Country Gold

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With a combined twenty-plus years of experience under the training of our pharmacist owner, our friendly and caring sta can help guide our patients to the quickest and most beneficial outcome.

Homestead CBD is our sister store located in the same building.

Homestead o ers all pharmacist-selected CBD products along with all of the best-quality glass and supplemental products for our dispensary. Like Frontier Medicine, any of our patients can request a free pharmacist consultation with our owner, Meredith Elmer.

We o er card services twice a month for only $35 (plus state fee) with assistance in taking the picture and uploading your application. All you have to do is wait for your card in the mail.

What would result from a 90s encounter between an Okie country music legend and one from Texas? Acclaimed Oklahoma film maker Mickey Reece answers a question nobody else has asked with his latest feature, Country Gold.

CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT

Bruce Waight

By Berlin Green

Helping and hair are in Bruce Waight’s blood and the two go hand-in-hand in the way he serves his community.

An award-winning barber, Bruce uses his skills to provide free haircuts for those in need, helping them regain confidence and put a fresh face forward.

In 2019, Bruce founded Rooted at the Homeless Alliance to provide a full-service barber shop at the Homeless Alliance’s Day Shelter. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the barber shop is designed like any other, allowing its clients to have a sense of normalcy and dignity.

“I was always volunteering at the Homeless Alliance shelter,” Waight said. “I had a mobile barbershop unit called En Root I just bring out when I do volunteer events, back-to-school events and things like that. It was just a way to give back with what we have. Once I opened up my brick-andmortar shop, it was kind of hard for me to get down there so I decided I will try to do something different. So we opened up a permanent, volunteer-based barber shop within the Day Shelter there at the Homeless Alliance.”

Bruce spent much of his time researching, talking with experts and gathering volunteers for the shop and to set it up for success. Intent and execution were important to Bruce as he made the decision to open Rooted on the Homeless Alliance campus.

“Some years ago, my dad passed away and I found out that for a while he was homeless,” Waight said. “We didn’t know—the family didn’t know. I was already volunteering at the Homeless Alliance so I can’t say that really inspired me because I was already there, but I just wanted to give back and I feel like that demographic is often left out. I just felt like it was a great way to give back but I didn’t want to be one of those guys that you see that cut hair under a bridge or something like that, and I didn’t want to feel like I was exploiting people, so I went to the experts to get the advice on how and what

would be the best way to volunteer and help people properly, you know, so that was the main thing for me. I just wanted to make sure I was doing it right and not inappropriate with that demographic.”

Bruce retired En Root in 2021 after serving hundreds of individuals, children, and families and positioned Rooted, 3515 N. Classen Blvd., to open full-time. As the shop got busier, Waight transitioned to doing more communitybased work.

“Initially, I was responsible for getting volunteers down there,” Waight said. “I worked with different barber schools, different business owners to get volunteers down to the shop. Of course, me and my staff would go and volunteer. They developed a really great system where volunteers can sign up online, so I actually recently donated the barber shop to the Homeless Alliance and kind of took a step back from it. They’ve built a really great system, and I was trying to focus on my other projects. It’s grown so much that I just didn’t really feel like, beyond myself, just volunteers is what is really needed. So I just donated it to them, gave him all my contacts. As far as I know, it’s going pretty well.”

That step back allowed Bruce and his wife Vanessa to put more focus on another project they founded. Cut It Forward is a nonprofit dedicated to providing culturally-specific hair and skin care resources for foster and adopted children of color and their caregivers.

Rooted hosts Oklahoma’s first Artist in Residency Barbershop program, a myriad of community

events and continues Bruce’s mission of paying it forward.

“We do so much here. We have a boys’ group home called Speck that we see once a month, and they get bussed into our shop. We’re able to see anywhere from 20 to 30 young young men, we give them cuts.”

Bruce’s personal history remains a catalyst in his desire to give back and contribute positive things to his community. He wants to give people experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have.

“If you don’t really know about that, I grew up with that, in that world,” Waight said. “A lot of us don’t even realize that that’s a thing and sometimes these children are left out of what most of us might consider a normal thing that’s going on in our lives. I feel like a haircut is part of that, where parents can come and bring their children, it’s just a whole experience being in the barber shop. It’s really sad that there’s a whole group of young people out there that may not ever really get to experience that growing up, so we try to make an effort to make sure that we reach those children so that they have a sense of normalcy. And that was the same thing with the shelter. That was a reason why, with the barber shop inside of the shelter, that was a reason why I didn’t just set up a tent or something outside of camping grounds or something, I didn’t want to do that, because I felt like everybody

deserves to have this type of experience in their life. So that’s why I decided to take a step further and actually build a barber shop inside of the shelter, because it’s like a real barber shop and so they get to have that experience. And that was the biggest feedback we would get from a lot of clients is that it had been years since they stepped inside of a barber shop and it just felt really good. You know, so that’s the main thing that I try to do, is give an opportunity for those who may not be able to have these experiences.”

Bruce encourages others to find ways to give back in more ways than just opening their pocketbook.

“There was a quote I read once that was like, ‘If you don’t have the money to give, but you have a skill, you should give your skill away,’ so that’s how I’ve always felt. I wasn’t always in a position to give but I’ve always been in a position to give my skill away. I just feel like that’s important. Sometimes we feel like, ‘Well, if I can’t write a check, then I guess I just won’t do anything.’ But, you know, there’s something you could be doing to give back. So I was just struck, that was always a pain in my heart. My family said I had been like that since I was a little boy, but I just think it’s important to get that.”

AN AWARD-WINNING BARBER, BRUCE WAIGHT USES HIS SKILLS TO PAY IT FORWARD WITH DIGNITY AND STYLE.

Bruce Waight | Photo provided.

Golden years

By Brett Fieldcamp

Troyal Brux has some friends in low places, and it won’t be the drinkin’ or her memory that kills newfound friend and fellow music legend George Jones, but his heart.

The two pair up for an unforgettably surreal encounter on the eve of Jones being cryogenically frozen in auteur Mickey Reece’s newest film, which was funded and produced by an all-Oklahoma cast and crew.

Country Gold is currently screening coast-to-coast from Los Angeles to New York City, with Reece appearing in person for the screening and a Q&A after the feature in select cities.

It screens March 30 at Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., and at Circle Cinema in Tulsa March 31. Both showings will have Reece in attendance for a discussion after the movie. Additional showtimes for both theaters that week are forthcoming.

Country Gold will also be available to stream via indie film site Fandor on April 4.

Co-writer John Selvidge

The plot of “Country Gold,” with all its absurdist humor and cryogenics, might land firmly on the wacky side of weird, but if you ask co-writer John Selvidge, it’s actually one of the more straightforward stories he’s been involved in telling.

“This one had such a simple ‘journey’ narrative structure that there was less to organize up front and more room to explore as we wrote and let the characters do their thing,” he said.

Selvidge has been writing and creating stories since he was 11 years old, but it was actually some lucky acting gigs that introduced him to his Country Gold collaborators and put him on the path to being one of OKC’s biggest screenwriting successes.

Tackling a more simplified, character-driven tale is definitely a departure from some of the other locally produced films that he’s co-scripted, like the dense, horror-

focused Agnes or Climate of the Hunter, but the result is obviously no less strange.

“Staying true-to-life was cer-

tainly out the window with the whole cryogenic angle,” Selvidge said. “Although we did want to stay true to the spirit.”

With a story concerning some majorly huge names from country music history — the legendarily troubled George Jones and “Troyal Brux,” a clear analogy for Oklahoma’s favorite son, Garth Brooks — Country Gold was bound to carry some sense of responsibility or respect for its real-life inspirations.

“Definitely respect, but not seriousness,” Selvidge said. “I skimmed through a couple of George Jones biographies so I could get into that character, and a few details from that made it into the script, but once we realized our movie had to take place in a dimension next door, we could go as wild as we wanted to.”

Taking that kind of alternate history approach ended up being the key to using these known names and outsized personalities to tell this odd, left-field story about the pitfalls of success and hero worship, even if the real musical world they come from was never meant to be the focus.

“If this movie has something important to say about country music specifically, I’m not aware of it,” Selvidge said. “But I know there’s something in there about maintaining integrity and a clear perspective when dealing with all the crazy ways people—creators included—look at even moderate artistic success or celebrity at whatever level. It can be like this awful funhouse mirror that threatens to gobble them up.”

Producer Kassie Gann is quite a bit newer to the filmmaking game, but no less invested in Country Gold and the big conceptual swings that it takes.

“I’ve produced three films at this point,” she said, “But Country Gold just has a special place in my heart because it’s about every artist, you know? It’s this struggling artist and another that’s rising to fame. There’s so much symbolism in the film of becoming someone in the spotlight and becoming ‘you’ as a

Producer Kassie Gann

OKIE-CRAFTED ALTERNATE HISTORY FESTIVAL DARLING COUNTRY GOLD HITS THE BIG SCREEN NATIONWIDE THIS MONTH AND SCREENS IN BOTH OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA.

Kassie Gann | Photo provided.

John Selvidge | Photo by Berlin Green

performer or an artist.”

As a student of “screen theory” at Oklahoma State University, Gann learned all about digging into cinematic symbolism and movie meaning in that way, a perspective that’s made her uniquely suited to understanding the needs and nuances of a film as surprisingly thoughtful as this.

But it might have been her background in broadcasting and news that helped her roll with the particularly strange and unexpected elements, even if they remain a bit beyond understanding.

“When I read the script, I was like, ‘Wow, this actually has so much heart and so much love that comes completely out of left field,’” Gann said. “But I didn’t need to fully understand all of the writers’ intentions or points because it really just all comes down to trusting them.”

Trust is a big part of a producer’s job. Maybe the biggest.

Especially on a small-scale production like this one, the producer’s role isn’t to write checks and give script notes. It’s about hands-on skill and direct involvement with practically every element of the project and the various relationships between them all.

“A lot of it is just being an on-set therapist,” Gann said. “You’re basically there as a safety net. It’s a lot of deal making and problem solving and a lot of behind the scenes paperwork. You kind of just have to jump in wherever they need help. It’s just about collaborating and that collaborative effort.”

The ability — and even just the willingness — to collaborate and to be a part of a team seems to be key to Gann’s quick rise from intern to producer. She was originally hired for an unpaid support position on 2021’s Agnes and was invited back by the same team this time around with a producer credit.

“I was just like, ‘Alright,’” she said. “’If you trust me, and if I trust you, then I think we can do it.’”

Composer Nicholas Poss

Nicholas Poss’s career as a film composer began with the kind of ground-level grit and tenacity you usually hear in stories of struggling actors.

“I went to deadCenter and was just eagerly handing out business cards to everyone,” he said. “At the time, I was still in school studying music composition, but I was just really interested in writing for film and I would go to a lot of film festivals and just try to meet people and figure out what they were working on.”

