January 2022 Oklahoma Magazine by Oklahoma Magazine

Animal ABCs Pet safety and commitment

JANUARY 2021

VOTE NOW FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST 2022 AT OKMAG.COM

Health and Wellness

Strong habits to kick off a new year

OKLAHOMANS OF THE YEAR Honoring our state’s finest

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE PRESENTS

SPECIAL ISSUE:

Oklahoma Wedding Get prepped for the big day

Saturday, January 29 Expo Square Central Park Hall

EXPO

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. You’re invited to visit the Health Zone at Saint Francis on Saturday, January 15, for our annual Health and Wellness Expo. Join us for fitness classes, free health screenings, wellness education, a tour of the facility and more. HE A LT H ZO N E F E AT U R E S A N D S E RVICES: • Two indoor saltwater pools

• Suspension training

• Steam rooms and saunas

• Premier cardio, weight training and strength equipment

• Year-round swimming lessons

• Kids Zone activity center

• Aqua Stand Up® paddleboard classes

• Indoor walking track

• Specialized kids’ programming

• Racquetball courts

• Grab-and-go deli

• Pickleball and basketball

• Membership discounts for Warren Clinic patients and seniors

• Zumba, barre and yoga • Pilates equipment studio • Indoor cycling studio • Boot camp

• R.I.P.P.E.D. and RUMBLE classes • Massage and spa services • Personal trainers

Visit our website saintfrancis.com/healthzone for complete event details. 5353 East 68th Street South | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 918-494-1671

Here to Help You Rebuild Your Life® Inheritance and the Perils of Commingling

Inheritance is an event that eventually happens in the life of many. When a family member becomes deceased, or even a close friend, an individual may inherit a piece of their deceased family member’s or friend’s estate. The inheritance can be through the probate process in probate court where a Last Will and Testament existed. In other instances, there might be a non-probate transfer of inheritance. This can come by way of life insurance or other assets, like bank accounts, that have payable on death or transfer on death designations. With real estate, there might even be a beneficiary deed. When that is the case, the transfer of real estate can happen outside of the probate court. No matter the circumstances, inheritance is almost always treated as separate property in a divorce. Thus, if one spouse received the inheritance alone, in the case of divorce, they would ordinarily get this inheritance free from any claims of their spouse. There is a common scenario, however, that can blur these lines. The common scenario involves the commingling of the

separate inheritance with marital property. Take an instance where a party inherits liquid funds — either through a probate or non-probate transfer. Instead of putting this inheritance in a bank account in their name alone, what some parties do is place the inheritance in a marital bank account that also has their spouse’s name on it along with marital money. When this is the case, commingling has occurred. By commingling, it means that the separate inheritance has been mixed with marital money. When that takes place, many family courts will treat all the money in the marital bank account, including the separate inheritance, as marital property. Further, when the bank account has both spouse’s names on it, many family courts will also consider this marital property under the doctrine of transmutation. Transmutation is where separate property is treated as a donated gift to the marital estate because it was placed in a jointly titled account or, in the case of real estate, the inherited property is placed in the name of both spouses by a subsequent deed. For parties who are receiving the inheritance, and they wish to keep that inheritance their separate property in the case of a divorce, it is vital to speak with an attorney before receiving these funds or property. Not commingling and/or transmuting the assets in the first place can be critical. In cases where commingling has occurred, it might be possible to hire a fo-

rensic accountant in some cases to trace the separate property from the marital property, although in many cases, the damage might already have been done. Stange Law Firm, PC limits their practice to family law matters including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, guardianship, adoption, mediation, collaborative law and other domestic relation matters. Stange Law Firm, PC gives clients 24/7 access to their case through a secured online case tracker found on the website. They also give their clients their cell phone numbers. Call for a consultation today at 855-805-0595.

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Tulsa County Office

6660 S. Sheridan Road, Suite 240

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Oklahoma County Office 2601 NW Expressway, Suite 411 W

Oklahoma City, OK 73112

TABLE OF CONTENTS

J A N U A RY 2 0 2 2

O K L A H O M A M AG A Z I N E

7 26

Whether it’s targeting a problem area of the body or becoming more mindful in your day-to-day, starting out the new year on the right foot can be easy with a bit of help. Fitness experts and healthcare professionals weigh in on molding a better you in 2022.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

FYI Health Outside the Metro Spotlight Scene

Taste

Sami and Brian Cooper work to give their customers “ten minutes of joy” with homemade ice cream and other sweet treats at Big Dipper Creamery.

41 42 43

Local Flavor Chef Chat Tasty Tidbits

Where and When

The return of the Oklahoma Wedding Show, plus a variety of other exciting community events, beckon in January.

46 47

Film and Cinema Closing Thoughts

VOTE NOW FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST 2022 AT OKMAG.COM

JANUARY 2021

A Croatian paradise beckons.

JANUARY 2021

The engagement went off without a hitch – now it’s time for the real planning to begin. From creating your website to picking your party and staying atop the latest fashion trends, this guide can help make your wedding dreams a reality. Stick around for cake, catering and flower spreads, plus honeymoon recommendations and more.

Destinations

20 21 22 24 25

SPECIAL SECTION: Oklahoma Wedding

Education Hobbies Clubs Industry Government Insider

Life and Style

Animal ABCs

From tips on oral hygiene to insight into pet food ingredients, veterinarians offer a wealth of knowledge to ensure you’re taking the best care of your furry friends.

Community foundations set up cities for success.

Oklahomans of the Year

2021 could be described as a year of rebuilding. After the pandemonium of 2020, many were left hurting – jobless, burnt out or grieving. Those honored in the 2021 Oklahomans of the Year feature contributed to the state’s restoration in one way or another, whether that was by helping Oklahomans find jobs, providing desperately-needed healthcare, or enriching lives through entertainment and education. Sifting through the bad to find the good, these leaders did what it took to get Oklahomans back on top.

State 10 12 13 14 15 16

New Year, New You

VOL. MMXXII, NO. 1

Animal ABCs Pet safety and commitment

Health and Wellness

Strong habits to kick off a new year

OKLAHOMANS OF THE YEAR Honoring our state’s finest

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE PRESENTS

SPECIAL ISSUE:

Oklahoma Wedding Get prepped for the big day

Saturday, January 29 Expo Square Central Park Hall

ON THE COVER: EACH YEAR, OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE HONORS A HANDFUL OF EVERYDAY HEROES WHO MADE THE PAST YEAR BETTER FOR THE STATE. SEE OUR SELECTIONS, AND READ THEIR STORIES, STARTING ON PAGE 30. INDIVIDUAL PHOTO CREDITS IN FEATURE

WE CHANGE LIVES.

At the University of Oklahoma, our purpose is simple, yet profound – We Change Lives. We’re intent on providing affordable academic excellence that prepares our students for a life of meaning, service, and success so that they are equipped to change lives too. As Oklahoma’s flagship research university, we serve and improve society through our discovery, creativity, and innovation, positively impacting Oklahoma, the nation, and the world. Live on, University.

The UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA LET TER FROM THE EDITOR A very happy new year to our Oklahoma Magazine readers; let’s hope 2022 grants us some much-needed normalcy. A return to tradition, January welcomes the expansive Oklahoma Wedding section. See a variety of photo-rich spreads showcasing the best the state has to offer in catering, cakes and flowers. Additionally, get inspiration for your wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses with help from national and global luxury brands. We also present some options for the ideal honeymoon getaway. The fun starts on page 49. This month also features our Oklahomans of the Year spotlight, starting on page 30. Honorees made a lasting difference to our state in 2021, and range from the president of a prominent university to the deputy director of a museum and a devout leader in the world of philanthropy. This time of year is typically when people strive to get back into good and healthy habits. Our health and wellness feature can help to achieve those goals, with tips from the pros on losing and keeping off stubborn body fat, along with mindfulness exercises to keep priorities in check (page 26). Stick around for a dive into Tulsa and OKC’s community foundations (page 7); our annual pet feature (page 36); a look inside a couple’s bustling ice cream shop (page 40); and a virtual trip to Hvar, a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea (page 18). Happy New Year! Let’s make 2022 a good one. Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

OKLAHOMA

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OKLAHOMA

PRESIDENT AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DANIEL SCHUMAN

PUBLISHER AND FOUNDER VIDA K . SCHUMAN

MANAGING EDITOR

MARY WILLA ALLEN

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR JOHN WOOLEY

GRAPHICS MANAGER MARK ALLEN

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

What’s HOT at

OKMAG.COM

COMING IN JANUARY The Oklahoma Wedding Show, presented by Oklahoma Magazine, returns to Expo Square Central Park Hall on Saturday, January 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chat with knowledgeable vendors and plan your big day, all under one roof. For more information, visit oklahomawedding.com.

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Copyright © 2022 by Schuman Publishing Company. Oklahoma Wedding, The Best of the Best, 40 Under 40, Single in the City, Great Companies To Work For and Oklahomans of the Year are registered trademarks of Schuman Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. All photographs, articles, materials and design elements in Oklahoma Magazine and on okmag. com are protected by applicable copyright and trademark laws, and are owned by Schuman Publishing Company or third party providers. Reproduction, copying, or redistribution without the express written permission of Schuman Publishing Company is strictly prohibited. All requests for permission and reprints must be made in writing to Oklahoma Magazine, c/o Reprint Services, P.O. Box 14204, Tulsa, OK 74159-1204. Advertising claims and the views expressed in the magazine by writers or artists do not necessarily represent those of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Company, or its aﬀiliates.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

THE STATE

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Doing the Most Good

Community foundations set up cities for success.

n 1914, Fred Goff established the first community foundation in Cleveland with the intention of serving the greater good. Since then, Goff ’s concept has spread throughout the country, leading to the creation of over 750 similar foundations. In our state, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and the Tulsa Community Foundation have become the two largest groups of their kind in the state. Both share similar missions: to promote philanthropy and oversee charitable efforts, such as making grants, creating endowments and rolling out community-based initiatives. The Tulsa Community Foundation, begun in 1998 by George Kaiser, has grown to become one of the largest community foundations of its kind in the nation. Photo by Shane Bevel

OCCF

The OKC Community Foundation (OCCF) broke ground as the state’s first community foundation in 1969. The founder, John Kirkpatrick, was a World War II veteran and owner of Kirkpatrick Oil Co., who, like

Goff, was passionate about helping others. “He wanted to provide a … way for people who had the ability to support things in the community over time to do so, and to do it efficiently and effectively,” says Nancy Anthony, current president at OCCF. Originally, Kirkpatrick put $10,000 into four bank trust deposits, and by the end of the fiscal year, the value of the foundation’s assets had risen to $45,299. As of 2021, the foundation manages 1,800 different funds, with its assets totaling over $1.6 billion. Anthony credits the generosity of hundreds of donors and the foundation’s investment practices as the reasons for its growth. Over the last 52 years, OCCF has rolled out several initiatives that aim to address the community’s greatest needs. In 1991, the foundation received a donation

from Margaret Anis Boys with clear instructions to use it for beautifying Oklahoma City’s parks, trails and public lands. With her gift, the foundation has planted over 800 trees along walking trails, and recently worked with 65 neighborhood groups to plant 70,000 daffodil bulbs across the city. “We had a horrible ice storm in October of last year, and it took out a lot of our older trees,” says Anthony. “We’re going through a process in the next two or three months to plant almost 400 trees.” In 1995, the foundation created a scholarship program for surviving family members and children of the people who were killed or disabled in the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Since then, the foundation has expanded to offer 115 different scholarship programs, supporting nearly 800 students each year.

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

T H E S TAT E | S TA R T I N G O F F OCCF also provides funding to over 360 local nonprofits and charities through the creation of endowment funds. OCCF invests these funds into the markets and distributes a percentage of their earnings back to nonprofits directly. “In 1985, there were relatively few organizations in Oklahoma City that had endowments,” says Anthony. “Now, we have close to $200 million in not-forprofit endowment funds here.”

for Success, a program that provides high-quality school supplies to prekindergarten through fifth grade students attending Tulsa Public Schools and Union Public Schools. For the 2021-2022 school year, TCF will donate school supply kits to 21,844 students, an act that can alleviate stress for working families and prepare students for their coursework. At the heart of TCF are the many donors and organizations that have con-

TCF

Over 100 miles away, the Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF) provides the same financial support to donors and organizations while focusing on meeting Tulsa’s specific needs. At the behest of George Kaiser, TCF was founded in 1998, and initially had $117,000 worth of assets. Although TCF is relatively new in comparison to other community foundations, it has seen enormous growth. “We’re the second largest community foundation in the country,” says Phil Lakin Jr., who serves as both the City Councilor for Tulsa District 8 and the chief executive officer at TCF. “Giving to others has always been a hallmark standard of Tulsa.” Now, the foundation manages over 2,000 funds with its assets valued at approximately $5.7 billion. The foundation also oversees 250 endowment funds, and it has distributed nearly $3 billion toward charitable purposes since 1998. In the spirit of enhancing the community, leadership at TCF has undertaken an abundance of initiatives. In 2010, the foundation worked to facilitate the privatization of the Tulsa Zoo, which has been critical to its development, according to Lakin. “There’s a master plan and a vision,” he says, “and that has really changed the whole dynamic of the zoo.” Five years later, TCF spearheaded Arts Alliance Tulsa, a nonprofit that provides financial support to over 40 arts organizations throughout the city. The foundation also rolled out a program called 501tech that repurposes donated hardware and delivers software and technological support to nonprofit organizations. “It’s a turn-key solution for nonprofits with their technology needs at pennies on the dollar,” says Lakin. Through 501tech, the foundation has served over 225 organizations, refurbished 1,700 PCs and 1,300 monitors, and fulfilled 30,000 service requests. The foundation also manages Supplied

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is the first of its kind in the state. Photo courtesy OCCF

tributed to its mission. “We have such generous individuals, corporations, and foundations … in our city,” says Lakin. “We connect donors to charities that they may choose to support, and really introduce them to new ways of giving, new places to give, and other things that just make the whole charitable giving process for any one of us more meaningful in the end.” FAITH HARL

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T H E S TAT E | E D U C AT I O N

Exploring BlueSTEM

A center in Yukon transforms the way students learn about the world around them.

BlueSTEM helps students learn hands-on agricultural and scientific expertise. Photos by Carol Mowdy Bond

ot your average historic building, an 1876 commanding officer’s domicile is now home to BlueSTEM AgriLearning Center. Enhancing STEM curriculum, the center reimagines and tailors education for its students, partnering with schools and teachers alike. The nonprofit’s director, Ann Marshall, says pupils from Yukon, El Reno and Calumet currently take classes at BlueSTEM, but she hopes to expand into other districts. Marshall tells about an aquaponics system in the basement. A bottom tank holds gold fish, and their excrement fertilizes plants growing up top. And the FarmBot project centers around feeding a growing population. “Using an app on their phones, students control planting and watering per the plants’ needs,” says Marshall. “FarmBot gets rid of weeds and tells students when to harvest. It’s designed for smaller spaces, such as urban farms or schools.” Kristy Ehlers, director of school partnerships and special projects, says that the center has “projects on everything including flooding, rumen digestibility, plant genetics, climate, animal nutrition, hydrology, weather and more. Students don’t have to be top grade-makers in school. We’re looking for kids who want and like to learn differently. An all-hands-on-diverse situation, our

expectations are high. We teach students to think, and to think outside the box.” Marshall continues: “There are other STEM centers, but this is unique. Students do primary research and work one-on-one with real scientists and real experts in the field. They also care for the vegetable garden, can and pickle vegetables, make jelly, feed our bees and harvest honey,” she says. “Students design their projects, gather data, write scientific papers, and then create posters. And they present at symposiums and competitions at colleges and universities. Our kids become experts in a subject. The classes are free. We only charge tuition on our educational days, and then we charge to cover our costs. Pre-COVID, busloads of students came here for outdoor education days. Our county master gardeners maintain our Monarch Way Station, and they grow our pollinator garden.” Ehler says that if “a student has an interest, and we don’t have something developed, we make it happen. Students get high school credit in an advanced science, and can get college credits. Some of our research data goes to the EPA and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.” Board member Keri Conley’s children attended BlueSTEM classes. “Students learn how to be stewards of the world we live in,” she says. “This place is magic.” CAROL MOWDY BOND

WHAT’S IN A NAME Located on Route 66 a bit west of El Reno on historic Fort Reno’s grounds, BlueSTEM’s name derives from a native prairie grass. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Grazinglands Research Laboratory, also on the grounds, includes a tall grass prairie preserve. Launched in 2015 with three students and a USDA grant, BlueSTEM’s original goal was to teach “citizen science” and show the community that science is everywhere. Primarily partnering with the USDA, BlueSTEM grew by word of mouth and social media. There are now 32 students, with no more than 15 to 16 students in the building at one time, attending classes Monday through Thursday. Pre-COVID, thousands were involved in BlueSTEM programs. Grants and individual financial supporters fund the program, along with fundraisers including annual poinsettia sales.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

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Having the Time of Your Life

Ballroom dance is at your fingertips via a variety of studios in Oklahoma.

