The Tulsa Voice | Vol. 3 No. 8

APRIL 6 - 19, 2016

// V O L . 3 N O . 8

YOUR 2016 WINNERS FOOD + DRINK ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT AROUND TOWN

2 // CONTENTS

April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD BEER.

McNELLIE’S TULSA McNellies.com 409 E. 1st Street

THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

McNELLIE’S SOUTH McNelliesSouthCity.com 7031 S. Zurich Avenue

McNELLIE’S OKC McNelliesOKC.com 10th & Walker

McNELLIE’S NORMAN McNelliesNorman.com 121 E. Main Street

CONTENTS // 3

4 // CONTENTS

April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

contents

April 6 – 19, 2016 // vol. 3 no. 8

VALERIE GRANT

N E W S & C O M MEN TA RY

Not just numbers Punching down, Oklahoma style BARRY FRIEDMAN // 8

FOOD & DRINK

East meets West The Rising Sun serves quirky Japanese fusion MEGAN SHEPHERD // 10

THE BEST OF TULSA

M U S I C & A RT S

Spirit of rebellion

Your 2016 winners and finalists | 13

COVER PHOTO BY MICHELLE POLLA RD

An interview with Black Milk

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD Send all letters, complaints, compliments & haikus to:

voices@ langdonpublishing.com PUBLISHER Jim Langdon MANAGING EDITOR Joshua Kline ART DIRECTOR Madeline Crawford ASSISTANT EDITOR Liz Blood DIGITAL EDITOR John Langdon GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Morgan Welch, Georgia Brooks PHOTOGRAPHY/MULTIMEDIA Greg Bollinger

facebook.com/thetulsavoice twitter.com/thetulsavoice instagram.com/thetulsavoice

MARY NOBLE // 46 42 // The Way I’d Rather Live

43 // Opening night

Liz Blood, confabulator

John Tranchina, linesman

An interview with On Being’s Krista Tippett

Roughnecks hope to build on success in second season

guestspeaker

lo calsports

FILM & TV 49 // House of Underwood Landry Harlan, bardhead

‘House of Cards’ season four goes full Macbeth popradar

AD SALES MANAGER Josh Kampf CONTRIBUTORS Nicci Atchley, Claire Edwards, Barry Friedman, Mitch Gilliam, Valerie Grant, Landry Harlan, Mary Noble, Joe O’Shansky, Michelle Pollard, Megan Shepherd, John Tranchina

1603 S. Boulder Ave. Tulsa, OK 74119 P: 918.585.9924 F: 918.585.9926 PUBLISHER Jim Langdon PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNICATIONS Susie Miller CONTROLLER Mary McKisick RECEPTION Gloria Brooks, Gene White

The Tulsa Voice’s distribution is audited annually by Circulation Verification Council THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

50 // H ollywood by way of Dante Joe O’Shansky, dreamboat

‘Knight of Cups’ is a primordial nightmare filmphiles

R E G U L A R S // 44 thehaps // 48 musiclistings // 51 crossword CONTENTS // 5

editor’sletter

F

VALERIE GRANT

ollowing the tradition of alt-weeklies across the country, the Best of Tulsa Awards offer a platform for readers to recognize the civic contributions of the local businesses, community leaders and creatives that form our city’s identity. From beloved restaurants and bars and the immensely talented chefs, bartenders and staff behind them to social media personalities, musicians, museums, and organizations challenging our city to be better—this list offers a CliffsNotes of the talent and passion driving Tulsa’s growth.

But we have an embarrassment of riches, and the BOT Awards are not the last word. There’s far too much going on in Tulsa, far too many subcultures and pockets of activity, too many unheralded visionaries, artists, makers, thinkers and businesspeople doing extraordinary things under the radar to craft a definitive, all-inclusive list that recognizes every facet of what makes our city thrive.

In that light, calling it the “Best of Tulsa” is something of a mis-

nomer. It creates an easy acronym around which we can craft a cute mascot, but “Best” implies objective superiority, a “this-not-that” mentality that, when taken too literally, can diminish the work of a lot of badass people and places that also deserve recognition.

Next issue, The Tulsa Voice staff will highlight just a few of those badasses who aren’t featured on this list but whose contributions are indispensible.

So here it is: your favorite people, places, and things to do, determined after several months of nominating, voting and winnowing. We asked for your opinion and you gave it to us. At no time did The Tulsa Voice interfere—you alone chose the winners. Congratulations to all of the BOT finalists, and to everyone else working tirelessly to shape Tulsa into a more cultured, vibrant, inviting city. We’re grateful for everything you do. a

JOSHUA KLINE MANAGING EDITOR

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6 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

Thundershirt anxiety wrap

Thank You!

…for donating over 2,100 pounds of food during our March campaign to support “Feeding the Pets of Tulsa’s Homeless”!

April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

ART & SOUL Expressive Arts for Vets

April 21, 2016 6:00-8:00 p.m.

FREE

675 SQ FT COMMERCIAL SPACE AVAILABLE 5/1/2016 for $1100 a month.

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Discover the healing powers of creativity in this art class designed especially for veterans. Explore artist Rick Bartow’s world of art, learn to communicate without words and how to create expressive works of art. Enjoy this easy, fun class designed for veterans and their partners. No previous art experience is required.

RSVP to Cindy Williams at cindy-williams@utulsa.edu, or 918-631-4402.

124 EAST M.B. BRADY STREET • TULSA, OK 74103

TU is an EEO/AA institution.

Tobacco is still a problem in Oklahoma.

THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

NEWS & COMMENTARY // 7

viewsfrom theplains

Not just numbers Punching Down, Oklahoma style

by BARRY FRIEDMAN

I

nstitutional callousness was averted last month when the State Senate Committee on Health and Human Services voted against HB 2665, an inexplicably heartless piece of legislation that would have eliminated Medicaid benefits for any “non pregnant able-bodied adults under sixty-five years of age.”

I shudder to think how ‘able-bodied adults’ would have been defined.

But I digress.

Authored by Rep. Doug Cox, Senator Brian Crain and Representative Jason Murphey (all Republicans), the bill would have removed—count ‘em—111,000 Oklahomans from receiving Medicaid coverage, including 80,000 single mothers making less than $9,000 per year.

This wasn’t just bad math. This was mean.

111,000 people, neighbors. 1 For the love of God. So how did we get to a point in Oklahoma where something like this was even considered?

HB 2665 was actually a request for a waiver by which Oklahoma could change the rules on who participates in the Medicaid program, so even if it had been passed by the Oklahoma Senate and signed by the governor (the House already approved it), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would have had to sign-off on it before the provisions could take effect.

And that was never going to happen.2 The Department of Health and Human Services, however, allows waivers for demonstration projects that promote Medicaid’s 8 // NEWS & COMMENTARY

that, but we won’t because, you know, Obama.4

overall objective — namely, to provide health coverage to vulnerable populations that can’t afford health care. Saving money isn’t a proper purpose for a demonstration project, and eliminating coverage for poor parents doesn’t further the objective of Medicaid.

So why would any state legislator pursue such horrid public policy that had almost no chance of becoming law? Why would any of them waste time on a bill whose optics were so justifiably cruel? Why would any feel the need to tap-dance on the poor and the uncertainty with which they live every day?

Forget it, Jake, it’s Oklahoma.

Cox said that if all went according to plan, HB 2665 would have saved the state $130-million, meaning the present budget deficit, now a bloated $1.3-billon, would have been reduced to a more manageable $1.17-billion.

Yeah, that’s what we were talking about.

And all was never going to go according to plan.3

Such a move would save the state an estimated $130 million a year, according to the bill’s fiscal impact statement, but cost $203 million in federal matching funds.

Read that again. If we went ahead without HHS approval (anyone want to bet there wouldn’t have been someone in the GOP caucus who would have insisted on doing so anyway because who’s the federal government to tell us we couldn’t?) HHS would have almost certainly withdrawn $200-million in federal reimbursements, resulting in not only 111,000 people walking around without healthcare, but $70-million less to insure those who still do.

Even we weren’t stupid enough to do that, right? … Right? Well, until the senate committee voted it down, that’s exactly what was being planned.

More to the point (and this has always been the point and Cox knows it), Oklahoma could have accepted (and could be accepting) ACA funds, aka free money, which would save a lot more than

A report by the health consulting group Leavitt Partners commissioned by the state two years ago showed that while the direct cost to the state of Medicaid expansion would be $850 million over the next decade, the infusion of revenue through billions of dollars in federal money and the improved health of its citizens would result in a net gain to the state of nearly $500 million over 10 years. The same report projected that between 187,000 and 275,000 uninsured Oklahomans would receive health coverage under the expansion.

How about that? We’d gain revenue, insure more people, and have healthier residents by expanding Medicaid and what do we do?

Waste time on things like HB 2665.

(This was the state, let’s remember, that returned $54-million the federal government gave us just to study setting up healthcare exchanges.)

Cox is not a monster, but he was too easy on himself throughout the process.

“I don’t know how to say this.

It’s probably the best of all the bad choices,” Cox said.5

Really? Had he called House Minority Leader Scott Inman, he could have gotten some better ones.6 “We’ve cut taxes in this state by $1 billion over the last decade. We’ve increased tax credits and exemptions by $2 billion, right? We did those things and we didn’t expand April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

Medicaid because we said it would cost too much. So we passed $1 billion worth of income taxes, we gave $2 billion of tax credits and exemptions and we refused to expand Medicaid under what premise? Under the premise the economy would grow and we’d have so much money coming in that we wouldn’t have to do stuff like this. But it hasn’t happened.”

That HB 2665 was even on the table—that somehow we should cut Medicaid payments to those in need before we rescinded tax breaks and before we canceled tax cuts we can no longer (and never really could) afford—was despicable, not to mention disingenuous.

Cox is a doctor, so he should have known better than most what these health cuts would have meant. Secondly, what was he doing playing to the cheap seats by punching down on a group of Oklahomans that are already on the mat? He’s always been one of the saner7 members of the GOP asylum, too, so why now join the dark side?

Here’s what he said in 2013.8

with mental illnesses and substance use disorders are expected to lose some access, if not all access, to the state-funded services they depend on.

And this:

11

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority announced its plan Tuesday to slash by 25 percent the amount it reimburses to hospitals and physicians for treating patients on Medicaid, which is called SoonerCare in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Hospital Association President Craig Jones said the cuts will result in serious operating problems for both smaller rural and larger urban hospitals, many of which already are struggling.

In Oklahoma, the lives of the poor, which are already impossibly difficult, are now unfathomably so.

HB 2655 was just piling on.

It’s the state we’re in. a

And this: 10

1) 5newsonline.com: Oklahoma Rep Makes Impassioned Speech Against Controversial Medicaid Bill 2) Okpolicy.org: Oklahoma’s Proposed Medicaid Cut Won’t Pass Federal Muster (Guest Post: Jesse Cross-Call) 3) acasignups.net: Oklahoma: 111,000 dirt-poor people kicked off of Medicaid to keep Capital One happy.

4) mcalesternews.com: No political will for Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma 5) kfor.com: “It’s probably the best of all the bad choices,” Lawmaker responds to bill to cut single mothers from Medicaid 6) 5newsonline.com: Oklahoma Rep Makes Impassioned Speech Against Controversial Medicaid Bill 7) rollingstone.com: Meet the Republican Who Thinks His Party Has Failed on Women’s Issues 8) Newsok.com: Oklahoma lawmaker: Gov. Fallin should reconsider Medicaid expansion 9) okpolicy.org: More holes in the safety net: Oklahoma ends Uncompensated Care Fund

As a result of state budget cuts, more than 73,000 low-income Oklahomans

10) tulsaworld.com: With budget cuts, more than 73,000 Oklahomans with mental illnesses are expected to lose care

First, the Affordable Care Act is now an unavoidable reality; states would be worse off turning down the federal dollars due to the uncontested problem that all states face with access for the working poor. My colleagues and I in the Legislature need to think in terms of how to sol ve this issue, not how to stop it.

Doug Cox, have you met Doug Cox? Good news, then, on HB 2665, but this is a victory in the midst of a long statewide health losing streak.

Then there’s this: 9 To cope with mid-year budget cuts, the state Department of Health announced that it had eliminated the Uncompensated Care Fund, which covered some of the health care costs for low-income, uninsured Oklahomans at the state’s federall y-qualified community health centers.

THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

44TH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE AMERICAN INDIAN

INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT:

EMPOWERING GENERATIONS FOR PROGRESSIVE REVITALIZATION

April 10 Bible Lesson Subject: Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?

“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

April 17 Bible Lesson Subject: Doctrine of Atonement

“We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

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ARRANGEMENT FOR A SILENT ORCHESTRA

Paintings and Video by Julie Comnick April 1 - May 22 | Hardesty Arts Center

Exhibition sponsored by the Hardesty Family Foundation

OKLAHOMA STUDY OF NATIVE AMERICAN PAIN RISK RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED

$200 compensation ($100/day)

INVESTIGATORS: Drs. Jamie Rhudy & Joanna Shadlow CONTACT: The University of Tulsa Psychophysiology Research Laboratory 918-631-2175 or 918-631-3565

A novel research study is being conducted at The University of Tulsa to identify potential markers of risk for chronic pain in healthy (currently painfree) Non-Hispanic White and Native American individuals.

This study is safe, non-invasive, and does not involve medication. Participants must be able to attend 2 laboratory sessions (4-5.5 hours/day) in which physiological and behavioral reactions to different stimuli are recorded. This is a University of Tulsa and Cherokee Nation IRB approved research study.

NEWS & COMMENTARY // 9

citybites

The Rising Sun, Japanese/Asian fusion restaurant | MEGAN SHEPHERD

East meets West

The Rising Sun serves quirky Japanese fusion

by MEGAN SHEPHERD

A

s I walk into The Rising Sun near 11th and Harvard, a too-loud door chime cuts through the afternoon quiet. I’m the only person in the restaurant. The space, flooded with natural light, is especially peaceful for a lunch hour, having not yet been discovered by the hoards of college students across the street. At least for the time being, The Rising Sun, Tulsa’s newest Japanese restaurant, sits squarely under the radar.

As the sister restaurant to The Sushi Place, The Rising Sun picks up where the downtown sushi bar leaves off. Executive chef Jayme Tan emphasizes The Sushi Place and The Rising Sun are their own separate concepts—the former focusing almost exclusively on Japanese-style sushi, and the latter on Japanese-fused entrees.

Tan calls on her heritage, her culinary training, and her roots in Asian cuisine-centric San Francisco to lead the charge for both

10 // FOOD & DRINK

restaurants. As a classically trained saucier, Tan uses her knowledge to marry interesting marinades with bold Asian tastes. The result is rich broths simmered for hours, stir-fried noodles soaked in sweet, umami taste bud-tingling sauces, and thick, hearty curries made with carefully chosen, wholesome ingredients.

“Whatever I serve has to be good enough for my son,” Tan said. “Always fresh and organic.”

As Tan described it, most of the items found on The Rising Sun’s menu reflect a ‘fused’ cooking style—one that joins traditional Japanese techniques with quirky new whims. In the kitchen, old school Japanese tactics—tenderizing, marinating, and pickling— meet Western favorites like fries and Shepherd’s Pie. It’s not just Tan running the show—she’s quick to credit her talented staff and teammates.

There’s Aaron, whom she calls the “dependable, structured one,”

Matt, who loves to think outside the box, and the restaurant’s other head chef, Joey, whom Tan boasts has a “sixth sense on spices.”

Together, they plate a small but satisfying menu.

Any meal at The Rising Sun should start with the loaded fries.

While not commonly found on Asian menus, they make good sense on this one. Tan’s crispy fries are lightly seasoned, drizzled with a gravy-like sauce with a subtle hint of wasabi, and topped with fresh scallions—like a Japanese take on Canada’s poutine, without the gut-bombing dairy. The fries are delicious on their own, but even better when dipped in soy sauce.

For the popular pork belly udon, preparations begin daily at 6:00 a.m. After a four hour-long simmer, the broth is poured over thick udon noodles, slices of succulent, traditionally-prepared pork belly, and fresh spring mix, then garnished with a couple of fried dumplings.

“Pork belly should be tender, moist,” Tan said. “Ours won’t ever be crispy or fried.”

Another of The Rising Sun’s specialties is the coconut curry.

Tan said hers is a bit unusual as far as curries go; you don’t get the stronger notes of turmeric, or the sweetness found in most curries.