His eager glad-handing eventually paid off, with now over twenty film composition credits, including

a continuing string of films with the crew behind Country Gold, such as Agnes, Climate of the Hunter, and Strike, Dear Mistress, and Cure His Heart.

But even with an academically trained background and a full filmography under his belt, the music for Country Gold carried more weight than ever before.

“Country music is really important to me,” Poss said. “When I was in bands, that was the music that I enjoyed exploring the most. George Jones as an artist is really important to me and Garth Brooks is the reason why I started playing music, really. I’ve got a signed guitar from him.”

Being tasked with creating a musical accompaniment not only to these larger-than-life country music figures, but also to the film’s own oddball psychology was bound to be challenging, to say the least.

“I felt like it would be kind of cheap to just create like a pure country score for this world they’ve created,” Poss said. “For the majority of the score, what I wanted to do was to pull these different elements of country music. Like the acoustic guitar is probably the most identifiable element of country, really. But I wanted to make that unfamiliar and primitive, so the main themes are actually played on a bowed acoustic guitar with a violin bow.”

Even as the musical history of the characters on screen is likely clear and obvious to audiences, Poss never wanted to simply approximate their sounds or songwriting styles, focusing instead on using the score to develop the film’s tone and the otherworldly atmosphere throughout.

“As someone who’s written country songs, I really tried to avoid that,” he said. “I wanted it to sound more like session players working it out, or like how there’s this real underbelly in country music, too. Like this character of George Jones, where he’s so talented, but so ugly. That’s kind of how I tried to approach it.”

Actress Whit Kunschik: “Connie”

Actress Whit Kunschik came into Country Gold’s world of cautionary fame and celebrity satire, appropriately, right after returning home to Oklahoma City from Los Angeles.

“One of the producers reached out to me and sent me the script,” Kunschik said. “It’s a really special and beautifully made film.”

If making a movie is all about teamwork and shared experience, then producers found a perfect fit with Kunschik.

Like Selvidge, she discovered a love of film and storytelling at age 11. Like Gann, she has a background in broadcasting as well as film studies.

But perhaps more importantly for her portrayal of music-loving Connie, Kunschik shares the same lifelong, embedded affinity for country music.

“I grew up in a really small town outside of Oklahoma City called

Nicholas Pross | Photo by Berlin Green

Whit Kunschik | Photo by Berlin Green

Cashion, and I think it’s safe to say that country music courses through the veins of every person who grew up there,” she said. “Garth Brooks was the soundtrack to my childhood, and that existing knowledge and respect for country music for sure helped in bringing integrity to the story.”

For Kunschik, no matter how surreal or absurd the story or world around her character is, the goal is always to aim for believability.

“With any character I play my approach is always how can I make this player feel as real and honest as possible,” she said. “You ask yourself, ‘Who am I? What are my circumstances? What are my relationships? What do I want? What is my obstacle? What do I do to get what I want?’ I did that with Connie. And once you memorize your lines and figure out the motivation behind them, you kind of just have to trust your preparation, scene partners, and director.”

Again, trust is always the key on a film set, especially when it’s so difficult to imagine the finished product or how audiences will react to it.

“Reading the script over and over, I knew that it felt very esoteric, but it really all clicked for once I showed up on set, and then just seeing it in a theater on a giant screen truly made it come together even more,” Kunschik said. “I’ll be in L.A. for a screening at Alamo Drafthouse, one of my favorite theaters in the city, so being there with the cast, my friends, and mentors is going to be very special.”

Actor Ben Hall: “George Jones”

It’s possible that Ben Hall had the most daunting job of anyone on Country Gold. His take on one of the most indelible and mythic figures in American music history, the great (and greatly troubled) George Jones, has to walk a fine line between capturing the real man’s charismatic, problematic allure and establishing that the man we’re seeing isn’t the real George Jones at all.

“This movie really isn’t about George Jones or at least not George Jones the real person,” Hall said. “It’s about the kind of legendary, very old generation celebrity that Jones represented and how somebody can misjudge what fame and celebrity mean from the outside or how someone can look at lyrics in a song and say, ‘Whoever wrote this, I know who they are,’ and just be completely wrong.”

As Hall’s version of Jones pulls the Troyal character deeper and deeper down his rabbit hole, the gap between true life and surrealist fiction begins to widen. But as

the audience grows to understand and accept Troyal as a unique and original character merely inspired by Garth, the strangeness and charm surrounding Jones only serves to highlight the enigmatic spectacle of the real man and the difficult legacy he left behind.

“I knew that I needed to know something about this guy, because I didn’t want to do anything contradictory to his memory, his true memory that isn’t part of the satire,” Hall said. “But on the other hand, this is about someone who is so full of self loathing that he almost can’t breathe, and he’s decided that there is an escape hatch that, oddly enough, lets him come back out the other side.”

The opportunity to dig into a character so hungry for a second chance and a new start is something surely invaluable to Hall, who claims to have had a “colorful” past of his own and to have “had a couple different lifetimes.”

“I got to be 30 and I thought at that point, it was too late, that acting was something that just couldn’t happen,” he said. “But I went back to college to finish my degree at 35 or something, and there was no pressure. And it just opened a door where it was like, ‘Why not start now? Who says you

can’t start late?’ And so I brought 35 years of experience to it, because in those first 35 years, I’d done some things that most people don’t do. I’ll leave it at that.”

Drawing on that kind of life experience for a character like this sad, broken version of Jones allowed Hall to dig into the meat of the story and the misguided sympathy and redemption that the character is hoping for.

“It’s this fantasy that you could just say, ‘I’ve screwed this up, but let me let me go away for a hundred years, and by the time I get back, nobody I know will be around. The history books will be dusty. I can be whoever I want.’ As if it’s just this long string of history that forces your day-to-day decisions, rather than just saying, ‘Hey, dude, just make these thousands of choices in your daily life differently to be a little bit better of a person, rather than the piece of shit that you are.”

Director, Co-writer, and Actor Mickey Reece: “Troyal Brux”

Oklahoma City native Mickey Reece is currently touring with the film and has begun pre-production on his 30th full-length feature, The Cool Tenor.

SUNDAY MARCH 26

Colony House

SUNDAY APRIL 16

Judah & the Lion with Will Gaines

WEDNESDAY APRIL 26

Blues Traveler

THURSDAY APRIL 27 Walrus

Mail

WEDNESDAY MAY 10

Gary Clark Jr.

THURSDAY MAY 18

Josh Abbo Band

TUESDAY JUNE 6

Shakey Graves

MONDAY JUNE 19

Sofi Tukker

Ben Hall | Photo by Berlin Green

Weed for me but not for thee

VOTERS THIS MONTH REJECTED STATE QUESTION 820, WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE CANNABIS LEGAL WITHOUT A LICENSE FOR ADULTS 21 AND OLDER.

By Robin Meyers

Okies apparently don’t like the word “recreational,” but they love the word “medical”—especially when it comes to cannabis.

With roughly 400 dispensaries in Oklahoma City alone, you can’t spit without hitting that green demon leaf that once prompted the propaganda film Reefer Madness. Almost 10 percent of Oklahomans have medical cannabis cards, and they are absurdly easy to get. Someone I know who worked in a dispensary described the process as a kind of quackery of convenience. A doctor sits at a desk, people file in and name some form of chronic pain, and the doctor writes a script and collects his fee. It’s a win/win. But, of course, those same people would never, under any circumstances, use cannabis “recreationally.” Nor would they ever give it to people under 21 or sell it illegally on the street. As for just using it to get high and listen to The Moody Blues, forget about it.

Now that voters have soundly rejected making recreational cannabis available for purchase for anyone 21 and over, they have also rejected the increased government regulations. Saved again. Especially the kids, other than those working in illegal grow houses owned by foreign nationals.

As you would expect, Oklahomans against State Question 820 were the usual suspects, as were those in favor. Urging us to vote no was “father knows best” Gov. Kevin Stitt, some law enforcement agencies and former governor Frank Keating, who, in sync with Stitt, said repeatedly that we can’t have more access to a drug that is “still illegal federally”—that is, unless you have a get-out-of-jail medical cannabis card, and presto— it’s legal!

Urging us to vote yes were some criminal justice reform advocates, the ACLU and some labor unions. Joining them were ordinary citizens who mistakenly thought that a conservative administration would lean toward free markets and personal accountability, and that a growing number of younger Republicans

would vote to join the other 21 states (both blue and red) that have legalized recreational cannabis.

Perhaps it would be good for me to say this now. I don’t believe that cannabis products are an unqualified good. Like any substance that alters consciousness and involves the byproducts of combustion, it can be harmful. I also believe that psychological dependence is real, as are the dangers for some of impaired driving. I am also not in favor of cannabis use by teens. But, if the potential for abuse is the standard by which we reject legalization, especially for substances that can also be used properly by adults and have demonstrable health benefits, then what on earth shall we do with tobacco and alcohol?

Here is where that mantra, “Don’t confuse me with the facts,” sits grinning in the corner of every room. First, if cannabis is a Schedule 1 drug, then how should we compare it with alcohol, which causes more harm to individuals, families and society than all the other drugs combined? Six people die every day from alcohol poisoning and almost 90,000 people die annually from excessive alcohol use in the U.S. Tobacco is one of the only products that when used properly kills you. Sugar, in fact, may be more harmful to our health than pot. So far, no one has ever died from a cannabis overdose. Compare this to the tens of thousands killed by American opioid drug cartels who only differ from their Mexican counterparts in the way they dress.

But what about the kids? Wasn’t this the most effective argument made by those who urged us to reject recreational cannabis? Won’t more of them be stoned, impaired and living on the couch? If evidence-based reasoning still has any value, then what about the data showing that legalizing cannabis has reduced its use among teens in states like Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska? From child-resistant packaging to limits on serving sizes for edibles,

REACHES MORE PEOPLE THAN YOUR SOCIAL

the rates of use by young people are down. In Colorado, teens reported a nearly 12 percent drop in cannabis use. Perhaps, like the mystique that accompanied prohibition, even teenagers are more attracted to what is illegal.

In states that have only medical cannabis use, on average, traffic deaths have declined, perhaps attributable to the fact that drivers under the influence of cannabis are more cautious and take fewer risks than drunk drivers. Alcohol speeds us up and makes us feel invincible. Cannabis slows us down as it slows down the perception of time itself. As the old joke goes, when you are drunk you blow the red light. When you are high, you creep through the intersection in search of a Twinkie.

One of the most important consequences of legalizing medical cannabis is that it can end the costly use of law-enforcement to arrest and prosecute those who possess small amounts and might even lead to the expunging of prior offenses-giving countless people the chance to start over. If SQ820 had passed, our state would have collected hundreds of millions of dollars to help schools and provide support services that are currently being eliminated. As for the oftheard warning that “drug cartels are coming in from everywhere,” legalization is what takes both money and power away from

cartels. In Oklahoma, there are more than 7,000 licensed growers in our state, many of whom were offered business licenses at a fraction of the price of other states. California, for example, the state we love to hate, has only a quarter of that number. Are we trying to save ourselves from ourselves?

