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inside COVER P.23 Guthrie’s downtown is touted as one of the largest Historic Preservation Districts in the nation. Woven into its borders is the growing and eclectic Guthrie Arts District, which earned Oklahoma Arts Council Certified Culture District designation in 2015.
By Brian Daffron. Cover by Megan Nance.
NEWS 4 Community 16th Street Plaza
NIGHT RANGER
District’s Urban Pioneer Awards
6 City Ward 4 City Councilman Todd
Stone Q&A
8 Education OKCPS’ free, healthy
breakfast and lunch program
10 Letters 12 Chicken-Fried News
EAT & DRINK 15 Review Nic’s Place Diner
and Lounge
16 Feature home-brewing coffee
18 Feature Pitchfork in the Gardens 19 Event Wine for the People is
June 1
20 Gazedibles Guthrie eateries
ARTS & CULTURE 23 Cover The Arts in Guthrie
25 Art Blake Little: Photographs from
the Gay Rodeo at Melton Gallery
26 Art The Feminine Face of God at
Norick Art Center
28 Comedy Katt Williams at
Riverwind Casino
29 Theater Move Beyond at Civic
Center Music Hall
30 Youth Western Avenue’s
On the Lawn
31 Youth Myriad Garden’s Children’s
Garden Festival
32 Community adult literacy program
33 Community Pet Angels Rescue, Inc.
opens Guthrie shelter
34 Books Ordinary Extraordinary
African American Women: The Elders
JUNE 2 8PM Tickets Starting at $30
35 Active NAMIWalks raises
awareness of mental illness
36 Calendar
MUSIC 41 Event Trishes: Studio Series is
June 1 at Tower Theatre
42 Event Oklahoma Songwriters
Festival June 1-3
43 Event Charlie Christian
International Music Festival June 2-3
44 Event June Bug Jam is June 3
at Sooner Theatre
45 Live music
FUN 45 Astrology
46 Puzzles sudoku | crossword
GRANDBOXOFFICE.COM I-40 EXIT 178 | SHAWNEE, OK | 405-964-7263
OKG Classifieds 47
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NEWS tinue to influence his daily decisions. “He talked a lot about the idea that if he hadn’t invested the way he did in the Norman community, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Fowler said. “I am very proud that the more we do, the more these connections take hold.”
Co m m u n i t y
Susan Hogan
Trailblazers
Plaza District honors Jonathan Fowler and Susan Hogan for their dedication to the area. By Laura Eastes
People say timing is everything, but as Jonathan Fowler recalled, it was also his own determination to link arts and culture to his family’s car business. “We had opened the Volkswagen store and were looking for something,” said Fowler, whose family owns Fowler Auto Group. In 2010, he sat down with Kristen Vails, who was then executive director of the Plaza District, a commercial hub on 16th Street. “The Plaza District was looking for someone to come on as a sponsor for one of its events,” Fowler said. “It was like an extension to what I had seen with Norman Music Festival. I am a failed musician, and that’s what I really wanted to do. The music festival allowed me to work in my family’s car business but not give up that love and passion for music.” Years earlier, in 1997, Gatewood resident Susan Soule Hogan answered the phone and heard a neighbor explain there was a meeting to discuss nearby 16th Street. Once a popular commercial area, 16th Street between Blackwelder and Indiana avenues was riddled with crime and drugs. The area’s vacant buildings were on the verge of collapse. “There wasn’t a lot of businesses there, but there was some business there,” Hogan said, then laughed. “It was awful, but it was beautiful with its old brick buildings.” Hogan attended the meeting and pledged her support. She became a fixture in the movement to reinvent a run-down strip of commercial buildings. Since the initial meeting, Hogan has held many roles with the Plaza District, including board member, board chairwoman and executive director. 4
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above Susan Hogan talks about her involvement with the Plaza District as she relaxes on her front porch. One of the Plaza’s early pioneers, she sought to revitalize the commercial district. | Photo Garett Fisbeck
“In the beginning, we didn’t call it 16th Street because 20 years ago, no one wanted to go south of 63rd Street,” Hogan said. “We just talked about the Plaza District. … A lot of things have changed.” These days, it’s one of the city’s top arts and entertainment areas full of locally owned restaurants, independent shops and authentic experiences. June 1, 16th Street Plaza District Association honors Fowler and Hogan for exemplifying a pioneering spirit through their leadership and commitment to urban revitalization. Fowler, vice president of operations for Fowler Holding Co., becomes the 13th recipient of the Urban Pioneer award. Hogan will be honored with the first-ever Plaza Pioneer Award.
Jonathan Fowler
As a kid growing up in Norman, Fowler often looked at an old photo of one of his grandfather Bill Fowler’s Toyotas loaded with local schoolchildren ready to wave in a community parade. “I knew that my grandfather was involved in the community, but I didn’t really know why,” Fowler said. “It was out of a necessity to market his business in a way that built relationships with the consumers in his market. It wasn’t that you were going to buy a Toyota; it was buying a car from Bill Fowler because you wanted to support him.” Fowler, who joined his family’s business in 2006, adopted his grandfather’s
16th Street Plaza District Association honors Jonathan Fowler June 1 with its Urban Pioneer award. | Photo Garett Fisbeck
business philosophy. A music lover, Fowler easily found a spot as a Norman Music Festival (NMF) volunteer board member. When the time came to open Fowler Volkswagen of Norman, he knew expensive television and radio advertising was not an effective strategy to use when launching the German car company in the metro. “A tremendous amount of my playbook for the marketing strategy was based on what my grandfather did in the early 1970s,” Fowler said.
I am very proud that the more we do, the more these connections take hold. Jonathan Fowler In addition to the VDUB Sessions, in which local bands and singers perform while traveling in a renovated Volkswagen bus connected to The Spy FM, Fowler turned to dealer sponsorships. Through sponsorships of NMF and the Plaza, Fowler began to see culture-led economic development and was so encouraged by the arts influence that he soon became involved with Oklahoma Arts Council’s Leadership Arts and then Leadership Oklahoma. As an advocate for local arts, Fowler and his family’s business have supported popular entertainment events such as H&8th Night Market and Historic Capitol Hill’s Cinco de Mayo en Calle Dos Cinco. The presence has paid off for the business in areas of revenue and employee recruitment. But Fowler said he is not done. The lessons from his grandfather, who passed away in September, con-
When the Plaza Association hosted its first festival in 1998, a flatbed trailer, to be used as a stage, was rolled onto the street. Dancers from Everything Goes Dance Studio performed, followed by an Oklahoma City University string quintet, and a few neighbors sang karaoke. That’s how it began, Hogan said. “The first thing was looking at what we had and what our strengths were,” she said. “The strengths were diversity and longevity. We had a lot of people with long-term commitments to this neighborhood. … It basically came down to we either give up and everybody move away, or we do something.” Hogan, along with other passionate stakeholders, found many supporters, including city officials, who wanted to see movement. The city kicked in $2.5 million for a streetscape project. The district’s transformation picked up steam when Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma invested in the landmark Lyric at the Plaza theater and local developers, including homebuilder Jeff Struble, began renovating vacant buildings. Around that time, Hogan researched areas around the country for ideas. Snapshots of outdoor cafes and inviting gathering spots from a visit to Lawrence, Kansas, were displayed on a bulletin board in the district’s office, open two afternoons a week. Hogan began to share the vision with local business owners. “Most of the time, people didn’t come,” Hogan said. “It helped to spread the word, and eventually, some did come over.” In 2008, as the district was blossoming, Hogan stepped down as executive director to allow for “new blood.” After a decade of involvement with the district, she believed it was time for new leadership to take the district to the next level. Now, as Hogan sees young families headed to the annual Plaza Festival, which attracts over 20,000 visitors, or LIVE! on the Plaza, she thinks back to those snapshots on the bulletin boards. The vision is now a reality. “I swear it is what you see down there today,” Hogan said. “It is awesome. It is so awesome. I think part of the key was being able to communicate a vision and getting in front of people who were willing to listen.”
2017 Urban Pioneer Awards 11:30 a.m. June 1 Oklahoma City University School of Law 800 N. Harvey Ave. plazadistrict.org | 405-367-9403 $50
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PM
NEWS
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New face Todd Stone joins OKC Council in time to weigh in on general obligation bonds, MAPS and other city initiatives. By Laura Eastes
When Todd Stone joined the Oklahoma City Council in April, he not only brought expertise from running his family’s south OKC business to the ninemember council but a unique insight into what residents want. On the campaign trail, from constituents’ doorsteps and living rooms, he heard over and over again a desire to see streets repaired. “I am really interested in seeing streets get a shot in the arm,” Stone told Oklahoma Gazette during a recent interview in his office at City Hall. As the winner of a runoff election against former state Rep. Richard Morrissette, Stone — the council’s newest member — was sworn in as the Ward 4 council representative on April 11. Ward 4 covers a huge swath of southeast OKC that borders Moore, Midwest City and Choctaw.
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Between my upbringing in Oklahoma City and where I live now, it mirrors the complexity of Ward 4, which is both a rural and urban area. Todd Stone “I think we would all like to see the streets we drive on every day improve,” he said. “There will always be streets that need improvements — and we do have some great streets — but we’ve all hit a street and thought, ‘This is terrible.’” What Stone heard on the campaign trail is not unique. OKC residents consistently list street improvements as their top concern on the city’s annual resident survey. Last month, in a special council meeting to discuss a proposed 2017 General Obligation Bond program, council members heard Mayor Mick Cornett’s proposal to extend the MAPS 3 sales tax for 27 months to boost street improvement projects and provide relief
to the city’s operations budget. Stone enters the council at a critical time as council members are at work shaping a GO bond program to benefit the city’s infrastructure, along with the beginning stages of planning a new MAPS campaign. The Ward 4 councilman recognizes the important decisions he will make early in his four-year term. Stone supports the mayor’s MAPS proposal and calls to invest in streets and public safety. During the Gazette interview, Stone reflected on his new role as Ward 4’s councilman and discussed his priorities. Oklahoma Gazette: As the new Ward 4 councilman, you are coming into an office held by Pete White, who served on the council for three consecutive terms. Did Councilman White pass along any advice or words of wisdom to you? Stone: Before I was elected, I met with Pete. He has so much history with the city, serving for close to 20 years. I think I would be remiss if I didn’t reach out to him for the history of different projects. Being able to go to somebody and find out the details about what’s important and what’s not important has been very helpful. OKG: You represent a very diverse area from urban to rural residents. What’s your approach to connecting with your constituents when they are so diverse? Stone: When I was growing up, my great grandmother lived on SW 29th Street. The first house I ever bought was around SW 31st Street. When I get into that area around La 29 (SW 29 District), I feel at home. Right now, I live in a more rural setting. When I go to the rural areas of Ward 4, I feel at home too. Between my upbringing in Oklahoma City and where I live now, it mirrors the complexity of Ward 4, which is both a rural and urban area.
Councilman Todd Stone talks about his desires to push funding toward street improvements. | Photo Garett Fisbeck
OKG: What are some of the Ward 4 projects or initiatives that you are excited to take part in? Stone: There are a lot of exciting things going on in Ward 4, starting with Capitol Hill. There is a resurgence coming along there as well as in the SW 29 District. You look east to Tinker Air Force Base and see many events surrounding the anniversary. At [Stanley] Draper Lake, fairly soon, we are going to be breaking ground on trails around the lake. I am really excited about what else we can look into to contribute to the additional use of Draper Lake. The area around Interstate 240 and Sooner Road is seeing new developments. OKG: What have you taken away from your first four weeks on the job? Stone: I have been so impressed when meeting city staff and gaining awareness around both private and city programs. There are so many amazing people over there who have a love and passion for this city. It really makes you feel good. You know the city is in good hands. I do the research before I cast any votes. I have talked with some of the other council members to get more details before a vote. It is a beautiful thing when you realize everyone is pulling in the same direction. We all want Oklahoma City to be as good as it possibly can be. While we might have different views on how to reach that point, we all know everyone has the same end goal and we can have discussions with respect. Everyone has the city’s best interests in mind.
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NEWS
e d u cat i o n
All in
OKC Public Schools enhance existing lunch and breakfast programs with support from a federal initiative. Research shows more Oklahoma schools could join. By Laura Eastes
A cafeteria worker sits behind a cash register at the end of the lunch line at Eugene Field Elementary School, but instead of accepting meal payments, she counts the number of students who fill their trays with proteins, grains, fruits, vegetables and a milk carton. Oklahoma City Public Schools’ (OKCPS) school nutrition services director Kevin Ponce explained the system in which students enter their ID numbers via a pin pad to complete their breakfast or lunch purchases hasn’t been used in three years at Eugene Field. In 2014, the northwest OKC school joined the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal funding program that allows schools in high-poverty areas to serve free meals to all students. “No matter what the economic situation is for a student’s family, they don’t have to worry,” Ponce said last week as he visited the Eugene Field cafeteria. “It’s an unbelievable program.” Within the first week of implementing CEP, Ponce witnessed faster lunch lines and the disappearance of the stigma students endured for accepting governmentprovided meals. CEP also eliminated administrative paperwork and unpaid school lunch balances that threatened the district’s bottom line. It also provided a solution to reduce child hunger and better prepared students for learning. When the 2017-18 school year begins Aug. 1, all 44,000 OKCPS students will be offered free and healthy breakfasts and lunches at all district school sites. Earlier this month, district leaders announced the switch from the National School Lunch Program to CEP. “By offering every student breakfast and lunches, healthy meals become an integrated part of the school day,” Superintendent Aurora Lora said. “Research has shown that students who eat breakfast and lunch on a daily basis increase their attendance, improve their behavior and perform better in school. By providing healthy school meals, OKCPS is making sure that our most vulnerable children are not going hungry.”
What is CEP?
For more than 70 years, the federal government’s National School Lunch Program has provided meal assistance to
in-need families by offering a low-cost or free lunch to children each day. In the 1960s, the School Breakfast Program debuted as a tool to provide the first meal of the day to low-income students. In 2010, under the Healthy HungerFree Kids Act, Congress created the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), adding another child nutrition program to the United States Department of Agriculture to address childhood hunger. Unlike the well-known school lunch program, in which school administrators collected applications from parents and guardians to determine who qualified for free or reduced-price meals based on family income, CEP applications are completed by individual schools or districts. The program is available to schools and districts in which 40 percent or more of the students qualify for free meals under other programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) or Medicaid. CEP schools or districts are reimbursed for the cost of meals but still pay labor costs. In the 2014-15 school year, CEP expanded nationwide. OKCPS was an earlier adopter, but the program has been slow to catch on in Oklahoma and across the nation. A 2016 Center on Budget and Policy Priorities study estimated half of all eligible districts had adopted the program. In the Sooner State, 15 percent of eligible districts and 21 percent of eligible schools adopted the program. Districts can apply for CEP through June 30.
Combating hunger
In a state where one in four children struggles with food insecurity, local antihunger advocates like Effie Craven believe OKCPS could set off a domino effect with more districts completing applications for the federal program. Since CEP’s launch, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma have played important roles in educating schools about the new option and sending them to the
Oklahoma State Department of Education — the state agency that connects schools to CEP, said Craven, who serves as the state advocacy and public policy director for both food banks. “We know that students rely heavily on the federal nutrition programs,” Craven said. “Our hope is that as the largest school district in the state supports CEP, it pushes those smaller school districts to look into the program and see if it’s a good fit for their schools.” Through their efforts to end child hunger, both food banks joined schools to stock food pantries and distribute backpacks filled with food for the weekends. In the summer, community centers, parks, camps and churches provide meals for children and teenagers through the food banks’ summer feeding programs. “The programs that the food banks operate are really just a supplement,” Craven said. “They are not solutions by themselves. This school program feeds so many more kids day in and day out. It’s really the key solution to ending childhood hunger.”
Student benefit
As Ponce walked across Eugene Field’s cafeteria, a smile broadened across his face. Many of his school meal goals and priorities were realized through CEP, and he said he looks to see continued benefits as 78 OKCPS sites participate. At district CEP schools, lunch lines move faster without students entering ID numbers or handing over cash. Students have more time to finish their meals, which doesn’t always happen with timecrunched lunch periods and long and slow lunch lines. Under CEP, there is no reason for students to skip meals. In upper grades, there can be an underlying stigma attached to receiving free and reduced lunches. Because of peer pressure and bullying, Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Aurora Lora speaks to visitors at Eugene Field Elementary School, announcing that students will begin receiving free, healthy breakfasts and lunches through a federal program. | Photo Cara Johnson
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Students eat lunch in the cafeteria at Eugene Field Elementary School, which has provided free and healthy breakfast and lunch to students through a federal program. | Photo Cara Johnson
these students often opt not to go through the lunch line. When a youth went through the lunch line with no cash or money left in his or her electronic meal account, which often also listed a negative balance, the staff fixed an “alternative lunch,” usually a cheese or peanut butter sandwich. Sadly, that’s when they can become targeted and shamed, a problem thrust into the mainstream after recent social media posts went viral. With CEP, the stigma has disappeared, said Ponce, who no longer hears reports of lunch shaming at CEP school sites. Without the extra burdens, cafeteria staff can focus on what they do best: providing healthy meals to students. “We want to make sure we do our part,” Ponce said. “We ensure students are ready for the classroom.”
Saturday-Sunday . May 27-28
New Treehouse Exhibit! Explore what trees mean to us – and the animals who live in them.
MAY 26 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3
Take part in cultural demonstrations and traditional games like archery and stomp dance. Explore our gorgeous spiral and butterfly gardens, and discover nature's stories in the Spirit Forest. And join us in honoring our military! ChickasawCulturalCenter.com • Sulphur, Oklahoma • 580-622-7130
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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.
