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A 60-year-old architectural landmark becomes a hub for celebrating the city’s midcentury designs. BY LYNNE ROSTOCHIL AND GEORGE LANG. P.23

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Mission statement Oklahoma Gazette’s mission is to stimulate, examine and inform the public on local quality of life issues and social needs, to recognize community accomplishments, and to provide a forum for inspiration, participation and interaction across all media.

Illustration Chris Street 23 As Okie Mod Squad readies Oklahoma Modernism Weekend, its inaugural celebration of the city’s plentiful midcentury architecture, the group’s cofounder Lynne Rostochil celebrates the history and 60th anniversary of First Christian Church. Her grandfather R. Duane Conner was its architect. Oklahoma Modernism Weekend runs May 20-22 at First Christian Church, 301 NW 36th St. By Lynne Rostochil and George Lang

Health a little-known diagnosis

23 Cover Church of Tomorrow

Election ballot access changes

26 Cover Oklahoma Modernism Weekend

State arts funding threats

Legislature #DoSomethingOK

State SPJ awards

Chicken-Fried News

Commentary arts funding

Letters

Arts & Culture

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27 Performing Arts Top Girls 28 Active escape room boom

29 Culture Garden Festival in the Park 30 Film Producer Mike Leahy 31

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32 Calendar

Review Sherri’s Diner

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36 Event Rocklahoma 38 Event The Dictators NYC 39 Event Ellis Paul 40 Live Music

20 Gazedibles veggies

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35 Event Bob Dylan tribute

41 Puzzles Sudoku | Crossword 42 Astrology

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NEWS

h e a lt h

Wendy Elliott and her son, Adam, 9, in their south Oklahoma City home. Adam was recently diagnosed with PANDAS, an autoimmune disease. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Not autism

Adam Elliott’s tics, paranoia and rages couldn’t be explained by any syndrome until he was diagnosed with an autoimmune neuropsychiatric condition tied to a strep infection. By Laura Eastes

One night, Adam Elliott stood in his parents’ bedroom and screamed. He flung everything within his reach across the room. His mother, Wendy Elliott, tried to clam down her second-grader, just like hundreds of times over the past year when his rage flew out of control. Sometimes, he flipped his desk at school or banged his head. One time, he scratched a classmate’s face with a pencil. The piercing, sob-laden screams ended as Adam passed out on the bedroom floor. The next morning, Wendy mentioned the incident, but the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy remembered nothing from the night before. In addition to the outbursts, at times, Adam would walk in precise circles. He rubbed and snapped his fingers, always in the same ways. His circular pacing was part of his daily regimen, as were paranoid, fearful statements about break-ins or dangerous weather brewing. He also would ask questions repeatedly, even after he heard an answer. At school, Adam sat in his chair and stared down at his desk. He wouldn’t look his teachers in the eye and didn’t answer questions. He wasn’t friendly to his classmates. He covered his ears when the class became noisy. A physician diagnosed Adam with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, his symptoms went beyond ADHD to include tics, paranoia, violent rages and dilated pupils. For years, medical professionals told the Elliotts that the boy had characteristics of autism, but no formal diagnosis was made. 4

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Wendy suspected her son might have autism when Adam was a toddler. Despite no diagnosis, he visited speech and occupational therapists and eye doctors in addition to his pediatrician. However, the therapies and medications never seemed to work. “Everyone said they had no clue why he wasn’t getting better,” Wendy said. “We went from a kid that sort of had problems to progressively getting worse. There was no answer.” As Adam’s rages became daily occurrences, so grew the frustration and anger of his parents, who believed their next option was to check their 8-year-old son into a psychiatric hospital. In December 2014, the Elliotts moved to southwest Oklahoma City from Kansas City, Kansas. As Adam began visits with an entirely new medical team, Wendy was optimistic her son would finally receive an autism diagnosis.After a few months in OKC, Wendy and Adam arrived at OU Children’s Physicians offices for an appointment with a child psychiatrist. Wendy recounted her son’s medical history, including his reoccurring strep infections, to specialist Rebecca Daily. Daily’s response was to immediately stop all ADHD medicines, as they acted as “fuel on the fire” for patients who might have PANDAS, an abbreviation for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections. For an official diagnosis, Adam needed further tests, specifically the Cunningham

Panel. If Adam did have PANDAS, he likely would be treated with antibiotics, slowly ending the rages, tics and obsessive behavior. “I left with the biggest sense of relief I’ve ever had in my entire life,” said Wendy, who had never heard of the disorder. “I knew what was wrong with my child, and I knew the answer to the question I’d been asking.”

OKC connection

An estimated 1 in 200 children is affected by PANDAS, according to research by the PANDAS Network, a California-based nonprofit founded by parents of children impacted by the autoimmune disorder and PANS, pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric disorder, a broader term for the illness. Most people, including medical professionals, are unaware of the condition that links infections to certain psychiatric disorders. Susan Swedo, a National Institute of Mental Health physician, discovered the connection. She studied a group of children whose symptoms followed a strep infection. In 1998, she concluded some patients have a disordered autoimmune response to strep infections. While the world of medicine is constantly evolving, it took time for Swedo’s research to reach the medical community. In 2012, the National Institute of Mental Health, led by Swedo, published a paper establishing criteria of the condition, which was called PANS. That same year, Stanford University opened a clinic to treat and study PANS/PANDAS in children. Two years later, the Journal of Child Adolescent Psychopharmacology published recommendations for evaluating patients who have symptoms of the disorder. Oklahoma City holds a unique connection to the evolving understanding of PANDAS/ PANS. Madeleine Cunningham, a researcher at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, developed a panel of tests to assist physicians in diagnosing neuropsychiatric disorders. In 2013, Cunningham co-founded

Oklahoma City’s Moleculera Labs with Craig Shimasaki with support from i2E and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science & Technology. The two believed Cunningham’s tests, named the Cunningham Panel, ought to be available to physicians around the world. Through the panel, physicians view a patient’s autoimmune and antineuronal status, which helps decide a proper diagnosis and therapy. If PANDAS/PANS is diagnosed, a physician can treat the cause — the infection and the underlying immune system dysfunction, instead of the behavioral symptoms — to help restore an improved quality of life. While the test aids children with PANDAS and PANS, it is not a diagnostic. “It is actually a test to determine if the neuropsychiatric symptoms are caused by an autoimmune attack on the brain,” Shimasaki said. “These neuropsychiatric symptoms could possibly be caused by autoimmune attack on the brain. The treatments are totally different from treating with neuropsychiatric drugs.” The average patient who undergoes the Cunningham Panel has visited five physicians and their parents have invested thousands of dollars in treatment, which either had no or little impact. Some patients were previously diagnosed with autism, ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome or obsessive-compulsive disorder, Shimasaki said. Physicians have ordered the test more than 3,000 times since Moleculera’s launch in early 2013. Many, driven by the lack of patient progress, take the try-and-see approach to the panel. If a patient tests positive, treating the immune system often prompts the patient to get well, Shimasaki said.

Adam’s story

Antibiotics were prescribed to Adam for treatment of his PANDAS condition. Within the first month on medication, his rages and paranoia began to subside, while his interest to go outside to play heightened. Adam’s eyes were no longer dilated. “It was amazing to me,” Wendy said. “We have this facility, Moleculera, here. I am not a religious person, but had we not come here, he probably would have been diagnosed with autism. He would have continued to take medication that didn’t work.” With the proper treatment, Adam and others with PANDAS can live normal lives. This month, Adam completes the third grade at Mustang Valley Elementary School, where he is a member of the robotics team. Outside of school, Adam is learning the violin, takes tennis lessons and participates in a youth archery league. “[PANDAS] makes kids stormy inside,” Adam said as he pointed at his brain. “You can feel the storm. ... Kids who have PANDAS get really mad easily. Sometimes, for no reason, they start to get horrible rage.” Like many parents, Wendy wants to raise awareness and wants the diagnosis accepted by mainstream medicine. Wendy recommends that parents who suspect their child has PANDAS/PANS contact Moleculera, which can recommend physicians across the United States. “There are so many physicians who don’t know about it,” Wendy said.

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NEWS of presidential candidate Donald Trump becoming the presumptive GOP nominee, the Libertarian Party has become a popular Google search subject and Oklahoma voters might be inclined to vote for a Libertarian for president, Knight remarked.

Petition reform

election

Danielle Ganaway signs the 1-Cent Sales Tax petition. A grassroots group is proposing changing the time period allowed to circulate state petitions. | Photo Gazette / File

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Rising opportunity

Democracy reform efforts make way for new political parties and Oklahomans to influence state laws. By Laura Eastes

To put Oklahoma’s vote test for party retention into perspective, Edmond resident E. Zachary Knight often describes a hurdles race. “Other people have 2- to 3-foot hurdles to jump, but you get a 10-foot-tall hurdle,” said Knight, a member of the Libertarian Party who is active in Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform (OBAR). “You have to jump that to stay in the race. That’s what it’s like.” The state’s political system, traditionally represented by Democrats and Republicans alone, has been difficult for independent parties to navigate. For decades, independent groups like the Constitution, Green and Libertarian parties have faced significant barriers in achieving ballot access and remaining on the ballot once there. However, during the last two legislative sessions, Oklahoma lawmakers passed measures reforming the state’s stringent ballot access laws. This month, Gov. Mary Fallin approved Senate Bill 896, which significantly reduces the requirement for political parties to remain on the ballot. According to current law, a political party must receive at least 10 percent of a statewide general election vote in order to remain on the following election ballot. With Fallin’s signature on SB 896, that percentage drops to 2.5 percent as of Nov. 1, putting Oklahoma’s vote test law in line with those of neighboring states. In Arkansas, parties need 3 percent of the popular vote of the highest-ranking officer on the ballot in order to win ballot retention in a following election. Missouri law calls for 2 percent of the popular vote for any statewide office, and Kansas holds a 1 percent requirement. OBAR, a coalition of representatives

from Green and Libertarian parties, advocated for changing the state’s vote test. The reform measure picked up speed after a 2015 law passed and lowered the required number of signatures needed to form a new political party. New parties must collect registered voter signatures equal to 3 percent of the total number of votes cast in the state’s last gubernatorial or presidential election, down from 5 percent. “Senate Bill 896 would have never been introduced without House Bill 2181 passing last year,” said Knight, who has been active in OBAR since 2007. Knight is a Libertarian candidate for Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District. “It opened up the Legislature to actually improve things,” Knight said. “Hopefully we can see more reforms on ballot access get introduced and passed.” OBAR continues to advocate for dropping the vote test requirement to 1 percent. Additionally, it believes a political party should be required to collect only 5,000 registered voter signatures to form a political party, which was Oklahoma’s requirement prior to 1974. Under the new law, Oklahoma Libertarian Party met the 3 percent signature requirement to become a recognized political party in March. The June primary election and the November general election mark the first time since 2000 that Libertarian candidates will be on the Oklahoma ballot. Oklahoma Libertarian Party members are optimistic the party’s presidential candidate can retain 2.5 percent of the presidential vote, Knight said. Libertarian presidential candidates are Austin Petersen and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. Following news

Oklahomans For Health is working to improve the democratic process by proposing reforms to the state’s initiative and referendum petition process. On Saturday, the grassroots group’s volunteers launch a petition and signature drive to get a ballot question on medical marijuana legalization before voters in the November election. Additionally, registered voters can sign a second petition to change what some believe are overly restrictive initiative petition guidelines. “When you’ve been involved in the process, you identify the flaws very quickly,” said Frank Grove, a founding board member of Oklahomans For Health. “For instance, every other state either has a smaller amount of signatures to collect or a much longer time frame to collect signatures.” In 2014, Oklahomans For Health collected more than 75,000 valid signatures in a 90-day period for bringing a ballot question to amend the state’s constitution to allow medical marijuana. The group collected as many as 30,000 additional voter signatures, but those didn’t qualify because the wrong size paper was used for collections and some signatures didn’t meet state law guidelines. The group fell short of the 155,000-signature requirement. Grove and others began to look at other state movement efforts to bring medical marijuana proposals before voters. For example, in the past year, voters in North Dakota signed a petition for medical marijuana, but the number of signatures needed was 13,453 and circulators floated petitions over a nine-month period. Similarly, state laws in Alaska and Montana call for one year to circulate initiative petitions. Under State Question 787, Oklahomans For Health calls for changing Oklahoma’s current petition process to allow one year to obtain signatures on initiatives. Circulators may collect signatures on letter paper as well as legal paper, which is currently the only accepted size under state law. The initiative petition requires threequarters majority approval from both houses to repeal or amend measures passed by Oklahoma voters. Proposed as a statutory change, the movement needs exactly 65,987 valid signatures in 90 days to put it on the ballot for a public vote in November. Learn more about Oklahomans For Health and find signature gathering locations at oklahomansforhealth.com. The success of signature gathering efforts is based on money, explained Grove, who asserts that with a longer time frame to collect signatures and changing paper requirements, more grassroots groups and people would become involved in influencing Oklahoma’s laws.

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Arts organizations gather May 4 during Oklahoma Arts Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Many shared concerns about a proposal to consolidate the Oklahoma Arts Council into another state department. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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Oklahoma’s art spending is threatened in the final weeks of the legislative session. By Laura Eastes

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Jessie Showalter took a deep breath before her clear soprano voice rang out with the first line of “America, the Beautiful.” In the state Capitol, conversational chatter hushed as Showalter sang the patriotic song. The Guthrie High School senior’s performance served two goals: first, to show and celebrate talented Oklahoma artists, and second, to highlight the fact that further cuts to arts funding would negatively impact artists like Showalter. “I’ve been able to accomplish so much,” Showalter, a two-time member of Oklahoma’s All-State choir program, told Oklahoma Gazette. “The arts have changed my life.” Three years ago, Showalter and her family moved to Guthrie after a once-flourishing Cashion Public Schools arts program dwindled to nothing. When Showalter was in the seventh grade, financial constraints motivated the school board to eliminate the band program. Other fine arts programs followed, said her father Donald Showalter. He enrolled his daughter in Guthrie Public Schools for the 2013-14 school year. This spring, the Showalters heard that districts across the state, including Guthrie, were contemplating cuts to fine arts programs. School leaders expect fewer education-earmarked dollars in the wake of Oklahoma’s $1.3 billion budget deficit, which translates to tough decisions on extracurricular programs for the coming school year. With three weeks left in the legislative session, Oklahomans like the Showalters advocated to protect funding to education and the Oklahoma Arts Council (OAC), a state agency that benefits the Guthrie community and countless others through grants to arts groups. “Arts has so much to offer, and many

people don’t realize it,” said Jessie Showalter, who will attend Oklahoma State University on a choir scholarship and plans to major in music education.

At-risk funding

In 2014, faced with a $170 million budget deficit, a state lawmaker proposed cutting OAC funding by 25 percent each year until 2018, at which time legislative funding would cease. Arts advocates sounded the alarm on the legislation, and the bill failed to earn a committee hearing. This year, facing an even larger deficit, lawmakers proposed a comparable approach: Consolidate the agency within the state’s Department of Tourism. The alarm was again sounded and arts patrons gathered May 4 at the Capitol for the annual Oklahoma Arts Day. Rep. Scott Martin, R-Norman, confirmed consolidation suspensions as he addressed guests during the event’s morning welcome. He said OAC’s funding and independence are in danger. “There will be bills heard in committee in the coming weeks, if not next week, that would consolidate the arts council,” Martin said. “We’ve got to fight.” When confronting fiscal challenges, state legislators often propose cuts to arts, arguing arts groups should rely on private rather than public dollars. Proponents of state arts funding say programing enriches culture and provides economic returns. The advocacy message for Oklahoma Arts Day altered after organizers heard news of consolidation talks, said Julia Kirt, executive director of Oklahomans for the Arts. Kirt and others urged lawmakers to squash consolidation efforts. “If the arts council became a division

under another agency, we would lose the ability to advocate in the same way,” Kirt said. “Right now, the arts council is a line item in the state budget. There are public hearings and transparent opportunities for citizens to speak up. Our arts council is very responsive to our needs. I am afraid as a division, we wouldn’t be able to have the same opportunities and we wouldn’t have a voice.” OAC influences the quality of life, education and economic vitality of Oklahomans by offering arts education in schools and arts programing in communities. In 2016, lawmakers appropriated $3.405 million to the arts agency, which has seen funding drop the last two years. Currently, 15.5 percent of the agency’s revenue comes from federal sources, which Amber Sharples, OAC executive director, said would be jeopardized if the organization is consolidated. “Consolidation to another agency would risk federal and regional funding up to $1 million,” Sharples said. “It would impact our ability to serve the state.” Best known for its community arts programs, Oklahoma Arts Council provides around 500 grants annually to fine arts organizations and schools across the state. Fine arts organizations in rural communities also benefit from the grants. A loss in state funding could cause them to reduce the number of education programs, performances and exhibits or cease operations altogether, Sharples said. In 2015, the council awarded just under $200,000 in grants to various Normanbased arts organizations, including the Norman Arts Council. Erinn Gavaghan, Norman Arts Council executive director, witnesses the state agency’s influence daily. At local elementary schools, arts education is offered thanks to a program provided by Norman Firehouse Art Center and funded through the state’s art agency. A collaborative program from OAC and Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs brought three arts classes to the city’s veterans center. In October, downtown Norman, along with OKC’s Plaza and Paseo districts, earned certified cultural district designations from the council. “That’s a program that could go away under consolidation,” Gavaghan said. “We are just getting started with it. It is so important not only to the tourism industry but the people who live in Norman. We don’t want to see that go away.”

Oklahoma Arts Council impact • provided 495 grants to 264 groups and schools in 89 communities during fiscal year 2015-16

• granted $3.3 million to generate $47.4 million in arts programming

• served 148,216 Oklahomans through after-school programs, summer arts camps, adult art programs, senior adult programs and programs for individuals with special needs

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l e g i s l at u r e

news

Do something

• “A large majority of Democrats want to cancel (47 percent) or delay (22 percent) the cut, and few want to keep it (16 percent). This includes most conservative Democrats (34 percent cancel/25 delay/26 keep).” • “The number of Republicans (28 percent cancel/29 percent delay) and Independents (35 percent cancel/20 percent delay) who favor a delay in the cut outpaces those who want to keep it this year (only 30 percent of GOP and 12 percent of Independents).”

