FREE EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY | OKC & TULSA’S INDEPENDENT BIWEEKLY | DECEMBER 22, 2021
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Despite setbacks, Oklahoma is bouncing back after year two of a global pandemic.
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INSIDE COVER
Well, folks. We did it again. Pat yourselves on the back, while Oklahoma Gazette takes a look both forward and backward. By Matt Dinger Cover and photo by Berlin Green Cover models: Savanah Harris, Derek Harris and Hollee Persechino
NEWS Norman city politics NonDoc: 2022 elections 13 Sticking to new year’s resolutions 5 7
EAT & DRINK 15
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16 Gazedibles
ARTS & CULTURE 19 20 24 25 26 27
The rearview and road ahead Best of OKC winners Citizen Spotlight: Robyn and Clyde Watanabe Black Sky Affair Holiday Gift Guide Calendar
MUSIC Maddie & Tae Soundcheck 33 Live Music 29 31
THE HIGH CULTURE 34 37
Guyutes recipe Strain reviews
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VOL. XLIII NO. 16 PUBLISHER Bryan Hallman | bhallman@okgazette.com EDITOR Matt Dinger | mdinger@okgazette.com
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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Berlin Green | bgreen@okgazette.com DIGITAL MEDIA & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Kendall Bleakley ADVERTISING advertising@okgazette.com 405-528-6000 DIRECTOR OF SALES Christy Duane | cduane@okgazette.com SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Saundra Godwin | sgodwin@okgazette.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Clyde Dorr | cdorr@okgazette.com CIRCULATION MANAGER Patrick Hanscom | phanscom@okgazette.com CONTRIBUTORS Jerry Bennett KM Bramlett Brett Fieldcamp Evan Jarvicks NonDoc.com Adrienne Proctor Ryan Spencer
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NEWS
“Do the Work and Deescalate” HELEN GRANT IS RUNNING FOR THE WARD 4 SEAT ON NORMAN’S CITY COUNCIL, NAVIGATING POLITICAL TURMOIL AND IDEOLOGICAL STALEMATE. By Brett Fieldcamp
Over the past few years, the city of Norman has been facing a major crisis of political confidence. Starting with the citizen pushback against the proposed University North Park development and continuing through to the successful passage of measures reallocating police funding, the city’s substantial young liberal contingent began making big moves. Then came the attempted recall of Mayor Brea Clark and a number of City Council members and a rash of lawsuits that have relegated much of the reallocated funding to financial purgatory, all spearheaded by the decidedly conservative Unite Norman group. The city is serving as something of an unexpected microcosm of the full political landscape of Oklahoma, if not the entire country, with left and right each gaining and losing ground by turns, and all placing a larger focus on respective city councils than you’re likely to see almost anywhere else. With city council and mayoral elections coming in 2022, all sides are looking to notch another win, and all are wading into battles on city issues ranging from homelessness and mental health to policing and urban development. Any one of these issues alone could form the entirety of a city council candidate’s campaign, but for Norman’s Helen Grant, they form a combined bigger picture that she intends to carry throughout her candidacy for the Ward 4 seat. “These are not abstract concepts for me,” Grant said. “These issues have an impact on my friends, neighbors, and the people I see just trying to get by in Norman.” Grant thinks in terms of complex lists and details. Asked about the concerns and considerations of the city, she offers bullet point solutions or a first-hand story of watching these struggles play out in front of her. Instead, she hones in on details and small but actionable moves that
can believably be made from the city council, such as addressing city staffing, small-scale city infrastructure, and residents’ skyrocketing utilities. “I know that right now the City of Norman is understaffed for a city of its Helen Grant, Photo provided size and population, and the recent discussion about how COVID and understaffing led to “I’m well aware of how gentrificahigher than usual water bills has evtion, stagnant wages for lower income erything to do with not having workers, often clustered populations updated infrastructure and the emof minorities, and people on fixed ployees needed to meet demand,” she incomes are priced out of their neighsaid. “I also think it could be helpful borhoods,” she says. “We need opto try programs like [citizen-voted portunities for safe and affordable funding practice] participatory budhousing and supportive services like geting to help neighborhoods address day shelters and transportation. And issues that matter to them, but that of course better coordination and often get swept to the side, like sidecommunication to ensure effective walks, curbs, and street repairs.” use of our limited resources.” There’s another important element in Grant’s plans for a more compassionate and supportive approach to “I would like to see city’s homelessness issue, however. an unarmed, mental “We need unarmed mental health health response crisis response,” she said. option be fully deThis is something that numerous veloped by the city cities across the country are attemptand I would like to ing, and it sits at the center of the work to ensure “defund the police” movement. The its sustainability.” belief being that if a new and properly-trained department of unarmed -Helen Grant mental health responders was estabThis focus on listening to the city’s lished, it would both cut down on residents directly is at the core of necessary police numbers and sigGrant’s plans, especially when apnificantly reduce the number of homeproaching one of the largest and most less and psychologically struggling visible issues facing the city, parpeople killed or injured by police. ticularly in the bustling downtown “I would like to see an unarmed, hotspots of Ward 4: Homelessness. mental health response option be As a member of the Resonator arts fully developed by the city,” Grant space in Norman, Grant has been insaid. “And I would like to work to strumental in stocking and managing ensure its sustainability.” one of the city’s most-used commuThat goal was a major driving nity pantries and refrigerators factor behind the city’s decision to helping to ser ve unhoused and re-allocate more than $850,000 from hungry residents, and it’s given her its police budget in 2020. The money the opportunity to understand and was intended to then be used in eslisten to their needs firsthand. tablishing a new crisis response de-
partment before lawsuits and conservative pushback forced the city to place holds on large portions of the funding. Grant knows that funding is the first and most essential thing needed for the city, but that it has to be managed and appropriated very carefully, something that she believes is a realistic and achievable goal from the council. Luckily, she already has experience helping consider how to responsibly handle city funding. “When I was on the Community Development Block Grant committee, the question was, ‘How do you take HUD funds and apply them in a way that’s actually going to address the needs of a population that is low income?’ You’re trying to do good things and make this city nicer, but you also don’t want people to be pushed out of their neighborhood either.” Grant has a difficult road ahead with the probability of a contentious campaign. If she wins the seat, she faces the likelihood that others on the city council already see her as an enemy. Her hope is to use the position as a way to help guide and encourage fruitful conversation in the city and to help steer the rhetoric and conf licts away from the high tensions and partisan retaliation of the past few years. “I think my strategy is to just do the work and de-escalate where possible.”
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Thanks to everyone who listened and learned with us this year. Wishing you very happy holidays from
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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NEWS
Primary primer WHILE THE FILING PERIOD DOESN’T BEGIN UNTIL MID-SPRING, MANY CANDIDATES HAVE ALREADY VERBALLY THROWN THEIR HATS INTO THE RING. By Megan Prather and Tres Savage — NonDoc.com
Oklahomans are now less than a year out from the 2022 general election, when voters will decide who fills national, state level and local offices. While the official filing period for Oklahoma’s 2022 election is not until April 13 through April 15, multiple candidates have already formed campaign committees for statewide and federal offices. Conventional wisdom would indicate that anyone planning to run for such a major elected position needs to be at least raising money and increasing their name identification one year out from Election Day. (The 2022 primary election is scheduled for June 28, with the runoff election date set for Aug. 23.) Oklahomans intending to seek statewide office are required to register with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, while federal candidates must register with the Federal Election Commission. By searching for offices or candidates and clicking on their filings, you can see the amounts of money raised and spent so far. Early campaign committee registrations show two hotly contested GOP primaries for the (functionally) open seats of attorney general, superintendent of public instruction and corporation commissioner. But no Democrat has formed a committee yet in those races, perhaps triggering coattail concerns for the party’s eventual gubernatorial nominee. W hile several of Oklahoma’s mundane statewide elected offices — lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner — may avoid contentious primary challenges, the state’s incumbent governor and an incumbent U.S. senator will be fighting off opponents from their right flanks. Below, find summaries of who has formed campaign committees in hopes of making Oklahoma’s next general election one year out.
Six candidates challenging Gov. Kevin Stitt so far Six gubernatorial candidates have formed campaign committees with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to challenge Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (Republican) next November. The
candidates include former State Sen. anesthesiologist, Yen has been critical Dr. Ervin Yen (first a Republican, now of Stitt’s handling of the COVID-19 an independent), State Superintendent pandemic and told NonDoc last year of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister that the governor’s goal of using priva(elected twice to statewide office as a tized managed care to implement the Republican, but now running as a state’s Medicaid program also bothers Democrat), former State Sen. Connie him. Yen was a registered Democrat Johnson (Democrat), marketing exuntil 2009, state records show. ecutive Natalie Bruno (Libertarian) Hofmeister announced in October and naturopathic doctor and retired that she will be making her run for Tulsa Police Sgt. Mark Sherwood governor as a Democrat after switch(Republican). ing her political Paul Tay, who party affiliawas a Tulsa tion from mayoral candiRepublican. date in 2014, also Hofmeister has announced a guserved as state bernatorial camsuperintendent paign in June of of public inthis y e a r. struction since However, he was 2014 and is ina r r e st e d i n eligible for reAug u st a nd election to that charged with post owing to rape, kidnapping term limits. and assault. In a Facebook St it t , w ho post from Oct. 7, was elected Hofmeister with no politistated, “While cal background I’m changing my t o s er v e a s party affiliation, O k l a h o m a ’s I am not not gover nor in changing my 2018, w ill be values or who I running for a Connie Johnson, Photo provided. am.” In a camsecond term. paig n v ideo, Yen was the first to announce that Hofmeister mentioned health care, he would be challenging Stitt, filing infrastructure and rural broadband his campaign committee with the as some of her top priorities. ethics committee in November 2020. The 2022 election will mark He initially filed to run as a Johnson’s second run for governor Republican, but he announced in after losing the Democratic nominaOctober that he would be withdrawing tion in 2018 to former Oklahoma his Republican voter registration and Attorney General Drew Edmondson. running as an independent, saying, ” Johnson served as a state senator from I have not changed, the party has.” 2005 to 2014. During her July camYen served one term as a Republican paign launch in Oklahoma City, state senator from 2014 until he lost Johnson said she plans to make “strahis reelection bid to GOP challenger tegic investments to advance a robust Joe Howell in 2018. An Oklahoma City economic, education and health
agenda for all Oklahomans.” Bruno formed her campaign committee in June of this year. Top issues for Bruno, according to her campaign website, include respecting the SCOTUS decision regarding Indian County reservations, leaving vaccination and masking decisions up to individuals, treating abortion as an individual decision, making health care more affordable, expanding Oklahoma’s cannabis industry, improving education and making innovations to the state’s criminal justice system. A Tulsa-based naturopathic doctor and retired member of the Tulsa Police Department, Sherwood formed his campaign committee in September. This will be his first time running for a public office, and he has aligned himself with other far-right candidates, including U.S. Senate GOP challenger Jackson Lahmeyer. He believes the 2020 presidential election was “hijacked” and that Donald Trump should and will be reinstated as president. On his campaign website, Sherwood states that Oklahoma is under attack from the “rogue Biden Communist regime.” Sherwood’s campaign issues include election integrity, abolishing abor tion, stopping Second Amendment infringement, ensuring “critical race theory” isn’t taught in schools, banning mandatory vaccines, masks or lockdowns and the deregulation of business and agriculture.
Lieutenant governor limited to Pinnell at this point Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell has formed his committee to run for reelection and, at this point, is the only candidate in the race. As lieutenant governor, Pinnell ser ves as the president of the Oklahoma State Senate as well as secretary of tourism, wildlife and heritage, in which role he oversees the
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Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation. Before Pinnell was elected in 2018, he served as director of state parties for t he Republ ic a n National Committee from 2013 to 2017. He was also chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party from 2010 to 2013. Pinnell’s campaig n issues include education, advocating for small businesses, increasing tourism to the state, increasing government accountability and recruiti ng more people to become foster parents. A primary matchup for attorney general
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Cu r rent Ok la homa Attorney General John O’Connor and attorney John O’Connor, Photo provided. and businessman Gentner Drummond have his website, including the protection both formed campaign committees of Second Amendment rights, protectas Republicans for the AG election ing the state against federal overreach next November. and protecting victims of sexual asO’Connor was appointed to the posaults by clearing the state’s rape-kit sition by Stitt in July following the backlog as quickly as possible. resignation of former Attorney Hunter had formed a campaign General Mike Hunter in May. He precommittee in November 2020, but it viously worked for the Tulsa-based has since been terminated, with some law firm Hall Estill. funds returned to donors and other In 2018, O’Connor was nominated dollars used to pay off his substantial by former President Donald Trump 2018 campaign debt to himself. to fill a federal judge position. However, t he A mer ic a n Ba r Three seek to count beans as Association committee deemed him state treasurer “not qualified” in the areas of professional competence or integrity for a Despite filing a campaign commitfe der a l jud ic i a l nom i n at ion . tee with the Ethics Commission in Subsequently, O’Connor never reJanuary 2020, Oklahoma State ceived a confirmation hearing. Treasurer Randy McDaniel announced Throughout the saga, O’Connor reJune 1 — six days after Hunter anceived strong support from Tulsa nounced his resignation — that he Mayor G.T. Bynum, U.S. Sen. James would not be seeking reelection. Lankford (R-OK) and U.S. Sen. Jim Oklahoma County Commissioner Inhofe (R-OK). David Hooten formed his campaign “We are missing out on an opporc om m it t e e w it h t he Et h ic s tunity to place a person of the highest Commission on June 30. integrity and competence on the A trumpet player and former resfederal bench to serve all Oklahomans,” taurateur, Hooten previously ran as a Inhofe said in January 2019. Democrat for the State House of During his four months in office so Representatives in 2004, but he was far, O’Connor has requested that the removed from the ballot by the U.S Supreme Court overturn its Oklahoma Election Board for not McGirt ruling, has filed a brief remeeting voter registration requirequesting the Supreme Court overturn ments. In 2014, Hooten ran for State Roe vs. Wade and, most recently, has Senate as a Republican, but finished filed a lawsuit against the Biden adfourth in the primary (with 11.2 ministration’s vaccination requirepercent of the vote) behind eventual ments for federal contractors. winner Ervin Yen. In 2016, Hooten Drummond has been the senior ousted embattled Oklahoma County attorney at the Drummond Law Firm, Clerk Carolyn Caudill and won reelecin Tulsa, since 1998 and the principal tion in 2020, despite criticisms that shareholder and director of Blue Sky Hooten’s firing of prior clerk employBank since 2003. He ran a campaign ees had resulted in a settlement for Oklahoma attorney general in costing the county $175,000. 2018 but lost in the GOP runoff elecTerm-limited State Rep. Todd Russ tion to Hunter. (R-Cordell) formed his campaign A former U.S. Air Force captain, committee for state treasurer on July Drummond lists campaign goals on 31. Russ is the chairman of the
A p pr o pr i at i on s a n d B u d g e t Transportation Subcommittee and serves on the full Appropriations and Budget Committee, the Common Education Committee and the Insurance Committee. Russ has more than 35 years of banking experience and has worked in management consulting for businesses and banks since 2008. He served as the president and CEO of Washita State Bank from 2003 to 2008. In 2016, Russ drew national headlines and was forced to apologize after saying that Native Americans are “predisposed to alcoholism” during debate over a measure eventually passed by voters to modernize Oklahoma’s alcohol laws. Former Republican State Sen. Michael Mazzei had formed a campaign committee with the Ethics Commission in July, but he ended his campaign owing to what would have been a conflict arising from his association with Raymond James Financial. On Nov. 9, one day after the original publication of this post, former State Sen. Clark Jolley announced his candidacy for state treasurer, saying in his release that he has the “relevant experience” to succeed in the position. In addition to serving as Senate A p pr o pr i at i on s a n d B u d g e t Committee chairman, Jolley recently stepped down as a member of the Oklahoma Tax Commission to run for office. An attorney, Jolley has also been an adjunct professor at two private Christian universities.
