MAI

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Life & Style

H E A LT H

Lewy Body Dementia’s Treachery Abnormal brain deposits of certain proteins are associated with this incurable condition. Treatment varies with each patient.

L

ewy body dementia affects an estimated 1.4 million people and their families, and the disease can become aggressive and insidious as it progresses.

The condition is associated with the presence of Lewy bodies – abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein – in the brain, according to the Lewy Body Dementia Association. An umbrella term, Lewy body dementia includes both Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

“In dementia with Lewy bodies, the third most common dementia, patients usually experience visuospatial or executive dysfunction before they notice memory loss,” says Linda Hershey, a neurologist with OU Medicine in Oklahoma City. “They usually have signs of parkinsonism and may be confused with those who have Parkinson’s disease.”

Along with a buildup of Lewy bodies, about 75 percent of DLB patients have excessive amounts of tau and beta-amyloid, the same proteins that accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

“This is what we have learned from autopsy studies of DLB patients’ brains: the more Alzheimer’s disease changes in any given DLB brain, the more aggressive the clinical course and the shorter the patient’s survival,” Hershey says.

Kristin King, a movement disorders neurologist with Warren Clinic Neurology in Tulsa, says Lewy body dementia is diagnosed based on a patient’s history as well as mental and physical exams.

“Some features that point to this diagnosis include hallucinations and a

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

history of dream enactment,” she says.

“Motor symptoms classically include tremor, stiffness, slowing of movements and balance difficulties.

“Dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia are differentiated from one another by determining the presenting features. If the thinking impairment occurs early, it is more likely dementia with Lewy bodies. If the thinking impairment occurs years after the onset of motor symptoms, it is more likely Parkinson’s disease dementia.”

Hershey says the quality of life of DLB patients varies widely upon symptoms and responses to medications.

“For example, one DLB patient may have visual hallucinations that respond to donepezil, while another has hallucinations that continue to be frightening regardless of medical intervention,” she says. “A second DLB patient may have parkinsonism that responds well to a low dose of levodopa, while another gains no benefit at all and only becomes more confused with the same drug.”

Both incurable, Lewy body dementia

and dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease are treated similarly, King says.

“Certain medications are thought to slow the progression of the dementia; however, results are modest,” she says.

“Some patients may notice improvement in thinking, behavior, anxiety and hallucinations. Many patients may not notice any difference at all. It is important to note that even for the patients who do not notice any difference, their rate of decline while on the medication is likely slower than it would be without the medication.”

King says dementia with Lewy bodies tends to be more aggressive than dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Patients with Alzheimer’s dementia can have a similar prognosis, but may live much longer depending on their overall health at the onset of disease,” she says. “Parkinson’s disease dementia also tends to be more aggressive once it sets in because patients may already have substantial physical disability due to the underlying Parkinson’s disease.”

REBECCA FAST

“But we have a lot of hometown pride in knowing that any oil pump in the F-150 is ours.”

A creek running through the area was called Salaiseau in the 1600s and 1700s by Frenchmen who preserved slain bison with salaison (salt provisions). Over time, it became anglicanized into Sallisaw.

In a sense, SLPT continues the international commerce begun OUTSIDE THE METRO by those fur traders. The Sallisaw facility has sister factories in Rochester Hills, Michigan; Birmingham, England; and Ningbo and Huzhou, China.

“We have fluid interaction with all the plants,” Thomas says. “We hosted holiday parties and people from those plants came. But to those outside Sallisaw, it’s kind of a shock to know what and how much we do.”

Since bicoastal Interstate Sallisaw, definitely not the town depicted 40 bisects Sallisaw, the town in a famous novel, has international visitors sometimes is a way station for national and international drivand supplies a vital automobile part for the world. ers. Katie Napier, owner of the he ubiquitous Ford F-150, arOasis Coffee House in the old Palace Drug guably the state’s most popuStore, says she’s had customers from Europe lar vehicle and certainly the and Australia “and they were the neatest country’s best-selling pickup, people I’ve met so far.” operates because of a key Napier says her place, in Sallisaw for a component produced in an eastern Oklahoma year, has its own vibe, just as more estabtown with origins tied to French fur traders. lished places, like Ruger’s Grill, the Blue Sallisaw’s SLPT Global makes oil pumps Ribbon Diner and Aroma’s Coffee Shop have for F-150s, Jaguars and Land Rovers, says theirs. Oasis, akin to big city coffee shops, Chris Thomas, the company’s human redoesn’t have a “typical rural, western farming sources director. The plant, originally opened atmosphere. High schoolers, young business

by BorgWarner in 1974, should also begin professionals and working moms come here.” making an innovative oil pump for reconfigThe irony is that Napier, with a bachelor’s ured Jeep vehicles this year. degree in animal science “Jeep is designing a new engine around from Oklahoma State our new pump, which allows it to keep runUniversity, “grew up doing ning at an angle, or even inverted, with a FFA and riding horses. I secondary solenoid,” he says. knew I didn’t want to do an Thomas is matter-of-fact about 250 Saloffice job.” lisaw workers producing an essential element She says her husband, for some of the mostly widely seen vehicles Judd, a Hawaii native who on the road. (more irony) competed “The plant has been around for many and worked in rodeos, “fits BAR STOOL SEATING years, so we have workers long-established right in to Sallisaw. He OCCUPIES ONE CORNER OF in the community,” he says. “We’re one of loves it.”

THE OASIS COFFEE HOUSE. the top employers in town.

PHOTO COURTESY OASIS COFFEE HOUSE BRIAN WILSON

Priming the Pump of Success

T

FUN FACTS POPULATION 8,489 THANKS, BUT NO THANKS The Joad family, central to John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, is from Sallisaw. The author knew the seat of Sequoyah County wasn’t on the Mother Road (Route 66) and wasn’t ruined by the Dust Bowl, but he liked the sibilance of the town’s name. Still, Steinbeck’s dry, dusty, dreary depiction of Sallisaw falsely remains in many people’s minds.

SPANISH, NOT FRENCH Sallisaw High doesn’t offer French, but Spanish teacher Lisa Hawkins reminds her students that sal means salt and the town’s link to salt deposits. Her classes often focus on cultural appreciation; she shows how many Spanish speakers in Central and South America converse in native languages, too, just as students from the nearby community of Marble City speak Cherokee and English interchangeably.

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

35

Life & Style

SCENE

Mark & Ann Farrow, Laura Kruger, Lisa Antry, Warren Kruger; Casino Royale Gala, Tulsa Opera

Alison Anthony, Donnie House, Janetta Cravens, Brent Sadle; Standards of Excellence accreditation event, Tulsa Area United Way

Todd Hallmark, Anthony Dillard, Brooke Townsend, Travis Johnson; Oklahoma Caring Vans celebratory event, Oklahoma Caring Foundation, OKC

James Lankford, Ann Felton Gilliland; 1,000th home framing event, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, OKC Kevin Kramer, Alan Fusco, Claudia Cook, Betsy Beyhan; Powered by Art Gala, Tulsa Girls Art School

Matt Wade, Britta Thrift; The Nutcracker Tea, OKC Ballet

Tammy Montesanto, Sarah Billingsley, Susie Cox; Giving Tuesday Breakfast, Revitalize T-Town, Tulsa

Tom Egbert, Tad Jones; Roper of the Year awards, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

Adrian Ordoùez, Melissa Revell, Morgan Smith, Becky Gligo; holiday party, Family and Children’s Services Young Professionals Advisory Council, Tulsa Laura & Charles Holmes, Cheryl & Shawn Klahr; Corks and Kegs, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Tulsa

Dan & Marcia Brueggenjohann, Lisa Malone, Jody Tidwell; Christmas in Tulsa, Signature Symphony

Phil Kaiser, Rachel & David Wagner, Alison Anthony; holiday party, Leadership Oklahoma, Tulsa

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Life & Style D AT I N G G U I D E

The Safe Way to Court In the age of internet meet-ups, avoiding dangerous situations is a priority. Here are some tips and apps to help.

D

ating in the 21st century has simultaneously become easier and more complicated than in eras past. No longer does a gentleman caller arrive for a chaperoned stroll or an iced tea on the porch; the days of old-fashioned courting are behind us.

In its wake are myriad dating apps, mindless swiping right or left, and constant reliance upon one’s intuition (and social media intel) to stay the course with a relationship or jump ship.

Along with those gut feelings should come an armor of precaution. While blind dates and pairing up with people on apps are steadily popular ways to meet your match, take measures to ensure that you aren’t in harm’s way. When meeting someone for the first time:

• • • • • • •

Keep your loved ones (or a loved one) aware of where you are and provide a timeline of your date; Use your own transportation; Meet in a public space – a restaurant, park, museum or well-lit location; Do a cursory internet search before meeting; this doesn’t necessarily mean going deep into a person’s social media history, but some light Googling couldn’t hurt; Limit alcohol consumption; Do not leave your food or drink unattended; Limit the amount of personal details you give; avoid discussing where you live or other tidbits that could threaten your safety.

For those looking for a little extra insurance, several apps exist to give you peace of mind:

•

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

Instant Checkmate App performs quick background checks on the go. It can

•

•

•

•

reveal if a person is “catfishing” you by presenting a fake identity online or has a criminal history. The app is free to download (with in-app purchases) and available on iOS and Android. uSafeUS sends a fake text or phone call to get you out of an unsavory situation.

Reviews say services appear convincingly authentic. The app is free and available for iOS and Android.

Circle of 6 lets you choose a half-dozen people with whom to share your real-time location. With one tap, that trustworthy circle is informed if you need help.

It’s free and compatible with iOS and Android.

Kitestring, an accountability service, requires you to consistently check in. If you don’t within a chosen amount of time, the app informs an emergency contact.

The service is free and does not require download; visit kitestring.io to sign up and receive your check-in text messages.

BSafe, much like Circle of 6, allows you to choose a group of people to inform should something go wrong. These people can track your location, and the app can set timers and send out fake phone calls. The app is free for iOS and Android, with inapp purchases available.

Along with keeping yourself on guard, it’s never a bad time to be an ally. If you see someone who looks uncomfortable or at risk on a date, check with him or her. At the least, it’s a misunderstanding; at the most, you could save a life.

MARY WILLA ALLEN

THE MYTH OF COLLEGE RANKINGS

Managing

Expectations

and REALITIES

By Brian Wilson

Education seems far more complicated than it was in previous generations, particularly when it comes to what’s best for students. Opinions and trends shift and sway. We look at four arenas – popular college rankings, the effectiveness of lectures, homework and campus safety – and provide some clarity (or cannon fodder) on those issues.

As high school seniors and their parents await acceptances to colleges, keeping a healthy axiom in mind may provide a helpful perspective that empowers students and devalues popular undergraduate rankings in national publications.

Throughout the years, most graduate, medical, dental, veterinary and law programs overwhelmingly assert that what a person does in obtaining a bachelor’s degree supercedes where that work is done.

Stressing over getting into “top” schools is frequently unnecessary because students who excel and take advantage of abundant opportunities as undergraduates, regardless of location, get into schools at the next level at pretty much the same rate.

“Some of the [undergraduate] rankings are artificial in that they use criteria which will automatically make some institutions appear better than others, when in fact the quality at what goes on there is no different,” says Keith Garbutt, Ph.D., professor of biology and dean of the honors college at Oklahoma State University. “The differences between an Ivy [League college] and a public institution are shrinking. A large piece is also the debt.

The debt a student has to pay can reduce a person’s lifetime earning power.

The differentials go way down when you consider that.”

Garbutt adds that acceptance rates of schools labeled as exclusive “only indicate a good public-relations campaign.”

For instance, a college with 1,000 slots for freshmen can lower its acceptance rate – a significant criterion in popular rankings – via slick marketing, mass mailings, social media saturation and/or athletic successes without changing its standards. If, over several FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

39

years, the number of applications at this school increases from 4,000 to 10,000, the acceptance rate drops from 25% to 10%, a figure often garnering the mark of “exclusive” in popular rankings.

“When it comes down to it, what’s crucial is a student goes somewhere where they can become comfortable,” Garbutt says. “It doesn’t matter how good the school is; if the culture isn’t one where they fit, they are more than likely to do poorly or be unhappy. The aca“When it comes demic, intellectual chaldown to it, lenge needs to fit with what’s crucial is the social [elements].

“I’ve seen this a lot a student goes in honors colleges at somewhere where land-grant institutions they can become like ours – students went to exclusive comfortable. It who institutions come in doesn’t matter during the second how good the semester because they school is; if the didn’t fit in well. I can think of many students culture isn’t one who thrived and bloswhere they fit, somed in the honors they are more than college at a land-grant likely to do poorly university.”

Garbutt says many or be unhappy. high-achieving students The academic, increase their chances intellectual of being nominated for acclaimed national challenge needs scholarships by going to fit with the to “non-exclusive” social [elements].” colleges.

“Do you want to be an average student at a prestigious school where you won’t have access to becoming a nominee for the Goldwater and Truman scholarships?” he says.

“You’re much more likely to rise to the top in those situations at schools like OSU. That doesn’t mean every student

should come to OSU. We may not be the best fit for everyone.

“You have to be careful not to aim too low. Look at the top-notch colleges and visit them because they all have different cultures. Don’t just go to Harvard because of its name; go because of its culture. There’s nothing like visiting a college, but that is also driven by socio-economic realities.”

Rankings of America’s “best” colleges often rely on information provided by colleges, and in the past 10-15 years, dozens of colleges have been criticized for providing false and/or misleading statistics. And, if a school declines to submit responses to a publication, its ranking often takes a hit.

For example, highly respected Reed College, in Portland, Oregon, is one of handful of schools not sharing information with U.S. News and World Report; the magazine ranks Reed 68th among liberal-arts schools and unranked among all colleges.

Garbutt acknowledges that supplying information to publications presents a paradox for any school.

“There’s a tremendous pressure on institutions to appear at the top of these lists,” he says. “For instance, I make sure we make it into the top 20 honors colleges in the country. I’m playing that game, too. The rankings do make a difference. I do everything I can do to make sure we have a high rating. I don’t think you cannot play the game.”

Garbutt also points out that popular collegiate rankings rely on the “political reality” of SAT and ACT scores of previously accepted freshmen. An increasing number of laudable schools, including Bowdoin College and the University of Chicago, don’t require standardized tests for admission because they see limitations in predicting

collegiate success through such scores.

Many argue that the SAT and ACT often reflect socioeconomic and racial discrepancies.

“There’s a bias toward privilege because such a person has more time and resources to prepare,” he says. “Some of the perceptions of eliteness are artificial because of the way they are selected.

As an honors college, we provide opportunities for everyone that they can probably get at a fancier school.”

Garbutt says popular publications don’t necessarily aim their “best” lists at those who can afford high tuitions, but “practically, these rankings appeal to people of means. They are certainly only meaningful to people with the [financial] security to make those types of choices.”

He doesn’t recommend a particular publication for applicants but he does put stock in ratings, not rankings. For instance, Inside Honors rates public universities and their honors colleges every two years.