Hers is more like a stew and is best when poured over the accompanying coconut rice.

“It’s not the eastern Indian kind of curry, neither is it Thai curry.

It’s more like southeast.”

And although The Sushi Place is where you’ll find most of Tan and staff ’s best sushi, The Rising Sun offers a small selection of its own. The crunchy maki comes with a side of house-made pickled vegetables—a small, tangy touch, and one of the restaurant’s best.

As Tan develops new recipes and daily specials, the menu will continue to evolve.

“Expect the unexpected,” she said. a April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

SUNDAY, APRIL 17TH 2PM Oral Roberts University Mabee Center Lot

Sanctioned 5k and Fun Run/Walk 918.877.2704 | tulsawalk2016.kintera.org Free to attend!

Donations accepted in lieu of registration fee.

THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

FOOD & DRINK // 11

Fine dining…

At an affordable price!

THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE

THE TULSA VOICE

2016

BEST OF TULSA

vote f or u s

READERS’ CHOICE 2016

vot e for u s

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 303 MLK Jr. Blvd. www.gypsycoffee.com

South 918.499.1919 6024 S. Sheridan

Downtown 918.592.5151 219 S. Cheyenne

A Decidedly Different Take On Downtown Food & Drink.

THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE 2016

Voted Best New Bar!

918-794-0017 @letsgolong

All Ages Welcome Ample Parking 11 TVs Large Patio Seating Live Music

10 North Greenwood Ave Ste. A • LeftysOnGreenWood.com Across From Oneok Field • Corner of Greenwood & Archer

Thank you, Voice Readers!

THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE 2016

wBest inMuseum ner!

•

Best Place to Learn Something New

Two locations, one world-class art museum.

Stay connected. philbrook.org 12 // FEATURED

April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA 2016 You voted, we counted.

Here are your winners + finalists.

Food & Drink P14

Arts & Entertainment P26

Around Town P32

By Nicci Atchley, Liz Blood, Claire Edwards, Mitch Gilliam, Joshua Kline, John Langdon, Joe O’Shansky, Megan Shepherd Photos by Valerie Grant and Michelle Pollard BEST OF TULSA | 13

BEST NEW BAR * Lefty’s

on Greenwood

Lefty’s four-page drink menu features 15 beers on tap ranging from 3.2% abv to 14%, a strong top shelf of spirits, weekend brunch, daily happy hours, and a variety of frozen margarita flavors and popular drinks like the Peach Mule.

The walls are lined with dozens of framed records from local favorites like J.J. Cale, J.D. McPherson, Parker Millsap, and The GAP Band, alongside an array of vintage liquor advertising mirrors. The quirky, pseudo-sports bar aesthetic, bathed in a plethora of natural light, welcomes fans who want to watch the game (eight televisions, mostly near the bar) without alienating those who just want to unwind with friends or listen to the bar’s near-daily live music. It’s a hodge-podge of styles made singular; no wonder Lefty’s is Tulsa’s favorite new watering hole.

FINALISTS: Inner Circle Vodka Bar, Saturn Room

BEST INDIAN BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

The Chalkboard at the Ambassador

The Coffee House on Cherry Street

*

The Chalkboard doesn’t rest on its location laurels. It’s been around for 40-plus years but received a drastic makeover in 1999. Since then, it’s maintained a reputation as one of Tulsa’s very best restaurants. The sophisticated, worldclass menu and upscale-but-unfussy atmosphere make it a dining destination, whether or not you’re staying at the adjoining Ambassador Hotel.

Colorado rack of lamb, diver scallops, beef Wellington, Peking duck breast roulade, and small plates like crab cakes, grilled lamb lollipop with baba ganouj, chilled foie gras torchon and prime beef carpaccio with capers, lemon, parmesan and Makaron olive oil are just a few of the items that contribute to The Chalkboard’s sterling name. On the front-of-house side, the restaurant boasts a fantastic wine and cocktail list (the Chilantro—try it), and some of the most consistent service in Tulsa.

FINALISTS:

The Boiler Room at the Mayo, Daily Grill at Hyatt Regency Tulsa

BEST SANDWICH

*

*

almost spiritual reverence, the menu’s simplicity offers a universal message: cheesesteak. Gooey, glorious, Philadelphia-style cheesesteak, which you order with a childlike grin. You don’t need waffle fries, but you order those, too.

After you’ve picked out your produce at Tulsa’s favorite farmers’ market, grab a seat next to the fireplace at Tulsa’s favorite coffee house, located just around the corner at 15th and Rockford.

The Coffee House on Cherry Street—known affectionately by locals as “CHOCS”—is a haven for hot drinks (they pour Doubleshot coffee, exclusively), simple, fresh breakfast and lunch fare, and overthe-top cakes and desserts. Try the hyperlocal Sunrise (Fisher Farm eggs, pancakes made with LOMAH dairy, Farrell Family bread and local sausage or bacon), key lime pie, or grab one of CHOCS’ many gluten-free or vegan treats (the pumpkin muffin is supreme).

CHOCS even has its own mobile app with specials and updates, perfect for die-hard coffee lovers.

Just be warned: at peak hours, this coffeehouse’s overwhelming popularity translates into frequently long lines. Plan accordingly.

FINALISTS:

FINALISTS:

Phat Philly from Phat Philly’s The online menu reads “Got the munchies? We’re open till 4 a.m. on Fridays & Saturdays!” Yes, you do have the munchies. You check the time, punch the air victoriously and order an Uber. Messy visions of meat glistening with a sheen of cheese whiz, sautéed peppers and onions plague your mind on the ride over until, behold, you glimpse the yellow awning of this shrine to sandwich satiation known as Phat Philly’s.

Approaching the counter with an

Banh Mi - Lone Wolf, The Trencher - Trenchers Delicatessen

Chimera Cafe, Shades of Brown

BEST BURGER * FAT GUY’S BURGER BAR FINALISTS: Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili, The Tavern

India Palace FINALISTS: Desi Wok, Himalayas Aroma of India

BEST DELI Jason’s Deli FINALISTS: Lambrusco’z, Trenchers Delicatessen

BEST CHINESE P.F. Chang’s FINALISTS: Golden Gate, Pei Wei

BEST BARBEQUE Burn Co. FINALISTS: Albert G’s Bar-B-Q, Billy Sims BBQ 15

BEST LIQUOR STORE * PARKHILL LIQUOR & WINES FINALISTS: Modern Spirits, Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits

BROOKSIDE

BY DAY BEST HANGOVER BREAKFAST

BEST THAI Lanna Thai

Ask any Tulsan for Thai food recommendations and Lanna Thai is bound to come up. This unassuming haunt at 71st and Memorial—featuring a full bar and weekend live music—has been serving classic Thai cuisine to Tulsa since 1998.

Menu highlights are numerous. Lanna Summer Rolls are full of fresh carrots, basil, romaine, and cilantro, and are wrapped in light rice paper. The Tom Kha Gai is a hearty chicken soup made tart with lemongrass, lime leaves and tamarind juice. And of course, there’s the famous Pad Thai and Pad See-lew. Lanna Thai’s spice level operates on a scale of 1-5, ranging from mild to holy shit.

BEST OF TULSA 2016

FINALISTS: KEO, My Thai Kitchen

FINALISTS: Dilly Diner, Tally’s Good Food Cafe

BEST BRUNCH FINALISTS: Dilly Diner, SMOKE. On Cherry Street You open your eyes, immediately regretting that last shot of bourbon. A train full of sledge hammers conducted by Tom Waits barrels through your head. You have a hunger.

Brookside by Day—a Tulsa staple since 1991—offers the classic diner breakfast fare, from eggs benedict to breakfast pork chops, along with morning specials and a recently added bar. But, if you’re in more of a lunch mood, get your damn lips around a burger you big hung-over baby.

The atmosphere is inviting, casual, and lowkey. Don’t fret about your smeared mascara or the questionable choices you made the night before. BBD doesn’t judge. BBD just wants to help you.

BEST PATIO Blue Rose Cafe

After a storied existence on Brookside, Blue Rose Cafe reopened in 2011 at 19th and Riverside, offering cheap beer, reasonably priced food, live music, and, best of all, a kickass patio.

Blue Rose promises classic, no-frills bar fare and boy, do they deliver: burgers, blackened chicken, cheese fries, and wings anchor the menu, but they also offer options for those craving a lighter, al fresco lunch on the waterfront, such as wraps, salads, and salmon.

But, hands down, the crown jewel is its expansive, bi-level riverfront patio with a beautiful view of the sunset, making it a perfect choice for a quitting-time happy hour.

FINALISTS: Los Cabos, El Guapo’s Cantina

BEST LOCAL BEER * SUNDOWN WHEAT – MARSHALL BREWING CO. FINALISTS: Bomb! – Prairie Artisan Ales, Prairie Standard – Prairie Artisan Ales BEST OF TULSA | 16

still tulsa’s best pizza!

THANK YOU TULSA 918-728-6111 • andopizza.com • @andopizza • 1552 E. 15th Tulsa

Best Slice in OK

*

So, have you tried it yet?

STG: Italian. Exactly. *PureWow.com, Best Slice of Pizza in Every State, March 18, 2016

114 S. Detroit Downtown Tulsa Open Daily 11AM - 10PM 918.938.6510 STGItalian.com

CONGRATULATIONS

SPECIALTY COFFEE & BAKERY Local roaster

Local farm fresh foods Breakfast | Lunch Pies, Cakes, Cookies, Muffins & More

Baked Fresh Daily

Custom Orders & Specialty Baking

THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE

for gluten free, vegan, and regular folks, too!

2016

1502 E. 15th St. (918) 779-6137 thecoffeehouseoncherrystreet.com

Thank You For Voting Us Best Coffee Shop!

THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE 2016

Tulsa’s Marshall Brewing Company brings the art, quality and enjoyment of craft beer to Oklahoma.

We salute Eric Marshall and MBC for being voted “Best Local Beer” by readers of The Voice. We are proud of Eric and his success and pleased to present the complete lineup of his award-winning beer in our store. Enjoy!

Wine Capital of Tulsa for Over 40 Years

3324 East 31st Street | 918-747-1171 www.ranchacreswine.com

BEST OF TULSA | 17

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE BIG GAME

BEST GROCERY STORE *

Reasor’s Foods

Buffalo Wild Wings FINALISTS: Fassler Hall, Leon’s on the Restless Ribbon

BEST VEGETARIAN/ HEALTH FOOD Zoës Kitchen FINALISTS: Laffa, Whole Foods Market

BEST FOOD TRUCK Lone Wolf Banh Mi FINALISTS: Ando Truck Andolini’s Pizzeria, Mr. Nice Guys

BEST RESTAURANT WITH LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS Tallgrass Prairie Table FINALISTS: Elote Cafe & Catering, Juniper

Reasor’s Foods’ updated locations on Brookside, 41st and Yale, 15th and Lewis, and in Jenks, Broken Arrow, and Owasso were all redesigned and expanded to create a healthier, more fulfilling shopping experience.

By offering local Scissortail Farms’ leafy greens and a bevy of other locally grown and organic produce (as well as a stronger presence from other local and regional purveyors) the Oklahoma grocery chain has upped its game to compete with the handful of health-minded but often prohibitively expensive markets that have sprung up across Tulsa.

Registered dieticians are available at five locations, offering services including weight loss advice and disease-related education. They’ll even give you a tour of the supermarket to show you wholesome options.

Other reasons to love Reasor’s: free lunch for military personnel on Veteran’s Day, an annual food drive, their decision to not carry genetically modified salmon, and the cheese island at the Brookside location that rivals that of its neighbor, Whole Foods.

FINALISTS: Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods Market

BEST COCKTAIL * OLD FASHIONED - VALKYRIE FINALISTS: Norma Jean – Andolini’s, Irish Coffee – Hodges Bend

BEST ITALIAN

BEST KOREAN

At a time when new Italian concepts are cropping up in Tulsa left and right, the old school favorite, Ti Amo, has prevailed and nabbed Tulsa’s vote for best Italian.

Maybe it’s an affinity for the old reliable; maybe it’s the free bruschetta. Either way, the 25 year-old Ti Amo— with locations in south Tulsa at 61st and Sheridan and downtown at 2nd and Cheyenne—has remained a goto for low-lit romantic ambiance and house-made Italian food.

Dedicated diners swear by the chicken piccatta, the chicken alfredo, the bone-in ribeye, and the shrimp and lobster bisque. All the entrees come with soup or salad, the aforementioned free bruschetta, and impeccable service from an attentive wait staff.

When a South Korean ex-pat recommends a go-to spot for Korean food, you don’t ask questions—except maybe later, to ask for seconds. Luckily, Korean Garden, Tulsa’s choice for best Korean food, is well known for its family-style, generously-portioned traditional favorites like the seafood and vegetable pancake, kimchi pancake, bibimbap—a fresh vegetable, fried egg, and rice dish—served with banchan, kimchi fried rice, and stir-fried squid and pork.

If you want to sample a few dishes, take a group of friends and have everyone pick a plate. The café also offers a daily lunch buffet, as well as a cook-at-the-table option, which is a great way to introduce newbies to Korean food.

FINALISTS: Dalesandro’s, Mondo’s

FINALISTS: Gogi Gui, Seoul Bistro

* Ti Amo

* Korean Garden

BEST OF TULSA | 19

BEST OF TULSA 2016

BEST BAR FOR SMOKERS

BEST LGBT BAR/CLUB

They don’t serve food and they don’t do smoke-free, which makes the Mercury Lounge just about the perfect place for two-fisted indulgence, especially on a post-brunch Sunday, when beers and cigarettes become their own forms of therapy. When the weather is good you can take them outdoors to the patio, which given the right company can feel like the pinnacle of civilization.

With a variety of beers on tap and in the bottle, mixed drinks, great live music throughout the week (not to mention one of the best remaining non-Internet jukeboxes in town), and an all-the-time $5 beerand-shot special, this affordable Boston Ave. institution makes enjoying the hair of the dog a communal pleasure that won’t break your bank.

Oh, Club Majestic! You shining beacon of decadence!

You safe haven for self-expression! You dam against the unrelenting tides of basic-ness that threaten to overtake the world!

In addition to being named the best LGBT bar in Tulsa, Majestic is also a rare example of an 18-and-up club that somehow manages to not feel skeezy. And unlike other bars or clubs, imbibing is not necessarily the end game. Between karaoke, dancing contests, drag shows and talent nights, there’s plenty of fun to be had even if you’re under 21 or don’t drink.

Whether you’re a member of the LGBT community or an ally, Club Majestic is the place to be for a night of good vibes and dancing. There’s a go-go cage with your name on it, so go work it!

FINALISTS: Arnie’s, Yeti

FINALISTS: New Age Renegade, Yellow Brick Road

* Mercury Lounge

* Club Majestic

Brothers Houligan BEST CHICKEN FRIED STEAK FINALISTS: Dilly Diner, Tally’s Good Food Cafe

BEST MEAL WORTH TWICE THE PRICE FINALISTS: Lone Wolf, The Tavern

BEST PIZZA *

Andolini’s Pizzeria

For the second year in a row, Andolini’s takes the coveted Best Pizza award, and it’s hardly surprising. With the massive success of its Owasso and Cherry Street locations, along with a food truck and a sister restaurant downtown (STG Pizzeria & Gelateria), Ando’s continues to expand, with a recently opened location in Broken Arrow.

If you prefer simple New York-style, pepperoni or sausage is the way to go. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, try the S.P.Q.R., (ricotta, garlic, house-made Italian sausage, and prosciutto), or get decadent with a selection from the Purple Label Luxury List.

FINALISTS: Hideaway, Umberto’s BEST OF TULSA | 20

Tulsa has no shortage of options for chicken fried steak—that uniquely Southern/Midwestern indulgence of tenderized beef, breaded and deepfried to juicy, flavorful perfection, then drowned in cream gravy. Bros. Houligan, a Tulsa establishment since 1987, clearly knows what it’s doing. Though it offers a variety of southern comfort food ranging from chicken tenders, fried Gulf shrimp and pork chops to grilled salmon, rainbow trout and several cuts of steak, it’s the gloriously gigantic chicken fried steak that has made it a Tulsa institution. The dinner comes with an embarrassment of sides including green beans, plus choices of mashed potatoes, French fries or waffle fries, and cottage cheese, coleslaw, salad or applesauce.