Ballroom on Broadway in Edmond teaches both ballroom and Latin dances to anyone interested. Photo courtesy Ballroom on Broadway

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

ptions for learning ballroom dancing are around every corner. One dance studio located in Tulsa, Strictly Ballroom, offers a myriad of options for everyone from beginners to experts. Manager and instructor Rachel Morris sums up what the studio offers: “Ballroom dancing is an umbrella for all the types of dance with a partner,” she says. “We teach anything under the umbrella.” Clients can learn the two-step, swing, foxtrot, tango, rumba and waltz. On average, it takes at least four to six lessons to learn a particular dance. On Friday nights, the studio has group classes with a different weekly theme, and a social dance follows the group class. In the controlled social environment, clients learn what dances go with what music so that when they are out – say for date night – they will be confident when heading to the dance floor. Dancers can enjoy private lessons, group classes and social nights. “It is an all-around experience,” says Morris. Studio owner Yvonne Mears says three, half-hour lessons are offered for $60. This package is described as a “quick intro to the dances.” For more information, contact strictlyballroomtulsaok@gmail.com or call 918-493-2623. In Edmond, Ballroom on Broadway teaches both ballroom and Latin dances, also known as rhythm. When it comes to the basics, co-owner Dadbeh Jabari explains that there are fundamentals to learn first –such as stepping first with the heel or toe, and the difference between swing versus sway. Also, each dance has set patterns. Jabari, who competes regularly, says you “never stop perfecting a dance. Dancing is always a work in progress.”

Ballroom on Broadway has three levels for dancers to reach: bronze, silver and gold. Each level is achieved by a certain number of steps that are learned. The studio, which has been in Edmond for ten years, even has one 90-year-old student. “We have students as young as eight years old,” says Jabari. “The median age is 50 to 60 years old.” Private lessons are $75 for 45 minutes, with a discount at ten lessons. Find them at info@ballroomdanceoklahoma.com or call 405-314-7827. GINA A. DABNEY

Dancing for the Big Day Ready to learn that special wedding dance? In Tulsa, Strictly Ballroom teaches dances for the bride and groom, father and daughter, as well as mother and son. Instructor Rachel Morris advises that at least ten hours of class time in close succession are needed for everyone to feel at ease. “It has to be comfortable and loving,” she says. Most clients arrive at the studio with their chosen wedding songs. The instructors then guide them through the process. “We hear the song choice,” says Morris. “We know what dance fits that song.” At Ballroom on Broadway in Edmond, numerous engaged couples come to the studio to learn their wedding dances. Discount packages are oﬀered, and couples can practice at the studio as much as they desire. About 90% of couples, says Jabari, arrive with a particular wedding song. “We can work with any song,” he says. “We recommend five lessons.”

T H E S TAT E | C L U B S

Ladies Who Brew

The Oklahoma Women’s Craft Beer Society brings the female perspective to a maledominated industry.

The Oklahoma Women’s Craft Beer Society encourages ladies to get involved in the state’s brewing frenzy. Photo courtesy OWCBS

uring the summer of 2020, Stacia Sharp asked the folks on the Facebook page “Oklahoma Craft Brewers Society” if there was any interest in starting a women’s craft beer division. The response was overwhelming, and the Oklahoma Women’s Craft Beer Society was born. Once a month, the group explores territory that was male-dominated for many decades. The members, with their distinguished pallets, are passionate about brewing and familiar with the incredible beers this state can produce, from peanut butter Porters and stout IPAs to Kolsch, Helle and everything in between. Despite the last few decades, women led the art of brewing through history. In Europe, it is common to see breweries connected to convents or monasteries, where women were traditionally in charge of the business until around the 15th century. Since then, men have taken over ... but people like Stacia are out to change that. On top of learning about the beers they enjoy, the members of the OWCBS recently partnered with Period OKC, an organization that gives back to the community by providing menstrual products to people in need. The society created a brew with Core4 Brewing in Oklahoma City called “11 O’Clock Kickoff,” a coffee cream ale; proceeds from that batch went to the organization.

says Stewart. In addition to events and meetings, the She encourages any woman who is intersociety gets together with other beer enthuested in brewing to follow that drive. Educasiasts all over the state for tastings, comtion, along with visiting breweries, talking munity events and other celebrations, like to brewers, home brewing and even taking International Stout Day on Nov. 4, which some online classes can help one create an consisted of a gathering at Angry Scotsman edge in the beer world. in Oklahoma City. It is simple events like “OWCBS has been great for connecting these that keep the group chugging along ... with other beer advocates,” says Stewart. paired with the quality of the members. In addition, the quantity of members is steadily “I just love the things the group does to further education and growing due to an abunadvocacy.” dance of passion. For group informaKayla Stewart, lead tion, meeting times, or to brewer at Anthem Brewjoin a community of likeing Company, loves seeing minded beer aficionados, women showing up with check out Oklahoma enthusiasm. She is ener• Lacy Richards of NothWomen’s Craft Beer Socigized by the growing numing’s Left Brewery: ety on Facebook, or just bers of female brewers nothingsleftbrew.co stop by one of the many she’s met throughout the • Broke Brewing Company: hidden gems Oklahoma state and at national conbroke.beer has when it comes to ferences, and acknowledg• Kayla Stewart of Anthem craft breweries. es that while the industry Brewing Co.: Tours can often be is primarily male-centric, anthembrewing.com arranged and brewers the growing number of • Lisa McIlroy of Cabin Boys: are a passionate group, women is refreshing. cabinboysbrewery.com usually willing to show “I was lucky to get my • Core4 Brewing: off their craft. Whatever start at Angry Scotsman core4brewing.com route one chooses, this and through them, I was • Equity Brewing Company: is a hobby with no limits able to make the connecequitybrewingco.com for the imagination. tions that led me to my ERIKA BROWNING brewing home at Anthem,”

WOMEN OF NOTE

JANUARY 2022| WWW.OKMAG.COM

T H E S TAT E | I N D U S T R Y

A Hankering for Hickory

Oklahoma’s pecan business is booming, and has been for a long time.

ecans have been part of the fabric of Oklahoma since the state’s beginning ... and even before. The official Oklahoma state meal includes pecan pie as dessert, after all. But well before anyone was making pecans into pie, this species of hickory was nourishing the Indigenous people of the area and growing wild in this – their native habitat. “Pecans have been harvested as long as people have been around,” says Michael Smith, PhD, who is a retired regents professor in horticulture from Oklahoma State University, a pecan researcher and a fellow of the American Society for Horticulture Science. Today, farms in Oklahoma produce over 18 million pounds of pecans each year, says Smith, 90% of which are native. The rest are specially cultivated varieties, selected for superior qualities and carefully managed. Most of these farms are family-run, like the one Smith runs now, Cedar Creek Pecan Farm. “Pecans are from Oklahoma, that’s just their native range. It extends from up near St. Louis down to well into Mexico. From the Mississippi River to where you get into the prairies,” says Bob Knight, president of the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association and owner of Knight Pecan Farms, which stocks a store in Tulsa. Pecans are part of the hickory family. There are more species in North America than anywhere, says Knight. They are thought to have originated here. The trees first bloom in April. Then, in May, they produce small flowers that are typically only noticeable to a pecan grower, according to Knight, and pollen that is very noticeable to allergy sufferers. The trees are then pollinated by the wind; they don’t need insects for pollination. Pecans are very suited to the Oklahoma climate. “They can handle the climate extremes here,” says Knight. “If you had a field in Oklahoma that had at one time been farmed, been cultivated, but it was abandoned from cultivation in a native pecan area, it will come up in pecan trees. There is a lot of land in Oklahoma that is like that.” Beginning in mid-October, the pecans are ready to be harvested. The trees are shaken, which is a process that is exactly what it sounds like. Farmers use large machines to physically shake the trees and remove nuts. They are sent to be shelled, then sold and enjoyed all over the world. In his store, Knight hears from customers who have fond memories of pecans. It seems everyone has pecan trees in their yard, or they had a grandparent with some on their farm, he says. “It’s kind of part of the culture of Oklahoma,” he says. BONNIE RUCKER

Want a Taste? The pecan harvest is very mechanical, so many farms don’t need pickers. However, the trees grow wild all over the place in certain parts of the state. The native pecans will start falling from trees after the first killing freeze, typically near the middle of November. You can also check your local feed supply store for a place to get them shelled.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

T H E S TAT E | G O V E R N M E N T

Getting Involved

If you’re looking to get your foot in the door and make changes at higher levels, government officials and politicians offer advice.

Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum encourages Tulsans to lead with a solution rather than a problem in order to make progress. Photo courtesy the City of Tulsa

homas Jefferson once said: “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” Oklahoma’s participation rate in recent elections is the lowest in the nation. That’s right - 50th out of 50. Our legislature is not accepting defeat on this issue. In 2021, Oklahoma was one of a handful of states to expand access. With bipartisan support, legislators passed HB 2663, adding an extra early-voting day for general elections. This is by no means a magic solution, but it’s a step in the right direction. Many factors can stifle voter participation. Recently, the integrity of election results has been called into question, and Oklahoma Sen. James Leewright is concerned about this perception. “Voters need to be confident in our election process,” he says. “Voters should feel that their vote will count and in Oklahoma, it absolutely does.” Complacency and resignation can also limit turnout. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt reminds voters that change is possible. “There are no simple solutions to complex problems,” he says, citing transparency as fundamental to making progress. “There are times when citizen engagement is beautiful,” he mentions when discussing MAPS 4, OKC’s recently approved revitalization plan. “We sought citizen input online, all along the way, up through the city council process.” This transpar-

ency paved the way for a recordsetting 71.7% approval of the initiative. Former Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor affirms this belief. “The most important thing is to authentically listen, to provide context and information to citizens,” she says. “Be ready to not only listen but be willing to change your mind based on what you hear.” Some think you should be an informed expert to contribute to a conversation, but Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell encourages all citizens to engage, whatever their qualifications. “You don’t have to have a formal education on an issue or know all the statistics to have an opinion worth sharing,” he says. “When we all come together to discuss solutions, the solutions are better.” For citizens who want to be better informed, the online resource VoteSmart (votesmart.org) is a non-partisan tool for learning about candidates as well as important propositions. VoteSmart’s founder, Adelaide Kimball, explained the safeguards used to minimize bias. “In the early 1990s, our founding board included politicians from both ends of the spectrum, including presidents Carter and Ford. We also refused contributions from special interest groups, limiting our funding to small individual donors and foundations.” Voters can also learn about campaign financing at OpenSecrets.org or FollowTheMoney.org.

Perhaps the most impactful way to get involved is to actually run for office. “There are so many avenues to serve and positions that qualified Oklahomans should consider running for but don’t,” says Pinnell. “One commonly overlooked avenue to serve is on your local school board. The more that run for office, the better our state will be.”

How to Contact Elected Oﬀicials (in their own words):

The following methods are listed in order of effectiveness as expressed by elected officials. Most Effective: Phone or Email: “If emailing, mention ‘Constituent from [City Name]’ in the subject line.” - Sen. James Leewright Dropping by the office: “Surprisingly effective…” - Sen. Jo Anna Dossett Leading with a solution rather than a problem: “Almost 95% of my ideas came from these types of conversations.” - Mayor GT Bynum Less Effective: Online Apps: “These apps often don’t allow me to respond to my constituents.” - Sen. James Leewright Social Media shoutouts: “No way to know if commenters are Tulsa residents.” – Mayor Bynum “Can be a platform for negativity and misinformation.” – Mayor David Holt JEFF THOMPSON

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

T H E S TAT E | I N S I D E R

No Talk Back

Joe Glyda excels in photography of a variety of subjects, most recently captured in his new WWII aviation book.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

efore you dive into Jenks resident Joe Glyda’s new oversized hardcover publication, WWII Aviation Artwork and the Stories Behind These Beautiful Birds, take a look at the lime green bands that mark both ends of the place where spine and pages meet. As is the case with each of the vintage aircraft covered inside, there’s a story there. “When I was younger,” he says, “my brothers and I built airplane models, and so did our dad. He’d always paint the inside of the wheel wells on his models lime green. I remember asking him, ‘Dad, isn’t it like the bottom of a car, all black and dirty under there?’ “He’d say, ‘No, no, no. That’s where the zinc chromate is. That’s the paint protection they use for the metal, before they paint the airplane. It kept the plane from falling apart.’ “So, when this book was being designed, the designer asked me, ‘What color would you like the headband?’ “I said, ‘What’s the headband?’ And she told me it was what keeps the book from falling apart. So I thought, well, let’s just make it lime-green, as a tribute to my dad.” That’s not the only thing about WWII Aviation Artwork inspired by Glyda’s father. In the book’s first chapter, Glyda tells about the slideshows his dad used to put together for family and friends, presentations consisting of pictures the elder Glyda had taken of planes and ships while serving as a Navy mechanic in the late ’40s and early ’50s. “A darkened room combined with the sound of the projector fan made the images come alive,” wrote Glyda. “They ap-

peared to be larger than life on the screen (at least they were to me).” From a very early age, it was clear to Glyda that his father loved airplanes, and he passed that love to Joe and his brothers in any number of ways – including taking them on day trips to watch the planes come in at Midway Airport in Chicago, not far from where the family lived. Glyda also inherited an affinity for photography from his father, and it was also in Chicago that he turned that interest into a career, beginning a 36-year run as a photographer for Kraft Foods. “Kraft had 2,700 products then, and I did everything from brochures to packaging – the photos for mac and cheese boxes, cheesecake, Cool Whip, DiGiorno pizza, Parkay margarine,” he says. “There were flyers that came out in newspapers every Sunday called FSI’s, free-standing inserts, and we used to photograph all of those in our in-house studio. I could be working on three or four different projects a week. “I always say that I photograph things that don’t talk back – food, architecture, aviation – but looking back on my career, I did photograph a lot of people,” he adds. “Kraft was a sponsor of NASCAR’s Roush Racing Team from 2001 to 2009, and I got to work with [drivers] Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle. I’d photograph the races, and the drivers and VIPs. So I would photograph people. I just liked photographing food so much better.” After taking early retirement from Kraft in 2009, Glyda continued to concentrate on those “things that don’t talk back” as a freelance commercial photographer, becoming especially well-known as a leader

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in digital photography. And he began to explore his own projects, a quest that once again involved his love of aircraft – especially those of the World War II era. “I was enthralled by how many airplanes were built in such a small amount of time, between 1939 and 1945,” he notes. “So I went to the Reno [Nevada] Air Show in 2014 and photographed my first World War II plane, the [North American] T-6 [Texan]. The last one I took was of the [Catalina] PBY. That was in December 2020 at Fantasy of Flight in Florida. “During 2019, I began acquiring information on the planes, and I found too many inconsistencies on the web, so I was going to the library and pulling as much as I could. I made a storyboard in my office, with two-by-eight foam boards, and I’d take each picture and the story behind it and pin them to the board. I’d read about each plane for a week or two, and then I’d write about it.” When the pandemic hit, making library visits problematic, Glyda found that people around the country who shared his passion were also eager to share books on the subject from their personal libraries. So he was able to keep his research going. He was also able to continue converting his photos into digital artwork for the book, something he’d decided to do early on. “As I was photographing these airplanes, there would be so much distraction in the background,” says Glyda. “You can’t walk up to someone at an air show and say, ‘Hey, could you move? I’m trying to get a picture here.’” So sometimes I’d stand there for an hour, waiting for people to get out of the way, just so I could get the shot I needed. There were always people in the background, buildings in the background, other things that distracted from the airplane.” After working with the photograph of the first plane he’d shot, the T-6, seek-

Joe Glyda showcases his most recent work in his newest photography book. Photos courtesy Glyda

ing ways to make it stand out from the background clutter, he hit upon the idea of turning the aircraft images into digital artwork, which would allow them to stand alone on a page. “The first eight airplanes I did looked great,” he recalls. “And I thought, ‘Okay, this is the direction I want to go.’” That was in 2014. Five years later, after photographing many more planes, he went back to the computer – only to find that the two software programs he’d used to digitize those first eight images were no longer available. He ended up retrofitting a computer to 2014 and keeping it offline, so that he could re-install those outdated programs and use them to keep the artwork consistent. Although art and photography are the focus of Glyda’s big coffee-table-sized volume, he also includes personal stories from those who flew some of the planes, utilizing letters, log books, family memories – and occasionally, a face-to-face interview. The best example of the latter comes in the chapter on the Vought F4U Corsair, which is enhanced by the memories of a 94-year-old veteran named Clayburn Harris. It was an encounter with Harris in Tulsa that convinced Glyda the detailed pictures of planes in his book would benefit from what he terms “humanistic relevance.” In Harris’s case, that meant stories from his time in the Marines focused around the Corsair, even though Harris served after World War II. “I wasn’t planning on putting stories in the book,” he says. “It was going to be a photograph book, and then it was going to be an artwork book. But when Clay Harris started giving me his story, and I was almost crying as he told it, I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh. I need to have some stories in here.’” In late August, not long after the official publication of WWII Aviation Artwork, Glyda appeared at a signing event at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. He plans to make appearances at similar institutions around the country, especially those that have several World War II planes on exhibit. “I want to get to my core audience,” he notes. “So if they see those airplanes and say, ‘I wish I could take a book of these planes home with me’ – well, they can.” For more information on WWII Aviation Artwork and the Stories Behind These Beautiful Birds, as well as other vintageaircraft themed art products, visit Joe Glyda’s website, wwiiaviation.art. JOHN WOOLEY

THE PROFESSIONALS FINANCIAL ADVISOR How do I save for a child’s education without ignoring retirement? If you are considering how to balance saving for a child’s college fees and retirement, read on: Saving for retirement should take priority over college tuition. To understand why, consider: You may not get to choose your retirement date, DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® and you don’t want to run out of money in retirement. If your savings come up short, you don’t have the ability to apply for scholarships, grants or ﬁnancial aid to help bridge the gap. While it’s imperative to focus on your own ﬁnancial security, funding higher education is still an important goal. The key is striking the right balance. Remember: Paying for college doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. If your child has sights on graduate school, decide whether you will contribute to those bills too. Discuss your intentions with your child.