“One of their criteria is rigorous curricula … whether it’s broad and diverse,” says Garbutt, adding that OSU’s honors program has a five-star rating in this system.

The application process and popular rankings are full of flaws, and Garbutt laments this reality.

“In terms of access to education, we love to think of America as egalitarian; that’s not really true with higher education,” he says. “There needs to be a lot more thought to giving people with talent, no matter what their socioeconomic status, a good higher education.

“Rankings don’t really do that because they say that if you can’t make it into an Ivy, then you’re no good. How do we make that playing field level? I don’t have an answer, but we ought to.”

HONORS COLLEGES AS HIDDEN GEMS

Honors colleges at land-grant institutions, like those at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, often provide the best of both worlds for exceptional students – extensive research facilities, a broad academic spectrum, the excitement of NCAA Division I athletics, and the intimacy of small, private, liberal-arts schools.

“What we’re trying to do is provide that small-college experience with all the opportunities at a large research institution,” says Keith Garbutt, dean of OSU’s honors college. “Small colleges can’t give all the opportunities that a land-grant university can.

“There’s also a whole ethos of helping people at land-grant universities.

There’s a caring piece so that capable students can go to an honors college and succeed. Plus, at land-grant universities, there’s a department and major for just about everything.”

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

THE ART OF THE LECTURE

Interactive, student-centered learning is pretty much the norm across the country, regardless of grade level or subject. Gone are the days of the boring, droning, endless talker satirized by Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. However, lecturing has not disappeared from the academic landscape.

Many who specialize in the art of the lecture say it can sometimes be the best way to deliver complex information in a short amount of time.

Such a presentation allows an expert in any field to efficiently guide students toward what’s essential … as long as it’s relevant to the audience.

“A short lecture is a good lecture,” says Raj Basu, Ph.D., a professor in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University who keeps his talks under 30 minutes. “If you don’t get to the crux of the matter quickly, you lose students’ attention. They already have short attention spans because of social media and the like.”

Basu adds that many classes are large because of state budget cutbacks

lation of voice and characterization work their ways into any good lecture, regardless of subject matter. A talk on the minutiae of grammar and syntax in a freshman English class can be valuable and entertaining if delivered effectively.

“I plan my punch lines. I plan my eye rolls. I plan my delivery,” Basu says. “I spend more time on the act than on the concept. My style is like a TED talk but I was doing this long before TED talks.”

Bruce Yee, chief financial officer for Ditch Witch of Oklahoma, Arkansas and the Rockies, praises such lectures because they engage students.

“I had Raj as a professor and lecturer [while] an undergraduate and graduate student,” he says. “His lectures were effective because he took an abstract academic theory and provided a practical application from a past ex“so the only way to communicate perience. For instance, instead of simsome information is through lecture.” ply regurgitating a theory, Raj would For example, he says he has manpresent [it] and then call upon one of agement classes that sometimes meet for five hours, “so I’ll have three short us to relate a past experience where we had either observed or exhibited the lectures interspersed throughout that theory in our own experiences.” time to focus on vital information Effective lectures leave the speaker before breaking into discussions and and students satisfied. Yee says a good small groups.” talk turns someBasu approaches thing obtuse the lecture as a perforinto something mance.

“I tell stories. relatable. Basu “I tell stories,” he I think of the says it’s just says. “I think of the plain fun to do. outcomes I want to outcomes I want “In an ideal have with the lecture, to have with the world, I would then I think of stories that have happened to lecture, then I think have been an me and other people. of stories that have actor or comedian or some I write down those happened to me type of percommon experiences. former,” Basu I find common ground and other people.

I write down says. “This is with my students so the closest I they can focus on the those common can be to that. main points. experiences.”

I really enjoy “After a few times, that people take I have students who the information come in smiling and say they’re waiting for the story of the happily, especially information that’s potentially dry, and they want to come day.”

Humor, presence, movement, modu- back the next week for more.”

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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hibit troubling behavior prior to carrying out aggressive acts,” Miller says. “The lessons learned in recent acts of violence are that, in each case, individuals left clues that they were planning violent acts, but that often systems are not in place to put these clues together.”

Miller says at least one member of his behavioral intervention team serves on OU’s threat-assessment and review committee “so that all available pieces of information connect. Team members receive on-going training in best practices to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep our students, faculty and staff Colleges and universities are vigilant healthy and safe.” when it comes to maintaining overtly Erin Simpson, director of OU’s secure environments and responding to Gender and Equality Center, says all violence, mass shootings and terrorism.

Less visible are behind-the-scenes pro- students, faculty and staff must complete grams mitigating and reducing pressures online awareness training on sexual misconduct. This has become standard at that can send some people over the edge most colleges. and prompt them to lash out at others or In addition, Simpson says, students themselves. Colleges universally provide resources for students, faculty and staff to belonging “to Greek letter organizations, student athletes and student leaders all help with problems that could spiral out receive additional, customized training of control and cause widespread harm. programs relevant to their involvement Scott Miller, director of the Univeror space on campus. Monthly, gendersity of Oklahoma’s counseling center based violence-marketing campaigns and chair of its behavioral intervention focus on targeting the time of year or team, says new students, under 21, must campus events, such as My Costume is complete online education focusing on behavioral expectations, health and safety Not My Consent or Consent Never Goes on Break.” issues, university policies, and campus Every college wants zero violence and community resources. and intimidation, but statistically that is “All first-year students [must also] attend a mandatory face-to-face program not going to happen, so students who are victimized have access to 24-hour-a-day that focuses on healthy decision makresources. One such group, Simpson ing and places students in simulated says, is OU Advocates, “which proreal-world situations [to teach] healthy vides confidential help to any commuand safe choices related to alcohol and nity member navigating sexual assault, drugs,” Miller says. “These programs intimate partner violence, stalking and were created on empirical best practices … shown to impact decision making and harassment.”

Community policing, practiced by behavior change.”

Most colleges across the country have many municipalities, is vital to preventing and addressing violence on collegiate intervention methods to try to prevent campuses, according to Maj. Bruce violence, and faculty and staff members receive training on recognizing distressed Chan with the OU police department and Tulsa Community College police chief students.

“The research is clear that students ex- Melvin Murdock. Positive interactions

PREVENTING ON-CAMPUS VIOLENCE

INTERVENTION PROGRAMS Many colleges have mandatory training about sexual misconduct, usually online but also faceto-face, for students, faculty and staff.

For example, incoming freshmen at the University of Oklahoma must complete the school’s Step In, Speak Out program. The 50-minute course, presented by peer educators, addresses sexual consent, the college’s sexual misconduct policy, active-bystander intervention strategies,

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

and resources for victims, says Erin Simpson, director of OU’s Gender and Equality Center and coordinator of OU Advocates.

Scott Miller, director of OU’s counseling center, says the college has an accountability system that helps violators make healthier decisions going forward. OU also employs an alcohol and drug counselor who addresses substance abuse.

with campus officers before something bad happens often subverts or mitigates a violent act.

Maintaining an upbeat, widespread presence promotes rapport with students, they say. OU residence halls have adopta-cop programs that establish links that can help when crises occur. TCC has regular presentations and discussions with students on its four campuses, and officers routinely banter with people inside and outside buildings.

Murdock stresses little acts between police and people on campus. He tells of a 12-year-old who was in a hallway because his parents were registering for classes but he couldn’t find a bathroom.

A TCC officer happened upon the boy and helped.

“When you talk with an individual, that impression may be their only contact with police and that shapes their views about police,” Murdock says. “If we have an emergency, we don’t want it to be the first time people have interactions with our officers.”

Chan says the OU police department is one part of a public-safety structure involving the university’s behavioral intervention team and the student affairs, Title IX and sexual misconduct offices.

For instance, OU “has multiple sexual violence programs and services intended to both prevent sexual violence as well as to respond with assistance when sexual violence or other violent behavior has occurred,” he says. “In those cases, when victims report to us, we make certain to provide them with information about the other services available to them, both from university offices and from the community, such as the local Women’s Resource Center.”

TCC, like nearly every college, has digital ways for students to report suspicious or worrisome activities.

“It’s essential that we partner with the community,” Murdock says. “We have to break down barriers … and have relationships.”

Chan and Murdock say anticipation is the key to responding to violence.

Officers receive constant training on potential scenarios.

“The most important issue is being prepared for a crisis,” Murdock says.

Chan adds: “We provide police officers with weapons and equipment necessary to respond to such incidents.

Similar to rape self-defense classes, upon request, we provide active shooter classes to OU groups. Besides how to respond, we stress that prevention by recognition and intervention is important.”

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1/3/20 5:04 PM

“Teachers “Homework is an need to talk with ambiguous subject class time, in each other so that because it’s hard they can manage addition to gainThe consensus on homework is there is homework for all to measure. Home- ing the benefits no consensus. students,” Church work should extend of responsibilFor decades, the educational says. “Curriculum ity, diligence and learning. It’s not paradigm for teachers is to assign planning is vital. hard work. about 10 minutes of homework per Teachers need to supposed to create However, many night per grade level. First graders get be purposeful in students, for a major achievements 10 minutes and high school seniors the homework they host of socio-ecoand gains. It does 120 minutes under this model, which give and focus on nomic, cultural, help develop good psychological, is supported by abundant research, scheduling and according to Kimberly Church, an ascurriculum, and be extracurricular study habits and sistant professor of reading, curricuspecific in the work and/or personal motivation.” lum and instruction they want students reasons, don’t do at Northeastern doing at home.” homework. As a “Teachers need State University in Quality of homework can vary from result, many schools force teachers to to talk with each Tahlequah. teacher to teacher. For instance, educaminimize the amount or grade value of other so that Problems can tors acknowledge that 10-15 minutes homework. of thoughtful, intense reading and/or International comparisons are they can manage arise with all the variables. In lower writing about a particular topic far outmixed.

The Atlantic magazine reports homework for grades, homeroom weighs a “busy-work” packet that takes that students in Finland and Japan have all students. teachers, if they an hour to complete. less homework and higher standardThen the issue arises of how to asCurriculum are given the time ized tests scores than their American counterparts; however, schools and planning is vital. and resources to do sess that “meaningful” homework; an so, can work with objective worksheet is cut and dry, while instruction in those largely homogeTeachers need to teachers of specific subjective, read-and-write homework neous countries are radically differbe purposeful in classes (science, can generate responses ranging from ent in their cultural and academic fluff to sophistication. Plus, intellectual approaches to education than in the the homework they math, art, music, foreign language and homework takes longer to grade than United States. Plus, according to The give and focus on others) to coordinate worksheets and adds to the burdens of Atlantic, Greece and Thailand, whose scheduling and an ideal amount of overworked, underpaid teachers. students have more homework than “Homework is an ambiguous subject curriculum, and homework that covAmerican students, score lower on ers all disciplines. because it’s hard to measure,” Church standardized tests. be specific in the However, such cosays. “Homework should extend learn“I challenge teachers to think critically work they want ordination becomes ing. It’s not supposed to create major about structured standard routines like students doing labyrinthine when achievements and gains. It does help de- homework,” Church says. “Ask yourself, at home.” electives and diverse velop good study habits and motivation.” ‘Why am I assigning something?’ Teachlearning groups (reEducators know the value of ers need to understand their intentions medial, on-level, honors, pre-Advanced homework as long as it is focused and and goals with the homework. We need Placement, Advanced Placement and efficient. Students who do homework to make sure it’s the most effective way dual-credit) increase in intermediate, retain knowledge and/or learn concepts for students to progress. It shouldn’t just middle and high school classes. that help them long term and during be an expectation.”

THE HOMEWORK DILEMMA

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

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12/26/19 11:47 AM

Private School

Scholarships and/or needbased financial aid

Uniforms

Annual tuition

French, Latin, Spanish/ Yes/Yes

41

Yes

Yes

9-12

ACT, EXPLORE

French, Latin, Spanish/ Yes/Yes

23

Yes

13:1

PreK-12

ACT, SAT

Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish/Yes/Yes

40

543

10:1

6-12

ACT, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, SAT, other

Chinese, French, German, Spanish/Yes/Yes

14400 N. Portland Ave., OKC/405-842-8495/ crossingsschool.org

1,115

18:1

PreK-12

ACT, SAT, other

Heritage Hall

1800 N.W. 122nd St., OKC/405-749-3001/ heritagehall.com

930

18:1

PreK-12

Holland Hall

5666 E. 81st St., Tulsa/918-481-1111/ hollandhall.org

999

10:1

Lincoln Christian School

1003 N. 129th E. Ave., Tulsa/918-234-8150/ lincolnchristianschool.com

930

Marquette Catholic School

1519 S. Quincy Ave., Tulsa/918-584-4631/ marquetteschool.org

Messiah Lutheran School

6310 E. 30th St., Tulsa/918-832-4600/ acatulsa.org

195

10:1

PreK-12

Bishop Kelley High School

3905 S. Hudson Ave., Tulsa/918-627-3390/ bishopkelley.org

937

18:1

9-12

Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School

801 N.W. 50th St., OKC/405-842-6638/ bmchs.org

710

14:1

Casady School

9500 N. Pennsylvania Ave., OKC/405749-3100/casady.org

945

Cascia Hall Preparatory School

2520 S. Yorktown Ave., Tulsa/918-746-2604/casciahall.com

Crossings Christian School

EXPLORE, other

$10,370 (Catholic

Religious affiliation

Number of teachers with advanced degrees

ACT

Augustine Christian Academy

Standardized testing

$7,550

Grades

Yes

Student/teacher ratio

Yes

Enrollment

12

Address/phone/website

Greek, Hebrew, Latin/No/Yes

School

Foreign languages/sports programs/arts and music programs

Guide

Finding the right school for your child can be challenging, especially with the variety of private educational opportunities in Oklahoma for elementary, middle or high school. With Oklahoma Magazine’s Private School Guide, you can learn more about the numerous educational institutions around the state and compare important information including student/ teacher ratios, tuitions, enrollment numbers and standardized testing options.