Oklahoma Policy Institute spurs the community and lawmakers to action with its unique education campaign. By Brett Dickerson

Oklahoma Policy Institute recently launched a public education campaign using humorous videos and polling data collected from state voters to educate and urge residents to contact lawmakers about their concerns regarding Oklahoma’s budget crisis. “We are addressing the message both to legislators — here are the things that you can do — but also to citizens to do something to put some pressure on their legislators,” said David Blatt, Oklahoma Policy Institute (OK Policy) executive director. OK Policy is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit that studies state policy issues. The Tulsa-based think tank considers recent income tax cuts to be a key component of the state’s recent budget failure. “The main message is that we need to do something to address this budget crisis and there are things that we can do,” Blatt said. Its Do Something OK campaign at dosomethingok.org features a video series

s tat e

Report findings

produced by filmmaker David Bizarro, a former Oklahoman now living in New York. The first short, available now on the site, uses simple cardboard puppets to characterize the current Legislature as tone-deaf to the impact of the state’s budget crisis. Additional shorts will post to the site throughout the campaign. Blatt said the website represents “the advocacy arm of what we do,” presenting research, community education and outreach. OK Policy launched the project in response to over $1.3 billion in state budget shortfalls that have led to dramatic funding cuts for public education, health care, corrections and other state services. The current Republican-dominated Legislature is considering even deeper cuts for next year. In January, the Oklahoma Tax Commission projected revenue reductions would be $57 million this year, $147 million in fiscal year 2017 and $199 million in 2018. A controversial tax cut passed in 2014 also went into effect in January. It heavily

Poll results

David Blatt of Oklahoma Policy Institute Photo provided

benefited Oklahoma taxpayers in the uppermost tax brackets with minimal benefit to those in lower brackets, Blatt said. OK Policy commissioned a recent survey of 500 registered Oklahoma voters by research firm Global Strategy Group. The results showed a majority of Republican and Democrat voters surveyed favor reversing the tax cut. Respondents also heavily favored restoring the previous 6.65 percent top income tax rate for Oklahoma’s wealthiest to relieve at least some of the problems caused by state budget failures.

The poll results challenge the latest legislative proposals to cut services and tax credits that largely benefit lower income Oklahoma residents. A part of the poll report said: • “Kicking people off SoonerCare is opposed by most Democrats (81 percent), Independents (89 percent) and Republicans (69 percent). Even a large majority of selfdescribed very conservatives (67 percent) are against the idea.” • “There is also bipartisan opposition to eliminating the tax credits that help many Oklahoma families, with nearly as many Republicans (54 percent) against the idea as Democrats (59 percent). Independents are even less in favor of the proposal (75 percent oppose).” SoonerCare provides health care benefits for 100,000 non-disabled, low-income adults in Oklahoma.

Award winner

Oklahoma Gazette earns honors at the recent Society of Professional Journalists awards gala. By Gazette staff

Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) recently named Oklahoma Gazette one of the state’s best newspapers. During SPJ’s annual awards event April 30 in Midwest City, Gazette, a locally owned newsweekly, earned second place in the Best Newspaper category. Tulsa World newsdaily earned the top honor, and metro newsdaily The Oklahoman placed third. SPJ is a broad-based, national journalism organization that supports and endorses high journalistic standards and open and ethical reporting. “I believe our recognition as one of the top newspapers in the state stems from our local ownership and independence, which sustains our continuing commitment to quality journalism,” said Oklahoma Gazette publisher Bill Bleakley. Gazette staff also earned six more SPJ awards in four categories for papers with 25,000 circulation or greater. Food and lifestyle reporter Greg Elwell swept leisure writing awards, winning first-, second- and third-place honors. His April 29, 2015 cover story “Up till dawn: This is it! Oklahoma Gazette’s guide 10

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to insomniac eating” earned a first-place award in the Leisure Writing category. Another cover story, “The Makers: Creation is an act of defiance, and these five business start-up owners show us why,” published Nov. 11, earned a second-place honor for Elwell and staff news reporter and coauthor Laura Eastes. Elwell’s third Leisure Writing win was his May 6, 2015 food review “Power eating: We’re all winners when we visit B&B Wok, Noodle and Moore. It’s in — you guessed it — Moore.” Eastes also earned third-place recognition in the General News Reporting category for her Sept. 23 coverage of Oklahoma City’s proposed panhandling ordinance, “No simple fix: Proposed changes to city panhandler ordinance raises concerns as a public input opportunity set for Tuesday.” First-place General News Reporting honors went to Tulsa World reporter Corey Jones for his in-depth look at Oklahoma’s earthquakes. Staff photographer Garett Fisbeck, art director Chris Street and editor-in-chief Jennifer Chancellor shared a second-place Page One Layout and Design win for their

work on the July 15, 2015 cover presentation of “It’s a Pawley: A local artist creates a style — and a mammoth mural — so distinctive, soon everyone will know his name,” featuring Tall Hill Creative coowner and operator Jason Pawley and his “Cultivation” mural located inside the underpass at S. EK Gaylord Boulevard and W. Reno Avenue. The related story inside was written by Oklahoma City artist and Gazette freelance contributor Jack Fowler. James Royal of Tulsa World earned first place in the Page One Layout and Design category with his page-one design marking the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. Chancellor also earned a first-place

award for her commentary “Public school teacher pay reality check,” which dissected myths about teacher pay and work schedules and quickly went viral among Gazette readers after its Dec. 30, 2015 publication. The commentary remains the mostread news-related story on okgazette.com. Of the piece, judges commented, “This editorial tackles a controversial subject that has attracted letters to the newspaper and other comments based on misinformation. Using national and local figures, the well-written, interesting editorial sets the record straight.”

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friedNEWS

Top students

Harding Charter Preparatory High School students are smarty smarts. No, they don’t just carry around and nibble on Smarties candy rolls; they hit the books and learn. About two-thirds of the youths pass college-level tests before they graduate. At Chicken-Fried News, we call that impressive. Recently, The Washington Post highlighted the northwest Oklahoma City charter school in its roundup of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools.” Harding earned the No. 1 ranking in the Oklahoma category. Researchers examined the number of students passing college-level exams, graduation rates and families qualifying for lunch subsidies in the analysis. Tulsa’s Booker T. Washington High School ranked No. 2, followed by Tulsa’s Edison Preparatory School. Edmond North High School ranked No. 4 and Norman North High School finished out the top five. Kudos to the administration, staff, teachers, students and parents at Harding. This is no small feat.

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Undercover exposure

Oklahoma City Police Department’s Vice Unit arrested five people — including Yu kon Pol ic e Department dispatcher Ali Razavi — last week during a prostitution sting at an Oklahoma City hotel. Responding to what MSgt. Gary Knight said were “complaints from the public,” the vice unit conducted the undercover operation the night of May 2 near the Biltmore Hotel on S. Meridian Avenue near Interstate 40, News9.com reported. Officers had a good idea what they’d uncover while there, but we cynical old newshounds at Chicken-Fried News doubt anyone expected to catch an employee of another police department. Besides, we’ve watched enough Investigation Discovery channel reruns to know a john should never open price negotiations when soliciting illegal activity. C’mon, dude; what if you’re propositioning an undercover cop? We’re guessing Razavi, 34, isn’t a reality TV fan, as the dispatcher allegedly offered undercover officers $80 “for sexual contact,” KFOR.com reported. Razavi’s attorney, who was not identified by name in the article, sent the news station a comment.

“Although I have just been retained and therefore am unable to fully comment on the evidence, it appears that this situation was a misunderstanding,” the attorney’s statement said. “It should also be noted that Mr. Razavi is innocent until proven guilty, and we look forward to clearing his name at the appropriate time.” KFOR.com also reported Razavi worked as a dispatcher for Bethany police before resigning and taking the Yukon gig. Yukon Police Department released a media statement saying it has since “separated employment with Mr. Razavi.”

Dangerous detonation

Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) is facing a lawsuit and uneasy residents seeking answers in the fallout over a natural gas explosion at 12505 Whispering Hollow Drive, near NW 122nd Street and N. Rockwell Avenue, at 3:15 a.m. Jan. 2. The plaintiff, Jonathan Duggan, was asleep in his home when it exploded. He suffered serious burns on his legs. Fifty homes were affected by the blast, and 24 people were forced to evacuate the

area, NewsOK.com reported Jan. 2. “It felt like an earthquake. The house shook. Plates broke. Everything just went really bad. Power flickered on and off, and I just didn’t know what all was happening until I looked outside and saw that there was a fire,” Austin Melton, who lived across the street from Duggan, told NewsOK.com. Duggan is seeking damages in excess of $225,000 from the utility provider. Duggan believes ONG is guilty of negligence, failing to remedy the problem, creating a hazard and failing to inform residents of the danger. “He’s asleep, and when he wakes up, there are no walls anymore and he’s in boxers and a T-shirt, running around barefoot,” Luke Abel, Duggan’s attorney, told NewsOK.com. “As anyone can imagine, that’s a traumatic experience to go through.” A 3 1/2-inch crack in a polyethylene pipe and a bad weld were found to be the cause of the explosion. NewsOK.com reported that ONG blamed “poor workmanship” for the blast. Some neighborhood residents have “been pressured to sign what they considered unfair settlements” and 30 others have settled with ONG, according to NewsOK.com, while additional residents have had no contact with the company. ONG is required to maintain leak surveys in case the Oklahoma Corporation Commission needs to review them but is

not required to file them. ONG declined to make its records available to the public.

Fine times

Okay, people. Let’s pass the hat. Them crazy Thunder players done got themselves in another pickle. Fashion icon Russell Westbrook and restaurant impresario Kevin Durant (also professional basketball players, apparently) collected a total of $40,000 in fines for their conduct during Game 4 of their April 23 playoff series game against the Dallas Mavericks. Durant was fined $15,000 for a flagrant foul 2 on Justin “Boring Name” Anderson and was booted from the game. Durant struck Anderson in the face while attempting to block a shot, SI.com reported. A flagrant foul 2, according to the NBA, is “unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent.” “I wasn’t trying to hurt him,” Durant told ESPN after the game. “It was a flagrant, even though I wasn’t trying to intentionally foul him. The refs had to make a decision, and they made the right one. It was just bad timing. … What happened tonight was unfortunate.” The NBA fined Westbrook $25,000 for telling a chatty Mavericks fan, “I’m not

even talking to you, bro. Just sit there with your wife and shut the fuck up.” Unlike Durant, Westbrook’s actions were no accident. Maybe that’s why his potty mouth earned a bigger fine than Durant’s swipe at Anderson’s head. Durant also texted a postgame apology to the player, reported The Dallas Morning News, and shook Anderson’s hand as the pair visited their high school basketball coach after the game.

Bad/good news

There’s a meme that pops up on social media every so often that reads something to the effect of “Zero days since a national embarrassment in the state of Oklahoma.” This image once again reared its regrettable head recently after Oklahoma’s highest criminal appellate court upheld the dismissal of an oral sodomy rape case, stating the state’s forced oral sodomy law, as it’s written, doesn’t include the victim’s intoxication or unconsciousness “in the five very specific requirements for the commission of the crime of forcible sodomy,” the court wrote.

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What?! So, it’s not rape if the victim can’t say no? Not exactly, but the headline was too scandalous not to spread. Oklahoma law does consider it rape if the victim is too intoxicated to resist vaginal or anal penetration. What the appellate court pointed out is that the forcible sodomy law, however, did not include the requirement. In other words, to keep future cases from being dismissed (and the dismissal upheld) like this one, the law needed to be changed. The good news is as the confusion and anger about the decision went viral, Oklahoma lawmakers quickly stepped in to close the gap and correct the law’s oversight. Oklahoma legislators, led by state Rep. Scott Biggs, R-Chickasha, crafted a fix that is swiftly making its way through committee approval. It then must clear both the House and the Senate and be signed by Gov. Mary Fallin before the forcible sodomy law is officially updated. This year’s legislative session ends May 27. A fix might not keep that “zero days” meme from popping up time and again about all the other silly crap Oklahoma does, but at least it might come down for a day.

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NEWS

Opinions expressed on the commentary page, in letters to the editor and elsewhere in this newspaper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

Arts funding isn’t optional

letters

Last week, more than 1,000 advocates converged on the State Capitol for Oklahoma Arts Day. Day. As our state leaders negotiate As our state the priorities leaders negotiate of our shared the priorities budget,ofthis our shared record budget, numberthis of attendees record number declared of attendees the value of declared arts and the culture value to arts our state. of and culture to our state. To truly build a state where all participate in and benefit from the arts, we need more morevoices voicesto tojoin joinours. ours. Specifically, we ask for stronger arts education and improved funding for the Oklahoma Arts Council as an independentstate stateagency. agency.Because we know the arts and culture industry Because positively we know impacts the arts education, and culture community industry and posithe tively economy impacts acrosseducation, the state, we community champion the andstate theagency economy for across arts and the culture, state, we thechampion 50-year-old theOklahoma state agency Arts forCouncil. arts and culture, As wethe prepared 50-year-old for Arts Oklahoma Day, we learned Arts Council. that some legAs we prepared for Arts Day, wethe learned that some islative leaders are again proposing consolidation oflegthe islative Oklahoma leaders Artsare Council again proposing into another theagency. consolidation of the Oklahoma The Oklahoma Arts Council Arts Council into another supports agency. the arts and culture industry The Oklahoma statewide with Artsseed Council funding, supports irreplaceable the arts leaderand culture ship development industry statewide and model with education seed funding, programs. irreplaceable Public leadership funding fordevelopment the arts generates and model strongeducation return on programs. investment with Public a $1 tofunding $14 public for to the private arts generates match and strong an $8return returnon in investment with a $1$1togranted. $14 public to private match an tax revenue on each Investing in the arts and should $8 return in tax revenuerecovery. on each $1 granted. be part of our economic Investing Truly statewide, in thelast arts year, should Oklahoma be part Arts ofCouncil our economic funded programs in 89 communities in 50 counties through schools, recovery. local governments andlast nonprofit Additionally, Truly statewide, year,organizations. Oklahoma Arts Council

Arts funding Some legislative leaders are again proposing the consolidation of the Oklahoma Arts Council into another agency.

it supports funded programs and enriches in 89 communities school and student in 50 counties through learning. Last year, schools, it helped local142,593 governments youth and nonprofit participate inorganizations. community-based arts activities. Additionally, Consolidation it supports of the Oklahoma and enriches Arts school and Council does student not make learning. sense for Last the year, wellit helped being of142,593 our communities youth participate and youngin people. community-based Clear data arts show activities. arts funding will be reduced if the Oklahoma Arts Council is Consolidation of the Oklahoma Arts Council does not consolidated. Other make states sense that forhave the wellconbeing of our solidated their communities art agencyand have lost young people. 20-60 percent Clear of data funding show arts within funding four will years. be reduced if theagencies Consolidated Oklahoma don’t Arts justCouncil lose staff; is consolidated. they lose programs and funding as well. Most recently, Other states the consolidated that have consolidated Kansas their arts art agency agency lost its have federal lostfunding 20-60 and percent almost of funding within all its staff and programs. four years. Oklahoma Consolidated benefits agencies by don’t morejust thanlose $1 staff; they million in federal lose programs and regional andfunding fundingand as well. services. Consolidation would not save MostThe recently, the consolidated money. Oklahoma Arts CouncilKansas is very arts agency efficiently administered lost its federal with afunding very low ratio and almost of overhead, all itsusing staffonly and8programs. percent of its budget on administration. Oklahoma benefits Plus the by more agencythan makes $1 million up less than in federal 0.05 percent and regional of the state’s funding budget. and Cuts or consolidation of such a small agency services. willConsolidation not close the budget wouldgap. not save money.

Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to jchancellor@okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette.com. Include a city of residence and contact number for verification.