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 WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST I noticed several med spa treatments and services seem to do similar things. How do I know which is right for me and my anti-aging concerns? It is true, several treatments tend to overlap in the way that they treat areas of concern. The simple answer is to schedule a complimentary MELODY HAWKINS consultation. Working with a medical professional to address each of your concerns, and to design a customized treatment plan that meets your timeframe and budget, is the best place to start. That being said, often those custom treatment plans have two or more treatments that are similar. That is because combining different technologies and services gives the best overall results. We at BAMS will combine treatments to create the ultimate personalized experience, that leaves each of our patients looking and feeling better. To schedule your complimentary consultation, call us today at 918-872-9999.

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JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

LIFE & STYLE

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

Lavender Fields Hvar-Ever A Croatian paradise beckons.

The fields of lavender are perhaps Hvar’s most popular attraction. Stock image

var is known as the party island of Croatia. However, that’s not true year-round. Go in the fall, and you’ll experience this jewel of the Adriatic in a different way. A three-hour ferry ride from Dubrovnik, Hvar is the sun-dappled island with an irrepressible spirit. She waits for you like the chic ambassador that she is, ready for your exploration. Hvar vistas are a proverbial postcard image – a snapshot of utter vacation beauty. A seaside promenade encircles the port passing florals, playgrounds and boats spangling the felicitous harbor. Seafood platters beckon you at every restaurant. Equally satiating are the morning sunrises on your hotel balcony. Strolling on the seawall reveals the buoyancy of boats while sailors prepare for another day at sea. Watch the yachtees tend to luxurious vessels as if straight from an episode of what should be called Below Deck: Adriatic. Try Villa Dinka for delicious seafood dining. Schedule a tuk-tuk or van tour of the island. Winding your way through the mountain roads of tawny grasses and scenic overlooks creates anticipation for Hvar’s essence. Biking tourists stop to photograph the town below

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

for the dichotomy of rural and urban views all at once.

Urban Highlights

While you tour hilltop relics and agriculture, you are mere minutes away from must-sees. For example, Hvar has the oldest theater in Europe (even older than the Shakespeare Theatre). Interestingly enough, the fingerprint discovery originated in Hvar. Stari Grad, one of the oldest European towns founded by the ancient Greeks in 384 B.C., was originally named Pharos. Hvar’s highlights range from its famous lavender fields to a completely sustainable Renaissance home (Tvrdalj Castle) of the poet, Peter Hektorovic. It’s enlightening to learn about his methods, medicinal plants and tools.

The Lavender

The lavender fields bristle with a powerful beauty. It’s meditative to simply sit in the field appreciating the serene earthiness. Ground yourself in the terrain. In fall, lavender is past its bloom, therefore, the color and scent are subdued. Reportedly, when the lavender is in season, many people can’t even drive past the fields due to the overpowering aroma. Hvar’s lavender is ranked among the top quality in the world.

L I F E & S T Y L E | D E S T I N AT I O N S

Architecture, water-related activities, lavender fields and entertainment entice tourists to Hvar. Photos by Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

Dining

Afterwards, enjoy an afternoon basking at the beach, which is only to be topped by an evening of ambrosial dining. It’s recommended that you call ahead to Malo Grablje restaurant with your menu order. The cooks must prepare certain Peka meals “under the bell” which is a Dutch oven method cooked on charcoals. The sojourn there takes you through unexpected wilderness roads of Stori Komin, an abandoned village. Ascending the quarter-mile roads, you’ll peer through ruins in this walk back-in-time. Abandoned due to harsh times and diseased olive crops, the Hvar spirit reclaimed the worth of this locale and made it an incredible dining destination. The night atmosphere is thick with the promise of gastronomic splendor as you first view your simmering meal. Dining under the grapevine pergolas surrounded by moonlight is unforgettable. You’re ingesting not only the cuisine but also the Croatian culture and joy. Peek inside the kitchen to see cooks, wine glasses in hand, looking satisfied with their hospitality. This writer’s courses of charcuterie, sardines, lamb, veal and potatoes were perfectly complimented by the homemade wine elixir. Only a few tables are available, which creates an intimate setting. Hvar, Hvar away in the Adriatic, it’s not just a party ... it’s paradise. GINA MICHALOPULOS KINGSLEY

JANUARY 2022| WWW.OKMAG.COM

L I F E & S T Y L E | F YI

Other Tips to Try •

Desk Hacks

Most of us sit at a desk all day – but exercises and healthy habits can help alleviate side effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

hether you’re toiling away at a formal place of employment or turning a quiet corner of a room at home into office space, most people spend at least part of their time sitting down at a desk. Lest we forget how traumatic it can be on our bodies to sit in one spot for eight or more hours per day, it might be time to take another look at how to alleviate fatigue and pain associated with a sedentary lifestyle. “I actually keep a heating pad on the back of my chair in my office,” admits Baye Mayberry, the marketing coordinator for Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma, based in Tulsa. “This keeps my back from aching.” While some people do not have a choice on the type

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

of desk they use, Mayberry suggests that if you have the freedom, get a desk that raises to standing level. “That way, you are able to stretch and change your position periodically rather than just sitting all day,” she says. “If you can get up, stretch or walk around, I would highly recommend it. It keeps your blood flowing and makes it more comfortable when you’re sitting.” Most medical professionals have taken the stance that having your computer screen at the right height is of utmost importance when working for extended periods of time. “I keep my computer at eye level when I am in my chair so that my neck is not straining to constantly look up or down,” says Mayberry.

Chad Hanson, DO, of the Orthopaedic Center agrees. “Sitting at a desk can be an active workout in and of itself,” he notes. Hanson advises placing a desk monitor at shoulder height for a steady gaze and a neutral neck alignment. If tiredness or lack of focus is the issue, a foot peddler machine or hand gripping exercises can be used to increase blood flow to the extremities and begin activation of the sympathetic nervous system. “I recommend every 30 minutes getting up from the chair and stretching your legs,” he adds. “A brisk one- to five-minute walk can help get you refreshed and focused on the day.” DEBI TURLEY

Keep your workspace organized so you won’t have to search for constantlyused items • Invest in an oﬀice chair that is comfy for you and only you • Stash highenergy snacks where you can easily reach • Put things in your space that give you pleasure – consider making a vision board with fun photos and your favorite inspirational quotes • Do not eat a meal at your desk. Take a break from staring at your computer and leave the area, even if for only a short time. Hanson also suggests individuals incorporate 30 to 45 minutes of moderateintensity exercise into their routines five days a week. “This is especially important for a desk worker who has a more sedentary work life,” he says.

L I F E & S T Y L E | H E A LT H

Getting Ahead of Migraines

Professionals explain the symptoms and offer relief.

avid Lee Gordon, MD – OU Health Chair of Neurology in Oklahoma City – says the most important feature in diagnosing a headache as a migraine headache is the previous occurrence of similar, intermittent headaches, since migraine is a genetic condition that causes recurrent, transient symptoms throughout one’s life. “Migraine is also the likely diagnosis if the headache is associated with classic migraine visual ‘aura’ (moving spots, dots, zigzag or wavy lines, or lights), classic migraine sensory ‘aura’ (tingling traveling up or down one side of the body), sensory ‘phobias’ (light intolerance, noise intolerance, smell intolerance and motion sickness), or lower abdominal symptoms – especially cramping pain and diarrhea,” says Gordon. However, he adds that while nausea and vomiting are common with migraine attacks, these symptoms can also occur with other types of headaches. Migraine is a complex sensory processing disorder, says Abeera Ali, MD, a neurologist with INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. And women are three to four times more likely than men to suffer from migraine headaches. Common triggers include dehydration, sleep deprivation and emotional stress. “Some people can identify environmental triggers like changes in barometric pressure (before storms) and certain smells and foods that bring about migraine, but that varies from person to person,” says Ali. It may surprise you to know that you could be experiencing migraine and not know it. “Nearly all recurrent, ‘regular’ headaches, ‘tension’ headaches, and ‘sinus’ headaches (migraine causes sinus congestion) are actually migraine headaches,” says Gordon. “Infantile colic and irritable bowel syndrome are actually due to abdominal migraine. Recurrent vertigo (the sensation that the world is moving or spinning) is more commonly due to mi-

graine than ear problems. Recurrent chest pain with normal heart, lung, and stomach tests is most often due to migraine.” He says migraine can even mimic stroke by causing difficulty speaking or weakness on one side of the body, and that most migraine attacks are associated with either an increase or decrease in blood pressure caused by the migraine itself. “This leads some folks to mistakenly think their headache or other symptoms are due to high blood pressure. High blood pressure may cause chronic diseases, but actually causes no symptoms,” says Gordon, adding that migraine can also cause fainting due to decreased blood pressure. Within the past several years, there have been important advancements in the treatment of migraine, the most significant being calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors, says Gordon. “CGRP is a chemical released in the brain during a migraine attack that, among other things, turns on pain nerves in the head, causing a migraine headache,” he says. “We now have four injectable medications that target either CGRP or the CGRP receptor on pain nerves and prevent migraine attacks if taken on a regular basis.” In addition, he says there are many other effective medications for both migraine prevention therapy and migraine stopper therapy. Ali shares the reminder that migraine is not just a headache but a condition that can be very disabling. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraine is the sixth most disabling illness in the world. “If you believe you are suffering from migraine headaches, please see a doctor,” she says. “You need a treatment plan tailored to your needs. There are things that can be done to stop a migraine in its tracks and make migraine less frequent and severe.” REBECCA FAST

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

LIFE & ST YLE | OUTSIDE THE METRO

Sublime in Sulphur

In south central Oklahoma, Sulphur provides outdoor recreation, Native American roots and luxurious accommodations.

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nce a destination for people who believed in the healing and restorative powers of the nearby sulphur springs – from which the town took its name – and for the location of Oklahoma’s only national park, Sulphur remains a place that beckons people looking for a variety or outdoor recreation, dining, or even a little pampering. The city’s variety makes it unique, says Chamber of Commerce executive director Anna Lawrence, a life-long resident. “Sulphur is a great town,” she says. “I like to see people who aren’t from [here] come and see what Sulphur has to offer.” The city boasts three prime attractions:

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

The sprawling, 10,000-acre area presents a smorgasbord of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing and swimming. It features two lakes, six campgrounds and 22 miles of trails, which park ranger Megan Wilkins says present several ways to enjoy the outdoors. Even though most of the sulphur springs are no longer flowing, one remains, for visitors who want to “take the waters.” Wilkins reported that park use spiked during the initial COVID-19 surge as people discovered the safety of outdoor life.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

“Once we got past that very early phase, our park became a good option for folks, because we are so outdoor-based,” says Wilkins. “Being outdoors was one of the good options available.” Fishing and boating are offered at the 3,000-acre Lake of the Arbuckles and the 200-acre Veterans Lake. The park’s sprawling acreage includes the original Platt National Park – the nation’s seventh national park, which became part of the CNRA in 1976.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center

Operated by the Chickasaw Nation, the center offers a Smithsonianquality immersion into the rich history and culture of the Chickasaw people on Sulphur’s western edge. With 118,000 square feet of exhibit space, the CCC includes an interactive exhibit hall, art galleries, outdoor sculptures and a genealogy and research library. The CCC’s theater and café are closed for extensive renovations, says event operations director Fran Parchcorn. She says the center re-opened last July and has seen a steady number of visitors – including one family that recently flew in from France. Since opening in 2010, the CCC has attracted close to 850,000 visitors. “We’re shooting for that million mark,” says Parchcorn.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center boasts a variety of historical sculptures to view. Photo by Jacquelyn Sparks

The Artesian

At the southern edge of downtown, the 81-room Artesian Hotel, built by the Chickasaw Nation, occupies the site of the original hotel by the same name. It offers visitors what the original hotel also did – a chance to relax in luxury. Hotel general manager Justin Williams says it has been popular with townspeople and visitors since opening in 2013, with lots of repeat customers. Hotel occupancy approaches 95% in summer, and hovers at about 75% the rest of the year. People who frequent the four-story hotel love it, he says, “but it’s always interesting to see a fresh set of eyes” on the hotel that features restaurants, retail, a pool, a 270-person ballroom on the ground floor and guest rooms on the top three floors. The hotel is also connected to a tribal-operated casino. Elsewhere near downtown, the original 1917 City Hall now houses the Arbuckle Historical Museum, presenting a storehouse of local history. Two state institutions are located in town: The Sulphur School for the Deaf, serving deaf and hearingimpaired children; and the Sulphur Veterans Center, maintained for U.S. Armed Service veterans who need nursing home care. HENRY DOLIVE

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LIFE & ST YLE | SPOTLIGHT

PEGGY V. HELMERICH DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR AWARD GALA The Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award is an honor given by the Tulsa Library Trust and Tulsa City-County Library to one author each year. The purpose of said award is to reward and recognize talented, renowned authors who have ”written a distinguished body of work and made a major contribution to the field of literature and letters,” according to its website. The award includes a $40,000 cash prize and an engraved crystal book.