Non-denominational Christian

parishoners)

Catholic

Yes

$11,000

Catholic

Yes

Yes

$7,320-$20,750

Episcopal

19

Yes

Yes

$15,250

Augustinian Catholic

Spanish/Yes/Yes

65

Yes

Yes

$7,925-$10,050

Non-denominational Christian

ACT, SAT

French, Mandarin, Spanish/ Yes/Yes

50

Yes

No

$9,515-$20,360

None

PreK-12

ACT, SAT

Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish/Yes/Yes

59

Yes

Yes

$7,400-$20,800

Episcopal

17:1

PreK3-12

ACT, EXPLORE, Terra Nova, SAT

Spanish/Yes/Yes

25

Yes

No

$7,799

Non-denominational Christian

500

22:1

PreK3-8

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Spanish/Yes/Yes

7

Yes

Yes

$5,560 (Parishioners)

Catholic

3600 Northwest Expressway, OKC/405-946-0462/ messiahokc.org

132

15:1

PreK3-8

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Spanish/Yes/Yes

3

Yes

Yes

$5,550

Lutheran

Metro Christian Academy

6363 S. Trenton Ave., Tulsa/918-745-9868/metroca.com

915

10:1

PreK3-12

ACT, EXPLORE, SAT

American Sign Language, Spanish/Yes/Yes

40

Yes

Yes

$7,065-$11,915

Non-denominational Christian

Miss Helen’s Private School

4849 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa/918-622-2327/misshelens.com

150

10:1

PreK-5

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Spanish/Yes/Yes

10

No

Yes

$8,100

Non-denominational

Mizel Jewish Community Day School

2021 E. 71st St., Tulsa/918-494-0953/ mizelschool.org

38

8:1

PreK-5

SAT

Hebrew/No/Yes

2

Yes

Yes

$8,222

Jewish

Monte Cassino School

2206 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa/918-746-4238/montecassino.org

779

14:1

PreK3-8

EXPLORE, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, other

French, Latin, Spanish/ Yes/Yes

29

Yes

Yes

$6,600-$11,600

Catholic

Mount St. Mary Catholic High School

2801 S. Shartel Ave., OKC/405-6318865/mountstmary.org

410

12:1

9-12

ACT, SAT

French, Latin, Spanish/ Yes/Yes

20

Yes

Yes

$11,325

Catholic

Peace Academy

4620 S. Irvington Ave., Tulsa/918-664-1304/patulsa.org

210

1:16

PreK-12

ACT, Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Arabic/No/Yes

8

Yes

Yes

$5,400

Islam

Regent Preparatory School of Oklahoma

8621 S. Memorial Drive, Tulsa/918-663-0264/rpsok.org

550

13:1

PreK-12

Other

Latin, Spanish/Yes/Yes

21

Yes

Yes

$4,000-$10,400

Interdenominational Christian

Rejoice Christian School

13407 E. 106th St. N., Owasso/918-516-0050/ rejoiceschool.com

1,003

15:1

1-12

ACT, SAT, Terra Nova

American Sign Language, French, Spanish/Yes/Yes

70

Yes

No

$2,780-$8,290

Christian

46

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

$12,670 (Standard)

School

Address/phone/website

Enrollment

Student/teacher ratio

Grades

Standardized testing

Foreign languages/sports programs/arts and music programs

Number of teachers with advanced degrees

Scholarships and/or needbased financial aid

Uniforms

Annual tuition

Religious affiliation

Riverfield Country Day School

2433 W. 61st St., Tulsa/918-446-3553/ riverfield.org

639

(Depending on grade level)

Infants-12

EXPLORE

German, Spanish/Yes/Yes

31

Yes

No

$11,040-$14,390

None

Saint Catherine School

2515 W. 46th St., Tulsa/918-446-9756/ saintcatherineschool.org

170

13:1

PreK3-8

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Spanish/Yes/Yes

3

Yes

Yes

$4,486 (Catholic)

Roman Catholic

School of Saint Mary

1365 E. 49th Place, Tulsa/ 918-749-9361/schoolofsaintmary.com

325

15:1

PreK2-8

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Spanish/Yes/Yes

4

Yes

Yes

$2,500-$6,942

Catholic

St. Pius X Catholic School

1717 S. 75th E. Ave., Tulsa/918-627-5367/spxtulsa.org

351

17:1

PreK3-8

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Spanish/Yes/Yes

15

Yes

Yes

$5,270

Catholic

St. Mary’s Episcopal School

505 E. Covell Road, Edmond/ 405-341-9541/smesedmond.org

177

7:1

PreK2.5-5

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Spanish/Yes/Yes

6

Yes

Yes

$3,700-$9,500

Episcopal

Undercroft Montessori School

3745 S. Hudson Ave., Tulsa/918-622-2890/undercroft.org

226

9:1

PreK-8

ACT

Spanish/No/Yes

6

Yes

No

$10,600

None

University School at the University of Tulsa

326 S. College Ave., Tulsa/918-631-5060/ uschool.utulsa.edu

209

6:1

PreK3-8

Stanford Achievement Test

Chinese, Spanish/No/Yes

16

Yes

No

$12,000

None

Westminster School

600 N.W. 44th St., OKC/405-524-0631/ westminsterschool.org

575

15:1

PreK-8

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

French, Spanish/Yes/Yes

26

Yes

No

$7,395-$15,325

None

Wright Christian Academy

11391 E. Admiral Place, Tulsa/ 918-438-0922/ wrightchristianacademy.com

240

10:1

PreK3-12

ACT, SAT, Terra Nova

Spanish/Yes/Yes

12

Yes

Yes

$5,785-$6,945

NonAffiliated

4:1-15:1

PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE

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Four of the five most recent Bishop Kelley valedictorians are School of Saint Mary alums.

In annual standardized testing, School of Saint Mary middle school students test like high school graduates.

Providing excellent academics in a faith-filled, safe environment.

Serving students preschool age 2 through grade 8.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

24094 Augustine Christian Academy.indd 1

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12/17/19 3:28 PM

PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE

collaborators investigators

performers

innovators environmentalists

musicians

families

readers SCIENTISTS

creators athletes

difference-makers

thinkers

communicators

researchers

problem-solvers environmentalists writers

rIvErfIEld.org • 918.446.3553 24117 Mount Saint Mary.indd 1

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12/17/19 3:22 PM

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

49

Image

Matters Cosmetic surgeries and noninvasive treatments provide a patient with many options on achieving a youthful appearance.

Here’s what to expect before, during and after some of those procedures.

50

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

By Rebecca Fast

Putting Your Best ‘Face’ Forward

If you want a youthful glow with your appearance, you have options. Surgical and nonsurgical procedures offer a variety of benefits to help lift, smooth and brighten your skin.

Juan Brou, a board certified plastic surgeon with Premier Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics in Oklahoma City, says a facelift is “still the gold standard of facial rejuvenation.” However, he adds that with today’s treatments, you can potentially correct and even prevent issues that a facelift is meant to fix.

“The aging changes that a facelift targets are laxity of the skin leading to wrinkles on the cheeks and anterior neck with the classic formation of jowls and turkey necks,” Brou says.

“Now, we don’t need to wait that long.

Innovations on skin care and sun protection can delay the aging of the skin and sometimes reverse sun damage.

“Many office peel treatments are available to take it even further.

Diverse lasers are designed to reverse these changes and fillers can be used in injectable form to correct volume loss that, together with skin laxity, causes the aging changes.”

He says other new technologies include directing various forms of energy, such as ultrasound and radiofrequency, to tighten the skin.

Also, different types of barbed sutures provide temporary lifts.

With the goal of making nonsurgical procedures regenerative, Tim R. Love, a board certified plastic surgeon of Tim R. Love Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics in Oklahoma City, uses NanoFat injections derived from a patient’s own stem cells, mononuclear cells and fiberblasts. The NanoFat is combined with FACEtite and Fractora radio-frequency microneedling procedures to enhance outcomes.

“The NanoFat is injected into the dermal layer of skin to supplement healing and stimulate collagen production,” Love says. “For patients not in need of a traditional facelift, InMode’s FACEtite has become a real go-to

device that delivers ‘surgical results without the scars.’

“It uses radio frequency-assisted liposuction in a safe and effective mode to melt fat while tightening skin and soft tissue overlying areas traditionally treated with liposuction alone. It’s ideal for unwanted jowls and neck fat and is comfortably performed in our office setting with the patient lightly sedated. Results have been shown to shrink skin and soft tissue up to 40%.”

Brou says another product used to eliminate expression wrinkles and maintain a youthful look is a neuromodulator. Most commonly known by the brand name Botox, a neuromodulator disrupts the communication between nerves and muscles and causes paralysis at the injection site – and its popularity continues to grow.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2018 marked the highest number of botulinum toxin type A injections, with more than 7.4 million shots.

Brou says crow’s feet, those wrinkles around the corner of your eyes, are best corrected with a neuromodulator because there is no surgical procedure that addresses it specifically. Other issues, such as an eyelid droop, require surgery.

“Eyelid surgery is an area for which there’s no minimally invasive substitute for surgery,” Brou says.

“When the skin laxity is bad enough to obstruct vision, then the solution is surgical.”

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

51

Plastic Surgery Safety

Anyone undergoing plastic surgery wants to do so with minimal risks. Brou says at least 20% of his educational materials address safety issues.

Any surgery has a potential for complications, but they are minimized through increased knowledge and advanced technology. For example, Brou says one of his main concerns in the post-operative care of abdominoplasty (a tummy tuck) is preventing blood clots inside deep veins, also known as deep vein thrombosis or thromboembolism.

“The danger of these clots is that they can become loose and float all the way to the lungs, producing pulmonary embolism, which is a serious condition that can lead to death,” Brou says. “We now know that this can occur with other operations and is related to the length of the procedure as well as how soon the patient is up and about.”

In the past, a patient may have stayed in bed for several days and remained immobile, which increase the risk of blood clots.

“Nowadays, we are much smarter at identifying risks factors for the formation of blood clots, such as smoking, estrogen therapy, obesity, diabetes, recent surgeries, recent trauma or fractures, history of previous blood clots, history of cancer and history of factor V Leiden thrombophilia,” Brou says. “These conditions increase the risks of formation of blood clots. These patients now will receive anticoagulation therapy after the surgery and will be monitored closely.”

For patients without risk factors, Brou still takes precautions by using sequential compression devices during surgery to stimulate blood flow and prevent the formation of blood clots. Patients are also commonly encouraged to get up and move around as soon as possible after surgery.

“Anticoagulation therapy also has undergone significant improvements with oral agents that are easily administered and have a safer therapeutic range with fewer side effects,” he says. “Awareness of these complications makes it possible to detect them early and treat them successfully, if they do occur, minimizing the negative impact on the patient.”

Being informed before any plastic surgery is critical. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (plasticsurgery.org) has a list of questions to ask your surgeon before making the commitment.

52

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

Recovery Time

While a quick fix may be everyone’s desire, your body needs time to heal after any type of surgery.

“Estimations of recovery time depend on the extent and involvement of the procedure as well as the age and physical condition of the patient,” Brou says. “Noninvasive and minimally invasive procedures are very popular because they have very short recovery times. In some cases, such as in injectables, the patient can go right back to work.”

Brou says surgical procedures, particularly those to the face, may take a long time to look socially presentable, even though the patient feels well enough to return to a normal routine.

“In the case of a facelift, this may take two to four weeks,” he says. “But the results will look their best in three months. In the case of eyelid surgery, the patient will feel great in a few days but [the site] may look operated [on] for two weeks and will look its best in two months.”

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Proactive Measures Taking charge of one’s mental and physical health during the aging process can extend the length and quality of life. Routine medical visits, staying emotionally and socially engaged, understanding insurance coverage, and staying ahead or on top of issues help people manage their lifestyles.

Regular Checkups

Seniors who enjoy good physical health like to stay out of the doctor’s office … but regular visits with a health-care provider can help those 65 and older in myriad ways.

Tony and Sharon Little, internal medicine physicians with the Saint Francis Warren Clinic in Glenpool, say medical visits provide good opportunities to: screen for issues that might not be symptomatic; assess the risk of future problems; discuss healthy lifestyle choices; and update vaccinations.

Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea could cause damage without a patient realizing it. Type 2 diabetes, easy to ignore in its early stages, affects the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys before significant, noticeable symptoms. The disease increases the risk of other problems, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney failure and atherosclerosis (a build-up

54

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

of substances in the arteries).

A person can have undiagnosed, untreated hypertension for years without symptoms, Sharon Little says, and the long-term consequences of high blood pressure can cause heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.

Sleep apnea, left untreated, increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, depression and headaches.

A simple test for cognitive function should also be part of an annual physical, says Lee Jennings, a specialist in geriatric medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

“For brain health in older adults, make sure that if you have hearing loss, you get that addressed,” she says. “There’s a pretty clear link now between hearing loss and cognitive impairment. If you are having trouble hearing, don’t ignore that – that’s not normal aging.”

Everything important for heart health is important for brain health, Jennings says, including a healthy

diet, weight control, treating high cholesterol and not smoking.

“People with worse cardiovascular health have worse cognitive impairment as they get older,” she says. “If you feel like you are having problems with your memory, absolutely talk to your doctor about it.”

Jennings says a written evaluation, which takes 10-15 minutes, tests different parts of memory and thinking and can give a physician an overall idea of a patient’s cognitive functions.

If there is not a problem, having that reassurance is valuable. However, if there are signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, problems can be addressed quickly. Even though there is no cure for either disease, early detection gives a person time to “making sure your finances are in order,” Jennings says. “You can also talk with your family about long-term care. It’s easier for families if they know what you would have wanted and your care is in line with what your wishes are.”

Social and Emotional Needs

Seniors should also be proactive with their social and emotional health, says Pat O’Connor, a resident of Epworth Villa retirement community in Oklahoma City.

“It starts with you,” she says. “You have to view things from a positive perspective. If something bad happens, I try to figure out how to right the ship. If I can’t, I try to dismiss it.

Interacting with others is also important to emotional health.”

O’Connor does volunteer work, much of which revolves around music. She plays the piano for sing-

alongs and is an alto in the Epworth Villa choir.

“Music is everything to me, just about,” she says. “And if you don’t mind my saying so, I’m good at it.”

Some seniors find rewarding work with educational and support groups.

Nancie Webb, another Epworth resident, became involved with the Alzheimer’s Association because her late husband had the disease. She took training classes and became a support group facilitator.

“Attitude plays such an important part in being older,” Webb says. “I don’t understand people who move in

here and say they’ve worked all their lives and don’t want to do anything.

There’s always somebody who needs your help.”

Webb says one of her sons has a property near Bristow where she spends time with her grandsons.

“I love to fish,” she says. “I like to sit on the dock with a fishing pole.”

O’Connor also benefits from family time.

“Three of my children live [in the area], so I can see them routinely, and that’s a good thing,” she says. “They have offered for me to live with them, and I said, ‘In your dreams.’”

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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SCREENINGS AND TESTS

Tony and Sharon Little, internal medicine physicians with the Saint Francis Warren Clinic in Glenpool, suggest the following screenings and tests for seniors.

Blood pressure – This evaluation should be done at least once a year. Seniors with diabetes, heart disease and kidney problems may need to be checked more often.

Cholesterol and heart disease – These screenings should be done every five years if one’s cholesterol level is normal. People who have high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems or other conditions may need to be checked more often.

Colorectal cancer – Every person from age 50 to 75 should be screened. People 76 or older should consult their doctors about these screenings. Options include an annual fecal occult blood (stool-based) test, an annual fecal immunochemical test, a stool DNA test every three years and a colonoscopy every 10 years.

Some may need a colonoscopy more often if they have risk factors for colon cancer, including ulcerative colitis, a family history of colorectal cancer or a history of adenomatous polyps.

Eyes – Get an exam every one to two years, and at least once a year if you have diabetes.

Hearing – Get tested if you have hearing loss.