It doesn’t matter. The people have spoken. Well, a fraction of the people, thanks to Stitt’s decision to call for a single-issue standalone vote in a non-primary, nongeneral election. Are we safer? No. Are we poorer? Yes.

Reefer madness indeed.

The Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers is pastor of First Congregational Church UCC in Norman and retired senior minister of Mayflower Congregational UCC in Oklahoma City. He is currently Professor of Public Speaking, and Distinguished Professor of Social Justice Emeritus in the Philosophy Department at Oklahoma City University, and the author of eight books on religion and American culture, the most recent of which is, Saving God from Religion: A Minister’s Search for Faith in a Skeptical Age. Visit robinmeyers.com

Robin Meyers | Photo by Berlin Green

YOUR DAILY INTEL BRIEFING ON-AIR, ONLINE AND ON-DEMAND

Illustrations by Jerry Bennett

This isn’t the first time Kevin’s been left in the dust.

Volkswagen recently chose a Canadian city instead of Oklahoma for its new electric vehicle battery plant despite state officials baiting the hook with $700 million in business incentives.

“State lawmakers said previously that they believed the Volkswagen deal could have resulted in 7,000 new jobs and more than $5 billion in capital investment from the company. Average pay for the jobs was expected to be $75,000 annually,” the Tulsa World reported Could have. But it won’t. And neither will it bring jobs from Tesla or Panasonic.

“Oklahoma has never been in a po-

sition to compete with an entire country for a major project, but that’s exactly what we did, and it’s a testa ment to the hard work of state leaders in the Legislature and the Commerce Department who are making Oklahoma the most business-friendly state in the nation,” the governor’s office told the Tulsa World.

Oops. You said the quiet part out loud again, Kevin.

Pitching these massive projects has never been about getting one and the governor is about as prepared to actually land an enormous manufacturing deal or tech contract as a dog is to catch a car.

This is about Stitt being immortalized beside international brands in

photo opps and using handshakes to leverage his “aw shucks” approach into whatever possible future business deals or elections he has up his sleeve.

Accomplishing modest and reasonable goals that move the state forward

wouldn’t be as “aspirational” enough, but this isn’t about Oklahoma—it’s all about Kevin. Imagine that.

And slavery is a subject to tiptoe around now lest people who share skin color or sex as the people in the history books get a queasy feeling in their stomachs when learning of it. The state is here to protect you from such things in classrooms and school libraries. But, no, that’s not a “nanny state” tactic. That’s freedom.

If the legislature has their way, no books with naughty bits for the

adults either.

“No print or nonprint material or media in a school district library, charter school library, or public library shall include content that the average person eighteen (18) or older applying contemporary community standards would find has a predominant tendency to appeal to prurient interest in sex,” Senate Bill 397 reads.

combust at 451 degrees, it seems. Wouldn’t want to get the subjects here too riled up in case they have sex for non-procreative purposes because, as of last year, you’re no longer free to choose if and when you start a family because the Sons of Jacob know best here in the Republic of Gilead.

If the legislature has its way, you can expect Banned Books Week to be banned by the time it rolls around in October.

The word “freedom” has taken on an Orwellian meaning in the state of Oklahoma, but that should be welcomed, according to the state government. After all, freedom is slavery.

St. Patio’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day, the worldrenowned drinking holiday, is so last week. Literally. However, with the increasingly warmer weather, here’s a new excuse to day drink: Saint Patios Day. While the US Department Of Commerce hasn’t caught wind of this newfound holiday yet, here are seven places with booze, food and immaculate patio vibes to help you celebrate.

By Tatum Stewart

Having made a name for itself with wood-fired pizzas and particularlycrafty craft brews, Fair-Weather Friend is the optimal spot for your holiday celebration. The pies shift with the offerings on tap and the occasion, from the classic cheese pizza to complex flavor pairings (and don’t skip the cannolis). Their patio space consists of picnic tables surrounded by willow trees that create a whimsical fairy-like vibe.

Located above Dust Bowl Lanes, Fassler Hall’s atmosphere makes you feel like you flew to Germany, providing a beer hall atmosphere with authentic cuisine like schnitzel and bratwurst. Along with their amazing selection of arguably the best drinking food, Fassler Hall also showcases imported European beers and local brew options. On their patio, you’ll find a superlative view of the Oklahoma City skyline and patio games to keep you entertained while polishing off your liter.

The Pump has a long, rich and storied history of being OKG’s preferred patio bar, and it’s easy to see why. The majority of the venue is patio space, so it can accommodate parties of any size, with weekly events to keep you busy while drinking a Velvet Elvis or the Kahiki Kai, two of their signature cocktails. Their inexpensive kitchen is open until midnight on weekends, perfect for late night bites.

405-934-6668 • 314 N Klein Ave. fwfbeer.com

405-702-8898 • 2425 N Walker Ave. pumpbar.net

Photos provided

Fair-Weather Friend Pump Bar Fassler Hall

The Other Room

Good Times

The Other Room has long existed as the laid back daughter of its elegant next door parent, Picasso Cafe. Radiating dive bar vibes, TOR offers the full menu of Picasso with half-price appetizers from open to close. Enjoy the discounted apps with a Hamm’s or a local craft brew on their backyard patio, which is open and ready for any weather with its fans and heaters.

Sometimes it’s just evident by the name, even before you walk through the refrigerator door. Once you do, order a cocktail in a pouch and make your way to their covered and enclosed patio. Take in the good times by snacking on their sweet funnel cake fries or a quesadilla. While out there, make sure to keep and eye out for “bar kitty” Belvie.

405-849-5218

The newest restaurant on this list, El Coyote is an authentic New Mexican style bar and cantina. Their dishes are packed full of savory southwestern flavors. The taco platter delivers the most bang for your buck and their rear patio with a chiminea for colder nights is enclosed by pink adobe, making this location the ideal place to enjoy a specialty margarita.

It would be a disservice to not mention McNellie’s on this list. This Irish pub has everything you’ll need to celebrate this faux holiday on the heels of the real. Housing a novel’s worth of a beer list with imported, domestic and Oklahoma brewed beer, McNellie’s has a flavor for anyone. On their menu, you’ll find Irish comfort food like cottage pie made even more cozy by a warm spring breeze on its Midtown patio.

1234 N Western Ave.

405 602-2002 • 3007 Paseo Drive picassosonpaseo.com

•925 W Britton Rd elcoyoteokc.com

405-601-7468 • 1100 Classen Drive mcnellies.com

El Coyote

James E. McNellie’s Public House

Sun’s out, fun’s out

By Kendra Michal Johnson

Temperatures are growing warmer, days are getting longer and conditions are just right for strolling down a street lined with artist’s booths, snacking on food truck favorites and listening to live performances as dusk slowly falls.

Outdoor arts events are back for the 2023 season.

LIVE! on the Plaza

In the Plaza District, the LIVE! events had shifted to the second Sunday afternoon of the month for the winter, but starting in March, LIVE! on the Plaza returned to its regular 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. time slot on the second Friday of each month.

And the festival has big plans in store for the spring, starting April 14.

“April is the Earth Day LIVE!, so we always partner up with a lot of conservation- and nature-oriented or maybe litter pickup-oriented organizations and nonprofits,” Plaza District Association Director of Marketing and Programming Joel Parks said.

The OKC Zoo is a regular staple at the April event and sometimes brings animals along with them.

“We do an upcycled fashion show,” Parks said. “So Dig It [OKC] is a business in the Plaza District and they have a lot of vintage upcycled fashion. And so there’s a whole fashion show of upcycled art and wearable art.”

Next, May’s event is Plaza Con, on May 12.

“Plaza Con is all things pop culture, whether that be video games, movies, and we do cosplay and we do a cosplay fashion show and and have a lot of fun with that one,” he said.

June 9 is Pride On the Plaza, which will see a first for the district this year.

“We’re actually going to shut the street down, which we’ve never done for a LIVE! before,” Parks said.

He said he’s excited to see the event expand into the street.

“We realized the crowds were of such a size and the audience was

such a size, like, we need to shut the street down, one, for just foot traffic to be safer, and then, two, to make the event better and better programming and we can have more space,” he said.

The Plaza District plans to shift to the second Sunday afternoon of the month when the time changes in the fall to accommodate the colder weather, Parks said, before shifting back to Friday evenings when clocks move forward again in the spring.

More information can be found at plazadistrict.org and on the events’ social media pages.

Festival of the Arts

April also means the return of the annual Festival of the Arts, organized by Arts Council OKC.

With 144 artists and approximately 30 food vendors, the five-day festival is celebrating its 57th year.

Held April 25 through 30 at Bicentennial Park in downtown Oklahoma City, the event organizers are expecting 650,000 attendees.

It takes more than 5,000 people, mostly volunteers, to keep things running—headed by volunteer cochairs Farooq Karim and Susie White, working alongside the Arts Council OKC staff.

The festival includes activities for a range of ages.

“We’re trying to sort of build the next generation of artists and patrons,” Karim said. “So we actually will have a tent where kids can go buy art that’s from the festival artists.”

Each item in the tent is for sale for $5.

Additionally, a juried art sale will feature artwork from youth ages 8 to 18.

“They’re sometimes a little shy at first to kind of talk about their art but it is so fun to interact with those young artists and and to have them have the opportunity to actually interact with people who may or may not buy their work and, you know, a lot of them will sell out,” Karim said.

ARTS & CULTURE

For those interested in having first pick of the artwork for sale at the festival, attendees can sign up for Festi-First at artscouncilokc. com/festi-first.

“It’s a commitment that you make, that you will spend $250 during the week of Festival on any kind of art; any number of pieces,” White said.

The program includes a parking pass, breakfast, and having three hours for art purchases before the festival opens to the public at 11 a.m.

Art mediums represented at the festival range from live performances to oil painting to photography to jewelry to ceramics to wood to sculpture to digital design and production (DDP).

Additionally, the food options have ramped up this year.

“This is the most international food offering I think we’ve ever had,” Karim said. “So we’ve got some really interesting new ethnic food that we’re going to have. So I think we’ve got a Nigerian vendor, we’ve got a Puerto Rican vendor, we’ve got a Mexican street food vendor.”

VIBES

VIBES in downtown Edmond is returning for its third year in downtown Edmond.

It takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month from April to October.

“This season we are going to have 46 businesses, 82 visual artists, and 33 performing artists participating throughout the season,” Edmond Fine Arts Institute Program Director and Director of VIBES Savannah Whitehead said. “And

there will definitely be favorites returning like the Oklahoma City Ballet and the paint-off kind of feature, as well as new things. April’s gonna actually kick off with a fire juggler from Inspyral Circus.”

“The paint-off will feature different artists that will come and paint a piece during like a timed event,” she said.

Event attendees will be able to vote for their favorites at $1 per vote.

