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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.

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NEWS

Norman United meets once a month at West Wind Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Norman.

Pushing forward

Norman United is committed to improving civil rights protections for LGBT community members.

By Laura Eastes | Photo Garett Fisbeck

They formed a circle with wooden chairs.

Charles Burnell opened the monthly meeting asking nearly a dozen guests to share what drew them to Norman United.

Many represent various churches: West Wind Unitarian Universalist Congregation, United Church of Norman United Church of Christ, University Quakers and Memorial Presbyterian Church. A few are current or former University of Oklahoma employees. One serves on the City of Norman’s Human Rights Commission, and another is involved in PFLAG Norman (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). A few come from backgrounds in activism.

Several named concerns about the bevy of anti-LGBT laws proposed at the state level, challenging progress for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens.

Some are gay. Some are straight. Some are transsexual. Some are bisexual. Each promotes the belief that all humans are of equal worth.

Together, they make up Norman United, a grassroots coalition established to help the City of Norman fulfill its promise as an inclusive community.

Norman’s motto is “Building an Inclusive Community,” a prominent message on the city’s website.

For Norman United members, such a community protects residents from discrimination based on race, age, religion and gender as well as sexual orientation 4

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and gender identity. Since the first meeting on Oct. 17, 2014, the group has advocated for the city to amend its nondiscrimination ordinance to include LGBT protections. It was a lofty goal; however, 14 months after the first meeting, members celebrated as Norman City Council unanimously approved a resolution to extend the city’s civil rights protections to include LGBT residents.

Six months after the historic civil rights resolution passed, Norman United continues its work to ensure every LGBT resident or visitor is treated with the same fairness that every other resident of Norman experiences each day.

Norman United’s impetus

As West Wind Unitarian Universalist Congregation president, Burnell didn’t know what to expect when the church teamed up with a few other Norman churches to host a public partial screening and discussion of the Broken Heart Land documentary during LGBT History Month in October 2014.

Thirty community members watched the film explore the tragic death of a Norman teen who committed suicide one week after attending a city council meeting in support of a proposal for LGBT Month.

The roundtable discussion touched on numerous studies that show LGBT youths are at an increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, suicide attempts

and suicide. As discussion continued, crowd members touched on other troublesome trends, such as the lack of protections for members of Norman’s LGBT community.

“Although you can get married, you can still be fired or evicted depending on relationship status and gender identity,” Burnell said. “We wanted to establish protections in Norman.”

Rev. Dwight Welch of the United Church of Norman attended that first meeting. Welch was new to Norman and encouraged by the churches and faith groups represented at the event. He also noted that community groups focused on LGBT issues attended.

“It became something broader than the churches,” Welch said. “It became, How could we connect all the organizations and work towards the same goals?”

At the end of the discussion, Norman United formed with an emphasis toward amending the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. Coalition members gathered the first Tuesday of each month at West Wind to share about meetings with public officials and plans for pursuing their goal.

Aug. 10, then-Mayor Cindy Rosenthal and current Mayor Lynne Miller attended the Norman United meeting to hear from citizens on LGBT discrimination happening in Norman. More than 100 people attended.

“During our presentation to the mayor, we had people speak up,” Burnell said. “It takes a lot of courage for someone to stand up and share how they’ve been marginalized and the effect it had.”

Two months later, Norman Human Rights Commission voted unanimously for the city’s attorney to brief the city council on adding protections for LGBT residents. The vote cleared the way to draft the resolution, which passed Dec. 22.

What’s next?

The resolution continues as a major topic among the coalition members. Resolutions

are typically used in local government to express a policy or position. However, an ordinance holds greater regulatory capacity than a resolution, as a municipal ordinance is a law.

The December resolution updates Norman’s discrimination policy to include gender identity and sexual orientation in an ordinance that prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, age, place of birth, disability and family status.

Serving in a watchdog role, Norman United members monitor the city’s response to the resolution. Members ensured the resolution posted to the city’s website and reviewed the city’s discrimination complaint form, which was last updated in 1997.

Coalition members attend human rights commission and city council meetings and look for ways to advocate for the LGBT community in policy as well as ongoing city projects, such as the half-cent sales tax generating a handful of new capital improvement projects.

The coalition continues to promote amending the anti-discrimination ordinance. Burnell believes revising the ordinance would benefit LGBT residents and other minority groups.

Currently, Norman United is drafting a plan for a fall symposium, an opportunity for the community to learn more about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their related issues. The target audience includes ministers, teachers, counselors, human resource professionals and health care providers, and the symposium will present an overview of the efforts to extend LGBT inclusions as well as discuss unmet needs of the community.

Welch aspires for Norman United to become a group ready to assist and direct LGBT community members to other support organizations and groups in Norman. The movement’s supporting allies include PFLAG Norman, Queer Inclusion on Campus at OU, The Welcoming Project and Ending Violence Everywhere (EVE) Coalition.

“Some people think they are alone,” Welch said. “[However,] once they go to a meeting, they will see there is a community right here.”

Burnell sees the group playing a role in helping LGBT residents but also reaching the “individuals they interact with.”

As an organization with LGBT community members and their allies, Norman United looks to educate on issues affecting the LGBT community, work toward understanding and build an inclusive community.

Successful passage of civil rights protections fuels the Norman United movement. But at the monthly meetings, the drive of the coalition members to see everybody treated equally with dignity is what pushes the coalition forward.

“I really hope we haven’t had our best moment,” Burnell said.

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Resilient reunion

A small group of the 23 children, now adults, share a laugh during the reunion July 2 in The Village.

Four decades after arriving as orphans in Oklahoma City on the day the Vietnam War ended, 18 reunite to share their stories.

By Laura Eastes | Photos Emmy Verdin

The images are still vivid 41 years later.

Twenty-three small Vietnamese orphans walked through Will Rogers World Airport. Varying in age from 4 to 12 years old, the children took their seats on the airport’s cement floor. Unprovoked, the 23 began to sing “Jesus Loves Me” in their native Montagnard dialect.

It was April 30, 1975. Thousands of miles away, North Vietnamese troops poured into Saigon, capturing the southern city and ending a deadly war.

The children’s chorus of the popular hymn and the smiles of Christian missionary couple Ulrich and Gisela Huyssen vastly contrasted images from Vietnam. In the final days of the war, civilians, foreigners and those loyal to South Vietnam rushed to the harbor and military base, desperate to leave and avoid the imminently dangerous end of the war.

Two missionaries successfully smuggling 23 Vietnamese children to the United States was an incredible and unexpected outcome. The heroism and faith demonstrated by the Huyssens carried a strong message, one closely aligned to the meaning of the hymn, which illustrates Jesus’ unfailing love.

A crowd of 90 people sat silently, many reliving their pasts, as the black-and-white images played across the screen in the fellowship hall of Village United Methodist Church on July 2. Forty-one years after arriving in Oklahoma City, 18 of the chil6

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dren, their adoptive families, spouses, children and Gisela Huyssen gathered for their first reunion, which included viewing A Dream Come True, a decades-old documentary film that examined the Huyssens’ mission and its aftermath.

The remarkable resilience of the Huyssens and the 23 children was commemorated during the opening hours of a three-day reunion. A majority of the children, now in their mid-40s and 50s, shared their memories of leaving a war-torn country, a second chance at childhood and travels back to Vietnam.

Gisela Huyssen holds a 1975 photo taken after arriving at Will Rogers World Airport. Huyssen and her husband Ulrich smuggled 23 Vietnamese orphans to the United States in the final days of the Vietnam War.

assistance of a missionary friend, the two were led to an orphanage leader, Pastor Ahn, who was desperately trying to rescue children of the Montagnard, an indigenous group from the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

A promise was made between the Huyssens and Pastor Ahn. The 19 children would travel to the United States. There, Christian families would provide a loving home and seek adoption. While there, four additional Saigon children were passed to the Huyssens with the promise the couple would place them with adoptive families.

It was a risky mission. Exit papers for Vietnamese residents were rumored to come with a $20,000 price tag. The Huyssens trudged ahead without exit papers or passports and birth certificates for any of the 23 children. They guided the youngsters to the American military base in Saigon. As they entered, a sign read, “Only Americans and their dependents.” As green card holders, the couple didn’t know what to expect, but “everything fell into place” because of their trust in the Lord, Gisela Huyssen said.

The group boarded a military cargo

plane en route to a refugee camp in the Philippines and away from war.

“One of the most fearful experiences one could imagine was when we took off in that military cargo plane from Saigon airbase,” Ulrich Huyssen said in the documentary film.

Ulrich Huyssen, who founded the organization World Missions For Jesus, died in 1994.

“As I looked over at the children, I saw one by one they were starting to fold their little hands and bow down their little heads.

They started to pray,” Ulrich Huyssen said.

As the plane took off, soldiers stood nearby with their weapons drawn, Gisela Huyssen recalled.

“When we took off,” Gisela Huyssen said, “everyone could feel the Lord’s protection, peace and calmness. It was a miracle.”

After arriving in the Philippines, the group traveled to Guam. From Guam, the Huyssens and the children flew to Tacoma, Washington. Ulrich Huyssen contacted United Airlines, which agreed to sponsor the couple and the children’s flights to Oklahoma City.

After arrival in Oklahoma City, the chil-

Missionaries’ journey

Forty-one years ago, Gisela Huyssen moved the iron back and forth on a piece of clothing.

Not far from where the ironing board sat in her northwest Oklahoma City house, Gisela could easily spot her husband, Ulrich Huyssen, resting in his easy chair. As scenes from Vietnam played over the couple’s television set, Ulrich Huyssen moved closer and crouched to the ground in prayer. Gisela Huyssen recalled hearing her husband utter, “Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. I go.”

“We went in faith,” Gisela Huyssen said.

“You don’t go by sight in situations like that.

You trust the Lord. All you do is trust the Lord, step by step.”

Originally from Germany, the Huyssens embarked on a journey to Saigon, Vietnam, now called Ho Chi Minh City. Through the

Orphans from Vietnam take a seat after arriving at Will Rogers World Airport on April 30, 1975, the day the Vietnam War ended. | Photo provided

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Reunion members say a prayer at the reunion of The 23. | Photo Emmy Verdin

dren were placed into foster care and eventually adopted into homes in Oklahoma and Louisiana.

“This is a big family now,” Smith said.

“It started out as 23. Look at how much we’ve grown.”

Emotional reunion

Second chance

Memories flood back to Gisela Huyssen when viewing a 1975 black-and-white photo of the 23 Vietnamese children and her family after arriving in Oklahoma City.

The same is true for Sonja Huyssen Lambert, one of the 23 adopted by the Huyssens.

“It just seems like we automatically connect,” said Lambert, who traveled from south Louisiana to attend the reunion.

“There is a sense of kinship.”

Trai Harms, who was raised in Oklahoma City by the Harms family and now resides in Norman, described the event as similar to a class reunion. He kept in contact with a few others raised in Oklahoma City. However, Harms hadn’t seen the majority of the others since 1975.

“The best word for it is family,” Harms said. “Even though we are all different, somehow we are all connected. … Just to see people again, it’s weird. A quick image comes in your head, and you remember them.”

Andrew Smith and Ajen Dollarhide were raised in Oklahoma City and now live in the Tulsa area. The two pondered the idea of a 40-year reunion in 2015, but after learning Carey Rostorfer — another member of the 23 — would be out of the country, they decided to push for 2016. The two needed time to find the others. Smith created The 23, a Facebook page.

“I just started inviting people,” said Smith, who only knew four of the 23 when the page started. “I started spreading the word that we wanted a reunion.”

In time, The 23 expanded from a handful of followers to a group of 50, including adoptive parents and spouses.

Yellowed photos, childhood stories and updates were shared online in preparation for the Fourth of July weekend reunion.

People traveled from all over Oklahoma, the United States, Madagascar and Germany to attend. Eighteen arrived with their spouses and children. Some attended the reunion with their adoptive brothers, sisters and parents.

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Emotions ran high, from laughter to tears, as the 18 tapped into memories from long ago. One by one, the 18 passed around a microphone, sharing memories. Some focused on their adjustment to American life, growing up with their adoptive families or learning English. One remarked she didn’t realize how exceptional her arrival to America was until she told the story as an adult.

A handful shared about their visits back to Vietnam, describing what the 23 left behind.

“Each and every one of us has a story,” remarked Rostorfer, an Oklahoman now serving as a missionary in Madagascar.

Swapping memories was part of the healing process, explained Smith. A few of the orphans were as young as 4 when they arrived in Oklahoma City and recall few details. Others vividly remember seeing loved ones killed in Vietnam or finding grenades in their village. A few can describe arriving at the orphanage, brought by family in hopes they would escape the effects of war.

“I was 8, and I saw death,” Harms said.

“You learn to adapt, but at the same time, you know you don’t want anyone else to ever experience it. People ask, ‘How did you overcome that?’ We had to grow up fast.”

They learned resilience at an early age and were given a second chance at childhood. It’s what binds them together, a connection that still remains strong to this day.

As the first day of the reunion came to a close, the 18 held hands in a circle and prayed. Their families circled from behind.

Hands were placed on the backs and shoulders of the 18. “[God] brought us here for a reason,” said Stephen Curry, one of the 23. “The reason we were brought here is still unfinished. We can look at the sad things that happen in our life, but, of course, it happened for a reason. Everything happens for a reason.”

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Lemuel Bardeguez explains Oklahoma City Community College’s partnership in the Southern Oaks Wellness and Learning Campus project during a recent public meeting at Parmelee Elementary School. | Photo Laura Eastes

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Wellness synergy

Unique partnerships forge to create a health, learning and recreation center for south OKC.

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If there is one word to describe efforts to bring a health and wellness center to south Oklahoma City, it’s synergy.

That ’s how Ok la homa Cit y Councilman Pete White described it.

When the Ward 4 representative heard Ok la homa Cit y- Count y Hea lth Department (OCCHD) was hunting locations for its second regional health and wellness center, White suggested cityowned land in the Southern Oaks area.

Specifically, he mentioned a spot adjacent to Southern Oaks Park and Recreation Center near Southern Oaks Library and next to Parmelee Elementary School. The location discussion gave rise to a conception never before explored.

Now, multiple government agencies are collaborating to create a health and wellness center and a community resource offering educational and recreation opportunities.

Through a distinctive partnership with the City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Metropolitan Library System, Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and OCCHD, the campus will offer the public everything from community gardens to adult education classes and health clinic services and intramural sports.

“I think it is going to be the wave of the future,” White said.

Last week, officials unveiled architect renderings for Southern Oaks Wellness

and Learning Campus. Plans for a fall groundbreaking are in the works.

Additionally, the city is moving forward with plans to extend S. Hudson Avenue to connect with S. Walker Avenue.

The city is on track to approve a contract by the end of July.

The road improvement project is an imperative part of the campus project.

School parents and neighbors have advocated for the dead-end street to connect to S. Walker Avenue for decades to ease traffic.

Perfect fit

“We are there to deliver services to everybody in Oklahoma County,” said Stephen Cagle, OCCHD board chairman, during a July 7 public meeting about the project. “Anything that we can, we are going to do.”

Cagle’s statement embodies the local health department’s commitment to unique partnerships to better serve citizens.

Three years ago, OCCHD opened the doors of Northeast Regional Health and Wellness Campus, which provides residents opportunities to connect with health department staff as well as Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Workforce Oklahoma and OU Physicians.

In addition to health clinic space, training rooms, an auditorium, a demonstration kitchen, walking trails, community gardens and a playground comprise the 2600 NE 63rd St. campus.

It was designed for primary care in addition to wellness services and community classes.

OCCHD looks to replicate the city’s southside campus and replace a temporary location in leased space in a shopping center at 2149 SW 59th St. Health officials have said that location lacks room for expansion and for incorporating wellness activities.

With the various partnerships, Southern Oaks Wellness and Learning Campus will stand on its own as the first of its kind in the city and perhaps the nation.

Public officials don’t know of another facility combining health, park and recreation and education services in one.

Doug Kupper, Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation director, will present on the concept at the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual conference in October.

The health department will construct and operate the two-story facility and offer services like immunization, preventive care, counseling, family planning, cooking classes and nutrition/family wellness classes.

Plans include creating classroom space, which will be utilized by the two college partners. Specifically, UCO plans to offer classes for aspiring urban educators and OCCC could offer basic adult education.

With next-door neighbor Parmelee, a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school, classroom space could double for an after-school tutoring program or other school activities.

The facility will be constructed with open space between the health building and the school. In the future, the building could be expanded to connect to the school.

The park department’s partnership includes developing walking trails and building athletic fields. Currently, the park is home to a basketball court, playground and aging community center.

The department has secured grant funding for the trails.

Officials view the campus located close to a city bus stop as a one-stopshop for citizens to become engaged in their local school, utilize the services of the library, get active through the park and stay healthy through various services by OCCHD. “This is going to happen, and it is going to be first-class,” Cagle said.

OCCHD leaders hold a goal of raiseing health outcomes, and their sights are set on the southside. The campus will serve a majority of residents within the 73139, 73129, 73109, 73149, 73119, 73159 and 73170 ZIP codes.

According to the health department’s 2014 Oklahoma County Wellness Score, the area’s residents hold high rates of heart attack, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, substance abuse, mental health visits and teen pregnancy.

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Volunteers at Citizens Caring for Children’s Back 2 School program help children pick out clothes for school. | Photo provided

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Life supplies

Citizens Caring for Children’s Back 2 School program provides foster children with needed clothing and supplies. By Christine Eddington

“Our goal is to make sure that if you look at a group of second-graders on the first day of school, you won’t be able to tell which are the foster children by what they are wearing,” said Toni Lee, director of operations at Citizens Caring for Children (CCC).

By the time school starts in August, Lee and Executive Director Lynne Roller expect to have seen around 600 pre-K through high school-aged kids, all in foster care. Each child will leave Citizens Caring for Children with one new outfit, new shoes, socks, underwear and a brand-new backpack filled with grade-appropriate school supplies at no cost. The Back 2 School program is July 25-30.

“Last year, we were able to outfit 535 foster children for back to school,” said Lauren Barnes, CCC director of development and communications. “We are seeing an increase in our Back 2 School program and also general increase in need for our year-round program.”

According to Roller, that increase can be attributed to three main factors: the volume of layoffs and downsizing, ongoing devastating cuts to Oklahoma’s state budget and word of mouth.

“We know the word is getting out,” Roller said, “and we have worked hard to establish and grow our partnerships with foster placement agencies in the state.”

The clothing the vast majority of the children receive at Citizens Caring for Children will be the first new article of clothing they have ever owned in their lives.

Lee told a poignant story of one small girl who had never owned a new pair of shoes and didn’t know they came in boxes.

Lasting help

This is the 12th year CCC has offered a back-to-school program. During the rest of the year, the organization is dedicated

to providing children and teens in foster care with new clothing.

“Each foster child can visit CCC four additional times each year,” Lee said.

On each regular visit, the children receive two bottoms, two tops, three pairs of socks, three pairs of underwear, one pair of shoes, one pair of pajamas, two books and a coat if it’s winter. On a child’s initial visit, they receive a duffel bag filled with toiletries, a brush or comb, a towel, a washcloth, a blanket, a pillowcase and a stuffed animal. All visits are by appointment only.

“Kids in foster care have often had to flee from home with nothing but the clothing they are wearing,” Roller said. “They may have moved from place to place, be starting a new school and traumatized. We want to help give them self-confidence and make them feel special.”

During the Back 2 School event, a cadre of volunteers will serve as personal shoppers, accompanying the children through the shopping experience and helping them decide which clothes they will take home.

“Starting the school year with new clothes to wear the first day helps kids feel good about themselves,” Roller said.

For CCC to clothe a foster child for a year — four regular visits plus the Back 2 School visit — it costs an average of $500 per child. And that figure doesn’t include volunteer labor.

“There is a screening process for volunteers, and CCC does background checks on anyone who will have direct interaction with the children,” Lee said. “Really, we just need help, and we want to help as many foster children as possible.”

Appointments must be made in advance for each child participating in the Back 2 School program. Visit cccokc.org or call 405-753-4099.

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Tracy McDaniel will present a proposal to expand the KIPP model in northeast Oklahoma City during Monday night’s Oklahoma City Board of Education meeting. | Photo Gazette / file

KIPP’s moment OKC Board of Education will weigh KIPP’s charter expansion plan Monday. By Laura Eastes

Tracy McDaniel has a plan for reviving public education in northeast Oklahoma City.

It’s a plan based on the success he built as administrator of KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Reach College Preparatory.

The nationally recognized charter middle school begins its 15th school year in OKC Aug. 18. In recent years, the school has outperformed neighboring middle schools on standardized math and English tests.

Now, McDaniel and KIPP supporters want to expand their charter model into elementary and high school grades through a partnership with Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS), KIPP’s charter sponsor.

The partnership can help tackle low academic performance and raise the bar on expectations for OKCPS students, McDaniel said.

“We can’t wait anymore,” McDaniel told Oklahoma Gazette. “Our kids deserve this opportunity for education in northeast Oklahoma City. We know we are not the only answer, but based on what we’ve done in the community, we know we can help.”

Monday, the expansion proposal comes before the Oklahoma City Board of Education.The eight-member board is expected to vote on the proposal.

If the board approves the proposal, it would kick off a four-phase plan that would reshape education in northeast Oklahoma City for future generations. The first aspect calls for KIPP moving from its current location in F.D. Moon Elementary School into underutilized classroom space in Martin Luther King Elementary School. Beginning the 2017-18 school year, KIPP teachers would teach the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes. KIPP would add a grade each year until eventually enrolling fourthgrade students. The new elementary school would feed into the existing middle school.

KIPP would serve neighborhood kids through its elementary program. However, parents could opt out of the program and

send their children to another public elementary school. As required by state law, if there were more applicants than spots available, a lottery would be held.

Another phase proposes launching a KIPP high school program by cohabiting in Douglass High School. Under the proposal, planning would begin this fall with a projected opening two years from now.

For McDaniel, the essence of the proposal is the new relationship. KIPP wants to share professional development.

Beginning this fall, KIPP aspires to work with three northeast OKC classroom teachers for one year. McDaniel said training and classroom coaching produce more effective lessons. The partnership would continue with three additional teachers receiving the training each academic year.

McDaniel believes there is much the district can learn from KIPP, including different ways to interpret standardized test data and implementing reading and math interventions for students falling behind.

The KIPP proposal has been in the works since November, when McDaniel initially submitted a proposal to former OKCPS Superintendent Rob Neu. KIPP, along with John Rex Charter Elementary School and Santa Fe South Schools, joined forces to request charter expansion through an initiative called Quality Seats in February. In March, the school board gave the go-ahead for public discussion of charter expansion.

Since February, intense debate about charter expansion has taken place.

The KIPP proposal made its public debut at the May 16th school board meeting, days after McDaniel submitted a second proposal to district administration.

“It is all about the kids,” McDaniel said.