BEST VIEW *

The Penthouse Rooftop Lounge at the Mayo Hotel Tulsa loves the locally-owned historic Mayo Hotel for it’s glamorous aesthetic and boutique vibe. The mixed-use hotel—with full-time residents, guests, event ballroom, upscale restaurant (The Boiler Room) and rooftop bar—creates a lively, dynamic atmosphere in a storied building full of Tulsa history.

The Penthouse bar’s roomy patio offers a stunning 360-degree view of downtown. Weekends on the rooftop are great for party crashing and people watching. Post-wedding receptions, birthday celebrations, graduations, anniversaries—the Penthouse frequently hosts a variety of parties, with good reason: as you’ve declared with your vote, it’s the best view in Tulsa, from the best hotel in Tulsa.

FINALISTS: Blue Rose Cafe, In the Raw On the Hill BEST OF TULSA | 21

BEST BAKERY

BEST BARTENDER

Merritt’s Bakery

*

Ray Conde

FINALISTS: Ann’s Bakery, Antoinette Baking Co.

KILKENNY’S

BEST STEAK Mahogany Prime Steakhouse FINALISTS: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Prhyme Downtown Steakhouse

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A BARTENDER? About a decade. I started out at TGI Friday’s and trained there in 2002 or 2003. Good training back in the day. Not so much now. Corporate training is great, you take that corporate training and take it somewhere private and you’ll make a lot more money.

WHAT’S YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE? Whiskey on the rocks. Jameson is what I drink most. But I like so many others.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CRAFT COCKTAIL MOVEMENT THAT’S HIT TULSA IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS?

BEST SEAFOOD White River Fish Market FINALISTS: Bodean Seafood Restaurant, Bonefish Grill

Oh man, it’s fantastic. I’m glad people are getting into it. We’ve got a lot of new, fresh bartenders in the scene, people who are just crushin’ it and killin’ it. Valkyrie, all those boys over there are just phenomenal at making cocktails. Mixco and Saturn Room, too. I’ve had some crazy shit at Saturn Room.

WHAT’S THE ONE THING A CUSTOMER SHOULD NEVER DO WHEN ORDERING A DRINK? Wave you down, ask for your attention, then take five minutes to order because they’re not really sure. It’s one thing if they’ve got questions, but if they literally just want you to stand in front of them while they tap on their face and go “Ummm…” Just don’t do that. I’m super, super busy and I’m going to give you my undivided attention, but don’t “Umm” me, ‘cuz that guy over there wants a drink, too.

WHAT’S THE KEY TO BEING A GOOD BARTENDER? For me, more than making the drinks, it’s about being there for your guests, making sure they’re having a positive experience. In turn, that positive experience bounces right back to you, and you bounce it right back to someone else, and you start a perpetuation of kindness that goes across your bar. Our bar isn’t just a bar, it’s a community. We have lots of regulars who we call friends, most of whom are in my speed dial. It’s about serving the community. We offer a place where you can go and you’ve got friends. INTERVIEW BY JOSHUA KLINE

FINALISTS: Noah Bush – Hodges Bend, Saturn Room, Amy Pullen – Soundpony

BEST VIETNAMESE Ri Le’s FINALISTS: Pho Da Cao, Pho Nhi

Kilkenny’s BEST SERVICE

BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING

BEST BLOODY MARY

FINALISTS: Charleston’s, Mahogany Prime Steakhouse

FINALISTS: Phat Philly’s, The Tavern

FINALISTS: McNellie’s, SMOKE. On Cherry Street

THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE

Voted Best Patio and Top 3 for Best View & Best Spot for Day Drinking!

2016

Great selection of Craft Beers on Tap & Daily Specials.

Follow us:

Bluerosetulsa

1924 Riverside Drive • (918) 582-4600 bluerosecafetulsa.com

Hideaway Tulsans have been enjoying Hideaway Pizza since 1993, when the Oklahoma pizza empire opened its Cherry Street location, the first of seven in Tulsa. Started in Stillwater in 1955, Hideaway has grown to include fifteen restaurants around our state with a sixteenth opening later this year in Moore.

Visit TheTulsaVoice.com for the Party & Event Venue Directory!

Many of us were reared on takeout Hideaway as a special treat— the ten-minute drive in the back of mom’s minivan with a hot pie on your lap was torturously slow, wasn’t it?

No matter if you dine-in with your family or take a ‘za home for a Netflix binge, make sure you pick up a copy of The Tulsa Voice… as it’s apparently Tulsans’ favorite place to do so. Then, you can Tulsa Voice and chill with that pizza, instead.

Hideaway has cleaned house on many “Best Of” lists in Tulsa (and statewide), but this marks their first win in The Tulsa Voice—and in three categories, no less. Whether it was the magic

THE TULSA VOICE

of their cute mascot, Kahuna, those addictive fried mushrooms, or

BEST OF TULSA

summoning the power of the Pizza of the Gods, congrats on three well-deserved awards, pie heads.

READERS’ CHOICE 2016

Voted Best Sandwich!

BEST TAKEOUT PIZZA FINALISTS: Andolini’s Pizzeria, Pie Hole Pizzeria

BEST FAMILY DINING FINALISTS: The Brook Restaurant + Bar, Charleston’s

BEST PLACE PICK UP THE NEW COPY OF THE TULSA VOICE FINALISTS: The Brook Restaurant + Bar, Soundpony

OPEN LATE-NIGHT ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY UNTIL 4AM

1305 S. Peoria • 918-382-7428 www.phatphillys.com BEST OF TULSA | 23

BEST CHEF

BEST JAPANESE/SUSHI * YOKOZUNA

Trevor Tack

You really love McNellie’s

*

MCNELLIE’S GROUP

WHICH DISH WERE YOU PROUDEST TO PLATE IN 2015? I was really proud of getting Ben Alexander acclimated at the Tavern, and really getting to do some fun Chef’s Tables with him. We did a really fun, tongue-in-cheek pho dish with Jeremy Reed of the Saturn Room. It was a five-spice duck breast over crispy Brussels sprouts with a pho broth and enoki mushrooms. It had all the elements of pho, but it was also very un-pho-like too, and that’s kind of what we’ve been playing with over there: taking familiar things, and presenting them in an unfamiliar fashion.

And the chimichuri octopus ... Dude, that was so much fun.

That’s probably my favorite. I’ve been doing it with squid too and it’s just as good. A friend of mine was in Mexico and sent me a picture of a whole grilled octopus, and I immediately texted Ben and said, ‘we are doing this at Temp Tavern. Let’s do different menus, let’s change it up each week.’ It was so good and so simple, and kinda ballsy to throw a whole octopus on a plate.

WHAT DO YOU WISH DINERS WOULD QUIT ASKING FOR? Sides of ranch. Side note: I love ranch. I keep a bottle of it at all times in my house. I’m as Oklahoma as the rest of us.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD? My favorite restaurant in the world is this little restaurant called La Becasse, and it’s on a lake in a small town in northern Michigan. Just unapologetically French. Sit outside, perfect weather, duck confit, nice French wine. It’s great. I go there every time I’m up there—my family’s from Michigan.

FINALISTS: Fuji, In the Raw

McNellie’s remains a vintage cornerstone of the Blue Dome district, to which it helped give rise after opening 13 years ago. This chugging, charbroiling machine has the most expansive beer selection in town (350+ choices), a separate upstairs smoking section and game room, and a full menu of pub fare like fish and chips, cottage pie and that famous Wednesday-night $4 burger.

Their Harvest Beer Festival, Pub Run, and raucous St. Patty’s Day festivities are day drinking holidays. But McNellie’s appeal is in its familiar— and familial—charms that are always there, every day of the year.

BEST OLD BAR FINALISTS: Arnie’s, Soundpony

BEST BEER SELECTION FINALISTS: Fassler Hall, Kilkenny’s

BEST SPOT FOR DAY DRINKING FINALISTS: Blue Rose Cafe, Fassler Hall

BEST BAR FOOD FINALISTS: The Brook Restaurant + Bar, Kilkenny’s

WHERE DO YOU SEND OUT-OF-TOWNERS FOR DINNER? The Lounge,

BEST OF TULSA 2016

currently. Juniper, Tallgrass, SMOKE. Those are for special dinners.

Then I have a host of dirty floor Mexican restaurants and Vietnamese joints.

WHAT DOES TULSA NEED MORE OF? Tulsa needs more people like your readers: more adventurous diners, more people willing to take chances on different food concepts. INTERVIEW BY MEGAN SHEPHERD

FINALISTS: Michelle Donaldson – Tallgrass Prairie Table, Bramble Breakfast & Bar, Philip Phillips – Lone Wolf

El Guapo’s Cantina BEST MEXICAN

BEST TACO

FINALISTS: El Rio Verde, El Tequila

FINALISTS: Elote Cafe & Catering, Tacos Don Francisco

BEST NEW RESTAURANT * Dilly Diner

As a throwback to the classic diners dotting the highways of the sixties and seventies, Dilly Diner (formerly Dilly Deli) does several things very well, not the least of them breakfast. It’s nearly impossible to snag a table without a wait on weekends, and executive chef Trevor Tack’s menu injects new life into short-order classics by paying special attention to sourcing, pairing, and presentation. The menu favors the diner staples, but with a fresh, local twist: meals like green eggs and ham, Griddle Cakes, French toast, fluffy biscuits and gravy, fat roadside-style cheeseburgers, and spicy chicken and waffles. And of course, pie—lots of it, served with dollops of “farm-to-cone” ice cream (made with Lomah dairy). Did we mention they offer full bar service, with boozy drinks like the cereal milk cocktail? Dilly Diner is a true gem for downtown Tulsa, and it’s no surprise you selected it as your favorite new restaurant.

FINALISTS: Bramble Breakfast & Bar, East Village Bohemian Pizzeria BEST OF TULSA | 25

BEST PUBLIC ART *

Woody Guthrie mural at Woody Guthrie Center

Woody Guthrie was a man of small stature, but his memory and music live on in a big way, especially in Tulsa. In the Brady District, his presence looms large on the west end of the Woody Guthrie Center where a large mural, painted by Clean Hands founder Aaron Whisner, depicts the iconic image of Guthrie playing a guitar adorned with the phrase “This Machine Kills Fascists.”

Guthrie was an outspoken protestor of the rich elite whom he saw as responsible for the poor social and economic conditions working men endured. Earlier this year, Bernie Sanders, who preaches an updated version of the troubadour’s message, visited the mural and Center on his way to a campaign rally at the Cox Business Center.

Besides the awesome painting on the building’s outside, the Woody Guthrie Center houses plenty of other delights: Woody’s actual guitar, his lyric journal, Dust Bowl exhibits, and a music bar. At only $8, it’s a low price to pay to get better acquainted with the patron saint of Oklahoma music.

FINALISTS: “Artificial Cloud” at The Center of the Universe, Día de los Muertos murals at Living Arts

BEST KARAOKE

PHOTO BY KRIS PAYNE

* Warehouse Bar and Grill The humbly named Warehouse Bar & Grill, tucked in an unassuming storefront on Peoria between Yolatti and Urban Outfitters, advertises itself as one of Tulsa’s best-kept secrets. And that it is—amidst the fancy shoppers and upscale restaurants of Brookside, this rowdy, booze-slinging joint keeps it real with dozens of shot specials (written on the wall), simple bar food and reliable, straight-forward service. Y’all voted for their karaoke, but we’re voting for the time we realized they serve deep-fried green beans.

FINALISTS: Elote Cafe & Catering, Yeti

PARTY OF THE YEAR *

Cry Baby Hill Those who don’t know about Cry Baby Hill don’t know what they’re missing. Outrageous behavior by people clad in outrageous (and outrageously absent) costumes can be observed atop our city’s monument to mondo madness. A party at the final race of the Tulsa Tough cycling weekend, Cry Baby Hill has grown from just a few inspired idiots to a crowd of three thousand-plus. It has also become the day’s focal point, eclipsing most notions of the race. Aliens, cavemen, and every member of the Village People dance and drink while confused cyclists whiz by. DJs keep the party going, and refs keep the ragers in check. Those refs are in on the mania too, but if you want to keep barriers off the hill you better listen to them. And if this is the first time you’ve heard of CBH, just remember these words: MIND THE GAP.

FINALISTS: Center of the Universe Festival, Linde Oktoberfest

BEST SMALL MUSIC VENUE *

The Vanguard

BEST LOCAL ALBUM *

High on Tulsa Heat John Moreland DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST SONG YOU WROTE? I started writing when I was about ten. All I can remember is that it was nonsense lyrics and a really simple guitar thing, very repetitive. But, I don’t actually remember how it went.

YOUR LYRICS FEEL MORE LITERARY THAN MOST. AS A WRITER, WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? I don’t read a whole lot of books. I’m trying to make myself do more of that. But, I mostly read magazines and stuff on the Internet. So, it’s hard to cite literary influences. I just kind-of zone out and write what comes to me and make it fit where it sounds like it’s supposed to go in the song.

HOW MUCH OF YOUR WRITING IS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL, AND HOW MUCH IS FICTIONAL OR OBSERVATIONAL? I mean it all starts out being autobiographical, and then sometimes—well, the lines get blurred a little. If something works better in a song, then it doesn’t have to be true for me to put it in.

So, sometimes for musical purposes the truth will get stretched a little bit.

TELL US ABOUT PERFORMING ON COLBERT. I was nervous going into it and then as soon as we got to the studio it kind of went away. Everyone was so accommodating and really good at their jobs. And, the theater isn’t as big as it looks on TV. Overall, it was a really good, pleasant experience. I think John Travolta complained about the music we were listening to in my green room. I think we were next to the makeup room and he was in there for makeup. We were listening to Ghostface Killah on my phone. My tour manager got a frantic call from someone at the show saying there was a complaint and we needed to turn it down.

An all-ages club with a full bar, The Vanguard sets itself apart from other venues with booking often aimed specifically at Tulsa’s youth, and routinely provides a forum for local, unproven upstarts to open for larger touring acts. The club has become internationally famous for hosting North America’s largest street-punk party, the annual Fuck You We Rule OK! festival.

Additionally, Vanguard owner Simon Aleman helps coordinate high profile shows for the community, such as the Higher Plains Music Festival, a hiphop and jazz fest that brought together local favorites along with a headlining spot for Kendrick Lamar collaborator Thundercat. Most recently, the club co-hosted the music leg of Tulsa Overground Film & Music Festival.

ARE YOU A TULSA LIFER, OR COULD YOU SEE YOURSELF ONE DAY MOVING TO AN AUSTIN OR A NASHVILLE FOR YOUR CAREER? I have no interest in moving

FINALISTS: The Colony, Soundpony

Sneaker Paul Benjaman Band

right now. I’m not going to make any predictions for the future, but right now I really like living somewhere that isn’t necessarily a music business town. It’s cool to be able to go to Nashville, or L.A., or wherever when there’s business to be taken care of, then be able to leave that bubble and come back to a real place. That’s really nice. INTERVIEW BY LIZ BLOOD

FINALISTS: Jacob Tovar and the Saddle Tramps Jacob Tovar and the Saddle Tramps

BEST OF TULSA | 27

BEST PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY Tulsa Ballet

BEST PLACE TO HAVE A LAUGH Loony Bin Comedy Club FINALISTS: Comedy Parlor, Soundpony

BEST ANNUAL FESTIVAL Mayfest FINALISTS: Linde Oktoberfest, Tulsa Tough

BEST CASINO Hard Rock Hotel & Casino FINALISTS: Osage Casino, River Spirit

COURTESY

FINALISTS: Theatre Tulsa, Tulsa Symphony

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE

BEST GALLERY

BEST MOVIE THEATER

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Living Arts

Broken Arrow Warren Theatre

Next season marks the Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s 40th anniversary, so what better time than now for them to win Best Performing Arts Venue?

Hosting over 500 events each year, the PAC is home to symphony concerts, ballets, operas, children’s shows, Broadway musicals, piano concerts, plays, quartets, lectures, contemporary dance, jazz concerts, and less-traditional events like the Star Trek The Ultimate Voyage 50th Anniversary Concert Tour (April 23, 8 p.m.) and Alton Brown’s Eat Your Science live show (May 10, 7 p.m.).

They’ve also hosted magicians and comedians, and last year the Broadway smash “The Book of Mormon” was their hottest ticket.

