during the marriage should be divided through the divorce.
Tracing separate property or assets in a divorce can be an im portant issue for lots of individu als. Take a situation where some body has a 401k or IRA before marriage. They have put money into this account before marriage.
They then get married. After marriage, they continue to con tribute to this 401k or IRA. At this point, pre-marital separate funds and marital funds are be ing mixed.
The parties then file for di vorce. In these situations, the one spouse is often asking that the entire 401k or IRA be divid ed in the divorce. The spouse who had funds in these accounts before marriage argues that the pre-marital portion should be set aside to them entirely. And they argue that only the funds put in
The reality, however, is that the separate funds need to be traced out from the account. This often requires a forensic accountant re viewing statements and doing an analysis to determine the amount that was in these accounts during the marriage.
At a minimum, parties may need to subpoena the statements from the date of the marriage to try to determine the amount that was in there. However, it can of ten be hard to obtain statements at the exact date of the marriage.
In addition to 401ks or IRAs, tracing can be important for oth er assets like bank accounts, in vestment accounts, whole life in surance policies, and other assets where a party might have built up cash value before marriage. In some instances, a party might consider having a prenuptial agreement drafted before getting married.
Stange Law Firm, PC lim its their practice to family law matters including divorce, child
custody, child support, paterni ty, guardianship, adoption, me diation, collaborative law, estate planning and other domestic re lation 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 855-8050595.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Stange Law Firm, PC is respsonsible for the content. Principal place of business is 120 South Central Ave, Suite 450, Clayton, MO 63105. Court rules do not permit us to advertise that we specialize in a particular field or area of law. The areas of law mentioned in this article are our areas of interest and generally are the types of cases which we are involved. It is not intended to suggest specialization in any areas of law which are mentioned The information you obtain in this ad vertisement is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contact ing us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results afford no guarantee of future results and every case is different and must be judged on its merits.
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What’s that I hear? e distant sound of jingle bells? Maybe, maybe ... but for now, we focus on a holiday I think is a little underappreciated: anksgiving. If you’re the type to get up on the holiday and run a 5K, more power to you. We’ve organized those events, and other suggestions like markets and light displays, in our handy Where and When section (page 68). For you philanthropic-minded readers, discover a smattering of volunteer opportunities leading up to the holiday in our State cover story (page 6), and you’ll spy some anksgiving recipes and suggestions for where to grab sides and desserts on page 67.
Don’t worry – we’re not done talking about grub just yet. November’s food spotlight is fresh outta the oven, highlighting 70+ restaurants in Oklahoma by genre, from Italian and French to Mexican and Mediterranean. We also o er suggestions on patio dining, cocktails, co ee and everything in between (page 22).
inking about adopting an animal or just want to be a better pet parent? Read our feature on the subject starting on page 32. We explore the health bene ts of spaying/neutering, common animal maladies and important body language cues.
Oklahoma Magazine is also proud to be the state-exclusive provider of the annual Super Lawyers special section, starting on page 35. After that, stick around for an exciting tour through Egypt (page 16); a review of an OKC restaurant bringing Lao cuisine to the scene (page 63); and a peek into the dynamic Miss Oklahoma Organization (page 12).
Mary Willa Allen Managing EditorCOMING IN NOVEMBER
If the cover was any indication, this month's issue is aaaall about one thing: food! In conjunction with our feature (starting on page 22), we've got even more delicious dishes and photographs in the digital edition of the magazine. Head to okmag. com now to see!
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Oklahoma. It’s who we are. Caretaker, caregiver and Oklahoma proud. Dr. Parker is more than just part of the Saint Francis family—she’s part of our promise to improve the health of the communities we call home.
Ryan Parker, M.D. • Emergency Medicine Physician and Associate Chief Medical Officer
Sharing a home-cooked meal on anksgiving is a reminder of what matters in life: connection and belonging. As Oklahomans take the day to appreciate friends and family, they can also look into opportunities to give back.
“Community is as strong as the people who care about it,” says Katie Oatsvall, president and chief executive o cer at Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa. “And there’s no better way to show care for a community than through action.”
is anksgiving, Oklahomans can make a di erence by engaging with the state’s local nonpro ts and charitable organizations. From food drives to fundraisers, there are plenty of chances to help those in need.
Based in Oklahoma City, the Homeless Alliance is on a mission to end homelessness through communitybased initiatives and programming. Since many churches in the area o er free dinner on anksgiving Day, the Homeless Alliance will
provide meals to its guests on Nov. 23; this way, they have a great dinner two days in a row.
To support its e orts, the Homeless Alliance is looking for volunteers to help with preparing turkeys and plating meals. e group is also in need of day center supplies, such as gloves, coats, blankets and other winter items. ose interested in donating can drop o or ship supplies to its campus, or host a donation drive to collect necessary items. To learn more, visit homelessalliance.org.
Serving 53 counties, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is the state’s largest charitable organization focused on hunger relief. Because Oklahoma is the fth hungriest state in the nation, the Regional Food Bank works to address the root causes of food insecurity.
“We envision a state where no one goes hungry,” says Austin Prickett, the nonpro t’s marketing manager. roughout November, the
food bank has organized several programs in support of its mission.
For instance, it has partnered with FOX 25 and Kroger to hold a holiday food drive from Nov. 1-25. For every grocery purchase, $5 will go to the food bank. e group will also launch its annual Holiday Match program beginning Nov. 15, providing four meals for every dollar that it raises. rough its Holiday Match, monetary donations will be matched dollar for dollar.
“We encourage everyone to give as much as they can,” says Prickett.
“We are consistently one of the hungriest states in the nation, so we need all the help we can get to deliver meals to folks.”
To learn about more of the food bank’s philanthropic and volunteer opportunities, visit regionalfoodbank.org.
City Rescue is a faith-based organization that has provided resources to people struggling with homelessness for nearly 60 years.
is anksgiving, City Rescue will
OKC’s Homeless Alliance will provide meals to clients on Nov. 23, and is looking for volunteers to prep the turkeys and plate the meals. Photo courtesy the Homeless Alliancehost a banquet for its clients, and the organization is looking for volunteers to sta its Kitchen of Hope.
On anksgiving and the days prior, volunteers can help with food preparation or assist with line and drink service. e nonpro t is also in need of donations; it accepts nonperishable food, clothing and hygiene products, including underwear, socks, shampoo and conditioner. To apply to become a volunteer, visit cityrescue. volunteerhub.com.
Located in Tulsa, the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma serves 24 counties, distributing food to families and 400 partner agencies. For the holiday week, the organization will deliver 5,000 meal boxes, along with serving hot meals on anksgiving Day.
e food bank is asking for volunteers to help distribute the meal boxes, and it will also accept donations at its anks-
giving Meal Drive. To learn more, check out okfoodbank.org/thanksgiving, or browse other volunteer opportunities at okfoodbank.org/volunteer.
Founded over 50 years ago, Meals on Wheels primarily focuses on cooking and delivering hot meals to seniors who are homebound, serving approximately 750,000 meals annually.
“Our programs serve anyone who has issues consistently cooking or shopping for themselves,” says Oatsvall.
In celebration of the holiday, Tulsa’s Meals on Wheels will prepare a hot anksgiving meal for all of its 1,800 clients. e organization is in need of volunteers to help with meal delivery, which requires a commitment of about one hour. Volunteers will select a route that includes ve deliveries. To sign up, visit mealsonwheelstulsa.org.
“ e need for homebound seniors to have a connection in the community and other people who are looking out for them – that is the power of Meal on Wheels,” says Oatsvall. “It’s so much more than a meal or a knock on the door. It is a connection to the community and resources.”
FAITH HARLTHE LUTHER PECAN FESTIVAL Main St. and Couch Pecan Orchard Nov. 19-20 lutherregister.news
THE FOURTH ANNUAL PIEDMONT TURKEY TROT 15 Jackson Ave. N.W. Nov. 24 piedmontoktrot.org
LIGHTS ON Utica Square, Tulsa Nov. 24 uticasquare.com/events/lights-on
THE MARKET CRAFT SHOW Stride Bank Center, Enid Nov. 25-26
GUIDED WALKING TOUR Myriad Botanical Gardens, OKC Nov. 26 myriadgardens.org/events
The woodpecker is rich with symbolism for the Chickasaw Nation and a variety of other Native American tribes.
When Ada artist Lokosh (Joshua D. Hinson, Ph.D.) paints and carves likenesses of the ivory-billed woodpecker, which is critically endangered or possibly extinct, he does so with a hope that the bird “still exists in the deep Louisiana swamps.”
In September 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service included the ivory-billed woodpecker on a list of 23 plant and animal species to be declared extinct. But following what it called “substantial disagreement among experts regarding the status of the species,” the FWS announced in July a sixmonth extension and re-opened the comment period.
e ivory-billed woodpecker, also known as the “Lord God Bird” because of the reaction it sometimes caused when it swoops into human’s view, inhabited swampland in the southeastern United States – which largely fell victim to logging by the mid-20th century.
e last con rmed sightings were made in Louisiana in the 1930s and 1940s, but most of the recent uncon rmed reports have come from the backcountry of Arkansas.
In a news release announcing a 30-day reopening of the comment period, which ended Aug. 8, the FWS asked the public to submit “clear video or photographic evidence of the ivory-billed woodpecker that can be repeatedly interpreted the same way by independent observers,” as well as additional comments for or against the extinction listing.
Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, was among those who submitted comments during the rst round.
“ e Cherokee Nation wishes to convey the importance of the role that the ivory-billed woodpecker occupies in Cherokee culture,” he wrote. “ eir in uence on our cultural activities remains to this day. e Nation requests the Service to continue conservation and investigative e orts to assure the protection of any individuals remaining.”
Ian Fischer, public a airs specialist for the Southeast region that encompasses Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will review all the evidence and anticipates announcing a decision in the spring of 2023 as to whether the much-loved bird will be added to the extinction list.
Lokosh, who is executive ofcer of the Division of Language Preservation for the Chickasaw Nation, says woodpeckers are considered messengers, protectors, warriors and healers, and red, white and black are the ancestral colors of the Chickasaw people. Red denotes medicine and war, white represents life, and black symbolizes death, he says.
If the ivory-billed woodpecker
individual ivory-billed woodpeckers living out in those not-easilyaccessible corners of our nation’s southeastern swamps.”
Garrison says people do venture into such swamps in canoes and kayaks and perhaps have seen the bird, but might be reluctant to share their observations with scientists for fear of losing access to wild lands. (Access to government-owned land can be limited if it provides habitat for endangered species.)
e continued existence of the ivory-billed woodpecker has been called into question, but some believe the species is still situated deep in the Louisiana swamps.Right: This effigy wood carving of an ivory-billed woodpecker in flight by Chickasaw artist Lokosh won second place in the Diverse Category at the 100th Santa Fe Indian Market. Photo courtesy Lokosh
Competing for Miss Oklahoma is something Abby Morris always wanted to do, but she never imagined the road it would take to get there.
Unfortunate life circumstances, along with the added toll of the pandemic, kept her from competing for several years. However, these di culties didn’t keep Morris away for long; this year, she was awarded Miss Sooner State 2023 and will compete for the big title next year.
A senior musical theater major at the University of Central Oklahoma, Morris often appears in campus shows and has often worked
time. I had many a mental breakdown, I’m not gonna lie,” she says with a laugh. But the experience itself, she says, is worth it. “ e bonds I’ve made, the relationships I’ve made and how I’ve grown as a human being is exponential. I can’t even begin to describe it.”
Every year since the Miss America organization started in 1921, women have been competing for state titles like Miss Oklahoma. e process is intense and takes year-round planning, says Kay Alexander, the director of the Miss Oklahoma Organization.
“Once March hits, every-
issues. Also on the table is the chance to win scholarships.
“ e bottom line is giving young women an opportunity to pursue not only their educational goals, but their career goals,” says Jack Cooper, the president of the Miss Oklahoma Organization. “ at’s not changed,” he says, even with the decision to remove the swimsuit portion of the competition a couple years ago.
“ e scholarship money is like icing on the cake,” adds Morris. e social impact portion is what’s most important to her. Since winning Miss Sooner State, she has been pushing to further her program to help children with incarcerated parents, something she experienced at a young age.