Three GOP candidates for superintendent of public instruction State Secretary of Education Ryan Walters, Shawnee Public Schools Superintendent April Grace and Peggs Public Schools Superintendent John Cox have all formed committees to run as Republicans for the open state superintendent of public instruction position. Walters was appointed as secretary of education by Stitt in September 2020. He teaches advanced placement history at McAlester High School and Millwood High School in Oklahoma City and was a finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year in 2016. Walters has been criticized for overlap in his private and public positions in the education sector. In 2019, Walters became the executive director of the education advocacy group Oklahoma Achieves, which in 2020 was absorbed by the organization Every Kid Counts Oklahoma, where Walters serves as CEO. The organization was put in charge of promoting the distributing of federal COVID-relief dollars for the Stitt administration. Walters has been supportive of Stitt’s request for an investigative audit of the State Department of Education. He also recently posted on Twitter in support of O’Connor and Stitt’s fight against the American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit regarding HB
1775, which bans teaching of certain concepts about race and gender in Oklahoma public schools. Grace has served as the superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools since 2016 and has spent 30 years in public education as a classroom teacher, building administrator and assistant superintendent. She was named 2021 State Superintendent of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators as well as OASA District 9 Superintendent of the Year. Grace and other district officials have been criticized after an SPS assistant athletic director was accused of sexual misconduct with a 17-yearold boy and investigators revealed that the man, Ron Arthur, had remained employed by Shawnee Public Schools despite receiving eight admonishments for alleged verbal and sexual misconduct. A sheriff’s deputy wrote that Arthur had been reprimanded for “vulgar and sexual comments to male students and vulgar comments about female students, allegations of having inappropriately touched a male’s buttocks, sending inappropriate text messages to students and having contact with students alone when he was not allowed to per his previous reinstatements.” While noting that she could not comment on an ongoing personnel investigation, Grace told T he Oklahoman that the deputy took the admonishments out of context and that her district does not condone “the alleged behavior by Mr. Arthur or any school employee entrusted with student well-being.” Cox has spent the past 23 years as the superintendent of Peggs Schools and has 35 years of experience in Oklahoma public schools. Cox serves as president of the Organization of Rural Elementary Schools, chairman of the Oklahoma Schools Assurance Group and treasurer of the Oklahoma Schools Insurance Group. He has also served as president of the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators. Cox has run for the state’s top education post twice before, but as a Democrat. In 2018, he garnered 33.8 percent of the vote against Hofmeister. In 2016, he received 44.2 percent of the vote against her. The party switch has left Cox vulnerable to criticism of being a literal RINO — or Republican In Name Only.
From the State Senate to the corporation commission? A former president pro tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate and a currently influential member of the same body are both seeking the Republican nomination for the Corporation Commission seat being vacated by the term-limited Dana Murphy. Oklahoma Secretary of State Brian Bingman served as the State Senate’s leader prior to terming out of the Legislature following the 2016 elec-
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tion. A former mayor Lahmeyer has made headlines for of Sapulpa, Bingman appearing at speaking engagements is a citizen of the with national GOP firebrands and Cherokee Nation and posting photos showing his convoran for a corporation luted whiteboard charts. Re-elected commission seat in to what will be his final legislative 2018, losing to Bob term in 2020, Dahm has been a conAnthony in a runoff. troversial member of the Oklahoma Over the past year, State Senate, being reprimanded mulBingman has been tiple times, including for his 2021 Stitt’s most trusted remarks about Vice President Kamala liaison with members Harris and oral sex. Both Lahmeyer of t he Ok l a hom a and Dahm and running on rhetoric Legislature. related to America-First policies, limSen. Kim David iting the reach of the federal govern(R-Porter) is entering ment and other conservative efforts. her final year of legisA pair of Democrats have also lative service. She launched challenges to Lankford. beca me t he f irst Originally from Elk City, Oklahoma female Republican to City attorney Jason Bollinger anserve as floor leader of nounced his candidacy first and formed the Oklahoma State a committee in September. Bollinger Senate, but she was has a personal Facebook page and has replaced in that posiposted a landing page with his antion ahead of this nouncement press release as a website. m o n t h ’s s p e c i a l James Lankford, Photo provided. On Oct. 21, Stilwell native Madison session. David has Horn also announced her campaign for been a staunch supthe Democratic nomination for U.S. porter of the Grand River Dam covering the Mustang area. Senate. A cybersecurity expert who Authority and of Stitt’s efforts to works for Siemens Energy, Horn does implement privatized managed care U.S. Senate seat features chalhave a website and formed a committee of the state’s Medicaid program. Her lengers from the right with the FEC on Nov. 2. comments about managed Medicaid ruffled the feathers of some GOP colIncumbent Sen. James leagues in early 2021. La n k ford represented David and Bingman are the only Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional two people to have formed campaign District for two terms prior to committees for the open Corporation winning an open U.S. Senate seat Commission seat so far. in 2014. A staunch conservative with So far, Byrd flying solo for state a background in youth leaderauditor and inspector ship for the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, Lankford Incumbent State Auditor and simultaneously managed to Inspector Cindy Byrd (Republican) is defend and support President the only person who has registered a Donald Trump’s agenda during 2022 campaign committee with the his time in office yet alienate Ethics Commission so far. First some of Trump’s strongest elected in 2018, Byrd hails from backers at the grassroots level Coalgate in southeast Oklahoma and when he withdrew his objechad worked in the SA&I Office for tion to the certification of the years prior to running for the state2020 presidential election wide office. results. Underscoring his awkward political positioning Interest in insurance comaround issues related to the missioner not at a premium former president, Lankford subsequently apologized to Incumbent Insurance Commissioner Black voters for supporting Glen Mulready (Republican) is the only Trump’s claims that the elecperson who has registered a 2022 camtion had been rigged. paign committee with the Ethics Lankford has drawn a pair Commission so far. First elected in 2018, of ultra-conservative GOP chal- Hendra Horn, Photo provided. Mulready previously served in the lengers for his 2022 reelection Oklahoma House as a representative bid: Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer from Jenks. and State Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken First and fifth congressional Arrow). The pair has been appearing seats see opponents Incumbent labor commissioner together at events such as an upcoming labors alone fundraiser at Red Neck Yacht Club, an Oklahoma’s five Congressional OKC bar that sued Stitt regarding his Districts will also have elections in Incumbent Labor Commissioner executive order closing bars at 11 p.m. 2022. CD 1 incumbent Rep. Kevin Leslie Osborn (Republican) is the only According to social media postings, Hern (R), CD 2 incumbent Rep. person who has registered a 2022 camboth Lahmeyer and Dahm are conMarkwayne Mullins (R), CD 3 incumpaign committee with the Ethics firmed as attending the Dec. 10 bent Rep. Frank Lucas (R), CD 4 inCommission so far. First elected in Oklahoma Republican Party fundcumbent Rep. Tom Cole (R) and CD 5 2018, Osborn previously served in the raiser, which is promoted as featuring incumbent Rep. Stephanie Bice (R) Oklahoma House as a representative a mechanical bull riding contest. are all seeking reelection.
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While no challengers have yet formed campaign committees with the Federal Election Commission for CD 2, 3 or 4, Hern and Bice will each have opponents in their races. Hern, a businessman and former aerospace engineer for Rockwell, was elected to CD 1 in 2018 and reelected in 2020. Hern’s campaign website touts “promises kept” throughout his time in Congress, saying he was involved in securing the border, protecting Second Amendment rights, co-sponsoring the Defund Planned Parenthood Act and helping former President Donald Trump to “drain the swamp.” Adam Martin, a 2020 Oklahoma State University graduate, formed a committee to run for CD1 as a Democrat on Sept. 27. According to his campaign website, Martin intends to focus on expanding Medicare coverage, capping the cost of prescription drugs, providing equitable funding for public schools, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and common-sense gun reform. John Swoboda, a Tulsa-based teacher, filed to run for CD1 as a Democrat in March. According to his campaign website, Swoboda’s issues of focus include equal access in public education, racial justice, single-payer Medicare for all and marijuana legalization. He supports expunging the records of those convicted for past cannabis offenses. Bice will be running for reelection after defeating CD 5 incumbent Rep. Kendra Horn in 2020 with about 52.1 percent of the vote. Prior to that, Bice was elected into the State Senate in 2014, where she served for two years as the assistant majority floor leader and chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee. Democrat Abby Broyles formed her campaign committee for CD 5 in August. Broyles previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2020, but she lost to incumbent Sen. Jim Inhofe, receiving about 32.8 percent of the vote. According to her campaign website, Broyles’ priorities include pay equity and economic security, protecting health care and fighting COVID-19, criminal justice reform, decriminalizing marijuana, education, renewable energy, economic development and taking care of service members.
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COMMENTARY
Beyond willpower NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS ARE NOTORIOUSLY HARD TO KEEP, BUT USING BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE TO GUIDE THEM CAN HELP MAKE THEM MORE SUCCESSFUL. By KM Bramlett and Brandi Bramlett
[editor’s note: Brandi Bramlett, a board-certified behavior analyst, is a clinical director who helps people on the autism spectrum develop functional behaviors. In her personal life, she applies behavioral science to her passion for health and fitness. Her expertise in human behavior and her passion for a healthy lifestyle uniquely qualify her for sharing evidence-based strategies in planning (and sticking to) that new year’s resolution.]
It’s that time of year again—time to make a plan for the “new year, new you.” But are you ready for it? If you’ve tried and failed at your new year’s resolutions in the past, it may not be a moral failing. With some knowledge of the inner workings of human behavior, you can use basic tools that increase your chances of success. Some resolutions aim to break bad habits, like quitting smoking or reducing sugar consumption, and others aspire to form beneficial behaviors, like exercising or meditating regularly. Bramlett explains that the process is essentially the same whether you want to quit or start something: break down the goal into manageable pieces, track progress, re-evaluate along the way, and keep the big-picture goal in mind. This guide outlines why we develop unhelpful habits and behaviors in the first place, how to set attainable goals, how to implement strategies for developing new behaviors, and where to find resources for support through the journey.
WHY WE DEVELOP BAD HABITS Identifying the reasons why we develop habits may be the key to breaking unhelpful ones. Whether it’s a conscious process or not, habits are formed for a few common reasons . Reason 1: Belief that a behavior serves a purpose or influences unrelated outcomes The technical term for this is “superstitious behavior.” This is an action that
is inadvertently reinforced and linked to an unrelated outcome. An example in human behavior is excessive worrying or obsessive thought cycles. Engaging in these mental processes gives us a sense of control over things we may not actually be able to affect, and the worry becomes habitual through the reinforcing comfort of perceived control over the external environment. The solution is to work on unlinking the worry and the sense of control since worrying doesn’t actually have an effect on outcomes. Superstitious behavior at its worst manifests itself in obsessive compulsive disorder and should be dealt with under the guidance of a professional. Reason 2: Lack of Preparation People often predict that their “future self” will find it easy to make a good choice later instead of preparing the environment for success in the future. It’s basic human nature, but the lack of preparation ends up making success much harder to achieve. For example, a person who wants to make healthier food choices may tell themselves they’ll pack a good lunch in the morning before work when mornings are always too hectic to find time to actually do it. The bad habit in this case is choosing not to pack a lunch the night before because it seems easier not to in the moment, assuming it will be easy to do it in the morning. This makes the person more likely to choose unhealthy foods later when they’re very hungry and short on time. The solution is to realize that it’s actually easier to pack a healthful lunch the night before, creating ease in making healthier food choices the next day. This is known as lowering the “response effort,” making the better choice the easier one once lunch arrives. Reason 3: Escape/Avoidant Behavior This is another aspect of human
nature: the urge to escape or avoid something that feels overwhelming. In reality, the thoughts themselves tend to be more overwhelming than actually doing the thing. It’s often easier just to do something instead of fixating on feeling overwhelmed about doing it. Dreading going to the gym? Try interr upting the unproductive thoughts about it and just go to the gym. See if that feels easier than wasting time avoiding it. Reason 4: Difficulty with accountability to oneself due to low self-worth Accountability sucks. It’s hard. That’s why a lot of people avoid things because you don’t have someone else to hold you accountable. If someone else broke their promises to you as often as you break your promises to yourself, you wouldn’t talk to you. You wouldn’t be your friend. Work on valuing yourself as highly as you value your loved ones. You should be your own top priority. Also, understand that your thoughts have a way of controlling your behaviors. If you think you’re not capable, you won’t apply yourself. If you can identify and correct destructive thought patterns you can begin to remap thoughts to redirect behaviors.