On the first Wednesday of every month, the PAC hosts “Brown Bag It,” a free noontime concert in the Westby Pavilion featuring a large range of music.

Happy 40th, PAC! We’re glad to have you in town.

The non-profit Living Arts continues to be a vital presence in Tulsa for the development and exposure of contemporary art and artists, both local and national. Whether it’s exposing patrons to radical new forms of expression with the annual New Genre Arts Festival or cultural bridge-building with events like the Día de los Muertos festival, Issues of Race, and Voices of Whole People, Living Arts continues to be on the frontlines of building empathy and challenging norms through artistic expression.

Since its grand opening a little over a year ago, the Broken Arrow Warren Theatre has been drawing movie-lovers like flies to an art deco bug zapper. With a design aesthetic somewhere south of Olivia Newton-John’s disco musical, “Xanadu,” and a retro ‘50s diner ripped right out of “Happy Days,” it’s a lot like a vintage Wurlitzer jukebox that anachronistically plays CDs. The theater also packs a serious technical punch. When “The Force Awakens” came out last year, director JJ Abrams was adamant it be seen through laser projection with a Dolby Atmos 64-channel sound system. The Warren sports both with aplomb.

Balcony seats, as well as the Director’s Suites, offer full food and bar service with themed drinks and a plethora of amped up diner fare, like a burger whose bun is replaced with two grilled cheese sandwiches. You can get it with cream gravy, which might be a perfect culinary metaphor for overthe-top summer blockbusters.

FINALISTS:

Blake Ewing, Kathy Taylor

*

Guthrie Green, Nightingale Theater

*

FINALISTS:

108 Contemporary, Hardesty Arts Center (AHHA)

BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN NONE FINALISTS:

*

FINALISTS:

AMC Southroads 20, Circle Cinema

BEST LARGE MUSIC VENUE * BOK CENTER FINALISTS: Cain’s Ballroom, Brady Theater

Cain’s Ballroom BEST ALL-AGES MUSIC VENUE FINALISTS: BOK Center, Guthrie Green woodyguthriecenter.org

BEST PLACE FOR LIVE LOCAL MUSIC FINALISTS: Guthrie Green, Soundpony

Sid Vicious punched a hole in it. Bob Wills invented rock ‘n’ roll in it. Insane Clown Posse is banned from it. This building has gone from its dubious beginnings as a Klansman’s 20-car garage to a legendary destination for international music lovers. Jack White is probably buying a house in Tulsa because the Cain’s is here, and Billy Corgan popped by to record a Valentine’s Day video in it. Local journalist Lee Roy Chapman’s funeral was held there. Larger than the Vanguard but smaller than the Brady Theater, Cain’s hallowed stage in the crosshairs of both tried-and-true and up-and-coming performers, all of whom are watched over by portraits of the legends who came before them.

AN EVENING WITH JUDY COLLINS

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 at 8 PM,

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

PRIDE & JOY: THE TEXAS BLUES OF STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN APRIL 1 – JUNE 5

Woody Guthrie Center

Both events have a limited number of VIP seat that include artist meet and greet receptions.

All proceeds from each event fund the Center's education initiatives. address 102 EAST BRADY STREET, TULSA, OK

74103

phone 918.574.2710

email INFO@WOODYGUTHRIECENTER.ORG

BEST OF TULSA | 29

Woodward Park

BEST RECORD STORE *

Starship Records and Tapes FINALISTS: Ida Red, Vintage Stock

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH CALVIN COMPTON & JESSE MCNUTT FROM STARSHIP RECORDS AND TAPES BEST PUBLIC PARK FINALISTS: Guthrie Green, River Parks

BEST PICNIC SPOT FINALISTS: Chandler Park, Guthrie Green

BEST OF TULSA 2016

Woodward Park isn’t just for prom pictures and all-denim family photos. As one of Tulsa’s best-kept urban green spaces, the park, managed by the Tulsa Garden Center, offers an idyllic respite for city-dwellers looking to experience the great outdoors without trekking to Turkey Mountain.

Whether for picnics, romantic strolls, Frisbee, a walk with the dog, or just a leisurely day of geese watching with the kiddos, the centrally located park at 21st and Peoria is an ideal patch of green. The Tulsa Garden Center’s azaleas in spring bear mentioning, as do the technicolor leaves of Woodward in the fall. The nearby Tulsa Rock and Rose Gardens offer an interactive eco-museum experience (AKA, flower smelling), and Philbrook Museum is just a stone’s throw away.

WHAT ARE THREE RECORDS EVERYONE SHOULD BE LISTENING TO? Calvin Compton: David Bowie, Blackstar, definitely. The Gutter Villain EP which we have the CD of.

An album everyone needs to hear is Glitter Wizard’s Hunting Gatherers.

Jesse McNutt: Calvin already said Glitter Wizard? Bastard!

Two from this year, Borknagar’s Winter Thrice, and Abbath’s self-titled. And George Kollias, from Nile— you’ve gotta check out his solo album, Invictus.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RECORD STORE DAY? IS IT STILL BENEFICIAL, OR HAS IT OUTGROWN ITS USE? CC: It’s still beneficial, but you really have to know the audience you’re ordering for. You can’t just order everything and expect it to be bought up. What I think is hurting more [by backing up pressing plants] are the mail order subscription services like Vinyl Me, Please, and Edit, that do limited presses of albums that are already out. Every month.

HAVE THE BACKED UP RECORD PLANTS AFFECTED YOUR STORE? CC: Oh yeah. There can be a record everyone is waiting for, and it can get pushed back three months. And not just around Record Store Day.

SO YOU’RE A COMBINATION RECORD STORE AND HEAD SHOP. WHAT’S THE MOST FRIED THING YOU’VE EVER SEEN A CUSTOMER DO? CC: Piss themselves while standing right in front of me. They just wanted us to play a Jimmy Smith song.

JM: Stand here long enough, and you’ll see five people run into the glass in front of the store.

MAIDEN OR PRIEST? CC: Ha, Maiden. That’s a horrible question...but Maiden.

JM: Wow...

INTERVIEW BY MITCH GILLIAM

BEST OPEN MIC * TUESDAY NIGHT AT GYPSY COFFEE HOUSE FINALISTS: Comedy Parlor, Singer/Songwriter Night - The Colony

Tulsa Ballet

Signature Series May 6-8 & May 13-15 Lorton Performance Center

Incredible Works Infra Wayne McGregor Oklahoma Premiere!

Serenade George Balanchine Remansos Nacho Duato

Tickets Start at $25!

Call 918.749.6006 Or Visit www.tulsaballet.org

Philbrook

APRIL 1-10 STEEL MAGNOLIAS

BEST MUSEUM FINALISTS: Gilcrease Museum, Woody Guthrie Center

The Playhouse Tulsa

1-29 LANDSCAPE:

SCENE THROUGH MY EYES

Artist Joey Frisillo

8 PETER RABBIT TALES PAC Trust

BEST PLACE TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW FINALISTS: Tulsa Community College, University of Tulsa

Besides continually rotating world-class exhibitions, Philbrook stands out for its two gorgeous facilities: the 72-room former Phillips’ mansion off Peoria, and the modern satellite facility in the Brady Arts District, Philbrook Downtown.

To “learn something new” at Philbrook, all you need to do is visit the museum on the second Saturday of each month for free family-friendly art activities, join the My Museum club with your kids (each month, children receive a new art supply!), attend the gallery talk every second Wednesday for talks on the collections and current exhibitions, or stop by on the third Thursday of each month for an evening of contemporary art discussion, cash bar, and light food.

Philbrook makes seeing, learning about, and enjoying art easy.

9 RODGERS &

23 STAR TREK: THE

ULTIMATE VOYAGE

35 Concerts

24 JUDY COLLINS IN CONCERT

Woody Guthrie Center

4/29 BILLY ELLIOT, THE -5/7 MUSICAL Tulsa Project Theatre

HAMMERSTEIN AT THE MOVIES

Tulsa Symphony Pops

12 JESSICA LANG DANCE Choregus Productions

15-30 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Theatre Tulsa

21-24 WHY TORTURE IS

WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM

Theatre Pops

22 DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN

Tulsa Town Hall

BEST OF TULSA | 31

BEST BOWLING ALLEY *

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge

Strikes and spares aside, where else in town can you get tater tots with Philly cheesesteak fixins, a Sleepover Platter (“chef’s seasonal selection of Sam’s Club frozen delights”), or a frozen Long Island Ice Tea? A night on the lanes is about getting together and having fun, regardless of how many frames it’s been since you picked up a spare. The folks at the Dust Bowl clearly believe in this philosophy, as evidenced by the bank of arcade games, the laneside food-and-drink service, and those wonderful, springy, astro-turf covered stools on the patio.

Best of all is the private room. Gloriously gaudy, with a marlin hanging on the wall and just wide enough for two lanes, it’ll make you feel like Nixon in the poster hanging over The Dude’s tiki bar. (Almost made it without a Lebowski reference. Oh well.)

FINALISTS: Andy B’s, Sheridan Lanes

BEST STREET CORNER

* 2nd St and S Elgin Ave

BEST PLACE TO WAIT OUT EXTREME WEATHER

*

Cellar Dweller

2nd and Elgin is home to several finalists you’ll see in this issue, and within a block of several more. It’s also where a few of the biggest street parties in town are held: Blue Dome Arts Festival, Arnie’s St. Patrick’s Day party, and Tulsa Tough’s Blue Dome Criterium.

But the best thing about 2nd and Elgin is its future; by the end of next year, the northeast parking lot will become Nelson and Stowe’s Santa Fe Square, a 600,000 square foot project which, when finished, will add 291 apartments, a 105-room hotel and 260,000 square feet of office and retail space to downtown.

*

FINALISTS: Purple Glaze, Tulsa Glassblowing School

FINALISTS:

Hidden in the basement of an old office building, the Cellar Dweller—with its red-lit ultra-70s aesthetic and Cheerslike collection of regulars—is the best worst-kept secret in downtown. Sometimes the live music packs enough people in the summer to make the walls sweat. (Or maybe it’s the ghosts sweating. The place is haunted, you know.)

The five-dollar shot of Jameson and PBR (or Old Style) is their staple special, though they sport a great selection of beer, liquor and cocktails. Should a tornado hit, you could hardly do better than a basement full of booze and friends. Just don’t tell anyone.

FINALISTS:

Tulsa Drillers

Pinot’s Palette

18th St and S Boston Ave, Main St and M.B. Brady St

Fassler Hall, Woodland Hills Mall

BEST SPORTS TEAM

BEST PLACE TO MAKE SOMETHING

The Lafayette Drillers moved to Tulsa in the late 70s.

The minor league club long claimed a park at the fairgrounds as their home base before moving to ONEOK Field in 2010. If the sport itself isn’t your thing, you can still visit the park for baseball’s auxiliary aspects. You can get a bunch of ice cream inside of a helmet. You can watch people do a sack race during the 7th inning stretch. You can marvel at the DJ’s choice to play “yakkity-sax” right after a Skrillex track. Best of all, you can drink beer and eat hot dogs with your friends and family while watching the fireworks like a true ‘Merican.

BEST TATTOO ARTIST

Kris “Squiggy” Snead from Black Gold FINALISTS: Tony Carrera from Pen and Ink Tattoos, Cale Turpen from Geek Ink Tattoo

BEST HOTEL

The Mayo Hotel FINALISTS: Aloft Tulsa Downtown, Ambassador Hotel

FINALISTS:

Tulsa Roughnecks FC, TU Golden Hurricane Football

Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area

BEST ATHLETIC STORE

BEST PLACE TO HIKE

Fleet Feet Sports

FINALISTS: Chandler Park, Redbud Valley Nature Preserve

BEST PLACE TO FEEL LIKE YOU’RE NOT IN TULSA FINALISTS: The Brady Arts District, Philbrook Museum of Art

FINALISTS: Lee’s Bicycles, Tom’s Bicycles 33

Five Questions with Mike Wozniak of Soundpony

BEST BEST BEST TRIVIA BATHROOM NIGHT NIGHT GRAFFITI CLUB *

Soundpony

WHEN YOU OPENED SOUNDPONY, DID YOU IMAGINE IT WOULD TURN INTO THE CULTURAL EPICENTER IT’S BECOME FOR DOWNTOWN TULSA? I think we always had a notion that we wanted it to serve the public and be a community spot. A lot of it has been shaped by the community that has surrounded it.

I didn’t know what it was going to turn out to be ten years later. We liked art and music and bikes. And Tulsa. That’s genuinely the way we feel about things and that’s part of its appeal.

WHAT’S THE STRANGEST GRAFFITI YOU’VE SEEN ON THE WALLS OF YOUR BATHROOMS? Do you remember the great ice storm of, like, 2009? They had a huge pile of fallen branches at a park near the river. Someone put a graffiti tag in the bathroom that said “burn all them branches.” I thought that was kind of funny. A great number of penises have been drawn here, too. That’s the gateway drug to graffiti. We love it all here.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN YOUR WIN FOR “BEST NIGHTCLUB”? Well, at night … we have DJs. And we have a real open attitude towards how you want to dance. People feel free to express themselves here so the dance parties become pretty good.

HOW DID SELFIES IN YOUR LADIES ROOM BECOME A THING? Miley Cyrus took one while eating a hotdog and, after that, everyone wanted a piece. Yeah. From then on? Legend, kind of.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE WORK SOUNDPONY HAS DONE TO PROMOTE CYCLING IN TULSA? Not to get on the grand-

BEST OF TULSA 2016

stand, but we see other cities and how they’re progressing and it’s not necessarily towards a car-centric culture anymore. So much in Oklahoma that we battle against is in health and wellness. We do the Bike Club for youth and have our race teams. We’re just trying to elevate this town in terms of bike and pedestrian-related stuff. The bike is a beautiful piece of working art and Tulsa is easy to commute. It seems like an answer to a lot of our problems. INTERVIEW BY LIZ BLOOD

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT FINALISTS: Baker St. Pub, Joe Momma’s

BEST BATHROOM GRAFFITI FINALISTS: Caz’z Pub, Mercury Lounge

BEST NIGHT CLUB FINALISTS: Club Majestic, Legends

River Parks BEST PLACE FOR CYCLING

BEST PLACE TO GO WITH YOUR DOG

FINALISTS: Tulsa Tough, Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area

FINALISTS: Biscuit Acres Bark Park, Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area

BEST CHEAP THRILL FINALISTS: The Center of the Universe, Turkey Mountain Urban Wildnerness Area

BEST PLACE TO STRIKE A (YOGA) POSE FINALISTS: SALT Yoga, The Yoga Room

BEST FREE ENTERTAINMENT FINALISTS: First Friday Art Crawl, Mayfest

BEST HAIR ON A LOCAL MEDIA PERSONALITY

Chera Kimiko News On 6 FINALISTS: Lori Fullbright – News On 6, LeAnne Taylor – News On 6

BEST PLACE FOR A TINDER DATE FINALISTS: The Center of the Universe, R Bar + Grill

Guthrie Green FIVE QUESTIONS WITH SHANNON EASTON-WHITE, PROGRAM MANAGER FOR GUTHRIE GREEN

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN EVENTS AND PROGRAMS TO BRING TO GUTHRIE GREEN? Our core team and outside organizers attempt to have a truly collaborative effort to bring diversity in programming to the park every season. From food festivals, fitness programs, educational elements, movies, concerts, and more…there is an endless road of ideas. Organizations are

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A SELFIE

The Center of the Universe FINALISTS: The ladies’ room at Soundpony, Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area

encouraged to present their own events at Guthrie Green, and can start the process by simply filling out an online event proposal form on the website.

THIS MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO ANSWER, BUT IF YOU CAN NARROW IT DOWN, WHAT WAS YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE DAY AT GUTHRIE GREEN LAST YEAR? Honestly, every day I am there is a favorite day. Let me pick two days from the 2015 season. Oysterfest will always be a favorite! And KIDS DAY. Our first June in 2013, we decided to do something for the kids while most of Tulsa was celebrating at Tulsa Tough’s Crybaby Hill. This event continues to exceed all of my expectations.

WHAT’S ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE REGULARLY OCCURRING GUTHRIE GREEN EVENTS? I love our movie in the park series on Thursday nights (May-October). We have worked with sponsors to provide some themed movie nights and these really take it to the next level. Some have included a band beforehand, playing era or genre specific music in line with the film, costume contests, or even themed drinks and food at Lucky’s on the Green.