“When I’m helping these kids, I’m really healing twelveyear-old Abby when I was told my dad was going to prison,” she says.
Current Miss Oklahoma Megan Gold has, in her tenture, been advocating to end senior hunger. She’s currently
Posed below are the top five finalists from Miss Oklahoma 2022, including winner Megan Gold (middle).
Photo courtesy the Miss Oklahoma Organization
champions of the competition. Kelly Masters, who won in 1997, used her experience to further her own goals.
“I competed in Miss Oklahoma because I wanted to earn scholarship money to pay for law school,” she says. “It was all part of pursuing my education and wanting to have a platform to make a di erence.”
e only worry she has for women competing today is the impact of social media.
“People are able to go online, be really ugly and hurtful, and stay anonymous,” she says. “And I think that is certainly a level of added pressure that I didn’t have to deal with as a contestant.”
As the organization keeps evolving, the objective of the competition stays the same: help women achieve their goals.
Cataloging archeological and historic properties signi cant in our nation’s history, the National Park Service’s (NPS) National Register of Historic Places (NR) includes over 97,000 listings. It also contains information on over 1.4 million additional resources. Authorized by a 1966 federal law, the program coordinates and supports public and private e orts to identify, evaluate and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
e Oklahoma Historical Society’s State Historic Preservation O ce (SHPO) carries out Oklahoma’s NR programs. SHPO’s Historic Preservation Review Committee meets quarterly to consider whether or not a property quali es for the NR, and the NPS has the authority to list the property in the NR. However, a tribal government may also assume SHPO duties on tribal land.
Each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties has NR listings, and the number keeps growing.
Oklahoma’s diverse NR listings range “from archeological sites such as prehistoric bison kill sites
to the 21st century Oklahoma City National Memorial,” says Matthew Pearce, Ph.D., Oklahoma’s NR program coordinator.
To be listed in the NR, a property must meet at least one of four criteria. ere are seven necessary aspects of historic integrity as well.
“ ere are misconceptions about the NR, including that a private property owner must maintain or restore a building that is listed on the NR,” says Pearce. “ e NR places no requirement on public or private owners concerning the sale of property. Also, there are no requirements to provide public access to historic properties.”
Funding may be available for rehabilitation or restoration of an NR listing, but there are no guarantees. However, grant programs may provide funding. Tax credits exist, but the rehabilitation work must meet certain requirements.
“Owners of income-producing properties that are either individually listed in the NR, or contributing resources in a historic district listed in the NR, may receive federal and state investment tax credits on quali ed rehabilitation expenses,” says Pearce.
Oklahoma has “over 1,400 districts, buildings, sites, structures and objects in the NR,” he continues. “An NR listing reminds stakeholders, community leaders and decision makers of archeology, history and architecture that de ne our communities. e
added social value is crucial for successful historic preservation e orts. With the exception of designating a property as a National Landmark or a National Park or Monument, an NR listing provides the highest level of recognition of a property’s historic importance.”
CAROL MOWDY BOND
“Guthrie is unique in that a significant portion of the town has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL) – Guthrie Historic Landmark District,” says Pearce.
“This distinction is reserved for those buildings, sites, structures and objects that represent outstanding aspects of American history and culture – for Guthrie, specifically, its role in Oklahoma’s settlement, and for its collection of pre-statehood and early statehood commercial, residential and cultural architecture.”
Oklahoma currently has 22 NHLs, including the University of Oklahoma’s Bizzell Memorial Library, the Washita Battlefield and Tahlequah’s Cherokee National Capitol. Oklahoma’s most recently designated NHL is Honey Springs Battlefield.
Of all the lmmakers and actors I’ve known and/or interviewed over the years, few if any have been more ercely dedicated to their art and craft than Oklahoma’s Clu Gulager, who died August 5 at the age of 93. For him, the art and the craft were the same thing; he based his work – and his life – on a two-word statement of purpose that he repeated to me several times over the course of our acquaintanceship: “Actors act.” It was his mantra, and it served him well.
Born William Martin Gulager in Holdenville, he was of Cherokee descent, getting his nickname “Clu” from the purple martins – called clu-clu birds in the Cherokee language – that lived around the family home. After growing up and graduating from high school in Muskogee, Gulager went o to the
Marines and then to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah before transferring to Baylor, where he studied acting with his future wife, Miriam Byrd-Nethery. ey married in 1952, and, three years later, they both made their television debuts in the then-popular CBS-TV anthology series Omnibus, doing an adaptation of a play they’d starred in at Baylor. ey remained husband and wife until Miriam’s 2003 death.
In a 1988 interview I did with Clu for the Texas-based magazine Movies en and Now, he suggested that his national acting career came close to being over before it started.
“ e director, Seymour Robbie, kept saying, ‘Clu, I like what you’re doing, but bring it down about 90%,’” he recalled. “‘Course, I knew he was dead wrong, because I had
had so much success on the stage. People had laughed and patted me on the back after seeing my performance, so I knew that Seymour Robbie couldn’t possibly be right.”
He laughed.
“And naturally, I bombed ... And I learned the hard way that when someone says bring it down, you’d better damn well consider it, at least when you’re working in front of a camera. ere is a di erence between working on the boards, trying to hit the 15th row, and working with a little tiny Sennheiser 416 microphone right here, six inches from your face.”
It was a lesson Gulager learned both quickly and well. Within a few years, he was a regular presence on episodic television, and, by 1960, he was the star of his own series, appearing as a sympathetic Billy
“Actors Act” is simple yet poignant mantra of Clu Gulager guided the talented Oklahoman through his storied career.
Gulager is pictured here in a shot from A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge, alongside Hope Lange. Photo courtesy New Line Cinema Corp./John Wooley
the Kid in e Tall Man. After that came a recurring role in another ’60s TV western, the long-running Virginian, in which he played deputy sheri Emmet Ryker.
As far as feature lms go, he’s probably best remembered for his hit-man portrayal (alongside Lee Marvin) in the 1964 version of e Killers and, seven years later, as the concupiscent character Abilene in e Last Picture Show. He does, however, have a sizable following from the horror movies he made in the latter part of his career, including such cult favorites as Return of the Living Dead and Nightmare on Elm Street 2 (both from 1985), e Hidden (1987), and the Feast trilogy, released between 2005 and 2009 and directed by his son John. A personal favorite of mine is his appearance in 1987’s e O spring, when he and Miriam, playing a brother and sister, do a Southern Gothic turn that plays like something out of a Tennessee Williams fever-dream.
I remember talking to him several times about the horror genre, and hearing his observation that, as movie actors grow older, if they want to continue in the profession they’re going to have to do horror lms. He would say this with not an ounce of bitterness or regret; rather, it was a simple statement of fact.
Perhaps there had been a time when Clu Gulager chased stardom; certainly, he had a long and serious irtation with it, whether he coveted it or not. In a bonus interview for the 2006 DVD release of Vic, a harrowing short lm in which he portrays a forgotten actor trying desperately to get back into the game, he touched on that aspect of his career in typical Gulager fashion, saying, “You set out to be as ne an actor as you can be, and you end up generally being a lesser commodity than you started out wanting to be. I was that. I didn’t set the world on re, but I acted. And I was happy, and lucky and fortunate to be able to act professionally in American lm and theatre during a very interesting time. I wasn’t an important part, but I wasn’t an insigni cant part.
“And that’s what actors have to realize, probably. We mean something, but not everything.”
He brought so much intensity and pathos to that 30-minute movie, with his character spiraling downward into a sodden, hopeless heap by the end, that it’s exceedingly tough to watch. Knowing that it was the nal lm appearance of his wife – who’d passed away three years before Vic’s release – makes it even tougher.
Still, while he was stomach-churningly convincing in the role of a hopeless has-
been, it’s good to remember that Clu Gulager’s real life was di erent. Although he’d been back on the West Coast for a couple of decades before he died, there was a time in the late ’80s when he and Miriam returned to Oklahoma, living in Tulsa for a few years, teaching acting classes even as Clu worked on his own feature lm, which unfortunately remains incomplete. In our Movies
en and Now interview he laughingly told me that the reason he was teaching was “because I’ll always need money.
“American actors are not supposed to be teachers,” he added. “No professional actor who works a lot teaches, except me. I’m the only one in the nation who works all the time when I want to work and still teaches. So there are exceptions to everything.”
It was when they moved to Tulsa that I became acquainted with Clu and Miriam. I interviewed him several times for both the Tulsa World, where I was working at the time, and Fangoria, the horror-movie magazine. We did panels together, appeared at local conventions, and visited informally on several other occasions. I found him to be open and honest and completely devoted to acting and lmmaking, devoid of pretension, friendly and funny and eccentric in a very engaging way.
In 1990, he and Miriam both appeared in a made-for-TV movie I wrote called Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective, which director Chris Lewis shot mostly at Tulsa locations, including Bell’s Amusement Park. I was very proud to have them both in my little picture, but for all of that, my best memory of the Gulagers is a personal one.
Not long after they’d come to town, I was having a signing at the Tulsa Press Club for one of the horror novels Ron Wolfe and I had written. During the proceedings, I happened to look up and see Clu and Miriam coming through the door. To this day, I have no idea how they heard about the event, but there they were, and they went right over, bought a book, and brought it to me to sign.
At that point, I may have interviewed him once or twice, but I couldn’t say that I knew him. I was a bit stunned that this movie and TV heavyweight would go to the trouble of showing up and buy my little paperback. So I told him pretty much that, adding my thanks.
I’ll never forget his response.
“John,” he said, “we artists have to support one another.”
He obviously meant it. And from that day forward, I was one of the biggest Clu Gulager fans on the planet.
JOHN WOOLEYThe state of the markets in 2022 may have you thinking about other investing options. They include real estate, commodities, hedge funds, private equity and private debt, and venture capital. Before you dive in, here’s what you should know. A different kind of investing: Alternatives are not mainstream investments, and if included in a portfolio, should only make up a small portion of it. The potential benefits: The primary benefit of including alternatives in your asset mix is portfolio diversification. An effectively diversified portfolio can help you generate more consistent investment performance over time. Potential challenges: Alternative investments are a long-term portfolio position. You need to be certain that you won’t need to liquidate assets early to access money committed to alternatives.
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Atrip to Egypt is an ambitious undertaking, but extremely worthwhile. A recommended route is a Nile River cruise, connecting you to major points of destination with iconic landmarks. It can also be accomplished by ying directly into Cairo and connecting onto Luxor for focused stops.
Arriving into Cairo is sensory overload. A city of approximately 23 million people means you’re confronted with congested streets, massive billboards and a monochromatic sandstone landscape.
Staying at the Nile Ritz-Carlton luxury hotel is perfect for a retreat from the cacophony and chaos of Cairo, but also for the attention to detail. It’s a downtown oasis in the desert that includes on-site activi-
ties, so you don’t have to venture back into the city at night. e dinner entertainment of live bands, belly-dancing, hookah pipes and incredible feasts await you on the back patio. Tabletop grills of keftes and lamb chops are divine.
e unexpected cooler nights and palm tree breezes create a sensually exotic and calming setting – a sharp contrast to the hectic days.
e Pyramids of Giza are thrilling. Crawl through a pyramid’s underground burial chamber, ride camels or horse buggies down to more pyramids, and gaze upon the Sphinx.
A cultural excursion of the city includes glassblowing, searching out essential oil di users and papyrus-making demonstrations. is writer’s advice? Politely decline
the hospitable visit to a local diner sampling of the koshari delicacy and sugar-cane beverage; it’s too risky in catching “mummy tummy” or “Pharaoh’s revenge” stomach bugs.
Visit the Khan El-Khalili bazaar, best enjoyed with a guide.
e Egyptian Museum is footsteps away from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Arrive early to avoid the long lines from tour buses. Behold Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus and other antiquities.
Catch a felucca sailboat ride on the Nile River at sunset for a romantic and serene way to decompress from the day. Barefoot sailors navigate the vessels in silence as English is not widely spoken.
You can also view the Nile River from the hotel bar balcony while enjoying a sunset cocktail.