Narcotic surrealities

I congratulate I congratulate the the Gazette’s Gazette’spot potissue issue on providing so many views supporting every aspect of promoting weed, reefer, grass, skunk, boom, bammy, bobo, ding, jay, roach and my favorite — DOPE. I am so glad my mother scared me away from drugs in the ’60s. I didn’t become a dopehead. Or dead, like some of my friends, including one close one who committed suicide. Oh yes, Mary J could have eased his depression. But wait! What came first, the drug or the depression? I am glad the Gazetteincluded includedthe thethree three I am glad the Gazette Laura Eastes articles (News, “Critical Care,” “Good medicine” and “Narcotic realities,” April 20, Oklahoma Gazette) and, in particular, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics article in the middle of it all. But, not being spaced out on weed when But, I read it, I wasn’t doped into concluding (as are other simple thinkers) “isn’t it smart to live high and spacy, man? We don’t stinking need no dangerous narcotics, man.” II hate to tobe be(actually, (actually,I am I am proud proud toto be)be) so 14

m ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

egocentric, as one myof “progressive” college so egocentric, asof one my “progressive” college professors professors labeled me, labeled but Ime, suspect but I that suspect our that drugour addiction drug addiction problems problems came not came from not from emotional emotional and mental and mental problems problems that wethat had before drug use, from hangwe hadalcohol beforeand alcohol andbut drug use, but overshangovers and withdrawal depression from exfrom and withdrawal depression perimenting with and depending on alcohol from experimenting with and depending andalcohol drugs. All happy of my on andthose drugs. All friends those happy youth had mental illness and pain. But then friends of my youth had mental illness and I remember myI remember high schoolmy days, if pain. But then highwhen, school not for my girlfriend me toexposJesus days, when, if not forexposing my girlfriend andme the God reason of ing to love Jesusofand theand love the of God and the Scripture and the foolishness of preaching, reason of Scripture and the foolishness of I guess I could haveIended a dopehead preaching, I guess couldup have ended upor a a “meth mouth” or a “pineapple dopehead or a “meth mouth”upside-down or a “pinecake.”upside-down cake.” apple Roadrage, rage, overmedicated Road overmedicated driversdrivers beware: beware:the When potget heads get“medicine,” their “medWhen pot the heads their icine,”will there beslow a lotdrivers of slowindrivers in there be awill lot of your way

besides your wayme besides driving methe driving speed thelimit! speedBy limit! the grace By theofgrace God of goGod I. go I. Michael Moberly Oklahoma City

‘Catastrophic’ cuts

The Oklahoma Standard. That phrase means neighbor helping neighbor, perseverance through adversity, enduring resolve and strength of compassion. The recent announcement from the The Oklahoma Health Care Authority of a 25 percent cut in Medicaid provider rates beginning June 1 will have devastating consequences. It is imperative that we stay true to The Oklahoma Standard by refusing to accept actions that we know will lead to catastrophic results for the most vulnerable citizens of our state. Surely Oklahomans

TheAs Oklahoma advocates, Arts consolidation Council is very would efficientreduce ly our administered ability to lobby with for a very community low rationeeds. If of overhead, the agency using becomes only 8 percent a department, of its budget the budget, on administration. goals and strategic Plus plans thewill agency no longer makes beup as available and could be of subsumed bybudget. a diverless than 0.05 percent the state’s gent mission. The Oklahoma Cuts or consolidation ofArts suchCouncil’s a small agency distinctwill mission not close includes thecommunity budget gap.development, As advocates, arts and culture consolidation industry would growth reduce and irreplaceable education outcomes. needs. our ability to lobby for community If the agency becomes a department, Especially when budgets for educationthe are budget, so stretched goals and andstrategic arts education plans will is being no longer cut be back, as we available need resources and could forbe students subsumed to expeby a divergent rience andmission. participate in the arts. Consolidation and cuts to the Oklahoma The Oklahoma Arts Council’s distinct Arts Council will negatively impact commumission includes community development, nitiesand andculture students for many yearsand to come. arts industry growth irreWe strongly object tooutcomes. consolidating our state placeable education artEspecially agency, as itwhen will limit budgets community for education arts and are so arts stretched education and across arts the education state. is being cut back, If you we agree, need resources lawmakersfor need students to hearto from experience you now so and that participate every Oklahoman in the arts. can experience Consolidation and benefitand from cuts theto arts. the Oklahoma Arts Council will negatively impact communities students for many years to Julia Kirtand serves as executive director of Oklahomans for the Arts, a statewide advocacy come. organization. | Photo provided We strongly object to consolidating our won’t tolerate the neglect of its children, disabled and frail elderly. BaptistVillage Communities (BVC) owns Baptist and operates three health centers with almost half of the residents depending upon Medicaid as their partial source of payment. BVC also serves approximately 750 clients in their homes. Most have significant health needs coupled with limited financial resources. Even as a not-for-profit, BVC relies on a Even mutual partnership with our state to provide ministry. Without this good faith partnership, it is impossible to provide quality services that our seniors most certainly deserve. An additional 25 percent cut is implausible. Besides Besides the quality and access to care issues, the economic fallout is sure to follow. There will be loss of jobs, which will greatly impact local municipalities, especially in rural Oklahoma. And this is not just about health centers and nursing homes; it also impacts other health care providers, including hospitals, physicians and pharmacies. TheOklahoma Standard. We are back to The where we started. Are we, as Oklahomans, willing to accept that the least among us be left behind? I think not. It is up to us as individual Oklahomans to speak up and be the voice of the forgotten. Please call, reach out to your state legislators and implore them to stay true to The Oklahoma Standard by refusing to accept the proposed Medicaid provider rate cuts. Steve Thomas, vice president of operations, Baptist vice president of operations, Baptist Village Communities Oklahoma City

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review

EAT & DRINK

Batter up

Pancakes | Photo Garett Fisbeck

The secret to pancakes at Sherri’s Diner is that you need to try them as soon as possible. By Greg Elwell

The secret of the pancakes will remain a secret. Have you ever had a dish so good that you have to ask your server what’s in it? “How did you cook this chicken?” “What did they add to the soup?” “On a scale of 1 to 10, how many scales do you think I weigh?” The server looks around conspiratorially, leans in close and whispers it in your ear. That’s what happened to me at Sherri’s Diner, 704 SW 59th St., when I lost my mind over a plate of pancakes. As per the first sentence of this review, I will not be revealing the ingredient(s) that give Sherri’s pancakes such an ethereal texture and flavor that my first guess was

But what if it’s not breakfast time? Well, now you just sound stupid. It’s always time for breakfast. Still, whatever, I’ll humor you. If you crave something special, look no further than the homemade chicken and dumplings ($8.99). What an amazing pile of carbohydrates this is. Gorgeous, tender dumplings and shredded chicken are mixed into a creamy sauce that bursts with thickened chicken stock. For some reason, it comes with mashed potatoes and two other sides. It’s not physically impossible to leave Sherri’s hungry, but it does require some work on your part. For one thing, you’ll have to refrain from ordering chili (a cup is $3.29; a bowl is $6.29) with cheese and onions. Slow down, quick draw; you Sherri’s Diner might not need to put any hot sauce on there. Sherri’s 704 SW 59th St. | 405-634-4796 chili isn’t going to burn your mouth to the ground, but it What works: Cabbage rolls, chicken-fried steaks does have a pleasant heat and friendly service. and a smooth texture. What needs work: Pork chops were a touch dry. I might prefer my chili a little chunkier, but I’ll bet Tip: Some breakfast specialties, like the S.O.S., are only available before 11 a.m. this would go dynamite with a handful of Fritos. It comes with cornbread, which is light and airy and deserves to have butter spread on it. ground-up angel wings. Suffice it to say, you should go to Sherri’s and order a stack or If you go on the third Tuesday of the two yourself. Revel in those fork-tender month, you’ll be peer-pressured into getting flapjacks. Growl menacingly at the other the cabbage rolls ($8.99). Unlike getting that tables if anyone dares eye your goldenregrettable high school haircut or enrolling brown bounty too greedily. in that early morning boot camp class, this Pancakes are two for $4.29 or three for is the kind of pressure you should give in to. $5.29. You can get chocolate chips (or blueThe cabbage rolls are big and hearty with a berries or pecans) in them for an extra 99 tender beef filling and mild cabbage under a sweet stewed tomato sauce. Glorious. cents, but you don’t need to. They might not even require syrup. Take a bite of those panThe bacon cheeseburger ($6.99) is a good cakes simply slathered in butter. Yeah. choice if you’re really set on eating a cheeseRight? burger. It’s not mind-blowingly amazing, but it doesn’t need to be, really. Oklahoma City is laden with top-notch burger barns. Pancakes plus Man can live by pancakes alone, and It’s far less likely to find someplace making anybody who tells you differently is your delectable homemade pies like you can find enemy. But should you be interested in at Sherri’s Diner. adding some food groups to your predomThe caramel apple pie ($3.29) is a delight. inantly pancake diet, Sherri’s is a good In fact, given how much you’re likely to eat, place to be. you might even do as I did and get the pie Between a pork chop and eggs ($12.99, before your meal. Chocolate cream, lemon meringue and a rotating cast of others are including potatoes and bread) and chicken-fried steak and eggs ($9.99, same sides), found in that case at the counter. Study I’ll take the steak. Hand-breaded and fried them. Memorize them. Eat them all. to a crispy crust, the steak is tender and Sherri’s Diner is everything I love about flavorful. diners. The staff is friendly. The dining room The pork chop was nicely seasoned, but is clean. The food is fresh and tasty and indespite being a thick, bone-in chop, it came expensive. It has been in Oklahoma City for out kind of dry. Pork is a notoriously difficult a while, and it’ll take all of one minute for you to see why. meat to cook without overcooking. For the texture and flavor, the chicken-fried steak is the obvious choice.

Chicken-fried steak, eggs and hashbrowns | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Owner Sherri McKinney works the register at Sherri’s Diner. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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event

Dancers at last year’s Asian Festival | Photo Asia Society of Oklahoma / Provided

Eastern exposure Asia Society of Oklahoma’s Asian Festival seeks to teach and share diverse cultures in the state. By Greg Elwell

To outsiders, Oklahoma is a state of Association of Oklahoma, United Iraniancowboys and wildcatters, but to residents American Cultural Society of Oklahoma, familiar with its history, the Sooner State Korean Society of Oklahoma, Lao Natasinh is home to immigrants and refugees from Association, Philippine-American Civic Organization of Oklahoma, Taiwanese around the world. Association of Oklahoma, VietnameseThis year marks Asia Society of Oklahoma’s 30th annual Asian Festival. American Community of Oklahoma City The free festival is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Metro Areas and Asian Professionals at Langston University’s Oklahoma City of Oklahoma. Each organization underneath the Asia campus, 4205 N. Lincoln Blvd. Iran is this year’s host Society banner will have country, and Aalim booths at the event, giving Bellydance Academy will visitors a face-to-face contact Asian highlight Iranian dance perto learn about the customs, Festival formance and culture. traditions and identities of While members are the different countries. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. always welcome, said Asia Turnout has been light in Wednesday Society vice president Ira past years, said Asia Society Langston University’s Burrough, the goal of the vice president Ira Burrough, OKC campus festival is to bring people as Mother’s Day, tornadoes 4205 N. Lincoln Blvd. from outside the society to and graduation all compete facebook.com/asookc with the festivities. talk and take part in the Free variety of cultures. “Sometimes we get 200 Food has long been the or 300 people,” she said. easiest point of entry for Oklahomans inFor Burrough, the festival is about terested in Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese forming connections. Members connect cultures, which might be why Thai House, with others who share their heritage and 500 NW 23rd St., was invited to provide food with people from their adopted homeland. at the festival. But there’s more to the myriad Through music, dance, art and food, we can Asian communities than cuisine. better understand our differences and learn The festivities also include art exhibiall the ways in which we are very much alike. tions, crafts and activities as well as vendors Asia’s In Fashion, LipSense by JenSense, New Year Melwani & Laura Kwan Souvenirs and OK! After taking part in the Asian Festival, Lao International, among others. Natasinh Association of Oklahoma City Alongside song and dance from group readies another annual celebration with the members are pageants naming Miss Asia, Pi Mai Lao, or Lao New Year, 9 a.m.-midnight Junior Miss Asia and Little Miss Asia. May 21 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 22 at Wat Lao Contestants come from across the state to Buddharam, 7600 N. Kelley Ave. compete for the honors and will represent Admission is free and open to the public the Asia Society in community events in the and is a day to give and receive blessings coming year. A scholarship is awarded from relatives, friends and strangers. during the Awards for Excellence Banquet. Guests should prepare to get wet — water Asia Society is an umbrella organization plays a big role as people “wash away” the that brings together Chinese Association of sins of the past year with lots of splashing and water fights, organizers said. Greater Oklahoma City, India Association of Oklahoma, Indonesian American

b r i e fs By Greg Elwell

Photo Allisha’s Southern Kitchen / Provided

•Southern exposure

A bartender pulls a glass of beer at Oak & Ore. | Photo Gazette / File

•Crafty drinkers

Plaza District watering hole Oak & Ore, 1732 NW 16th St., celebrates American Craft Beer Week with a series of special events Sunday through May 21. At 6 p.m. Sunday, the restaurant and drinking establishment hosts a five-course Founders Beer Dinner for $50 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Oak & Ore pairs items from the new menu with Founders Brewing Co. beers such as Canadian Breakfast Stout. A portion of the proceeds benefit Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s backpack program. To register, email oakandore@gmail.com. Starting 6 p.m. Tuesday through May 19, Oak & Ore hosts breweries as it pours special beers. Prairie Artisan Ales Bomb! Variants Night is Tuesday, Collaboration Nation featuring Amager is May 18 and Avery Affinity is May 19. At 5 p.m. May 20, for the first time in Oklahoma, Oak & Ore serves three Saint Somewhere Brewing Company beers and two from Green Bench Brewing Co. Then #SessionSaturday, runs noon-5 p.m. May 21, featuring drafts and cans of highquality, low-alcohol suds from Evil Twin Brewing and Prairie Artisan Ales. Oak & Ore also taps some not-so-sessionable brews, such as Evil Twin’s Bozo Beer and Big Ass Money Stout, each hour.

Burger time

Former Dallas Cowboy linebacker Bradie James visited Oklahoma City last week with a group scouting Oklahoma locations for MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes. James said he began franchising while playing in the NFL as a way to turn his paychecks into sustainable income to help support his family. He bought into MOOYAH about five years ago and is now part of the corporate team. The eatery offers beef, turkey and black bean burgers as well as salads, milkshakes and french fries. While here, he met with former teammate Roy Williams to get a local’s view on the area. James said he’s interested in bringing the burger chain to Moore and northwest Oklahoma City.

May welcomes Allisha’s Southern Kitchen, 2747 W. Memorial Road, a new restaurant from veteran owners the Hardy family. Three generations are involved with the venue, with namesake Allisha and her father John taking the lead. The Hardys previously ran Allisha’s Tea Room and Dining on Persimmon Hill. It celebrates its grand opening Monday through May 19 and will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a brunch buffet on weekends. “We are overwhelmed by the excitement and support of new and longtime customers,” said matriarch Mary Beth Hardy. “Allisha’s Southern Kitchen represents the fulfillment of a dream for our family.”

Zoobilation

Oklahoma Zoological Society hopes some of you want to eat like an animal. Its Zoobilation event is 7-10 p.m. June 16 at The Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place. The fundraising party features bites from Baked Cakes & Gourmet Desserts, Cafe 501, Casa Perico Mexican Grille, Covell Park, Cuppies & Joe, Fassler Hall, Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe, Klemm’s Smoke Haus, James E. McNellie’s Public House, Nothing Bundt Cakes, OKC Zoo Catering, Old Germany Restaurant and Turek’s Tavern, The Mantel Wine Bar & Bistro, The Melting Pot, US Foods and West. There also will be specialty cocktails, including the annual Zootini, live music from Urban Addiction and a silent auction. Event net proceeds go to beautify and renovate zoo picnic grounds. Tickets for the 21-and-up party are $100, available at zoofriends.org or by calling 405-425-0618. It’s an outdoor event, so attire is comfortable casual.

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You jelly?

The Oklahoma Agritourism program helps visitors dress their toast the old-fashioned way with Oklahoma Jelly Making Trails. Okjellymaking.com offers a map of 47 “U-pick” locations for blackberries, peaches, prickly pears, vegetables and herbs. Guests pay to access patches, pick produce and make jelly. Each participating farm has stickers, jelly jar labels and maps to get guests to their next destination. “Parents bring out the kids because this is something they did when they were a kid,” Bobby Sloan of Buffalo Creek Berry Farm, located near Mustang, said in a media release. “Daycares come out. Assisted living centers come, too.” Those interested are encouraged to contact a farm to check its hours of operation before heading out.

Photo Gazette / File

•High a-Cheever’s

The funny thing about brunch at Cheever’s Cafe, 2409 N. Hudson Ave., is that it didn’t work. Good Egg Dining Group co-owner Keith Paul said the restaurant offered brunch not too long after it opened in 2000, but it didn’t take off. “It ended after about six months,” he said. Cheever’s went brunchless until 2011, when it was reinstated on Sundays, and then expanded to Saturdays. “We had a goal of how much we needed to make on a weekend. It took us two weeks to make that goal,” he said. “In another couple of months, we had doubled it.” These days, Cheever’s brunch is practically an Oklahoma City institution. Last week, it made OpenTable.com’s list of 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America 2016, an honor Paul said means a lot. Cheever’s brunch draws 350 guests each Saturday and Sunday to the 80-seat venue, and many diners are devoted to its most popular menu item, The Cowgirl Benedict, a chicken-fried steak-and-egg combo with jalapeño gravy.

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g a z e di b l e s

eat & DRINK

Go green

Vegetables need a better PR team. Sorry, veggies, but “Spinach: That stuff your mom made you eat” just isn’t moving enough product. It’s time to look for inspiration, and there’s no better place to find it than these Oklahoma City restaurants doing great things with great greens. And take your mom with you. She deserves to eat a decent vegetable, too. Greg Elwell Photos Garett Fisbeck

Blu Mediterranean Grill

Green Goodies

Nebu

The Mediterranean Diet is a heart-healthy way to incorporate more natural oils and fats into your life. It’s also just really, really tasty. There’s a surprisingly heavy reliance on the chickpea, which is a pretty disrespectful way to refer to a female pea, but you’ll forget all about that when you dig into Blu’s creamy hummus with crispy fried falafel. So wrap your cares in a pita and eat your heart out.

There was a time in our nation’s history when the term “vegan cupcake” was used as an alternative to torture — not feeding them to people; just talking about them. Then came Green Goodies, where the bakers — through a mix of science and magic — created vegan cupcakes so delicious you won’t even miss the animal products. Sweet frosting, tender cake and some of them are even gluten-free; finally, vegan cupcakes that don’t belong on 24.

It’s no secret that the oil and gas industry is in a bit of a slump. Thankfully, that doesn’t apply to the kitchen staff at Nebu, on the first floor of Devon Energy Center. This open-to-all cafeteria serves up pizza, tacos, fish, burgers and sushi — but it’s also dedicated to putting tasty, healthy options out for everyone. Whether you’re a carnivore looking to try one of these “salad” things or a dedicated vegetarian, Nebu has rich wells of veggie reserves.

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5840 N. Classen Blvd. greengoodiesokc.com | 405-842-2288

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333 W. Sheridan Ave. cafenebu.com | 405-228-8386

Provision Kitchen

Thai House

“You come here often? Let me buy you some cauliflower, girl.” “Greg, what are you doing?” “This is the hot bar, right? I’m ... I’m picking you up.” “That’s not what a hot bar is. It’s fresh veggies and entrees you can eat right now.” “So ... can I get your number?” “Buy me some green beans first, sailor.”

Thailand knows a thing or two about making vegetables appealing. Stop by Thai House and you’ll find tons of options for those who eschew meat but embrace flavor. Take that purple people-feeder, spicy eggplant, for instance. It has the meaty heft of eggplant, so you’ll feel sated, and plenty of heat to get your tongue a-tingling. Just be careful if you take home leftovers. The spice intensifies after a night in the fridge.

6443 Avondale Drive provision-kitchen.com | 405-843-2310

500 NW 23rd St. | 405-524-0503

The Earth Cafe and Deli

The Fit Pig

I think the owners of The Earth Cafe and Deli in Norman wanted to be the first stop for alien explorers. If Zdelmop and G’Weerch decide to explore our planet, wouldn’t it make sense to stop at The Earth? That’s why I am petitioning the restaurant to rename its delectable vegan chili Your Leader. And if aliens negotiate a lasting peace deal with a pot of chili, it’s still better than meeting some of this year’s presidential candidates.

After trying The Beautiful Boar and The Rakish Razorback, it was nice to finally find The Fit Pig. Sniff around this healthy food haven and you’ll realize its dedication to healthy fare. For those looking to mow down some greens, there are some delightfully low-calorie options like veggie tacos with crumbled feta, black beans and garlic. Breathe easy, little porker. You’ll live another day.