“I would ask all of the decision makers and the people out there saying no, what do you want for your own child? What kind of education do you want? Are you satisfied with the product that we have now? … I think they would want better.”

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chicken

friedNEWS

Durant dump

Oklahoma City has no chill, and it’s not about the blazing summer sun.

When news broke July 4 of Kevin Durant’s decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and join the Golden State Warriors, the Sooner State lost its collective mind.

The hew and cry on social media was dramatic, overwrought and reminiscent of a teenager who got dumped a week before the prom.

“I feel like everything Durant is saying is a lie. This is the worst, most public break up I’ve ever had. No wonder T Swift writes songs,” tweeted Christina Chicoraske.

Some took to Yelp to trash KD’s Southern Cuisine with bad reviews. Some burned their No. 35 jerseys. Some sadists documented how sad their small children were when they heard the news.

But nobody took it quite so far as Bricktown Pink Parrot Cantina manager Rich Taylor, who posted a video of himself berating the superstar in front of Durant’s empty Deep Deuce home.

“Today was a sad day for the city,” Taylor said. “We’ve loved and appreciated this athlete like no other.”

It was a standard break-up tirade accusing the basketball player of lacking both heart and balls.

In a classic break-up move, Taylor pivoted to make it sound like Oklahoma City was getting rid of Durant by saying, “The one thing we couldn’t give you is a heart ... so you’re gone, KD.” With that, the bar owner left some Durant jerseys on the home’s porch and a “For Sale By Coward” sign stuck in the lawn.

Maybe instead of leaving emo posts all over social media and driving by his house and restaurant like lovesick morons, we can do this like the adults of other “big league” cities and pour a giant glass of wine, turn on a film and change our Facebook relationship status to single.

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Errant Bullet

Save the children! That’s just what firefighters did June 29 at Frontier City in Oklahoma City. News9.com reported that seven of the eight people stranded at the peak of the Silver Bullet roller coaster were kids.

“It is definitely good to know that all the practice that we do goes toward something that we can put into play,” Corporal Cody Ashmore told reporter Tiffany Liou.

Ashmore agreed. The youngest child, 7, was frightened when firefighters moved her safely out of her seat 100 feet off the ground, according to News9.com.

The incident brought questions about why people were stranded right before the biggest drop on top of the coaster.

KOCO 5 questioned Labor C om m i s sioner Mel i s s a McLawhorn Houston about the oversight process. The commissioner assured the community that the ride is, in fact, safe and used its sensors to stop the coaster.

NewsOK reported that a brief drop in power triggered the computer’s safety mechanisms.

Houston explained the ride’s computer has sensors that stop cars from colliding. It’s a good thing the breaker-like mainframe

works. Reporter Erielle Reshef brought up a similar incident with the Silver Bullet in 2014, and Houston explained Oklahoma is one of only 30 states that oversees coasters at all.

Thank goodness. The Silver Bullet was brought to Oklahoma in 1986, according to NewsOK.com.

City stance

America’s mayors want a voice, and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett hopes the next president of the United States takes the time to consider them.

In a recent interview with Governing, the recently elected president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors said above all else,

the nation’s municipal leaders would just like a seat at the table.

“There have been presidents who seem to have a strong preference for dealing with governors as opposed to dealing with mayors,” Cornett said. “We prefer a president who is open to dealing directly with mayors or directly with regional economies.”

Cornett did not say in the interview if the mayors have a preferred candidate in the presidential race. Hillary Clinton spoke at the mayors’ conference in June. Cornett said he suspects she would keep an OK relationship with the mayors if she is elected.

He did add that presidents who have been governors (Clinton was the First Lady of Arkansas 1983-1992) tend to prefer dealing with states as opposed to cities.

Donald Trump was invited to speak at the conference but was unavailable. Cornett said he has not had any discussions with the presidential hopeful about what his urban agenda would look like.

Cornett said the perceived lack of visibility city leaders have at other governing levels often shows up at the state level as well. The mayor told Governing those relationships have been frustrating at times and he hopes to improve city standings with all levels of government in the future.

“We’re not working together very well,” he said.

Wild Ride

Oklahoma is one of a kind.

For one, the Sooner State is home to a U.S. Senator who has flown an airplane around the world.

That’s right. In addition to serving as the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe is an avid pilot with a collection of aircraft.

The GOP senator had a close call over the Fourth of July weekend. Sitting in the cockpit, Inhofe ran a plane off the runway to avoid hitting an animal, according to ABC News.

Inhofe was on the runway in Ketchum, a northwest Oklahoma town, when a frisky Bambi look-alike dashed onto the runway. Inhofe veered into the brush to avoid the deer.

ABC News reported the politician was uninjured. At Chicken-Fried News, we hope the same is true of the deer.

Ridiculous requirements

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-3 ruling, recently struck down a Texas abortion law.

The law required doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and clinics to “meet hospital-like outpatient surgery standards,” Associated Press recently reported.

Reporters at CNN Politics called the ruling “the most significant decision from the Supreme Court on abortion in two decades.”

The assenting judges’ opinion on the law was clear and shed light on the duplicity of similar laws enacted across the country.

“There was no significant health-related problem that the new law helped to cure,” Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in the majority opinion. “We agree with the District Court that the surgical-center requirement, like the admitting-privileges requirement, provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions and constitutes an ‘undue burden’ on their constitutional right to do so.”

A similar Oklahoma law passed in 2014 is being challenged by Center for Reproductive Rights, based in New York.

The advocacy organization argues that the law threatens one of only two clinics currently open in the entire state of Oklahoma.

“Just like [the Texas] requirement, it serves no health or safety purpose,” Genevieve Scott, staff attorney at the

Center for Reproductive Rights, told Associated Press.

Scott also called the law “presumptively unconstitutional.”

Associated Press reported that Gov. Mary Fallin has endorsed 18 laws that restrict women’s access to reproductive services, and Center for Reproductive Rights has filed challenges against eight of them in the last four years.

Associated Press reported “Julie Burkhart, founder and CEO of Trust Women … said the nation’s highest court has repeatedly upheld a woman’s constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy and said states can’t enact unreasonable burdens for women to exercise that right.”

Trust Women is an abortion provider based in Wichita, Kansas. Its mission is to open clinics in underserved areas. Trust Women South Wind Women’s Center is supposed to open in Oklahoma City this summer.

“There is a lack of access for women’s health care in Oklahoma in general,” Burkhart said in a media release. “Women in Oklahoma are underserved.”

Burkhart also told Associated Press the Oklahoma Legislature’s focus on this type of legislation takes its attention away from vital public services.

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letters

NEWS 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.

Au contraire

In his letter, “Redefining hate,” (Opinion, Letters, June 29, Oklahoma Gazette), Pete Lepo states that Donald Trump “has not said anything negative about Hispanics.”

In announcing his campaign for president last June, Mr. Trump said that Mexicans were rapists and that they were bringing drugs and crime into the U.S. Sounds like negative comments to me, but apparently not to Mr. Lepo.

Delores Jackson Oklahoma City

Trump’s problem

In a recent edition of the Gazette (Opinion, Letters, “Redefining hate,” June 29), Pete Lepo calls me a bigot for taking Donald Trump to task over his stance on Mexican immigrants. I wish Mr. Lepo would read the speech I referenced in my letter. It was Trump’s first campaign speech, and it set the tone for later assertions by Trump regarding people of Mexican descent and other minorities.

If Lepo were to study that speech, he might notice that Trump never distinguishes between undocumented Mexican immigrants and the rest of us. Indeed, the word “illegal” only appears once, and then only in relation to Obama’s executive order.

I challenge Lepo to find any wording whatsoever in that speech or any subsequent Trump speech in which Trump draws a bright line between documented and undocumented Mexican immigrants.

Lepo may be one of the few people in the world who doesn’t know that Trump has a real problem with Mexicans of all stripes. As evidenced by Trump’s repeated attacks on Mexican-American Judge Gonzalo Curiel, even Donald Trump seems

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to recognize that his beef with us is by no meanslimitedto“illegals.”Clearly,President Trump won’t be appointing any MexicanAmericans to anything unless it’s gardener or dishwasher.

Poor Mr. Lepo. He is, as we say in Spanish, trying to blot out the sun with a finger. Like other Trump apologists, he must attempt to deny Trump’s xenophobia despite a critical mass of evidence, most of which has been pouring out of Trump’s mouth, that is now so obvious that even Trump’s fellow Republicans have been obliged to denounce it.

Ari Nuncio Oklahoma City

Christmas wishes

I know it is early, but Christmas is only five months away! The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) has been shopping early in effort to get just the right gift for its private investors. You see, OTA is very thoughtful and wants to get those private investors something very special this year. So, after several months of shopping around, OTA has come up with the

perfect Christmas gift for them this year: a nice, 21-mile-long turnpike through Eastern Oklahoma County!

The OTA didn’t have any loose cash on hand to pay for the gift, so they are working hard to borrow it through selling bonds.

They only need $330,000,000 to make sure that this Christmas is very memorable to its private investors.

I’ll admit, OTA had to put a little more thought into the gift, because it is more than just the money; they have to take homes, property and remove all those pesky people who are in the way in order to pull it off. You can’t very well give a turnpike as a Christmas gift without all the trimmings, right? OTA is afraid they might have no gift to bring, so they are working especially hard for this one. They are having to work so hard that, in fact, they had to use inflated traffic estimates as part of the deal to try to get rid of the Eastern Oklahoma County people and their homes, but for private investors, OTA is willing to do almost anything; nothing but the best for people we don’t even know, right?

Meanwhile, back in the land of misfit

toys, the citizens of Eastern Oklahoma County will have no home as they once knew it to celebrate Christmas in. The memories of family and loved ones coming to visit at the old home place will be all they have to cherish. Who knows where these families would have to spend Christmas if OTA is allowed to actually give such a gift?

The gift OTA proposes would be composed of former homes, property and dreams of the former people of Eastern Oklahoma County.

Maybe, just maybe, the Grinch will show up and stop Christmas from coming for the OTA and its private investors but instead will ensure the rightful home and property owners; the citizens of Eastern Oklahoma County will have a very Merry Christmas in their current homes and on their current property.

PS: Santa, be sure to leave lumps of coal for the OTA; they have been very bad!

Paul Crouch Newalla

Follow Us on tTwitter to see what we are

tweeting about! @okgazette

Oklahoma Gazette

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THURSDAY

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EAT & DRINK

COV E R

Photo Bigstock.com

Brunch bible

Oklahoma Gazette takes readers to church with our guide to metro favorites. By Greg Elwell

And on the seventh day, humans looked around at the heavens and the earth, the light and the darkness and the beasts of the field and decided to do a little creating of its own.

Yea, verily, and they called it brunch.

Our ancestors figured out a simple equation: breakfast + lunch + a little booze = brunch.

Brunch in Oklahoma City used to be simple, too.

There were diners, sure, and places open for breakfast and lunch, but few places actually served “brunch.” Options were minimal. It used to be so fancy, too; an indulgence reserved for birthdays and holidays.

No more. Brunch exploded over the past few years, covering the metro in hollandaise sauce and mimosas. At this point, it’s challenging to find a

restaurant that doesn’t open on Sundays to serve bloody marys and eggs Benedict.

The trick is finding the best around, wherever you are, and whatever fills your needs, so Oklahoma Gazette staff curated this list of suggestions — we call them commandments, just for fun — to aid you on your quest for a heavenly brunch. continued on page 22 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

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EAT & DRINK

Classen Grill

It’s always Sunday morning at

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Thou shalt have eggs Benedict.

A brunch without Benedict might not even qualify as brunch.

From the simple classic made with a toasted English muffin topped with Canadian bacon, poached eggs and creamy hollandaise sauce to some wild variations, it’s hard to beat this brunch staple.

The most important ingredient is the egg. When poached correctly, the white is set but not rubbery. A gentle nudge with a fork reveals a hidden treasure of ever-solightly cooked yolk ready to burst forth and trickle down to the meat and bread below.

Though it’s a thoroughly American creation, one of the finest examples in Oklahoma City is found at a local bastion of French cuisine, La Baguette Bistro, 7408 N. May Ave. It’s little surprise that Michel Buthion’s restaurant would excel at hollandaise sauce since the emulsion of egg yolk and butter is one of five “mother sauces” in French cooking. Featuring pit ham instead of Canadian bacon, its eggs Benedict is a delight.

For a little variety, Park Avenue Grill inside Skirvin Hilton Hotel, 1 Park Ave., serves a braised beef short rib Benedict.

To stand up to the rich, fatty meat, chefs stack their version with strong flavors of kale and pickled red onion and ladle a blue cheese hollandaise on top.

Museum Cafe at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, serves a build-your-own Benedict option, allow-

ing diners to pick from Canadian bacon, spinach and smoked salmon.

But if you’re looking for a straightforward eggs Benedict, it’s available every day at venerable Classen Grill, 5124 Classen Circle, alongside fried potatoes and a slice of cheesy grits.

Thou shalt serve bloody marys and mimosas.

Not everybody who goes out Sunday morning wants the hair of the dog that bit them Saturday night, but a cocktail can be a delightful way to perk up an otherwise-staid meal.

Luckily, local restaurants are happy to oblige.

Mimosas, a blend of orange juice and sparkling white wine, are plentiful at spots ranging from casual (The Wedge Pizzeria, 4709 N. Western Ave.) to elegant (The Drake, 519 NW 23rd St.).

But for something a bit stronger, many brunch spots roll out the bloody mary bar.

A mix of spiced tomato juice and vodka, bloody marys are a brunch tradition, but at Packard’s New American Kitchen, 201 NW 10th St., it’s up to guests to mix a perfect one. With a choice of regular or spicy juice and your favorite brand of vodka, diners head to the bar to season glasses with horseradish, hot sauces, salts, peppers and a variety of vegetables, pickled and otherwise.

Basically, it’s an alcoholic salad bar, and it’s a joy.

Other venues with a bloody mary bar include Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar at 1845 Northwest Expressway and Pearl’s Oyster Bar at 5641 N. Classen Blvd.

Classen Grill serves a classic eggs Benedict. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

ing caffeine than eating a full-on breakfast, the metro is blessed with a bounty of great coffee shops. An early local challenger to the Starbucks crown is Coffee Slingers, 1015 N. Broadway Ave., where java jockeys can create espressos, pourovers and French presses from the venue’s house-roasted coffees.

A few blocks away, newcomer Clarity Coffee, 431 W. Main St., brings in great beans from roasters across the country.

Co-owner Steve Willingham said he focuses on bringing the best roasts he can to Oklahoma City so customers can experience a range of what great coffee can be.

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Thou shalt open a little early.

If you’d rather put a breakfast cocktail in the hands of a seasoned bartender, you might prefer one of the S&B’s Burger Joints that dot the city. They offer a big list of variations. And whether stopping at Rococo, 2824 N. Pennsylvania Ave., for the a la carte brunch or Rococo Northpark, 12252 N. May Ave., for the “cruise-line” brunch buffet, both locations offer an exquisite vegetable-infused vodka bloody mary.

Thou needst good coffee.

You don’t want a stiff drink, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a beverage. One of the great joys of breakfast at a restaurant is getting a great cup of coffee — which, sadly, isn’t a guarantee.

For top-notch joe and a full menu of breakfast-y options, Joey’s Cafe, 12325 N. May Ave., is worth a visit. Not only are there stacks of fluffy pancakes and crabstuffed omelets, but it serves a lowacid organic Brazilian coffee that is flavorful and rich without being bitter.

Norman breakfast stop syrup., 123 E. Main St., serves Stumptown Coffee from Oregon alongside a menu of traditional (and nontraditional) eggs, waffles and biscuits and gravy.

If you’re more interested in imbibPackard’s New American Kitchen keeps weekend crowds buzzing with a bloody mary bar. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

All too often, brunch is like Christmas morning. We wake up craving it, but we have to wait and wait for our favorite places to get cooking.

Thankfully, some restaurateurs understood diners’ plight and decided to open early.

Shining star of the south side Sherri’s Diner, 704 SW 59th St., is in a crack-ofdawn pancake war with Hungry Frog Restaurant, 1101 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Both spots serve some of the city’s finest flapjacks and have the heart to open well before 10 a.m. Sherri’s starts service at 6 a.m., and things get hopping at 6:30 a.m. at Hungry Frog. (Careful, though — Hungry Frog is closed on Sundays, so make sure to visit another day.)

A little farther north is Abraham’s Western Cafe, 4716 N. Western Ave., which is better known for onion burgers but makes a dandy spot for an early morning plate of bacon, eggs and pancakes.

Want to class it up a little more?

Check out the city’s growing number of hotel restaurants,

M-F 7am-6:30pm • Sat 9:30am-4pm 2310 N Western 524-0887

EGGINGTONS-HUB.COM 737 W. Danforth Road, Edmond | 405.285.1580

SM In the Historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel

continued on page 24

THE BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH IN TOWN $30 | 2 SPECIALTY DRINKS & UNLIMITED FAVORITES* Enjoy the beauty and historic elegance of the Skirvin Hilton Park Avenue Grill while listening to the sounds of well-known guitarist Edgar Cruz for a memorable Sunday brunch experience.

Reservations strongly recommended. *Special Sunday brunch rates per person valid through September 4, 2016. Restrictions apply. Based on availability.

405.702.8444 • one park avenue One Park Ave, Oklahoma CityParkAveGrill.com OK 73102 • ParkAveGrill.com • 405.272.8444 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

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Rococo Brunch Two Ways

Cruise Ship Style (Northpark) and Traditional (Penn)

#CruiseShipBrunch

Perfectly cooked bacon is a staple at The R&J Lounge and Supper Club’s weekend brunch. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

continued from page 23

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which open early to fix high-end eats. In addition to Park Avenue Grill, which opens at 7 a.m. on weekends, there’s Flint, 15 N. Robinson Ave., inside Colcord Hotel; Ember Modern American Tavern, 6300 Waterford Blvd., inside Renaissance Waterford Oklahoma City Hotel; and Viceroy Grille, 1200 N. Walker Ave., inside Ambassador Hotel.

12252 N. May Ave. • 2824 N. Penn Ave. • Rococo-Restaurant.com

Thou ought to cook the bacon right.

Pigs hate brunch for obvious reasons.

They’re never invited as guests, only as food. But the real insult to our clovenhoofed friends is when they aren’t even cooked correctly.

So when going out for brunch, it’s important to find places that cook bacon just right: mostly crispy with just enough chew to keep the slice from shattering when you take a bite, sending shards of pork flying like brunch shrapnel.

One great place to find bacon, day or night, is The R&J Lounge and Supper Club, 320 NW 10th St. Brunch at this bar starts midnight Saturday, but even on a weeknight, you can find homemade, extrathick cut bacon with blue cheese and truffle honey.

At brunch, discover a thinner, crispier version as a side with a croissant, ham and Brie French toast or eggs and toast.

Another top spot is Kitchen No. 324, 324 N. Robinson Ave., where chefs cure their own McCabe’s small-batch bacon before frying it for lucky customers. Thick, chewy and nearly radiating with big breakfast flavor, it’s a must-have.

Thou needst some pastries.

While at Kitchen, there’s a big pile of pastries just begging customers to forgo their usual order of Green Eggs and Ham for a cruller or chocolate croissant.

In fact, many spots serve brunch sweets.

All About Cha, with locations in OKC and Edmond, has cases full of desserts that 24

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are just as tasty early in the day as they are later.

And new food truck Holey Rollers, which keeps its location updated on Twitter @holeyrollersokc, serves doughnuts in a variety of drool-worthy flavors like spicy Mexican chocolate, banana walnut sea salt and lemon poppyseed.

Don’t forget the pastry whiz kids making doughnuts and macarons from scratch at Belle Kitchen, 7509 N. May Ave. and 30 NE Second St. Since you’re already having dessert for breakfast, go ahead and grab some homemade ice cream, too.

Thou can throw in a burger.

Brunch is still an indulgence, which might be why so many local spots make a breakfast version of Oklahomans’ favorite dish — the burger.

At The Pump Bar, 2425 N. Walker Ave., the aptly named Brunch Burger is an entire breakfast piled on a jalapeño cheddar bagel.

It is covered in havarti cheese, bacon, hash browns and a poached egg with deli mustard hollandaise sauce. Be sure to ask for extra napkins.

Recently reborn VZD Restaurant & Bar, 4200 N. Western Ave., serves a slightly different take on the breakfast burger, topping an all-beef patty with soft-scrambled eggs and a seeded roll.

S&B’s Burger Joint offers breakfast burgers, too. The 5929 N. May Ave. location begins serving them at 9 a.m. all the livelong day, including the Sunday Morning Coming Down with Sriracha ketchup, bacon, hash browns, American cheese and a soft-fried egg.

Thou shalt spice things up.

If heavy food makes you feel sluggish, open your eyes by wrapping your mouth around some dishes that bring the heat.

Cafe Kacao, 3325 N. Classen Blvd., is home of the cobanero omelet stuffed with carne asada and doused in creamy cobanero pepper sauce. The pepper sauce will keep you alert and hungry for more. continued on page 27

An Oklahoma Legend Since 1910

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405.236.0416 • CattlemensRestaurant.com

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EAT & DRINK Hillbilly’s shrimp and grits packs a ton of spice. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

table. Don’t be that person. Lots of comeand-go spots don’t require reservations, but for some of the most popular ones, call at least a few days in advance.

Why take your chances by walking into Cafe 501, 5825 NW Grand Blvd., or Rococo when you can reserve a spot online?

Opentable.com is a resource for making sure you have enough room for everyone at the right time.

Thou can just eat breakfast, too.

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continued from page 24

Shrimp and grits are another favorite spreading across Oklahoma City. It’s on the menu at Ember, and another top spot for spicy shellfish is Hillbilly’s, 1 NW Ninth St. Let your server know your preferred spice level before you order, though, because this dish

can burn you from the inside out in the tastiest way possible.

For international flair, check out the popular brunch at Café do Brasil, 440 NW 11th St. The Orfeu Negro’s potent blend of black bean soup, pork, poached egg and spicy green sauce will wake you up while the delightful Carnaval Hangover, including scrambled eggs with spicy homemade

chorizo, will have you begging for a caipirinha cocktail to cool you down.

Thou shalt make reservations.

Nothing makes a hero feel more like a zero than suggesting brunch at a beloved eatery and then showing up just in time to make your friends and family wait an hour for a

Brunch is wonderful, but it doesn’t have to be a production. There are plenty of places to grab a simple meal of perfectly cooked eggs, buttery toast and fresh-from-thegriddle pancakes.

Local-favorite-turned-interstatesuccess Jimmy’s Egg is so ubiquitous it’s almost ridiculous. But it’s hard to argue with a spot that knows how to make those omelets right every time.

Eggington’s, 737 W. Danforth Road, in Edmond is an import from Casper, Wyoming, but it’s still a great place to stuff your kids full of chocolate chip pancakes while chatting with friends.