KIMBERLY & EARL JOHNSON

Photos by Steven Michael’s Photography

JUDY BERRY, BEVERLY DIETERLEN, SHARON BARTLETT

PEGGY HELMERICH, MARILYNNE ROBINSON, KIM BRILZ

DIANE DERRICK, JACQUELINE POE, SUSAN POE

MARK & DIXIE BANNER

SUSAN TODD, HILARY KITZ, MARGARET ERLING, KATHY TAYLOR, SUSAN SAVAGE, GLENDA LOVE WILLIAMS, VICKI VANIMAN, RICA CARNEY

DANIELLE WIDELL, KNIKKI NASH

JUDY & TOM KISHNER, LINDA IRWIN

ADRIAN & NICOLE ALEXANDER

SCOTT & MARGEE FILSTRUP

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

HANS, MATT, ZAK & RIK HELMERICH

PATRICIA & PAUL SAMUELS

L I F E & S T Y L E | SCENE

Roy & Rebekah Wood, Rachel & David Wagner; First Chair Society, Signature Symphony at TCC, Tulsa

Joseph Cunningham, M.D., Muscogee Nation and Oklahoma State Department of Health representatives; BCBSOK grant ceremony, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Tulsa

Jim Cloud, Emily Scott, John Logan; Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma check ceremony, Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, OKC

Judy & Ronny Altman, Linda Broach; David Brooks speaking event, Tulsa Town Hall

Randi Von Ellefson, Kelly Holst, Courtney Crouse, Steven Sanders, Mark McCrory; Handel’s Messiah performance, Canterbury Voices, OKC

Mason Conway, Mike Murphy; TBH Barbecue, Beers, & Cigars event, Tulsa Boys’ Home Scarlet Henley, Chris & Tina Moody; House Party, The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tulsa

Nicole Wayne, Polly Nichols; OKCNP’s 2021 Visions Awards, Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, OKC

Linda & David Hogan; OKCNP’s 2021 Visions Awards, Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, OKC

Bruce Heine, Dave Croteau, Steve Sumrall, Janine Burlin; UNITE Celebration, Tulsa Area United Way

Erin Engelke, Brandi Bowers, Samantha Vu, Ashleigh Gibson; Oklahoma Project Woman fashion show, Calm Waters Center for Children and Families, OKC

Steve Agee, Debby Hampton, Sue Ann Arnall; OCU Meinders School of Business Hall of Honor Induction, United Way of Central Oklahoma, OKC

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

New Year, New You

Whether you’re targeting a problem area or becoming more mindful in your day-to-day, it’s easy to start out this year on the right foot with a little help. Fitness experts and healthcare professionals weigh in on molding a better you for 2022. By Rebecca Fast

Reaching Fitness Goals

Kicking off the new year is often marked by fitness and weight loss goals. Offering helpful reminders on how to lose weight and keep it off, Kathryn Reilly, MD, a family practice physician with OU Health Physicians, shares the following advice. “For consistent weight loss it’s important to have a plan,” she says. “Understand what common portion sizes are, limit eating out, limit drinking any liquids that include calories (it has been shown that when you drink calories the body often does not recognize it as food), and carve a regular time to get exercise.” If intermittent fasting or restricting specific types of food appeals to you, Reilly recommends doing your research and learning how those food plans are carried out.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

“If results aren’t happening, writing down everything that is eaten and drunk over several days can provide insight into what the problems are – not just the food itself but the quantity,” she says. She also suggests mixing up your fitness routine as well as watching out for hidden calories. “The biggest hidden calories are in drinks – fancy coffee drinks, soda with calories, sweet tea, mixed drinks and beer,” she says. “Again, portion size is critical. If one is eating cheese and crackers as a snack, look at the package and see what a portion is. Many packages that appear to be a single portion actually hold two or more portions. Eating on a salad plate, planning for half the plate to be vegetables, and avoiding high calorie sauces or salad dressings on the vegetables can all help cut calories.” Once you’ve attained your goal

weight, it’s important to weigh at least once a week to monitor any weight gain. “Most people can lose weight but few keep it off,” says Reilly. “If the weight is up four to five pounds, go back to the plan for a week or two.” Some people include a binge in their diet plan, says Reilly, either once a week or twice a month. “One thing that can lead to failure in diet plans is getting discouraged about an unexpected binge or a week in which no exercise is done,” she says. “It’s important to get back on the plan and recognize ways to avoid such lapses in the future.” It’s also helpful to avoid trigger foods, if possible, at home or at the office. “If sweets or ice cream are a big temptation, don’t make it easy to succumb,” says Reilly. “If it’s not easily grabbed, your brain may be able accept a less caloric substitute.”

Targeting Problem Areas

John Jackson, a personal trainer and the owner of Impact Fitness in Tulsa, says targeting a specific area of the body is still about overall fitness and strength training. “As a personal trainer, if someone is looking to spot reduce and enhance their body, we have to break down a few factors including medical history, gender, age, nutrition, hormonal status and physical activity,” he says. “Each person has a specific body composition and it has to be taken into consideration when planning an exercise program that will complement their fitness goals.” For general fitness or spot reduction, Jackson suggests multi-joint movements. “These movements incorporate more than one joint of activation per exercise,” he says. “Overhead press, squats and lunges with a bicep curl are a few multi-joint movements that are beneficial for overall fitness and conditioning. As it pertains to strength days versus cardio days, it depends on the person and their physical fitness needs. For example, a triathlete will need to work more

on endurance training and strength training to help stabilize endurance for competition. Conversely, for a person that just wants to maintain tone and be in reasonable shape, you would look at a more balanced training regimen of weights two to three times a week and cardio every other day for body maintenance.” However, despite one’s efforts through diet and exercise, there can still be those hard-to-budge spots. One alternative to reach those areas is a new, noninvasive fatfreezing system, CoolSculpting Elite. “This revolutionary new fat-freezing system is FDA-cleared to treat nine different areas of the body, including under the chin and jawline, upper arms, abdomen, love handles and thighs,” says Melody Hawkins, chief financial officer with BA Med Spa and Weight Loss Center in Broken Arrow. “It has been reimagined with dual applicators to treat two places at once, giving it the power to treat twice the fat in half the time.” Hawkins says CoolSculpting Elite is a great option for any adult and fits into

Abs are Made in the Kitchen

This common phrase can be hard to hear after you’ve sweated out 100 crunches. But there’s truth in the saying and others like it. Ever heard ‘you are what you eat?’ The underlying premise is that it’s easier to cut calories than burn them oﬀ through exercise. Supporting this thought, Reilly says it’s generally easier to lose weight by dietary restriction than exercise because even the most vigorous exercise is limited by time for most people. “Walking or running a mile burns roughly 100 calories,” she says. “Most people who do prolonged vigorous exercise drink or eat foods with concentrated calories which diminishes the number of calories burned.” She says there’s evidence that decreasing calorie intake by 500 calories per day (or some combination of exercise and decreased intake) can lead to about one pound per week of weight loss—which led to the statement and common belief that approximately 3,400 calories equals one pound of weight. However, Reilly says that subsequent studies have found that although this works initially for most patients, the rate of weight loss goes down over time.

even the busiest of lifestyles. “You can come in and have your treatments done, drive yourself home, continue on with your complete normal routine, and begin seeing results in three weeks,” she says. “One treatment will permanently eliminate 20 to 25 percent of fat in the targeted area.”

Personal trainer John Jackson says overall fitness is still crucial in targeting problem areas of the body. Photo courtesy John Jackson

But there’s no need to despair – she says if you’re wanting to lose weight there’s far more possibility in change through the diet. “Portion control is extremely important,” she says. “People have become accustomed to eating larger quantities than our parents or grandparents would have on a regular basis. Restaurant sized portions (especially in lower cost restaurants) are much larger than most people need at a meal. For example, a portion size of rice or pasta is a half cup. Few of us see that as an adequate pile on our plate – so becoming aware of standard portion sizes and sticking to that can be helpful in weight loss.” There’s also increasing evidence of the benefits of fasting. “Whether it is intermittent fasting (in which a person does not take in calories for 12-16 hours per day) or limiting intake of carbohydrates (like the keto type diets), these are eﬀective in promoting weight loss and are easy for most healthy people to stick to over the long term,” she says. However, exercise should still be a part of any health plan. Reilly says the general recommendations are 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise per week, weight lifting twice a week and some balance exercises – yoga or tai chi for those with balance problems or over the age of 65. JANUARY 2022| WWW.OKMAG.COM

Workout Apps vs. Group Classes

If you’re in the mood for a new fitness routine, you’ve got choices. “The benefits of having options is at its highest rate in the fitness industry,” says Jackson. Individuals have easy access to a variety of fitness apps, mirror workouts, group training classes and one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer. With each oﬀering its own advantages, the main decision is choosing what works best for you. “I suggest getting an assessment with a personal trainer or therapist and building a foundation before venturing out on these other options,” says Jackson. “Making sure your body is healthy and strong enough to take on diﬀerent types of exercise is very important for the longevity and goal attaining that will come with working out.” When considering group fitness, he says the social aspect and peer engagement involved can help energize workouts. “These characteristics can boost adrenaline through competitive interaction often not found when training on your own or one-on-one,” says Jackson. He also encourages individuals to not overlook the benefits of low-impact exercises.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

What is Mindfulness?

To understand the purpose and benefits of mindfulness, Rebecca Brumm, MA, LPC, CEDS, the director of operations for the Laureate Eating Disorders Program at Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital in Tulsa, shares a few ways in which being more mindful can enrich your life. “Mindfulness is being fully present in what you’re doing, your surroundings and what’s truly happening in the moment. It’s such an amazing tool,” she says. “It’s simple but not easy. It’s challenging because we’re so often somewhere else in our minds.” She says our brains are so good at learning processes and automating processes that we don’t use a hundred percent of our brain capacity as we live our lives. “What happens is our brains get good at making a habit out of what we do often so we don’t have to think about it to do it – while we can be physically present in great, joyful moments ... mentally we are still experiencing the stress of a work deadline, or fear about a parent’s illness,” she says. “Mindfulness is really about being where you are.”

Mindfulness Exercises

Research has shown that practicing mindfulness for as little as five or 10 minutes a day can be effective. Brumm says mindfulness exercises are an opportunity to “train ourselves to reconnect to the present moment and stop the endless cycle of thought after thought. It’s when we remind ourselves to look at our child’s face or acknowledge the experience of holding a partner’s hand.” To help incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine, Brumm suggests choosing a regular activity but committing to doing it mindfully. “For instance, brushing your teeth. When I brush my teeth I try to observe with my senses – I notice the taste of the toothpaste, the smell, the sensation of the toothbrush on my teeth, what I see …I fully absorb the experience,” she says. “For someone else it might be washing the dishes or sitting down and drinking their morning coffee. Even one minute of deep breathing will recenter you.”

The Beneﬁts

“There are mental and physical benefits of mindfulness,” says Brumm. “Some of the physical benefits include reduced blood pressure and more therapeutic resting breath, which naturally leads to mental benefits such as reduced anxiety, a deeper feeling of gratitude and contentment, and less depression.” She says anxiety and depression causes us to live outside of the moment. “We are thinking about our fears and about what’s to come or what has happened in the past,” she says. She says mindfulness can help us recognize the different kinds of thoughts or narratives that we think about and that influence our decisions. Mindfulness is a way to quiet those ‘voices’ and make sure that what we say to ourselves internally aligns with our values and goals. JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Oklahomans of the Year

2021 could be described as a year of rebuilding. After the pandemonium of 2020, many were left hurting – jobless, burnt out or grieving. Those honored in the 2021 Oklahomans of the Year feature contributed to the state’s restoration in one way or another, whether that was by helping people get employed, getting them the healthcare they desperately needed, or enriching their lives through entertainment and education. Sifting through the bad to find the good, these leaders did what it took to get Oklahomans back on top. By Kimberly Burk

Joseph Harroz Jr., OU’s 15th president, has served the university in some form for 25 years. Photo by Travis Caperton courtesy OU

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Joseph Harroz Jr.

President – The University of Oklahoma As one might expect, OU president Joe Harroz can rattle off all kinds of numbers about this year’s freshman class. Largest in history with 4,582 enrolled. Highest average GPA at 3.66. Most diverse class, with 38% identifying as minorities. Percentage of first-generation students: 25%. “Of all the stats we have, that’s the one that just gives me goosebumps, the 25%,” he says. That’s because the 15th president of OU is, himself, the son of a first-generation college student. “My story, and the story of my family, is completely dependent on Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma,” he explains. “My grandfather was put on a boat from Lebanon by his parents, in an effort for him to find a better life, in the late 1800s. He had nine children, and my dad was the youngest and the only one to go past high school.” His father went to undergrad and medical school at OU, then sent his children to the same school. After working on Capitol Hill and practicing law in Oklahoma City, Harroz says he was “absolutely blessed to come back and work at OU over the last 25 years.” Prior to becoming president in May 2020, he spent a year as interim president and previously served as dean of the College of Law, as general counsel and as vice president for executive affairs. A new strategic plan was high on his list after taking the helm. “It’s something we did with the whole university,” he says. “It’s incredibly specific. We distilled it to three words: ‘We change lives.’” OU has clearly defined its research focus areas, Harroz says, and in the past year raised a record-high $446 million in research awards. Fundraising was restructured, breaking another record at $231 million. In July, OU formalized an agreement to create OU Health. “The hospital had been separate from OU Physicians and OU Clinics,” says Harroz. He adds that Oklahoma’s first comprehensive academic health system offers a seamless patient experience with access to the latest treatments. “A great, exciting moment for me was when Gov. Stitt and the Secretary of Commerce asked me to join them in recruiting Canoo, the electric vehicle manufacturer. OU is necessary for our state’s growth, but it’s not sufficient,” he says. “We are here to work with the rest of the leadership and state.” Additional high points for Harroz were the announcement of the move in 2025 to the SEC athletic conference, and the hiring of Brent Venables as head football coach. Moving to the SEC, he says, “was critical to OU and more broadly to the state.” As for coaches, Harroz says many are transactional. “What they want is an outcome on the field,” he says. “Brent Venables is interested in being an interpersonal coach, where he is developing these young men. The winning is a by-product of what he does.”

Shoshana Wasserman

Deputy Director – First Americans Museum Sixteen years of planning, research and taking ideas from concept to reality have paid off for Shoshana Wasserman, deputy director of the First Americans Museum. “I think what I love most is when I go into the galleries and listen to the comments when Native people come in, who have seen their cousins or uncle or aunt in an exhibit,” says Wasserman, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town. The $175 million, 175,000-square-foot museum, which tells the stories of the 39 tribes in Oklahoma, opened Sept. 18 and has been busy ever since. “I was just completely elated on opening weekend, though there were so many concerns and details. But we had an amazing crew of volunteers for the opening,” many of which were non-Native, she says. “They said they were so honored to do this and thanked us for inviting them.” Each tribe’s material culture is represented by at least three objects, many on loan from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. “What has been so rewarding has been going into the tribal communities and harvesting stories and photos and cultural materials,” says Wasserman. “We wanted to make sure every tribal person could go in the museum and see themselves represented.” Wasserman is hardly resting on her laurels. The opening was followed quickly by Indigenous People’s Day and Veterans Day programming, along with the Winter Art Market. School tour groups will soon arrive. “The programming is what really makes the exhibits come alive,” she says. Wasserman says she and executive director James Pepper Henry “work beautifully together,” and are busy with community partnerships, fundraisers, strategic planning and filling job openings in guest services. “Before FAM, when people came to Oklahoma, it was difficult for them to get any meaningful information about Native history,” she says. “Visitors are looking for unique American experiences. And once the land around the museum is developed, there will be so many things to do.”

At the brand-new First Americans Museum, deputy director Shoshana Wasserman ensures all of Oklahoma’s Native American tribes are represented. Photo by Ginny Underwood JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Bob Peterson

Chairman and CEO – Melton Truck Lines Bob Peterson enjoys his morning workouts, but sometimes motivation is needed at such an early hour. “I tell myself that all the other CEOs are in their beds sleeping and I’m going to kick their butts for the rest of the day,” he says with a laugh. Peterson is chairman and CEO of Melton Truck Lines, a company he acquired after moving to Tulsa in 1989. He’s a native of Minnesota who started his career in trucking by obtaining a commercial driver’s license in 1985 – which he maintains to this day. He spent six months as an over-the-road driver. “It’s a blast,” he says. “You gain tremendous respect for the responsibility placed on the drivers and how much they have to concentrate.” Another thing he enjoys is serving as vice chairman of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Commission. He represents 11 counties in northeast Oklahoma’s District 8. “It’s fun learning about roads and bridges and how much they cost,” he says. “Highways and infrastructure impact not only our business, but all of us, and I am happy to lend a hand to that process.” He started his company with 36 employees; today, there are 1,450. “COVID scared people into retirement and we lost a large number of truck drivers,” he says. “We could use several hundred more. The supply chain shortage is still a crisis.” The company has invested heavily in safety technology, says Peterson. About ten years ago, Melton installed cameras in its trucks that shoot forward, and also back at the driver. “It’s saved us lots of money,” he says. “When there are collisions, believe it or not, some people fib about what happened.” Melton invests in employee wellness with a 3,500-square-foot gym and on site medical clinic. About 150 of his drivers have logged more than 1 million miles. In his free time, Peterson likes to golf. He and his wife, Cindy, a writer, enjoy getaways to their lake home. And he stays busy – Peterson holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and is a certified public accountant. He also remains involved in local philanthropic efforts. “I embrace being part of such a philanthropic community as Tulsa,” he says. “I have been involved with the Tulsa Area United Way for many years, and our company rallies around our annual campaign.”