More information about individual upcoming events can be found on VIBES’ Facebook and Instagram pages.

Red Brick Nights

Red Brick Nights kicks off its 2023 season in May.

The festival runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month from May to September in downtown Guthrie.

“Red Brick Nights is a familyfriendly community-gathering event,” Red Brick Nights Event Organizer James Long said. “So we have food trucks, we have pop up shops, we have a kids area put on by North Church Guthrie and then obviously the music talent so we try to appeal to the whole family with not only our music selection, but the things to do as well.”

The largest of the Red Brick Nights is the July festival, which includes a firework show.

“We typically have about 3,500 people that attend the events,” Long said. “And then the Fourth of July one is like over 10,000.”

More information can be found on Red Brick Nights’ social media pages as event dates draw closer.

THE OKC METRO’S RECURRING FESTIVALS ARE BEGINNING THE 2023 SEASON.

Inspyral Circus performs at LIVE! on the Plaza. | Photo provided.

ARTS & CULTURE

EDEN ROSE

Ice queen

DISNEY’SFROZENMAKESITSSTOPINOKCATTHECIVIC CENTERMARCH22THROUGHAPRIL2.

By Adrienne Proctor

Frozen , the latest production in the Disney Theatricals series, makes its OKC tour stop this month.

An expanded version of the popular animated movie musical from 2013 adapted for the stage by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez and the movie’s original writer Jennifer Lee, Frozen features all the characters and songs you know and love plus 12 new songs written for the stage.

The movie was a hit for families and created one of those iconic Disney songs you can’t get out of your head. The movie voice-starred Broadway alum Idina Menzel as Elsa and Kristen Bell as Anna.

Part of the popularity of Frozen stems from the fact that Disney finally dispensed with the fairytale romance trope, instead telling the familial love story of Elsa and Anna, two sisters and damsels who need no rescuing. They save each other in times of distress and are each other’s true love. Frozen paved the way for more individualist Disney leads, and Disney has never looked back. Since Elsa and Anna, Disney movies have featured strong young female and male leads like Moana, Mirabelle in Encanto, and Miguel in Coco.

Frozen is a love letter to the beauty and mystery of Norway. Elsa is queen and Anna is her curious, yet lonely, younger sister. Together they reign as royalty in the mountainous Norwegian-esque kingdom of Arendelle. Cursed with magical powers she can’t understand or control, Elsa is forced to hide away from everyone, including her beloved younger sister. When Elsa is crowned as queen, she accidentally unleashes a boundless winter on her kingdom and flees to protect herself and her

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duction company spares no expense, and the show features a dazzling array of costumes, scenery and special effects. The fabrics and trims used to create the costumes are sourced from 17 different countries and Elsa’s ice dress features over 10,000 sparkling crystals. The show also features a subtle snowflake motif that’s repeated in costumes and scenery, with more than 150 cos tumes, 48 flowers and grasses, and 71 ribbons and garlands.

This family-friendly tale features crowd favorite characters from the movie, including Olaf and Sven. Olaf is a magical snowman that Elsa creates, and Sven is the world’s sass iest reindeer. Both characters appeal to audiences of all ages, and Sven has an intricate and engaging presenta tion on stage. Fans of the movie can expect to hear familiar songs from Olaf and Anna, as well as the iconic showstopper “Let It Go,” which has been revitalized and is now even bigger and more sumptuous on stage.

The touring production of Frozen stars Caroline Bowman as Elsa, Lauren Nicole Chapman as Anna, and Dominic Dorset as Kristoff. Michael Grandage directs.

Frozen plays the Civic Center March 22 through April 2. Visit okcbroadway.com

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3420 N. MAY AVE, OKC OPEN: SUN - THURS 9AM - 12AM

FRI & SAT 9AM - 2AM

1333 N. SANTA FE AVE #104, EDMOND OPEN: SUN - THURS 10AM - 10PM

FRI & SAT 10AM - 12AM

Caroline Bowman as Elsa and Lauren Nicole Chapman as Anna. | Photo by Matthew Murray, provided.

BOOKS

Carole Lindstrom and Steph Littlebird book signing author and illustrator will both be autographing their book My Powerful Hair, a picture book about family history, self-expression and reclaiming your identity, 6 p.m., Mar. 23. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, 405-340-9202, bestofbooksok.com. THU, MAR 23

Conversations with Poet Jericho Brown Oklahoma City University’s annual Thatcher Hoffman Smith Poetry Series will host public presentations featuring readings and book signings followed by an open mic session for area poets, 7 p.m., Mar. 29, Oklahoma City University Meinders School of Business, 2700 N. McKinley, 405-208-5707, okcu.edu/ film-literature/spring-poet/current. WED, MAR 29

Hollie Stuart book signing the author will be signing her book I Can See for Miles which relates to her personal journey for empowerment through her happiness and depression as she searches for freedom from her past traumas, 6:30-8 p.m., Apr. 4. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. TUE, APR 4

Kelly Poland book signing the author will be signing and discussing her book Oklahoma Prairie Tales: Mostly True Stories My Grandma Told Me, a compilation of true stories as told to Poland by her grandmother, 3-4:30 p.m., Mar. 25. Deer Clan Books, 3905 N. College Ave., 405-495-9005. SAT, MAR 25

Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson book signing author and illustrator will both be autographing their book Twenty Questions, a children’s book about childhood curiosity and open-ended questions, 6 p.m., Mar. 24. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, 405-340-9202, bestofbooksok.com. FRI, MAR 24

FILM

Close (2022, Belgium, Netherlands, France

Lukas Dhonbt) an intense friendship between two thirteen-year-old boys Leo and Remi suddenly gets disrupted, 9 p.m., Mar. 24; 2 & 9 p.m., Mar. 25; 12:30 & 3 p.m.; Mar. 26. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRISUN, MAR 24-26

Femme Film Fest a two-day film festival featuring three features and a short film program, all centered around women in the film industry, presented by deadCenter and Rodeo Cinema, Mar. 31-Apr. 1. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-235-3456, deadcentercontinuum.eventive. org/schedule. FRI-SAT, MAR 31-APR 1

Godland (2022, Denmark, Iceland, France, Sweden, Hlynur Pálmason) at the end of the 19th century, a young Danish priest is sent to a remote part of Iceland but the deeper he travels into the Icelandic landscape, the more he loses a sense of his own reality, his mission, and his sense of duty, 9 p.m., Mar. 31; 7 :30 p.m., Apr. 1. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

FRI-SAT, MAR 31-APR 1

The Lost King (2022, United Kingdom, Stephen Frears) based on a true story, an amateur historian defies the stodgy academic establishment in her efforts to find King Richard III’s remains, which were lost for over 500 years, 5:30 p.m., Mar. 31; 2 & 5p.m., Apr. 1; 12:30 & 3 p.m., Apr. 2. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SUN, MAR 31-APR 2

Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival guests can view several films from all over the world that explore common themes of Jewish identity and culture in a variety of genres, March 26-30. Circle Cinema, Tulsa, 10 S. Lewis Ave., 918-585-3504, jewishtulsa.org. SUN-THU, MAR 26-30

The Outsiders (1983, USA, Francis Ford Coppola) based on the novel by Oklahoma author S.E. Hinton about the rivalry between two gangs, the Greasers and the Socs, which escalates when one gang member kills another rival gang member, 7 p.m., Mar. 24. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405235-3456, rodeocinema.org. FRI, MAR 24

The Runaways (2010, USA, Floria Sigismondi) a coming-of-age biographical film about the 1970s teenage all-girl rock band The Runaways and the relationship between band members Cherie Currie and Joan Jett, 6:30 p.m., Mar. 27. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-235-3456, rodeocinema.org. MON, MAR 27

HAPPENINGS

2023 Medieval Fair a free fair that brings the middle ages to life with art and craft booths offering pottery, armor, costumes, jewelry and more, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Mar. 31-Apr. 2. Reaves Park, 2501 S. Jenkins Ave., 405-366-5472, medievalfair.org. FRISUN, MAR 31-Apr 2

Brown Bag: Exploring Comics enjoy a conversation about comic books over lunch with Dexter Nelson II the Associate Curator of Black History and Cultural Heritage at History Colorado, noon-1 p.m., Mar. 23. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. THU, MAR 23

Campfire Convos join the wildlife experts of the Scissortail Park Ranger team for an evening of conversation and s’mores making in the Lower Park, 7-8 p.m., Mar. 22. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. WED, MAR 22

CannaCon a business-to-bussiness expo for the cannabis industry covering cultuvation to education, legal advice to scientrific trends, and more, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mar. 31-Apr. 1. Oklahoma City Convention Center, 100 Mick Cornett Dr., cannacon.org/south/cannacon-okc-2023.

FRI-SAT, MAR 31-APR 1

OK Classics Car & Memorabilia Auction

Event an auction highlighting classic cars and memorabilia featuring vehicles like a 1956 Chevy BelAir, 1955 Chevy Pickup. 1941 Oldsmobile Convertible and many others, Mar. 31-Apr. 1. Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, 777 Grand Casino Boulevard, Shawnee, 405-964-7263, okclassicsonline.com.

FRI-SAT, MAR 31-APR 1

Coffee & Conversations: Working with Wool learn about how wool goes from sheep to hand-crafted wool items, see items that have been created using Mollie Spencer Farm’s wool and visit the animals in the pasture, 9-10 a.m., Mar. 25. Mollie Spencer Farm, 1001 Garth Brooks Blvd., facebook.com/molliespencerfarm. SAT, MAR 25

Coffee and Cars OKC the largest monthly gathering of car enthusiasts across the state, featuring automotives of all types spanning from classics to hotrods, exotics to luxuries, sports to supers, there is something for every car lover, first

OKG PICKS

Saturday of every month, 8 p.m. Chisholm Creek, 13230 Pawnee Dr., 405-728-2780, coffeeandcars. com. SAT, APR 1

COOP Ale Works’ 14th Anniversary Party a two session event featuring seven pouring stations with over 20 beers on tap including exclusive beers only found at this event, outdoor and indoor fun, various food trucks, a merchandise area, and a 360-degree photo booth, benefiting the Oklahoma Humane Society, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m., Mar. 25. COOP Ale Works Tap Room, 4745 Council Heights Road, 918-916-2360, coopaleworks.ticketleap.com/coop14. SAT, MAR 25

Farmers Market at Scissortail Park a morning market featuring local sourced options such as, pasture-raised meats, fresh produce and cultivated mushrooms, plants, eggs, raw honey, breads and baked goods, assortments of specialty prepared food and beverage producers, as well as high-quality artisan from almost 60 vendors, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays through Oct. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org/farmersmarket. SAT, ONGOING THROUGH OCT

Forensic Night learn about the methods doctors, anthropologists and law officers use to examine human skeletons to solve true crime cases, 5:308:30 p.m., Mar. 24. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 405-814-0006, skeletonmuseum.com. FRI, MAR 24