Newly opened Sunnyside Diner, 916 NW Sixth St., runs the gamut from diner favorites huevos rancheros and corned beef and hash to variations on eggs Benedict, as well. continued on page 28

Let’s Brunch!

Let ’s Brunch!

Open at 10am sat & suN moN-Fri at 11am

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BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

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EAT & DRINK continued from page 27

S&B Burger joint | Photo Gazette / file

Brunch gospel

Downtown

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

Now taking reservations on Open Table 1 block from Civic Center & OKC Museum of Art

Flint 15 N. Robinson Ave. flintokc.com 405-605-0657

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305 N. Walker

patroNookc.com

Kitchen No. 324 324 N. Robinson Ave. kitchen324.com 405-763-5911

405.702.7660

Old School Bagel Cafe 211 N. Robinson Ave. oldschoolbagelcafe.com 405-778-8938

Kamp’s 1910 Cafe 10 NE 10th St. kamps1910cafe.net 405-230-1910

The Ground Floor European Cafe & Bakery 211 N. Robinson Ave. groundfloorcafe.net 405-232-2233

Iguana Mexican Grill 9 NW Ninth St. iguanamexicangrill.com 405-606-7172

Stella Modern Italian Cuisine 1201 N. Walker Ave. stella-okc.com 405-235-2200 Café do Brasil 440 NW 11th St. cafedobrazilokc.com 405-525-9779

Old School Bagel Cafe | Photo Gazette / file

Automobile Alley Packard’s New American Kitchen 201 NW 10th St. packardsokc.com 405-605-3771 Broadway 10 Bar and Chophouse 1101 N. Broadway Ave. broadway10okc.com 405-212-3949

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FINALIST BEST OF

Elemental Coffee Roasters 815 N. Hudson Ave. elementalcoffee.com 405-604-9766

Midtown

Waffle Champion 1212 N. Walker Ave., Suite 100 wafflechampion.com 405-525-9235

S&B’s Burger Joint 20 NW Ninth St. sandbburgers.com 405-270-0516

VOTE FOR EARL’S. VOTE FOR OKLAHOMA BBQ.

EARLSRIBPALACE.COM

Park Avenue Grill 1 Park Ave. skirvinhilton.com 405-702-8444

OKC

Hillbilly’s 1 NW Ninth St. fullhillbilly.com 405-702-9805 Pierre Pierre Crêperie 7 NW Ninth St. pierrepierreokc.com 405-600-9494

Coffee Slingers Roasters 1015 N. Broadway Ave. coffeeslingers.com 405-609-1662 Pelotón Wine Bar & Cafe 900 N. Broadway Ave. peletonwinebar.com 405-605-0513

Elemental Coffee Roasters | Photo Gazette / file

Eggington’s | Photo Gazette / file

Pizzeria Gusto 2415 N. Walker Ave. pizzeria-gusto.com 405-437-4992

syrup.

123 E. Main St. syrup-breakfast.com 405-701-1143

Jeff’s Country Cafe 3401 N. Classen Blvd.

405-524-2023

Scratch Kitchen + Cocktails 132 W. Main St. scratchnorman.com 405-801-2900

Cafe Kacao 3325 N. Classen Blvd. cafekacao.com 405-602-2883 The Red Cup 3122 N. Classen Blvd. theredcupokc.com 405-525-3430

Picasso Cafe | Photo Gazette / file

Plaza District Cafe Antigua 1903 N. Classen Blvd. facebook.com/ cafeantigua1 405-602-8984 Hungry Frog Restaurant 1101 N. Pennsylvania Ave. 405-524-0686 The Mule 1630 N. Blackwelder Ave. themuleokc.com 405-601-1400 District House 1755 NW 16th St. districthouseokc.com 405-633-1775

Oak & Ore 1732 NW 16th St. oakandore.com 405-606-2030

Uptown 23rd/Paseo Picasso Cafe 3009 Paseo Drive picassosonpaseo.com 405-602-2002 The Pump Bar 2425 N. Walker Ave. pumpbar.net 405-702-8898 Guyutes 730 NW 23rd St. guyutes.com 405-702-6960

Hungry Frog Restaurant | Photo Gazette / file

Cheever’s Cafe 2409 N. Hudson Ave. cheeverscafe.com 405-525-7007 The Drake 519 NW 23rd St., Suite 111 thedrakeokc.com 405-605-3399 Old School Bagel Cafe 511 NW 23rd St. #101 oldschoolbagelcafe.com 405-602-3447 Big Truck Tacos 530 NW 23rd St. bigtrucktacos.com 405-525-8226 Guernsey Park 2418 N. Guernsey Ave. guernseypark.com 405-605-5272

Classen Curve Cafe 501 5825 NW Grand Blvd. cafe501.com 405-844-1501

Norman

Edmond Eggington’s 737 W. Danforth Road eggingtons.com 405-285-1580 The Hash Retro Diner 1149 E. Second St. facebook.com/hrdedmond 405-471-6747 Cafe 501 501 S. Boulevard cafe501.com 405-359-1501 Katie’s Country Griddle 229 S. Santa Fe Ave. 405-359-6372 Lottinvilles 801 Signal Ridge Drive lottinvillesrestaurant.com 405-341-2244

Northwest OKC Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar 1845 Northwest Expressway whiskeycakeokc.com 405-582-2253

Fancy That 215 E. Main St. fancythat.us 405-307-0541

La Baguette Bistro 7408 N. May Ave. labaguettebistro.com 405-840-3047

The Diner 213 E. Main St. 405-329-6642

Beverly’s Pancake House 3314 Northwest Expressway 405-848-5050

Pub W 3720 W. Robinson St. pubdub.com 405-701-5844

Classen Grill 5124 N. Classen Blvd.

405-842-0428

Seven47 747 Asp Ave. seven47.com 405-701-8622

S&B’s Burger Joint 5929 N. May Ave. sandbburgers.com 405-843-8777 Lola’s Family Restaurant 9148 N. MacArthur Blvd.

405-722-8262 Jim’s Diner 6317 N. Meridian Ave. jimsdinerok.com 405-495-5105

Blu Fine Wine & Food 201 S. Crawford Ave. gldining.com/blu 405-360-4258 Legend’s Restaurant 1313 W. Lindsey St. legendsrestaurant.com 405-329-8888

The Boom 2218 NW 39th St. theboomokc.com 405-601-7200

All About Cha 7300 N. Western Ave. allaboutcha.net 405-840-7725 Flip’s Wine Bar 5801 N. Western Ave. flipswinebar.com 405-843-1527 Pearl’s Oyster Bar 5641 N. Classen Blvd. pearlsokc.com 405-848-8008 Deep Fork Grill 5418 N. Western Ave. deepforkgrill.com 405-848-7678

syrup. | Photo Gazette / file O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

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F E AT U R E

EAT & DRINK

Civilian roots

A nationwide farming coalition helps Oklahoma veterans.

By Christine Eddington | Photo Garett Fisbeck

www.sandbburgers.com 20 nw 9th • 405-270-0516 5929 n may • 405-843-8777 1909 S douglaS blvd • mwC • 405-741-9494 7745 S walker (I-240 & walker) • 405-631-0783 14020 n may • 405-418-8477 640 nw expreSSway • 405-603-8116 123 e State hwy 152 • muStang • 405-256-6788

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For Brian Chambers, life after deployment is a struggle in some ways.

“I was a special missions aviator in the Air Force for eight years. We were everywhere — Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa — and I was lucky; I didn’t sustain serious injury physically, but I do have some issues mentally. It’s hard to explain, but there are just little issues,” Chambers said. “I did have some friends who were seriously hurt and some who died. I’m not saying what I went through was as bad as what the guys who were kicking in doors went through and saw, but it does affect me. You spend years living your life six months at a time. Each flight is dangerous, and you know what could happen every time you go up. That kind of stress does something.”

For the past year and a half, Chambers has farmed at Rambling Oaks Farm near Henryetta after getting his start farming on a small acre of land in Muskogee.

Chambers, his wife Kisha and their three charming, home-schooled children are members of a growing class of food revolutionaries who actively reject chemical- and hormone-laden, crueltyfilled factory farming for something kinder, healthier and from Chambers’

perspective, better.

“We raise pigs, chickens and also vegetables. We like to say that our animals live happy lives with just one bad day,” Chambers said.

“We believe that every animal has a purpose, and some are to sustain and feed us. But that doesn’t mean you should be mean and stick them in a cage, and we feel strongly that you should never make light of killing anything,” Chambers added. “We’re given charge or dominion over these animals, and we have to own that and treat them as kindly and well as possible.”

He takes his philosophy seriously.

For example, the Chambers family raises pigs in wooded lots instead of pens, and the animals seem content.

Chambers described his farming techniques as “beyond organic.”

“While we aren’t certified organic, we actually do much more than would be required to get that certification,” he said.

“Our animals are pasture-raised, and we do rotational grazing.”

Giving experience

Recently, Chambers also became a member of Homegrown by Heroes

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Wes Tibbs, a participant in the Homegrown by Heroes program, feeds his llama at his Oklahoma City farm.

Farmer Veteran Coalition.

“We joined just a couple of months ago. The main reason I did is that I want to start offering internships, and I want to offer them to veterans as a way of giving back,” he said. “I can share with them the hard lessons I’ve learned farming, and then they won’t have to go through them.”

Other farmers, like veteran Wes Tibbs in Oklahoma City, enjoy the marketing side of the coalition and how it helps farmers plan for the future.

“We got into it because it’s a marketing angle for when we move beyond the hobby farm level. I think they’re a really good organization, in that they provide people who are doing far bigger things than I am doing an opportunity to get their name out there and get a different angle on marketing that a lot of people don’t have,” Tibbs said. “As consumers are moving toward the locally grown movement, it really gives them a leg up to join the locally grown movement.”

Heroic work

Homegrown by Heroes (HBH) has come to Oklahoma through a partnership of Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) and Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

It is essentially a marketing program through which veterans who are producing agricultural products can label their goods with the HBH stamp as a selling point.

“We just started the program here in Oklahoma in May of this year, so almost two months ago,” said Meriruth

Cohenour, agritourism and Homegrown

by Heroes coordinator at ODAFF. “We absolutely want to help farmer veterans market their products, and we also want to spread the word to any veteran farmer that this program is available to them.”

It’s free, and visitors can sign up through the national organization, the Farmer Veteran Coalition, at farmvetco. org.

The program also offers grants and fellowships to veterans in their first few years of farming, which can be the most difficult.

Since its inception in April 2011, the program has awarded more than $800,000.

The coalition believes that therapeutic careers like those in agriculture are important to veterans.

Couple that with the aging and decline of the agriculture producer population and it’s a win-win.

Chambers agreed.

“I got into this because there wasn’t as much stress,” he said. “Well, there actually is stress. This isn’t for everyone, but it’s a different kind of stress. It’s a fascinating field, and there are technological advances happening every day.”

Rambling Oaks products can be found at several farmers markets, which is where Chambers sells most of his vegetables.

To read his musings on farming life and learn more about the chicken and pork he offers, visit ramblingoaksfarm. com.

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EAT & DRINK

feature

Goro Ramen + Izakaya head chef and co-owner Jeff Chanchaleune laughs with a server during the restaurant’s soft opening last week. | Photo Chris Nguyen / provided

Gorō ahead

The long-awaited ramen shop in the Plaza District opened last week.

By Greg Elwell

Maybe July isn’t the ideal time to open a restaurant that sells hot soup in the middle of Oklahoma City, but passersby were clearly interested in coming into Gorō Ramen + Izakaya during its soft opening last week.

The new restaurant at 1634 N. Blackwelder Ave., Suite 102 opened Friday and is a collaboration between friends Rachel Cope of Empire Slice House and Jeff Chanchaleune, former partner and one of the founders of Kaiteki Ramen food truck.

“Kaiteki was a starting point,” Chanchaleune said. “The truck really helped test out the idea of the ramen shop in Oklahoma City.”

Building excitement

Once he saw the enthusiasm was there, he began work on a brick-and-mortar shop.

To prepare for it, he and Cope put on 12 pop-up ramen dinners and three private

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events under the name Project Slurp.

“We wanted to gauge the excitement, the need, the want,” he said.

The dinners sold out almost instantly, giving the pair an eager audience on which to test different ramen styles and ingredients, Japanese-inspired cocktails and a variety of appetizers.

When it was clear the concept and the recipes worked, they spent nearly a year finding the right location and another six months on construction.

“The wait was hard, but I’m glad we had that time,” he said. “We were able to finalize and really hone down the style, the feel, the atmosphere, everything.”

Inside, the shop is small, with a bar top and stools and several tables filling out the dining area. The idea is to mimic the hustle and bustle of the busy ramen shops Chanchaleune and his wife visited in Japan.

“It’s a really fun atmosphere,” he said.

Tori paitan, made with rich chicken broth and pork belly, is one of three styles of ramen available at Goro Ramen + Izakaya. | Photo Chris Nguyen / provided

Varied menu

The limited seating makes the shop feel alive. And when it pushes customers to wait, there’s an outdoor alley with cocktail service.

The drinks are the work of Cope, who tested the drink menu throughout the pop-up shops. Chanchaleune said he thinks the cucumber chuhai — a cocktail of shochu, cucumber, sparkling water and lemon — and the shandylike Dragon will be popular during the scorching Oklahoma summer.

He’s also looking forward to the reaction to his wontons and the chicken skin chip on the appetizer menu, though the latter will be in short supply.

“That is going to be really nice, but we’ll have a limited quantity because of cooking space,” he said. “We don’t have the capacity to bulk produce those, and they don’t keep very long.”

It’s similar to the reason he’s waiting to add Japanese dipping ramen, tsukemen, to the menu. It’s a two-day process to create the intensely flavorful thick broth, and he won’t take any shortcuts.

“When I tried that broth in Japan, it was like a lightbulb went on,” he said. “I knew

that was the broth I wanted to serve, but it takes a lot of love and attention.”

The restaurant will also serve tori paitan ramen with a rich chicken broth and pork belly and a vegan yasai ramen with tofu and roasted mushrooms.

Anyone reticent to get soup in the summer will find the menu has plenty more to offer. Nikuman are steamed buns filled with pork belly, chicken or tofu.

Chanchaleune spent months perfecting the recipe to produce tender, taut buns. But the real star is the filling. The tofu nikuman is wrapped around tofu, pickled cucumbers, fried shallots, green onions and an intensely delicious mushroom sauce.

For dessert, Chanchaleune is excited to see people try the poppy seed mochi cake.

After years of effort, though, he’s just generally excited to be open for business.

And, as evidenced by the people peeking in the restaurant’s windows in the heavily trafficked Plaza District, he’s not the only one.

Gorō is open 5 p.m.-midnight SundaysThursdays and 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Visit gororamen.com.

RUNOFF Ballot Oklahoma City’s first and longest-running readers’ poll, the Best of OKC, is

back for its 32nd year! You nominated your favorites last month and we tallied them up, so now we need you to tell us who is the Best of OKC right here, at bestofoklahomacity.com, via Facebook or on our Best of OKC app until July 27th.

people Best radio personality or team

Jack and Ron, KQOB-FM FUN 96.9 Joey and Heather, KKWD-FM WILD 104.9 Rick and Brad, KATT-FM Rock 100.5 The Morning Animals, WWLS-FM 98.1 TJ, Janet and JROD, KJYO-FM KJ103 102.7

Best person to follow on social media Aaron Tuttle Floyd Martin Kevin Durant The Lost Ogle Steve Lackmeyer

Best local website or blog Daily Thunder Keep It Local OK The Lost Ogle OKCTalk Red Dirt Report

Best local living author Emily Alexander Kristi Brooks Lou Berney Ree Drummond S.E. Hinton

Best big-time Oklahoma singer / songwriter Blake Shelton Carrie Underwood Garth Brooks Reba McEntire Toby Keith

Best local singer / songwriter Carter Sampson Chelsey Cope Graham Colton Mike Hosty Samantha Crain

Best community leader

Cyndi Munson, U.S. House Representative District 85 Ed Shadid, Ward 2, Oklahoma City Council Jill Castilla, President & CEO, Citizens Bank of Edmond Kevin Durant, formerly of Oklahoma City Thunder Mick Cornett, Oklahoma City Mayor

Best chef

Bruce Rinehart of Rococo Jonathon Stranger of Ludivine Kurt Fleischfresser of Vast Ryan Parrott of Picasso Cafe Steve Spitz

Best wait staff

Charleston’s Restaurant Cheever’s Cafe Hideaway Pizza The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro The Pump Bar

Best bar team

Edna’s Ludivine Republic Gastropub Rockford Cocktail Den The Pump Bar

Best waiter or waitress

Chris Evans at Oak & Ore Eryn Scott at Bellini’s Underground Katherine Ramont at Hideaway Pizza on Northwest Expressway Rachel Tennyson at The Pump Bar Whitney Wood at Hideaway Pizza on Northwest Expressway

Best bartender

Amy Nelms at Red Piano Lounge in the Skirvin Hilton Becky Ginn at The Pump Bar Chris Barrett at Ludivine Katie Wicks at Guyutes Susan Emberton at Edna’s

Best business owner

Adam & Stephanie Jones, owners of Paint N’ Cheers Ian & Hailey McDermid, owners of The Pump Bar Keith & Heather Paul, owners of A Good Egg Dining Group Mindy Emmerich, owner of On The Edge with Skulls & Stones Stephanie Durst, owner of OKC Vapes

Best local band The Flaming Lips Horse Thief Mike Hosty Duo My So Called Band Nicnos

Best Club DJ Blake O Crystal Vision DJ Diverse DJ J2O DJ Saad

Best performing arts group

Carpenter Square Theatre Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma OKC Improv Oklahoma City Ballet Oklahoma City Philharmonic

Best visual artist Adam Jones Erin Cooper Jack Fowler Jason Pawley Rick Sinnett

Best weather team KFOR-TV NBC channel 4 KOCO-TV ABC channel 5 KOKH-TV FOX channel 25 KWTV-TV CBS channel 9

pLACES Best free entertainment

Bricktown Festival of the Arts, Arts Council Oklahoma City Myriad Botanical Gardens Sonic Summer Movies at Myriad Botanical Gardens Sunday Twilight Concert Series, Arts Council Oklahoma City

Best local annual event or festival

Best live music club

Best charity event

Best concert venue

deadCenter Film Festival Festival of the Arts Oklahoma Pride Festival and Parade Paseo Arts Festival Plaza District Festival

Boots & Ball Gowns Gala benefiting Infant Crisis Services, Inc. COOP Ale Works Anniversary Party benefiting Central Oklahoma Humane Society Festival of Quilts benefiting Edmond Quilt Guild Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Red Tie Night benefiting Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund

Best local homebuilder

Home Creations Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods Jeff Click Homes Richardson Homes Salazar Homes, Inc.

Best LGBT event

AIDS Walk OKC Equality Run OKC Pride Festival and Parade Red Tie Night Sunday Gospel Brunch at The Boom

Best place to volunteer

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity Central Oklahoma Humane Society Infant Crisis Services, Inc. Pets and People Humane Society Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

Opolis The Blue Door The Blue Note Lounge The Deli Wormy Dog Saloon

Chesapeake Energy Arena Civic Center Music Hall The Criterion Diamond Ballroom The Zoo Amphitheatre

Best dance club

Club One15 The Copa Dollhouse Lounge & Burlesque Groovys Kamps 1310 Lounge

Best karaoke bar

By George’s Tavern Cookie’s Don Quixote Club Hudsons Public House Nancy’s 57th Street Lighthouse

Best public art/mural

Cultivation mural at EK Gaylord Boulevard and W. Reno Avenue Flamenco memorial to John L. Belt in Paseo Arts District New Zealand Thunder player Steven Adams mural on The Paramount building in Film Row Plaza Walls project in Plaza District Taste of Western murals in Western Avenue District

continued on next page

For your ballot to be counted: + Oklahoma Gazette

must receive your ballot (one per envelope) by mail no later than July 29th, 2016

+ The ballot may NOT be

typewritten, photocopied or hand-delivered.

+ All contact information must be complete.