Hectic
Connect to Luxor to experience a truly authentic side of Egypt. e smiling people exude a communal spirit and most are dressed in robes and turbans. A horse-drawn carriage tour of the city is a recommended excursion to rst absorb the city’s mystique.
Stop at the markets, and see Luxor’s Old Winter Palace hotel where Lord Carnarvon announced the discovery of King Tut’s tomb – and where Agatha Christie reportedly wrote Death on the Nile.
Rest up at the Hilton Luxor Resort to enjoy the vacation aspects of Egypt. Luxuriate with their canopy hammock beds, in nity pools, vendors and exceptional bu ets, all along the borderless Nile River – with feluccas at the ready and hot air balloons ascending at sunrise.
Dinners are exceptional, with decorated
trees, tagines on the patio, ornate barbecue grills, pillows, lanterns and re pits. Listen to live music while gazing at the Nile.
Take hydration seriously as you prepare for the intense heat and sun at the amber-drenched Karnak and Luxor Temples, as well as the Valley of Kings. is writer found the temples even more impressive than the pyramids. Statues, carvings and art are seemingly endless.
Request a taxi drive through a village. Behind a maize eld, the indigenous Nubian villagers become excited at your curiosity and arrival into their enclave. At nightfall, crowds form to take advantage of the cooler weather. e music and romance of the night all along the vast and calm Nile River is the essential Egyptian energy.
GINA MICHALOPULOS KINGSLEYAstrong back is essential to ensuring good posture and supporting an active lifestyle, says Gregory Holt, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with the Orthopaedic Center of Tulsa.
“Not maintaining good posture and back strength can lead to changes in your spine, such as the constriction of blood vessels and nerves,” he says. “ is can cause headaches, fatigue, and back and neck pain.”
To check if you have good posture, try to draw an imaginary straight line from your earlobe, through your shoulder, hip, and knee to the middle of the ankle, says Holt. If you can, you’ve got great posture.
When considering ways to help prevent or relieve back pain, it’s important to pay attention to how an unsupported mattress or o ce chair, combined with days spent in the car, could be problematic.
“It’s said that we spend nearly a third of our life sleeping or lying down, which makes investing in an appropriate mattress worth it,” says Jason Sparks, D.O., an orthopedic spine surgeon with Spine & Orthopedic Specialists and Advanced Outpatient Surgery of Oklahoma, both based in Tulsa. “Achieving deep sleep has so many health bene ts beyond helping your back. I’m a big believer in memory foam or air bed mattresses instead of the traditional coil or spring mattress. It can make a big di erence in helping people with their spine alignment.”
Holt says that while it depends on an individual’s preference, most people do better with a medium to rm bed.
“Memory foam is favored by many but not the best choice for everyone,” he says. “Side sleepers should use a rmer pillow and back sleepers often bene t from a pillow under their knees.”
If you spend most of your day at a desk, Holt says to try and limit the time you spend seated, and o ers advice for selecting a supportive chair.
“An o ce chair should have an adjustable seat height, with 16 to 21 inches usually being ideal,” he
says. “ e width should be comfortable and at least 18 inches. It should be deep enough to allow two to four inches between the chair and the back of your knees. It should also have lumbar support, mimicking the curve of your lumbar spine. Adjustable armrests are very helpful to take pressure o your back, and a swivel feature will decrease stress on the back.”
Sparks says an adjustable standing desk can be a great option to help alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.
Sparks says that it’s important to remember the role overall health has in supporting a healthy back.
“In orthopedics, we emphasize that with any joint in the body, the stronger the muscles are around the joint, the less prone you are to injury,” says Sparks.
“For instance, someone who has gained ten pounds may not think it makes much of a di erence. But if I gave that person a backpack with ten pounds to carry around all day every day, they would feel the impact. Taking the time to lose any extra weight and exercising to strengthen your core is going to be helpful.”
When driving, Holt recommends that the seat back be at a 100 to 110 degree angle, and your knees should not be higher than your hips.
“Your shoulder should rest just behind your hips,” he says. “Lumbar support is present in some newer cars, but may also be accomplished with a rolled up sweatshirt or a commercial lumbar pillow.”
He also adds the reminder when lifting something heavy to “always lift with your knees bent and back straight. Never lift and twist at the same time.”
REBECCA FAST
Steve Sanders, Courtney McPhail, Randi Von Ellefson, Jennifer Coffman, David Grogan; Mendelssohn’s Elijah performance, Canterbury Voices, OKC
Keith Reed, Stacy McNeiland, Todd Hoffman; Champions of Health Gala, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, Tulsa
Amy & Mark Sperry, Edrye & Tom Dorman; Memorial visit, Will Rogers Memorial, Claremore
Kevin Thornton, Aisha Jefferson Smith, Steve Wilson; Mabee Red Shield Boys & Girls Club on TAUW Day of Caring, The Salvation Army Tulsa Area Command
Laurie Taylor, Amy Adkins; Hospitality Under the Stars, Hospitality House of Tulsa
Kirsten Therkelson, Emma Leach; Oklahoma Museum Assocation Awards celebration, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKC
Front row, L-R: Peggy M. Tanner, Eva K. Unterman, Donna M. Dutton; Back row, L-R: Dennis R. Neill, A.H. McElroy II, Steve Turnbo; Tulsa Hall of Fame induction, The Tulsa Historical Society & Museum
Joel & Sarah Donohue, Matthew & Lindsey Bristow; Cooking for a Cause, Iron Gate, Tulsa
Emily Bolusky, Tom Taylor, Ryan Hargis; Tomorrow Needs You chalking event, Family & Children’s Services, Tulsa
Elizabeth Clemens, Lauren Sanders, Jessica Jennings, Rebecca LaFevers; Raven Classic Golf Tournament, Riverfield Country Day School, Tulsa
Peggy Helmerrich, Jono Helmerich, Theresa Payton, Jenny Helmerich; Theresa Payton Luncheon, Tulsa Town Hall
Toby Jenkins, Martha King-Clark, Rod Owens; Tulsa Hall of Fame induction, The Tulsa Historical Society & Museum
Jeff & Michelle Hassell, Roger & Teri Ramseyer; Tulsa Hall of Fame induction, The Tulsa Historical Society & Museum
37TH ANNUAL PEGGY V. HELMERICH DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR AWARD GALA Dec. 2, 6 p.m.
Central Library, downtown Tulsa
FREE PUBLIC PRESENTATION FROM STROUT Dec. 3, 10:30 a.m.
Central Library, downtown Tulsa
Oklahomans can hear author Elizabeth Strout speak at a free public presentation on Dec. 3 at the Central Library.
Portrait by Dario Lasagni, book image courtesy Tulsa City-County Library
For as long as she can remember, Elizabeth Strout always wanted to know what it was like to be another person – to fully walk in their shoes.
“I nd it horrifying that we can never really know what it’s like to be another person … this has the potential to make us all small, and to stay small. Empathy needs to be in this world – we all know what the world looks like without empathy! – and empathy comes from trying to understand another person,” says the Pulitzer Prizewinning author of Olive Kitteridge, e Burgess Boys, My Name is Lucy Barton, Oh William! and other internationally renowned works.
Growing up in small towns in Maine and New Hampshire, Strout discovered early on that she could get inside someone else’s head through reading.
“ at was thrilling to me,” says Strout, who spent many hours of her youth in the local library, lingering among the stacks of ction.
It is this deep-seated desire to comprehend her fellow man that has motivated Strout to master her skills as a writer over the last
three decades.
“To really try and concentrate on the character I am writing about, and then to allow the reader to experience, even for a few moments, a sense of the world being perhaps a tiny bit larger than they thought it was. To have the reader maybe recognize something about themselves or to learn about someone far outside their own experience. is is my hope,” says Strout, who has captivated audiences with her distinctively New England stories and powerful narrative ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary since the release of her debut novel, Amy and Isabelle, in 1998.
In May 2022, in recognition of her stellar career, the American Academy of Arts and Letters inducted Strout into the 300-member honor society, whose goal is to “foster, assist and sustain excellence” in American literature, music and art. Strout credits her success as an author to her “tremendous tenacity. I never gave up, even when no one was interested for years in my work,” she says. “I just understood somehow that if I
kept going I would get better, and this is what happened.”
And now, Tulsa City-County Library and the Tulsa Library Trust honor Strout with the 37th annual Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. Strout will receive the award, which consists of a $40,000 cash prize and engraved crystal book, at a black-tie gala on Dec. 2 and give a free public address on Dec. 3 at the Central Library in downtown Tulsa.
As a Helmerich award winner, Strout joins a prestigious list of 35 internationally renowned authors including Marilynne Robinson, Hilary Mantel, Ann Patchett, Kazuo Ishiguro, Geraldine Brooks, omas Keneally, John Grisham, Shelby Foote, Joyce Carol Oates, Margaret Atwood, Neil Simon, David McCullough, Ray Bradbury, Eudora Welty, John le Carré, Saul Bellow, Toni Morrison and John Updike.
“It’s a hugely impressive list,” says Strout, “and I am honored to be part of it now.”
JACKIE HILLElizabeth Strout joins a prestigious list of renowned writers as she nabs this year’s Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award.
Tulsa and OKC don’t disappoint when it comes to cuisine from around the globe. We give you the lowdown on restaurants you won’t want to miss – from classic Italian eateries to hole-in-the-wall gyro joints, supreme sushi spots, Mexican mainstays and everything in-between. Stick around for recommendations on patio dining, watering holes and chef spotlights. Bon appétit!
All photos courtesy their respective restaurants unless otherwise marked
Azteca Mexican Grill, OKC
Mary Eddy’s Dining Room, OKC
Le Louvre French Café, Tulsa
Yakham N’Gom was born in Senegal, but he moved to Paris as a child. He went to the Sorbonne, ran a coffee company and got married. Somehow he ended up in Tulsa, serving delightful and quintessentially French dishes such as crepes, quiches, croque monsieur and array of pastries.
This French-inspired bistro located inside the Ambassador Hotel serves up regional French dishes with a modern twist. Led by Chef Kurt Fleischfresser, the menu features classic dishes like coq au vin, duck a l’orange and escargot de bourgogne.
A spectacular setting and flawless service screams “special occasion,” but the rich gourmet treats made by chefs Marcos Analco and Bryant Hernandez can make any occasion special at the French Hen. Rich, traditional dishes such as tournedos rossini are done superbly, as well as dishes such as chicken Dijon with mushroom mustard cream sauce.
Offering a fine dining experience indoors and a bistro atmosphere on the patio, Fait Maison is the perfect spot for any occasion. The menu features classic French dishes like turbot filet with tarragon butter, and duck leg confit, as well as more modern fare such as peppercorn crusted wagyu filet.
Bill Lyle, Summit Club – Tulsa Bill Lyle has traveled the world, and his cooking repertoire shows it. He’s at home cooking Indian, Italian, Japanese and everything in between. He, of course, can also prepare the richest, most luxurious French sauces. “He’s one of the most versatile chefs I’ve ever known,” says Summit Club CEO Jared Jordan. “And he’s also a local loyalist. He’s a big believer in obtaining produce that’s fresh and local, and he enjoys having a relationship with the farmers who grow it.”
Diners who visit the Summit Club this fall can enjoy chef Bill Lyle’s Ramen burger, with chashu braised pork belly, shoyu egg, garlic-chili crunch, shiitake mushrooms, shredded cabbage, toasted sesame and yuzu-kosho aioli. Photos by Stephanie PhillipsSometime around 1950, a woman named Ruby Rodriguez came up from Sonora and founded El Rancho Grande. The chef, Larry Lara, came from San Antonio and invented all the recipes. There are a few modern additions to the menu, but you come for the old Tex-Mex classic dishes. The Nighthawk, full of rich chili and Velveeta, was listed by a California critic as one of the five best Tex-Mex dishes ever made.
OSO on Paseo, OKC
Delicious food and a distinct ambiance are what distinguish this Paseo District taco restaurant and tiki bar. Tacos and signature cocktails are available on the menu. Try their carnitas tacos or brisket burnt end tacos with Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce and fried pickles.