GUTHRIE GREEN WON ONE OF OUR NEW CATEGORIES THIS YEAR, BEST PLACE FOR A TINDER DATE. WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES GUTHRIE GREEN SUCH A GOOD PLACE TO MEET A MATCH? I love that Guthrie Green can serve as a central meeting place for friends, families, and yes, even Tinder dates…The location of the park is walkable to many different downtown districts and if there is not something programmed at Guthrie Green, there is probably something going on near the park.

ANYTHING YOU’RE WORKING ON FOR THIS YEAR YOU’RE PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT OR WOULD LIKE TO DO AT THE GREEN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE? Every day is a learning experience and it helps keep our team on the edge of our seats. What’s next? We have had opportunities to branch out from Guthrie Green with the same type of mission and produce festivals with our friends, which include Blue Whale Comedy Festival, Tulsa Overground Film & Music, and XPO Gaming Convention. I would say that I am excited about what is to come with these festivals as they grow in 2016! As for the block radius of Guthrie Green, the season is jam packed with fun. Our Sunday concerts will see a change this season with adding new presenters: TulsaJazz.com, KOSU, and La Semana Newspaper. I am looking forward to seeing the bands and activities they have planned for you on Sunday afternoons! INTERVIEW BY JOHN LANGDON

BEST BULLSHIT CALLER * BLAKE EWING FINALISTS: Lee Roy Chapman, Andy Wheeler

BEST PLACE YOU WISH WERE STILL IN BUSINESS

Bell’s Amusement Park FINALISTS: Petty’s Fine Foods, Steve’s Sundry

BEST PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH

Tulsa State Fair FINALISTS: Guthrie Green, Walmart 35

Travis Meyer – News on 6

I UNDERSTAND YOU’RE A RANCHER. HOW DOES YOUR INTEREST IN WEATHER INTERSECT WITH RANCHING? Your whole life as

EVAN TAYLOR

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS * The Brady Arts District Not long ago, there was little more than a few shining beacons in what’s now known as the Brady Arts District: Cain’s, Caz’s, Gypsy Coffee House. Now you’ll find in it the beating heart of the city. No other area of town illustrates so clearly just how much Tulsa has grown in such a short period of time.

That the other two finalists for this category are within The Brady Arts District says it all. Furthermore, you’ll find places in the district as finalists in over a third of all the BOT categories.

One thing we take issue with—The Brady Arts District showing up as a finalist for Best Place to Feel Like You’re Not In Tulsa. Seriously? The Brady Arts District is Tulsa.

Welcome.

FINALISTS: The Center of the Universe, Guthrie Green

a rancher revolves around the weather. You’re involved in the weather, the weather’s involved in your life. It’s kind of like how I was as a kid. So many meteorologists are geared toward TV living because they grew up in a city, and I grew up on a farm.

So I kind of have a different perspective.

WHAT SORT OF NATURAL DISASTERS SHOULD OKLAHOMANS BE MOST WORRIED ABOUT? Obviously, there’s a natural tendency to have more tornados [here] than any other place in the country—or in the world, really … It’s been horrible in Joplin, it’s been horrible in Oklahoma City. And [Tulsa has] prevailed—knock on wood—without something horrible happening here. But it’s just statistically a matter of time before something not great happens here. (Editor’s note: A few days after this interview, a tornado touched down in Tulsa, causing damage and injuries.)

COURTESY

BEST OF TULSA 2016

BEST METEOROLOGIST

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON HUMAN-INDUCED CLIMATE CHANGE? You can’t have billions of people running around in cars and tearing down forests and changing the way that nature had it balanced without knocking it out of balance. When people put it in perspective, yes, it’s a state of flux, yes, things are happening, and yes, I do believe we have an impact on that, but instead of screaming bloody murder and making it a religion, let’s just look at it, learn from it, and try to help future generations.

BEST SALON * Ihloff Salon & Day Spa Many salons offer a full day of beauty indulgence, but with all of the options at Ihloff Salon and Day Spa, you could easily stretch that day into a week.

An Aveda concept spa, Ihloff offers high quality products and top-notch service.

With locations in both midtown and south Tulsa, you don’t have to make a cross-town pilgrimage for your bi-weekly pedicure.

The standard hair services include cut, color, perms, styling, and keratin or scalp treatments. What sets Ihloff apart is its body options: facials, pedicures, manicures, massage, eyelash extensions, eyelash tinting, body wraps, makeup application, full body waxing—the list goes on and on.

FINALISTS: Raw Elements, Walk-In Salon by Robert Cromeans BEST OF TULSA | 36

DO PEOPLE GET PISSED OFF WHEN YOU HAVE TO PRE-EMPT FOOTBALL GAMES OR OTHER SPORTING EVENTS? ANY PARTICULARLY JUICY PIECES OF VITRIOL THAT ANYONE SENT YOU? [Meyer reads the following letter to me, which has been edited for brevity]: “Travis, did your mom not hug you enough when you were a kid? Are you an attention freak? I bet you’re a prima donna … Say what you have to say, then shut the hell up! You do this crap every time there’s a dark cloud or a breeze messes up your hair—what hair you have left. Get some help, man. Find the lord, collect stamps, for God’s sake, quit being a camera freak!”

WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING CLOUD SHAPE YOU’VE EVER SEEN? [It] looked like a flying saucer over my small town in Nebraska where I grew up. It produced a tornado and had baseball-sized hail in it … I didn’t know enough about the weather to really be scared. It was kind of my epiphany. INTERVIEW BY CLAIRE EDWARDS

FINALISTS: James Aydelott – Fox23, Alan Crone – News On 6

THANK YOU, TULSA!

THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE 2016

vote for us

Season Starts April 2016 www.guthriegreen.com | #guthriegreen |

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HOMESTAND

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APRIL 14TH-19TH ONEOK FIELD

MATCHES

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

TulsaDrillers.com | (918)744-5901

TulsaRoughnecksFC.com | (918)744-5901 BEST OF TULSA | 37

BEST TULSAN TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA

* @Tulsa_Parking MEGAN ROSSMAN

CITY OF TULSA PARKING ENFORCEMENT

TROLLING TULSA IS A $30 CITATION

An interview with LaRoy Parks, City of Tulsa Parking Enforcer

JOSHUA KLINE

FINALISTS: Mary Beth Babcock, Steve Cluck

HOW DID YOU BECOME A METER MAID? My father was a parking enforcement officer during World War II in Berlin. He was brought over to America after the war during Operation Paperclip because he shared the same name as a nuclear physicist. He instilled into me at an early age that parking correctly was the backbone of civilization, and to never cut any slack to the sub-humans that refuse to park correctly.

YOU BEAT OUT SOME VERY RESPECTABLE TULSANS FOR BEST PERSON TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA. YET, YOUR TWITTER AND FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS ARE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU’VE BECOME SO POPULAR SO QUICKLY? This is the year of the outsider, my friend. You have men like our future president Donald J. Trump that have shown we don’t need to be told who to listen to anymore.

You even have a communist libra named Bernie Sanders who seems to be straight out of North Crimea who has brought his message of stealing from others and smoking jazz cigarettes into the mainstream.

I think the main reason that the social media accounts have gained such traction is because the people fear me and my power. There is no worse feeling in the world than finding one of my tickets under your windshield wiper!

THERE ARE RUMORS YOU’RE AN IMPOSTOR WHO DOESN’T ACTUALLY WORK FOR THE CITY. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT? With a $30 citation.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BROMANCE WITH BLAKE EWING? I once was lost, but now am found.

Blake Ewing has truly made Tulsa great again. The man earned my respect by engaging with citizens on my comment threads, answering their questions directly and as best as he could. I’m just glad that I was the one who provided the forum for Tulsans to speak with him, when they otherwise wouldn’t have said anything. I stir up courage in the sheeple - er - people. And plus, he isn’t a damn ol DEMONcrat. Oh yeah, he’s a good cuddler too.

YOU SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT BUT HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING AGAINST VIC REGALADO FOR TULSA SHERIFF. WHAT COULD REGALADO LEARN FROM TRUMP? Well, the things mister Regalado did while in uniform at the TPD are illegal in other states like Ohio. Mister Trump has never, and would never, offend the people of Ohio like Regalado has, even though that ugly boy Kasich won the primaries there. Just think to yourself, would I elect a person that has violated Ohio law? The only thing Regalado can learn from Trump at this point is how to grow and maintain a decent hairstyle.

WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH AMERICAN PARKING? COMPETITIVE OR FRIENDLY? I was just fine co-existing with them until they left me hate mail on my website Tulsa-Parking.com. That was a low down dirty thing they did, so I suppose the gloves are off at this point.

BE HONEST, WHERE DOES ALL THAT PARKING TICKET MONEY GO? This interview is over. INTERVIEW BY JOSHUA KLINE

BEST ORGANIZED FOOT RACE/RUN * TULSA RUN FINALISTS: Color Run, Route 66 Marathon

BEST OF TULSA | 38

BEST PLACE TO BUY YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE A GIFT

* Glacier

Confection When you first walk into Glacier Confection, it’s easy to mistake it for a jewelry shop.

The well-lit cases of brightly colored truffles are so pretty, you’re not sure whether to eat them or wear them.

Glacier offers two kinds of house-made truffles, European and American. While the American candies are delicious, the European-style selections, with their thinner shells and rich fillings, are truly unparalleled.

Must-try selections include the PB&J, a dark chocolate shell filled with peanut butter and strawberry jam; the Green Apple Ghost Chili Sea Salt Caramel, which manages to be sweet, spicy, and salty all at once; and the Green Tea Chai, a slightly sweet and spicy concoction in milk chocolate.

FINALISTS: Ida Red, Moody’s Jewelry

T U L S A’ S P R E M I E R E D A N C E C L U B

Voted Best Best LGBT BEST OF TULSA Bar/Club READERS’ CHOICE & Top 3 2016 Nightclub vote for us THURS, FRI, SUN 18+ to enter, 21+ to drink SAT 21+ only THE TULSA VOICE

124 N. Boston Ave 918-584-9494 clubmajestictulsa.com

tulsafarmersmarket.org

Paint. Drink. Have Fun. THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF TULSA READERS’ CHOICE 2016

Voted Best Place To Make Something!

Public Classes Private Parties Girls Night Out Date Night Broken Arrow • Cherry Street • Riverwalk Reserve your easel online today! www.PinotsPalette.com

TYP_StreetCred_TulsaVoiceHalfPageVert_0416.indd 1

4/4/16 2:49 PM

BEST OF TULSA | 39

BEST PLACE TO BUY A LOCAL GIFT

George Kaiser Family Foundation

Ida Red

BEST NON-PROFIT

FINALISTS: Dwelling Spaces, Rustic Cuff

FINALISTS: Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Tulsa Girls Art School

BEST PERSON/GROUP MAKING TULSA BETTER

FINALISTS: Tulsa Urban Wildlife Coalition, Tulsa Young Professionals (TYPros)

BEST CLOTHING STORE FOR GALS Anthropologie FINALISTS: Urban Outfitters, Saks Fifth Avenue

BEST CLOTHING STORE FOR GUYS Urban Outfitters FINALISTS: Banana Republic, Dillard’s

BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE Cheap Thrills FINALISTS: Goodwill, Vintage Vault

BEST HEALTH/ FITNESS CENTER

YMCA FINALISTS: Sky Fitness, Lifetime Fitness + Wellbeing

Cherry Street Farmers’ Market BEST FARMERS’ MARKET FINALISTS: Brookside Farmers’ Market, Guthrie Green Farmers’ Market

BEST REASON TO RISE EARLY ON A SATURDAY FINALISTS: Brunch, Tulsa Flea Market

BEST PLACE TO SHOP GREEN FINALISTS: Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods

No surprises here, folks. The beloved bevy of bok choy, berry, and puffy taco-touting vendors at the Cherry Street Farmers’ Market has earned Tulsans’ approval as the best of its kind in town. The honor is well-deserved: the market is one of the few places in Tulsa-proper where you can consistently find locally-grown, picked, pickled, and plated foods from small businesses and farmers.

The prices don’t hurt, either. While most think purchasing locally sourced and/or organic food is unaffordable, the Cherry Street Farmers’ Market is actively changing that rhetoric with competitive bundles and bulk pricing.

Regardless of the produce cost, the value of engaging directly with the farmers is priceless. A handshake and two cents from the person who grew your food is so much more meaningful than the “paper or plastic” ask at the end of the grocery store conveyor belt.

Live tunes from local singer-songwriters, a walkable festival-type environment, kid-friendly vibes, and a generous SNAP benefit program are just a few of the many things that make Cherry Street Farmers’ Market a Tulsa institution.

BEST THING THAT’S CHANGED ABOUT TULSA IN THE LAST YEAR THE CONTINUED REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN FINALISTS: Sheriff Glanz is gone, There will not be an outlet mall on Turkey Mountain

THE BEST OF TULSA 2016 FOOD & DRINK BEST HANGOVER BREAKFAST Brookside By Day Dilly Diner Tally’s Good Food Cafe BEST BRUNCH Brookside By Day Dilly Diner SMOKE. On Cherry Street BEST BLOODY MARY Kilkenny’s McNellie’s SMOKE. On Cherry Street BEST COFFEEHOUSE The Coffee House on Cherry Street Chimera Shades of Brown BEST BAKERY Merritt’s Bakery Ann’s Bakery Antoinette Baking Co. BEST FARMERS’ MARKET Cherry Street Farmers’ Market Brookside Farmers’ Market Guthrie Green Farmers’ Market BEST GROCERY STORE Reasor’s Sprouts Farmers Market Whole Foods Market BEST FOOD TRUCK Lone Wolf Banh Mi Ando Truck - Andolini’s Pizzeria Mr. Nice Guys BEST DELI Jason’s Deli Lambrusco’z Trenchers Delicatessen BEST SANDWICH Phat Philly - Phat Philly’s Banh Mi - Lone Wolf The Trencher - Trenchers Delicatessen BEST BURGER Fat Guy’s Burger Bar Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili The Tavern BEST CHICKEN FRIED STEAK Brothers Houligan The Brook Restaurant + Bar Caz’s Chowhouse BEST BARBECUE Burn Co. Albert G’s Bar-B-Q Billy Sims BBQ BEST PIZZA Andolini’s Pizzeria Hideaway Pizza Umberto’s BEST TAKEOUT PIZZA Hideaway Pizza Andolini’s Pizzeria Pie Hole Pizzeria

READERS’ CHOICE WINNERS + FINALISTS

BEST INDIAN India Palace Desi Wok Himalayas Aroma of India

BEST BEER SELECTION McNellie’s Fassler Hall Kilkenny’s

BEST SMALL MUSIC VENUE The Vanguard The Colony Soundpony

BEST PLACE FOR A TINDER DATE Guthrie Green The Center of the Universe R Bar & Grill

BEST PLACE TO BUY A LOCAL GIFT Ida Red Dwelling Spaces Rustic Cuff

BEST ITALIAN Ti Amo Dalesandro’s Mondo’s

BEST BARTENDER Ray Conde – Kilkenny’s Noah Bush – Hodges Bend, Saturn Room Amy Pullen – Soundpony

BEST LARGE MUSIC VENUE BOK Center Cain’s Ballroom Brady Theater

BEST PLACE TO FEEL LIKE YOU’RE NOT IN TULSA Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area The Brady Arts District Philbrook Museum of Art

BEST PLACE TO BUY YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE A GIFT Glacier Confection Ida Red Moody’s Jewelry

BEST PLACE TO MAKE SOMETHING Pinot’s Palette Purple Glaze Tulsa Glassblowing School

BEST PLACE YOU WISH WERE STILL IN BUSINESS Bell’s Amusement Park Petty’s Fine Foods Steve’s Sundry

BEST JAPANESE/SUSHI Yokozuna Fuji In the Raw BEST KOREAN Korean Garden Gogi Gui Seoul Bistro BEST MEXICAN El Guapo’s Cantina El Rio Verde El Tequila BEST THAI Lanna Thai KEO My Thai Kitchen BEST VIETNAMESE Ri Le’s Pho Da Cao Pho Nhi BEST VEGETARIAN/HEALTH FOOD Zoës Kitchen Laffa Whole Foods Market BEST PATIO Blue Rose Cafe Los Cabos El Guapo’s Cantina BEST VIEW The Penthouse Rooftop Lounge at The Mayo Hotel Blue Rose Cafe In the Raw On the Hill