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

33

pLACES continued

Best place to buy local art

DNA Galleries Festival of the Arts Paseo Arts District Paseo Arts S.P.A.C.E. (Skirvin Paseo Artist Creativity Exposition) Plaza District

Best museum

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma City Museum of Art Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Sam Noble Museum Science Museum Oklahoma

Best fine jewelry BC Clark Jewelers Huntington Fine Jewelers Lewis Jewelers Mitchener Farrand Naifeh Fine Jewelry

Best thrift store

Bad Granny’s Bazaar EARC Thrift shop (Employment & Residential Centers) Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma Nearly New Uptown Thrift

Best clothing consignment Bad Granny’s Bazaar The Bottom Drawer Cindy’s Resale Daisy Exchange Nearly New Shoppe

Best furniture consignment

2 Doors Down The Green Attic K&N Interior Consignment RetrOKC RINK Gallery

Best men’s clothier Blue Seven Mr. Ooley’s S. J. Haggard & Co. Steven Giles TRADE Men’s Wares

Best women’s clothing boutique Balliets The Black Scintilla Blue Seven Lucca Fashion Boutique Lush Fashion Lounge

Best Place to Dine Before a show Cheever’s Cafe Empire Slice House Flint Museum Cafe Red PrimeSteak

Best place for continuing education

Francis Tuttle Technology Center Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC) University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) University of Oklahoma (OU)

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j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Best bookstore or comic shop

All-Star Comics Best of Books Full Circle Bookstore New World Comics Second Chance Books & Comics

Best place to get fit 10Gym Four Star Fitness Hidden Dragon Yoga Lake Hefner YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City

Best park

E.C. Hafer Park, Edmond Mitch Park, Edmond Myriad Botanical Gardens Stars and Stripes Park Will Rogers Garden Exhibition Center

Best med spa

Bliss Medical Spa Dr. Tim Love, MD Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center Renaissance Salon & Spa Udånder

Best place to get an aesthetic update

Advanced Aesthetics Dr. Tim Love, MD Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center Premier Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics Rejuvena Cosmetic Medical Center

Best bicycle shop

Al’s Bicycles Celestial Cycles Melonbike Schlegel Bicycles Wheeler Dealer Bicycle Shop

Best retail establishment you wish was locally owned Anthropologie H&M Sprouts Farmers Market Target Whole Foods Market

Best family in-state staycation

Beavers Bend State Park Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees The Oklahoma City Zoo Turner Falls Park Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Best local district Bricktown Midtown Paseo Arts Plaza Uptown 23rd

Best adult entertainment establishment

Dollhouse Lounge & Burlesque Little Darlings Night Trips Red Dog Cafe The Boom

Best new retail establishment to open after 6/1/15

AMP Variety Bison Shop Forever Young Toy Shoppe Mode Reference Point Rust & Rot

Best nonprofit

Central Oklahoma Humane Society Goodwill Industries of Central Ok Inc. Infant Crisis Services, Inc. Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Sunbeam Family Services

Best vapor shop 23rd Street Vapes Liquid Vapor Lounge OKC Vapes Party Moore Vapor World

Best place to meet a hipster The Mule Paseo Arts District Plaza District The Pump Bar Saints Pub

Best place to buy a new vehicle Bob Howard Auto Group Bob Moore Auto Group David Stanley Auto Group Fowler Auto Group Hudiburg Auto Group

Best place to buy a used vehicle Bob Howard Auto Group Bob Moore Auto Group Eskridge Auto Group Fowler Auto Group Hudiburg Auto Group

Best place to see or be seen

The Bleu Garten Bricktown Fassler Hall Oklahoma City Thunder games Plaza District

Best place to spend adult time that is kid-friendly The Bleu Garten Myriad Botanical Gardens Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Oklahoma City Thunder games Plaza District

Best place to take a selfie

Bricktown Devon Energy Center (Devon Tower) Myriad Botanical Gardens Oklahoma City Thunder games Plaza District

Best place to pay it forward

Central Oklahoma Humane Society The Curbside Chronicle Infant Crisis Services, Inc. Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma S&B’s Burger Joint’s Pay it ForwarD

Best pet-friendly patio The Bleu Garten Fassler Hall Fat Dog Kitchen & Bar The Pump Bar Sauced on Paseo

Best place to treat your pet

A1 Pet Emporium Barking Dog Bakery Edmond Dog Park Midtown Mutts Dog Park Midtown Vets

Best place to get a home or auto loan

BancFirst Bank of Oklahoma Oklahoma Employees Credit Union Tinker Federal Credit Union Weokie

Best place to celebrate an anniversary or birthday Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse Cheever’s Cafe Ranch Steakhouse Red PrimeSteak Vast

Best casino

Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Lucky Star Casino Remington Park Racing & Casino Riverwind Casino WinStar World Casino

Best place to pick up your Gazette City Bites Jimmy’s Egg OKC Vapes Party Moore The Pump Bar

Best pub quiz/trivia night

51st Street Speakeasy Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Company The Garage Burgers & Beer Hudsons Public House Saints Pub

Best place to get pierced or inked 23rd Street Body Piercing Atomic Lotus Tattoo Mind Bender Tattoo Mystical Illusions No Regrets Tattoo

Best place to spruce up your home Decades Revisited A Vintage Mall Hobby Lobby K&N Interior Consignment Mathis Brothers Furniture Plenty Mercantile

Best LGBT bar or club Angles The Boom The Copa HiLo Club Tramps

Best pre-game or pre-concert spot Bricktown Brewery Flint The Garage Burgers & Beer KD’s Southern Cuisine The Mont

Best post-game or post-concert spot Fassler Hall Flint Guyutes The Mont The Pump Bar

Best rooftop bar or restaurant

Bossa Nova Caipirinha Lounge at Cafe do Brasil Guyutes O Bar at the Ambassador Hotel Packard’s New American Kitchen Roof Terrace at Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Best boutique of local oddities Bad Granny’s Bazaar Blue Seven Craig’s Curious Emporium DNA Galleries Plenty Mercantile

Best farmers market or farm stand Edmond Farmer’s Market OKC Farmers Public Market OSU-OKC Farmers Market Uptown 23rd Farmers Market Urban Agrarian

Best optical shop Black Optical Dick Story Optical Midtown Optical Sam’s Optical TSO Optical

Best florist

A Date with Iris Capitol Hill Florist and Gifts New Leaf Florist Tony Foss Flowers Trochta’s Flowers & Garden Center

FOOD & DRINK Best tea or coffehouse All About Cha Cuppies & Joe Elemental Coffee Roasters The Red Cup Urban Teahouse

Best local winery

Clauren Ridge Vineyard & Winery Native Spirits Winery Put A Cork In It Winery Tres Suenos Winery & Vineyard Waters Edge Winery

Best local craft beer Anthem Brewing Company Bricktown Brewery COOP Ale Works Mustang Brewing Company TapWerks Ale House

Best beer selection Bricktown Brewery James E. McNellie’s Public House Oak & Ore Republic Gastropub TapWerks Ale House

Best cocktail

The Black Betty, The Pump Bar Fire on the Pineapple, Guyutes Lunch Box, Edna’s S&B Bloody Mary, S&B’s Burger Joint Sooner Swirl, The Mont

Best breakfast

Best liquor store

Best weekend brunch

Best restaurant you wish was locally owned

Cafe Kacao Classen Grill Jimmy’s Egg Kitchen No. 324 Waffle Champion

Cafe Kacao Cheever’s Cafe Kitchen No. 324 Packard’s New American Kitchen Picasso Cafe

Best lunch spot Cafe 501 Empire Slice House The Mule Saturn Grill Thai House Restaurant

Best late-night eats Beverly’s Pancake House Empire Slice House Guyutes The Pump Bar Waffle Champion

Best hamburgers The Garage Burgers & Beer Irma’s Burger Shack Nic’s Grill S&B’s Burger Joint Tucker’s Onion Burgers

Best sandwich shop City Bites The Mule Neptune Submarine Sandwiches The Sandwich Club Someplace Else A Deli & Bakery

Best barbecue restaurant

Backdoor Barbecue Bedlam Bar-B-Q Earl’s Rib Palace Iron Star Urban Barbeque Swadley’s Bar-B-Q

Best pizza place Empire Slice House Hideaway Pizza Pizzeria Gusto Upper Crust Pizza The Wedge Pizzeria

Best steakhouse

Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse Cattlemen’s Steakhouse Mahogany Prime Steakhouse Ranch Steakhouse Red PrimeSteak

Best sushi

GoGo Sushi In the Raw Sushi Bricktown The Sushi Bar Sushi Neko Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

Best vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or healthy menu options Coolgreens Guyutes The Loaded Bowl Picasso Cafe The Red Cup

Best patio dining The Bleu Garten The Mont The Pump Bar Flint Sauced on Paseo

Broadway Wine Merchants Byron’s Liquor Warehouse Freeman’s Liquor Mart Moore Liquor Sam’s Warehouse Liquor

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse Chili’s Grill & Bar Panera Bread The Cheesecake Factory Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar

Best seafood restaurant

The Drake Seafood and Oysterette Hefner Grill Off the Hook Seafood & More Pearl’s Oyster Bar The Shack Seafood & Oyster Bar

Best dessert restaurant, shop or bakery Brown’s Bakery Cuppies & Joe Ingrid’s Kitchen La Baguette Bistro Pie Junkie

Best Mexican restaurant

Abel’s Mexican Restaurant Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant Cultivar Mexican Kitchen San Marcos Mexican Restaurant Ted’s Cafe Escondido

Best Latin restaurant 1492 New World Latin Cuisine Cafe do Brasil Cafe Kacao Chiltepe’s Latin Cuisine & Bar Zarate’s Latin Mexican Grill

Best Italian restaurant Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria Gabriella’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria Stella Modern Italian Cuisine Victoria’s the Pasta Shop Vito’s Ristorante

Best Western European restaurant Fassler Hall Ingrid’s Kitchen La Baguette Bistro Old Germany Restaurant Royal Bavaria

Best Mediterranean restaurant

Basil Mediterranean Cafe Couscous Cafe Mediterranean Imports & Deli NuNu’s Mediterranean Cafe & Market Zorba’s Mediterranean Cuisine

Best Indian restaurant Ajanta Cuisine of India Gopuram Taste of India Himalayas Aroma of India Sheesh Mahal Taj Cuisine of India

Best Japanese restaurant

Musashi’s Shiki Japanese Restaurant Shógun Steak House of Japan Sushi Neko Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

Best Chinese restaurant Chow’s Chinese Restaurant Dot Wo Garden Fung’s Kitchen Golden Phoenix Grand House Asian Bistro

Best Thai restaurant Panang Thai Restaurant Sala Thai Tana Thai Bistro Thai House Restaurant Thai Kitchen OKC

Best Vietnamese restaurant Golden Phoenix Lido Restaurant Mr Pho Pho Cuong Pho Lien Hoa

Best pho restaurant

Mr Pho Pho Cuong Pho Lien Hoa Pho’ever Pho’Nomenal Vietnamese Noodle House

Best new restaurant to open since 6/1/15 Chae Modern Korean Cultivar Mexican Kitchen The Drake Seafood and Oysterette Guyutes Sunnyside Diner

Best fine dining establishment

Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse Cheever’s Cafe The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro Red PrimeSteak Vast

Best neighborhood pub Guyutes Hudsons Public House James E. McNellie’s Public House The Pump Bar Saints Pub

Best dive bar Cock O’ the Walk Cookie’s Edna’s HiLo Club The Pump Bar

continued on next page

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FOOD & DRINK continued

Best food truck or food cart

Best Automobile Alley district restaurant

Best Western Avenue district restaurant

Best Uptown 23rd district restaurant

Best Bricktown district restaurant

Best Downtown restaurant

Best Plaza district restaurant

Best Classen Curve district restaurant

Best local restaurant to order to-go

Best Paseo Arts district restaurant

Best Deep Deuce district restaurant

Best Asian district restaurant

Best Midtown district restaurant

The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen The Loaded Bowl The Saucee Sicilian Taqueria Sanchez Taste of Soul Egg Roll

Best upscale bar

O Bar at the Ambassador Hotel Republic Gastropub Rockford Cocktail Den Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar Vast

Cheever’s Cafe The Drake Seafood and Oysterette Guyutes Pizzeria Gusto Thai House Restaurant

Best place to drink after a hard day Edna’s Guyutes HiLo Club The Pump Bar Republic Gastropub

Chiltepe’s Latin Cuisine & Bar Empire Slice House The Mule Oak & Ore Saints Pub

Best new bar to open since 6/1/15 Anchor Down Cultivar Mexican Kitchen Fat Dog Kitchen & Bar Guyutes Rockford Cocktail Den

The Other Room Paseo Grill Picasso Cafe The Red Rooster Bar & Grill Sauced on Paseo

Best diner

Beverly’s Pancake House Classen Grill The Diner Jimmy’s Egg Nic’s Grill

Fung’s Kitchen Golden Phoenix Grand House Asian Bistro Lido Restaurant Pho Cuong

Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse Cultivar Mexican Kitchen Hideaway Pizza Iguana Mexican Grill Red PrimeSteak

Bricktown Brewery Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe KD’s Southern Cuisine West

Cafe 501 Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria Republic Gastropub Tucker’s Onion Burgers Upper Crust Pizza

The Drum Room Sushi Neko VZD Restaurant & Bar The Wedge Pizzeria West

Flint Joey’s Pizzeria Kitchen No. 324 Museum Cafe Power House

Big Truck Tacos Empire Slice House The Garage Burgers & Beer Hideaway Pizza Thai House Restaurant

Anchor Down Deep Deuce Grill Slaughter’s Hall Urban Johnnie Bar & Grille The Wedge Pizzeria

1492 New World Latin Cuisine GoGo Sushi James E. McNellie’s Public House Stella Modern Italian Cuisine Waffle Champion

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P.O. Box 54649 Oklahoma City, OK 73154

EAT & DRINK

Get Swirled with us

briefs By Greg Elwell

On the patiO!

Best

cocktail • patio dining pre-game or pre-concert spot post-game or post-concert spot Austin, Texas-based Torchy’s Tacos opened its first Oklahoma location in Norman in June.

Lease documents show an Edmond outpost is up next. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

•Torchy’s Tacos

A Texas taco chain is prepping for entry into Edmond after recently opening a restaurant in Norman.

Torchy’s Tacos, which boasts some “Damn Good” tacos, opened in June at 2050 24th Ave. in Norman to crowds of fans. The taco chain has locations in 14 cities across Texas, Colorado and, now, Oklahoma.

Leasing documents from CBRE show that Torchy’s parent company, Success Foods Management Group, LLC, recently signed a deal for a 4,000-square-foot property in Bryant Square Shopping Center, 308 S. Bryant Ave., in Edmond. Calls to Torchy’s corporate office were not returned. There’s no word on when the Edmond location will open.

Open Daily 11am - 2 am

COrner Of Classen & BOyD, nOrman 329.3330 | themOnt.COm

Vote Ted’s #1 Best Mexican Restaurant

Del City 5301 Main St. Ste. 117 405-813-8337

using on the dinner menu. It means more items and fresher ingredients.”

He could have kept Bonjour open, but he said it would have pushed back the timeline for opening Cafe Mélange.

Nguyen will use the time off to secure a liquor license, find and train new staff and prepare himself for running a larger business.

Bonjour owner Vuong Nguyen closed the popular eatery to make way for a new restaurant, Cafe Mélange. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

•Bonsoir, Bonjour

“It was just too small,” said Bonjour owner and head chef Vuong Nguyen of his recently closed breakfast and lunch spot.

The rave reviews for the food drove more and more customers to the small restaurant at 3705 W. Memorial Road, but the capacity wasn’t there to serve them all.

“The wait was starting to break my heart,” Nguyen said. “I didn’t have enough staff to do what I wanted to do. And I hated having them wait outside.”

Nguyen thought Bonjour would be the little restaurant he’d work for the rest of his life, but the popularity proved too much. So he closed Bonjour, but with a very shiny silver lining: He’s opening a larger restaurant that will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner this fall.

The new venture, called Cafe Mélange, is planned for the same area, but with more space for the ravenous crowds of diners.

“The menu is going to grow,” he said.

“The favorites from Bonjour will be transferred over, but we’ll add things we’re

Lost found

Good-bye, Bali Hai and hello Lost Highway.

Owners Scott Pepper and Christopher Simon open Lost Highway, 1613 N. May Ave., Saturday in what used to be Bali Hai Lounge.

“Chris grew up in OKC and was a bartender at the HiLo since he was 21, I think,” Pepper said. “We talked about opening up a place for many years.”

The renovations to the building, originally constructed in 1946, include new windows, new plumbing and repairs to the roof with the goal of rehabbing the structure and bringing new life to the historic area.

Pepper said the look is unique with “tabloid-style oddities” and a feel unlike anything else in the city. The full-service bar will serve liquor and beer.

The surrounding neighborhood is full of service-industry workers, so the pair hope the bar will become a late-night haunt for the area.

Pepper said Lost Highway will feature Golden Tee Golf, darts and a jukebox as well as a fun Twilight Zone atmosphere.

“Lost Highway is Hank Williams meets David Lynch on the highway from another planet,” he said.

Visit losthighwaybar.com.

Lawton 3807 Cache Road 580-699-8337 West OKC 300 Outlet Shoppes Dr. 405-607-8337 OKC 2836 NW 68th St. 405-848-8337

Edmond 801 E. Danforth Rd 405-810-8337

Broken Arrow 3202 W. Kenosha St. 918-254-8337

South OKC 8324 S. Western Ave. 405-635-8337

Norman 700 N. Interstate Dr. 405-307-8337

Tulsa Hills 7848 S. Olympia Ave. WEST 918-301-8337

Dine-In • ToGo • Catering • Banquet Facilities

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g a z e di b l e s

eat & DRINK

Victorious vittles

Each day, the grueling regimen begins again. But you’re a champion — you know this kind of dedication will pay off. Now, with the Olympics upon us, you’re finally ready to eat a lot of food. The IOFC (International Oklahoma Food Committee) has gathered some of the finest cuisines from around the world for you to try. Go for the gold and visit all seven.

By Greg Elwell Photos Garett Fisbeck and Gazette / file

Patrono Italian Restaurant

Bolero Spanish Grill and Tapas Bar

Hope you’ve been lifting weights, friend, because you’re in for a workout at Patrono, where big bowls of bucatini amatriciana share the table with massive plates of center-cut pork chops atop polenta and mushroom ragu. Heaving forkfuls of delicious, filling Italian food into your mouth isn’t easy, but at least each bite helps provide you fuel for the next one.

Save room for a cool-down cannoli. You earned it.

The tapas event is all about speed and endurance. You have a lot of dishes to try throughout lunch, dinner and drinks. Let’s work on strategy. Get a quick start with the three-olive combinacion and Spanish cheeses with hard chorizo and serrano ham. Then get into a rhythm with grilled lamb with sherry wine reduction and empanadas stuffed with pollo rojo. And just when you think you’re done, blast into some sweet dates wrapped in tocino for the win.

305 N. Walker Ave. patronookc.com | 405-702-7660

200 S. Oklahoma Ave., Suite 140 bolerotapasbar.com | 405-602-0652

Mt. Everest Cuisines

1169 E. Second St., Edmond mteverestcuisines.com | 405-696-5494 If competitive sherpa-ing isn’t a thing, it ought to be. At this Indian and Nepalese eatery, you can scale a mountain of culinary delights. Mt. Everest Cuisines’ best dish might be momo, a Nepalese dumpling of chicken, vegetables and spices. The Indian menu is extensive, too, but for a full range of tastes, summit a Nepali-style thali sampler or dig into a goat curry (but watch out for bones).

Learn to Brew

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New Owner & New Menu

8027 NW 23rd • Bethany • 405.789.7111

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El Buen Gusto

2166 W. Interstate 240 Service Road 405-636-1399 The Olympics is a great time to learn about different cultures and then try to beat them savagely at a variety of sports. But don’t get too cocky and challenge El Salvadorian restaurant El Buen Gusto to a game of Ultimate Frisbee. With a focus on pupusas — fried flat tortillas stuffed with beans, cheese and meat — it’s a fair bet the staff knows how to send a disc flying. If you’re lucky, after the match, you might even get to eat the disc.

Thai Rice & Noodle Cafe

4535 SE 29th St., Del City thai-lunch.webs.com | 405-670-7878 Pole-vaulting is amateur-level compared to the newest sport sweeping the metro: noodle jump. There’s no better place to test out your prowess than Thai Rice & Noodle Cafe. With delicious sweet and spicy boat noodle soup and intensely terrific green curry fried rice, Del City’s home for top-notch Thai food is a great spot for finding the outer notch on your belt. You’ll be flying over the competition and into a second helping.

Hollie’s Flatiron Steakhouse

1199 S. Interstate 35 Service Road, Moore holliessteakhouse.com | 405-799-0300 U-S-A! U-S-A! The Olympics might bring the world together, but that doesn’t mean you have to root for anybody but your countrymen. Fuel that pride with a meal that is near and dear to the American palate at Hollie’s Flatiron Steakhouse. Get a 14-oz. rib-eye that’s red in the middle, pour some blue cheese dressing on your salad and slather white sour cream inside your baked potato for a patriotic repast.

Join us

Blu Mediterranean Grill

2142 W. Interstate 240 Service Road blumediterraneangrill.com 405-673-7779 What is the javelin toss if not a precursor to kebobs? Nobody needs to throw sticks around anymore, unless you’re trying to skewer seasoned, marinated chicken and ripe, crunchy vegetables. A quick jog up to that eternal Olympic flame can burn off a few calories before you let the fire char your dinner. Smear on some tabbouleh, wrap it up in a pliant pita and you’ve got a meal fit for an Olympian.

Vote Us Best

for lunch

thai restaurant | lunch spot uptown 23rd district restaurant local restaurant to order to-go Open Tuesday-sunday | 1630 nW 23rd | 405.525.8886

Featuring Traditional Peruvian Recipes and Favorites C h a r Coa l r ot i ss e r i e C h i Ck e n A Ce v i C h e A lo m o sa lta d o

5805 NW 50th. • Warr Acres • 405.603.3997

Open 7 days a week Sunday-Thursday 11am-8pm • Friday and Saturday 11am-9pm O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

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A Conversation with STEVEN WALKER Hosted by ArtDesk Magazine, UCO Department of Design, AIGA, and Kirkpatrick Foundation

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 6:30 P.M. OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER • (405) 608-0934 40

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ARTS & CULTURE

v i s ua l a r t s

Local artist Ray Tennyson began offering his Paint & Wine Workshops in March. The classes teach guests how to paint celebrity portraits like Russell Westbrook, Prince and Tupac Shakur. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Profitable paint

Ray Tennyson’s Paint & Wine Workshops have made art a viable way to make a living. By Ben Luschen

When it comes to painting Russell Westbrook starting with the lighter shades and progresor Tupac Shakur, Ray Tennyson doesn’t need sively moving to the darker areas.

Tennyson easily adapted his art style to a guide. He is the guide. template form.

Tennyson began hosting his Paint & Wine Workshop series in March. The three-hour “I realized in my technique, nothing instructional courses are open to particiblends,” he said. “I’m able to make lines for people to follow to eventually make a porpants of all — or no — skill level. For $45, trait.” guests can enjoy wine and walk-through instruction from Tennyson on how to create Most people come into the class a little their own portrait of the intimidated, despite the night’s featured celebrity. outline. That fear is easy to Capturing the features understand looking at Paint & Wine of a face might come easy Tennyson’s work, which so Workshop to the artist, but finding a effectively captures the way to communicate that essence of its subject.

6-9 p.m. Tuesday (The skill to someone else is a “They’re like, ‘How’s Notorious B.I.G.) challenge. this guy going to get us to and July 21 (Beyoncé) “It’s nothing for me to paint this portrait? It’s im9210 S. Western Ave. paint these portraits,” possible,’” the artist said. raytennyson.com Tennyson said. “I can do “I’d say everyone is really $45 these all day, but it’s a skeptical all the way to the 6-9 p.m. July 20 (Russell whole other process creatvery last hour, and then you Westbrook) ing them for someone just see everyone start Waters Edge Winery smiling more and by the who’s never painted them 712 N. Broadway Ave. before and is painting for end, everyone’s just clapraytennyson.com the very first time.” ping and laughing.” $35-$45 The series started with He said a lot of the ceRussell Westbrook and has lebrities they paint are gone on to feature celebrities like Marilyn based on what’s timely. Prince was featured Monroe, Kobe Bryant, Prince, Beyoncé, The in Tennyson’s most popular workshop yet, Notorious B.I.G. and Muhammad Ali. occurring shortly after the artist’s death. He Participants in the course start out with often gets suggestions from people online a rough sketch of the figure they’re about to or at the workshops and adds those to a paint, much like a paint-by-number sheet. running list of future options.

Tennyson takes the painters step by step,

Drawing board

Tennyson started drawing at a young age.

He began his professional life as a commission-based artist struggling to get by after returning home from a stint in the Army.

He grew to some local prominence after a time-lapse video of him painting a portrait of Westbrook was picked up by several blogs and eventually noticed by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The recognition was good, but Tennyson was still making barely enough money from commissions to survive. Finding a way to live comfortably as an artist began to seem like an impossible dream.

That’s when his girlfriend, Brittney Mangrum, suggested he try a new approach.

Why not take his talent and use it to help others create?

“I said, ‘What’s there to lose?’ and went back to the drawing board,” Tennyson said.

“It took about a few days to figure out how I would get someone who never painted before to paint.”