Casa Tequila, Tulsa
The El Tequila restaurants have been delighting Tulsans for almost two decades. But when the owner gave one of them a bright new interior and expanded menu, he renamed it. The extensive offerings have something to please everyone, including steak with onions, mushrooms and bacon, shrimp linguine, enchiladas with molé sauce and much more.
Mama Roja Mexican Kitchen, OKC Diners flock to this lakeside restaurant for mouthwatering Tex-Mex cuisine with breathtaking sunset views. Grilled fajitas, street tacos and enchiladas are just a few of the dishes on the menu. Mama Roja’s has a full bar serving margaritas and other beverages.
Mi Cocina,
With its bright and pleasant dining room, comfortable patio on Cherry Street and delectable cocktails, this upscale restaurant is a pleasant place to linger. But the food should take center stage. The ribeye fajitas feature thick, juicy strips of choice aged ribeye. They have beef brisket tacos, enchiladas with molé, and a lot more.
Iguana Mexican Grill, Come to Automobile Alley for beloved tacos, burritos and nachos. With a full bar available, you won’t be disappointed with the menu, which features a variety of traditional goodies. Some favorites include the shrimp “a la tuma” taco with grilled shrimp, mango jicama slaw, and chile de arbol aioli.
Tacos Don Francisco,
If you want street tacos, this is your place. There’s a large variety, some standard (steak, marinated pork), some more unusual (tripas and cabeza). They also have burritos, quesadillas and more, and they’re open late.
Azteca Mexican Grill, The owners, Alejandrina from Guadalajara and her husband Raul, offer an authentic taste of Mexico in OKC. The
menu features a variety of traditional favorites, including enchiladas, tacos and burritos. The food is fresh and flavorful, and the portions are generous.
Three Tequilas, Tulsa
They’re the place with the line out the door. Many find it worth the wait for the huge, colorful and potent tequila drinks. Others come for the fantastic food. Chile Colorado features chunks of beef in a rich savory sauce that blends well with the two eggs on top. Chile verde has a rich vibrant tomatillo sauce. And what, exactly, are the three tequilas? That’s the owners’ nickname for their three small children.
Yes, it’s your typical Lebanese fare, but it’s exceptionally well-prepared. You can feast on cabbage rolls, falafel, kibbe and more, accompanied by the fresh, sprightly flavors of hummus, tabouli and labneh. They even bake their own pita bread.
You’ll find all of your favorite dishes like hummus, falafel and shawarma. But perhaps what sets this restaurant apart is its more unique offerings, such as chicken bandari in homemade garlic sauce, or Persian saff ron lamb shanks served with saff ron rice.
A big pleasant room with red brick walls, a friendly owner who cooks all the food – who could ask for more? Melissa Grace grew up here, so she calls her cuisine “Midwesterannean.” Wholly authentic or not, the gyros are wonderful, and so is the huge mezze tray loaded with hummus, tabouli and dolmas.
Zorba’s has been a Greek food lover’s heaven for over 30 years, with an expansive menu including all of your favorite Mediterranean dishes from Greece, Spain, Morocco, Turkey and Israel. Entrées include spanakopita, dolma, baklava and gyros.
It may be a bare bones strip mall shop out near Sheridan, but Gyros Palace fans swear the restaurant has the best gyros in Tulsa.
Radish, Tulsa Three Tequilas, Tulsa Helen of Troy, TulsaDown the rabbit hole (also known as a narrow, winding staircase in an old, red brick building) you go to this quirky, friendly underground bar, dimly lit and red with kitschy 1950s trappings. Beer in bottles and cans, mixed drinks – totally off the grid.
The Daley, OKC
With a speakeasy vibe and a focus on whiskey and craft cocktails, The Daley is the ideal place to unwind after a long day. The menu features
well-crafted concoctions created by talented mixologists.
Hodges Bend, Tulsa
Enjoy an elegant setting with brick, dark wood and lots of well-upholstered chairs. Classic cocktails, a long wine and spirits list, a large coffee selection, and a food menu designed by Bobby Benjamin of Lowood. Who could ask for more?
Bar Arbolada, OKC
With a relaxed L.A. vibe, Bar Arbolada is a fantastic spot to socialize with pals over drinks and snacks. Along with delicious craft cocktails, the bar serves a limited menu, touting a double cheeseburger that renowned chef Alton Brown dubbed “the best in America.”
Enter Vintage and you’ll see soaring, spectacular decor designed by a leading NYC firm. Wine’s the focus here, with lots of different selections, some rare, others obscure, all wonderful. Owner Matt Sanders tries to find and foster struggling vineyards, so there are some unique treasures.
The Eleanor, OKC
As the state’s largest champagne lounge, the Eleanor features over 70 types of champagne and sparkling wine, as well as an extensive cocktail menu. The perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, especially for a girl’s night out.
Bar Serra, Tulsa
Bar Serra, the newest brainchild of McNellie’s Group, sits in Utica Square between Muse and Banana Republic. Serving elevated bar food, cocktails, craft beers and wines, the joint is already a hit with Tulsans.
They have dolmas, spinach pie and more, but the gyros are the star of the show. You can see the lamb and beef used in the wrap slowly cooking on a spit.
Nabati, OKC
Nabati is a vegan Mediterranean restaurant that offers a variety of delicious plant-based dishes. In addition to traditional favorites like falafel and hummus, Nabati also presents a selection of sandwiches and pizzas.
Helen of Troy, Tulsa Hummus, baba ganoush, tabouli, cabbage rolls, falafel, kebabs. For fifteen years, owner Sam Senjlawi has been making all your favorites with fresh ingredients and so much love. Try the lamb shank – or anything else Mr. Senjlawi recommends.
Athena Greek Restaurant, OKC Offering a variety of traditional Greek dishes, including staple favorites like spanakopita and kebabs, this southwest Oklahoma City restaurant is perfect for a casual night out. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service is always friendly.
Topeca Co ee Roasters, Tulsa
With a history dating back to the 1850s, Topeca Coffee Roasters focuses on diligently crafted, fully traceable coffee beans. Along with the opportunity to purchase coffee directly from Topeca’s website, Tulsans can grab a variety of caffeinated concoctions at three locations around town: the Philcade, the Vast Bank building and the Hyatt downtown.
Kathryn Mathis, Big Truck Tacos, Pizzeria Gusto, OKC-MIO – OKC
As executive chef and co-owner of Big Truck Tacos as well as a variety of other OKC-based restaurants, Kathryn Mathis has built a reputation for serving dishes that are consistently flavorful and exciting. This Oklahoma-born chef helped to introduce street tacos to OKC and was a large contributor to the revitalization of the Uptown 23rd District. Today, each of Kathryn’s restaurants has its own distinct style and menu, but they all share a common goal: to provide customers with an unforgettable dining experience.
Already the ultimate in luxury, this downtown private club has just upped the ante with a $6.5 million renovation. They’ve added a second dining room for upscale casual food, as well as a flambé island in the main dining room, so guests can watch their bananas foster being spectacularly prepared. The new fall menu by chef Bill Lyle is sure to impress.
This Southwestern and Southern-inspired restaurant has been delighting diners for over two decades. Some of the most popular dishes include chicken fried steak with jalapeno gravy, shrimp and grits, and roasted pecan ice cream balls.
Juniper, Tulsa
Farm-to-table goodness is realized at downtown Tulsa’s Juniper. Start with a charcuterie board or whipped goat cheese, then dig into seasonal entrées like beef stroganoff, buttered halibut or grilled lamb chops. Don’t forget to wash it down with a cocktail from the restaurant’s curated (and lauded) list.
Vast, OKC
Vast is perfect for a special occasion. With breathtaking views of the city skyline on the 49th and 50th floors of the Devon Tower, you’ll feel like royalty. Indulge in steak, seafood or vegetarian entrées that focus on locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Top it all off with a craft cocktail or drink from their impressive wine list.
Amelia’s Wood Fired Cuisine, Tulsa
Two of the chefs who’ve worked at Amelia’s have been semi-finalists for James Beard awards. Intricate, creative dishes change with the seasons. You might find duck paired with foraged mushrooms in a sauce made with fresh huckleberries, wine and mirepoix. Or Chilean sea bass with braised fennel salad on top of cannellini beans and a sun-dried tomato puree.
Mary Eddy’s Dining Room, OKC
The 21c Museum Hotel’s casual restaurant is ideal for a night out. The New American cuisine incorporates innovative interpretations of traditional comfort dishes. Try the smoked duck breast with blackberry Cabernet reduction or pork porterhouse, along with their signature skillet cornbread. Don’t forget about their signature cocktails and a full bar.
Polo Grill, Tulsa
Where can you find impeccable service, understated elegance and superb food? Polo Grill, of course. The luxurious and satisfying menu includes USDA Prime
steaks, lamb, lobster and much more. Wine dinners are a delight, and the entire wine program is so notable that the restaurant was a semi-finalist for the James Beard award for the best wine program in the nation.
Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, OKC
This renowned steakhouse in Bricktown is a tribute to the state’s famed baseball player. The menu features an exquisite selection of Wagyu steaks, as well as seafood, and chops complimented by an award-winning wine list. It’s the perfect spot for a special night out.
Lowood, Tulsa
Sit at the chef’s counter (and you should!) and you can see Bobby Benjamin carefully plating each dish, often using tweezers to make it juuust perfect. The risotto is made with specially aged carnaroli rice from one small farm in northern Italy. The broth in the bouillabaisse is carefully seasoned and simmered for two days. In short? Unique and unforgettable.
La Brasa, OKC
La Brasa is an eclectic restaurant located in the Asian District serving South American (Peruvian) dishes like ceviche, lomo saltado (stir-fried beef), and fried plantains. On the weekends at 9 p.m., the restaurant transforms into a music lounge, complete with its own late-night menu served until midnight.
Stonehorse Café, Tulsa
The band of loyal regulars frequent Stonehorse in part because of the warm and heartfelt welcome given by manager Max Ellicott and his staff. But it’s the food that seals the deal, and has for almost 25 years. Expect dishes such as duck with blackberry compote, meaty lamb chops and USDA Prime steaks. Visit their market around the corner, offering ample wine and cheese, a sandwich bar and more.
In the mood for in the raw? You can eat at the cozy Brookside original, the larger branch down south, or the penthouse restaurant downtown with dramatic skyline views. Yes there’s classic sushi, but a lot more too. (Cooked lobster tail with classic French sauce on top in one sushi roll.) And lots of options for people who don’t want sushi. (Steaks and fish tacos, to name a few.)
in the raw, Tulsa
This Vietnamese restaurant is a great choice if you’re looking for hearty, healthy soup options. The menu features classic pho soups, egg noodle soup and udon soup as well as vermicelli bowls and summer rolls. The pho tai chin with thinly sliced steak and lean brisket is definitely worth a try.
Many Tulsans got their first taste of Thai cuisine at a tiny restaurant that Nongnat and Teerakun Karnchanakphan opened almost 25 years ago. The restaurant is in a lovely, high-ceiling space now, and the owners’ son Tana has taken over the reins. The food is as good as ever.
Saii Bistro and Sushi Bar, OKC
If you’re in the mood for sushi, Saii is the place to go, offering a wide variety of nigiri, sashimi and maki rolls as well as delicious Asian entrées like Bulgogi beef
excellent. A full bar is available.
In 1975, South Vietnam Air Force pilot Ri Le flew a helicopter out of soon-to-fall Saigon and ended up in Tulsa. His tiny restaurant introduced Tulsans to his homeland’s cuisine. He’s still in business, and still delighting loyal fans with his renditions of Vietnamese and Chinese food, as well as a big roster of delicious vegetarian dishes.
This downtown gem has been a go-to spot in OKC since 1988 for anyone craving Thai food. From pad Thai and tom yum soup to massaman curry, this restaurant offers all of your favorite dishes – and if you’re not in the mood to go out, order takeout and enjoy from the comfort of home.
Old Village Wine and Spirits, Tulsa
With an impressive selection of wines as well as beer, spirits, canned cocktails and more, Old Village has been a mainstay in Tulsa for decades. Tap the knowledgeable experts to help you find the perfect pick for a special occasion or night in.