BEST COCKTAIL Old Fashioned – Valkyrie Irish Coffee – Hodges Bend Norma Jean – Andolini’s

BEST PLACE FOR LIVE LOCAL MUSIC Cain’s Ballroom Guthrie Green Soundpony

BEST LOCAL BEER Sundown Wheat – Marshall Brewing Co. Bomb! – Prairie Artisan Ales Prairie Standard – Prairie Artisan Ales

BEST OPEN MIC Tuesday Night Open Mic - Gypsy Coffee House Comedy Parlor Singer/Songwriter Night - The Colony

BEST PLACE TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW Philbrook Museum of Art Tulsa Community College University of Tulsa

BEST NEW BAR Lefty’s on Greenwood Inner Circle Vodka Bar Saturn Room

BEST RECORD STORE Starship Records and Tapes Ida Red Vintage Stock

BEST PLACE TO SHOP GREEN Cherry Street Farmers’ Market Sprouts Farmers Market Whole Foods

BEST OLD BAR McNellie’s Arnie’s Soundpony

BEST LOCAL ALBUM High On Tulsa Heat – John Moreland Jacob Tovar and the Saddle Tramps – Jacob Tovar and the Saddle Tramps Sneaker – Paul Benjaman Band

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS The Brady Arts District The Center of the Universe Guthrie Green

BEST LGBT BAR/CLUB Club Majestic New Age Renegade Yellow Brick Road BEST BAR FOR SMOKERS Mercury Lounge Arnie’s Yeti BEST LIQUOR STORE Parkhill Liquor & Wines Modern Spirits Ranch Acres Wine and Spirits BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING Kilkenny’s Phat Philly’s The Tavern

BEST SPORTS TEAM Drillers Roughnecks FC TU Golden Hurricane Football BEST MOVIE THEATER Warren Theatre Broken Arrow AMC Southroads 20 Circle Cinema BEST CASINO Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Osage Casino River Spirit BEST TRIVIA NIGHT Soundpony Baker St. Pub Joe Momma’s

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A SELFIE The Center of the Universe The ladies’ room at Soundpony Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area BEST BOWLING ALLEY Dust Bowl Lounge + Lanes Andy B’s Sheridan Lanes BEST HEALTH/FITNESS CENTER YMCA Sky Fitness Lifetime Fitness + Wellbeing BEST PLACE TO STRIKE A (YOGA) POSE Guthrie Green SALT Yoga The Yoga Room BEST ATHLETIC STORE Fleet Feet Sports Lee’s Bicycles Tom’s Bicycles

BEST FAMILY DINING Hideaway The Brook Restaurant + Bar Charleston’s

ART & ENTERTAINMENT

BEST MEAL WORTH TWICE THE PRICE Brothers Houligan Lone Wolf The Tavern

BEST GALLERY Living Arts 108 Contemporary Hardesty Arts Center (AHHA)

BEST CHEF Trevor Tack – McNellie’s Group Michelle Donaldson – Tallgrass Prairie Table, Bramble Breakfast & Bar Philip Phillips – Lone Wolf

BEST MUSEUM Philbrook Museum of Art Gilcrease Museum Woody Guthrie Center

BEST SERVICE Kilkenny’s Charleston’s Mahogany Prime Steakhouse

BEST PUBLIC ART Woody Guthrie mural at Woody Guthrie Center “Artificial Cloud” at The Center of the Universe Día de los Muertos murals at Living Arts

PARTY OF THE YEAR Cry Baby Hill Center of the Universe Festival Linde Oktoberfest

BEST PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY Tulsa Ballet Theatre Tulsa Tulsa Symphony

AROUND TOWN

BEST PICNIC SPOT Woodward Park Chandler Park Guthrie Green

BEST STREET CORNER 2nd St and Elgin Ave 18th St and Boston Ave Main St and M.B. Brady St

BEST PUBLIC PARK Woodward Park Guthrie Green River Parks

BEST REASON TO RISE EARLY ON A SATURDAY Cherry Street Farmers’ Market Brunch Tulsa Flea Market

BEST PLACE TO GO WITH YOUR DOG River Parks Biscuit Acres Bark Park Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area

BEST NEW RESTAURANT Dilly Diner Bramble Breakfast & Bar East Village Bohemian Pizza

BEST KARAOKE Warehouse Bar and Grill Elote Cafe & Catering Yeti BEST NIGHT CLUB Soundpony Club Majestic Legends BEST ANNUAL FESTIVAL Mayfest Linde Oktoberfest Tulsa Tough

BEST STEAK Mahogany Prime Steakhouse Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Prhyme Downtown Steakhouse

BEST RESTAURANT FOR LOCALLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS Tallgrass Prairie Table Elote Cafe & Catering Juniper

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE Tulsa Performing Arts Center Guthrie Green Nightingale Theater

BEST SEAFOOD White River Fish Market Bodean Seafood Restaurant Bonefish Grill

BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT The Chalkboard The Boiler Room Daily Grill

BEST PLACE TO HAVE A LAUGH Loony Bin Comedy Club Comedy Parlor Soundpony

BEST TACO El Guapo’s Cantina Elote Cafe & Catering Tacos Don Francisco

BEST SPOT FOR DAY DRINKING McNellie’s Blue Rose Cafe Fassler Hall

BEST FREE ENTERTAINMENT Guthrie Green First Friday Art Crawl Mayfest

BEST PLACE TO WAIT OUT EXTREME WEATHER Cellar Dweller Fassler Hall Woodland Hills Mall

BEST CHINESE P.F. Chang’s Golden Gate Pei Wei

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE BIG GAME Buffalo Wild Wings Fassler Hall Leon’s on the Restless Ribbon

BEST ALL-AGES MUSIC VENUE Cain’s Ballroom BOK Center Guthrie Green

BEST BATHROOM GRAFFITI Soundpony Caz’s Pub Mercury Lounge

BEST BAR FOOD McNellie’s The Brook Restaurant + Bar Kilkenny’s

BEST CHEAP THRILL Guthrie Green The Center of the Universe Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area

BEST ORGANIZED FOOT RACE/RUN Tulsa Run Color Run Route 66 Marathon BEST PLACE FOR CYCLING River Parks Tulsa Tough Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area BEST PLACE TO HIKE Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area Chandler Park Redbud Valley Nature Preserve

BEST PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH Tulsa State Fair Guthrie Green Walmart BEST PLACE TO PICK UP THE NEW COPY OF THE TULSA VOICE Hideaway Pizza The Brook Restaurant + Bar Soundpony

BEST SALON Ihloff Salon & Day Spa Raw Elements Walk-In Salon by Robert Cromeans BEST CLOTHING STORE FOR GALS Anthropologie Urban Outfitters Saks Fifth Avenue BEST CLOTHING STORE FOR GUYS Urban Outfitters Banana Republic Dillard’s BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE Cheap Thrills Goodwill Vintage Vault BEST TATTOO ARTIST Kris “Squiggy” Snead – Black Gold Tony Carerra – Pen and Ink Tattoos Cale Turpen – Geek Ink Tattoo BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN None Blake Ewing Kathy Taylor BEST BULLSHIT CALLER Blake Ewing Lee Roy Chapman Andy Wheeler BEST METEOROLOGIST Travis Meyer – News On 6 James Aydelott – Fox23 Alan Crone – News On 6 BEST HAIR ON A LOCAL MEDIA PERSONALITY Chera Kimiko – News On 6 Lori Fullbright – News On 6 LeAnne Taylor – News On 6 BEST TULSAN TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA @Tulsa_Parking Mary Beth Babcock Steve Cluck BEST PERSON/GROUP MAKING TULSA BETTER George Kaiser Family Foundation Tulsa Urban Wildlife Coalition Tulsa Young Professionals (TYPros) BEST NON-PROFIT George Kaiser Family Foundation Domestic Violence Intervention Services Tulsa Girls Art School BEST THING THAT’S CHANGED ABOUT TULSA IN THE LAST YEAR The continued revitalization of Downtown Sheriff Glanz is gone There will not be an outlet mall on Turkey Mountain

For more on the winners visit thetulsavoice.com/bot

BEST HOTEL The Mayo Hotel Aloft Tulsa Downtown Ambassador Hotel

BEST OF TULSA | 41

The way I’d rather live An interview with On Being’s Krista Tippett

by LIZ BLOOD

K

rista Tippett hosts the public radio show and podcast On Being, which explores the mystery of human existence, largely in the areas of faith, philosophy, and wisdom in both our private and public lives.

Her podcast had more than 21 million downloads last year and her radio show has 700,000 weekly listeners.

Tippett will speak and read from her new book, “Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living,” at All Souls Unitarian Church on Saturday, April 9 at 2 p.m. For more information on the event, visit booksmarttulsa.com.

This version has been edited for length. Read the uncut interview online at thetulsavoice.com.

The Tulsa Voice: In your book, you say "my energy is directed at emboldening the reality that is… within our grasp," rather than waiting on the media, politics, or religion to come around. Do you believe in the "ripple effect,” in ordinary people influencing others and out from there?

Krista Tippett: I do. I think that at any given moment there are different paces of change happening and different levels of action. We get riveted to the headlines of all the things going wrong and to the stories of those who are obvious change-makers.

We need those and we need to know the hard truths, but we don’t quite have the skill set in telling the redemptive stories that are also happening. The only place some of us have to make a difference is in the sphere in which we live and the world we can touch. A lot of the messages we get conspire to make us think that power isn’t real, but it is.

42 // ARTS & CULTURE

TTV: You note that our culture has tried to enshrine reality and retire mystery, but that you see us circling back. What role do you think Millennials, and maybe younger generations, play in that?

KT: I think that this has been happening for a while and science itself has circled back. But with Millennials, it’s breaking wide open. Millennials are all about integrity, authenticity, and transparency. There was a lot of role-playing in previous generations that was culturally imposed and that’s gone. Millennials are truth-tellers. In terms of mystery, somebody years ago said to me that this generation wakes up and walks into the room and turns on the computer like it’s the back of the closet, and then walks into Narnia. There’s something elemental and imaginative in the younger generation[s] that [recognize] reality is a multi-layered thing.

Krista Tippett, host of On Being | PETER BECK

TTV: You write that the "noisy center privileges the loudest, most strident voices" and that important voices go unheard because the "radar is broken."

How can journalists, the media, do better?

KT: I have my critique but, like you, I’m inside of it. A lot of journalism is about exposing evil and wrongdoing. Investigative journalism is about probing what’s wrong and bringing it to the surface. We are hardwired to be riveted to that kind of news.

But, it’s not good for us to be inundated only with that story because we are more than that and capable of more than that. We have to find ways to tell the story of what is going right and of the people who are living generative,

resilient lives [in a way that is riveting.]

TTV: Why do you think people value or tend toward cynicism?

KT: It’s easier. And it doesn’t demand much of you. Once you go there, you’re never surprised by anything and you don’t have to do anything about it because you think it’s just going to be that way. There’s a preponderance of bad news and devastating pictures that come to us. It’s understandable to feel resigned and cynical, but it’s not the brave [or] joyful choice. Hope insists, if nothing else, that those terrible things don’t define us or have the last word. I believe that’s true. But even if it’s not, it’s the way I’d rather live.

TTV: You write about forming your own sense of faith and spirituality. Can you give a little advice to the kid who is afraid to form his or her own beliefs, or voice them, because of a strict religious upbringing?

KT: I have a real reverence for what traditions and orthodoxy bring into the world. But, I also know that at the deepest, most orthodox depths of Christianity, for example, there is an insistence on mystery, that there are things we will not tie up in this lifetime, that what we think we know about God we “see through a glass darkly.” God is big enough to take in and withstand all of our questions. That you can bring everything before God is actually a very faithful thing to believe. a April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

(Clockwise) Midfielder Carlos Martinez on opening night, rookie goalkeeper Alex Mangels, supporter’s group the Roustabouts | RICH CRIMI, TULSA ROUGHNECKS

Opening night

Roughnecks hope to build on success in second season

by JOHN TRANCHINA ollowing a highly successful first season in the United Soccer League in 2015, the Tulsa Roughnecks FC have started their second year in fine fashion.

With six returning players from last season’s team, including their three top goal-scorers and starting goalkeeper, the Roughnecks have added several key pieces with hopes of improving on last year’s 11-11-6 effort that saw them finish seventh in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs by one win on the last weekend of the season.

And despite a somewhat sloppy performance, a large crowd of 5,328 went home happy after the Roughnecks held on to defeat the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, a USL expansion team playing their first league game, 2-0, in the season opener on March 26 at ONEOK Field.

“A win, three points, a clean sheet – it wasn’t easy,” said Roughnecks coach David Irving.

“We battled. It wasn’t pretty, I know that we can play a lot better than that, but we still got the three points, and that’s all that matters in the end. All in all, a great night for the fans.”

F

THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

Newcomer David Abidor, a midfielder who played last season in Sweden, scored the Roughnecks’ first goal of the season, a 20-yard blast that deflected off a Rio Grande Valley defender about 10 yards out and past the goalkeeper in the 32nd minute.

Carlos Martinez, another newcomer who spent last season with the USL’s Sacramento Republic, made it 2-0 just 10 seconds into the second half, drilling a perfectly-placed 25-yard shot into the upper left corner.

Perhaps the biggest star of the night, though, was rookie goalkeeper Alex Mangels, who won the starting spot from last year’s starter, Jake Feener, during the pre-season, and solidified his hold on the job with 12 saves for the shutout in his professional debut.

Among his impressive plays were two big saves in the final minute of the first half – a diving stop on T.J. Casner’s 20-yard shot, and then a nice save on Memo Rodriguez’s rebound attempt.

Mangels, who played for the University of California, Berkeley last season, also denied Dzenan Catic’s breakaway shot in the 84th minute, made a diving stop on Charlie Ward seconds after that,

and then made another lunging save on Rodriguez’s 20-yard kick in the 88th minute to preserve the victory.

“Alex had a great game,” said forward Sammy Ochoa, who led the squad with nine goals last year. “That’s good for Alex.

Feener’s there too, so there’s good competition there, it keeps everybody on their toes. We don’t know who’s going to play, so that’s good for the team.”

With home games on Sat., Apr. 2 against another expansion team, the Swope Park Rangers, and Sat., Apr. 9 against Real Salt Lake Monarchs, Tulsa hopes to capitalize on a favorable early-season schedule.

“It’s key that you get off to a good start, you can’t play catch-up in this league,” said Irving, whose team sputtered to a 1-4-2 mark through the first seven games last year. “There are no easy games, so it’s important. We have three home games to start, it would be nice to win three home games right out of the gate.”

The Roughnecks also hope to continue building on their success off the field, after ranking fifth in the USL in average attendance last season with 4,714 per game.

With a lively pre-match celebration that always takes place two hours before kickoff over at Guthrie Green, two blocks from the stadium, followed by the orderly march to ONEOK Field led by the Roustabouts fan group, capped off by an exciting game presentation, the Roughnecks made such an impression on the league that the USL chose to hold off-season meetings here last winter, praising the club’s overall game-day atmosphere.

“I’m so impressed with this place and how it’s adapted to soccer,” said USL president Jake Edwards during the meetings in November. “The feedback has been tremendous.”

Ochoa hopes the team can take another step forward this season and give all those raucous fans something to really cheer about.

“It’s great,” Ochoa said of the fan support. “Personally, I feel pressure, as a player, that we’ve got to come out and give the fans what they want, and get good results throughout the season.

Last year, we didn’t start out well, and this year, I think we’re on the right foot. We won the first game, so we can go on from there.” a ARTS & CULTURE // 43

thehaps

Nimrod Garden Poetry Workshop Sun., April 17, 2 p.m.

Tulsa Botanic Garden, utulsa.edu/nimrod April is National Poetry Month, and Nimrod International Journal and the Tulsa Botanic Garden will celebrate with a free poetry workshop among the inspirational beauty of nature. Led by Nimrod poetry editor Cynthia Gustavson, attendees will explore the Garden’s newly finished A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Flower Terraces and Cross Timbers Nature Trail, then participate in exercises to help translate discoveries into poetry. “We will not only ‘find’ nature,” Gustavson said, “but will be ‘found’ by it.”

OK Electric Music Festival

An Evening with Francine Bryson

Fri., April 8 and Sat., April 9 $7 for one night, $12 for both Living Arts, livingarts.org

Thurs., April 14, 7 p.m.