THE PROCESS: HOW TO STICK TO AN ATTAINABLE GOAL Start small and learn your limits. There are three essential components to achieving goals: 1) short-term, bite-sized steps that get you moving toward the “big picture” outcome; 2) intermediate-term goals that help you evaluate progress along the way; and 3) the ultimate long-term goal. Each person has a certain amount of tolerance to rates of change in habits. Your baseline of tolerance to change may be lower when you set out to achieve your goal but may increase with initial successes. Then as you master and internalize the tools
you’ve taught yourself, you learn how much change you can manage at once. People commonly fail when they jump into goals that require too much change. For example, a plan that suddenly requires dietary change 80 percent of the time will probably fail. Changing 25 percent of meals to healthier choices is more attainable at the outset and increasing the amount over time is more manageable. For consistent progress, choose very small goals that can be accomplished in the near future. The little wins will help you gain momentum and motivate you to keep going. Increase the scope of your goals gradually as you build confidence. Keep your personal values in mind. How does your goal align with who you are at your core and who you aspire to be? A goal that is intertwined with your deeper sense of self will make your efforts easier to withstand. Prepare your environment for the change you want to see. Your environment is everything. You must prepare the environment to set you up for success later. Lower the amount of effort it will take to make a good choice in the future, and increase the amount of effort it would take to do the thing you’re trying to avoid. Some people find it’s helpful to create rules, conditions, or consequences for themselves. I tell myself that fast food restaurants are closed during the times that it would be easy for me to go, removing the possibility of making the unhealthy food choice by creating the imaginary condition that they’re closed. That works for me, but you can set your own parameters. Another way to increase the amount of effort to do something you want to avoid is to place many extra steps between you and that behavior or item. If you’re trying to eat less junk food, don’t keep it at home. If you want to O KGA Z E T TE .CO M | D EC EM B ER 2 2 , 2 0 2 1
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spend less money, try not storing your payment information in your online shopping accounts and freeze your credit card in a block of ice in the freezer. That would create many extra steps to engage in the excessive spending and give you extra time to realize that you can stop it. Triggers and setting events, known as “antecedents,” are the things that happen before any given behavior. For example, if you want to quit biting your fingernails, you have to notice and identify the antecedent. That’s what is going on before you feel the need to put your hand to your mouth to bite your nails. Then work on replacing the action of putting your hand to your mouth with something else that is incompatible with nail biting that also helps you acknowledge the need you’re trying fulfill. If anxiety is the reason you bite your nails, you’d need to find something else to do with your hands that tends to your anxiety (e.g., a calming activity like knitting).
Get an accountability partner or system. If you have someone you can count on, ask them to help hold you accountable on your dedication to yourself and your goals. You can also try accountability apps that help you stay on track, like Beeminder or Action Buddy. Re-evaluate often instead of giving up.
Track your progress.
Sometimes we need to re-evaluate and readjust our course. That’s not the same thing as failure. Instead of saying “This isn’t working, I’m going to quit,” say “This isn’t working, what do I need to change?” Try piggy-backing your desired behavior or habit to something you
Bramlett recommends journaling about how things are going or tracking data in an app or spreadsheet. This provides an objective perspective on how much progress is being made and gives you insight into whether you need to adjust your plan.
already find easy or feel compelled to do. You always have some form of behavior that you want to keep that you can piggy-back or link to.
WHEN TO START People often like to start working on new goals at the new year, but you can start any day. Why wait for the new year Your new year could start tomorrow or any other day.
RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT If you feel like your goals require professional assistance, reach out to a counselor or life coach that aligns with your personal values and goals. Sadly, professional guidance is often hard to come by. Luckily, there are lots
of books, websites, and apps for selfguided support. I recommend New Harbinger Publications, as they offer an impressive array of books for anyone interested in evidence-based, self-guided programs. Also recommended are the following books: Atomic Habits by James Clear; Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport; The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris; and A Liberated Mind: An Essential Guide to ACT by Dr. Steven C. Hayes. BehaviorFit.com will also help you track fitness goals if that’s among your resolutions.
FINAL THOUGHTS Your environment is everything, so prepare your environment. That could include removing yourself from toxic relationships in personal or professional life and setting healthier boundaries. Also consider how long you’ve been engaging in the behaviors you want to change, and know that the longer it’s gone on, the longer it will take to change it. So, you may need to realize that your goal is a three- or four-year goal, not a one-year goal. To quote influential behaviorist B. F. Skinner: “A failure is not always a mistake. It may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.”
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EAT & DRINK
Seasons Drinkings TIS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY SPIRITS. HERE ARE FOUR COCKTAILS DESIGNED TO LIGHT UP THE SEASON.
El Gran Chai Abrazo Ryan Goodman of The Manhattan 3.5 oz chai tea 1.5 oz ginger syrup* 2 oz Centenario Reposado 2 dashes angostura bitters combine all ingredients in 8-12 oz mug, stir garnish with orange twist
Sleigh Bell Margarita By Maren Erickson of Ponyboy .5 Oz Lime Juice .75 Oz Orange Juice .5 Oz Cranberry Juice .5 Oz Simple Syrup .75 Oz Cointreau Triple Sec 2 Oz Maestro Dobel Diamanté 10 whole cloves
*ginger syrup 4 oz ginger (chopped, into small chunks, skin on) 6 oz turbinado sugar 6 oz hot water combine all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth strain, store
Add all ingredients to tin and shake with ice for ten seconds. Strain into tin cup over fresh ice. Garnish with orange wedge with cloves pressed in. Optional garnish: fresh cranberries and rosemary sprig.
Holiday White 1.5 Oz 1800 Anejo Tequila .5 Oz Lime Juice 1 Oz Milk or Coconut Milk .5 Oz Simple Syrup (add only if coconut milk is not sweet enough) .5 Oz Egg White Coconut Flakes to Garnish Combine all ingredients into a mixing tin with ice. Shake hard for 10 seconds. Strain into and iced glass over ice. Garnish with coconut flakes.
Snowed In 2 Oz Three Olives Vodka 1 Oz Coconut milk .5 Oz Butterscotch Schnapps (splash) Nutmeg for garnish Combine all ingredients into a mixing tin with crushed ice, and shake. Pour into a glass over ice, and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh nutmeg.
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GAZEDIBLES
The happiest of hours HAPPY HOURS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS. Happy hour, the most happy time of the day, amiright? With the holidays coming, you might be looking forward to relaxing for a bit after you leave the office. Here are seven spots around OKC and Tulsa where you’ll find a great happy hour. By Berlin Green
Photos provided.
The R&J Lounge & Supper Club
405-602-5066 • 320-B NW 10th St. www.rjsupperclub.com Daily 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All day Monday.
This supper club offers ‘50s inspired menu in a stylish and nostalgic environment, plus they’ve got some pretty great happy hour specials to boot. Enjoy discounts on their signature Old Fashioneds and sangria as well as some fantastic appetizers. With the heated patio, this is definitely a great spot to enjoy happy hour on these cold winter afternoons.
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Bar Arbolada
405-601-8659 • 637 W Main St. www.facebook.com/bararbolada Daily 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Enjoy the happiest of hours in the beautiful ambiance of Bar Arbolada. and their unique and tasty handcrafted cocktails. During happy hour guests enjoy $1 off draft beers and $6 glasses of wine. Best of all, you can get a delicious hamburger, recently made world-famous by the Food Network’s Alton Brown for only $4.
The Hamilton Supperette & Lounge 405-849-5115 • 12232 N May Avenue thehamiltonokc.com Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
This speakeasy-style supper club offers two happy hours, their primary one Monday through Friday 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and one on Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., during which they offer live music from various artists each week. Happy hour specials include $10 appetizers, plus great deals on wine, beer and chambongs.
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Bar Cicchetti
Doc’s Wine & Food
The Local Bison
Roka Bar & Asian Flavors
Nestled in Deep Deuce, Bar Cicchetti has a happy hour you might not want to miss. Experience their fun and stylish atmosphere accompanied by a delicious Mediterraneaninspired menu. Happy hour specials include half priced small plates, plus $5 specials on beer, wine and handcrafted cocktails featuring local distillery Wonderfolk Spirits.
Doc’s offers patrons Creole cuisine with an American twist and they’ve got more than a few fantastic happy hour specials, including some that rotate throughout the week. Offerings include discounted fresh oysters and delicious small plates like tuna tartare and spinach-andouille dip. Pair these tasty treats with a beverage and enjoy great deals on domestic beer, wine and champagne cocktails.
This vegan-friendly spot features Oklahoma favorites with a “Bison” twist. They make all their sauces and seasoning in house. Try their truffle garlic frites or the brussels sprouts — you won’t be disappointed. Enjoy great drink specials, including their $4 rotating draft beers from local breweries or their featured cocktail showcasing local seasonal ingredients
You can’t go wrong at happy hour in this popular Asian fusion restaurant. Enjoy $3 domestic beers and $4 glasses of wine, as well as delicious made-from-scratch appetizers such as kimchi fries and lettuce wraps all at great discounts. Roka extends their happy hour offerings all day on Wednesdays so you’ve got some extra time to enjoy it.
405-795-5295 • 121 NE 2nd Street www.barcicchettiok.com Daily 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
918-949-3663 • 3509 S Peoria Avenue, Tulsa www.docswineandfood.com Daily 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
918-561-6114 • 522 S. Boston Avenue #103, Tulsa www.thelocalbison.com Monday through Saturday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
918-382-7777 •1616 S. Utica Ave, Tulsa www.rokatulsa.com Daily 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. All day Wednesday.
She personally hung each kite in every new location, and her warm, kind, loving spirit will forever be a part of every Hideaway. We miss you, Janie.
E AT & DRINK O KGA Z E T TE .CO M | D EC EM B ER 2 2 , 2 0 2 1
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COVER STORY
At least that’s over DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC, THERE’S A LOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT MOVING FORWARD. By Matt Dinger
We enjoyed live music at venues across the state. Pictured Foo Fighters at The Zoo Ampitheatre. Photo: Berlin Green
We celebrated Juneteenth. Pictured Concious Lee. Photo: Berlin Green
All hopes of having anything resembling a normal year were dashed a few days into it, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future. For one, Oklahoma City’s live music scene, which was swelling just prior to the pandemic, seems to be cresting once more. With a year packed with rescheduled dates and bands eager to get on the road again, 2022 dates have been announced well in advance. Additionally, the city will see the addition of another live music venue in March, Beer City Music Hall, which we’ll be discussing in depth in February. The venue is already booking acts like
a Doc Antle miniseries already streaming on Netflix. Reservation Dogs has been renewed for a second season, while creator Sterlin Harjo has netted a broader deal with the FX Network itself. Principal photography on Flowers of the Killer Moon wrapped in October. A real city made its eponymous debut, Stillwater, while a fictional city was the scene of the action in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The latter may not have filmed here, but
buzz is already starting to build around his next feature, Country Gold. But we’ll tell you more about that later. While Oklahoma City has been accelerating in leaps and bounds this year, Tulsa is also experiencing a rapid renaissance. Expect to hear more about things happening there next year as well. Recognizing its strength as a community leader of free news about vital Oklahoma topics, Oklahoma Gazette will also be syndicating selected stories
Antlers, Kat Von D. and Knocked Loose for the spring. Its neighbor at the corner of NW 3rd and Klein Avenue, Fair-Weather Friend, is a perfect example of the treasures that new taproom-forward local breweries bring to their neighborhoods, with an artisanal pizza kitchen in house. Beer City’s other neighbor has a story to tell as well. See? Told you there was plenty of cause for optimism. Another avenue where the state made great strides was in film and television production. We’ve come a long way from Tiger King, baby. But not too far, really, with the second season and
We experienced Oklahoma City’s first ever all women’s mural festival with the Sunny Dayz Mural Festival. Pictured: @feahther Photo: Berlin Green
We finally got to experience the First Americans Museum. Photo: Berlin Green
several other productions have, especially after the launch of Prairie Surf Studios and Green Pastures Studios here in the metro. Expect Oklahoma Gazette to be covering film productions more closely next year. The cherry on top has been the rapid success of Oklahoma City’s auteur filmmaker Mickey Reece. With Agnes now making its theatrical run at Rodeo Cinema and available to stream on demand following its premiere at Tribeca Film Festival this summer, the
from NonDoc. Tres Savage has spent the past several years crafting a news organization whose breaking news efforts are as thorough as their in-depth coverage and we’re proud to be working with them. There’s plenty more to say, but that’s enough for now. All the best to you and yours.
COVER S TORY O KGA Z E T TE .CO M | D EC EM B ER 2 2 , 2 0 2 1
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BEST STEAKHOUSE
CATTLEMEN’S STEAKHOUSE
Finalists: Boulevard Steakhouse, Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, Ranch Steakhouse, Red PrimeSteak
BEST SUSHI
SUSHI NEKO ROBATA AND SUSHI BAR
Finalists: GoGo Sushi Express and Grill, The Sushi Bar, Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, Yuzo Sushi Tapas
BEST EASTERN ASIAN RESTAURANT (CHINESE, JAPANESE, THAI, VIETNAMESE)
BEST LOCAL ORIGINAL BAND OR SINGER (EX: SINGER/SONGWRITER, RAPPER, HIP-HOP GROUP)
Finalists: Grand House Asian Bistro, Sala Thai, Thai House Restaurant, VII Asian Bistro
Finalists: graham colton, Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road, Mike Hosty, Scott Miles
PHO LIEN HOA
BEST NEW RESTAURANT TO OPEN AFTER 8/1/20
TED’S TACOS AND CANTINA
BEST PERFORMING ARTS GROUP (EX: THEATER COMPANY, DANCE COMPANY, ORCHESTRAL GROUP)
BEST FINE DINING RESTAURANT
Finalists: Carpenter Square Theatre, Oklahoma City Ballet, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Terre Rouge Burlesque
Finalists: Cheever’s Cafe, Ludivine, Paseo Grill, Vast
BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY, TEAM OR SHOW
Finalists: Chicken Foot OKC, Rendezvous Pizza, Sunset Patio Bar, Venn Pizza on Britton
MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE
FOOD & DRINK
BEST SEAFOOD
BEST LOCAL CRAFT BREWER
Finalists: Hefner Grill, Pearl’s Oyster Bar, Seafood Party, Trapper’s Fishcamp & Grill
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
BEST RESTAURANT WITH VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN MENU OPTIONS
Finalists: 51st Street Speakeasy, Cookie’s, The Flea, The Other Room
BRICKTOWN BREWERY
Finalists: Anthem Brewing Company, COOP Ale Works, Prairie Artisan Ales, Stonecloud Brewing Co.