To health!
The modern streetcar, which is part of the MAPS 3 project, couldn’t have come at a better time. The city has really grown over the last decade, especially with the revamping of Midtown and Bricktown. The city has so many events going on throughout these locations that sometimes overlap each other in the same day, making it difficult to access them with a car. When parking can cost $10-$20 per event, it really becomes expensive and time-consuming to find parking and then walk to the event. Being able to park in Midtown for dinner, then taking the streetcar downtown to a Thunder game, then catching a ride to Bricktown for some drinks or dancing before taking the streetcar back to your parking lot would be amazing and such a stress reliever, especially when you are traveling in multiple
cars. I also think it would increase activity downtown, considering the easier access by streetcar. This would promote outdoor activities, thereby increasing exercise, which would improve the overall well-being of our Oklahoma citizens. Marlena Williams Edmond
Our greatest con
It is too easy to say we are reactionary voters like those who took the vote in Britain in 2016. It is just too easy to report that. It is too easy to carve us away from the more progressive voters of the Netherlands and France. The majority of Americans voted for
better wages; equal rights for minorities and women; better schools; cleaner water and air; saving the climate; fair regulation of conglomerated food, finance and chemical companies; international relationships and trade; aid to the less fortunate; new immigration and economic policies; health care for all; and new careers in a changing world. Sure, we have a pool of reactionary people, but many of them want some of these things as well. However, reactionary attitudes do not make a majority viewpoint. And many reactionaries would be less so if they were not so afraid and confused by cons perpetrated on them by those who talk the talk of progress but walk
the walk of destruction. What is missing in America is democracy. We do not have non-gerrymandered districts so that votes are equally weighed or equal voter access, even in an electronic age. Worst of all, we do not have majority rule in this country. If we did, how different this century would be already both at home and abroad. Maybe it is too late for us with climate change, but we could still try, and many more Americans would be alive in the interim, and millions of Middle Easterners. There would be no ISIS and there would be much more effort placed upon international solutions other than war. We could try democracy if we could ever get those in control to loosen their grip enough to let teachers educate Americans without censorship about the reasons we do not have a democratic country. As a nation, we talk the talk of democracy but do not really walk the walk. It is our greatest con. Christopher Venters Luther
Correction Much of Frank Silovsky’s letter to the editor, published May 10 in Oklahoma Gazette, was paraphrased or copied without attribution from a Nov. 12, 2004 Bill Moyers interview with Sister Joan Chittister for PBS program Now. Find the full transcript at pbs.org/now.
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chicken
friedNEWS
Chicago curb appeal
Drone drama
If you’ve ever wondered what University of Oklahoma (OU) football coach Bob Stoops spends his $5 million salary on, look no further than Chicago Tribune’s real estate section. Stoops is all about real estate, and he is picky — it must be in Chicago’s affluent Gold Coast historic district, which is located along Lake Michigan. According to Chicago Tribune, Stoops and his wife Carol recently paid $2.25 million for a four-bedroom vintage row home, which is next door to another home they purchased last year for $2.25 million. Before OU fans begin huffing and puffing, we at Chicken-Fried News don’t see Stoops eyeing a coaching job at Northwestern University. After all, he is sitting pretty with a nice salary from OU, and his contract runs through 2021. Maybe he’s just buying retirement homes for everyone in his family. Chicken-Fried News has a few other theories about Stoops’ Chicago retreat. Theory No. 1: Stoops likes cold weather and has developed an exceptional love for wind. Stoops is from Youngstown, Ohio, where the average temperature is 49.05 degrees. Norman’s average temperature is 60.05 degrees. Blend cold weather with blustery winds and — voilà! — you have Chicago. Theory No. 2: Stoops is exhausted by football. When in Oklahoma, he’s constantly bugged about Sooner football. He needs time away from the game and fans. Frequent trips to Chicago with visits to the aquarium, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile and more help clear his mind. He always returns from those visits refreshed and ready to work. Theory No. 3: Stoops loves a classic Chicagostyle hot dog followed by a slice of authentic deep-dish pizza. In fact, after big wins, that’s all he thinks about! While there are many great places to eat along Norman’s historic Campus Corner district, Stoops has yet to see it filled with steaming hot dog carts. Hot dog carts just might be the key to keeping him in Oklahoma year-round.
Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) testing out its newest crime-fighting tool: a fleet of drones. “The drone is more controllable up-close,” OSBI special agent Steve Neuman told News 9. “We’re able to hover and take aerial images that can be helpful in crime scene investigations.” Oklahoma State University grad students and educators are helping train OSBI investigators to use the new technology to create crime scene maps. “We can study and we can present it in the courtroom in a 3-D manner,” Neuman said. “It puts the jury right at the crime scene.” It’s also a cost-saving measure since OSBI currently uses airplane flyovers and helicopters to take aerial photos. Neuman said using drones instead of manned flights could save hundreds of thousands of dollars on investigations, not to
mention the help they could someday provide in manhunts and missing persons cases. How that squares with privacyobsessed members of the public is yet to be seen. Senate Bill 660, originally authored by former Sen. Ralph Shortey, sought to make it legal for property owners to shoot down or capture drones on their private land without being held liable for damage. The bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, but it hasn’t been scheduled for a floor vote.
Summer numbers
For many, summer is a time to rejoice! School is out and the sun is shining. They have put away those stuffy coats and stocked up on sunblock because it is time to plan that dream vacation getaway. But where should they go? Fortunately for us indecisive and overanalytical types, personal finance website WalletHub recently released its 2017 ranking of best summer vacation spots! The service developed its list using a methodology that ranks the United States’ 80 most-populous metropolitan areas in categories including travel costs, local costs, attractions, weather, activities and safety.
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The top destinations won’t surprise any of us. They are Las Vegas, which is ranked No. 1 overall, followed by Los Angeles; Orlando, Florida; and Chicago. What might actually be surprising is where Oklahoma City falls on that list: No. 13! Lucky us! Don’t get us wrong. Few rep OKC quite as enthusiastically as the fine (though admittedly snarky) staff at Chicken-Fried News. But do we really believe the Sooner State’s capitol city is a top-15 summer destination?
There are still national parks and mountains and ocean-facing beaches in this country, right? Has anyone checked in on Honolulu lately? (It’s No. 75, by the way — devastated in the rankings by high travel and local costs.) Oklahoma City’s affordability seems to be the biggest boost to its ranking. According to WalletHub’s numbers, the city ranks No. 5 in travel costs and No. 1 in local costs. Our scoresheet was far from perfect, though. WalletHub ranks OKC No. 75 in “activities,” a category that took into account things like the number of restaurants and amusement parks per capita. What might be most bizarre is that WalletHub’s metrics show OKC as the nation’s No. 10 spot for best weather. Top 10 most extreme maybe, but best? Even the city’s most cheerleadingest cheerleaders will tell you that our No. 13 ranking sounds a little optimistic. If your dream summer weather includes heat indexes toping 109 degrees and potentially deadly storms, we would also strongly suggest tourists book a delightful visit to the desert planet Arrakis from Dune. Regardless, OKC should push this honor on every potential tourist possible.
If the state legislators can’t get us out of our budget hole, maybe some analytical tourists can.
Stark structures
Everyone knows empty buildings are bad. Abandoned warehouses, shopping centers and houses have been the subject of countless horror stories and are known as sites where nothing good happens, especially after midnight. They often attract vandals and partiers and are seen as eyesores that are detrimental to neighborhoods. The City of Oklahoma City hopes entrepreneurs will instead see the potential for development in some of Oklahoma City Public Schools’ (OKCPS) recently closed buildings. News9.com recently reported that Page Woodson High School stood empty for 20 years, but it’s getting a new life as an apartment building, and the Oklahoma City Housing Authority is talking with developers and Oklahoma City Public Schools about five other vacant locations. “We’ve been involved in talking with developers and other providers about ramping up affordable hous-
ing production,” said Ian Colgan, OKC Housing Authority assistant executive director. City officials believe the chance of the schools being redeveloped is higher if OKCPS simply gives the buildings to developers for free instead of selling them, News9.com reported. As an example, officials cited Dunbar Elementary, which has sat vacant since it was sold in 2015. In 2016, NewsOK.com reported that Dunbar was purchased by Ward Hall, who said he planned to convert it into senior housing but hasn’t made any moves to do so. “Residents are calling my office complaining about the school district’s property,” Ward 7 Councilman John Pettis, Jr. told NewsOK.com in 2016. “They want something positive to be done.”
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Review
EAT & DRINK
Nic’s time
Nic’s Original burger with haystack onion rings | Photo Garett Fisbeck
Burgers are the star, but Nic’s Place has much more to offer diners. By Greg Elwell
Nic’s Place Diner and Lounge 1116 N. Robinson Ave. | facebook.com/ nicsplacedinerandlounge | 405-601-9234 What works: Burgers, catfish and prime rib are spot-on. What needs work: Cooks can’t be so timid with seasoning. Tip: Reserve ahead if you want one of those cool private booths downstairs.
Oklahoma Citians, you know good burgers. But anybody who wanders into town and asks for the best burger around will invariably be pointed in the direction of Nic’s Grill, 1201 N. Pennsylvania Ave. The only problem with sending people to Nic’s Grill is that it’s little more than a counter with about 12 seats to go around. Even on dreary, rainy days when the wind kicks up and the air stings their faces, you can still find a line out the door. Owner Justin “Nic” Nicholas could have kept things the same and enjoyed the distinction of having one of Oklahoma City’s most sought-after dishes. Or he could have opened a larger burger place and taken in all the money. Instead, he opened Nic’s Place Diner and Lounge, 1116 N. Robinson Ave. He’s not eschewing past successes — he still works the flat-top griddle at Nic’s Grill for lunch every day — but he is trying something new. There’s little tying the new and old restaurant exteriors together besides the name, and inside, the difference is even starker. There are chairs and a little bench in the waiting area, and a sign asks diners to wait to be seated at a table. The rooms vary wildly, too. The north dining area has more casual chairs, while the
south has marble-topped communal tables, padded booths and a banquette. And downstairs is an entirely different beast — a cool, dimly lit lounge with a classy bar; an obscenely large TV surrounded by couches; and a row of private booths for those wise enough to reserve the space for the evening. Of the three, I prefer the lounge. It has a feel like none other in the metro: quiet, insular and secret. If you’ve been denied a Nic’s burger in the past, either by dint of time or distance, that’s what you must order upon your first visit.
Nic’s Place does so much more than burgers. Nic’s Original ($11.25, including a side) comes with lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions, American cheese, mayo and mustard and is what you would get at the other restaurant, but it’s worth exploring other options, as well. I thought Old School ($11.25, including a side) was a better vehicle by which to taste the component pieces of a Nic’s burger with just mustard, pickles, grilled onions and American cheese. Each one of these is close to a half-pound of beef in a hand-formed patty cooked through on the griddle. Nic’s grilled onions are key. They spend hours on the grill, melting into the heat as they’re basted with butter. The best ones are deep brown, sweet and so tender they blush if you give them a compliment. The bun is a mere formality, and Nic will tell you as much. It’s there to get the burger and toppings to
your mouth. If it falls apart, well, use your fingers. It’s worth it. As sides go, the fries are great, but I think the haystack onion rings are the belle of the ball. But Nic’s Place does so much more than burgers. That’s why I’d point you toward the chicken-fried steak dinner ($14.25 with salad and side). Do not go in expecting a deep-fried steak with tons of crispy crunch. This is more what I could categorize a “country-fried” steak. Rather than going into a vat of bubbling oil, this steak is dusted with flour and seasonings and fried on the griddle. I was given a steak knife as a practical joke, since this steak came apart simply by spearing a piece and pulling it away. And while many chicken-fried steaks are mostly breading with a little meat inside, Nic’s is the opposite. Seasoning can be an issue, so maybe let your server know that you’re not allergic to salt and/or pepper and you’re happy to trust the chef’s use of both. It comes with cream gravy, but you won’t need it on the steak. Actually, the mashed potatoes don’t need it either, but the combination is quite pleasant.
Just stopping in for a drink and want something to nosh on? It’s hard to go wrong with loaded potato boats ($9) or fried pickles ($7), but I ate the baconcovered deviled eggs ($8) like a monster. With solid whites; creamy whipped yolks; and plenty of crispy, chewy bacon pieces strewn about on top, this is a good dish to share with friends, — conceivably. I wouldn’t know because I ate them all myself. One glaring problem with Nic’s Grill is that it’s closed on weekends. That isn’t the case with Nic’s Place, where Sundays are for fried catfish ($14.85). Nic likes them simple and balanced, and I bet you will, too. The filets are thick enough in the middle to hold some moisture, with edges thin enough to gain that all-important crispiness. The crust is just cornmeal and seasonings, which is delightful. The hushpuppies that come with the catfish might be the best I’ve ever had. On special nights, the restaurant serves prime rib ($28, including salad and two sides) that is absolutely wonderful. There’s a lot of fat, which is standard, but the flavor of the roasted beef sends my head spinning and my heart skipping. It’s ultra-tender meat, almost silky-smooth, and the accompanying au jus and horseradish sauces are welcome, if unnecessary. Nic’s Place would be a hit if it served nothing but burgers, but it’s more ambitious than that. It’s a physical manifestation of Nic’s dream restaurant with great food, a cool atmosphere and one of the nicest bars in town. Go in and I bet it’ll be your place soon, too.
Chicken-fried steak dinner | Photo Garett Fisbeck
Deviled eggs | Photo Garett Fisbeck
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EAT & DRINK Barista trainer Scott Worley prepares lattes using Elemental
F E AT U R E
Coffee’s house-roasted espresso blend. | Photo Cara Johnson
Coffee talk
Brewing a great cup of java at home isn’t rocket science, but it is science. By Greg Elwell
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An 8 oz. cup of coffee has about 95 mg of caffeine while caffeine pills range from 50 to 200 mg. So coffee might wake us up, but that’s not the only reason people drink it. Coffee is a morning ritual, like taking a shower and brushing your teeth — except we wouldn’t put up with bitter toothpaste and lukewarm shower water every day. So why do we keep drinking bad coffee? From a business standpoint, it would make more sense for Elemental Coffee Roasters barista trainer Scotty Worley to keep his coffee tips a secret. Instead,
Using a pour-over coffee maker allows the brewer to control the speed of the water. Slowly poured water has time to pull the desired flavors out of the grounds. | Photo Cara Johnson
he has kindly shared a handy primer on making the best cup of joe at home.
Beans and roasts
“The coffee we use here is different than most people use at home,” he said. Grocery store coffee is designed to sit on shelves for months at a time, which affects the way it’s produced, Worley said. Freeze-dried, vacuumpacked bags of pre-ground coffee are geared toward survival during transit and storage. “Cafes like ours can focus on freshness,” Worley said. “The coffee we use was roasted less than a week ago.” Choosing the right roast comes down to personal choice. Those raised on Starbucks tend to like darker roasts and might prefer the full-bodied chocolatey flavor of Elemental’s Vaquero cowboy blend. Many coffee shops roast beans lighter than what’s available in grocery stores, such as Ethiopian coffee blend Purusha with notes of strawberry and vanilla. A good middle-of-the-road coffee is medium roast Saucha, which Worley described as “complex, but approachable.” For espresso lovers, Elemental produces Purusha SOE (single origin espresso) with a thicker body that spends a little more time in the roaster. A more straightforward blend is the shop’s Espresso 228, made with Brazilian, Ethiopian and Papua New Guinean beans.
Grind on
Coffee’s flavor comes from oils inside the beans. Roasting changes the flavors, but until they’re broken open, the beans can retain most of them. Once the coffee is ground, however, the clock starts ticking. The oils can oxidize, gaining unpleasant flavors, and evaporate. Buying fresh beans is integral, but grinding coffee before each brew can make a big difference too, Worley said. However, if you’re a pretty consistent coffee drinker, asking the roaster to grind a bag for you can save time without sacrificing much flavor. The size of the grind makes a difference in the final product, too. The surface area of the beans impacts which flavors are pulled from the coffee and how long it should be brewed. A smaller grind is good for quick extraction methods, like pulling espresso shots. A slightly larger grind works well with pour-over coffee makers, and a coarser grind is best with longer brewing methods, such as when using a French press. If your coffee-making method changes day to day, it is worth investing in a small burr grinder. Worley recommended Baratza electric grinders and Hario manual grinders. Choose burr over blade grinders, though. Blades tend to make for an uneven grind size.
Better water
“If you’re going to use tap water for coffee, it at least needs to be filtered,” Worley said. “A lot of larger coffee chains actually bring in filters and test for water standardization to make sure every cup tastes the same.” It might seem like distilled water is best, but Worley said water requires some mineral content to make a good cup. According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America, the ideal Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) level of water
Use filtered, not distilled, water heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit to get the ideal extraction from coffee grounds. | Photo Cara Johnson
for coffee is 150 parts per million. If the TDS is too low, water can extract too much from the grounds, giving the resulting beverage a bitter flavor. Clean water is important, but Worley said so is getting it to the right temperature. Coffee brews best at 200 degrees Fahrenheit, or 12 degrees below boiling point. If checking the temperature with a thermometer seems a bit too much, try taking the water off the heat source for about 30 seconds to let it cool before you brew.