Fourth Friday on Film Row an evening of live music, food, games, and local vendors to shop from, 6-10 p.m. The Paramount Building, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., westvillageokc.com. FRI, MAR 24

Guided Garden Explorer Tour free tour of the gardens led by the horticulture team focusing on flowering perennials, shrubs, and trees, 1 p.m. every second Friday and 10 a.m. every last Saturday of the month. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. FRI-SAT, ONGOING

History and Hops: Oklahoma’s Tiny Jails Survey learn about the history and architecture of Oklahoma’s tiniest jails, also known as calabooses, with Matt Pearce and Mike Mayes while enjoying local craft beer, 6-8 p.m., Mar. 24. Overholser Mansion, 405 NW 15th St., 405-525-5325, overholsermansion.org. FRI, MAR 24

Just Between Friends a massive consignment sale featuring children’s clothing, toys, supplies, home decorations and much more, March 26-April 1. Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, 3220 Great Plains Walk, 405-9486700, okc.jbfsale.com. SUN-SAT, MAR 26-APR 1

Live & Loud a networking event for aspiring songwriters, composers, lyricists, musicians, and bands to exchange ideas with

industry professionals, 7-10 p.m., Thursdays. Joe & Charlies’ Sober Nightclub, 1146 N. Macarthur Blvd, 405-999-0450. THU, ONGOING

Modern Soapmaking workshop participants will learn how to create homemade soap using a modern variation of this historic practice, noon-3 p.m., Mar. 25. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. SAT, MAR 25

OKC Home + Outdoor Living Show attend gardening and furniture-making workshops and shop for landscaping and home decor from vendors, noon-8 p.m., Mar. 24; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Mar. 25; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Mar. 26. Bennett Event Center, 3101 Gordon Cooper Blvd, 888-248-9751, homeshowokc. com. FRI-SUN, MAR 24-26

Oklahoma State Arbor Week Tree Sale purchase a variety of trees from Elm, Oak, Maple and many other species at this two-day event celebrating Oklahoma Arbor Week, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Mar. 31-Apr. 1. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-4457080, scissortailpark.org. FRI-SAT, MAR 31-APR 1

Our Conservatory in Depth a monthly program that takes an in-depth view of different areas in the conservatory with each event focusing on a specific element of the garden, March’s feature is seed dispersal, 11 a.m.-noon, Mar. 25. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. SAT, MAR 25

Paleo Puzzles learn the skills and techniques that professional preparators use to piece fossils back together while researching extinct animals, participants will also get a behind-the-scenes tour of the fossil preparation laboratory and see the museum’s current projects, 6-8 p.m., Mar. 24 Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., 405-3257977, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. FRI, MAR 24

Spring Pruning, Plotting, and Planning a gardening class that will cover spring pruning and cleaning, identifying problems and points of interest, knowing what to expect as the weather warms up, over-seeding, fertilizing, and more, 1-3 p.m., Mar. 25. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. SAT, MAR 25

Wheeler Ferris Wheel 2023 Season Opening Day celebrate opening day with lawn games, hammocks, a food truck, and more, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Apr. 1 Wheeler Ferris Wheel, 1701 S. Western Ave., 405655-8455, wheelerdistrict.com/visit. SAT, APR 1

FOOD

Sunday Jazz Brunch enjoy a lavish brunch featuring classics like eggs benedict, lemon buttermilk pancakes and Italian favorites the wood-fired grill with live jazz music and signature cocktails, 11 a.m.3 p.m., Sundays. Tellers, 120 N. Robinson Ave, 405900-6789, tellersokc.com/event. SUN, ONGOING

Taste of Yukon a food extravaganza featuring appetizers, main courses, and desserts from local and area restaurants and food vendors, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mar. 23. Dale Robertson Center, 1200 Lakeshore Dr., 405-350-7680, yukonok.gov. THU, MAR 23

Wine Down Wednesday explore the sommelier-curated menu of Old and New World wines while listening to live music, 6-10 p.m., Wednesdays. Tellers, 120 N. Robinson Ave, 405-900-6789, tellersokc. com/the-great-hall. WED, ONGOING

YOUTH

Crafts and Tales a story followed by an activity ranging from learning about a real specimen from the collections to crafting a thematic piece of artwork, 11 a.m.-noon, Wednesdays. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.

WED, ONGOING

Easter Eggstravaganza featuring Easter egg hunts, photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, and daily farm attractions, from the carousel and locomotive rides to the four-lane zip line and gemstone mine, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Apr. 1. Orr Family Farm, 14400 S. Western Ave., 405-799-3276, orrfamilyfarm.com. SAT, APR 1

Eggstravaganza kids will be able to explore Stockyards City while hunting for hidden Easter eggs, 11a.m.-noon, Apr. 1. Stockyard City Cafe, 2501 Exchange Ave. SAT, APR 1

Kids Take Over the Cowboy: Game On! children will be able to explore the new exhibition Playing Cowboy and create their own Western board game and clothespin horse,

Dystopian Hope featuring the work of three artists, Virginia Wagner, Sarah FitzSimons, and Kyle Larson, who strive to illustrate the ties between the artist’s view, the writer’s voice, and the filmmaker’s perspective in the current climate of political upheaval, unprecedented weather events and deadly viruses, March 23-May 5. Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave, 405-208-5000. SUN-SAT, MAR 23-MAY 5 Photo provided

Neon Jungle Party unwind after a day of networking at the official after-party for CannaCon featuring live music with Josh Sallee, Kid Lennon and more along with entertainment by fire dancers and gogo performers, party goers are encouraged to dress in their best neon jungle themed attire, hosted by Sensi, 7-11 p.m., Mar. 31. Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., 405-2326506, sensimag.com. FRI, MAR 31 Photo provided

followed by ring toss and storytime, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Apr. 1. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT, APR 1

Storytime with Miss Julie enjoy snacks, crafts and story time, 10:15-11:30 a.m., Saturdays, ongoing. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT, ONGOING

Weekday Story & Craft Time for Littles listen to a story or two followed by a hands-on arts and crafts activity, 10 a.m., every 2nd and 4th Thursday. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU, ONGOING

PERFORMING ARTS

2023 Concert of Soloists features five soloists from the Oklahoma State University Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Thomas Dickey, Music Director & Conductor and Nicholas Han, Assistant Conductor, 2023 Concert of Soloists, 7:30-9 p.m., Mar. 23. McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, 705 W. University Ave., Stillwater, 405-7449999, mcknightcenter.org. THU, MAR 23

Art Moves a free arts event that features a wide range of artistic mediums from live art demonstrations to musical and theatre performances to short films and more, weekdays in various downtown OKC locations, noon-1 p.m., weekdays. Downtown OKC, 211 N. Robinson Ave., 405-235-3500, artscouncilokc. com/art-moves. MON-FRI, ONGOING

Becky Robinson a live stand-up comedy performance, 7:30 & 10:15 p.m., Mar. 24; 7 & 9:45 p.m., Mar. 25. Bricktown Comedy Club, 409 E. California Ave., 405-594-0505, bricktowncomedy. com. FRI-SAT, MAR 24-25

Clue: The Musical based on the popular board game this musical brings the characters of the game to life while the audience helps solve the mystery of who killed Mr. Boddy, 8p.m., Mar. 23-25, 30-31 & Apr. 1; 2p.m., Mar. 26. The Pollard Theatre, 120 W. Harrison Ave., 405282-2800, thepollard.org. FRI-SAT, MAR 23-APR 1

Future of Sound Fest an outdoor event with live music, art and shopping, featuring six bands performing original songs inspired by the Mix-Tape experience, the Spring Artist Market, art making stations and more, 4-10 p.m., Mar. 25 Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St., factoryobscura.com. SAT, MAR 25

Jesus Christ Superstar a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber about the series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Judas, presented by OU Musical Theatre, 7:30-10 p.m., Mar. 30-Apr. 2. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-325-0538, musicaltheatre.ou.edu. THU-SUN, MAR 30-APR 2

Katt Williams a stand-up comedy performance, 8 p.m., Mar. 31. Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405602-8700, paycomcenter.com. FRI, MAR 31

Oklahoma Festival Ballet a performance of ballet works featuring Serenade by George Balanchine, Antique Epigraphs by Jerome Robbins, Deux Amours by Penny Saunders, Train of Thought by Yury Yanowsky, and Candide by Boyko Dossev, 8 p.m. Mar. 31 and Apr. 1, 6, 7; 3 p.m. Apr. 2, 8. Elsie C. Brackett

Theatre, 563 Elm Ave., 405-325-4101, ou.edu/finearts/ universitytheatre. FRI-SAT, MAR 31, APR 1-3 & 6-8

Open Mic Night enjoy an evening of music, stories, poetry and comedy performances, Thursdays. Core4 Brewing, 7 N. Lee Ave, 405-620-4513. THU, ONGOING

Pageant The Musical a beauty pageant of six contestants, all men, who are competing in swimsuit, talent, grown and spokesmodel contests to be crowned Miss Glamouresse, each night will end differently as the judges are random members selected from the audience, 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from through Apr. 21. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405-601-7200, theboomokc.com. FRI-SAT, THROUGH APR 21

Sense & Sensibility adapted from Jane Austen’s classic novel about social mores in 18th-century England, 8 p.m., Mar. 23-25, 30-31, & Apr. 1; 2:30 p.m., Mar. 26, & Apr. 2. Jewel Box Theatre, 321 NW 36th St., 405-521-1786, jewelboxokc.com. THU-SUN, MAR 23-26, 30-31 & APR 1-2

Songs We Love a performance through the first 50 years of jazz featuring three guest vocalists, joined by an all-star band, singing their way through four decades of music, beginning with the early blues and jazz of the 1920s and ending in the early 1950s, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Mar. 23. OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, 7777 S. May Ave., 405-682-7579, occc.edu/pas. THU, MAR 23

Sunday Gospel Brunch a comedy performance over brunch hosted by Kitty Bob and Norma Jean as they mix a farcical church service with skits, sing-alongs, and drag, noon & 1:30 p.m. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405-6017200, theboomokc.com. SUN, ONGOING

The Beverly Kill-Billies a themed dinner theatre murder mystery, 6:15-9 p.m., Mar. 31 Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, 1309 S. Agnew Ave., 405-236-0416, whodunit.net. FRI, MAR 31

ACTIVE

Harlem Globetrotters an exhibition basketball team that combines athletics, theatrics, and comedy into their performance, 2 & 7 p.m., Mar. 25. Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405-602-8700, paycomcenter.com. SAT, MAR 25

Myriad in Motion: Tai Chi dress in your comfy clothes and flat shoes for an entry-level Tai Chi class led by Ling Miller, 4:30-5:30 p.m., every other Monday. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. MON,

ONGOING

Myriad in Motion: Yoga bring your mat and water for an all-levels yoga class with instructors from YMCA, 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. TUE & SAT, ONGOING

OKC Thrive Fest a celebration of family health and wellness by connecting attendees with local resources in the areas of physical health, mental wellness, nutrition, and safety while providing fun activities for the entire family, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Mar. 25. Riversport OKC, 800 Riversport Drive, 405-552-4040, metrofamilymagazine.com/ okc-thrive-fest-riversport. SAT, MAR 25 continued on page 20

continued from page 19

OKC Touch Rugby Practice an evening of playing touch rugby for beginning to advanced players on the Love’s Travel Stops Great Lawn, Tuesdays, Wednesdays. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. TUE-WED, ONGOING

Oklahoma City Dodgers vs Tacoma Rainiers a professional baseball game, March 31-April 2. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, 405-218-1000, okcballparkevents.com. FRI-

SUN, MAR 31-APR 2

Wheeler Crit cheer on Oklahoma’s top cyclists at this weekly race around the Wheeler District, 5-8 p.m., Tuesdays through the Fall. The Big Friendly Brewery & Taproom, 1737 Spoke St., 405-4923785, thebigfriendly.com. TUE, ONGOING

Yoga in the Park bring a yoga mat and water bottle for an hour of spirit, mind and body alignment, 6-7 p.m., Fridays. Andrews Park, 201 W Daws St., 405-366-5472. FRI, ONGOING

VISUAL ARTS

21st Century Mound Builders explore and learn about the Mound Builder cultures along the walking path to the top of the FAM Mound which is 90 feet in height and serves as a cosmological clock, ongoing. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100.