BEST LOCAL TAP ROOM
STONECLOUD BREWING CO.
Finalists: Angry Scotsman Brewing, Prairie Artisan Ales, Roughtail Brewing Co., Vanessa House Beer Company
BEST COCKTAIL (AND THE RESTAURANT/ BAR THAT SERVES IT)
LUNCHBOX AT EDNA’S
Finalists: Disco Nap, Jones Assembly, Fineapple, Zuma, Paloma, Powerhouse, Peach Bellini, Cookies on Western
BEST BREAKFAST
CAFE KACAO LATIN CUISINE
Finalists: Jimmy’s Egg, Neighborhood JAM, Sunnyside Diner, Syrup
BEST BRUNCH
CHEEVER’S CAFE
Finalists: Cafe Kacao Latin Cuisine, Neighborhood JAM, Pearl’s Oyster Bar, The Jones Assembly
BEST LATE-NIGHT EATS
EMPIRE SLICE HOUSE
Finalists: Beverly’s Pancake House, Guyutes, Ponyboy, Powerhouse
BEST BURGER
THE GARAGE BURGERS & BEER
Finalists: Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler Express, Nic’s Grill, S&B’s Burger Joint, Tucker’s Onion Burgers
BEST TACO
BIG TRUCK TACOS
Finalists: Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Hacienda Tacos, Mexican Radio, The Fried Taco
BEST SANDWICH SHOP
THE MULE
Finalists: Lee’s Sandwiches, N D Foods, Neptune Submarine Sandwiches, Someplace Else A Deli & Bakery
BEST BARBECUE
CLARK CREW BBQ
Finalists: Back Door Barbeque, Earl’s Rib Palace, Iron Star Urban Barbeque, Swadley’s Bar-B-Q
BEST PIZZA PLACE
EMPIRE SLICE HOUSE
Finalists: Hideaway Pizza, Pizzeria Gusto, The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen, The Wedge Pizzeria 20
OFF THE HOOK SEAFOOD AND MORE
THE LOADED BOWL
Finalists: Picasso Cafe, Sala Thai, Taj Cuisine of India, The Red Cup
BEST RESTAURANT OR BAKERY WITH GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS
LA BAGUETTE BAKERY & CAFE Finalists: Green Goodies, Holey Rollers, The Loaded Bowl, Picasso Cafe
JABEE
THE PUMP BAR
BEST NEW BAR TO OPEN AFTER 8/1/20
KINDRED SPIRITS
Finalists: Lamp Post Lounge, Lamp Post Lounge, Sunset Patio Bar, Zuma
BEST PATIO DINING
HEFNER GRILL
Finalists: FRIDA southwest, Solo’s Park and Pub, The Jones Assembly, The Mont
LYRIC THEATRE OF OKLAHOMA
JOEY AND HEATHER, 98.9 KYIS
Finalists: Jim Traber & Al Eschback, WWLS, Rick & Brad, KATT, Ronnie Kaye, KOMA, This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU
BEST VISUAL ARTIST
DENISE DUONG
Finalists: David Bricquet, Kris kanaly, Maria Anderson Art, Theresa Hurt
BEST LOCAL ANNUAL EVENT OR FESTIVAL
PASEO ARTS FESTIVAL
Finalists: Asian Night Market Festival, Festival of the Arts, Plaza District Festival, ZooBrew
BEST CHARITY EVENT
BEST DESSERT RESTAURANT, SHOP OR BAKERY
BEST DINER
PIE JUNKIE
SUNNYSIDE DINER
Finalists: Ingrid’s Kitchen, La Baguette Bistro & Cafe, OKC Sweets, Raspberries n’ Creme
Finalists: Beverly’s Pancake House, Jimmy’s Egg, Metro Diner, Sherri’s Diner
Finalists: Glitterball, deadCenter Film, Oklahoma Born & Brewed, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Red Tie Night, The Santa Market
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
BEST RESTAURANT
BEST FREE ENTERTAINMENT
Finalists: Azteca Mexican Grill, Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant, Poblano Grill, San Marcos Mexican Restaurant
Finalists: Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, Redrock Canyon Grill, Swadley’s Bar-B-Q, The Jones Assembly
TED’S CAFE ESCONDIDO
CHEEVER’S CAFE
BEST CHEF BEST LATIN RESTAURANT (NOT MEXICAN)
CAFE KACAO LATIN CUISINE
Finalists: 1492 New World Latin Cuisine, Cafe Antigua, Cafe DO Brasil, La Brasa
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
GABRIELLA’S ITALIAN GRILL & PIZZA
Finalists: Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill, Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria, Patrono Italian Restaurant, Vito’s Ristorante
BEST WESTERN EUROPEAN RESTAURANT, NOT ITALIAN (DANISH, ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, IRISH, SCOTTISH, SPANISH, ETC.)
LA BAGUETTE BISTRO
Finalists: Fassler Hall, Ingrid’s, Royal Bavaria, Sean Cummings’ Irish Pub
BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
NUNU’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE Finalists: Basil Mediterranean Cafe, Cous Cous Cafe, Mediterranean Imports & Deli, Zorbas Mediterranean Restaurant Bar
BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT
SHEESH MAHAL
Finalists: Gopuram Taste of India, Mt Everest Cuisines, Saffron Cuisine of India, Taj
D EC EM B ER 2 2 , 2 0 2 1 | O KGA Z E T TE .CO M COVER S TORY
KEVIN LEE
Finalists: Andrew Black, Black Walnut, Chef Kurt, Jeff Chanchaleune, Mani Raju - Taj
BEST PRE- OR POST- EVENT SPOT TO GRAB A DRINK
THE JONES ASSEMBLY
Finalists: Ponyboy, Social Capital, The Mont, The Pump Bar
BEST LGBTQ+ BAR OR CLUB
THE BOOM
Finalists: Frankie’s OKC, Hilo Club, Partners, Tramps
BEST NATIONAL OR REGIONAL RESTAURANT*
CHICK-FIL-A
Finalists: Charleston’s Restaurant, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Panera Bread, Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar
ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT BEST LOCAL COVER BAND
MY SO CALLED BAND
Finalists: Banana Seat, Blink 405, The blues brothers okc, Wise Guys
BOOTS & BALLGOWNS, INFANT CRISIS SERVICES
SCISSORTAIL PARK
Finalists: Bricktown, Myriad Botanical Gardens, Norman Music Festival, Paseo Arts Festival
BEST BAR/CLUB FOR LIVE MUSIC
THE JONES ASSEMBLY
Finalists: 51st Street Speakeasy, Blue Note Lounge, Frankie’s OKC, Ponyboy
BEST PLACE FOR KARAOKE
COOKIE’S ON WESTERN
Finalists: 40 WEST, Kat’s Tavern, Phoenix Rising, Ponyboy
BEST CONCERT VENUE
TOWER THEATRE
Finalists: Paycom Arena, The Criterion, The Jones Assembly, The Zoo Amphitheatre
BEST PUBLIC ART, NOT A MURAL (GIVE INTERSECTION AND ARTIST)
OKLAHOMA LAND RUN MONUMENT BY PAUL MOORE, BRICKTOWN
Finalists: Birds Watching OKC Thunder Dance Party by Joe Slack, NW Classen Between 7th and 9th Streets, Headlines by Joe Slack, I-35 Edmond, Flamenco by Jonathan Hills, The Paseo Arts District, OKConnected by Matt Goad, Will Rogers World Airport
BEST PUBLIC MURAL (GIVE INTERSECTION AND ARTIST)
PLAZA WALLS (MULTIPLE ARTISTS), PLAZA DISTRICT
Finalists: Life in The Light by Denise Duong, Film Row, Woodstock Mural by Roadrunner Murals (Grant & Kaylyn Stacey), Flower Power Cannabis Co., Murals by Dusty Gilpin, Zuma, With Love Project (multiple artists), The Market at EastPoint
BEST PLACE TO BUY LOCAL ART
THE PASEO ARTS DISTRICT
Finalists: Carpe Artem Gallery, DNA Galleries, Howell Gallery, North Gallery & Studio
BEST ART GALLERY
OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART Finalists: 21c Museum Hotel, Carpe Artem Gallery, DNA Galleries, JRB Art at The Elms
BEST MUSEUM
OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL & MUSEUM
Finalists: Choctaw Cultural Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
BEST LOCAL DISTRICT
PASEO ARTS DISTRICT
Finalists: Asian District, Midtown, Plaza District, Uptown 23rd
BEST CASINO
RIVERWIND CASINO
BEST NAUGHTY BUSINESS
CHRISTIE’S TOY BOX
Finalists: Adele Wolf Productions, Patricia’s, Red Dog, Terre Rouge Burlesque
BEST PLACE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
OU
Finalists: Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City Community College, OSUStillwater, UCO
BEST NEW RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT TO OPEN AFTER 8/1/20
CURBSIDE FLOWERS
Finalists: Forma, Optics and Art, Oak City Vintage, Wrap it up Gifts,
BEST LOCAL GROCER, DELI, OR SPECIALTY FOOD SHOP
CREST FOODS
Finalists: Flora Bodega, Homeland, Mediterranean Imports & Deli, Super Cao Nguyen
BEST LOCAL SHOP TO SPRUCE UP YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE
TLC GARDEN CENTERS
Finalists: Brick’s Garden Exchange, Calvert’s, Marcum’s Nursery, The Greenhouse Inc.
BEST LOCAL FLORIST
CURBSIDE FLOWERS
Finalists: A Date With Iris, Capitol Hill Florist and Gifts, Tony Foss, Trochta’s Flowers and Garden Center
BEST HOSPITAL*
BEST DISPENSARY FOR EDIBLES
Finalists: INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, Norman Regional Moore, Oklahoma Heart Hospital, OU Medical
Finalists: Cannabox Cannabis Company, Get Bak’d-Medical Marijuana Dispensary Edmond, Peak, Sage Wellness
MERCY HOSPITAL OKLAHOMA CITY
BEST MEDICAL SPA (BOTOX, FILLER ETC.)
BEST DISPENSARY FOR CONCENTRATES
Finalists: Bella Luce Med Spa, H-MD Medical Spa, Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center, RefineU MedSpa OKC
Finalists: Classen Kush House, Electraleaf Medical Cannabis Dispensary, Get Bak’dMedical Marijuana Dispensary Edmond, Sage Wellness
RADIANCE MEDICAL AESTHETICS OF OKLAHOMA
BEST SPA (NO INJECTIONS USED)
EDEN SALON & SPA
Finalists: Lenox Skincare, Purity Day Spa, Three Graces Day Spa, udånder
BEST YOGA, PILATES OR BARRE STUDIO
BARRE3
Finalists: 405 YOGA, Dragon Yoga, Pilates On Western, This Land Yoga
BEST HEALTH NUTRITION STORE
AKIN’S NATURAL FOODS
Finalists: Dodson’s Health Food & Vitamins, GreenAcres Market Oklahoma City, Mustang Social Energy + Nutrition, Triad Fitness+Supplements+Nutrition
BEST PLACE TO GET FIT*
YMCA OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY Finalists: Anytime Fitness, EMPOWERHOUSE Gym, Life Time, VASA Fitness
Finalists: Choctaw Casino & Resort-Durant, Grand Casino, Newcastle Casino, Remington Park
BEST GARDEN SHOP
GOODS & SERVICES
Finalists: Brick’s Garden Exchange, Calverts, Marcum’s Nursery, The Greenhouse Inc.
BEST HOTEL*
BEST PLACE TO FIND UNIQUE GIFTS
Finalists: 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City, Bradford House, Colcord Hotel, Omni Oklahoma City Hotel
BEST PLACE TO BUY LIQUOR
BYRON’S LIQUOR WAREHOUSE Finalists: Freeman Liquor Mart, George’s Liquors, Moore Liquor, Sean’s Wine & Spirits
BEST VAPOR SHOP
OKC VAPES
Finalists: Kure CBD & Vape, Liquid Vapor Lounge, Thunder Vapor, Vapor Plus OK
BEST CREDIT UNION OR BANK*
TINKER FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Finalists: BancFirst, Chase, Focus Federal Credit Union, MidFirst Bank
BEST PLACE TO BUY JEWELRY
BC CLARK JEWELERS
Finalists: CJ’s Jewelers, JewelSmiths, MitchenerFarrand Fine Jewelry, Naifeh Fine Jewelry
BEST THRIFT, VINTAGE OR CONSIGNMENT SHOP
TLC GARDEN CENTERS
THE MARKET AT NORTHPARK
Finalists: Blue Seven, Craig’s Curious Emporium, Moore Liquor, Plenty Mercantile
ATOMIC LOTUS TATTOO
Finalists: Black Magic Tattoo, Keepsake Tattoo, Mystical Illusions, No Regrets Tattoo
LIFE & WELLNESS BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER
REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF OKLAHOMA
Finalists: Homeless Alliance, Mutt Misfits Animal Rescue Society, Oklahoma Humane Society, Sisu Youth Services
BEST NONPROFIT
HOMELESS ALLIANCE
Finalists: Decades Revisited, a Vintage Mall, Best Thrift, Dig It Boutique, Mockingbird Manor Antiques
Finalists: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Infant Crisis Services, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
BEST PLASTIC SURGEON
Finalists: Blue Seven, Lush Fashion Lounge, Mode, The Black Scintilla
Finalists: Ivan Wayne, MD W Favial Aesthetics, Derek Shadid, Dr. Anureet K. Bajaj, MD, Jones Plastic Surgery
BAD GRANNY’S BAZAAR
THE MARKET AT NORTHPARK
THE SKIRVIN HILTON OKLAHOMA CITY
BEST LOCAL PARK FOR MEET-UPS BEST TATTOO SHOP
TIM R. LOVE, M.D.