Great food and quality restaurant concepts in Tulsa have become synonymous with chef Justin Thompson, who oversees the culinary experiences at some of the city’s most beloved joints, including Juniper, Prhyme Steakhouse and the new Freya: Nordic Kitchen. He also purchased Farrell Bread and Bakery, and provides full-service catering with elevated food and beverage options through JTR Group.
Chef Justin Thompson has his hands full with a variety of popular Tulsa eateries, including the new Freya: Nordic Kitchen.
Photos by Stephanie Phillips
Vast, OKC
Justin Thompson, JTR Group – Tulsa
Pho Lien Hoa, OKC
“We wanted a Mediterranean feel,” says chef Scott VanTuyl. With big rattan chairs, bright red umbrellas, and lots of plants (junipers and nandinas), they got it just right at Prossimo, open for brunch, lunch and dinner. Tower heaters help out in cool weather.
FRIDA Southwest, OKC
Dining al fresco is the best way to enjoy Frida’s fresh, flavorful New American and southwestern cuisines. Located in the historic Paseo District, the patio at Frida is the perfect spot to enjoy a seasonal craft cocktail and dishes like tamales with poblano chimichurri.
Queenie’s, Tulsa
A spacious sunny patio surrounds this Utica Square establishment, rebuilt and modernized two years ago and immensely popular for lunch and Sunday
brunch. Lounge on brightly colored chairs, watch shoppers strolling by and try the egg or chicken salad – famous for 40 years.
The Jones Assembly, OKC
With two spacious patios, Jones is the place for savoring good eats and quality time with friends. You can bask in the sun or admire the stars while indulging in some comfort food fare and a full bar, complete with creative craft cocktails.
Waterfront Grill, Tulsa
Comfy chairs, big umbrellas and stunning river views are your patio setting for great dinners and brunches at Waterfront Grill in Jenks. There’s also a glassed-in patio area offering the same views that’s air-conditioned in summer and heated in winter.
Social Deck + Dining, OKC
With two outdoor patios, indulge in good food and craft bar selections for
dinner or weekend brunch. The motto at this family-owned fusion eatery is “simple done well.” The chefs use thoughtfully sourced ingredients to create flavorful dishes you’ll return for again and again.
Albert G’s, Tulsa
Barbecue behemoth Albert G’s has been ‘smokin’ to please’ since 1992. With dining rooms on Harvard Avenue, downtown Tulsa and the Tulsa Hills Shopping Center, the joint provides diners with “true Tulsa barbecue,” including sliced brisket, hot links and pulled pork.
Outstanding Chef Award Semifinalist Andrew Black runs Grey Sweater, which offers diners a three-tiered tasting menu and immersive culinary experience.
Photos courtesy Day Date
Andrew Black, Grey Sweater and Black Walnut – OKC
When it comes to fine dining in Oklahoma City, Andrew Black is a name you won’t want to miss. His inventive cuisine and use of locally sourced ingredients have made him a star in the culinary scene. Grey Sweater has no set menu, as Black believes in utilizing whatever is fresh and seasonal. This allows him to be creative with his dishes and constantly surprise his guests. Each meal is carefully crafted and sure to delight the senses. Swing by Black Walnut, which Black also co-owns, for delightful New American cuisine.
Queenie’s, Tulsa
What do a fifth grader and a retiree have in common? Well, if they’re Tulsans, they probably both went to Mondo’s as a kid. The restaurant has been delighting diners for over 50 years with such specialties like seafood Alfredo, shrimp limone and veal piccata. Their bright, sparkling new digs are every bit as welcoming as the old joint you remember.
Moni’s Pasta & Pizza, OKC
Moni’s is a family-owned and operated restaurant, serving up delicious southern Italian cuisine and New Jersey-style pizza with a hand-tossed thin crust in a casual setting. The menu features starters, salads, pasta dishes, pizzas and a variety of entrées. Gluten-free options are available.
Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano, Tulsa
Mehdi Khezri once spent a week in Rome trying different versions of spaghetti carbonara. He picked the best for Ti Amo, and that’s just one of the many satisfying dishes you’ll find there, including an 18-oz., bone-in ribeye with fettuccine, and linguine pescatore with shrimp, mussels and lobster. If you’ve been in anytime in the last decade, Mehdi will surely remember you and greet you with true affection.
Patrono, OKC
Executive chef Jonathan Krell creates innovative Italian dishes with conventional Italian components. On Patrono’s menu, you may find specials like grilled chicken breast with blackened heirloom tomatoes and sweet corn succotash, as well as other small plates, pastas and flatbreads.
NYC Pizza, Tulsa
New York City has a bare-bones pizza by the slice shop on every corner, and one of them ended up in Tulsa. Get a slice, over 20 toppings to choose from, or get a whole pie. The calzones are great, too.
Stella’s Modern Italian Cuisine, OKC This restaurant sets itself apart by serving inventive Italian fare and house-made pasta that rotates regularly. You can share a few small plates or enjoy them solo, but either way, there’s plenty for everyone. Enjoy the patio for al fresco dining, as well as weekend brunch.
Tucci’s, Tulsa
In the beginning, 30 years ago, there were lines out the door. “People had fun,” recalls the legendary Doris Matthews, who helmed Tucci’s for 25 years. “The place was full, and full of laughter.” The raucous days are gone, but Tucci’s still attracts crowds for relaxed dinners on the patio, with filling and delicious dishes such as chicken scallopini, pasta primavera, and their famous version of spaghetti and meatballs.
Dalesandro’s, Tulsa
Sonny Dalesandro started working at his father’s restaurant when he was twelve – now he runs it. He and his veteran staff happily
Moni’s, OKC
welcome both newcomers and regulars who have been visiting for decades, delighting all with sprightly, delicious dishes such as pollo arrosto, pasta carbonara and their exquisite swordfish piccata – a meaty filet fried a la meuniere and served with a lemon and caper sauce.
Traditional Neapolitan-style pizzas are the specialty at this Midtown eatery, in addition to other tasty Italian dishes. Pies on the menu range from classic to innovative combinations like fig jam, pancetta and goat cheese. Diners can also enjoy calzones, salads and starters. Outdoor seating is available.
Rich creamy pasta dishes, such as lobster ravioli a la vodka, plus a wide range of entrées – both authentic dishes from every region of Italy and Italian-inspired creations – and the legendary weekly wine dinners have made Tuck Curren’s Biga a favorite of many a Tulsan, who have made it their home away from home.
Flip’s Wine Bar, OKC
This local favorite is the perfect spot for a glass of wine and a bite to eat in a casual setting. Classic Italian fare featuring a wide selection of pasta and seasonal specials, as well as full bar, beckon regulars and newcomers alike. Patio seating, weekend brunch, and late-night dining are available.
Freddie’s Bar-B-Q and Steakhouse, Tulsa
Warm, inviting and filled with the aroma of great food, Freddie’s is a Sapulpa tradition 60+ years in the making. Along with barbecue favorites like smoked ribs and bologna, Freddie’s offers a variety of seafood options as well as steaks and shish-kabobs.
Tucci’s, Tulsa Photo courtesy Webb Branding
Ti Amo Ristorante Italiano, Tulsa
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Owning an animal comes with plenty of responsibilities. Veterinarians weigh in to help you take the best possible care of your pet – from spotting behavioral warning signs of serious diseases to sussing out body language and curbing separation anxiety.
Since dogs and cats can’t use words to communicate, they rely on body language to give you the signs – through ears, eyes, tail and posture.
“Some general indications that a dog is stressed include panting when not hot, lip licking when not eating, yawning, pacing and moving away,” says Anna Woolley, DVM, with Tulsa’s Woodland West Animal Clinic. “Many of us are used to looking at a wagging tail as a happy or friendly dog. While a gentle wag in a moderate position suggests a dog is willing to interact, a sti wagging tail held high suggests arousal or aggression. A tucked tail suggests fear, and this dog, as well as the dog with the sti tail, need their space.”
e presence or absence of eye contact is also telling, she says.
“A direct gaze suggests a dog is willing to interact, but if the gaze is tense with tight lips
By Tracy LeGrandand eyelids pulled back, this dog needs to be avoided,” she says. “A slightly averted gaze, or one where the white of the eyes are seen, may convey submission or fear.”
When it comes to the ears, “relaxed, alert ears with relaxed eyes usually indicate a dog is willing to interact,” she says. “Tense, alert ears with tight lips and a harsh gaze conveys arousal or aggression. Ears softly pulled back indicate a submissive or non-threatening posture.”
Cat body language, however, is a bit more di cult to read, says Woolley.
“A soft tail movement usually conveys a content cat, while a icking tail means the cat is unhappy,” she says. “ e overall relaxed or tense appearance in eyes and ears are similar to the dog, except much more subtle. Cats can escalate from apparent relaxation to fear and aggression very quickly.”
When it comes to common health issues with animals, knowing some potential warning signs can make all the di erence.
External parasites, like eas and ticks, and internal parasites, like hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and tapeworms, plus ear infections, are all common with animals, says Todd Yeagley, DVM, also with Woodland West Animal Hospital.
Some general behaviors to watch out for, he says, include excessive vomiting, scooting, itching/scratching continuously, signi cant hair loss, and rubbing the ears and face across surfaces.
“Luckily, we are living in a time where we have excellent preventative choices that can prevent disease or issues caused by these parasites,” he says.
When it comes to masses on the skin, Yeagley says it’s “di cult to tell whether a skin mass is benign or malignant based upon appearance or feel. It’s best to have the mass assessed by a veterinarian.”
Urinary tract infections are common in female dogs, says Yeagley, and rarer in cats. Dogs with UTIs generally urinate small, frequent amounts as compared to their normal habits.
Periodontal disease is pervasive in dogs and cats. Look for decreased appetite or hesitance to eat/drink, excessive drooling, and swelling below eyes and along the cheekbones. Yearly dental cleanings and exams, as well as daily dental chews, can help to slow the progression of dental disease. Bloodwork screenings can also detect many problems early before they cause signi cant harm.
“ e most prevalent dog breeds now are, in my experience, the Pitbull/Pit mix dogs,” says Mark Appelbaum, DVM, of Tulsa’s Appelbaum Animal Clinic. “We see a large number, and most are very sweet. Another breed that seems to get adopted a lot are Boxer mixes. Lab amd Lab mixes are also a common rescue/adopted dog.
“One of the most popular dogs being pur-
chased is the Doodle breed. ere are now many types of Doodles, including LabraDoodles, Golden-Doodles, Aussie-Doodles and Bernie-Doodles.”
When it comes to breeds that stay consistently popular over time, Appelbaum points toward Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Pit/Bull Terriers.
“However, we do see a lot of Terrier type dogs as well,” he says. “Yorkshire Terriers
Many pets prefer not to be left alone, and some get into mischief by chewing up belongings, vocalizing and greeting owners exuberantly upon their return. True separation anxiety, however, is a disorder resulting in overstimulation of the nervous system, says Woolley.
“Dogs with separation anxiety can develop gastrointestinal upset, racing heart and respiratory rates, muscular over-activity and dilated pupils. Most of these dogs will vocalize and/or pace for hours at a time, often salivating excessively. ese dogs are not being ‘bad’; they have no control over these responses,” she says.
But where does separation anxiety stem from?
“It occurs, not infrequently, in dogs that have been rehomed,” she says. “It was thought for years that dogs ‘hyper-attached’ to an owner were more prone to separation anxiety, but that is not true in most cases. e role of COVID-19 in the incidence of this disorder has not been fully studied yet, but it is likely that dogs exhibiting separation anxiety when their owners return to work likely had some anxiety to start with. ese dogs, especially dogs adopted during pandemic isolation, have had little practice getting used to their owner’s absence.”
Because anxiety disorders are a medical problem, most cases of true separation anxiety require medication as well as behavior modi cation.
are a popular breed for people to buy. e trendy dogs are the Doodles, of course, as well as Morkie - a mix of Maltese and Yorkie. I’ve been at this long enough to remember the trendy ones in the past, including the Schnoodle – a Schnauzer and Poodle mix; the Cockapoo, a Cocker and Poodle mix; and the Pekapoo, a mix of Pekingese and Poodle.”
