Opening Drive

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OPENING DRIVE

Lincoln Riley gets his first taste of Bedlam Week.

BY JACOB THREADGILL P.21

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inside COVER P.21 At age 34, Lincoln Riley is the youngest head coach in the NCAA and heir to the University of Oklahoma’s football program. His quick rise in this competitive realm of college sports marked him as a prodigy, a young gun with the intuition to call the winning plays. By Jacob Threadgill

NEWS NEWS

4 State Oklahoma congratulates six

Blue Ribbon Schools

7 State homeowners wanting to

switch to solar power encounter barriers

8 Health outpatient mental health

services face budget cuts

10 Chicken-Fried News

EAT & DRINK 13 Review Sergio’s Italian Bistro

14 Feature Dot Wo Garden closes 16 Gazedibles duck

ARTS & CULTURE 18

OKG Shop

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Health & Beauty

18 OKG Shop Okie made 21 Cover the rise of Lincoln Riley

23 Art Master Strokes: Dutch and

Flemish Drawing from the Golden Age at OKCMOA 24 Art Oklahoma ARTcade: A Video

Game Gallery Showing at The Paramount OKC

26 Art Kasum Contemporary

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28 Theater Plaid Tidings at Jewel

Box Theatre

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Sunday Poetry Reading at IAO Gallery

29 Theater Rent at Civic Center 30 Literature Oklahoma Voices First

31 Film Loving Vincent at OKCMOA 32 Calendar

MUSIC 34 Event Lords of Acid at

Diamond Ballroom

Children’s Songs Vol. 5

35 Review Spaghetti Eddie! And Other 36 Live music

FUN 37 ASTROLOGY

38 Puzzles sudoku | crossword

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NEWS Superintendent Umit Alpasian observes a seventh-grade English class at Dove Science Academy, which was one of six Oklahoma schools named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2017. |

s tat e

Photo Garett Fisbeck

Top schools

The metro is home to five “exemplary high” achieving schools. By Laura Eastes

Dove Science Academy OKC

Nearly all educators are familiar with the mantra, “All children can learn.” At Dove Science Academy OKC, teachers not only stand by that statement but work to ensure its truth. The college preparatory charter school provides varying instructional approaches to match learning styles of students and consistently exposes students to highquality instruction, explained Arthur Easton, who is in his 14th year as the school’s history and government teacher.

“For teachers to succeed here, they must believe that all students can learn,” Easton said. “If a kid fails, you failed as a teacher. If you take that in and take it to heart, it will affect your teaching and your style. You take it personally.”

In late September, the U.S. Department of Education honored Dove Science Academy OKC in the coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools program, which honors the nation’s top schools. Six Oklahoma schools received the prestigious honor.

The other honorees from the metro are Centennial Elementary School in Edmond, Cheyenne Middle School in Edmond, Earl Harris Elementary School in Bethany and Grove Valley Elementary School in Edmond. All schools were honored as Exemplary High Performing Schools, based on their state test scores, graduation rates and other performance-related criteria.

At Dove, the mission is for each student to reach their potential, and the goal is for each student to continue their education beyond high school. Five years after the 4

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charter opened its doors as a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)-focused middle and high school in northwest Oklahoma City, its students — mostly minorities — were posting high scores in areas of reading, math and science on state exams. Over the past decade, students’ scores haven’t faltered.

Teachers focus on other programs and achievements to share how the school prepares students for the future.

For teachers to succeed here, they must believe that all students can learn.

Arthur Easton Students in upper grades have the opportunity to take advanced placement courses and concurrent college courses with Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma City (OSU-OKC). Some students are in EXCELerate Dove, which combines the final two years of high school and the first two years of college into a single program allowing students to graduate high school and receive an associate’s degree at the same time. Further, the school is a Project Lead The Way campus, offering elective courses for biomedicine.

“We have the teachers that are interested in you,” said Omar Camacho, a 12th-grader.

The school’s physics, biology and en-

gineering courses, coupled with local college students volunteering to mentor and tutor, encouraged him to study medicine when he graduates this spring.

Dove has helped prepare 12th-grader Damaris Palma, the oldest of three children, and her family for college. Palma said families visit the school often for parent sessions on how to help students apply for college and access financial aid.

Alumni visit the school regularly to answer students’ questions about how to adjust to college and succeed academically.

The school’s greatest strength is its teachers, Palma said.

“This school provides a lot of good opportunity for one-on-one with teachers,” Palma said. “If you don’t understand, you can always go to another teacher. They will help you.”

Bethany’s Earl Harris Elementary School

To find one of the metro’s best-performing school districts, drive along NW 39th Street to the tight-knit community of Bethany. There, Bethany Public Schools is spread across two city blocks. While the community is small, it’s proud of the district. Community members give their time and talents to the schools in a variety of ways.

This fall, Bethany’s Earl Harris Elementary School became the second Bethany school to be named a National Blue Ribbon School. Three years earlier, the high school received the honor. Like the high school, part of Earl Harris’ application outlined the community’s role in its success.

At Earl Harris Elementary School, parents are visible volunteering on Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) committees, participating in classroom activities, chaperoning field trips and planning the fifth-grade promotion celebration.

Additionally, retired alumni volunteer with the school and Southern Nazarene University students serve as reading tutors.

Each year, Earl Harris students raise donations for The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital located two blocks south of the district campus. Some of the patients attend classes at Earl Harris.

“We want our community to be part of our school, and we want our schools to be part of the community,” said Superintendent Drew Eichelberger.

Earl Harris faces challenges not unique to urban schools. Federal funds flow into the school’s coffer for having a high percentage of students from lowincome families. The school’s population of English Language Learners has increased in recent years. Eichelberger explained the school’s principal, Reuben Bellows, and its staff continues the Bethany tradition of promoting character, academic motivation and academic expectations.

“We have a great community, great staff and great students,” Eichelberger said.

Deer Creek’s Grove Valley Elementary School

Four years ago, under the leadership of Principal Kelly Faught-McCoy, Grove Valley Elementary School entered a pilot program developed by the Marzano Research Laboratory. As a leader, she knew that any change required the support of key stakeholders. With teachers, staff, students and parents working together, the school began to move through the program’s five levels to build a safe and collaborative climate, ensure effective instruction, produce viable curriculum to each student and more.

Along the way, the school ushered in the concepts of blended and personalized learning into the classrooms. By combining face-to-face and online instruction, teachers were able to adopt a single session into varying instruction levels according to the needs of their students.

“It opens up many different possibilities for our students,” Faught-McCoy said.

“With technology, we can personalize it to the level a student is working at.

Students who can work at a more advanced level can do that. With students who need more remediation, we can do that.”

The results are evident, from engaging students to academic mastery in math and reading. Not only were parents satisfied, but the school’s PTO raised more than $20,000 to purchase additional iPads to further the personalized and blending learning models.

Grove Valley’s approach to curriculum and classroom instruction has earned the school its first Blue Ribbon and a fifth for continued on page 6

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Edmond’s Deer Creek School District.

“I believe that the best thing about Grove Valley is the students,” Faught-McCoy said. “They come to school, for the most part, very prepared. We have very supportive parents who are involved in their children’s education. That makes our job so much easier. The staff that I have is the most professional, hard-working, dedicated group of teachers I’ve ever work with.”

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“We work really hard to have a positive school climate,” Principal Jessele Miller said when asked what makes Centennial Elementary School so special. “Teachers and staff know they’re appreciated.

When you have happy teachers, you have happy students and happy parents.”

And from those happy teachers, students and parents comes enthusiasm for the school and efforts to support it. It’s not uncommon to see a parent preparing classroom materials or a father eating lunch with students and then walking the school’s perimeter for a safety check, explained Miller. Since the school’s inception in 2007, the PTO has raised substantial funds to benefit the classroom through its Family Fun Nights, Stampede of Giving and other events.

In addition to academics, the school prides itself on its character development program, which promotes high expectations among students and faculty. Through the Great Expectations program, students and faculty have built a culture of respect around Centennial. The school’s mascot Buddy the Buffalo encourages students to be buddies, not bullies.

“When you get everyone on the same page for student behavior and you have student engagement, the academics fall into place,” Miller said.

The curriculum supports are factors allowing Centennial students to perform well academically. Another reason is the teachers, who are known for staying after school to work with struggling students or attending students’ athletic or fine arts programs outside of school.

Nov. 16, the school will celebrate 10 years serving Edmond Public School students as well as a National Blue Ribbon. The honor validates what the school’s faculty, students and parents already know, Miller said. Centennial is a school with strong leadership, devoted teachers and parents and students who take pride in their school.

We are committed to doing what is best for our students.

Jessele Miller “We focus as much as possible on the positive,” Miller said. “We are committed to doing what is best for our students.”

Edmond’s Cheyenne Middle School

At Cheyenne, one of Edmond Public Schools’ six middle schools, Principal Michelle Grinsteiner spends as much time as she can away from her desk and walking the hallways. Teachers and staff replicate the warm welcome and encouragement Grinsteiner provides to the schools’ more than 800 students.

When it comes to middle school, students enter as children and leave as young adults. The mentality at Cheyenne is part quality instruction and part

Senior Omar Camacho right explains how local college students visit Dove Science Academy OKC on Thursdays to mentor and help students like himself and Damaris Palma left with science homework. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

positive and supportive relationships to help students as they navigate classroom rigors and early adolescence.

“The foundation of this school is in educating the whole child,” Grinsteiner said. “We want to provide opportunities for kids to feel successful. Some teachers do this through their programs, like family and consumer sciences and our Gateway to Technology programs. Many teachers bring real-world learning into their classrooms. …[The students] all have some kind of relationship with a teacher, an administrator or their counselor.”

In late September, Grinsteiner announced, over the school’s PA system, that Cheyenne had been named a national Blue Ribbon School for the second time. A banner marking the achievement from eight years ago is prominently displayed in the school’s cafeteria, visible when visitors enter the front office.

Grinsteiner said the school’s continued innovation in curriculum and instruction in areas of problem solving and technology is key to its second ribbon. In addition to learning in core subjects, students have unique learning opportunities through coding and STEM lessons, an outdoor classroom, fine arts and school clubs.

“We are changing as society changes,” Grinsteiner said. “We try to provide the opportunities that kids want.”

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Solar boost

In Oklahoma, where solar potential and solar production rankings don’t match, residential solar power systems are rising. By Laura Eastes

Five years into their solar installation business, Ctaci and Chris Gary closed their Sun City Solar Energy office in northwest Oklahoma City and began operating from their home. The reason was simple: Prospective buyers wanted to see solar energy in action. On top of the couple’s home, solar panels were absorbing the sun’s rays and converting it into electricity, powering the home’s refrigerator, television, appliances and more.

Since seeing is believing, the couple led prospective buyers around their yard, pointing to the roof panels and examining the electric panel where, often, excess energy spun the meter backward as it built up electric credits. While there are upfront costs with installing solar panels, many customers weighed the cost with the potential energy savings and environmental benefits. With solar installation, customers are eligible for a federal solar investment tax credit, which currently allows property owners to deduct 30 percent of the cost of installation.

“Since we started the business, it has become more and more popular every single year,” Chris Gary said.

In 2007, the couple began their business after their own search for electric bill relief on a lake house. In the first few years, the business met customers’ needs by installing solar thermal systems for hot water heating and pools. To install 15 solar panels on a roof, the price tag neared $30,000 in the early years. Now, with advances in technology, the price for 15 panels comes to $12,000 to $13,000 before applying for the tax credit. Most solar systems pay for themselves in six to seven years, Chris explained.

With the price of solar panels dropping, coupled with attitudes changing in favor of renewable energy, solar energy has taken off in popularity for Sun City Solar Energy, but also across the nation. Between 2014 and 2015, the state increased its solar capacity by 526 percent, according to Solar Energy Industries Association.

Ground-mount solar panels recently installed by Sun City Solar Energy connect to a dental office in northwest Oklahoma City. | Photo Megan Nance

Between April and June, the solar market installed 2,387 megawatts of current, which is roughly enough electricity to power 1.55 million homes, according to the association. It was the largest second quarter ever for solar energy in the United States.

“Solar energy is starting to take off in Oklahoma,” Chris Gary said. “It is exciting here. We see the difference today compared to 10 years ago. It’s the cost, attitude and overall perceptions of solar that have all changed tremendously.”

Solar potential

There’s no doubt that Oklahoma has a long history as an energy-producing state, thanks in large part to the development of oil and natural gas. In recent years, indicators have shown solar energy has a bright and rising future in the Sooner State along with wind energy.

It’s the cost, attitude and overall perceptions of solar that have all changed tremendously.

Chris Gary This spring, Google launched its Project Sunroof program, which estimates sunlight and translates it to energy production. Oklahoma City ranked No. 8 on the search engine’s list of most solarpotential cities in the nation. Google determined that OKC has enough solarviable rooftops to meet and exceed the city’s residential power needs.

With solar potential rankings come solar production rankings. Oklahoma quickly moves from a high-ranking solar potential state to bottom of the list in terms of the state utilizing its solar resource. Solar research and advocacy group Solar Power Rocks awarded Oklahoma an “F” grade and ranked the state No. 49th on its solar report card.

Not only does the state lag behind in production, but a lack of community

solar laws and policies are believed to contribute to fewer solar panels on Oklahoma rooftops.

One of the issues is the state’s netmetering regulation. Since most Oklahomans with solar aren’t completely “off the grid,” they still connect to a utility company for any additional power needs. Under current Oklahoma law, electric customers with solar systems can’t carry forward credits for excess power more than one month. Another policy issue Oklahoma faces is its lack of a standard interconnection rule. Without a rule, Oklahomans face inconsistent requirements for connecting their solar energy systems to the electric utility grid.

Such issues were expected to be discussed at the Oklahoma Capitol last month.

Democratic Reps. Claudia Griffith, Ben Loring, Forrest Bennett and Cyndi Munson requested an interim study on the economic benefits of solar energy, which included discussion on establishing a standardized interconnection rule and the existing net-metering regulation. The study was postponed due to the special session.

Border crossing

At Sun City Solar Energy, clients led the company across the state and into Arkansas and north Texas to install solar panels. Ctaci and Chris Gary see the success of states leading the adoption of solar energy. In Arkansas, under the state’s net-metering laws, customers’ excess electricity from solar energy can carry over up to one year because of its more friendly net-metering regulations.

Texas policies lack net-metering regulations but embrace third-party leasing, also called third-party ownership. Under third-party leasing, private companies can lease solar panels to homeowners and sell them the energy through third-party power purchase agreements. The model accounted for 72 percent of all residential solar installed in the United States three years ago.

Policies aside, Oklahomans who want solar energy get it, explained Chris Gary.

What drives people to solar varies but often includes environmental stewardship, savings over time on electric bills and a desire to match a solar energy system highlighted on an HGTV show.

“After we install their solar, we say ‘Welcome to our solar family,’” Chris Gary said. “It’s like a family. We become pretty good friends with many of our customers. People that have solar like to talk about their solar.”

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Eliminate services

Without a state budget solution, funding cuts pose challenges for mental health consumers, their families and local agencies. By Laura Eastes

When the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services leaders announced that the state agency must shed 23 percent of its budget — $75 million — effectively eliminating all outpatient services by early December, Jeanette Moore and her staff began the harder work.

As executive director of Hope Community Services Inc., one of the state’s 15 community mental health centers, Moore delivered the news that 4,439 clients — called consumers in the mental health field — might lose access to case management, therapy and other programs they rely on for their health.

“How do you deal with the thought, ‘I might not have services’?” Moore asked during an interview with Oklahoma Gazette a week after the announcement directly connected to the state’s budget impasse.

That was when the fear and hopelessness began to set in.

“My first response as an executive director was to be transparent and share what I had learned about the cuts that were potentially coming,” Moore said.

“But to also empower everybody to get involved, let their voices be heard and not sit back and let fear overcome us.

Take action.”

If state lawmakers fail to restore funding to the state agency, more than half of Hope’s consumers would see a disruption in services. Last year, the south Oklahoma City agency served more than 8,300 clients, a number that 8

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has continued to grow in recent years as anywhere from 20 to 30 new consumers enter the offices daily.