Method madness
There are a lot of ways to brew a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, the most ubiquitous method is one of the least satisfying, Worley said. “Coffee machines are, ironically, not the best at making coffee. … They just dump the water on the coffee so you don’t get a consistent flow rate,” Worley said of drip-brew machines. “Coffee machines over-extract some of the coffee and under-extract the rest.” That leads to coffee that is both bitter and sour. Worley’s preferred method is the pour-over, which has some similarities to coffee machines but puts tempera-
ture control and flow of the water into the brewer’s hands. Slowly pouring the 200-degree water over the coffee in a circular motion engages all of the coffee grounds and gives the water the right amount of time to pull out the desired flavors. Pouring takes place in cycles, allowing the water to drip through the grounds before adding more. Use 350 grams of water to 30 grams of medium-finely ground coffee. While lattes, cappuccinos and Americanos all seem different, they all use espresso shots. Rather than slowly dripping water through a filter, espresso machines use pressure to pull the water through the fine grounds. Making a great espresso at home can be difficult and expensive, as quality machines cost several hundred or even thousands of dollars. For a similar brew, check out a moka pot or an Aeropress. Moka pots are three-chambered coffee makers that use the heat of the stovetop to push water through the coffee filter and into the top chamber. For a four-cup moka pot, use 17 grams of finely ground coffee and add enough water to reach the fill line in the bottom chamber. An Aeropress brews coffee in a similar way to a French press but uses hand pressure to push the water through a filter that keeps grounds from getting into the cup. Use 220 grams of water to 17 grams of finely ground coffee. However, if you’re brewing for a crew, consider using a French press. French press coffee is similar to making tea, in that coffee grounds steep in hot water. In a large vessel, usually glass or metal, the grounds and the water spend time together before a filter is applied, trapping grounds while the coffee is poured into cups. Use 350 grams of water to 30 grams of coarsely ground coffee. The key for each method is precise measurement, Worley said. Elemental uses scales to measure coffee and water for each method. “Measuring will immediately up your game,” Worley said.
Great coffee starts with fresh beans. Elemental Coffee uses its coffee within a week of roasting. | Photo Cara Johnson O kg a z e t t e . c o m | M ay 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
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F E AT U R E
EAT & DRINK
Pitching in
Pitchfork in the Park makes the most of its Myriad Botanical Gardens location. By Greg Elwell
Jacob Conger isn’t totally sure how he ended up serving food at Myriad Botanical Gardens, but he’s happy to be there. The Congers — Jacob and his wife Andra — started Pitchfork Kitchen and Bakery in 2015 to great acclaim, but their history in food goes back much further. “We actually started in the wedding business,” Jacob Conger said. “We ran an events center in northwest Oklahoma City, but we saw the changes coming.” Weddings were starting to move from event centers to rustic locales like barns and other places without kitchens. That was when they decided to start a food truck. “We built the truck with the idea of catering events at weddings, but we became a Made-in-Oklahoma, everyday food truck,” he said. That’s because Pitchfork, born of two Oklahoma farming families, is dedicated to using as many top-quality, locally made ingredients as it can. It built a popular following, including Myriad Gardens executive director Maureen Heffernan, who
approached the couple about opening a more permanent location. The truck is still rolling, but now the Congers also run Pitchfork in the Park, 125 Ron Norick Blvd. “This was Maureen,” Jacob Conger said, gesturing to the restaurant. “She was looking for someone crazy enough to put it together in four weeks.” Earlier this year, owners of the former occupant, Ice House, decided not to reopen the burger-and-fries stand in the gardens. The new space isn’t much bigger than the 1952 Ford F-6 wheat truck the couple converted into a food truck, so the transition has been pretty easy, Jacob Conger said. “It’s just a truck without wheels, so it’s fairly similar, really,” he said. “We’re doing more ice cream here and serving homemade popsicles. ... You know they’re going to walk to the gardens, so we wanted to make something approachable and friendly.” Those are words that could just as easily describe Jacob Conger, who greets every
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Jacob Conger, who co-owns Pitchfork in the Park with his wife Andra, serves up several varieties of popsicles and soft-serve ice cream to Myriad Botanical Gardens visitors. | Photo Greg Elwell
guest he sees in the park’s Seasonal Plaza with a broad smile. He grew up in Elk City while Andra spent her youth in Garber, home of Bar-D cattle farm. In fact, Bar-D is where the Congers will get beef for the soon-to-be-added Pitchfork hamburgers. Currently, the restaurant serves sandwiches made with Blue & Gold chicken tenders and bacon as well as salads, chicken tacos and hot dogs. But about half of the business is ice cream, he said, and that’s just fine with him. Pitchfork’s homemade popsicles, which include plenty of local fruits and pecans sourced by his grandparents, are a big hit. They also give him an opportunity to experiment. “It’s definitely more fun than catering for events,” he said. “Cookie-cutter stuff gets old real fast.”
That was when he pulled out a pine nut popsicle. The light pink treat is studded with the nuts, which give it a subtly sweet flavor reminiscent of coconut. Others include fruit-filled Crystal Bridge, cookies and cream and Grandma Etta’s Pecan popsicles. The Congers plan to offer lunch specials to draw more crowds from nearby offices. The gardens are also an ideal place to grow a business because there’s always something happening, Jacob Conger said. “We have events here every day,” he said of Myriad Botanical Gardens. “We had about 6,000 here for Gardenfest.” Pitchfork isn’t stopping with its new location, either. Conger said they’re prepping the Ice Cube trailer to sell popsicles and cold drinks to the crowd by the Children’s Garden in June.
EVE N T
Vino populi
Wine for the People introduces wine lovers to great, affordable bottles. By Greg Elwell
When Marci Stith arrived in Oklahoma, it wasn’t exactly a wine lover’s paradise. “We moved here 20 years ago from Oregon, where we were already steeped in wine culture,” she said. “What we’ve seen in the last 10 years even is the growth of wine culture in Oklahoma.” Stith, director of sales at V2 Events at Vast, said the burgeoning fascination with wine is what led Vast and Thirst Wine Merchants to create Wine for the People. The bimonthly event features affordable, Thirst-chosen wines to go with a theme and Vast-created appetizers. “The initial reason was because I wanted wine that everybody could afford,” Stith said. “These are geared to feature wines that are $25 or less.” Guests can sample about six wines at each event. Wine for the People began in April 2015 with a focus on Spanish wines before taking guests on a flavorful trip around the world. “Now we’re going in a different direc-
tion,” Stith said. “Honestly, I think we covered all the territories we could cover.” Now, Thirst seller Allie Day is working with Vast to highlight different winemakers and bring guests a flavor of their regions. In March, the event featured Well Oiled Wine Company bottles, which are mostly sourced from Spain. The next event was planned for May 25 but was pushed forward a week to accommodate the Memorial Day holiday. “We think moving it a week will get better attendance,” Stith said. Not that attendance has been a problem, she said. In the last two years, Wine for the People has grown a cult following with local oenophiles. It has actually grown popular enough that V2 started an event for off-months called Cocktail Chemistry. The wake-up call was the January 2016 Bubbles event, which sold about 200 tickets. Stith said it was the only
time it “really got out of control.” That was when the event was reformatted to split up the tables serving wines, putting them closer to the paired food and giving guests a glass of wine when they first come in. “That really helps with the flow of the room instead of having everyone make a beeline for one place,” she said. The June 1 event will feature Valerie Dukes from Scarpetta Wine, who will show off the company’s Italian-style offerings. Scarpetta, Squadra and Frico wines will be served, Stitch said. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to put people in touch with Thirst, Stith said. “It’s exposure for them and their wines,” she said. “That’s what they do so well. They interact with people and share the stories about the wine.” Wine, no matter what hoity-toity ideas people get about it, is meant to be enjoyed with others. And Stith said Wine for the People gets people together, educates them about wine and lets them share a glass with others. “Now we do this because it’s fun,” she said. “We’ve got a great staff here and a great group who come every month.” And if drinks and appetizers with the best view of Oklahoma City isn’t the starting point of a great evening, then what is?
A couple learns about wines from the Pacific Northwest at a 2016 Wine for the People event at Vast. | Photo Vast / provided
Wine for the People 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 1 V2 Events at Vast 333 W. Sheridan Ave., Floor 50 | 405-702-7262 vastokc.com $35-$40
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g a z e di b l e s
eat & DRINK
Guthrie greats
The Land Run of 1889 made Guthrie a city of 10,000 almost overnight. More than a century later, it isn’t that much bigger, as 2016 census estimates put the population just over 11,000. While the numbers have stayed pretty much the same, the city has grown culturally, intellectually and culinarily . The former capitol of Oklahoma is becoming a haven for artists, families and foodies. Land-run up there and check it out. By Greg Elwell Photos by Garett Fisbeck and Gazette / file
Gages Steakhouse
Katie’s Diner
Hoboken Coffee Roasters
Before heading to Gages Steakhouse, it’s wise to gauge your hunger. Are you ravenous? When you look at your family members, do you hallucinate cartoon depictions of ham? Good, because Guthrie’s signature steakhouse doesn’t serve small portions. The menu is replete with highend favorites, including oysters Rockefeller and crabcakes, but you can also find a Black Angus burger made from fresh ground rib-eye steak. The best bet, however, is steak. It’s in the name for a reason.
It’s always time for breakfast at Katie’s Diner. Open 6 a.m.-2 p.m. daily, Katie’s is where Guthrie goes for eggs, bacon and biscuits and gravy. There are lunch-appropriate items, too. Katie’s makes a delightful chicken-fried steak and enormous half-pound burgers. If you’re looking to dine like a local, try Da Messy Bowl of bacon, sausage and ham cooked with onions and home fries and topped with two eggs and gravy.
There’s nothing else quite like Hoboken Coffee Roasters in Guthrie. Housed in a garage that used to be Willie’s Tire, Hoboken is a slice of bohemian living in downtown. The shop’s beans are roasted in-house, and pastries are baked there, too. There’s a relaxed, rustic feel to the joint that beckons visitors to come in, enjoy a cup of coffee and while away the day as the sunlight streams hazily through the windows.
202 W. Harrison Ave., Guthrie gagessteakhouse.com | 405-282-3955
120 W. Cleveland Ave., Guthrie facebook.com/katiesdinerguthrie 405-282-2462
224 1/2 S. Division St., Guthrie hobokencoffeeroasters.com 405-760-3034
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Simone’s Cafe
223 S. Division St., Guthrie 405-293-9363
Nine p.m. might not seem especially late if you’re hanging out in the Plaza District, but in a sleepy place like Guthrie, it’s just a hair shy of burning the midnight oil. If you’re up late-ish and you feel peckish, saunter down to Simone’s Cafe. The menu features true-blue all-American fare, including hamburgers, liver and onions and chili dogs. For a sweet start to the morning, Simone’s serves a triple stack of flapjacks with peanut butter that’ll keep you full until well into lunchtime.
Stacy’s Place
113 W. Harrison Ave. facebook.com/stacysplaceguthrie 405-466-8222
For some of the best Southern food around, head north to Stacy’s Place. Homestyle hamburger steaks, fried catfish and chicken and waffles will take you back to the childhood you wish you had. Start off with an appetizer of fried green tomatoes or a bowl of ham and beans. If you’re in the mood for something almost worth cursing about, grab the Dang Good grilled onion burger stacked tall with two beef patties and pepper jack and cheddar cheeses.
Roma’s Italian Restaurant 1202 S. Division St., Guthrie romasitalianrestaurant.com 405-260-1555
Rick’s Fine Chocolates & Coffees
109 W. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie ricksdowntown.com | 405-293-9309
After a full day of shopping, perusing the fascinating Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum and enjoying a show at The Pollard Theatre, you need a meal that doesn’t skimp on power. Recharge your batteries with a trip to Roma’s Italian Restaurant for decadent white pizzas, flavorful linguine with clam sauce and veal carciofi — veal sautéed with artichoke hearts in a creamy white wine sauce and served over tender spaghetti.
Rick, you’re being too modest. One taste of the treats at Rick’s Fine Chocolates & Coffees will have you wondering why owner Stacy Staton didn’t pick up a thesaurus and find a better adjective to hang on the shop. Rick’s Awesome Chocolates & Coffees is more apt. Everything from coconut haystacks and cookie bites to chocolate-covered orange peels and buttery toffee bark make it one of the most satisfying stops you can make in Guthrie.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Modern arts
TAG leadership ushers historic Guthrie into an artistic renaissance. By Brian Daffron
Many cities and towns in Oklahoma host annual festivals with live music, creative cuisine and art exhibitors. Rush Springs Watermelon Festival, Downtown Edmond Arts Festival, Norman’s May Fair Arts Festival, Moore’s Fine Arts Festival, Tulsa Oktoberfest, Apache Rattlesnake Festival and Stilwell’s Strawberry Festival are examples. Many Guthrie creatives, however, take arts, culture and architecture worship a step further by working hard to make every weekend a time to celebrate the arts as a whole. “One of the most striking things about Guthrie in general and the arts district in particular is the fact that we have art in almost every diverse sense of the word,” said Lucy Swanson, founder and executive director of The Arts in Guthrie (TAG), a community organization with a mission to promote community arts involvement and education inside and outside the town of just over 11,000 residents located 15 minutes north of Edmond. “From our architecture that we have in our downtown all the way [to] glassblowers and jewelry designers. We have world-famous musicians like Byron
Experience Guthrie Events
Red Brick Nights
Berline. We have The Pollard Theatre. We have music events constantly, yearround, all over town. The fact that music, the arts and culture are just a part of our everyday existence around here makes it special.”
Festival city
The list of artisans, artists and events in Guthrie is staggering. World-famous session and touring fiddler Byron Berline calls it home. He also owns his Double Stop Fiddle Shop and Music Hall bearing his name. Visitors to the city can experience the monthly Red Brick Nights art, food and music festival; Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival each October; Guthrie Escape fine arts, wine, food and music fest each fall; runs; walks; tours; art galleries and studios; bed and breakfasts; world-class bootmakers; eateries and bars; shops; museums; an art center; and even a beloved drive-in movie theater. “The arts are what bring people out
The Pollard Theatre in Guthrie celebrates performing arts in the city’s growing arts district, located in historic downtown. | Photo Shelton’s Photography & Design / provided
at night,” Swanson said of TAG. “When we’re going to do something in Guthrie, it’s going to be something art-related.”
Growing history
Guthrie’s creative hub revolves around its historic downtown area, which spans more than 30 acres, includes more than 100 structures and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1999. It’s touted as one of the largest Historic Preservation Districts in the nation. Woven into its borders is Guthrie Arts District, which earned Oklahoma Arts Council Certified Culture District designation in 2015. One of the district businesses is Shelton’s Photography & Design. The past 14 of the 20 years they’ve operated it, co-owners Traci and Heath Shelton have called the arts district home.
Lee Kessinger rolls colored glass pieces onto hot glass at G Gallery & Glass Studio in Guthrie. | Photo Cara Johnson
“It’s a good environment for the whole family. It’s a good place for a date night. It’s nice just to relax, get away and enjoy the beauty of art in whatever form or fashion it appeals to you,” Traci Shelton said. “It’s conveniently located close to everything that we need. … We do a lot of location type of photography; it has the architecture and the environment.” The area features seemingly endless continued on page 24
Bring It On: The Musical
guthrieescape.com
beacondrive-in.com
June 9-July 1
405-260-2345
405-282-4512
The Pollard Theatre
Free
$4-$7
120 W. Harrison Avenue, Guthrie
5-11 p.m. June 3
405-282-2800
Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival
Food, shopping and music from
$15-$30
Oct. 5-7
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum & Historic Carnegie Library
Campgrounds open noon Sept. 30
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Cottonwood Creek Flats
406 E. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie
702 S. Warner Ave., Guthrie
okterritorialmuseum.org
oibf.com
405-282-1889 Free-$10
K.C. Clifford, Brad Fielder and Jarvix
thepollard.org
Wentz Street between Oklahoma
The See Spot Run Pet-friendly 5K, 10K and kids fun run
and Harrison avenues
6:45 p.m. June 3
405-282-4446
facebook.com/redbricknights
Downtown Guthrie
$20-$80
Free
theseespotrun.com
(first Saturdays through September) Historic Downtown Guthrie
Oklahoma Hot Rod Association Car Show
$15-$30
Territorial Christmas
Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Center
Launches 6 p.m. Nov. 25 with
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday-Friday
parade, territorial governor
900 E. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie
inauguration and tree lighting
guthriescottishrite.org
Related events run through December
405-282-1281
Mineral Wells Park
National Little Britches Rodeo Association 2017 National Finals Rodeo
901 S. Division St., Guthrie
July 4-9
Historic Downtown Guthrie
Free-$5
www.ohra.us
Lazy E Arena
guthriesterritorialchristmas.com
Note: Please call ahead to reserve tours.
9600 Lazy E Drive, Guthrie
405-412-4132
7 a.m.-4 p.m. June 24
Byron Berline Band
nlbra.com
Guthrie Farmers Market
405-282-3004
Attractions
& Music Hall
Guthrie Escape
The Fate of the Furious
Street, Guthrie
121 E. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie
Fine art, wine, food and music festival
Dusk June 2-8
facebook.com/guthriefarmersmarket
doublestop.com
10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 30 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Guardians of the Galaxy 2
405-282-1947
$10
Oct. 1
Dusk June 9-22
Historic Downtown Guthrie
2404 S. Division St., Guthrie
7:30-10 p.m. June 10 and 24 Double Stop Fiddle Shop
Beacon Drive-In Theatre
8 a.m.-noon Saturdays E. Harrison Avenue and S. Davidson
— By Gazette staff
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cov er
continued from page 23
subjects and looks, she explained — antiques and historical architecture styles spanning Late Victoria n, B e a u x-A r t s , Romanesque Revival, Italianate, American Eclectic Movement, Neoclassical eras and more. “But there’s also very contemporary types of structures that we can use,” she said. “You get a different look everywhere you go. … I think the growth has changed over time somewhat because of technology and tourism. Guthrie has definitely grown. It certainly has more of a variety of artists now than it did before. That’s for sure.”