It’s no secret that spaying or neutering your animal has ample bene ts. ese include the avoidance of euthanasia of stray animals due to population issues, as well as helping with the continual overcrowding in shelters. e behavioral bene ts associated with spaying/neutering are a reduction in roaming, mounting and urine marking, mostly in male dogs.
“Like I tell owners – they like to do what teenage boys want to do,” says Appelbaum, “which is look for girls, look for ghts and chase cars.”
But aside from these bene ts, spaying/neutering could save your animal’s life.
“From a medical standpoint, when dogs aren’t spayed or neutered at a younger age, it can lead to health issues later in life,” he says. “For females, the more heat cycles they go through increases the chance of mammary cancers later in life. We also see life-threatening uterus infections.”
When it comes to timing, “we recommend neutering dogs at a younger age,” says Appelbaum “Some people like to wait until larger dogs are more skeletally mature – around a year or so, which is ne. e health risks of not neutering younger are present as well, though. We see prostate enlargements, chronic urinary tract infections and testicular tumors in intact male dogs.”
A few common pet health issues include peridontal disease, UTIs, ear infections and external parasites.
Photo courtesy Woodland West Animal Hospital
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Joe Carson believes every client deserves honest and efficient representation, and that every case he takes is important and has merit. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Joe built his firm, Warhawk Legal, with a team focused on these beliefs. With more than 45 years of experience, Joe and his team are dedicated and experienced and have a solid reputation for building creative and valuable solutions for clients and their legal issues. Joe has successfully represented clients in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, aviation accidents, medical malpractice, and nursing home negligence, as well as oil and gas and environmental litigation. Joe and his firm have reached verdicts and settlements of over $200 million for clients.
Joe has received numerous prestigious awards from the legal community, is rated AV ® by Martindale-Hubbell®, and selected to the Super Lawyers list. Having reached million and multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, he has membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®. Joe is also a frequent speaker in the areas of litigation, personal injury and wrongful death matters.
When not helping clients Joe enjoys hunting, fishing, reading, spending time with his family and working on his ranch.
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“Getting the most for our clients” is what The Handley Law Center is all about, according to Fletcher Handley. “Whether it’s a personal injury case, or criminal defense, or family law, we put the clients’ interests first.”
Handley founded The Handley Law Center over 15 years ago, after nearly 30 years as a partner with another firm. Handley was first named to Oklahoma Super Lawyers in 2009. He is a former president of the Oklahoma Association for Justice (OAJ) and was selected as the 2018 OAJ Trial Lawyer of the Year. He is a member of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers of The National Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. In 1999, he testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in opposition to a proposed national no-fault car insurance bill.
Handley’s sons, Ashton and Alex, both followed him into the Navy and eventually into the practice of law at The Handley Law Center. Ashton is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans. He is named again in 2022 as a Super Lawyers honoree in the area of criminal defense and also practices in family law, cannabis law and personal injury. He is a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers and a graduate of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s 2015 Leadership Academy.
Alex is a graduate of the film school at the University of Southern California and worked in the film industry for many years before returning to Oklahoma for law school. He is a member of the Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers and is honored to be selected to Rising Stars since 2019 in the area of plaintiff personal injury. Alex’s practice also includes criminal defense in all Oklahoma courts.
The Handley Law Center is proud to be a charter member of Primerus, an international association of some of the world’s finest law firms. With over 60 years of combined legal experience and offices conveniently located in Oklahoma City and El Reno, the attorneys at The Handley Law Center represent clients throughout Oklahoma. Their only goals are good outcomes for their clients.
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White & Weddle, P.C. was founded in 1997 with the philosophy of providing individualized attention to every client. Understanding and satisfying client needs are top priorities at White & Weddle. “We are in the business of helping people,” says Joe E. White, Jr. “Individualized attention is a must in every case we handle.”
Joe has been named to the Super Lawyers list since 2006, and this year marks the ninth appearance for Charles C. Weddle III, who was previously a Rising Stars honoree for six years. This is the second year Associate Kate C. White has been named a Rising Stars honoree. White & Weddle attorneys have also received Martindale-Hubbell’s® highest AV® rating and are listed in TheBarRegisterofPreeminentLawyers™.
The partners, with more than 60 years of combined civil and criminal litigation experience, lead a dynamic team of lawyers, paralegals, assistants and trusted consultants in
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verdicts where clients have been wronged or injured. White & Weddle believes preparing for trial is the only way to guarantee maximizing the clients’ results. Many insurance companies deny valid claims because they believe money and power set them above the law. As contingency fee attorneys serving the entire state of Oklahoma, White & Weddle works on all personal injury claims without pay until justice is achieved. Only then do they get paid.
White & Weddle also represents members of the largest teachers’ union in Oklahoma. “Teachers in Oklahoma need a voice, and we are proud to get the chance to defend teachers at the local level and in the criminal and civil arenas,” says Kate.
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Joe E. White, Jr. Charles C. Weddle IIIS-10 S-10 S-10 S-10 S-10 S-10 S-10 S-12 S-12 S-14 S-14 S-14 S-15 S-16 S-16 S-16 S-16 S-16 S-16 S-16 S-16 S-16 S-17 S-17 S-17 S-17 S-17 S-18 S-18 S-18 S-18 S-18 S-19 S-19 S-19 S-20 S-20 S-21 S-22 S-22 S-22 S-22 S-22 S-22 S-22 S-22 S-23 S-23 S-23 S-24 S-25 S-25 S-26 S-26 S-26 S-26 Tax S-26 S-26 S-26 S-26
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Jim Buxton is an experienced trial lawyer licensed to practice in all Oklahoma state and federal courts. For the last decade he has worked with lawyers from across the country to obtain justice for people that have been injured, accused or wronged.
Jim welcomes the opportunity to work with and mentor lawyers that have great cases, but do not have the experience or resources to get the case to trial. Lawyers who co-counsel and joint venture their cases with Jim walk away with better settlements and verdicts and gain valuable skills and knowledge in the process.
the Oklahoma Association for Justice (OAJ) and co-chairman of the OAJ Trial Academy and Mentors Program. He frequently teaches trial skills at legal seminars and is on the teaching faculty at the Gerry Spence Method in Dubois, Wyoming. Mr. Buxton is also a proud member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and MultiMillion Dollar Advocates Forum®; is rated AV® by Martindale-Hubbell®; and has been selected to Super Lawyers in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
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CONTINUED ON PAGE S-24
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ON PAGE S-26
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Jean, Jacob Sommer Lee, Katherine
Lao cuisine may not be very well-known outside its native country, but that’s starting to change thanks to chefs like Je Chanchaleune, who’s bringing traditional Laotian recipes to OKC. Ma Der Lao Kitchen opened September 2021 and was named one of the best new restaurants in the country this year by e
New York Times and Bon Appétit.
Chanchaleune, who is Laotian-American, spent over 20 years cooking Japanese cuisine. He’s the chef behind other OKC powerhouses including Goro Ramen and Gun Izakaya, the latter of which earned him a James Beard Foundation semi nalist slot for Best Chef, Southwest. After moving Goro to the Paseo District, he decided it was time to return to his roots.
“I wanted to do the food I grew up eating and loving,” he says.
Many of the dishes on the menu are based on traditional recipes passed down through Chanchaleune’s mother and grandmother. One of his favorite Lao dishes
up – and now the restaurant’s most
popular o ering – is the crispy rice salad. e dish, Chanchaleune says, highlights multiple textural components and avors, with crisp fried rice, herbaceous cilantro and mint, and crunchy peanuts.
“I didn’t want to water it [the food] down or chef it up too much, because this was going to be the rst time Oklahomans were going to have Laos food, and I wanted them to have pure avors,” he says. He did, however, perfect his recipes by using top-of-the-line ingredients, spices and cooking techniques.
Chanchaleune describes Laos food as “very bold, in your face, unapologetic – favoring more savory, funky, spicy, bitter and sour notes compared to Vietnamese and ai cuisine, whose avors are more sweet and sour.”
On the surface, Laotian food may seem unfamiliar. Yet several dishes commonly thought of as ai cuisine are actually Laotian. Two of these are sticky rice (khao niew) and papaya salad (thum muk hoong) which, along with a traditional minced chicken salad laab gai, are the most popular dishes at Ma Der Lao. Another well-loved o ering on the menu, also commonly thought to be ai in origin, is the khao soi.
“ is avorful pork-based broth originated in the royal capital of Luang Prabang in Laos,” says Chanchaleune. A weekly special served only on ursdays, the meal features thick rice noodles, bold pork sauce, spicy minced pork, red curry and fermented soy beans.
e key to understanding and appreciating Laotian cuisine, Chanchaleune says, is an open mind and a willingness to try new things.
“I think people will be surprised by how much they like it,” he says.
Ma Der Lao Kitchen’s menu is compact, with shareable dishes served family-style. How you enjoy the food is up to you, says Chanchaleune.
“ ere is no wrong way to eat Lao food, just create your own
favorite bit,” he says. Sticky rice and chili dip are important components of the cuisine. You can eat with your hands by using sticky rice dipped in chili and adding pieces of protein as you go, use utensils, or make a “little sandwich,” as Chanchaleune’s daughter likes to do.
e house-made Lao sausage is a musttry. Chanchaleune recreated this one from memory, and it’s cooked with 20 di erent herbaceous and savory ingredients. House-made pickles are fermented with jasmine rice for refreshing crunch and acidity. e restaurant also makes two chili dips in-house. e green chili dip is made with jalapenos, and the second, jaew bong, is a roasted sweet red curry dip.
When asked about the accolades he’s received, Chanchaleune says it’s all bigger than just him.
“I want to make the Lao people, the Lao community, very happy, very proud of this food, [as well as] bring back memories and make it nostalgic,” he says. “At the same time, I want to make it accessible to Oklahomans. So far, I think we have been successful with capturing both audiences.
“My goal and vision is nally coming to fruition. What I’m doing is validation for Lao food. We should be on the map and we should have a light shined on us.”
NICKY OMOHUNDRODrive way down south to Brownsville, Texas, and then another thousand miles south through Mexico, and you’ll reach a fabled land of green valleys, rugged mountains, sea and desert. at’s Oaxaca. In the tiny villages of Oaxaca was developed arguably the most sophisticated (and delicious) cuisine of the Americas. Rich, complex sauces shimmering with avor that takes days of hard work to make. Now you can nd these sauces (called molés), other Oaxacan delights and treats from all over Mexico, such as birria tacos from Jalisco, in a bright and pleasant restaurant a half mile from downtown Tulsa: Holé Molé.
Young and enthusiastic, Manny Mendez runs the ship. He designed the menu. Ask and he’ll tell you all the thought and care behind each dish.
“Everything is from scratch,” he says. ey get fresh Oaxacan herbs, such as hoja santa, grown fresh in Texas. e pork belly for one delicious appetizer is smoked in house, then glazed with guajillo peppers. e corn used to make the tortillas is fresh from Oklahoma. ey nixtamalize it in house. ( at’s a process invented 3000 years ago near Oaxaca that dramatically improves the taste.) It takes 20 hours of hard labor. A woman from Oaxaca named Meche spends her days carefully making the molés. ey’ve also put a lot of work into plating and presentation. Still, says Mendez, “we do it fancy, but it still has the same taste as when my grandma makes it at home.”
Mendez has the slightly dazed look of a man who can’t believe that his work and dreams have become a beautiful reality. “ is is his passion project,” says Johnna Hayes, the restaurateur behind it all. “ is is his baby.”
BRIAN SCHWARTZbutcher the chickens that roamed outside, how to make shrimp into fresh spicy aguachile – to her grandson, a young boy who loved nothing more than to watch his grandma cook.
Later on, that grandson, Damian Hernandez, moved to Flagsta , Ariz., and then to Tulsa. He was always working in restaurants.
“I love to cook,” he says. “ at’s my passion. When there’s a family party, I’m the one who cooks.”
When Ridge Grill opened in south Tulsa back in 2011, Damian found work there. Veteran chef David Dean saw his potential, taught him how to cook European-style ne dining dishes, and soon made Damian his sous-chef.
At some point about a year ago, owner Mir Khezri decided to open a Mexican restaurant next door, the Ridge Cantina. Good authentic Mexican food in an upscale setting – that was Khezri’s idea, and Damian was a perfect t.