Lung cancer – The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual screenings until age 80 for adults who have a 30-year smoking history and currently smoke, or those who have quit within the past 15 years.

Diabetes – Seniors 65 and older who are in good health should be screened every three years. If you are overweight and have other risk factors for diabetes, ask your provider if you should be screened more often.

Immunizations – Get an initial pneumococcal vaccine at age 65 and an annual flu shot. Get a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years and the shingles vaccine at age 50 or older.

Breast cancer – Women ages 45 to 75 should have mammograms every one to two years. Experts do not agree on the benefits for women 75 and older.

Personal Responsibility

Taking ownership of the costs of medical treatment can be done by carefully reading health-care benefit descriptions, says Josiah Sutton, vice present of marketing and business development for CommunityCare.

Owned jointly by Tulsa’s Saint Francis and Ascension St. John health systems, CommunityCare offers Medicare Advantage plans that take into account regional health statistics and feedback from members, he says.

“Anything that Medicare deems as preventive, all health plans will cover

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

it 100%,” Sutton says. “The best thing for the patient to do is look at their benefit documents, which clearly spell out which lab tests are covered.”

Seniors should also check their polices for coverage of gym memberships, vision and dental care, hearing aids and transportation, Sutton says.

Tony Little, of the Glenpool clinic, says another tip is to get informed on genetic health histories because heart disease, asthma, cancer and diabetes tend to run in families, so sharing that crucial information with a physician could extend life.

Osteoporosis – All women over age 64 should have bone density tests.

Pelvis and Pap smears – After age 65, most women who have not been diagnosed with cervical cancer or pre-cancer can stop having Pap smears if they have had three negative tests in the past 10 years.

Prostate cancer – The potential benefits of routine prostate-specific antigen testing have not definitively been shown to outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. Prostate examinations are no longer done routinely on men with no symptoms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm – All men between 65 and 75 who have smoked should have an ultrasound. Other men should discuss this screening with their providers.

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Booze and Brews TULSA’S AMERICAN SOLERA HAS WON NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR ITS BREWS, WHICH ARE MADE WITH A UNIQUE WOODEN CASK METHODOLOGY. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

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Oklahoma harbors a wealth of watering holes. Here’s a guide to some of the state’s beloved bars and breweries, plus a flight of seasonal concoctions, etymologies and tips from experienced barkeeps.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

By Tracy LeGrand and Mary Willa Allen

OR F S ION N IOCAS T A LIBY OC AN Celebrations or special nights

O Bar, OKC Atop midtown’s upscale Ambassador Hotel, this perfect penthouse has an extensive wine list, cocktails and food from Café Cuvée, a French bistro on the first floor. “With arguably the best skyline view of the city through rain or shine, our outlook over Oklahoma City alone can guarantee an always beautiful evening,” says Brandon Folkers, bar manager and beverage director. A cocktail favorite is “the Ambassador Sling, our take on the Singapore Sling,” he says. “It’s sweet and tangy, with a house-made pineapple shrub as one ingredient of eight.” obarokc.com Summit Club, Tulsa Members and their guests know the Summit experience is as memorable as the view. The venerable private dining and social club has an elegant vibe similar to establishments in London’s Soho district. summittulsa.com Vast, OKC Enjoy the skyline panorama while sipping an Aviation, a cocktail of Boodles gin, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, crème de violette and lemon, or choosing from the vast menu of a restaurant given four diamonds by AAA. vastokc.com Roof Sixty-Six, Tulsa Open daily as a high-flyin’ spot for selfie seekers, this joint atop the Hotel Indigo has glorious views of downtown, just a mile from the original Route 66. Sip a handcrafted cocktail or enjoy half-priced wine on Wednesdays. facebook.com/roofsixtysixbar Mantel Wine Bar and Bistro, OKC The Mantel in Bricktown offers upscale ambiance, an impressive selection of wines and top-shelf liquor. themantelokc.com Mixco, Tulsa Mixco is downtown’s speakeasy with eclectic spirits, beers and wines.

Among Mixco’s curated cocktails are a bevy of clever names, including Aperol We’ve Been Through, and You Bitter, You Bitter, You Bet. mixcotulsa.com FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Day drinking Roosevelt’s, Tulsa Wander Cherry Street to discover this gastropub, with 80 craft beers, many wines and cocktails like Tulsa Thyme, a concoction of Hendricks gin, lemon juice, local honey syrup and thyme.

The temperature-controlled patio is a major draw. rooseveltstulsa.com Packard’s, OKC Originally a showroom for Packard automobiles, this place retains floor-toceiling windows and original marble floors. Packard’s has an extensive wine list with some obscure selections.

“Happy hours are every week day from 2:30 to 6 p.m. and brunch is Saturdays and Sundays,” says John Ross, director of operations. “People love our house mix signature bloody mary and our cold-brew Old Fashioned, made with cold-brew coffee, which we’ve [served] since we opened seven years ago … before cold brew got so popular.” packardsokc.com Blue Rose Cafe , Tulsa With roll-up doors and indoor/outdoor service, this fixture on the east bank of the Arkansas River has affordable house drinks, like Patio lemonade, made with lemon vodka and lemonade and topped with a cherry. bluerosecafetulsa.com

OKC’S O BAR OFFERS SKYLINE VIEWS AND PLENTY OF CRAFT COCKTAILS. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

TULSA’S AMERICAN SOLERA OFFERS A BEVY OF BREWS, ALONG WITH WINE AND OTHER LIBATIONS IN ITS RECENTLY OPENED WAREHOUSE LOCATION. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Whiskey Cake, OKC For farm-fresh comfort food and a variety of house cocktails, this neighborhood joint has select whiskeys straight from curated barrels chosen yearly in Kentucky. whiskeycake.com

WHISKEY CAKE’S MANGO HABANERO MARGARITA OFFERS A FUNKY OPTION FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR SOME HEAT. PHOTO COURTESY WHISKEY CAKE

DOWNTOWN TULSA’S HODGES BEND OFFERS A VARIETY OF ALCOHOLIC AND NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

PHOTO BY JESSICA KARIN PHOTOGRAPHY

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ETYMOLOGY

Many libation names derive from unconfirmed legends. Regardless, knowing these make for great bar trivia.

VINTAGE WINE BAR IN TULSA FOCUSES ON SERVING WINE FROM SMALL, INDEPEDENT WINERIES. PHOTO COURTESY VINTAGE WINE BAR

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FUN ABOUND AT TULSA’S CABIN BOYS BREWERY.

PHOTO COURTESY CABIN BOYS BREWERY

Bloody mary: There are several claims to this drink’s bizarre moniker, which arose in the 1920s or ’30s. The inspiration may have been Queen Mary I (nicknamed Bloody Mary as she murderously tried to turn England back to Catholicism), Hollywood starlet Mary Pickford or a waitress named Mary who worked at a Chicago bar called the Bucket of Blood.

Dark ’n’ Stormy:

The business that trademarked this name says the drink was invented in Bermuda after World War I. Legend says a sailor took one look at the drink’s dark color and said it appeared just like threatening storm clouds.

French 75: The drink purportedly got its name during World War I because its strong flavor felt like getting hit with a French 75mm field gun.

Fuzzy navel: Invented in the 1980s, this mixture of peach schnapps and orange juice has a simple (and safe for work) explanation – fuzzy is a nod to the schnapps and navel refers to the use of a navel orange.

Gimlet: Some claim the drink is named after the tool of the same name because of its piercing effects on drinkers. Others say it was named after surgeon admiral Thomas Gimlette, reputed to have added lime juice to the concoction to combat scurvy in sailors.

THE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES AT THE SUMMIT CLUB ARE THE PERFECT CONCOTION FOR A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Pimm’s cup: James Pimm introduced this drink in a London oyster bar in the early 1800s. He offered a gin-based concoction, with secret herbs and spices, to his customers to aid in digestion. The small glass he served it in was called a No. 1 Cup.

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Tried-and-true favorites

Brewery crawl Cabin Boys Brewery, Tulsa Try a Cabin Boys brew, such as Cornerstone, a Belgian-style saison with spices and a malt foundation. The site is replete with a large social area for games. Cabin Boys brews are also sold in local restaurants and liquor shops. cabinboysbrewery.com

Saturn Room, Tulsa Please the tiki gods and drink at this kitschy cool spot, where you can choose among house classics and shareables like Tropical Itch, made of Puerto Rican and Jamaican rums, vodka, Grand Marnier liqueur, mango, lime and bitters. The Chi Chi – delicious but dangerous because the liquor content sneaks up on you – is renowned. saturnroom.com

Prairie Artisan Ales, OKC Prairie has won awards for its quirky brews, which are sought by discerning purveyors on five continents. Try a barrel-aged stout, then a crisp, farmhouse ale in trendy digs. prairieales.com

Ponyboy, OKC Stay gold at Ponyboy, where the emphasis is a dance floor that can’t be beat, live music and frosty beverages. ponyboyokc.com

Marshall Brewing, Tulsa Founded in 2008, Marshall was Tulsa’s first production craft brewery.

Ask about monthly tours and enjoy favorites, including This Land Lager, Atlas IPA and the seasonal Oktoberfest. marshallbrewing.com

Hodges Bend, Tulsa Baristas, sommeliers and bartenders can suggest coffees, hand-picked wines, classic cocktails and adapted interpretations. Some $7 cocktails are offered Monday through Friday at happy hour. hodges-bend.com

Bricktown Brewery, Greater OKC, Greater Tulsa, Shawnee With a wide selection of craft and local beers, Bricktown hits the spot for a cold one, like the Bluesberry Ale, a purple-blue fruity winner. bricktownbrewery.com

Flashback Retropub, OKC The 1980s live here.“We expanded our space and now are up to over 100 arcade games, pinball and gaming tables, with new ones like Skee-ball and basketball,” owner Jose Rodriguez says. “The music, the videos, movies, memorabilia and cartoons – people light up when they walk in.” The pub’s biggest annual event is April’s Pretty In Pink Prom. For fun, the Nerds cocktail comes with an actual box of Nerds candy. flashbackretropub.com

Stonecloud Brewing Co., OKC The historic Sunshine Laundry Building transformed into Stonecloud, a brewery and taproom where prime pours are the focus, with snacks available – or you can bring your own food. stonecloudbrewing.com American Solera, Tulsa Owner Chase Healey started crafting beer from a west Tulsa metal shop and has won multiple international kudos with a wooden cask methodology where contents are consistently aged-blended and never completely emptied. “We’re making some of the best beer in the world, not just in the U.S. – beer of a caliber that people want to come back for because not many do it quite like we are,” he says. “And our new facility at Sixth and Utica provides an experience beyond beer in the glass. It’s a 100-year-old manufacturing warehouse renovated with a Scandinavian influence, big architectural elements – it’s like no other spot in town.” americansolera.com

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

Max Retropub, Tulsa Step back in time with arcade games, Wednesday night trivia and drinks like the Raspberry Beret, made with Dekuyper Razzmatazz schnapps, Maker’s Mark bourbon and cranberry juice, and rimmed with crushed Pop Rocks. maxretropub.com

FOOD TRUCKS AND A LARGE OUTDOOR AREA MEAN THE FUN LASTS ALL NIGHT AT CABIN BOYS. PHOTO COURTESY CABIN BOYS BREWERY

Skinny Slims, OKC In the old public house tradition, this Bricktown pub has more than 60 beers, a full bar selection and televised sports to cheer. facebook.com/ skinnyslimsokc

TROPICAL VIBES PERVADE SATURN ROOM, A TIKI BAR IN DOWNTOWN TULSA. PHOTO BY JESSICA KARIN PHOTOGRAPHY

DRINKS FOR EVERY SEASON

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

Summer

THE FLASHBACK RETROPUB IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS THE GO-TO STOP FOR VIDEO GAME LOVERS. PHOTO COURTESY FLASHBACK RETROPUB

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

Spring Mother of Dragons 5 large basil leaves 1½ ounces Bacardi dragonberry rum 1 ounce Lemoncello liqueur ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice Top with Prosecco sparkling wine Pour over muddled strawberries Courtesy Sarah Elliot at Summit Club

Greens 1½ ounces green smoothieinfused vodka ½ ounce tomato and cracked black pepper syrup ¼ ounce lemon juice ½ dropper vile Winship’s cucumber bitters Top with Topo Chico sparkling water Season rim of glass with salt and ranch dressing powder Garnish with cherry tomato and spinach Courtesy Julia McLish at Barkeep

PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

Fall

THE MAX RETROPUB OFFERS A VARIETY OF BELOVED ARCADE GAMES AND DELICIOUS DRINKS TO BOOT. PHOTO COURTESY THE MAX RETROPUB

The Formation 1½ ounces gin ½ ounce Licor 43 1 ounce plum syrup ¾ ounce lemon juice 4 drops vanilla bitters 4 drops herbal honey bitters 1 egg white Stencil with cinnamon and sugar Courtesy Julia McLish at Barkeep

Winter

THE FORMATION

Hot Box Taxi 1 ounce mezcal ½ ounce Amara liqueur ½ ounce Alchermes liqueur ¼ ounce Cynar liqueur 1 dash black walnut bitters 2 drops chocolate bitters Serve with flamed orange peel expression Courtesy Sarah Elliot at Summit Club

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Hidden gems High Dive, Tulsa A downtown coffee house by day, High Dive also has eclectic food and a beverage menu categorized by morning drinks, beer, wine, hurricanes and cocktails … shaken or stirred. highdivetulsa.com Bar Arbolada, OKC With high windows, plants and a dazzling, marble-topped bar, Bar Arbolada offers beer, wine and house drinks, including Laveta and Le, made with vodka, cantaloupe, lemon and La Croix sparkling water. facebook.com/ bararbolada Cellar Dweller, Tulsa Snug in a basement and with a classic, speakeasy vibe, mood lighting and big, comfy chairs, this is a downtown favorite – for those who find it. facebook.com/cellardwellertulsa

WINE, COCKTAILS AND FOOD PACK A PUNCH AT PACKARD’S IN OKC. PHOTO COURTESY PACKARD’S

The Other Room, OKC Picasso Café’s laid-back bar, The Other Room, tempts patrons with an 11-page drink menu, overstuffed benches and cozy, draped tables, along with an intimate back patio. picassosonpaseo.com Vintage Wine Bar, Tulsa Nestled in an airy, elegant spot in the Blue Dome District, Vintage provides a connoisseur’s selection of wine, beer and specialty cocktails, along with happy hours and cozy nights by the patio fireplace.“I’m a small, independent business owner, and I support small wineries to bring that story of small farmers to Oklahoma from all over the world,” owner and operator Matt Sanders says. “The guys we support put out maybe 125 cases in a year, not hundreds of thousands.” winebartulsa.com Barkeep, OKC Barkeep is ideal for an after-work or weekend drink and the place to procure many bar tools and ingredients. This joint is OKC’s spirits gem, catering to professional mixologists and those tending bar at home. Classes are available. barkeepokc.com Empire Bar, Tulsa Soccer aficionados flock to this obscure stone building on Peoria Avenue just south of Cherry Street. It’s packed during significant international and

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

BREW CONNOISSEURS CAN ENJOY FLIGHTS OF SEVERAL BEERS AT AMERICAN SOLERA. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

BARKEEP IN OKC OFFERS EQUIPMENT FOR BARTENDERS. PHOTO COURTESY BARKEEP

European league matches shown on numerous TVs. Bring your dog (before 8 p.m.) … and certainly your own food if you’re hungry because the Empire only serves a host of cold beers, whiskeys and cocktails. facebook.com/ empirebartulsa

A HIDDEN GEM IN OKC, THE OTHER ROOM IS ATTACHED TO PICASSO CAFE.