Antoinette Baking Co., booksmarttulsa.com

OK Electric celebrates electronic and electro-acoustic musicians from Oklahoma and around the world.

Friday night from 7:30 to 10 p.m. will feature dramatic vocal works by Scott Wolschleger and Jared Hinkle, followed by live, improvised film scores performed by Chris Combs, Michael Staub, Andrew Bones and festival curator Noam Faingold.

Saturday, the festival runs from 2 to 8 p.m. and will begin with a lecture by Faingold on the music and innovation of Pierre Schaeffer, father of electronic music. Electro-acoustic chamber music will follow the lecture, performed by members of Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Camerata and Signature Symphony. The festival will conclude with a showcase of Unknown Tone Records ambient music featuring Mark Kuykendall and Lindsey Neal Kuykendall.

TSO Pops: Rodgers and Hammerstein at the Movies Sat., April 9, 7 p.m., $21-$76 Chapman Music Hall, Tulsa PAC An audience favorite in Tulsa Symphony’s Pops series, this show will pair clips from Rodgers and Hammerstein film musicals accompanied by a live orchestral soundtrack. Films featured will include “The Sound of Music,” “Carousel,” “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” and of course, “Oklahoma!”

Heartland Gaming Expo Sat., April 9 and Sun., April 10, $7.50-$15 Reynolds Center, University of Tulsa heartlandgamingexpo.com TU hosts the largest gaming expo in the state, featuring competitions, contests, speakers and more for gamers of all ages. Among the many speakers will be Tulsa native Chance Glasco, a founding animator for Infinity Ward, the company that created Call of Duty. Competitions include a Game Development competition, a League of Legends Invitational, Magic: The Gathering tournaments, and video game tournaments in the Tokyo in Tulsa Hall.

44 // ARTS & CULTURE

National pie champion Francine Bryson, known for her Southern charm and a successful run on CBS’s “The American Baking Competition,” will share tips and recipes at Tulsa’s top pie spot, Antoinette Baking Co.

Liquid Geography Fri., April 15 through Sun., April 17, $20-$25 Tulsa Ballet’s Studio K, tummdance.org Capping its fifth year of creating conceptually rich, socially engaged, and artistically challenging dance, Tulsa Modern Movement presents the premiere of “Liquid Geography.” Company directors Ari Christopher and Alicia Chesser collaborated to choreograph the 10-dancer, 75-minute show, which features original music by Scott Bell.

Christopher explains, “Alicia and I were interested in exploring the forces of nature and the story of Persephone through a thematic, even abstract lens, rather than a narrative one. This piece asks about change, how it affects us on a personal and community level, how we respond to uncertainty, and the degrees to which we have agency in those changes.”

Who’s Bad? Poetry Slam Sat., April 16, 8 p.m., $10 Living Arts, livingarts.org The audience will surround 18 poets from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas as they each take the mic in hopes of being crowned the baddest in town. The top three poets will take away over $500 in cash prizes.

For the most up-to-date listings

thetulsavoice.com/calendar April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

BEST OF THE REST EVENTS Herb Day in Brookside // Thousands of Oklahoma-grown herbs, flowers, plants and more will be available for purchase at Brookside’s annual spring festival. // 4/9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. facebook.com/HerbDayInBrookside East Village Street Fest // The East Village hosts their fourth East Village Street Fest, featuring live local music, art, food, beer, wine, and fun. // 4/17, 12 to 5 p.m., eastvillagetulsa.org Chill Out on Tax Day // Because we could all benefit from chilling out on Tax Day, Kona Ice trucks will be handing out free cups of tropical ice and Hawaiian leis. // 4/18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., kona-ice.com

PERFORMING ARTS Peter Rabbit Tales // Enchantment Theatre of Philadelphia will bring Beatrix Potter’s captivating stories to life for one night. // 4/8, 7 p.m., Tulsa Performing Arts Center - John H. Williams Theatre, $10.50, tulsapac.com Jessica Lang Dance // Dance Magazine hailed Jessica Lang as “a master of visual composition.” Her works, performed by her New York Citybased company, incorporate striking design elements and transforms classical ballet language into emotionally engaging contemporary works. // 4/12, 7:30 p.m., Tulsa Performing Arts Center - Chapman Music Hall, $52, tulsapac.com Confessions of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl // A geek, a dancer, a bit of a nutcase and a bombshell attend a support group for “manic pixie dream girls” to confront the labels cast upon them, whether by rejecting, redefining or accepting them. Anna Bennett plays all four young women in this multimedia romp, which was featured in last year’s Tulsa Fringe Festival.

Bennett is reviving the show for one performance in Tulsa before taking it on the road to the Pittsburgh Fringe Festival // 4/13, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Fiddler on the Roof // Theatre Tulsa presents a fresh take on this Broadway classic, starring Mark Frie. Sara Phoenix directs. // 4/15-4/30, Tulsa Performing Arts Center - John H. Williams Theatre, $40, tulsapac.com

COMEDY Pop Up Players // 4/7, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Tulsa Tonight // 4/8, 10 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Crayons // 4/8, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com The Mic Drop // 4/9, 10 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Komedy Kombat // 4/9, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Sunday Night Stand Up // 4/10, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $5 All-Ages Comedy Show w/ Gary Thompson, Tommy Henshaw, Deana O’Hara, Landry Miller, Dave Short, Michele Van Dusen // 4/10, Loony Bin, $7-$12, loonybincomedy.com/Tulsa THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

Comedy’s Best Kept Secret // 4/10, The Venue Shrine, $12-$25 Shrine Free Comedy Show // 4/11, The Venue Shrine, tulsashrine.com Improv Club // 4/14, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com Deep Dish Comedy // 4/15, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10 Nicnos CD Release // 4/15, The Venue Shrine, $5, tulsashrine.com Blue Dome Social Club // 4/16, 10 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10 Go Frac Yourself // 4/16, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $10, comedyparlor.com 5 Bands 5 Bucks w/ Skytown, Sovereign Dame, The Young Vines, The Happily Entitled, Had Enough // 4/16, The Venue Shrine, $5, tulsashrine.com Amy Schumer // One of the top comedians of our time comes to town for a show at the BOK Center. // 4/16, BOK Center, $39-$99 Cian Baker says Laugh it up, Tulsa // 4/17, 8 p.m., Comedy Parlor, $5 Tim Kidd, Chris Dubail, C.R. Parsons // 4/13-4/16, Loony Bin, $2-$10, loonybincomedy.com/Tulsa John Wesley Austin, Trixx // 4/6-4/9, Loony Bin, $2-$12 Acrylic Paintings by Kris Fairchild // Oklahomans for Equality’s art showcase features works by Oklahoman artist Kris Fairchild. // 4/7-4/30, Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, okeq.org

APRIL 15-30, 15-30, 2016 APRIL 2016

WILLIAMS THEATRE AT THE TULSA PAC WILLIAMS THEATRE AT THE TULSA PAC To Order Tickets MyTicketOffice.com (918) 596-7111 To Order Tickets MyTicketOffice.com (918) 596-7111

SPORTS Xtreme Fight Night XXVIII // 4/8, River Spirit Casino - Event Center, $40-$102, riverspirittulsa.com Tulsa Oilers vs Wichita Thunder // 4/9, 7:05 p.m., BOK Center, $13-$73 Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs Swope Park Rangers // 4/9, 7 p.m., ONEOK Field, $10-$45 TU Men’s Soccer vs ORU // 4/9, 6 p.m., The University of Tulsa - Hurricane Stadium, $5, utulsa.edu TU Women’s Soccer vs Kansas // 4/9, 4 p.m., The University of Tulsa - Hurricane Stadium, $5, utulsa.edu TU Women’s Soccer vs OU // 4/10, 2 p.m., The University of Tulsa - Hurricane Stadium, $5, utulsa.edu Tulsa Drillers vs Corpus Christi Hooks // 4/14, 7 p.m., ONEOK Field, $5-$35 Tulsa Drillers vs Corpus Christi Hooks // 4/15, 7 p.m., ONEOK Field, $5-$35 Tulsa Drillers vs Corpus Christi Hooks // 4/16, 7 p.m., ONEOK Field, $5-$35 Tulsa Drillers vs San Antonio Missions // 4/17, 1 p.m., ONEOK Field, $5-$35 Tulsa Drillers vs San Antonio Missions // 4/18, 12 p.m., ONEOK Field, $5-$35 Tulsa Drillers vs San Antonio Missions // 4/19, 7 p.m., ONEOK Field, $5-$35

ARTS & CULTURE // 45

musicnotes

Spirit of rebellion An interview with Black Milk

by MARY NOBLE

R

aised with Gospel music and heavily inspired by soul, Curtis Cross, aka Black Milk, has been writing rhymes since he was 15. Though a skilled lyricist, it’s his beat making that made him famous and led to any producer’s dream job: working with the late J Dilla. When Dilla chose to pursue a solo career following the release of Best Kept Secret, Black Milk was elected to take his place in the Detroit group Slum Village.

His latest album, The Rebellion Sessions, is a collaboration with D.C. band Nat Turner. On Friday, April 8, he’ll perform at the Vanguard in Tulsa as part of the Kings Court tour, alongside Detroit legends Slum Village, Guilty Simpson and Phat Kat, all of whom have had the honor of collaborating with J Dilla.

We spoke on the phone recently about the tour and his new album. This interview has been edited for length and clarity, but you can read the full version online at thetulsavoice.com

The Tulsa Voice: What can you tell me about the Kings Court tour?

Black Milk: We’ve got the dates up so people can check and see when we’ll be through. It’s going to be the first time this many Detroit underground hip hop artists have done a tour together; this has never happened. I wish I could’ve brought my band and did more rapping, but I’ll still have fun with just doing a beat set because I never really get a chance to do that that either. It should be dope.

46 // MUSIC

through was definitely in mind in making the name and some of that, like you say, “spirit of the rebellion.” Going against not only the system that we live in and the government, but different systems like the music industry, or a certain mentality that people need to break. It’s more coming from that place.

TTV: I feel like you accomplished that and so much more with no lyrics.

Black Milk | ADRIAN WILLIAMS

TTV: What did you start out doing your beats on and what do you use today?

BM: Today I use an MPC3000 drum machine to program everything, Pro Tools and a few set keyboards and records. Back in the day when I first started, it was really lo-fi, cheap equipment, you know from some Casio keyboards to really bad sounding drum machines, but I finally got a chance to save up some money when I was younger and buy a professional drum machine.

a learning process, man, you know you never stop learning. There’s always some new technique or there’s always some new information, at least for me personally. I’m always striving to get better. I’m really like a student—I just like all the greats and learning what makes people respond to certain things musically.

I don’t ever feel like it’s a challenge necessarily in the creative process, but a challenge in the actual industry. The business side of things and the exposure. Trying to get fans, that whole uphill battle.

TTV: What is it about producing that you’ve found the most challenging, and what have you done to overcome those challenges?

TTV: Knowing a little bit about U.S. history, the name Nat Turner and the slave rebellion, was it a goal of yours to convey his spirit in The Rebellion Sessions?

BM: I don’t know if I would actually call it a challenge. It’s more so

BM: The real Nat Turner and what he did and what he went

BM: Yeah, it’s all music. We basically went in there and I produced it and gave everyone the direction on each track. It was mostly sitting in the studio and listening to a lot of records and getting ideas from older classic records, albums, and musicians.

You might hear a little piece or a little riff and build off that and turn into our own.

TTV: You’ve worked with a long list of notable artists including Jack White, Danny Brown, and Pete Rock. Are there any artists you you’d like to work with in the future? I know Ali Shaheed Muhammad was hoping for a Dre/Black Milk Collaboration.

BM: These days I’m pretty open to work with almost anybody that has talent and will complement what I do as a producer. It’s not necessarily one person in particular that I got my eye on. There’s so much music out there these days, it’s hard to consume it all.

But I’m really open to working with whoever and doing some dope shit. a April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

MUSIC // 47

musiclistings Wed // Apr 6 BOK Center – Mumford & Sons, Blake Mills ($59.50) Fur Shop – Sleeping Policeman Mixed Company – Mike Cameron Collective Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Wednesday Night Spotlight w/ Shelby Eicher ($10) Sandite Billiards & Grill – Bryce Dicus The Colony – Tom Skinner’s Science Project Tulsa Performing Arts Center - Westby Pavilion – Barron Ryan – 12:10 p.m.

Thurs // Apr 7 Billy and Renee’s – Burning Icarus, Arkane, Chemical Peace BOK Center – Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Moxie Raia ($50-$116) Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Cimarron Bar – Harry Williams and Friends Downtown Lounge – Dellacoma Downtown Lounge – Trouble Comin’ Fur Shop – Paul Shafer Hard Rock Casino - Cabin Creek – Bill Holden ($42-$74) Hard Rock Casino - Riffs – Hi Fidelics, Interlaced ($42-$74) Mercury Lounge – Hillbilly Casino River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Thomas Marinez The Colony – Honky Tonk Happy Hour w/ Jacob Tovar Vanguard – Parker Millsap, Red Wood Rising, Red Dirt Rangers ($15-$18) VFW Post 577 - Centennial Lounge – Bull Finger

Fri // Apr 8 American Legion Post 308 – Joe Harris Cimarron Bar – 50 Whiskey Hard Rock Casino - Cabin Creek – Rivers Edge ($42-$74) Hard Rock Casino - Riffs – Darren Ray, Replay ($42-$74) Hunt Club – Tony Romanello and the Black Jackets Living Arts of Tulsa – *OK Electric Music Festival Mixed Company – *A Night of Charlie Parker w/ Clark Gibson & The Mike Cameron Collective Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – *Champian Fulton ($5-$20) Osage Casino - NINE18 Bar – Mike Black & The Stingrays Pepper’s Grill - South – Scott Ellison Band River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Traveler Soul City – Scott Musick & Danny Timms Soundpony – Leland Dilation Lubrication The Colony – *The Greyhounds, Pilgrim The Venue Shrine – Swan Lake Gentleman’s Society and Friends ($5) Vanguard – *Slum Village, Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, Black Milk, Verse & The Vapors, Earl Hazard ($17-$40) VFW Post 577 - Centennial Lounge – Beckon IDL Ballroom - *Jeff Scheel @ Nude Art Show 12 ($25-$45)

Sat // Apr 9 Billy and Renee’s – Skytown, GRIND, Amsterdam, The Plums Billy and Renee’s – Skytown, GRINE, Amsterdam, The Plums Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Brady Theater – Tori Kelly, THIRDSTORY ($29.50) Bull & Bear Tavern – *Western Swingabilly Jazz Tribe w/ Shelby Eicher, Dean DeMerritt, Mike Cameron, Scott McQuade, and Sean Al-Jibouri 48 // MUSIC

Cimarron Bar – Julie & The Retrospex Elwood’s – Barry Seal Elwood’s – Beau Tyler Fur Shop – Bowlsey Hard Rock Casino - Cabin Creek – Bandit Band ($42-$74) Hard Rock Casino - Riffs – Brian & Stevie, Replay ($42-$74) Hunt Club – Nick Dahlquist, Red Wood Rising Lefty’s On Greenwood – Scott Ellison Band Living Arts of Tulsa – *OK Electric Music Festival Martini’s Lounge – Danny Baker Band, Scott Musick, Danny Timms Mercury Lounge – *Paul Benjaman Band Nitro Lounge – Illusions V w/ DEVTH, KIID H4WK, KREWX, Nomad, Ject&Svenchen Osage Casino - NINE18 Bar – Mike Black & The Stingrays River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Imzadi Soul City – Brandon Jenkins Soundpony – *Oilhouse, Tae Hero, BOTH The Colony – Levi Parham, Beau Jennings The Venue Shrine – Jeff Austin Band ($12.25-$20) Vanguard – Ben Kilgore, Sports, RVRB ($10) VFW Post 577 - Centennial Lounge – Dustin Pittsley Band Yeti – Helen Kelter Skelter, Gum, SWAP MEAT, The Daddyo’s IDL Ballroom - *ISHI @ Nude Art Show 12 ($25-$45)

Sun // Apr 10 East Village Bohemian Pizzeria – Mike Cameron Collective Fur Shop – Lara Hope & The Ark-Tones Soundpony – *La Panther Happens - Happy Hour Show – 6 p.m.