For almost four months, he and another chef, Joe Ensinia, took over the Ridge Grill kitchen for four hours each morning before the place opened. ey talked, they cooked, they brainstormed – and slowly, over the months, the menu came together.
e line-up focuses on not only complex avors, but proper presentation, color and texture. e elote corn, still on the cob, all reds and yellows, comes with smoky grill marks. e shrimp aguachile, another of Augustina’s creations, raw pink shrimp, carefully layered like a round smokestack with lots of green (cucumber, cilantro, lime, avocado, jalapeno) is a delight to look at and even better to eat – so fresh, sharp and citric.
Photo by Stephanie PhillipsAlmost a century ago, a little girl named Augustina Florentino lived in a tiny, sun-kissed village in Puebla, Mexico, right near the Oaxacan border. Her mother, who was from Oaxaca, taught her how to prepare Oaxacan and Pueblan molés – those fantastic sauces that are the glory of Mexican cuisine. She always used spices fresh from the garden, roasting the chiles, adding bananas and cinnamon and the rest of the 27 ingredients, spending hours making sure the rich molé sauce was perfect.
Many years later in the city of Puebla, Augustina taught all this and more – like how to catch and
ree of Augustina’s molés are on the menu, made with fresh spices just the way she used to create them. ere’s chocolate-colored molé poblano, the most famous; molé pipian, green and made from pumpkin seeds; and molé chichilo, dark and smoky, a very rare molé from Oaxaca (it goes great with tenderloin).
“Too many people think of Mexican food as routine, Americanized Tex-Mex, something cheap and cheaply made,” says Damian. “I want to show them that Mexican and ne dining can mix.”
While we lost Augustina last year at the age of 90, I think she would have approved.
BRIAN SCHWARTZFor
Carry
Boston Deli (Tulsa)
JTR Group (Tulsa)
Lambruzco’s (Tulsa) Nola’s (Tulsa)
Rib Crib (Statewide)
Desserts: Antoinette Baking Co. (Tulsa)
Ingredients
½
a variety of
Hammett House (Tulsa)
Reasor’s (Northeast OK)
Whole Foods (Statewide)
Café 110 (OKC)
Blue Moon Cafe (Tulsa)
Tulsa
Mary Eddy’s (OKC) Parlor (OKC)
Cracker Barrel (Statewide)
Sam’s Club (Statewide)
La Baguette Bistro (OKC)
TULSA BALLET PRESENTS: CARMEN Nov. 3-6 Tulsa PAC The story of Carmen will leave you breathless. tulsaballet.org
THEATRE TULSA PRESENTS: SPAMALOT –SCHOOL EDITION Nov. 4-6 Tulsa PAC Lovingly ripped off from the classic Monty Python film, Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur with a fascinating ensemble. tulsapac.com
THEATRE TULSA PRESENTS: OUR TOWN Nov. 11-20 Tulsa PAC Theatre Tulsa was the first local theatre to perform Thornton Wilder’s tragi-comic masterpiece away from Broadway. Eight decades later, they’re honored to return to Grover’s Corners for this moving portrait about small town life. theatretulsa.org
CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA
PRESENTS: MAXWELL QUARTET Nov. 13 Tulsa PAC The Maxwell Quartet is firmly regarded as one of Britain’s finest young string quartets. chambermusictulsa.org
TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS SENSATIONAL: DVOŘÁK’S SYMPHONY NO. 7 Nov. 19 Tulsa PAC Enjoy the music of the TSO with guest conductor Stefan Asbury. tulsapac.com
CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS
PRESENTS: SIX Nov. 23-27 Tulsa PAC From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the six wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power. tulsapac.com
BAD SUNS Nov. 6 Cain’s Ballroom American rock band Bad Suns visits Cains Ballroom. cainsballroom.com
ROD WAVE Nov. 13 BOK
Center AG Entertainment Touring and Mammoth proudly present the Rod Wave Beautiful Mind Tour. bokcenter.com
CHRIS TOMLIN AND HILLSONG UNITED Nov. 14 BOK
Center The multi-platinum selling and multi-awardwinning artists Chris Tomlin and United announce the addition of a third leg, with a stop in Tulsa. bokcenter.com
PENTATONIX Nov. 23 BOK Center Pentatonix proudly presents their Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular! 2022 Tour. bokcenter.com
STICKER BOOK: JULIE ALPERT Through Nov. 20 Ahha Tulsa See works from talented artist Julie Alpert at this exciting show. ahhatulsa.org
DONALD G. LONGCRIER: SIN TITULO Through Nov. 23 108 Contemporary See the work of Donald Longcrier at 108 Contemporary. 108contemporary.org
MARTINE GUTIERREZ: INDIGENOUS WOMAN Through Nov. 27 Philbrook Indigenous Woman began in 2014 when artist Martine Gutierrez served as art director, photographer and model to create an entire world of high fashion in a 124-page glossy magazine. philbrook.org
IT’S CORN! Through
Dec. 31 Philbrook Museum of Art Predating this viral, songified interview with the “Corn Kid” by thousands of years, Native American tribes have been and continue to sing the praises of corn. philbrook.org
SLUMGULLION: THE VENERATE OUTPOST
Ongoing Philbrook Museum of Art Philbrook is proud to partner with award-winning artist Karl Unnasch to present Slumgullion, a full-scale log cabin built from the skeleton of a late-1800s pioneer home. philbrook.org
CONGRESS Nov. 4-12
Expo Square Enjoy equine action for two exciting weeks. exposquare.com
5 Expo Square Fair Meadows is home to exhilerating horse racing; don’t miss out! exposquare.com
UNIVERSITY OF TULSA FOOTBALL Nov. 5, 18 H.A. Chapman Stadium The Golden Hurricane returns to the gridiron. tulsahurricane.com TULSA OILERS Nov. 5-27 BOK Center See the Oilers take on a variety of competitors. bokcenter.com
USA BMX GRAND NATIONALS Nov. 23-27 Expo Square From the moment that the starting gate slams down and racers blast at a full sprint toward the first obstacle, BMX racing will give you that rush of adrenaline you’ve been looking for. usabmx.com
FIRST FRIDAY ART
CRAWL Nov. 4 Downtown Tulsa Since 2007, the Tulsa Arts District has presented the community with rotating art displays as part of the First Friday Art Crawl. travelok.com
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
FESTIVAL Nov. 4 Living Arts of Tulsa Historically, this festival is one of the
Performances are around every corner this November –including a few early holiday treats.
At the Tulsa PAC, enjoy Carmen Nov. 3-6, by Tulsa Ballet. Stick around for other goodies that include eatre Tulsa’s Our Town on Nov. 11-20; Chamber Music Tulsa’s presentation of the Maxwell Quartet on Nov. 12-13 (with a performance at ahha Tulsa Nov. 11); and Tulsa Symphony’s Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 on Nov. 19. Lastly, Celebrity Attractions brings Six to Tulsa from Nov. 23-27. e story, described as a “euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power,” follows the six wives of Henry VIII as they “remix ve hundred years of historical heartbreak.”
e OKC Philharmonic remains as busy as ever this month at the Civic Center Music Hall with three performances. First up is Happy 90th, John Williams!, running Nov. 4-5 in a tribute to one of the world’s most lauded composers. Return for Bolero! on Nov. 12 with guest conductor Joseph Young, and conclude your anksgiving outings with Home Alone in Concert on Nov. 26. OKC Broadway also o ers two shows at the Civic Center this month – Tootsie on Nov. 15-20 and the iconic Mannheim Steamroller Christmas on Nov. 22. You can also visit the Harn Homestead to view Lyric eatre’s A Christmas Carol from Nov. 16-Dec. 23, a tradition twelve years in the making.
And don’t forget performances at Stillwater’s McKnight Center for the Performing Arts; the annual Chamber Music Festival runs Nov. 4-6 and Legally Blonde: e Musical comes to town Nov. 10-11.
largest multicultural festivals to happen in the Tulsa Arts District, impacting more than 10,000 people. livingarts.org
MCNELLIE’S PUB RUN
Nov. 5 418 E. Second St. The 17th annual Tulsa McNellie’s Pub Run is a downtown Tulsa tradition that combines running (or walking) with beer drinking. travelok.com
TOUR Nov. 5 100 E. Second St. Take a fun and educational walking tour during the Second Saturday Architecture Tour. tulsaarchitecture.org
CROSS Through Nov. 5
Shepherd’s Cross, Claremore Celebrate fall with pumpkins, hayrides and harvest educational activities at Shepherd’s Cross, an authentic working farm in Claremore. shepherdscross.com
DAVID SEDARIS Nov. 10 Tulsa PAC With sardonic wit and incisive social
critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. tulsapac.com
PRESENTS: JON MEACHAM Nov. 18
Tulsa PAC Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer. See him live courtesy Tulsa Town Hall. tulsapac.com
LIGHTS ON Nov. 24 Utica Square Watch as Utica Square becomes a winter wonderland with thousands of lights. uticasquare.com
Nov. 25 BOK Center Work off that Thanksgiving feast at the Tulsa Turkey Trot. travelok.com
GARDEN OF LIGHTS Nov. 25-Dec. 30 Tulsa Botanic Garden Visit a magical garden aglow with festive lights. tulsabotanic.org
CHANGING PERCEPTIONS BY MOVING MINDS: A MENTAL
HEALTH AND DANCE SYMPOSIUM Nov. 5 Tulsa Ballet Engage in a mental health and dance symposium designed to increase awareness and acceptance of mental health issues. okcnp.org
BARONS’ BALL Nov. 12 181 Ranch, Bixby The Cattle Barons’ Ball is the signature gala of the American Cancer Society. okcnp.org
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY Nov. 12 Doubletree Downtown National Philanthropy Day is the region’s premier philanthropy conference and luncheon for the Eastern Oklahoma regional fundraising community. okcnp.org
OKC PHIL PRESENTS: HAPPY 90TH, JOHN WILLIAMS! Nov. 4-5 Civic Center Music
Hall OKCPHIL joins orchestras across the country in celebrating the 90th birthday of the legendary composer John Williams. okcphil.org
OKLAHOMA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK PRESENTS: BLITHE SPIRIT Though Nov. 5 Oklahoma Shakespeare on Paseo Book your tickets to see Blithe Spirit, performed live by Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park this Halloween season. okshakes.org
OKC PHIL PRESENTS: BOLERO! Nov. 12 Civic Center Music Hall Enjoy the philharmonic with guest conductor Joseph Young. okcphil.org
OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS:
TOOTSIE Nov. 15-20 Civic Center Music Hall This laughout-loud love letter to the theater tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work. okcbroadway.com
LYRIC THEATRE PRESENTS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL Nov. 16-Dec. 23 Harn Homestead Lyric Theatre celebrates its 12th anniversary of A Christmas Carol with an outdoor production. lyrictheatreokc.com
OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS Nov. 22 Civic Center Music Hall This show by Chip Davis has been America’s favorite holiday tradition for over 35 years. okcbroadway. com
OKC PHIL PRESENTS: HOME ALONE IN CONCERT Nov. 26 Civic Center Music Hall After a Thanksgiving Day filled with turkey, then the mad shopping of Black Friday, take time to wind down with this holiday classic. okcphil.org
GRETA VAN FLEET Nov. 4 Paycom Center Greta Van Fleet comes to OKC with special guests Durand Jones and The Indications, plus Crown Lands. paycomcenter.com
TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS Nov. 12 Paycom
Center Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center continues its 20th anniversary celebration with the announcement of Tahlequah’s own Turnpike Troubadours. paycomcenter.com
JUDAS PRIEST: 50 HEAVY METAL YEARS Nov. 20 Paycom Center One of heavy metal’s all-time greats, Judas Priest, celebratse their 50th anniversary this year with the launch of a new North American fall tour. paycomcenter.com
OUTLAWMAN Nov. 19-May 7 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Using the museum’s material culture object collection, works of art, and the Glenn Shirley Collection in the DRC, this exhibition examines the often-thin line separating the outlaw from the lawman. nationalcowboymuseum.org
cowboy culture represents. nationalcowboymuseum.org
SOMBREROS TEXANAS AND BOSSES OF THE PLAINS: COWBOY HATS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION Through Jan. 8 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum This exhibition examines the development of what is known today as a “cowboy hat” using the museum’s permanent collection. nationalcowboymuseum.org
Through Jan. 9 Oklahoma Contemporary La casa que nos inventamos provides an opportunity to consider how, since the 2000s, one city in Mexico has built upon its rich cultural history as the capital of the state of Jalisco. oklahomacontemporary.or
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ROSE FAMILY GLASS COLLECTION Through Jan. 15 OKCMOA Highlights provides visitors with a deeper contextual understanding of OKCMOA’s collection of Chihuly glass by showcasing the broader story of the Studio Glass movement. okcmoa.comg
Through Jan. 15 OKCMOA Kiarostami: Beyond the Frame is a multimedia, retrospective survey of artworks by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist, Abbas Kiarostami. okcmoa.com
Through Feb. 19 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum From 1991 to 1996, Wilson Hurley devoted his life and artistic skills to creating five enormous triptychs that depict the grandeur of the American western landscape. nationalcowboymuseum.org
Through May 1 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum From painted totem poles to ben wood boxes, northwest coast artwork is known across the world. nationalcowboymuseum.org
CHIHULY THEN AND NOW: THE COLLECTION AT TWENTY Ongoing Redesigned in collaboration with Chihuly Studio, Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty incorporates a unique design, featuring five decades of glass and painting and tells a comprehensive story of Chihuly’s groundbreaking career. okcmoa.com
OKC THUNDER BASKETBALL Nov. 1, 3, 9, 11, 21, 23, 25,
30 Paycom Center the state’s NBA team take the court against regular season foes. paycomcenter.com
OKC BLUE BASKETBALL Nov. 9, 10, 14, 16, 21, 23,
25 Paycom Center of home games with the OKC Blue. paycomcenter.com
ing Horse Association is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote the reining horse. okcfairgrounds.com
DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER
Nov. 3-Jan. 27 Downtown Spend your holidays experiencing fun activities as downtown Oklahoma City is turned into a winter wonderland. downtownindecember.com
FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Nov. 4 Paseo Arts District Visitors can enjoy art openings, wine tastings, live music and other activities. thepaseo.org
EDMOND ICE RINK Nov. 5-Jan.