He eventually realized he could turn an outlined sketch of his work into a virtual coloring book page. Mangrum was the first one to test out the process, doing her best to fill in a Westbrook outline with Tennyson’s instructions.

She did it. Even Tennyson was impressed by how smoothly it went. Making a living from art suddenly seemed more doable.

“It opened my eyes to a whole other world, and that’s when we just started knocking them out,” he said.

Standing out

Paint and wine events of different kinds, though available across the country, were a new concept to Tennyson when he started in March.

“I’m having to learn how to do an entirely new process,” he said. “Commission

painting is something where there’s a blueprint out there for people to follow, but these paint and wines is a whole other business that I know nothing about.”

The artist said seeing the success others have had with the format is promising. He believes his workshops can be as or more successful than any other because his series is one of the few that offers celebrity portraits as opposed to landscapes or other still lifes.

One of the main challenges Tennyson faced early on was finding a consistent venue for his classes. Lacking a permanent home limited the number of workshops he could do in a given month. He recently secured a space at 9210 S. Western Ave. and will be upping his output from a few workshops a month to two or three a week.

Developing the pre-made outlines is the biggest time-consuming obstacle. It also limits the number of people that can be in a class.

“Lately, we haven’t been able to have any more than 30, 35 or 40 [participants],” Tennyson said. “The reason is I have to presketch every single one.”

The artist said once he figures out the best way to mass produce his outlines, his workshops will be elevated to a new level.

He hopes to turn his series into one of the biggest paint workshops out there and would eventually like to franchise his concept.

Unlike other date night offerings, Tennyson said his workshops give couples a chance to come away with a tangible memory.

“You go to clubs and bars and you leave with just a hangover in the morning,” he said. “With what we do, you actually leave with something you can have as long as you want.”

For a schedule of Paint & Wine Workshops, visit raytennyson.com.

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ARTS & CULTURE

v i s ua l a r t s

Leigh Martin’s work reconnects elements in nature as she examines the consequences of climate and habitat change. | Photo provided

Spinning yarns

Leigh Martin juxtaposes her knitted flora with the natural environment in her new installation now on display. By George Lang

Knitting Outside the Box workshop noon-3 p.m. Saturday Missing Pieces exhibit runs through July 30 The Project Box 3003 Paseo St. theprojectboxokc.com 405-609-3969 $30

When most people think about knitting, the results come down to five basic outcomes: hats, scarves, sweaters, afghans and mittens — quintessential Christmas gifts from a grandmotherly knitting needle wiz. Yet the possibilities for the form are no less than any other textile-based art, and the myriad yarn options allow for more textural variety.

Leigh Martin creates art that pulls from both her knitting acumen and her professional career as an urban forester. She intricately knits startling simulacra of plants, flowers and fungi and juxtaposes her art with natural settings. Her new installation, Missing Pieces, is on display at The Project Box, 3003 Paseo St., and she leads a Knitting Outside the Box workshop noon-3 p.m. Saturday at the gallery.

“I find that as I grow as a forester and as an artist, my fascination with ecology, 42

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organisms and natural processes flourishes as well,” Martin said on her website. “Through my artistic practice, I seek to communicate my interest in small details in the natural world. This basis of what I do speaks to the importance of connecting with nature and maintaining awareness of our surroundings, which I feel is crucial to living a fulfilling, present and creative life.”

Her “Decomposition” series concentrates on creating lifelike fungi, moss and lichen. In “Decomposition: Stacks,” Martin attaches knitted white lichen to an autumn tree, creating a perfectly beautiful illusion, while her “Decomposition: Colony” subseries assembles delicately rendered Enoki-like mushrooms to the forest floor.

Her work consistently comments on

Through my artistic practice, I seek to communicate my interest in small details in the natural world.

Leigh Martin

the interrelatedness of flora in the natural environment, but with Missing Pieces, an installation for which she received a Creative Projects Grant from Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, Martin makes a statement on how changes in nature can lead to anomalies or absences.

For example, she said, research has traced the monarch butterfly’s habitat loss to the “overwintering” of sites through deforestation and climate change. Also, milkweed plant populations, especially Asclepias genus, have been greatly reduced by roadside management and herbicides.

The reductions restrict a monarch food supply.

“The effect of these missing pieces trickle down to impact the livelihood of one of the most well-known insects in North America,” she wrote.

In Missing Pieces, Martin restores knitted likenesses of milkweeds back into the environment, a simulation of the proper natural balance that also comments on how climate change, pollution, herbicidal runoff and other factors shift that balance.

In Martin’s analysis, flora carry unique responsibilities in nature, and if one piece is lost to human negligence or misadventure, a disastrous domino effect can result in lower monarch butterfly populations and other outcomes.

The self-proclaimed nature enthusiast said she has long been interested in natural observation. In addition, throughout her coursework and professional experience in the field of forestry, she developed a fascination with interconnectedness — the phenomenon of a niche and how it is impacted by changes in the surrounding ecosystem.

“Even the smallest shifts in an ecosystem’s makeup can influence the future of that setting, even though it may be undetectable to us,” she wrote.

v i s ua l a r t s

Creative rebirth

Wendy Thomas-Pomeroy’s 39 Days documents the artist’s journey of self-discovery and finding joy.

By Keaton Bell | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Wendy Thomas-Pomeroy didn’t plan to have As a way of self-healing during one of a a photography show. transitional time in her life, she decided it In fact, she hasn’t had a public showcase was time to get back to what she really loved. of her work in several years, despite a career Even though she didn’t have a specific project shooting everything from in mind, she called up a contact at Revolve motorcycle calendars and submarines to nude porProductions and scheduled traits and landscapes. her first showcase in nearly 39 Days opening But like with many five years. artists, inspiration struck The exhibit, 39 Days, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. July 29 her when she least exopens July 29 and runs exhibit runs July 29-Aug. 5 through Aug. 5 at 1219 pected it.

1219 Creative “Last year was probaCreative, 1219 N. Classen 1219 N. Classen Blvd.

Blvd. bly the worst year in my 1219creative.com entire life; I wasn’t sure if While she initially Free I was watching The Bold thought she would display and the Beautiful or living photographs of her favorit,” Thomas-Pomeroy said. “It was a year full ite subject — female nudes — she felt it was of lies, deceit, anger, obliviousness, me not “too safe” and instead used her emotional distress to her advantage. being me and people very close to me not being who I thought they were.”

“I decided that I was going to take a This personal crisis left Thomas-Pomeroy picture every single day for the next 39 days feeling dejected, spending the next 39 days, of the best or most wonderful thing I saw, Jan. 15 to Feb. 22, in a “waking nightmare, the thing that really moved me and touched not knowing what was real and what wasn’t.” me, to replace from my life those days that

Wendy Thomas-Pomeroy took 39 days to document life-affirming experiences for her current art show.

were horrible,” Thomas-Pomeroy said.

“Then I’d have something to look back on from those 39 days that didn’t cause me so much heartache.”

With that framework in mind, she set out to find positivity in everyday life, chronicling moments that blocked negativity and brought joy. Whether it was a street sign from her trip to Huntington Beach, California, a bizarrelooking dog she saw on the street, or her musician friends, Thomas-Pomeroy followed her instincts.

The resulting show, 39 Days, is a collection of photography and mixed media. Comprised of primarily black-and-white photography

shot using natural lighting, the exhibit is a culmination of Thomas-Pomeroy’s journey toward self-discovery.

“I could sit around and be sad about my personal life, but it seemed like I needed to find a way to learn how to redirect instead of holding onto negativity by turning it into a better, happier something,” she said. “It was my cheap way of counseling. At this point, I feel so much better than I’ve ever felt before.”

With those tumultuous 39 days behind her, Thomas-Pomeroy’s story looks like it’s finally headed toward a happy chapter.

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ARTS & CULTURE

v i s ua l a r t s

David Steele Overholt DJs at In One Ear ... Silent Rave at Oklahoma Contemporary Showroom on June 11. | Photo Quit Nguyen / provided

Immersive artistry

David Steele Overholt’s In One Ear ... exhibit blends video, sound and interactive elements for a truly engaging art experience. By Jack Fowler

In One Ear ...

11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Thursdays through Sept. 2 Oklahoma Contemporary Showroom 11 N. Broadway Drive oklahomacontemporary.org 951-0000 Free

As the house music begins to thump and churn, Joey, Chandler and Ross appear on the screen. The beat intensifies, synthesizers swell and Joey morphs into a Storm Trooper as graphics from an old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercial flicker across the walls of their familiar Manhattan apartment.

By the time the song hits its throbbing crescendo, viewers see the Tootsie Pop owl, Al and Peggy Bundy, McDonald’s slogans, the Hostess logo and images from Roseanne all interlaced and overlapping old sitcom clips like some pop culture acid dream.

It’s called In One Ear …, and it’s the newest interactive exhibit from DJ and new media artist David Steele Overholt on display through Sept. 2 at Oklahoma Contemporary Showroom, 1146 N. Broadway Drive.

Overholt, who teaches interactive arts at Kansas City Art Institute, uses “found, purchased, gifted and stolen materials (both physical and virtual) to create installations, sculptures, videos and other engaging experiences.”

For In One Ear …, Overholt chose more than 200 video clips, mostly from the 44

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1980s and ’90s, to evoke a little Generation Y nostalgia among those raised in front of the TV. Overholt said he’s primarily interested in stretching boundaries between art and technology, and he seems to be blurring those boundaries quite successfully.

Making good use of his master’s degree in interactive telecommunications from New York University’s Tisch School for the Arts, he has created a kaleidoscope of overlapping and interlaced video clips showcasing memory-lane staples like Seinfeld, Saved by the Bell and Full House.

Overholt and Oklahoma Contemporary have also managed to commandeer an entire radio frequency for the exhibit.

Viewers can tune to 99.9 FM in Oklahoma City and listen on their ear buds to hear the corresponding soundtrack to the video art.

In One Ear … is just as much technical exercise as art exhibit. The show is a complicated collaboration between the selected video and music and custom software that edits the visual and audible experiences with a randomized music playlist.

The show runs through Sept. 2, but no single set of layered images will be seen twice. The stream of images and radio playlist are presented in a random order every time; patrons can say their viewing was a one-of-a-kind experience.

During prime time (7-11 p.m.), the video is projected onto the gallery’s windows, presenting an “alternative version of the family living room.” The same video and audio are visible inside the showroom throughout the day, but with the help of a webcam, the exhibit becomes interactive, even personalized. Viewers are able to temporarily insert themselves into the videos, adding yet another layer to an already complex and beautiful visual experience.

Visit oklahomacontemporary.org.

performing arts

ARTS & CULTURE

Ticket to ride

Local high school students join a top-tier Beatles tribute act to stage the hit musical In My Life. By Erick Perry

A local quartet is banding together to help bring an award-winning Beatles show to Oklahoma City. Four Northwest Classen High School students will join the production of the touring show, In My Life — A Musical Theatre Tribute to The Beatles, July 31 at Hudiburg Chevrolet Center. The school’s string quartet joins the professionals in an effort to bring more of an orchestral feel to the show. Northwest Classen orchestra, North Central Honor Orchestra and Oklahoma City School District All-City Orchestra are participating.

The musical serves as a storybook to The Beatles’ career and is told from a different point of view than many other tributes.

Audiences experience In My Life through the eyes of band manager Brian Epstein, portrayed by Murphy Martin.

Big-time production

The show features live acting, vintage instruments and live musical performances of the Fab Four’s music by acclaimed professional tribute band Abbey Road.

The band is comprised of Chris Paul Overall as Paul McCartney, Nathaniel Bott as John Lennon, Zak Schaffer as George Harrison and Axel Clarke as Ringo Starr.

The act premiered In My Life as Ticket to Ride Musical, staged for a three-week run in 2009 in California.

“The fact that this is a theatrical production differs us from the other Beatles tributes out there. The other bands do straight-

Local high school students join acclaimed professional Beatles tribute act Abbey Road pictured to produce In My Life — A Musical Theatre Tribute to The Beatles. | Photo provided

ahead concert shows; just music with a little banter, which is great,” Clarke said.

“We are a musical with dialogue, scene and costume changes and a fifth actor portraying Brian Epstein who guides the audience through the Beatles’ career. It is still very song-heavy, [with] about 75 percent music and 25 percent dialogue.”

Northwest Classen High School students join Abbey Road for tunes such as “Eleanor Rigby,” “Yesterday,” “A Day in the Life,” “Hello, Goodbye” and “Hey Jude.”

High school senior violinist Chelcy Giron said the most challenging part of the production will be trying not to make a mistake while performing, but she also said the live show will be the most enjoyable part of her experience.

Class act

According to orchestra director Samantha Sy, the students were selected based on several criteria. The first thing she looks for when selecting students to perform is leadership ability.

“As I was approached for this show, I looked around my ensemble and asked myself who has really spent the last year or years becoming or maintaining a leadership role in the ensemble,” she said.

Two other traits Sy looks for are persistence and dedication. She said that “hours of practice” come with all of the fun of playing an instrument.

“I spend a lot of time among all of my students,” she said, “and considered these two qualities before choosing who would perform for this event.”

Senior violinist Diana Hernandez said this production caught her interest because it provided an opportunity to perform in an atmosphere most students don’t get the chance to experience. She said the most difficult part for her is building up the courage to perform in a show such as this but doing it alongside her classmates will be the most enjoyable.

Sisters Katherine and Laura Levescy will perform alongside Giron and Hernandez.

Sy said the Levescys are the production’s

In My Life — A Musical Theatre Tribute to The Beatles 7 p.m. July 31 Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center

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biggest Beatles fans.

In a media release about the July 31 show, Katherine Levescy said her elementary school teacher was a fan of the Liverpool quartet and introduced her to The Beatles’ music. The teacher required her students to sing at least one Beatles song at each honor choir show.

Laura Levescy’s former teacher also would bring out VHS tapes to watch The Beatles on an old television set.

The musical’s Ringo, Clarke, also professed his love for the Fab Four.

“I was a big Beatles fan before I joined the show, but that isn’t special. Saying you are a fan of the Beatles is like saying you’re a fan of ice cream,” Clarke said. “Who doesn’t like ice cream or The Beatles? Anyone who says they aren’t a fan is someone I don’t trust.

They should be under surveillance.”

Clarke said the musical is an adequate portrayal of the band and presents the audience with a great tribute through humor, music and “a little drama.”

He had some advice for the young string players joining the show for the Oklahoma City performance.

“For the show, I would say just practice and listen to the songs a lot,” he said.

“Then just relax and have fun. As for life advice, who am I to give advice? I wear a wig for a living.”

The show is open to all ages.

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ac t i v e

Former bodybuilder and retired pro wrestler Sting makes a comeback for OklaCon and OklaMania on Sunday in Oklahoma City. | Photo provided

Ring bearers Imperial Wrestling Revolution deploys its finishing move with OklaMania.

By George Lang

OklaCon 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday Cox Convention Center 1 Myriad Gardens ticketmaster.com imperialwrestlingrevolution. com/oklacon.html $25

the

daughter of

dawn DVD Release Event

DVD release party for the film “The Daughter of Dawn” at the Oklahoma History Center.

Free and open to the public.

The film is an 80-minute, six-reel silent film shot in 1920 in the Wichita Mountains of southwest Oklahoma. The DVD will be available for purchase at the event for $29.95 for DVD and $34.95 for Blu-ray.

july 14, 2016 6pm 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. 405.522.0765 46

j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

OklaMania 6 p.m. Sunday Cox Convention Center 1 Myriad Gardens ticketmaster.com $20-$200

Jerry Bostic of Imperial Wrestling Revolution (IWR) puts the Sting back into wrestling. A former wrestler whose finishing move was The Termination, Bostic grew up admiring the heroes of Mid-South Wrestling, the legendary regional federation that helped define the character of sports entertainment from 1979 through 1986.

With OklaMania 6 p.m. Sunday at Cox Convention Center, Bostic and IWR bring back the spirit of Mid-South Wrestling as well as many of the stars from that era, including Sting, Jerry Lawler, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Kevin Nash.

Bostic, who blew out his knee after seven years in the ring, started IWR two years ago when his friend Ky-ote, a.k.a. the Chickasaw Warrior, suggested they make a move in wrestling promotion.

“I told him, ‘OK, but if we’re going to do it, we’re going to get out of Ardmore and we’re going to travel.’ He was like, ‘How are we going to do that?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out,” Bostic said.

“For the first few months, we took a U-Haul everywhere. That’s not the cheapest thing in the world.”

Yet IWR quickly gained momentum with a series of small events in Ardmore, Durant, Broken Bow and Anadarko. The game-

changer was IWR: When Worlds Collide, a January event at Firelake Arena that sealed his partnership with Jim Ross, legendary wrestling commentator and former executive with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

The result is an event promising to bring back some classic Mid-South excitement.

“I think really, this event reaches more than just wrestling enthusiasts,” Bostic said.

“It reaches families trying to find good entertainment to bring their children to, and it reaches all ages — it reaches the fans from the ’80s as well as the fans now. It’s like Oklahoma’s version of Wrestlemania.”

Oklahoma occupies a significant place in wrestling history. Mid-South Wrestling promoter Bill Watts, a former pro-wrestler, was an Oklahoma City native who eventually went on to headquarter Mid-South Wrestling’s nationwide successor, Universal Wrestling Federation, in the city.

“This area has such a rich tradition in wrestling,” Bostic said, “and this will be the first time since the Mid-South years in the ’80s that we’ve seen a show of this magnitude.”

In addition, IWR hosts its first convention, OklaCon, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Cox Convention Center. It features question-and-answer sessions with Ross, fellow commentator and manager Jim Cornette and Global Force Wrestling’s Jeff and Karen Jarrett. In addition, personalities such as Sting, Ross, Nash, Lawler and the newest generation of Dallas’ legendary Von Erich wrestling dynasty, Marshall and Ross Von Erich, will be on hand for photos and autographs.

Bostic said that independent promotions such as IWR play a significant role in pushing the next generation of talent up to the top echelons. While there are many legacy acts participating in OklaMania, there are many younger wrestlers who will step into the ring, too.

“Indie wrestling has had a surge in the last few years,” he said. “Honestly, if you look at WWE, a lot of the talent they have now came from the independent scene.”

e d u c at i o n

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center students from left Marci Carretson, Monica Chavez, Rachel Erkenbeck-Hart, John Grisham and Matt Lee participate in team-building training in 2014. | Photo provided

Colossal collaboration

Students at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center receive important interprofessional training. By Alissa Lindsey

Students at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OU HSC) have the opportunity to learn to work with their peers in different health professions through an interprofessional training program.

Empowering Patients through Interprofessional Collaboration (EPIC) began four years ago as a series of four instructional sessions and four clinical care experiences for 80 students in order to promote the learning objectives of the Interprofessional Education and Practice Collaborative (IEPC) of roles and responsibilities, ethics and values, communication and teamwork.

“This is a program we started when a group of faculty from all of the colleges on this campus and also faculty from the school of social work on the Norman campus came together to start thinking

about how we train students to go out and work in teams to provide patient-centered care,” said Dale Bratzler, a medical doctor, master of public health, core faculty member for the program and professor and associate dean of the OU College of Public Health.

EPIC brings together students from the colleges of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, public health, social work and allied health in teams of 10 to care for patients with complex cases at Good Shepherd Ministries, a clinic in Oklahoma City that serves only uninsured patients.

Jason Dommer recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and plans to go into public health in Anchorage, Alaska, through the Air Force.

“EPIC is my favorite experience the entire time in the College of Nursing,” Dommer said. “As a nursing student, it

was so neat to work hand in hand with a medical student and actually listen to the way they’re thinking. Learning how they look at an issue really bolsters what knowledge you have.”

Colleen Parrish, a fourth-year College of Medicine student who aspires to become a pediatrician, found the program to be an eye-opening and humbling experience.

“At first, I thought, ‘Hey, I’m really great at working with other people; this will be really easy,’” Parrish said. “Our first clinic was a little bit of a disaster. We had planned everything, and then we realized not necessarily that there were too many cooks in the kitchen, but we were all coming from different cookbooks.

There was a lot of frustrations about who was responsible for what, but the great thing about those frustrations was that we had faculty support and we got to talk through it.”

National training

Because EPIC is a competitive program that is only open to a limited number of students, the core faculty members added All Professions Day so every single student can participate in interprofessional training at some point during their time at OU HSC. With the addition of All Professions Day, one class from every college on

campus — about 800 students — is able to participate in a day of team-building in the fall and a day of clinical scenarios in the spring each school year.

“Our campus is fortunate; not only do we have all seven colleges on the same campus, but we’re also making an effort to move toward this [interprofessional education],” Parrish said. “It’s a huge thing for OU HSC, making that big step forward and being a beacon for other schools to follow as well.”

With the support of Peggy Wisdom and the Wisdom Family Foundation, core faculty members created the necessary programs.

One exercise is a type of speed-dating that allows students to get to know their peers and learn more about each other’s health professions quickly.

In between sessions, the teams are asked to do community service projects in OKC. Interprofessional training has become so well-recognized that it is an accreditation requirement for most programs across the U.S. Fifteen national educational associations like the Association of American Medical Colleges are members of the Inter professiona l Education Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that aims to connect health professionals for better care.

As payment models for health care change in the U.S., Bratzler thinks that will cause a shift toward promoting patient health instead of just providing more health care.

“My principal employment is in public health,” he said. “[We are having to] rethink the ways we pull teams together to think about truly providing personcentered care. We historically have waited until the patients got really sick, and then we have this fabulous infrastructure to take care of them. We haven’t had a health care system that’s focused on keeping patients healthy so they don’t need to use those expensive resources.”

By promoting interprofessional training, students at OU HSC are able to gain a great appreciation of many of the challenges that stand in the way of patients achieving health.

“A lot of these people are very good friends of mine,” Dommer said. “I feel confident knowing that if I run into an issue at some point, I can call up my medical student friends and ask them [what they know]. This was a great program, and I would recommend it to anybody.”

To learn more about EPIC, visit ouhsc. edu/epic.

Learning how [others] look at an issue really bolsters what knowledge you have.

Jason Dommer

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

47

ARTS & CULTURE

DANCE CENTER

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culture

GirlCrew members make new friends at events all over the world.

Sidekick source

Startup social network GirlCrew helps Oklahoma City women meet new friends. By Candice Macis

Imagine moving to a new city for work, changing career paths, working from home or being the victim of friends moving away.

Now imagine instant access to a network of over 35,000 people who meet up for things like happy hours, lunches, hiking and concerts.

GirlCrew is a social network for women age 25 and older. Local groups work within a larger network that is truly international. Cofounder Áine Mulloy explained the purpose of GirlCrew is to help each other, network professionally, have fun and “get people offline and actually engaging in real life with each other.”

Closed Facebook groups currently link people together, and Mulloy said an app is being developed.