SUN-SAT, ONGOING

The Art of Food an exhibition that features over 100 pieces of work by 37 well-known artists , all highlighting the subject of food, through May 22. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. THU-

SUN, THROUGH MAY 22

Art of the Northwest Coast features the artistic work of the northwest coast known throughout the world for its style and vibrant colors that tell stories, teach family history and express cultural views though prints, glass, totem poles and more, through May 1, 2023. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-4782250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT-TUE,

THROUGH MAY 1

Art Workshop with Connie Seabourn a twoday fast-paced, step-by-step watercolor painting workshop, March 21-22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org.

TUE-WED, MAR 21-22

Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection

at Twenty an exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Chihuly collection at OKCMOA showcasing five decades of glass and painting telling the story of his groundbreaking career featuring never before seen works in Oklahoma City, through June 18, 2024. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THROUGH JUNE 18,

2024

Fugitive Speech features seven artworks by artists Emily M. Chase, Jerome Ellis and Anita Fields explore acts of personal testimony in the face of social, cultural and historical odds through distinct perspectives and approaches to media, including textiles, video, photography and ceramics, while considering the relationship between voice, memory and time, through April 30, 2023. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, okcontemp.org. THU-MON, THROUGH APRIL 30

Introduction to Basketry a beginners class in which participants will learn how to create their own woven tote with Marcia Balleweg of Oklahoma Basket Supply, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Apr. 1. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. SAT, APR 1

Journey of Light an exhibit featuring photography by Yousef Khanfar showcasing various pieces from his different collections such as Landscape, Portraits, Jerusalem, and more, through Apr. 29. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-5286336, jrbartgallery.com. FRI-SAT, THROUGH APR 29

Kiarostami: Beyond the Frame features a multimedia collection of artwork by Iranian filmmaker, photographer and visual artist, Abbas Kiarostami, through April 9, 2023. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100,

okcmoa.com. SAT-TUE, THROUGH APR 9

Magic, Not Quite Realism an exhibit featuring the paintings of Bert Seabourn and Connie Seabourn that portray “real” people. nature, mythology and animals in a fantasy setting with supernatural elements, through May 6. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org. SUN-SAT, THROUGH MAY 6

Monthly Art Opening a monthly art show of local artists with March’s featured artists being John Salame, Landon Tolentino, and Wesley Kramer, through April 2. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 405-525-3499, dnagalleries.com. THU-SUN, THROUGH APR 2

OKLA HOMMA the signature exhibition of the museum, features works of art, interactive media, and film from all 39 tribes in Oklahoma as of today depicting stories with ancestral origins, collective histories, sports and more, ongoing. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100. ONGOING outLAWman showcasing the often thin-line between the lawmen and the outlaws in the American west featuring transcripts from the Osage murder trails, Virgil Earp’s Smith & Weston revolver, a purse allegedly belonging to Bonnie Parker and other items, Nov. 19 through May 7, 2023. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. MON-SUN, THROUGH MAY 7

Perspective: An Inquiry into the Literal and Conceptual Sense of the Word features the work of An Ha and Clover B.C. in which they attempt to reconcile two drastically contrasting backgrounds to find the nature of human perspective, and how the human race attempt to mend the gap between this difference, March 2-25. Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-9995, 1ne3.org. THU-SAT, MAR 2-25

Playing Cowboy an exhibition featuring Westernthemed toys from the 1880s all the way to present time including toy cap guns, costumes, board games, a coin-operated mechanical horse and more, through May 7. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-4782250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. FRI-SUN, THROUGH MAY 7

Purpose and Pattern an exhibit that focuses on the combination of tradition, culture, and self-expression through examples of patterns in art, including basketry, pottery, intarsia, and textile designs from five different artists, March 1-June 30. Exhibit C, 1 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-7678900, exhibitcgallery.com. SUN-SAT, MAR

1-JUNE 30

Rainforest Adventure visitors will explore one of the least-known habitats on earth in a fully interactive maze exhibit, full of the sights and sounds of a tropical rainforest, 10 a.m.-5 p.m, TuesdaysSaturdays and 1-5 p.m., Sundays, through June 4. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., 405325-7977, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. TUES-SUN, THROUGH JUNE 4

Selections from In Citizen’s Garb: Native Americans on the Southern Plains an exhibit displaying modern gelatin silver prints made from glass plate negatives of Indigenous people in the Lawton and Fort Sill area from 1889 to 1891, ongoing. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. TUE-MON, ONGOING

Sketching with Skeletons learn to create an imaginative still life with skulls, bones, florals, and more, then work with acrylics on canvas to bring the still to life, led by Becca West of Trash Wolf Art, 10 a.m.-noon, Apr. 2. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 405-814-0006, skeletonmuseum.com. SUN, APR 2

Spring 2023 Group Exhibition features the work of five Oklahoma-based artists working in a variety of media: Courtney Glassey, Calli Heflin, Sylvie Mayer, Michael McDaniel, and Erick Perry. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., through April 23. The Art Hall, 519 NW 23rd St., 405-456-9504, arthallokc.com/spring2023-group-exhibition. TUE-SUN, THROUGH APRIL 23

Sunday Spotlight: Pearl Hart’s Revolver learn about the only female stagecoach robber in the Old West, Pearl Hart, from her great grand nephew, Curator Michael Grauer, 1-1:30 p.m., Mar. 26. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SUN, MAR 26

Synesthesia Factory Obscura’s newest immersive art experience focusing on color and textural elements while guests open their senses to discover what colors sound and smell like. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. THROUGH JUNE 4

Taking Flight: Oklahomans Explore the Skies an exhibit featuring the first steps toward air travel for both military and commercial flights and ways that Oklahomans such as Wiley Post contributed to aviation, opening Mar. 1, ongoing. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. ONGOING

Thundor: The Art of Chase Dryden an exhibit showcasing photographs of Chase Dryden’s and other painter’s body painting works on Thunder fan Garrett Haviland, better known as Thundor, through April 28. Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Ave., 405-329-4523, normanfirehouse.com. FRI, THROUGH APR 28

Voices from the Drum features 20 drums thematically arranged to examine how the artists approached the drum, through their culture, artistic vision and in relationship to traditional dance within the Osage community, Feb. 4-March 31. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100. SAT-FRI, THROUGH MAR 31

WINIKO: Life of an Object, Selections from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian reflecting on the Native belief that their cultural materials hold the spirit of their makers and those who wore or used them this exhibit features of over 100 items that have been returned to the 39 tribes of Oklahoma after being taken from them in the early 1900s, ongoing. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100. ONGOING

You Have Died of Dysentery an exhibit showcasing Western-themed games, books and videos, such as The Oregon Trail and Red Dead Redemption, through May 7. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT-TUE, THROUGH MAY 7

Caffeine Crawl OKC a spin on the traditional bar crawl featuring various routes that will stop at locally-owned shops specializing in coffee, tea and chocolate, March 24-25. Oklahoma City, Edmond and Norman, caffeinecrawl.com/oklahoma-city-2023.

FRI-SAT, MAR 24-25 Photo Adobe Stock

Guthrie Renaissance Faire an immersive three-day festival into fantasy featuring live jousting, launching catapults, a Medieval torture exhibit, food and shopping vendors, mermaids, fairies, trolls and much more, 3-9 p.m., Mar. 24; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Mar. 25; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mar. 26. Cottonwood Flats, 450 N. 5th St., guthrierenfair.com. FRI-SUN, MAR 24-26 Photo provided

Kendra Mars - Remember When I Was Your Dad

TURNING HEADS IN TULSA, LANGSTON, AND OKC OF LATE, THE PROVOCATIVE STYLES FLAUNTED BY THIS SMALL-TOWN HIP-HOP ARTIST ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF EAR.

By Evan Jarvicks

“I’m takin’ rap back to pissy floors and crack in the walls,” proclaims “RAP-TURE,” one of four new cuts on Remember When I Was Your Dad?, the debut EP of Kendra Mars. The line isn’t unearned. The Muskogee artist is bold, crass, and unapologetic on the mic, and this is just one of numerous such examples. It would be a disservice, though, to relegate her style to a sensationalist and unsubstantive lane. Not only does she dish her ballsy verses with a smooth, humorous finesse uncharacteristic of much selfserious lyrical bomb-dropping in modern hip-hop, but she also proves by the end of the EP that an unplumbed depth of songwriting versatility lies beneath her brash exterior.

Kendra Mars released a series of singles leading up to Dad , a run which includes 2021’s adrenalinepumping debut “The Takeoff,” but the new EP clears the air with a proper reintroduction for both newcomers and her day ones. Here, the femmecee is confidently at ease in mid-tempo beats, showing off a smorgasbord of personality and serving bars like it’s tennis practice.

Opener

“Is This Thing On?”

shapeshifts through at least five vocal demeanors within its first verse. Slipping between duplet and triplet flows seamlessly, she is hard-edged and playful in turn, murdering the beat with the verbal footwork of a boxer. It isn’t a perfect track. The rap feature from LayLo Junior Kami and the instrumental backing don’t quite meet the high bar Kendra Mars sets, and Kendra is bound to irk sci-fi nerds with the way she conflates Star War s and Star Trek references at one point. As an intro, however, it is as attentiongetting as her dramatic throat clearings. This thing is indeed on.

From here, the EP rolls into more rap cuts. “Space Jam” is a catty, braggadocious number with tons of rhymes and nuggets of provocative wordplay such as “fuck life, no plan B.” The aforemen-

tioned “RAP-TURE” samples a luxurious vintage string section to accompany some of Kendra Mars’s coldest lines, and feature emcee Zorro makes the most of his tight 16, cramming a speed run of rhymes to the last literal second.