15 Mitch Park The Edmond Ice Rink returns for its 12th season. edmondicerink.com
OKC RENAISSANCE AND SCOTTISH FESTIVAL Nov.
5-6 OKC Fairgrounds Enjoy a cultural celebration at the fairgrounds. okcfairgrounds.com
DAVID SEDARIS Nov. 6 Rose State College This is a unique opportunity to see the best-selling humorist in an intimate setting. okcciviccenter.com
DEVON ICE RINK Nov. 11-Jan.
29 Myriad Botanical Gardens Get ready for another great winter of outdoor ice skating. downtownindecember.com
FALL FESTIVAL AT THE ORR FAMILY FARM Through Nov. 12 Orr Family Farm Celebrate all things autumn at the Fall Festival. travelok.com
OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS Nov. 12-Jan. 1 OKC Zoo This winter, go wild and fill your holiday season with the magic of light! okczoo.org
OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM’S DAY ONE LUNCHEON Nov. 2 OKC National Memorial and Museum The Day One Luncheon begins the 168 days of remembrance as the date approaches for the 28th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. okcnp.org
RED FEATHER GALA Nov. 5 Okla-
Through Nov. 27 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum The American Cowboy is beloved around the world. As an icon, they have endured for over a century because of what
2022 AQHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Through Nov. 19 OKC Fairgrounds American Quarter Horse Association’s annual championship event. okcfairgrounds.com
2022 NRHA FUTURITY SHOW Nov. 24-Dec. 3
Fairgrounds The National Rein-
Photo by Joan Marcus courtesy Celebrity AttractionsFrom holiday activities to sporting events and festivals, November is jam-packed.
For those still craving fall activities, the Pumpkin Festival at Shepherd’s Cross runs through Nov. 5 in Claremore, replete with hayrides, pumpkin patches and educational activities. e Fall Festival at the Orr Family Farm in OKC runs through Nov. 12. You can also participate in the Piedmont and Tulsa Turkey Trots on Nov. 24 and 25, starting at 15 Jackson Ave. N.W. and the BOK Center, respectively. Lights On at Utica Square is a great transitional event, in which guests can enjoy the illumination of 700,000 lights on anksgiving Day.
Yes – Oklahomans are certainly ready for the holiday season, as evidenced in a variety of activities starting this month. In Tulsa, visit the Tulsa Botanic Garden for the Garden of Lights event, running Nov. 25-Dec. 30. Don’t miss the brand-new Route 66 Christmas Chute in downtown Sapulpa, where visitors will see blocks and blocks of Christmas lights and decorations, including “Christmas chutes” with di erent themes.
In OKC, Downtown in December begins Nov. 3 and runs through Jan. 27, o ering ice skating, plenty of lighting displays and myriad holiday activities. Edmond’s Mitch Park also o ers a rink from Nov. 5-Jan. 15. Other light displays include the OKC Zoo Safari Lights from Nov. 12-Jan. 1; the Woolaroc Wonderland of Lights in Bartlesville from Nov. 25-Dec. 18; and the Rhema Lights from Nov. 24-Jan. 2 in Broken Arrow.
For non-holiday events, visit Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival from Nov. 2-5. And you won’t want to miss the biggest BMX event of the year – the USA BMX Grand Nationals, running Nov. 23-27 at Tulsa’s Expo Square.
THE CEMENT OPRY Nov. 5 410 N. Main, Cement The Cement Opry is a monthly live variety show held in the Jesse James Ballroom, which is located above the Cement Museum. travelok.com
LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL Nov. 10-11 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater Fabulously fun and international award-winning Legally Blonde - The Musical is the ultimate Broadway tribute to girl power. mcknightcenter.org
BRET MICHAELS Nov. 4
Choctaw Casino and Resort, Grant See rocker Bret Michaels on tour. choctawcasinos.com
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL Nov. 5, 15 Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman See the OU Sooners back in action at
home. soonersports.com
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL Nov. 12, 26 Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater The OSU Cowboys take on regular season foes at home. okstate.com
PICTURE FESTIVAL Nov.
2-5 Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore The Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival celebrates film and Western heritage icon Will Rogers. dogirons.com
CHOCTAW POWWOW Nov. 4-6 Various locations, Durant Native American dancers from all over the United States gather in Durant for this powwow. choctawnation.com
FANTASY LAND OF LIGHTS Nov. 11-Dec. 30 Johnstone Park, Bartlesville Bring
the family out for this drivethrough Christmas light show. fantasylandoflights.com
YUKON ICE RINK Nov. 19-Jan. 2 500 W. Vandament Ave. Part of Yukon’s Christmas in the Park event, the Yukon Ice Rink welcomes skaters of all ages for the holiday season. yukonicerink.com
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Nov. 19-Dec. 30 Regional Park, Ardmore See more than 150 animated displays during Ardmore’s Festival of Lights. travelok.com
WOOLAROC WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS Nov. 25-Dec. 18 Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville Visitors to this much-loved event are invited to ride a wagon or stroll the grounds to enjoy a spectacular display of more than 750,000 glistening lights. woolaroc.org
As the end of year approaches, the big Oscar contenders tend to roll out en masse. But don’t you worry, we’ve got some non-Oscar bait lms this month as well, and they look just as excellent.
Starting the month o right, sit back and enjoy Weird: e Al Yankovic Story. Starring Daniel Radcli e as the titular Weird Al, the lm is a satirical parody of the biopic genre that follows Yankovic’s life from an unknown to a star. It looks to present almost every part of his life with an exaggerated spin, with some parts bordering on straight up fabrication. Prepare for the weird when it releases on the Roku Channel Nov. 4.
Next up, the boys from the bizarre Adult Swim show arenally back with Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm. Based on the animated TV series Aqua Teen Hunger Force, this is the second lm following the 2007 entry, hilariously titled Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for eaters. Directed and written by the show’s creators Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis, the trailer indicates a wild plot about overgrown weeds and a tech mogul who owns Amazin, so your guess is as good as mine as to what the heck happens. It
the 1950s, the lm is sure to have a beautiful story and set pieces all about one of the greatest living directors and his early life. It hits theaters on Nov. 11.
For the should-be-an-Oscarchoice-but-likely-won’t-getnominated pick, I present to you e Menu. Starring Ralph Fiennes as Chef Slowik, the horror comedy centers around a couple, played by Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, traveling to a remote island to dine at an incredibly fancy restaurant. ere, Slowik prepares his food using molecular gastronomy ... as well as something else that’s not revealed in the trailer but is shocking to his guests. Fiennes is a powerhouse actor, so his performance will likely steal the show in the best way possible when this hits theaters on Nov. 18.
Next, an apocalyptic black comedy titled White Noise. Based on the 1985 book of the same name, the lm stars Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig as a couple trying to deal with a toxic airborne event caused by a train accident in their hometown. Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, this is his rst lm based on a previously existing work, but it looks to retain his trademark elements. It comes to theaters on Nov. 25 before moving to Net ix on Dec. 30.
In 1996, Kari Watkins became the Oklahoma City National Memorial’s rst-ever sta member. Now, she’s the executive director of the memorial and the museum, as well as race director for the Memorial Marathon. Under Watkins’ leadership, the museum and memorial have received a slew of accolades and awards, including accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, the Videographer Award of Excellence and multiple PRSA Awards. Watkins is a mother of two and lives in OKC with her husband, Hardy. We caught up with her and got her thoughts on ...
A local attorney I was using for a business transaction recommended he pass along my resume to his partner Bob Johnson, who had been asked by Mayor Norick and Gov. and Mrs. Keating to chair the Memorial process. I said sure, never really thinking anything would come of it. I had a call from Bob that night, met with others from the Memorial Task Force, and quickly saw the community’s passion for creating something very unique and special. While I had witnessed the ‘Oklahoma standard’ rst hand as a third generation Oklahoman, I had no idea what the magnitude of this job would become. But, I quickly realized that remembering the brutality of the attack and the tenderness of the response, and educating about the senselessness of violence, would be an important life calling.
e mayor appointed a 350 member task force to look at what the memorial could become. It was a process that started in the summer of 1995 and lasted through the completion of the museum in February 2001. We met with families and survivors the last Monday of every month for ve years. All this was before the internet as we know it today, but it gave everyone a chance to participate if they so chose to do so.
e rst step was to create a mission statement, then a process for the design competition and story creation for the Museum. All this had to be done while raising funds to build it.
We went to Congress to talk about the process (the days of President Bill Clinton and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich) and knew the process had to stay at the local level. e design was discovered through an international competition
of 624 designs from all 50 states and 23 countries. Ground was broken in October of 1998 and dedicated in April 2000. e Memorial Museum was dedicated in February 2001. People are still surprised to learn today that this was built with $5 million federal dollars, $7 million state dollars and more than $12 million in private donations. Today as a national memorial, it is owned and operated by the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation.
I have a passion for teaching this story, nding new stories and storytellers, and making sure this next generation learns the impact and senselessness of violence.
Without a doubt, the Gallery of Honor, showing the 168 faces of those who were killed, and an artifact that honors their life.
To step to the museum interactives and watch home video, understanding why they chose the symbol they did, is powerful. e handwritten recipe from a mother to her daughter impacts me the most. My
hope is everyone can nd some place or some story in the museum that is relatable.
Our goal is to keep adding to our online Virtual Hope Trunks with artifacts, stories and objects that help tell our story to people near and far. Our educational programming will continue to improve, and the Memorial Marathon is adding a new Senior Marathon, which allows those 65 and older to participate by running/walking/jogging one mile a week then running/walking/jogging the last 1.2 miles on race weekend.
Oklahoma City has done so much in the last 27 years, it is hard to imagine all that we have done united together. I think we have to continue to work to show a community is united through the hard times, so we can celebrate the good that comes along the way.
COM/KARI WATKINSONLINE TO READ MORE OF OUR INTERVIEW, VISIT OKMAG.