Facebook was so impressed with the supportive community for women and the scope of participation after the women launched the first group in Dublin, Ireland, that the social media giant featured GirlCrew on its stories platform. Mulloy and the two other founders, Elva Carri and Pamela Newenham, were flown from Ireland to Facebook headquarters in California to meet co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and CEO Sheryl Sandburg.

The Dublin group has 9,000 members.

Global expansion

More groups started organizing around the world. From Singapore to Canada, New York to San Francisco, women are connecting.

Mulloy recently spoke with Oklahoma Gazette about the range of activities she has seen organized. Friendships have formed — they’re each other’s bridesmaids, they move in together, they help each other get jobs.

GirlCrew boasts more than 35,000 members across almost 50 cities worldwide, including a recently formed Oklahoma group that already includes over 100 women.

“We just landed there not that long 48

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ago,” Mulloy said. “We’re excited to build up Oklahoma. We always hear great things about the city.”

Master’s students, single mothers, young professionals and people considering traveling to the state mingle within the private Facebook group and introduce themselves, ask others to go to various concerts, organize happy hours and more.

“It’s interesting to see that melting pot of women from all walks of life coming together in a safe and positive way,” Mulloy said.

Numbered success

The key to GirlCrew’s success is the huge numbers of participants, because its content is user-generated.

“You have access to so many people straight away,” Mulloy explained. “With GirlCrew, you have a constant community that you can dip in and out of at your leisure and have the flexibility to choose whatever event picks your fancy, or you can suggest one.”

GirlCrew was born after Carri adjusted her Tinder settings to meet female friends. She didn’t know the extent of need GirlCrew would eventually fill. She just wanted to go dancing, and no one in her social circle could go with her.

Tinder also is where Carri and Mulloy met and became good friends. From there, Mulloy said, a group of them continued to make friends via Tinder and sent them the link to the GirlCrew Facebook group.

Bumble, a dating app that claims to provide women more power by giving them the ability to initiate contact with matches, has a BFF (“best friends forever”) setting.

Mulloy pointed out that GirlCrew was around before Bumble and women tend to like its casual group focus.

“Some of our users used Bumble, but they complained that it was incredibly intense because it’s this one-on-one with a stranger,” she said.

Learn more online at girlcrew.rocks.

fas h i o n

Kevin Samuels said he uses local retailers such as Trade Men’s Wares in Oklahoma City as part of his style consulting business, Life & Style by Kevin Samuels.

Life, style

Kevin Samuels designs confident, appropriate style for his clients.

By Bailey Chambers | Photo Garett Fisbeck

With only seven seconds to make a first impression, Kevin Samuels, founder of Life & Style by Kevin Samuels, knows exactly what he’s doing. Samuels says the best time to dress with a purpose is always, which he proves before uttering a word.

He stands tall to give a firm handshake, wearing a black jacket and matching, pressed-neat denim. His monochrome look is finished by a flawlessly folded black-andwhite plaid pocket square, a silver flower pin and an elegant black nose ring.

“Even when you’re going out to get a carton of milk, go change,” Samuels said.

“You never know who you’re going to meet.”

As a kid, he knew he had a flair for making fashion statements, even if nobody saw.

“I laid out my pajamas and made sure they were pressed,” Samuels said. “I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it. Yeah, I love this.”

He said his mother frequently questioned him, but nonetheless, the women in his family were very supportive and truly a catalyst in helping Samuels learn about fashion and eventually discover a unique career path.

Although he had an obvious knack for putting together a proper ensemble, it didn’t become a way to earn a living until he stumbled upon styling during another job. He said he worked in marketing and a coworker asked for fashion help. Interested and willing, Samuels agreed, only to be asked how much it would cost for his advice.

Realizing that he could make money doing his passion, he became an image consultant.

“If someone will pay you for your advice, you’re a consultant,” he said.

Since then, Samuels has been confident

in his ability to form perfect looks for clients.

“If you don’t have the eye, you don’t have the eye,” he said. “Style is unspoken communication. It separates you into the winner category.”

His business is best defined as personal brand-building. Each client gets different results because Samuels doesn’t market any brands, which allows him to be objective.

“I put together the products,” he said. “I don’t make products.”

Samuels believes this approach leads to a more authentic experience for his clients.

To begin the process, he offers a free consultation if scheduled from his website, kevinrsamuels.com. Potential clients feel at ease and can learn if he’s the right stylist for them over the phone. Then Samuels moves forward with styling each person in a way that makes them feel their best. It’s not his intention to make everyone look like they’re walking in Paris Fashion Week but to make them display enough confidence to feel like their world is a runway itself.

He reminds each client that looking good is the first step of making a good impression.

Also, he said a personal scent is the most important piece of the puzzle when getting ready each day.

“It’s the exclamation point to your style,” Samuels said. “Everyone should have a signature fragrance to go with their signature brand.”

Samuels believes in supporting local businesses and uses them as much as possible. He sees the potential that OKC has to grow, so he brought his out-of-town experiences back home and is here to stay.

Visit kevinrsamuels.com and facebook. com/lifeandstylebykevinsamuels.

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O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

49

ARTS & CULTURE

co m m u n i t y

Oklahoma City Animal Shelter Supervisor Julie Bank center and shelter staff hold animals available for adoption.

Cat care

Oklahoma City shelters and organizations are working to get the cat population under control.

By Candice Macis | Photo Emmy Verdin

You might have heard about a “kitten overload” at the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter this summer.

Thanks to outreach programs getting the message to the community, a lot of those kittens are getting new homes.

In fact, at an Oklahoma City Council meeting earlier this year, Superintendent of Animal Welfare Julie Bank released the shelter’s 2015 year-end statistics containing the best release rate of live animals the shelter has ever seen.

“It’s much more successful than it was 10 years ago,” Bank said, “but we still have a lot more work to do 10 years from now.”

Seven out of every 10 animals getting adopted, reunited with owners or transferred to other adoption agencies is a great statistic, but as Bank said, the shelter still houses too many animals.

The kitten problem is partly due to summertime coinciding with breeding season for cats.

“It’s like a switch goes off,” Bank said.

“Boxes and boxes of kittens will be coming in like crazy.”

We can’t blame cats for following their natural instincts. Bank said the problem is 100 percent avoidable and stems from cat owners not having pets spayed or neutered.

June was Adopt-A-Cat month at the shelter, and Bank praised the success of Meowpalooza.

“It’s awesome, but the problem is more cats are coming in,” she said. “So we adopt 30, we get 40.”

She explained that the community can’t adopt itself out of the overpopulation problem. The real solution is stopping the flow of homeless animals via partnerships with other organizations and providing resources to the public.

Helping paws

The biggest key to the puzzle is spay and neuter resources. Bank said the shelter provides them along with other help for pet owners.

The OKC shelter gives free spay and neuter services to any city resident and partners with numerous others to refer low-cost sterilization.

The Bella Foundation helps by hosting events for microchipping and vaccines.

Patrons of OKC Animal Shelter is a nonprofit devoted solely to helping the shelter achieve goals out of the scope of its current budget.

Animal Welfare reported a 35 percent infection decrease in its end-of-year report in addition to the highest liverelease rate in memory.

Partnerships with other organizations are a core focus of the shelter because they all face the same issues and it’s important to collaborate.

“We take the pieces of our strengths

Our goal is to keep animals out of the shelter and to keep them in homes.

Julie Bank

50

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and try to address the overwhelming overpopulation problem,” Bank said.

Animal welfare has a pet food bank available for anyone who needs help feeding their pet due to job loss, divorce or any number of reasons. Bank stressed they want to provide and connect people to resources in any capacity.

“Our goal is to keep animals out of the shelter and to keep them in homes,” she said.

Central Oklahoma Humane Society will even pick up pets in certain ZIP codes to provide spay and neuter services and drop the pets back off at home.

s U w o instagram ll o F on to see all our #selfies! @okgazette

Oklahoma Gazette

Big responsibilities

With all of these resources available to the public, one might wonder why animals are still overpopulated and homeless.

Bank said some of the boxes of kittens, with or without moms, can certainly be homeless, but that often isn’t the case.

“A lot of them are animals from their individual pets,” she said, “and they just didn’t think of spay/neuter and didn’t know of the options that were available for them … We still get people who say they don’t want to do it.”

Bank said it’s not okay for people to contribute to animal homelessness. She made it clear that pet owners shouldn’t just want a family pet to have at least one litter or show children the miracle of birth.

“These are not humans,” Bank said.

“It’s not the same issue. They are okay being spayed or neutered.”

The list of issues associated with irresponsible cat ownership is not solely about spaying and/or neutering.

Unfixed cats are more likely to roam outside, resulting in getting hit by a car, picking up diseases, having flea and tick problems or getting lost.

Bank said cats have the lowest reclaimation rate at the shelter.

A lot of cats are cleaned up from roads after getting hit, and Bank said she suspects most of them are due to owners letting their pets roam.

Since she took over Animal Welfare in January of 2015, the shelter has seen nearly 4,000 less animals coming in.

According to Bank, the hard work of everyone at the shelter is paying off.

“The staff have been working tirelessly to make Oklahoma City a better place, and it’s beginning to show,” she said.

The positive numbers have been steadily getting better for the last 10 years.

“I’m just proud to be the leader right now and continue them along,” she said.

Buy a Ticket. Land in Oz. July 12 - 16 Civic Center Music Hall

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O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

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film

The Rules of the Game (1939), directed by Jean Renoir

Foreign flicks

Oklahoma City Museum of Art expands its annual French Film Week into a monthlong observance.

By Ben Luschen

Oklahoma City has French fever.

The buzz around Matisse in His Time: Masterworks of Modernism from the Centre Pompidou, Paris, the internationally touring art exhibit making its only North American stop at Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA), has given city residents reason to further explore French culture. The museum is happy to accommodate the demand.

This year, OKCMOA, 415 Couch Drive, is expanding its annual French Film Week into a monthlong celebration screening 11 films through July. The month’s first three features, Dheepan (2015), A Day in the Country (1936) and The Lower Depths (1936), were shown earlier this month.

Becky Weintz, OKCMOA director of marketing and communications, said French Film Week, usually scheduled to coincide with France’s Bastille Day on July 14, is already one of the museum’s most popular annual film events.

OKCMOA is expanding it into a monthlong occasion because of the excitement around the Matisse exhibit.

Weintz estimated Matisse in His Time drew more than 10,000 visitors in its first two weeks after opening June 18.

Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir is one of the artists included in the exhibit. Renoir’s son, Jean Renoir, is one of the most famous French filmmakers of all time. OKCMOA is screening five of his films in its French Film Month in a rare opportunity to be fully immersed in the work of the father-son duo.

“You can see the paintings of Renoir and then go see the films by his son,” 52

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Weintz said. “It’s very cool, and a lot of Jean Renoir’s films really pay homage to his father, to what he painted and that impressionist look.”

French Film Week is not the only themed film offering the museum presents to its guests. Features from Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio, are regularly screened around the holiday season, and OKCMOA screened a number of movies David Bowie appeared in after the musician’s death earlier this year.

Weintz said there are many opportunities to engage with Matisse and the ideas presented in the exhibit besides seeing the art or going to a movie. Every Saturday, OKCMOA’s all-ages Drop-in Art class gives visitors a Matisse-inspired craft project to work on. The classes are free for museum members or with paid admission. Visit okcmoa.com for class times.

“We are really using Matisse as inspiration for a lot of what we’re doing over the summer,” she said.

Metropolitan Library System has also used Matisse in His Time as an opportunity for expanded activities. A Matisse reading list is posted on the library website, metrolibrary.org. Weintz said a Matisse-themed activity at the Edmond Library attracted around 250 participants.

“It’s exciting for the city, and I feel like that’s reflected in the interest we’ve had from other groups that are outside of the museum,” she said.

OKCMOA is offering theatergoers a French Film Pass for easy access to all this month’s French screenings. For $60

List your event in

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.

Submit your listings online at okgazette.com or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com.

Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

French Cancan (1954), directed by Jean Renoir

($40 for museum members), passholders get a lanyard granting them access to all of the screenings and a free ticket to the Matisse in His Time exhibit.

Passes are only available for purchase in person at the museum box office.

The Rules of the Game (1939) Director: Jean Renoir Screening: 8 p.m. Thursday

Renoir’s film borrows from French comic theater and was made in France on the precipice of World War II. The movie was voted the fourth greatest film of all time in the 2012 Sight and Sound poll.

Les Cowboys (2015)

Director: Thomas Bidegain Screening: 5:30 p.m. Friday If the mere mention of a country music festival somewhere in rural France is not intriguing enough, maybe the excitement of a neo-Western featuring enemy terrorists will put this on your “must-watch” list.

My King (2015)

Director: Maïwenn Screening: 8 p.m. Friday Emmanuelle Bercot gives a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress-winning performance as a mother and attorney who must fight to overcome the challenges of recovering from a serious ski accident as she reflects on her life and relationships.

The Measure of a Man (2015) Director: Stéphane Brizé Screening: 5:30 p.m. Saturday

Vincent Lindon won multiple Best Actor awards, including at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, for his role as a middle-aged former factory worker who finds himself in a number of ethical quandaries on his new job as a security guard.

Diary of a Chambermaid (2015)

Grab your boots and jeans and join us for amazing wines, Oklahoma craft beers, great boot-shuffling LIVE music, and mouth-watering Cattlemen’s cuisine!

Director: Benoît Jacquot Screening: 8 p.m. Saturday

Jacquot’s film adaptation of the 1900 Octave Mirbeau novel sticks closer to its source material than Renoir’s Englishlanguage version in 1946. This telling is beautifully shot and uses episodic storytelling to navigate between the past and present.

Marguerite (2015)

Director: Xavier Giannoli Screening: 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday She loves to sing, and no one is brave enough to tell her she’s absolutely tonedeaf. Catherine Frot plays Baroness Marguerite Dumont as she humorously pursues opera stardom in 1920s Paris.

French Cancan (1954)

Director: Jean Renoir Screening: 7:30 p.m. July 21 The owner of a failing cafe revitalizes his business when he introduces the traditional cancan dance to his venue, launching the famous Moulin Rouge. The beautifully vibrant look at Paris in the 1890s has been called the “perfect homage” to the work of Renoir’s father, PierreAuguste Renoir.

Elena and Her Men (1956) Director: Jean Renoir Screening: 8 p.m. July 28

Ingrid Bergman stars as a Polish princess whose beauty and elegance entraps several men in high-stakes, impassioned pursuit. Filmmaker and critic Jean-Luc Godard called it “the most intelligent film in the world.”

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53

ARTS & CULTURE Runoff Ballots PuBlish

July 13 (see page 33) & July 20

Results PuBlish august 24

20 16

thank You PuBlishes august 31

film

Chloe (Lake Bell), Max (Louis C.K.) and Mel (Bobby Moynihan) in The Secret Life of Pets | Photo Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures / provided

Domesticated Pets The Secret Life of Pets keeps the stakes low and the action high. By George Lang

Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954). L’Algérienne, 1909. Oil on canvas. Collection Centre Pompidou, Paris. MNAM-CCI. Legs du Victomte Guy de Cholet aux Musées nationaux, 1916, 2009. AM 2009-214. © 2016 Succession H. Matisse/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

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Coming a few months after Disney’s sublime and timely Zootopia, Illumination Entertainment’s The Secret Life of Pets offers an urban animals film without the weight of ambition or social relevance.

That sounds snarky; after all, there’s room in the world of computer-generated animation for both disarmingly sophisticated entertainment and fizzy, fuzzy amusements. In this case, Pets contains an appropriately generous amount of fuzz, and the fizz is off-the-charts carbonated with extra corn syrup.

Pets begins with a candy-hued establishing shot of New York City accompanied by, of course, Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York.” This is where Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) lives; he’s a short-haired terrier residing in a high-rise apartment with his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper). Max enjoys the good life, and when Katie and the other humans go to work, all the animals in the building begin their extended social hour.

These include Gidget (Jenny Slate), a pampered and loquacious purse dog nursing a crush on Max, and Chloe (Lake Bell), a languid and distractible gray cat.

But this cushy paradise gets bumrushed by Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a wooly mongrel that Katie rescues from the pound.

He immediately upsets the balance in Max’s world. Duke’s overbearing nature and a mishap at a dog park result in a manic journey through Manhattan and Brooklyn as the new duo must fend off aggressive dogcatchers and a battalion of street animals led by Snowball (Kevin Hart), a former magician’s rabbit with an axe to grind over house pets.

Everyone wonders what their pets do when no one is there to see them, and the opening scenes of The Secret Life of Pets promise a kind of Seinfeldian ideal in which all the furry and feathered neighbors check in on one another and banter about nothing and everything. But director Chris Renaud and writer Ken Daurio, the team behind the Despicable Me films, abruptly change

the game by sending the animals on a zany, madcap adventure through sewers, trapezelike clotheslines, window-washing platforms and oncoming traffic. Pets seems to constantly operate under the assumption that 6-year-olds in the target market will march out of the theater en masse if action ever takes a backseat to story.

That could be a canny strategy to distract from the fact that The Secret Life of Pets lifts liberally from Toy Story, and not just the idea that domestic animals, like children’s toys, can talk when no humans are watching. It’s there in the dynamic between Max and Duke, which mirrors the competition between Woody and Buzz Lightyear, but it’s also there in the chase scenes and the need to restore order before the humans come back around. No other animated film of the modern era has cribbed from it so conspicuously.

Qualms aside, The Secret Life of Pets scores points with its fine use of voice talent, and while Louis C.K. plays wildly against type as upbeat and upstanding Max, the performance is proof of the comic genius’ flexibility. Without question, the standout performance belongs to Hart, who plays Snowball like an unhinged gang leader, rallying the hordes at one moment and comically wailing and giving a chestpounding salute to a fallen compatriot the next. Plenty of other great players — including Hannibal Buress, Albert Brooks and Steve Coogan — lend their voices.

Other studios tend to aim high (Disney/Pixar) or at the lowest common denominator (I’m looking at you, Sony Pictures Imageworks), but Universal’s Illumination Entertainment deftly targets the middle and racks up impressive commercial successes by doing so.

This rarely results in the kind of film that unites parents and children in equal admiration, but while The Secret Life of Pets will underwhelm most adults, it won’t leave them twitchy and craving a dark, quiet room the way Minions did.

film

Tech wars

Alex Gibney’s Zero Days shows how a 2010 cyberattack began a new of era of weaponizing computer viruses on a global scale. By George Lang

Personal security concerns hit home when a virus cripples the family laptop or unseen forces steal Social Security numbers or bank account information, but director Alex Gibney’s Zero Days explores malware development with global ramifications. The film, showing July 22-24 and July 28 at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, provides valuable context for the concern that malware can be used to cripple essential infrastructure because, as Gibney deftly depicts, it already happened.

In 2010, a piece of highly sophisticated malware attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, and it was specifically programmed to wrestle control of Siemens programmable logic controllers (PLC), a highly specialized computer module designed for turning on and shutting off power plants, assembly lines or even amusement park rides.

The worm, which was dubbed “Stuxnet” in the press, contained insidious lines of code known to programmers and security experts as “zero days,” which allow the malware to act immediately without files

being opened or other human actions.

The security company Symantec was the first to recognize Stuxnet’s patterns of infection, which spread worldwide but was highly concentrated at nuclear facilities in Iran. In addition to the “zero days” lines of code, Symantec analysts such as Eric Chien and Liam O’Murchu discovered that the malware was remarkably bug-free, indicating that this was not the work of some freelance cyberterrorist but the airtight programming created by a nation-state.

Gibney painstakingly illustrates how Stuxnet was proved to originate with Iran’s greatest enemies, the United States and Israel, and how the technology’s “zero days” coding allowed it to spread and ultimately land in the hands of volatile or disruptive powers like Iran and Russia.

The U.S.’s national security apparatus takes center stage shortly after Zero Days’ opening credits, with highly regarded former and current players waving off speaking directly about the program that the U.S. government called Olympic Games

Zero Days screens at OKCMOA July 22-24 and July 28. | Photo provided

and the rest of the world knew as Stuxnet.

As former CIA Director Michael Hayden said in the film, “By definition, it’s going to end up in this ‘we don’t talk about these things’ box.” As such, the U.S. government has never owned up to using an offensive cyberweapon, but in a 2012 classified executive order leaked by Edward Snowden, President Barack Obama said that any deployment of such a weapon requires the approval of the president.

As Hayden mentions during a press briefing excerpted in Zero Days, the 2010 Stuxnet cyber-offensive carries the distinct echo of August 1945, when the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, ushered in the nuclear era. A worm like Stuxnet can

be used to take out a nation’s electrical grid, disrupt fuel pipelines, upset transportation systems such as trains or air traffic control and destabilize banking and internet traffic.

Gibney excels as a master of documentary horror, whether he reports on military use of torture, corporate malfeasance or highly organized and generously funded cults.

His latest film continues that string of informative excellence. Zero Days explains that, by taking away electricity, plumbing or even the internet that is responsible for far more consequential elements of modern life than just Twitter or email, a worm could bomb us back to the stone age without a single actual bomb going off.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite MiDtown Businesses!

Ludivine

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Downtown OKC, Inc. will be hosting an

OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT

DOLPHIN TALE

THURSDAY, JULY 14 | 9:00PM This event is free and open to the public.

WWW.DOWNTOWNOKC.COM

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calendar These are events recommended

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

BOOKS Red Earth MFA Faculty and Instructors Reading, event showcasing the talents of Red Earth’s faculty and visiting instructors, 7-10 p.m. July 13. The Paramount, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-517-0787, theparamountokc.com. WED Woody Guthrie Poetry Reading, poetry reading inspired by the works of Woody Guthrie in coordination with the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah; featuring eleven readers presenting work in response to Guthrie’s work “Don’t Kill My Baby and My Son.” IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-232-6060, iaogallery.org. FRI NEW INK!, a gathering of Oklahoma’s newest and brightest authors to sign their books, 3 p.m. July 16.

Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT

FILM Sonic Summer Movies: Minions, (US, 2015, dir. Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin) Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world, 8 p.m. July 13. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-4457080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events.

WED

Summer Movie Fun: Hotel Transylvania 2, (US, 2015, dir. Genndy Tartakovsky) Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis from leaving the hotel; $2 movies and concession discounts, 9 a.m. July 13-15. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-4457080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events.

WED

Floating Films: Oxford Blues, (US, 1984, dir. Robert Boris) a young American hustler pursues the girl of his dreams to Oxford, where he must enroll to obtain her; enjoy

watching the film projected outdoors at the new Riversport Rapids, watch on the lawn or rent a tube or raft and watch on the water, 9:15 p.m. July 15.

Riversport Rapids, 800 Riversport Drive, 405-552-4040, boathousedistrict.org. FRI Sonic Summer Movies: HOOK, (US, 1991, dir. Steven Spielberg) when Captain Hook kidnaps his children, an adult Peter Pan must return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy, 8 p.m. July 20. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. WED

Researching your Killer Kinfolk, Erin Taylor, PhD, genealogy hobbyist and disability advocate professional, presents a program on how to examine past criminal events and provide guidance on how to rebuild the story much like criminal investigators recreate the scene, 6 p.m. July 18.