PHOTO COURTESY THE OTHER ROOM

THE PERFECT DRINK

THE HAPPIEST HOURS

Bars around Oklahoma have the keys to perfection … or at least the special ingredients or twists to make cocktails dazzle.

Drink and dine on the cheap at one (or all) of these happy hours.

Scratch Kitchen and Cocktails, Norman Swing by from 3 to 6 p.m. and after 9 p.m. daily (and 3 p.m. to close Thursdays) for $5 cocktails and half-price, low-point beers and appetizers. eatatscratch.com

• For a classic libation, Sarah Elliot

of Tulsa’s Summit Club says “balance between sweetness, acidity, complexity and booziness is found through proper proportions of citrus, bitters, sweetener, your liqueurs and spirits. One of the classics is a great example – the Bee’s Knees. Too much honey, it’s off. Too much lemon, it’s off. And if you’re like me, just one dash of lavender bitters and you have yourself a fine classic.”

Pub W, Tulsa and Greater OKC Beers, wines and cocktails are discounted daily, and some prices change with the hour – $3 from 3 to 4; $4 from 4 to 5; and $5 from 5 to 6. pubdub.com Pony Boy, OKC Enjoy $4 craft cocktails, $6 glasses of wine and discounted snacks from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays and all day Sunday. ponyboyokc.com

• The beloved White Russian gets

frozen at Roosevelt’s in Tulsa and retitled as The Dude Abides.

Local Bison, Tulsa Appetizers are $5 and local beers and wines are $4 from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays. thelocalbison.com

• Vast in OKC presents a

Manhattan with its own twist – Old Forester bourbon, Punt e Mes vermouth, strong tonic, Angostura bitters and sherry rinse.

Roka, Tulsa Don’t miss $3 beers, $5 cocktails, $4 glasses of wine and several appetizers from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. rokatulsa.com

• Margaritas take many forms, and

Andolini’s Pizzeria, Tulsa From 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays, Andolini’s offers select pizza slices and draft beers for $2.50 each. andopizza.com

OKC’s Whiskey Cake goes spicy with a mango habanero margarita, made with El Jimador Reposado tequila, wood-grilled mango habanero syrup, Benedictine liqueur, lime and agave.

Garage Burgers and Beer, Greater OKC and Greater Tulsa During the so-called Rad Hour, the Garage offers $2 domestic beers, $3 house wines and $5 specialty cocktails from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays. eatatthegarage.com

• Brandon Folkers, bar manager of O

Bar, boasts about the “Kōhi 43, a spin on the Rob Roy classic, with Jura 10-year-old scotch, a smoky Japanese whiskey, and then you replace Drambuie liqueur with a split of espresso liqueur and Licor 43.”

• Julia McLish, owner of OKC’s

Barkeep, says “only three

ingredients go into what is considered a classic cocktail: spirits, sugar and bitters.” Examples are the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan.

TOP TO BOTTOM: OKC’S WHISKEY CAKE OFFERS CLASSICS INCLUDING AN OLD TOP TO BOTTOM: OUT-OF-THE-BOX COCKTAILS FASHIONED. PERVADE AT OKC’S BARKEEP. PHOTO COURTESY WHISKEY CAKE PHOTO COURTESY BARKEEP

TROPICAL VIBES REIGN AT SATURN ROOM, A TIKI BAR IN DOWNTOWN TULSA. PHOTO BY JESSICA KARIN PHOTOGRAPHY

STONECLOUD BREWING COMPANY IS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC SUNSHINE LAUNDRY BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN OKC. PHOTO COURTESY STONECLOUD BREWERY COMPANY

THE OTHER ROOM SERVES UP DELICIOUS SEASONAL LIBATIONS.

BARKEEP IN OKC ACTS NOT ONLY AS A WATERING HOLE BUT ALSO AS A STORE WHERE BUDDING BARKEEPS CAN PURCHASE WARES. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

PACKARD’S ROOF TOP BAR IS AN OKC FAVORITE. PHOTO COURTESY PACKARD’S

A VARIETY OF TOP SHELF LIQUOR CAN BE FOUND AT THE OTHER ROOM IN OKC. PHOTO COURTESY THE OTHER ROOM

FANCY A MOSCOW MULE? OKC’S THE OTHER ROOM HAS YOU COVERED. PHOTO COURTESY THE OTHER ROOM

PHOTO COURTESY THE OTHER ROOM

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

PERSONAL TRAINER

HOSPICE CARE

Why can’t I shed this weight?

1. Poor nutrition. No matter how hard you train, you can’t lose those pounds without proper nutrition. You must stop skipping meals, yo-yo dieting and eating processed foods. Also stop the intake of caffeine, cola and corn.

Refined foods, white rice, alcohol, JOHN JACKSON processed and pasteurized foods serve to make you fatter.

2. Overtraining. There are detrimental aspects of traditional cardio training. Too much will create a hormonal environment that is not conducive to building muscle or weight loss. Also, if you are nutritionally depleted you will only drain your body more by exercising with no energy source.

3. Health and function. Make sure you have been assessed by a health professional who can properly assess adrenal, thyroid, sleep and digestive dysfunction.

4. Limits. It’s important to stress the body differently at all cost, but remember to listen to your body.

5. Balance. You must balance nutrition and smart exercise to eliminate fat. Also it is important to appreciate the body you are given.

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FINANCIAL ADVISOR How can I save on my 2019 tax return?

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Here are potential tax-saving opportunities that may apply to you: Save more for retirement: Maximize your contributions to a workplace retirement plan. Dollars contributed to the plan on a pre-tax basis reduce your taxable income. Take advantage of other pre-tax savings options: You may be able to contribute money from your paycheck to fund a Health Savings Account or HSA. Offset investment gains with losses: If you have taxable investments that are currently in a loss position, you can sell those investments and deduct those capital losses from your capital gains on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial 7712 S. Yale Ave. Suite 240 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2009 • David.x.Karimian@ampf.com www.primewealthmgmt.com

My wife’s father has Alzheimer’s Disease. He lives with us and she is his main caregiver. I am worried about her, as she has not made time to take care of herself. Any advice on how I can help her?

I’m very sorry to hear about your father-in-law. Of course, this is a difficult time for your wife and for you. The best way to help is to get involved by offering your wife respite care through hospice. Respite is a time when a patient is temporarily moved to a professional care facility. This would give her the opportunity to take some time for herself, which will actually help her be a better caregiver to her father.

Counseling might help you both to cope with the situation and better understand what to expect from the disease process. At Grace Hospice, we often help our patients and their families find resources to help with care and provide respite. In addition, we have free weekly support groups.

For more information, call us at 918-744-7223 or visit www.gracehospice.com. We are here to help.

CAITLIN EVERSOLE

Caitlin Eversole Admissions Supervisor Grace Hospice of Oklahoma 6218 South Lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR Does diet really effect how your mood?

Absolutely! Just as what you eat affects your heart, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc., your diet also affects your brain.

There is a direct connection from your gut to your brain via the vagus nerve, which sends signals in both directions.

Neurons are cells found in your brain AMY KESNER PHD, LPC, LADC/MH and central nervous system that tell your body how to behave. There are approximately 100 billion in the human brain, and your gut contains about 500 million. A large proportion of serotonin is also produced in the gut, along with a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which helps control feelings of fear and anxiety. There are many foods that are described as “brain healthy,” and your brain also needs healthy fats to contribute to insulation of the axons of the neurons. At our agency, we include education of healthy eating as part of the overall treatment of many reported mental health issues. Diet alone may not change all symptoms reported, but that combined with many other interventions can aid in brain, and overall health, and wellbeing.

Amy Kesner, PhD, LPC, LADC/MH Neurofit at Recovery In Oklahoma 4835 S. Fulton Ave Suite 100, Tulsa, OK 74135 918.591.3071 amy.kesner@recnok.com www.recnok.com Views expressed in the Professionals do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Co. or its affiliates.

Taste

F O O D, D R I N K A N D O T H E R P L E A S U R E S

Ge ing Stitched

A café in Oklahoma City offers food, beverages, plants and a sense of community.

THE KICKSTARTER PLATE INCLUDES ROASTED SWEET POTATOES, TOMATOES, LEMONY KALE, TWO EGGS AND AVOCADO WITH SESAME SEEDS. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

I

f you seek a quirky joint for exotic coffee, tea and food, try the warm, inviting Stitch in the heart of Oklahoma City.

“We believe that a café isn’t just one dimensional,” says Chad Grubbs,

who owns the store with his wife, Jen Semmler Grubbs. “It is about meeting all the needs of the day.”

Walking into Stitch, you notice that the coffee bar provides customers with space to drink, eat and chat. The place is also lined with plants, which

are Jen’s specialty; one end of the café has its own entrance for her other store, the Plant Shoppe, which sells succulents, cacti, house plants and other floral items.

This husband and wife duo focuses on creating authentic experiences for FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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THE GREEN AND GOLD SMOOTHIE IS PACKED WITH NUTRIENTS FOR A FILLING TREAT. PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS

L O C A L F L AV O R

MAKING A SPLASH WITH NEW ORLEANS COCKTAILS, KOREAN FOOD AND THE TULSA SOUND With dim lights, pastel paneling and a gleaming bartop, Foolish Things High Dive looks like many other neighborhood joints anywhere from the South Bronx to south Tulsa. However, few are the places where you can find New Orleans cocktails and Korean street food.

The delicious food is made by Nicholas Corcoran, former pitmaster at Tulsa’s wildly popular BurnCo. Flavorful bibimbap, that Korean meal in a bowl, is made with ribeye, eggs and lots of veggies. There are fusion tacos, including pulled pork with Korean slaw and Sriracha. Everything is under $12.

A lively, affable crowd ranges “from young,

68

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

college-aged kids to 50-somethings who work in the neighborhood,” owner Justin Carpenter says.

High Dive, at 315. S. Trenton Ave., is just steps away from the old Church Studio, where the Tulsa Sound developed.

“We think it’s our duty ... to foster Tulsa’s live music scene,” Carpenter says. “From DJs to rockabilly and punk to hip hop, we’re trying to keep the music we bring in as eclectic as Tulsa itself.”

Corcoran, whose menu includes bulgogi cheesesteaks and Sriracha honey wings, is more succinct: “It’s all so dank.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

DEBI TURLEY

PHOTO COURTESY FOOLISH THINGS HIGH DIVE

Taste TOP TO BOTTOM: ALONG WITH FRESH AND DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINK, STITCH ALSO SELLS A VARIETY OF PLANTS.

customers and came up with the name Stitch to reflect that desire.

“We believe in intentionally and truly getting to engage with our patrons,” Chad Grubbs says.

“All are welcome to come in, converse and share in this common, everyday experience we have around the table. In doing so, we hope that our guests are left with the experience of feeling connected or ‘stitched,’ a part of something larger than themselves.”

Stitch offers four parts to its menu – coffee and tea; morning; noon to night; and drinks.

Those who stop by won’t be disappointed by the craft coffees, cappuccinos, hot and iced lattes, and teas. Breakfast can be as simple as a granola cereal or smoothie bowl; bagels, omelets, sandwiches, waffles and tacos satisfy those with more audacious appetites. The breakfast bowl, filled with sweet potatoes, kale, maple bacon, poached eggs, avocado and sesame seeds, is a crowd favorite.

“It’s light, filling and just downright tasty,” Grubbs says. “It has a great balance of savory, earthiness and fresh zest that leaves you feeling full and healthy.”

For lunch and dinner, customers fill up on bison burgers, loaded sweet potato fries, hummus, chickpea salad wraps, steaks or old-fashioned BLTs. Fried catfish, tacos and a rainbow veggie sandwich (with beet hummus, tofu, carrots, avocado, cucumber and onion) are other top choices, along with a quinoa salad, a steak salad and the house Stitch Salad, packed with organic greens, cucumber, carrots and bagel croutons.

Booze options are vast – from local brews to ciders, wines and cocktails. Grubbs says his favorite drink is a classic paloma.

“This drink hits home every time,” he says.

“Besides the fact that I love tequila, our tequila takes the cake because La Gritona Reposado [favored at Stitch] is the only tequila produced entirely by women, down to the artisans who blow the bottles from recycled glass.”

This month, Stitch adds an all-day brunch and hosts several community events.

“You will either be able to join us for tasting menus, floral or plant classes, or wine, spirit and coffee tastings,” Grubbs says. “Or you can just throw an event or party in our space.”

Grubbs, born and raised in Oklahoma, likes running his business here.

“OKC just seems alive and ambitious,” he says. “It is a great time to be in OKC and see the city just be loved and revitalized. Our location is great because we reside in the West Village community and we all care about our craft and want everyone in the community to thrive.”

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Taste

C H E F C H AT

Art, No Ma er the Arena Painter Tim Swepston began cooking to pay for his passion and wound up as head of the kitchen at Tulsa’s Bodean.

F

TIM SWEPSTON USES HIS ARTISTIC PROWESS TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL AND DELICIOUS MEALS AT BODEAN. PHOTO BY JOSH NEW

SEE SWEPSTON’S RECIPE

FOR GRILLED JUMBO SEA SCALLOPS AT

OKMAG.COM/SWEPSTON

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rom earliest childhood, Tim Swepston knew what he was born to be … or so he thought.

Deep in his bones, he believed he was destined to be a painter, and if you look at the strange, primal figures and fierce, blazing colors in his paintings today (“painting keeps me sane,” he says), you know that had he chosen to follow that road to the end he might have found fame and glory.

Swepston, always aware of food and cooking, thought Bodean’s market in Tulsa was cool when he was a little kid. (That’s where his mom shopped for party supplies.)

But he never dreamed he’d be head chef there. Painting was his passion and, in the early 1990s, he often joined a raggedy gang of teenagers in back of artist Steve Liggett’s studio.

“Here’s a bunch of stuff,” Liggett would say while dragging out canvas and paint. “Do what you want.”

Young Swepston did.

He went to New Orleans to study art. He loved the rich colors of gouache and its link to the Italian Renaissance.

“I like tradition,” Swepston says. “The past is being forgotten. I want to preserve it. I appreciate classics; they are classic for a reason.”