From folk to rock, Guthrie celebrates music, culture and art year-round as it builds its reputation into a destination city in addition to its reputation as one of the largest Historic Preservation Districts in the nation. | Photos Shelton’s Photography & Design / provided
Inclusive boundaries
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MAY 18 Dirty Red and the Soul Shakers MAY 25 Maggie McClure
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JUNE 8
JUNE 15 Midas 13 JUNE 22 Broke Brothers
Roof Terrace closed for deadCenter Film Festival
JUNE 29 Hosty
JUNE 1 Jason Young Band
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The plan to make downtown Guthrie an arts and cultural destination began taking shape more than 10 years ago as Swanson worked with the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce. She also learned a lot as part of Oklahoma Arts Council’s 2013 Leadership Arts class. “Going through that program really let me see our community through fresh eyes and see the tremendous amount of assets that we have in the arts in our community,” Swanson said. Previously, efforts were made by city civic and business leaders to promote Guthrie largely for its historic value. After Swanson went through the Leadership Arts program, she said she recognized Guthrie had a lot more to offer, especially through the creative arts talents of its own residents. “One of the best ways to [promote Guthrie arts] is to create a legitimate district that would be identifiable, that would be a destination,” Swanson explained. TAG Arts District’s borders follow the general area of the city’s historical district. Swanson recognizes the following streets and landmarks as TAG’s area of influence: the railroad to the west, Noble Avenue to the north, Broad Street to the east and Vilas Avenue to the south. However, with Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Center several blocks away, Swanson said she doesn’t like to define
TAG’s borders by geographical areas. Future plans for TAG include the creation of a nearby nature park with bike trails; a spoken-word and open-mic poetry event; a Guthrie walking tour; an artistic mentorship program; and a fund-raising album featuring Guthrie musicians, available through both digital and vinyl formats. Additional plans will be based on a cultural impact study still in progress as well as the district’s participation in Creative Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Creative Communities pilot program. “Guthrie’s so full of history that we’re really trying to find ways to incorporate all of the aspects that we have into something that’s really going to be beneficial and help people grow,” Swanson said. “It’s so easy to spend a whole weekend here in Guthrie and enjoy yourself every minute of it. There’s just tons of stuff to do. Plan it out and do it.”
The Arts in Guthrie theartsinguthrie.org facebook.com/guthriearts 405-534-4278
art
ARTS & CULTURE
Little snapshots An exhibit by photographer Blake Little provides a glimpse into life in the gay rodeo. By Mark Beutler
A decade ago, Hollywood brought to life the story of a couple of gay cowboys in the epic film Brokeback Mountain. Until then, the Western lifestyle of men who love men went largely unnoticed. And so did the subculture of gay rodeos. Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo, a new photo exhibit at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Melton Gallery, features bareback broncs, bull riding and barrel racing captured over several years at events sponsored by the International Gay Rodeo Association. Photographer Blake Little spent a number of years competing in the IGRA, and during that time, he always had his camera by his side. “I went to my first gay rodeo in Los Angeles in 1988,” Little told Oklahoma Gazette. “I have always had an interest in rodeo, cowboys and Western culture. This first rodeo was a very powerful experience for me.” During the next year, Little said he attended every rodeo in the IGRA’s Western Division and found the events to be very opening and welcoming. “Even for a city guy from a place as urban as LA, the true camaraderie with the cowboys and the sport of rodeo drew me in,” he said. “At the sixth rodeo, I started riding steers, and by the end of the first year, I rode my first bull. For the next four years, from 1988 to 1992, I competed in the IGRA. And I won bull riding at the IGRA Finals Rodeo in 1990. During my time with the rodeo, I always had my camera and photographed at all the rodeos. Because I was competing, I had inside access to the rodeo contestants and behind the chutes. Since I was a fellow contestant, the cowboys knew and trusted me.” The black-and-white images capture a slice of life not often seen in the traditional Western setting. The raw emotion
Bareback Bronco Riding, Scott Terry, San Diego, CA 1992 | Photo Blake Little / provided
in the photographs shows two cowboys sharing a victory kiss, one man helping tape the leg of an injured contestant and a bull rider sharing a moment with his kids after an event in Fort Worth. “The cowboys and cowgirls were almost always very open to being photographed,” Little said. “There were a few who did not want to be photographed for professional reasons. They were afraid of losing their jobs, and not everyone was out to all their family and friends. It was a different time.” Little said his interest in photography began at a young age. He grew up in Seattle and attended the University of Washington. After three years, he transferred to Seattle Central College to study photography and soon discovered the camera was his true passion. “I moved to Los Angeles in 1981, and that’s where I started my photography career,” he said. “One of my first commercial jobs was shooting Tom Cruise for Moviegoer magazine in 1985. That was a milestone shoot for me. After that shoot, I secured a representative and a stock photography agent. I have been working in LA for over 30 years now.”
Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis, Indiana. They responded favorably, Little said, and offered to set up an exhibition. The photographs were first shown in Indianapolis in 2014, and since then, they have traveled to six museums and universities. The Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo exhibit is in the Melton Gallery in the Art and Design building on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N. University Drive, in Edmond. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and by appointment Friday. It runs through June 20. Many societal changes have occurred since Little began snapping photos back in 1988. Films like Brokeback Mountain gave moviegoers a look into the life of gay cowboys, and TV shows like Will and Grace helped bring LGBTQ issues into homes across America. Meanwhile, marriage equality is now the law of the land, and living out and proud is accepted more than it was in previous generations. “When I was participating in the rodeos, it was a different time,” Little said. “Many of the cowboys faced discrimination, feared losing their jobs and some had their lives threatened. I never intended for the photos to make a statement about gays or gay rights. I was photographing part of my life: rodeo, the American sport and way of life that I loved. ... Most of American society has made a lot of progress. But we still need to make improvements. The current political climate is proof of that. I hope my photographs of gay rodeo can help bring society to a place of more equality for everyone. Rodeo is an American sport and a way of life. It is celebrated, lived and shared by people regardless of their sexuality.” Visit uco.edu and blakelittle.com.
A QUARTERLY GLOSSY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY OKLAHOMA GAZETTE.
Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, by appointment Friday Through June 20 Melton Gallery | Arts and Design building University of Central Oklahoma 100 N. University Drive blakelittle.com | 405-974-2000 Free
Western ways
The new exhibit came about by accident around six years ago, Little said, when Los Angeles-based writer and historian Gregory Hinton contacted him. “Gregory was starting a program called Out West, writing and researching gay Western history,” Little said. “He had remembered my rodeo photos from a newspaper article in 1990 and came to my house to see the photos. They were filed away in my archives, and I had not looked at them for 20 years.” Hinton took a selection of the photos and presented them to the Eiteljorg
WELCOME TO PET GAZETTE,
PUBLISHING: APRIL 26, 2017 | JULY 26, 2017
OCTOBER 25, 2017 | JANUARY 31, 2018
Brian Cornell and Albert Rulloda, Hayward, CA 1989 | Photo Blake Little / provided
To place your ad in Pet Gazette, call your Gazette account executive at 405-528-6000 or email specialsections@ okgazette.com O kg a z e t t e . c o m | m ay 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
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ARTS & CULTURE
Join the Cross Timbers, Norman & Sooner Rotary Clubs for
Benefiting The STudio of The Sooner TheaTer & other rotary programs
an evening of painting & Wine assistance League Norman Building 809 Wall street
Limited Seating
friday, June 2 6:30 pm Wine & Dine
f e aT u r in g a m a z in g w in eS & phenomena l food
Featuring exceptional cuisine courtesy of mickey mantle’s steakhouse, fine wines, pianist grant stevens entertains and scintillating conversation at the event center of the studio of the sooner theatre, 110 e main st., Norman
Reservations Limited
SaTurday, June 3 6:30pm Le Tour de Vin
a grand festival of delectable and collectible wines and exquisite foods. 6:30................. silent auction opens 8:30..................... Live auction starts Lifestyle and collectible wines auction at the Marriott Conference Center at NCED 2801 East State Hightway 9, Norman
wineS preSenTed By: republic national distributing co. RESTAURANTS: Hollies Flat Iron Steakhouse • Mazzio’s Italian Eatery • Midway Deli Native Roots Market • The Olive Garden • Paisley Cafe • Panda Express • Ray’s Smokehouse BBQ Sergio’s Italian Bistro • Sweet Basil 2017 Sponsors: CHAMPAGNE Big Red Sports & Imports | PINOT NOIR Marriott Conference Center at NCED Marylou Mahaffey and Bill & Melissa Rosko • Steve and Barbara Owens • Primrose Funeral Service CABERNET Cleveland County Lifestyle Magazine • Joe Gil and Margaret Cullins Havenbrook Funeral Home • Mitchell’s Jewelry • Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse • Riverwind Casino Markie & Craig Stephens • Tribute Memorial Care • Ward & Glass, Attorneys | MERLOT Chickasaw National Industries, Inc • Edward and Sumya Adwon • Air Comfort Solutions • John Brandenburg Dental Design Studio, LLC • First United Bank • Hal Smith Restaurants • Ideal Homes Knippelmier Chevrolet • LiqueColor Inc. • McClain Bank • Midfirst Bank • Physical Therapy Central Republic Bank & Trust • Sports Talk Media | CHARDONNAY Agility Medical Group, LLC Aria Real Estate Group • Eide Bailly, LLP • Lewis Beckett • Jack J. Beller, MD Boynton Williams & Associates, Architects • Keith Busking • Cleveland County Abstract Elwell & Spain, PLLC • Firehouse Subs - Norman • Pat and Melanie Hall • Harrison Henderson, PLLC-CPAs Joe’s Wine & Spirits • JT and Lori Johnson • Lifecare Oklahoma Hospice, Inc. Mallard Construction & Roofing • Mason’s Pecans & Peanuts, LLC • Lynne Miller • Carri Moore Norman Pediatric Associates • Oklahoma Copier Solutions • OK Weather Pro • Physicians & Surgeons Pharmacy, Inc. • RSM US, LLP • Sigmon Pilkington Wealth Management • Sooner Traditions Realty, LLC Senator John and Elizabeth Sparks • The Sprit Shop • The Trails Golf Club El Toro Chino Latin + Asian Kitchen • Waggoners’ Heat and Air • Jaci Williams • Adam C. Woods, DC
Please visit www.leTourdevin.com or call 405-321-0016 26
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All three events require advance registration All participants must be 21
art
ThurSday, June 1 7:00pm Artiste et le Vin
Mighty maternal Artist Connie Seabourn’s The Feminine Face of God offers a more complete look at divinity. By Ben Luschen
Though Christian tradition rarely depicts God in ways other than male or masculine, the Bible does make reference to the deity’s feminine side. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem,” reads Isaiah 66:13. The idea that God not only displays both masculine and feminine traits, but actually transcends gender and all other biological constraints is one that has long stuck with local painter Connie Seabourn. The concept also forms the basis for her newest exhibition The Feminine Face of God, which opens June 2 at Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery inside Oklahoma City University’s Norick Art Center, 1609 NW 26th St. The show runs through July 28. Seabourn’s work has dealt with divine femininity for years, but the new exhibit is comprised of around 45 pieces the artist crafted since August. To Seabourn, it is not much of a leap to connect God with female pronouns or characteristics usually associated with women. Those who believe in a loving God, she said, should also know there are few things stronger than a mother’s love. To associate the two seems natural. “I think it’s only a logical conclusion,” Seabourn said. “The more you think about it, the more you think that.”
Artist Connie Seabourn at at 50 Penn Place Art Gallery with a painting from her new exhibition The Feminine Face of God. The exhibit runs through July 28 at Oklahoma City University’s Norick Art Center. | Photo by Cara Johnson
‘Above gender’
Seabourn was at a creativity and spirituality workshop the first time the connection between God and femininity won her imagination. She was listening in on a class taught by watercolor painter Doris Cline, a member of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes who had spent a lot of time studying biblical women. Cline sometimes used female pronouns when describing God. This impressed Seabourn, who was already referring to God as “Father/ Mother.” While this line of thinking was one she already held, attending the workshop emboldened divine femininity into Seabourn’s belief system. “I started thinking of God or spirit as completely above gender,” she said. Throughout history, there are numerous examples of artists depicting God in their work. From the awe-inspiring detail in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel murals to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, many of these works portray their heavenly subjects as bearded white males. Seabourn desired to see a version of God that resembled her as a
a different boss, surely I’m just as important as that other boss was,” she said. “I would think, ‘I don’t feel good today, but I still need to be working.’” In one banner year, Seabourn recalls completing around 450 original paintings. In most years, she is able to finish a few hundred. She paints between four and eight hours each day. Seabourn still loves art, despite the long time commitment. There is no way she could bring herself to do it each day if she was not incredibly passionate about it. “I still have lots of energy and lots of love for it,” she said. “It’s not ever a drag for me; I really am excited and happy about painting all the time.”
Full depiction
woman — something to which she could more easily relate. It was a revelation that got her thinking about even broader depictions of God. “I realized if I felt that way, then there are probably people of different races who would like to see a god that looks like them,” she said. In The Feminine Face of God, Seabourn has two pieces that specifically aim at diverse representation — one looks like herself, and one depicts God as a black woman. Diversity is sought in many other places, so Seabourn said there is no reason it should not also be brought to spirituality. “I don’t want to cheapen the thought,” she said, “but it’s a lot like little kids who want to see a Santa Claus that looks like them.”
Endless passion
Seabourn has been painting nearly all her life. Her work can almost always be spotted for its characteristic ethereal feel. Many of her pieces come layered — both in translucent watercolor paint and meaning. The artist worked for a bank as a graphic designer until she had her daughter. She left work to stay at home with her child. Her painting at first just kept her occupied while she was at home, but soon, she realized it could be turned into a means of further providing for her family. When art became a form of income, she picked up her productivity. That meant no sick days. She remembers having a cold and trying to figure out just the right angle to lay her head so she could continue her brush strokes. “I thought if I could [go to work] for
Seabourn grew up as a member of the Roman Catholic Church with the rest of her family. She has since left the organized religion of her childhood and instead opted for personal reading and meditation. She is constantly striving to learn and grow. “Everyone is spiritual, even if they’re not aware of it,” she said. “I just try to stay always aware of my spiritual side.” Depicting God in a feminine way is about more than representation. It is about empowering women and showing that traits normally associated with women are not inferior or weak. In a world where God is exclusively seen as a man, women like Seabourn and others who do not closely identify with the typical God image can feel like outsiders. If God is mighty and God is a man, Seabourn asks what that means for women. “If someone is powerful, it’s probably a man,” she said. “That’s kind of the thought that most people would have.” The Feminine Face of God shows that what makes God mighty is not just raw power, but a loving and nurturing nature. Seabourn is aware that the idea of a feminine God is taboo to some. The artist said it is not her intention to provoke. Instead, she hopes by showing God with a fuller set of characteristics, she can, in turn, get a bit closer to more fully understanding the divine. “I’m not trying to be offensive,” she said. “I’m trying to help people expand their thinking of what God is.”