The nearly 40-year-old agency would be largely reduced to a medication clinic that also offered a few federally funded mental health services. Consumers with private insurance and Medicare could still receive care, but the agency serves as the state’s second-largest center for treating mentally ill Oklahomans through state government funds. Those consumers would still get access to the Medication Clinic, but no other treatment. Best practice for treating many mental health conditions includes a combination of medication and therapy.

With cuts in services comes a reduction in force. About 79 percent of the agency’s current staff, or 113 positions, would be eliminated.

Rising frustrations

Oklahomans armed with their own personal stories of experience with mental health arrived at the Capitol last week for the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Association’s Save Our Services rally.

The rally came a day after Gov. Mary Fallin and Republican leaders put forth a plan to fill a $215 million budget hole with tax increases in areas of cigarettes, fuel and alcoholic beverages.

The Sooner State consistently records some of the highest numbers of mental illness in the nation. An estimated six out of 10 adults do not receive the care they need, according to The

Oklahomans waited in long lines to go though security at the Capitol for the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Association’s Save Our Services rally. | Photo Laura Eastes

State of Mental Health in America, a report released by a national community-based mental health advocacy group. Further, a consequence of non-treatment includes the burden shifting to police stations, courtrooms, county detention centers and state prisons. People with untreated psychiatric illnesses are reported to spend twice as much time in jail as non-ill individuals, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center.

“We have got to get a handle on this,” Sharon Smith, whose son suffers from mental illness, told Oklahoma Gazette during the rally. “We need to be lifting people up with the treatment they need.

You don’t expect that a member of your family will need these services. I didn’t. …

We have to support one another.”

Five weeks after state lawmakers first returned to the Capitol for a special session and a state Supreme Court ruling on an unconstitutional cigarette “fee,” there was still no solution to the budget. In addition to the state’s mental health department, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services were staring down deep budget holes. The state’s human services agency, which provides services to children, seniors and adults with developmental disabilities, stands to lose $69 million.

Family impacted

In recent years, as state leaders have battled an ongoing revenue crisis, mental health cuts trickled down to the local nonprofit mental health agencies partially funded by the state. At Hope, group therapy sessions grew in size. Additionally, preventive services were terminated and the agency experienced a provider rate cut.

For consumers, like Ericka Choate, the first sign of trouble came when the coffee station in the waiting area was removed.

“For mentally ill people, you need something to keep your hands busy while you wait,” Choate said. “I know it sounds silly, but we lost the coffee in the waiting room.

That was a big deal for a lot of the consumers. They needed something. It was comforting.”

Since 1999, Choate and her family have received services at Hope through state funds. In 2001, her family was selected for a wraparound program provided by Hope that combined housing assistance, mental health treatment and wellness services.

Choate recalled that their caseworker attended school with her son to helping him stay focused and engaged in learning.

“Hope helped me raise my son,” Choate said. “He was disabled as a child with mental health his issue. He graduated from high school and is now an outstanding citizen, all because of Hope.”

Choate feels for families across the state as they determine what to do and how to proceed without services. She firmly believes that the state’s failure to invest in mental health and substance abuse services will backfire. The outcome will be felt by child services, law enforcement and corrections.

Celebrate Peace & Justice at the

Step back

“When there is talk about cuts in mental health, people tend to think therapy,” Moore said. “It is not always about therapy.”

Late last week, Hope mailed 227 letters notifying consumers that their rental assistance could be eliminated by Dec. 1. The agency maintains several state grants to providing housing for those who are both homeless and have a mental health condition. Without rental assistance, many Hope consumers could end up on the streets, in shelters or jails.

We need to be lifting people up with the treatment they need.

Sharon Smith Similarly, the cuts call for eliminating funding for mental health and drug courts, which provide treatment options over incarceration for criminal defendants.

Currently, Hope provides services to 85 consumers in the successful diversion program. If the programs were eliminated, all current participants would be sent to correctional facilities.

At Hope, Moore and her staff remain optimistic that elected leaders will reach a budget compromise and save outpatient services from termination. Moore’s plea to lawmakers goes beyond the current special session. Fearing a similar cut scenario could emerge as state leaders craft the 2018-19 fiscal year budget, she wants a permanent solution to the state’s ongoing revenue crisis.

“We are such an innovative and progressive state in what we provide by way of behavioral health and substance abuse. … We have shown we provide quality care services,” Moore said. “We are probably taking a 20-30-year step back without funding.

That will take years to get back.”

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2017

Sharon Smith and Marlon Smith protest proposed cuts to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at the Oklahoma Capitol last week. | Photo Laura Eastes

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chicken

friedNEW

Real ID?

There is nothing like a tropical vacation with white-sand beaches, crystalline blue water and luxurious indulgence. There is also nothing like enjoying time with family at an out-of-state family reunion, attending a friend from college’s wedding or taking in famous sites of American cities.

What do these things have in common? Air travel.

You could drive, take a train, ride a bike or walk, but you would probably fly.

How awful would it be to hit the airport security line and be told by a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agent to turn around? This TSA agent ain’t playing games. Your photo ID — an Oklahoma driver’s license — doesn’t comply with their standards, and you’re not flying anywhere.

Well, Oklahoma lawmakers fixed that potential catastrophe last session with House Bill 1845, which set in place the measures to bring the state into compliance with the federal Real ID Act. Like all things in government and life, these things take time.

That’s the message Gov. Mary Fallin sent to the feds in hopes the state would receive Real ID extensions that would still allow Oklahomans to travel.

According to Tulsa World, Oklahomans are clear to travel with their current state licenses over the next 11 months.

“This is great news for Oklahomans and means there will be no restrictions on individuals using Oklahoma licenses to fly or access federal buildings through October 10 of next year,” Fallin said in a news release.

All clear. Plan that tropical vacation! Call your family and make plans for an Alaskan cruise! “[Real ID] requires time, resources and training to meet the full requirements, which we will likely be phasing in over time due to budget constraints,” Fallin spokesman Michael McNutt told Tulsa World.

According to Jeff Hankins, DPS director of driver’s license services, it will take 24 to 30 months for the state to be compliant.

Yikes! A trip to the U.S Post Office with a passport application is in order.

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State Crapitol

Those who are not on Twitter or for whatever reason choose to totally disengage from local media missed an all-time great moment in Oklahoma political theater in the video of a confrontation between House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and Rep. Corey Williams, D-Stillwater.

Tensions were high between the two parties during this special budget session.

House Republicans need supermajority approval to pass a proposed tax increase, so they need votes from Democrats, who voted no on any plan that does not include a tax increase on oil and gas companies.

A NewsOK capitol reporter was recording a McCall press conference and captured the spat. Chicken-Fried News is now offering play-by-play analysis. Keep in mind that Williams had been heckling McCall throughout the conference.

1) McCall: “I’m hopeful this passes, and then we’ll talk about that.”

This is where the clip starts, and it is impossible to tell what the question was. Regardless, McCall is clearly focused on the tax increase at hand, and that is where he wants the media focused as well. Note that he said he is “hopeful” that the proposal will pass, not that he is confident it will.

Within earshot of McCall, Williams makes a snide comment.

2) Williams: “You’re delusional if this passes.”

Williams is getting mostly glowing praise from blue-bleeding Okies on how he handled this in teraction, but we quibbling Chicken-Fried Newsers believe this moment was actually a misstep. If this plan were to pass, it wouldn’t make McCall delusional. On the contrary, that kind of success would make him quite the political diplomat. It is likely that Williams meant to say, “You’re delusional if you think this passes,” which would imply that Democrats will never be swayed into voting for the plan.

From here, McCall ends the presser and walks backstage toward Williams. He begins to speak, but Williams interjects.

3) Williams: “Good to see ya!”

His greeting is part antagonistic sarcasm and part nervous bracing.

Williams — who has no idea what McCall is about to do or say — is digging in his heels for a potential confrontation.

4) McCall: “You all need to support this; this is bullshit.”

McCall implies that Williams and House Democrats need to get behind this plan. It is a tax increase, after all. Isn’t that something Democrats should be all about?

With his “bullshit” comment, the Speaker is indicating his belief that Dem dissension is motivated by political pettiness.

5) Williams: “I’m glad you think so; so does most of Oklahoma.”

What makes Williams’ closing quip a

political haymaker is the timing — he does not miss a beat with his comeback. Williams deflects McCall’s implication that Dems are playing political games by stating that most of the state recognizes the plan as flawed.

It is also a well-timed barb in a broader sense, as House Democrats are in need of new vocal leadership following the unexpected resignation of minority leader and former gubernatorial candidate Scott Inman. His demise is a CFN for another day.

Quiet, please

Scott Pruitt enjoys the silence. After all, the former Oklahoma attorney general and current head of President Donald Trump’s Environmental “Protection” Agency recently had a $25,000 soundproof booth installed in his offices. This rather expensive walk-in bauble was not purchased in an effort to not disturb his underlings with his constant Smash Mouth singalongs or whatever. It was so no one can hear him plotting how, by 2020, you’ll be able to scoop air with a spoon.

Now, Pruitt is killing science by spreading silence. The New York Times reports that Pruitt reportedly forced three EPA scientists to cancel their appearances at an event sponsored by the Narragansett Bay Estuary

Program, where they were to speak on the effects of climate change on the bay. The watershed extends over areas of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, which both went for Hillary Clinton in 2016, so Chicken-Fried News supposes the birds and fish in the area should high-tail it to more openly fascist climes.

Then, in late October, Pruitt started moves to ban any scientist who has received an EPA grant from advising the EPA. We have to say that is some next-level Orwellian/Brazil-ian hot garbage, the kind that will probably end up being dumped in Narragansett Bay. Then, just a few days ago, while the CFN staff was getting its oxygen tanks filled, an EPA website that used to read “Climate and Energy Resources for State, Local, and Tribal Governments” had the “Climate and” part excised.

We all knew Pruitt was the kind of guy who likes to water plants around his office with a can of 10w-40, but the alacrity with which he has moved forward with the most literal scorchedearth policies in the EPA’s history is beyond CFN’s comprehension. He’s like a Bond villain stroking a cat, except the cat is the CEO of Monsanto.

It’s magic!!!

Where do babies come from?

That’s one question some parents of children who attend school in a small Oklahoma town might not want their kids to have detailed answers to.

According to conservative media network The Blaze, Mandy Callihan, the mother of a 12-year-old girl at Jay Middle School in northeastern Oklahoma, wrote a Facebook post saying a school worksheet about sex education left her daughter in tears.

Callihan wrote that she received no prior notification that her child would be attending a sex education class.

“I was appalled at what someone in our school system had deemed appropriate to talk to my child about. My TWELVE year old child (who still colors in coloring books). In a room where boys and girls are combined,” she wrote. “With male instructors (or female, depending on the time of day, I guess) who are not teachers (or Nurses) in our school system.”

The worksheet contained information about masturbation and oral and anal sex and used words like “underwear zone” — basically, it was extremely scientific and informative. The Blaze reported that

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officials said they sent home a pamphlet and the class is suspended for this year and other students have thanked Callihan’s daughter.

Snopes reported that the SHAPE (Sexual Heal, Awareness and Prevention Education) program curriculum was launched in 2013 and has been used in five other Oklahoma school districts without incident.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reports that while teen pregnancy and birth rates have dropped significantly since 1991, Oklahoma’s teen birth rate is one of the highest in the country. Snopes noted that, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, the state’s STD rates are also some of the highest.

So while Chicken-Fried News aren’t experts on how best to teach children about sex education or AIDS and HIV, we feel pretty good about the fact that Jay Middle School is required to at least teach students about AIDS and HIV in years to come.

We’re still a little puzzled about how you would teach someone about how HIV is contracted without talking about the birds and the bees though.

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EAT & DRINK Sergio’s pizza crust is made in-house and baked on a pizza stone. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

Garcia got an accountancy degree in his native Mexico before moving to the United States in 2003. Not long after relocating, he found himself helping out with the books and in the kitchen of an Italian restaurant in Norman.

“I had a passion for food since I was little,” Garcia said, admitting that he pursued accounting at the behest of his parents. “I thought I had more professional opportunities being an accountant, so I did it, but then I started working with a restaurant and I loved the business.”

I had a passion for food since I was little.

Review

Sergio Garcia

Budget balance

Owner Sergio Garcia serves high-quality Italian food without breaking the bank.

By Jacob Threadgill

Sergio’s Italian Bistro 104 E. Gray St., Norman | 405-573-7707 sergiositalianbistro.com What works: The dough made in-house and cooked on a pizza stone was the highlight.

What needs work: The pasta did not finish cooking in the sauce.

Accountant restaurateur

Sergio’s is not a case of a restaurant that keeps its prices down while suffering quality, either. Owner Sergio Garcia relies on his background as an accountant to plan his budget properly and pass the savings on to the customer.

Tip: Add vinegar to the olive bruschetta.

Sergio’s Italian Bistro, 104 E. Gray St., in downtown Norman appeared on my radar because of its prices. Oklahoma City has Italian food options, but they tend to range from the fancy (Patrono Italian Restaurant) to quick and serviceable (Italia Express Pizza & Pasta).

Opening up the menu at Sergio’s, it quickly becomes apparent that the prices are a middle ground between expensive and cheap. The most expensive item on the menu is the baked salmon ($16.50), and it’s just one of three dishes on the menu at $15 or more for dinner.

Garcia opened his namesake in 2011, choosing to focus on Italian food because it’s the cuisine with which he has the most experience. In recent years, Sergio’s has added a bar, outside seating on a patio and live music every Friday.

“We’ve done baby steps,” Garcia said.

“We’ve had people who’ve been coming this whole time, and they love how different it is now.”

Garcia recently hired a new head chef, Chase McBride, and said new menu items will begin to trickle out the next six months. Sergio’s will begin a weekend brunch service in November.

Garcia sits down to do a monthly budget for his restaurant and uses his accountancy background to edit the menu or make smart investments at a gradual rate, like the bar and the patio additions.

“I wish I had gone to culinary school, but [accountancy] also helped me because I can analyze the numbers to see where we’re doing good and where we need to do better,” he said.

Garcia has made the decision to make nearly everything on the menu inhouse, the exceptions being the focaccia bread and tortellini. He said the most popular items on the menu are the Alfredo sauce, stuffed mushrooms and baked sandwiches.

“I love the pizza, however,” Garcia said. “I can eat pizza every day.”

Sergio’s variety was light, almost like vinaigrette.

I ordered a lunch portion of cheese tortellini ($9.50) without realizing it was one of the only pastas on the menu not made in the kitchen. The tortellini was topped with the house marinara sauce, which Garcia said spends at least four to five hours in the oven. The time spent on the sauce pays off. It has a complexity and depth of flavor that can only be derived from time and care. I was disappointed to see that the pasta didn’t finish cooking in the sauce, but I also realize others like to control their own noodle-to-sauce ratio by mixing in a few plain noodles.

I also wanted to try the pizza because I noticed that the menu mentions the hand-tossed herb crust is baked in a stone pizza oven. As someone who has tried baking his own pizza without a pizza stone, I understand the importance the tool provides in producing an even bake that keeps the outside dough crispy and inside soft.

I ordered the chicken, spinach and pesto ($12.75) and added a portion of Roma tomatoes to the pie that uses basil pesto as the base and blends feta and mozzarella cheese. The sauce provided a subtle base to accentuate the fresh toppings, but the star of the pizza is the crust. It gets a boost from herbs rolled into the dough, and you can taste the freshness. It is soft and crispy but not at all chewy. The world is full of mediocre pizza, but Sergio’s certainly rises above the median. At 10 inches, I was expecting what amounted to be a personal pizza, but I was only able to eat a few slices and saved the rest for dinner.

The service at Sergio’s was friendly, but the restaurant does let you know that ordering a pizza will add a few minutes to your ticket time. The wait was hardly very long and well worth it.

Sergio’s is the epitome of a neighborhood Italian restaurant that punches well above its weight class based on its menu prices.

Meal time

Sergio Garcia opened his namesake

I began my meal with an appetizer of olive bruschetta ($7.75 at lunch), which was a solid execution of the tomatobased topping that added an olive tapenade, red peppers and capers for added salty and sweet elements. I topped a few bites with a splash of balsamic vinegar on the table, and the acidity really set a nice contrast.

A side Caesar salad arrived next, and I was pleasantly surprised at the execution of the dressing, which is made inhouse. Far too many times, Caesar can be too creamy, almost like ranch.