When you go to Bodean and try his sea bass en papillote – a rigorously prepared classic French dish popular in bygone days when haute cuisine was served with pomp and ceremony – you see this side of him. When he invents an entree, Swepston takes a walk to empty his mind, then paints the dish to let shapes and colors inspire him to fashion new cooking techniques. Food is art, he says, and it has the same joy of creation.

In New Orleans, Swepston wanted to be an artist, “but I didn’t want to be a starving artist,” he says, “and I knew that people who worked in restaurants never starved.”

He began cooking to pay for art school “and somewhere in my early 20s, I realized I liked it,” he says. “One

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

night it clicked and I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I am supposed to be doing.’”

He worked at his newfound craft, first at Delmonico’s, then with Lyon-born chef Gerald Crozier, from whom he learned discipline and classic French cuisine. As he improved, Swepston became head chef at two upscale eateries, Café Atchafalaya and Dick and Jenny’s.

“And I was always hustling,” he says. “Me and a couple of guys – we catered events; we did dinner parties; we had fun.”

He eventually returned to Tulsa and found work at Bodean. A few months ago, he was promoted to executive chef.

“I love it,” he says. “I fell in love with the family here, with every man and woman who helps make the glorious Bodean machine work, keeps the gears turning. They work hard, but they’re relaxed; they make it fun to come in in the morning.

“I love the creative freedom. I love stepping into the market first thing every morning” – the market that receives air shipments at least twice a day of the freshest fish from around the globe – “and think, ‘Oh, what fish do I get to use today?’ Sometimes we get a kind of fish I used to use in New Orleans and that triggers good memories.”

Later in the day, Swepston quietly observes the diners.

“If they taste the food and the whole table goes quiet, and then suddenly everyone’s talking, then I know they love it,” he says. “I know I’ve reached them and it’s like being at a family table.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

TA S T Y T I D B I T S

A casual experience in downtown Tulsa for breakfast or lunch weekdays, New Atlas Grill, in the historic Atlas Life Building, also offers Saturday and Sunday brunch replete with omelets and “morning potatoes” topped with fried onions and jalapenos.

Breakfast items include the chorizo burrito with eggs, pepperjack cheese and potatoes wrapped in a tortilla served with salsa verde. Other options include homemade granola, traditional breakfast platter choices, and waffles, French toast and pancakes – all served with eggs and choice of bacon or sausage.

Lunch highlights include specialty sandwiches with downtown street names, such as The Cincinnati, lush with housemade pimento cheese on toasted wheat bread with English cucumber and optional smoked bacon. Daily specials include Friday’s southern fried catfish served with fries, slaw and house-made tartar sauce. 415 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa; newatlasgrill.com

PHOTO COURTESY HACIENDA TACOS

NEW ATLAS GRILL

PHOTO COURTESY NEW ATLAS GRILL

HACIENDA TACOS

For a hardwood smoked twist on Tex-Mex, check out Hacienda Tacos in the Shoppes at Northpark in Oklahoma City. It serves traditional favorites, plus New Mexican, seafood and vegetarian dishes in an array of soups, salads and entrees featuring

a wide variety of chiles from across the world.

A notable appetizer is fiesta queso with chiles, chives and spicy ground beef. Entree standouts include green chili stew (with pork, potatoes, roasted green chili, yellow onions and tomatoes) and the street tacos, such as the mojo chicken (with corn tortillas, caramelized yellow onions, Chihuahua cheese and raja vegetables) or the Baja (with flour tortillas, beer-battered cod or shrimp, jicama slaw and chipotle aioli).

Enjoy the full-service bar and patio with $2.50 tacos on Tuesdays and $3 beer specials during Saturday OU, OSU and Thunder games. 12086 N. May Ave., OKC; haciendatacos.com

PHOTO COURTESY BENVENUTI’S

Conceived by chef Anthony Compagni, Norman’s Benventuti’s features old-world Italian cuisine with a twist by utilizing seasonal ingredients sourced locally and internationally, along with organic produce grown nearby.

Pasta is handmade daily and frames entrees like lobster fazzoletti with pasta “handkerchiefs,” asparagus, mushrooms, brandy and saffron cream sauce. The Rustica has baked penne, shrimp, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, speck and smoked mozzarella in a rosemary cream sauce.

Two pastry chefs create sweet masterpieces for dessert, such as the Bee’s Knees, a 24-carat-golddusted chocolate ice cream bar with housemade vanilla gelato, local honey caramel and honeycomb. You can also choose from specialty cocktails and an extensive wine list. 105 W. Main St., Norman; benvenutisristorante.com

PHOTO COURTESY SCARPA RESTAURANT CONCEPTS

BENVENUTI’S RISTORANTE

THE ROOFTOP

In the historic Rose District, this joint is Broken Arrow’s only rooftop bar and pizza place, with plenty of indoor seating, too.

Appetizers include traditional bruschetta; a soup of the day; Caprese salad with tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil and balsamic reduction; and spinach artichoke dip baked in a “boat” of Cuban bread.

Pizzas can come on traditional or gluten-free cauliflower crusts. Try the Smoky Shroom with red sauce, smoked provolone, cremini mushrooms, Italian sausages and red onions or the Feta is Betta with spinach, feta, mozzarella, parmesan, garlic glaze and roasted chili oil.

Other choices include salads, pastas, street tacos and sandwiches, such as the Dagwood with turkey, ham, roast beef, cheddar, mozzarella, lettuce and horseradish on a toasted hoagie. Three desserts are offered: gelato of the day, cannoli and daily specials. 214 S. Main St., Broken Arrow; scarpa-rc.com/concepts#/therooftopba FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Where & When

G R E AT T H I N G S TO D O I N O K L A H O M A

Humanity Amid Tragedy

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a small Canadian town took in thousands of stranded people. OKC Broadway presents the story.

PHOTO COURTESY OKC BROADWAY

G

ander, Newfoundland, was the site of compelling humanity during the days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Director Christopher Ashley says events there were turned into musical theater when writers David Hein and Irene Sankoff interviewed hundreds of Gander residents who housed and took care of thousands of stranded people after scores of flights were grounded in the Canadian maritime province.

The stories of Come From Away, which runs Feb. 4-9 as part of OKC Broadway’s season, include those of heroic American Airlines Capt. Beverley Bass and a couple who met and fell in love in Gander.

“It has been extraordinary to see the various casts from Broadway, Toronto and the national tour connect with their real-life counterparts,” Ashley says. “David and Irene wrote such beautiful story lines for these characters

– composites of the hundreds of stories gathered – creating a theatrical narrative inspired by a pivotal moment in history. While there is never a bad time to be telling a story about people being kind to each other, there is a particular resonance to our story.”

OKC Broadway general manager Elizabeth Gray says she “saw Come From Away on Broadway and could not wait to bring it to the Civic Center Music Hall. It is breathtakingly moving but also hilarious at times. It tells such an uplifting, real-life story that not many people have heard.

It will definitely be the highlight of the OKC Broadway season.”

A dozen versatile actors portray the multitude of roles.

Ashley says that “to tell the stories of 16,000 people, the company needed to be diverse to represent the various cultures, creeds, colors, ages, religions, races and sexual orientations of the participants.”

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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1

SPORTS

BMX, BASKETBALL, HOCKEY AND EQUINE FUN

Feel the excitement of the BMX Sooner Nationals from Feb. 7 to 9 at the Ford Truck Arena at Tulsa’s Expo Square. You can also see the Tulsa Oilers play home hockey games Feb. 11, 15-16 and 23 at the BOK Center.

OKC’s State Fair Park offers equine experiences at the Oklahoma Paint Horse Show on Feb. 14-16 and the Greater Oklahoma Hunter Jumper Clinic on Feb. 22-23. Chesapeake Energy Arena brings the heat with OKC Thunder home games Feb. 5, 7, 9, 11, 21, 23 and 27. The arena also offers college men’s basketball Feb. 25 when the University of Oklahoma hosts Texas Tech.

2

PHOTO BY SHEVAUN WILLIAMS COURTESY OKC BALLET

Where & When

READY FOR AN EXCITING FEBRUARY? READ ON FOR OUR TOP CHOICES THIS MONTH.

ROMEO AND JULIET

IN TULSA PERFORMANCES

INNOVATION ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN IN CONCERT Feb.

1 Tulsa PAC Fans of all ages

can experience this thrilling tale, based on the third installment of J.K. Rowling’s saga and accompanied by a live orchestra as Harry soars across the big screen.

tulsapac.com

CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA PRESENTS: DAEDALUS QUARTET Feb. 2 Tulsa PAC The Daedalus Quartet crafts eloquent performances that are technically superb. chambermusictulsa.org

I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT

74

GIVEN TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA Feb.

6-9 Tulsa PAC Inspired by the experiences of Rwandan refugees in the United Kingdom, this play portrays two people from different worlds who meet at a migrant center. tulsapac.com

TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: MOZART AND GRIEG Feb. 8 Tulsa PAC

In celebration of the Summer Olympics, this program opens with Michael Torke’s effervescent Javelin. tulsasymphony.org

CHOREGUS PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: MALPASO DANCE COMPANY Feb.

8 Tulsa PAC Established in

2012, Malpaso has become one of the most sought-after Cuban dance companies with a growing international profile. choregus.org

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

BMX SOONER NATIONALS

PERFORMANCE

CLASSICS, POPS, OZ AND MEXICAN FOLK MUSIC

Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center hosts a range of classic performances, along with a twist, this month. On Feb. 8, the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra features music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edvard Grieg. From Feb. 13 to 16, the Land of Oz is in danger and only Dorothy can save it in Tulsa Ballet’s presentation of Dorothy and the Prince of Oz. Heartbreaking betrayal and the sacrifice of a mother’s love highlight Tulsa Opera’s performance of Madama Butterfly from Feb. 28 to March 1.

“What’s Love Got To Do With It?” Find out Feb. 14-15 when LaKisha Jones, a finalist from the sixth season of American Idol, belts out hits by Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin at Signature Symphony’s Pops – Queens of Rock and Soul at Tulsa Community College’s Van Trease PACE. At OKC’s Civic Center Music Hall, star-crossed love is explored in the timeless Romeo and Juliet, presented Feb. 14-16 by the OKC Ballet, with accompaniment by the OKC Philharmonic. The OKC Phil’s monthly pops concert, Feb. 21-22, features Mariachi Los Camperos, a Grammy Award-winning ensemble rich in the vocal traditions of Mexico.

Having Our Say, presented by Lyric Theatre, tells the story of two centenarian sisters as they make dinner and remember their courageous lives from the Jim Crow South to the Harlem Renaissance. The show runs Feb. 19-March 8 at Lyric at the Plaza in OKC. At Stillwater’s McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, travel back in time to the emergence of the Beatles with 1964: The Tribute on Feb. 14, then experience Jonathan Biss Piano Series performing Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonatos on Feb. 21.

Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano performs Feb. 13 at Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium with traditional songs and dances.

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE Feb.

12 Brady Theater See this interactive show that’s perfect for kids and kids at heart. bradytheater.com

WILLIAM SHATNER – SCREENING OF WRATH OF KHAN Feb. 13 Brady

Theater See this star of TV,

stage and screen and enjoy a showing of a Star Trek favorite.

bradytheater.com

TULSA BALLET PRESENTS: DOROTHY AND THE PRINCE OF OZ Feb. 13-16 Tulsa PAC

With help from Dorothy’s friend Scarecrow, she braves a dangerous journey to save the prince, reunite the kingdom and find love along the way.

tulsaballet.org

SIGNATURE SYMPHONY PRESENTS: POPS – QUEENS OF ROCK AND SOUL Feb. 14 TCC Van Trease

PITBULL Feb. 9 BOK Center

PACE LaKisha Jones, once a finalist on American Idol, sings hits by Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin.

that their love is eternal.

TULSA PROJECT THEATRE PRESENTS: GODSPELL Feb.

CELINE DION Feb. 5 BOK

GRACE POTTER Feb. 12

recognized superstars in pop music history performs.

songwriter Grace Potter performs. cainsballroom.com

signaturesymphony.org

14-23 Tulsa PAC This revival

tells the story of the Gospel of Matthew in modern-day New York City. tulsapac.com

THEATRE TULSA PRESENTS: AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Feb.

15-23 Tulsa PAC Oklahoma

playwright Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning triumph follows the Weston family after their patriarch’s suicide.

tulsaopera.com

CONCERTS

International Latin music sensation Pitbull heats up the arena. bokcenter.com

Center One of the most

Cain’s Ballroom Singer/

bokcenter.com

FOREIGNER Feb. 13 River

JON PARDI Feb. 7 Hard

Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa

This country singer and songwriter visits the Joint.

hardrockcasinotulsa.com MIRANDA LAMBERT Feb. 7 BOK Center Miranda Lambert

Spirit Casino Resort See

this lauded rock band.

riverspirittulsa.com

SILVERSUN PICKUPS Feb. 16 Cain’s Ballroom Indie group Silversun Pickups performs with Eliza and the Delusionals.

cainsballroom.com

returns with her Wildcard Tour, featuring the Randy Rogers Band and Parker McCollum.

JOSH TURNER Feb. 21 Brady

TULSA OPERA PRESENTS: MADAMA BUTTERFLY Feb.

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS

bradytheater.com

unscrupulous American naval officer marries a young Japanese geisha who believes

hardrockcasinotulsa.com

theatretulsa.org

28-March 1 Tulsa PAC An

bokcenter.com

Feb. 8 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa This indie pop

and neo-soul band performs.

Theater Country crooner Josh

Turner returns.

BRANTLEY GILBERT Feb. 22 BOK Center American country music singer Brantley Gilbert is on his Fire’t Up Tour.

bokcenter.com

SUCCULENT PANEL WORKSHOP Feb. 15 Tulsa Botanic This hands-on

workshop lets you create a living art piece of succulents nestled into a wood frame.

tulsabotanic.org

IN CONCERT

odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com

CHARITABLE EVENTS ICONS AND IDOLS Feb. 1

Cox Business Center Icons and

ELI YOUNG BAND

Idols celebrates Tulsa Ballet’s Marcello Angelini, marking his 25th season as artistic director.

iconsandidols.org

HEARTS REBUILDING HOMES Feb. 6 TaulCoy Room Guests and sponsors enjoy dinner, drinks, auctions, raffles and games.

PHOTO COURTESY HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO

PITBULL

Expo Square This expo showcases vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses from all over the country.

PHOTO COURTESY CHOCTAW CASINO AND RESORT

PHOTO COURTESY BOK CENTER PHOTO COURTESY CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA

PHOTO COURTESY USA BMX

ODDITIES AND CURIOSITIES EXPO Feb. 22

revitalizettown.org

SUPERHERO SOIREE Feb. 8

Mayo Hotel Enjoy dinner, dancing, entertainment and a special after-party in superhero-chic cocktail attire to benefit the Child Abuse Network. superherosoiree.org

TULSA HEART BALL Feb. 8 Cox Business Center Celebrate with the American Heart Association at this annual black-tie gala.

JASON ALDEAN

COUNTRY, ROCK, POP AND RAP

tulsaheartball.heart.org YST GALA Feb. 15 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa

3

Tulsa’s BOK Center starts the month’s lineup Feb. 5 with songstress Celine Dion.