309 S. Flood Ave., Norman 405-364-3551

722 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 100 thefitpig.com | 405-290-7080

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

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EGGINGTONS-HUB.COM 737 W. Danforth Road, Edmond | 405.285.1580 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | m ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

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ARTS & CULTURE ture it called home — a little tired and dusty. Alexander changed that when he preached that the church should be about more than glum Sunday services and a meeting place for wilted ladies clubs; it should be a haven for the young, with a plethora of activities to keep them busy and out of trouble. To this end and much to the dismay of other, much more conservative, places of worship down the street, he convinced church leaders to host dances, parties and plays at the church and construct a bowling alley in the basement. Soon, First Christian swarmed with teenagers and youngsters eager to join the church, have fun and learn a bit about God. Decades later, one of Alexander’s “kids,” Susan Hart, still marvels at his ability to make each of them feel special. “He knew every child by name, and we all called him Bill because he was more of a friend to us than a leader,” Hart said. “If you ever had a problem and needed someone to talk to, his office door was always open and he was there, eager to listen. That kind of adult/child relationship was very uncommon back in the ’50s.”

Designing the future

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First Christian Church under construction, 1956 | Photo First Christian Church archives / Provided

Church of Tomorrow

60 years ago, a modern architectural and religious icon was born. Today, it celebrates a rebirth. By Lynne Rostochil

Any newcomer to Oklahoma City would surely take one look at First Christian Church at NW 36th Street and Walker Avenue and automatically assume that the uber-modern structure is a very daring but recent creation and would certainly be surprised to hear that this beloved dome has been part of our architectural landscape for a whopping six decades. The gleaming white egg, or boob or bulb — or whatever your favorite nickname for the iconic building is — still looks as innovative and fresh as the day a very determined Rev. Bill Alexander declared that he would build a true “church of tomorrow” right here in Oklahoma City. And when the reverend set his sights on a dream, he always managed to bulldoze his way through doubt, criticism and excuses to make it happen.

Fearless rebirth

To say that Alexander was quite a character is a vast understatement. The son of a St. Louis pastor, Alexander grew up in the church but like most kids who want to make

their own mark in life do, he cringed at the thought of following in his father’s footsteps. Instead, the 6-foot, 5-inch tall, 200-pound youngster with an easy laugh and blazing red, curly hair (which was about as easy to control as his desire for adventure) left home to pursue a career in show business as a vaudeville emcee, musician or just about anything that didn’t involve religion. Somewhere along the way, though, he came to the realization that church didn’t have to be stuffy and boring as he once thought; it could be filled with fun, energy, life — and even dancing! — if approached in a new way. The prodigal son returned to the family fold and enrolled in college to become a pastor, but one in a new vein. While still a University of Tulsa student in 1935, Alexander volunteered to take over the helm and try out his then-revolutionary ideas as a student pastor at the faltering First Christian Church in Stroud, which was down to a meager 34 members when he arrived. Never one to sit around to wait for things to happen, the gregarious and fearless young

minister went from door to door in the tiny town along Route 66, introduced himself and invited the community to church on Sunday. Most said no. One neighbor even declared that his new church was dead. Alexander seized on that and spread the word that the little Stroud church was, indeed, dead. In fact, he would perform burial services for it on Sunday. Well, of course, curious rubberneckers from all over the county came out to witness the spectacle. At the pulpit sat a somber, solitary closed coffin. As legend has it, the minister, always a showman at heart, slowly creaked open the lid and encouraged the crowd to pay its respects. One by one, guests moved to the front of the church and peered into the coffin to see their own reflections in a mirror Alexander placed inside. Whether due to shock, guilt or even a sense of humor, the trick worked. Pews quickly filled, so much so that the church boasted 600 members by the time Alexander left a few years later. After taking time off for more studying and then heading a Los Angeles church for a year, he found himself back in Oklahoma in 1942 as the new pastor of First Christian Church in Oklahoma City. Alexander had the charm of George Clooney, the sense of fun of Walt Disney and the gusto of Ernest Hemingway, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the spirited new minister swept into town like a thunderstorm on a balmy spring afternoon. He quickly endeared himself to all. The congregation, which was located in an imposing neo-classical and gold-domed relic at NW 10th Street and Hudson Avenue, was progressive but a bit like the aging struc-

Alexander’s great success entered a new realm at the end of World War II, when he decided that it was time to create a building that would match the lively and spirited church he had created. He dubbed his vision The Church of Tomorrow and deemed it would be a thoroughly modern and inclusive place where all could gather to worship and play. He just had to find the land and someone with a similar vision to make his dream come true. Enter Oklahoma natives R. Duane Conner and Fred Pojezny, who met as engineering students at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) before there was ever an architecture department at the university. Both men had served during WWII — Pojezny as an active duty Navy man and Conner as an engineer on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Upon their return to Oklahoma City after the war, the two 20-somethings found themselves toiling away as draftsmen at architectural firm Coston & Frankfurt, but neither was happy working for others, so they decided to form their own partnership, Conner & Pojezny Designs, in 1946. Soon after, the two met Alexander to discuss the minister’s ideas for his revolutionary Church of Tomorrow. The congregation had purchased land that was once home to Edgemere Country Club, which had recently closed. With 40 acres to play with, Alexander, Conner as principal architect and Pojezny had the latitude to bring the reverend’s dream campus to life. It would be one of the largest in the country, complete with a modern sanctuary, an education building, a theater, a youth center, picnic and camping grounds, baseball fields, tennis courts and, as the first completed project in 1947, a 3,500-seat amphitheater where patrons could enjoy services continued on page 24

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ARTS & CULTURE

Get Swirled with us on the patio!

Congratulations to the

2016 graduates!

open daily • 11am - 2 am

R. Duane Conner, his wife Jean and Bill Alexander in San Francisco, 1953 Photo Lynne Rostochil collection / Provided

Corner of Classen & Boyd, norman 329.3330 | themont.Com

his opponent, Mike Monroney. However, the defeat didn’t hamper the reverend’s popularity; just two years later, he became the national chaplain for the Republican Party during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first run for office. His congregation also swelled to more than 3,800 members.

Youthful invention

Lynne Rostochil’s grandfather R. Duane Conner was the architect of First Christian Church’s midcentury modern design. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

continued from page 23

Tues-Thurs 5PM-10PM | Fri & Sat 5PM-11PM Sun 5PM-9PM

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and events under the stars. The architects quickly surveyed the land and came up with preliminary drawings for a youth center in the Miesian style while Alexander focused on stretching his reach as a minister. His nationwide recognition grew due to a flattering appearance in Look magazine and a schedule that he packed with speaking engagements to civic organizations throughout the United States. His positive message of living a joyful life through God appealed to so many postwar Americans that Alexander was tapped to run on the Republican ticket for the U.S. Senate in 1950. Although it might be difficult to believe in an age when Oklahoma is the reddest state in the Union, from statehood until the late 1960s, the Sooner State was a Democratic stronghold, so it was no surprise when Alexander lost the election to

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By 1953, Conner had abandoned his original boxy ideas for the church and replaced them with a much more ambitious and striking design that featured a three-building campus with a rounded theater and educational buildings offset by a crystal-like glass sanctuary that looked like something out of Logan’s Run. (Due to the church’s limited finances, the youth center that Alexander longed for would have to wait awhile longer.) The congregation was so enamored with the new design that a promotional booklet was published featuring Conner’s brainchild. Unfortunately, when building estimates came back for the new complex, they far exceeded the church’s modest $1.1 million budget, so Conner went back to the drawing board. The young architect had worked on a couple of small projects that employed thinshell roof designs and thought that this might be a perfect opportunity to use the innovative method on a much grander scale. Thin-shell concrete was durable, lightweight and could be molded into nearly any shape, which allowed architects to design buildings without the interior supports that had always been necessary and open up spaces like never before — and for a fraction of the cost of more conventional construction methods. Conner returned to the congregation with a completely new sanctuary design that abolished the crystal in favor of a dramatic concrete dome with minimal interior supports. Once again, church members approved of his ideas. As construction began in 1956, word quickly spread about the revolutionary dome design. Many naysayers, including engineers and architects, warned the entire structure would collapse under its own weight without some kind of internal support. Despite the controversy, Conner remained confident in his design. He assured everyone that the building would be sound if construction of the dome

was completed later that year and engineers quickly put the new dome to the test. Alexander, parishioners and maybe even Conner himself breathed a collective sigh of relief when testing proved that his design could easily handle the dome’s weight distribution. With the controversy over, it was time to prepare First Christian Church for its grand opening just in time for Christmas services. On its Dec. 23, 1956 opening day, nearly 3,000 people filled the comfortable theaterstyle seats, crammed into sanctuary aisles and packed the dining room to listen to Alexander’s inaugural sermon over the PA system and catch a tour of the modern complex afterward. The Church of Tomorrow was finally a reality. Conner’s futuristic design quickly became a beloved icon throughout the state and was lauded in national publications such as Life, Newsweek and Architectural Record. Sadly, Alexander didn’t live long enough to see the rest of his dream for the Church of Tomorrow — the youth center — come true. He and wife Mary Louise were flying to an April 3, 1960 speaking engagement in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when the twinengine plane in which they were flying crashed into a suburban parking lot while landing, killing the couple and the pilot. Alexander was just 45 years old. In one last gesture of his love for the youth of the church, Alexander’s life insurance payout went straight to the fund for the William H. “Bill” Alexander Memorial Youth Center.

The Fred Pojezny-designed building was completed and dedicated the following year. Pojezny also went on to design the final building on First Christian Church’s campus, the Oklahoma Disciples Center, in 1964 and updated spaces in the original three buildings over the next 30 years. For decades, First Christian Church remained a vital part of the community, sponsoring events such as one of the city’s first Mother’s Day Out programs; hosting countless productions at Jewel Box Theatre; and opening its doors to families, survivors and other mourners after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. By 2013, however, the aging, increasingly diminishing and even cantankerous congregation was waning.

Restoring tomorrow

That was when reverends John Malget and Michael Canada took over the reins and vowed to revitalize the church in a way that Bill Alexander would surely approve of. Last year, the energetic co-pastors enthusiastically transformed from a Disciples of Christ congregation into Restoration Church and are working, much as Alexander did back in that small, failing church in Stroud, to entice young and old alike to join in Sunday fun and continue building the Church of Tomorrow. Editor’s note: Lynne Rostochil is the granddaughter of First Christian Church architect R. Duane Conner and co-founder of Okie Mod Squad.

First Christian Church sanctuary shortly after completion in 1956 Photo First Christian Church archives / Provided

The second First Christian Church design, circa 1953 | Photo Lynne Rostochil collection / Provided O kg a z e t t e . c o m | m ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

ARTS & CULTURE

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Okie Mod Squad members Matt Goad, Dawn Harth, Terri Sadler and Robyn Arn | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Mod world

Okie Mod Squad celebrates our city’s futuristic history with its blowout modernism weekend. By George Lang

Last month, the Gold Dome at NW 23rd Street and Classen Boulevard found a savior when Natural Grocers, a Coloradobased organic grocery chain, agreed to purchase the property while maintaining the architectural integrity of the landmark bank building with the anodized geodesic roof. What was described in 1958 as the “bank of tomorrow” soon will be the health food store of the near future. But while the Gold Dome survived, many other examples of Oklahoma City’s midcentury modern architecture have succumbed to redevelopment projects or were bulldozed for parking lots or oil wells. Okie Mod Squad, a group of architecture and design enthusiasts, celebrates the aesthetic and pushes for its preservation during its inaugural Oklahoma Modernism Weekend, a series of parties, tours and other events highlighting the sleek lines of Oklahoma’s great monuments to modernism May 20-22 at First Christian Church, 301 NW 36th St. Terri Sadler, an Okie Mod Squad leader who works for fitzsimmons architects, said the group’s goal for the event is to inform and celebrate as well as preserve and protect an important part of the state’s cultural history, one that was forged by 26

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May 21, guests can return to the church for free, daylong events, including Okie Mod Squad’s Classic Car Autorama featuring compelling midcentury auto designs; Mod Swap, an informal outdoor swap meet; and Mod Market, offering design items at all price points. Guests also can take an architectural tour of the church 1 p.m. May 21 for $10, followed by a presentation of the venue’s history and its architects. The event wraps up noon-5 p.m. May 22 with the Okie Mod House Tour. A chartered bus tour makes several stops at old and new modern homes in neighborhoods such as Quail Creek, The Greens, Plaza District and Edgemere Terrace, among others. Robyn Arn, event co-organizer, said that the buildings on the tour are indications of how Oklahoma strongly bought into the aesthetic. The “Arrows to Atoms” marketing campaign of the 1950s helped push the style, including many of the buildings at State Fair Park, and coincided with the golden anniversary of statehood. “When we had the 50th anniversary of the state, we were wanting to be positive, futuristic and forward-looking,” said Arn, a director, actress and Okie Mod Squad co-founder. “So a lot of the businesspeople were wanting to embrace that.” Bank buildings were particularly common and included the Gold Dome, 1959’s Central National Motor Bank at NW Fifth Street and Classen Boulevard and 1964’s Founders National Bank at 5613 N. May Ave. However, many of these structures are listed as “threatened” by Okie Mod Squad, which monitors the status of midcentury landmarks. “You know, a lot of us were involved in trying to save the Gold Dome, so that is in our background as well,” Arn said.

Preserving the future legendary Tulsa-raised architect Bruce Goff and his students at the University of Oklahoma. “He was the mastermind genius of everything that is cool in Oklahoma,” Sadler said. The term “genius” unequivocally applies to Goff. At age 22, he designed Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, an ecclesiastical art deco masterwork in downtown Tulsa. As post-World War II tastes moved toward a sleeker, space-age aesthetic, Goff became one of the brightest lights in modernism. Examples of his influence are seen throughout Oklahoma City, including First Christian Church at NW 36th Street and Walker Avenue, architect R. Duane Conner’s 1956 design and engineering marvel that also is the centerpiece of Oklahoma Modernism Weekend.

Modern throwback

Events kick off 7 p.m. May 20 at the church with the Mod Market preview party, where early shoppers can find art, design elements and furniture before the official Saturday opening. Also, local vintage clothing retailers will host the Flashback Fashion Show, where models showcase classic attire from the 1950s through ’70s.

Demolitions of midcentury modern properties like Stage Center, 66 Bowl and Continental theater received much press attention, but others disappeared with little fanfare. Recent losses such as Classen Terrace Building and Norman’s Goffdesigned Bavinger House underline the threat to this generation of architecture. “There are a lot of history buffs in this group, and we want to promote the history and support the future for these structures. Stage Center and Bavinger — if you want to get this group’s blood boiling, just mention both of those,” Sadler said. “It’s a travesty.” While Mad Men and the smooth lines of Sterling Cooper & Partners’ Manhattan office space did wonders to re-popularize modernism in the past decade, Okie Mod Squad’s affinity for the form predates Don Draper. Sadler was living an entirely different lifestyle when a furniture bargain caused her to re-evaluate her tastes. “I used to live in a log cabin, an original log cabin out by Lake Arcadia that had very mountain-man furnishings,” she said. “One day, I went to an antique store on Western and saw an Adrian Pearsall sofa and fell in love with it. It was, like, 14 feet long, and it looked so good in that log cabin.

That was in ’86. I probably paid $125 for that sofa. Now, you couldn’t touch that for less than four grand.” These days, Sadler surrounds herself with midcentury modern furnishings. She, along with Arn and Lynne Rostochil, Conner’s granddaughter, started Okie Mod Squad when their shared affinity for the design became evident after a series of cocktail parties. But preservation can be serious business. Chain stores and the new push to build modern office structures threaten to wipe out midcentury modernism the way I. M. Pei’s urban redevelopment initiative demolished many of Oklahoma City’s pre-World War II architectural monuments. But Arn said that there are real estate developers in the city who respect these properties and will find ways to preserve OKC’s futuristic history. “There are some that really do say that these older building are who we are,” she said. “They are beautiful, and we shouldn’t tear down who we are.”

Oklahoma Modernism Weekend May 20-22 First Christian Church 301 NW 36th St. okcmod.com Free-$45

Join the party All events are free and located at First Christian Church, 301 NW 36th St., unless otherwise noted.

Opening Night Preview and Party 7-9 p.m. | May 20 okcmod.com | $20

Retro Bowling 9:30 p.m. | May 20 Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge 421 NW 10th St.

Classic Car Autorama 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | May 21

Mod Swap 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | May 21 Mod Market 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 21

Going Googie First Christian Church Tour 1 p.m. | May 21 okcmod.com | $10

Okie Mod House Tour Noon | May 22 Meet at First Christian Church okcmod.com | $45

per f o rm i ng arts

Megan Montgomery, Kaylan Ferrell and Zaneen Hotchkiss rehearse Top Girls at CitySpace Theatre in Civic Center Music Hall. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Top play OKC Theatre Company looks at the way women oppress each other in Top Girls. By Jack Fowler

Over the years, OKC Theatre Company has carved out a reputation for tackling risky, high-energy modern theatre in its cozy basement playhouse. Self-described “New York-style theater” OKC Theatre Company has brought a little bit of everything to the underbelly of Civic Center Music Hall this season. From Steinbeck’s somber Of Mice and Men, the season’s opening play, to Silence! The Musical, a profane and hilarious musical parody of The Silence of the Lambs, audiences know that hit or miss, they’re going to see a company swing for the fence. The tiny stage and snug setting don’t leave much room for devices like props and sets, so OKC Theatre also evolved into one of the best places in the city to see strippeddown productions that lean heavily on theme. In a perfect example of its chutzpah, the company’s brave players tackle Top Girls, the 1982 Caryl Churchill drama that artistic director Rachel Irick calls a feminist epic. Centering around Marlene, a driven, career-minded Brit who hosts a dreamlike dinner party for famous women from history, Top Girls addresses the question of what it means to be a successful woman and contrasts the differences in American and British feminists, explores the social status of historical female icons and provides commentary on Margaret Thatcher. “Not too much about the opening scene seems too out of the ordinary until the guests start to arrive,” Irick said. “They appear as a collection of obscure women from history and literature.” Guests include Pope Joan, who disguised herself as a man and became pope around

AD 854; Isabella Bird, a Victorian-era explorer; Lady Nijo, an 11th-century Japanese concubine; Griselda, the longsuffering wife from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales; and Dull Gret, a peasant from Flemish folklore who leads an army of women to pillage hell. Another drawback/advantage to OKC Theatre Company’s intimate space is that the number of characters in any given production can often be too big for the stage, so actors play multiple roles. A rotating cast of characters in a nonlinear play can be difficult enough even with a full roster, so Top Girls again provides a challenging experience for players and patrons. “In the shorter scenes that follow, the actors reappear, but this time, they’re women in Marlene’s office and her adolescent daughter,” Irick said. “The play really weaves complex scenes together and examines the colliding worlds of career versus traditional family roles. It also sometimes reveals a world where even in the absence of men, women still oppress each other with patriarchal expectations.” It’s weighty stuff, to be sure, but Irick said Churchill’s script strikes a deft balance between gravitas and silliness. The interaction between the slightly inebriated female icons is some of Irick’s favorite writing in the play, and she thinks audiences will appreciate the levity. “They try to one-up each other with colorful stories, all in various stages of drunkenness,” she said. “Pope Joan dissolves into pseudo-Latin phrases while trying to balance her papal tiara on her head.” Top Girls opens Friday, and a $10 preview night is Thursday. The play runs through May 22. Visit okctheatrecompany.org for more information.