The cheese tortellini is one the few items on Sergio’s menu not made in-house. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

restaurant in 2011. | Photo Megan Nance O kg a z e t t e . c o m | N ov e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 7

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Wo-ful goodbye Dot Wo Garden closes its doors and makes time for a less frantic future. By Sean Isabella

The comment section on the Facebook post says it all.

In the hours and days following the surprising announcement that Dot Wo Garden is closing its doors for good Nov. 12, hundreds of reactions, comments and shares littered the comment section of the farewell message.

Nostalgia set in, spawning nearly 30 years of memories.

It was a reminder of the impact the Dot Wo brand has provided since 1988.

“It’s definitely one of the hardest feelings, but there’s always time for a move or a change,” said co-owner Steven Ha, who helps run the family business alongside his parents, Denny and Sandy Ha. “I’m trying to give back to my family. The hardest decision is to say, ‘Let’s close the restaurant.’ I think this is the best investment we could probably do.”

Easier life

The restaurant was voted Best Chinese Restaurant as part of Oklahoma Gazette’s Best of OKC 2017, and the decision to close wasn’t for a lack of business.

Instead, Steven noticed the wear and tear on his parents — Denny in the kitchen, crafting a menu of more than 100 items, and Sandy working the front of the house.

It’s the life they lived for four decades, grinding out 12-hour workdays for more than 360 days a year.

Pot stickers | Photo Gazette / file

“It’s time for them to have more time for the family, for travel. It’s giving them a more easier life,” said Steven, noting his parents haven’t taken a vacation in five or six years.

The Asian cuisine roots of Denny, 58, and Sandy, 55, date back to the early 1980s, when they worked at a local Chinese restaurant in OKC after relocating from San Francisco. Denny, who is from Macau, China, transformed his love for Cantonese cuisine 29 years ago into the original Dot Wo at 3101 N. Portland Ave. Dot Wo Garden, the fourth and final restaurant the Ha family operated, is a massive, 10,000 square-foot space at 6161 N. May Ave. that opened in 2012 when the restaurant outgrew its previous location. The former Golden Corral received a $120,000 facelift with a bar and space for weddings and events.

Steven, 31, moved to Dallas in 2016 to focus on real estate, Airbnb opportunities and flipping houses with the goal of paying back his parents for all their sacrifices, but he continued to oversee marketing, inventory and employee training from afar, which included bi-monthly trips to OKC. “We really wanted to keep serving OKC for as long as we can, but just because of the massive restaurant we have now that’s over 10,000 square feet — we’ve been getting full house some

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Steven views his father as a hero.

As the success of the original Dot Wo grew in the 1990s, Denny made enough money to bring over family members from China.

Then came the expansion, as Dot

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Looking ahead

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nights — so we’re really trying to survive labor,” said Steven, noting the difficulties of hiring and retaining chefs and servers. “Labor is the most important part. It’s really hard to get people in, train them and get everyone the right service.”

That, coupled with the goal of setting his parents up with an early retirement nest egg, led Steven to help broker a deal with Hunt Properties, a commercial real estate development group, to sell the lot for $2.5 million, a number that will help pay off an existing $1 million mortgage. Steven said the lot will be used for a new AAA building and possibly a taco shop.

Wo opened up locations in Edmond and south OKC on Pennsylvania Avenue. A fourth restaurant — Hong Kong Garden — opened in the early 2000s but closed after a few years.

As of Nov. 12, only Dot Wo in south OKC will remain, and it still has the Ha family name. Denny’s brother is an owner of the 13-year-old restaurant.

The family has its hands in other ventures, too. Denny’s cousin runs Chow’s, his sister runs Fung’s Kitchen and his brother-in-law is soon opening Kwan’s Kitchen, which Steven referred to as a French-Asian fusion tapas-style restaurant.

But perhaps none will be more revered than the classic creations from Denny and Sandy.

“It’s been a great experience,” Steven said. “The love was definitely there. We have built relationships with our customers. I’ve known customers who eat here three or four times a week.”

The early days of Dot Wo were the most memorable to Steven. He recalled practically living at the restaurant during his youth, either behind the cash register while his parents worked or off to the side, studying at a table.

“We were the main place for Chinese back in the day. There were lines out of the shopping center where we had our old restaurant at,” Steven said.

“Crowded memories, and the atmosphere was always great. Everyone was always happy eating.”

There’s a chance customers can still find happiness despite the closing.

Steven said Denny will cater food once or twice a week as opposed to the daily grind of a restaurant. He said the plan is to cater for Petroleum Club, a reception venue in downtown OKC, and other private events.

There’s also a chance the Ha family could help out the Dot Wo location in south OKC. “If people are still wanting Dot Wo, they can travel down there and my dad will be there to re-train my uncle, and I may be revamping the front of the house and put in an actual bar and go from there,” Steven said. “There’s always some kind of plans we can keep working on.”

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Rotating COOP, Anthem, Roughtail, and new beers every month Dot Wo Garden closes its doors Nov. 12 after decade of successful business. | Photo Megan Nance

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eat & DRINK

Overlooked duck

The unheralded cousin of the chicken, duck is even outshined during the holidays with the arrival of turkey at dinner tables around the country. It’s past time to give duck its due and enjoy the rich, tasty bird just for the heck of it.

By Jacob Threadgill Photos Gazette / file

La Baguette Bistro

Paseo Grill

Just look for the little Eiffel Tower to fulfill all of your dreams of delectable duck. The miniature version of the French landmark has become its own beacon for high-quality French breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Duck is available for lunch or dinner. A good choice is the breast and leg in an orange cranberry glaze paired with Brussels sprouts and risotto.

The trendy eatery named after the artsy neighborhood has duck served two ways: as a salad or as an entrée. The salad version tops mixed greens and blue cheese dressing with a duck breast and duck cracklings for good measure. The entrée is a boneless duck breast in a raspberry bourbon sauce with toasted pine nut orzo and sautéed green beans.

7408 N. May Ave. labaguettebistro.com | 405-840-3047

2909 Paseo St. paseogrill.com | 405-601-1079

Fung’s Kitchen

3321 N. Classen Blvd. fungskitchenoklahoma.com

405-524-4133

The wall of ducks getting crispy as fat drips off of the whole bird are pretty hard to miss at Fung’s Kitchen. Also called pei pa duck, those ducks hanging by the window are served four ways, including the classic Peking and even duck tongue in salt and hot pepper, which is a chef’s specialty.

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Lido Restaurant

2518 N. Military Ave. lidorestaurantokc.com | 405-521-1902

One of the city’s oldest Vietnamese restaurants also serves American-style Chinese dishes. Perhaps most interesting between the Chinese-style dishes is the quarter duck with mushrooms served with rice noodles. Enjoy the duck or one of Lido’s famous vermicelli bowls.

Musashi’s Japanese Steakhouse

4315 N. Western Ave. musashis.com | 405-602-5623

What better way to enjoy the show put on by Musashi’s hibachi chefs than with an appetizer of grilled duck wings marinated with scallions? The dish is a good starter for an exciting Musashi’s meal that is sure to entertain and satiate.

Thai House II

Whispering Pines

Thai House II has perhaps the most unique interpretations of duck in the Oklahoma City area. The bird comes two ways. The crispy duck is made by dredging the bird in flour and frying it before pairing it with red chili paste, red bell peppers and Thai basil. The gaeng phed ped yang is grilled duck in red curry. No matter which dish you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

This modern bed and breakfast with the feel of an early 1900s mansion is open 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday for dinner.

The restaurant tops seared duck breast with a crème de cassis (black current) sauce is served alongside fresh vegetables and scalloped potatoes.

500 NW 23rd St. 405-524-0503

7820 E. State Highway 9, Norman thewhisperingpinesinn.com 405-447-0202

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Making statements

By Ben Luschen | Photos Megan Nance

Though plenty of state lawmakers have made it challenging at times, there is a lot to love about Oklahoma. But just how much do you love our state? Is there any way you can prove that love? Aside from naming your next child Guthrie or Henryetta, one way to show your appreciation for the saucepan-shaped domain is with a loyal purchase of a state-themed shirt or household doodad. The following is a list of stops that should be on every Okie collector’s list.

oKie mod Squad Holiday mod Swap Saturday, November 11 8am to 4pm 415 e Hill St. oKC Mid-Century Furniture, Clothes, housewares, and ColleCtibles

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7302 N. Western Ave. shoprosegold.com

• DNA Galleries

Making all your awesome holiday wishes come true OKC’s #1 Vintage ories Clothing • Access ables ct lle Co Curious & More!

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Think Christmas!

It does not seem to matter whether one has moved away from the state or the length of time spent here — those who were born in Oklahoma don’t just have the state on their birth certificate, but in their very genetic makeup. Of course, who could understand that more than DNA Galleries? For those very recently born into the Sooner State, one of DNA’s “Made in OK” onesies would be more than appropriate.

The shop also sells a set of Oklahoma-branded wood coasters, because if Oklahoma stands for anything, it is certainly ring-free tabletops.

• Blue Seven in the Plaza 1759 NW 16th • Oklahoma City • 405-528-4585

Open Tues-Sat 12-7 • Like us on Facebook

M-F 10a-6p Sat 10a-5p 3915 N. College ave. BethaNy 789-9020 like US oN

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607 NW 28th Suite F, OkC • (405) 628-7621 • WWW.SmaShbaNgleS.COm Wed-Sat 11am tO 6pm & SuN NOON tO 5pm FeaturiNg Semi-preCiOuS StONeS • turquOiSe • SterliNg Silver • haNdmade jeWelry 18

N OV E M b e r 1 , 2 0 1 7 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

7518 N. May Ave. myblueseven.com 405-604-5199

Blue Seven has long had the backs of local designers and makers — so much so that it opened up its JustOK space for Okie vendors. A trip to the May Avenue storefront will lead you to a wide variety of shirts, hats and patches adorned with the classic Oklahoma shield. But apparel is not the only thing to which Okie-geared shoppers have to look forward. The popular Oklahoma-branded silver water bottle is an item local collectors should covet, with its colorful homages to Oklahoma towns and the many things that have made our state great through the years, from humorist Wiley Post to delectable Rush Springs watermelon.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s The Museum Store

1700 NE 63rd St. store.nationalcowboymuseum.org 405-478-2250 ext. 228

It seems everyone is hopping on the Oklahoma apparel bandwagon these days, which is great, because the more the better. But not much of what is out there fully embraces the state’s Western roots. That is why the gift center at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is such a great option for locally themed gear. The store has several books and other materials great for brushing up on the state’s rustic history. Several shirts in stock give shoutouts to Oklahoma while also acknowledging the area’s cowboy and Native American backgrounds.

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• Lush Fashion Lounge

Shoppes at Northpark | 122nd & N. May 405.936.0030 | Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4

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Sometimes we need our dose of Oklahoma with a hint of femininity.

Lush Fashion Lounge is a boutique primarily geared toward women. It offers a wide selection of tops and sweaters to choose from, including Sooner, Cowboy and Thunder varieties. But there are other items shoppers can pick from, too. Take, for example, the grassy green Oklahoma-shaped mat (though, if they wanted it to be more accurate, perhaps they should have gone with a dead summer yellow).

Lush also sells reasonably priced tote bags fashioning everyone’s favorite state bird, the scissortail flycatcher.

Health & Beauty

• The Okay See

1205 SW Second St. theokaysee.com 405-440-3090

Those who hail from these parts often feel natural while greeting people — even folks they don’t know — with a warm and welcoming “Howdy!” While such an exclamation might get you strange looks from those Yankees on the East Coast, it will earn you instant credibility here on the pleasant prairie. With a visit to The Okay See, any Okie could leave with that friendliness proudly worn on their sleeve — or in this case, the chest. The Howdy tee technically does not have Oklahoma anywhere on the shirt, but nothing epitomizes the state more.

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ARTS & CULTURE Bob Stoops retired in June after 17 seasons as OU’s football coach, which included 10 Big 12 championships and a national title in 2000.

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| Photo University of Oklahoma / provided

He was very studious, smart as a whip and a hard worker,” McNeill, current OU defensive tackles coach, said in a phone interview with Oklahoma Gazette.

The Riley-led offense scored 41 points en route to an Alamo Bowl that McNeill hoped would be enough to have the interim tag removed from his title, but the university hired Tommy Tuberville instead.

Disappointed, the staff moved on to other options. McNeill said he was about to accept a position at Stanford University under Jim Harbaugh while Riley considered positions at the University of Southern Mississippi and Rice University when McNeill’s alma mater, East Carolina University (ECU), came calling.

After McNeill accepted the head coaching position at ECU in January 2010, his first call was to Riley to make him his offensive coordinator.

“He took the red-eye, met me at the office in East Carolina, and there was no other choice but him,” McNeill said. “I wanted to run the air raid, but Lincoln added more to it. He added a tight end, two backs and a run game.”

Just as Leach took flack for hiring babyfaced Riley as his offensive coordinator, McNeill heard from the coaching community that he was taking a risk by hiring Riley, who was 27 at the time.

“I told them that I had enough gray hairs for all of us,” McNeill said.

Young gun

Rising star

Oklahoma hasn’t missed a beat under Lincoln Riley, 34, the youngest coach in the country.

By Jacob Threadgill

There are life decisions that define a career. For many people, that happens when trying to make a college decision.

In 2001, a decision made by a scrappy West Texas quarterback led him on the path to becoming not only the youngest head coach in the country, but to one of college football’s most powerful programs, the University of Oklahoma.

As a senior at Muleshoe High School, Lincoln Riley could have pursed scholarship offers from Ivy League schools, but instead, he decided to walk on at nearby Texas Tech University.

In his first year in Lubbock, Riley watched as future Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury and B.J. Symons set NCAA passing records under head coach Mike Leach’s innovative “air raid” offense, the no-huddle, pass-happy offense that started under Hal Mumme and Leach at the University of Kentucky.

With Riley buried on the depth chart, Leach cut him from the roster but gave him a jump on his coaching career by offering him a student assistant position and then a graduate assistant one upon finishing his undergrad. He was promot-

ed to coach wide receivers in 2007, where he stayed through the 2009 season.

“For years, [Riley] was kind of my sounding board that I would do everything from having him do little studies to, if something was on my mind, I’d call him in and run it by him,” Leach told The Dallas Morning News.

Riley’s offense served as a catalyst for McNeill’s ECU teams that included three consecutive seasons of at least eight wins, including a 10-3 season in 2013 that saw wins over Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University) and North Carolina (the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).

Riley left McNeill to become Bob Stoops’ offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma for the 2016 season, where Riley’s offense set an NCAA record for quarterback efficiency, made

Baker Mayfield a Heisman Trophy finalist and earned Riley the Broyles Award as the top assistant in the country.

Shock was felt across the prairie when Stoops unexpectedly resigned in June of this year, handing the reins over to Riley.

“I don’t think a lot of us were surprised that he was chosen,” said Rick Knapp, executive director of the Touchdown Club of Oklahoma. “We knew he was young, and as offensive coordinator, it looked like they were grooming him. From the fan’s standpoint, it came earlier than everyone expected.”

The head coaching chair is a threelegged stool. It’s not a [sturdy] four-legged chair; it’s a balancing act.

Ruffin McNeill

‘Air’ apparent

Riley is a Leach disciple whose coaching tree includes Kingsbury at Texas Tech and Texas Christian University offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie, but Riley has adapted Leach’s philosophy.

SB Nation writer Bill Connelly’s F/+ from S&P+ model for college football has become one of the most reliable advanced statistical analyses in all of sports media. Connelly, host of the analytics-based Podcast Ain’t Played Nobody and author of The 50 Best* College Football Teams of All-Time, said that Riley’s teams are much more balanced and pressures the defense down the field more than his mentor, Leach.

Leach’s current Washington State University team leads the nation in pass attempts on standard downs (first downs, second-and-7 or less, third-and-four or less), while OU is currently 35th, according to Connelly.

“Leach obviously has never had a [player the level of former OU and continued on page 22

A playcaller is born

Riley’s big break came at Leach’s expense.

Leach was unceremoniously fired at Texas Tech following the alleged inappropriate treatment of a player who suffered a concussion.

Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill was elevated to interim head coach for the Red Raiders’ Alamo Bowl appearance against Michigan State. McNeill tabbed Riley, who caught his attention as a 19-yearold student assistant, as his offensive coordinator and primary play caller.

“You could tell right from the beginning that he was going to be really good.