Country star Miranda Lambert follows Feb. 7, then Winter Jam rolls into town Feb. 8. Rapper Pitbull brings a change of pace Feb 9. Singer/songwriter Brantley Gilbert performs Feb. 22.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa hosts country crooner Jon Pardi on Feb. 7, Fitz and the Tantrums on Feb. 8, and Texas country music singer Casey Donahew on Feb. 29. At Tulsa’s Osage Casino, comedian Marlon Wayans has his standup act Feb. 29.

OKC’s Chesapeake Energy Arena welcomes TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour on Feb. 4, country singer Jason Aldean on Feb. 28, and the various acts of Winter Jam on Feb. 29.

Winstar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville features Charlie Wilson, founder of the Gap Band, on Feb. 7, comedian/ ventriloquist Jeff Dunham on Feb. 8, country musician Gary Allan on Feb. 14, the rumble of Bellator mixed martial arts on Feb. 21, and George Thorogood and the Destroyers on Feb. 28. At the Choctaw Casino and Resort in Durant, Jon Pardi performs Feb. 8, country artist Clay Walker on Feb. 22, and the Eli Young Band on Feb. 29.

AARON LEWIS Feb. 28 Brady Theater See Lewis on

his Acoustic Songs and Stories tour. bradytheater.com

CASEY DONAHEW Feb. 29 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Tulsa Country crooner Casey Donahew visits the Joint. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

ART FIRST FRIDAY ART CRAWL

Feb. 1 Arts District This

year-round, monthly event features works from galleries, artists, studios and museums.

thetulsaartsdistrict.org

I-WITNESS CULTURE: FRANK BUFFALO HYDE Feb.

8-May 10 Gilcrease Artist

Frank Buffalo Hyde, from the Onondaga and Nez Perce tribes, says artists are responsible to represent the times in which they live. gilcrease.org

SHADOW OF TIME: ANILA QUAYYUM AGHA Through Feb. 16 Philbrook Anila

Quayyum Agha uses light, shadow, space and pattern to create communal experiences of beauty and wonder.

philbrook.org

RECALL/RESPOND: TULSA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP AND GILCREASE MUSEUM COLLABORATION (PHASE II) Through March 15 Gilcrease

The second iteration of Recall/ Respond is a multi-phased contemporary exhibit with works by current Tulsa artist

Join Youth Services of Tulsa for a Mardi Gras-themed masquerade ball with games and live music supporting at-risk and homeless youth.

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS fellows and fellowship alums. gilcrease.org

THE CURRENT: ERIC SALL Through April 12 Philbrook

This exhibit explores the colorful abstractions of Tulsa-based Eric Sall and how a transformative event augmented his risk-taking in abstract painting.

philbrook.org

MEMORIES AND INSPIRATION: THE KERRY AND C. BETTY DAVIS COLLECTION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ART Through

July 26 Gilcrease Inspired by previous African-American art collectors, Kerry and Betty Davis began gathering a wide variety of works by AfricanAmerican artists. gilcrease.org

MEXICAN MODERNISM: REVOLUTION AND RECKONING Through Aug. 30

Gilcrease This exhibit

features a rotation of works representing a pivotal time in Mexico’s history. gilcrease.org

AETHER AND EARTH

Ongoing Gilcrease Aether and Earth is how Mazen Abufadil describes his feelings behind the innovative process he developed – combining the ancient art of fresco with 21stcentury digital photography. gilcrease.org

SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS PRESENTED BY TULSA

TECH Feb. 1 BOK Center The

fifth annual event features 16 of the best teams from Greater Tulsa. bokcenter.com

RUNWAY RUN Feb. 1

Tulsa Air and Space Museum

Keep your year going on the right foot with the only run in Oklahoma on an airport runway. tulsaairandspacemuseum.org

TULSA OILERS HOCKEY

Feb. 11, 15-16, 23 BOK Center

Cheer the city’s hockey team at its home games. bokcenter.com

HOOSIER OFF-ROAD ARENACROSS NATIONALS Feb. 14-15 Expo Square

Exciting, heart-pounding motorcross competitions await. hoosierarenacross.com

COMMUNITY

yst.org PINK STILETTO GALA Feb. 20 River Spirit Casino and Resort Don’t miss this

annual fundraiser for Komen Oklahoma.

komenoklahoma.org STREET PARTY Feb. 21 Cox Business Center Be a

#DifferenceMaker and support the award-winning Street School. streetpartytulsa.com

COOKING UP COMPASSION Feb. 22 Cox Business Center

This 15th annual event has a new vibe, but it’s for the same great cause: Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma. cceok.org/cuc

WINTERSET Feb. 22 Hyatt

Regency Tulsa This annual event of the Osteopathic Founders Foundation brings together the osteopathic profession and its community partners to benefit projects that improve the health of Tulsans. wintersettulsa.com

TULSA POLAR PLUNGE

TULSA TOWN HALL PRESENTS: A MORNING WITH MARLEE MATLIN AND HENRY WINKLER Feb.

Feb. 22 Safari Joe’s H20 Waterpark A Polar Plunge is a

tulsatownhall.com

mysook.org/polarplunge

7 PAC Enjoy actors Marlee Matlin and Henry Winkler.

TULSA FISHING AND HUNT EXPO Feb. 7-9

Expo Square Gear up for your

favorite sporting activities with this annual expo. rebelstreetshows.com

FULL MOON NATURE HIKE Feb. 9 Tulsa Botanic Garden

Take a self-guided hike through native prairie and forest to experience nocturnal sights and sounds. tulsabotanic.org

goal for an individual or group and challenges participants to dive into cold water to raise money for the Special Olympics.

CASA CASINO: SHAKEN NOT STIRRED Feb. 22

Mayo Hotel This James Bond-themed event includes cocktails, a silent auction, dinner with a program, a live auction, a casino and dancing to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates. casacasino.org

LUNAR NEW YEAR GALA Feb. 25 Southern Hills

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

75

A PLETHORA OF EXHIBITS

Memories and Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art runs until July 26 at Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum and features a wide array of African-American artists collected for nearly a century. American artist and poet Jim Dine, known for his Pop Art style, is featured at Living Arts of Tulsa in the Jim Dine Solo Exhibition, ending Feb. 29.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art presents One Must See Many Things: Selections from Ben Shahn’s Rilke Portfolio, with 20 lithographs inspired by German writer and poet Rainer Maria Rilke, through May 3. Visitors can experience a look behind the lens of Dorothea Lange in Politics of Seeing at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum from Feb. 14-May 10. Experience irreverent imagery at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s exhibition O. Gail Poole’s Sideshow in Norman, through May 10.

Shawnee’s Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art presents Bandits and Heroes, Poets and Saints: Popular Art of Northeastern Brazil, a Feb. 1-March 8 exhibit exploring how the ancient cultures of Africa blended with indigenous and colonial Portuguese traditions.

4

5 DARRYL STARBIRD’S NATIONAL ROD AND CUSTOM CAR SHOW COMMUNIT Y

O. GAIL POOLE’S SIDESHOW

O. GAIL POOLE (U.S., 1935-2013). FIRE EATER, CA. 2000. OIL ON PAPER. 39 X 25 3/8”. COURTESY OF THE O. GAIL POOLE COLLECTION

POOLS, CARS, JAZZ AND FILMS Automotive technology and beautiful vehicles are featured Feb. 14-16 at Darryl Starbird’s National Rod and Custom Car Show at Tulsa’s Expo Square.

With winter weather outside, the Centennial Building at Oklahoma State Fair Park is the place to view the expanses of the Pool and Spa Show on Feb. 7-9.

The 50th anniversary of the SWOSU Jazz Festival, on Feb. 6-7, features renowned headliner Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and takes place at Weatherford’s Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In Duncan, the Oklahoma Horse Fair at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center returns Feb. 7-8. You can view more than 90 short and feature films of all genres at the inaugural Simply Indie Film Festival on Feb. 20-22 at the Edmond Conference Center.

TBH JUNIOR WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION BUTTERCUP BASH Feb. 29 Crown

OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: COME FROM AWAY Feb. 4-9 Civic Center

attire for a night of food, music, dancing and games, all for Tulsa Boys’ Home.

Times critics’ pick portrays the true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them.

Plaza Hotel and Conference Center Slip into cocktail

tulsaboyshome.org

RED RIBBON GALA Feb. 29 Cox Business Center Tulsa

CARES delivers social services to people affected by HIV/AIDS and is committed to creating a community where all people with HIV/AIDS have equal opportunities for healthy living.

redribbongala.org

SPLASH MARDI GRAS Feb. 29 Oklahoma Aquarium This

beer and food tasting event features more than 40 vendors, along with games, live music and an auction. It’s the Oklahoma Aquarium’s largest fundraiser. okaquarium.org

IN OKC Country Club Celebrate the

event’s 20th anniversary with cocktails, dinner, live and online auctions and a raffle. dillonadopt.com

TULSA AREA UNITED WAY LIVE UNITED LUNCHEON AND AWARDS Feb. 25 Cox

Business Center The luncheon

celebrates the 2019 campaign and the individuals and

76

organizations making it a success.

tauw.org/awards

HEART OF HENRY Feb. 27

Southern Hills Country Club

Philanthropist Henry Zarrow dedicated his life to helping those who are less fortunate, and this event recognizes someone who shares his vision. tulsadaycenter.org

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

26TH ANNUAL ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION MEMORY GALA Feb. 28 Cox Business

Center This gala celebrates the accomplishments and victories of those who support, volunteer and make strides against this devastating disease. memorygala.org

PERFORMANCES OKC PHIL PRESENTS: CHOPIN – PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 Feb. 1 Civic

Center Music Hall Enjoy a riveting night of music with accompaniment from Canterbury Voices. okcphil.org

Music Hall This New York

okcbroadway.com

and Juliet returns with Sergei Prokofiev’s lush, romantic score played by the OKC Philharmonic. okcballet.org

LYRIC THEATRE PRESENTS: HAVING OUR SAY Feb. 19-March 8 Lyric at the Plaza

Celebrate the story of a century with 103-year-old Sadie and 101-year-old Bessie, known as the Delany sisters.

GLORY DENIED BY TOM CIPULLO Through Feb. 7

lyrictheatreokc.com

stirring work delves into the life of Jim Thompson, the Vietnam veteran who was the longest-held prisoner of war in American history.

Feb. 21-22 Civic Center Music Hall For more than 50 years,

Civic Center Music Hall This

okcciviccenter.com

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE Feb.

13 Civic Center Music Hall

OKC PHIL PRESENTS: MARIACHI LOS CAMPEROS this Grammy Award-winning ensemble has celebrated the rich vocal traditions of Mexico by featuring the country’s most beloved songs. okcphil.org

OKC PHIL PRESENTS: COLLIDING CONTRASTS

Daniel Tiger and his family take audiences on an interactive adventure to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

Feb. 29 Civic Center Music Hall Enjoy a riveting concert

BALLET FOLCLÓRICO NACIONAL DE MÉXICO DE SILVIA LOZANO Feb. 13

CONCERTS

Ballet Folclórico disseminates, preserves and promotes Mexican culture, both at home and abroad.

Christian singer TobyMac is on his Hits Deep Tour.

okcciviccenter.com

Armstrong Auditorium

armstrongauditorium.org

OKC BALLET PRESENTS:

ROMEO AND JULIET Feb. 14-16 Civic Center Music Hall Robert Mills’ Romeo

with Alexander Mickelthwate at the helm. okcphil.org

TOBYMAC Feb. 4

Chesapeake Energy Arena

chesapeakearena.com DUSTIN LYNCH Feb. 7 Riverwind Casino, Norman

See country crooner Dustin Lynch at the Showplace Theatre. riverwind.com

PHOTOS COURTESY DARRYL STARBIRD’S NATIONAL ROD AND CUSTOM CAR SHOW

Where & When

ART

FA M I LY / K I D S

MONSTER JAM

INTERACTIVITY AND WOOD TURNING

Stock up on gear for your favorite outdoor activities.

OKC ORCHESTRA LEAGUE MUSIC COMPETITIONS Feb. 2 OCU

CHARITABLE EVENTS

Bass School of Music

From strings and piano to brass, woodwinds, percussion and classical guitar, musicians in grades 8-12 vie for medals and monetary awards.

okcorchestraleague.org PHOTO COURTESY CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA

Tulsa’s historic Brady Theater resounds Feb. 12 with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live, an interactive musical for kids and kids at heart. Join Poppy, Branch and all their friends for Trolls Live at Tulsa’s BOK Center on Feb 29-March 1.

Monster Jam brings loud, fast, familyfriendly, four-wheeled fun to OKC’s Chesapeake Energy Arena on Feb. 15-16.

For those looking to pick up a new hobby, a free beginner’s wood-turning class is offered Feb. 11 at Broken Bow High School.

tranquil space to help relieve stress and quiet the mind.

myriadgardens.org

statefairparkokc.com

TASTE OF OKC Feb. 1 Chevy

Bricktown Event Center OKC’s largest tasting event includes food from local restaurants, live and silent auctions, drinks and a live band with proceeds benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters Oklahoma’s work of defending at-risk youth.

bbbsok.ejoinme.org/myevents/ tasteofokc2020

VALENTINE’S BANQUET

Feb. 1 Montellano Event Center This banquet gives

teens and adults with Down syndrome the opportunity to get dressed up and experience a magical night of feeling valued, loved and celebrated.

6

dsaco.org/valentines-banquet

YWCA’S GALENTINE’S DAY BREAKFAST Feb. 1 Skirvin Hilton Hotel

Guests enjoy fellowship with girlfriends old and new, inspired

by Leslie Knope, a character on the TV series Parks and Recreation.

Galentine’s Day celebrates smart, kind and beautiful women. ywcaokc.org

PHOTO COURTESY FOREST HERITAGE CENTER MUSEUM

I BELIEVE GALA Feb. 1

GRANGER SMITH Feb. 14

The Criterion Enjoy a night of

country music with guest Earl Dibbles Jr. criterionokc.com

RANDY ROGERS BAND Feb. 15 Riverwind Casino, Norman

Beloved country sextet Randy Rogers Band performs. riverwind.com

ART FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Feb. 1 Paseo Arts

District More than 80 artists

and more than 25 businesses, all within walking distance, stay open late the first Friday of each month. thepaseo.org

DORTHEA LANGE: POLITICS OF SEEING Feb. 14-May

10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Through her camera lens, Dorothea Lange documented American life with riveting, intimate photographs reflecting some of the most powerful moments of the 20th century. nationalcowboymuseum.org

PASSPORT Through March 1

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Often

defined by their most well-known works or styles, artists experiment and evolve throughout their careers. nationalcowboymuseum.org

DEVON ICE RINK Through

Feb. 2 Downtown OKC

Enjoy a skate around the rink with friends and family.

downtownindecember.com

DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER

Through Feb. 2 Downtown OKC

Downtown is turned into a winter wonderland.

downtownindecember.com

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE Feb. 6 Leadership Square

BEGINNER’S WOOD-TURNING CLASS TWO GRITS: A PEEK BEHIND THE EYEPATCH Through

March 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum This

exhibit examines similarities and differences in the two versions of the film True Grit.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

RENEGADES: BRUCE GOFF AND THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE Through April 5 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman The

exhibition includes more than 150 drawings, documents and objects, many of which are drawn from the newly created American School Archive in the OU Libraries Western History Collection. ou.edu/fjjma

RENEWING THE AMERICAN SPIRIT: THE ART OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

Through April 26 OKCMOA This

exhibition explores the physical and social landscape of the United States during the Great Depression through paintings, prints, photographs and other media. okcmoa.com

ONE MUST SEE MANY THINGS: SELECTIONS FROM BEN SHAHN’S RILKE PORTFOLIO Through May 3 OKCMOA Known for his linear

and abstracted images of the human body, Ben Shahn became one of the leading

Celebrating 23 years, this event features drinks, auction items, live music, and savory and sweet chocolate creations from OKC’s best restaurants.