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Bob Peterson of Melton Truck Lines says the supply chain shortage is still an issue following COVID-19, but Melton works hard to make the industry attractive to new truckers. Photo courtesy Melton Truck Lines

Marnie Taylor

President and CEO – Oklahoma Center For Nonprofits It takes a special type of person to enjoy serving on a by-laws committee, but that’s Marnie Taylor. It was her first assignment as a member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City. “I took an interest in the governance of organizations right off the bat,” says Taylor, now in her twelfth year as president and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. “I thought Roberts Rules of Order was very interesting,” she adds. With a membership of nearly 1,000 organizations, the OCFNP is “a nonprofit of its own. We teach, we train, we Marnie Taylor took the helm at the Oklahoma lobby for nonprofits,” Center for Nonprofits in 2011. she says. AdditionalPhoto courtesy OCFNP ly, Taylor is serving a two-year term as president of the National Council for Nonprofits. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, where service was part of the culture, she joined the Chicago Tribune and sold national advertising. “Sales is a really strong place to start a career,” she says. “Getting in a car and making cold calls at age 22 really grows you up fast.” She met lobbyist Clayton Taylor on a blind date, and shortly after they were married, he was offered a job in his native Oklahoma. She then sold advertising for The Oklahoman, was a full-time mother to her two sons, and served on charitable boards before making the switch to nonprofits as a career. Taylor says she has a high energy level – quite necessary for her position now. “I went to a board meeting the night before my first child was born,” she mentions. “I was a competitive swimmer, then a runner, and now I do a lot of hiking. I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. I really like to be on my feet.” When non-profits hold their fundraisers across the state, Taylor is usually there. “I like to see what they’re doing, and I like them to see me,” she says. “I love numbers, I love business and marketing, but I really love community.” The COVID-19 shutdown “was exhausting, in a good way,” she says. “We bought 10 Zoom lines the first week. “We taught people how to fill out the applications, to be patient. I would say Oklahoma fared very well, because we have strong philanthropy, strong nonprofits. The fact that we weathered the storm as well as we have is really satisfying to me.”

Bob Funk Sr.

Founder, CEO and Chairman – Express Employment Professionals Bob Funk says he was a terrible preacher. “I often teased that there was a great awakening at the end of every service because I put them to sleep so badly,” he says with a laugh. But Funk says he has put his masBob Funk Sr. works to ter’s degree keep Oklahomans happily in theology employed at Express Emto good use ployment Professionals. Photo courtesy Express as president Employment Professionals and executive chairman of the board of the Oklahoma City-based Express Employment Professionals ... and as a lay church worker. “Human resources is a staffing ministry,” he says. “Most people looking for jobs are discouraged. It’s up to us to give them encouragement and help them to see their potential and where they would like to be in life. Hope is one of the most important things for people looking for a job.” Gratitude is a theme in Funk’s life, starting with appreciation for his hardworking parents and a cousin who gave him a job on his farm in Washington. “He employed me for about 12 years so I could get through college and get my graduate degrees,” says Funk. He then joined a human resource company in Seattle that transferred him to Oklahoma, a move he describes as “the greatest blessing in my life.” In 1983, he and two partners founded Express Employment Professionals; it now has 860 franchises in the United States and Canada as well as some in Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The COVID-19 pandemic has made for some rough times for the company. “Finding the right people was a severe problem and is still a problem,” he says. “It’s more difficult than it’s ever been to find those quality people who want to work. It breaks your heart when you have these great jobs and can’t find the people to fill them.” Funk served on the Federal Reserve Board and as chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. A former FFA member, he’s a big supporter of the Oklahoma Youth Expo. In his off time, he loves to attend cattle shows and sales to support the family’s purebred cattle business. It was at a show in Canada that he spied the Clydesdales that now reside at Express Clydesdales in Yukon. The animals, according to expressclydesdales.com, “meet thousands of visitors each year at home ... and they travel across North America as good-will ambassadors for Express Employment Professionals and Express Ranches.” JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Terrisa Singleton

Foundation Director – Delta Dental Foundation With a little help from “Captain Supertooth,” one mission of the Delta Dental Foundation is to teach children about good oral health. But director Terrisa Singleton knows that regular dental healthcare is out of reach for many Oklahoma families. One solution is offered by the nonprofit Delta Dental of Oklahoma insurance, which donates part of its proceeds from subscribers to the foundation, which, in turn, supports dental clinics. Terrisa Singleton describes her position at the Delta Dental Foundation as the “greatest job on Earth.” “In 2021, grants Photo courtesy Delta Dental were awarded to 41 free and low-cost clinics, oral health initiatives and education programs,” says Singleton. The pandemic attacked dental care on several fronts. “In March 2020, all dental offices were closed and people could not get care unless it was an absolute emergency,” she says. “Many went to the ER with pain and infection, where all they could do was give them antibiotics.” When dental offices re-opened, some patients still feared contagion. Others had lost their jobs and couldn’t afford the trip. But office staffs were still busy catching up, finding it tough to make time for their shots when the vaccine became available. Among the COVID victims was Singleton’s husband, David, an accountant and lay minister who, as an ALS patient, was high-risk. He died in September 2020. Then, when the foundation was approached about helping dental professionals get vaccinated, Delta Dental CEO John Gladden offered Singleton the job of coordinating the program. Singleton acknowledges that some employers would have hesitated to make such a request of a grieving widow. But it was just what she needed. The former Oklahoma City headquarters of Delta Dental was turned into a vaccination station, and a clinic was opened in Tulsa. “It’s one of the more significant things I think I’ve ever been honored to be a part of,” says Singleton. “Some of those dentists had tears in their eyes as they thanked us.” The foundation also created programs to steer patients away from emergency rooms and help people who had lost their jobs find free care. Singleton started her career in advertising. After having twins, she founded a business creating websites before working as a marketing director. “I had the hankering to work for a nonprofit,” she says. “This job opened up in 2009. I now happen to have the greatest job on Earth.”

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Stanley Evans

Colonel – U.S Army (retired); Assistant Dean, OU College of Law Role models are essential, Stan Evans says, because “young people need a picture of what they can become. It’s more about understanding that if you can see the success, you can be the success.” Evans’ grandparents, he says, helped him to envision who he might become. “My parents would send me and my siblings to Texas to spend the summers on the farm,” he says. “My grandparents Stan Evans began law school at 54, and later talked to us about became the first African-American to be appointed to a dean’s position at an Oklahoma law school. life, about church, Photo by Hugh Scott courtesy OU about land management. My grandmother set the standards for the family, and my grandfather gave us a vision.” Evans was born in 1946. His father was a WWII veteran and part of the group that integrated the Oklahoma City Fire Department. Evans also participated with Clara Luper in civil rights sit-ins. “Miss Luper made sure we were trained,” he says. “We knew how to keep from losing our tempers if we got cursed out [or] spit on. We would sing to get ourselves in a spiritual mood.” Evans says he joined the Army because he flunked out of college. When he entered OSU, he says, his goal had been to just get there. “I didn’t really understand that college is a stepping stone for what you want to be and what you want to do,” he says. He and his wife, Sandra, were married 15 days before he joined the Army. His sergeants convinced him to go to school at night, where he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s. Then, he entered law school at 54, after retiring with 32 years of military service. Evans was asked to stay on at OU before he graduated, becoming the first African-American to be appointed to a dean’s position at an Oklahoma law school. In his position, Evans mentors students who protest over racist incidents on campus. “The first question I ask students is why are they there at protests,” he says. “I tell them they need to recognize the problems, but go beyond that and make things better, to prepare themselves to be in leadership positions.” Evans’ son, also named Stan, is a professional photographer. His daughter, Lisa, a television anchor who went by Lee Evans, was killed by a drunk driver in 1997. “She was very focused on service,” he says. “Sandra and I decided to spend the rest of our lives helping other young people become great, by helping them to see the doors that are open for them.” Evans helped found Make a Will, a partnership with churches to help people who need wills and powers of attorney. Oklahoma Lawyers for Americas Heroes, which Evans also helped to start about 12 years ago, provides legal services to soldiers both when they deploy and when they return.

CONGRATULATIONS Thank you to our Chairman and CEO, Bob Peterson, for his unwavering dedication to Melton’s employees and company stability. Your exceptional leadership throughout the pandemic and driver hiring challenges is what makes Melton the premier ﬂatbed carrier in the nation. Congratulations on a well-deserved Oklahoman of the Year honor. meltontruck.com l

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Animal Animal

ABCs By Tracy LeGrand

From insight into pet food ingredients to oral hygiene tips, veterinarians offer a wealth of knowledge to ensure you’re taking the best possible care of your furry friends.

Doggy Dentistry

While we know the requirements for human oral hygiene, rules for dogs and cats are less clear. Todd Yeagley, DVM, with Woodland West Animal Hospital in Tulsa, has some answers and tips. “If you take on brushing [your animal’s teeth] yourself, it helps if you start early, when they’re young,” he says. “If you do it, use dog-specific or cat-specific toothpaste, as it’s different than for humans. The gold standard is to brush their teeth every day because plaque builds up. But even with a staff of 60 here, I don’t know anyone who does it. “Instead, we focus on sedation dentistry as the most realistic way to provide your pet with oral hygiene, along with dental treats that are coated with an enzyme to break down the tartar. Look for products approved by the VOHC – the Veterinary Oral Health Counsel – as these have demonstrated some efficacy of the product in dental hygiene. There are also water additives [to improve dental health] for dogs. But nothing will take the place of yearly dental cleanings, just like us, to maintain oral health. Everything is supplemental to the yearly visit.” Warnings signs for dental care issues are bad breath and visible tartar – but animals may not indicate that something’s wrong, says Yeagley. “Dogs and cats will still eat when they have an abscess or periodontal disease, so that’s why it’s so important to get them checked yearly by a veterinarian in case there are issues,” he says.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

What’s In Fido’s Food?

When it comes to feeding your pet, major considerations should be quality, cost and ingredients. “Some vets have absolute opinions on brands and ingredients; I’m not that specific,” says Yeagley. “I go about it in a different way. With ingredients, make sure what you choose is not grain free. Studies link grain-free pet foods to heart diseases in dogs, as the legumes in there interfere with the amino acid needs for their heart – and so many vets will tell you ‘no grain free diet.’” Veterinarians are a great source for pet food advice. Yeagley says commercial foods include the ingredients that will contain all the nutrients and vitamins needed for your pet. Often the higher quality, higher cost brands will be more digestible than cheaper brands, meaning you can give less to your animal at a time. “We can make a broad recommendation,” says Yeagley. “Buy foods that aren’t grocery store brands, go to pet-specific stores or to a veterinarian offices to find high quality pet foods.”

Handling Cost

Woodland West Animal Hospital handles a variety of services including behavioral consultation, laser therapy and vaccinations. Photo courtesy Woodland West

Now more than ever, pet owners are dealing with the financial concerns of veterinary medicine, as vets have the ability to do a lot these days and medical care is costly. Solutions exist, says Yeagley. “Some of these pet insurance companies are pretty good, and the way insurance works is they reimburse the owners who pay the bills for their pets’ care,” he says. “We’ve seen people who have that insurance really benefit, because these surgeries and hospitalized treatments can get very expensive.”

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Heed the Signs

Furry, four-legged friends can’t verbally tell their owners they’re not feeling well. WebMD offers some warning signs to look for if you suspect your animal might be sick: • Changes in eating habits • Elimination changes • Skin and coat changes or itchy skin • Energy changes • Coughing • Stiffness or difficult rising

Keeping Kiddos Safe

Sherrie Hodgson, DVM, of OKC’s Neel Veterinary Hospital, says that there are proper protocols to follow with animals being around small children and newborns. “If your pet has a history of aggression with children, do not ever allow it to be close to your baby or child unless you can guarantee a positive outcome for both,” she says. “There are some behavior modifications you can work on, which includes behavior changes for both the owner and the pet.” A responsible adult should always directly supervise children when pets are around them, says Hodgson. “Never assume the interactions will be positive. Many behaviors of small children mimic those of prey animals, which can trigger a dog’s prey drive, so do not allow dogs to chase children or bark at them when they are playing. If this occurs, move the dog

to an area where it cannot see the children. Your dog should be trained to respond to basic commands, including ‘settle.’” When it comes to babies, prepare your pet for a newborn’s presence with time to spare. “It is best to help the pet adjust to a new baby by starting a few months ahead of the anticipated arrival; change the pet’s schedule to what you expect after baby comes, including pet feeding times, decreasing the amount of time you spend with the pet, and starting to use baby gates to keep the pet out of certain areas of the home,” she says. “Bringing baby products and furniture into the home ahead of time will help the pet get used to some of the smells associated with baby. If your pet is exhibiting concerning behaviors after baby arrives, contact your veterinarian or a trainer that uses positive reinforcement to discuss a plan.”

Animal Commitment

Caring for a pet can be a great learning activity for children, as they become responsible for the animal they asked to become their ‘furever’ friend. But how can parents go about teaching these lessons in an intentional way? “I have children age 11 to newborn so this question is on my mind,” says Yeagley. “It’s common for people to get pets for their kids, and the parents need to demonstrate the care of the animals. Once they see the kid can do it, the child can help out with the chores. After a while, give them parts of that care to do on their own, see that they can do it and then increase the responsibility. “Please don’t just give them the pet and say it’s their job. Instead, give them guidance and demonstrate it. It’s going to be more empowering; they need to see it done so they can figure out how to do it and take an interest in it. If their parents aren’t interested, will they be?”

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Taming Behaviors When a dog is aggressive toward other animals, it shouldn’t yet be socializing at a dog park or be walking on a leash with other pets around, says Hodgson. “This behavior is very difficult to modify, but with the combination of a veterinarian with an interest in behavior, and a trainer who uses positive reinforcement, it is possible to lessen the dog’s response to triggers,” she says. “Never trust an aggressive dog with other pets or with children, even if it is ‘fine’ with the children in your family; it may not extend that courtesy to your children’s friends. Most dog bites and attacks are preventable, but only if the owner is wiser than the dog. When walking your dog, it should be leashed at all times. Use a six or eight foot long leash rather than a retractable leash, which offers you very little control over an unexpected situation.”

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TASTE

FOOD, DRINK AND OTHER PLEASURES

The Next Great Adventure

Sami and Brian Cooper work to give their customers “ten minutes of joy” with homemade ice cream and other sweet treats.

The Carmella Sundae comes with salted caramel and brown butter ganache ice cream, whipped cream, waﬀle chips and a cherry. Photos by Stephanie Phillips

hree o’clock on a bright, late autumn afternoon and all the shops on Sand Springs’ Main Street are deserted – except for one. The narrow corridor around the cheery, white-tiled counter of Big Dipper Creamery is packed with a horde of giggling school kids. Behind the counter, scooping out ice cream and wearing the happiest smile of them all, is Sami Cooper. There’s a break in the crowd, so let’s follow her now to the tiny room in back where all the ice cream is carefully, lovingly made from scratch every day. Surprisingly, the first thing you see is an oven. Alongside is a woman carefully breaking eggs in a bowl. That’s Macy Hightower, their full time baker. She bakes all the cakes, dinner rolls and candies used in the ice cream. There’s a spice rack nearby, though almost all the flavor ingredients are made in that room from local produce.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

For honeycomb lavender (“The first flavor I made where I knew I was really onto something,” recalls Sami), she steeps locally grown lavender buds into cream. Then Macy makes a honeycomb toffee from Sand Springs honey. Those eggs? That’s for the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, an ice cream made with a real cake – a very rich and gooey cake – which is drenched in butterscotch icing, cut into little pieces, and mixed into cream cheese ice cream. “And over there is Cosmo. He’s the heartbeat of the entire shop,” says Sami, pointing to a cute little batch freezer standing quietly in the corner. The dairy base, which is 14% butterfat (it’s the fat that gives it the rich, creamy taste), is mixed with the flavors and inclusions, then whipped and, afterwards, frozen to make sure big crystals don’t form and ruin the flavor. “Super frozen!” adds a bearded man hauling pots to the sink.

TA S T E | F I R S T BI T E

TA S T E | L O C A L F L AV O R

Left: A variety of ice cream sandwiches can be found at Big Dipper, including ones made with peanut butter cookies and dark chocolate ice cream. Below: The old fashioned milkshake includes ‘Walk at the Fair’ cotton candy-flavored ice cream.