The Feminine Face of God opening 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 2 Note: The exhibit runs through July 28. Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery | Norick Art Center Oklahoma City University | 1609 NW 26th St. facebook.com/ocuschoolofvisualarts 405-208-5569 Free
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ARTS & CULTURE
Cool Katt
Katt Williams embarks on a three-day tour stop in Oklahoma, the place where his comedy dream first took form. By Ben Luschen
Those who scored tickets to either of Katt Williams’ Friday and Saturday stand-up comedy gigs at Norman’s Riverwind Casino should consider themselves lucky. Both local Great America tour stops quickly sold out after tickets went on sale. On May 3, Williams announced a “third and final” Riverwind show via Twitter for 7 p.m. Sunday. With his trademark animated stage persona, the presiding and self-proclaimed pimp of comedy has made himself one of America’s most in-demand touring comics. Along with Dave Chappelle, Mike Epps, Tracy Morgan and Martin Lawrence, Williams is part of the vanguard of black, Generation X funnymen that stand out in one of comedy’s true golden eras. Williams is perhaps best known for stand-up specials, including 2006’s Katt Williams: The Pimp Chronicles Pt. I, and his recurring role on the groundbreaking animated show The Boondocks. Later this year, he costars in the movie Bastards, a Christmas-season blockbuster also starring Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, Glenn Close and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw. His legal embattlements have also forced him into the headlines. Williams was recently sentenced to a year of anger management classes in a 2014 case in which he allegedly stole a camera from a female photographer who was with rap mogul Suge Knight. The incident is one of several legal issues the he has become entangled in through the course of his career. Williams recently spoke with Oklahoma Gazette ahead of his three-day Sooner State stint about his history with the state, Chappelle’s return to the limelight and celebrity in politics. Oklahoma Gazette: Your first two of three shows here quickly sold out. Katt Williams: Those in the know know that Oklahoma City is kind of the birthplace of comedy for me. I’d assume most people don’t know that, but I would imagine the people in Oklahoma City know, and this shows that they do. ... The first time I did stand-up it was … in Florida. The very next time I did stand-up and was taking it seriously was in Oklahoma City; that’s where I really got the comedy bug and decided I was going to do it full-time. I absolutely love the Oklahoma City area, and there’s really no other place like it. OKG: Do you remember how your first set in OKC went for you? KW: I just remember that the feeling was overwhelming. The first time I did stand28
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up, I only did like five minutes. The only thing I was really impressed with was how fast the five minutes went. This was a little bit different, and it was the first time I realized black and white audiences were laughing at the same things. I decided at that point that I would stand in that middle ground: an AfricanAmerican being African and American at the same time and speaking for more than one demographic. ... That wasn’t something I just decided to do; that was something Oklahoma City taught me. OKG: In your act a few years ago, you brought up the destructive May 20, 2013, tornado in Moore. KW: I’ve had the chance to do stand-up after that, and I’ve had the chance to do stand-up there after Timothy McVeigh (1995 Oklahoma City bombing case), so I know how good Oklahoma City is in tragic circumstances. That’s one of the first places I ever saw pull together as a city and as a state. And then to get the Thunder? All of Oklahoma City’s stories are stories that normally never happen. … These are things that don’t really occur [anywhere else]. OKG: Do you think Russell Westbrook is going to stay with the Thunder? KW: Absolutely. I mean, please take this correctly, but being a weirdo is not a bad thing. There are weirdo places like Austin, Texas. That’s just, like, a weirdo place. Portland [and] Seattle — these are weirdo places that have their own style, their own quirks, their own everything. That’s Oklahoma City and that’s Russell Westbrook at the end of the day. I don’t see a benefit in leaving. He feels the same way about the city as the city feels about him. Even if he went to another team, he would have to try and do that all over again. OKG: You’re in the movie Bastards, which is set to come out later this year. There are a lot of interesting people in that one. KW: I’ve only done like 17 movies, but this was the most eclectic group of cast members. This was Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, Ving Rhames, Terry Bradshaw, Glenn Close. This is a crazy group, and everyone was so wonderful; it was such a joy. It’s one of those projects that you’re really sad when it’s over because you know something special took place and you won’t get that back again. It certainly made me feel good about Hollywood, just to be in a production with that many highquality people. … Terry Bradshaw is comedian funny. I don’t think many people
know that. He’s always going. OKG: That’s a great compliment. KW: He has a skillset that you just don’t find normally. To get that in an older, great football athlete is just off the charts, that he’s that good at comedic timing and that good at delivering deadpan. Those are real skills. OKG: Have you watched Dave Chappelle’s new Netflix specials? KW: Oh yeah. I understand everything that has been said about them. … People are going to nitpick, but at the end of the day, we’ve never really seen anyone in the industry actually fight a blackball. There’s always been a conspiracy theory as to whether people get blackballed or not. Dave Chappelle is one of the instances where we didn’t have to put on a tinfoil hat to figure it out, just because the guy was missing from movies and television for six years. Now that we’ve accepted him back, it’s been an additional four or five years. We still haven’t seen him in a movie or on TV. In that aspect, it was a tremendous success because if nothing else, it gave us quality, original programming, and we need Dave Chappelle’s voice no matter what. OKG: Have you ever met Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and do you have a take on the news that he
Katt Williams | Photo Derek Blanks / provided
might be considering a presidential run? KW: Yes, I did meet him one time. I was already impressed with him as a person from his track record, but I did not know that we was the physical specimen that he was until I saw him in person and realized that his arms were as big as my head. I think if we’ve learned anything from this current administration, I think we’ve learned not to laugh at people when they say they may be the next president of the United States. … Al Franken showed us you can do politics if you’re sincere, and [President Donald] Trump showed us you can do politics even if you’re not. OKG: If you’d like to announce your intention to run for president, you can do so right now. KW: Oh no. I’ve got enough going on in my life; believe me. We have to wait and see how this current [administration] works out.
Katt Williams 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday Riverwind Casino 1544 State Highway 9, Norman riverwind.com | 405-322-6464 $55-$65 | 21+ Note: Friday and Saturday shows are sold out.
t h eater
Beyond basics
Derek and Julianne Hough’s popular ‘rock concert with dance’ tour whirls into OKC. By Lea Terry
When Derek and Julianne Hough proposed the idea of a nationwide dance tour, people were skeptical it would attract audiences. Three tours later, the siblings have proved that their blend of dance, song and comedy can sell out venues all over the country in what Derek Hough calls a “rock concert for dance.” Their Move Beyond show arrives in Oklahoma City 7 p.m. June 4 at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. The siblings became household names as dance pros on the hit ABC reality show competition Dancing With the Stars. Julianne won twice and Derek snagged the mirror-ball trophy six times. In 2015, they shared an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography with Tessandra Chavez for their Dancing With the Stars routine to Sia’s song “Elastic Heart.” In creating the Move Beyond tour, the duo wanted to give audiences something they’d never seen before and incorporate elements they hadn’t been able to with previous projects. “Whatever we want to do, we can create,” Derek Hough said. “And we kind of start out when we’re creating the show like, ‘What’s our dream? What’s something you imagined you always wanted to do on stage?’” Each sings several numbers. Derek performs “El Tango de Roxanne” from Moulin Rouge! and Julianne picks up the mic for “How Far I’ll Go” from Disney’s Moana. Derek had always wanted to play a drum solo onstage, something he does in Move Beyond, but with a twist — thanks to technology, his drumming self battles his tap-dancing self. A longtime Gene Kelly fan, Hough said he has always admired the way the Singin’ in the Rain star incorporated props into his routines. “We have so many props and so many different physical apparatuses that really bring these routines and numbers alive; it’s really exciting,” he said. There’s also plenty of banter between the siblings, and he said that touring with his sister is like touring with his best friend. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to do something we love with someone we love,” he said. “We have our moments sometimes, but those are always followed by laughter.”
Move Beyond, starring Derek and Julianne Hough, hits Civic Center Music Hall June 4. | Photo Andy Argyrakis / provided
The Houghs designed the show so each act features something special. The massive, custom-built set, which features several LED screens, gives the tour the feel of an arena show in a theater, and the eclectic mix of genres ensures there’s something for everyone in the audience. The production mixes a wide range of dance styles, including everything from contemporary and ballroom to jive and hip-hop. Derek and Julianne perform together and with their dance troupe. “We were the first to go out on the road with a dance show, and we took that role on seriously to where we feel like we need to keep raising the bar and lead the way,” Derek Hough said.
Moving beyond
In recent years, each has branched out into acting and singing. Julianne Hough released a self-titled country music album in 2008 and has appeared in several films, including the 2011 remake of Footloose and the Fox production of Grease Live! in 2016. Derek has a recurring role on Nashville, is a judge on NBC series World of Dance and appeared in NBC’s Hairspray Live! in 2016. Later this year, he portrays Don Lockwood in the Broadway production of Singin’ in the Rain. Visit moveliveontour.com and okcciviccenter.com.
Move Beyond 7 p.m. June 4 Civic Center Music Hall | 201 N. Walker Ave. okcciviccenter.com | 405-297-2264 $37.93-$966
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ARTS & CULTURE catalan chicken
lunch & dinner
6014 n. May 947.7788 | zorbasokc.coM
®
2017 Annual Chuck Wagon Festival Memorial Day Weekend May 27 & 28 • 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Children 12 and under free!
$15 General Admission $5 off for Last Frontier Council Scouts & Families (wear your uniform!) FREE for Museum members FREE for children 12 and under! 1700 Northeast 63rd Street Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Open daily 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. nationalcowboymuseum.org Presenting sponsor: Additional support: Shawnee Mills • Bimbo Bakeries • Rodeo Opry • Schwab Meat Co. Granville Community Music School • Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company Museum Partners: Devon Energy Corp. • E.L. & Thelma Gaylord Foundation Major Support: The Oklahoman Media Company
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Yo ut h
N AT ION A L CO WB O Y & W E S T E R N HE R I TA G E M U SEU M
Yard party
On the Lawn brings summer family fun to the northern edge of the Western Avenue district. By Ben Luschen
Food trucks and a full slate of fun and family-friendly activities welcome Western Avenue Association’s On the Lawn event back for its June installment. The recurring outdoor summer event series is in its fourth year. Following a successful opening May 4, next month’s event runs 6-9 p.m. June 1 on the Chesapeake Lawn, 6200 N. Western Ave., just north of Whole Foods. Participating food trucks include Yum Yum Bites, Blue Donkey Cafe, The Flying Pig BBQ, Katiebug’s Shaved Ice and Hot Chocolate, The Loaded Bowl and MOB Grill. Anthem Brewing Company brings out some kegs and sells beer to the adults. Western Avenue Association executive director Rachael Taylor said guests can also expect face-painting, inflatables, yard games and plenty of kid-friendly jams pumping through the stereo. She said the association’s previous director introduced the event in 2014 to draw more attention to a side of the district that does not see many similar community events come its way. “We really wanted to bring all of those neighborhoods together and utilize this awesome lawn we have access to through Chesapeake,” Taylor said. Though she was not director at the time, Taylor has been involved in organizing On the Lawn since its inception. The event began as a much grander occurrence featuring things like pop-up shops, live bands and cooking competitions. The association has since scaled back its approach. Taylor said she now spends her time focusing on the event’s core appeal. “The essentials … are what bring people back,” she said. “We’re just bringing on the things that people really enjoy about it and just utilizing that grass space for outdoor play.” This year’s On the Lawn season concludes with a final event July 7. The 2017 finale might also stand as the end of the
Free Inflatables and lawn games will keep children entertained June 1 at On the Lawn. | Photo Audrey Dodgen / provided
festival in general. Taylor said Chesapeake Energy Corporation is involved in a pending sale of the land for possible future development. If the land is sold, the association’s use of the property might be restricted. If this is the last year, On the Lawn will be partially remembered for the innovate fun of some attending youths. Taylor said it has become a tradition for many to sled or surf down the northern side of the lawn’s small grass hill. When the festival began in 2014, there was a yoga class held in that area. Taylor recalls using cheap lawn mats for the demonstration. After the class, some children quickly found another use for the mats. “The kids ended up taking them and just flying down the hill,” Taylor said. The mats were not of high enough quality to last through much use, so they were soon replaced by sturdier pieces of cardboard. “Now, every single event, I go around and collect and flatten boxes and just bring them out there,” Taylor said. “The kids just go crazy for it.” Over time, the event has evolved into a laidback gathering of surrounding communities. In many ways, the festival has become an idea place for summer family fun. “It’s become a time to just sit around, hang out and relax,” she said. “A lot of the lawn is actually shaded that time of night, so it’s kind of a nice place to just sit and watch the kids play.”
On the Lawn 6-9 p.m. June 1 Chesapeake Lawn | 6200 N. Western Ave. visitwesternavenue.com Free
Yo ut h
Timeless tales
Children’s Garden Festival brings The Very Hungry Caterpillar to life. By Laura Eastes
Nearly a half-century after being published, Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar continues to pique children’s curiosity as they poke their fingers through its pages to follow the ravenous, red-faced insect’s tale. In the iconic brightly colored book, readers meet a caterpillar that eats its way through pears, plums, strawberries and desserts before ultimately transforming into a beautiful butterfly. Cutout holes invite children to not only listen to the tale but also get playful as they become the caterpillar by pushing their fingers through the pages. “Part of our mission at the gardens is to create great horticultural programs,” Ashley Elkins, the garden’s public events director, said. “We always want our festivals to be interactive and educational. We thought The Very Hungry Caterpillar was a great tie-in.” Next month, children visiting Myriad Botanical Gardens’ Children’s Garden Festival will get a glimpse into the life of Carle’s caterpillar through activities, crafts and imaginative displays and leave with a deeper understanding of caterpillars and butterflies. Myriad staff brings the beloved tale to life June 3-11 in the Children’s Garden, 301 W. Reno Ave. “We go through the book as to what he ate each day,” Elkins said. “Monday, he ate one apple — when you walk in, you walk through an apple. On Saturday, he eats junk but also some non-junk. We’ve created a 2-D and 3-D obstacle course where kids can crawl and play on a giant pickle and a piece of cheese.” Entering its fifth year, the festival focuses on fun but also provides horticultural education opportunities for children ages 4-12. Visitors also will see more reading and literacy events woven into this year’s schedule. Throughout the festival, storytime commences at 11 a.m. each day, starting with Carle’s classic, followed by other books related to the summer
Myriad Botanical Gardens staff assist Children’s Garden Festival visitors with a craft. This year’s event theme is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. | Photo provided / file
season. Oklahoma children’s authors will share their works June 10 for a special 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. storytime. Authors participating include Desiree Webber, who penned The Buffalo Train Ride, a book about efforts to establish wildlife preserves in Oklahoma. Families are encouraged to bring slightly used books for an exchange or to donate to the garden’s free library. The book exchange is 11 a.m.-noon June 10. Children’s Garden Festival offers a number of crafts and activities as well as opportunities for families to explore the gardens to learn more about pollinators. While Carle’s work provides a basic introduction to caterpillars and butterflies, Myriad staff stands ready to explain more about native butterflies and their contributions to crops and plants. The event is open to the public, but there is an admission charge for those who aren’t gardens members. As a nonprofit organization, the Children’s Garden Festival and Pumpkinville serve as the garden’s two fundraisers. A crowd of 7,000 people attended last year’s festival, Elkins said. This year, staff stands ready to entertain a crowd closer to 10,000. “We are going to have so many activities every day, from storytime to facepainting,” she said. “It is a great place to come and make memories with your family.”
Children’s Garden Festival 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 3-11 Children’s Garden | Myriad Botanical Gardens 301 W. Reno Ave. myriadgardens.org |405-445-7080 Free-$6
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Co m m u n i t y
ARTS & CULTURE
21c Oklahoma City invites you...
ONE YEAR CELEBRATION THURS 06.01.17 | 6–10PM Free and open to the public
We couldn’t find a thank you card big enough so we’re throwing a party instead. Join us in celebrating the past year with the opening of our new exhibition, OFF-SPRING: New Generations. Featuring: - Live music - Performance art - Screenprinting demo - Sips and bites by Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge - Special presentation by featured artist Frances Goodman #21cCelebrates #21cOffSpring
900 West Main Street, Oklahoma City 405.982.6900 | 21cMuseumHotels.com Frances Goodman (South African), The Dream, 2010-2016. Silk, lace, organza, satin, beads, embroidery thread, wedding dresses, sound installation
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Fostering worth
A local nonprofit and libraries combine resources to improve adult literacy in local communities.
By Lea Terry
Approximately 140,000 people in the Oklahoma City metro area have limited literacy skills, meaning they often have difficulty doing things like filling out forms or even reading a newspaper. They might manage for years, adapting to handle day-to-day activities. However, they eventually come to a point where circumstances force them to make a change or they just get tired of working around it. “Some of these people are really, really smart,” said Becky O’Dell, Community Literacy Centers (CLC) executive director. “They have to learn to be smart; they have to learn to get around when they can’t read. So some of them are amazing in how they’ve compensated in other ways.” People with reading difficulties might not know where to go for help, but a partnership between Community Literacy Centers and Metropolitan Library System brings the help to them in the form of free, twice-weekly basic literacy classes at three of the system’s libraries: Belle Isle, 5501 N. Villa Ave.; Southern Oaks, 6900 S. Walker Ave.; and Ralph Ellison, 2000 NE 23rd St. “The best thing to do is to be where they’re at and make it convenient for them to get there,” O’Dell said. Each phonics-based class meets for two hours. CLC uses state-certified teachers and volunteers to provide individual attention to students who might be struggling. Because the students might have experienced humiliation as children due to reading difficulties, these courses are designed to be a safe place where participants know they won’t be judged. “Once they figure out that those things aren’t going to happen, that people aren’t going to make fun of them, that the people in their class are there
Literacy teachers and adult students work together to improve literacy in the metro. | Photo Community Literacy Centers / provided
to support them, it’s amazing how well they will do and how they can learn,” O’Dell said. She said people might be surprised by some of the reasons some never learned to read and write, from having a learning disability to their family moving around a lot. They might also have been sick frequently as a child, requiring them to miss school and valuable learning opportunities. Or they simply could have fallen through the cracks. Many of the adults who visit the libraries for help read at third- or fourthgrade levels, which makes it difficult to advance at work or even handle basic tasks such as filling out paperwork at the doctor’s office. Some just want to be able to read to their children, O’Dell said, or might worry when they’re called in for a conference at their child’s school and don’t understand what’s going on. CLC tries to keep class sizes between 10 and 15 students to allow for personalized instruction. The classes are ongoing so students can receive help until they reach literacy goals they set for themselves. Anyone interested in signing up for the classes can call Community Literacy Centers to receive a quick, easy assessment to determine their reading level before attending a class. People interested in teaching or volunteering can also call the center to get involved, and O’Dell stressed that CLC is always looking for new organizations to partner with in terms of offering classes. Visit communityliteracy.com or call 405-524-7323.