GREAT BARRIER REEFER MEDICAL DISPENSARY
SCISSORTAIL PARK
GREAT BARRIER REEFER MEDICAL DISPENSARY
BEST NEW DISPENSARY TO OPEN AFTER 8/1/20
OKC DISPENSARY
Finalists: Cookies Dispensary, Flower Power Cannabis Co, Golden Bloom Cannabis Co, Mosaic+
BEST HEAD SHOP (NON-DISPENSARY)
ZIGGYZ
Finalists: Green Gorilla Smoke & Vape Shop, Mrs. Coolz, The Indigo Attic, Uncle Samz
BEST HEALTH AND BEAUTY CANNABISINFUSED PRODUCT
PAIN STICK, 788 COLLECTION
Finalists: Pain Cream, Bison & Rose, Bubble Bath Bomb, Bison & Rose, Eye dentify, Can Tek Labs, Pain Balm, Mr. Mack’s
BEST EDIBLE PRODUCT LINE
2WISTED EDIBLES
Finalists: 1 luv edibles, Mammoth chews, Nature’s Key edibles, Oh hi, CBD Sparkling Seltzers
BEST PUBLIC PLACE TO CONSUME CANNABIS PRODUCTS
GOOD TIMES
Finalists: ButterstuPHD Lounge, L.A. Finest Street Cuisine, Zoo Ampitheatre, Relax Park
Finalists: Douglas Park, Mesta park, Myriad Botanical Gardens, Will Rogers Park
BEST PUBLIC BATHROOM*
ONCUE
Finalists: City Bites, Scissortail Park, The Jones Assembly, The Pump Bar
CANNABIS BEST DISPENSARY
GET BAK’D-MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY EDMOND
Finalists: 405 Releaf Dispensary, Great Barrier Reefer Medical Dispensary, Project Releaf, Sage Wellness
BEST DISPENSARY FOR FLOWER
GREAT BARRIER REEFER MEDICAL DISPENSARY
Finalists: Cannabox Cannabis Company, Get Bak’d-Medical Marijuana Dispensary Edmond, Project Releaf, Sage Wellness
BEST PET-FRIENDLY PATIO
THE PUMP BAR
Finalists: Bleu Garten, Good Times, Powerhouse, Solo’s Park and Pub COVER S TORY O KGA Z E T TE .CO M | D EC EM B ER 2 2 , 2 0 2 1
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THANKS, OKC, FOR FILLING YOUR ICE CHESTS WITH COOP THIS YEAR!
Let’s Go, Kevin! By Matt Dinger Art by Jerry Bennett
FEBRUARY: Ditched his constituents during an extreme and dangerous cold snap to vacation in New Mexico. Even though he got caught, it didn’t stick to him as well as it did to Ted Cruz, but we’d like to remind you going into this election year.
EXPERIENCE FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 • 6-9pm Masks Encouraged
ARTS DISTRICT
In the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center at 3024 Paseo GALLERY I - Textile Reverie by Ame Hernandez GALLERY II - Girl Talk by Kendall Ross Featured through January 29.
MAY: But hold his beef. Kevin did his part to be a top ten state for owning the libs by having a barbecue under his PETA billboard. What a cool guy. I bet he’s attracting a lot of cool businesses here with those tactics. Like Tesla. Oh, wait…
Local and national art, great food, art classes and plenty of shopping!
#FirstFridayPaseo
AUGUST: Kevin took a moment out of his busy day to “share this thoughts” about the events unfolding in Afghanistan, giving a cringe-inducing address to his 1,700 YouTube subscribers. Sure, hundreds of thousands of people heard the message, but it ’s funnier when you say it that way.
405.525.2688 • thepaseo.org
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DECEMBER: Kevin loves to shoot things as he sometimes points out by posting photos. But his favorite thing to shoot is himself in the foot after needlessly ending a triba l hunting and f ishing compact. Way to go, Kev. You showed … well, of us. To the tune of $38 million, the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations estimate.
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CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT
Robyn & Clyde Watanabe of Feed His Sheep FOR OVER 11 YEARS THE WATANABES HAVE FED OKLAHOMA CITY CITIZENS AND BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO HELP. By Berlin Green
Every Sunday morning for the last 11 years, at the northwest corner of Sheridan and Dewey avenues in the Dunlap Codding parking lot, you will find Robyn and Clyde Watanabe amongst a small army of volunteers serving smiles, hugs and a hot meal to people experiencing homelessness in downtown Oklahoma City. Arriving on a particularly frigid December morning, about a hundred people are waiting patiently in the parking lot as the volunteers of Feed His Sheep set up stations for coffee, food and clothing. Despite the cold, there’s cheer in the air, as people smile, laugh and greet one another. “This is just a grassroots project me and my daughter Amanda started. With her, my husband and my three grandkids. They were four, six and seven at the time,” Robyn Watanabe said. “We brought them with us and they loved it. And we’ve not stopped. The first week nothing was planned. We just were there Sunday morning at the house. And we’re like, ‘Let’s go do something.’ But what do we do?’ And the kids said sandwiches. We had enough bread and supplies for 14 sandwiches, some granola bars and bottled water. Got little brown lunch bags. We
made up only 14 bags. So we got in the car. All three kids, my husband and myself and my daughter and we took off. I didn’t know where the homeless were. I had no clue. We Clyde and Robyn Watanabe of Feed His Sheep. Photo by Berlin Green had no clue whatsoever. We just knew we had to do something. So I The small group has no church afa hot meal and a kind word only grows. saw a couple people on the off-ramps so filiation or corporate sponsors. They Both retired, Robyn and Clyde attend we stopped and gave them a few bags. operate simply off the generosity and classes at the Homeless Alliance to We had nine left and headed downtown. time of volunteers. They have roughly learn more about how they can help The old highway was still there and, five core volunteers who join each in the community and find new ways behind McDonald’s, there were nine week and volunteers from different to serve. people sitting at the dumpster. I’m like, churches alternate weeks to cook hot “Our main thing is food because ‘Nine bags. There’s your sign.’” meals. Groups come from local schools food is like a common denominator This small mission to pay it forward and other organizations to help serve and it kind of levels the playing field would continue to grow into someand often bring coats, gloves, blankets because we all need food,” she said. thing more, giving Robyn and her and other necessities to hand out to “It’s an icebreaker so we can get to family a new sense of purpose. They those who need them. know them, look them in the eye, know served at different locations around their name and build a relationship. downtown before finding a permanent We want to give these people a sense home in the Dunlap Codding parking lot. “It’s the consistency of community and some dignity so “This is our church and these are and they like that sense that’s our main goal. That’s why it’s our friends,” Robyn said, gesturing of normalcy and we kind of nice to get to know them and towards the crowd. “I say this is just love what we do. find out what their needs are so we because they’re used to us here, they It’s not work to us, it’s can help them with that.” know we’re gonna be here. It’s the just what we do. I look Led by faith and spirit, the passion consistency and they like that sense forward to Sunday. It’s the Watanabes have for their mission of normalcy and we just love what we my favorite day. I get is clear. Clyde and Robyn often purdo. It’s not work to us, it’s just what to see all my friends.” chase bus passes to help people get a we do. I look forward to Sunday. It’s my warm ride across town. They make favorite day. I get to see all my friends.” -Robyn Watanabe little bags of dog food and treats and help people find shelter, or make con“We never solicit for any donations. nections to get them the help they In 11 years, we’ve never done without, need. When the people they serve are we’ve always had everything. When able to transition into housing, they food comes to us, it’s just random, and help them get necessities for their new people randomly send checks and homes. And, of course, the hugs, kind we’re like, ‘Oh, that’s a lot.’ Because words and smiles are more than abundant. we don’t advertise, it’s the best-kept During the midst of our interview, secret,” Robyn laughs. “That’s not our a man walks up from West Metro purpose. We just want to do our thing. Church, one of this week’s volunteer If money comes, great, but we’ve always groups, to discuss the possibility of had everything we needed. I would like opening up an additional feeding site at to be able to serve more people. We’ve a location in Yukon that has a lot of need. never turned anyone away and every“Oh, see,” Robyn said with a big body has always gotten food, which is smile. “It just happens. We asked for really a blessing because we never nothing, we simply serve.” know who’s coming and we never know how many are coming. But somehow there’s always enough,” she said. Feed His Sheep now feeds more To learn more about Feed His Sheep than 100 people each week. During to or to volunteer, visit facebook.com/ the cold winter months, the need for feedhissheepoklahoma. People line up for coffee as volunteers set up the food station. Photo by Berlin Green 24
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ASTRONOMY
Black sky affair THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE IS FINALLY LAUNCHING INTO SPACE ON DECEMBER 22. By Ryan Spencer
It’s finally here, space cadets. After numerous delays, cost overruns, and a major redesign, the James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch Dec. 22 atop a European-made Ariane 5 rocket. Space nerds like me have been salivating over this for years, but not everyone is so inclined; let’s therefore give a bit of background into this next-generation astronomical and astrophysical flagship mission, a combined effort of NASA and the European and Canadian Space Agencies. While the Hubble Space Telescope, after three decades of mind-blowing data gathering, continues to perform its Earthorbit mission admirably and is expected to do so for another decade or two, there are many celestial objects its mostly visible-light capacities simply can’t see.
JWST was created specifically to image objects in the deeper band of infrared light, which can’t be done effectively from Earth’s surface or anywhere in the planet’s vicinity. To escape blinding local sources of infrared light and heat and open its view to the universe, as well as to keep the observatory intensely cold for the sake of further infrared dampening, JWST’s trajectory will take it to a Lagrange point in space roughly one million miles away where it will maintain a stable though relatively far-flung orbit. This has been done before to excellent effect, though an orbital distance more than four times greater than that of our moon doesn’t lend itself to on-site astronaut repair missions as have been done with Hubble. For the mission to succeed, everything must be absolutely perfect when it goes up, hence the many delays. It’s construction completed in 2016, JWST has undergone five years of ground testing to ensure the mission goes off without a hitch. JWST is so big when fully deployed, it’s designed to fold up like an origami bird in its launch vehicle payload space. Several months of travel, deployment, and instrument calibration will be required before the real data starts pouring
The James Webb Telescope. Photo: Adobe Stock, Elements of image provided by NASA
in. Summer 2022 should see the first images as JWST begins its mission in earnest. The objects JWST will be imaging range from exoplanets, or planets in other star systems at distances anywhere from our nearest neighbors to those detected thousands of lightyears away, to the almost unimaginably old and remote first stars and galaxies formed when our 13.8 billion-year-old universe was young. The imaging resolution of exoplanets is expected to be ten times greater than anything we’ve yet accomplished, yielding data about these planets’ atmospheres indicating their habitability. As far as extremely distant (and therefore ex-
tremely old, since such enormous distances are a function of time) galaxies, stars, and burgeoning planetary systems, JWST’s imaging resolution is expected to yield data ranging anywhere between 100 and 1,000 times anything previously achieved. Such a tremendous leap in data-gathering magnitude over all other telescopes of any stripe means no one is exactly sure what we’ll discover beyond existing expectations, but JWST seems destined to eclipse Hubble, both scientifically and culturally, as our eyes to the sky. Here’s to the future, and hope. Always.
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E VERY THING IS FINE CC HOODIE Nestled in the heart of the Paseo Arts District lies a whole planet of radical fine art, archival prints and apparel perfect for keeping the entire family cozy and optimistic. Located at 3003 Paseo, Planet Dorshak has been consistently pumping out top-notch work. Price: $55 tax included Perfect For: Everyone
Planet Dorshak HAN D PAINTED G L ASS BOT TLE BY DIANE COLLINS Picasso Hand Painted Glass Bottle Price: $40 and up Perfect for: art lovers
The Paseo Arts and Creativity Center 3024 Paseo thepaseo.org 405-525-2688
FRONTIER CIT Y SE ASON PASS Get unlimited visits for the rest of 2021 and all of 2022, including this year’s Holiday in the Park celebration! Price: $49.99 Perfect for: Families, thrill seekers, teens, and young adults
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MALU BU FLIPPER For the best in premium quality blades, visit Sharp Things OKC. Hundreds of unique items for the sharplover on your list. Price: $-$$$$
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LUSH OKIE APPAREL Lush boutique in Oklahoma City is known for a large selection of Okie apparel, Oklahoma sweatshirts and more! Perfect gifts for game day, girls night out, holiday and loungewear, Lush Fashion Lounge has something for everyone on your list. Price: $-$$ Perfect for: Fashionistas
Lush Fashion Lounge 14101 N May Ave shop.lushfashionlounge.com | 405-936-0680
RIVERSPORT SE ASON M EM B ERSHIPS Season memberships give you worldclass outdoor adventures including whitewater rafting, kayaking, tubing, surfing, skiing/snowboarding, climbing, adventure course, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, high speed slides and – new – ice skating, curling and Nordic climbing! Price: 50% off! Starting at $99.99 Perfect for: Adventure seekers, outdoor enthusiasts and families
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THE WOMANIZER
Knock her socks off with this stocking stuffer. Perfect for: Lovers
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OKG PICKS are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.
FILM Free Film Screening: Dick Johnson is Dead Join us for a FREE screening of Kirsten Johnson’s feature film ‘Dick Johnson is Dead’ (2020). In this film, Johnson takes on a quirky new project with her dad: they will stage and film various fake deaths for him so that they can come to terms with the possibilities of his end on earth. The result is a comic, warm celebration of life and an exploration of our complicated relationship to mortality. Running time: 90 mins. This event is FREE and open to the public! In cooperation with OCU’s Event Policies, face masks are required for all attendees. Free!, Sun., Jan. 9, 2-4:30 p.m. OCU Norick Art Center, 1608 NW 26th Street, (405) 2085707, okcu.edu/film-literature/home. SUN, JAN 9 Holiday Film Series: Christmas Vacation Tower Theatre’s 2021 Holiday Film Series, presented by KOSU Radio, has finally arrived — and you don’t want to miss a moment!, Wed., Dec. 22 and Thu., Dec. 23. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. WED & THU, DEC 22 & 23
Holiday Film Series: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Tower Theatre’s 2021 Holiday Film Series, presented by KOSU Radio, has finally arrived — and you don’t want to miss a moment!, Wed., Dec. 22. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. WED, DEC 22
HAPPENINGS Coffee & Cars Coffee and Cars OKC is the largest monthly gathering of car enthusiasts across the state of Oklahoma! Head to Chisholm Creek on the first Saturday morning of each month to share your passion for automotives. The event will be held at the property just north of Pawnee Drive and Cabela Road. Everyone is welcome and there are no fees!, first Saturday of every month, 8 p.m. Chisholm Creek, 13230 Pawnee Dr., 405-728-2780, chisholmcreek.com. SAT, JAN 1
Devon Ice Rink The Devon Ice Rink returns for its 10th season in the Myriad Botanical Gardens in 2021! Get ready for another great winter of outdoor ice skating at Downtown in December’s premier attraction. Skate across 5,500 square feet of real ice and indulge in seasonal food and beverage offerings.