RED CUP

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

AMANDA JANE SIMCOE

Photos courtesy Red Cup

“That’s my husband,” explains Sami. “Brian gave up a career as a surveyor in order to partner with me in this.” Their marriage has been a great adventure. In 2012, they left Tulsa for Oregon, where they worked on a chestnut farm. Was it there that Sami learned the value of fresh, locally farmed ingredients? No, she explains. That was later, in Morocco. “We lived in Rabat for a year,” she explains. “That’s where I cut my teeth cooking. We were surrounded with wonderful markets, packed with color and flavor.” But didn’t she learn to cook earlier, during her two years in Vietnam? “Oh no,” she replies. “Why would anyone ever cook in Vietnam? Oh, the restaurants there ... best food of my life!” Brian and Sami returned to Tulsa in 2017. Sami, who had taught in Vietnam and Morocco, continued to teach kindergarten. And then, suddenly, the thought popped into her head of making ice cream “just for fun.” Before you know it, she’d gotten a huge freezer and set it up in the spare bedroom of her dad’s rent house. She then attended Kitchen 66 – the Lobeck Taylor Foundation’s program to train and help up-and-coming food businesses. She started selling ice cream sandwiches at football games, and later got a space at Mother Road Market. And then, just a few months ago, she and Brian opened their second location, the Sand Springs store. (The Mother Road stand remains open.) A visit to either store prom-

ises pleasant surprises. You’ll always see the lavender and the butter cake, but there are seasonal and experimental flavors. “I love to forage,” says Sami. “Every year, we make a wild sumac sorbet. Sometimes I make persimmon jam. The persimmons grow wild around Sand Springs, but you gotta get to them before the deer do.” Lately she’s been featuring sweet potato with marshmallow ice cream, with the potatoes fresh from a farm. She’s also added butter roll ice cream, made with Macy’s Hawaiian dinner rolls, frosted with vanilla glaze and put into salted sweet cream. You’d think these flavors would taste, well, weird. But they don’t. They taste sweet, rich and good. Even seemingly ordinary flavors like vanilla are enriched with real vanilla beans from Madagascar. “The beans from Tahiti are too sweet,” says Sami. “The Madagascar beans have a rich, smoky taste I love.” Sami’s journey seems to have come full circle. “I grew up in Sand Springs,” she says. “My dad owned the Crescent Cafe in Prattville, and I started working there at 14. I became friends with the regulars, they became like family to me, and some I even invited to our wedding. Crescent was a real community place. I want to do the same here. I want to make this the space that, no matter how much stress and pain is outside, gives you ten minutes of joy.”

It has been almost five years since chef Patrick Clark at The Red Cup decided to go vegan and, in turn, evolved the menu at the Oklahoma City staple to follow suit. Though eggs and cheese are available by request, the menu, on its face, is a haven for vegan patrons to order with abandon, knowing that their selection is entirely plant-based ... and delicious to boot. Chef Clark has worked at the Red Cup (est. 1995) since he was just 15 years old, and acquired his first share of ownership at 20. He grew up at the restaurant, having spent nearly half of his life there, and the menu has grown up with him. Known to many as “chef Beave,” he is passionate about food and the industry, including some serious knife skills that few chefs I know could even try to rival. Breakfast is served until their kitchen closes for the day at 2:30 p.m. Sandwiches, salads, soups, wraps, burgers, locallysourced pasta and hearty entrées ensure an option for every appetite. For a visual journey, follow them on Instagram at @ thercinokc.

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

TA S T E | CHEF CHAT

Oklahoma’s Prodigal Chef

With an abundance of commercial success, chef Josh Valentine returns to Oklahoma to lead Milo at the Ellison.

After successful stints in LA and Dallas, Josh Valentine returned to OKC to take charge of the kitchen at the brand-new Milo at the Ellison. Photos courtesy Milo at the Ellison

ONLINE

VISIT OKMAG. COM/VALENTINE FOR JOSH’S CHOW CHOW RECIPE.

hough he has lived in Los Angeles and Dallas and even made it into the top three of Bravo’s reality competition Top Chef, chef Joshua Valentine always comes home, and he’s always been a proud Oklahoman. Valentine is one of the fortunate handful of culinarians who can say that they went through the apprenticeship program with chef Kurt Fleischfresser at the Coach House. That experience has served him well over the past 16 years, and he has gained a tremendous amount of culinary experience on his journey to his newest adventure. Valentine recently opened Milo at the Ellison Hotel at 6201 N. Western Ave in Oklahoma City. Some chefs shy away from questions pinpointing a specific “concept” of a new venture – particularly before seeing how it is received in the first few weeks of opening. Valentine, however, will quickly tell you that this is all about his vision and interpretation of “Oklahoma food.” “Elevated indigenous ingredients” drive the menu at Milo, showcasing bison, sorghum, quail and the “three sisters” (corn, beans, and squash), among oth-

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

ers. His version of chicken fried steak replaces beef with bison. Being an Oklahoma-centric restaurant guarantees a full selection of meats on the menu. Still, they also have options for vegetarians, and not the typical “side dishes as an entrée” type that many diners have to sit through. Because I’m in the unique position to write about food while also cooking professionally, I have the pleasure to consider so many in the chef community my friends and colleagues. One of the things I admire so much about Josh is his view of the people: the lifeblood of his restaurants, both front and back of the house, as not only co-workers but as friends, and often more like family. He values the diversity in those he works with and sees everyone’s differences as assets. He relates it to the joy he finds in the diversity of Oklahoma’s native foods. In the end, it creates a better experience for his diners. When I asked him about the thought process behind Milo, he didn’t hesitate. “I’ve always wanted to push Oklahoma as far as I can in the culinary sense,” he says. “Some people leave here and are ashamed to tell people that they are from Oklahoma. Not me – I’m very proud of that. I always tell them where I’m from, and not just Oklahoma, I’m from Del City, Oklahoma!” That kind of pride and passion show in his food – in the attention to detail that elevates ingredients many people take for granted every day. It is comfort food with a level of elegance that most of us don’t experience at home. It is a celebration of where he comes from, and where he chose to return to time and time again. Milo opened in November 2021. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, with brunch on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner seven nights a week. AMANDA JANE SIMCOE

TA S T E | TA S T Y T I D B I T S

LOS HERMANOS TACOS

Photos courtesy Los Hermanos Tacos

Known for authentic Mexican recipes, Los Hermanos Tacos features Mexican plates like the Thursday only special: albondigas, and the daily option of hot and spicy Camarones a la Diabla – shrimp and diced ham sautéed in a la diabla sauce and served with rice, beans, a side salad and handmade corn tortillas. For a fresh, tangy taste of the sea, try ceviche with shrimp or fish, plus tomatoes, onions and cilantro, marinated in fresh lime juice, served on a tostada with avocado slices. Other options include the tortilla huarache, which comes layered in your choice of meat and beans and topped with choices including lettuce, tomato, avocado, queso fresco and sour cream. 12563 E. 21st St., Tulsa; tacosloshermanos.froogleonline.io

“We roll it, you rock it” is the phrase at Rock N Roll Sushi Station – with enough sushi choices to rock your world. With many flavor profiles to browse, you could try the Volcano Roll with avocado, cucumber, deep fried crab with masago, hot sauce and spicy mayo. Or, go with the Captain Crunch with cream cheese, avocado, cucumber, barbecued eel, spicy mayo, eel sauce and bread crumbs. Try a big fried roll like the Tiger Wong Roll with tempura shrimp, crawfish, green onion, spicy mayo, smoked salmon, spicy mayo, eel sauce and hot sauce. Specials include the Poke Sushi Bowl, a rice bowl with a choice of sashimi (tuna or salmon) mixed in a house ponzu, and surrounded by a bed of cucumber, carrot, crab, avocado, green onions, sesame seeds, furikake, masago and togarashi. 4501 N.W. 63rd St., Oklahoma City; rollnrockokc2.wixsite.com/rollandrock

From the family tradition of Irish immigrants making frozen granita, Philadelphiastyle Puopolo’s Italian Ice evolved as the family migrated to Tulsa. The homemade frozen treat features creamy texture and rich flavors that are fat-, gluten-, dairyand cholesterol-free and come in combinations including strati, with layers of Italian ice and soft serve. Specialties include the Unicorn, a concoction of bubble gum soft serve layered with cotton candy Italian ice, topped with cotton candy crunch. Try one of the handcrafted-on-site gelato flavors, including chocolate peanut butter, caramel, banana, s’mores, wild berry, espresso, butter pecan, mint stracciatella and suponi. 8931 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa; puopoloscreamery.com

FRATELI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Authentic Italian and generational family recipes grace the menu of Shawnee’s Frateli’s. Pasta dishes, along with seafood and pizza, abound, along with appetizers like sautéed mussels with garlic, crushed red pepper and white wine sauce. Or, perhaps try mushroom caps stuﬀed with crab in a brandy cream sauce. House specialties include Seafood Siciliana, a mélange of hard shell clams, mussels and shrimp with artichoke hearts, green pepper, onion, mushroom and crushed red pepper in a white wine cream sauce, served over fettuccini with marinara. Pizza choices include a special for seafood lovers: Frutti di Mare, with calamari, mussels, clams, garlic, mozzarella, olive oil and parsley. Desserts include a variety of cheesecakes and tiramisu. 1945 N. Kickapoo, Shawnee; fratelisok.com TRACY LEGRAND

Photos courtesy Frateli’s Italian Restauraunt

Photo courtesy Puopolo’s

Puopolo’s

Photo courtesy Rock n Roll Sushi Station

Rock N Roll Sushi Station

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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

O N T H E S TA G E

IN TULSA PERFORMANCES

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS PRESENTS: MEAN GIRLS

Jan. 4-9 Tulsa PAC Direct

from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from book writer Tina Fey. celebrityattractions.com

CHOREGUS PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: BALLET HISPÁNICO Jan. 12 Lorton Performance Center Recognized as one of

America’s Cultural Treasures by the Ford Foundation, Ballet Hispánico is the nation’s renowned Latino dance organization. choregus.org

THEATRE TULSA PRESENTS: THE SOUND OF MUSIC Jan.

14-30 Tulsa PAC Open-hearted

Maria frees the Von Trapp family from rules and regulations with joy, laughter, and music. Guaranteed to be one of your favorite things. theatretulsa. org

SIGNATURE SYMPHONY PRESENTS: LOVE AND OBSESSION – THE BEATLES TO BERLIOZ Jan. 22 TCC

Van Trease PACE What do the

Beatles and Hector Berlioz have in common? Both

PERFORMANCES AROUND EVERY CORNER

Tulsa beckons with a wide array of shows this month. Celebrity Attractions brings Mean Girls to the Tulsa PAC Jan. 4-9. This Broadway smash hit takes the beloved 2000’s movie straight to the stage. Choregus Productions is back and better than ever with Ballet Hispánico, coming to Lorton Performance Center on Jan. 12. Take a loop back to the PAC as Theatre Tulsa presents its first show of the new year – The Sound of Music, running Jan. 14-30. And both local orchestras have performances in January. First is Signature Symphony with Love and Obsession – The Beatles to Berlioz, running Jan. 22 at the TCC Van Trease PACE. The show uses the connective theme of love to showcase a variety of skilled musicians. The month rounds out with TSO’s presentation of Star Wars – A New Hope on Jan. 29 at the PAC. wrote passionately about love. signaturesymphony.org

WORLD STAGE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS: THE SONG OF JACOB ZULU Jan. 27-Feb. 6 Tulsa

PAC Nominated for six Tony

Awards, including Best Play, The Song of Jacob Zulu tells the story of a young South African man accused of a senseless act of terrorism. tulsapac.com

TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: STAR WARS – A NEW HOPE Jan. 29 Tulsa

PAC Experience Star Wars

JAKE OWEN

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

JEFF DUNHAM Jan. 29 BOK Center Record-breaking,

global comedy superstar, Jeﬀ Dunham, is bringing his cast of characters on the road. bokcenter.com

CONCERTS HANGOVER BALL Jan.

1 Cain’s Ballroom The new

year beckons at Cain’s Ballroom. cainsballroom.com

JAKE OWEN Jan. 21 River

In OKC, the smash hit Dear Evan Hansen comes to the Civic Center Music Hall on Jan. 11-16 courtesy of OKC Broadway. The performing arts company also ushers in a new adaptation of the beloved musical Oklahoma! from Jan. 25-30, re-imagined for the 21st century. Lastly, OKC Phil oﬀers up Masters of Musical Theater from Jan. 21-22 at the Civic Center, a tribute to composers including Andrew Lloyd Webber, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein.

Spirit Casino Resort Multiple

chart-topping singer/ songwriter Jake Owen’s new single “Made For You” is rapidly climbing the Billboard Country Airplay charts. See him live in Tulsa. riverspirittulsa.com

JAY WHEELER Jan.

22 Cox Business Convention Center Urban Latin music’s

fastest rising star Jay Wheeler visits Tulsa. bokcenter.com

TOOL Jan. 30 BOK Cen-

ter TOOL has announced a mammoth 2022 international tour. bokcenter.com

LEGENDS TAKE THE STAGE

Photo courtesy River Spirit Casino Resort

com

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

ART FACES OF IRON GATE Through Jan. 2 ahha

Tulsa The exhibition Faces of

Iron Gate showcases portrait photography by Anitra Lavanhar. ahhatulsa.org

THIS IS AN ADVENTURE: ACCIDENTALLY WES ANDERSON Through Jan.

2 Philbrook This showcase

features distinctively dramatic photographs of locations around the world taken by the Accidentally Wes Anderson community. philbrook.org

STATE OF CRAFT Through

CONCERTS

like never before with the Tulsa Symphony. tulsapac.

Photo courtesy OKC Broadway

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

Live music is back and better than ever in Oklahoma. In Tulsa, Jake Owen visits the River Spirit Casino Resort on Jan. 21. A multiple chart-topping singer/ songwriter, Owen is the face of modern country music. At the Cox Business Convention Center, urban Latin star Jay Wheeler comes to town Jan. 22, and rock behemoth Tool visits the BOK Center on Jan. 30. In OKC, popular rapper DaBaby rocks out on Jan. 23 at the Criterion, followed by the soulful crooner Gary Clark Jr. on Jan. 28. And the man, the myth, the legend, Elton John, finally makes his way to OKC after COVID-19 cancellations. See him live at the Paycom Center on Jan. 30. In Durant, the Choctaw Casino welcomes Blake Shelton on Jan. 29 for a night of country tunes.

Jan. 23 108 Contemporary In this exhibition, 108 Contemporary features Oklahoma artist members by hosting a juried survey of their work. 108contemporary.org

ANOTHER WORLD: THE TRANSCENDENTAL PAINTING GROUP Through Feb. 20 Philbrook In a

period of great change and uncertainty, a small group of artists in New Mexico joined together in a mutual need to explore spirituality through abstraction. philbrook.org

NEW WAVES: A SIGNAL FOR CHANGE Through

March 13 Philbrook New Waves: Signals for Change features works by artists in Philbrook’s collection, including Harry Fonseca and Fritz Scholder. philbrook.org

SPORTS TULSA SHOOTOUT Jan.

1 Expo Square See adrenaline-pumping racing events at Expo Square. tulsashootout.com

TULSA HOLIDAY CIRCUIT Through Jan.

2 Expo Square This show is an American Quarter Horse Association and Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association approved circuit since 1980. tulsaholidaycircuit.com

TULSA OILERS

HOCKEY Jan. 8-9, 14, 16, 22-23, 27-28 BOK Center The Oilers take on a variety of regular season foes this month. tulsaoilers.com

CHILI BOWL Jan. 10-

15 Expo Square Enjoy some top-tier racing action at the Chili Bowl. exposquare.com

WWE RAW Jan. 17 BOK Center For the first time

in 8 years, WWE Monday Night Raw returns to BOK Center. bokcenter.com

AMERICAN FINALS RODEO Jan. 21-23 Expo

Square Some of Oklahoma’s

best equestrians compete for top prizes. exposquare.com

COMMUNITY OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE PRESENTS: THE OKLAHOMA WEDDING SHOW Jan. 29 Expo Square Central Park Hall Connect with a

variety of wedding vendors and plan your big day at the Oklahoma Wedding Show – the state’s premier wedding event. oklahomawedding.com

GARDEN OF LIGHTS Through

Jan. 2 Tulsa Botanic Garden Visit a magical garden aglow with festive lights during the Garden of Lights at Tulsa Botanic Garden. tulsabotanic.org

WINTERFEST Through Jan. 3 Downtown Tulsa Downtown Tulsa is transformed into a festive wonderland during Winterfest, an annual holiday tradition. tulsawinterfest.com

FIRST FRIDAY ART CRAWL Jan. 7 Downtown Tulsa Since

2007, the Tulsa Arts District has presented the community with rotating art displays as part of the First Friday Art Crawl. Walk, drink, eat and enjoy a variety of local creators. travelok.com

OKLAHOMA BOAT EXPO Jan. 7-9 Cox

Business Center See over

a dozen boat dealers with products and services you won’t see anywhere else, along with special show pricing. okboatexpo.com

SECOND SATURDAY ARCHITECTURE TOUR: THE CHURCH STUDIO Jan.