Lincoln RIley was introduced as the new University of Oklahoma head coach on June 7. | Photo University of Oklahoma / provided

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ARTS & CULTURE

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Lincoln Riley hired his former head coach

continued from page 21

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current NFL running backs] Samaje Perine or Joe Mixon, so this might be a reflection of the personnel,” Connelly said. “But it’s still a difference.”

Connelly said Leach has only had one quarterback average more than 12 yards per pass attempt in his career: Symons in 2003. By comparison, Mayfield averaged 15.6 yards per pass last year and at 15.8 this year.

Knapp said that once the shock wore off Stoops’ announcement, he realized the shrewdness of the decision. It made sense to let Riley take over during a time of stability. The return of Mayfield for his senior season gave him an experienced signal caller.

Riley scored his first signature win of his head-coaching career by defeating No.2-ranked Ohio State University 31-16 in Columbus and exercising the demons of the previous season’s 45-24 loss to the Buckeyes.

“That was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken,” Knapp said of the touchdown club’s visit to Ohio State, which included a pregame party honoring the 1977 team that also won in the team’s famous horseshoe-shaped stadium.

Bright future

Despite come-from-behind victories over Baylor University and Kansas State University, the only blemish on Riley’s Bill Connelly is an Oklahoma native and staff writer for SB Nation. | Photo provided

Ruffin McNeil after taking over for Bob Stoops this summer. | Photo provided

record is a 38-31 loss to Iowa State University, which is ranked in the top 25 for the first time since 2005 under second-year head coach Matt Campbell. The Cyclones stormed back to win after trailing 24-10 late in the second quarter.

“That’s the thing with an inexperienced head coach — it’s not like it’s going to consistently backfire, but there will be random times when lessons need to be learned,” Connelly said. “The way the team took its foot off the gas early against ISU and couldn’t find its rhythm against them was one of those lessons.”

As Oklahoma enters the stretch run of the season where matchups against Oklahoma State University and TCU will determine berths in the Big XII title game and potentially the College Football Playoffs, the Sooners control their destiny, thanks in party to Riley’s stability, according to McNeill.

“The head coaching chair is a threelegged stool,” McNeill said. “It’s not a [sturdy] four-legged chair; it’s a balancing act. [Riley] has done a great job balancing the team, staff, players and media… He’s had great command influence over our players and our staff. I see him continuing to grow each day, and he’ll be at Oklahoma a long time.”

Knapp echoed McNeill’s sentiments of a bright future for Riley in Norman, saying that he hadn’t heard criticism of Riley after the Iowa State loss from touchdown club members — only the common refrain of improving the defense, which predates Riley’s arrival.

The offensive future appears to be set as former five-star recruit and Texas A&M University transfer Kyler Murray takes over for Mayfield as a redshirt junior next season.

“It was a little bit jarring to see the OU program turned over to someone so young, but if any program has proven that you can survive with youth, it’s OU,” Knapp said. “Bud Wilkinson was 31 when his first season began; Barry Switzer was 35. Heck, Bob Stoops was 38. The support structure in some places might make success for young guys more likely than other places.”

Art

ARTS & CULTURE

Rare glimpse

on the museum label that pieces are marked either for the mostly Protestant Dutch north or the Catholic Flemish south. Anderson said it should not take long for guests to see a difference in subject matter between the two areas.

The drawings in the exhibit range from sketches to working studies and finished “pictured drawings.” A variety of tools and techniques are used, including watercolors, trois crayons and pastels.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art celebrates the holiday season with the international debut of Master Strokes. By Ben Luschen

Drawings and sketches from master Dutch and Flemish artists like Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens and Sir Anthony van Dyck highlight an exhibit soon set to make its North American debut right here in Oklahoma City.

Master Strokes: Dutch and Flemish Drawings from the Golden Age is the latest headlining art exhibition set to make a tour stop at Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA). The exhibit, which includes 90 works by about 60 total artists, opened Oct. 28 and runs through Jan. 21, 2018 at the museum, 415 Couch Drive.

If it feels like OKCMOA has been riding a powerful wave of momentum for the last couple of years, it is because it is true. The museum broke major ground and set personal attendance marks when, in June 2016, it became the only North American tour stop for the traveling exhibition Matisse in His Time: Masterworks of Modernism from the Centre Pompidou, Paris. The exhibit highlighted the work of French artist Henri Matisse and included work from many of his modernist contemporaries, including Pablo Picasso.

A year later, OKCMOA welcomed Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic, a career retrospective for the 40-year-old New York-based painter known for Baroquestyle, larger-than-life portraits of AfricanAmericans. Earlier this month, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., announced that Wiley will paint the official portrait of former President Barack Obama for its National Portrait Gallery.

OKCMOA director of curatorial affairs Michael J. Anderson said Master

Strokes holds up the bar of excellence the museum set in 2016 with Matisse in His Time.

“We know that exhibition will never come back here, so it’s a challenge to maintain that level,” he said. “With Kehinde Wiley and now Master Strokes, I think we’ve been able to follow that groundbreaking exhibition with worthy successors to it.”

The Master Strokes exhibition comes from the extensive collection of Dutch and Flemish drawings at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, which has previously partnered with OKCMOA for the 2012 exhibition P rincely T reasures: European Masterpieces 1600-1800 from the Victoria and Albert Museum. The exhibition in OKC will mark the first time the collection has been shown anywhere outside the United Kingdom.

“There will probably, at most, end up being just three venues in North America [where Master Strokes tours],” Anderson said. “We may end up being the only venue in the United States, so this is really a rare opportunity for people to see this collection. It really is one of the great collections in Europe.”

International premiere

As with many great things, there was some serendipity involved in OKC landing the international debut of Master Strokes. The Victoria and Albert Museum was looking for a place to begin its tour this fall at the same time OKCMOA was looking for a touring exhibition to schedule for its 2017-18 holiday season.

Anderson said OKCMOA first got in touch with the Victoria and Albert about a year ago.

“After we heard of their plans, we got in touch and managed, through some good fortune, to be the first venue for this exhibition,” he said.

Victoria and Albert is one of the most famous museums in the world, but it is primarily known for displaying the decorative arts — works that are both beautiful and functional, like pottery, fashion A drawing in the Master Strokes exhibition | and dishware. The English Image Victoria and Albert Museum, London / provided museum is nevertheless

Standard excellence

The collection of works in the Master Strokes exhibition is being seen for the for the first time outside of the U.K. | Image Victoria and Albert Museum, London / provided

home to one of the world’s finest European holdings of sketches, drawings and prints. Anderson said this is the first time such a large portion of the collection has traveled outside Britain.

Master Strokes covers about 400 years of art, beginning in the Northern Renaissance of the 16th century and ending in the 20th century after the time of Matisse and Picasso. The exhibit includes artists in the Netherlands and Flanders (modern-day northern Belgium).

There will probably, at most, end up being just three venues in North America [where Master Strokes tours].

Michael J. Anderson One of the things Master Strokes shows is the development of an artistic genre. In the 16th century, for primarily economic reasons, a mercantile middle class began to develop. For the first time, the average person could afford to buy art.

“That led to the development of all kinds of innovations that hadn’t existed before,” Anderson said.

Artists began depicting more landscapes, animals and maritime scenes to sell to a new class of patron. Master Strokes also includes designs for stained glass, tapestries and prints.

Those who visit the exhibit will notice

Anderson said Master Strokes can be seen as a reflection of the museum’s ambition and its commitment to bringing excellence to the local community.

“We don’t have any Rubens in our collection,” he said. “But through exhibitions like this, we’re able to bring those to Oklahoma City. You can see some, really, masterpieces by Rubens, and that was the same sort of philosophy we had going into the Matisse exhibition.”

While many guests will connect Master Strokes and Matisse, Anderson said while Wiley’s work was in part a response to Baroque and Neoclassical styles, he also greatly respected them.

It is OKCMOA’s hope that frequent museum visitors will notice a running narrative through its exhibits.

“We want to bring in different periods, different styles, different approaches, but we do want to tell a coherent story with our exhibitions as well,” he said.

Anderson said Master Strokes is ideal for multiple viewings and perfect for families and entertaining out-of-town guests during the holidays.

“That’s sort of the strength of this exhibition,” he said. “Because there are more than 90 works and so many artists and styles, it’s really a wonderful exhibition for the holiday season. I think it’ll have that kind of feel. On a cold day, it will be a great time to come in and spend some time with these works.”

Master Strokes: Dutch and Flemish Drawings from the Golden Age 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Thursday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 21 Oklahoma City Museum of Art | 415 Couch Drive okcmoa.com | 405-236-3100 Free-$12

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | N ov e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 7

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ARTS & CULTURE

Thursday, November 30 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Benefiting the expansion of the Frank C. Love Cancer Institute at St. Anthony Hospital

Art

For tickets and more information visit GiveToSaints.com

Join us for the Opening Ceremony of “THE WALL THAT HEALS” A half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is coming to the Oklahoma History Center

November 9, 2017 | 11 am

Keynote Speaker Greg Slavonic Performance by 145th National Guard Band

Free and open to the public

Entry of “The Wall That Heals” procession arrives November 8, 2017 at 11am

for more info contact education@okhistory.org or 405.522.0765 | 800 nazih zuhdi dr, oklahoma city 24

N ov e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 7 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Experience points

A new video game art show gains a large following ahead of its debut at The Paramount OKC. By Ben Luschen

Stacy Dunn made a Facebook event page for her video game-themed art show Oklahoma ARTcade one night and went to sleep not too long after. When she woke up the next day, she saw more than 2,000 people had indicated that they were interested in attending.

Dunn, who is organizing her first art show anywhere near this magnitude, immediately shared the event’s surprising popularity on the organizing group chat.

“I sent them a screenshot and said, ‘Guys, what have we gotten ourselves into?’” she said.

Oklahoma ARTcade: A Video Game Gallery Showing runs 7-11 p.m. Friday on the second floor of The Paramount OKC, 701 W. Sheridan Ave. The event, which features around 100 individual pieces by about 35 artists depicting scenes and characters from game series like The Legend of Zelda and Mario, is free for all ages with a bar and bistro available to those 21 and older. Guests are additionally asked to leave a donation for Hotdogs for the Homeless, the show’s partnering charity.

An official after-party is 10 p.m.-2 a.m. across the street at FlashBack RetroPub, 814 W. Sheridan Ave. Pop culture-themed art shows have lately found a successful niche in Oklahoma City’s creative landscape.

Event production duo James Nghiem and Mike Allen have thrown several

“MAKAIMURA” by Chops Wanderweird | Image provided

successful shows at 51st Street Speakeasy, including a Buffy the Vampire Slayer show in October and show based on the video game series Street Fighter and Metal Gear Solid.

Local rock band The So Help Me’s, partially inspired by Nghiem and Allen’s work, held a Speakeasy art show and concert based on the work of director Tim Burton on Oct. 28.

I think there’s a lot of [artists] that get inspired from video games and vice versa.

Stacy Dunn Dunn said Oklahoma ARTcade is the latest addition to a second generation of local art shows directly inspired by earlier events by Nghiem and Allen.

There is some natural overlap between art and video games. The fantasy worlds one can conjure on a home gaming console or computer are often highly visual and immersive, so it is natural that a creative spark could come from them.

“I think there’s a lot of [artists] that get inspired from video games and vice

versa,” Dunn said “Being an artist my whole life, there would be things I’d see in games and I’d say, ‘Oh, I want to paint that or I want to paint something like that.’ Or it’d give me an idea for a character to make up of my own.”

“My mom said it was so good that whenever my dad said I did it, she thought he was playing a prank and that he did it,” she said. “He was like, ‘No, really. She drew that.’”

New beginning

It is not yet certain whether Oklahoma ARTcade is a one-off event or something that could morph into an annual tradition. Dunn said the event’s future is dependent on how well the first year goes but she would be open to organizing something like it again.

This year, she said, has been a learning experience that involved meeting many new people.

“It’s so different when you work with a lot of people you don’t know,” she said.

“It’s like that group project in school — ‘Am I doing enough? Am I doing too much?’”

Dunn said her primary goal with Oklahoma ARTcade was to make a free event in the city where people with similar interests could gather and have fun. If that happens — no matter how many people attend or how much art is sold — she said the event will be a success.

“The thing I wanted to do the most — I said to myself, ‘There’s nothing to do in Oklahoma,’” she said. “So I wanted to make something to do. I hope that’s something everyone can go to and enjoy.”

Visit facebook.com/oklahoma. artcade.

Before Super! BitCon, one of Oklahoma’s largest annual modern and classic gaming conventions, announced earlier this year that it would be ceasing its yearly event usually held at State Fair Park to regroup and refocus on the future, Dunn had been one of the art vendors at the show.

Oklahoma ARTcade, she said, was largely inspired by her vending experience at BitCon. The convention’s social media page has been promoting the show. Dunn said Oklahoma ARTcade is also sponsored by Oklahoma Retro Gamers Society.

Though there is an emphasis on classic games, the show includes works from a wide swath of video gaming culture.

“The criteria was that it had to be an original piece of art,” Dunn said. “It couldn’t be like a print or something that was easily reproduced.”

Dunn has a degree in fine arts from Oklahoma City Community College and was responsible for organizing the endof-year art show for her portfolio class while in college. But other than that and her experience with BitCon, she is new to the role of art show organizer.

Regardless, she said things have been going fairly smooth so far. The hardest part has been keeping pace with the event’s many moving parts.

“I feel like a teacher sometimes, like, ‘It was written in the syllabus!’ because I get the same questions over and over again and I wrote everything out ahead of time.” Dunn said. “But it’s awesome that I could get this many people together with a common interest. But it’s also kind of overwhelming because I don’t know many of them.”

Next level?

Art start

Dunn said the first piece of video gamerelated art she ever did — a painting of Mario’s bipedal dinosaur-resembling character Yoshi “pooping out” an egg — sold almost instantly online. This inspired her to continue her video gamethemed work before eventually getting a booth at Super! BitCon and deciding to organize Oklahoma ARTcade.

She said her most sold works at BitCon were usually from The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, EarthBound and Pokémon.

Art and drawing in general is something Dunn has been interested in for as long as she can remember.

“My parents have all these stories about how they would just give me a crayon and a piece of paper so I would shut up,” she said. “It was so easy.”

Dunn remembers one story from when she drew a picture of a cat for her father when she was 3 or 4 years old.

black friday event!

Nov. 24-26 | up to 75% off free coffee and cookies “OogaBooga Mask” by DJ Labay | Image provided

Oklahoma ARTcade: A Video Game Gallery Showing

2717 W Reno Ave, OKC | 405.435.0061 Hours: Tues-Sat 10a-6p Sun 12p-5p

7-11 p.m. Friday The Paramount OKC | 701 W. Sheridan Ave. facebook.com/oklahoma.artcade 405-637-9389 Free

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Art

ARTS & CULTURE

Art perceptions

Kasum Contemporary Fine Art gallery will close Nov. 19, but its brand will continue

By Jacob Threadgill

Oklahoma City Community College 2017-2018 Performing Arts Series Presents

The Hot Club of San FranciscoCinema Vivant

After nearly four years in 16th Street Plaza District, Kasum Contemporary Fine Art gallery is closing its doors Nov. 19, but the Kasum brand, championed by founder Tony Morton and his wife Stacey Miller, will continue.

“The Kasum brand will not die; it will evolve,” Morton said.

With a background in sales and marketing consulting, Morton found himself in the art world after he was hired full-time by Karen Orr with Paseo Originals about seven years ago.

Morton has used his sales skills to master the art of perception, which has come in handy as an art dealer. There are times Morton might’ve even wished for a chaise lounge in the gallery, as he has found success in communication with artists and prospective buyers.

“It’s like understanding both art and psychology,” Morton said of his experience running Kasum. “It’s become a sacred thing I love to study into and makes everything work better, that applies here or in regular conversation.”

Connecting artists The Hot Club of San Francisco presents Cinema Vivant, an evening of vintage silent films accompanied by live Gypsy jazz. To hear this ensemble is to be carried back to the 1930s and the small jazz clubs of Paris.

Thursday, November 16, 7:30 pm Presenting Sponsor: Tickets: $15–$29 • tickets.occc.edu Box Office 877-285-9286 • www.occc.edu/pas

Oklahoma City Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater • 7777 South May Avenue ONE

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Download the New VPAC at OCCC Mobile App Now!