Experience the magical, park-like atmosphere surrounded by the glittering lights of the Devon Ice Rink., Through Jan. 30, 2022. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, downtownindecember. com/devon-ice-rink. THROUGH JAN 30 Holiday in the Park Holiday in the Park is back! Tis the season for glittering lights, delicious snacks, and a festive spin on your favorite rides. $24.99, FridaysSundays and Mondays-Sundays. through Jan. 2. Frontier City, 11501 N. I 35 Service road, (405) 478-2140, sixflags.com/frontiercity/events/holiday-in-the-park. THROUGH JAN 2
Jingle Bingo After a whirlwind of summer bingo nights, The Jones Assembly is bringing the game back for the holidays. Hosted by Brett Bogert + Eddie Radosovich, the game night will be held on TJA’s covered and heated patio on Thursday, December 23rd at 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to wear their ugliest holiday sweaters. The Jones Assembly, 901 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-2122378, thejonesassembly.com. THU, DEC 23 A Magical Cirque Christmas The world’s greatest entertainers unite for a spell-binding and incredible holiday production – A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS! Experience the magic of Christmas with dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by your favorite holiday music performed live at the Civic Center Music Hall on December 22 at 7:30pm. Get into the spirit of the season with this merry treat that’s perfect for the entire family., Wed., Dec. 22. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcbroadway.com/cirquechristmas. WED, DEC 22
Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma New Year’s Eve Eve Concert & Auction Featuring Performances by, Wade Hayes, Owen Pickard, Kyle Earhart, Amanda Earhart, Mallory Eagle, Emily & Chase McCumber, Maddox Ross, Hattie Hughs, and The Rodeo Opry Band & Horn Section. All proceeds from this event will directly benefit the Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma which includes the Granville Community Music School, Guitars for Vets: OKC, and the Rodeo Opry., Thu., Dec. 30. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. THU, DEC 30 PAMBE Ghana Global Market PAMBE Ghana’s seasonal fair trade Global Market returns this year in a new location. Shoppers of all ages will discover unique gifts, from the useful & handy to the creative & fun. All merchandise are fair trade items, from almost every continent, made by artisans who are paid a living wage for their work. Profits from the sales provide crucial funding for PAMBE Ghana’s elementary school in rural northern Ghana. The Global Market will be
Opening Night New Year’s Eve Celebration Opening Night is OKC’s favor-
ite family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration produced by Arts Council Oklahoma City. This year marks OKC’s 36th Opening Night, presented by Midfirst Bank, Inasmuch Foundation, and Gardner Tanenbaum. The event will take place IN PERSON at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark December 31, 2021. Performers range from Americana/roots rock to jazz, opera, rock ‘n’ roll, mural artists and more. Your wristband means you can add free snow tubing to your New Year’s Eve fun. Plus children’s activities! We’ll ring in the New Year with the Originators of EEDO, Adam & Kizzie, during the Finale Count Down to Midnight show & fireworks sponsored by Jackie Cooper BMW. $8 in advance; $10 at the door, Fri., Dec. 31, 7 p.m.-midnight. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, 405-270-4848, artscouncilokc.com. FRI, DEC 31 Photo provided open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 noon until 6:00 pm. PAMBE Ghana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the Guidestar Gold Seal of Transparency. Free, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 12-6 p.m. through Dec. 24. PAMBE Ghana Global Market, 2420 N. Robinson, 405/210-5214, pambeghana.org. THROUGH DEC 24 Ron White Ron White is set to perform at River Spirit Casino’s concert venue, The Cove., Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White first rose to fame as the cigar-smoking, scotch-drinking funnyman from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour phenomenon, but now as a chart-, topping Grammy-nominated comedian and a feature film actor, Ron White has established himself as a star in his own right., Fri., Dec. 31. River Spirit Casino Resort, 8330 Riverside Parkway, 918-299-8518, riverspirittulsa.com. FRI, DEC 31
YOUTH LifeShare WinterFest & Snow Tubing The LifeShare WinterFest at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark will be returning in 2021! Riding down the gigantic snow tubing slope is a thrill you won’t want to miss. From snow tubing to holiday movies on the video board, plus sparkling holiday lighting and décor, this will be a holiday highlight that your family will remember for years to come! There’s something for the whole family, so bring everyone along for a ride in the snow, hot chocolate and a snack, and a festive holiday atmosphere.,Through Jan. 2, 2022. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, 405-2181000, milb.com/oklahoma-city/community/winterfest.
OKC Zoo Safari Lights This winter, go wild and fill your holiday season with the
magic of light! OKC ZOO SAFARI LIGHTS features a larger-than-life light display showcasing over 59 wildlife themed light sculptures viewable on a driving tour through the Zoo. Feel the holiday cheer with animated light displays, festive treats, kids activities and weekend visits with Santa. Through January 9, 5:30 - 11:00 p.m. Oklahoma City Zoo, 2101 NE 50th St, 405-424-3344, okczoo.org. THROUGH JANUARY 9 Photo provided
THROUGH DEC 2
PERFORMING ARTS Adèle Wolf’s Burlesque & Variety Show presents the 10th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash If you’re ready for some rollicking fun this New Year’s Eve, you’ll find it at
Adèle Wolf’s 10th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash. The audience will be treated to a true, old-school variety revue, complete with a world champion trick roper and bullwhip artist, vocalists, belly dancers, aerial artists, burlesque dancers and cabaret acts., Expect to see duet and group acts, performances on various aerial apparatuses, special effect props and the show’s founder and namesake Adèle Wolf performing in her giant champagne coupe as we bid farewell to 2021 with a special countdown to midnight and champagne toast! $25-$65, Fri., Dec. 31, 10 p.m.-midnight. The Auditorium at the Douglass, 600 N. High, (405) 6736162, adelewolf.com. FRI, DEC 31 Ambassadors’ Concert Choir Annual Christmas Eve Concert The Ambassadors’ Concert Choir (ACC) has been thrilling audiences with its spirited musical offerings since December 1979. The choir performs a diverse blend of music of all genres and many cultural traditions- classical, spirituals, jazz, gospel, patriotic music, hymns, Broadway show music and popular music. The 60 to 85-member choir is predominately African-American, but people of all cultures participate and are welcomed. Free, Fri., Dec. 24, 7 p.m. St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 5700 N. Kelley Ave., 405-478-3344. FRI, DEC 24 ArtAfloatOKC Showboat Concert Series Join live local musicians ON A BOAT for an ArtAfloatOKC Showboat Concert Series performance., Your $25 ticket includes one of three 40-minute sets at 7pm, 8pm, or 9pm, plus pre-show beers at Bricktown Brewery (must be 21 to drink and must arrive at brewery 30 or more minutes before showtime)., Bricktown Brewery is also offering half-price cash and carry growlers that you may take on the boat., *No drinks sold onboard the boat.*, Thursdays. Bricktown Water Taxi, 111 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, artafloatokc.com. THURSDAYS Lyric Theatre’s A Christmas Carol The historic Harn Homestead once again will be reimagined as the Victorian Era setting for Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob
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Marley, magical spirits, and a host of unforgettable characters. Patrons will follow Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of transformation and redemption, as they are guided from scene to scene at the homestead., Tuesdays-Sundays. through Dec. 23. Harn Homestead Museum, 1721 N. Lincoln Boulevard, 405-235-4058, lyrictheatreokc.org. THROUGH DEC 23 Red Dirt Poetry Cash Slam If you’ve never heard of a poetry slam, all you need to know is that it’s a crazy, fast paced, original poetry contest and in this one the winner gets a 50$ cash prize! There will also be an open mic!, Each slam contestant will need 2 three-minute (or less) poems. Contestants must be registered & orientated by 7:45PM the night of the slam and be present to draw their number at 8:00PM. Registration and orientation can be done in advance, just hit up the Red Dirt DMs (@RedDirtPoetry) or shoot us an email: RedDirtPoetry@gmail.com Free, Wed., Dec. 22, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Ponyboy, 423 NW 23rd St., 4053142789, ponyboyokc.com. WED, DEC 22 A Tuna Christmas The residents of Tuna, Texas return for the holidays in this hilarious 2nd installment of the “Tuna” series., Brian C. Stockton and Morgan Brown reprise their roles from July’s “Greater Tuna,” as well as portray the many other residents of our little Texas town. $10 - $25, Wed., Dec. 22, 8-10 p.m. and Thu., Dec. 23, 8-10 p.m. Jewel Box Theatre, 321 NW 36th St., 405-521-1786, jewelboxokc.com. WED & THU, DEC 22 & 23
WEIRDlesque by Terre Rouge - NYE Hangover Show Terre Rouge Burlesque, Get WEIRD with us! Wear your fave Cosplay or whatever the heck you want and join us for a uniquely OKC experience dedicated to all things Nerd and Pop Culture with a little bit of fetish sprinkled in for good measure. Terre Rouge Burlesque is OKC’s own LOCAL performance collective bringing high quality TITilating fun to you in the weirdest ways possible!, Show 18+, Proof of Vax or Neg COVID Test Required, Sat., Jan. 1, 9-11 p.m. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, facebook.com/ events/928156768057286 SAT, JAN 1
ACTIVE Yoga Tuesdays an all-levels class; bring your own water and yoga mat, 5:45 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. TUESDAYS
VISUAL ARTS Abstract Pencil Sketches and Paintings: New Works by Sharon Burchett You are invited to the upcoming exhibition, Abstract Pencil Sketches and Paintings: New Works by Sharon Burchett that will be in the Library Gallery at MAINSITE Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main Street, Norman, OK 73069, from December 10, 2021 through January 14, 2022. The exhibition will include Burchett’s newly finished commission piece, Blue Marble Philosophy (featured here) before it goes to the new owners in Illinois, along with several new paintings and drawings. The gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, and admission is open to the public and without charge. Image: Blue Marble Philosophy free, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Jan. 14. MAINSITE Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St., 405-360-1162, mainsitecontemporaryart.com. THROUGH JAN 14
Abstract Remix Oklahoma Contemporary is bringing murals indoors with Abstract Remix, an exhibition of the work of homegrown Abstract Expressionists who use the large-scale format of muralism as a medium for their giant
concepts., Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays. through Jan. 24. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. THROUGH JAN 24
Art Moves Art Moves is an Arts Council OKC initiative that provides free arts events each workday from Noon-1:00. Art Moves artists perform and demonstrate their artistry daily from popular downtown locations or live streaming from their studio or homes! Help us support our local artist by joining us weekdays at Arts Council Oklahoma City’s facebook page for livestreaming performances and check out the weekly line up below., Art Moves is an Arts Council OKC initiative that provides free arts events each workday from Noon-1:00. Events took place in various downtown locations and may include artist demonstrations or musical performances. The daily line-up features a wide range of artistic mediums including musical and theater performances, live art demonstrations, short film selections, and more, Mondays-Fridays, noon. artscouncilokc.com/art-moves. WEEKDAYS Art of the Heartland - Oklahoma Photography Gallery The Art of the Heartland - an Oklahoma Photography Gallery Show is now live in-person at Social Deck + Dining through the end of the year and is also available to view online in the curated art section of nicolelowry.art., This collection features stunning Oklahoma landscapes by OKC photographer Jason Pierce, Grand Life Photography., Stop by Social Deck + Dining for a cocktail, sharable bites, brunch, or dinner and to browse this captivating sequence of the beauty of Oklahoma., #artinokc #oklahomasunsets #photography #landscapephotography #photographyinthewild #oklahomartist #curatedart free, Through Dec. 31, noon. Social Deck + Dining, 1933 NW 23rd St., 4054305779, nicolelowry.art/collections/artof-the-heartland-photography-by-jason-pierce-grandlife-photography. THROUGH DEC 31 Ceramics Sale Buy fantastic gifts and support local artists at Oklahoma Contemporary’s Studio School Ceramics Sale. Nationally recognized and emerging Oklahoma ceramicists offer a variety of pottery styles — from functional cups, bowls and plates that celebrate the daily rituals of warm coffee and shared meals to funky and tactile tabletop sculptures that turn any holiday table into a work of art., If you like someone, put pottery in their hand and in their home., Mondays, WednesdaysSundays. through Jan. 2. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org/learn/studio-school/ceramics-sale. THROUGH JAN 2
Chakaia Booker: Shaved Portions Commissioned specifically for Campbell Art Park, Shaved Portions is among the most recent additions to Booker’s body of work marked by her distinct ability to radically transform her signature material — salvaged rubber tires — into an incredible array of biomorphic sculptures. Free, Through Aug. 31, 2022. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org/exhibitions/upcoming/chakaia-bookershaved-portions. THROUGH AUG 31, 2022 Maren Hassinger: Nature, Sweet Nature Traveling from Aspen Art Museum, the exhibition Nature, Sweet Nature, by renowned artist Maren Hassinger, has been reconfigured to respond to the grounds of Oklahoma Contemporary., Nature, Sweet Nature is comprised of two installations constructed with galvanized wire rope. Garden and Paradise Regained will each stand in rows at relative human scale; one near the entrance to the art center and the other within the Sculpture Garden. Free, Through Aug. 31, 2022. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org/
PACC’s January Exhibitions During the month of January, the Paseo Arts and
Creativity Center (PACC) is pleased to feature two exhibitions. Gallery I showcases Paseo Arts Association and Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition member Ame Hernandez. Her exhibit, Textile Reverie, is a walk-through experience where textiles and design come to life through the medium of paint. Gallery II displays Girl Talk by the ever-popular Oklahoma City fiber artist Kendall Ross. Combining traditional feminine crafts, women’s history and her personal experience as a young woman inspires her work that is unapologetically feminine., Mondays-Saturdays. through Jan. 31. Paseo Arts and Creativity Center, 3024 Paseo St., 405525-2688, thepaseo.org. THROUGH JAN 31 Stress Knit by Kendall Rose/photo provided exhibitions/upcoming/maren-hassinger-nature-sweetnature. THROUGH AUG 31, 2022 Paseo Arts District’s First Friday Gallery Walk Peruse art from over 80 artists with 25 participating businesses for a night of special themed exhibits, refreshments and a variety of entertainment opportunities, 6-9 p.m. first Friday of every month. Paseo Arts District, 3024 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.org. FRI, JAN 7
Women of the Banjo A special exhibit at the American Banjo Museum Women of the Banjo chronicles the contributions of women to the colorful past, vibrant present, and unlimited future of the banjo. From prominent contemporary performers such as Alison Brown and Rhiannon Giddens to pop icons Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton and many others, historic insights, instruments, stage attire, and a glimpse of ever-changing fashion trends all help in the telling of
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this important aspect of banjo history., Through May 31, 2022. American Banjo Museum, 9 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-604-2793, americanbanjomuseum.com/currentexhibits/special-exhibits. THROUGH MAY 31, 2022
Visit okgazette.com/Events/AddEvent to submit your event. Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible.