Top Girls 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and May 19-21, 2 p.m. May 22

WE’RE #2 AND PROUD OF IT! Oklahoma Gazette earned a second place award in the Best Newspaper in Oklahoma category* for 2015 from the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists.

(* Our category includes Oklahoma newspapers with a circulation of over 25,000. We congratulate the Tulsa World, which placed first in the category.)

As the only Oklahoma-owned newspaper among the three winners, we proudly commit ourselves to being fiercely local and independent. The loyal support of our readers and advertisers is the foundation of our success. We strive to provide our community with quality news, commentary and information within high journalistic standards.

CitySpace Theatre Civic Center Music Hall 201 N. Walker Ave. okctheatrecompany.org 405-297-2264 $10-$20

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ac t i v e

ARTS & CULTURE

Escape velocity Oklahoma City is locked into the escape room boom. By Greg Elwell

Despite her experience in psychological research, Michelle Upton swears she’s not writing a paper on the group dynamics of problem-solving while watching customers work their way through the rooms at Trapped OKC, 111 Harrison Ave. At least not consciously. “My friends ask me all the time if I’m secretly doing research,” she said. Considering she has taken time off from her studies to run the day-to-day business, it’s a fair question. But even if participants were lab rats, it’s all too much fun for anybody to want to complain.

Breakout success

Over the course of two years, Oklahoma City has added five escape room businesses: Trapped OKC, The Escape OKC, Escape Games OKC, Key Quest (a part of Laser Quest) and Clue Quest. And Bridget Trowbridge, The Escape OKC marketing director, said demand is only growing. Since launching in June 2014, The Escape OKC has opened locations in Tulsa; Omaha, Nebraska; Branson, Missouri; and, soon, Little Rock, Arkansas. The first location, 912 NW 23rd St., is also expanding. The business bought out the other half of the building, formerly occupied by a pest control company, to add two new rooms and a headquarters.

Recently, we had someone take apart our door mechanically. That’s not how you win the game. Bridget Trowbridge “We build all the games here,” Trowbridge said. “We aim for one new game every three months. If you’re not building new games, then you’re out of product.” For those who haven’t tried one, escape rooms are themed puzzles inside a locked room. It’s up to guests and their companions to solve puzzles, put together clues and find their way out in less than an hour. For those worried about being trapped, it’s all safe. Players can buzz their way out at any time, though that also ends the game. To pass inspection, rooms must have emergency exits in case of fire. The Escape’s Area 405 alien-themed room is so in-demand that owners are adding a copy of the original so teams can compete for fastest escape times. 28

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A team of problem-solvers tries to figure their way out of a locked-room puzzle at The Escape OKC. | Photo The Escape OKC / Provided

Happy gamers

Trowbridge said escape games are popular because people can do them together. “It’s an event night,” she said. “Multiple people can play, people of any age, and it’s an experience everyone can work on together.” Billy Colvin, owner of Escape Games OKC, 3705 W. Memorial Road, said the camaraderie is what makes the games so special. “We haven’t had anybody who was unhappy from not escaping,” he said. “You have to make sure they’re having fun and keep them from getting frustrated.” He said working together, even if teammates don’t make it out of the room, is a bonding experience. His job is to make sure there’s a sense of progress, which is why rooms are monitored and hints are given along the way. “It takes knowing the room,” he said. “Some places are just throwing them in a room and leaving them alone for an hour. Sometimes people need a little something to keep them going.” Colvin said some players just need a nudge in the right direction to send them on the right path. “They don’t know they need a clue, but you do,” he said. “That’s why you have to pay attention to the rooms.” That’s not the only reason. Trowbridge said even with all the rules laid out in front of them — nothing is hidden in the ceiling or under the floor, nothing needs to be broken — some people still get a bit overzealous. “The locked-in-a-room concept is thrilling, but it does create a sense of urgency. People start acting differently under pressure,” she said. “We still have people that do crazy things. Recently, we had someone

take apart our door mechanically. That’s not how you win the game.”

Locked in

Upton discovered escape rooms during a 2013 summer vacation to Nashville, Tennessee. Now, Trapped is moving into new digs in Bricktown and looking to expand its games in new directions. The classic locked-room puzzles will remain, but Upton and co-owner Matt Hollen are finding new ways to entertain themselves and their guests. “We do have a new game coming out that blends augmented reality and a scavenger hunt all together,” she said. “We have it set up for Bricktown, so you’re exploring the area with an ‘action pack’ and an iPad.” Through the lens of the tablet, teams work on puzzles and get to know the area. This summer, Trapped is partnering with restaurants in the district to host murder-mystery dinners. But Upton’s

newest toy is a laser maze. (Think Catherine Zeta-Jones in Entrapment). “You can play in one to five minutes,” she said. “It’s a really fun thing we have in the office, an absolute blast.” Once players make it out of a room, is there anything left to do? Escape rooms are businesses that require constant reinvestment of time and imagination, Colvin said. “There are Facebook groups where owners talk and give each other ideas or get advice,” he said. “They’ve just started doing conventions for escape rooms.” In many ways, though, it’s still a momand-pop-in-a-locked-room type of venture. Colvin uses his experience as a contractor to build out rooms and his love of board games to find new challenges for visitors. “There’s a lot of sitting, thinking and working it out in your head,” he said. “You just keep tweaking it until you get the room to work really well.”

The booming escape gaming industry has The Escape OKC expanding into new venues and new cities. | Photo The Escape OKC / Provided

Oklahoma’s Upscale Roadshow Garden Festival in the Park features gardeners selling locally grown plants as well as vendors. | Photo Garden Festival in the Park / Provided

Now Taking Vendor Applications Show: July 22-24, 2016 at cox convention center Deadline for Vendors: June 29

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Garden Festival in the Park, hosted by Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs, features a plant sale and vendor booths. By Christine Eddington

Oklahoma City’s Garden Festival in the first events were literally about a dozen Park, a premiere gardening event, celepeople swapping plants.” brates its 25th anniversary 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Now, in addition to commercial vendors, May 21 at Will Rogers Garden Exhibition six garden clubs and three plant societies bring plants to sell. Need irises? They will Center in Will Rogers Park, 3400 NW 36th St. be there, but organizers advise guests April Pratt has been involved with the arrive early to find the best selection. event since it took root a quarter century “The clubs always sell out,” Pratt said. ago. “Another consistent sellout is the bou“We’ve always been focused on gargainvillea from Prairie Winds. Everyone dening and gardening education,” said loves it.” Pratt, festival chairwoman. “We will have Other featured groups include The a variety of vendors who will help attendViola club, Late Bloomers Garden Club, ees enhance their gardening practices or Amaryllis club and vendors like Tall Grass Prairie Soap even answer questions, in the case of the Company and Wildhorse Oklahoma Gardeners, Canyon Farms and Garden Festival who will try their best to winery. in the Park answer any gardening All plants are locally question people may grown, and while the 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 21 have.” council does not require Will Rogers Garden The festival’s centervendors to bring organiExhibition Center piece is its extensive, cally grown plants, most Will Rogers Park locally grown plant sale are vigilant and respon3400 NW 36th St. featuring 40 vendors. sible when it comes to 405-943-0827 “This is the only chemical use. Free place you will see all of “The best way to learn these vendors and more about how the sellers in one place,” Pratt said. “There plants have been raised is to have a conare so many choices: bedding plants, versation with the grower,” Pratt said. herbs, flowers, vegetables and much “All of the vendors enjoy sharing their more. Our local garden clubs will be stories and practices with people.” Pratt and her committee began work selling specimens they’ve dug from their on this year’s event in January. She took gardens, which means they are proven growers.” over as chairwoman of the event about Plant sales will be outdoors. Once eight years ago. The Oklahoma City inside the event center, guests will find Council of Garden Clubs was the braineducation booths, including one manned child of metro gardener Marjorie by Oklahoma Gardeners. The Oklahoma Franklin. chapter of the Sierra Club offers free Many of the participating plant societyouth activities like seed ball making and ies and clubs use event sale proceeds to will offer free pollinator plants to kids. fund scholarships for horticulture stu“It used to be just a small, grassroots dents. Admission to Garden Festival in the plant sale hosted by the Oklahoma [City] Park is free. Council of Garden Clubs, which is still the organizing body,” Pratt said. “Our O kg a z e t t e . c o m | m ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

ARTS & CULTURE

film

Los Angeles film producer Mike Leahy has made three movies in Oklahoma. | Photo Strike Accord / Provided

Reel state

Hellraiser and Children of the Corn producer says Oklahoma is on its way to becoming an indie filmmaking haven. By Ben Luschen

Mike Leahy was unsure what he’d find when he made his first trip to the state while scouting a location for his film Great Plains. Three Oklahoma-based movies later, the producer thinks he has found an indie film gem. “As a producer, you put a star next to the places that were really easy and you found real talent, so there’s a star next to Oklahoma City,” Leahy said during a recent Oklahoma Gazette interview. “Anytime I get a script, one of the first things I think about is, ‘Can I make it in Oklahoma?’” Leahy has helped produce more than 25 projects for studios like Paramount, Universal and Disney. In 2009, he shifted his focus to producing smaller, independent films and launched Strike Accord with his wife, Lori. In addition to Great Plains, Leahy has shot two sequels to cult horror film franchises Hellraiser and Children of the Corn in the state. Each was made utilizing the Oklahoma Film & Music Office’s Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate — qualifying film, television and commercial productions receive a 35 to 37 percent cash rebate on costs associated with the projects, such as Oklahoma lodging, rentals and purchases, insurance and labor. It’s likely Leahy would never have considered filming here if the script for Great Plains was not set in the state. “I have relationships in other states and other rebates, but because it’s based on a true story that took place in Oklahoma, we thought we would give it a try,” he said. Leahy said as a producer, he’s always looking to expand into new territory. He had no connections or contacts in Oklahoma when he arrived with his father to scout for Great Plains, but after meeting 30

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with film professionals in the state, he felt confident he could create a quality movie. Great Plains is currently in post-production and set to debut at deadCENTER Film Festival in June. Hellraiser: Judgment and Children of the Corn: Runaway are being edited by separate Los Angeles studios. Once those processes are complete, Leahy said he will begin shopping the films around. The state film rebate is most beneficial for smaller films with budgets of $2-$3 million. Leahy said he has been able to stretch budgets by more than 30 percent through the program. However, he said the program threshold should be expanded if Oklahoma hopes to attract larger films. According to the Oklahoma Film & Music Office website, the program has only $5 million budgeted annually for rebates, available on a firstcome, first-serve basis. For comparison, almost all of the 10 highest grossing movies of 2015 had budgets exceeding $100 million. Still, Leahy said the offering is perfect for smaller-scale filmmakers like him. Leahy said he did a lot of regional casting for his films in Oklahoma. The third lead in Runaway is an Oklahoma actress. Another advantage the producer discovered includes a welcoming populace. Leahy said he has found the people he has worked with to be very kind and accommodating while they were shooting films in Oklahoma City. “There was a very open-arms attitude toward us in Oklahoma City,” he said. “I don’t know much about Tulsa, but I really enjoyed my time there in Oklahoma City.”

ARTS & CULTURE

20 16

books

From left Shelby Simpson, Jake McClure and Mary Wuestewald of Drunk Publishing at Southwest Oklahoma City Public Library | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Intoxicating prose

Three college students raise a toast and hopes with their launch of Drunk Publishing. By Christine Eddington

Once upon a time, three bright young students met while pursuing their master’s degrees and decided to form a boutique publishing company. When it came time to name it, they thought and thought, and then they thought some more. “We didn’t want to be thought of as a traditional publishing company, and we wanted our name to reflect that,” said Shelby Simpson, the Oklahoma City company’s first (and thus far only) author, co-founder and resident extrovert. Simpson and her cohorts, Jake McClure and Mary Wuestewald, thought Drunk Publishing was funny and meaningful to them, but not in the most obvious way. They’re a literary bunch, after all. “We thought about Baudelaire and his poem with the line ‘Get drunk and stay that way. On what? On wine, poetry, virtue, whatever,’ and something clicked,” Simpson said. Her book, Good Globe: Time for a Change of Hemisphere, is Drunk Publishing’s pilot project, and her forthcoming book will be its second. The Charles Baudelaire poem she quoted is called “Get Drunk.” They’re all avid readers, and their preferences are all over the map, sort of like Simpson’s stories. Wustewald is the yin to Simpson’s yang and speaks with a calm wisdom and maturity beyond her 25 years. “We want to do more than a traditional publishing house would do for its authors,” Wuestewald said. “The industry standard is that a writer, if they’re lucky, will earn 10 percent of a book’s sales. We want our authors to earn 50 percent.” Simpson agreed and explained further. “I’ve been a writer my whole life, and the day I learned about how the publishing busi-

ness works, I fell apart,” Simpson said. “Why would I want to be in a club that treats its members like that? I spoke with one of my professors about it and I came up with the idea to crack the code.”

Code crackers

They intentionally have not met up with or even read much about, called or otherwise shown any interest in how other, more established denizens of the publishing world operate. They decided, pragmatically, to simply view books as products and market them that way. That is, after they carefully select works they love and can throw the full force of their collective brainpower behind them. What they’ve learned in their first year could fill a book. “For one thing, editing is a long process. And formatting a book for Kindle is a long process,” said McClure, the quietest member of the group. “We want every part of what we do to highlight Oklahoma. … The artist for the cover of Good Globe, Jenkin Hammond, is an Oklahoman.” When asked what else they learned, Wuestewald took a deep breath before she spoke. “ D e a l i ng w it h Amazon print is harder than dealing with Kindle,” she said. “The print-to-order percentage structure is foggy, partly because there are so many distribution channels like libraries, wholesale, discount bookstores, Amazon Direct, local stores and our own

website, and you get a different percentage for each one.” Another facet of the business is calculating the cost of producing the book itself. “We know we can easily afford about 300 pages, or about 40 chapters,” Wuestewald said. The fledgling publishing house has learned to be judicious with blank pages, which cost the company almost as much as printed pages and can dramatically affect the bottom line, including the project’s marketing budget. “Book marketing is exciting and heartbreaking,” Wuestewald said. “You’ve got to get the book to reviewers three to six months before it’s published.” Lots of reviews are pay-to-play, she said. Some will even give publishers the option to post the review or not, based on if they like it. “We’ve been reviewed by some of the best,” Wuestewald said. “We didn’t get in on time for The New York Times, but we got an amazing review from Kirkus Reviews.” Here’s an excerpt: “Simpson offers a lively, inventive, and often hilarious book about her around-the-world adventures. In the first chapter, she double-dog-dares readers to plunge into ‘a world of bloated goats, warm Coca-Cola, dust facials and unpredictable sleeping arrangements.’” Indeed, Simpson’s story collection is engaging, boisterous and sometimes shocking. About the lax airport security in Fiji, she wrote, “I felt like I could have worn a marijuana jacket with a hat made out of dynamite sticks and carried in a bag full of teenagers with price tags stuck to their foreheads.” Simpson has been all over the world and wants us all to travel, too, which becomes quite clear in her book. But what she really wants is to be a successful author. She’s enough of a realist to understand that talent alone won’t get her there. The drive and determination of at Drunk Publishing very well might, though.

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ANTI-AGING SERvICES

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

Movie in the Park: The Good Dinosaur, (US, 2015, dir. Peter Sohn) a dinosaur named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend; bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets or enjoy concessions, 7 p.m. May 14. Mustang Parks & Recreation, 1201 N. Mustang Rd., Mustang, 405-376-3411, cityofmustang.org. SAT Movie Night at the Market: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, (US, 1986, dir. John Hughes) a high school boy is determined to have the day off from school; 30th anniversary celebration of the classic film including a special interview with John Hughes and other cast members, 2 & 7 p.m. May 15. Cinemark Tinseltown, 6001 N. Martin Luther King Ave., 405-424-0461, cinemark.com. SUN

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Gladiator, (US, 2000, dir. Ridley Scott) a Roman general is betrayed and his family is murdered by an emperor’s corrupt son so he goes to Rome to seek revenge, 7 p.m. May 17. Harkins Theatre, 150 E. Reno Ave., 405-231-4747, harkinstheatres.com. TUE

Schelly Hill, R.N.