Co m m u n i t y
Guardian Angels A local animal rescue group opens a Guthrie adoption center. By Lea Terry
Founded in 2000, Guthrie-based Pet Angels Rescue, Inc. has adopted out more than 6,000 animals. That number should go even higher once the organization opens its new adoption center in Guthrie in May. The new space will allow the rescue group to take in and adopt out a minimum of 750 animals every year instead of the 400-450 it currently adopts out annually. With many smaller areas in Oklahoma lacking the staff or space to keep animals, this increase is crucial to reducing the number of animals euthanized every year across the state. “Sometimes the shelter is operated by a volunteer, and they have very limited funds dedicated to animal welfare, so animals are euthanized at a very high rate — sometimes 24 to 48 hours — and there’s no adoption programs,” said Tiffany Smith, a Pet Angels volunteer who has been with the organization for nearly five years. The Oklahoma Shelter Statute states that a county must have a human population of at least 200,000 to establish an animal shelter. Of the state’s 77 counties, just three meet this requirement: Oklahoma, Cleveland and Tulsa. Smaller cities and towns, along with many rural areas, simply don’t have the resources to keep and care for animals, but they do work with rescue groups like Pet Angels to find them homes. Pet Angels takes many of its animals directly from euthanasia lists at many small shelters across the state. Pet Angels founder Dana Huckaby Puckett carefully screens applicants to ensure animals go to appropriate homes. “Dana knows these dogs, and she knows what situation is going to be best for the dog and the family, because it’s so sad when a dog gets adopted and then they have to bring the dog right back,” Smith said. “How confusing is that for the dog?” Applicants who rent or lease residences must provide contact information for their landlord so the organization can verify that pets are allowed. The application also includes questions about other
Pet Angels Rescue, Inc.’s new Guthrie adoption center has space for 750 animals to come through its shelter annually. | Photo Garett Fisbeck
animals living in the home, the applicant’s history as a pet owner and the type of living situation the pet is going into, including how many hours they’ll be left home alone. Pet Angels provides necessary medical care, which isn’t uncommon, as some have been hit by cars or have heartworms.It also spays and neuters, vaccinates and microchips all animals before adopting them out. The Guthrie center features a cat room where they can roam free or cozy up in cat condos. There’s also a vet room, a grooming and bathing room and a kitchen for animals with special diets. “The inside is so colorful and bright, and that was the mission; we didn’t want a place where you walk in and it’s kind of sad and stark and cold-feeling,” she said. Pet Angels also works to make it easier for pet owners to care for their pets by partnering with students from Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences to provide low-cost spay and neuter surgeries. The organization also participates in a program for military members who are being relocated and can’t take their animal with them. Pet Angels is licensed to have 175 animals but typically has 70-80 so it can provide the care and attention they need. Even though the new center will allow the rescue to take in more animals and make it easier to adopt them out, the organization still needs help since it relies on private donations. Smith stressed that donations don’t have to be cash. Dog food, dog beds, doghouses and other items make it easier for Pet Angels to care for the animals. Volunteers are also always needed, and the organization welcomes individuals and groups alike, including school groups that might want to come in and help care for and learn about the animals. The new adoption center is located at 10374 S. Coltrane Road in Guthrie. Visit petangelsrescue.org. O kg a z e t t e . c o m | m AY 2 4 , 2 0 1 7
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ARTS & CULTURE
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Stunning stories
A local author speaks with 10 elderly African-American women about their lives and challenges. By Lea Terry
Author and attorney Stephana I. Colbert was having dinner with an old friend when the conversation turned to the civil rights movement and her friend’s involvement with it. She hadn’t previously known the extent of her friend’s contributions to civil rights and realized that for an entire segment of the population, their efforts to work toward equality went largely unnoticed. “In terms of African-American women, we are kind of invisible, in my mind, to the rest of the world,” Colbert said. “We just do things; we don’t do it with any kind of design to get accolades. We have things to do, we have obstacles and we just overcome them.” Wanting to acknowledge the role of African-American women in society as well as shatter a few stereotypes, Colbert started writing her book Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: The Elders, which was recently released through Colbert’s company, Jewell Jordan Publishing. She spoke with women from all over the country about their lives, the obstacles they’ve faced and the lessons they’ve learned. Ten women from seven different states are included. Colbert knew some of them, some were referred to her and she heard about others and contacted them. Colbert traveled to interview each one in person. “The ladies’ stories were more expansive and broader than I ever could have imagined,” Colbert said. The women come from all walks of life and include Mary Lou Miles, the mother of Oklahoma district judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange. Other women featured include a teacher, a preacher’s wife, a community activist and a woman who rose from poverty to an executive position at a government agency. A common thread is the importance of perseverance, along with the ability to believe in yourself and your ability to overcome obstacles.
Stephana I. Colbert | Photo Butch Neece / provided
“As we progress through today’s challenges, I think young people need to hear that,” Colbert said. “I think young people need to understand that you’re going to have challenges, that you’re going to have obstacles, but those should not stop you.” Colbert also hopes to dispel some of the stereotypes about African-American women, particularly those prominent in the media or pop culture. These images often don’t reflect the full experience of African-American women in the United States, she said, in addition to frequently being negative. Colbert wants people to see African-American women who struggle but still overcome and ultimately thrive. “There are about 23 million black women in this country, and many of them go through life and they keep getting up,” Colbert said. “They don’t question it, they don’t fight it, they don’t fight the fact they have an obstacle; they just do, and I think we all need to see us in that way.” The women profiled in the book live lives similar to what many AfricanAmerican women in the U.S. experience, Colbert said. She hopes reading their firsthand accounts of their lives will help people see the role African-American women play in American culture. “They lead their lives, they take care of their families, they’re the backbone of our communities; they lead us, they guide us, they comfort us, they struggle and they overcome, and they show us how to do that,” Colbert said. “And I think those are the portrayals that are important for the community, the nation, the state.” Ordinary Extraordinary African American Women: The Elders is available for purchase on Amazon. Visit jewelljordanpublishing.com.
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act i v e
Lifting stigmas
NAMIWalks raises awareness and funds to treat mental illness across the state. By Greg Elwell
Nearly a quarter of Oklahomans deal with some form of mental illness. The state ranks third highest in the nation with 22.4 percent of the population dealing with some form of mental illness, according to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. But even with a problem so common, it’s still hard to talk about, said Trisha Chapman, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Oklahoma, Inc. marketing and development director. “The stigma of mental illness is still a very significant issue,” she said. “It’s hard to see the individual. Instead, they only see the illness.” The group’s annual event, NAMIWalks, aims to put a face to mental illness and help lift the stigma. NAMIWalks Oklahoma 2017 is 8 a.m. June 3 at Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave. The walk itself is a 5K around the gardens, but Chapman said it serves a larger purpose. “This is our largest community event each year, and it helps us raise awareness
of mental illness in Oklahoma,” she said. It’s also its largest fundraiser. It helps the nonprofit pay for advocacy, education and support. NAMIWalks is a familyfriendly event with a children’s area with face painting, crafts and games; a DJ leading a Zumba class before the walk; and education-related booths. “We want people to know that mental illness is treatable. We need to see it as any other medical condition,” Chapman said. “I think a large part of the problem is that our society is scared of talking about it. That’s a barrier to treatment.” If people are afraid to come forward and talk about their issues, they won’t seek help, she said. And if they aren’t comfortable talking about mental illness with others, how can people support them in recovery? “It’s all about being open,” Chapman said. “Younger generations get it and they understand the need to address it.” NAMI supports people with a wide range of diagnoses, including eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), schizophrenia, anxiety and depression, among others. Even the people who have the conditions need to know more about them, Chapman said. “We’ve become more open to talking about depression, but there are still people who think, ‘I should be able to snap out of it,’” she said. “They need a support system. That’s where places like NAMI come in.” NAMI Oklahoma offers programs designed to help individuals and families and presentations that bring understanding to new audiences across different age groups. NAMI Homefront is a free educational program for friends and family of military service veterans with mental health conditions. Peer-to-Peer is a 10-week course in which people can find support from others who have experience living with mental illness. That’s why NAMIWalks is so impor-
NAMIWalks events raise money for mental illness treatment while helping lift the stigma of disease. | Photo NAMI / provided
tant, Chapman said. This year, the group hopes to raise $90,000 or more. That funding helps support programs in rural areas as well as cities. “Mental illness is pervasive, and we need to get people proper treatment no matter where they are,” she said. There’s no registration fee, and the walk is open to the public, but NAMI Oklahoma does ask that walkers help raise donations for the organization. Visit namioklahoma.org.
NAMIWalks 8 a.m. June 3 Myriad Botanical Gardens | 301 W. Reno Ave. namioklahoma.org| 405- 607-6018 Free
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calendar Fermented Salsa Demo, join April Morford while learning how to ferment vegetables adding prebiotics, probiotics, bio-available vitamins and minerals as well as beneficial enzymes to your diet, 12:30-1 p.m. May 27. Natural Grocers, 7013 N. May Ave., 405-840-0300, naturalgrocers.com. SAT
are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.
Cawfee Tawk, free coffee, breakfast and pep talks, 8 a.m. May 31. Wednesdays at Halcyon Works, 405 NW 30th St., 405-601-3335, halcyon.works. WED
BOOKS
Wine Down Wednesdays, a different wine featured each month; stop by after work or bring a friend to share a bottle, 5 p.m. May 27. O Bar, 1200 N. Walker Ave., 405-600-6200, obarokc.com. WED
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team, author Steve Sheinkin signs copies of the book telling the story of superstar athlete Jim Thorpe and football legend Pop Warner as they forged one of the best teams in American football history, 6:00-7:30 p.m. May 24. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, Edmond, 405-3409202, bestofbooksok.com. WED
Cards Against Humanity Tournament, good wine and dirty minds come together for the ultimate Cards Against Humanity tournament. Only two of the most horrible minds will win gift cards, 8 p.m. May 31. The Pritchard Wine Bar, 1749 NW 16th St., 405-601-4067, pritchardokc.com. WED
Shortgrass, join author John Dwyer as he signs his book about a Mennonite farm boy’s faith that is challenged as he faces his family’s droughtravaged Dust Bowl spread on the old Chisholm Trail, 6-7:30 p.m. May 25. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU Same Beach, Next Year, two couples begin a friendship that will last more than 20 years and transform their lives, join author Dorothea Benton as she signs her latest book, 3-5 p.m. May 27. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT
Mystery Shanty Theater 3000 What is the most interesting surface you have seen a movie projected onto? How about a ship’s sail? Join the sea-weary lot at Sea Shanty Scuba Dive Center as they cheer and jeer the 1954 Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which will be projected onto an outdoor ship sail. The event is 7-11 p.m. Friday at Sea Shanty Scuba Dive Center, 116A E. Main St., in Norman. Admission is free. Visit facebook.com/seashantyadventuretours or call 405-7017122. FRIDAY Photo Walt Disney Productions / provided Obit., (USA, 2016, Vanessa Gould) a first-ever glimpse into the daily rituals, joys and existential angst of New York Times obit writers, as they chronicle life after death on the front lines of history, May 25. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU A Quiet Passion, (UK, 2016, Terence Davies) the story of American poet Emily Dickinson from her early days as a young schoolgirl to her later years as a reclusive, unrecognized artist, May 26-June 1. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.
HAPPENINGS Robotic: Zombie Beach Theme Party, fake blood, sea and beach decorations, zombie paintings and costumes, dancing and more, 10 p.m. May 24. Kamps, 1310 NW 25th St., 405-524-2251, okc.carpediem.cd. WED
Paseo Arts Festival Paseo Arts District is known for being one of the city’s most art-friendly areas — it’s right there in the name, after all. But things will be turned up a notch during Paseo Arts Festival 10 a.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Monday between NW 28th and 30th streets and Dewey and Walker avenues. In its 41st year, the festival includes more than 90 visual artists selling original pieces, live music and performers and food vendors. There’s also a children’s area to help inspire the next generation of artists. Admission is free. Visit thepaseo.org or call 405-525-2688. SATURDAY-MONDAY Photo Paseo Arts District / provided
Read for Adventure, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden and Metropolitan Library Systems have partnered to publish the children’s book Our Day at the Zoo, creating a community Read for Adventure program enabling readers to check out the new book from any of the 19 Metro Library locations, through March 31 2018. Metropolitan Library System, 300 Park Ave., 405-231-8650, metrolibrary.org.
FILM Smokey and the Bandit, (US, 1977, Hal Needham) the Bandit is hired on to run a tractor trailer full of beer over county lines in hot pursuit by a pesky sheriff, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 24. AMC Quail Springs Mall 24, 2501 W. Memorial Road, 405-7552406, amctheatres.com. WED
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Taiwanese American Heritage Week, showcasing Taiwanese folk art with interactive education activities, traditional Tiawanese folk music and folk art show, May 26. Constitution Hall, Nigh University Center, University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-974-2000, uco. edu. FRI
Avocado Awesomeness, discover the amazing health benefits of the superfruit, potassium, fiber, B vitamins and other health-supportive compounds, noon-12:30 p.m. May 25. Natural Grocers, 7013 N. May Ave., 405-840-0300, naturalgrocers.com. THU Cocktails 6.0, a spirited evening with cocktail education from local bartenders, tasty bites, great drinks and good company on the rooftop, 6:30 p.m. May 25. Plenty Mercantile, 807 N. Broadway Ave., 405-888-7470, plentymercantile.com. THU The Farmers Market at Central Park, promoting the sale of garden-related products and produce, 8 a.m.-noon May 27. Moore Central Park, 700 S. Broadway St., Moore, 405-793-5090, centralpark. cityofmoore.com. SAT Edmond Farmers Market, enjoy a variety of local produce, cheeses, meats and bakery items, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. May 27. Edmond Farmer’s Market, 24 W. First St., Edmond, 405-359-4630, edmondok.com. SAT Brunch & Bingo, fundraiser event for OKC Pagan Pride Day with a homemade brunch meal, bingo cards and fellowship for the pagan community, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 27. Will Rogers Garden Center, 3400 NW 36th St., 405-943-0827, okcpaganprideday.com. SAT
Bethany 66 Festival, bringing the community together with over 50 food, craft and art vendors, a car show, live entertainment and more, 10a.m.-4 p.m. May 27. Downtown Bethany, NW 38th St. and Asbury Ave., Bethany, 405-232-6552, oktourism.com. SAT
Open House at CASA of Oklahoma County, open house event featuring a brief introduction to Court Appointed Special Advocate’s work in the community, testimonials and a Q&A with a CASA volunteer and staff members, 6:15-7 p.m. May 30. Oklahoma County Juvenile Center, 5905 N. Classen Ave., 405-713-6400, oklahomacounty.org. TUE
FOOD Tower Theatre Pint Night, join Savings & Loan Co., Bunker Club and the Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma for an evening of local craft beer, free glassware and big reveals, 5-8 p.m. May 24. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com.
WED
Photo bigstock.com
YOUTH Al’s Teen Lounge, offers an assortment of mini geek out sessions on a variety of interests like favorite board or card games, drawing, anime movies, arts and crafts and more in a drama-free zone for teens who want to spend time enjoying their favorite activities with others, 5-7 p.m. May 24. Almonte Library, 2914 SW 59th St., 405-606-3575, metrolibrary.org. WED
Guthrie Ghost Walks, hear tales of history, heartbreak, murderous intentions and mysterious happenings while walking among the classic Victorian/Edwardian architecture of downtown Guthrie, 7:15p.m. May 27. Downtown Guthrie, 212 W. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie, 405-293-8404, guthrieghostwalk.com. SAT Annual Chuck Wagon Festival, showcasing chuck wagon food samples, a petting zoo, artisan demonstrations, bandanna decorating, leather stamping with the Oklahoma Chisholm Trail Leather Guild, live music and more, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 27-28. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT-SUN
Rooftop Yoga Those who participate in Hidden Dragon Yoga’s special rooftop demonstration will feel on top of the world, and not just because they are doing it on the Rooftop Patio of the Allied Arts building. Their activity benefits the homeless through a donation to Jesus House. Rooftop Yoga begins 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Allied Arts, 1015 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 200. There is a minimum $10 suggested donation at the door for those who participate. Visit facebook.com/hiddendragonyoga or call 405-215-9642. THURSDAY
Memorial Day Celebration, celebrate the last day of the farm’s spring season and Memorial Day with a train ride, a carousel, an animal barn, the pedal cars, two jumping pillows, a giant slide, play areas and more, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 27. Orr Family Farm, 14400 S. Western Ave., 405-799-3276, orrfamilyfarm.com. SAT
World Otter Day at OKC Zoo Bring your significant otters, er … others for a fun and educational time at World Otter Day 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday at Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden, 2000 Remington Place. Visitors to the zoo can see river otters Pip and Rocky in the Big Rivers building and learn about the challenges causing populations to decline. There will be free frozen treats from Otter Pops. The event is free with zoo admission, free-$25. WEDNESDAY Photo bigstock.com
Babysitting 101 summer workshop, a fun and educational workshop designed for youth from 12-19 years old educating participants on how to be responsible for children of all ages. Learn safety practices, become first-aid and CPR certified and more, 9a.m.-4 p.m. through June 1. Oklahoma County OSU Extension Service, 2500 NE 63rd St., 405-713-1125, oces.okstate.edu. Off the Beaten Path, a photo documented joint art exhibit by Scott and Katie Henderson; tour many of the state’s unusual, intriguing and lesserknown areas, though June. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. Ultimate Adventure Camps, giving kids a chance to try new adventures including zip lining, the SandRidge Sky Trail, high speed slides, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and whitewater rafting, May 29-Aug. 11. Boathouse District, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd., 405-552-4040, boathousedistrict.org.
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CALENDAR Marlin Swim Club, ongoing, Lighthouse Sports, Fitness and Health, 3333 W. Hefner Road, 405845-5672, marlinswimamerica.com.
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continued from page 36 Summer Camp Contemporary, keeping kids creative with learning camps featuring visual arts, music, hip-hop, fiber, clay, performance, robotics and more, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 30-Aug. 11. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.
VISUAL ARTS Art After 5, enjoy a late-night art gallery experience and live music on the roof terrace with the best views of downtown OKC and a relaxing atmosphere, 5-9 p.m. May 25. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU
Ugly Bugs!, Oklahoma Ugly Bug contest with an exhibition of insect photos captured by the contest’s 2016 winners, through June 18. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.
Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo, serving as a stunning example of black-andwhite portraiture and rodeo photography, while exploring the diverse and complex natures of individual and community identity in the West, through June 20. Melton Gallery, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-974-2000, uco.edu.
Backyard Bugs: An Oklahoma Insect Adventure, taking Oklahoma’s amazing insects to a largerthan-life level with giant animatronic insects, interactive exhibits and live insect displays to give visitors a unique perspective of a bug’s world and reveal the fascinating complexities of our six-legged neighbors, through August. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. Bodies Revealed, exhibition showcasing real human bodies preserved through a revolutionary process allowing visitors to see themselves in a fascinating way like never before, through October. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.