Morton said his biggest accomplishments during his time running the gallery include finding emerging Oklahoma artists and introducing them to the world and connecting with buyers in a way they didn’t know was possible.

Kasum is one of eight galleries in the state that does not charge co-op fees to artists or charge public admission, he said. Morton and Miller considered the possibility of selling the gallery but ultimately decided to use their art collection in other forms, a final process that is still being formulated.

Tony Morton founded Kasum Contemporary Fine Art gallery with his wife Stacey Miller in 2013. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

“Part of our concern about wanting to sell the business was that we weren’t sure people understand what a business like this does,” Morton said. “It’s not about putting art on a wall and slinging it. That’s a portion of it and what keeps the doors open, but it’s an eye for what that art is.”

Morton takes pride in helping provide a springboard for sculptors such as Stillwater’s Morgan Robinson and Norman’s Brett McDanel. Robinson, Morton said, has seen the value of his work increase at least five times its value when it debuted at Kasum.

It’s not about putting art on a wall and slinging it.

Tony Morton “We’re his little-bitty gallery now,” Morton said of Robinson. “I’m just pleased that over the last two years, he’s still allowed us to show him. His art is approaching the commodities market.

It is at the point where you can get a bank loan to buy it.

Kasum hosted Robinson’s solo project Dichotomy in September and will display McDanel’s Reclaiming My Humanity through Nov. 10 in a move Morton said was an effort to celebrate some of the gallery’s biggest successes.

McDanel walked into Kasum one

Winter

afternoon a few years ago with little to no gallery experience. The thought of becoming a professional artist had never crossed his mind, but his wife encouraged him to show some of his found-art sculptures to galleries, and Morton was quick to understand McDanel’s art before he knew what it meant to himself.

“I found out through working with Tony that art was emotional, but I never understood it was bigger than me working in a garage and that it could help me while also engaging other people and put them in a position for an emotional response,” McDanel said. “[Tony] was always encouraging me to open up the throttle to see what I can do. He helped me understand that my art is more about emotion, puns and irony.”

Eight of the 10 sculptures McDanel currently has on display have already sold —five sold before the show even opened.

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Facilitating communication

In addition to helping artists, Morton also takes pride in helping prospective buyers understand the specific details and styles they’re looking for in a piece of art.

Morton used the example of a couple that came into the gallery and were attracted to the work of Colorado-based artist Talia Swartz Parsell.

“They didn’t understand why, but they liked the stuff like that, so we spent two to three hours chitchatting,” Morton said.

“I showed them similar artwork, and we determined that they liked geometric expressionism. People come in and say ‘contemporary art.’ Okay; great. But that’s everything from 1970 until now.”

Over the next few months, Morton worked with the couple and Swartz Parsell to get a work commissioned.

Morton hopes to continue work like that through private consulting, which includes his collection that will not be available in an online store. Morton and Miller will remain residents in the Plaza District.

“There was a time 15 years ago when you could see someone pick up a hooker on the corner, get their drugs and not worry about the cops,” Morton said.

“The change that’s happened [in the Plaza District] is indescribable. The last five years have been like watching a horse race.”

Morton will host a micro feature Nov. 8 and is treating Nov. 10’s Live! on the Plaza as a celebratory night for the gallery. Kasum will host its final installation Nov. 11-19. He will continue to rotate work in the back of the gallery every few days through closing.

He said he is hopeful that Kasum Contemporary, which is named after his father, Michael Kasum, will begin new projects in early 2018.

“We want to flesh out [the future of Kasum] over the next year to two years as far as working with artists outside of a gallery space,” Morton said. “We’ve always worked with an eclectic variety of artists, and we want to develop a platform that will work across many different styles and many different media.”

Work of sculptor Brett McDanel on display at Kasum Contemporary in 2015. | Photo Gazette / file

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from left Jeremy Small, Owen Whitman, Mitchell Hammond and Gareth Forsberg star in Jewel Box Theatre’s Plaid Tidings. | Photo Jim

t h e at e r

Beckel / Jewel Box Theatre / provided

Tartan it up

Jewel Box Theatre’s Plaid Tidings sees legendary ’50s singers return to Earth for the holidays.

By Jeremy Martin

Not For Sale: Hip Hop Jam Noon-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 | Fairgrounds Tickets at bit.ly/NFSJam. • Hip hop workshops • Cash prizes for cypher battles and B-boy/B-girl battles • Art projects

• Performances by local DJs and emcees • Food trucks • Live graffiti showcase • Drinks sold after 7 p.m.

oklahomacontemporary.org | 405 951 0000 | @okcontemporary 3000 General Pershing Blvd. | Oklahoma City, OK 73107

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Pretending toilet plungers are microphones, they rehearse in the basement of a plumbing supply store until they have every harmony pitch-perfect, but before they can play their first big gig, the fictional vocal quartet Forever Plaid all die in a collision with a school bus. So begins Stuart Ross’ popular stage musical Forever Plaid, which finds the group reunited and resurrected to perform a revue of 1950s “guy-group” classics. In the play’s sequel, Plaid Tidings, the Plaids are back again, this time to put on a Christmas show.

Director Scott Hynes said the show’s music and sensibility are nostalgic for many, but for the characters of the four Plaids, the 1950s never ended.

“They’re kind of still stuck in that time period themselves,” Hynes said. “They really don’t age. They’re really kind of timeless.”

Pointedly, the bus that crashes into the Plaids’ 1954 Mercury and kills them is carrying a group of schoolgirls going to watch The Beatles make their iconic American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.

One of the challenges Hynes faces is helping his four-person cast, all in their 20s, capture the mindset of an era that ended decades before they were born. He has been sending actors Owen Witham (Frankie), Jeremy Small (Jinx), Mitchell Hammond (Sparky) and Gareth Forsberg (Smudge) links to YouTube videos of singers performing on Sullivan’s show.

“I’m just trying to get them familiar with anything and everything I can from the era,” Hynes said. “Part of rehearsal will be devoted to watching old Dean Martin and Milton Berle Christmas specials.”

Hynes himself is in his late 30s and has relied on older relatives’ recollections

of what those once-a-year television broadcasts meant to families in the 1950s and ’60s.

“I remember my mother and grandparents talking about how much of an event it was every Christmas to get to sit down and watch one of these Christmas specials,” he said.

Plaid Tidings, presented on the Jewel Box stage with the assistance of musical director Tim Goff and choreographer Jennifer Conaughty, is an attempt to recapture this feeling for modern audiences with “really clever mashups of classic Christmas music and sacred Christmas music with nostalgic pop tunes,” Hynes said.

Hynes said he has worked on more than two dozen productions as a performer and technical director, but Plaid Tidings will be his second time to “control the helm of a full-fledged production from a script.”

“I’ve been in enough musicals, you’d think by now I’d have a grasp on how they work, period, but there’s a learning curve to everything. I’m still figuring stuff out,” he said.

Though the impetus in the Plaids’ origin story is a day-the-music-died-style car crash, Hynes said that Plaid Tidings is “fun and open” and family-friendly.

“There’s not a whole lot of dramatic tension or high stakes,” he said.

Visit jewelboxtheatre.org.

Plaid Tidings 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2:30 p.m.

Sundays Nov. 9 - Dec. 3 Jewel Box Theatre | 3700 N. Walker Ave. jewelboxtheatre.org | 405-521-1786 $20-$25

Rent stops at Civic Center Music Hall

t h e at e r

Tuesday-Nov. 12. | Photo OKC Broadway / provided

Nostalgic numbers

The 20th anniversary tour of Rent continues Jonathan Larsen’s legacy. By Jessica Williams

Beloved Broadway hit Rent stops in Oklahoma City during its 20th anniversary tour Tuesday-Nov. 12 at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. Creator Jonathan Larsen’s modern take on Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème gained massive acclaim onstage after its opening night, moved to the big screen in 2005 and is now taking its original theatrical form in a new era.

Set in NYC’s pre-gentrified East Village during the height of the HIV/ AIDS crisis, the rock musical centers on a group of eight young artists and their complex relationships, tribulations and fleeting successes in a sprawling urban environment.

Many of its sociocultural themes hold even more pertinence in 2017 than they did in 1996, when the musical debuted.

“There are definitely aspects to the show that are specific to 1996,” Rent actor Aaron Alcaraz told Oklahoma Gazette.

“Many topics the show covers were controversial back then, and this particular political climate now holds many parallels to Rent’s debut 20 years ago.”

Alcaraz plays vibrant Angel Dumott Schunard, a street drummer who also performs regularly as a drag queen. The 15-person cast contains colorful characters, from Jewish-American documentary filmmaker Mark Cohen to Hispanic-American club dancer and drug addict Mimi Márquez.

“Even now, in 2017, to see a show with such a diverse cast is still rare,” Alcaraz said. “That’s what makes Rent so relevant in today’s political climate.

It includes so many unique voices and perspectives coming together to practice love and acceptance.”

According to Alcaraz, Hamilton’s Aaron Alcaraz plays Angel Dumott Schunard in the 20th anniversary tour of Rent. | Photo OKC Broadway / provided

Lin-Manuel Miranda has stated that without Rent, his recent prolific production could not have happened.

Mortality underlines each character’s motivations and decisions, adding a sense of urgency to the play’s tone.

Along with character Roger Davis, Angel suffers from AIDS, a fact cloaking the entire production in a hard-to-digest but inevitable truth.

Even now, in 2017, to see a show with such a diverse cast is still rare.

Aaron Alcaraz “The struggle with HIV/AIDS brings a dose of reality to the production,” said Alcaraz. “Rent inspired so many because of its relevancy — not many people had seen this topic dealt with onstage before. It was a very forward-

thinking, groundbreaking concept.”

Events surrounding the original 1996 production also drive home the play’s message to seize the day. Larsen suddenly died of an aortic dissection following the production’s opening night on Broadway. Alcaraz said that this year’s anniversary tour stays true to Rent’s original form to honor Larsen’s brief life but enduring legacy.

“This is inherently the same show that everyone knows and loves, and it’s a celebration of what Jonathan Larsen accomplished two decades ago,” he said.

“The great thing about this production is that 20 years later, we’re bringing it to people who may have never been able to see it on Broadway.”

Those familiar with the play will appreciate the crew behind the scenes as well. Rent’s original creative team joins this year’s tour.

“It has been an absolute treat to work with the same choreographers, costume designers, supervisors and everyone behind the scenes from the original production,” Alcaraz said. “They really bring an authenticity to the show that’s hard to replicate.”

Rent ’s themes kept audiences hooked, but so did the play’s employment of what NYC looked like then.

Expect ’90s nostalgia with the cast’s vibrant, artistic costumes, a mix of rock ’n’ roll music with acoustic solos and an incredible amount of dancing.

“We utilize the entire stage and beyond in Rent, which means we are constantly moving during each number,” Alcaraz said.

Oklahoma City is just one of over 50 stops on the anniversary tour. For the generally young cast, the experience is an entirely immersive one.

“I was in heels for the first time in my life literally a few days after my audition,” Alcaraz said. “I have learned so much as a young actor doing this tour, and I’m learning how to maintain stamina each night onstage. Our audiences really help keep up energized.”

Rent’s music ultimately converts audiences into lifelong fans.

The song “Finale B” summarizes the importance of staying present around loved ones, but no other song than “Seasons of Love” has stayed with audiences for more than two decades.

Alcaraz said when the main cast performs it to open the second act, the love in the theater is undeniable.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than connecting to the audience in each city,” he said.

Visit okcbroadway.com.

Rent Tuesday-Nov. 12 Civic Center Music Hall | 201 N. Walker Ave. okcbroadway.com | 405-297-2264 $20-$92.12

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PRESIDIO

BRASS

November 2, 2017 7:30 p.m.

Te Ata Memorial Auditorium Chickasha, OK TICKETS $15 General Admission $10 Seniors (60+) and Students 405.574.1213 | usao.edu/presidiobrass

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l i t e r at u r e

The Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series presents

ARTS & CULTURE

Singular protest

Oklahoma Voices poetry reading promotes a diverse set of Sooner voices.

By Jacob Threadgill

For Oklahoma native poet Dorothy Alexander, the current political climate in the country has its silver lining.

“I don’t like the political situation, but I like the poetry situation,” said Alexander from her current home in Santa Fe in a phone interview with Oklahoma Gazette.

Alexander said hundreds of people turned out for poetry readings at July’s Woody Guthrie Folk Festival — Alexander is a founding member of the Woody Guthrie Poets.

“There seems to be a resurgence in people liking poetry, especially poetry protest and resistance,” she said. “I kind of thank the political system for this.”

Okie voices

Alexander, who recently published a book of poetry, Ain’t Gonna Be Treated This Way: Celebrating Woody Guthrie, Poems of Protest & Resistance, is the featured reader at the Nov. 5 Oklahoma Voices poetry series at Individual Artists of Oklahoma, 706 W. Sheridan Ave. The Oklahoma Voices series began about five years ago under Alexander, who has since turned over organizing efforts to Terry Lynn Cummings, and the event moved to IAO about a year and half ago.

Current IAO board president David Smith, who performs poetry under the name Spontaneous Bob, said the first poetry reading he attended was as a teenager in the 1980s.

“The organization was founded by poets in the 1970s, so to have a poetry presence back under our roof is always a good thing,” Smith said. “To have something this successful is exciting.”

Alexander begins the event with a 15-20-minute reading before an open mic portion and then closes out the event.

“More Oklahoma Book Award winners and poet laureates have participated in [Oklahoma Voices] than any other reading I’ve been to,” Smith said.

Alexander said the event wants to showcase a diverse spectrum of views and voices, primarily focusing on Oklahoma writers, but it does bring in people from out of state.

She will read from one of her five published poetry books, which is written in a “narcissistic narrative” or “selfie” style because she focuses on her personal hardships and friends.

“I like to write about the Depression and the Dust Bowl days because I’m quite old and remember those days, but I try to write something new every month,” 83-year-old Alexander said.

She isn’t letting age slow her down.

Individual Artists of Oklahoma began hosting Oklahoma Voices poetry reading about a year and a half ago. | Photo Gazette / file

Her visit to Oklahoma City is part of a five-city mini-tour that will also stop in Dallas on Friday and Stillwater on Nov. 10.

Alexander got into poetry late in life, first debuting publically about 17 years ago. She’s a native of Roger Mills County and a lawyer and practiced as a municipal judge in western Oklahoma.

She discovered poetry as an outlet after her son Kim died in 1989 during the height of the AIDS epidemic.

“I got involved in the movement after his death to provide some sort of advocacy for patients within my law practice,” Alexander said. “Poetry seemed to give me some consolation and inspiration. It gave me an outlet to express my feelings. Everything I had written [before then] were briefs, and poetry gave me a freedom of expression that I had not found before.”

Oklahoma Voices First Sunday Poetry Reading 2 p.m. Sunday Individual Artists of Oklahoma - IAO Gallery 706 W. Sheridan Ave. individualartists.org | 405 232-6060 Free

film

Strokes of genius

Loving Vincent brings the work of Vincent van Gogh to life at Oklahoma City Museum of Art.

By Ben Luschen

A team of 125 highly trained animators worked more than six years to paint each individual frame of Loving Vincent in the style of 19th-century Dutch PostImpressionist master Vincent van Gogh.

The least any of us could do is go see the finished product.

Loving Vincent, the world’s first fully painted feature-length film, makes its Oklahoma City debut 5:30 p.m. Friday at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. The movie screens multiple times over the weekend with two additional showings scheduled for Nov. 9.

The 2017 film was written and directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman. Initial development began in 2008. To fully understand van Gogh’s life, Kobiela and Welchman read 40 different publications about the artist and visited more than a dozen museums in six countries to view around 400 of his paintings.

Saying a significant amount of work went into making Loving Vincent a reality would still be underselling the colossal scope of the project.

In terms of plot, the film begins in France the year after van Gogh’s death by suicide. Armand Roulin, the mostly apathetic son of postman Joseph Roulin, is asked to deliver what would be the last letter from van Gogh to his brother, Theo van Gogh, in Paris.

Vincent and Theo had a great relationship and wrote often. (Vincent often ended letters with the valediction “Loving, Vincent.”) Armand only agrees to deliver the letter when his father asks him if he would want to read his friend’s final letter — or moreover — his own father’s.