Edmond Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1315 E. 33rd St. Park, Edmond, 405-340-4611. MON

FOOD Exchange on Film Row, the second edition of the monthly event will feature food from a variety of food trucks, beer from Roughtail Brewing Co. and music by Tequila Songbirds, 6:30-9:30 p.m. July 15. Film Row, 700 W. Sheridan Ave., filmrowokc.com. FRI Art After 5, enjoy the OKC skyline along with live music, friends and cocktails on top of OKCMOA, 5-11 p.m. July 14. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU Quick Class: It’s Zucchini Time!, find out all there is to know about zucchini; discover exciting ways to cook with zucchini, sneaking it into and replacing it with common, everyday foods, 3-3:30 p.m. July 17.

Natural Grocers, 7001 N. May Ave., 405-840-0300, naturalgrocers.com. SUN

YOUTH Titanoba: Monster Snake, exhibit of a realistic replica of the largest snake on record, weighing an estimated one-and-a-half tons and measuring 48 feet long. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-3254712, snomnh.ou.edu. SAT

Kids Bowling, kids bowl free all summer long; 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, soonerbowl.com.

Okietales, one-of-a-kind reading and storytelling time where kids can hear and see history; dive into history with books and stories and explore a different topic from the Wild West and cowboys to land runs and pioneer life, 10:30-11:30 a.m., every Wednesday. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/ historycenter. WED/ WED Bug Out! Lady Bug Release and Insect Safari, release thousands of polka-dotted hungry helpers so they can chow down on pests that are bugging the gardens plants followed by an insect safari and learn about butterflies, lady bugs, beetles and more, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 14. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. THU Drop-In Art: Make a Scene, join guest artists each Saturday as they interact with families to create extraordinary works of art inspired by the museum’s collection, exhibitions and special occasions, 1-4 p.m. July 16. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT

Saturday Photo The Walt Disney Company / provided

The Astonishing Science of Super Heroes, examine one or more of your favorite costumed heroes and discover what makes their powers so super, 9 a.m.4 p.m. July 18-22. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok. org. MON - FRI

HAPPENINGS

Be the Dinosaur, state-of-the-art video game exhibit that turns the player into a virtual Triceratops or a T-rex. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, snomnh.ou.edu. THU

Mary Poppins Stay cool during these warm summer nights and stop by the University of Central Oklahoma’s Mitchell Hall Theatre, 100 N. University Drive, in Edmond. Every Saturday, it screens a musical theater classic. This week’s pick is the 1964 Walt Disney classic Mary Poppins.

The event is free and begins 7:30 p.m.

Saturday with a popcorn and concession stand area available during the film. For more information, visit cfad.uco.edu.

Experience, hands-on camp for students ages 1012; learn basic principles of video installation art and experimental video techniques and create your own short individual experimental video or performance art piece, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 18-22. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

MON - FRI

Portfolio Prep: Ages 14-18, workshop for the young artist who wants to explore and go a little deeper in the techniques of drawing, painting, mixed media, and more; taught by an instructor who also teaches college-level art classes, this class is great for artists who want to prepare their portfolios, 2-4 p.m. July 17. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SUN Fairy Tale Ballet Camp, a four-day dance camp that includes a daily dance class and also introduces students to four famous fairy tale ballets: The Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, July 18-21. Dance Center of Oklahoma City Ballet, 7421 N. Classen Blvd., 405843-9898, okcballet.com. MON -THU Rock Camp, presented by ACM@UCO for ages 10-18, July 18-22. ACM@UCO Performance Lab, 329 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-974-4700, acm.uco.edu. MON -THU Drama Day Camp, summer camp presented by

I Think My Mom Is a Zombie Summer Camp, children’s summer camp held by Oklahoma Children’s Theatre; ages 7 and up, July 18-July 30.

Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-606-7003, oklahomachildrenstheatre. org. MON

Knitting Outside the Box with Leigh Martin Beginner and intermediate knitters have a chance to brush up on their skills with Leigh Martin, an exhibitor at The Project Box. A basic knowledge of knit and purl stitches is the only prerequisite to participate. The workshop is noon-3 p.m.

Saturday at The Project Box, 3003 Paseo St. Registration is $30. Sign up for the workshop at theprojectboxokc.com or call 405609-3969. See our related story on P. 42.

Art Adventures, young artists are invited to experience art through books and related art projects for children ages 3-5, 10:30 a.m., every Tuesday. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. TUE

Saturday Photo bigstock.com / provided

UCO Fine Arts and Design for ages 7-12, July 18-22.

University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-974-2000, uco.edu. MON -THU Writing Camp for High School Students, writing activities and exercises include lessons on beginning a story, character types, setting/point-ofview/imagery, conflicts and discussions and games; local authors Tara Hudson and Alton Carter serve as special guest speakers, 1-3 p.m. July 18-22. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, Edmond, 405-3409202, bestofbooksok.com. MON - FRI History Pioneers Junior Curator Camp, participants work to create their own exhibit to display at the History Center; learn how to handle artifacts, write labels, research, make mounts, and present an exhibit, ages 8-12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 18-22.

Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter. MON - FRI Writing Camp for Middle School Students, writing activities and exercises include lessons on beginning a story, character types, setting/point-ofview/imagery, conflicts, as well as discussions and games; local authors Tara Hudson and Alton Carter serve as special guest speakers, 9-11 a.m. July 18-22.

Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, Edmond, 405340-9202, bestofbooksok.com. MON - FRI Summer Art Camp: Curtain Call: Performance Art, ages 7- to 9-year-olds take an exploration of their mind, body and artistic spirit; learn about their physical and vocal strengths while exploring new ways to utilize them during any type of performance, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 18-22. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., oklahomacontemporary.org. MON - FRI Summer Art Camp: Lots-A-Dots, focusing on Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, 5- to 6-year-old students use geometric shapes and rhythmic patterns to create images worth wearing and sharing; explore their own personal design style with printmaking and various mediums, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 18-22. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-9510000, oklahomacontemporary.org. MON - FRI Summer Art Camp: Patterns, Paints, & Paper Mache, a visual feast for your little 5- to 6-year-old artist as we use paint, paper and pastels to create textures and shapes; a giant group paper mache flower, inspired by artist Yayoi Kusama, will come to form throughout this week as we learn about different materials and contemporary art, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 18-22. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-9510000, oklahomacontemporary.org. MON - FRI Summer Art Camp: Rock the Catwalk, 5- to 6-yearold campers craft upcycled fashion looks from head to toe; fierce fashion camp includes a photo shoot and runway performance on Friday to show off their rockin’ designs, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 18-22. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

MON - FRI

Summer Art Camp: Video Installation Art

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

IAO Fundraiser A silent auction, live music, appetizers and refreshments highlight the fundraising event benefiting Individual Artists of Oklahoma’s afterschool art program with Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma City’s only elementary school specifically designed for homeless children. A suggested donation of $25 can be paid at the door. The fundraiser is 6-9 p.m. Sunday at IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave. Visit individualartists.org or call 405-232-6060. Sunday Photo Gazette / file Movement Masterpieces: Ages 9-12, exploring the theme of movement in art, students learn how to create animated short videos and handmade animation devices that explore optical illusion via digital tools and with bare hands, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 19-22. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. TUE- FRI

PERFORMING ARTS The Wizard of Oz, journey to the Emerald City as Dorothy, Toto and her companions travel along the Yellow Brick Road to meet the Wizard of Oz, 7:30 p.m. July 12-14, 8 p.m. July 15, 2 and 8 p.m. July 16.

Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. TUE-SAT Greg Morton, stand-up comedy performance; since the debut of his two-minute Star Wars mash-up on Just for Laughs and Comedy Central, he has gone on to entertain audiences worldwide, opening for Celine Dion and Luther Vandross at Radio City Music Hall, 8 p.m. July 13-14, 8 and 10:30 p.m. July

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calendar continued from page 57 15-16. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405-239-4242, loonybincomedy.com. WED -SAT SEASON 8. THE QUEENS., Murray and Peter proudly present a fabulous live performance with contestants from Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, 8 p.m. July 14. Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center, 6420 S.E. 15th St., Midwest CIty, 405-7337960, rose.edu. THU Scenes from an Execution, unfurls in 16th-century Venice and concerns a fictional painter, Anna Galactia, who has accepted a commission from the Doge of Venice to paint a gigantic work of public art celebrating the Battle of Lepanto but doesn’t think there’s much worth celebrating 8 p.m. July 14-16 Shakespeare on Paseo, 2920 Paseo St., 405-2353700, oklahomashakespeare.org. THU -SAT OKC Improv Summer Show, improvisational music and comedy from local performers, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

July 15-16. The Paramount Room, 7 N. Lee Ave., 405517-0787, theparamountokc.com. FRI -SAT Time Out, play centered on family; an emotional rollercoaster ride with unexpected twist and turns as you look on the inside of love, marriage, tragedy, faith and forgiveness, 3 and 7 p.m. July 16. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. SAT The Dinner Detective, this improvised show is just another ordinary dinner, with one exception: someone in the midst is guilty of murder, and that person just might be sitting right across from you, 6-9:30 p.m. July 16. Sheraton Hotel, 1 N. Broadway Ave., 405-235-2780, sheratonokc.com. SAT Comedy for Recovery, show geared toward bringing awareness to addiction through laughter with proceeds going to Brothers In Recovery Inc; hosted by Ashley Watson featuring BradChad Porter, Matthew Hinson and many others, 7:30-10:30 p.m. July 16. ACM@UCO Performance Lab, 329 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-974-4700, acm.uco.edu. SAT

ACTIVE Rayo OKC vs. Puerto Rico FC, professional soccer game, 8 p.m. July 13. Miller Stadium, 1777 S. Yukon Pkwy., Yukon. WED Zumba in the Gardens, participate in the Latininspired cardio-dance, 5:45-6:45 p.m July 14. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. THU

Beer Yoga, join Brooke Larson for a one-hour, beginner-friendly yoga class followed by a pint of beer, 10 a.m. July 15. The Bleu Garten, 301 NW 10th St., bleugarten.com. FRI Sailing at Lake Hefner, sunset sailing and sailing lessons aboard a full-size sail boat; sails from Oklahoma City Marina and East Wharf, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday Nights. OKC Municipal Marina, 4407 S. Lake Hefner Drive, 405-922-7787, SailorBrains. com. SAT Urban Camping, a night under the stars at Riversport Rapids; brings classic camping favorites like s’mores, stargazing and outdoor games together with whitewater rafting on Riversport Rapids’ island, all just steps away from modern conveniences, July 16. Boathouse District, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd., 405-5524040, boathousedistrict.org. SAT OKC Energy vs. Orange County, professional soccer game, 7:30 p.m. July 16. Taft Stadium, 2901 NW 23rd St. SAT Glam Bootcamp Wine & Werk, event for men and women featuring a combination of dance fitness classes, beauty and style tips, motivational speakers, pampering, healthy lifestyle tips and a little wine, 7:30-10:30 p.m. July 16. 23rd Event Center, 2831 NE 23rd St., 405-601-5264. SAT Rayo OKC vs. New York Cosmos, professional soccer game, 8 p.m. July 16. Miller Stadium, 1777 S. Yukon Pkwy., Yukon. SAT OklaCon, meet some of your favorite wrestlers and athletes, and have fun with various attractions; interact with talent and fans alike with Q&As, video games, live podcasts and more, 10 a.m. June 17. Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, 405-6028500, coxconventioncenter.com. SUN OklaMania, Jim Ross and The IWR present OklaMania featuring Sting, Jim Ross, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Matt Sydal and more, 6 p.m. July 17. Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, 405-6028500, coxconventioncenter.com. SUN Full Moon Bike Ride and Run, a leisurely run or bike ride under the bright shining moon though downtown OKC; run at 8 p.m. and ride at 9 p.m. July 19. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/ events. TUE

VISUAL ARTS Art Workshop, an alla prima workshop taught by local artist Brad Price; learn how to complete a painting in either oil or acrylic, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

July 18. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., Norman, 405307-9320, pasnorman.org. bARTer, exhibition that allows the audience to buy art with anything, except money; opportunity for anyone with a little creativity and a skill, service or goods to acquire a new piece of art, on display July 7-28. Current Studio, 1218 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 405-673-1218, currentstudio.org.

BEYOND, AK Westerman offers a compilation of works designed to incite the imagination and encourage us to embrace a state of amazement and wonder we so often abandon after childhood; vivid swirls of color and washes of light contrast with furtive, otherworldly creatures wrapped in darkness.

Graphite Gallery, 1751 NW 16th St., 405-919-0578, graphiteokcart.com.

Blooming, artist and storyteller Bernadette Esperanza Torres communicates with her hands, translating stories into clay; sculptures are autobiographical narratives sometimes with handbuilt soft slap female Mexican/Italian full figures, flower mounds, platters and animal imagery in clay.

JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-5286336, jrbartgallery.com.

The Legacy of O. Gail Poole: A Daughter’s Mission As part of Oklahoma Hall of Fame exhibit O. Gail Poole: Rediscovered Oklahoma Master, Nicole Poole presents The Legacy of O. Gail Poole: A Daughter’s Mission 6-7 p.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, 1400 Classen Drive. Admission is $3. Poole, Gail’s daughter, spent thousands of hours cataloguing and restoring her father’s work in hopes of bringing attention to his wideranging art. It will be a TED Talk-style presentation with Poole discussing the project and the challenges she faced putting it together. Visit ogailpoole.com or oklahomahof.com or call 405-235-4458.

Thursday Photo provided 58

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Christmas in July, start shopping early with Christmas art objects by gallery artists, through July 31. The Purple Loft Art Gallery, 514 NW 28th St., Suite 400, 405-412-7066. FRI Contemporary West II: New Works by Stephen St. Claire, a feature of landscape paintings using the Dialuminism technique, which embeds metal leaf and oil painting within layers of solar protective resins.

Kasum Contemporary Fine Arts, 1706 NW 16th St., 405-604-6602, kasumcontemporary.com.

Da Vinci: The Genius, the most comprehensive exploration of Leonardo da Vinci’s work ever created; interactive experience immersing guests in da Vinci’s timeless brilliance through full-scale interpretations of the mastermind’s inventions and unparalleled studies of his iconic art. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-6026664, sciencemuseumok.org.

Demonstration and Artist Talk, local artist Brad Price presents a free demonstration and artist talk, 2 p.m. July 17. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., Norman, 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org. SUN

8th Annual Dealing for Dreams The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum brings the magic of Las Vegas to the metro Saturday night with its 8th Annual Dealing for Dreams fundraiser.

Beginning 6 p.m. Saturday, the museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., will be filled with over 50 gaming tables, a live DJ, showgirls, food, drinks and various prizes and auction items. It’s all for a good cause, too.

The event benefits Make-A-Wish Oklahoma. Tickets are $75, and guests must be 21 or older to attend. Visit dealingfordreams.org or call 405-627-3425.

Saturday Photo bigstock.com

FiberWorks 2016, an annual, juried, fiber exhibition giving artisans an opportunity to showcase their work from traditional crafts to innovated art. IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-232-6060, iaogallery.org.

Oklahoma Roots on Route 66, exhibit of original artwork by Shel Wagner featuring a selection of her whimsical, must-see assemblage pieces. Spraycan Creative, 420 W. Main St., Yukon, 405-494-0321, spraycancreative.com.

Our City, Our Collection: Building the Museum’s Lasting Legacy, exhibit that tells the story of the museum’s history as a series of transformative gifts, bequests and acquisitions; including artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Rembrandt van Rijn, Gustave Courbet and many more. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

Our Favorites, fun-filled exhibition showing gallery art from new to old including some that has never been seen. In Your Eye Gallery, 3005 Paseo St. #A, 405-525-2161, inyoureyegallery.com.

Painting in the Gardens, in celebration of Sonic Summer Movies, create a Minion Bob painting, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. July 16. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. SAT The Modernist Spectrum: Color and Abstraction, explore the invigorating ways in which postwar American artists, especially those associated with the Washington Color School, made it new, producing novel work that sought to reinvent abstract art through an alternatively rigorous and playful manipulation of color, line and shape.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.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.

For okg live music

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MUSIC

Tidal wave

Robert Schwartzman and Rooney make a comeback with Washed Away. By Keaton Bell

The sunny sounds of California indie-rock band Rooney provided the soundtrack for many high school students in the early ’00s. With a sound inspired by the likes of ’90s power-pop and ’60s British rock, Rooney made its mark on pop culture with hits like “I’m Shakin’” and “When Did Your Heart Go Missing?” It also helped having actor and singer Robert Schwartzman, who emerged as every teenage girl’s ultimate crush after his turn as Anne Hathaway’s boyfriend in The Princess Diaries, at the helm.

Rooney is back nearly six years after its last release, sounding as fresh as ever.

Washed Away, released in May, harkens back to the band’s debut with its mixture of gritty guitar work and chipper pop melodies while moving the group’s sound to new heights.

Schwartzman is ready to make the world fall in love with Rooney all over again with a new lineup and an upcoming tour.

Los Angeles-formed Rooney is the product of Schwartzman’s love of every aspect of music. He’s drawn to everything from The Cardigans and Granddaddy to Electric Light Orchestra and The Supremes.

“I just love great songs, clever writers, smart arrangements and harmonies,” he said. “I try to make albums, front to top, top to bottom, start to finish, filled with the best songs I can make.”

The group went on hiatus after its third album came out in 2010 so the members could take some time off and pursue other endeavors. During the six-year break from Rooney, Schwartzman kept busy with steady work, from acting in short films to launching the iPhone app TwentyTwo. But between releasing a solo record and writing the score for his cousin Gia Coppola’s 2013 film Palo Alto, he yearned for the band that jump-started his career in music and knew it was time to go back.

“It felt like time to get it going again. I love playing the Rooney songs and playing for the Rooney community,” he said. “It didn’t feel right not to have it alive and well. I’m here to keep it going, make sure people know I care and I want to be here.

It’s not about talk; it’s about doing.”

He certainly stuck to his word. With a new label (Beachwood Park Music) and a renewed sense of focus, Schwartzman said Washed Out gave him the change to flex his musical muscles and imbue Rooney with a new sense of purpose.

Technical work

“I enjoyed working with synths and drum machines this time around, and I also got to lay down lots of ambient backing vocal counter melodies, which felt new and unique compared to previous releases,” he said. “It’s cool when you stumble onto

Robert Schwartzman, frontman of Rooney, sees a bright future for the band. | Photo Zoey Grossman / provided

a new sound or idea that you’re not used to or comfortable with. It keeps you on your toes and makes you rethink things.”

That is especially the case when you don’t go into a project with any sort of concrete plan. Schwartzman’s creative process has always been organic, letting the music take shape as it goes along instead of trying to instill too much meaning early on.

“Lyrically, I just follow where the words want to go. I’m not very conscious about why, what, where I’m going,” said Schwartzman, writer of Rooney’s entire discography. “I just go with it and shape it when an image starts to show itself.

Anything can happen while making music, so even if I stray from the original vision or theme, maybe it’s for the best.”

Although Schwartzman is certainly no stranger to producing, Washed Away afforded him the opportunity to compose, engineer and mix the entire album. He might identify first and foremost as a songwriter, but Schwartzman finds the more technical aspects of studio work just as rewarding.

“I’m hands-on with recording and like

to play around with the of bands to listen to, and software, which helps people have given time, Rooney with me stumble onto new energy, money, love, sweat New Beat Fund ideas. Writing and proand tears into Rooney, and ducing are very conI don’t see that as a small 8:30 p.m. Saturday nected for me, so the two thing,” he said. “I like to Opolis seem to have blurred think it’s because the 113 N. Crawford Ave., together,” Schwartzman music moves people and Norman said. “It’s very liberating no matter how many years opolis.org and empowering to use ago certain songs came 405-673-4931 today’s technology and out, they stay relevant.” $15 not have to wait for anyThat is part of the 21+ one’s approval. I like to reason performing on tour be hands-on, to be in the means so much to Schwartzman, and he hot seat. I like the pressure of having to get things going, so wants to make sure fans feel just as uptaking all these responsibilities feels lifted as he does. good.”

“I’ve made it a point to focus on the live Schwartzman, with the album finally show, playing a high-energy, very tightdone and out, can focus on the group’s sounding show and playing songs that upcoming tour across the U.S. this month, excite the audience,” Schwartzman said. including a stop Saturday at Opolis, 113 “The beauty of a show is the feeling of N. Crawford Ave., in Norman. being together and enjoying the moment, Rooney has enjoyed a strong fan base making the most of it. That’s how I see it, ever since it debuted over a decade ago, so I want everyone in the room to feel and Schwartzman recognizes how importhat.” tant that is to maintain.

And as for the future of the band, “There’s a lot of music out there, a lot Schwartzman promises he won’t take six months to release another album.

“Rooney’s my baby, and it’s time to get this baby on its feet, walking, talking and growing up,” Schwartzman said. “I’m happy to be back with Rooney, and it all starts now with this next chapter. Let’s all get Washed Away together!”

It’s very liberating and empowering to use today’s technology and not have to wait for anyone’s approval.

Robert Schwartzman

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s U w o ll Fo on ...all the

MUSIC

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Oklahoma Gazette

f e at ur e

Nued Maj and Fre$hJay’s EP Started was released June 16. | Photo Dakota Lewallen / provided

Getting Started

Two local rappers and a local producer worked together to release new EP Started. By Erick Perry

A local duo is using its new EP to get Oklahoma’s hip-hop buzz started.

Rappers Fre$hJay and Nued Maj are two of the state’s youngest up-and-coming musicians.

The elder of the two, 21-year-old Fre$hJay, was born Josh Tennial in Sherman, Texas. His family later moved to Edmond, where he graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School. There, he discovered his interest in pursuing a music career. He tried his hand at rapping and began experimenting with audio engineering software so he could make his own beats as well as mix and master his music.

Maj, born Levar Swindall II of Jersey City, New Jersey, is still working toward a diploma at age 17. Maj’s family moved to the southwest side of Oklahoma City and enrolled him at Westmoore High School. Much like Fre$hJay, he began experimenting with music at an early age.

As a freshman in high school, he began pulling instrumental beats from YouTube to use with his lyrics.

After meeting through a mutual friend, the two began collaborating.

Initially creating material together for two separate solo projects, the duo later decided to combine the work and release it as an EP, Started.

“We needed something for the summer,” Fre$hJay said. “We weren’t rushed. We were just having fun with it like we did when we first started making music.”

The project was heavily produced by a nother young Ok la homa n.

HiVolumeBeats, born Dale Jefferson, of

Edmond said he began working with audio software during his freshman year of high school after experimenting with a T-Pain phone app that altered users’ voices through Auto-Tune.

HiVolumeBeats has worked with Fre$hJay for a few years and helped run the home studio Started was recorded in.