PERFORMING ARTS Steve Hirst, with a unique brand of humor managing to translate the comical differences between the U.K. and the U.S. featuring impressions, music and a closing bit that will have you falling out of your seat, May 24-28. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405-2394242, loonybincomedy.com. WED -SUN Disney’s The Lion King, enjoy the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular and one of the most beloved productions set against a backdrop of stunning visuals, through May 28. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. WED -SUN Thursday Noon Tunes, bring your lunch to the downtown library atrium and enjoy classical guitar musician Collin Holloway, 12-1 p.m. May 25. Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave., 405-231-8650, metrolibrary.org. THU The Toxic Avenger, an unconventional musical about an environmental scientist who sets out to save New Jersey from the toxic waste that is filling the city, based on the cult classic film of the same name, The Toxic Avenger is a campy yet topical musical exploring pollution and the monsters it creates, May 25-June 3. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. OKC Improv, get funny on Film Row with live, local comedy, 7:30-9:30 p.m. May 26. The Paramount Theatre, 11 N. Lee Ave., 405-637-9389, theparamountokc.com. FRI
Friday Night Jazz You’ve been saying for years how you wish there were more opportunities to see live jazz in this city. Now’s your chance. 1920s-themed Jive Supper Club & Lounge features music by funk, R&B and old-school jazz band Robert Banks & Positive Productions 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday at Jive, 7000 Crossroads Blvd. There is a $10 cover charge with an additional cost for reserved tables. Visit facebook.com/ jiveloungeokc or call 405-921-8559. FRIDAY Photo bigstock.com Creating Claire, science and faith collide in this provocative play about Claire, a docent at a natural history museum, whose burgeoning spirituality has a big-bang effect on her job, her friendships, her marriage and her autistic daughter, through June 3. Carpenter Square Theatre, 806 W. Main St., 405232-6500, carpentersquare.com.
ACTIVE Soccer, OKC Energy vs Portland Timbers, 7 p.m. May 24. Taft Stadium, 2901 NW 23rd St., 405-5870046, energyfc.com. WED Bricktown Beach, a large, sand-filled outdoor park area with umbrellas, lounge chairs, sand volleyball equipment and outdoor games, May 25-Aug. 31. Bricktown Beach, Sheridan Ave. & 2 N. Mickey Mantle Ave., 405-235-3500, downtownokc.com. Learn-to-Swim Program, giving residents of all ages and financial situations the opportunity to learn to swim with proper technique and basic water safety at their own pace offered by the King
Comets, Asteroids & Meteors: Great Balls of Fire, the threat of a catastrophic impact from an asteroid or comet is a staple of popular culture, learn about asteroids, comets and meteorites and where come from, through Sept. 10. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. Exhibit C Ledger Art, four contemporary artists experienced in ledger art will have their distinctive artwork on display. Discover a captivating scene showcasing the creations by Paul Hacker, George Levi, Dylan Cavin and Lauren Good Day Giago, through June 30. Exhibit C, 1 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-767-8900, exhibitcgallery.com. In Designs, Contemporary Abstract, Brian Allan, Christopher Pendleton and Stephen St. Claire dissect abstract design through progressive applications in a new exhibit, through June 25. Kasum Contemporary Fine Arts, 1706 NW 16th St., 405-604-6602, kasumcontemporary.com. Jeffrey Gibson: Speak to Me, internationally known multimedia artist Jeffrey Gibson’s first Oklahoma solo exhibition will feature recent artworks that draw upon his Native American heritage, aesthetics and traditions, through June 11. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. Lowell Ellsworth Smith: My Theology of Painting, features watercolor studies and Smith’s own words and observations, it introduces the man, his methods and his belief in the power and potential of creative energy, through July 9. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. Mind Bender, exhibiting the works of Mind Bender Tattoo, featuring Josh Reynolds, Bobby Deneen, Tattoos by Shmitty, JayMf Roberts and Rawb Carter, through June 4. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 405-525-3499, dnagalleries.com. National Weather Center Biennale Art Show, international juried exhibition focusing on weather in contemporary art in the forms of painting, works on paper and photography, through June 19. National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, 405-325-3095, ou.edu. Poetry in the Gardens: The Observations of Mary Oliver, observations of the natural world by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver will be featured on signage throughout the garden, May 27. Myriad Botanical Gardens, Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-235-0280, okhumanities.org. SAT Sky, a group show featuring Karl Brenner, Robert Schneider and Janis Krendick displaying landscapes of the New York Hudson River, Texas plains and the Colorado mountains, through May 29. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405528-6336, jrbartgallery.com. WED - MON Spring show exhibit, enjoy the works of oil painter Phebe Kallstrom and handmade jewelry artist Whitney Ingram, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. through November. The Studio Gallery, 2642 W. Britton Road, 405752-2642, thestudiogallery.org. Sole Expression: The Art of the Shoe, featuring the creations of 25 local, national and international shoe designers and artists; guests examine how the shoe has been interpreted in art throughout history and the science and engineering behind specific shoe designs, through December. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.
Miami Cigar & Company couples night We’re not blowing smoke, but you might be if you make it to Couples Night by Miami Cigar & Company 6-10 p.m. Thursday at The Cigar Box OKC, 2839 S. Douglas Blvd., Suite 105, in Midwest City. Miami Cigar representative Justin Sandlin will be on hand with a wide range of the company’s products, including cigars from La Aurora, the oldest factory in the Dominican Republic, and a line of hand-rolled flavored cigars. Enjoy a fine cocktail at the Cigar Box’s bar, too. The event is for guests age 21 and older. Visit thecigarboxokc.com or call 405-458-7879. Thursday Photo bigstock.com 38
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The Complete WPA Collection, the museum’s Works Progress Administration collection features a large proportion of rural American landscapes and depictions of labor, infrastructure and industrial development. All are figurative, as was favored by the WPA, and there are significant representations of female and foreign-born artists in the museum’s holdings, through July 2. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.
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The Cultivated Connoisseur: Works on Paper from the Creighton Gilbert Bequest, Creighton Eddy Gilbert was a renowned art historian specializing in the Italian Renaissance and was one of the foremost authorities on Michelangelo. The bequest includes a total of 272 objects, the majority of which are works on paper, spanning a time period from the 14th-20th century, through June 4. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. Tsukuru: Make. Build. Create., artists Mark and Stephanie Brudzinski’s creations reflect two storytellers who begin with a collection of elements and assemble them together as a visual narrative takes place, through May 29. Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.com. WED - MON
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Faerie Discovery Tour and Faerie Gardening There’s some magic hiding in and among the greenery at Will Rogers Gardens, 3400 NW 36th St. Visitors can go on a Faerie Discovery Tour 11 a.m.-noon Saturday. The free monthly event takes guests on a walk through the Margaret Annis Boys Arboretum to find forest faeries and learn about flora. Then, from noon to 2 p.m., a $25, all-ages Faerie Gardening class helps families create their own faerie garden, including instruction on container gardens, design ideas and equipment. An adult chaperone is required for those under age 10. Advance registration is required for both events. Visit okc.gov/parks or call 405-297-1392. SATURDAY Photo Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation Department / provided
Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.
For okg live music
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MUSIC Trish Hosein aka Trishes | Photo Brandon Bowens / provided
a recent Oklahoma Gazette interview. “It was a weirdly difficult time for not having many external pressures on me.” Hosein explained her conflict using the three components of Freud’s metaphysical theory on personality. Basically, everyone has a personality composed of three core components: the id, or one’s instinctual and primal self; the ego, or the conscious, decisionmaking self; and the superego, or the intellectual, higher self. The id and superego are constantly clashing, and that conflict is outwardly expressed by the ego. The more Hosein learned about Freud’s theory and how it applied to her, the more she began to connect with the looping style she experimented with. She began calling her new project Trishes because the varying vocal tones and effects started to sound like the manifestation of her inner struggles. Her music gave her an outlet to explore these feelings. “A lot of my stuff is just me throwing a tantrum, and I can’t do that in real life,” she said. “I think we all have those tendencies and inclinations and it’s just the best way for me to express that.”
EVENT
Musical path
Split decisions
Diverse synth-pop project Trishes headlines an intimate Tower Theatre Studio Series gig. By Ben Luschen
A war brews inside each of us. At least that is the way Sigmund Freud saw it. Trish Hosein, in all her artistic and metaphysical duplicity, might subscribe to the famous Austrian neurologist’s psychoanalytic theory on personality. Hosein is an eclectic synth- and art-pop vocalist from California who performs as Trishes. She is one of the first crop of national artists in Tower Theatre’s Studio Series, intimate concerts that each begin with a question-and-answer session with a local music artist. The event starts 8 p.m. June 1 at Tower Theatre Studio, 425 NW 23rd St., with an interview by local synth-pop performer Lincka. Music begins at 8:30 p.m. Space is limited, and tickets are sold on a firstcome, first-served basis.
Conflict resolution
Combine the self-aware songwriting of Fiona Apple, the angelic voice and avant-garde flair of FKA Twigs and the creative technical ability of Reggie Watts and the result is something very close to Trishes.
Listening to her music, it doesn’t take long to notice a lush, layered vocal style made possible through the solo artist’s mastery of pedal looping — a technique in which musicians and artists record a sound in any moment for later playback and texturing. Hosein sometimes harmonizes alongside a chorus of herself. She said the technique was not something she consciously developed, but in some ways, Hosein’s sonic hall of mirrors came to represent the emotional and intellectual tug-of-war inside her. A few years ago, Hosein was a recent graduate of Boston’s Berklee College of Music when she started developing what would become her Trishes project. Her life seemed great on paper. No outside troubles directly affected her, but still, Hosein felt conflicted. Her life was at peace, but her brain and heart were locked in combat. “I was trying to figure out what morality is and what I learned from society and from my family growing up — what I was going to keep and what I was going to discard from that,” Hosein said during
Hosein’s family is from Trinidad, and before moving to California, she spent the first six years of her life on the small island off the South American coast. Though she has long harbored an interest in music, Hosein’s father was an electrical engineer and her mother was a nurse — she was raised in a nonmusical household. She credits her fascination with music to her attendance at a public performing arts high school and a love for indie-pop singer-songwriter and pianist Regina Spektor. “[Spektor] just opened up my mind to how my voice could be used — metaphorically and physically — or how songs could be written in ways other people weren’t writing songs,” Hosein said. “She basically showed me there is a way of doing things outside of how most people are doing them, and that was invaluable.” Hosein later decided to hone her passion at Berklee. She said her parents were happy that she was going to college, but they needed some convincing about choosing music as a career. “Your parents just want you to be happy and secure — it’s not a secure industry,” she said. “Once they realized that I was sure this is what I wanted to do, they were supportive, for sure.” In college, Hosein was a Spektormodeled vocalist and pianist. After college, however, she longed for more and wanted to work outside the instrument’s set vocabulary of chords and harmonies. “It started getting really theatrical just because I was bored with my writing
process,” she said. “I started writing without any instruments, and it allowed me to think outside the box.” Her tinkering eventually led her away from the upright piano and into the world of keyboards, vocal loops and pedaling. No one would guess it now, but Hosein admits that at first, she was not very good at the technique. The learning curve was steep. She endured the growing pains, however, and never let herself stray from live performances. It was that tenacity that led her to her current mastery. “You can practice as much as you want at home,” she said, “but if you’re not doing it out in the world, it’s not going to get as good as it needs to be.”
Complete person
The Trishes show at Tower Theatre marks Hosein’s first trip to Oklahoma. Still, the performer said she feels an attachment to the state through her love from afar for the Oklahoma City Thunder, which she calls her second favorite basketball team.
A lot of my stuff is just me throwing a tantrum, and I can’t do that in real life. Trishes, aka Trish Hosein
Before locals start feeling a sporty kinship with Hosein, they should be advised that her first favorite team is the Golden State Warriors. Like the premise of her music, Hosein felt another internal conflict when the Thunder and Warriors faced each other in the 2016 conference finals. The Warriors used a late-series comeback to advance past the Thunder before ultimately falling to Cleveland in the league finals. “If we don’t win [the 2017 league championship] with Kevin Durant,” she said, “then I don’t even know.” Outside of music and basketball, Hosein also enjoys hiking, yoga and reading. She also passes time by taking dancing and boxing classes. A diverse range of interests seems appropriate for a musical act founded on split internal desires. Hosein’s many fragments are, in fact, what makes her whole — much like the musical technique that has come to define her. “It definitely feels like an extension of myself,” she said. Visit trishes.com.
Trishes: Studio Series 8 pm. June 1 Tower Theatre | 425 NW 23rd St. towertheatreokc.com | 405-708-6937 $20 | 21+
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MUSIC
Working words
Oklahoma Songwriter’s Festival returns for another year after a successful 2016 debut.
By Ben Luschen
As Zac Maloy prepared last year’s inaugural Oklahoma Songwriter’s Festival, he was not sure how it would be received. Maloy, known locally as guitarist and lead vocalist for the popular 1990s Oklahoma City grunge band The Nixons, now lives and works in songwriting mecca Nashville, Tennessee, contributing to the lyrics of songs recorded by Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and other music stars. The songwriter returns June 1-3 for the second Songwriter’s Festival, which features two main events for the public. A free, interactive Songwriting Camp is 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 3 at The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave. The workshop features this year’s cast of guest songwriters from Nashville, including Maloy (who contributed to Underwood’s “Temporary Home” and McGraw’s “Words are Medicine”), Clint Lagerberg (co-writer of “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts and “Blue Ain’t Your Color” by Keith Urban), Marcus Hummon (co-writer of Dixie Chicks’ “Cowboy Take Me Away” and “Ready to Run”) and his son Levi Hummon (contributor on Steven Tyler’s “Red, White & You”). The festival ends with its Songwriter Showcase 7 p.m. June 3 at ACM@UCO Performance Lab, 329 E. Sheridan Ave. Oklahoma singer-songwriter Kaitlin Butts opens the show. The festival’s featured songwriters also will perform the hit songs they helped write while sharing the stories behind them. These types of events are not only commonplace in Nashville but easy sellouts, Maloy said during a recent interview. In Nashville, the art of songwriting is revered, and Maloy wondered how the concept would translate to a different market. After last year’s finale concert event, he saw that Oklahoma City took to it very well. “I can’t tell you how proud and happy I was that Oklahoma City rolled out for this,” he said. “It was packed, standing room only Saturday night.” Last year, Maloy also performed a partial, acoustic reunion with former Nixons bandmates — the first reunion of any kind for the band since it split in 2002. But he said the storytelling from the event’s participating songwriters ultimately stole the show. Maloy said the biggest thing many local musicians and songwriters will take away from the festival is a chance to meet and interact with industry veterans who write at the highest level. “I think it’s a cool opportunity for some of these Nashville dudes to be 42
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Oklahoma singer-songwriter Kaitlin Butts is a featured performer at the June 3 Oklahoma Songwriter’s Festival showcase event. | Photo Tiffany Phillips / provided
hanging out in Oklahoma City talking and making music,” he said. However, the takeaways are not just for locals who attend the workshop and performance. Last year, nothing felt better to Maloy than listening to people come up to him after the show and tell him what his songs meant to them on a personal level. “As a songwriter, you get to tell the story but then have those stories told back to you,” he said. “I feel lucky.”
Oklahoma Songwriter’s Festival oklahomasongwritersfestival.com Songwriting Camp 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 3 The Paramount Room | 701 W. Sheridan Ave. Free Songwriter Showcase 7 p.m. June 3 ACM@UCO Performance Lab | 329 E. Sheridan Ave. $25-$40
EVENT
History retold
The 32nd Charlie Christian International Music Festival takes guests back to the OKC guitarist’s big break. By Ben Luschen
Charlie Christian International Music Festival guests can step back in time and relive one of jazz music’s most pivotal moments: the night legendary bandleader Benny Goodman discovered the pioneering Oklahoma guitar soloist. The festival, organized by Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC, Inc.) is entering its 32nd year. Last year, the event celebrated Christian’s 100th birthday. This year’s theme, Play It Forward, honors the many significant artists Christian has influenced. The event moves indoors this year to recreate Victor Hugo, the Los Angeles supper club where Goodman first saw Christian perform in 1939. Goodman was one of the biggest bandleaders of the time and hired Christian immediately after his performance. “As they say, the rest is history,” said Anita Arnold, BLAC, Inc. executive director. Christian toured the country with Goodman and built some national fame before Christian’s untimely 1942 death from tuberculosis. The musician
was just 25. The first part of the event, which begins 6 p.m. June 3 at Embassy Suites, 741 N. Phillips Ave., recreates the classic supper club environment. Dinner is included in the $45 admission. A jazz dance presentation by Metropolitan School of Dance begins the entertainment at 6:30 p.m. The musical presentation starts at 7 p.m. and will be presented in two parts. First, Wayne Goins, a Kansas State University professor and one of the world’s foremost Charlie Christian writers and historians, performs music from Christian and the time of Benny Goodman. Arnold said Goins’ skill on the guitar is hard to replicate. “He can play like Charlie Christian,” she said. “Not too many people can play like Charlie Christian, but Wayne Goins is wonderful.” The second half features the band TaylorMadeJazz and music made famous by the many major figures who have said Christian greatly impacted
their careers, including B.B. King, Chuck Berry and George Benson. “This will be more danceable type music for today’s listeners and people who really feel like getting up and doing the electric slide or any other popular dance,” Arnold said. The main event is preceded by a jam session 7 p.m. June 2 at [Artspace] at Untitled, 1 NE Third St. TaylorMadeJazz is the house band for an open-mic night open to all vocalists and musicians. The featured performer is Tulsa saxophonist Eldredge Jackson. A $10 wristband is required for entry, but open-mic performers get in for free. Christian’s era was at the very forefront of the electric guitar, and the Oklahoma City musician is widely credited with being one of the instrument’s first great soloists. Arnold said she hopes young people will be inspired by Christian’s story and the breadth of his impact despite his short life. “He basically perfected his playing as a teenager, because he died at the young age of 25,” Arnold said. “Most
BLAC Inc. executive director Anita Arnold has dedicated her life to preserving Charlie Christian’s legacy. | Photo Garett Fisbeck / file
people, they don’t even know what path they’re going to go down at 25.” As Christian proved, it is never too early for someone to make a significant impact. Visit charliechristianmusicfestival.com.