When Armand arrives in Paris, he soon finds out that Theo, who was sick at the time of his brother’s death, died not long after Vincent. In speaking with

Vincent van Gogh is played by Robert Gulaczyk in Loving Vincent. | Image Loving Vincent / provided

van Gogh’s paint supplier Père Tanguy, Armand learns more about van Gogh’s relationship with his brother and the artist’s quick rise from aimless burnout to Parisian art sensation. Armand finds the story very intriguing and is eager to learn more about why someone on the brink of success and fame would end his own life.

Saying a significant amount of work went into making Loving Vincent a reality would still be underselling the colossal scope of the project.

Armand leaves Paris to visit van Gogh’s doctor Paul Gachet in the nearby village of Auvers-sur-Oise. Gachet spent much time with the artist in his final weeks, but he is out of town by the time Armand gets there. While waiting for his return, Armand visits with several people in the village and stays at the inn where van Gogh spent the last 10 weeks of his life.

Everyone he talks to in the town seems to have their own theory for the reasoning behind van Gogh’s suicide. Armand struggles to navigate through the various narratives and motives to find the truth before eventually getting his highly anticipated meeting with Gachet.

Layered work

The characters within Loving Vincent are almost all people whom van Gogh

had painted in the final years of his life.

Several of the artists’ actual paintings are referenced within the film.

Live actors were shot against van Gogh-esque backdrops and green screens for artists’ reference. To properly tell the story, some flashbacks were used the show a time from before van Gogh began his prolific artistic output.

To show the distinction, these flashbacks are shown in black and white.

The visuals within Loving Vincent are obviously the star of the show.

Completing all the frames required for just one second of film took artists as many as 10 days. There is already so much motion and fluidity within van Gogh’s brushstrokes that it is captivating to see his worlds truly come to life.

Aside from being an impressive feat of visual art, Loving Vincent succeeds as a genuinely interesting and relatable look into van Gogh’s life and death. It can be hard for the average person to get excited about the life of a historic figure — at least when that story is told in the traditional textbook or monotone documentary style.

Loving Vincent transforms van Gogh from a historical topic of study to a breathing, thinking person with real talent and an equally real struggle with mental health. This is a movie that will highlight art history classes for decades to come.

Obviously a lot of work went into finishing the film, and it is clear that the filmmakers accomplished what they set out to do. In that sense, Loving Vincent was worth the work. However, audiences that go in to see the film should not expect to be wowed in the same way they have been with intensively made blockbusters of the past, like James Cameron’s Avatar. Loving Vincent is best appreciated like van Gogh’s oil paintings, a way that requires quiet reflection and a respect for artist vision.

It is also recommended that one see the film in a theater for a full appreciation for the work that went into it. The gist of the project can be ascertained on a laptop computer or home television, but its full beauty and scope demands a large projection.

Fans are no doubt drawn to the film to experience a once-in-a-lifetime artistic achievement and a tribute to one of art history’s most beloved masters.

But while watching, they will find a story with surprising contemporary relevance. Van Gogh is often cited for being the insane artist who cut off his ear, but in an era when we are beginning to understand mental illnesses in a new way, Loving Vincent finally brings some humanity to his art and legacy.

Loving Vincent 5: 30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and Nov. 9, 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday Oklahoma City Museum of Art | 415 Couch Drive okcmoa.com | 405-236-3100 $5-$9

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CALENDAR atmosphere to sing popular, well-known folk and rock songs. Celebrate with friends and family with lyrics and refreshments, 7-9 p.m Nov. 3. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., Norman, 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org. FRI

are events recommended

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

Night of Music, Stop The Violence stages a night of local bands, a concert that emphasizes the importance of family in strengthening community and continuing to push against violence in schools and neighborhoods, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Nov. 3. DC on Film Row, 609 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-410-3563, dcfilmrow. com. FRI

BOOKS Why Won’t You Apologize: Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts, enjoy a luncheon with author Harriet Lerner as she provides a unique perspective on what a good apology requires and how we can restore compromised and broken relationships while covering a wide variety of common situations and questions, 12 p.m. Nov. 1. St. Lukes United Methodist church, 222 NW 15th St., 405-232-1371, stlukesokc. org. WED Oklahoma City’s Mid-Century Modern Architecture, join photographer and writer Lynne Rostochil for the signing of her book on the transformation of Oklahoma City from flat prairie into a modern metropolis, 3 p.m. Nov. 4. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT Ghost on the Case, celebrate local author Carolyn Hart’s expansive career of mystery novels as she signs copies of her final book, 2 p.m. Nov. 5. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com.

SUN

Neglected Oklahoma: Voices from the Margins, a collection of nineteen essays written for the OK Policy Blog over four years by Oklahoma City writer and social justice advocate Camille Landry tells the story of an individual or family struggling with the troubles of our society, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-8422900, fullcirclebooks.com. TUE Celebrating the Work of Marilyn Nelson, a roundtable discussion and book signing with Hayan Charara, Jeanette Davidson and Karlos Hill to discuss the work of 2017 NSK Prize winner Marilyn Nelson, moderated by Daniel Simon, 1:30-2:45 p.m. Nov. 8 Beaird Lounge at Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave., Norman, 405-325-4531, www. neustadtprize.org. WED Readings and Book Signings by the 2018 Neustadt Prize Jury, Alisa Ganieva, Dipika Mukherjee, Achy Obejas and more read from their prose and sign books, 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Nov. 8. Beaird Lounge at Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave., Norman, 405-325-4531, www. neustadtprize.org. WED

FILM My Darling Clementine, (United Kingdom, 1946, John Ford) a Western retelling of the tale about the Shootout at OK Corral, 1 p.m. Nov. 1. National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. WED Torn from the Flag, this award-winning documentary describes the dramatic events of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the Cold War, showing the sacrifices that Hungarians were willing to make in their attempt to break free from Soviet domination, 7:15-9:00 p.m. Nov. 3. The Paramount, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-517-0787, theparamountokc.com. FRI Sundance Short Film Festival, a 95-minute theatrical program of seven short films selected from this year’s festival with a variety of storytelling, including fiction, documentary and animation from around the globe, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Nov. 4. The Paramount, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-517-0787, theparamountokc.com. SAT

Fall Craft Show, an annual craft show with over 50 vendors featuring unique items from home decor, crafts, jewelry and baked goods, Nov. 3-4. Southgate Baptist Church, 740 SW 4th St., Moore, 405-794-6646, southgatebaptistmoore.com. FRI-SAT Vintage Market Days, an upscale open-air market packed with vintage and vintage-inspired collections for all ages. Clothing for adults and children will be available as well as vintage jewelry and home furnishings, Nov. 3-5. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., 806-679-0101, vintagemarketdays.com. FRI -SUN

Mistletoe Market Shop at this threeday, one-stop holiday extravaganza 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 9-10 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Nov. 11 featuring unique merchandise from more than 100 carefully selected vendors from across the country. Funds are raised to support the mission of Junior League of Oklahoma City. A special preview party is 6-9 p.m. Nov. 8. at Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens. Admission is free. Visit jloc.org.

Nov. 8-11 Photo The Junior League of Oklahoma City / provided

Ma Vie en Rose, (France, 1997, Alain Berliner) Ludovic is a transgender girl who is coming out and struggles with the reactions of people around her, 2 p.m. Nov. 5. Meinders School of Business, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5536, okcu.edu/ business. SUN Racing Extinction, (US, Louie Psihoyos, 2015) examines biodiversity loss, its effect on humanity and some possible solutions for a more sustainable future, followed by Q&A session with Leilani Münter, 7 p.m. Nov. 7. Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5000, okcu.edu. TUE Stagecoach, (USA, 1939, John Ford) a group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo and learn something about each other in the process, 1 p.m. Nov. 8. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum. org. WED

HAPPENINGS Fundraiser for Food and Shelter, Inc., an evening of music for a cause with Gregg Standridge and Terry Buffalo War; then Norman Music Institute teachers and their students perform selections from the Beck album of sheet music titled Song Reader, 7 p.m. Nov. 3. Norman Music Institute, 2795 Broce Drive, Norman, 405-292-8400, normanmusicinstitute.com. FRI Terry Shaw Memorial Hootenanny, bring your guitar, fiddle, banjo and other instruments for a relaxed, fun

Bedlam Bash 5K and Tailgate, hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, celebrate Bedlam with a timed 5K race along beautiful River Trails with prizes awarded to the top racers and a tailgate to follow, 9 a.m. Nov. 4. Wiley Post Park, 2021 S. Robinson Ave., 405-297-3882, okc.gov/parks. SAT Children’s Miracle Network Fundraiser, play virtual reality, video and board games to raise money for sick and injured children, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Nov. 4. Sooner Mall, 3301 W. Main St., Norman, 405-271-2260, extralifeokc.com. SAT Tracing Your Roots, learn the basics of genealogy with topics including: how to begin your genealogical search, record keeping, software, using newspapers for genealogical research and more, 1-4:30 p.m. Nov. 4.

Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter. SAT Hands-On History Program, celebrate American Indian Month and Hispanic Heritage Month with programs encouraging participation in historically based crafts and activities, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 4. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/ historycenter. SAT Fall Steam Train, relive the golden age of steam railroading while traveling in vintage ‘20s-’30s passenger cars or on an open flatcar or caboose and enjoy the unique experience of hearing that engine chug down the track during the 40-minute excursion, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 4-5. Oklahoma Railway Museum, 3400 NE Grand Blvd., 405-424-8222, oklahomarailwaymuseum.org. SAT-SUN Me Too Monologues, attend this show of inspiring and thought-provoking monologues written by anonymous members of the OU community. They will have you saying “Me Too!” 8 p.m. Nov. 8-9. Meacham Auditorium, Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave., Norman, 334-803-3771, mtmou.com. WED

Drinks X Design, a four-stop bus tour highlighting Oklahoma City’s outstanding architecture and unique food and beverage offerings. The stops include Stonecloud Brewing Company, Fassler Hall, 8th Street Market and more, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 2. Oklahoma City Foundation for Architecture, 1300 N. Shartel Ave., 405-948-7174, okcarchitecture.com. THU

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Fall Okie Sampler, shop from hundreds of amazing local artists, makers, crafters, junkers and vendors while enjoying your favorite Fall activities like local shopping, a pumpkin patch, a three-acre maze, a petting zoo, hay rides, pony rides, food trucks, live music and more, through Nov. 5. Chester’s Party Barn and Farm, 5201 Cimarron Road NW, Piedmont, 405373-1595, okiesampler.com.

Tree For All: Tree Sale and Planting Workshops, join for a day focused on the benefits of trees and how to care for your own. Trees are available for purchase on location as well as pre-order. All trees are Oklahoma Proven varieties that have been shown to perform well in Oklahoma’s tough growing climate, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Nov. 4. Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. SAT

French Country Cooking, Sandy Brickman, in-house chef for The International Pantry, takes you on a culinary journey through France with menu items including leek and potato soup, beef Bourguignon, vegetable macaroni and cheese and more, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 2. The International Pantry, 1618 W. Lindsey St., Norman, 405-360-0765, intlpantry.com. THU

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YOUTH

Halloween Candy Exchange: Operation Troop Treats, children and families in the Midwest City area will exchange Halloween candy for toys and send deployed U.S. troops a sweet reminder of home this holiday season. In addition to the candy shipment, Kool Smiles dentists donate 200 dental care kits and the funds to cover the assembly and shipment of 200 Operation Gratitude care packages, through Nov. 4. Kool Smiles Midwest City, 1200 South Air Depot Boulevard, 73110, 1200 S. Air Depot Blvd., Midwest City, 405-494-8092, mykoolsmiles.com.

FOOD

Two to Tango Pianist Christopher O’Riley and Latin Grammy-winning composer Pablo Ziegler perform a Latin-inspired piano duet on two Hamburg Steinway grands to showcase Ziegler’s exciting tango compositions 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S. Bryant Road, in Edmond. Tickets start at $23. Visit armstrongauditorium.org or call 405-285-1010. Nov. 9 Photo Armstrong Auditorium / provided

Modern Thanksgiving, Stephanie McElhaney, owner of Kitchen No. 4, helps you spice up the Thanksgiving table with fresh flavors in menu items of mixed greens and roasted pear salad, perfectly roasted turkey breast with pears and sage and more, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6. The International Pantry, 1618 W. Lindsey St., Norman, 405360-0765, intlpantry.com. MON

Pint Rider OKC: Brewery Bike Crawl, features local breweries Anthem, Stonecloud, Twisted Spike and more with raffle giveaways and food trucks, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 5 Anthem Brewing Company, 908 SW 4th St., 405-604-0446, anthembrewing.com. SUN

Swan Lake Act II Oklahoma Festival Ballet performs Act II of Swan Lake, a classical ballet about love challenged by evil in a magical lakeside setting, Friday-Nov. 12 in Elsie C. Brackett Theatre on the University of Oklahoma campus, 563 Elm Ave., in Norman. The production includes Simpatico, Harlequinade Pas de Deux and Estancia and features School of Dance students Amber Bailey, Kara Bannister, Olivia Brooks and more. Shows start at 8 p.m.

Friday-Saturday and Nov. 9-10 and 3 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 12. Tickets are $25. Visit theatre.ou.edu or call 405325-4101. Friday-Nov. 12 Photo University of Oklahoma / provided

SMO Early Explorers, toddlers and preschoolers explore science through hands-on activities that can be easily replicated at home during a come-and-go weekly event, 10-11 a.m. Nov. 1. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. WED Chemistry Day, slip into your lab coat and grab your safety goggles to learn about the science of chemistry. Chemistry Day offers everything from hands-on chemistry experiments to individual and team chemistry competitions for scientists of all ages, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 3. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok. org. FRI Haunted Hike, learn about the animals that have a spooky reputation such as snakes, spiders, bats and more during a nighttime hike filled with Halloween treats, 6:30-10 p.m. Nov. 4.

Martin Park Nature Center, 5000 W. Memorial Ave., 405-755-0676, okc.gov/parks. SAT Big, Bright, and Bold: Painting as Storytelling, a unique workshop for children ages 4-12; celebrated artist J. Nicole Hatfield demonstrates her acrylic painting technique, 10 a.m.-noon, Nov. 4. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

Masterworks for Three, revisit old classics with trios for strings, horn and piano by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Brahms, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7. St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 NW 7th St., 405-550-1484, brightmusic.org. TUE Rent, experience the vibrant 20th anniversary touring production special. With its inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear, this timeless celebration of friendship and creativity reminds us to measure our lives with the only thing that truly matters:love, Nov. 7-12. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405297-2264, okcciviccenter.com.

ACTIVE Tree Walk: Trees with the Best Fall Interest, join Mark Bays, Oklahoma Forestry Services Urban Forester and tree guru, as he discusses the best trees for fall color. Learn the conditions that make for the most brilliant falls and ways you can help Mother Nature along in your quest for fall color, 12-1:30 p.m. Nov. 3.

Myriad Botanical Gardens, Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. FRI Oklahoma Lung Cancer Initiative 5K, a familyfriendly event giving participants the opportunity to honor and remember loved ones affected by lung cancer with an inaugural 5K run/walk, 12-3 p.m. Nov. 5. Wheeler District Ferris Wheel, 1701 S. Western Ave., 405-655-8455, wheelerdistrict.com. SUN Zombie Apocalypse Paintball, enjoy a spectacular glow-in-the-dark paintball attraction while shooting live zombies, through Nov. 11. Orr Family Farm, 14400 S. Western Ave., 405-799-3276, orrfamilyfarm.com.

VISUAL ARTS The Birds This thriller based on the short story by Daphne Du Maurier and Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 classic film about a man and woman who take refuge in a remote farmhouse to escape a swarm of birds is adapted for the stage by Connor McPherson and directed by Mark Fairchild. Shows start 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday at Carpenter Square Theatre, 800 W. Main St. Tickets are $25. Visit carpentersquare.com or call 405-232-6500. Thursday-Saturday Photo Carpenter Square Theater / provided Orr’s Gourd Wild: Pumpkin Festival, bring an old pumpkin out to the farm to smash or purchase a pumpkin for the pumpkin extravaganza. Guests will take a stroll through pumpkin guts and goo during the bash and destroy pumpkins in unique ways, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 4. Orr Family Farm, 14400 S. Western Ave., 405-799-3276, orrfamilyfarm.com. SAT

SMO Storytime Science, kids age 6 and under read a story and follow it up with a fun, scientific activity that is included with general admission, 10:30 a.m. Nov. 6.

Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. TUE Homeschool Day, experience a day of learning and exploration while participating in handson, educational science programs focusing on discovering the natural world, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 8.

Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. WED Fall Season at the Orr Family Farm, don’t miss all of the farm favorites like train and carousel rides, the zip line, the animal barn, giant jumping pillows, a giant corn maze, a pumpkin patch, hayrides and much more to celebrate the Fall season, through Nov. 11. Orr Family Farm, 14400 S. Western Ave., 405-799-3276, orrfamilyfarm.com.

Explore Evolution, explore the evolution of life and learn about all of Earth’s organisms, from rapidly evolving viruses to whales that walked, through Dec. 31. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.

The Artist as Culture Producer: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life Artist, educator and editor Sharon Louden visits OKC 6-8 p.m. Monday for a talk and book signing at 21c Museum Hotel, 900 W. Main St. The conversation features editor Hrag Vartanian and provides a great opportunity to learn about the societal influences of visual arts today. Admission is free. Visit livesustain.org. MONDAY Photo 21c Museum Hotel / provided

PERFORMING ARTS A Midsummer Night’s Dream, presenting the Shakespeare classic and comedy portraying the events surrounding the fantasy-fiction story about the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons, through Nov. 3. Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, 900 W. Main St., 405-235-3700, oklahomashakespeare.org.

Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series: Presidio Brass, kick-off USAO Homecoming weekend with a combination brass quintet from San Diego performing Sounds of the Cinema. Enjoy the finest jazz, classical and original compositions written specifically for the movies, 7:30-9 p.m. Nov. 2. USAO Te Ata Memorial Auditorium, 1727 W. Alabama Ave., Chickasha, 405224-3140, usao.edu. THU

Babysitting Workshop, participants gain an overview of caring for children and how to make babysitting safe and fun. Receive a Babysitter’s Bag containing activities, free books, a first aid kit, and other essential items for the children you babysit, 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 4. Southern Oaks Library, 6900 S. Walker Ave., 405-631-4468, metrolibary.org. SAT

The International House of Poetry, a spoken word showcase featuring local, national and international poets while benefiting The Intune Mother Project.

Enjoy an open mic, food and drinks available by Cafe Do Brasil, 7-10 p.m. Nov. 3. The TIM Center, 432 NW 11th St., 405-600-5989, timcenter.org. FRI

Oklahoma City Philharmonic Discovery Series: Animals Abound, an afternoon of family fun music.

Enjoy hands on activities including the instrument playground and kid friendly musical experiences inside Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre, 2 p.m. Nov. 5. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-842-5387, okcphil.org. SUN

Rodeo Opry, Oklahoma’s Official Country Music Show providing quality, family-friendly entertainment since 1977; support live music and the best performers representing country, folk, blues, gospel, rock, bluegrass and more, 7:30-10 p.m., Nov. 4. Rodeo Opry, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-297-9773, ohfo.org. SAT

From 8-bit to one hits, local Oklahoma City artists lend their talents to the exhibition with their original interpretations and imaginations, 7-11 p.m. Nov. 3.

The Paramount, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-517-0787, theparamountokc.com. FRI

animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen, through Dec. 3.

Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.

Small Works, Great Wonders, featuring a fusion of traditional and contemporary paintings and sculptures at affordable prices with an opening night featuring cocktails with more than 100 of the nation’s finest artists including many from the prestigious Prix de West, door prizes, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live music paired with beautiful works, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 4-26. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org.

Sole Expression: The Art of the Shoe, features 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, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.

Southeastern Beadwork class, join Martha Berry, Cherokee National Living Treasure and nationally renowned beadwork artist, to create Southeasternstyle beadwork. The class includes all materials necessary to produce a traditional bandolier bag and lunch is also included, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 8.

Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter. WED Spring Show Exhibit, enjoy the works of oil painter Phebe Kallstrom and handmade jewelry artist Whitney Ingram, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 2. The Studio Gallery, 2642 W. Britton Road, 405-752-2642, facebook.com/The-Studio-Gallery. THU The Sculptural Works of William Cannings, featuring the unique sculptures of acclaimed British-born artist William Cannings who is currently chair of the sculpture department at Texas Tech University, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4-Dec. 1. Nesbitt Gallery, 1727 W. Alabama Ave., Chickasha, 405-416-3524, usao.edu.

Body, curated to examine how the body has been used to address the themes of movement, fragmentation and mechanization, geometry and identity, through Dec. 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/ fjjma.

Distinguished Visiting Artist: Robert Taylor, view the works of the Tulsa-based artist combining significant symbolism with traditional and contemporary Native American themes in his evocative paintings burrowing from multiple styles and genres such as surrealism and magic realism to create mystical and often enigmatic images of nature, tribal life and spiritual rituals, through Dec. 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma.

Fall Show, come with your friends and family to find pieces of art and jewelry from artists Lu Beard, Ike Bennett, Pat & Ray Broadfoot and more, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 2. The Studio Gallery, 2642 W. Britton Road, 405-752-2642, thestudiogallery.org. THU Heiroglyphics 2017: The Spirit of Our People, showcasing the works of Ginna Dowling on what she calls a “contemporary community hieroglyphs” telling the unique stories of individual worth and empowerment in relation to creative thought, through Nov. 23. Oklahoma Contemporary Showroom, 1146 N. Broadway Drive, 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

Hidden Messages, the art of Hidden Messages investigates identity and place through ceramics and mixed media featuring artists Marilyn Artus and Amy Sanders, through Nov. 25. Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Gaylord-Pickens Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405235-4458, oklahomahof.com.

J. Nicole Hatfield demonstration, in honor of Native American history month, join the celebrated artist J. Nicole Hatfield as she demonstrates her acrylic painting technique. As a native Oklahoman, Hatfield combines both traditional and contemporary aspects of Native American art in her work during the unique workshop, 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 4. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT Next Level Art and Ideas, local artists Jaiye Farrell, Brendon Williams, Matt Tilley and more, gather for a cause to showcase their latest works. Guests can peruse and purchase art, witness live art demonstrations, enjoy specialty coffee and good company, 6-8 p.m. Nov. 7 Syrup OKC, 1501 NW 23rd St., 405-601-1354, syrupbreakfast.com. TUE Not For Sale: Graffiti Culture in Oklahoma, view the exhibition showcasing graffiti created by some of the state’s most talented artists in honor of hip-hop month in Oklahoma City. Artists paint directly on the walls of the gallery, transforming Oklahoma Contemporary into a vivid and exciting display of styles, through Nov. 30. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-9510000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

Ray Harryhausen: Mythical Menagerie, mythical monsters, skeleton warriors and Greek gods have invaded Science Museum Oklahoma’s smART Space art galleries in a comprehensive exhibition of the original models, prototypes, bronzes, sketches and storyboards of the fantasy films of stop-motion

The Wonderful Music of Oz Skip down the yellow brick road with Dorothy and the rest of this cast featuring New York City’s top vocalists including Kelli Rabke and Scott Coulter 8 p.m. FridaySaturday with Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Tickets are $19-$68.

Visit okcphil.org or call 405-842-5387.

Friday-Saturday Photo Oklahoma City Philharmonic / provided

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 them to listings@okgazette.com.

Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

For okg live music

see page 36

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33

MUSIC tears because I’m a softie. When I get a really good present from a fan, I kind of break down and cry in a good way because it’s such a sweet gesture.

EVENT

OKG: It’s almost cliché to talk about how fans are like family, but with that kind of gesture, it would be hard not to feel that sort of bond.

Mea: Yeah, totally. And we do. It was just last week — where were we? I can’t remember because it’s a different city every day. I don’t even know where we are today; I think Baltimore. But last week, this guy came in and he prepared this five-course meal for us that was like prime rib, all this stuff to go with it. It was the best I’ve had on tour. And his friend brought 20 boxes of stuff — like food, candy, laundry detergent, water, drinks, alcohol. I was like, “Oh my God; who does that?” A freakin’ awesome person. It’s appreciated. I also love it when people bring me tea and honey because I drink it. I’m heating honey and tea up right now because I have so much of it.

Tongue in cheek

Lords of Acid brings the tail-end of its North American tour to Diamond Ballroom. By Ben Luschen

Strong believers in abstinence-only sex education will probably want to distance themselves from Diamond Ballroom this Friday.

Lords of Acid, the explicit and often irreverently carnal American-Belgian electro-punk rock outfit, is in the heat of its first North American tour since 2011.

The band, which released its debut beat single “I Sit on Acid” with Belgian founding musician and producer Praga Khan in 1988, performs with Combichrist, Christian Death, En Esch, Wiccid and God in a Machine 7 p.m. Friday in the south Oklahoma City venue, 8001 S. Eastern Ave. Aside from Lords of Acid’s eternally danceable grooves, those who attend the show can expect plenty of leather, fishnets and onstage energy from DJ Mea, who was named the group’s lead vocalist in late 2010. Mea, an American who began her music career as a house and electronic DJ, is known by fans for smashing things on stage. Guitars, keyboards, piñatas, glasses of water — nothing is safe.

She frequently sports a pair of cat ears while performing and sometimes brandishes a whip. (The whip for this tour was sadly stolen by some overzealous fans.)

Fans still clamor over the band’s first two studio albums: house-centric 1991 debut Lust and 1994’s Voodoo-U, a more industrial breed of electronica released on famed producer Rick Rubin’s American Recordings label. Its last studio album of all-original material was 2012’s Deep Chills.

Earlier this year, Lords of Acid successfully completed its first crowdfund34

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ing campaign for an in-progress project titled Pretty in Kink. Supporters from around the world pooled together to raise more than $94,000 for the album and the band’s current tour.

In a recent phone interview with Oklahoma Gazette, Mea talked about her experiences on the American tour and the endearing love of Lords of Acid’s most loyal fans.

When I get a really good present from a fan, I kind of break down and cry in a good way because it’s such a sweet gesture.

DJ Mea Oklahoma Gazette: It has been about seven years since your last North American tour. How has the experience been so far?

DJ Mea: Awesome. It’s going great. I think our first day was the 23rd of September, and we’ve been going every single day since. We haven’t had a day off.

OKG: You all crowdfunded this new album coming up. What was that experience like?

Mea: Well, this way, we can have 100 percent creative control over the whole thing and no label is going to be like, “No,

Lords of Acid | Photo Lords of Acid / provided

you can’t do that.” That’s why it was suggested, “Well, why don’t we do this?” and we were like, “Oh, that’s a great idea.”

OKG: A lot of money was raised for the album, so it is good to have that fan support, right?

Mea: Yeah, it is. We usually have a couple of people who are backers that come out to the shows. A lot of them get VIP, backstage.

We don’t just let anybody backstage. We let our backers backstage and the people who have bought the VIP packages. We treat every single person who’s backed our tour like royalty. They get VIP, behind the scenes, special treatment, plus backstage treatment, all the pictures they want — whatever the hell they want. We totally take care of those people. They’re like our family.

OKG: You posted a video recently talking about gifts and things fans have given you. What are some of the best gifts you’ve ever received from a fan?

Mea: My best gift was from this girl who designs her own jewelry. She gave me this badass cat ear mask because I wear cat ears every night. It’s like a beaded mask that comes down over my face. It’s so badass. I love it so much.

This other fan came with just a box of stuff, just random things that I need and cool stuff. We have this hashtag #MeaSmash — it’s trending right now. I smash things on stage. People bring me things to smash, like piñatas and all sorts of crazy stuff. He brought me this exclusive Hulk picture from Marvel of The Hulk smashing. And it’s not cheap — you know what I mean? It’s a collectible, and I thought that was badass.

People are such big fans, and they care about us. I’ve never gotten stuff like this even on Christmas day. It’s seriously humbling. Sometimes it brings me to

OKG: Is that to preserve your voice?

Mea: Yeah. When I wake up in the morning, I’m always sore.

OKG: I also saw something on social media about your whip getting stolen. What’s the story behind that?

Mea: Somebody let some of these bad people onto the bus, and they take advantage of it. They see something and they’re like, “Oh, look at that! That’s the whip she used!” and they took it.

Someone was supposed to send it to West Palm Beach [Florida], and they never did. They created a fake page to message out to me and say they felt bad and had second thoughts and would like to return it. I gave them the address of where we were going to be at in West Palm Beach and the contact info for my friend, who was coming to the show, and they never sent it. I never got it back, and that was lame. It really sucks; it was a $150 whip.

OKG: You can really tell the difference between the fans who probably backed your album and give you gifts and the people who take it all for granted.

Mea: Yeah. They take advantage of our kindness. You know who’s a good fan and who’s not. The good comes with the bad.

OKG: Do you all have any plans after this tour ends?

Mea: Well, I’m going home and on a long vacation. And then hopefully I’ll get back out on the road, touring again with my own stuff. I also have my #MeaSmash shirts coming out soon. You can find them at my website, djmea.net, or at a show.

Lords of Acid 7 p.m. Friday Diamond Ballroom 8001 S. Eastern Ave. diamondballroom.net | 866-977-6849 $27-$28.25

r evie w

Brain food

Indie children’s duo Spaghetti Eddie has something for all age groups on its fifth album release. By Ben Luschen

Even if you weren’t up on the recent release of Spaghetti Eddie’s fifth album, there is at least a decent chance your kids were.

The popular Oklahoma City-based indie children’s duo consisting of frontman and guitarist Brendan Parker and drummer Todd Parsons celebrated the debut of Spaghetti Eddie! And Other Children’s Songs Vol. 5 (V5) with a release party and show Oct. 28 at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. The musical stylings of Spaghetti Eddie are family-friendly in theme and often drive home important lessons to young listeners, but parents will quickly tell that the musicianship is not the insufferably dumbed-down and simplistic boops and bops that populate a lot of children’s television programming.

This much will be evident as soon as the grown-ups pop in the V5 CD. Albumopener “Wake Up!” is more than tolerable — it is a sincerely fun listen for all ages. That track bounds with energy as

it preaches the importance of getting up and starting the day right.

The following song, “Wonder Where Everyone Is Going?” is a surprising lyrical standout. Parker reflects on all the people he has seen over the course of the day traveling to wherever it is they are going — be it by car or airplane. Where are they going?” he wonders aloud. To a party, the mountains, a lake, the store? Do they even know where they are going?

The tune not only sparks curiosity and imagination, but it brings young listeners an awareness of the lives of others. People live lives we never see but often much in the way we live ourselves.

We have something in common with these people; we can relate to the world.

Indeed, there are plenty of worthwhile messages to be found on the album. “Organized,” of course, teaches

the importance of tidiness and keeping track of one’s things. “Let’s Go Exploring” is all about the pursuit of fun in the outdoors and fulfilling a natural sense of wonder. “Home” instills the warm feelings of family and the familiar.

The album’s best moment is found on “Growing Up,” a song that might honestly be as or more enjoyable to adults as it is to young listeners. Unsurprisingly, this is a tune about the marvels of growth, especially at a young age.

As children dance excitedly to the rhythm, elated at aging, parents might linger in the background to fight back tears of joy and “they grow so fast” astonishment.

The album closes on “Here for You,” another song that can only be called children’s by technical categorization.

It is an earnestly comforting song written from the parents’ perspective.

The slow, tender pace brings an easy smile, and everyone leaves their V5 experience feeling happy.

Parents, do not misread this review.

The jams on this album likely won’t be

Spaghetti Eddie | Photo provided

replacing The Beatles, Arcade Fire or Coldplay favorites on your iPod, nor do Parker and Parsons intend them to.

Parenting, however, is often about compromise, and one could do far worse than Spaghetti Eddie in that regard.

Five albums in, a mature and sophisticated musical backdrop keeps Parker and Parsons successful. While Spaghetti Eddie might not replace parents’ favorite bands in their iPods, it just might in their car stereos.

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LIVE MUSIC These are events recommended

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

November 2 WILL HOGE AND DAN LAYUS OF AUGUSTANA November 5 VINTAGE TrOUbLE November 8 PENNY & SPArrOW November 10 LOS LObOS November 12 HOMETEAM TOUr WITH TRIP LEE AND KB November 18 MANDOLIN OrANGE December 2 JOHN MOrELAND December 3 MArIA bAMFOrD Tickets and Info TOWErTHEATrEOKC.COM @towertheaterokc 405-70-TOWER | 425 NW 23rd St. OKC

WEDNESDAY, 11.1 Amarillo Junction, JJ‘s Alley. COUNTRY Tues, Nov 07

bleachers

Elizabeth Speegle Band, The Root. JAZZ

w/ bishop briggs

Matisyahu/Common Kings, The Jones Assembly.