American social-realist artists in the 1930s. okcmoa.com

to “unleash the beast” at this extravaganza.

downtownokc.com/ chocolate-decadence

Through May 10 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman

OKC THUNDER BASKETBALL Feb. 5, 7, 9, 11,

Museum Oklahoma The fun

WARHOL AND THE WEST

professional team hosts regular-season NBA games.

O. GAIL POOLE’S SIDESHOW Sideshow surveys the satirical, often irreverent imagery of O. Gail Poole. ou.edu/fjjma Through May 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum This is the first

museum exhibition to explore Andy Warhol’s love of the West, represented in his art, movies, attire, travel and collecting. nationalcowboymuseum.org

COLORS OF CLAY Through

May 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Colors of Clay explores the cultural and regional diversity of indigenous ceramic vessel traditions in North America.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

FIND YOUR WESTERN

Through May 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Consumption

chesapeakearena.com

21, 23, 27 Chesapeake Energy Arena The state’s only major

chesapeakearena.com

OKLAHOMA PAINT HORSE SHOW Feb. 15-16 State

POOL AND SPA SHOW Feb. 7-9 State Fair Park Find

all you need for a pool and spa at this annual show.

Criterion Don western boots and saddle up for dinner, drinks, raffles and dancing to benefit Infant Crisis Services.

bootsandballgowns.org WINE IN THE WILD Feb. 14 Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden This

evening of wine tastings from local vineyards and national distributors is at the Oklahoma City Zoo’s latest attraction, Sanctuary Asia. zoofriends.org

JULIETTE LOW LEADERSHIP SOCIETY LUNCHEON Feb. 20 Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club Named for Girl Scouts

founder Juliette Gordon Low, the luncheon raises funds and awareness to support Girl Scout programming throughout western Oklahoma.

gswestok.org

statefairparkokc.com

Fair Park This expo features

Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Celebrate with the

paint horses and see equine enthusiasts compete.

GREATER OKLAHOMA HUNTER JUMPER CLINIC

Feb. 22-23 State Fair Park

Enjoy an exciting equine competition. statefairparkokc.com

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

VS. TEXAS TECH Feb. 25 Chesapeake Energy Arena

The Sooners, playing off campus, host the Red Raiders in men’s college basketball. chesapeakearena.com

SPORTS

11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 Myriad Botanical Gardens Practicing

Energy Arena Get ready

sciencemuseumok.org

BOOTS AND BALL GOWNS GALA Feb. 8 The

statefairparkokc.com

COMMUNITY

PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS Feb. 1 Chesapeake

doesn’t stop when the sun sets at this after-hours family night.

a cocktail hour, a gala, a celebration, dancing and silent and live auctions, along with inspiration of Future Farmers of America members and state officers. ibelievegala.com

Fair Park View beautiful

of the West through popular media has been a mainstay of Western culture. nationalcowboymuseum.org

LATE NIGHT LAB: FAMILY NIGHT OUT Feb. 7 Science

Skirvin Hilton Hotel Enjoy

BOTANICAL BALANCE FREE YOGA Feb. 1, 4, 8,

yoga in the gardens has the benefit of connecting with nature and offers a beautiful,

51ST ANNUAL RV SUPER SHOW Feb. 13-16 State hundreds of RVs under one roof. okcrvshows.com

MONSTER JAM Feb. 15-16 Chesapeake Energy Arena

Monster Jam is an accessible, family-friendly event. chesapeakearena.com

SIMPLE INDIE FILM FEST Feb. 20-22 Hilton Garden Inn, Edmond Movie fans of

all kinds are invited to this independent festival.

OKLAHOMA CITY HEART BALL Feb. 29 National

American Heart Association at this annual black-tie gala. okcheartball.heart.org

A NIGHT WITH RALPH ELLISON GALA Feb. 29

Oklahoma History Center

Celebrates the life and literature of Oklahoma City native Ralph Ellison

ralphellisonfoundation.org

NORMAN MARDI GRAS PARADE Feb. 22

AROUND THE STATE

times roll during this annual wild and wacky parade.

JEFF DUNHAM Feb. 8

travelok.com

Downtown Let the good

normanmardigrasparade.com

BACKWOODS HUNTING AND FISHING EXPO Feb. 28-March 1 State Fair Park

PERFORMANCES

Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville Comedian

and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham performs. winstar.com

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

77

Where & When

GASLIGHT THEATRE PRESENTS: THE GIVER

March 8 Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee This

the Newbery Award-winning book, the play depicts Jonas’ perfect world. Everything is under control and safe. There is no war or fear or pain.

There are also no choices.

Feb. 28 Downtown Stillwater

Through Feb. 8 Gaslight Theater, Enid Adapted from

gaslighttheatre.org

1964: THE TRIBUTE Feb. 14 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater This band meticulously recreates an early 1960s Beatles concert. mcknightcenter.org

GASLIGHT THEATRE PRESENTS: DUCK HUNTER SHOOTS ANGEL Feb. 14-15,

21-22 Gaslight Theater, Enid

Enjoy an uproarious comedy of two bumbling hunters who have never actually shot a duck … but think they’ve shot an angel. gaslighttheatre.org

POLLARD THEATRE PRESENTS: LOVE LETTERS Feb. 14-29 Pollard Theatre, Guthrie A.R. Gurney’s

Love Letters is a funny, emotional portrait about the powerful connection of love.

thepollard.org

GROVE COMMUNITY PLAYMAKERS PRESENTS: UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL

Through Feb. 16 Grove Theater

show explores how the ancient cultures of Africa blended with indigenous and colonial Portuguese traditions to form the vibrant, social mosaic of modern Brazil. mgmoa.org

FINAL FRIDAY ART CRAWL

Inspired by First Friday events in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, this lively art crawl is on the final Friday of every month and celebrates the art culture of the community.

museum.okstate.edu SMALL TALK Through March 2 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark.

This free exhibition shows how artists employ text within their works. crystalbridges.org

TEMPERA Ongoing Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark. Tempera painting (also known as egg tempera) has a rich history as a medium for artists from ancient times to today, and is an older form of painting than oil. crystalbridges.org

SPORTS RED RIVER SHOWDOWN GO-KART RACING Feb. 1

Stephens County Fair and Expo

Center, Duncan Cheer racers as they compete in this annual event. mwrs.net

Follow the time-traveling journey of a librarian who discovers a book 113 years overdue. groveplaymakers.com

OKLAHOMA HORSE FAIR

Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater Jonathan

annual Oklahoma Horse Fair in Duncan includes trail horse and ranch horse competitions, followed by a working cow dog competition. okhorsefair.com

JONATHAN BISS PIANO SERIES Feb. 20-21 McKnight

Biss performs piano sonatas

by Ludwig van Beethoven. mcknightcenter.org

CONCERTS CHARLIE WILSON Feb. 7 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville Crooner Charlie Wilson performs.

winstar.com

JON PARDI Feb. 8 Choctaw

Feb. 7-9 Stephens County Fair and Expo Center, Duncan The

OUTLAW 100 Feb. 15-17 Robbers Cave State Park,

Wilburton Hard-core runners compete in this challenge, featuring five 20-mile loops through the park. travelok.com

BELLATOR MMA Feb. 21

Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville Don’t miss

Casino and Resort, Durant

heart-pounding mixed martial arts. winstar.com

GARY ALLAN Feb. 14

COMMUNITY

Country singer Jon Pardi performs. choctawcasinos.com Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville Enjoy

tunes from rocker and singer/ songwriter Gary Allan.

winstar.com

JUSTIN MOORE AND TRACY LAWRENCE Feb. 22 Stride Bank Center. Enid

See these multi-platinum country artists on their Late Night and Longnecks Tour. stridebankcenter.com CLAY WALKER Feb. 22 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant This country singer

takes the stage with Lonestar. choctawcasinos.com

ELI YOUNG BAND Feb. 29 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant This rock and country quartet performs. choctawcasinos.com

ART BANDITS AND HEROES, POETS AND SAINTS Feb. 1-

STEPHENS COUNTY COIN SHOW Feb. 7-8 Stephens County Fair Grounds, Duncan

Find out what your treasured coins are worth or hunt down the elusive coin you’ve sought. travelok.com

LAWTON RV, BOAT AND OUTDOOR LEISURE SHOW Feb. 7-9 Comanche Nation Fairgrounds, Lawton See the

latest in truck and car models, along with all kinds of outdoor related products and services. lawtonrvandboatshow.com

BEGINNING WOODTURNING CLASS Feb. 11-27 Broken Bow High

School Get hands-on experience in the art of wood-turning during these free, beginner-level classes held in the school’s carpentry shop. forestry.publishpath.com

FOR MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

FILM AND CINEMA

A Cardio-Happy Festival The No Man’s Land fete, with outdoor adventure sports movies made by and about women, has a touring show at OSU.

Around Town

Watching films usually counts as a sedentary activity, minus the time you spend walking into the theater. Even if you view an action flick that sets your heart racing or see athletes perform, you don’t get to credit these scenes to your own exercise account.

However, that might not be true of the No Man’s Land Film Festival, which has a touring version of its program from 6 to 10 p.m.

Feb. 28 in the Wes Watkins Auditorium at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

Centered around the concept of expressing female experiences with outdoor adventure sports, the festival itself takes place in Colorado, an appropriate locale for an event concerned with rock climbing and similar pursuits. But producers also take the show on the road by hosting one-night shows around the country to inspire women to embrace adventure sports, a world often dominated by men.

Enjoy a series of films made by and about women, followed by a discussion panel featuring local women who take part in adventure sports. Timed to coincide with OSU’s Outdoor Adventure climbing festival, No Man’s Land’s touring edition might inspire you to get out and scramble up some boulders yourself.

At Home

Alfonso Cuarón’s deeply personal Roma rightfully won many awards with its release last year (but not the Best Picture Oscar this writer thinks it deserved). This was somewhat surprising, not because of the quality of the film but its liminal status as a

film distributed exclusively by Netflix.

Other than a brief theatrical run, the film has only been available on the streaming platform … until now. You could continue to re-watch the film via streaming, but the Criterion Collection does its best to convince you otherwise. This month, it releases a deluxe DVD/BluRay version of the film, loaded with extras that make it a must-have for any fan of the movie. These features include not one, not two, but at least five documentaries on different elements of making Roma and the film’s impact.

The package also features multiple essays, including those by Mexican-American novelist Valeria Luiselli and Mexican historian Enrique Krauze, which should illuminate the film’s rich detail.

In Theaters

Jane Austen has proved an especially good author to adapt for film. Her witty dialog, memorable characters and satiric social observations lend themselves to the screen.

Many wonderful adaptations of her books have been made, including the recent Whit Stillman film Love and Friendship, one of the best films in the past five years.

It would ask a lot of the new version of Austen’s novel Emma to reach those heights, but the film, directed by photographer Autumn de Wilde, looks promising.

Anya Taylor-Joy, a rising star, plays the title character, and Bill Nighy should give the film a boost as Emma’s hypochondriac father. Their presence should bring out the material’s sharp, sparkling edges.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

David Yarbrough

… the port’s status.

Industry incurred tremendous losses as a result of the flood. Shipping losses are estimated at $2 million daily while the waterway is closed to barge traffic. We lost shipping from mid-May until the first of October. Today, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa is shipping and receiving barges on a restricted basis because the waterway is still impacted by areas of shoaling – basically lots of sand and sediment that still block portions of the navigation channel. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that it may be March or April before the system is completely back to normal operations.

… the impact of the Inola site.

The acquisition of the Inola property is one of the most exciting developments in the history of the Tulsa port. PSO has placed faith in us as an organization that can develop land into economic opportunity … and industrial development, with access to all utilities, as well as water and rail transportation options.

2020 will see the development of the master plan for the property and continued investment in infrastructure needs, such as railroad and roadway. Our port authority will bring the same business-friendly acumen to this location that we are known for at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, and we will work to land large industrial projects to generate significant job creation and investment at this premier industrial facility.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2020

… the port’s economic power.

Over 3,000 people work at the Tulsa port, which is host to about 70 industrial facilities. If you factor in other ports and terminals in Oklahoma, the direct maritime-related employment is about 7,500. Oklahoma ports typically ship 6 million tons of waterborne freight annually with a value of over $2.1 billion.

Each year, the Tulsa port delivers freight to and from over 20 other states; we are part of a national economic engine.

… changes in the past 14 years.

We have evolved beyond just the development and operations of our industrial park and inland waterway port. Today, it’s critical … that we stay keenly involved in workforce development issues, which go hand-in-hand with our education efforts. We work with area schools, career tech providers and nonprofit organizations, such as OK2Grow, to help meet the current and future needs of manufacturing and trades. Our direct efforts are seen through a new program, in partnership with Tulsa Tech, called Port-Ability.

This fast-track training class helps graduating high school students and under-employed adults transition into higher-wage manufacturing jobs. Recently, we had our second graduating class from this program. So, our more in-depth involvement in workforce and economic development are among the biggest changes.

… the port’s long-term goals.

Our primary focus will continue to grow and maintain our first-class industrial park and port, while we work to advance the development of the Inola property. In workforce development, we will increase our participation in promoting and providing training for careers in manufacturing and transportation.

In our advocacy efforts, we will press our federal lawmakers and the administration to maintain and enhance the reliability of our waterway to ensure that it is here for another 50 years. To develop new business for the region, we will seek new cargo for barges to include intermodal containers. Finally, we will employ creative ways to promote the benefits of waterway commerce and the economic importance of the nation’s inland ports.

PHOTO COURTESY DAVID YARBROUGH

D

avid Yarbrough, director of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa since 2017, joined the staff in 2008 as manager of operations. Devastating flooding in 2019 affected the port and the entire McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. In October, Public Service Co. of Oklahoma transferred 2,000 acres along the waterway near Inola to the City of TulsaRogers County Port Authority We caught up with Yarbrough and got his thoughts on …