He has worked with and helped provide studio space for other local artists, too.

“A lot of people are competing, not being a group,” Fre$hJay said. “They’re not pulling in other artists and helping.”

Maj and Fre$hJay said coming out of Oklahoma City can sometimes be difficult because of what seems to be a lack of support from people locally.

“We’re not Atlanta. We’re not Los Angeles. We’re not New York. We don’t have an industry here,” Maj said, “It just seems like there isn’t much to work with.

Some of it is a lack of support, and some is people just not knowing.”

The musicians said that is something they would like to change. They want to solidify an industry for hip-hop and bring a mainstream buzz to the state.

“We’re in the Midwest,” Maj said. “We don’t have a sound already that we’re trying to incorporate. So we can be the forefront.”

For more on the artists’ upcoming projects, follow them on Twitter at @ FreshJay_OO and @NuedMaj. You can stream their collaborative EP for free on Spinrilla at spinrilla.com/artists/freshjayoo and SoundCloud at soundcloud. com/freshjayoo.

We were just having fun with it like we did when we first started making music.

Fre$hJay

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review

Silencing critics

Local rap mainstay Josh Sallee puts forth his most concentrated effort yet on Hush Hush.

By Ben Luschen | Photo provided

Local rapper Josh Sallee is at his rope’s end on Hush Hush, his latest full-length project and first proper album since 2014’s Know Society.

It is cliché in the hip-hop world to say someone is rapping like his life depends on it, but Sallee flows at a frantic pace for much of the project. He sounds troubled and paranoid. His voice cracks with emotion. He puts his guard down, and his lyrics are as raw as the emotions he has suddenly opened up to the world.

To put it another way, Sallee has never sounded better.

Know Society’s release in 2014 was coupled with a lot of media attention and hype. It wasn’t Sallee’s debut, but it was the project that thrust him into the Oklahoma City music scene’s top tier.

The buzz around Hush Hush’s release June 27 was comparatively quieter. It’s hard to believe it was not an intentional effort by the rapper, given the context of his career, the album title and its cover, which features an assumedly personal confessional about Sallee’s own struggles with depression.

It is important to not confuse a lack of preceding buzz with a lack of effort; Hush Hush is quite the opposite. This isn’t a rush job to appease fans between major efforts.

It is obvious Sallee took the time to make this album his most coordinated and focused project to date.

One part of his angst comes from the frustrations of being an artist trapped between local prominence and a wider breakthrough. The rapper pieces together an ingenious narrative on Hush Hush through heavy, spaced-out samples of John Lennon interviews. In someone else’s hands, the idea of Lennon narrating a hip-hop album is corny, but the music legend’s snippets are so pertinent to what Sallee is saying that it works.

Hush Hush’s seventh track, “Loose,” features a sampled quote from Lennon’s 1970 Rolling Stone interview. In it, Lennon said, “I resent being an artist... I’d sooner be in the audience, really, but I’m not capable of it.”

Rap songs about the stressors of being a prominent artist are nothing new for Sallee, but never has he made that burden quite so clear.

The album’s opening number, “Pressure,” is just one spot in which the emcee communicates his frustrations. He spits his lyrics in a hectic but precise measure that sets the tone for the project.

Guest vocalist Cassie Jo Craig should also be commended for contributing the LP’s best chorus.

Hush Hush’s other standout moments come from energetic radio-ready single “Awayo” and “The Dividends,” both as-

In someone else’s hands, the idea of Lennon narrating a hip-hop album is corny, but the music legend’s snippets are so pertinent to what Sallee is saying that it works. sisted by Maryland rapper K.A.A.N., who shows off immense technical skill in both of his guest verses.

A perceived conflict between Sallee’s straight-flowing songs and slower, pitchadjusted jams has been a criticism of past projects. The rapper’s auto-tuned crooning on “The Worst” does stick out in tone from the rest of the album. When Sallee wants to take it slow, he’s best off replicating the unadjusted rap-sung delivery he offers fans on the sixth track, “Whatever It Is.” Hush Hush is Sallee’s most consistent work from beginning to end. His lyrics are personal, his flows are sharp and the production is strong. There’s a decidedly darker tone here that was missing on Know Society. It’s an exciting new layer to the artist’s dimensionality. Sallee has never seemed more relatable, nor has what he’s saying seemed more interesting.

Hopefully this album gets the public attention it deserves. Sallee has already grabbed listeners’ ears. Now he’s coming for their hearts.

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j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

MUSIC

Publishing sePtember 21, 2016

event

Graham Nash kicks off WoodyFest Wednesday, July 13. | Photo provided

Killer guitars

Graham Nash and a slew of top-level folk artists convene for Okemah’s Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. By George Lang

Graham Nash, one of the most enduring However, the group was short-lived, and practitioners of folk rock, headlines this Nash embarked on a solo career with 1971’s Songs for Beginners, which featured pointyear’s Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (aka edly political songs such as “Chicago” and WoodyFest), performing at a special ticketed event 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 13 to “Military Madness.” Throughout the 1970s, kick off the multi-stage, five-day event in Nash continued his solo work as well as stints Okemah, Guthrie’s birthplace. with Crosby as a duo, a CSNY reunion tour Nash, 74, began his career in his early in 1974 and a CSN reunion album in 1977. teens when he formed a skiffle duo in In the 1980s, after participating in Blackpool, England, with childhood friend several anti-nuclear benefit concerts like Allan Clarke. Originally 1979’s No Nukes event, known as Two Teens, Nash revisited his biggest Nash and Clarke went three groups, reuniting Woody Guthrie through several name with CSN for 1982’s Folk Festival Daylight Again, joining changes before being approached by members of back up with The Hollies Wednesday, July the Deltas about joining for 1983’s What Goes 13-Sunday the band. Soon after their Around and returning to Okemah membership became ofCSNY for 1988’s American woodyfest.com ficial, the Deltas changed Dream. The next two $30-$75 decades saw Nash tour their name to The Hollies in honor of Buddy Holly. steadily with CSN and ocOver the course of the casionally embark on next few years, The Hollies were key players tours and albums with Crosby as well as a in the British Invasion and enjoyed a series 2002 solo album whose title, Songs for of major hits, including “Bus Stop” and Survivors, harkened back to his first solo “King Midas in Reverse.” But by 1968, Nash outing. was spending more time with former This year, Nash stepped up his activity, Buffalo Springfield leader Stephen Stills recording a well-received first solo album in 14 years, This Path Tonight, and hosting and ex-Byrd David Crosby, and in late 1968, a series of rock documentaries on HDNet Nash departed The Hollies and took an through Sunday. unrecorded Hollies song, “Marrakesh Express,” with him.

While Nash is the best known of As Crosby Stills and Nash (CSN), the WoodyFest’s performers, his set is followed members were able to take their individuThursday through Sunday by a varied roster of first-order musicians from al goals of creating harmony-drenched folk rock to its logical next level. After their Oklahoma and beyond. Performers include self-titled debut became a hit in mid-1969, Annie Oakley, Beau Jennings, Dar Williams, Johnsmith, Butch Hancock, the group added Stills’ old partner in Wink Burcham, The Turnpike Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young (calling Troubadours, Patrice Pike, Peter Case, themselves Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, or CSNY), who contributed considerable Michael Fracasso, John Calvin Abney, Red grit to the proceedings. The resulting 1970 Dirt Rangers, Kierston White, Ellis Paul album, Déjà Vu, featured several iconic and John Fullbright. songs from each of the members, including WoodyFest runs Wednesday, July 13Nash’s “Our House” and “Teach Your Sunday. Visit woodyfest.com.

Children” as well as “Woodstock,” written

by Nash’s girlfriend, Joni Mitchell.

There is a lot to do, see and purchase throughout Autumn and Gazette gives its readers direction on where to find the best festivials, fashions, foods and more!

Featuring a

3 month calendar

For all your Favorite Fall activities submit calendar events at www.okgazette.com or email to listings@okgazette.com Please be sure to indicate ‘Fall guide’ in the subject line.

We do not accept calendar items via phone.

Deadline to submit items for our Fall guide calendar is Wed. aug. 31, 2016 by 5pm.

to adVertise call or email us todaY For more inFormation.

specialsections@okgazette.com • 405.528.6000 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

63

live music These are events recommended

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

WEDNESDAY, 7.13 Candlebox, The State Theatre, Harrah. ROCK Faun and a Pan Flute/Sun Riah/Rachel Brashear, Power House. VARIOUS Fun Button/Larry Chin/Tomas Gorrio & the Traveling Gypsy, First Pastafarian Church of Norman, Norman. ROCK Garbage/Chevelle/Kongos/The Unlikely Candidates, Brady Theater, Tulsa. ROCK Maurice Johnson, The R&J Lounge and Supper Club. JAZZ Scott Lowber/Will Galbraith/Ed VanBuskirk, Friends Restaurant & Club. COVER

THURSDAY, 7.14 Cara Black, Noir Bistro & Bar. SINGER/

SONGWRITER

Casey & Minna, Hillbilly’s. FOLK

Midas 13 It’s Friday night and you want to cut loose.

Midas 13 is your golden ticket to a good time.

The Oklahoma City rock band boasts an energetic, from-the-gut show that’s sure to put some pep in your step. Vocalist Brandi Newman always performs with passion.

Music begins 9 p.m. Friday at Brewskeys, 2600 S. Meridian Ave. Admission is free.

Visit reverbnation.com/midas13 or call 405-601-1155. friday Photo Midas 13 / provided

Cody and Tim, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY

take advantage of the tax free holiday

august 5 & 6

with

a special tax-free holiday & back-to-school section in the august 3rd edition of

Colter Wall/Ali Harter, Blue Note Lounge. FOLK Kenny Rogers, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Catoosa. SINGER/SONGWRITER Shawn James, Red Brick Bar, Norman. ROCK The Latter Half/Harbor/Better On Paper, First Pastafarian Church of Norman, Norman. ROCK Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Crystal Theater, Okemah. FOLK

FRIDAY, 7.15 Buckcherry/Nonpoint/Failure Anthem, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK Chase Kerby + The Villians/Special Thumbs, Fassler Hall. ROCK Cole Porter, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY Collin Halloway, Full Circle Bookstore. ACOUSTIC Dan Tadesco, Grady’s 66 Pub, Yukon. ACOUSTIC Debbie Henning, Aloha Bar, Edmond. ACOUSTIC Ethan Larsh/Beach Language, Blue Note Lounge.

VARIOUS

Huckweat, 51st Street Speakeasy. HIP-HOP JROD, Noir Bistro & Bar. R&B Kylee Laynee, ACM@UCO Performance Lab. COUNTRY

MOZZY/DJ Vegas/DJ Wayne/Core Mc J Poe, OKC Farmers Public Market.

Oklahoma Gazette readers Shop Local!

Each week 134,070 Gazette readers are looking to support local, independent businesses.

Put your advertising message in the OKG Shop editorial supported section the first Wednesday of each month and again in the third issue of each month.

Ads include Full color!

VARIOUS

Paseo Street Walkers/The Wurly Birds/ Luna Copii, The Root. ROCK Saturn/Shortsweather/Dresden Bombers/ Roar Shack, First Pastafarian Church of Norman, Norman. ROCK Scott Keeton, Remington Park. ROCK

SATURDAY, 7.16 Aaron Woods Band, Wormy Dog Saloon.

COUNTRY

Barnyard Stompers/Sissy Brown, Blue Note Lounge. COUNTRY Eagles of Death Metal/The Beaches, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. ROCK

MONTU, The Vanguard, Tulsa. VARIOUS Run-On Sunshine/Mr. President, First Pastafarian Church of Norman, Norman. ROCK Scott Keeton, Remington Park. ROCK Weezer/Panic! At The Disco, The Zoo Amphitheatre. POP

SUNDAY, 7.17 Dej Loaf/Chozen/Jeff Turner, Diamond Ballroom. HIP-HOP King Lil G, 89th Street Collective. HIP-HOP Metro Strings, Full Circle Bookstore. CLASSICAL Mothersound/They Will Fall, The Paramount Theatre. ROCK Randy Cassimus, Captain Norm’s Dockside Bar. ACOUSTIC

Twilight Concert Series: Hannah Wolff, Myriad Botanical Gardens. POP Violent Femmes/Ava Mendoza, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. ROCK

MONDAY, 7.18 Chelsey Cope/Lyal Strickland/Stephen Baker, The Deli, Norman. VARIOUS Glass Animals, The Criterion. ROCK HotBed/Nimsy Madina/Magic Munchbox, First Pastafarian Church of Norman, Norman. ROCK Stoney LaRue, Eskimo Joes, Stillwater. COUNTRY

TUESDAY, 7.19 Black Pistol Fire, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ROCK Debbie Henning, Puebla Tacos y Tequileria, Norman. ACOUSTIC Mushroomhead/Longpig/Among the Missing, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK

WEDNESDAY, 7.20 Maurice Johnson, The R&J Lounge and Supper Club. JAZZ The Lowest Pair, The Blue Door. COUNTRY The Queers, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

Electric Okie Test, 51st Street Speakeasy. COVER EmPres/The Happily Entitled, The Root. ROCK

Publishes the first and third week each month.

Call your account executive at 528.6000 or email specialsections@okgazette.com today to reserve your space!

64

j u ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Howard Brady, Full Circle Bookstore. ROCK Lazy Rooster Rhythm Company, Noir Bistro & Bar. BLUES Life of the Party, Newcastle Casino, Newcastle.

VARIOUS

Matthew Logan Vasquez/Derik Hultquist, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

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 New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle SHunned

By Samuel A. Donaldson | Edited by Will Shortz | 0710 ACROSS 1 Carol opening 7 Unable to make a mess?

11 “Yeah, same here” 19 Crankcase base 20 Rib-eye alternative 21 SNL cast member, 1985-90 22 Emmerich who directed

Independence Day 23 Portrayer of Buffett in Too Big to Fail 24 Doesn’t cool down 25 What’s involved in a tongue twister?

28 Alternative to “la” 29 School leader?

30 Good looks or a nice personality 31 Who said, “If you even dream of beating me, you’d better wake up

and apologize” 32 Very, very top of the earth’s crust?

35 Outback baby 37 ____ Na Na 39 Subject of many an internet meme 40 Did some housecleaning 41 Internet annoyances 44 Handler of many trays, for short 45 Unit of bricks, so to speak 47 Beryl and bornite 48 Mary Kay rival 49 First home of the three rich little pigs?

55 Sporty Spice of the Spice Girls 56 We all do it 57 Recently retired Laker great, to fans 58 Green Day drummer 63 Gussying up 66 Wally’s bro, on ’50s-’60s TV 68 Raw footage?

69 Counting rhyme start 70 Bank-window letters 72 Donald Duck’s nephews, e.g.

74 ____ Barkley, Truman’s vice president 75 Sing about?

76 Dixie term of address 78 Curt ____, 2001 World Series MVP 80 Suffragist Elizabeth Cady ____ 83 Polish site 85 Entrance requirements, informally 86 The first step 87 Two things the candy lover took

to the beach?

90 Going ____ 91 Still quite red 95 Abbr. on a copier tray 96 Every leader of North Korea so far 97 Like supermarkets, theaters and planes 99 Sci-fi-inspired toys of the 1980s 101 Suffix with Darwin 103 Point 104 Peer onstage 105 What an overbearing sergeant causes?

108 Green org.

110 Actress Hayek 114 …, to Samuel Morse 115 Spirits: Abbr.

116 What improved tire tread produces?

119 Something you might have a

handle on 122 New Mexico natives 123 Ruin, as a parade 124 IMAX predecessor 125 Cousin of an impala 126 Seinfeld’s “puffy shirt,” e.g.

127 Painkillers 128 Spine part 129 Detects

DOWN 1 It helps get the blood flowing 2 Some gowns 3 American Psycho author 4 The cantina in Star Wars, e.g.?

5 Bit of summer wear 6 Onetime Expos/Mets outfielder Chávez 7 X-coordinate 8 Custom 9 New York native 10 “Vive ____!”

11 Response: Abbr.

12 Too tired for the task, say 13 Product that works, and is stored,

under the sink 14 Mystery writer Dorothy 15 “____ bodkins!”

16 More run-down 17 Like some soap 18 Shifts to the right 20 Follow 26 Appointment-book page 27 Fed. reactor monitor

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92 Flooded with 93 South Pacific star ____ Brazzi 94 Squeak (by) 98 Proportionate 100 Like a clear night sky 102 Quill tip 103 Yearly tree growths 104 Long-nosed fish 106 Online finance firm 107 Moved like sap 109 Concern for vets 111 “Peanuts” thumb-sucker 112 North Woods denizen 113 Queen ____ lace 117 Some, to Spaniards 118 Some Wall St. traders 120 “Ideas worth spreading” grp.

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free will astrology Homework: What's the best, most healing trouble you could whip up right now? Go to Freewillastrology.com and click "Email Rob." ARIES (March 21-April 19) Upcoming adventures

might make you more manly if you are a woman. If you are a man, the coming escapades could make you more womanly. How about if you're trans? Odds are that you'll become even more gender fluid. I am exaggerating a bit, of course. The transformations I'm referring to may not be visible to casual observers. They will mostly unfold in the depths of your psyche. But they won't be merely symbolic, either. There'll be mutations in your biochemistry that will expand your sense of your own gender. If you respond enthusiastically to these shifts, you will begin a process that could turn you into an even more complete and attractive human being than you already are.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) I'll name five heroic tasks

you will have more than enough power to accomplish in the next eight months. 1. Turning an adversary into an ally. 2. Converting a debilitating obsession into a empowering passion. 3. Transforming an obstacle into a motivator. 4. Discovering small treasures in the midst of junk and decay. 5. Using the unsolved riddles of childhood to create a living shrine to eternal youth. 6.

Gathering a slew of new freedom songs, learning them by heart, and singing them regularly — especially when habitual fears rise up in you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Your life has

resemblances to a jigsaw puzzle that lies unassembled on a kitchen table. Unbeknownst to you, but revealed to you by me, a few of the pieces are missing. Maybe your cat knocked them under the refrigerator, or they fell out of their storage box somewhere along the way.

But this doesn't have to be a problem. I believe you can mostly put together the puzzle without the missing fragments. At the end, when you're finished, you may be tempted to feel frustration that the picture's not complete. But that would be illogical perfectionism.

Ninety-seven-percent success will be just fine.

By Rob Brezny

CANCER (June 21-July 22) If you are smoothly attuned with the cosmic rhythms and finely aligned with your unconscious wisdom, you could wake up one morning and find that a mental block has miraculously crumbled, instantly raising your intelligence. If you can find it in your proud heart to surrender to "God," your weirdest dilemma will get at least partially solved during a magical three-hour interlude. And if you are able to forgive 50 percent of the wrongs that have been done to you in the last six years, you will no longer feel like you're running into a strong wind, but rather you'll feel like the beneficiary of a strong wind blowing in the same direction you're headed.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) How often have you visited hell or the suburbs of hell during the last few weeks?

According to my guesstimates, the time you spent there was exactly the right amount. You got the teachings you needed most, including a few tricks about how to steer clear of hell in the future. With this valuable information, you will forevermore be smarter about how to avoid unnecessary pain and irrelevant hindrances. So congratulations! I suggest you celebrate.

And please use your new-found wisdom as you decline one last invitation to visit the heart of a big, hot mess.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) My friend Athena works

as a masseuse. She says that the highest praise she can receive is drool. When her clients feel so sublimely serene that threads of spit droop out of their mouths, she knows she's in top form. You might trigger responses akin to drool in the coming weeks, Virgo.

Even if you don't work as a massage therapist, I think it's possible you'll provoke rather extreme expressions of approval, longing, and curiosity. You will be at the height of your power to inspire potent feelings in those you encounter. In light of this situation, you might want to wear a small sign or button that reads, "You have my permission to drool freely."

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) The latest Free Will

Astrology poll shows that thirty-three percent of your friends, loved ones, and acquaintances approve of your grab for glory. Thirty-eight percent disapprove,

eighteen percent remain undecided, and eleven percent wish you would grab for even greater glory.

As for me, I'm aligned with the eleven-percent minority. Here's what I say: Don't allow your quest for shiny breakthroughs and brilliant accomplishments to be overly influenced by what people think of you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You are at the pinnacle

of your powers to both hurt and heal. Your turbulent yearnings could disrupt the integrity of those whose self-knowledge is shaky, even as your smoldering radiance can illuminate the darkness for those who are lost or weak. As strong and confident as I am, even I would be cautious about engaging your tricky intelligence. Your piercing perceptions and wild understandings might either undo me or vitalize me.

Given these volatile conditions, I advise everyone to approach you as if you were a love bomb or a truth fire or a beauty tornado.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Here's the deal: I will confess a dark secret from my past if you confess an equivalent secret from yours.

Shall I go first? When I first got started in the business of writing horoscope columns, I contributed a sexedup monthly edition to a porn magazine published by smut magnate Larry Flynt. What's even more scandalous is that I enjoyed doing it. OK. It's your turn. Locate a compassionate listener who won't judge you harshly, and unveil one of your subterranean mysteries. You may be surprised at how much psychic energy this will liberate. (For extra credit and emancipation, spill two or even three secrets.)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) What do you want

to be when you grow up, Capricorn? What? You say you are already all grown up, and my question is irrelevant? If that's your firm belief, I will ask you to set it aside for now. I'll invite you to entertain the possibility that maybe some parts of you are not in fact fully mature; that no matter how ripe you imagine yourself to be, you could become even riper — an even more gorgeous version of your best self. I will also encourage you to immerse yourself in a mood of playful

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ETC.

fun as you respond to the following question: "How can I activate and embody an even more complete version of my soul's code?"

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) On a summer day 20 years ago, I took my five-year-old daughter Zoe and her friend Max to the merry-go-round in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Zoe jumped on the elegant golden-maned lion and Max mounted the wild blue horse. Me? I climbed aboard the humble pig. Its squat pink body didn't seem designed for rapid movement. Its timid gaze was fixed on the floor in front of it. As the man who operated the ride came around to see if everyone was in place, he congratulated me on my bold choice. Very few riders preferred the porker, he said. Not glamorous enough.

"But I'm sure I will arrive at our destination as quickly and efficiently as everyone else," I replied.

Your immediate future, Aquarius, has symbolic resemblances to this scene.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Early on in our work

together, my psychotherapist confessed that she only works with clients whose problems are interesting to her. In part, her motivations are selfish: Her goal is to enjoy her work. But her motivations are also altruistic. She feels she's not likely to be of service to anyone with whom she can't be deeply engaged. I understand this perspective, and am inclined to make it more universal. Isn't it smart to pick all our allies according to this principle? Every one of us is a mess in one way or another, so why not choose to blend our fates with those whose messiness entertains us and teaches us the most? I suggest you experiment with this view in the coming weeks and months, Pisces.

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

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

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All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, preference or discrimination.

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