By this point, listeners will either be too prude to have lasted this long or will be accustomed to this explicit album’s ample mentions of penises, anuses, and titties. It is important to note, however, that Kendra Mars is not particularly sexual on this record. She invokes references to, say, pussy popping whenever it fits the lyrical flow, but she never relies on sexual imagery the way some artists do. The bulk of her writing is an ode to living loudly without remorse, and this happens to include a rude sense of humor.

It is this context which makes the closer even more jarring. Nothing in her studio work has hinted at a stripped-down acoustic guitar number like “This Is

Not a Lullaby,” so when Kendra Mars bares all in a melancholy closer about growing up in America’s tumultuous foster care system, it is a sucker punch to the feels. It tackles heavy subject

her debut EP, there seems to be no limit to what a Kendra Mars song can be.

Before signing off, Remember When I Was Your Dad? tucks in an alternate version of “Is This Thing On?” that would serve as a hidden track in the days of compact discs. This is not the only time Kendra Mars pays homage to 90’s culture, she makes clear references to TLC and Meredith Brooks at points on the EP — but in bringing to this “405 Edition” one of OKC’s best bar-for-bar lyricists currently rising in the ranks, she ensures that this is music for the present. Husl’s feature verse writes not just for himself but for the context of the song, picking up and handing off the baton with clever lyrical integration that is rare in any music genre.

matter with lines like, “I put music in a needle / And inject it in my veins / Thought I loved it for the pleasure / I need it for the pain,” and it gets darker from there. The album art hits in a tragic new way, too, since this low-fidelity photo of Kendra as a child is one of the few known to exist. Her identity is one built out of impermanence.

She has a Spotify playlist called “Songs I Wish I Wrote” that includes the likes of Hozier and Reba McEntire alongside Lupe Fiasco and Denzel Curry, and she credits her eclectic music taste to moving from household to household as a kid. Knowing that her artistic instincts can so proficiently adapt to different styles like this and hearing the proof in

If an EP is meant to be a hint of bigger music to come, Remember When I Was Your Dad? is a BatSignal of hip-hop. That artists are not already lined up around the block to get a Kendra Mars feature on their studio work suggests she is still undiscovered to most. If she continues this trajectory, though, not only is that bound to change, but she is also poised to release an incredible full-length album in the future. That is good news because even with a fast flow and stacked verses, four tracks are not nearly enough to contain everything Kendra Mars has to say.

Album art for Remember When I Was Your Dad by Kendra Mars | Photo provided.

These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 22

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub.

COUNTRY

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Sunset Patio Bar Karaoke Night, Sunset Patio. KARAOKE

Michael Rudolph Cummings, Core4 Brewing. FOLK

Nonpoint, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ROCK

Softcult, Beer City Music Hall. GRUNGE

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa.

COUNTRY

The Wednesday Band, The Deli. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, MAR. 23

Country Music Group Therapy/Biscuits & Groovy, The Deli. COUNTRY

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge Karaoke Night, Dust Bowl. KARAOKE

Jackson Emmer, UCO Jazz Lab. COUNTRY

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Lainey Wilson, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. COUNTRY

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Riley Green, The Criterion. COUNTRY

Shelly Phelps and The Storm, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

Short & Broke/The BlueRays/JL Jones, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Three Dog Night, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa. ROCK

FRIDAY, MAR. 24

Carson Jeffrey, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY Chew/Psychotic Reaction/Glitch, Opolis.

PUNK

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

Dylan Earl & Chris Acker/Beau Jennings & The Tigers, Blue Note. COUNTRY

Elle King, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. COUNTRY Emma Goldman Cachs/Stockhausen and the Amplified Riot/Manic Hotel, The Deli. ROCK

Eventides, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. INDIE

Forgotten Space: Grateful Dead Tribute, Tower Theatre. TRIBUTE

Grayson Graham, Stonecloud Brewing Co. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

Luzcid, 89th Street—OKC. ELECTRONIC

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ PB & Jazz, Ponyboy. JAZZ

Souled Out, UCO Jazz Lab. COVER Trey Lewis, The Vanguard, Tulsa. COUNTRY

SATURDAY, MAR. 25

Austin John Winkler, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar.

ROCK

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS Bee and the Hive/Don’t Tell Dena, Opolis. INDIE ROCK

Bruce Benson and Studio B, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. JAZZ

Casper McWade/Taylor Hunnicutt, Blue Note. COUNTRY

Catherine Fuller, Full Circle Bookstore. ACOUSTIC

Cody Hibbard with Chad Cooke Band, Tumbleweed Dancehall & Concert Venue, Stillwater. COUNTRY

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE Hairball, Diamond Ballroom. COVER Jack Barksdale, The Blue Door. FOLK

Joanne Shaw Taylor, Rose State College

Hudiburg Chevrolet Center. BLUES

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Joey Valence & Brae, Beer City Music Hall. RAP

Levi Parham, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Montu/Olympus Mons, The Deli. ROCK

Old Bulldog Band, UCO Jazz Lab. ROCK

Owen Pickard/ Mallory Eagle with Rachel Reichert & Kelcie Lee/Kelcie Pickard/Marty Summers/Taylor Atkinson/Michael Scalf, Rodeo Opry. COUNTRY

Speakeasy 90s-00s Nostalgia Dance Party, 51st Street Speakeasy. DANCE

The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night, Tower Theatre. DANCE

TobyMac, BOK Center, Tulsa. HIP-HOP

SUNDAY, MAR. 26

Badflower, Tower Theatre. ROCK

Colony House, The Jones Assembly. ALTERNATIVE

Country Fresh, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. COUNTRY

Go For Gold/Goalkeeper/Memorial Drive/Anchorway, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

Jared Tyler, The Depot. AMERICANA

Jazz Night!, Blue Note. JAZZ

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Tin Can Gramophone/Hosty, The Deli. FOLK

MONDAY, MAR. 27

The Aints/Bailey Gilbert & Friends, The Deli. AMERICANA

TUESDAY, MAR. 28

Brent Cobb, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES

Kevin Kaarl, Tower Theatre. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Sabrina Carpenter, The Tulsa Theater. POP

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 29

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub. COUNTRY

Blvck Hippie, The Vanguard, Tulsa. INDIE ROCK

Duel/BugNog/Costanzas, Blue Note. METAL

Edgar Cruz and Friends, Broke Brewing Company. ACOUSTIC

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Sunset Patio Bar Karaoke Night, Sunset Patio. KARAOKE

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa. COUNTRY

The Wednesday Band, The Deli. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, MAR. 30

Amy Grant, Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center. POP

Caloncho, Beer City Music Hall. LATIN

Country Music Group Therapy/Biscuits & Groovy, The Deli. COUNTRY

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge Karaoke Night, Dust Bowl. KARAOKE

The Heavy Heavy, Ponyboy. ROCK

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Wet Muscles/MTKA, Opolis. INDIE

FRIDAY, MAR. 31

Dan Deacon w/ Brothers Griin, Beer City Music

Hall. ELECTRONIC

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

Dr. Pants, Full Circle Bookstore. ROCK

D.R.I/Paralysis/Will Grim Brown/Titan Metal, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

Goth Prom: Wednesday Addams Dance

Party, Tower Theatre. DANCE

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Rat F!nk/Bedtime, Opolis. PUNK

Steph Simon, The Vanguard, Tulsa. HIP-HOP

Underoath, Diamond Ballroom. METAL

Zac Copeland, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. COUNTRY

SATURDAY, APR. 1

2 Minutes to Tulsa, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. METAL

Another Pink in the Floyd, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing. TRIBUTE

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS

Ben Brock, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. FOLK

Dameon Allensworth w/ Matt Moran, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

Hayes Carll, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Kenny Chesney, Paycom Center. COUNTRY

Lip Service, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. COVER

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

Lucas Ross/Haylie Bagwell/Levi

Walker, Rodeo Opry. COUNTRY

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

The Red Stripes, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ROCK

Smilin’ Vic, UCO Jazz Lab. BLUES Turnpike Troubadours, BOK Center. RED DIRT

SUNDAY, APR. 2

BJ Barham, The Blue Door. ACOUSTIC Houndmouth, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ROCK

Jazz Night!, Blue Note. JAZZ

Jessica Tate, Full Circle Bookstore. INSTRUMENTALIST

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Omerta/Sledge, 89th Street—OKC. INDIE

Tin Can Gramophone/Hosty, The Deli. FOLK Weyes Blood, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

MONDAY, APR. 3

The Aints/Bailey Gilbert & Friends, The Deli. AMERICANA

TUESDAY, APR. 4

Bruce Benson & Studio B, 51st Street Speakeasy. BLUES

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES waveform*, 89th Street—OKC. INDIE

Pop Evil an American rock band from Michigan formed in 2001 by vocalist Leigh Kakaty and guitarist Dave Grahs, currently on tour promoting their newest album Skeletons which is centered around the need for support during trying times. Catch their show with The Word Alive and Avoid, 7:30 p.m., Apr. 4, Beer City Music Hall, 1141 NW 2nd St., 405-8968716, beercitymusichall.com. TUES, APR 4 Photo provided

Shelly Phelps and The Storm, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

Short & Broke/The BlueRays/JL Jones, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Stevie Nicks, Paycom Center. ROCK

Turnpike Troubadours, BOK Center. RED DIRT

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. Visit okgazette.com to submit your lisitngs or email listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

Favorite sons

THE TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS PLAY TWO DATES AT THE BOK CENTER IN TULSA.

By D. Collin Hudson

The Turnpike Troubadours are rolling down the highway to play two Tulsa dates.

Bassist, vocalist and cofounder of the band R.C. Edwards has come a long way but still remembers his roots.

“I was just telling a buddy recently that The Red Barn in Durant is definitely one of the first places we got started playing live shows,” he said. “It’s a little college town and we kind of made it our home for a while. Then also with Tahlequah, Tulsa and Stillwater, that made up what were our first four home bases when we were really just getting started playing live shows.”

The band’s name came in part from the many trips they made

back and forth from Oklahoma City to Tulsa on the Turner Turnpike. Whether they’re Americana, bluegrass, outlaw country or a red dirt band is up for interpretation, but the band has continually amassed fans and played some of the most-renowned places in the region, including Austin City Limits several times.

“With OETA, that was some of the coolest music you could watch on TV on a regular basis. Back in the day, when DVDs were still around, we had a big stack of the Austin City Limits DVDs that we bought on sale at Walmart. Those were great, and they featured some of our favorite bands. We watched all of them over and over again. So it was a pretty big deal for us to get

to play there,” Edwards said.