Soundpony – Foxtails Brigade The Colony – Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Nite Thing

Mon // Apr 11 Hard Rock Casino - The Joint – Bryan Adams ($65-$85) Hodges Bend – Mike Cameron Collective Juniper Restaurant & Martini Lounge – Dean DeMerritt and Frank Brown The Colony – Singer/Songwriter Night Vanguard – Possessed by Paul James, We Dream Dawn, Beau Roberson ($10-$13) Yeti – Cypher 120

Tues // Apr 12 Brady Theater – HALESTORM, Lita Ford, Dorothy ($29) Cain’s Ballroom – *Kurt Vile and the Violators, Purling Hiss (Solo) ($20-$35) Hard Rock Casino - Riffs – Darrel Cole ($42-$74) Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Depot Jazz and Blues Jams The Colony – Mike Cameron Collective Yeti – Singer/Songwriter Night

Wed // Apr 13 Cain’s Ballroom – Melanie Martinez, Mainland ($27.50-$75) Cimarron Bar – Harry Williams and Friends Downtown Lounge – Pulse Main Street Tavern – Cynthia Simmons Mixed Company – Mike Cameron Collective Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Wednesday Night Spotlight w/ Shelby Eicher ($10) Soundpony – *Live Band Heavy Metal Karaoke w/ Satanico & The Demon Seeds The Colony – Tom Skinner’s Science Project Vanguard – Leather Strip, Ludovico Technique, The Secret Post, Axis ($15-$20)

*

Easter Island Music Festival Easter Island returns to Keetonville (just a half hour drive northwest of downtown Tulsa) with their funkiest lineup yet. Headliners include Los Angeles soul and groove machine Orgone, Split Lip Rayfield (probably the most metal bluegrass band in the world), beloved Tulsa post-rock trio The Panda Resistance, Paul Benjaman Band, Austin-based psych-folk band Calliope Musicals and more. Local acts include Stone Trio featuring Mike Dee, Branjae and the Filthy Animals, Taylor Graham’s “Henna Roso,” Steve Liddell, and High Bias, a tribute to David Bowie featuring members of Grazzhopper and Green Corn Rebellion. April 14 through April 16, tickets from $40, Valley Park Sports Complex, Keetonville, easterislandfestival.com

Thurs // Apr 14 Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Cain’s Ballroom – Judah & The Lion, The Saint Johns ($13-$15) Cimarron Bar – Bill Snow Hard Rock Casino - Cabin Creek – Great Big Biscuit ($42-$74) Hard Rock Casino - Riffs – Darren Ray, Lost On Utica ($42-$74) Hunt Club – Tyler Brant Mercury Lounge – Lucky Tubb and The Modern Day Troubadours River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Midnight Run Band Soul City – Michael Fracasso Soundpony – Apalache The Colony – Wink N Thursday VFW Post 577 - Centennial Lounge – Pat Ryan Key

Fri // Apr 15 American Legion Post 308 – Helen Russell BOK Center – Barry Manilow, Dave Koz ($19.75$167.75) Cimarron Bar – Cody Clinton Band Fur Shop – Ocean Disco Hard Rock Casino - Cabin Creek – Stonehorse ($42-$74) Hard Rock Casino - Riffs – Darren Ray, Imzadi ($42-$74) Hunt Club – Brothers Moore Mercury Lounge – Daniel Markham Full Band, John Calvin Abney Osage Casino - NINE18 Bar – The Jumpshots Pepper’s Grill - South – Jennifer Marriott Band River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – The Groove Pilots River Spirit Casino - Event Center – Clint Black (SOLD OUT) Soul City – Little Joe McLerran Soundpony – Afistaface The Colony – Jacob Tovar & The Saddle Tramps Vanguard – My So Called Band ($10) VFW Post 577 - Centennial Lounge – Randy Brumley Band

Sat // Apr 16 727 Club – Scott Ellison Band Billy and Renee’s – The Zinners Boom Boom Room – DJ MO Cain’s Ballroom – The Cadillac Three, Brad Hargrove ($19-$21)

Cimarron Bar – Sweatin Bullets Elwood’s – Jake Flint, Cactus Jones Band, Cole Lynch Band Fur Shop – The Captain Ledge Band Guthrie Green – *Global Bash w/ Fishbone, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Arlene Gould, Count Tutu & more – 2:30 p.m.

Hard Rock Casino - Cabin Creek – Justin Smith ($42-$74) Hard Rock Casino - Riffs – Darren Ray, Uncrowned Kings ($42-$74) Hunt Club – Mark Gibson Mercury Lounge – Harvest Thieves Osage Casino - NINE18 Bar – The Jumpshots River Spirit Casino - 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – Lost On Utica Soul City – Travis Fite Soundpony – Breakfast, Busty Brunettes Happy Hour Show – 6 p.m.

Soundpony – Shivery Shakes, Dead Shakes Starship Records & Tapes – Record Store Day Showcase w/ Girls Club, Noun Verb Adjective, Hey Judy, Contra, Who & The Fucks, Cucumber and the Suntans, Antron and the Earslips – 1 p.m.

The Colony – The Big Hairy Beckers Vanguard – Oil Boom, Quiet Company ($13-$15) VFW Post 577 - Centennial Lounge – Gypsy Cold Cuts

Sun // Apr 17 Cain’s Ballroom – Drive-By Truckers ($22-$37) East Village Bohemian Pizzeria – Mike Cameron Collective Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Cole Porter Review ($5-$20) Soundpony – Open Fields The Colony – Paul Benjaman’s Sunday Nite Thing

Mon // Apr 18 Cascia Hall Preparatory School – Rick Fortner and Travis Minner ($10) Hodges Bend – Mike Cameron Collective Soundpony – *Flying Balalaika Brothers The Colony – Singer/Songwriter Night Yeti – Cypher 120

Tues // Apr 19 Hard Rock Casino - Riffs – Brian Odle ($42-$74) Hunt Club – Preslar Music Showcase Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame – Depot Jazz and Blues Jams The Colony – Mike Cameron Collective Vanguard – *David Liebe Hart, Evan Hughes, Landry Miller, The Riot Waves, Lizard Police, The Decomposed ($10-$13) Yeti – Singer/Songwriter Night

Your VOICE For

Live Music Send dates, venue and listings to John@LangdonPublishing.com April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

popradar

Kevin Spacey in “House of Cards” | COURTESY

House of Underwood ‘House of Cards’ season four goes full Macbeth

by LANDRY HARLAN

N

etflix’s “House of Cards” is not a show known for subtlety. For three seasons, Frank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire (Robin Wright) Underwood achieved and maintained political power through cutthroat tactics, even resorting to murder, while maintaining a façade of righteousness. The parallel to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the original political power couple, could not be clearer. Like many of his villainous Shakespearean counterparts, Frank speaks directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall.

In its first three seasons, “House of Cards” struggled, focusing too much on the machinations and intrigue of its plotting at the expense of its characters. Any adversary of Frank’s was quickly struck down by shrewd maneuvering, merely a bump in his road to the Oval Office. Rare were the moments that showed his heinous behavior’s tragic side effects, whether on the victim or Frank.

THE TULSA VOICE // April 6 – 19, 2016

Still, the show’s worst sin was relegating its most fascinating character to the supporting background. No one was more influential in Frank’s meteoritic rise than Claire Underwood, who knew just what buttons to push and backs to stab to help him achieve his aims. But the show was so myopic in its focus on Frank that Claire was thinly drawn—the supportive, conniving wife who lives to serve her husband’s ambition.

On this front, season four is quick to ask forgiveness. After walking out on her marriage at the end of last season, Claire is now in control as Frank unravels.

In episode one, Frank’s hold on the presidency is weakening as primary polls show dwindling enthusiasm for his re-election. In the meantime, Claire begins her own ascent to a different throne.

She smirks her signature cold smile and makes Frank a proposal he can’t (though he tries to) refuse.

He’s finally met his match.

Frank has never before shown signs of mental suffering as a result of his ruthless power grabs, but creator/showrunner Beau Willimon finally allows us glimpses into Frank’s weakened state. Three specters from his past haunt his dreams, portending a coming fall from grace. These ghosts assault and taunt him in the Oval Office, shrouded in darkness. Frank’s visible torment during these visions is palpable, recalling Macbeth’s agony after murdering King Duncan: “full of scorpions is my mind.” (I’m not sorry about that Macbeth spoiler by the way. The play is over 500 years old. You had your chance.)

The key elements of any tragedy are the main character’s downfall and an unhappy ending.

Frank and Claire have been building their house of cards since the show’s premiere, but splintered loyalties and loose ends in season four show just how close to collapsing it is. Tension builds in the

uncertainty of who will do what deed.

In spite of the witches’ prophecy that Macduff would rise to the throne, Macbeth remained in denial up to his demise. Frank’s ghosts harbor no riddles, but only a fool would ignore their reminder of the fragility of his position.

He should beware—fire burn, and cauldron bubble in the House of Underwood. a

3/16 SOLUTION: UNIVERSAL SUNDAY

FILM & TV // 49

filmphiles

Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale in “Knight of Cups” | COURTESY

Hollywood by way of Dante ‘Knight of Cups’ is a primordial nightmare

by JOE O’SHANSKY

T

he movement of life, at the intersection of dreams and cinema, has suffused the work of legendary auteur Terrence Malick. His latest, “Knight of Cups,” is a tour de force for those who already love his densely philosophical, narratively esoteric, borderline ecclesiastical treatises on life in America. It also caps an obvious trilogy.

Love is the golden thread: “The Tree of Life” was a hagiographical look at the birth of

Tulsa’s independent and non-profit art-house theatre, showing independent, foreign, and documentary films.

50 // FILM & TV

the universe and the yearning for an afterlife with those we love, filtered through the rose-colored prism of the 1950s American Dream. “To the Wonder” distilled those themes into an even more romanticized vision amid the suburbanized, ersatz ubiquity of the modern Midwest, where even the clergy offers no answers.

“Knight of Cups” hews closer to “The Tree of Life’s” narrative aesthetic. But, in contrast to that film’s warm, nostalgic reminiscence, “Cups” is a Tarkovsky-esque, slickly primordial sci-fi nightmare—a search for humanity in Los Angeles by way of Dante.

It feels like a critique of hell.

Christian Bale plays Rick, a depressed screenwriter who resides in an emotional purgatory, despite his Hollywood success. His broken family and the consequence of his choices fuel his existential malaise.

The impassive glass-and-steel metropolis around him seethes with ephemeral relationships and opportunistic people. Rick, perhaps because of his privilege, seeks providence in knowing

himself, since he can’t find solace in anyone else.

Broken into episodic acts named after tarot cards, “Knight of Cups” is a dreamscape of fallible memories and ghostly internal monologues from characters who seem to be speaking from beyond the grave.

“Damnation is the pieces of your life that never come together,” Rick is sagely told.

Repeated forms, painterly and sonic, play out in lucid point-ofview. Poetic passages of water and light, cold modernism, and sexual ennui frame the baroque purgatory from which Rick can’t escape.

“Knight of Cups” is, in one sense, a departure for Malick: a Movie-About-Hollywood that, like “The Player,” loves sticking recognizable actors in the margins of the protagonist’s myopic realm. Along with Bale, an eclectic roster of stars dot the periphery.

Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Antonio Banderas, and Teresa Palmer cameo, while quirky, blinkand-you’ll-miss-them appearances from Nick Kroll, Joe Lo Truglio,

Nick Offerman and Dan Harmon highlight the Altaman-esque self-reference at work. (Considering the comedic pedigree of the latter half of the cast, it should be noted that “Knight of Cups” is not funny. At all.)

There aren’t a lot of parameters with which to judge a film like this, aside from the viewer’s gut reaction. It looks like every second of a beatific, disquieting dream thanks to the director’s peerless sense of composition and the hypnotic, Oscar-winning cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki (“The Revenant”). Malick is an artist, a dream weaver with a syntax all his own. But with his last three films, his visual motifs, while varied in scope, are becoming a labor of stylization, and “Knight of Cups” won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

But that’s okay, because Malick is making films for himself now.

Masters usually do. a

"Knight of Cups" opens Friday, April 8 at Circle Cinema. For tickets and times, visit circlecinema.com April 6 – 19, 2016 // THE TULSA VOICE

ACROSS 1 Goethe’s soul-seller 6 Close in anger 10 Successor of St. Peter 14 Cylindrical sandwiches 19 Milo of “The Verdict” 20 Like many pie orders 21 Newspaper section, briefly 22 Adele hit 23 Rolling kitchen of sorts 25 Juice box maker 27 Snickering sound 28 Sandusky’s lake 29 Like broken eyeglasses, maybe 31 Prepares for reuse 32 Tend to the sauce 33 Hindu melody 34 Spirited mount 36 Wiener schnitzel, e.g.

39 Convincingly stated 41 Most animals 45 Metropolitan 46 5 for 125 and 10 for 1000 48 Take an ax to 49 Run rampant 50 Bern’s river 51 “The Civil War” co-writer Burns 52 Farm machinery giant 54 Declare verboten 55 Breitling or Omega product 59 Needing a seatbelt extender 60 Noah’s eldest 62 Part of a bray 63 1994 Peace Prize co-winner Shimon 64 Skeleton’s place?

65 Lost strength 67 Stamp buys 68 “Atlantic City” director Louis 69 Big name in e-tail 71 Suffix with audio- or biblio72 Court figs.

73 Basics 76 Hybrid equines 77 Battle trauma 79 World Cup cheer 80 GPS bracelet spot 81 Lilting melody 82 Metallurgists’ studies 83 SWAT operation 84 Hot temper 85 Overstuffed seat 89 Carried away by 90 City of southwest Connecticut 94 Farm crew 95 Wall Street worker 96 Kind of coffee or stew 98 Heavy burden 99 Source of much pressure 100 Noggins 103 Rescue a dog, say 105 Theda of silents 106 Baby seal 109 Tournament type 111 Burlesque dance 114 Classic Ford flop 115 Cleaner scent 116 River through Orsk 117 Poker Flat’s chronicler 118 “__ Harder” (old ad slogan) 119 Hang in there 120 Indy areas 121 Word that can follow the first parts of this puzzle’s long answers DOWN 1 Dutch actress Nina 2 1975 Wimbledon champ

3 “Nothing doing” 4 Wine bottle word 5 Break for coffee, say 6 Part of a flight 7 Choice opera seating 8 Times past 9 Series of short movie shots 10 Florida food fish 11 Mayberry kid 12 Hangs in the balance 13 MIT email suffix 14 “___ the fire?”

15 Did a cover of 16 “Bummer” 17 Bend at a barre 18 Adds new turf 24 Habeas corpus, e.g.

26 Many a summer temp 30 Word with New or golden 32 Blind part 33 Hare Krishnas’ wear 35 Former CBS chief Laurence 36 Reins in 37 Heep of literature 38 “Stormy Monday” bluesman 39 First woman to win a Nobel 40 Goodies from Linz 42 Offering at a wine bar, perhaps 43 To the point 44 Not 4-Down 46 Cried like a raven 47 Facial twitches 50 Ghostly pale 52 Barbie or Ken 53 Virus in 2014 news 56 Give away, as a plot 57 “Mack the Knife” composer Kurt

58 Van Gogh setting 61 “___ tov!”

64 Amontillado holders 66 Rhinoplasty target 67 Angelic child 68 Ceremonial staff bearer 69 At full speed, nautically 70 H.H. ___ (Saki) 71 Duck-call maker Robertson 72 Day of “Pillow Talk” 74 Patsy who sang “Crazy” 75 Passover meal 77 Tackles the QB 78 Act the pack rat 83 Jet engine sound 86 “Hogwash!”

87 Wooden shoe’s sound 88 Prepares, as leftovers 89 Alcohol level tester input 91 Checkered flag taker 92 In a dry manner 93 Pinocchio, notably 95 Maryland athlete, briefly 97 Good thing to kick 99 Sandbox toys 100 Rowing team 101 Patronized Uber 102 Vienna’s loc.

104 Meyer of “Saw” movies 105 Rotten kid 106 Remove the rind from 107 Netmen’s org.

108 Lift one’s blindfold 110 Covert ___ (spy doings) 112 Prefix with corn or cycle 113 Stuff one’s face

Universal sUnday Crossword Pleased To MeaT yoU!

By Fred Piscop

© 2016 Universal Uclick

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ETC. // 51

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

MONDAY, APRIL 11

LEGACY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP

BRYAN ADAMS

THURSDAY, MAY 12

THURSDAY, MAY 19

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