8 The Church Studio Take a

fun and educational walking tour through The Church Studio in Tulsa Pearl’s District during January’s Second Saturday Architecture Tour. tulsaarchitecture.org

TULSA TOWN HALL PRESENTS: KARL ROVE Jan. 14 Tulsa

IN OKC

PERFORMANCES

RACHMANINOFF

FESTIVAL Jan. 8 Civic Center Music Hall Enjoy some catchy tunes with the OKC Phil. okcphil.org

OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: DEAR EVAN HANSEN Jan. 11-16 Civic

Center Music Hall A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. okcciviccenter.

com

ROSE STATE COLLEGE HUDIBURG CHEVROLET CENTER PRESENTS: HEATHER MCMAHAN Jan.

13 Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center, Midwest City Round up your friends

for a hilarious night out as comedian Heather McMahan takes the stage at the Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center. travelok.com

3 OKC THUINDER

SPORTS

PAC Karl Christian Rove is an American Republican political consultant, policy advisor and lobbyist. tulsatownhall.com

COMMUNIT Y

THE OKLAHOMA WEDDING SHOW RETURNS

Back and better than ever, The Oklahoma Wedding Show, presented by Oklahoma Magazine, returns Saturday, January 29 at Expo Square’s Central Park Hall. There, you’ll be able to speak face-to-face with a variety of wedding vendors, making one-on-one connections that are vital to the success of your big day. Other perks include delicious catering and cake tastings, as well as floral displays to get you in the spirit. Plan your nuptials at the state’s premier wedding event: The Oklahoma Wedding Show. For more information or to get involved, visit oklahomawedding.com. OKC PHIL PRESENTS: MASTERS OF MUSICAL THEATER Jan. 21-22 Civic

Center Music Hall Join the OKCPHIL as we salute Andrew Lloyd Webber, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and more in this special celebration. okcphil.org

JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING

Photo courtesy NBAE/Getty Images

OKLAHOMA WEDDING SHOW

If sports are more your jam, you’re in luck – racing, hockey, wresting, volleyball and lots and lots of basketball await you. The Tulsa Oilers play at home at the BOK Center Jan. 8-9, 14, 16, 22-23, and 27-28. Also in Tulsa, the annual Chili Bowl runs from Jan. 10-15 at Expo Square, where racing events are sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Wrestling fans can also get their fill this month at WWE Raw, returning to the BOK Center Jan. 17. In OKC, basketball abounds. Catch the OKC Thunder at home at the Paycom Center Jan. 2, 7, 9, 15, 26, 28 and 31. Additionally, the OKC Blue play at home, also at the Paycom Center, Jan. 2, 14, 19, 21-22, and 31. Volleyball fanatics should visit OKC State Fair Park on Jan. 8-9 for the Redland Rendezvous, when some of the region’s best volleyball players will compete. In Norman, visit the Lloyd Noble Center Jan. 1, 8, 18 and 22 for the OU men’s basketball team, and Jan. 5, 12, 15, 26 and 29 for the women’s team. Additionally, the OSU Cowboys play at home at the Gallagher-Iba Arena Jan. 4, 8, 19 and 26 for men and Jan. 2, 5, 15, 22 and 29 for women.

OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: OKLAHOMA! Jan. 25-30 Civic Center Music

Hall This is OKLAHOMA! as you’ve never seen or heard it before—reimagined for the 21st century and the Tony Award Winner for Best Revival of a Musical. okcciviccenter.com

exhibition features 99 paintings created between 1809 and the present, by masters such as Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent and Andrew Wyeth. okc-

moa.com

JEFF DUNHAM Jan. 27

NUCLEAR ENCHANTMENT: PATRICK NAGATANI Through Jan.

CONCERTS

Patrick Nagatani created a diverse body of work that pushed the contours of photography. ou.edu/fjjma

Paycom Center This comedian and his famous puppets visit OKC. paycomcenter.com

CAMILA Jan. 16 The Criterion Camila visits OKC for one night only. criterionokc.com

LUCINDA WILLIAMS Jan. 22 The Auditorium at the Douglass After more than

40 years of creating music, this Louisiana-born artist has returned to her gritty blues roots in her latest album “Good Souls, Better Angels.” travelok.com

DABABY Jan. 23 The

Critierion One of music’s most famous rappers visits the Criterion. criterionokc.com

GARY CLARK JR. Jan. 28 The Criterion Join Gary Clark Jr. at

The Criterion in Oklahoma City for an evening of soulful, original music. criterionokc.com

ELTON JOHN Jan. 30 Paycom

Center A legend in music returns to OKC. paycomcenter.com

ART FOR AMERICA Through Jan. 30 OKCMOA This

30 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Over a 40-year career,

FRAMEWORK: EXPLORING THE ARTISTIC PROCESS

PERCEPTION AND TECHNIQUE IN ABSTRACT ART Through

July 24 OKCMOA Perception

and Technique in Abstract Art presents longstanding Museum highlights. okc-

moa.com

SPORTS THE 2022 JR. OPEN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP Through

Jan. 1 State Fair Park See

some of the state’s best wrestlers compete for top prizes. okcfairgrounds.com

OKC THUNDER BASKETBALL Jan. 2, 7,

Through Feb. 27 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum There is

9, 15, 26, 28, 31 Paycom Center See Oklahoma’s NBA

nationalcowboymuseum.org

OKC BLUE BASKETBALL Jan. 2, 14, 19, 21-22,

more to art than meets the eye. Behind every piece of art is a creative process.

SANTA FE TRAIL Through May 8 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Using material

culture and art objects from the museum’s collection this exhibition will recognize the bicentennial of this most important National Heritage Trail. nationalcowboymu-

seum.org

MOTHER ROADS Through May 8 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Through pho-

tographs, rare book illustrations, maps and related ephemera, visitors will explore some of the country’s most famous thoroughfares. national-

cbowymuseum.org

team play regular season games. paycomcenter.com

31 Paycom Center Enjoy some basketball fun with the OKC Blue. paycomcenter.com

REDLAND RENDEZVOUS

Jan. 8-9 OKC State Fair Park Some of the region’s best

volleyball players descend upon the OKC Fairgrounds. okcfairgrounds.com

ROCKSTAR CHAMPIONSHIPS Jan. 23 OKC State

Fair Park After many years of coaching all-stars, and judging around the country for various competition companies, David and Kristin Owens knew they wanted to expand their love for cheerleading. rock-

starchampionships.com

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

FILM AND CINEMA

WHERE & WHEN | ENTERTAINMENT FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Jan. 7 Paseo Arts District Visitors can enjoy

art openings, wine tastings, live music and other activities. thepaseo.org

ARCADIA LAKE EAGLE WATCH Jan. 7-9 9000 E.

Second St., Arcadia Come

out and witness bald eagles displaying their grace and beauty during the Arcadia Lake Eagle Watch in Edmond. travelok.com

SAFARI LIGHTS Through Jan. 9 OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden This winter, go wild and fill your holiday season with the magic of light. travelok.com

WINTER GLOW Through

Jan. 9 Riversport OKC Head

to Winter Glow, an indoor/ outdoor, holiday-themed event at Riversport in Oklahoma City, for the ultimate Nordic experience. riversportokc.org

OKC BOAT & RV SHOW Jan. 14-16 OKC State Fair Park Prep for the warmer

months at the Bennett Event Center. okcgfairgrounds.com

2022 OKLAHOMA CITY HOME + GARDEN SHOW Jan. 21-23 OKC State

Fair Park Spring cleaning gets

a head start at this annual event. okcfairgrounds.com

2 HIP CHICKS ROADSHOW Jan. 29 Oklahoma State Fair Park The 2 Hip Chicks

Roadshow is coming to Oklahoma City and bringing dozens of vendors and one-of-a-kind items with them. travelok.com

DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER Through Jan. 30 Downtown OKC Spend

your holidays experiencing fun activities as downtown Oklahoma City. downtownin-

december.com

THE STATE

PERFORMANCES

THE CEMENT OPRY Jan. 8 410 N. Main, Cement The Cement

Opry is a monthly live variety show held in the Jesse James Ballroom. travelok.com

GASLIGHT THEATRE PRES-

ENTS: EXIT LAUGHING Jan. 21-29 Gaslight Theatre, Enid This

play portrays three southern ladies from Birmingham who have spent one night each week for the past 30 years playing bridge together. travelok.com

SARAH COBURN IN CONCERT Jan. 29 McKnight Center

for the Performing Arts American soprano and international opera sensation Sarah Coburn has captivated audiences with her precise operatic style and thrilling tone. travelok.com

CONCERTS HALESTORM Jan. 1 Choctaw

Casino and Resort, Durant Don’t miss the first concert of the new year with Halestorm. choctaw-

casinos.com

BLAKE SHELTON Jan. 29 Choctaw Casino and

Resort, Durant One of country’s biggest stars visits Durant for one night only. choctawcasinos.com

SPORTS OU MEN’S BASKETBALL Jan. 1, 8, 18, 22 Lloyd Noble Center See

the OU Men’s basketball team take on a variety of foes during regular season games. soonersports.com

OSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Jan. 2, 5, 15, 22,

29 Gallagher-Iba Arena Enjoy

regular season basketball fun with the Cowboys. okstate.com

OSU MEN’S BASKETBALL Jan.

4, 8, 19, 26 Gallagher-Iba Arena The

Cowboys play to win during regular season games. okstate.com

OU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Jan. 5, 12, 15,

26, 29 Lloyd Noble Center The

lady Sooners take on teams including OSU and Baylor in January. soonersports.com

INTERNATIONAL FINALS RODEO Jan. 13-16 Lazy E. Arena,

Guthrie Every year, the top 15 cowboys and cowgirls from across the U.S. and three Canadian provinces travel to Oklahoma and compete for world championship titles in seven standard rodeo events. travelok.com

COMMUNITY HOLIDAYS ON ICE Through

Jan. 2 400 S. Independence Ave.,

Enid Located in the Stride Bank Center’s parking lot, you will have the opportunity to skate under festive twinkle lights. skateinenid.com

SCOTFEST BURNS NIGHT Jan.

22 Stoney Creek Don your kilt, penguin suit or fine evening gown to celebrate the life and writing of late Scottish bard Robert “Rabbie” Burns with fellow lovers of poetry on Scotfest Burns Night. travelok.com

EAGLE TOUR & LOON WATCH Jan. 22 Sequoyah

National Wildlife Refuge & Tenkiller State Park Guests will begin the

tour by watching eagles from the refuge’s wecam before taking oﬀ on the caravan tour in their own vehicle. travelok.com

FOR MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

WELCOME, 2022! From a soft relaunch of a horror franchise to a heartwarming family tale and some superhero fare, January is packed.

anuary has arrived ... when movies are typically taken out to pasture and killed. Bleak, I know, but there are a few films this month that might rise above that predestined path. Welcome to 2022! First up is The Tender Bar. Written by William Monahan (The Departed) and directed by George Clooney, the film stars Tye Sheridan as J.R. Moehringer, a young boy seeking a father figure after his own left when him when he was young. Ben Affleck stars as the uncle who tries to take up the mantle. This story is based on Moehringer’s own memoir of the same name and looks to be an affectionate story with the ups and downs of growing up. It releases to Amazon Prime on Jan. 7. If you want a nostalgic horror story from the ’90s, look no further than Scream. A soft re-launch/continuation of the series, the film picks up after Scream 4 with a new killer donning the Ghostface mask and targeting a set of teenagers in the town of Woodsboro. Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Neve Campbell all reprise their roles as they try and help the new set of teens deal with a killing spree, a concept of which they’re all too familiar. The film slices into theaters Jan. 14. Next up is an erotic psychological thriller titled Deep Water. Directed by Adrian Lyne, who hasn’t helmed a film since Unfaithful in 2002, the story follows Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas as a married couple on the rocks, spurring a deadly series of mind games with each other. Based on the 1957 book of the

same name by Patricia Highsmith, it will surely have all the twists, turns and excitement of Lyne’s earlier works that include Fatal Attraction and Indecent Proposal. Or, it will be a fun-to-watch mess! Either way, it hits theaters on Jan. 14. For your superhero fix this month, Morbius is here. The film stars Jarred Leto as scientist Michael Morbius, a man suffering from a rare blood disease that pushes him to try a dangerous cure, which then afflicts him with a form of vampirism. Co-starring Matt Smith, Jared Harris and Tyrese Gibson, the film might be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as the trailer has Michael Keaton reprising his role from the 2017 film Spider-Man: Homecoming. It also makes references to Spider-Man, and who knows which version of Spider-Man they mean! We’ll find out on Jan. 28. Lastly, a drama series that aired on BBC One in June of 2021, Time is absolutely worth your viewing. The story focuses on Mark Cobden (Sean Bean) as he enters prison and feels overwhelming guilt for his crime. Meanwhile, prison officer Eric McNally (Stephen Graham) deals with the dangerous inmates, as one of them discovers his weakness and tries to exploit him. Lasting only three episodes, it bolsters tremendous performances from both leads and a compelling story told over a short period of time. It’s streaming on Vudu, Apple TV and Amazon Prime. DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

COMMUNITY

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Brad Carson

rad Carson, an Oklahoma native and the University of Tulsa’s 21st president, brings decades of experience to his new role. After graduating from Baylor University, Carson became a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford and then earned his Juris Doctorate from OU. He was a professor at the University of Virginia, a senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group, and the undersecretary in the U.S. Army. Additionally, Carson was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom as an intelligence officer and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. In 2015, former President Barack Obama appointed Carson acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness at the U.S. Department of Defense. Carson harbors expertise in subjects including national security, energy policy and American politics. We caught up with Carson and got his thoughts on ...

... lessons he’s learned thus far in his career.

Photo courtesy Brad Carson

Be open to opportunities. Believe in yourself. Don’t fear change.

... short-term and long-term goals for the University of Tulsa. My short-term goal is to increase enrollment at TU while ensuring every academic program is on solid footing. [In the long term,] I want to make TU the best university between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River.

... the appeal of TU.

The broader attributes of TU are what drew me to the job, as well as the great city of Tulsa. I hope my background in the defense sector can add value as we expand our cyber programs. I have many contacts who work in the growing field of cyber security, and I intend to leverage those relationships to benefit the university. TU’s new School of Cyber Studies should be a magnet for anyone seeking to shape the future of technology, because it extends beyond computing and encompasses a multitude of disciplines – business, health, law, policy and much more.

...steps toward diversity and inclusion.

The key is to create an inclusive atmosphere where all feel welcome. Diversity and equity aren’t an end-state, but rather a continual process to ensure that opportunities are open to all. TU is fully committed to these efforts and has included this important initiative in our strategic planning process.

... what has surprised him thus far about the job.

What a remarkable city Tulsa has become in my decade-long absence. For example, the downtown area has developed several arts and entertainment districts with thriving nightlife, successful businesses and venues for cultural events that nurture our community seven days a week.

... why he returned to Oklahoma. I love Oklahoma. My family has been in this state for 180 years. My wife is from here, too. The people are the most committed and generous you will find anywhere.

... his hopes for TU in the next two decades.

In 20 years, I believe that TU will be recognized along with Rice (Houston) and Washington (St. Louis) as the preeminent universities in the Midwest. I hope to have, in some small way at least, spurred that development along.

... what he’s looking forward to. Reuniting with my family, who still live in Washington, D.C. JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

COMPLIMENTARY WEDDING & RECEPTION VENUE RENTAL JANUARY FEBRUARY 2022 • 2023 Subject to availability. Minimum F&B required.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

WEDDING Oklahoma Magazine presents

Saturday, Jan. 29 From 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Expo Square Central Park Hall • Tulsa

Everything you need to plan your big day! Prize giveaways throughout the day. For more information, call 918-744-6205 email advertising@okmag.com

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Your Wedding from A-Z Accessories Catering Designer Gowns Flowers Cakes Honeymoons Bridesmaids

JANUARY 2022| WWW.OKMAG.COM

OKLAHOMA WEDDING | PL ANNING

Your Wedding from A-Z

The engagement went off without a hitch, and now it’s time for the real planning to begin. From creating your website to picking your party and staying atop the latest trends, the below guide can help make your dreams a reality.