Shoppes at Northpark, 12028 May Ave. 405-751-8930 Open Mon-sat www.skincareokc.com

HAPPENINGS

Gift Certificates Available

A Banjo Salute to Steve Martin Steve Martin is best known as a superb comedian and actor, but he is also a talented banjo player. The Banjo World of Steve Martin, an exhibit at the American Banjo Museum in OKC, highlights Martin’s skills and history as a musician and banjo ambassador. Lucas Ross, a comedian and banjo player from Minco, performs songs from Martin’s early career in A Banjo Salute to Steve Martin, 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 9 E. Sheridan Ave. The event is free with museum admission, which is free-$8. A family package (two adults and two children age 5 and up) is also available for $15. Visit americanbanjomuseum.com or call 405604-2793. Saturday Photo bigstockphoto.com

BOOKS Poet Valerie Wetlaufer Reading and Signing, author reads and signs her second book, Call Me by My Other Name, 6:30 p.m. May 12. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU Tami Sauer Book Signing, bestselling author Tammi Sauer signs latest children’s book I Love Cake!, 10:15 a.m. May 14. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT Poetry Workshop, featuring speaker Todd Fuller, poet and associate director for research development at the University of Oklahoma, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., May 14. Twin Hills Golf and Country Club, 3401 NE 36th St., 405-424-5243, twin-hills.com. SAT

James C. Meade Friends’ Lecture Series: The 21st Century Art Museum, fascinating panel discussion features some of the most innovative leaders in the museum profession such as, Julian Zugazagoitia, Kaywin Feldman and Judith M. Koke; learn about the evolution of art museums and the expectations for future growth and advancement, 6-7 p.m. May 11. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. WED Plant Walk Series: Wildflowers, explore the beauty and benefits of growing wildflowers; expert Jody Lesch leads a walk around the gardens showing examples of plantings and discussing the benefits they offer, noon-1 p.m. May 13. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. FRI LIVE! on the Plaza, join the Plaza District the second Friday of each month for an art walk with artists, live music, pop-up shops, live performances and more, 7-11 p.m. Sept. 11. Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., 405-367-9403, plazadistrict.org. FRI Borrow a Camera Lens Day, hone your photography skills in the lush gardens and wildlife habitats; borrow a camera lens and snap away, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 14. The Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Pl., 405-424-3344, okczoo.com. SAT Okie Sampler, showcases items from across the state with more than 50 vendors along with inflatables, pony rides and other family activities, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 14. Chester’s Party Barn & Farm, 5201 Cimarron Rd. NW, Piedmont, 405-373-1595, chesterspartybarn.com. SAT Indie Trunk Show, trunk show featuring local crafters, artists, makers and local business owners of Oklahoma; find handmade goods, furniture/home decor, small boutiques/businesses and community organizations, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 14. Cox Pavilion State Fairgrounds, 3001 General Pershing Blvd. SAT Marcus Dupree Autograph Event, thought of as one of the most promising running backs to ever play for the Sooners, Marcus Dupree joins Icons of Oklahoma and Sooner Spectator magazine for an autograph event, 2 p.m. May 14. Icons of OKC, 5820 N. May Ave., 405-601-2609. SAT Photography Series: Photography 101, join passionate and experienced photographer Don Risi as

FILM Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies, featuring exclusive Dead & Co. footage and an interview with David Lemieux on the making of the July 1978: The Complete Recordings Box Set along with the previously unreleased Grateful Dead concert from Sullivan Stadium, Foxborough, MA 7/2/89, Cinemark Tinseltown, 6001 N. Martin Luther King Ave., 405-424-0461, cinemark.com. WED Rocco and His Brothers, (US, 1961, dir. Luchino Visconti) the story of an impoverished southern Italian family that migrates to Milan in hopes of securing a more prosperous future but finds themselves beset by a series of personal tragedies, 7 p.m. May 12. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU Francofonia, (FR, 2015, dir. Aleksandr Sokurov) the story of a pair of former enemies, Louvre director Jacques Jaujard and Nazi officer Count Franziskus Wolff-Metternich, who have been brought together during the Nazi occupation of France, 5:30 p.m. May 13-14; 2 p.m. May 15. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SUN High-Rise, (US, 2015, dir. Ben Wheatley) Robert Laing moves into a London apartment and attempts to become friends with the other residents, but soon, an all-out war starts, 8 p.m. May 13-14; 5:30 p.m., May 15. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SAT

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Larry Bierman Poetry Reading Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO) can trace its roots to local poetry. Poet Larry Bierman is one of IAO’s founding members. His fifth published collection, Broken Rain, was released this year. Bierman reads from Broken Rain 2 p.m. Sunday at The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., in Norman. Admission is free. Visit pasnorman.org or call 405-3079320. Sunday Photo The Depot / Provided

he teaches you the basics of photography; turn a mediocre snapshot into a beautiful photograph, considering various aspects such as composition and lighting, 2-4 p.m. May 14. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. SAT Come Together, each OKC District is invited to participate with one restaurant and bar showcasing their menus; coming together to support the revitalization of yet one more community, the 39th District, 6-9 p.m. June 14. Warehouse39, 2215 NW 39th St. SAT Star Wars Party, come dressed as your favorite Star Wars movie character, 8 p.m. May 14. FlashBack RetroPub, 814 W. Sheridan Ave. flashbackretropub. com. SAT Pink Tie Ball, an evening of elegance impacting programs and research for Susan G. Komen Central and Western Oklahoma; silent auction, formal dinner, dinner program, survivor celebrations and more, 6-11 p.m. May 14. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT Immersive Event with Summer Wheat, Oklahoma Contemporary brings Wheat’s works to life through immersive storytelling, dance and design — all while guests enjoy an open top-shelf car and a signature cocktail inspired by her work, 6:30 p.m. May 18. Oklahoma Contemporary, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. WED

FOOD Lunch & Learn, hear Dave Hepp, vice president of Riversport Adventures, share information about the new attraction, noon May 12. Oklahoma City Community Foundation, 1000 N. Broadway Ave., 405-235-5603, occf.org. THU Drinks & Dialogue, learn more about the upcoming ballot issue while enjoying offerings from food trucks and beverages from an Oklahoma City brewery; hosted by Oklahomans for Food, Farm & Family, 7 p.m. May 12. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., 405-232-6506, okcfarmersmarket. com. THU Art After 5, enjoy the OKC skyline along with live music, friends and cocktails on top of OKCMOA, 5-11 p.m., May 12. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU Rosé & Cheese, celebrate the arrival of spring with a tasting of rosé wines paired with cheeses from around the world, 6:45-8:15 p.m. May 13. Forward Foods-Norman, 2001 W. Main St., Norman, 405-3211007, forwardfoods.com. FRI Beats & Bites, outdoor food truck and live entertainment event, local vendors and wineries, beer garden, bounce houses and more, 6 p.m. May 14. Riverwind Casino, 1544 State Highway 9, Norman, 405-322-6000, riverwind.com. SAT Family Baking Class, hands-on baking class for moms, dads and kids; roll, cut and cook doughnut dough, pipe and fill macaroons, 1-3 p.m. May 15. Belle Kitchen, 7509 N. May Ave., 405-430-5484, belle-kitchen.com. SUN Gluten-Free Tasting Expo & Health Fair, sample gluten-free products including foods, vitamins, bodycare and much more, 2-6 p.m. May 15. Natural Grocers, 7001 N. May Ave., 405-840-0300, naturalgrocers.com. SUN Healthy Gluten-Free Living Seminar: Shopping Tips and Meal Planning for Successful Gluten-Free Living, learn the basics of gluten-free living. Natural Grocers, 7001 N. May Ave., 405-840-0300, naturalgrocers.com. SUN Anthem Brewing Beer Dinner, one of the tastiest events of the year in downtown Oklahoma City; The Museum Cafe chef Henry Boudreaux pairs up with Anthem Brewing Company, one of the most acclaimed local breweries, to bring guests the perfect complimentary beer tasting dishes, 6-9 p.m. May 18. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. WED

YOUTH Be the Dinosaur, exhibit features video game stations that require players to decide if they want to be an herbivore or a carnivore. The decision leads them on a virtual adventure for survival — deciding to eat the wrong plant or turning the wrong corner could spell the end of the game, which is set in an immersive recreation of the Cretaceous period. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, snomnh.ou.edu. SAT The Jungle Book, (US, 1967, dir. Wolfgang Reitherman) dress as your favorite Jungle Book character and enjoy the classic Disney film; along with jungle games, activities and treats before the movie, 6-10 p.m. May 13. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. FRI

Beginner’s Cookie Decorating Class If you enjoy decorating cookies and find food that looks like other food charming, you’re in luck. Teresa Laudermilk from Sister Teresa’s Custom Cut Cookies is a baking enthusiast who has been decorating sugar cookies with royal icing for over 25 years. Learn to disguise cookies as pancakes, ice cream, doughnuts and more at a beginners’ class 9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at The Craft Room, 3017 N. Lee Ave., Suite F. Visit facebook.com/sisterteresascookies, call 817-4552972 or email Teresa at teresa.laudermilk@ gmail.com. Saturday Photo bigstockphoto.com

DATE NIGHT Take your date night to a whole new level. See all our packages at www.wilshiregun.com or call and schedule yours tonight at 405-608-4999.

Drop-In Art: Still-Life Flowers, join guest artists each Saturday as they interact with families to create works of art inspired by the museum, 1-4 p.m. May 14. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT Fairy Ball, children are invited to dress for a Fairy Ball to create an evening of visual delights, music and dancing, 7-9 p.m. May 14. First Christian Church of Oklahoma City, 3700 N. Walker Ave., 405-5256551. SAT Kids Bowling, kids bowl free all summer; program designed to give back to the community by providing a safe, secure and fun way for kids to spend time this summer. Sooner Bowling Center, 550 24th Ave., Norman, 405-360-3634. SUN Tiny Tuesdays: All About Me, join guest artists for come-and-go, open-ended art making geared toward children ages 2-5, 10 a.m.-noon May 17. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. TUE Art Adventures, youths are invited to experience art through books and related projects for children ages 3-5, 10:30 a.m. May 17. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/ fjjma. TUE

PERFORMING ARTS Lenny Schmidt, stand-up comedy, 8 p.m. May 11-12; 8 & 10:30 p.m. May 13-14. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405-239-4242, loonybincomedy.com. WED -SAT 4000 Miles, after suffering a major loss while on a cross-country bike trip, 21-year-old Leo seeks solace from his feisty 91-year-old grandmother Vera in her West Village apartment; over the course of a month, these unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder and ultimately reach each other, 8 p.m. May 13-14, 20-21, 26-27, June 3-4; 2 p.m. May 29; 7:30 p.m. June 2. Carpenter Square Theatre, 806 W. Main St., 405232-6500, carpentersquare.com. FRI Innocence Lost, four-part performance art series by artist Valerie Sharp explores one’s loss of innocence, 8 p.m. May 13. Kasum Contemporary Fine Arts, 1706 NW 16th St., 405-604-6602, kasumcontemporary. com. FRI Backwards Broadway, an evening of genderbending, ethnicity-twisting, mind-blowing takes on Broadway hits performed by some of OKC’s finest musicians, 8 p.m., May 13-14. The Paramount Theatre, 11 N. Lee Ave., 405-637-9389, theparamountokc.com. FRI-SAT Classic Radio Theatre, enjoy beverages and hors d’oeuvres and travel back in time to the golden days of radio; live performance of scripts from radio shows from the 1930s to 1960s, 7 p.m. May 14. Actor’s Casting & Talent Services, 30 NE 52nd St., 405-702-0400, actorscasting.com. SAT

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go to okgazette.com for full listings!

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | M ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

calendar VISUAL ARTS Awake, exhibit features works by Christie Owen and Brandi Downham; immersed in the language of unity and balance, May 13-June 4. Graphite Gallery, 1751 NW 16th St., 405-919-0578, graphiteokcart.com. Buffed: The Aesthetics of Removal, a series of prints inspired by the beauty of graffiti removal, presented by Oklahoma artist Randall Barnes. The Project Box, 3003 Paseo St., 405-609-3969, theprojectboxokc. com. Cityscapes and Abstractions, fine art photography by Fran Barton, 7 p.m. May 13. Blue Mountain Health, 1745 NW 16th St., Suite C, 405-602-0266, bluemountainhealthokc.com. FRI

Introduction to Dynamic Focus Shooting Just because someone has a gun doesn’t mean that person will efficiently use it in an emergency. The Principles and Fundamentals of the Dynamic Focus Shooting Course teaches students how to respond in worst-case defense scenarios. A four-hour class begins 5 p.m. Friday at Wilshire Gun, 615 W. Wilshire Blvd. Registration is $150. Visit gettrainedbeready.com or call 405-608-4999. Friday Photo bigstockphoto.com

continued from page 33 Broadway Tonight, UCO’s Broadway Tonight series presents singer Linda Eder in concert, 7:30 p.m. May 14. UCO Mitchell Hall Theater, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-974-2000, uco.edu. SAT Carnival Around the World 2016, an evening of dance performances that feature ballroom, jazz, salsa, Argentine tango and more, 7:30 p.m. May 14. International Dance Studio, 3001 NW 73rd St., 405-831-9752, idancestudio.com. SAT

ACTIVE Drop-In Yoga, yoga class in the museum’s galleries, 5:45-6:45 p.m. May 12. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU Bedlam Baseball, Oklahoma Sooners vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys, 6:30 p.m. May 13. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, 405-2181000. FRI Sailing at Lake Hefner, sunset sailing and lessons aboard a full-size sailboat, 5:30 p.m. May 14. Lake Hefner East Wharf, 9101 Lake Hefner Parkway. SAT Walk from Obesity, set your own pace for this 1-mile walk or 5k run, 6 a.m. May 14. The Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Pl., 405-424-3344, okczoo. com. SAT March for Babies, March of Dimes event; a day of fun with people who share a passion for improving the health of babies, 8 a.m. May 14. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. SAT Miracle Miles, 5K and 10K run raises money for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, 8 a.m. May 14. Stars & Stripes Park, 3701 S. Lake Hefner Drive, 405297-2756, okc.gov/parks. SAT 2016 Walk to Cure Arthritis, nationwide signature event supports the mission to conquer arthritis by spreading awareness and raising fund for research; 3-mile and 1-mile course with arthritis information and activities for the family; pet friendly, 8 a.m. May 14. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, 405-218-1000. SAT Run for Recognition 5K, 5K and 1-mile fun run benefiting Special Olympics Oklahoma, 8 a.m. May 14. MTM Recognition, 3201 SE 29th St. SAT Movement Heals: The Positive Effect Of Physical Fitness On Autoimmune Diseases, learn how physical and mental fitness positively affects the body when dealing with autoimmune diseases, 1-2 p.m. May 14. Natural Grocers, 7001 N. May Ave., 405-8400300, naturalgrocers.com. SAT OKC Dodgers vs. Las Vegas, minor league baseball, 7:05 p.m. May 14-16, 11:05 a.m. May 17. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, 405218-1000. SAT-TUE OKC Energy vs. San Antonio, professional soccer, 6 p.m. May 15. Taft Stadium, 2901 NW 23rd St. SUN

Dances With Brushes Gallery Opening, long time Norman artist Mitsuno Ishii Reedy began her career in mid-1970s painting award-winning portraits, still lifes and landscapes for collectors throughout the United States, 6-9 p.m. May 13. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., Norman, 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org. Erratic Fieldwork: Doing Art and Art History in the Anthropocene, exhibit by Robert Bailey and Todd Stewart. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. Explanations?, features artwork from local abstract artist Beth Hammack; inspired by juxtaposition, she utilizes color combinations and implied movement that entertains the eye. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-528-6336, jrbartgallery.com. Featured Artists, Linda Guenther’s Trip’n with Linda, Jan Hellwege’s Unforgettable, Adoptable Dogs and Verna Fuller’s Birds and Birds’ Nests. Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo St., 405-601-7474, contemporaryartgalleryokc.com.

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Posed & Composed: Portraits of Women from the Permanent, exhibition of twelve portraits by eleven American artists covers the period from just before World War I through the early 1980s; the paintings are not arranged chronologically, but according to commonalities in pose, gesture, color, composition and subject matter. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. Scattering Light — The Optics of Clouds, oil paintings by David Holland focus on how light interacts with clouds and also features educational components. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. Still Painting Oklahoma’s Wild West, featured guest artist Gene Doughtery; works include bison, Indian dancers, horses and quail in watercolor and oil. Paseo Gallery One, 2927 Paseo St., 405-524-4544, facebook.com/paseogalleryone. The New Dance, KB Kueteman’s unique acrylic paintings conceptualize his personal expression of American Indian culture. Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo St., 405-601-7474, contemporaryartgalleryokc.com. Transcendence Over Diagnosis, examination of the “subhuman” experience; sculptures communicate human dignity, empathy, the energy of life, the intuitions of spirit, the transcendence of diagnosis and to reflect inquiries about our existence. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-528-6336, jrbartgallery.com.

Free Family Make + Take Art Project: Super SONIC, outdoor activities for the family include projects such as sun prints, stamped windsocks, paper tambourines, figure paintings, chalk art and more, 1-4 p.m. May 14. Oklahoma Contemporary’s Campbell Art Park, NW 11th Street and Broadway Drive, oklahomacontemporary.org. SAT Handmade jewelry, beautiful handmade jewelry by Carol Egger. 50 Penn Place Gallery, 1900 Northwest Expressway, Suite 113-R , 405-848-5567, 50pennplacegallery.com. In One Ear, a kaleidoscope of overlapping video clips in constant flux, ruled by a soundtrack broadcast on radio frequency 99.9 FM; David Steele Overholt chose more than 200 mostly ’80s and ’90s video clips to conjure nostalgia among generations raised in front of the TV. Oklahoma Contemporary Showroom, 1146 N. Broadway Drive, 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. Jerry Piper, mixed media artist focuses on texture, design and brilliant manipulation of color. The Purple Loft Art Gallery, 514 NW 28th St., Suite 400, 405412-7066. NEXT COURSE! A taste of the epic life that awaits, solo show of whimsical artwork by OSU alum Shel Wagner celebrates and inspires new graduates or anyone looking ahead to a fresh chapter. Stillwater Multi Arts Center, 1001 S. Duck St., Stillwater. Norman Open Studios, showcases the studios and workspaces of seven Norman artists: Bobby Anderson, Alejandro Bagajewicz, Ethan Elgersma, Carlos Mendoza, Haley Prestifilippo and Jason and Amanda Wells, 6-10 p.m. May 13; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 14. Mainsite Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St., Norman, 405-360-1162, mainsite-art.com. Nuno Felted Scarf Workshop with Becci Cucullu, an introduction to the basics of felt making; learn techniques and felting qualities of a variety of fibers and how combining different fibers creates interesting textures and color, 10 a.m. May 15. Paseo School of Art, 3110-A N. Paseo St., 405-205-8990, paseoschoolofart.com. SUN O. Gail Poole: Rediscovered Oklahoma Master, Over the course of five decades, O. Gail Poole built, tore down and rebuilt his artistic style with breathtaking regularity, creating one of the most diverse bodies of work of his generation; a head-turning collection of the master’s portraiture and landscapes. GaylordPickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405-235-4458, oklahomaheritage.com. Oklahoma, Seen and Unseen, artist Deborah Burian captures light and atmosphere with watercolor, achieving luminous effects that suggest immediacy and freshness. Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo St., 405-601-7474, contemporaryartgalleryokc.com. Our City, Our Collection: Building the Museum’s Lasting Legacy, exhibit tells the story of the museum’s history; including artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Rembrandt van Rijn, Gustave Courbet and more. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

Yoga in the Gardens, all-levels Vinyasa-style class, 5:45-6:45 p.m. May 17. Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-297-3995, myriadgardens.com. TUE

Perceptual Art Going Large, artist Jason Wilson presents his lifesize signature style of colorful geometric shapes. Paseo Gallery One, 2927 Paseo St., 405-524-4544, facebook.com/paseogalleryone.