For OKG
live music see page 37
MUSIC
Girl country MADDIE & TAE KICK OFF ALL SONG NO STATIC TOUR AT THE TOWER THEATRE THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. by Adrienne Proctor
Country Music Awards vocal duo nominees Maddie & Tae launch their headlining 16-city tour in Oklahoma City. multi-platinum duo Maddie & Tae teaming up for the All Song No Static Tour, which kicks off Jan. at Tower Theatre. The headlining tour also features special guests Callista Clark and CMT Next Women of Country inductee Sacha. Made up of singer/songwriters Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr, Maddie & Tae got their big break in 2013 with their bold response to “bro-country.” Their platinum-selling smash, “Girl in a Country Song,” took country radio by storm. The breakout hit skyrocketed to the top of the charts and established them as only the third female duo in 70
years to top the Billboard “Country Airplay” chart. “Girl in a Country Song” received critical acclaim, as well as backlash, as two young women called out the trend in cis-het white male dominated music on the country Maddie and Tae, Photo Joseph Llanes radio airwaves. Lyrics from Luke Bryan are quoted wordfor-word, and the unapologetic response the sea of sameness. to the tired female stereotypes so prevWhen asked about the All Song No alent in country music put the young duo Static Tour, Maddie and Tae responded on the map. The tune is empowered and in a Dec. 15 email: fed up, and it changed the game for the “This is by far our favorite show we’ve industry. The fearless song and its follow ever put together, and we can’t wait to up singles “Fly” and “Shut Up and Fish” see our fans’ beautiful faces up close and established the musicians as unique personal again.” voices and breaths of fresh air amongst About performing for a hometown
audience, Tae, who is from Ada, said “Singing in front of a hometown crowd is always an honor and so surreal. Oklahoma was where my dream started, so to play in my home state means a lot every time.” Maddie & Tae have proven themselves as more than just female singers in a male dominated industry. They write and
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perform heartfelt, down to earth music, the way the country and western genre was always supposed to be. Country music, the music of American life, conveys heartbreak and happiness, and speaks truth to the feelings we all feel but don’t know how to say. This dynamite duo puts on a heck of a show and the Next Women of Country Tour is likely no exception. In addition to the headlining tour, the duo recently announced their upcoming studio release Through The Madness Vol. 1, which drops Jan. 28. Together as longtime friends and music collaborators, Maddie and Tae co-wrote each of the project’s eight tracks, including their latest single, “Woman You Got,” plus recent radio release “Madness.” The pair drew praise for their previous album The Way It Feels, which included the Recording Industry Association of America certified double platinum number one hit single “Die from a Broken Heart.” When it topped the country airplay charts, Maddie & Tae became the first and only female twosome with multiple number one hits. “Die from a Broken Heart” is honest and heartwrenching, true to life and relatable. It details how it really feels after a breakup, and it’s no doubt a firsthand account of what it feels like to be young and in love. Citing an unbreakable bond, honest songwriting and signature harmonies, the eight new tracks on Through the Madness Vol. 1 feature notable collaborations with Mrs. Chris Stapleton herself,
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Morgane Stapleton (“Don’t Make Her Look Dumb”), and lauded Nashville songwriter Lori McKenna (“The Other Side”). The duo promises that the upcoming release will “exude familiarity and truth.” “These eight songs are the start of a new chapter for us,” they wrote. “We couldn’t be more excited for them to be out in the world.” Praised for their “pristine harmonies” and “glorious songwriting,” Maddie & Tae have previously released a self-titled EP and two studio albums, including their debut album Start Here in 2015, and their sophomore album, The Way It Feels, in 2020. The duo co-wrote 14 of the 15 tracks on The Way It Feels, including “Bathroom Floor” and “Friends Don’t.” In 2020, Maddie & Tae released their first ever holiday album, titled We Need Christmas. The six-track project features two original tunes, “Merry Married Christmas” and title track “We Need Christmas.” “Friends Don’t” was named one of Amazon Music’s Best Country of 2018 and landed on Rolling Stone’s weekly Ten Best of Country and Americana Songs list. Maddie & Tae have also served as CMA Foundation Artist Ambassadors, working with students and teachers across the country on the value and positive influence of music. All Song No Static is the duo’s third headlining tour, having previously headlined the Start Here Tour in 2015 and the Tourist in this Town tour in 2020. The celebrated duo has toured with some
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Album art for Maddie & Tae’s Through the Madness Vol. 1. Photo provided.
of country music’s hottest stars, including another of Oklahoma’s country music superstars, Carrie Underwood. Prior to the All Song No Static Tour, they wrapped performances on the 33-city Weekends Tour with Brett Young. The All Song No Static Tour featuring
Maddie & Tae kicks off Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. Tickets are available at towertheatreokc.com.
SOUNDCHECK
KNOble Savage The Loud Terror
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FRINGE VILLAIN OF HIP-HOP DELIVERS CONFESSIONAL DOUBLE EP GIFTWRAPPED IN BARBED WIRE
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by Evan Jarvicks
“I had that Columbine potential,” Oklahoma City’s KNOble Savage raps in his first verse to “Pine Box,” a track that imagines his death and takes the opportunity to reflect on his life, strife, and legacy. That track begins the first half of The Loud Terror, and it doubles as a content warning to the rest of the album, which profanely tackles everything from drug abuse to suicidal thoughts. Rather than present these themes in sobriety, the new double EP flirts with a self-aware romanticism characterized by its gloriously gothic production. The Loud Terror is not a postmortem of the wreckage of harmful decisions. It is the wreckage embodied. Split into two parts, the new project is subtitled Shotcalling at the Gates of Hell and King Hell Bummer respectively. The first is amped up with church choir samples, distorted beats, and the occasional dash of industrial overtones. The second is a more confessional come down from that high, shifting its punches from the face to the gut. Throughout the tracklist, KNOble Savage brings on choice heavyweight local features including Jabee, Mars Deli, and SoufWessDes, which is especially notable given how rarely he likes to partner with fellow artists of the scene. Not only is he picky, but his impatience for social graces also makes him a notoriously off putting figure to potential collaborators. He’s so
unapologetic that even his track “Sorry” can’t quite apologize in the end. The flip side is that his art holds back nothing. He doesn’t mind letting loose the occasional “cunt,” for instance, practically daring the listener to take offense even though he uses the term in genderless contexts. KNOble Savage has long let his demons out to play in his work, and The Loud Terror relishes in his abrasiveness like never before. Behind the boards is Andrew Bair, known more for his part in rock band Admirals than his production work. However, if this project should be a calling card, hip-hop artists would do well to take notice. The sounds here are intense, unique, and visceral. When paired with KNOble Savage’s lyrical content, it’s a double whammy so intoxicating that Brooklyn firebreather Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire has a more than ample platform to spit flames in his spotlight feature verse for Shotcalling at the Gates of Hell closer “Everybody Needs to Get Their Guns.” The Loud Terror is rife with darkness, but there’s also an ecstasy that keeps the project far from the doldrums in which these topics often reside. KNOble Savage presents life with all of its barbs intact but sees magnificence in the tumult. For him, it isn’t bittersweet. It’s sweet bitterness.
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S C A N F O R LO C AT I O N
These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.
Midas 13, OKC Tap House. Cover New Years Eve Dance Party, 51st Street Speakeasy. Ryan Drake & Crystal Vision New Wave New Years, Core4 Brewing. Pitch Her Perfect VZD’s.
THURSDAY, DEC. 23 Acoustic Open Mic, Core4 Brewing. Chebon Tiger Band, VZD’s.
SUNDAY, DEC. 26 Hosty, The Deli. Electric Midas 13, Kong’s Tavern. COVER
THURSDAY, DEC. 30
SATURDAY, JAN. 1 GWIZ / Limp Wizurdz / Kat Lock / Academy Garden, 89th Street-OKC. Hangover Ball, Cain’s Ballroom. Cody Cana-
da, Mike McClure, Roger Clyne, BJ Barham, Jamie Lin Wilson. With Dierks Canada, Elle Forman, Elysha Lemaster, Ryan Snipes
SUNDAY, JAN. 2 Hosty, The Deli. Electric
Acoustic Open Mic, Core4 Brewing.
THURSDAY, JAN. 6
KiNKY SLiNKY, VZD’s.
Maddie & Tae, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY
Parker McCollum, Paycom Center.
FRIDAY, JAN. 7
FRIDAY, DEC. 31 NYE! Bunky, Broke Brewing Co.
Mike Ryan, Cain’s Ballroom. Country Nia Moné with Cortney Lachelle, Ponyboy.
Uptown Get Down New Years Eve Party It’s been awhile. Spend an unforgettable NYE in historic Uptown 23rd! Our Uptown Get Down returns 12/31, with can’t miss performances from Swim Fan, LABRYS, twiggs, Free Mode and Thunder Jackson on the Tower stage! Upstairs at Ponyboy, DJ Sydney Lee and Carte Blanche bring the beats all night long. Tickets are FREE with RSVP! Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-7086937, towertheatreokc.com. FRI, DEC 31 Photo Provided SINGER/SONGWRITER
SATURDAY, JAN. 8
Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.
Soft Hands, Tower Theatre. Yacht rock revue The Cruz Brothers, Belle Isle Brewing.
SUNDAY, JAN. 9 Hosty, The Deli. ELECTRIC
MONDAY, JAN. 10 JD Simo, Belle Isle Brewing.
TUESDAY, JAN. 11 Koffin Kats, 89th Street-OKC.
The Drop NYE Party featuring My So Called Band The Jones
Assembly. The Jones Assembly’s over-the-top NYE celebration – The Drop. The evening will include a lavish buffet-style feast and live music by OKC favorite, My So Called Band. The Jones Assembly, 901 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-212-2378, thejonesassembly.com. FRI, DEC 31 Photo Provided
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12 Buckcherry, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK
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THE HIGH CULTURE
FRIDAY, DEC 31
WILLIAM CLARK GREEN with JOSHUA RAY WALKER
SATURDAY, JAN 1
HANGOVER BALL 2022
with CODY CANADA, MIKE McCLURE, ROGER CLYNE, BJ BARHAM, JAMIE LIN WILSON, AND MORE!
FRIDAY, JAN 7
MIKE RYAN
His Highness
SATURDAY, JAN 22
WADE BOWEN MONDAY, JAN 31
My So Called Band
12.31.21
NEW YEAR’S EVE
KOSU PRESENTS
Lucinda Williams0 1 . 2 2 . 2 2 @ THE AUDITORIUM AT THE DOUGLASS
KOSU PRESENTS
Mat Kearney
W/ THE NATIONAL PARKS
SATURDAY, FEB 5
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS MARCUS KING
DONAVON FRANKENREITER
with CHRISTINA HOLMES, GRADY SPENCER
W/ BELLE MT. FIGHT OR FLIGHT TOUR
03.15.22
Yola
FRIDAY, FEB 18
CAAMP
FRIDAY, MAR 11
W/ JAC ROSS STAND FOR MYSELF TOUR
Hippo Campus
03.30.22
Johnnyswim W/KATELYN TARVER THE JOHNNYSWIM SHOW
BOB THE DRAG QUEEN SATURDAY, MAR 12
04.20.22
FLOGGING MOLLY
with RUSSKAJA, VANDOLIERS
THURSDAY, APRIL 7 04.21.22
THEJONESASSEMBLY.COM
By Matt Dinger
WEDNESDAY, FEB 9 TUESDAY, FEB 15
02.24.22
Kaleo
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The King Cake is a recipe dating back centuries and a reference to the three wise men visiting the infant Jesus Christ. But, as always, along with a fava bean, the chefs at Guyutes — Matt Pryor and Jarrod Friedel — have hidden something else entirely inside their version. “For this month, we’re gonna run something kind of like a Christmasthemed dessert,” Pryor said. “It’s a French dessert called galette des rois, which is a three kings cake. And it’s usually actually centered around the sixth of January because the sixth of January is considered the day that the three kings actually showed up to see, to meet Jesus.” A fancy name doesn’t necessarily mean a complex recipe or lengthy bake. Creating
the infused “budder” aside, the King Cake takes only about an hour to prep and cook. Pryor recommends taking a 9-inch pan and tracing around it through the puff pastry dough with a sharp paring knife if you want a circular cake, but the shape is irrelevant. “Some people like to do it in a rectangle or, if you want to go smaller into individual portions, you can also use like the size of a measuring cup on the bottom and just make mini versions of them,” he said. “It actually works out perfectly compared to what I expected out of it. I was kind of worried,” Pryor said.
King Cake, Photo Berlin Green
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Gallet des rois Almond cream filling: 1/2 cup almond meal 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 3 tablespoons infused butter, softened 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour Cake: 17 ounces puff pastry, thawed 1 large egg, beaten 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar 1 dried fava bean (optional) Combine almond meal, sugar, egg, softened butter, vanilla extract, and flour in the bowl of a food processor. Blend to a smooth, creamy paste. Feel free to make this cream a few days in advance, then refrigerate in an airtight container. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out sheets of puff pastry and cut out 2 (11-inch) circles. Place the first disc on the prepared baking sheet and spread an even layer of almond cream, leaving a one-inch border around the edges. If you wish to include a fava bean, you can do so at this point. Simply nestle it in the almond cream. Place a second puff pastry disc on top of filling, and crimp edges with a fork to seal the cake. Using a sharp knife, score a decorative pattern into the top layer of pastry without cutting through to almond filling. Brush galette with beaten egg (this will create a golden crust). Bake cake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and dust the cake with powdered sugar. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, until the puff pastry becomes a deep golden brown. Allow the cake to cool for 20 minutes.