Picking Your Party A Wonderful Wedding Website

In the last few years, creating a wedding website has become a standard practice during the initial stages of planning. Here are a few things you should always have front and center: The wedding’s location, address, date and time - Seems simple, right? But you’d be surprised how many times guests have had to hunt down the pertinent details of a celebration. Lodging deals – Many hotels oﬀer discounts when booking large blocks of rooms. Ensure your guests know where to look. Things to do – If you’re inviting plenty of out-of-town guests, take a bit of time to provide a listing of outings around town. Any specific scheduled events outside the wedding – If you have a farewell brunch, cocktail hour or other inclusive events for all guests, get those on the front page. Dress code requirements – Even better, give examples! Dress code vernacular is muddled these days. Your wedding party – A small bio about each member of your wedding party, and how you met them, adds a personalized touch.

Trend Forecast

Another year, another set of trends. What can we expect from the wedding landscape in 2022? Well ... First off, experts believe 2022 will welcome a ‘wedding boom’ – meaning celebrations will be at an all-time high. The reasoning? Many couples postponed their nuptials because they wanted a blow-out celebration – something not really feasible in 2020 and much of 2021.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Choosing people to join your wedding party can be a tough endeavor if you’ve got a number of close friends. The Knot offers a few tips to make those choices a bit easier: Consider the size of your wedding – If your celebration is on the smaller side, it may be smart to scale back on the number in the wedding party. Take your time – Once you ask someone to be a bridesmaid or groomsman, you can’t take it back. Don’t make impulsive decisions in the excitement of a new engagement. Mull over the requirements – Being included in a bridal party has its duties. Ensure the people you ask will have the time, energy and resources to devote to the big day, along with other events like showers and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Look into other duties – For friends that didn’t make the big cut, alternative responsibilities and roles can ensure they feel included. From ushers to singers, ‘house party’ attendants or even the oﬀiciant, there are several ways to make people feel loved. No ‘quid pro quo’ – Just because someone asked you to be in his or her wedding party does not mean you’re required to have them in yours.

Venues, florists, caterers and bakers will likely be maxed out this year – so plan your day accordingly. While neutral color schemes have reined supreme in the last few years, more and more couples are deciding to go bold in 2022. From deep jewel tones to a return to metallic, bright colors are making a comeback. ‘Sequel weddings’ is a hot term these days, but what does it mean? Essentially,

couples that had small weddings in the pandemic era (or even just a trip to the courthouse) are having larger celebrations with a bigger group. It takes the pressure off the couple – because they’re already married – while allowing for the party everyone wants. Mixing up the wedding parties has been slowly but surely making an appearance in nuptials over the last decade. So you’re a bride, but your best friend

249152 Tulsa Club Hotel.indd 1

is a man? Who cares? Wedding parties can consist of men and women on both sides. Pre-wedding toasts are surging in popularity. While listening to anecdotes at a wedding can be fun, a lot of the time people lose interest quickly when an uncle or childhood friend rambles on. That’s why many are being instructed to give toasts at the rehearsal dinner, while day-of toasts are reserved for a select few, like parents or the maid of honor and best man.

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918.449.9603 • ArrowSpringChapel@gmail.com 249145 Arrow Spring Chapel.indd 1

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

12/17/21 4:13 PM

OKLAHOMA WEDDING | PL ANNING Stay in Favor

Wedding favors, while exciting, aren’t an expected staple at every celebration depending on your budget, time constraints and other factors. If you opt to provide wedding favors, here are some ideas to mull over: Cocktail kits – Your guests can take home some of the whimsy of your nuptials with this fun idea. A few tools you can include are a strainer, muddler, jigger and shaker. If you want to go smaller, a pair of customized glasses and some shooters of your favorite liquor will do the trick. Candy – Everyone loves candy, and after a wedding reception, guests might have a hankering for something sweet. Why not help them out by proving a take-home snack? Customized chocolates, gummies or other sweet treats will do the trick. Savory snacks to go – Small bags of assorted nuts, sauces, soft pretzels or kettle corn will likely be a big hit. Candles – You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t happy to receive a candle ... so why not offer them as favors? A small, singlewick creation with a signature scent is the perfect parting gift. Mugs – Custom-made coffee mugs, replete with your wedding date and names, is both an adorable and useful gift. Bonus points for a small bag of ground coffee or hot chocolate mix thrown in. Potpourri – Along the same vein as a candle or mug, potpourri is an economical and useful gift that most would enjoy. Sleep masks – A small luxury many wouldn’t get for themselves, a sleep mask bids your guests farewell with the added bonus of a great night’s rest.

Personalized Touches

In the wake of a busy wedding season, celebrations can sometimes blend together. If you want your big day to stand out, tailor-made touches can help. The celebrant – Have someone you love marry you and your soon-to-be-spouse. Not only will this add more love to the day, but anecdotes and camaraderie will make the ceremony all the more special. Custom scent – For those with a bigger budget, a ‘custom scent’ can act as a wedding favor or a bonus gift. Guests can take home a small bottle of the scent you and your spouse created

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

together – thus cementing a sensory memory for years to come. Monogrammed touches – Including your initials in subtle ways – like napkins or coasters – is a small but thoughtful way to punch up a celebration. A wedding painter – A one-of-a-kind piece of art that showcases the beauty and joy of your wedding, created the day-of by an artist, is the perfect bookmark to the day ... and something you can keep forever.

Writing your own vows – One that many people

already follow, but creating and reciting your own vows is a concrete way to showcase the unique love you have for your partner. Involve the animals – For couples whose pets feel like family, involving the animal in the celebration – either as a ring bearer or just a beloved guest – will have visitors talking for days. (Just make sure your furry friend is comfortable in crowds!)

MAYA LORA PHOTO

1 5 2 3 E A S T 1 5 T H S T R E E T, T U L S A , O K 74 1 2 0 | B R U C E G W E B E R . C O M JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

OKLAHOMA WEDDING | ACCESSORIES

Precision Set bands, price upon request, Bruce G. Weber Diamond Cellar

The Final Touch

Be it a dazzling shoe, headpiece or pair of earrings, there’s always room for a little more dazzle on the big day. Christopher Designs 18K white gold diamond necklace, price upon request, Bruce G. Weber Diamond Cellar

Grand Duchess Vladimir tiara, Eden LUXE Bridal

Kwiat Starry Night petite hoops, price upon request, Bruce G. Weber Diamond Cellar

Mikimoto Akoya cultured pearl double strand necklace, price upon request, Bruce G. Weber Diamond Cellar

Precision Set engagement ring, price upon request, Bruce G. Weber Diamond Cellar

Kwiat cluster collection drop earrings, price upon request, Bruce G. Weber Diamond Cellar

Temptation crystal sandal 105, Aquazzura

Babe sandal 105, Aquazzura

Satin bow with streamers, Morilee Bridal

Galactic flower sandal 75, Aquazzura

Portofino sandal in white, Gianvito Rossi Portofino sandal in silver, Gianvito Rossi

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Crystal Leomi sandal, Gianvito Rossi

All photos courtesy the designer/store

Love Link sling 105, Aquazzura

wedding and event venue EVENT COORDINATION | IN-HOUSE FLORALS & DESIGN 23606 S. Keetonville Rd. | Northeast of Owasso | 918.698.7500 | pecandarosaranch.com

O K L A H O M A W E D D I N G | C AT E R I N G

Get Your Fill

From savory to succulent, a variety of delicious dishes are at your fingertips.

Grilled filet of beef tenderloin, garlic smashed potatoes, roasted broccolini with veal demi-glace; Justin Thompson Catering, Tulsa Photo by Valerie Wei-Haas

Salted caramel pretzel cheesecakes; Aila’s Catering Events, Tulsa Pasta bites; C2 Catering, OKC

Causa limera rellena; Just Catering by Orr, Tulsa

Smoked salmon on cucumbers; QS Culinary, OKC Siberian caviar; Summit Club, Tulsa Photo by Andrew Saliga

Assorted charcuterie board; Andolini’s Pizzeria, Tulsa

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Some Like it Hot roll with tuna, avocado, wasabi and habanero sauce; In the Raw, Tulsa

All photos courtesy the caterer unless otherwise marked

Hamachi crudo; Summit Club, Tulsa Photo by Andrew Saliga

WEDDING | ENGAGEMENTS | CORPORATE EVENTS

918•616•9864 | EIGHTTENRANCH.COM

800 NORTH COUNTRY CLUB ROAD • MUSKOGEE, OK

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

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All photos courtesy the designers unless otherwise marked

Galia Lahav Couture

Galia Lahav Gala Collection; photo by Shalev Ariel

Berta Privee

DESIGNER GOWNS

Inspiration Overload

Before you go dress shopping, look to the experts to kickstart your imagination.

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Ines di Santo Couture

Berta; photo by Vlad Limer

Ines di Santo Couture

Ines di Santo

Galia Lahav Couture

Peter Langner

Reem Acra

OKLAHOMA WEDDING | DESIGNER GOWNS

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Ines di Santo Couture

Galia Lahav Gala Collection; photo by Shalev Ariel

Oscar de la Renta

Carol Hannah

Oscar de la Renta

Peter Langner

Grace Loves Lace

Ines di Santo Couture

Lazaro

Galia Lahav Gala Collection; photo by Shalev Ariel

Hermione de Paula

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Berta Privee

Ti Adora Bridal

Allison Webb; photo by Erik Danielson

Berta Privee

Voyage by Morilee

Berta Privee

Ines di Santo Couture

Tara Keely

Nouvelle Amsale

Anne Barge; photo by Laura Gordon

Blu by Morilee

Morilee Bridal

Peter Langner

The Other White Dress

Monique Lhuillier Bliss; photo by Ben Rosser

OKLAHOMA WEDDING | DESIGNER GOWNS

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Muse by Berta

Berta; photo by Vlad Limer

Muse by Berta

Lihi Hod; photo by Shai Franco

Berta; photo by Vlad Limer

Galia Lahav Couture Berta; photo by Vlad Limer

Berta; photo by Vlad Limer

OKL AHOMA WEDDING | FLOWERS

Blooming Love

Local florists prove there’s been no shortage of creativity this wedding season.

Rootstock Floral Design, OKC Photo by Ashley Sunderland Photography Morrison Floral & Greenhouses, OKC Photo courtesy Morrison Floral & Greenhouses

Ever Something, Tulsa Photo by Caroline Eliza Co.

Toni’s Flowers and Gifts, Tulsa Photo by Picturesque Photos by Amanda

Mary Murray’s Flowers, Tulsa Photo courtesy Mary Murray’s

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

OKLAHOMA WEDDING | CAKES

A Sweet Addition

Amy Cakes, Norman

Oklahoma bakers take the cake with a bevy of out-of-the-box creations.

All Things Cake, Tulsa

Amy Cakes, Norman

Rosebeary’s Bakery, OKC

Amy Cakes, Norman

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Madison’s on Main, Norman

All photos courtesy the baker unless otherwise marked

Antoinette Baking Co., Tulsa

Amy Cakes, Norman

Andrea Howard Cakes, OKC Photo by Andrea Howard

Amy Cakes, Norman

Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery, Tulsa Photo by Jae Ashten Photos

Sweet Devotion Cakery, Tulsa Photo by Andi Bravo

JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

Janeway

Estate & Venue

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FACILITY RENTALS

A unique and non-traditional space on the grounds of a history museum to hold your wedding, reception, or other special occasion—just minutes from Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri! Rental spaces include the Har-Ber Village chapel, picnic pavilion, event tent, meeting rooms, and wooded meadow areas that are like works of art along the Nature Trail.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

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OKLAHOMA WEDDING | HONEYMOONS Costa Rica

Ireland

And Then There Were Two

When it comes to honeymoons, the world is your oyster.

s much as we like to think weddings are all about the bride and groom, that’s really not the case. They’re also about friends ... and grandparents and sisters-in-law and cousins and parties and clothes and a thousand other things. That’s what makes honeymoons so sweet: At long last, it’s finally just the two of you. But where to go? Here are five ideas.

Costa Rica

Check out Papagayo Peninsula along Costa Rica’s north Pacific coast. Rainforests, ocean sports, hiking, high-end resorts and an animal-lover’s paradise, especially if those animals include sea turtles, macaws and sweet, slow-moving sloth. It was on this peninsula in the ’70s that a group studying the rainforests invented zip-lining as a non-intrusive way to view wildlife among the regal Guanacaste trees. Today, the activity flourishes. Some even have tandem lines, allowing riders to glide side-by-side.

Below the water, the snorkeling and diving is fantastic. Undisturbed coral reefs are easily reached. Stay at the Four Seasons. The resort is on a hill that looks out over the Pacific and features “sea-to-table” dining, four pools, Sculpt Barre classes, four kinds of yoga and a full-service spa.

Ireland

Baltimore in far southwestern Ireland is a lively port just like its American counterpart, but this one is a good bit smaller and sits at the base of a 13th century castle, the Dún na Séad, once a sanctuary for druids and now open for touring. Ferries run between the mainland and Cape Clear, Heir Island and Sherkin Island, popular destinations for scenery, historic buildings, artist colonies, sailing and fishing. Back in Baltimore, you’ll find expansive gardens, eclectic shopping and charters that’ll take you out to see whales and dolphins. Watch the sun go down from Baltimore Beacon, built to mark the en-

trance to Baltimore Harbor and referred to as Lot’s Wife because of its striking resemblance to a pillar of salt. Stay at the Waterfront Hotel, a small family-run lodging in the heart of Baltimore with wonderful views of the harbor.

Marrakech

Exploring this captivating city in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco is a hoot. Little hotels with interior courtyards in the older part of town take you from crowded, narrow streets into havens of tranquility and natural beauty. Take in the mosques and palaces, but also spend some time in Marrakech’s charming souks (marketplaces), where treasures from handbags and spices to rugs and jewelry can be found down twisty-turny alleyways. Haggling is expected. Visiting tombs may seem like a yawner, but the Saadian final resting places right outside of town mesmerize with outstanding artwork, finely detailed carvings, bright tiles and Arabic calligraphy. JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

OKLAHOMA WEDDING | HONEYMOONS Marrakech

Stay at the sumptuous Royal Mansour Marrakech: Private courtyards and plunge pools, spacious three-story accommodations and two fine-dining restaurants, Moroccan and French.

Maldives

In the Indian Ocean southwest of India lies a string of pearls called the Maldives – islands so tiny many maps don’t even show them. But they’re there, all 1,192 of them. Crystal-clear turquoise waters, sugar white sand, coral reefs and some of the most colorful fish in the world: angelfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish and the always-popular clownfish. Snorkeling and diving often take place in the presence of dolphins, the surfing is fantastic and the deep sea fishing for tuna, barracuda and giant trevally is tops. Landlubbers take heart, there are golf courses on the islands, too. Stay at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, just a 40-minute boat ride from the airport. The luxury resort sits on three islands and offers the epitome of personalized service throughout its eleven dining venues, the “lifestyle spa” and more than 100 villas, some built over the water. Another good choice would be the Baglioni Hotel, part of the Baglioni family of lavish Italian properties. Offerings include well-appointed guest suites, a variety of restaurants and a spa menu with hot stone and Balinese massages.

Italy

Grab a dollop of la dolce vita on the Italian Riviera at Portofino, an area of northern Italy filled with lush hills covered with cypress trees and olive groves. Stroll the city’s picturesque boulevards, bordered by colorful old narrow buildings overlooking the harbor. And while you’re out and about, shop the high-end stores and craftsmen’s shops. The locally-produced laces and embroideries are high quality. Visit Brown Castle, an ancient edifice that still retains its original furniture, old majolica tiles and bird’s-eye views of the harbor. Beneath the waves at the inlet, 56 feet down, the statue Christ of the Abyss protects fishermen and divers. Back on shore, twelfth-century churches are full of spectacular art. Stay at the Belmond Hotel Splendido, classic stylishness with balconies, terraces, a heated saltwater pool and spa, all within an easy walk of premium shops. Several eateries are on site, including Splendido’s superb Chuflay restaurant, which spills out onto Portofino harbor. CHUCK MAI

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JANUARY 2022 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Peter Langner

All photos courtesy the designers

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January 2022 Oklahoma Magazine

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