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

Biggest Latin Party in OKC! Prepare yourself for the Biggest Latin Party in OKC!, featuring the best of salsa, merengue, bachata and kizomba. The event is hosted by Salsa Maritza, a Latin dance studio run by instructor Maritza Rodriguez. Salsa Maritza hosts Latin nights of dancing and music at venues around the metro. Free beginner dance lessons are 9:30 p.m., and the party runs 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday at DZP 3Sixty Event Center, 7312 Cherokee Plaza. Tickets are $10. Visit salsaokc.com or call 956-457-4270. Friday Photo bigstockphoto.com

Calendar submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 405528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@ okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

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MUSIC

Freewheelin’ Dylan

On a Night Like This 8 p.m. May 20 Cain’s Ballroom 423 N. Main St., Tulsa

Oklahoma musician Steve Ripley assembles an all-star lineup to celebrate the work of Bob Dylan.

cainsballroom.com 918-584-2306 $30-$35

By Ben Luschen As a boy, a Bob Dylan poster held a prominent place in Steve Ripley’s Glencoe room. Back then, Ripley, who grew up to become a noted musician, producer, engineer and founding member of double platinum-selling country rock band The Tractors, never imagined that he’d tour alongside America’s most revered living songwriter and perform with him in front of 20,000 people. Yet there’s a sense that it was all meant to be. Ripley, a Tulsa legend in his own right, was the natural choice to help honor Dylan musically after George Kaiser Family Foundation and the University of Tulsa announced they recently acquired the Bob Dylan Archive, which includes 6,000 items from the artist’s music career that spans almost six decades. Ripley leads an all-star lineup in On a Night Like This, an official Dylan tribute show celebrating The Bob Dylan Archive and paying respect to the iconic musician’s deep, celebrated catalogue. Thirty artists, including John Fullbright, Jimmy LaFave, J.D.

nugget of wisdom. “He just kind of looked off and said, ‘You know, we’re just out here, serving these songs,’” Ripley recalled. “It was a little uncharacteristic of him, and it stuck with me. That’s the M.O. here, to let [his] songs stand on their own.”

Tulsa home

The decision to house Dylan’s personal archive at the University of Tulsa surprised some. In a prepared statement, the Minnesota native and resident of California said his love for Oklahoma-born folk icon Woody Guthrie was an important factor. “I’m glad that my archives, which have been collected all these years, have finally found a home and are to be included with the works of Woody Guthrie and especially alongside all the valuable artifacts from the Native American Nations,” Dylan said in the statement. “To me, it makes a lot of sense and it’s a great honor.”

Mike Love center and Bruce Johnston right and The Beach Boys band return to Oklahoma City May 21. | Photo Udo Spreitzenbarth / Provided

Longtime Oklahoma musician and engineer Steve Ripley toured and recorded with Bob Dylan during Dylan’s Shot of Love tour in the early ’80s. | Photo Kelly Kerr / Provided

John Fullbright will perform as part of Steve Ripley’s house band at the May 20 Bob Dylan tribute in Tulsa. | Photo Vicki Farmer / Provided Bob Dylan second from left and Steve Ripley center rehearse with others in the early ’80s. | Photo Steve Ripley / Provided

McPherson, John Moreland and The Red Dirt Rangers, will perform many of Dylan’s greatest hits 8 p.m. May 20 at historic Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St., in Tulsa. Ripley also assembled a house band for the event. Bassist Davey Faragher and drummer Pete Thomas, both frequent Elvis Costello collaborators, join the band with Fullbright, Terry Buffalo Ware, Daniel Walker, Jimmy Karstein and The McCrary Sisters. Ripley stopped short of saying he and Dylan are pals, but they are familiar with each other. The guitarist spent a year touring and playing with Dylan on Dylan’s Shot of Love tour in the early ’80s. They have run into each other a few times, and those instances were always cordial. One of those run-ins occurred after a concert at Tulsa’s Brady Theater. The two caught each other up on their lives and families before Dylan imparted an unexpected

When Ripley first heard the news, he did not believe it. He recalls Dylan mentioning in the ’80s the massive amount of stuff — handwritten manuscripts, notebooks, photographs, instruments, unreleased recordings — he saved through the years. The first thing Dylan spoke to Ripley about was his relationships with Oklahoma musicians and friends Leon Russell and J.J. Cale. “I call him Oklahoma Bob,” he said. “He does love Oklahoma. Whether that was a little or a lot or none of the influence, I have no idea. But I don’t think it hurt.” Organizers started laying the groundwork for On a Night Like This before the archive news was made public. Ripley was contacted by Tulsa’s Woody Guthrie Center and George Kaiser Family Foundation officials about The Bob Dylan Archive while the news was still a secret. Together, they worked on the On a Night Like This event. The Tractors founder lives on a

farm outside of Tulsa and has lowered his public profile in recent years, but he could not turn down an opportunity to organize an event like this. “I usually say no to all of that stuff, not because of any reason, just simply because I don’t do that anymore,” Ripley said. “I haven’t played a gig in quite a while.”

Living legend

John Fullbright reminisced about the dark, curly haired silhouette on the blue cover of Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits, the most coveted album in his mother’s record collection. “It’s kind of what lit the fire for me to get into songwriting in a large way,” he said. “I played that record nonstop and learned a handful of songs.” Fullbright, who released his most recent album, Songs, in 2014, grew up just outside of Okemah, Woody Guthrie’s birthplace. In addition to playing his own solo Dylan tribute, Fullbright also will be a contributing member of Ripley’s house band.

Fullbright didn’t hesitate when Ripley asked him to participate. Hearing Ripley speak passionately about Dylan and the event made the decision an easy one. “It’s his creative genius that’s kind of putting everything together,” Fullbright said. “I’m just along for the ride and the really cool experience that will come from it.” Fans can expect more than just live versions of Dylan’s greatest hits. Fullbright said there will be a surprise visual component to the show. He also added that all the performers have their own histories and bonds with Dylan’s music. There will be no shortage of passion in Cain’s Ballroom that night. The biggest challenge Ripley encountered while putting the show together was finding a way to pare down Dylan’s massive body of work into a single, defining tribute. “I’ve always said in art it’s what you leave out, not what you put in, but this runs contrary to that because leaving out some key songs — you just can’t play them all,” he said. “We whittled and whittled, and it’s still too many and I’m still whittling today.” In a music year that has seen the deaths of icons like David Bowie, Merle Haggard and Prince, Ripley said he’s glad they’re taking the time to appreciate a legend like Dylan while he’s alive and healthy. “It’s an important thing, but not to be dwelled on because of impending doom,” he said, “but to give weight to the stature of a few of these people in the cosmos and the universe I think we’re extremely lucky to be among.”

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Stinger king

Scorpions guitarist and founding member Rudolf Schenker brings “Wind of Change” to Rocklahoma. By Ben Luschen

It is unfair to lump German rock band said. “They’re not coming with tanks and Scorpions in with the sometimes-maligned making war; they’re coming with guitars hair metal scene of the 1980s. and making music.” For one, Scorpions predates the genre. Guitarist Rudolf Schenker founded the group New crowd as a hard rock act in Hannover, Germany, in The last time Scorpions performed in 1965. It has become known as a pioneering Oklahoma was literally supposed to be its force behind heavier, final appearance in the melodic rock music and is state, as part of its 2010 fareon tour celebrating its 50th well tour. Schenker, the only Rocklahoma anniversary. member to participate on every album and in each Additionally, the Rock May 27-29 and Roll Hall of Famers tour, told Gazette before the Catch the Fever Music never put style over subband’s Zoo Amphitheatre Festival Grounds stance, a common gripe show that it wanted to go out 1421 W. 450 Road, Pryor among critics about bands at the top of its game. It had rocklahoma.com of that era. Sure, Scorpions just released Sting in the Tail, 866-310-2288 members had long hair in a new album that it was es$85-$690 pecially proud of. the ’80s and they wore a barn worth of shiny black However, as that tour progressed, Schenker said he was taken leather. But from the beginning, Schenker always envisioned his band as a German aback by the outpouring of strong, youthful fan support. ambassador in a post-Hitler world. The band returns to Oklahoma for the “It was unbelievable,” he said. “There first time in several years when it performs were so many people; sold out, sold out, sold May 28 at the Rocklahoma music and out. The most amazing thing was at the front camping festival in Pryor. of our stage were kids like 16, 18, 20, 24.” Schenker, 67, was exuberant as he disAround that time, the band also launched cussed Scorpions history during a recent its official Facebook page. Through that, the Oklahoma Gazette phone interview. In the group discovered that 80 percent of its early days, when the act toured outside Facebook fans were between age 18 and 28. “We said, ‘Hey, fucking hell, that’s unbeGerman borders, it was vitally important to him that bandmates showcased his homelievable,’” he said. “We’re staying onstage land’s fresh and peaceful attitude. and we’re seeing a new generation.” “We wanted to show them that there is a The younger crowd was encouraging for new generation coming from Germany,” he Schenker, who, in 2010, feared that the rock

List your event in

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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.

Submit your listings online at okgazette.com or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

䠀䐀䈀伀堀䤀一䜀 German rock act Scorpions headline Rocklahoma May 28 in Pryor. | Photo Century Media / Provided

band era was coming to an end. Kids were too in love with synthetic, computerized sounds — or so he thought. It was not the first time Schenker believed rock bands were too good to last. When he started Scorpions, he said he felt like the trend would wind down within a decade. As time went on, however, he discovered rock music is undying. Though once fearful of the effect technology could have on the popularity of his band and others like it, he now thanks sites like YouTube for preserving the Scorpions’ legacy and passing it down to a younger generation of fans. Another timeless appeal of rock bands is the exciting sense of belonging to a group. Everyone needs friends. Everyone wants to feel like they belong. Schenker recalled growing up with great solo acts like Elvis Presley and Little Richard. “I tried playing guitar,” he said. “I was also a soccer player, but for me, it was not so interesting being alone and making music. When The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and The Pretty Things came, I said, ‘Fucking hell, that’s fantastic.’ Being a part of a gang, four or five guys traveling around the world and making music, that’s what I want to do.”

Rock idols

Schenker remembers fighting with Scorpions drummer Rudy Lenners in his dressing room after a show in 1970s London. He can’t remember what they argued about, just that the heated exchange was about something that happened during their gig. Then, over the radio, the now-iconic lead-in to Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” broke up their shouts. Nothing else mattered at that moment except Jimmy Page’s guitar. More than 30 years later, Schenker was in another London dressing room, thinking about the show he just played, when he heard the door open. He turned to see Page smiling. Of all the celebrities and dignitaries Schenker has had a chance to see, none was

more significant to him than meeting Page. “This was something very, very special for me because I’m a big fan of Jimmy Page,” he said. “For me, [Led Zeppelin] is the No. 1 most influential rock band in the world.”

䴀䄀夀㈀㄀

Peaceful revolution

What Page meant to Schenker, the Scorpions meant to a newly reunited Germany. The Berlin Wall, dividing the Federal Republic of Germany on the west from the Sovietoccupied German Democratic Republic on the east, came down in June 1990. At the same time, the act released the most popular song in its catalogue: “Wind of Change.” It was an anthem for overcoming hate and oppressive rule. “It became the soundtrack of the most peaceful revolution on Earth,” he said. “No bullets, nothing.” But the band didn’t just respond to change. It helped usher it in. Two years earlier, in 1988, Scorpions played in Saint Petersburg, then known as Leningrad. It was only the second non-American Western act to perform in the Soviet Union. The first was England’s Uriah Heep in 1987. (Popular American country musician and longtime Oklahoma resident Roy Clark beat them all, however, when he performed 18 sold-out concerts in the Soviet Union in 1976. Most Western music acts were banned from touring the country until the mid-’80s.) In 1989, Scorpions headlined the historic Moscow World Peace Festival alongside Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne and others. “You can’t be closer to history than we were,” Schenker said. “I think that’s the point.” In a world that once again seems in flux, Schenker said he will never completely commit to retirement. “The world is turning,” he said. “It’s changing. If there is a new gap which says, ‘Hey guys. Jump in here; this is something very special,’ we’ll do it.”

昀椀爀攀氀愀欀攀愀爀攀渀愀⸀挀漀洀昀椀爀攀氀愀欀攀⸀愀爀攀渀愀

昀椀爀攀氀愀欀攀愀爀攀渀愀 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | m ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

MUSIC

event

Blue Note Lounge expects a full house May 22 for The Dictators NYC concert. | Photo Koldo Orue / Provided

Dictators rule

Blue Note Lounge welcomes historic players from New York’s proto-punk scene. By Ben Luchen

The people at Blue Note Lounge know good The Dictators is recognized as an inmusic. When there’s an opportunity to fluential and defining band in New York host history on their small, indoor stage, City’s early punk scene. Though Dictators they take it. NYC features two members who per“We’re kind of snobs as far as what formed on the band’s initial 1975 release we listen to in here,” said Matt Kirk, bar Go Girl Crazy! and an additional former manager and promoter. “It’s not all member, it doesn’t tour under the official Billboard Top 40 radio hits that we The Dictators name as a courtesy to nontouring founding member and principal listen to.” songwriter Andy Shernoff. Kirk could hardly contain his excitement when he heard singer “Handsome” Kirk said the distinction doesn’t bother Dick Manitoba and guitarist “Ross the him or any of the other fans he has talked to. Boss” Friedman of legendary proto-punk band The Dictators were looking for a “They still have a pretty cool lineup tour stop someplace in Oklahoma City. that’s almost the same,” he said. Ma n itoba a nd The decision by Friedman are on the Manitoba and The Dictators NYC Friedman to tour under road with former with The Swingin’ Dictators drummer The Dictators NYC Dicks, Don’t Make J.P. “Thunderbolt” label was not met with Ghosts and Patterson and musiapproval from Shernoff. Havana Affair cians Daniel Rey and During a Dictators Dean Rispler as The hiatus, the three formed 9 p.m. May 22 Dictators NYC. They a band together in the Blue Note Lounge perform May 22 on a ’80s and ’90s known as 2408 N. Robinson Ave. lineup with Dallas’ The Ma n it oba’s W i ld facebook.com/BlueNoteOKC Kingdom. After The Swingin’ Dicks and 405-600-1166 local bands Don’t Dictators NYC formed $14, available the night Make Ghosts and in 2011, Manitoba of the show at the door claimed in a 2013 Havana Affair at Blue Facebook post as Note Lounge, 2408 N. Robinson Ave. Handsome Dick Manitoba Fan Page that Kirk said he first heard from The Shernoff threatened to sue Dictators NYC Dictators NYC near the end of February and had videos of Dictators songs they when the band sent an email to Blue Note’s performed removed from websites like booking address. YouTube. “They had heard we were exposing Few disagree, however, that Manitoba some larger bands now and trying to build and Friedman are punk legends. Kirk said a name up. It was something I looked into he thinks the event will draw fans from and gave a couple of people a call and asked across the region. “They were one of the top influential part of my team if it was something they would be interested in,” he said. “Of proto-punk bands from the New York course, they all agreed that would be an scene,” he said. “I see them in the same amazing show and something that could echelon as the Ramones and New York be something to brag about.” Dolls and The Dead Boys.” Tickets are $14 at the door. This will be the highest-profile show Blue Note Lounge has hosted in recent memory, and Kirk expects a packed house. 38

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event

State jewel

Ellis Paul | Photo Jack Looney / Provided

Folk musician Ellis Paul performs May 22 at The Blue Door, one of his favorite venues. By Adam Holt

The art of songwriting can get lost in today’s pop music landscape. A song’s message often takes a back seat to synthesized instrumentation and slick production, with the artist hoping audiences grasp onto a simple chorus or hook. Not so with folk musician Ellis Paul, who stakes his reputation on his message. With 19 albums under his belt, Paul proves that lyrics and straightforward songwriting are still vitally important. The Maine native discovered his calling at Boston College after a running injury sidelined him and he picked up a guitar. He also was introduced to folk music during that time. “There was this revival on commercial radio at the time of classic rock,” said Paul, 51. “It was the mid-’80s, and suddenly there were stations in Boston playing old Neil Young songs, Joni Mitchell songs and Bob Dylan songs, and that’s what turned me on to it.” Paul said it the beauty in the genre’s minimalism drew him to it. “There’s this sort of an integrity when it’s a voice and a guitar singing together,” he said. “There’s this humility to it, and there is a sincerity to it. The effect of the lyrics is more direct. I just think it’s a really great way to communicate with music.” Paul crisscrossed the United States during his many years of touring. He picked up on how regions uniquely approach and create folk music. “Every region has a different flavor. The thing that’s happening in Oklahoma is really great right now, because there is a lot of emerging artists. It’s got more of an Americana, sort of an alternative country feel,” Paul said. “Boston is more singer-songwriter. [It is] more lyric-driven, a little more heady. Atlanta tends to be a little more Southern rock, a little more heart-heavy, a little more sexy. LA is a little more poppy. Texas is almost a region unto itself.” Paul is a product of what’s often called Boston-style songwriting. The singersongwriter folk style developed out of the intimate listening rooms found in the Boston college music scene. “The Boston thing was the fact that all of these venues existed where it was pindrop quiet,” Paul said. “It wasn’t a lot of these songwriters coming out of bars out of Oklahoma or out of Atlanta, where you

Ellis Paul 8 p.m. May 22 The Blue Door 2805 N. McKinley Ave. bluedoorokc.com 405-524-0738 $25-$30

have competing noise in the bathroom or the sports television on.” Paul performs May 22 at The Blue Door, 2805 N. McKinley Ave., a listening room he has played multiple times since 1994. He adores the venue’s audiences. “The great thing about The Blue Door is that it’s a listening room but there’s still drinking. They’re saying shit between songs and it’s an Oklahoma crowd,” he said. “They respect the song, but they make a lot of noise in between; they’re like a Greek chorus. They’re reacting in time with the song and reacting to the song and sometimes shout shit out in the middle of the song. People [are] there to have a good time and interact with you.” Paul said the venue is a key stop on his tours. “It doesn’t look like it, but in a lot of ways, it’s the Taj Mahal of Oklahoma music,” he said. “It’s a landmark historical site for the culture of music that comes out of Oklahoma. I’m always proud to play that place.”