The band is now in high demand these days in not only America but overseas as well. The group took a touring hiatus from May 2019 to November 2021 to allow singer Evan Felker to deal with some of his own personal and private issues. Felker and Edwards are the only two remaining original members and have been playing together for 17 years, while Kyle Nix, Ryan Engleman, Gabriel Pearson and Hank Early round out the band these days.

When the Turnpike Troubadours announced they were going to be taking stages once again, every bot, scalper and reseller on the web took note, leaving many of their most loyal fans

simply outbid on securing any tickets at all. Tickets are still hot commodities with the band, recently selling more than 74,000 tickets at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

”These upcoming shows at BOK are the same exact thing. We sold out the one night pretty quickly, so they added another one,” Edwards said.

Old Crow Medicine Show and Muscadine Bloodline will open for Turnpike Troubadours March 30 and April 1 at the BOK Center in Tulsa.

Visit turnpiketroubadours.com

THE HIGH CULTURE STRAIN REVIEWS

Strain name: Caribbean Cookies

Grown by: Golden Bloom Cannabis Co.

Acquired from: Waves Cannabis Co.

Date acquired:

Physical traits: and green

Bouquet: sweet and herbal

Review: With the Oklahoma medical cannabis industry nearing five years in business, there’s a certain level of nostalgia that sets in when you revisit previous finds. One of the first “celebrity” growers who came to the state with their genetics was the cultiva tor behind Do-Si-Dos, an extremely popular OGKB cross, so seeing those four initials brings back memories of the infancy of the pro gram where Okies were just beginning to learn about the strains that work for them. Guava Gelato is the other strain that goes into this potent cross and

the mixture of those two phenotypes and the resulting heavy hit behind the eyes is worth revisiting, especially in the hands of masterful growers like Golden Bloom.

Strain name: Brad’s Gas OG

Grown by: CBE Farms

Acquired from:

Date acquired:

Physical traits: light green with orange

Bouquet: and earthy anything like me, you might be a bit tired of feeling super “high” each time you smoke. After searching low and, and, well, high, for something on the milder side, Frontier Medicine is where I found the flower I’ve been seeking. Phar macist-owned, they take great care to stock products that cleave towards a true medical use. If you want to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without a heady

high that drags you to the floor or causes your anxiety to shoot through the roof, this uplifting 4:1 CBD strain

ELECTRIC

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF MARCH 23

Homework: Name one thing about your life you can’t change and one thing you can change. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Senior Transmission Engineer, Moore, OK. Designs transmission lines, substations, & switch stations according to Rural Utility Service (RUS) rules & procedures; Coordinates activities with consulting engineers concerning project design; Provides indepth reports on status of project milestones & adjusts schedules accordingly; Assists in closure of work orders; Coordinates preparation & delivery of project deliverables, design documents & bid packages; Prepares detailed specifications for purchase of construction material & equipment; Reviews project design for compliance with engineering principles, standards, contract requirements & related specifications; Evaluates & approves design changes, specifications, & drawings; Provides status & progress reports to management; Assists with preliminary line routing & site selection & coordinates with environmental & right of way personnel during the development of the line route or station site; Travels to & performs on site assessments of projects; Works with the protection engineer to obtain & maintain system data & computer programs necessary to provide all information required for relay, fuse, & recloser coordination of the transmission system; Prepares project management documents, project budgets & creates documentation for completion; and closes out projects according to RUS guidelines. Requires minimum of bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, or a related field and ten (10) years of prior progressive professional engineering experience in electric utility environment and certification as a Professional Engineer (P.E.). $135,524/year. Apply online @ https://wfec.applicantpro.com/jobs (Western Farmers Electric Company).

If we were to choose one person to illustrate the symbolic power of astrology, it might be Aries financier and investment banker J. P. Morgan (1837–1913). His astrological chart strongly suggested he would be one of the richest people of his era. The sun, Mercury, Pluto, and Venus were in Aries in his astrological house of finances. Those four heavenly bodies were trine to Jupiter and Mars in Leo in the house of work. Further, sun, Mercury, Pluto, and Venus formed a virtuoso “Finger of God” aspect with Saturn in Scorpio and the moon in Virgo. Anyway, Aries, the financial omens for you right now aren’t as favorable as they always were for J. P. Morgan—but they are pretty auspicious. Venus, Uranus, and the north node of the moon are in your house of finances, to be joined for a bit by the moon itself in the coming days. My advice: Trust your intuition about money. Seek inspiration about your finances.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“The only thing new in the world,” said former US President Harry Truman, “is the history you don’t know.” Luckily for all of us, researchers have been growing increasingly skilled in unearthing buried stories. Three examples: 1. Before the US Civil War, six Black Americans escaped slavery and became millionaires. (Check out the book Black Fortunes by Shomari Wills.) 2. Over 10,000 women secretly worked as code-breakers in World War II, shortening the war and saving many lives. 3. Four Black women mathematicians played a major role in NASA’s early efforts to launch people into space. Dear Taurus, I invite you to enjoy this kind of work in the coming weeks. It’s an excellent time to dig up the history you don’t know—about yourself, your family, and the important figures in your life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Since you’re at the height of the Party Hearty Season, I’ll offer two bits of advice about how to collect the greatest benefits. First, ex-basketball star Dennis Rodman says that mental preparation is the key to effective partying. He suggests we visualize the pleasurable events we want to experience. We should meditate on how much alcohol and drugs we will imbibe, how uninhibited we’ll allow ourselves to be, and how close we can get to vomiting from intoxication without actually vomiting. But wait! Here’s an alternative approach to partying, adapted from Sufi poet Rumi: “The golden hour has secrets to reveal. Be alert for merriment. Be greedy for glee. With your antic companions, explore the frontiers of conviviality. Go in quest of jubilation’s mysterious blessings. Be bold. Revere revelry.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

If you have been holding yourself back or keeping your expectations low, please STOP! According to my analysis, you have a mandate to unleash your full glory and your highest competence. I invite you to choose as your motto whichever of the following inspires you most: raise the bar, up your game, boost your standards, pump up the volume, vault to a higher octave, climb to the next rung on the ladder, make the quantum leap, and put your ass and assets on the line.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

According to an ad I saw for a luxury automobile, you should enjoy the following adventures in the course of your lifetime: Ride the rapids on the Snake River in Idaho, stand on the Great Wall of China, see an opera at La Scala in Milan, watch the sun rise over the ruins of Machu Picchu, go paragliding over Japan’s Asagiri highland plateau with Mount Fuji in view, and visit the pink flamingos, black bulls, and white horses in France’s Camargue Nature Reserve. The coming weeks would be a favorable time for you to seek experiences like those, Leo. If that’s not possible, do the next best things. Like what? Get your mind blown and your heart thrilled closer to home by a holy sanctuary, natural wonder, marvelous work of art—or all the above.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

It’s an excellent time to shed the dull, draining parts of your life story. I urge you to bid a crisp goodbye to your burdensome memories. If there are pesky ghosts

hanging around from the ancient past, buy them a one-way ticket to a place far away from you. It’s OK to feel poignant. OK to entertain any sadness and regret that well up within you. Allowing yourself to fully experience these feelings will help you be as bold and decisive as you need to be to graduate from the old days and old ways.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Your higher self has authorized you to become impatient with the evolution of togetherness. You have God’s permission to feel a modicum of dissatisfaction with your collaborative ventures—and wish they might be richer and more captivating than they are now. Here’s the cosmic plan: This creative irritation will motivate you to implement enhancements. You will take imaginative action to boost the energy and synergy of your alliances. Hungry for more engaging intimacy, you will do what’s required to foster greater closeness and mutual empathy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Scorpio poet Richard Jackson writes, “The world is a nest of absences. Every once in a while, someone comes along to fill the gaps.” I will add a crucial caveat to his statement: No one person can fill all the gaps. At best, a beloved ally may fill one or two. It’s just not possible for anyone to be a shining savior who fixes every single absence. If we delusionally believe there is such a hero, we will distort or miss the partial grace they can actually provide. So here’s my advice, Scorpio: Celebrate and reward a redeemer who has the power to fill one or two of your gaps.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Poet E. E. Cummings wrote, “May my mind stroll about hungry and fearless and thirsty and supple.” That’s what I hope and predict for you during the next three weeks. The astrological omens suggest you will be at the height of your powers of playful exploration. Several long-term rhythms are converging to make you extra flexible and resilient and creative as you seek the resources and influences that your soul delights in. Here’s your secret code phrase: higher love CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Let’s hypothesize that there are two ways to further your relaxation: either in healthy or not-so-healthy ways—by seeking experiences that promote your longterm well-being or by indulging in temporary fixes that sap your vitality. I will ask you to meditate on this question. Then I will encourage you to spend the next three weeks avoiding and shedding any relaxation strategies that diminish you as you focus on and celebrate the relaxation methods that uplift, inspire, and motivate you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Please don’t expect people to guess what you need. Don’t assume they have telepathic powers that enable them to tune in to your thoughts and feelings. Instead, be specific and straightforward as you precisely name your desires. For example, say or write to an intense ally, “I want to explore ticklish areas with you between 7 and 9 on Friday night.” Or approach a person with whom you need to forge a compromise and spell out the circumstances under which you will feel most open-minded and open-hearted. PS: Don’t you dare hide your truth or lie about what you consider meaningful.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Piscean writer Jack Kerouac feared he had meager power to capture the wonderful things that came his way. He compared his frustration with “finding a river of gold when I haven’t even got a cup to save a cupful. All I’ve got is a thimble.” Most of us have felt that way. That’s the bad news. The good news, Pisces, is that in the coming weeks, you will have extra skill at gathering in the goodness and blessings flowing in your vicinity. I suspect you will have the equivalent of three buckets to collect the liquid gold.

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 1-877873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE | AS HEARD AROUND THE DINNER TABLE

By John-Clark Levin | Puzzles

Edited by Will Shortz | 0312

John-Clark Levin, of Ojai, Calif., is a Ph.D. student at Cambridge, in England, studying how governments can better anticipate the impacts of artificial intelligence. In his spare time he does stage magic and stand-up comedy. With a partner, he once held the Guinness world record for the “longest continuous handshake” 15-plus hours. That’s even longer than it took him to make this puzzle. —W.S.

1 Tom Hanks movie featuring a giant piano

2 It might turn out to be a drone

3 Barfly

4 Blue diamond in “Titanic,” e.g.

5 Lab-culture medium

6 Star close to Venus?

7 Take responsibility

8 Bandleader Shaw

9 Share the ____ (sign)

10 Fort Collins sch.

11 “____ Loss” (2022 No. 1 album by Drake and 21 Savage)

12 Cyber Monday merchant

13 Mall security guard, pejoratively 14 Exams with a 4001,600 range

15 Soup-serving dish

16 Interfacers with publishers

Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute).

SUDOKU DIABOLIC | N° 1899342939

NEW YORK TIMES

dim sum

Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle No. 0226 which appeared in the March 8th issue.

Grid n°1899342939 diabolic

VOL. XV NO. 06