Thurs, Nov 09

REGGAE

whiTey morgan

The Devils Cut, Red Brick Bar, Norman. ROCK

w/ ward davis

Victor Wooten Trio/Molly Healey Trio, The Blue Note. VARIOUS

Fri, Nov 17

randy rogers band

THURSDAY, 11.2

Wed, Nov 22

riTTz w/ sam lachow, eric biddines

Amanda Cunningham, JJ‘s Alley. COUNTRY

Fri, Nov 24

12Th annual lefTover Turkey w/ Jason boland & The sTragglers, cody canada & The deparTed

w/ ghoul, he is legend, u.s. basTards

Wed, Nov 29

The revivalisTs

w/ souThern avenue

Curse the Fall/Less Than Human/Voodoo Dolls, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK

Smilin‘ Vic, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES

Mozzy, ACM Performance Lab. HIP-HOP

Trout Fishing in America, The Blue Door. COUNTRY

Mr. Dusty, Warehouse B. PUNK

SUNDAY, 11.5

Rick Shea, The Blue Door. FOLK

Thurs, Nov 30

whiskey myers

w/ shane smiTh & The sainTs

Steve Turre Quintet, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. JAZZ

MoN, dec 04

phoenix & cold war kids

w/ arkells

Wed, dec 06

alTer bridge Tulsa ok

FRIDAY Photo Red Light Management/provided

Claire Piersol Quintet, Saints. JAZZ

Tues, Nov 28

gwar

Blake Pettigrove/Connor Rowe/Spicy Boys, The Deli. ROCK

Los Lobos Jam out to some fresh and exciting new songs by this wide-ranging band from rock to Latin and blues 8 p.m.

Nov. 10 at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. Gates of Gold, the latest album from this four-decade-old group, is available now. Tickets are $40-$58. Visit towertheatreokc.com.

w/ all ThaT remains, sons of Texas

423 norTh main sT

TickeTs & info cainsballroom.com

Supa Syfy, The Criterion. HIP-HOP Will Hoge/Dan Layus, Tower Theatre. ROCK

FRIDAY, 11.3 Anthony Hamilton, Chesapeake Arena. R&B Blind Date, The Landing Zone, Midwest City.

Desi Valentine, Tower Theatre. ROCK DJ Quest/Ckai Dawson/Spence Brown and more, Venu Lounge. HIP-HOP Kari Jobe, The Criterion. ROCK Mike McClure Band, Grady‘s 66 Pub, Yukon. ROCK Neon, Warehouse B. PUNK Pi Wrecks/Pilz Beats, Bison Witches Bar & Deli, Norman. ELECTRONIC

ROCK

The Devilish 3, Lost Highway Bar. R&B

Goldie Lahr, Full Circle Bookstore. ACOUSTIC

Tim O‘Brien/Jan Fabricius, The Blue Door.

JMK/Warcopter, VZD‘s Restaurant& Bar. VARIOUS

Jon Wolfe, Graham‘s Central Station. COUNTRY Jonathan Richman, The Blue Door.

BLUEGRASS

Vintage Trouble, Tower Theatre. BLUES

MONDAY, 11.6

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Amplified Heat/CobraJab, The Blue Note. ROCK

Mixxed, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewery. JAZZ

Chet Walcott, The Root. ACOUSTICAL

Mojo Thief, The Bluebonnet Bar, Norman. ROCK

David Suey, Tower Theatre. POP

NeoRomantics/Lilac Kings/The Indigos, Red Brick Bar, Norman. INDIE

Jessie and The Jinx, Red Rooster Bar & Grill.

COUNTRY

OKC/DC, Okie Tonk, Moore. ROCK

TUESDAY, 11.7

On a Whim, Waters Edge Winery. VARIOUS Opera On Tap, Noir Bistro & Bar. CLASSICAL

Charley Crockett, The Blue Door. BLUES Crunk Witch, Red Brick Bar, Norman. ELECTRONIC FLQ, Warehouse B. PUNK

Replay, The Greens Country Club. ACOUSTIC Scott Miles, OKC Limits. SINGER/SONGWRITER Shortt Dogg, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES The Blend, Remington Park. COVER The Lunar Laugh/Lhotse/Jarvix, 51st Street Speakeasy. POP The Michael Updegrove Band, Jacky’s Unique Club. BLUES

SATURDAY, 11.4 Cameron, Bistro 46. SINGER/SONGWRITER HKS/LCG and the X/The Shelter People, Opolis, Norman. ROCK Janice Francis Smith, Full Circle Bookstore. FOLK Jim the Elephant, Belle Isle Restaurant& Brewery.

ROCK

Layken Urie, Jacky‘s Unique Club. COUNTRY Maurice Johnson, VZD‘s Restaurant & Bar. JAZZ

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Raina Cobb, Hollywood Corners Station, Norman.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Rezz, OKC Farmers Public Market. ELECTRONIC

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Masterworks for Three, St. Paul‘s Cathedral.

CLASSICAL

WEDNESDAY, 11.8 Hell or Highwater/My Ticket Home, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK Nothing More/Palisades/My Ticket Home and more, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK

Penny and Sparrow/My Bubba, Tower Theatre.

FOLK

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: Meditate on death not as the end of physical life, but as a metaphor for sheddingwhat’s outworn. In that light, what’s the best death you’ve experienced? FreeWillAstrology.com.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

America’s Civil War ended in 1865. A veteran from that conflict later produced a daughter, Irene Triplett, who is still alive today and collecting his pension. In the coming months, I foresee you being able to take advantage of a comparable phenomenon, although it may be more metaphorical. Blessings from bygone times, perhaps even from the distant past, will be available to you. But you’ll have to be alert and know where to look.

So now might be a good time to learn more about your ancestors, ruminate exuberantly about your own history, study the lives of your dead heroes, and maybe even tune in to your previous incarnations.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“I wasn’t in the market to buy a Day-Glo plastic fish from a street vendor,” testified a witty guy named Jef on Facebook, “but that’s exactly what I did. The seller said he found it in someone’s trash. He wanted fifty cents for it, but I talked him up to a dollar. The best part is the expression on the fish’s face. It’s from Edvard Munch’s The Scream.” I bring this testimony to your attention, Taurus, because I feel it’s good role-modeling for you. In the coming days, I bet you won’t know exactly what you’re looking for until you find it. This prize may not be highly valued by anyone else but you. And it will amuse you and be of use to you in just the right ways.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Where are Chinese gooseberries grown? In New Zealand.

What is a camel’s hair brush made of? Squirrel fur. When England and France waged their Hundred Years’ War, how long did it last? 116 years. When do Russians celebrate their October Revolution? In November. Trick answers like these are likely to be a recurring theme for you in the coming weeks, Gemini. That’s why I advise you to NOT be a Master of the Obvious.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

In accordance with the astrological omens, I recommend you indulge in any or all of the following exercises. 1.

Dedicate an entire day to performing acts of love. 2. Buy yourself flowers, sing yourself a song, and tell yourself a story about why you’re so beautiful. 3. Explain your deeplyfelt opinion with so much passion and logic that you change the mind of a person who had previously disagreed with you. 4. Make a pilgrimage to a sacred spot you want to be influenced by. 5. Buy a drink for everyone in a bar or cafe.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

“Dear Rob: I saw a photo of you recently, and I realized that you have a scar on your face. I hope you don’t mind me telling you it resembles an ancient Mayan hieroglyph that means ‘Builder of Bridges for Those Who Are Seeking Home.’ Did you know this? If so, do you think it’s an accurate title for what you do? - Renegade Leo Scholar.” Dear Scholar: Thanks for your observation. I don’t know if I fully deserve the title “Builder of Bridges for Those Who Are Seeking Home,” but it does describe the role I’m hoping to play for Leos. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for your tribe to clarify and cultivate your notion of home.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Author Clarissa Pinkola Estés encourages us to purge any tendencies we might have to think of ourselves as hounded animals, angry, wounded victims, leaky vessels aching to be filled, or broken creatures yearning for rescue. It so happens that now is a perfect time for you to perform this purgation. You have maximum power to revise your self-image so that it resounds with more poise, self-sufficiency, and sovereignty.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

I used to scoff at people who play the lottery. The chance of winning big is almost nil. Why not invest one’s hopes in more pragmatic schemes to generate money? But my opinion softened a bit when the planet Jupiter made a lucky transit to an aspect in my personal horoscope. It really did seem like my chances of winning the lottery were unusually high. I started dreaming about the

educational amusements I’d pursue if I got a huge influx of cash. I opened my mind to expansive future possibilities that I had previously been closed to. So even though I didn’t actually get a windfall during this favorable financial phase, I was glad I’d entertained the fantasy. In alignment with current astrological omens, Libra, here’s the moral of the story for you: Meditate on what educational amusements you’d seek if you had more money.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

In the early stages of Johnny Cash’s development as a musician, his mother hired a coach to give him singing lessons. But after a few meetings, the teacher counseled him to quit. Johnny’s style was so unique, the seasoned pro thought it better not to tamper with his natural sound.

I hesitate to offer you comparable advice, Scorpio. I’m a big believer in the value of enhancing one’s innate talents with training and education. On the other hand, my assessment of your destiny between now and October 2018 impels me to offer a suggestion: It may be useful for you to give some credence to the perspective of Johnny Cash’s voice coach. Make sure you guard and revere your distinctiveness.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

I used to nurture a grudge against Tony Pastorini. He was the high school math teacher who kicked me out of the extracurricular Calculus Club because my proofs were too “intuitive and unorthodox.” The shock of his rejection drove me away from a subject I had been passionate about. Eventually, though, I came to realize what a good deed he had done. It would have been a mistake for me to keep specializing in math -- I was destined to study literature and psychology and mythology -- but it took Pastorini to correct my course.

Now, Sagittarius, I invite you to make a similar shift of attitude. What debt of gratitude do you owe a person you have thought of as a source of frustration or obstruction?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

In the lore of ancient Greek mythology, the god Prometheus stole fire from his fellow deities and sneakily gave it to us humans. Before our patron provided us with

this natural treasure, we poor creatures had no access to it. As I gaze out at your possibilities in the coming months, Capricorn, I foresee you having Promethean inclinations.

Your ability to bestow blessings and spread benevolence and do good deeds will be at a peak. Unlike Prometheus, however, I don’t expect you’ll get into trouble for your generosity. Just the opposite!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Here’s a parable you may find useful. An armchair explorer is unexpectedly given a chance to embark on an adventure she has only read and dreamed about. But she hesitates on the brink of seizing her opportunity. She asks herself, “Do I really want to risk having ragged reality corrupt the beautiful fantasy I’ve built up in my mind’s eye?” In the end she takes the gamble. She embarks on the adventure.

And ragged reality does in fact partially corrupt her beautiful fantasy. But it also brings her unexpected lessons that partially enhance the beautiful fantasy.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

“A game of chess is usually a fairy tale of 1001 blunders,” said chess grandmaster Savielly Tartakower, a Pisces. “It is a struggle against one’s own errors,” he added. “The winner of the game is the player who makes the next-tolast mistake.” I think this is excellent counsel during the current phase of your astrological cycle, Pisces. It’s time to risk bold moves, because even if they’re partly or wholly mistaken, they will ultimately put you in a good position to succeed in the long run. Here’s a further point for your consideration. Remember the philosopher Rene Descartes’ famous dictum, “Cogito ergo sum”? It’s Latin for “I think, therefore I am.” Tartakower countered this with, “Erro ergo sum,” which is “I err, therefore I am.”

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 SELFIES

By Tracy Gray | Edited by Will Shortz | 1022 ACROSS 1 Signs off on 4 Bei Bei and Bao Bao 10 Mike’s place 16 Barnyard bleat 19 Remained unused 20 Morphine, for one 21 Still 22 Pitches 23 Facebook status: “2016 Summer

Olympics and a day trip to one

of the new Seven Wonders of

the World!”

26 Bobs and buns 27 Tea-party girl 28 “Repeat …”

29 Valuable china, e.g.

31 Facebook status: “Across the

pond! And front-row seats to the

Henley Royal Regatta!”

35 “King ____” (1978 hit) 37 “Above” and “beyond,” e.g.

38 Island ring 39 Chill out 40 Okapi feature 42 Salad green 43 Lily who played Ernestine 46 An arm or a leg 47 “____ it the truth!”

48 Dough dispenser 51 Facebook status: “Yes! Retail

therapy at the largest shopping

spot in the U.S.!”

54 Cyberaddress 57 Van Susteren of cable news 59 Campbell of Scream 60 Second-____ 61 ____ Miguel (largest island in

the Azores) 62 Use part of 64 Sicilian erupter 67 “Am ____ believe …?”

68 Analogy connector 69 TV host Geist 70 Facebook status: “Ahhhh. … Sun

and surf in Cancún, Mexico! Bring

on the unlimited piña coladas!”

72 Battle of the Atlantic craft 74 “Sleep ____” 75 Old United rival 77 One crossing the line?

78 Eminence 79 Call, as a game 80 “Live With Kelly and Ryan” co-host 82 Gusto

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advantage! GO GIANTS!!!”

52 Ultrasound target 53 Cousin of 15-Down 55 Bad joint 56 How Mark Twain is often quoted 58 Bias 63 Russian “invader” of the 1980s 65 Olympics airer since 1988 66 Bowl over 68 Speck 70 Challenge to prove you’re human 71 Critic Roger 73 Alabama and Kansas, for two 76 Quick thinking 78 Schedules 81 Start of a drill, maybe

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83 Saunter 86 Still partly open, as a door 87 Punk offshoot 88 Mazda two-seaters 89 Roadside bombs, for short 92 This answer ends in “T,” e.g.

95 More on the mark 96 Some edible fungi 97 “Otherwise …!”

98 Prime setter, informally 99 Cassiterite, e.g.

102 Less strict 103 Spawn 107 Flowing locks 108 Chipotle rival 109 You might take it to go 111 Arequipa is its second-largest city 113 Fay of King Kong 117 Rival 118 Series honor, for short 119 Workplace inits.

120 Half a couple

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New York Times Crossword Puzzle answers Puzzle No. 1015, which appeared in the October 25 issue.

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84 10-time French Open champ 85 Born 27 86 Facebook status: “Hej from København! This statue turned 31 32 33

100 years old in 2013 but is still a beauty!”

38 39 90 Double-O sort 43 44 91 Cows and sows 93 Top that may have a built-in bra 48 49 50 51 94 Exam administered on the forearm 57 58 59 96 Fleur-de-lis, e.g.

98 Bad place for a frog 62 63 100 Captained 101 ____ room 69 104 Praying figure in Christian art 105 It can be smoked 74 75 76 106 Facebook status: “10-9-8-7.

… Ringing in the New Year with 79 80

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85 86 110 Excessive regulation 112 Swahili “sir” 91 92 114 Neuter 115 QB Manning 96 97 98 116 Facebook status: “History

abounds! Neo-Classical 104 105

architecture surrounded by 110 111

gorgeous cherry-blossom trees.

Next stop … the White House!”

116 121 Sch. with the mascot Mike the Tiger 115 122 Anatomical ring 121 122 123 Recording- studio effect 124 JFK posting 125 126 125 Place of Bible study: abbr.

126 In an uncivil way 127 Wife, to Juan 16 Facebook status: “Vegas, baby!

128 Oedipus, for one

And who would believe I’m

standing next to Beyoncé and DOWN

Katy Perry!”

1 Its official name is Academy 17 Very cute, in slang

Award of Merit 18 Judge 2 The Prophet author Gibran 24 Seal the deal 3 Shoot (for) 25 Where the Santa Ana and Long 4 Brainteaser

Beach Fwys. meet 5 Well put 30 Tip off 6 Niggling detail 32 For 17+ viewers 7 Morse word 33 “When pigs fly!”

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44 Muscat resident 12 Just-passing mark 45 Unheard-of 13 Con 47 Get the better of 14 ____-friendly 48 Damaged over time 15 Wife on The Addams Family

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