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | m ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

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

WEDNESDAY, 5.11 Maurice Johnson, R&J Lounge and Supper Club. JAZZ

Sturgill Simpson, The Criterion. SINGER/SONGWRITER

THURSDAY, 5.12 Ali Harter, Hillbilly’s. FOLK Chad Sullins, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY North Meets South/Annie Oakley, The Deli, Norman. ROCK Rod Picott, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER The Garage Band Jam, Bourbon Street Bar. ROCK The Stir, Noir Bistro & Bar. COVER

FRIDAY, 5.13 Adam Aguilar, S&B’s Burger Joint, Midtown. ROCK

Adam & Kizzie In music, chemistry is key. Few local acts can claim a more potent bond than R&B/soul/gospel duo Adam & Kizzie. Adam is gifted on the keyboard, and Kizzie brings it home with her powerful, spirited vocal delivery. You might recognize the married couple from Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible episode featuring Urban Roots. Their show is 7 p.m. Friday at Bistro 46, 2501 NE 23rd St. Admission is free. Visit facebook.com/adamandkizzie or call 405-595-3904. friday Photo Ben Winters Photography / Provided

Bonnie Bishop, Grady’s 66 Pub, Yukon. VARIOUS Bring Me The Horizon/’68/Silver Snakes, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK

Steve Crossley Solo, Bellini’s Underground.

Buffalo Rogers/Matt Harlan, The Blue Door.

The Remedy OKC Band, Oklahoma City Limits.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Disclosure, The Criterion. ELECTRONIC

VARIOUS ROCK

Tommy Gallagher Band, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY

Elizabeth Speegle Band, Noir Bistro & Bar. JAZZ

Travis Linville, The Blue Door. FOLK

Helen Kelter Skelter, 51st Street Speakeasy. ROCK

Valentino Khan/Diludic/Travis Traps, ACM@UCO Performance Lab. ELECTRONIC

Holy Grail/Incite, Downtown Lounge. ROCK Hosty Duo, The Deli, Norman. ROCK Lisa and Laura, Full Circle Bookstore. ACOUSTIC Red City Radio/Russian Girlfriends, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

ZuZu Petals, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. ROCK

SUNDAY 5.15 Blues Jam, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES John Calvin Abney/Chris Porter, The Blue Door.

Road Dogs, Fort Thunder Harley Davidson. VARIOUS

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Steve Crossley/Jerry Wilson, Louie’s Midtown.

Metro Strings, Full Circle Bookstore. CLASSICAL

Street Kings, Bourbon Street Bar. ROCK

Voice of Addiction/The Costanzas/Get Fired, Red Brick Bar, Norman. ROCK

The Damn Quails/Midnight River Choir, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY

MONDAY 5.16

Uncle Freddy, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK

The Atom Age, 89th Street Collective. VARIOUS

VARIOUS

SATURDAY 5.14 Casey and Minna, Indie Trunk Show. FOLK Chad Dorman, Hillbilly’s. FOLK Chase Kerby & The Villians/Jared Deck, VZD’s Restaurant & Club. ROCK Christine Jude and the Gentlemen Callers, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES Costello/Locust Avenue/Sun and Moon, The Deli, Norman. ROCK David Bowie Tribute Show, Blue Note Lounge. Cover

The Patron AintS/Byron White and Friends, The Deli, Norman. ROCK

TUESDAY 5.17 Caleb McGee, The Deli, Norman. VARIOUS Dave Matthews Band, Chesapeake Energy Arena. ROCK

Ghost/Pinkish Black, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK Gregg Allman, The Criterion. BLUES Polyenso, 89th Street Collective. ROCK The Handsome Devils, The Depot, Norman. FOLK

Deicide/Season of Suffering/Malicyde, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

WEDNESDAY 5.18

Emily Faith/Jessica Farmer/Lauryn Hardiman, Noir Bistro & Bar. VARIOUS

Ellie Goulding/Years & Years/Bebe Rexha, Zoo Amphitheatre. POP

GUM, 51st Street Speakeasy. ROCK

Sports Coach/Du Vide/Sun Riah, First Pastafarian Church of Norman. VARIOUS

Jake Moffatt, Grady’s 66 Pub, Yukon. ROCK Luke Bryan, Chesapeake Energy Arena. COUNTRY Miss Brown to You, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. JAZZ Out of Sane, Vik-Timz. ROCK Ravens Three, Full Circle Bookstore. FOLK RPM Band, Newcastle Casino, Newcastle. COVER Saint Monroe Band, S&B’s Burger Joint Midwest City. ROCK SK Love/Dresden Bombers/Psychotic Reaction, Opolis, Norman. VARIOUS

m ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 405528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@ okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

puzzles

VOL. XXXVIII No. 19

New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle Stellar Work

By Joel Fagliano | Edited by Will Shortz | 0508 ACROSS 1 Grass and such 7 Lifesavers, e.g. 11 Turns off 19 Source of good fortune 20 Tried to open, as a pet door 21 Seaman’s aid 22 *Z, for one 24 Behind 25 “O grave, where is ____ victory?”: I Corinthians 26 Neither wizards nor witches, in Harry Potter books 28 Language descended from Old Norse 29 Tiara accompaniment 31 Subject of the 1954 Nobel Prize in Medicine 32 Eagerly unwrap 34 God whose name sounds like a word meaning “understated” 36 Take its toll? 38 *Board 42 *Alliance member 46 They may result in title changes, for short 47 Dips made with olives, capers and anchovies 48 Fragrant wood 50 Grain to crush 51 Background-check runner, maybe 52 Government org. in Breaking Bad 53 “Oh, that’s clever!” 55 Something to be divvied up 56 Hundred, in Honduras 59 Stand in the shadows 60 *Ted talks, say 68 Reebok rival 69 Texas city in the movie Friday Night Lights 70 Bonn one 72 Pro-consumer ideology 76 In back 77 Jet fuel, mainly 82 Stave off 83 Good friend, informally 85 Find some advantage 86 Red giant in the constellation Cetus 87 *Crossed pair 89 *Search party 93 Drainage pit 94 ____ example 95 Owl’s prey

97 Browns and Blues 99 House Hunters network 102 Bromine and fluorine compounds 105 Kind of band 107 Move it 108 Boastful types 110 *Let’s hope 114 Group with the 1985 No. 1 hit “Broken Wings” 115 “____ about right” 116 Eyelike opening, in architecture 117 Ones breaking game rules? 118 Big buildup 119 “Great” Eurasian region DOWN 1 Almanac fodder 2 Home of the daily World-Herald 3 Clicker for Dorothy 4 Tie word 5 “Well, fancy that!” 6 Abbr. that can be written with an ampersand 7 The casino in Casino 8 Soccer goof 9 Kite adjunct 10 Goldbrick 11 The Pentagon inits. 12 Crystalline weather phenomenon 13 “____ of Heaven! too gentle to be human” (line from Shelley’s “Epipsychidion”) 14 Unlofty loft 15 Labor pain 16 Pirate’s mate, in literature and film 17 Besmirches 18 German vice admiral killed in WW I’s Battle of the Falklands 20 Celtic who was the MVP of the 2008 NBA Finals 23 Kaiser Permanente offering 27 Begat 30 W, for one 31 March 14, to math lovers 33 Fibonacci or Galileo 35 Casino offering, derived from the Latin for “five each” 37 Revenue source for Fish and Wildlife departments 39 Jocular disclaimer 40 Spoonful, say 41 “Cómo ____ usted?”

30 34

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Marketing Manager Kelsey Lowe Accounting/HR Manager Marian Harrison

Receptionist/calendar Arden Biard, Coordinator 94

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seldom admit to 67 Light shade 71 Classic hair- removal brand 72 Reputation 73 Gung-ho 74 Skin: Suffix 75 Numbskull 78 Posting at JFK or DFW 79 Eastern royals 80 Heavy load 81 Pause word in Psalms 84 Scam with three cards 85 Information on a sports ticket 88 Exceed 90 Fashionable 91 Latin carol word 92 Prynne of The Scarlet Letter 96 Question mark’s key-mate

112

Advertising Director Christy Duane, cduane@okgazette.com Account Executive / Advertising assistant Leah Roberts

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42 Sch. whose mascot is Paydirt Pete 43 Coastal desert of southern Africa 44 Fruity drink 45 Tops in handwriting, say 49 Small stream 50 Wheat ____ 52 What sharpshooters take 54 Prompt 57 Vow that’s mostly vowels 58 When golden goals happen in the NHL 61 Arts-page contributor 62 Novelist Vonnegut 63 Big Four record co. that broke up in 2012 64 Headlong or headstrong 65 Striven 66 What rugged individualists

Accounts receivable Sue Auld

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VP, CORPORATE AFFAIRS Linda Meoli 66

First-class mail subscriptions are $119 for one year, and most issues at this rate will arrive 1-2 days after publication.

Associate Publisher James Bengfort

87 90

Oklahoma Gazette is circulated at its designated distribution points free of charge to readers for their individual use and by mail to subscribers. The cash value of this copy is $1. Persons taking copies of the Oklahoma Gazette from its distribution points for any reason other than their or others’ individual use for reading purposes are subject to prosecution.

publisher Bill Bleakley

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68 73

Please address all unsolicited news items (non-returnable) to the editor.

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Account EXECUTIVES Stephanie Van Horn, Saundra Rinearson Godwin, Elizabeth Riddle, Sarah Brigance Nathan Ward

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EDITOR-in-chief Jennifer Palmer Chancellor jchancellor@okgazette.com

98 Charlie’s Angels director, 2000 100 Keep occupied 101 One of 1,288 in the book of Numbers 102 Biodiesel fuel source 103 Prefix with ecology or chemical 104 ____ Linda, Calif. 106 ____-deucy 109 Some 112-Down retakers: Abbr. 111 Tan neighbor, on calculators 112 Exam with a Science Reasoning section 113 Wish undone

Assistant EDITOR Brittany Pickering Staff reporters Greg Elwell, Laura Eastes, Ben Luschen Contributors Brett Dickerson, Christine Eddington Jack Fowler, Adam Holt, Julia Kirt George Lang, Lynne Rostochil Photographer Garett Fisbeck Marketing & Editorial Intern Kylie Kallsen Circulation Manager Chad Bleakley ASSISTANT Circulation Manager Duke Fleischer

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

Art Director Chris Street

Sudoku Puzzle Easy

Print Production Coordinator Ashley Parks

New York Times Crossword Puzzle answers

Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains theeasy numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com Grid n°12052

1 3 4

2 8 4

5 9 3

3 4

9 7

1 7 8

3 7 2

Advertising/Marketing Design Coordinator Erin DeMoss

Puzzle No. 0501, which appeared in the May 4 issue.

L O C A T E H I R E

A V A T A R A C E D

C P I B A J O B A S E

U N I X

R E S O L E L E N G T H E N S S Y N C

D R U N K P E T T Y R O C K S T O K E

A I L E R O A N R E A A L B A U W M E S S W D A Y F N E E R S S R A C E

O K P E T Y F S L S A E D S T Y H H A I D E S S A T T M A E I N P E R E A E I R B A R E S A T R U N

S M I D G E A N L L L O A Y M S E R A L T D O A R P F E A D D O A R I L

A S H I N O D A Y P A A N A M D L E S A D R I R C O B I T I A M P R O L Y N U T S C H I L E T Y C E R U

S O R T T H E O R R H S O O V L E O R S O M B A R R I G R A E D S E

P R A Y S R A T E B A B E P U C E

L A N D

A L S O

S L O W

J E T T Y L I N E R

O P P O S I T E S

I N R O I N S Z E S T

A R T S

C I N E M A

A D O R E D

M E S S R S

T A K E R

H Y M N

Graphic Designer Anna Shilling www.okgazette.com Order mounted or ready-to-frame prints of Oklahoma Gazette covers, articles and photos at okgazette.yourheadline.com 3701 N. Shartel Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73118-7102 Phone (405) 528-6000 Fax (405) 528-4600 Copyright © 2016 Tierra Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | M ay 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

free will astrology Homework: Whether or not we believe in gods, we all worship something. What idea, person, thing, or emotion do you bow down to? FreeWillAstrology.com. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Russian writer Anton

Chekhov was renowned for the crisp, succinct style of his short stories and plays. As he evolved, his pithiness grew. “I now have a mania for shortness,” he wrote. “Whatever I read — my own work, or other people’s — it all seems to me not short enough.” I propose that we make Chekhov your patron saint for a while. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you are in a phase when your personal power feeds on terse efficiency. You thrive on being vigorously concise and deftly focused and cheerfully devoted to the crux of every matter.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Approximately 30,000 sites on the Internet attribute that quote to iconic genius Albert Einstein. But my research strongly suggests that he did not actually say that. Who did? It doesn’t matter. For the purposes of this horoscope, there are just two essential points to concentrate on. First, for the foreseeable future, your supreme law of life should be “creativity is intelligence having fun.” Second, it’s not enough to cavort and play and improvise, and it’s not enough to be discerning and shrewd and observant. Be all those things.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

In Western culture, the peacock is a symbol of vanity. When we see the bird display its stunning array of iridescent feathers, we might think it’s lovely, but may also mutter, “What a show-off.” But other traditions have treated the peacock as a more purely positive emblem: an embodiment of hard-won and triumphant radiance. In Tibetan Buddhist myths, for example, its glorious plumage is said to be derived from its transmutation of the poisons it absorbs when it devours dangerous serpents. This version of the peacock is your power animal for now, Gemini. Take full advantage of your ability to convert noxious situations and fractious emotions into beautiful assets.

By Rob Brezny

CANCER (June 21-July 22) “Clear moments are so short,” opines poet Adam Zagajewski. “There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.” Here’s what I have to say about that: Even if it does indeed describe the course of ordinary life for most people, it does not currently apply to you. On the contrary. You’re in a phase that will bring an unusually high percentage of lucidity. The light shining from your eyes and the thoughts coalescing in your brain will be extra pure and bright. In the world around you, there may be occasional patches of chaos and confusion, but your luminosity will guide you through them.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

“Dear Smart Operator: My name is Captain Jonathan Orances. I presently serve in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. I am asking for your help with the safekeeping of a trunk containing funds in the amount of $7.9 million, which I secured during our team’s raid of a poppy farmer in Kandahar Province. The plan is to ship this box to Luxembourg, and from there a diplomat will deliver it to your designated location. When I return home on leave, I will take possession of the trunk. You will be rewarded handsomely for your assistance. If you can be trusted, send me your details. Best regards, Captain Jonathan Orances.” You may receive a tempting but risky offer like this in the near future, Leo. I suggest you turn it down. If you do, I bet a somewhat less interesting but far less risky offer will come your way.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

“Some things need to be fixed, others to be left broken,” writes poet James Richardson. The coming weeks will be an ideal time for you to make final decisions about which are which in your own life. Are there relationships and dreams and structures that are either too damaged to salvage or undeserving of your hard labor? Consider the possibility that you will abandon them for good. Are there relationships and dreams and structures that are cracked, but possible to repair and worthy of your diligent love? Make a plan to revive or reinvent them.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

amazed I survived not the outside world but the inside one.” Let that serve as an inspiration, Capricorn. Now is an excellent time for you to celebrate the heroic, messy, improbable victories of your past. You are ready and ripe to honor the crazy intelligence and dumb luck that guided you as you fought to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. You have a right and a duty to congratulate yourself for the suffering you have escaped and inner demons you have vanquished.

Once every year, it is healthy and wise to make an ultimate confession — to express everything you regret and bemoan in one cathartic swoop, and then be free of its subliminal nagging for another year. The coming days will be a perfect time to do this. For inspiration, read an excerpt from Jeanann Vernee’s “Genetics of Regret”: “I’m sorry I lied. Sorry I drew the picture of the dead cat. I’m sorry about the stolen tampons and the nest of mice in the stove. I’m sorry about the slashed window screens. I’m sorry it took 36 years to say this. Sorry that all I can do is worry what happens next. Sorry for the weevils and the dead grass. Sorry I vomited in the wash drain. Sorry I left. Sorry I came back. I’m sorry it comes like this. Flood and undertow.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

“To regain patience, learn to love the sour, the bitter, the salty, the clear.” The poet James Richardson wrote that wry advice, and now I’m passing it on to you. Why now? Because if you enhance your appreciation for the sour, the bitter, the salty, and the clear, you will not only regain patience, but also generate unexpected opportunities. You will tonify your mood, beautify your attitude, and deepen your gravitas. So I hope you will invite and welcome the lumpy and the dappled, my dear. I hope you’ll seek out the tangy, the smoldering, the soggy, the spunky, the chirpy, the gritty, and an array of other experiences you may have previously kept at a distance.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

According to the British podcast series “No Such Thing as a Fish,” there were only a few satisfying connubial relationships in late 18th-century England. One publication at that time declared that of the country’s 872,564 married couples, just nine were truly happy. I wonder if the percentage is higher for modern twosomes. Whether it is or not, I have good news: My reading of the astrological omens suggests that you Scorpios will have an unusually good chance of cultivating vibrant intimacy in the coming weeks. Take advantage of this grace period, please!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

“A thousand half-loves must be forsaken to take one whole heart home.” That’s from a Coleman Barks’ translation of a poem by the 13th-century Islamic scholar and mystic known as Rumi. I regard this epigram as a key theme for you during the next 12 months. You will be invited to shed a host of wishy-washy wishes so as to become strong and smart enough to go in quest of a very few burning, churning yearnings. Are you ready to sacrifice the mediocre in service to the sublime?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

“Some days I feel like playing it smooth,” says a character in Raymond Chandler’s short story “Trouble Is My Business,” “and some days I feel like playing it like a waffle iron.” I suspect that you Sagittarians will be in the latter phase until at least May 24. It won’t be prime time for silky strategies and glossy gambits and velvety victories. You’ll be better able to take advantage of fate’s fabulous farces if you’re geared up for edgy lessons and checkered challenges and intricate motifs.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

Author Rebecca Solnit says that when she pictures herself as she was at age 15, “I see flames shooting up, see myself falling off the edge of the world, and am

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