Charlie Christian International Music Festival charliechristianmusicfestival.com | 405-840-9227 Jam Session 7 p.m. June 2 [Artspace] at Untitled | 1 NE Third St. $10 (free for open-mic performers) Play It Forward Dinner & A Show 6 p.m. June 3 Embassy Suites | 741 N. Phillips Ave. $45
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MUSIC
Mindful melodies
The June Bug Jam promotes mental health awareness through music. By Brian Daffron
Life always has its challenges. For those who struggle with mental illness, however, the efforts to maintain a regular life can sometimes hang by a delicate thread. For example, opening up to others about having a mental illness could have serious consequences if told to someone who doesn’t understand. Transition House, a Norman-based mental health outreach facility, wants to change the stigma of mental illness and promote the goal of mental wellness. June Bug Jam is one way to do it. This year, Transition House’s annual June Bug Jam benefit focuses on Music throughout the Ages: A timeline of musicians in relation to mental illness 7 p.m. June 3 at Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main St., in Norman. Transition House executive director Bonnie Peruttzi said performers will focus on hit songs by artists from the 1950s to present day who are known for their struggles with mental illness and promote awareness, such as Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, John Lennon and The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. “At this particular show, we want it to be fun and upbeat and celebratory,” Peruttzi said. “We want [June Bug Jam] to be a celebration of people who have recovered from mental illness and people who have mental illness. Because there is so much stigma associated with this disorder, we want to keep it upbeat and positive.” In addition to performances, a kids’ dance party takes place 30 minutes before the official event. “This [event] gives us a public forum — in a very positive, upbeat way — to celebrate the fact that people do recover from this illness,” she said. “There are people who are incredibly talented who have this disease who create opportunities for joy in our lives with their music, their dance or their art.” Transition House began in 1982 as a program to help people leaving inpatient 44
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This year’s June Bug Jam event promotes mental health awareness with a concert featuring performers covering hits of high-profile musicians like Lady Gaga (pictured) and The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. | Photo bigtstock.com
psychiatric care gain transitional housing and life-skill development. Since then, the organization has expanded to include wellness programs and partnerships with University of Oklahoma students. Transition House also opened a “drop-in” offering people group activities and a much-needed safe space. “With any other illness, we don’t discriminate or throw people in prison,” Peruttzi said. “Mental illness is just like other illness that can happen in our lifetime, but with proper support, people can recover.” This year’s fundraising goal is $26,000. A new approach to the event was adding organizations and nonprofits that sponsor the acts. There is also an incentive among cosponsors to sell the most tickets. The winning organization receives $500 from Transition House toward its nonprofit efforts. “Mental illness does not mean somebody who needs to be outcast,” Peruttzi said. “There are a lot of amazing people who have this illness. We want to celebrate those people as well as the people we work with throughout our organization.” June Bug Jam tickets are $10-15, and a ticket and T-shirt package is $25. For more information, visit Transition Center’s website thouse.org or call 405360-7926.
June Bug Jam 7 p.m. June 3 Sooner Theatre | 101 E. Main St., Norman thouse.org | 405-360-7926 $10-$25
LIVE MUSIC These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.
Travis Traps, OKC Farmers Public Market. ELECTRONIC
The Midnight Devils, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK
THURSDAY, 5.25
Filaments, Anthem Brewing Co. ROCK
Holly Jones, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. PIANO The Mendenhall Experiment, Thunder Alley Grill and Sports Bar. ROCK Travis Linville, Tower Theatre. FOLK
FRIDAY, 5.26 Adam Aguilar Band, Bin 73. ROCK Amy Behrman/John Tuck/Tattoo Slover/John Hicks, Malarkey’s Dueling Piano Bar. PIANO Big G, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES
Connally, Anthem Brewing Co. VARIOUS
Great Electric Quest/RedWitch Johnny, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK
Skating Polly/Bruiser Queen/Planet What, Opolis, Norman. PUNK
Hoodslide, Thunder Alley Grill and Sports Bar. ROCK
Chase Walker Band, Fort Thunder Harley Davidson, Moore. BLUES
Nailed Again, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK New Doubt/Merv/DJ Nowhere Sands, Warehouse B. ELECTRONIC
Drug Church/Dad the Band, 89th Street-OKC. VARIOUS
Andrew Leahey & the Homestead, Red Brick Bar, Norman. ROCK
SUNDAY, 5.28
VARIOUS
WEDNESDAY, 5.24
Against the Grain/Them Evils/Costanzas, Blue Note Lounge. PUNK
Carousel/Jessie Frye, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar.
Maggie McClure One of the best ways to spend a Thursday night is on Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s Roof Terrace. The good times are enhanced by the presence of Norman-born piano-playing singersongwriter Maggie McClure. Her music has been featured on television shows like Dr. Phil, Cougar Town, The Real World, The Vineyard and The Hills. Festivities are 5-9 p.m. Thursday at the museum, 415 Couch Drive. Admission is $5. Visit okcmoa.com or call 405-236-3100. THURSDAY Melissa Cosper / provided Kestral and Kite, Full Circle Bookstore. INDIE Kyle Reid and the Low Swingin’ Chariots, The Blue Door. JAZZ Midas 13, Remington Park. COVER Miillie Mesh/Elecktra & The Annihilation
Jillian Holzbauer/Quinlan Conley/Bob Fleming & The Drunk Girl Chorus, Lost Highway Bar. VARIOUS Stolen Rhodes, Red Brick Bar, Norman. BLUES The Direct Connect Band, Elmer’s Uptown. R&B
SATURDAY, 5.27
TUESDAY, 5.30
All Hail the Yeti/Invidia/BrokenRail, Thunder Alley Grill and Sports Bar. ROCK
Amy LaVere/Will Sexton, The Blue Door. SINGER/
Bad Influence, Hollywood Corners Station, Norman. ROCK
Hudson Falcons/Danny Trashville, Blue Note Lounge. VARIOUS
Chavez Soliz, Noir Bistro & Bar. SINGER/SONGWRITER
Souvenirs, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK
Cherokee Maidens & Sycamore Swing, The Blue Door. FOLK
WEDNESDAY, 5.31
Conspiracy Rejects, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK
Barnyard Stompers, Hollywood Corners Station, Norman. COUNTRY
Dresden Bombers/Paper Saints/Sunphaser, Opolis, Norman. VARIOUS Eldredge Jackson, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. JAZZ
SONGWRITER
Humming House, The Blue Door. BLUEGRASS
Hi-Def Howlers Acoustic Trio, Rock & Brews. ROCK Josh Sallee, 51st Street Speakeasy. HIP-HOP
Mike Hosty, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. SINGER/SONGWRITER Radiator King/Brain in the Sky/Cabot Unknown/ Elecktra, The Unkempt Beaver. VARIOUS Raina Cobb, Power House. SINGER/SONGWRITER Russian Girlfriends/The Bombpops, Blue Note Lounge. PUNK Stacey Sanders, Mantel Wine & Bistro. SINGER/ SONGWRITER
Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.
go to okgazette.com for full listings!
free will astrology Homework: How could you change yourself to get more of the love you want? Testify by going to RealAstrology.com and clicking on “Email Rob.” FreeWillastrology.com.
dares and issue challenges unless you’re fully prepared to be a hero. Now here’s my prophecy: I think you will be a hero.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) “Sin” is a puerile
drift back in time to a turning point in your past that didn’t go the way you’d hoped. But don’t dwell on the disappointment. Instead, change the memory. Visualize yourself then and there, but imagine you’re in possession of all the wisdom you have gathered since then. Next, picture an alternative ending to the old story -- a finale in which you manage to pull off a much better result. Bask in this transformed state of mind for five minutes. Repeat the whole exercise at least once a day for the next two weeks. It will generate good medicine that will produce a creative breakthrough no later than mid-June.
concept in my eyes, so I don’t normally use it to discuss grown-up concerns. But if you give me permission to invoke it in a jokey, ironic way, I’ll recommend that you cultivate more surprising, interesting, and original sins. In other words, Aries, it’s high time to get bored with your predictable ways of stirring up a ruckus. Ask God or Life to bring you some really evocative mischief that will show you what you’ve been missing and lead you to your next robust learning experience.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Attention, smart
CANCER (June 21-July 22) In your mind’s eye,
shoppers! Here’s a special spring fling offer! For a limited time only, you can get five cutesy oracles for the price of one! And you don’t have to pay a penny unless they all come true! Check ‘em out! Oracle #1: Should you wait patiently until all the conditions are absolutely perfect? No! Success comes from loving the mess. Oracle #2: Don’t try to stop a sideshow you’re opposed to. Stage a bigger, better show that overwhelms it. Oracle #3: Please, master, don’t be a slave to the things you control. Oracle #4: Unto your own self be true? Yes! Unto your own hype be true? No! Oracle #5: The tortoise will beat the hare as long as the tortoise doesn’t envy or try to emulate the hare.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You’re being invited to boost
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Generation Kill is an
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) “Dear Dream Doctor: I
HBO miniseries based on the experiences of a reporter embedded with American Marines fighting in Iraq. Early on, before the troops have been exposed to any serious combat, they’re overflowing with trash talk. A commanding officer scolds them: “Gentlemen, from now on we’re going to have to earn our stories.” Although you are in a much less volatile situation right now, Gemini, my advice to you is the same: In the coming weeks, you’ll have to earn your stories. You can’t afford to talk big unless you’re geared up to act big, too. You shouldn’t make promises and entertain
your commitment to life and become a more vivid version of yourself. If you refuse the invitation, it will later return as a challenge. If you avoid that challenge, it will eventually circle back around to you as a demand. So I encourage you to respond now, while it’s still an invitation. To gather the information you’ll need, ask yourself these questions: What types of self-development are you “saving for later”? Are you harboring any mediocre goals or desires that dampen your lust for life? Do you tone down or hold back your ambitions for fear they would hurt or offend people you care about?
dreamed that a crowd of people had decided to break through a locked door using a long, thick wooden plank as a battering ram. The only problem was, I was lying on top of the plank, half-asleep. By the time I realized what was up, the agitated crowd was already at work smashing at the door. Luckily for me, it went well. The door got bashed in and I wasn’t hurt. What does my dream mean? -Nervous Virgo.” Dear Virgo: Here’s my interpretation: It’s time to knock down a barrier, but you’re not convinced you’re ready or can do it all by yourself. Luckily, there are forces in your life that are
conspiring to help make sure you do it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) As long as you keep Syria,
South Sudan, and North Korea off your itinerary, traveling would be food for your soul during the next 28 days. It would also be balm for your primal worries and medicine for your outworn dogmas and an antidote for your comfortable illusions. Do you have the time and money necessary to make a pilgrimage to a place you regard as holy? How about a jaunt to a rousing sanctuary? Or an excursion to an exotic refuge that will shock you in friendly, healing ways? I hope that you will at least read a book about the territory that you may one day call your home away from home.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) By now I’m sure you
have tuned in to the rumblings in your deep self. Should you be concerned? Maybe a little, but I think the more reasonable attitude is curiosity. Even though the shaking is getting stronger and louder, it’s also becoming more melodic. The power that’s being unleashed will almost certainly turn out to be far more curative than destructive. The light it emits may at first look murky but will eventually bloom like a thousand moons. Maintain your sweet poise. Keep the graceful faith.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Life is inviting
you to decode riddles about togetherness that could boost your emotional intelligence and earn you the right to enjoy lyrical new expressions of intimacy. Will you accept the invitation? Are you willing to transcend your habitual responses for the sake of your growth-inducing relationships? Are you interested in developing a greater capacity for collaboration and synergy? Would you be open to making a vulnerable fool of yourself if it helped your important alliances to fulfill their dormant potential? Be brave and empathetic, Sagittarius. Be creative and humble and affectionate.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) “In youth we feel
richer for every new illusion,” wrote author Anne Sophie Swetchine. “In maturer years, for every one
we lose.” While that may be generally true, I think that even twenty-something Capricorns are likely to fall into the latter category in the coming weeks. Whatever your age, I foresee you shouting something akin to “Hallelujah!” or “Thank God!” or “Boomshakalaka f lashbang!” as you purge disempowering fantasies that have kept you in bondage and naive beliefs that have led you astray.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) “There are no green
thumbs or black thumbs,” wrote horticulturalist Henry Mitchell in a message you were destined to hear at this exact moment. “There are only gardeners and non-gardeners. Gardeners are the ones who get on with the high defiance of nature herself, creating, in the very face of her chaos and tornado, the bower of roses and the pride of irises. It sounds very well to garden a ‘natural way.’ You may see the natural way in any desert, any swamp, any leech-filled laurel hell. Defiance, on the other hand, is what makes gardeners.” Happy Defiance Time to you, Aquarius! In the coming weeks, I hope you will express the most determined and disciplined fertility ever!
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) I believe it may be the
right time to tinker with or repair a foundation; to dig down to the bottom of an old resource and consider transforming it at its roots. Why? After all this time, that foundation or resource needs your fresh attention. It could be lacking a nutrient that has gradually disappeared. Maybe it would flourish better if it got the benefit of the wisdom you have gained since it first became useful for you. Only you have the power to discern the real reasons, Pisces -- and they may not be immediately apparent. Be tender and patient and candid as you explore.
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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puzzles New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle Places, Everyone! By Will Nediger | Edited by Will Shortz | 0521
ACROSS 1 Necklace parts 7 Extreme 14 Peter out 19 Relative of a brasserie 20 Phoenix event 21 Power machine in woodworking 22 Dropped out 23 U.S. heartland 24 Dexterous one 25 Where you might stop before going home 26 Prince Buster’s genre 27 Heathrow facilities 28 Cherished by 29 Start of a boast 30 Battle-torn Syrian city 32 Org. that delivers 34 Contraction lacking just a “v” 35 You might find one under a Christmas tree 37 One using 32-Across, e.g. 39 Hideouts 40 Did a cobbler’s job on 42 First-year law student 43 Sinus suffix 45 “Who ____?” 48 Enter 50 Tool for talking online 52 Angel dust 55 Knightstick? 57 Colossal head sculptors 59 Setting for John Ford’s My Darling Clementine 61 Sarah Palin, by birth 63 ____ Gunderson, sad sack on The Simpsons 64 Average 65 White House worker 66 Abandoned 67 Person pretty far up the corporate ladder 69 Having correct opinions 71 No longer in the company, say 72 Singer/reality TV personality Aubrey 74 What old couches tend to do 75 ____ up on (conspiring against) 76 It lacks locks 78 Credit-card provider, e.g. 80 Theft preventer … or theft encourager 81 Equal 82 Mushroom makers
84 R.&R. by oneself 86 H.S.-level exam 87 Smooch 88 Vinick’s portrayer on The West Wing 90 Searcher for “the lost village,” in film 92 Catalyst 95 “Told you so!” 98 Accountant’s list 101 Creature also called a catamount 102 All-inclusive 103 Aggrandize 105 Apple of Discord thrower 107 Poison victim’s remedy 109 Fidel’s brother 111 Whack 112 Suburb of Minneapolis 113 Blind-side protector, usually, in an offensive line 114 Chaucer’s tongue 116 Brings up a menu with a PC mouse 117 Waters and Kennedy 118 Aisle’s head? 119 Disavows 120 Juicy bits, in slang 121 Item for a cafeteria worker 122 Whim DOWN 1 The Late Show airer 2 Reindeer moss, e.g. 3 Glowing 4 News highlights 5 Nudge 6 La preceder 7 Rapper with the 4x platinum album Views 8 Charts again 9 Fin 10 Boneless cut 11 Huey, Dewey and Louie, e.g. 12 Brangelina was one 13 Gliding step, in ballet 14 Wings, to zoologists 15 Grand pooh-bahs 16 Russian film director Tarkovsky 17 Threaten to fall 18 They may be unforced 21 Many profs 26 Think over 30 Bedfellow 31 Contribute to a radio show
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60 Mezzo-soprano, for female voices 62 Rescues a foundling, say 64 Smooth transition 67 Yoga equipment 68 Line to a pilot? 70 Figures out 73 “Is that so?” 75 [That’s painful!] 77 Fox neighbor 78 Part of a chain 79 Many Star Trek characters, for short 83 Home of the highest point in Africa 85 Cry to a sled dog 87 Where teams that have little-tono chance of winning are found
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89 Inhabitant of the ocean’s benthic zone 91 Profiting from the misfortunes of others 92 Treated with malice 93 Transform, as larvae 94 Actor Don 96 Cult leader killed in the Waco siege 97 Sibelius’s “Valse ____” 99 One of the Nixon daughters 100 Fishing item 102 Part of a dead man’s hand 104 Onetime tool for talking online 106 Full of lip 108 First word in a Shakespeare title 110 Hybrid citrus 112 Home of Zeno and Parmenides 115 Roadside stop 116 405, to Flavius
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New York Times Crossword Puzzle answers Puzzle No. 0514, which appeared in the May 17 issue.
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