Let’s Make This A not so silent night!
Budder recipe: Set a double-boiler pot to medium heat Add two sticks of butter to top bowl of double boiler. When butter melts, add decarboxylated cannabis and stir. Let cannabis infuse melted butter for at least one hour. Strain melted cannabis butter through a cheesecloth into a sealable container. Strain again if needed. Dosage information: 28g x 20 percent THC 28g x 200 mg (percentage converted to decimal) 5600 x .088 (decarbing loss) 4928 x .80 (loss in infusion process) 3942.4 mg divided by 4 cups 985.6mg per cup 738.4 mg per ¾ cup 123 mg per serving
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D EC EM B ER 2 2 , 2 0 2 1 | O KGA Z E T TE .CO M HIGH CULTURE
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THE HIGH CULTURE STRAIN REVIEWS
Strain name: Chem Cookies Grown by: Stability Cannabis Acquired from: Cannabless (323 NW 23rd St.) Date acquired: Dec. 12 Physical traits: purple and light green densely coated in trichomes Bouquet: earthy and floral Review: Dropped into this spot after an oversight created a need and perused the reasonably-priced top shelf. Settled on the Chem Cookies, even though neither Chemdawg nor Girl Scout Cookies are favored strains. I let my eye and nose guide me. It wasn’t until after a solid first round that I remembered to call and get the grower’s name. Now, I’m not going to lie. I toured Stability’s facility in the early days and I sampled several strains of their flower over the first year and it wasn’t a favorite so I haven’t
followed up with them. But Chem Cookies, even though it’s not the most exotic strain around by half, really does it for me. Bag appeal, good nose, deceptively strong effects with exceedingly long duration are a good reminder that sometimes the simpler things, the classics, can be worth revisiting.
Strain name: Scroopy Nopers Grown by: Gridiron Wellness Acquired from: Eden Rose Date acquired: Dec. 12
tation, I took the penny eightpreroll tube at the budtender’s second strain recommendation of Otter Pops. Follow your nose, but trust your budtender (when applicable). I knew I liked this place for a reason.
Physical traits: multiple shades of frosted green with wiry stigmas Bouquet: gassy and earthy Review: A convenient little budtender trick I’ve learned consuming legal cannabis for a few years now is just to make a beeline for the flower and ask for suggestions. At this point, the regular consumer-patient differentiates themselves from someone who’s just running a counter for a paycheck. If they really smoke, their first choice (and often one they’ll reference it again without consciously doing so) is really the path you should take. Never heard of Gridiron Wellness and the strain name still makes me giggle, but so does the smoke. And since I hadn’t been in since license renewal, I got a free firsttime gift (again). Without hesi-
FIND MORE STRAIN REVIEWS AT OKGAZETTE.COM/THEHIGHCULTURE
HIGH CULTURE O KGA Z E T TE .CO M | D EC EM B ER 2 2 , 2 0 2 1
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PUZZLES
NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE | COME AGAIN? By Chase Dittrich and Jeff Chen | Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz | 1219 1
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14 Vehicle company with a market value over $1 trillion 15 Adventurous kids in a 21 22 1985 film 16 Napoleon’s famed war horse 25 26 17 Shout 19 Some diaper changers 29 30 25 Rapper dissed by Jay-Z in “Takeover” 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 26 Young ’uns 28 Popular Toyotas 43 44 32 How a zombie might 47 48 49 spread the infection 33 Ostrich relatives 51 34 Peter out 35 “Symphony in Black” artist 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 36 Something necessary for gain, they say 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 37 The “grand slam” of showbiz awards, in brief 73 74 38 Like some apparel, in song 41 Mimic 77 78 42 Opposite of FF 81 82 83 46 Together 47 Kind of jar 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 48 Org. that hires cryptanalysts 50 Samurai’s sword 98 52 Awful-smelling 54 Give one’s take 102 103 104 105 56 Religion that emphasizes seva, or “selfless service” 108 109 110 57 Astrology or palmistry 58 Sandiego not usually 112 113 114 found in San Diego 118 119 120 121 122 59 Lew ____, portrayer of Dr. Kildare 125 126 61 Badger 62 Brouhaha 129 130 63 When doubled, boring result in the Premier League 30 Singular 51 Reps 64 Word commonly following 31 Stark who was crowned 52 Click ____ (artificial DOWN the Oxford comma Queen of the North on increasers of website hits) 1 Part of a contract 66 Messy sort “Game of Thrones” 53 Goddess of the dawn 2 Christmas fir 67 What seven did to nine, 32 … GRIZZLY GRIZZLY 55 Pet lovers’ org. 3 Investor behind the scenes in a joke GRIZZLY … 60 James who sang “I Sing 4 Palindromic feminine name 68 Lament 39 First responder, for short the Blues” 5 One gifted with the 69 Celebrity gossip site 40 Percussion instrument of 61 Grandma, affectionately “inner eye” 73 Like New Jerseyans vis African origin 65 Roy Lichtenstein’s genre 6 Word on a candy heart à-vis New Yorkers 43 What some kings and 70 Brit’s “How shocking!” 7 Before, poetically 80 Destination for Birthright queens dress in 71 What many lifeguards have 8 Piercing spot trips: Abbr. 44 Maker of the classic 72 … COMMERCIAL 9 ____ cavity (where the 82 Someone’s in the kitchen video game Frogger COMMERCIAL lungs are located) with her, in song 45 … PROPOSAL PROPOSAL COMMERCIAL … 10 Likely loser 83 Savory Chinese snack PROPOSAL … 74 Steve with eight N.B.A. 11 Hawaiian taro dish 85 Grinder 49 Kind of milk championship rings 12 Family member inaptly 86 Put ____ on (limit) 50 Rapper with more than 75 Chemical suffixes found in “ladies only” 87 Dennis the Menace’s 20 Grammys 76 Like the color of honey 13 High school subj. appropriately named dog
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ACROSS 1 “Bull” airer 4 Out 10 Win for a 10-Down 15 Yukon automaker 18 Set down 20 With 116-Down, artificial intelligence system that mimics the human brain 21 Who is “too small to make a difference,” per a Greta Thunberg book title 22 Propel, as a shell 23 “… and to ____ good night!” 24 … FLOOR FLOOR FLOOR … 27 It’s got some miles on it 29 Home to the Burj Khalifa, for short
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77 “Give me a break, would you?!” 78 Philosopher who wrote “A Treatise of Human Nature” 79 Lead-in to ask or suggest 81 Get hitched 83 They’re explained by Newton’s law of universal gravitation 84 N.F.L. Hall-of-Famer Shannon 89 Inconveniences 94 Company with a Page Program 97 … AMBITION AMBITION AMBITION … 99 Word-of-mouth 101 Actor Spall of “Prometheus” 102 Literally, “I bow to you” 103 Op. ____ (footnote abbr.) 106 … STAIRS STAIRS STAIRS … 109 ____ di Pietro, artist better known as Fra Angelico 111 Ta-ta 112 Opposite of down: Abbr. 113 “Let’s Stay Together” singer, 1971 115 … CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION … 122 Slight problem 123 Pablo Neruda work 124 “Please, I can handle this” 125 Many an informant employed by Sherlock Holmes 126 Org. involved in the Scopes Monkey Trial 127 R.S.V.P. option 128 Way up or way down 129 Pocketful in ring-around the-rosy 130 Syracuse-to-Albany dir.
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88 Bishops, e.g. 90 Execs: Abbr. 91 Smartphone predecessors, for short 92 Choice words 93 Card-matching game 94 Prefix with binary 95 Male etiquette, as described by Barney Stinson on “How I Met Your Mother” 96 Eyeteeth 98 Clique 100 Exam with a 35-minute timed essay, in brief 104 What 10s represent 105 Notable chameleon feature 107 Grinds away 108 Not friendly 110 ____ Minor 113 Singer India.____ 114 Part of the eye 115 Demure 116 See 20-Across 117 Pac-12 athlete 118 Rapscallion 119 ____-yo 120 They’re found below the “To” field 121 Tuna, on a sushi menu
Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute).
SUDOKU VERY HARD | N° 10515 Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Puzzle No. 1205, which appeared in the December 8 issue.
Grid n°10515 diabolic
3 5 7 1 6 3
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY WEEK OF DECEMBER 23
vital for your physical and mental health to cultivate Binchy’s perspective, not Vidal’s. To the degree that you celebrate and enhance the fortunes of others, your own fortunes will thrive.
lucky opportunity? Here’s a tip: Whenever you have a decision to make, tune in to what your body and heart tell you as well as to what your mind advises.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Cancerian political leader Nelson Mandela was wrongly incarcerated for 27 years. After his release, he became President of South Africa and won the Nobel Peace Prize. About leaving jail in 1990, he wrote, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” Although you haven’t suffered deprivation anywhere close to what Mandela did, I’m happy to report that 2022 will bring you liberations from limiting situations. Please adopt Mandela’s approach as you make creative use of your new freedom.
Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl said that a sense of meaning is crucial. It’s the key gratification that sustains people through the years: the feeling that their life has a meaning and that particular experiences have meaning. I suggest you make this your theme for 2022. The question “Are you happy?” will be a subset of the more inclusive question, “Are you pursuing a destiny that feels meaningful to you?” Here’s the other big question: “If what you’re doing doesn’t feel meaningful, what are you going to do about it?”
Homework: A year from today, what do you want to be congratulating yourself for? Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com
You may become a more audacious storyteller in 2022. You could ripen your ability to express the core truths about your life with entertaining narratives. Bonus: The experiences that come your way will provide raw material for you to become even more interesting than you already are. Now study these words by storyteller Ruth Sawyer: “To be a good storyteller, one must be gloriously alive. It is not possible to kindle fresh fires from burned-out embers. The best of the traditional storytellers are those who live close to the heart of things—to the earth, sea, wind, and weather. They have known solitude, silence. They have been given unbroken time in which to feel deeply, to reach constantly for understanding.”
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Taurus author May Sarton wrote a poem celebrating her maturation into the person she had always dreamed she would be. “Now I become myself,” she exulted. “It’s taken time, many years and places; I have been dissolved and shaken, have worn other people’s faces.” But at last, she said, “All fuses together now, falls into place from wish to action, word to silence. My work, my love, my time, my face: gathered into one intense gesture of growing like a plant.” I invite you to adopt Sarton’s poem as a primary source of inspiration in 2022. Make it your guide as you, too, become fully and richly yourself.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
In 2012, the writer Gore Vidal died the day after Gemini writer Maeve Binchy passed away. They were both famous, though Bincy sold more books than Vidal. Vidal was interesting but problematic for me. He was fond of saying that it wasn’t enough for him to succeed; he wanted others to fail. The misery of his fellow humans intensified his satisfaction about his own accomplishments. On the other hand, Binchy had a generous wish that everyone would be a success. She felt her magnificence was magnified by others’ magnificence. In 2022, it will be
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
French poet André Breton wrote, “Je vous souhaite d’être follement aimée.” In English, those words can be rendered as “My wish is that you may be loved to the point of madness” or “I wish you to be loved madly.” That’s got a romantic ring to it, but it’s actually a curse. Why would we want to be loved to the point of madness? A person who “loved” you like that might be fun for a while, but would ultimately become a terrible inconvenience and ongoing disruption. So, dear Leo, I won’t wish that you will be loved to the point of madness in 2022—even though I think the coming months will be an interesting and educational time for amour. Instead, I will wish you something more manageable and enjoyable: that you will be loved with respect, sensitivity, care, and intelligence.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Many people in our culture are smart intellectually, but not very smart emotionally. The wisdom of feelings is undervalued. I protest! One of my great crusades is to champion this neglected source of insight. I am counting on you to be my ally in 2022. Why? Because according to my reading of the astrological omens, you have the potential to ripen your emotional intelligence in the coming months. Do you have ideas about how to take full advantage of this
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Scorpio guitarist Rowland S. Howard spoke of “the grand occasions when love really does turn into something far greater than you had ever dreamed of, something autoluminescent.” Judging from the astrological configurations in 2022, I have strong hopes and expectations that you will experience prolonged periods when love will fit that description. For best results, resolve to become more generous and ingenious in expressing love than you have ever been.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
“I’ve been trying to go home my whole life,” writes poet Chelsea Dingman. I know some of you Sagittarians resist the urge to do that. It’s possible you avoid seeking a true and complete home. You may think of the whole world as your home, or you may regard a lot of different places as your homes. And you’d prefer not to narrow down the feeling and concept of “home” to one location or building or community. Whether or not you are one of those kinds of Centaurs, I suspect that 2022 will bring you unexpected new understandings of home—and maybe even give you the sense that you have finally arrived in your ultimate sanctuary.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
To ensure that 2022 will bring you the most interesting and useful kind of progress, take good care of your key
friendships and alliances, even as you seek out excellent new friendships and alliances. For best results, heed these thoughts from author Hanya Yanagihara: “Find people who are better than you are—not smarter, not cooler, but kinder, and more generous, and more forgiving—and then appreciate them for what they can teach you, and listen to them when they tell you something about yourself, no matter how bad—or good—it might be.”
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Sometime during the Northern Song Dynasty that ruled China from 960 to 1127, an artisan made a white ceramic bowl five inches in diameter. About a thousand years later, a family in New York bought it at a garage sale for $3. It sat on a mantel in their home for a few years until they got a hunch to have it evaluated by an art collector. A short time later, the bowl was sold at an auction for $2.2 million. I’m not saying that 2022 will bring a financial event as dramatic as that one. But I do expect that your luck with money will be at a peak.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
In the Quechuan language spoken in parts of Peru, the word *takanakuy* means “when the blood is boiling.” Every year at this time, the community of Chumbivilcas stages a holiday called *Takanakuy*. People gather at the town center to fight each other, settling their differences so they can forget about them and start over fresh. If my friend and I have had a personal conflict during the previous year, we would punch and kick each other—but not too hard—until we had purged our spite and resentment. The slate between us would be clean. Is there some humorous version of this ritual you could enact that wouldn’t involve even mild punching and kicking? I recommend you dream one up!
Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.
OKG
COMMUNITY + MENTAL HEALTH The connection between mental health and addiction is complex. In an ongoing effort to support the health and safety of Oklahoma citizens and better serve our communities, we recommend the following resources to help you or someone you love who may be struggling with mental health or addiction issues. BH
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